5 comments about Yoga: The Iyengar Way.

1. This is a decent, portable substitute for Iyengar's "Yoga, the Path to Holistic Health," which is a huge hardback that is impossible to carry with you and much more expensive. It doesn't have the latter's wonderful 360-degree views of the "classic" postures, but it does have the written "check lists" for performing each posture correctly. Accepting that constraint, my only complaint is the authors' selection of "classic" postures. They devoted several pages to "sequences" that could have been used for other postures that were omitted. Still, a worthwhile purchase.



2. I love this yoga book. It has detailed illustrations and very detailed descriptions for all of the more common yoga poses. The level of detail may be a bit much for the beginning student but it really does describe very precisely and accurately how to achieve perfect form. It is definitely helpful to have a manual such as this to supplement exercise videos which seldom provide detailed enough form cues. As a result of reminding myself of the proper form cues, I have definitely improved my mastery of the poses.



3. This amazing book will help you set up your own daily Iyengar practice. The pictures are clear, explained well, detailed and very centering. If you want a rapid, active practice, Iyengar is not for you. If you want a rooted, engaged and mind and heart-opening practice, buy the book and do the poses. It is very structured and you progress at your own rate.
   
   The back of the book has a guided practice for you to follow in sequential stages. I love it.



4. Practical book, just go to the lesson plans in the back, look at the pictures and do yoga. The book itself recommends taking formal yoga classes over just depending on this book for your practice. But for cheap beginners, like myself, just following the lesson plans in the book gives great benefit such that the purse strings loosen for a formal yoga class.
   
   Bought it used from amazon. Great condition, arrived on time. Have never been disappointed at Amazon.



5. Good service. Love this book. I moved to an area that has no Iyengar teachers, and this is the next best thing. Someone took my other book, and had to replace it.

5 comments about Remember, Be Here Now.

1. One of my all time favorite books. I buy copies and give them to friends.



2. This book is by far in my top 5. If you are on your path this book will definitely help you enter into your next stage. I didn't even search for this book. It just fell into my lap one day. That's the way it works. He includes the beauty and essence of the teachings of Jesus as well as Buddha. The words and drawings are very piercing and full of symbolism. He also includes at the end a list of many books that will be useful to read. I recommend this book to everyone with Open ears.



3. It's a MUST READ book. It will suck you in like nothing you've read before. It starts with Dr. Richard Alpert talking about his work with Tim Leary at Harvard and the psychedelic experiment..all legal at the time. Gradually he realizes he needs "more". His eyes were opened but it didn't connect anything, he was dangling, needing to know how to "index" this new awareness. The he goes to India and meets a 24 yr. old hippie-guru from Laguna Beach who takes him on a jouney to meet the REAL guru in the Himalayas. That's when you put your seatbelt on. He takes you on an amazing, compelling and emotional trnsformation through Eastern philosophy that has to make you look at life just a little differently, at the least!



4. Utterly life-changing. I don't have the words to accurately describe the effect this book has had on me. It's a brilliant conglomeration of spirituality and philosophy in one wild package. Not all will get this right away; it has to come to one at the right time. But if you are a seeker, you will find it overflowing with what you crave.



5. Like so many others that have reviewed this book, I too have bought it repeatedly just to end up giving it away to someone. My first encounter with the book was because someone had given it to me. I do recommend buying this book, do it. I read it for the first time about 5 years ago, and a week ago I read the center portion (the trippy part), outloud to my boyfriend for hours while tripping on lsd for the first time. That is when it occurred to me that this is A Bible. A guide to the way It Is.
   
   I plan on buying 20 copies and handing them out at Burning Man this year, that is how life-altering I think this book is. Buy it!

5 comments about The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself (New Harbinger/Noetic Books) (co-published with the Institute of Noetic Sciences).

