Description
The definitive work by B.K.S. Iyengar, the world's most respected yoga teacher. B.K.S. Iyengar has devoted his life to the practice and study of yoga. It was B.K.S. Iyengar's unique teaching style, bringing precision and clarity to the practice, as well as a mindset of 'yoga for all', which has made it into the worldwide phenomenon it is today. 'Light on Yoga' is widely called 'the bible of yoga' and has served as the source book for generations of yoga students around the world. It is the classic text for all serious students of yoga. * B.K.S. Iyengar's own photo-illustrated, step-by-step guides to every yoga routine.* Week-by-week development plan - with a total of 300 weeks to allow gradual progression from novice to advanced technique.* B.K.S. Iyengar's unique and inspired guide to Pranayama - yoga breathing techniques.* B.K.S. Iyengar's yoga philosophy for life and an introduction to the spiritual aspects of yoga.* Yoga sequences and asanas to help heal a range of specific illnesses and conditions.… (more)
Library's review
'(Yoga) is a techniqe ideally suited to prevent physical and mental illness and to protect the body generally...By its very nature it is inextricably associated with universal laws: for respect for life, truth, and patience are all indispensable factors in the drawing of a quiet breath, in calmness of mind and firmness of will. This book will serve to spread this basic art and will ensure that it is practiced at its highest level'-Yehudi Menuhin
B.K.S. Iyengar, for whom hundreds of Iyengar Institutes all over the world are named, heads his own institute in India.
Contents
Foreword by Yehudi Menuhin
Preface
Part I Introduction
What is yoga?
Par tII Yogasanas, bandha and kriya
Yogasanas
Bandha and kriya
Part III Pranayama
Hints and cautions
Techniqe and effectsof pranayama
Pranayamas
Appendix I Asana courses
Appendix II Curative asanas for various diseases
Table to correlate the asanas etc. with the plates which illustrate them
Glossary
Index
User reviews
Anyone interested in pursuing a serious yoga practice.
In a nutshell:
Igengar provides a summary of the history of yoga, beyond what many folks consider when attending yoga classes or watching videos.
Worth quoting:
“The study of Yoga is not like work for a diploma or a university degree by
Why I chose it:
Part of my goal for 2021 is to live more of the life that I want, and building a consistent yoga practice is high on that list.
Review:
This is an interesting book. I’ve always known yoga is not just breathing and stretching, but based more in a broader way of living. As a white woman raised in the west, most of my exposure to yoga has been through Lululemon view. A way to stretch and build strength and relieve stress, without really looking at where yoga comes from. I’ve been in classes where there’s some lip service paid to it, but nothing more.
Obviously, one isn’t going to understand an entire cultural concept like yoga from reading one book. But this is a good starting place. It discusses the connection between what is going on with the body and what is going on in the mind. I’ll need to read it over a few times to understand it better, but again, a good place to start.
After the introduction, Iyengar offers instructions and photos of over 200 poses, which are quite easy to follow. He then has put together three ‘courses,’ spreading across 300 weeks (yes, you read that right). Today I started with course one, which lasts about 32 weeks. It’s been seven or eight years since I regularly practiced yoga, and I can feel it, but I can also see how this is going to work, and I’m excited about it.
Videos are definitely an easy way to start learning yoga, and I don’t think a book can fully replace that for more visual learners, but I do think this book is a great place to start.
Keep it / Pass to a Friend / Donate it / Toss it:
Keep it
It took me a while to get through this book. It’s very dense, and I could only read a certain amount in a single sitting before I’d start feeling overloaded. He’s got lots of very interesting information about the philsophy of yoga, and of course, his descriptions/photographs of
Deservedly a classic. Excellent if you want to follow the Iyenga
The descriptions of the yoga exercises are quite understandable and the pictures show that the author is really good at what he does. I use the book as a kind of reference, when looking for a new exercise.
The introduction may be bit esoteric, but the main part (which is very technical) is not influenced too much by this. More precisely, for each asana the book describes the effects that it has on the human body; and these effects seem to contain too much detail, are too assuming, or simply unfounded/esoteric.