Yoga Book Review : Yoga For Anyone

There are so many books written on the art of Yoga. Some of these books focus more on the philosophy of Yoga, while others are a more practical approach towards practicing Yoga. If you ever wanted a practical handbook to begin the practice of Yoga, then you must consider ‘Yoga for Anyone’. Written by a well established 6th generation Yoga teacher, Suleiha Suguna, this book is sure to satisfy any Yoga enthusiast. Suleiha has well crafted the book, by intelligently dividing the program into four main areas to systematically ease the novice into Yoga. The first part of the book introduced the practitioner to ‘Sun Salutation’ or ‘Suryanamaskar’ which covers the twelve Yogic postures that corresponde to the twelve zodiac signs. Here the practitioner will learn how to perform these series of Yogic sequences with synchronized breathing patterns and body movements. The presentation is designed to surface the mystery of the intriguing movements to enable the practitioner to perform the whole range of postures with ease. This part alone will leave you feeling a world of difference in terms of how you feel and think. The second part of the book, ‘Gentle Yoga’, guides the practitioner through a series of handpicked asana’s to ensure that the spine and nervous system are kept healthy. Here the practitioner will develop good balance and coordination. It is excellent practice for anyone with a pre-existing health condition such as back and neck pain, diabetes, gastric, blood pressure issues and even a heart condition. Every asana is accompanied with a counter posture to maintain balance and equilibrium in the body. The third part of the book is where the more intense routine becomes apparent, as the practitioners have now conditioned the body with improved strength and flexibility. During this phase, the routine focuses on mastering elementary breathing techniques, stimulating and rejuvenating internal organs, as well as to bring more energy into the body. Although all the lying down, standing up and sitting postures are more advanced, the practitioner is well guided through them. The book places emphasis on easy learning. Finally the practitioner is introduced to the art of relaxation or ‘Shanti Asana’. This asana is regarded as the most important asana of all. This is a pose that promotes complete relaxation. The aim of the asana is to relax the body and mind completely. It is the easiest of all asanas to physically perform, but the hardest to master. The program offered by ‘Yoga for anyone’ is exhaustive and a practical guide for anyone wanting to practice Yoga. Apart from the immense health benefit the reader will obtain through the practice prescribed in this book, the practitioner will also have a complete routine that eliminates the need for attending a Yoga class, thus saving time and money. Safety concerns are also addressed at the end of each posture to help new practitioner to ease in to the Yoga posture safely and correctly.