Beth Shaw's Yogafit

by Beth Shaw

Whether you're a fitness buff searching for a new challenge or a yoga enthusiast looking for a way to balance your exercise routine, Beth Shaw's YogaFit® will help you reach your ultimate physical potential! Yes, physical ! That's because YogaFit combines tough aerobic exercise with strength- and flexibility-building yoga to create a total body workout. Sweat—not meditation—is the key. And that's exactly what makes this cutting-edge fitness program different from all the rest. "YogaFit is about exploring your limits, physically and mentally," says Shaw. "It's the ultimate mind working with muscle challenge. With regular YogaFit workouts, you'll not only experience increased overall health, energy, and vitality, but also a stronger and leaner body, natural weight loss, reduced stress and tension, better posture, improved concentration and a higher level of fitness." Tens of thousands of fitness buffs have already tried the program, which was created and developed exclusively by Shaw. Now, Shaw shares her secrets with you in her new book. Featuring more than 50 YogaFit poses, the book teaches you everything you need to know about breathing and warm-up, forward bends and backbends, twists, inversions, and cool-down. To make it as simple as possible, Shaw organizes the poses into well-rounded workout routines that mirror those offered at her signature studio in Hermosa Beach. Workouts include Power YogaFit, YogaFit Lite, and YogaFit Classic. There's even information about how to create your own personalized routines to meet your own needs and how YogaFit can be used as a training tool for sports.

Genres: Nonfiction, Fitness, Health, Reference, Self Help

Paperback

First published September 11, 2000

Reviews

[Meredith (Trying to catch up!) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beth Shaw's Yogafit is an invaluable guide for those who are new to practicing yoga. Shaw covers everything from breathing techniques, poses, and routines. The diagrammed pictures of poses are especially helpful.

[Garifalia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm so happy I won the giveaway for Beth Shaw's YogaFit 3rd Edition book. It was a great read for me. I've read various yoga books and I'm always on the lookout for more. Prior to getting this book I wasn't very familiar with YogaFit. I was pleasantly surprised when reading this book. Although it has their program in mind and notes their philosophy and practice, this book is for anyone.

It's easy to follow and is broken down in three main parts. It prepares you with traditional guidelines, structured workouts and breathing techniques are included in the first part. The second part dives into poses and is the bulk of the book. Poses range from standing, balance, various bends and modifications, to name a few. The last part moves to putting the poses together combining them in various flow series.

To me this book is informative for the beginner as well as a great refresher for the advanced yogi. Each pose is shown not only in a flow sequence but also individually in more detail. There's a picture of each pose labeled with how to achieve it, holding the pose, modifications, the part of the body it stretches and strengthens. Everything is explained and labeled so those that are beginners or need a refresher or guidance can refer to it with ease.

The book itself flowed very well through each chapter and I will definitely refer to it time again. It was clear cut and descriptive for an instructional yoga book and is happily part of my growing collection.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Had to read this for the Level 1 course, and though it's mostly walking you through poses and teaching, it was useful. YogaFit makes yoga accessible to people who aren't stereotypical *pretzel people* or could be put off by the stereotypical yoga class. Thanks to Beth Shaw, seniors, people with handicaps, busy moms, people who were told by MDs to try yoga but don't know where to start (or went to a class they didn't like) have an amazing option.

It's not something to just sit down and enjoy-----this is a book for those who seek the YogaFit practice or for those wanting to teach.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm currently reading this because it's required reading for YogaFit Level 1 training. There are other books that I have seen and read that are more in-depth for each of the asanas but this would be good for someone fairly new to yoga that wants an Americanized book to help them further their home practice (there are no Sanskrit names to the poses and many useful yoga asanas are missing).

[DeeReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great primer to yoga! Shaw demonstrated the basic yoga moves with a few alternative to boot too!

[Maureen · Rating 4 out of 5]

great suggestions for yoga workouts for general use with focus on strengthening and flexibility She starts with standard lying and standing warm-up, beginning yogafit, Yogacore as well as Power Yogafit, as well as specific routines for various sports including running, swimming, cycling. golf,baseball, volleyball, skiing, weightlifting, boxing. Then she finishes book with 5 minute poststretch for any sport

[Robin · Rating 2 out of 5]

I did not read this book, just glanced at it to get an idea of the yogafit philosophy. Beth Shaw loves animals and give money to help them and she also requires that graduates offer 8 hours of community classes. As the name implies, it's yoga as a gym workout, which is what YogaWorks classes were.

[April Patterson · Rating 1 out of 5]

Its hard reading this when you know the real Beth Shaw. She is not who she claims to be.
Beth Shaw should be fined and go to jail.
If I could give this Book, a half a star, I wouldn't even give it that

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

A required textbook for my yoga teacher training. Beth Shaw has done a great job of helping bring yoga - in a way still respectful of tradition - to people in our time.

[Gina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this book would be a good primer for someone new to yoga. It show you poses and how to build a practice without the Sanskrit asana names that some can find rather intimidating.

Beth Shaw's Yogafit would also work well for a more-seasoned yoga practioner, however, I found the omission of the Sanskrit names of the asanas to be a bit off-putting. I understand her methodology here, but I think more serious yogis and yoginis will want to know the Sanskrit names.

[Carrie LeAnne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have completed my first reading of this required book for my YogaFit Level 1 training coming up in January 2013! Easy to understand. My Yoga teacher in Bella Vista was trained by YogaFit, so she teaches from this book. I am looking forward to continuing to learn and grow in my knowledge and love of Yoga.

[Shanda G. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this is a great book for anyone getting started in yoga.
It gives nice detail with precise and clear photos for poses.
I purchased this book to go along with my level one teacher training. Although I think this would be good for anyone just getting started in yoga. Its very informative without being overwhelming.

[Kirby · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book in anticipation of taking the level 1 course. I found it a good "basics" book and a nice reference of different types of sequences to start with and expand upon as your practice grows. I find the sequences helpful when I am preparing to teach classes.

[Kimberly]

Slow day at work today...need to read this for a class in May. Not too much reading, much of it is poses and 3 sample programs. Good info.

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great pics and description of poses. Very clear explanations combined with some eastern philosophy..makes it pretty easy to make your yoga practice applicable to all parts of your life.

[Marnie Engle · Rating 4 out of 5]

What didn't I learn from this book?!!! Great resource for me to refer to!

[Sam · Rating 2 out of 5]

Informative first couple chapters, but better yoga books exist.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting and informative. Easy to follow. May read it through once more, because I want it to really sink in. ;)

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very useful for prepping for a level one class and for putting together a Yoga class.

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent!
Finished this the second time through - even better than the first!

[Shannon Dillman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another book to add to my yoga collection. I'm thinking of taking the Level 1 course. I'm enrolled in a teacher certification course now but am a sponge and need more.

[Justina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this for YogaFit training and loved it. Very simple and easy to read and understand. Gives great healthy living advice too. Organized well.

[Thomas Randle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like others, thus is required prior to participation in a Yoga Fit program. Great marketing ploy at $26. Actually, learned from it and have implemented
Some into my classes.

[Nick]

Goodreads win. Will review once received.

[Sandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Second time through and it seems repetitive. Third edition is better than 2nd.

[Alicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book. Way to start a practice. Variety of poses.

[Patricia Vahanian]

Good basic training yoga book.