Yoga and the Alexander Technique


Book Description

"More than an instruction manual, this book complete with visual examples, offers readers a critical approach to their yoga practise. Furthermore, this guide accommodates the needs of people with a diverse range of movement, in terms of structure, strength and flexibility. Offering comprehensive advice in modifying yoga practice, David Moore takes account of this variability." -- Page [4] cover.




Yoga Alignment Principles and Practice


Book Description

Black and White format: Unique and essential for yoga teachers and students. Comprehensive text explores fundamentals of yoga alignment and body mechanics. Provides use-friendly system that applies to every pose. Learn move correctly, integrate posture, align to deepen and advance without injury. Learn to use yoga as powerful, effective therapy.




Anatomy and Asana


Book Description




Functional Anatomy of Yoga


Book Description

A full-color illustrated exploration of the body in motion during yoga practice • Examines anatomical patterns and body mechanics in specific asanas, such as forward bends, twists, external hip rotations, arm balances, and back bends, to inspire confidence in students, deepen practice, and prevent injury • Provides detailed images and photos overlaid with anatomical diagrams, allowing you to see clearly what is happening within each asana discussed • Explores how various yoga postures interrelate from the perspective of functional anatomy In this full-color illustrated guide, David Keil brings the anatomy of the body in yoga asanas to life. Writing in an accessible, conversational tone, he outlines how practitioners and yoga teachers alike can utilize a deeper understanding of their anatomy and its movement and function to deepen their yoga practice, increase confidence, prevent injury, and better understand their students and their challenges. Providing detailed images and photos overlaid with anatomical diagrams, allowing you to see clearly what is happening within each asana discussed, Keil shows how the muscles, joints, tendons, and structure of the body work together to support integrated movement. He discusses the basics of functional anatomy, exploring the workings of the foot and ankle, the knee, the hip joint, the pelvis and SI joint, the spine, the shoulder, and the hand, wrist, and elbow. He examines anatomical patterns and body mechanics in specific asanas, such as forward bends, twists, external hip rotations, arm balances, and back bends, such as, for example, how a wide-legged forward bend shifts the position of the femur and the pelvis, allowing students with tight hamstrings to accomplish a deep forward bend--something they struggle with when the legs are together. Keil also shows how various yoga postures interrelate from the perspective of functional anatomy. Revealing in detail how everything in the body is connected and how your anatomy functions holistically during yoga practice, this book helps you to understand the body better and connect and integrate yoga postures in a completely new way.




Yoga Beyond Belief


Book Description

Yoga Beyond Belief offers a unique vision of contemporary yoga. It integrates scientific and practical approaches providing a much-needed integrative perspective that complements existing yoga books for all levels and styles of yoga students. Serving up a collection of valuable insights gleaned from a lifetime of exploration, practice, study, and teaching by one of America’s pioneering and leading teachers of yoga, the book assists readers in making sense of the many discordant claims and teaching techniques that currently exist in the yoga world, freeing readers to pursue their own individual paths of yoga and personal practice. This is an essential text and reference for all yoga practitioners. The book first sets a context for an open-minded and evolutionary approach to yoga practice, and then explains the core principles of the many branches of yoga. A clear foundation is given for how the physical practices of yoga work to produce remarkable results of health and well being. The chapter Injury, Pain, and Healing shows how to prevent injuries and how to heal injuries should they occur. The reader is given a wealth of sophisticated of tools, insights, and anecdotes gleaned from a lifetime of practice and teaching to develop, hone, and tune his or her personal yoga approach. This book makes yoga come alive for the reader. The book concludes by going beyond the physical aspects to the heart of yoga. It illuminates and gives insight into the discovery of non-dogmatic forms and evolutionary approaches to meditation and spirituality. It presents a clear argument showing the pitfalls of regimented systems and how to make everything in daily life part of yoga practice and spiritual development. Ganga White gives us his unique and creative perspectives on a time-tested discipline for a healthy and vital life. Entertaining and thoroughly readable, this book offers a coherent explication of yoga, its philosophy and practice. White’s integrative views will inspire beginners and accomplished yogis to trust their inner wisdom and creatively reassess their practice. He is a great storyteller and gives us his personal and creative perspective, breathing fresh air into an ancient discipline. Yoga Beyond Belief offers an original, integrative approach to body, mind, and spirit that is practical, inspiring, and full of valuable insights to enliven and inform anyone’s yoga practice.




Yoga for Runners


Book Description

"Adapts the practice of yoga by focusing on the poses that offer the greatest benefits to runners. The poses and sequences in this book are intended to enhance strength, stability, and mobility in order to reduce incidents of running injury and add longevity to your sport as you become a healthier and stronger runner"--




The Science of Yoga


Book Description

The Science of Yoga draws on a hidden wealth of science, history, and surprising facts to cut through the fog that surrounds contemporary yoga and to show - for the first time - what is uplifting and beneficial and what is delusional, flaky, and dangerous. At heart, it illuminates the risks and rewards. The book takes the reader on a whirlwind tour of undiscovered yoga that goes from old libraries in Calcutta to the world capitals of medical research, from little-known archives to spotless laboratories, from sweaty yoga classes with master teachers to the cosy offices of yoga healers. In the process, it shatters myths, lays out unexpected benefits, and offers a compelling vision of how to improve the discipline.




