Yoga: A Gem for Women [Paperback]

Geeta S. Iyengar (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1991 | ISBN-10: 0931454204 | ISBN-13: 978-0931454202 | Edition: 1st pbk. ed

Yoga, A Gem for Women presents a detailed, practical guide for the yoga student who wants to go deeper with her practice of Hatha Yoga. The book is divided into three sections that create an integrated path of yoga suitable for both the beginner and advanced student:

Theory--Yoga and Women
A natural bridge to health and well-being
Practice--Knowing Your Body
Techniques and benefits of over 80 asanas complete with photographs and detailed instructions
Experience--On the Threshold of Peace
Relaxation, breathing and the practice of meditation

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Geeta Iyengar found the power to survive and thrive through her practice of Hatha Yoga. -- Juniper Glass, Ascent Magazine, 2001 --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

About the Author

Geeta S. Iyengar is the distinguished student and oldest daughter of Mr. B.K.S. Iyengar--the internationally known Yoga master. She began practicing yoga as a 10-year old, only because she had to. She was so ill that she almost died. From this dire beginning, Ms. Iyengar became the world-renowned expert that she is today. She currently resides in Pune, India where she directs yoga studies at the Ramani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute along with her brother. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Timeless Books; 1st pbk. ed edition (January 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0931454204
• ISBN-13: 978-0931454202
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,073,345 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

109 of 109 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful book for women, November 26, 1999

By 

Shelina Gorai (Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Yoga: A Gem for Women (Paperback)

This is a wonderful book with specific reference to the main biological stages of a womans life & identifies which asanas (poses) should be practiced or avoided at those stages.. i found this book during my pregnancy at a time when i was confused whether to continue with certain yoga poses.. the book helped to clarify all my questions and has helped me continue with yoga confidently during pregnancy. My copy of this book is published in india in 1983 & subsequent publications may have a different format, but my copy is not the sort of book that you can open up at a page, & simply copy a pose by looking at a picture, some of the newer yoga books i have noticed follow this "easy" format which is weak in content & high in glossy pictures.. this book is very rich in content - be prepared to spend some time reading in detail about useful background information as well as the poses & their effects & various techniques for achieving a pose.

47 of 47 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars great for men OR women before, during and after pregnancy, March 29, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Yoga: A Gem for Women (Paperback)

If you want to learn about hatha yoga, this is a wonderful book written by Mr. Iyengar's daughter. She writes about the philosophy of yoga, how the poses fit into it, about the poses themselves, and the benefits and cautions for each, along with suggestions for a daily practice. It has detail on yoga practice for women, and since most people with Geeta Iyengar's experience and expertise are men, it is nice to get her perspective- but it is just as good for men who want to learn more about yoga. There are many pictures of the poses, including the ones meant to be done during pregnancy. If you want to learn more about practicing yoga during pregnancy, this one has a whole chapter on the subject. I used this book and the advise of my teachers during both of my pregnancies, and both my babies and myself were/are exceptionally healthy.

37 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Yoga taught the traditional Eastern way, January 22, 2004

By 

Beth Cholette "doctor_beth" (Upstate NY USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Yoga: A Gem for Women (Paperback)

This is a reference guide written by Geeta Iyengar, daughter of BKS Iyengar, probably the most famous living yogi. The book is designed specifically for women who wish to develop their own self-study of yoga (Yoga Sadhana), and it covers not only asanas (postures) but also the other vital components of traditional yoga such as pranayama (breath) and meditation.

Geeta is clearly a master yoga practitioner who has created a comprehensive, thoughtful manual, but her book was not at all what I was looking for. Although I have practiced yoga at home for over two years, I was overwhelmed by the level of detail in the book. In addition, I found it difficult to follow, partly because the author uses only the original Sanskirt names for the poses and partly because the visual guides to the poses were all placed at the end of the book (rather than interpersed side-by-side to the instructional information included throughout).

This book would definitely not be appropriate for the casual, Westernized yoga practitioner, especially not someone who is using yoga primarily as a form of fitness. However, for someone who wishes to extend their yoga practice beyond the poses as well as to connect with yoga's original Eastern roots, this book may be ideal.