Remarkable computer-generated illustrations of the muscles used during the most popular yoga poses.

Yoga teachers and students can use this book as a visual reference to the muscles that are engaged by specific yoga poses. Each pose is shown in a full-color photograph opposite a detailed and annotated anatomical drawing that identifies the active and stabilizing muscles being used. By identifying affected muscles, practitioners can maximize the benefits of each pose and even design a personalized yoga routine that focuses on their specific problem areas.

"Anatomy of Yoga" explains the basics of yoga, breathing and the spine, concentrating on the body's core musculature. It covers: Yoga warm-up Standing poses Forward bends Back bends Seated and twisted poses Poses that balance arms Inversions Restorative poses Sequences, such as sun salutation

There are numerous asides, including "best for" information boxes that describe the muscles that work the most during each pose. Tip boxes give hints on safety and form and outline the target muscles for and benefits of each pose. The author also suggests creative ways to modify the intensity of an exercise.

"Anatomy of Yoga" is an expert guide that is extremely useful for anyone interested in enhancing a personal yoga fitness routine. It will also interest yoga instructors who want a visual aid that clearly illustrates the benefits of each exercise.

FROM THE VIRAL YOGA STAR - 43 MILLION VIEWS IN JUST FIVE DAYS Yoga as it's never been seen before! 'Yoga can feel elitist but the book does not alienate. Partly because of its gentle humour, and partly because the language does not assume any knowledge of terms or sequences. It's straightforward and to the point. And the scenery beats a sterile yoga studio.' - Evening Standard 'Apparently there is something about the recipe of beards, kilts, butts and the Scottish highlands that just works.' - Finlay Wilson 'Yoga and kilts in a Perthshire forest has proved to be just what the world was waiting for.' - BBC Get ready to lose yourself in the wilds of Scotland and reconnect with the natural world in this gorgeous little book that will make you look at yoga in a whole new way - kilt optional! After recovering from an accident, Finlay Wilson found yoga was the best way to rebuild his strength. Now a qualified yoga instructor himself, he's decided to bring a modern take to this ancient practice. Feast your eyes on his yoga moves and discover why his Kilted Yoga video became an instant global sensation. This beautiful book is both dramatic and inspirational, but also tongue in cheek, quirky and funny. Finlay introduces you to the fundamentals of yoga through four progressive sequences to help you develop your practice. Combining stunning photography of the Scottish highlands with practical advice, Kilted Yoga is the inspiration you've been waiting for - join the movement here. Check out the video that went viral: www.facebook.com/BBCScotland/videos/1085403278236761

We live in a fast-paced, busy world, and many of us are stressed out and anxious as a result. If you suffer from anxiety but have found little relief from modern western treatments, or if you are looking for complimentary treatment, the ancient practice of Qigong-which can be understood as the cultivation of internal energy-may offer you relief. Qigong is rooted in Chinese philosophy and medicine, and it utilizes breathing, movement, and awareness exercises to promote healing and aid in meditation. In The Qigong Workbook for Anxiety, world-renowned and respected Qigong master Kam Chuen Lam presents the first workbook for overcoming anxiety problems utilizing traditional Chinese energy-focusing exercises. By following these simple and accessible step-by-step exercises, readers will learn to transform feelings of anxiety into resilience and inner strength. The workbook also contains helpful illustrations to help you carry out these exercises. In the book, Lam will help you think about anxiety, and yourself, in a different way-as a whole. You'll also learn to stop resisting moments of anxiety and other strong emotions, but rather to embrace them within the larger flow of your body's energy field. By doing this, you will ultimately strengthen and cultivate the natural energy you possess. Author Kam Chuen Lam has been a traditional Chinese healer for over forty years, and is an internationally respected authority on the Chinese health systems of Chi Kung and Tai Chi. To find out more, visit www.lamkamchuen.org.

Ever since the introducing of Mind Control Postures, and Breath Culture, students and friends of the author asked her to publish this book which illustrates Divine Postures and their effect upon the Endocrine Glands, that the more advanced pupils may follow the trend of their higher promptings into greater Spiritual Attainments, while in the sphere of Spiritual Progress there can be no final but a continuity of efforts. Forty-eight postures illustrated.

