Asana, Pranayama, Mudra and Bandha: 1 - Tapa blanda

Excellent book which explains to some degree the "inner posture" with each asana discussed. Unlike most books, you can actually perform the asana from the instructions in this book alone. Stops short of explaining the effect of the various asanas on the Doshas (in Ayurveda) but does list the benefits of the poses. A must have book for any student of hatha yoga --By A Customer on July 12, 2002

There are innumerable books on yoga to be found; some emphasising the practical aspects with postures (asana), complete with colour photos - and some impossibly esoteric, meant for the select few with mystical leanings. This book combines a comprehensive overview of asana; while at the same time giving clear explanations of the deeper aspects of yoga, including breathing (pranayama), body attitudes (mudra), energy locks (bandha), energy centres (cakra), and yogic cleansing (hatha yoga). The roots of yoga are in the ancient vedic and tantric texts; many of which have remained inaccessible to western readers until the last century. Much of the teachings were kept secret; firstly, because they had been banned by a Hindu priesthood that felt threatened by anarchic schools of self-liberation; and secondly, for fear that the powerful techniques could be misused by misguided opportunists. Swami Satyananda Saraswati was one of the renegades who shocked the yogic establishment by not only translating the texts and teaching the techniques to western students; but then went on to publish an entire series of books, clarifying and promoting yoga in an unprecedented way. Satyananda's other significant move was to bring yoga into the domain of medical science, and explain esoteric techniques in terms of western anatomy and physiology. He started the Bihar Yoga Bharati, which offers undergraduate and postgraduate studies in subjects like Yoga Psychology and Applied Yoga Science; and initiated the Yoga Research Foundation which studies the medical effects of yoga. --By Gerald Lopez on November 7, 2005

Contents: Introduction to Yoga; Asana: Beginners Group -- Pawanmuktasana Series; Part 1: Anti-rheumatic Group; Part 2: Digestive/Abdominal Group; Part 3: Shakti Bandha Asanas; Yoga Exercises for the Eyes; Relaxation Asanas; Meditation Asanas; Vajrasana Group of Asanas; Standing Asanas; Surya Namaskara; Chandra Namaskara. Asana: Intermediate Group -- Padmasana Group of Asanas; Backward Bending Asanas; Forward Bending Asanas; Spinal Twisting Asanas; Inverted Asanas; Balancing Asanas. Asana: Advanced Group. Pranayama; Bandha; Mudra; Shatkarma; Psychic Physiology of Yoga; Therapeutic Index; Index of Practices.