The author of Yoga Journal's most-read column presents the first holistic guide to yoga
A user-friendly guide illustrated with 240 two-color photographs and illustrations, Yoga Mind, Body & Spirit sets forth the tenets of this gentle yet rigorous exercise as no other book has. Integrating the teachings of every tradition, internationally renowned yoga instructor Donna Farhi reveals how yoga enhances the connections between the mind, body, and spirit. She outlines the seven simple movement principles that underlie all human motion and provides exercises to help readers understand how they can achieve all yoga postures. She also discusses the ten ethical precepts that are the foundation of all yoga teachings and explains how to incorporate them into a spiritually and emotionally rewarding inner practice.
At the heart of Yoga Mind, Body & Spirit are more than seventy-five yoga asanas or postures. Each is one pictured and described in detail, and they are arranged into related groups--including standing postures, sitting postures, arm balances, and breathing practices--or easy reference. A selection of yoga practices of varying lengths and levels of difficulty provides challenges and inspiration for beginner, intermediate, and advanced students.
A huge resurgence of interest in yoga is sweeping the country. With its broad scope and holistic approach, Yoga Mind, Body & Spirit is the ideal book for today's mainstream audience.
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163 of 165 found the following review helpful:
 If I could only buy one yoga book.May 21, 2000
By Charles J. Spenella
I'm a forty-seven year old man who has been practicing yoga for less than a year. In that time I have read quite a few books on the subject. I was surprised to find so many opinions, theories, teachers, schools, and styles. Yet they all seemed to fall short of giving really clear and understandable explanations of the mechanics of body movement. When I read "Yoga, Mind, Body &Spirit" I quickly recognized it to be, by far, the most logical and reasonable approach to yoga study that I had found. Exercises, refered to as Inquiries, help you to learn for yourself the principles that underlie the practice of yoga. This allows you to begin to fashion a practice tailored to your unique body and its current condition. If I had to choose one book to try and explain the techniqes and essence of yoga, this would be the one.
104 of 104 found the following review helpful:
My favorite yoga book everApr 26, 2000
This is the yoga book I've been waiting for. I am an active middle age athlete/busy professional who has found that yoga makes me feel good and so I've purchased many books and videos in my efforts to learn more on my own. For me, Yoga Mind, Body & Spirit pulls together the disciplines (moving principles, anatomy, yamas/niyamas, mediatation) one needs to understand to realize the true benefits of yoga practice. The communication of these areas through the written word, photographs and illustrations (incredible helpful), and organization and layout makes every page a gem. Most of all the spirit of Donna Farhi's own "digging" into the subject area and learning comes through in a generous sharing and caring for the reader's own efforts to yield the fruits of yoga practice. Her crystal clear communication, examples, and her unique way of presenting principles have already enabled me to refocus my own practice into a more enjoyable and transforming experience - without all the stress and struggle I generally brought to my practice. Yoga Mind, Body & Spirit is a wonderful, enjoyable "workbook" and tool for learning more about your own true nature through yoga. And it is one of the most beautifully produced book I own. It's a great experience.
56 of 56 found the following review helpful:
Reader from New YorkJun 18, 2000
As a child I practices yoga for years, since then I grew up and became totally plugged and lazy to exercise. My job and life didn't allow for any kind of exercise. As my energy decreased I remembered my childohood. I bought this book and it changed my life. It is by far the best yoga book I have read. It gives full descritions for all levels of proficency, describing in detailed poses breaths and props that may be needed for each move. It also shows illustrations of what to do and what not to do. I liked the anatomy digrams that further explain what positions your body should be in. I also liked thefocus on getting to know your body, and yoga being a 'dance' rather than exercise.
61 of 63 found the following review helpful:
This book can change your Yoga Practice!Dec 24, 2002
By CPTScott
I have been doing yoga for about 5 years and this book along with Eric Schiffman's have been revelatory. Donna Farhi helps make your yoga practice more personal (in terms of how to make your practice more internal rather than external), and more spiritual. She's not afraid to talk about the deeper issues of yoga. This is a complete book of Yoga in the sense that it's not just a book about how to get your body into the proper "shapes". While the asana instruction is very easy to follow and precise, it teaches you how to make the asana's come to life through "the Seven moving principles".
These are things that I've not seen before in any other book.
These are : 1. Breathe. Let the breath move you.
2. Yield. Yield to the earth.
3. Radiate. Move from the inside out.
4. Center. Maintain the integrity of the spine.
5. Support. Whatever touches the ground becomes the foundation of support for each asana.
6. Align. Alignment is the clear sequential flow of force through the body.
7. Engage. Engage the whole body. These principles are real eye openers and can bring the asanas alive. She also give ideas on sequencing principle and much much more. It is by far the best book on Yoga I have seen and I've read quite a few! Namaste.
34 of 34 found the following review helpful:
Fabulous Guide for Beginners!Apr 01, 2001
By cryogini
This may be the best yoga book I've ever read. There is an excellent section on the mechanics of movement, and the descriptions of the poses are very thorough, and very detailed. The photos of what NOT to do are especially helpful. This book will be interesting to all yoga students, but I think it's absolutely invaluable for the beginner because it is so well-thought out and descriptive--A must-have!
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based on 27 reviews
