Book Review - Asana Pranayama Mudra Bandha

Asana Pranayama Mudra Bandha is one of the most authoritative and renowned book on Yoga.

This books is authored by Swami Satyananda who is the founder of International Yoga Fellowship and Bihar School of Yoga in 1964.

He has written more than 80 books and has been writing and practicing yoga for more than 60 years.

Before I bought this book, I was mainly following BKS Iyengar's Light On Yoga. Iyengar's methodology is based more on precision. This book brings an all together different perspective on practice of Yoga.

As the title suggests, there are four topics covered.
Asana - The yogic postures;
Pranayama - The breathing exercises;
Mudra - Various combination of joining the fingers or shifting the awareness and control on a particular organ;
Bandhas - The yogic locks. For more information read Bandhas in Yoga - Yogic Locks

Uniqueness of "Asana Pranayama Mudra Bandha"

1. Associates the Chakras and the Poses
An interesting aspect is this book explains the Chakras very well, their location and the role. In each of the pose of the book, there is explanation about which Chakra to concentrate on during holding of a pose. Doing this enhances the experience and the benefit of the pose. This is quite unique to this book and I did not find this information in any other book.

Chakras are energy centers in the body and as per ancient texts there are seven Chakras in the body starting from the pelvic region to the brain; following the path of spine.

2. Grouping of the Asana
The book has grouped various types of poses together. For example, the forward bends, back bends or the inverted postures. Before each group, there is excellent explanation about the group and the relevance, its effects and benefits. There is also major grouping - Beginners, Intermediate and Advanced. Readers can chooses the poses based on their levels.

3. Benefits and Contra-indication
Along with each asana, both benefits and contra-indications are mentioned, which helps the reader in making an informed choice about practicing the asana. Therapeutic effects of each posture is also mentioned.

4. Use of Diagrams instead of Pictures
Usually books show pictures of the yogis next to the explanation. However this book uses diagrams. Sometimes when we see a person's image practicing the pose we may be overwhelmed, but when diagram is there, we are not intimidated. Diagrams make the poses look easier.

5. Yogic Cleansing Techniques (Shatkarmas)
I love this section. This explains various cleansing techniques from Jal Neti to Shankha Prakshalan. It explains in detail how various cleansing methods need to be followed and their benefits and precautions. This section alone is worth the price of the book.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves yoga, or would like to know and learn yoga as well as to advanced practitioners. If you want to buy this book you can buy from Amazon Here. If you buy this book Amazon, Headfirstyoga would benefit from that.

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Book Review - Light On Yoga

Light on Yoga is a master piece on the subject of yoga and it was written by Shri BKS Iyengar and this is one of my most valued companion. Here is some information on Shri BKS Iyengar.

B.K.S. Iyengar was born in India in 1918 and has been teaching yoga since of the age of 17. He has been one of the world's leading teachers of yoga for over 70 years and is internationally recognized as a leading authority of hatha yoga.

His own style of teaching, "Iyengar Yoga", is followed by hundreds of certified teachers across the world. Iyengar was the first person to teach yoga to large groups of students; he lays great emphasis on precision and alignment, a style that is faithfully followed by his students. He is also the only person to teach the highest aspects of yoga - Atma Darshan - through asanas. Through his work, Iyengar has established the relevance of yoga to the treatment and cure of many illnesses, and has received a Doctorate from the United Nations Charter for Peace. At the age of 90, Iyengar still practices and teaches yoga, and also travels the world teaching and lecturing.

The influence of Shri BKS Iyengar can be judged by how much people love him. When he visited America for the last time few years back and entered the reception hall, he got a standing ovation and people kept clapping for 10 minutes. That is real love and respect.

Light on Yoga is known as modern bible on Yoga. It is one of the most comprehensive books on Yoga and the price for which it is being sold is dirt cheap compared to its contents.

Let me confess that I follow this book the most when I practice yoga. Here are few sections you will find in this book. I have several yoga books but if I had to carry only one book and go to a remote place, Light on Yoga will be the book which will go with me.

This book is systematically arranges into well sequenced sections. Following is what how should see in this book.

1. Introduction to yoga which is better than what many yoga book offer in terms of coverage of yoga and its explanation. It covers yoga from spiritual aspect and covers the various stages and limbs of yoga which any one serious about yoga should know.
2. Next Section is on Yoga poses and contains around 600 pictures of the master in action. Each pose is accompanied by little explanation or mythology related to the post as well as well defined instructions and the benefits. It also contains rating of the poses in terms of difficulty. This is the core of the book and it is extremely well presented which makes this book a must have. The authors talks about minor details and each muscle which should be used which really helps in advancing in the pose and know the pose in more details in
3. Next section is on Bandhas and Pranayama. Pranayama is a yogic breathing technique and sufficient details along with precaution and other tips are provided.
4. Last section describes a prescribes a suggested course for learners and it has three levels from beginners to advanced yogis. I am following the routine followed in this section and undergoing the 30 week course.
5. The last section contains information on which poses are beneficial for various ailments and therefore a good reference for curative abilities of Yoga.

If any friend or acquaintance asks me about any yoga book to purchase, this is the book I would recommend and therefore thought of recommending this to my readers also. If you want to purchase this book you can find it here Light on Yoga: The Bible of Modern Yoga... This is a affiliate link to amazon and if you buy this book you can help Headfirstyoga.

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