Smart Yoga


Book Description

David Moore draws on thirty years of teaching to bring fresh and practical insights into how the Alexander Technique can contribute to a safer and more effective yoga practice. With a wealth of illustrations that support the clear, precise explanations, this book offers comprehensive advice in modifying a yoga practice to take into account the huge variability in individual ranges of movement. Moore includes techniques to accommodate limitations imposed by injuries, structure, body type, strength, and flexibility. Smart Yoga offers an explanation of the Alexander Technique’s approach to posture and movement, suggestions for altering faulty breathing patterns, and information about how Hatha Yoga, Patanjali, and Buddhist insight practices relate to the Alexander Technique.




Best Practices for Yoga with Veterans


Book Description

The second book in the Yoga Service Best Practices Series, created by the Yoga Service Council in collaboration with the Omega Institute, this work is the product of an innovative 18-month project involving leaders in various fields: yoga, mindfulness, veterans' affairs, military operations and culture, traditional and integrative medicine, clinical psychology, trauma therapy, social work, social research, nonprofit management, and more. Best Practices for Yoga with Veterans synthesizes this wealth of knowledge to gather over 100 Best Practice guidelines for teaching yoga to veterans in ways that are safe, effective, sustainable, socially equitable, and responsive to the particularities of the military experience. Best Practices for Yoga with Veterans is designed is to help not only yoga teachers wanting to work with veterans, but also individuals in the medical field working with veterans and veteran family members, as well as VA administrators, and veterans' organizations. Hear from our community: "Best Practices for Yoga with Veterans is truly a remarkable resource for those teaching yoga to veterans. So much practical expertise is extraordinarily well presented. Before reading this book, I had no idea of how much I didn't know about working with veterans and families. Now I see this book as a must-read for those working in the field, and as a model for best practices in other fields as well. - John Kepner, Executive Director, International Association of Yoga Therapists "It is with great pleasure that I give my highest endorsement to Best Practices of Yoga for Veterans. Warriors of all backgrounds will benefit from the skillful recommendations provided, which are designed to help yoga teachers meet the individualized needs of warriors, while respecting the specialized set of norms and values that distinguish them from the general civilian population. It's clear that an immensity of loving care and attention to detail have gone into making this an invaluable resource for yoga and meditation teachers alike, as well as for all who are working with first responders, from firefighters and police, to emergency medical technicians. I will be recommending this to all the teachers I train as a necessary handbook in their work with warriors from all professions. - Richard Miller, Ph.D.; Author, The iRest Program for Healing PTSD; President, Integrative Restoration Institute; Co-Founder, International Association of Yoga Therapy "Best Practices for Yoga with Veterans is a must-read manual for any yoga teacher interested in working with veterans, as well as veterans interested in engaging with yoga. As research continues to validate the use of yoga as tool to build resilience and cope with PTSD, depression, and anxiety, we'll need more guides like this one. Best Practices for Yoga with Veterans provides the building blocks to running a successful "Yoga for Vets" program while reminding us that working with this dynamic group requires "a high level of personal maturity," dedication, creativity, and the same "can do" attitude that military personnel share. In a ready-for-action package, the authors share their depth of expertise in a convenient, all you need, one-stop shop." -Janessa Wells, MPH, author of Redress Your Stress: A Yoga Program for Anxiety and Depression "I am thrilled to see the Yoga Service Council's second Yoga Service Best Practices book. This is a high quality, comprehensive guide that will empower teachers to have the necessary tools to work with veterans. The Editors did a great job of compiling the work of many Contributors and creating a well organized and thorough document that I will be recommending to anyone interested in this work." -Hala Khouri, M.A., SEP, E-RYT; Somatic Counselor, Yoga Teacher, and co-founder of Off the Mat, Into the World




Yoga Fitness for Men


Book Description

Maximize athletic performance and increase strength and endurance through the power of yoga. Incorporating yoga into your fitness regime can help you perform better on the sports field and in the gym! Learn how yoga works and integrate key yoga poses and routines to improve flexibility, core strength, and prevent injuries. For centuries yoga has been used to improve overall health and strengthen the mind and body. This yoga guide focuses on helping men perform at their highest fitness levels. Inside the pages of this yoga book you'll find: - More than 50 postures with full-colorr photos and step-by-step instructions. - Over 20 workout routines tailored to specific performance goals, such as endurance and power, or improving your running or weightlifting performance. - Focuses on the functional aspects of yoga, including sports performance and injury prevention. - Information on how yoga can specifically benefit men. - Easy-to-follow steps to execute yoga postures. Yoga is known to have plenty of benefits, but did you know that it also has benefits specifically for men and athletes? At the core, this ancient practice is based on stretching different muscle groups for greater flexibility, ease of movement, and greater power. And these benefits translate to sports performance, gym gains, and overall health - allowing your body to move as it should. No chanting required to master these yoga postures and workouts! Written by Dean Pohlman, sports coach and author, this yoga book for men is focused on yoga's functional fitness benefits and less on the spiritual or emotional aspects. A wonderful gift and fitness resource, Yoga For Men: Build Strength and Improve Performance will help men meet their performance goals, play harder and feel better.