Yoga
A List of Books and Videos for Yoga Enthusiasts |
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| Books |
The
American Yoga Association Beginner's Manual
by Alice Christensen |
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| This excellent guidebook boasts a clear, safe, and thorough
introduction to yoga, from the organization that sets the standard for yoga instruction
in, this country. |
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Power
Yoga : The Total Strength and Flexibility Workout
by Beryl Bender Birch |
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| Tens of thousands of athletes know Beryl Bender Birch,
Wellness Director for the New York Road Runners Club, as the teacher who showed them that
yoga could protect them from injuries and improve their athletic performance. In Power
Yoga, the first book on astanga yoga, a unique form of hatha yoga designed to build
strength and stamina, Birch brings the ancient spiritual and physical practice to the
West. Through anecdotes, detailed instructions, and hundreds of illustrations, Birch
provides a total workout plan that's perfect for elite athletes, weekend warriors, and
people just starting a fitness program. The Power Yoga workout combines dynamic breathing
with a series of strong, flowing movements that create a high-heat, high-energy workout.
"It (Power Yoga) will work on your body, your mind, your whole self," says
Birch. The end result is a stronger, more flexible body; increased endurance, discipline,
and self-awareness; and better overall health and fitness. -- Ellen Albertson |
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Light
on Yoga: Yoga Dipika
by B. K. S. Iyengar,
Yeudi Menuhin |
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| The definitive guide to the philosophy and practice of
Yoga--the ancient healing discipline for body and mind--by its greatest living teacher.
Light on Yoga provides complete descriptions and illustrations of all the positions and
breathing exercises. Features a foreword by Yehudi Menuhin. Illustrations throughout. |
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| Videos |
Living
Yoga - A.M./P.M.
Yoga for Beginners Set
(1998) |
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| This yoga set is perfect for those with busy schedules who
need to work in a way to relax. On the a.m. tape, Rodney Yee takes you through a 15-minute
morning yoga set, while Patricia Walden leads a 20-minute evening routine on the p.m.
tape. The a.m. tape was filmed on a beach in Maui at sunrise, providing a soothing
background for this gentle workout. In the morning, Rodney tells us, "the body is
rested but stiff from inactivity." The stretches he demonstrates are designed to
increase circulation, improve mobility, and bring clarity to your mind. The movements are
easy to follow (they include a conscious relaxation, the a.m. workout, and a guided
meditation), and the set is short enough that it can be squeezed into the most hectic of
morning schedules. The p.m. video was filmed at sunset in Death Valley. Patricia's yoga
set is designed to quiet the mind after the stress of the day and to help you make the
transition from active to quiet. She uses a combination of a centering series, standing
poses, forward bends, and restorative poses to help you ease into night. You will need
some firm blankets to sit on and a yoga strap (although a belt or scarf will serve the
same purpose) to perform these movements. Perfect for the beginner and for the overworked.
--Jenny Brown |
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Power
Yoga 1-Energize
(1995)
Starring: Bryan Kest,
et al. |
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Anyone wanting to get in shape like the stars need go no
further than Bryan Kest's videos. Kest teaches wildly popular yoga classes in Santa
Monica, California--so popular that stars like Rhea Perlman, David Duchovny, and Elisabeth
Shue willingly sweat alongside the hoi polloi in Kest's packed, ancient loft studio. If
you don't happen to be in the neighborhood, not to worry: Kest's yoga videos are nearly as
good as being there. Volume 1: Energize is a beginner level class that nonetheless is
smartly designed to provide challenges for all levels of users. Kest's Jersey-boy voice at
first seems in contrast to the serene environment and inner-peace objectives, but it
gradually becomes soothing and hypnotic in its own right. Stretches and strengthening
moves are alternated with just enough repose to keep even first timers on track. After
mastering Vol. 1, practitioners can go on to Volume 2: Tone or Volume 3: Sweat to further
challenge themselves. As long as you keep in mind Kest's personal mantra--"If you're
doing the best you can, you're doing this class perfectly"--you and this video should
have many satisfying years of workouts together.
--Anne Hurley |
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Yoga
Journal's Yoga Remedies for Natural Healing
Starring: Rodney Yee,
et al. |
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| Rodney Yee and Patricia Walden guide viewers through five
yoga sets to relieve common ailments. While they do warn that these movements are designed
for minor ailments (of course, if your ailments are more serious, you should check with a
physician) and do not replace a doctor's consultation, these simple and gentle movements
should help alleviate aches and pains associated with stress, indigestion, fatigue,
headache, and back problems. The video begins with conscious breathing, which is helpful
no matter what your complaint. Then individual problems are addressed separately in five
segments of approximately eight minutes each. Props are needed: a wall to lean against, a
yoga brick, an eye bag, a strap, a chair, and folded blankets. Yee's soothing voice, the
gentle lapping waves of the beach in Hawaii, and the relaxing yoga positions will help
restore your inner peace and reduce your tensions. --Jenny Brown |
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