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This book was created with one goal in mind: to demystify yoga for you, and provide you with a clear and simple introduction to this form of exercise. Despite considerable evidence to the contrary, the notion seems to persist that yoga is a religious following, and that to experience its many health benefits somehow obliges one to renounce their faith or, worse, run away to some commune and eat tofu in between chanting sessions. Yet that vision of yoga is by no means the overall picture. Yoga is really a very simple, accessible, and, in many countries around the world, ordinary thing to do. So this book will explain what yoga is (a form of exercise), what it is not (a religion), and what it can do for you (greatly increase your flexibility and dramatically improve your overall health).

What is inside the book?

According to the description, the book explains what yoga is, a form of exercise, what it is not, a religion, and what it can do for you.

Who wrote Taking the Mystery Out of Yoga?

According to the title, the book is by Ben Carmichael.

What does Taking the Mystery Out of Yoga cover?

The book description says the book was written to demystify yoga and give a clear and simple introduction to it as a form of exercise.

What does it promise about health?

The Amazon description says yoga can “greatly increase your flexibility and dramatically improve your overall health”. That is the description’s wording, not a medical claim made here.

Do I need experience to use it?

The description calls the book a “clear and simple introduction”.

This summary of the book description is not medical advice.

What are common myths about yoga?

Three myths put people off. The first is that you must be flexible. Flexibility is something practice develops, and the NIH National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) page on yoga shows that mild, slow classes are on offer. The second is that yoga is only for the young or the fit. The third is that it is entirely religious, when many classes are taught as exercise.

The tradition’s roots are in Indian philosophy and spiritual practice, so it is fair to say yoga has spiritual origins, but a class can be as secular as you want.

Another myth is that yoga cannot injure you. The same page says injuries do happen, mostly sprains and strains, and serious injuries are rare. Take beginner classes, tell the teacher about any health problems and ask a doctor if you are unsure whether yoga suits you.

Related on this blog: A Ten-Minute Yoga Routine for Low-Energy Days: Six Simple Moves and No Time for Yoga? How a Few Minutes a Day Can Still Count

Book: Taking the Mystery Out of Yoga by Ben Carmichael
View this book on Amazon (affiliate link: we may earn a commission at no cost to you)