Yoga Meditation: The Supreme Guide to Self-Realization

by Stephen Sturgess

“All yoga practices are preparation for focusing the mind during meditation,” notes renowned yogi Stephen Sturgess. In his new book, Sturgess demonstrates how to use a wide range of yoga meditation practices as a portal to higher consciousness.
 
Initial chapters explain what yoga meditation is and why it is so useful in our busy, modern lives. Here, Sturgess gives insight into the Eight Limbs of Yoga (an established approach to the successive stages of yoga) and enlightens us on the workings of our internal energy system – all of which lay the foundation for a deeper understanding of the practices to come. Sturgess then guides us through the key seated meditation postures and a range of helpful mudras (hand gestures) and bandhas (energetic seals) before going on to offer clear, step-by-step guidance on a wide choice of the most effective yoga postures, purification practices, breathing exercises and meditation techniques to still the mind and awaken the inner spirit. In the final chapter he recommends how to put these practices together in the form of nourishing daily routines to suit your individual needs, as well as giving advice on how to establish an overall healthy lifestyle, based on ancient Indian health traditions.
 
Beautifully illustrated, highly practical and deeply inspirational, this is the ideal guide to establishing a regular holistic health program. It will allow you to connect with your true divine Inner Self, realize your fullest potential for creative thought and action, and establish balance, harmony and happiness in every aspect of your life.
 

Genres: Nonfiction, Health, Meditation

160 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2014

Reviews

[Stacy Sabala · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Review- Yoga Meditation by Stephen Sturgess

For anyone interested in yoga, this is a great book. In fact a beginner would get a lot out of this book. It goes into great detail and offers a tremendous amount of information. The author covers the history of yoga and explains what it really is. The book provides an easy format for the reader, where the information is broken down and explained. The author gives clear objectives of what the reader is to do. The directions and descriptions are well worded and easy to understand. The poses are each accompanied by a description and a picture to allow for better understanding. The directions are also given in a step-by-step guide with an explanation for why it is done.
The author includes information on visualization, chanting, and mantras. There is a section on steady gazes and different techniques are shared. The author explains how to get the most from these yoga practices and what lifestyle changes need to be implemented. Finally the author gives a series of examples that describe routines that can be followed by readers.
This book answers any questions that a person has pertaining to the subject of Yoga. The information is vast and delivered in a set of soothing words that the reader can almost picture a yogi reading aloud. I give it a 4 out of 5.

[Katarina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book for a beginner as well as someone who has been practicing meditation for a long time.

The book is written extremely well. It starts with the philosophical background of yoga and meditation for a general understanding.

It gives detailed instruction, step by step in words and pictures, for yoga poses to get ready for meditation, several options how to sit while meditating, and then a bunch of different types of meditations including the chakras and breath.

This is the best, most detailed, easiest to follow book on meditation I have read so far. It even beats "Meditation for Dummies", and I'm a big fan of the for Dummies books as a starting point on any topic.

I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in beginning to meditate as well as people who have been meditating for a while. I can guarantee everyone will gain something from this book.

This is one I want to buy in paper copy when it gets released.

[Carol [Goodreads Addict] · Rating 5 out of 5]

Most people who practice yoga eventually will want to seek a higher sense of calm and joy in their lives. This can be accomplished by learning the art of meditation. This requires a personal teacher or an in depth guide of some sort. Stephen Sturgess has written such a guide in his book Yoga Meditation: The Supreme Guide to Self-Realization. Stephen has written an in depth but easy to follow guide to the ultimate in meditation. This is not a one time read but a reference that is kept close by during your journey through your practice of meditation. His techniques apply not only to the beginner but can be very useful to someone that is even more experienced in the practice of meditation.

[Dawn Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yoga Meditation by Stephen Sturgess

9781780286440

161 Pages
Publisher: Watkins Publishing Limited, Watkins Publishing
Release Date: April 22, 2014

Nonfiction, Health, Mind, Body, Spirit, Meditation

The book is divided into the following chapters.

