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Integral Yoga Hatha for Beginners (Integral Yoga Hatha): Step-By-Step Instruction
This booklet offers the essential practices of the popular Integral Yoga Hatha Class, as established by Sri Swami Satchidananda. The text includes complete instructions and photographs of each of twelvepostures, eye movements, breathing practices, relaxation, and a brief introduction to meditation. An easy-to-follow aid for practice at home.
28 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 1, 1970
15 people are currently reading
240 people want to read
About the author
Satchidananda
92 books174 followersH. H. Sri Swami Satchidananda (Sri Gurudev) born C. K. Ramaswamy Gounderis respected worldwide as one of the major pioneers of the interfaith movement and as one of the most respected Yoga Masters of our time. Sri Gurudev's teachings and spirit guide us toward a life of peace and to religious harmony among all people. Invited to come to the West in 1966, Sri Gurudev was quickly embraced by young Americans looking for lasting peace during the turbulent 1960's. In 1969, he opened the Woodstock Festival. The peaceful atmosphere that prevailed throughout the event was often attributed to his message and blessings.
Sri Gurudev founded and is the guiding light for Integral Yoga® International. Integral Yoga, as taught by Sri Gurudev, combines various methods of Yoga, including Hatha Yoga, selfless service, meditation, prayer, and a 5,000-year-old philosophy that helps one find the peace and joy within. Integral Yoga is the foundation for Dr. Dean Ornish's landmark work in reversing heart disease and Dr. Michael Lerner's noted Commonweal Cancer Help program. Today more than 50 Integral Yoga Institutes and Integral Yoga Teaching Centers throughout the United States and abroad offer classes and training programs in all aspects of Integral Yoga.
In 1979, Sri Gurudev was inspired to establish Satchidananda Ashram—Yogaville®. Based on his teachings, it is a place where people of different faiths and backgrounds can come to realize their essential oneness. Yogaville is the home of The Light Of Truth Universal Shrine (LOTUS). This unique interfaith Shrine honors the Spirit that unites all the world religions, while celebrating their diversity. People from all over the world come there to meditate and pray.
For more than fifty years, Sri Gurudev sponsored interfaith worship services and conferences. His teachings advocate respecting and honoring all faiths and he was invited to share his message of peace with many world leaders and dignitaries. Over the years, Sri Gurudev received many honors for his public service. Among recent awards: the 1994 Juliet Hollister Interfaith Award presented at the United Nations and in April 2002 the prestigious U Thant Peace Award. In addition, he served on the advisory boards of many world peace and interfaith organizations.
Sri Gurudev is the author of many books, including Integral Yoga Hatha, To Know Your Self, The Living Gita, and The Golden Present. He is the subject of three biographies, Apostle of Peace, Portrait of a Modern Sage, and Boundless Giving.
In August 2002, Sri Gurudev entered Mahasamadhi (a God-realized soul's conscious final exit from the body). Chidambaram, his Mahasamadhi shrine in Yogaville is open for prayer and meditation.
“Swami Satchidananda enriched the lives of countless others and his efforts made a positive difference to our world and our future.”
—President and Mrs. William Jefferson Clinton
“I have met some truly great men in my life, but none greater than Swami Satchidananda, for his life is dedicated to service and the cause of peace--both individual and universal--and to fostering religious harmony among all people.”
—Dean Ornish, MD
“Swami Satchidananda has been and continues to be our great teacher and God’s special messenger.”
—The Very Rev. James Parks Morton
“I consider Swami Satchidananda one of the greatest spiritual teachers of our time.”
—Richard Gere
“There are teachers who guide their students to mystical experience. There are others, too, who inspire their students to loving service. What I admire in Swami Satchidananda is the consistency with which he bonds these two together.”
—Br. David Steindl-Rast, OSB.
Sri Gurudev founded and is the guiding light for Integral Yoga® International. Integral Yoga, as taught by Sri Gurudev, combines various methods of Yoga, including Hatha Yoga, selfless service, meditation, prayer, and a 5,000-year-old philosophy that helps one find the peace and joy within. Integral Yoga is the foundation for Dr. Dean Ornish's landmark work in reversing heart disease and Dr. Michael Lerner's noted Commonweal Cancer Help program. Today more than 50 Integral Yoga Institutes and Integral Yoga Teaching Centers throughout the United States and abroad offer classes and training programs in all aspects of Integral Yoga.
In 1979, Sri Gurudev was inspired to establish Satchidananda Ashram—Yogaville®. Based on his teachings, it is a place where people of different faiths and backgrounds can come to realize their essential oneness. Yogaville is the home of The Light Of Truth Universal Shrine (LOTUS). This unique interfaith Shrine honors the Spirit that unites all the world religions, while celebrating their diversity. People from all over the world come there to meditate and pray.
