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In this step by step program Swami Rama Outlines the basic physical exercise mental discipline and ethical commitments of Raja Yoga the Royal Path to self transfromation and enlightmen.

What can readers expect to find inside?

The basics named are physical exercise, mental discipline and ethical commitments.

What is Lessons on Yoga: Royal Path about?

The description calls it a step by step program in which Swami Rama outlines the basics of Raja Yoga, the Royal Path to self transformation and enlightenment.

This summary is based on the book description on the Amazon page. The description is brief, so look at the Amazon page for the full contents.

What is Raja yoga, and how does it relate to meditation and relaxation?

“Raja” is the Sanskrit word for king, and Raja yoga is often called the royal path. Within the classical tradition it is associated with mental discipline, ethics and meditation rather than with advanced postures. The NCCIH yoga and safety page describes yoga as originally a spiritual discipline, with classical yoga covering far more than the physical postures.

Mental training of this kind overlaps with techniques studied today. The NCCIH page on relaxation techniques describes relaxation techniques as practices that help bring about the body’s “relaxation response”, characterized by slower breathing, lower blood pressure and a reduced heart rate. It lists breathing exercises, meditation, yoga, tai chi and qigong among the approaches. Slow, deep breathing is a good starting point, because it needs no equipment and can be done in a few minutes.

On the research side, the NCCIH meditation page calls meditation generally safe, yet a review found around 8 percent of participants reporting an unwelcome effect, so go slowly and stop if it feels distressing. People with a mental health condition should speak to a clinician before intensive practice. Nothing here is treatment advice. Begin with a few minutes a day.

More on this blog: Where Did Yoga Come From? Its Meaning, Early Texts and What Scholars Can Say and A Short History of Yoga: From Ancient Texts to Hatha Classes and a Record Number of Americans

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Yoga is hotter than ever, influencing everything from music and entertainment to the latest fashions. For the millions of stylish young women everywhere who are rolling out their yoga mats, breathing deeply, and chanting Om, theres YOGA CHICK. Its portable calm in a fashionable format, and a welcome break from every day stress and drama. YOGA CHICK offers six complete yoga practices, each addressing a different need (stress relief, energy boosting, muscle building, and more). It also includes tips on getting the most out of a workout, health and wellness advice, recipes for smoothies and teas, and journaling exercises. Lively sidebars explore aspects of the yoga lifestyle, such as the chakras, gems, aromatherapy, and much more, while charming two-color illustrations depict poses and embellish pages throughout.

What kind of book is Yoga Chick?

The description describes it as portable calm in a fashionable format. Its sidebars cover aspects of the yoga lifestyle such as chakras, gems and aromatherapy, and two-color illustrations show the poses.

Who is the intended reader?

The description addresses “the millions of stylish young women” who are rolling out yoga mats.

What will I learn from it?

It lists six complete yoga practices that each address a different need, such as stress relief, energy boosting and muscle building. The book also has tips for getting the most out of a workout, health and wellness advice, recipes for smoothies and teas, and journaling exercises.

This summary is based on the book description on the Amazon page.

How do I choose a yoga class?

Studios offer styles from gentle to vigorous, and the first decision is how hard you want to work. The NCCIH guidance on yoga points out the range and advises asking about the instructor’s training and experience. Look for a beginners’ label, a small class size and a teacher who offers options.

Wear something stretchy that stays put, bring water, and treat the mat as your own space rather than a stage. Social media can make yoga look like a fashion contest, but the Harvard Health article on yoga notes that studios typically do not have mirrors, so people can turn attention inward rather than comparing how poses look.

Pregnant, injured or unwell? Tell the teacher and your doctor before you begin.

Related on this blog: What Is Yoga? and Yoga for Women: A Gentle Morning Routine for Beginners

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Leza Lowitz is a much-published writer and director of Sun and Moon Yoga Studio in Tokyo.

