Author Archive

Tantric Yoga and the Wisdom Goddesses by David Frawley

by on Thursday, November 24th, 2011

This book presents the meditational and mantric side of Tantra, which is the more common side of Tantra, which is the more common side of Tantra practiced in India. It is written from the standpoint of a practitioner and also from one trained in Ayurveda (yogic medicine). It tries to present the living spirit and practice of Tantra, rather than just another academic view. The book is divided into three primary sections; with the fourth as an Appendix.

Tantric Yoga and the Wisdom Goddess is an excellent introduction to the essence of Hindu Tantrism. The author discusses all the major concepts and offers valuable corrections for many existing misconceptions. He also introduces the reader to the core Tantric practices of meditation and mantra recitation, focusing on the Ten Wisdom Goddesses.

What is inside the book?

It says the author discusses the major concepts of Hindu Tantrism, offers corrections to existing misconceptions, and introduces the core practices of meditation and mantra recitation with a focus on the Ten Wisdom Goddesses. The book is divided into three primary sections, with a fourth as an appendix.

Who wrote Tantric Yoga and the Wisdom Goddesses?

The author named in the title is David Frawley. The description says the book is written from the standpoint of a practitioner who is also trained in Ayurveda, which it calls yogic medicine.

What kind of book is Tantric Yoga and the Wisdom Goddesses?

The Amazon description says the book presents the meditational and mantric side of Tantra and tries to convey its living spirit and practice rather than just another academic view.

Do I need experience to use it?

The description calls it an “excellent introduction to the essence of Hindu Tantrism”, although it does not say how much background you need.

Summary based on the book description on Amazon.

What is a mantra, and how does it relate to meditation?

Mantra practice appears in many traditions. The NCCIH meditation and mindfulness overview describes a mantra as a repeated word or phrase and notes that some forms of meditation keep attention on a sensation such as the breath, a sound, an image or a mantra.

A secular approach, such as mindfulness-based stress reduction, borrows the technique without the belief.

Meditation is usually considered low-risk, but the same page says few studies have looked for harm, and a 2020 review found that about 8 percent of participants had a negative effect. If a practice makes you feel worse, stop and speak with a health professional.

Related on this blog: Hatha Yoga Beyond the Workout: What “Hatha” Means, Its Traditional Aim and How to Practice Safely and A Short History of Yoga: From Ancient Texts to Hatha Classes and a Record Number of Americans

Book: Tantric Yoga and the Wisdom Goddesses by David Frawley
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Yoga for All of Us by Peggy Cappy

by on Tuesday, November 22nd, 2011

You can enjoy the benefits of yoga – whatever your age, ability, or level of activity, even if you have never been able to participate in traditional yoga classes. This accessible guide to gentle yoga stretches and poses will help ease you into the world of this beneficial exercise. Experienced yoga instructor Peggy Cappy will help you gain energy, flexibility, and focus, through modified poses that will help strengthen and stretch your muscles and bring you peace of mind.

PEGGY CAPPY began her study of yoga 33 years ago after a trip to India where she first saw yoga practiced. Peggy created Yoga for the Rest of Us because of her interaction with a special group of senior citizens that she has been teaching for sixteen years. The average age of the group is 78 and the oldest student is 98. Peggy lives in Dublin, New Hampshire

What will I learn from it?

It is described as an accessible guide to gentle yoga stretches and poses, using modified poses to strengthen and stretch muscles. The description says the aim is more energy, flexibility, focus and peace of mind.

Who is the intended reader?

The book description says it is for people of any age, ability or level of activity, even if they have never been able to take part in traditional yoga classes.

Do I need experience to use it?

According to the description, the book “will help ease you into the world” of yoga.

Who is the author?

The author is Peggy Cappy, an experienced yoga instructor. The description says she began studying yoga 33 years ago after a trip to India, and that she has taught a group of senior citizens for sixteen years, with an average age of 78 and the oldest student aged 98.

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

Can I try yoga if I have limited mobility or have never exercised?

The MedlinePlus exercise for older adults page says that if you have not been active you can start slowly and build up, and that your provider can advise on what is right for you.

The NIH National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) page on yoga confirms that gentle styles exist, and it recommends learning under a qualified instructor who can offer modifications. Pay attention to pain rather than ambition: a stretch should feel like mild tension, not a sharp or pinching sensation.

Ask a doctor first if you use a walking aid, have balance problems, or manage a chronic illness.

