The Eight Human Talents (Hardcover)

by Gurmukh (Author), Cathryn Michon (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
Madonna, Cindy Crawford, and David Duchovny have been her students, and now you too can experience the gifts of well-known L.A.-based yoga teacher Gurmukh. In The Eight Human Talents, she shares the spiritual wisdom and exercises of the Kundalini approach, which emphasizes the roles of the eight chakras, or energy centers, in healing and self-fulfillment. A particularly subtle and reflective discipline, Kundalini yoga combines meditation, breathing exercises, and simple poses that focus on awakening and embracing the fundamental qualities of the chakras, which Gurmukh calls talents: acceptance, creativity, commitment, compassion, truth, intuition, boundlessness, and radiance. Through attentive Kundalini practice, Gurmukh says, common personal issues such as relationship troubles, money anxieties, addiction, depression, and sexual insecurities can be overcome, which in turn enables a healthy and happy lifestyle. "Use your yoga practice to feel your emotions on a physical level," Gurmukh advises, "then as you experience them, you can move past them and become victorious over them."

In eight chapters that address each talent, Gurmukh offers personal anecdotes from her years as the proverbial student of life as well as her experience as a teacher, instructive quotes from her guru, Yogi Bhajan, and meditative exercises and stretches (aided by ink drawings) that teach awareness of the chakras and how to nurture the positive talents and stifle the negative "shadow emotions" (i.e., resentment, guilt, anger, greed, denial, and so on). Such techniques as the Exercise to Release Fear, the Anti-Worry Exercise, the Meditation to Heal Depression, and the Meditation to Realize Your Own Greatness require only concentration and no more than 10 minutes, but when done regularly, Gurmukh promises, the reward is self-confidence, wholeness, and increased vitality. Less a stretch-by-stretch manual to a yoga workout and more a self-improvement how-to that will limber you up in more ways than one, The Eight Human Talents is a valuable resource for those whose interest in yoga includes achieving physical as well as spiritual and emotional fitness. --Rebecca Wright

Review
"Gurmukh is my first yoga teacher - her gentleness, discipline, and sense of fun were instrumental in my continuing interest and practice of yoga." -- --David Duchoveny

"Gurmukh's pregnancy yoga class was such a wonderful experience for me and my baby - it was relaxing, uplifting..." -- --Rosanna Arquette

"I can't say how lucky I feel to have found Gurmukh's pre-natal yoga class... I'm forever in her debt." -- --Cindy Crawford

"The yoga that I do with Gurmukh is the thing that has helped me most heal my life." -- --Flea The Red Hot Chili Peppers

"This yoga scientifically elevates the soul, body and mind. It has been a fun challenge that changes everything." -- --Ione Skye

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow; 1 edition (August 22, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060195487
• ISBN-13: 978-0060195489
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #448,920 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great "How To" Manual: Care for the Body, Mind and Soul, October 4, 2000

By	Jaye Alison Moscariello (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews

The best part of living in LA is being able to take Gurumukh's classes regularly. So, because I'm privileged enough to be one of her students, I wasn't in too big a hurry to rush out and read her book, I figured "I HEAR her all the time, she's my teacher, why READ what she's got to say?" Well, when I recently bought it, I couldn't stop reading it. "Eight Human Talents" is wonderful. The tone is calm and loving (like Gurumukh) and provides an invaluable insight to Kundalini Yoga. "Eight Human Talents" explains exactly why this particular yoga is a great solution for modern, everyday stress overload and waning spirit. It describes in detail the kinds of benefits one can expect to attain; stronger body, calmer mind and healthier attitudes - just to name a few. The exercises are well illustrated. The mystery of "chakras" is revealed in everyday language. It is punctuated with her humor, inspiring life stories and beautiful passages of wisdom from her Guru, Yogi Bhajan among others.

Gurumukh stresses in her writing, the importance of having a strong and open heart, not just a strong, beautiful body. She gently reminds us that "we are spiritual beings having a human experience" and above all, she reminds us to breathe. I highly recommend this book for everyone, novice and yoga virtuoso alike. It's good for you!

Since I began doing Kundalini Yoga at the Golden Bridge, where Gurumukh is the director, a little more than a year ago, I've managed to lose a significant amount of weight and learned to relax - no small feats. Even the art I make looks happier!

Congratulations and thank you, to a most excellent teacher and her blessed collaborators. My precious loved ones will surely get a gift of this book.

21 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Accessible, inspirational introduction to Yogi Bhajan, October 24, 2000

By	Gurucharan Khalsa (Espanola, New Mexico, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Every technique comes from somewhere. Yogi Bhajan is the source of wisdom and the techniques in this book. He is a true master of the science of yoga, a world leader in peace and a successful family man and business leader. Gurumukh has loving presented his teachings and made the philosophy of an elevated life and the techniques to do it accessible.

As Director of Training in Kundalini Yoga for 25 years I see many books and manuals cross my desk for review. This is excellent.

If you enjoy it also look at "Breathwalk" (June 2000) by Yogi Bhajan and Kundalini Yoga - the flow of eternal power by Shakti Parwha Khalsa.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A GREAT CHOICE FOR YOGIS OR NOVICES, September 9, 2000

By	J. S. WILLARD "eclectic reader" (CHARLESTON, SC USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book is one of the most accesible yoga books I have read. Sometimes yoga books can be more daunting than a class itself! The prose is often very esoteric and the poses intimidating. Gurmukh makes the esoteric understandable. The book makes sense of the chakra system for western readers. The poses are attainable, no foot behind the head! I've been Ashtanga for about three years and this book really makes want to try Kundalini.