1. For me, this is THE book that answers so many questions and is all encompassing in that it touches on so much. Michael Singer explains so simply and beautifully how to live your live with an open heart. He talks about everything from that roommate in our head (constant chatter) to what death teaches us about living. He does it with explanations on HOW to change your life in very easy-to-understand prose. Is it really this easy? Yes it is IF we make the conscious decision to change our lives. The cover is so beautiful, too, and that is what actually drew me to the book in the first place.



2. this is a very well written and inspiring book. The language is plain and simple and the examples are perfect. It got me meditating again!



3. This author is definitely a teacher, able to grasp a concept not only verbally, but experientially and he can convey it with such ease that you don't realize that what you are reading about it life altering. It is an amazing little book. I came away from it with the remembrance of a wave washing over me, taking away all that limited me and leaving only my Divine Self. A light bulb went on inside me, "Ah, this is what is meant by free your mind."



4. I'm not going to use a lot of words here for one has to directly experience the profound spiritual impact that this book can bring forth. If you are a seeker and lover of the Truth and you want or feel that there is something more, then this book is a must read. I wept tears of pure love and joy while reading the last chapter and every chapter preceding was a journey deeper into self. I highly recommend this book for anyone wanting to directly experience Spirit.



5. This important book is for anyone who wants to know who they truly are and how that awareness affects every moment of life! The author obviously knows exactly what he is writing about---and has experienced it fully. What's more, he presents this profound information in such a way that makes it simple and easily understood. I want everyone I know to read this book. Those who comprehend these truths and practice incorporating them into their daily lives could find lasting happiness and freedom.

5 comments about Hatha Yoga Illustrated.

1. This yoga book is awesome! It works through all the levels of different yoga poses. Pictures are helpful.



2. This book is wonderfully done, The pictures are simple, and provide great explanations along with written explanations. There are a few routines in the back of the book that are helpful and an intro about yoga and meditation. I use this book for reference daily it has helped me develop my own routine and advance my yoga practice. I highly recommend it.



3. I've been teaching Yoga for a few years now after being a student for more than twenty.This book offers a very detailed look at many of the most common yoga asanas including contraindicated physical issues for each one.I had borrowed the book from our local library a dozen times before I purchased it.I find myself reading "Hatha Yoga Illustrated" before class to remind myself of different aspects of each pose.They also give a wide variety of "gentle variations" of each pose.This book is a must have for new yoga teachers.



4. This yoga book is everything I was hoping it would be. Yoga instruction books are a personal choice. Members of my family have a favorite yoga book that just does not work for me. I am a beginner, and the description of this book sounded like it would provide what I was looking for. It does not disappoint. The explanations of benefits the different poses provide are most helpful. The body positioning pictures are clear and directions for positioning concise. I highly recommend this book.



5. I'm very happy to have found this book. It has beautiful photographs with clear instructions for each pose. I am an absolute beginner, so some of the poses are much too difficult, but it has enhanced my practice greatly.

5 comments about The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali: Commentary on the Raja Yoga Sutras by Sri Swami Satchidananda.

1. THIS BOOK HAS PUT IN CLEAR ENGLISH THE TEACHINGS OF THE YOGA SUTRAS OF PATANJALI. THIS GUIDE WILL HELP YOU IMPROVE YOURSELF IN A SPECIAL WAY. A WAY TO THE GOD OF YOUR UNDERSTANDING. MIKE



2. In trying to present a very scholarly commentary on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali the author goes into great detail to break down each sutra. The depth of knowledge is evident, however, the language strays into the pendantic realm and becomes rather cumbersome.
   
   There is a great deal of joy and beauty to be found in the Sutras, unfortunately Sri Swami Satchidananda's translations do not share this. Instead we are left with language that is clunky and heavy handed.
   
   Do buy this book to round out the many translations of the Sutras that are out there. There is a great deal of knowledge and love put into this book, however, do explore some of the other tranlations to provide a more rounded view of the Sutras as a whole.



