What is Yoga anyway? Mention the word yoga and most people imagine a lithe young woman leaning so far backwards that she can touch the floor behind her with her fingertips. Thus begins Linda Johnsen's introduction to this engaging and often profound book. Unsurprisingly she goes on to explain that yoga is far far more than the hatha postures seen by the casual observer. Yoga is a way of life and its lessons are seemingly without number. SPIRIT ON THE MOVE is a collection of personal essays first published in Yoga International magazine that express the variety of riches found along the path of yoga. Some essays are light and humorous while others are deeply thoughtful and spiritual. One writer describes how yoga has helped him face his own mortality. Another chronicles her yoga-inspired journey out of 'chocolate addiction'. Still another confesses her past as a yoga snob who saw wealth and authenticity as incompatible. What will you learn from the first hand accounts of this diverse group of contributors? Certainly you'll emerge from this book with a newfound appreciation for what yoga really is. But more to the point you'll gain insights of your own how what you learn in yoga class translates into your daily interactions with others how to move gracefully and skilfully through all that life brings you and how to never forget the real purpose of your journey here on earth.

Compiled from articles appearing in "Yoga International", this book is filled with quick and easy relaxation prescriptions from the world of yoga: activities that take just a few minutes a day. Many of the activities in "Quick Tips For Balanced Living" are accomplished in the mind; they represent a shift in the way you think about your daily activities. And that's what yoga really is. It's not about contorting one's body into impossible postures; it's about living in a healthier, more joyful, more peaceful way. Concentration is the prelude to meditation. Unless we cultivate the habit of concentration in other areas of our lives, progress in meditation will come slowly or not at all. Simple, everyday tasks are a good place to begin. Experiment with focusing on brushing your teeth when you're brushing your teeth, for example. If you find your mind rehashing an argument with a friend or jumping ahead to fantasies about the party tomorrow night, gently but firmly bring it back to the present moment or the job in hand.