Posts Tagged ‘Yoga’

Lovers’ Yoga by Darrin Zeer

by on Saturday, August 20th, 2011

Best-selling author Darrin Zeer knows it takes two to tango—and two to yoga! His latest winner, Lovers’ Yoga, shows how easy it is for couples to indulge in nurturing, soothing partner exercises to relax, rejuvenate, and create deep, lasting bonds.

Delightfully illustrated, this little handbook outlines 60 surprisingly simple stretches organized into five chapters-Playful, Powerful, Peaceful, Patient, and Passionate. The exercises build on one another, so couples can indulge in one stretch, a chapter sequence, or the entire book from beginning to end. Whether time allows for a few minutes or a few hours, Lovers’ Yoga aims to renew the connection and reignite the passion. Darrin Zeer is the author of several popular books. He traveled in Asia for seven years, studying the Eastern arts of healing. He has appeared widely in the media and currently teaches Lovers’ Yoga workshops at luxurious resorts worldwide. Thorina Rose is a San Francisco-based illustrator. Her whimsical drawings have appeared in Office Kama Sutra and numerous publications.

Darrin Zeer is the author of several popular books, including Office Yoga (0-8118-2685-6), Office Spa (0-8118-3345-3), Office Feng Shui (0-8118-4215-0), and, most recently, Travel Yoga (0-8118-4503-6). He traveled in Asia for seven years, studying the Eastern arts of healing. He has appeared widely in the media and currently teaches Lovers’ Yoga workshops at luxurious resorts worldwide.
Thorina Rose is a San Francisco based illustrator. Her whimsical drawings have appeared in Office Kama Sutra (0-8118-3138-8) and numerous publications.

Book: Lovers’ Yoga by Darrin Zeer
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Heart Yoga by Andrew Harvey

by on Monday, August 15th, 2011

In Heart Yoga renowned spiritual writer and Sacred Activist Andrew Harvey and longtime yoga teacher Karuna Erickson present a vision of hatha yoga practice that links ancient spiritual traditions to contemporary life. Including excerpts of poetic sacred writing from mystical sages through the ages the book reminds readers that the purpose of yoga is not to improve one’s physical health or even to achieve peace of mind (although these results may be achieved along the way) but to reach a state of unity with the divine the goal of mystics from all traditions. With detailed descriptions and photographs of fifty yoga poses and their alchemical effects on the body and consciousness Heart Yoga presents yoga as a simple meditative practice that enables the practitioner to dwell in the heart and experience the bliss of union with the sacred power underlying all of life. The book explains how to prepare for Heart Yoga and describes the “Five Great Joys” that are part of the path. Included are the authors’ own compelling stories of their individual journeys along the path of yoga: stories of suffering transcendence and joy that both inspire and enlighten. From the Trade Paperback edition.

Book: Heart Yoga by Andrew Harvey
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Structural Yoga Therapy by Mukunda Stiles

by on Monday, August 8th, 2011

Structural Yoga Therapy has been written for teachers and serious practitioners who want to use yoga to bring complete balance to the body. Mukunda Stiles begins by providing a comprehensive overview of the spiritual philosophy of yoga, and its many branches. He discusses everything that a beginning student needs to consider when choosing a practice, including how to find a yoga teacher. He also shares his solid understanding of anatomy and kinesiology (how specific muscles and bones react during movement) so that you can understand how each asana affects your body.

Structural Yoga Therapy “TM” involves a series of 24 asanas. You’ll learn “body-reading” to determine what your posture reveals about muscular imbalances. You’ll find out about joint mobility and muscle strength and learn how to work with a series of joint-freeing exercises to strengthen muscles.

Once you are fully acquainted with your individual needs, Stiles teaches you how to synthesize a personalized program from the 24 Structural Yoga asanas to optimize health and healing. This valuable textbook is also useful for anyone working in physical therapy, myofascial release techniques, or other forms of massage.

Book: Structural Yoga Therapy by Mukunda Stiles
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Yoga for Wellness by Gary Kraftsow

by on Sunday, August 7th, 2011

This thoughtful and heady book approaches Yoga from both a personal and therapeutic angle. This is typical of the Viniyoga tradition, which tailors practice to individual needs. Gary Kraftsow, a world-renowned Viniyoga instructor, illustrates in words and over a thousand photographs why Yoga is (or should be) a holistic practice, which takes all aspects of a person’s well-being into consideration.

Although the first part of this book goes over the basics, it is not really for a Yoga novice. Rather, it’s for those who want to add depth to their practice by exploring the Viniyoga tradition. Kraftsow goes deeply into breathing, and explains the importance of sequencing postures and also touches on sound and props. The basic poses are discussed, as are the risks of each type of posture (forward and backward bends, lateral bends, twists, extensions, inversions and balance). This is merely the beginning. The next two hundred pages – the therapeutic applications, called Yoga Cikitsa – are really the meat of book.

Kraftsow doesn’t just throw out a few healing sequences, he sets the stage by talking a bit about anatomy and the different systems of the human body. Then he reveals how the Yoga postures work to help with each condition – back problems, asthma, hyper and hypo-tension and thyroid conditions, to name a few. He also devotes a whole chapter to Yoga and emotional health, an area that is all-too often neglected. Anyone who has practiced Yoga seriously for a while has noticed that breakthroughs in their practice tend to coincide with emotional breakthroughs. It doesn’t take a big leap to understand the healing relationship Asana can have on the emotions.

This is not a book for the casual Yoga enthusiast who pops into class now and again to gain a bit of flexibility. It’s for those who are fascinated by Yoga’s complexity, and who want to add more facets of it to their practice.

Book: Yoga for Wellness by Gary Kraftsow
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Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramhansa Yogananda

by on Saturday, July 30th, 2011

Ananda and Crystal Clarity Publishers are pleased to announce the online publication of the complete first edition of Paramhansa Yogananda’s Autobiography of a Yogi.

Through this online version, we hope to make Yogananda’s spiritual classic freely available to seekers throughout the world. The print version of the 1946 Autobiography is available direct from Crystal Clarity Publishers through secure online ordering. We hope you enjoy this free gift of the first online edition.

Ananda was founded by Swami Kriyananda, a direct disciple of Yogananda. Kriyananda was inspired by his guru to start ‘World Brotherhood Colonies’. Ananda, and its sister colonies throughout the world, are the fulfillment of Yogananda’s dream. See Chapter 48, in this 1946 edition, to read Yogananda’s own words on World Brotherhood Colonies.

This is a verbatim reproduction of the original 1946 edition, complete with the original photos, many of them not seen since earlier editions. Although subsequent printings, reflecting revisions made after the Yogananda’s death in 1952, have sold over a million copies and have been translated into more than 19 languages, the few thousand of the original have long since disappeared into the hands of collectors.

Now, with this online version, the 1946 edition is widely available, with all its inherent power, just as Yogananda first presented it.

Book: Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramhansa Yogananda
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