3. I am still reading the book and I am getting a lot out of it. I strongly recommend it for all spiritual people!



4. unfortunately the book I ordered (used) fell apart after two days I had it, a bit disappointing. I ordered used not because of the price difference (hardly any), but because I don't like to consume. Maybe you should sell the used books a bit cheaper and not class them as "in very good condition", when they are not.
   
   Thanks,
   
   Tia



5. I don't have anything very eloquent to say except that I love this book, and I love Satchidananda. Reading his words, you feel like he's your old friend, or maybe your granddad imparting a few words of wisdom on you. I had been intimidated about reading the Yoga Sutras, but his explanations helped me understand and really brought them to life for me. I highly recommend this book and any of Satchidananda's writings.

5 comments about The Heart of Yoga: Developing a Personal Practice.

1. Nice, easy book to understand yoga and where it came from. Good book to have to refer to every once in a while on history of teachers spreading yogic practices, on Pranayam and some basic yoga posture. Useful to me as a teacher. Reference book.



2. This book is truly a complete and comprehensive resource for anyone looking to enter into a teaching program or anyone simply looking to deepen or develop their own personal practice.



3. Dense with wisdom. some oddities to the sutra translations, should not be your only reference for them



4. Usually whenever people think of yoga its the asans that comes to their minds. Asans are only one part of yoga and this book does a very good job of explaining that. This book does a good job of explaining yoga philosophy and spiritual principles by providing the translation of Yoga Sutras of Pantanjali. This book provides you valuable tools to define yoga practice for yourself. But i expected this book to be a self help book which will help me implement and practice yoga lifestyle. If you are looking for a yoga lifestyle book check out Mylife Framework: A Model For A Successful Life Based On The Yoga Principles, but this one does also provides a good guidance on introduction, specifically explanation of some of technicalities of yoga concepts.



5. The book is a must for all interested in yoga, meditation and pranayama.
   
   It teaches beautifully, many techniques that are invaluable for our growth in the world of yoga and in the search for inner calm and awareness.
   
   I would recommend and require reading this book to all my potential students along with The Mystery of the Golden Blossom, and The Gnostic Magic of the Runes.

5 comments about The Subtle Body: An Encyclopedia of Your Energetic Anatomy.

1. This book is packed with great information both for "beginners" and those who have been in the energy field for a long time. It is explained in a way that is extremely understandable and user friendly. It is as concise as it can be without losing substance. I am just really impressed at all the information, the diagrams, the layout of the book which makes it interesting and understandable.
   
   I would highly, highly recommend this. This is a book you can reference for years and definitely a book worth purchasing rather than borrowing from the library because there is no way you would retain all of the information from just one reading.
   
   There is over 450 pages of material and they pages are larger than the average book.
   
   this book deals with topics like chakras, energy meridians, acupuncture, reflexology, intentional healing, ayurveda, shiatsu, distant and hands-on healing, energy fields, color and sound healing, magnetism, feelings and their respective organs in the body, geopathic stress, qigong,reiki, and much more.
   
   HIGHLY recommended.



2. Not being very knowledgeable about the subject of energy healing, but being quite curious, I was overwhelmed at the amount of information when I first leafed through this book. Once I started reading, though, I found it to be broken down into easy to read and understand chapters which covers the basics of each energy healing tradition (of which there are many), human anatomy, and what it takes to become an energy healer. If you want a good overview of each of the traditions this is a great reference to start with.
   
   The book itself is very nice with almost 500 heavy, glossy pages and many expertly done color illustrations, charts and tables.



3. It gave me more understanding and relevant information on the human body's subtle energy and how it works with the energy around us i.e how to have a positive chi.



4. The soul is the substance of energy that organizes conscience and body and makes of it all, a coherent being for reality. And the spirit is the superior dignity of life.
   
