Customer Reviews

Yoga Zone Introduction to Yoga: A Beginner's Guide to Health, Fitness, and Relaxation

5 star:		(6)
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2 star:		(1)
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like me! Completely new to the yoga scene, I saw this listed in the "Editor's Picks" as one of the top yoga books and decided to buy it based solely on that. And I don't regret it. Alan Finger takes you not only on an informative and practical journey into the world of yoga, but a gently spiritual one as well.

The book is nice quality, with easy-to-read pages and beautifully illustrated poses. I like how he emphasizes substance over form i.e. you don't have to *look* perfect to have a perfect yoga practice. It's the approach and the inner work that goes with it that matters the most.

The form he teaches (ISHTA) is an amalgamation of different yoga "schools", developed by he and his father(a master yogi) and taught in their Yoga Zone studios. He gives a 20 min. practice and a 40 minute regimen, with the option to customize it later when you feel more adept and comfortable.

As for me, I already have all the poses for the 20 minute series marked in red, pages bookmarked, and I plan to get the video tape as well, to get even more benefit from seeing it in action. So, if you're a beginner like me, this seems like a great place to start and I highly recommend it. Now if you'll excuse me, I think I'll practice more of that "ujjayi pranayama" breathing... ;)

This book was wonderful, easy to understand, and perfect for beginners as well as seasoned yogis and yoginis. As a yoga teacher, I find myself referring to this book while teaching my class. It's a great way to get yourself started in yoga, and keep you strong and flexible.

I am a rank beginner when it comes to yoga--I didn't even think about it until last year and just started taking classes this year (2001). This book provides a good introduction to Yoga Zone's brand of yoga--a mixture of three types: Hatha yoga (a physical form of yoga), Tantra yoga (a more philosophical form of yoga) and Ayurveda yoga (a healing form of yoga). The section on breath and breathing (an important part of yoga and life in general) is great and the descriptions and illustrations of the various postures are quite helpful (and take up the bulk of the book). Finger and Bingham have a very personable style of writing that makes it seem you are being spoken to, rather than reading a book.

I have enjoyed the benefits of yoga for several years, guided by excellent teachers. After moving to a new city, I found that I was ready to pass on some of what I know, by starting to teach. This book has been a terrific find -- reminding me to look with fresh eyes at things that I had once learned in class or in workshops which had since become "automatic". I found the writing, illustrations and photographs clear and useful, with enough detail to support good practice. The examples of "misaligned forms" are also wonderfully clear for the novice -- with a colleague or a mirror, an independent student could make good and safe progress. It is a valuable complement to the other books on my Yoga shelf.

Excellent book!! Teaches you how to do yoga from breathing exercises, warm up, strength building and so on, all the way through to relaxation. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in beginning yoga.

Alan Finger is a great Yoga instructor. This set is very good for beginners or anybody who needs a little high-quality stretching and relaxation. My neck and shoulders are always tight. I would tighten them more if I try to stretch by myself. Alan's yoga lessons lead me through a systematic set of stretching and significantly relieve my pain and stress. Highly recommend!

This book feels and looks a little out dated. It serves it purpose - demonstrating yoga poses but your money can be better spent on less expensive and/or more updated books.