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How Yoga Works
The secrets of how yoga works to make us truly whole are revealed here in a delightful story based on how these precious teachings reached Tibet form their home in India, over a thousand years ago.
Paperback, 406 pages
Published
September 1st 2005
by Diamond Cutter Press
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Roach and McNally again seek to explain Buddhist spiritual principles, this time to an audience interested in the practice of yoga. They develop a sort of fable as a vehicle. Thousands of years ago in a small border town between India and Tibet, an 18 year old Tibetan woman who has studied yoga with a master, passes with her dog. She's incarcerated and begins transforming the jail and its inhabitants through her teaching of yoga. I just kept thinking a historian would cringe repeatedly at the si...more
Really wanted to like this book. Yoga teachers who I respect highly recommended it. I don't object to the content but rather to the vehicle--a dramatic tale ostensibly set in an ancient Indian kingdom.
First, I have a low tolerance for historical inaccuracy in fiction. Details of language, culture, dress, science and technology--did anybody edit the text for that? For example, the story, set in the 11th or 12th century, BCE, contains casual dialogue about oxygen and the respiratory system--none o...more
First, I have a low tolerance for historical inaccuracy in fiction. Details of language, culture, dress, science and technology--did anybody edit the text for that? For example, the story, set in the 11th or 12th century, BCE, contains casual dialogue about oxygen and the respiratory system--none o...more
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This is a great book for people who are interested in yoga but don't know much about it. And I don't mean just the outer practice of poses and stretches, the book goes into some of the inner practice and how powerful they can be when done along with the outer practices, enhancing their effects. It does this within the setting of a heart-warming story, and frequently quotes and explains some of the Yoga Sutras by Patanjali. I looked forward to reading this book every day until it was finished, th...more
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It will probably resonate more for yogis, but everybody should read this--it's full of wonderfully quotable bits to sink your thoughts into. Both during and after reading it, I find myself thinking of it throughout my day. There are some small parts I'm still not sure I agree with on a philosophical level (more specifically, existential and ethical)--but even those points of contention are worthwhile ideas for me to contemplate.
Apparently (based on others' reviews), there are some concerns about...more
Apparently (based on others' reviews), there are some concerns about...more
I thoroughly enjoyed this read. In fact, I savored the last couple chapters for the continuously evocative wisdom each page shared. While at times the story moved slowly, the momentum of the story matched the messages within. This book reaffirms the notion that every human being has a purpose, a unique gift, to use in their life to benefit themselves and the lives of others, that they might not necessarily realize they have until some time along their journey, they are called upon to use their g...more
This book recasts the yoga sutra into a novel. In that way, the reader gets to see how yoga practice/philosophy might be enacted, and this is, I found, a useful pedagogy. The author is no literary stylist. If beautiful writing is important to you, you may be distracted by the limitations of this material. However, I learned a lot, and it helped me better understand yoga precepts in terms of a practical spirituality. I borrowed the book from a friend and will now probably purchase my own copy, so...more
Very mediocre as a story, but a nice explanation of yoga philosophy. The historical inaccuracies in the characters' style of speech and interactions was a little hard to overlook, however the overall message delivered was a good one. I wouldn't recommend it as the only book on yoga for someone to read, but some of the analogies and presentations of concepts did make certain things more clear as well as stick in my mind. I love the knocking on the pipes analogy. :)
3stars may be a little generous,...more
3stars may be a little generous,...more
I agree with many reviewers that the vehicle used to teach the essence of yoga is rather weak. The credibility of the characters, setting and language are quite incredulous for a tale set in 1000AD, and the writing style for a novel-like book is rather amateurish and long-winded.
But if you set aside the weaknesses of the story-telling, which is merely a vehicle used to teach yogic philosophy, then you would find that there are gems for personal growth. This book sets out to teach core points of...more
But if you set aside the weaknesses of the story-telling, which is merely a vehicle used to teach yogic philosophy, then you would find that there are gems for personal growth. This book sets out to teach core points of...more
this book is OKAY. it can help introduce some of the concepts of the practice to someone who might otherwise not get into the philosophy of it. My main complaint here is that this book claims to use the yoga sutras to tella story/prove a point/talk about yoga philosophy. The "translations" of the yoga sutras used, must have been done by a stupid monkey. they have no correlation to any translation or comentary on the sutras i have ever read. skip it.
I'm giving this 4 stars not because it's an awesome book, but because without even meaning to it made think more positively and with more compassion. This is not about the physical aspect of yoga at all, but about the spiritual approach. It's a novel in the vein of Ishmael or Sophie's World that teaches a philosophy through a (pretty far-fetched) story. I definitely didn't swallow some of the ideas the books espouses, but overall I thought it was worthwhile.
