The Healing Path of Yoga: Time-Honored Wisdom and Scientifically Proven Methods That Alleviate Stress, Open Your Heart, and Enrich Your Life by Nischala Joy Devi

by Nischala Joy Devi

It's not surprising that yoga has become a highly popular pastime in 21st-century America. "Recent medical research by well-known clinicians shows that stress is a major factor in causing heart disease, cancer, and a myriad of chronic and acute diseases of today's world," according to author and revered instructor Nischala Joy Devi, who has pioneered yoga programs for heart specialist Dean Ornish and cancer specialist Michael Lerner. "While the stressful events around us may not change, we can learn how to respond quickly to life's difficulties, maintaining our equilibrium and a sense of well-being." Although the practice of yoga can create this well-being and has even been associated with reversing serious medical conditions such as hypertension and heart disease, Devi never makes grandiose promises. Instead, she shows readers how yoga can be realistically integrated into a contemporary lifestyle. Forget the contorted poses and mysterious religious overtones associated with yoga. Think "attitude adjustments" as Devi offers suggestions for opening the heart, achieving deeper rest and relaxation, breathing more effectively, and learning to meditate. Toward the end she addresses the physical plane with a well-illustrated routine of easy physical poses (asanas) as well as chapters on "Eating for Wholeness" and "Prelude to Sleep." Devi is indeed a masterful yoga teacher. Not only does she blend Eastern philosophy with Western living, she does it in a way that is grounded, approachable, and thoroughly welcoming for people from all walks of life. --Gail Hudson

Genres: Nonfiction, Health, Spirituality

Mass Market Paperback

First published April 28, 2000

Reviews

[Arah · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pleasant yoga studies read, with great suggestions and ... stories. I was surprised to find no citings for all the studies she references, as backing for the methods she explores and teaches in this book. Zero, at the back of the book, zero as footnotes. Even a brief mention of sample sizes would be welcome, for a book that has "scientifically proven" in its title. I'm already 75% sold on the efficacy of these practices, as I use several of them myself, but my inner skeptic needed a better adversary, when reading this one.

[Simo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very clear information, good practical advice, good background stories. Would recommend for someone who is just becoming interested in yoga.

[Reading Cat · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're already intermediate to advanced in your yoga practice, this book may not be a groundbreaker. But if you're a new to early intermediate, this is a great book. She is clear that to her, Yoga (she capitalizes it) is not just asana--to say you do Yoga to her means you do pranayama, nidra, chanting, clean diet, meditation AS WELL AS asana.

She connects Yoga to the growing minbody awareness in medicine--her ethos is that she's worked with doctors in several trials to see the effect of Yoga on cardiac patients and other patients. It is a lovely, sweet book, filled with inspiring anecdotes and quotes. Does she oversell the powers of Yoga? Possibly. I don't think that expecting Yoga to cure cancer or heal hearts is necessarily a great road to go down. It's not that I don't believe it's possible, but I think there MIGHT be a tendency among people to figure that if someone does die of cancer or a heart issue...say 'oh they didn't fight hard enough' or 'oh if only they'd done Yoga!' and judge them for 'causing' their own illness. What I think it CAN do is allow us to 'heal' parts of us--maybe the body, too?--but definitely help with the quality of life no matter what.

[Susanne Haegele · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best yogatherapy books I know. I recommend it again and again, and always return to it myself. It has a great chair yoga sequence, and wonderful healing visualisations. A great resource for any yoga teacher to work with.

[Charley · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 great book for beginners to stress management

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Came highly recommended by the yoga teacher who leads the Sunday classes I go to frequently. She was very right about this being a book that could be very accessible for people who have not practiced yoga, and who have health issues they are currently struggling with. Very logical progression of chapters, but each chapter in and of itself is a good stand-alone. She also gives very good real-life stories / examples that convey her message well.

I've been studying yoga off & on over the last 10 years; am by no means able to make myself into a human pretzel, but I can attest to many of the benefits of yoga that she speaks of. Regardless, I learned quite a bit, and I really liked the "exercises" she gives at the end of each chapter to put that particular set of learnings into practice. I'm sure I will come back to this book many times for reference / a refresher. I've got several friends and family members in mind that I think would benefit from this book.

[Kendall Wood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Must Read!

Nischala’s inspiring yet down-to-earth and simple techniques are shared in such an easy to understand way. This is an excellent book for anyone looking to enhance their life and live with more ease and grace and for those looking to build a routine that supports lasting health and well-being.

[Cassandra Woods · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book gives solid evidence of the healing that can occur from practicing yoga, from heart disease and high blood pressure to cancer.
i borrowed one of her deep relaxation sequences to use for savasana when i teach yoga. it's the best one i've found yet.

[Bella · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very easy to read. Great for beginners, like myself.