Whether you're an extreme exercise enthusiast or you're just looking to shed a few pounds, this is the last book on training, endurance, health, and life you will ever need. In this book you will learn: The 2 best ways to build fitness fast without destroying your body; Underground training tactics for maximising workout efficiency; the best biohacks for enhancing mental performance and entering the zone; how to know with laserlike accuracy whether your body has truly recovered; 26 ways to recover quickly from workouts, injuries, and overtraining; the 25 most important blood and saliva biomarkers and how to test them; 5 essential elements of training that most athletes neglect; 7 stress-fighting weapons to make your mind-body connection bulletproof; proven systems to enhance sleep, eliminate insomnia, and conquer jet lag; 40 high-calorie, nutrient-dense meals that won't destroy your metabolism; Easy tools for customising your carbs, proteins, and fats for your unique body; 9 ways to f

This is the first book that details how to choose Yoga asanas (Yoga poses) most appropriate for your unique body type according to the five thousand year old system of Ayurvedic medicine. These two systems of healing and energy management have long been regarded as effective methods of relieving stress, creating personal balance, eliminating ailments, and relieving chronic pain. Yoga for Your Type presents a fundamental understanding of both Yoga and Ayurveda and provides the information needed for you to balance your energy and feel healthy.

"Core Awareness, Revised Edition: Enhancing Yoga, Pilates, Exercise, and Dance" offers a guide to Core Awareness, a body-oriented approach that explores the practice of bringing focus and attention to inner sensation as the means of cultivating an innate capacity for expressive movement. Developed by somatic educator and author Liz Koch, the book's Core Awareness movements, stretches, and mindfulness explorations are designed to enhance sensory development and shift readers from the standard paradigm of the body as an "isolated object" to a holistic paradigm of the human being as part of a living process of dynamic expression. This shift in perspective offers practitioners and teachers of movement, yoga, pilates, bodywork, exercise, and dance an empowering model for self-healing and the key to increasing strength, gaining flexibility, preventing injury, and improving resiliency.
Describing the practice of moving from one's core, Koch highlights the importance of engaging the psoas muscle--located on either side of the spine--to integrate the body, mind, emotion, and spirit. Koch also discusses the pelvis as the foundation of our physical core and the vital connection with our bones to gain a sense of support, nourishment, joint integrity, skeletal balance, and healthy muscle tone. Rewritten with updated information, this revised edition includes 247 new photos and 25 new Core Awareness explorations--with 64 in total. A suggested reading list at the end of the book provides resources for continuing the development of the ideas presented within the book.

Experience the physical benefits and body awareness from hatha yoga--the most popular form of yoga today. "Hatha Yoga Illustrated" presents nearly 650 full-color photos to visually demonstrate 77 standard poses from hatha yoga that apply to all major hatha styles including Iyengar, Astanga, Anusara, and Bikram.

Individual poses are presented from start to finish, showing you how to achieve proper alignment and breathing to ensure challenging yet safe execution. The result is an increase in the effectiveness, both physically and mentally, you'll experience with each pose. Several pose variations based on your personal preference, ability, and fitness level are also included.

Eleven sample yoga routines show how to assemble the poses into workouts that meet your specific time, difficulty, and intensity parameters. Colorful and comprehensive, "Hatha Yoga Illustrated" is organized for your ultimate convenience and use. Use it to guide your muscles, as well as your mind, and increase strength and stamina, reduce stress and anxiety, reduce blood pressure, and increase flexibility.

The long-awaited, complete guide to the popular, vigorous American method of yoga that is deeply rooted in ancient wisdom and scriptures

“In this day and age of health and fitness trends, it is assuring to know that Sharon and David encourage their students to draw inspiration from the classical texts of Yoga and timeless scriptural sources. What I appreciate so much about David and Sharon is how they help their Yoga students to understand and appreciate the wisdom of all the great saints and jivamuktas who have contributed to raising consciousness. Ultimately, it is Self-Realization, that is the true goal of Yoga.”
–SRI SWAMI SATCHIDANANDA

Creators of the extremely popular Jivamukti Yoga method and cofounders of the New York City studios where it is taught, Sharon Gannon and David Life present their unique style of yoga for the first time in book form. As they explain their intensely physical and spiritual system of flowing postures, they provide inspiring expert instruction to guide you in your practice.