   -Unknown Author
   
   A fascinating journey of discovery awaits you in Cyndi Dale's The Subtle Body: An Encyclopedia of Your Energetic Anatomy. By far this is the most in-depth collection of energy healing this reviewer has ever discovered.
   
   What makes this book so unique is that it covers all of the top forms of holistic healing. Which includes chakras, energy meridians, acupuncture, reflexology, international healing, Ayurveda, Shiatsu, distant and hands on healing, energy fields, sacred geometry, color and sound healing, and magnetism. It is broken down into six easy to understand parts that include:
   
   Part I: Energy and Energy Healing
   
   Part II: Human Anatomy
   
   Part III: Energy Fields
   
   Part IV: Channels of Energy: Channels of Light
   
   Part V: Energy Bodies: Chakras and other "Light Switches"
   
   Part VI: Energy Practices
   
   From the very first page I found that I was so mesmerized at all the knowledge that I was absorbing. With my background in healing touch and reflexology, I was able to quickly put to use the high quality illustrations that showed all the pulse points of the body.
   
   No health care professional should be without a copy of Cyndi Dale's The Subtle Body: An Encyclopedia of Your Energetic Anatomy. This book is such an asset to the health care world I believe it should be introduced into the college setting. If all health care providers were to be exposed to all the information that this one book offers, mankind's health benefits would be unlimited. Very highly recommended.



5. I like the illustrations. I like how it talks about the earths energy grid and subtle energies. It's great to have a book like this around, because even if it doesn't go into detail about each and every healing technique, or energy system, it provides a reference for you to branch out from. I just truly enjoy this sort of book. A lot you can learn from it.

5 comments about Light on Yoga: The Bible of Modern Yoga....

1. The thoroughness of guru Iyengar's approach to yogasana is beyond doubt. It is complete, with precautions and adaptation for beginners and challenges to the most advanced practitioners. My opinion is that his approach is the best because it stresses on correct alignment and relaxation (quite unlike power-yoga and heat-yoga that "married" to western culture and "forgotten" the spiritualism of this old Eastern practice). Fair to say, when a body is heated up (or warmed up) it would be easier for one to stretch one's muscles and tendons. This is the western/exercise approach of warming up before the REAL exercise. In Eastern approach, on the other hand, the warm-up is through relaxation/(standing) meditation plus generation of heat through circulation of prana.
   
   Here we come to one interesting point. Mr. Iyengar devoted a full (but small) chapter to pranayama. He even wrote a book separately on the subject. And, in his more recent book Light on Life, he clearly said that prana in Yoga is the same as chi in Chinese. AND, in his Light on Pranayama, he clearly taught us that some important aspect/component of pranayama should be learned in yogasana (for example, on page 97 of Light on Pranayama, he wrote "It (mula bandha) should be learnt while doing various asanas, especially tadasana, sirsasana, sarvangasana, urdhva dhanurasana, ustrasana and paschi mottanasana"). YET, this teaching method of his in Light on Pranayama has not been mentioned in his Light on Yoga.
   
   I think there are two reasons: first, as Mr. Iyengar said in his Light on Life, he had been teaching yogasana for a few years BEFORE he started learning pranayama in 1944. That means what he learned from his guru was that yogasana was taught without pranayama, hence he didn't have that first-hand learning (and consequently teaching) experience of incorporating pranayama into a teaching of yogasana. The second reason, I believe more important, is that there are simply too many asanas to be learned from Mr. Iyengar's system! There simply ain't so many people nowadays who can devote so much time and energy to learn most of Mr. Iyengar's yogasanas!
   
   From Mr. Iyengar's book Light on Life, perhaps of his age, he seems to want to bring in more spirituality into his system of yoga practice. The first step is likely to incorporate his pranayama into his yogasana system, with a radical rationalization/re-organization of his asanas. Perhaps the training method of taoist/chi teaching might be useful reference (quit-pro-quo, many training systems have incorporated some forms of yogasana). Perhaps we shouldn't labour our guru to this new task, perhaps his family or his senior students should be taking over this task, or perhaps it has already be done - that would be good news for all learners of yoga who like to keep the classic eastern tradition (instead of jumping around in a heated room).



