I thought it would be a great idea to get the basics from a national association, because I understood it would mean something more serious. This is not the case. It has a mystifying preface, in which the author tells us about the experience of waking up to see a column of light at the foot of her bed after which the word yoga sprang into her mind. The same old trip- to-India/finding-Guru new-age story. Lots of silly advices, like how to be nice to your body by talking to it. It does not provide an easy start to begin poses or sequences. It lists a sequence of poses which can't be understood by someone who hasn't practiced any yoga before, and only then begins teaching the poses themselves. I only began learning yoga when I bought the tape Living Yoga - Yoga Practice for Beginners (which focuses on practicing yoga, not personal beliefs). If you happen to have practiced yoga this book might be used as reference, since it does contain a lot of poses and pictures. The American Yoga Association Beginner's Manual Fully Revised and Updated
-----------------THE TOP 5 REASONS YOU MIGHT THINK THE AUTHOR IS A FLAKE: 5) The bright-light story!4) She practically chants that "yoga is not a religion"...she mentions this at least twice, possibly three times. 3) The word "yoga" is capitalized throughout the book! Do most people capitalize the word "aerobics" in a sentence? I didn't think so...why yoga? 2) She states (p.17), "...do not be in a hurry to 'convert' family and friends to Yoga.". Ummm, good..I won't! Afterall, she said it wasn't a religion, right?1) She states (p.16), "The fact is, no one knows where or when yoga began". What? Are we supposed to believe that yoga is infinite, like God? (woman, please!).THE TOP 5 REASONS YOU'LL BE GLAD YOU BOUGHT THIS BOOK:5) Under the title of each exercise, you will find a list of the body areas it targets.4) Easy-to-understand instructions of the exercises.3) Good tips under each set of instructions...these help to ensure correct breathing and form.2) Good photos for visual guidance as to form and posture.1) Yoga IS enjoyable and this book makes it easy to get started.THE TOP REASON TO HAVE A FEW BOOKMARKS HANDY:1) You'll want to bookmark the warm-up chapter and a few different pages of specific exercises that are out of order until you memorize the routine and know the poses well.
This book is a great for anyone starting yoga..it guides you through everything:breathing, meditation, nutrition, exercise, and more elements of yoga. There are hundreds of different exercises to do, each with detailed, step-by-step pictures that explain the exercise. If you want to start yoga..THIS is the book to buy!
I love this book. I keep going back to it. I improved my flexibility, strength, sleep, pain and stress levels by following the courses in this book. The book is divided into three courses, and each course takes about 8 weeks, depending on your ability. You move from very simple moves to more complicated ones. Each weeks set of exercises includes warm-ups, asanas, breathing and meditation. Thank you Alice!
I have found this book helpful for many years, and have ordered copies for family and friends who are interested in yoga as a health and fitness practice. A stroke survivor myself (some 20 years ago), I find yoga a great aid in staying alive and functional!To be perfectly honest, the author's short little intro story in the beginning is a tad too new agey for most who don't want to do yoga from a spiritual position, but would benefit greatly from a health position -- don't let that turn you off! Do what I did (and what I recommend to people I'm giving this to) -- read it once, say, "hmmm" and then get on with the program. Christensen has laid out a wonderful program starting with daily stretches (you can do these even if you can't do the individual exercises, or asans, every day) and then offering a week by week series of exercises to help you advance through -- or stay where you are comfortable.She also has special programs for pregnancy and other times when you can't go full tilt. Easy directions, clear photographs that truly help you know what you should be doing, breathing exercises. Excellent for the beginner or person who (like me) slips off and on the yoga and exercise path.
I knew nothing about yoga when I ordered this book. The exercises are clearly written, the instructions are excellent, and the photographs are very clear. I especially appreciate her philosophy about practicing 5 minutes a day is better than nothing at all. So I practice 5 minutes a day using this book, and my flexibility has improved noticeably. There is also a section on runner's stretches that is great for us older runners.
I first bought this book many years back, and have used it on and off. Looking forward to purchasing the revised version. Also gave it to my father who was having problems getting motivated about any form of exercise, and he used it for years.