Related on this blog: How to Choose a Yoga Video for Beginners (and What a Good One Teaches) and Basic Yoga Postures and Their Variations: Cobra, Bow and Shooting Bow Step by Step

Book: Yoga for All of Us by Peggy Cappy
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A Woman’s Book of Yoga by Machelle Seibel

by on Thursday, November 17th, 2011

A Woman’s Book of Yoga, by Machelle M. Seibel, M.D. together with renowned yogini Hari Kaur Khalsa, shows how every woman can embrace the feminine energy of creation to enhance her physical and spiritual development.

Interest in yoga is at an all-time high, especially among women. Whether readers wish to begin the practice or are already involved in yoga, this innovative book will help them understand the unique benefits yoga provides for a woman’s health and mental well-being.

The authors lead women of all ages through the health and life cycles specific to females by illustrating the spiritual and physical advantages of Kundalini yoga, as taught by yoga master Yogi Bhajan. Hari Khalsa applies ancient wisdom to explain how to determine and enhance one’s own special relationship with the mind, body, and soul. Using his expertise on women’s health issues, Dr. Siebel reveals the scientific basis for yoga’s positive effects on the brain. Together, Dr. Siebel and Hari Khalsa create a dialogue of spiritualism and science, elucidating how every woman can reap the rewards of yoga for a lifetime.

Machelle M. Siebel, M.D., is a reproductive endocrinologist at the Fertility Center of New England and a clinical professor of gynecology and obstetrics at Boston University School of Medicine. He is an expert in alternative and nutritional approaches to gynecology.
Hari Kaur Khalsa is one of the most respected Kundalini yoga and meditation teachers in the world, and has created specialized yoga programs for pregnant women, senior citizens, and youngsters. She lives in the Boston area.

Book: A Woman’s Book of Yoga by Machelle Seibel
View this book on Amazon (affiliate link: we may earn a commission at no cost to you)

Buddha Baby Yoga Mom

by on Tuesday, November 15th, 2011

Practicing yoga with your baby–as you hold your baby, have your baby next to you, or have your baby leaning against your thighs or atop your belly–is a wonderful way to add joy to your first year together. Popular yoga teacher Jyothi Larson shares the specially adapted yoga poses she has taught to hundreds of moms and their “Buddha babies,” her term for the happy and calm babies in her classes.
Whether you are new to yoga or an experienced student, whatever shape you are in, you are in the perfect place to practice yoga. In this beautifully illustrated book with easy-to-follow instructions, Larson presents twenty routines that help you get back in shape faster as you bond with your baby. Included are:
– prenatal yoga, with a focus on the last trimester
– what to do after birth through the first six weeks, with special poses for women who have had C-sections
– modified yoga poses that respect your changing post-pregnancy body and give all of yoga’s benefits–stretching, strengthening, and relaxing
– fun yoga moves that encourage your baby’s natural flexibility and growth
– breathing and relaxation exercises as well as partner postures
and much more!
Experience the joy of yoga while bonding with your baby.

View this book on Amazon (affiliate link: we may earn a commission at no cost to you)

The Yoga of Sound Russill Paul

by on Sunday, November 13th, 2011

Yoga and music, two powerful approaches to optimal health, have garnered enormous credibility in the western world. Health, we are fast realizing, is not simply the absence of disease: it is a condition of soul that invigorates our being, enabling us to derive the most from life. The Yoga of Sound as a powerful spiritual system that unifies the healing principles found in yoga and music into an effective practice. Requiring neither the extreme physical flexibility of yoga postures, nor the complexities of music, The Yoga of Sound combines the best of both these worlds.

This book is a comprehensive text on the Yoga of Sound both, as a tradition and as an integrated spiritual system. Filled with exercises, the package also includes a 45 minute teaching CD that clearly describes the practice and application of mantras expounded in the book.

by Russill Paul. For thousands of years Hindu spirituality has understood the profound effect that sound has on our well-being. From this tradition comes The Yoga of Sound, which draws on yoga’s long history of applying sound to reduce stress, maintain health, and invoke spiritual awakenings. In lucid exercises presented both in the book and on accompanying downloadable audio tracks, Russill Paul shows how everyone can learn the art of mantra and how these practices can help to optimize the flow of energy within the body and enhance emotional well-being.

Book: The Yoga of Sound by Russill Paul
View this book on Amazon (affiliate link: we may earn a commission at no cost to you)