2. My mom recommended this book to me as "the definitive authority" on yoga. Iyengar is one of the original teachers who brought yoga to the west, and you can tell by the way he explains everything. It's a serious textbook though, it's not for a casual person who's just interested in flexibility. There's amazing pictures and detailed descriptions of the philosophy behind a yogic lifestyle, including background on the 8 limbs of yoga, but most of all Iyengar describes how to get into each asana properly, including proper breathing technique, where your weight should be balanced, where you should feel a stretch, when you should/should not do different asanas...Light on Yoga is best for someone who wants to dig deeper into yoga and learn about the total package. I would agree with my mom, it's the definitive authority.



3. Essential book for those who are interested in detailed information about assanas and studying Iyengar yoga



4. I purchased this book ( Light on Yoga: The Bible of Modern Yoga...) and the book came in excelent condition ( I purchased it new). I really like the book and I only saw it on here, Amazon. The delivery it was very fast (I asked for that) and without problems (or extra money :P). So I'm very happy with this purchase.



5. I bought this book just to see what was in it. I use it in conjunction with two others I have...all Iyengar yoga. As a beginner, I'm careful and some of the poses are amazing. I'll still with my props.

5 comments about Yoga Anatomy.

1. Great book for poses (asanas) and the muscles that are worked in each pose. Wonderful depictions of the human anatomy.



2. I've gotten into the first chapter, but I'm not aware I was breathing through moving my stomach rather than moving my ribcage. This perpetuates bad posture, further difficulty breathing, and the strain of a body out of alignment. I've been a sloucher all my life, and I'm trying to break out of that and this book is helping. Worth every penny so far!



3. Good book that covers the physiological aspects of yoga and how the body moves and stretches in poses.



4. As a yoga instructor I find this book extremely helpful to show students which muscles to activate and release for complicated poses. The visuals along with text and explanation assist in understand injuries and possible recommending poses for rehab. Addition, the insight on the human breath and the transition from embryo to human life is amazing. In all the anatomy classes over the years no one has covered how some smaller blood vessels of the baby while in the womb transition to ligaments in the last tri-mester. I guess that is similar to how baby knee caps are developed when they start to crawl. Highly recommended book.



5. I lost mine on the airplane and need another one asap, cant live without it in doing my lesson plans for my classes!!! Great book!!!

5 comments about Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia.

1. After reading parts one and two I stopped. I was so disappointed; I'd hoped to read a book to which I could say Yes! Yes! Yes! all the way through.
   
   I couldn't say Yes to Italy. As many of the 1* reviews complain, all she does is whine. I do not like to read long essays on depression and loneliness. I groaned all the way along and skipped huge chunks here. A few sentences would have done the trick. Also, if there's one thing I can't stand is people complaining of the consequences of their own actions. SHE wanted to leave her husband! SHE made that move! The adult thing to do in that case is accept that life doesn't always adapt to your plans for it; that her husband's reaction is the consequence of HER decision. Stand up like a woman, for God's sake, and don't go on and on about how generous you were and how mean he is!
   
   I'd have preferred more about Italian culture than about its food. I'm really not into self indulgence, telling yourself how much you're worth it, how much you deserve to be spoilt, and gorging! She came over as a privileged [...] with an overblown sense of entitlement.
   
   The India part really bothered me. Not because I'm a devoted Christian or anything like that, but because I have been connected to a highly respected, authentic Indian ashram for almost 40 years and the picture she presents is so very misleading. I'm concerned that the millions reading this book will get the wrong impression.
   
