Customer Reviews

Yoga for You

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"Yoga is a method, a system of physical, mental and spiritual development." ~Indra Devi

Indra Devi's book about yoga helped me to understand yoga in a deeper way than I could ever understand this practice through exercise videos. I truly feel that I knew very little about yoga before reading this book, even though I've practiced yoga for many years.

Indra Devi introduced me to Bhakti Yoga: achieving union with God through devotion and selfless love so you can become a channel of God's grace. I'm sure you could incorporate various principles into your life without having to leave society altogether. In fact, I think yoga helps you to live more peacefully with other people.

I also enjoy Jnana Yoga - Knowledge and study. Who knew that there were 10 Rules for a Yoga Code of Morality or that there were so many branches of yoga.

I also learned that Dharana is mind control and that Samadhi is the ultimate state of bliss. Asana or "postures" are just the beginning. While most workout videos do not introduce you to a spiritual dimension of yoga, I found that Indra Devi's way of exploring this aspect of yoga is not at all threatening to anyone practicing any religion. You don't have to change your religion to increase your flexibility, develop clear thinking or live a more healthy life.

What I'm finding lately is that to live a more fulfilling life, you almost have to look at various cultures and traditions and start to incorporate beautiful knowledge into your life. Life is a huge smorgasbord of experience and I hate to limit myself to living in one little box. I want to find out what secrets are hiding in many beautiful presents.

Yoga is one of those presents. Not only does it help you become more "present," it presents an experience that leads to a place of total relaxation you cannot get by doing almost anything else. I have never experienced places of peace like I have with yoga.

Indra Devi explains why you should not keep plants in your bedroom, how you can get rid of a toxic headache and why you should not rush out of bed in the morning. She explains various cleansing diets and helps you understand the core causes of illness. She explains why you should eat natural honey and why water is best at room temperature.

While it is interesting to read about the various poses, I must say it is almost easier to learn yoga through a video/DVD. You may want to try the exercises in the Yoga Journal's Yoga Step By Step DVDs as you are reading this book. You will find instruction for:

Cleansing Breaths
Walking Breathing Exercises
Postures - Cobra, Lotus, Swan, Churning, Angular Balance, Mountain, Bending Forward, Reverse and many more...
Understanding the Chakras
A Healthy Diet
A Reducing Diet
Making Healthy Meals - recipes included

This is one of the Yoga Classics. If you are interested in yoga and want to move towards "Samadhi," then this book will show you how to balance your mind, body and spirit. Until you can control your breathing, take control of your mind and move your body into a state of relaxation, nirvana might seem impossible. After doing yoga for years, you will start to realize that it is possible, if only for moments at a time. Those moments are quite beautiful and healing. I look forward to "corpse" pose when you just relax as the earth holds you.

Back to gazing at my new Zen fountain...

If you enjoy this book, you might also enjoy:

The Experience of God: How 40 Well-Known Seekers Encounter the Sacred.

~The Rebecca Review