Unlike many books about yoga, Jivamukti Yoga focuses not only on the physical postures but also on how they evolved–the origins of the practices in yoga’s ancient sacred texts and five-thousand-year-old traditions–the psychotherapeutic benefits that accrue with a steady practice, and the spiritual power that is set free when energy flows throughout the mind and body. Jivamukti Yoga, which means “soul liberation,” guides your body and soul into spiritual freedom, physical strength, peace of mind, better health, and Self-realization–the ultimate goal of any practice. Gannon and Life help you understand each of the practices that comprise the yoga path to enlightenment:
AHIMSA–The Way of Compassion: choosing nonviolence, respecting all life, practicing vegetarianism, living free of prejudice
ASANA–The Way of Connection to the Earth: postures and sequences, breathing, transforming energy, understanding the bandhas
KARMA–The Way of Action: creating good karma, giving thanks
NADAM–The Way of Sacred Music: appreciating the sacred sounds of yoga
MEDITATION–The Way of the Witness: how to sit still and move inward
BHAKTI–The Way of Devotion to God: living with love, grace, and peace

Whatever yoga you practice, Jivamukti Yoga will help you to strengthen and deepen that practice and lead you onto a path of spiritual clarity and self-discovery.

“If there is only one book you read about the practice of Yoga, this should be the one. Sharon and David are deeply dedicated students and teachers of Yoga who have the rare capacity to translate their profound understanding to the reader. This book is for anyone who wishes to find transformation through Yoga. I’m grateful for their work and teaching.”
–STEPHAN RECHTSCHAFFEN, MD
Co-founder & CEO, Omega Institute

Yoga is an awareness of the link between breath, mind and body. The connection benefits the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual wellbeing at all stages of life, but very noticeably during pregnancy. Yoga for Pregnancy and Birth offers you and your birth partner an effective, uniquely holistic technique which will help you maximise your health and wellbeing throughout pregnancy and beyond. It shows how to use yoga to give you a deeper insight into the process of pregnancy and create a yoga and breathing program which works uniquely for you and your baby. Learn a full range of adapted yoga postures intended to provide comfort, build stability and support the changes in your body. Breathing exercises will promote calm, boost vitality and help control labour pains, while yogic pelvic floor practices promote healthy tone and flexibility. And downloadable audio helps you set the pace of your breathing. Your pregnancy is a remarkable journey; learn how to use yoga to increase your comfort and control, and develop the skills to approach your labour with confidence. ABOUT THE SERIES People have been learning with Teach Yourself since 1938. With a vast range of practical, how-to guides covering language learning, lifestyle, hobbies, business, psychology and self-help, there's a Teach Yourself book for whatever you want to do. Join more than 60 million people who have reached their goals with Teach Yourself, and never stop learning.

The "New York Times" bestseller that explains how groundbreaking scientific discoveries can help each of us achieve our personal best

Every week, Gretchen Reynolds single-handedly influences how millions of Americans work out. In her popular "New York Times" column, she debunks myths, spurs conversation, and stirs controversy by questioning widely held beliefs about exercise.

Here, Reynolds consults experts in a range of fields to share paradigm-shifting findings that were previously only available in academic and medical journals, including:

- 20 minutes of cardio is all you need (and sometimes six minutes is enough)

- Stretching before a workout is counterproductive

- Chocolate milk is better than Gatorade for recoveryWhether you're running ultramarathons or just want to climb the stairs without losing your breath, "The First 20 Minutes" will show you how to be healthy today and perform better tomorrow.