It is great if you don't have time to go to class, but need someone telling you exactly what to do (I am not motivated enough to just develop a series of poses for myself). The fact that it has multi-week classes in succession with pose variations is great for me. I find videos dull because it's the same thing over and over and they are ususally too slow once you've done it a few times and generally the voice/music combos are irritating. This way I put on my own music and go at my own pace.
I agree with other reviewers that it is best to avoid the flakiness and get on with the courses which are flake free, easy to follow and physically rewarding.
This book achieves what it sets out to do...introducing the beginner to yoga. It will slowly ease you into the practice of yoga. However, as many have noted, the author also offers new age advice which many will find "weird" at best. Her new age/self-help philosophies might offend the common sensibilities and/or religious beliefs of some. I ignore this stuff and stick to the lessons and that has worked very well for me. If you think this stuff might bother you, tear out the preface & the chapter about philosophies for life, then ignore the tidbits dispersed throughout the rest of the text & lessons plans (fairly easy to do). I've detailed out below the basic format of the book as well as areas where you'll be confronted with her worldview, as I know this may be a concern to some (Christians, in particular) who are considering yoga for exercise.
The lessons are divided into three courses. Within those courses you will find the weekly curriculum. Course One offers 10 weeks worth of curriculum with a maintenance routine, a fatigue-reducing routine and a menstrual cycle routine. At the end of the 10 weeks, you then move on to Course Two. Course Two has 10 more routines. As with Course One, you practice one each week for 10 weeks. Course Two also has a short routine for busy days and another maintenance routine. Course Three is divided like so:
Weeks 1 & 2: Emotional Stability Routine, Version I
Weeks 3 & 4: Emotional Stability Routine, Version II
Weeks 5 & 6: Full Emotional Stability Routine
Week 7: Full Emotional Stability Routine, focusing on specific spots (she recommends "talking to your body". I simply focus on "trouble spots" and try to be reflective).
Week 8: Experiment doing routines at different speeds
Week 9: Vary your alternate routine to include many asans you haven't practiced in awhile. Experiment with creating routines for yourself.
Week 10: She recommends the body talk exercise again. Whatever. I try to focus in on more difficult routines or areas of my body which need more work. She also offers a routine for practicing holding positions, which is not to be repeated two days in a row.
Course Three is where I felt she tried to push her philosophies a little more than some might be comfortable with. This involves talking to your body, which I found to be harmless, but absolutely absurd. If you do not subscribe to new age philosophies, you'll also want to avoid the "Philosophies for Life" chapter at the end of the book entirely as it filled with new age/adapted eastern philosophy. She may deny that yoga is a religion, but this section is the philosophy of a worldview that many would consider religious, if not at the very least in conflict with their own religious beliefs. It is definitely not for everyone - things like karma and reincarnation are addressed as truth. The author's beliefs are not amenable to those found in other religions (Christianity, Islam) and may be offensive to Christians, Muslims and others. I am a Christian (Catholic) and have no trouble ignoring her new age ramblings and self-help philosophies. Her beliefs will probably sound like self help/new age mumbo jumbo to those who consider themselves atheist or agnostic. White lights, ethical guidlines (which seem very much like a religious creed of sorts), etc.
However, it is easy enough to ignore it and adapt it to your own purposes while increasing your difficulty level and introducing yourself to some new challenges. After course three you should be able to create your own routines and will be ready to move on to bigger and better things. This book is a good start to yoga for exercise. I could have done without all of the new age philosophizing and personal ramblings of the author, which I tried to ignore as much as possible. Yet, I wish none of it were there and she had simply stuck to yoga. I realize that yoga is more than exercise to her. The book is still a good starting place if you consider yoga as exercise alone and do not want to take up a new worldview.
There is also a yoga during pregnancy chapter with routines, yoga & sports with routines, yoga & stress management (a bit too much of her philosophies there, as you can imagine). Furthermore, the Yoga Techniques Classified by Type section at the end of the book is very helpful for creating your own routines.
Hope this review helps. Good luck! - New Age - Book - Yoga For Beginners - Philosophy Of Mind'
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