   First of all: the way to find a true Guru is not to walk into somebody's house, see a picture of a beautiful woman, and declare "I want a spiritual guide too!" And then unquestioningly accept that beautiful woman as your Guru. Back in the days, finding a real Guru came only after a prolonged and difficult period of intense searching, and even today it should not come easily. Real Gurus are few and far between, today more than ever. Today there's a veritable supermarket of gurus (note the lower case!) and if you don't want to get into trouble then PLEASE BE CAREFUL, and DO YOUR RESEARCH. There are a lot of moneymakers out there. A lot of scams. A lot of powerhungry people who speak authoritively and use their charisma for non-spiritual ends. Yoga and meditation is big business. Google is your friend. Accept nothing at face value; be as sceptical as the most hardened atheist.
   
   I researched Gilbert's guru and unfortunately her record is not clean. Her guru's guru was involved in sex scandals; there are financial and power issues going on in the organisation. Generally, any organisation that attracts thousands of Americans/Westerners and charges overpriced fees for meditation is suspect. A genuine Guru just does not do this. The Ashram I go to never charges a penny, not even for food. It is all free, has been for almost a century, and that is how it should be. Beware of sex scandals and power struggles. A spiritual teacher can climb very high, but at those heights the ego gets particulalry slippery and that's when the power trips begin. I know many lovely, sincere seekers who belong to a similar cult with the same issues, and it breaks my heart for friends whose trust was abused and eventually destroyed with gurus unworthy of the name. I hope Gilbert manages to free herself one day. And I hope her readers are more discriminating than her.
   
   It took me several days before I could stomach the Indonesia section, and I'm glad to say that it redeemed the first two parts. Here, I really connected to Gilbert and cheered her on. I was happy (and a little envious!) when she found Felipe. What a delightful man! She did well by her friends in Bali, and was obviously loved by them (another thing I did not like in the India part was that almost no Indians featured in it!) Gilbert really blossomed in Bali, became a full woman, and it seems to me this was more "her" than the Ashram Liz. So the trip was worth it; she did grow out of her narcissism and is to be commended for that.
   
   The book is a light read; she does know how to engage the reader. This should however not be taken as a life-changing spiritual manual. It's new age fluff, but as such adequate.
   So, my verdict of the book is: No. No. Yes! Good luck to her.



2. This was a book I'd been looking for and was happy to find it for such a great price. Came in great condition and in great timeing.



3. I am enjoying this book more than any other book in a very long time, and I read a lot. However most of the books I read are of a practical nature, rarely do I read fiction, or books for fun. I picked this up because the author was in Italy, which is a fantasy of mine, Venice in particular... I thought I'd page through it. One night, as I was headed to bed, I picked it up to see how it started... I ended up standing in my living room for 3 chapters reading, enthralled. I find myself re-reading paragraphs, rolling the words around my mouth. Mostly I envy her, both her travels, adventures, and journey of self-discovery, and also her writing style. It is beautiful, descriptive, and engrossing. I do see others' point, in that she does seem a little self- consumed, but it IS a memoir ... I read many books focusing on the needs and tragedies on earth( I have 9 children, 5 of whom were adopted from 3rd world countries), and its a nice change sometimes to live vicariously through someone who can live onto herself, once in awhile. Although It is not my own path.
   I do not have to agree with her, and do not on many points, especially her religious perspective... to enjoy it- but it is amazingly written, and a joy to read.
   Read it, enjoy it!



4. I'm perplexed by all the negative reviews about the author being self-centered. This is a book about her so of course it's going to be "about her". The author is genuine and honest. I relate to what she went through in her first marriage and I completely understand the need for her to find herself. If all of us could just get up and go to 3 countries in a year...
   I found the second part of the book to be a bit tough to get through in the beginning but as she started to "get" the meditation for what it is supposed to be, it got a little easier to read.
   I think any woman who has gone through a not-so-great marriage and then decides to divorce will relate to this book and the author's feelings.
   I can't wait to read her new book, Committed.



5. The book is really fantastic, and it came in brand new condition. I would highly recommend it.