Motivate your mind and shape your body with the exercise expertise of international fitness educator Tamilee Webb. Whether you're an avid gym rat or you're just looking for a few simple workout routines to do in the privacy of your own home, Buns of Steel" expert Tamilee can help you design a new workout especially geared for your body type and personal goals.

Workouts For Dummies gives you step-by-step instructions and plenty of photos so you can create an exercise program that's perfect for you. Discover the secrets of warming up, cooling down, and stretching; listen to your body to prevent injury or strain; identify your body type and the best workout plan; and start toning and working your upper and lower body. Workouts For Dummies also features practical advice for special workouts at home, in the office, on the road, or in the gym, and a section devoted to workouts for seniors, kids, and pregnant women. So get fit fast in For Dummies style with Tamilee and start feeling like a new person--the person you really want to be.

Help your kids de-stress and get healthy

"Yoga for Children" will encourage your child to learn about yoga with an attentive, at-home instructor--you Even if you are new to the practice, author, mom, and children's yoga expert Lisa Flynn will guide you and your child through more than 200 yoga poses, meditations, and activities that are suitable for children between the ages of two and twelve. Complete with full-color photographs, instructional scripts, and pose modifications, "Yoga for Children" will help build your child's confidence, self-awareness, and focus while strengthening your connection--one yoga session at a time.

Perfect for people in recovery who want to strengthen and deepen their Eleventh-Step practice while honoring their bodily need for healing and nurturance. Fully illustrated with photos. Perfect for gift giving. Addresses the contemporary desire for physical as well as spiritual fitness. Not just another yoga book; this book has a vital resonance for the recovery community, making it a must-have for many wishing to freshen and deepen their practice of the Steps.

Mawangdui Daoyin Shu presents a series of qigong forms based on those shown on the famous silk paintings excavated from the Mawangdui tombs of Changsha, Hunan Province. Discovered in the 1970s alongside a wealth of classical texts, they are among the oldest and best preserved silk works in China, and provide a fascinating insight into the early history of qigong. Dating from the Han Dynasty, these easy-to-learn movements work with the flow of vital energy through the meridians and encourage connection between the external movements of the body and the internal activity of the mind. Through rising and squatting, extending and withdrawing the limbs, bending and stretching, the movements help maintain health and cultivate the spirit. The book provides step-by-step, fully-illustrated instruction on the Mawangdui Daoyin Shu, and includes a brief account of the origins of the movements, with additional learning tips for each movement, and information about the health benefits. Additional downloadable content features a video demonstrating the form and additional information on its history and origins, and provides options for verbal instructions to lead the practitioner through the exercises, or music to accompany them. This accessible and beautiful form will be of interest to experienced practitioners and beginners alike, and especially to those interested in the authentic connection with forms practised in ancient China.

Hit the ground running with this easy, total-body training guide.

Whether you're a weekend runner looking to get in better shape or a road warrior aiming to tackle your first marathon, Easy Running Plans has something for you.

Throughout this book, you'll learn the most effective stretching routines, strength workouts, and technique drills for runners--culminating in seven, easy-to-follow running plans. Whatever your goal may be, these plans will help you get there. And with the total-body approach, you'll not only get the most out of your runs but acquire the skills necessary to keep injuries at bay.

Easy Running Plans contains the following:

• Lace up--Choose the training schedule that best suits your needs, whether you're looking to make steady gains or have your sights set on a 5k, 10k, half-marathon, or marathon.
• Study up--Learn the fundamentals of proper running form, stride, injury-prevention, and recovery.
• Speed up--Improve your speed, strength, and endurance with detailed illustrations depicting over 40 stretches, exercises, and drills--all of which can be performed at home, with little-to-no equipment.

Qigong is an integrated mind-body healing method that has been practiced with remarkable results in China for thousands of years. The Chinese have long treasured qigong for its effectiveness both in healing and in preventing disease, and more recently they have used it in conjunction with modern medicine to cure cancer, immune system disorders, and other life-threatening conditions. Now in this fascinating, comprehensive volume, renowned qigong master and China scholar Kenneth S. Cohen explains how you too can integrate qigong into your life--and harness the healing power that will help your mind and body achieve the harmony of true health.