The Yoga Deck: 50 Poses & Meditations for Body, Mind, & Spirit (Cards)

by Olivia Miller (Author) "Sit with your spine comfortably erect..." (more)
Key Phrases: several breaths

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Now beginners, experts, and teachers alike can make rejuvenating meditations part of daily life with this beautifully illustrated deck of fifty yoga poses and meditations. Each easy-to-use card gives detailed instructions, benefits, and an affirmation. If you're short on time, you can pick just a single card, or for a more guided experience, follow one of the sequences provided. Create an exercise routine that focuses on your specific needs. In the park or at the office, these portable cards are perfect for stress relief, promoting strength and energy, and relaxation--anytime, anywhere.

About the Author
Olivia H. Miller is a freelance writer and has been a student of yoga for 25 years. She is the author of The Stretch Deck and The Prenatal Yoga Deck, both published by Chronicle Books. She lives on Cape Cod in Massachusetts.

Product Details

• Cards: 50 pages
• Publisher: Chronicle Books (April 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0811828891
• ISBN-13: 978-0811828895
• Product Dimensions: 5.7 x 4.3 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #49,909 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic!!, May 17, 2001

By	Katrina M. Fleming (Dubuque, Iowa United States) - See all my reviews

I started taking a yoga class with some ladies from work and we've all enjoyed it very much. Since we only have class once a week we were all looking for something to keep us going the rest of the week. I happened to find this Yoga Deck and I love it!! I took it to work and one of the ladies went and bought it at lunch time, the others are looking for their copies.

This is not actually a book, it's a deck of yoga cards. There are cards focusing on meditations, breathing and of course, yoga poses. Each yoga card shows a pose, explains how to do the pose, gives a mantra to say if you'd like and then explains what the pose will do for you and your body.

What I like most about this deck is that you can follow the pre-made routines, targeting different focuses in your life (such as stress relief, muscle flexibility, etc.) or you can make up your own routines.

This is a great deck for anyone interested in learning yoga, as well as for those who just want to learn more about yoga.

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Posture Cards, Breath Cards, and More, December 8, 2005

By	Janet Boyer "JanetBoyer.com" (Pennsylvania) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

"At least 5,000 years old, yoga literally means union of body and mind. It has been used throughout the centuries to promote and maintain physical and mental health, flexibility, and youthfulness." - From the Yoga Deck

There are literally thousands of yoga postures from a variety of traditions. One of these traditions-Hatha yoga-strives to balance mind, body and spirit by combining physical poses (asanas), breathing (pranayama) and meditation (dhyana). The Yoga Deck is 50 cards designed to promote health and well-being using each of these practices.

Clearly illustrated, The Yoga Deck contains:

* Six Breath Cards - Offering simple yet powerful ways to use your breath to decrease tension, increase energy, and promote physical and mental health. The Alternative Nostril Breath and Sufi Mother's Breath are two such breathing exercises.
* Six Meditation Cards - Each features a lotus flower, the symbol of simplicity and perfection, and focuses on a philosophical aspect of yoga or a spiritual idea. Heart Meditation and Meditation of Intent are two examples of these types of cards.
* Five Warm-Up Cards - These offer bulleted instructions, listing of benefits, and instructional illustrations. Knee Hug, Shrugs and Circles, and Cat and Dog Stretch are three such warm-ups.
* Thirty-two Posture Cards - The front of each Posture Card features an illustration of the pose while the reverse side describes how to do the pose and lists the benefits. An affirmation to complement each pose is also offered. A few poses include Proud Warrior, Yoga Mudra, Mountain, Half Moon, Cobra, Bridge, and Fish.
* One OM card - Included for use before and/or after your session.

A 4-part fold-out accompanies the deck and serves as an introduction to yoga-including an explanation of how it works-as well as an instruction manual for getting the most out of the cards and exercises. Colored with tones of dark blue-green, gold, white, and a very pale shade of blue, the cards measure approximately 5.5 x 3.75 inches. The top comes off the sturdy box quite easily-providing easy access to the deck-and the box can stand upright.

Practical and instructional, The Yoga Deck is a great tool for Yoga enthusiasts, aiding in progressing along the path of well-being, emotional balance, and spiritual growth. Detailed instructions and pose illustrations allows even those new to Yoga to benefit from this ancient practice.

(To see 6 images from this deck, visit the Reviews--Decks section at JanetBoyer.com)

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Perfect for Beginners..., January 11, 2004

By	M. Neal - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is a great introduction to Yoga, and the deck format is a good approach for this subject. It easily allows you to pick and lay out a routine, or divide positions and meditations into sets. It's also ideal for travel and work with groups.

The graphics and instructions are clear and simple, but what I most enjoyed about this deck is that each card clearly labels the benefits of each position, as well as precautions to take for certain medical conditions. These features have not been as adequate, if present at all, in other volumes I have perused.

Overall, I'm very happy with this deck, and much more interested in Yoga than I was before I bought this.