Chapter 1: The Eight Limbs of Yoga
Chapter 2: The Internal Energy System
Chapter 3: Preparing for Practice
Chapter 4: Asana Practice
Chapter 5: Purification Practice
Chapter 6: Pranayama Practice
Chapter 7: Meditation Practice
Chapter 8: Developing Your Practice

The term used in the book for the yoga of meditation is Raja Yoga. This form of yoga can be traced back to BCE times. The physical form of yoga referenced in the book is Hatha Yoga Pradipika and the author believes the two are interdependent. The eight limbs of yoga are also explained in depth. Chapter 2 covers the subtle bodies, nadis, kundalini, chakras, the three bodies and five sheaths, also known as the koshas. I love learning about mudras and alternate nostril breathing. Most of the yoga poses are easy stretching exercises and I appreciate that the author gives alternative positions. There are many meditations each with a specific purpose and they are easy to follow. I love the morning and evening routines. They range from one minute to over an hour depending on the amount of time you can spend. If you practice yoga and/or meditation, I recommend that you give this book a read.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you I won this book on the goodreads giveaways.I have not ever practiced yoga,I am a beginner.I have to say this book is very detailed and It makes the learning process that much more enjoyable.The pictures,use of techniques and why ,when, very good details to help you get a start or maybe even a refresher of information to help you get further in the practice and skills.

thank you stephen for sharing this book with me.I have wanted to practice and did not have one clue how to start even and this book is very helpful.

[Carmen Rotaru · Rating 5 out of 5]

Practical routines for different times of the day. Very helpful!

[LaLuna 10 · Rating 2 out of 5]

I appreciate that books like these are published and becoming more and more mainstream.

[Sharlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book as the result of a First Reads giveaway.

I have to apologize first off to the author for taking so long to read and review this book. With that said, it was not because I did not enjoy it or wasn't reading it. In fact, the opposite is quite true. I found I was reading it almost every day. This is not a book one could truly appreciate without savouring it. It was the type of book that I found needed to be absorbed. In fact, I found myself taking days to just read and remember bits and pieces about Chakras...many, many more were devoted to positions and breathing. Even more were given to meditation.

Full disclosure time. I am a mom of three busy kids. I work out of the home. My experience with yoga in the past came only from books that we skimmed through to practise positions with. None of them ever taught the practise. It really was an eye opener for me. I have a better awareness of what yoga is about. I can now say that I have a much deeper awareness of what it represents.


I did throughout the positions remember a few things. 1. I was told years ago that I would be confined to a wheelchair. Certain positions caused my back to ache for days. 2. I have osteoarthritis in my knee...again with the pain. The plus side is that the book warns you what positions will be bad if you have difficulties or pain with your back or knee. I advise you to take heed and listen to them...Stubborn me learned the hard way.

The exercises and techniques are explained very clearly, especially for someone like me who needed the step by step breakdown each time to do something properly. When done correctly, it is so much better. (Remember that we used to do this on our own without direction. The breathing tips really help!)

I have made a few fantastic changes in my routine that I swore when I started this book probably would never happen. I am starting to find more time for myself...getting up around 5 or 6 if I sleep in...heading to bed earlier although we have faltered a few times with obligations or company. I love the mantras and the feeling of peace that is entering into my life.

I will not be commenting on the editing of this book as my copy was an ARC. The only thing I did notice though, that may be not an editing mistake but a misplacement, was in the Living with Awareness section a blurb that seemed to interrupt a paragraph. I am sure, this too, will be fixed.

I think this is an amazing book for those who are learning about yoga and for those who already practise it.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won a copy of this book through Goodreads.

I enjoy this book and how helpful it is. The photos are great, and I like how there is information on yoga - teachings about yoga, not just the poses.

This would be a great book for beginners like me. Personally, I learn better by watching, so once I've basics via video, I'll be able to make better use of the book. the ideal reader will have taken a beginner yoga class or have done a couple at-home yoga videos.

[LaGina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been doing yoga for some time and was happy to read this book that gave me so much information on the dynamics of the practice. The author covers the history of yoga and explains what it really is and its background. It is a great reference book..

[Kat]

I'm really not a chakra person.

[Shadia Akabani · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book. Everything's perfectly explained and designed beautifully.
If you are a beginner and you want to learn everything from head to toe I would totally recommend this book.

[Monica · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you cherry-pick and focus on the routines in themselves rather than the fairly solipsistic prose, it's not a bad book to refer to when looking for exercises which prime one for meditation.