“A must-have for anyone who is new and serious about exporing the subject further. Also recommended for advanced practitioners who may want to ‘brush-up’ on their Sanskrit.” — Yoga Magazine UK

“This slim volume is a lot more than its title lets on.” — The Asian Reporter

“…A joy to read: it has accuracy in its translations, beauty in its presentation, and conveys the spiritual richness of the yogic tradition. It will definitely enrich the life of many yoga teachers and students.” — Ascent Magazine

Joseph Campbell called Sanskrit “the great spiritual language of the world.” Designed by ancient Indian holy men to express the states of enlightened consciousness through syllabic sounds, Sanskrit is widely used in the West during yoga practice to channel spiritual pathways and to discuss important meditative and philosophical concepts. This book introduces 180 Sanskrit words (including chakra, karma, om, namaste, veda, nirvana) with Devanagari scripts, pronunciations, chants and brief cultural/historic explanations. A practical reference that makes an excellent gift book for any student of yoga, meditation or Eastern religion.

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This highly original book introduces a fascinating new approach to yoga and Torah by combining the practice of classic yoga postures with traditional and mystical Jewish wisdom. Each chapter begins by presenting a central Jewish spiritual concept that engages readers of all faiths on a personal level. It offers an in-depth exploration of the concept, quoting and commenting on sacred Jewish texts from the Pentateuch (Five Books of Moses) and other sources. It then guides its readers with mastery and clarity through a meditation and a set of fundamental yoga postures–clearly illustrated by beautiful photographs–for both beginning and advanced yoga students. The Torah concept is actualized and experienced through the practice of these postures. Torah Yoga helps to heighten awareness of body, mind, and spirit it illuminates the heart of Jewish wisdom. Includes more than 100 photographs.(192 Pages)

What will I learn from it?

Each chapter starts with a central Jewish spiritual concept and explores it by quoting and commenting on sacred Jewish texts from the Pentateuch and other sources. It then guides the reader through a meditation and a set of fundamental yoga postures, illustrated with photographs.

What does Torah Yoga cover?

The description calls it a book that combines classic yoga postures with traditional and mystical Jewish wisdom.

Who is this book written for?

The Amazon description says the concepts engage readers of all faiths, and that the postures are meant for both beginning and advanced yoga students.

Summary based on the book description on Amazon.

How do people combine yoga with religious practice?

Yoga began as a spiritual practice, the NCCIH yoga and safety page explains, rooted in Indian philosophy, and it is now practised by people of many backgrounds. Some adapt the physical side to their own tradition, using prayer, study or reflection alongside movement. Others keep yoga purely as exercise. There is no single correct way, and the choice is personal.

If you want to bring religious meaning to your practice, look for teachers who respect your tradition and for study partners within your community. If you prefer a secular class, say so when you choose a studio. In either case, the movement itself is the same: slow postures, steady breath and attention.

As with any exercise, speak with your doctor if you have injuries or health conditions, and learn the poses under guidance.

More on this blog: A Short History of Yoga: From Ancient Texts to Hatha Classes and a Record Number of Americans and Where Did Yoga Come From? Its Meaning, Early Texts and What Scholars Can Say

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As interest in yoga continues to grow ever more broadly in the U.S., more and more Americans are trying out yoga and discovering its benefits. At the same time, millions of people who already practice yoga are finding that it can play many different roles in their life—from physical release to spiritual growth—and wonder how to unlock that potential fully. The Yoga Mind offers a bridge between yoga as a physical practice and yoga as a spiritual inquiry. A wide-ranging, considered investigation of the deep mind-body connection yoga promotes, it includes the best work of great yoga teachers and philosophers, as well as contemporary yoga teachers and practitioners who draw wisdom and insight from their practice. Selections include writings by Patanjali, B. K. S. Iyenger, Judith Lasater, Margot Anand, Stephen Cope, Geeta Iyengar, Jon Kabat-Zinn, Erich Schiffman, and many others. The Yoga Mind is for people who want to explore yoga’s deepest potential to change and enhance their lives on the physical, emotional, and spiritual planes.

Book: The Joy of Yoga by Jennifer Schwamm Willis
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