Taking the wisdom from the ancient books of Tibet and India, the authors weave a story that explains what yoga is all about. Contrary to what we may have thought, stretching, twitching and turning, it's about helping others. The characters were intriguing, it was a different kind of a read and very enjoyable on many levels. However, if you have no interest in yoga or the wisdom behind it, skip this one.
I love doing Yoga - I think it keeps me moving and younger than my age in years. This book taught Yoga philosophy, but in delightful story form that kept my interest and helped me to rethink, how to think, how to help people, and how to get rid of the bad "seeds" that invade or bodies by the wrong actions we have done to others. Very thought provoking.
The story is odd in that it is supposedly set in 1100 AD, yet the conversations feel very modern. However, the presentation of yogic principles is clear and easy to understand to a modern mind, which is refreshing. I loved this book and am reading it again more slowly. I think it will be one that I read over and over again throughout the years.
Read for book club. Probably wouldn't have picked it up otherwise, but I'm glad I had the chance to read and discuss it with a group.
It's a fable, of sorts. Similar to the idea of "Who Moved my Cheese," using a simple story to illustrate something. (That's where the similarities end...) It's plainly written, but that doesn't make it a quick and easy read. It took me over a month to get through it, and I kind of skimmed parts of it.
It's made me change, in small ways, the way I react to little th...more
It's a fable, of sorts. Similar to the idea of "Who Moved my Cheese," using a simple story to illustrate something. (That's where the similarities end...) It's plainly written, but that doesn't make it a quick and easy read. It took me over a month to get through it, and I kind of skimmed parts of it.
It's made me change, in small ways, the way I react to little th...more
Mar 15, 2011
Carrie Ballard
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
anyone wanting to understand yoga or life
I found this book fantastic. It filled in so many blanks for me in a way I could understand. It could however be hard to choke down for a large number of people, and many people might have disagreeableness with it. However that's ok, the important thing is that it was read and one day it might really truly make sense.
This book was very interesting. I can agree with some comments that it is rather clumsily written, but I also agree with people who are raving about it. It is not about the yoga poses, but the ideas behind the practice of yoga. These principles are brought to light by way of a story. I would not have picked this book out on my own, but was encouraged by my daughter, a yoga instructor, to give it a try. I have finished it, am going back through to take notes to keep with me. I think this book wil...more
Great book, really enjoyed it! The story is quite enchanting and thought provoking & really shows the importance of yoga and how such a philosophy/way of being is a seed throughout life. Would highly recommend it.
Not a book for everyone. I got a lot out of it, but it is WEIRD! I read this book at the advice of a yoga teacher and I understand why she would, but this is not the best written book (in fact quite amateurish).
Really makes sense of the sutras and is a great read for anyone who wants to understand how yoga can create change and impact your life. Love this book and such a great story.
How Yoga Works is an allegorical novel that demonstrates "how yoga works" through the eyes of a young teacher in India. Great read for yogis wanting to learn more about the practice and purpose of yoga.
This book clarifies the inner happenings of a yoga practice. Helps let people understand the effects of body on mind and the other way around.
I loved this book. It puts the philosophy of yoga into a comprehensible, engaging, and enjoyable story. I have read it 3 times to date.
I recommend this book to my friends that are into Yoga. The ending did wrap up nicely and I am not easily surprised.
Mar 11, 2009
Lori
added it
Entertaining and informative... I even learned new stuff about yoga, and here I thought I knew it all already (NOT!)
How Yoga works is an amazingly smooth read that leaves you wondering how you saw the world before picking it up.
Interesting pieces of Buddhist philosophy mixed with a generalized breakdown of Patanjali's Yoga Sutras.
Highly recommended for everyone.
Interesting pieces of Buddhist philosophy mixed with a generalized breakdown of Patanjali's Yoga Sutras.
Highly recommended for everyone.
For those who practice yoga and those who do not. A beautiful story that helps one understand the mystery of yoga.
Loved this book. Yoga philosophy, in novel form. The story is great. Lessons are deep.
This book inspired me to start my own karma journal. I have really been surprised by how influential it has been on my behavior and my life in general. Even if you aren't interested in yoga (like, in the sense that you don't go stand on one leg and pretend to be a tree), the book is worth reading. It's as much a spiritual explication of the Yoga Sutras as it is a cool novel. There's actually much less stuff about the postures than you might expect. Don't let the title mislead you...it's no step-...more
Anyone who has any interest in yoga should read this book. In story form, it reveals so much about many of the Yoga Sutras that are such a key part to anyone's yoga practice. I plan on re-reading it again but it's already dog-eared all over the place!
good, easy read, makes deeper teachings accessible through story
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