Yoga Journal's Yoga Basics: The Essential Beginner's Guide to Yoga For a Lifetime of Health and Fitness

by Mara Carrico, Yoga Journal

Yoga Journal's Yoga Basics offers the first truly comprehensive introduction to the practice of this popular ancient healing art. Produced by a teacher of yoga for over 25 years and the editors of Yoga Journal, it offers all the inspiration and instruction you'll need to develop your own at-home yoga practice. Beginning with an exploration of the roots of yoga, the book goes on to describe a variety of hatha yoga styles - lyengar, Ashtanga, Kundalini, and others - so you can choose the method that's appropriate for you. Featuring easy-to-follow instructions and 140 black-and-white photographs to illustrate the postures, Yoga Basics provides a thorough understanding not only of the mechanics of technique but of all the important elements that make yoga so much more than a fitness regime. In this unique book you'll find tips on the use of the breath in yoga practice and breath awareness exercises; guidelines for regular practice, including health and safety considerations; dozens of illustrated postures - standing, seated, supine, and prone - with their benefits described; sample yoga routines that can be done in as little as 15 minutes per day; and instruction on the practice and power of meditation.

Genres: Nonfiction, Health, Reference

192 pages, Paperback

First published September 15, 1997

Reviews

[Walton]

I’ve done yoga on and off for 25 years. Having started a regular practice again for the past 6 months, I realized I’d forgotten (or never really learned ) some of the basics about breathing or how to do poses correctly. A teacher during a session can only do so much to teach property poses or remind you of the basics, so I really like having this guide and I plan to refer to it often as I practice.

I also really enjoyed the discussion about different schools and overall what yoga is and how to practice it on and off the mat.

[Em]

Great for beginners.

[Jeff]

When it says yoga basics, it means it. The way that Ms. Carrico wrote this book is fantastic. It gives enough postures to get you hooked along with enough information on how to do them (and great pictures). Then there is also the perfect, basic explanations of yoga, what it is, where it comes from, and who practices. It encourages, shows you a spiritual side (if you want it) and explains some of the excellent reasons to start on the yoga path.

[Beth]

Great book for people new to yoga, or for yogis who want a refresher on the basics of the yogic path and practice. I liked how this book listed modifications, benefits and focus for each asana in an easy, straightforward manner. Very useful.

[Farah Safwat]

The book is very basic, which is very good. gives you the details about every pose and how it should be done. I thought it was a very useful guide for beginners who are still not very comfortable in their poses.

[Adrianne Mathiowetz]

So much more helpful than any DVDs I've used and other guides collecting dust on my shelves. I do wish there were more sample practices, but the instructions and photographs are amazingly clear.

[Tonya]

A good book especially for beginners in Yoga

[Janet]

only ok

[Aziz]

My precise rating would be 3.5
Its a fresh beginners book, well written but has nothing to add to experienced readers/yogis unless seeking a basics refresh :)

[Jen Kalawur]

Very good general information.