For more than fifty years, Sri Gurudev sponsored interfaith worship services and conferences. His teachings advocate respecting and honoring all faiths and he was invited to share his message of peace with many world leaders and dignitaries. Over the years, Sri Gurudev received many honors for his public service. Among recent awards: the 1994 Juliet Hollister Interfaith Award presented at the United Nations and in April 2002 the prestigious U Thant Peace Award. In addition, he served on the advisory boards of many world peace and interfaith organizations.
Sri Gurudev is the author of many books, including Integral Yoga Hatha, To Know Your Self, The Living Gita, and The Golden Present. He is the subject of three biographies, Apostle of Peace, Portrait of a Modern Sage, and Boundless Giving.
In August 2002, Sri Gurudev entered Mahasamadhi (a God-realized soul's conscious final exit from the body). Chidambaram, his Mahasamadhi shrine in Yogaville is open for prayer and meditation.
“Swami Satchidananda enriched the lives of countless others and his efforts made a positive difference to our world and our future.”
—President and Mrs. William Jefferson Clinton
“I have met some truly great men in my life, but none greater than Swami Satchidananda, for his life is dedicated to service and the cause of peace--both individual and universal--and to fostering religious harmony among all people.”
—Dean Ornish, MD
“Swami Satchidananda has been and continues to be our great teacher and God’s special messenger.”
—The Very Rev. James Parks Morton
“I consider Swami Satchidananda one of the greatest spiritual teachers of our time.”
—Richard Gere
“There are teachers who guide their students to mystical experience. There are others, too, who inspire their students to loving service. What I admire in Swami Satchidananda is the consistency with which he bonds these two together.”
—Br. David Steindl-Rast, OSB.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
December 1, 2015
This is the first yoga book that I used as a teenager way back when, and still my favorite. I had forgotten about it until recently when I wanted to do some yoga to reduce back and neck pain. Although I might never work up to some of the more rigorous asanas again, this book is a useful guide regardless of what shape I find myself in.
Swami Satchidananda developed Integral Yoga himself, brought it to the US in the 1960s, and taught it extensively in New York, Virginia, and California, among other places. He describes it as a "combination of specific methods designed to develop every aspect of the individual: physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual." He wrote this book at the insistence of his students, so that they could use it as a study manual for his classes.
Each of a wide variety of asanas (poses) is presented, each with photo/s of Swamiji demonstrating proper technique. He describes each technique, its benefits, precautions to ensure comfort, special notes, and the amount of time needed to perform the asana. This last illustrates how well Sachidananda understood Westerners and their priorities. He also states that expecting his students to rid themselves of harmful habits before beginning Yoga is like "a doctor asking his patients to cure themselves of their ailments before receiving his treatment." So readers can begin practice regardless of their starting place.
In addition to the asanas, Sachiananda gives hints for aged, beginning, women, and children practitioners, as well as specifics about how to practice (dress, diet, breathing, relaxation, etc.). Eye exercises, meditative poses, mudras (hand placement for quieting the mind) and a wide variety of pranayama (cleansing breathing) practices are covered. More esoteric topics such as chanting and yogic cleansing practices are also covered, but more briefly.
The main difference between this and other yoga references is the clear photos of Swamiji illustrating each technique along with a complete description. Most other references provide just one or the other. Some of the images of the 57-year old full-bearded yogi in his diamond-patterned skivvies in complicated asanas seem anatomically impossible, even with photographic evidence. Most asanas seem more feasible, and remind those of us fortunate enough to have made his acquaintance in his yoga classes, where he sometimes removed his robes to reveal leopard-patterned bikini briefs, ever aware of American cultural whimsy. In his late 60s then, he still looked (and was) remarkably fit.
To begin practice, follow Swamiji’s asana suggestions for beginning, intermediate, or advanced students. Listen to your body and proceed with such asanas as are comfortable, keeping in mind that even a little regular practice will improve your flexibility and balance as well as your ability to concentrate and relax.
Swami Satchidananda developed Integral Yoga himself, brought it to the US in the 1960s, and taught it extensively in New York, Virginia, and California, among other places. He describes it as a "combination of specific methods designed to develop every aspect of the individual: physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual." He wrote this book at the insistence of his students, so that they could use it as a study manual for his classes.
Each of a wide variety of asanas (poses) is presented, each with photo/s of Swamiji demonstrating proper technique. He describes each technique, its benefits, precautions to ensure comfort, special notes, and the amount of time needed to perform the asana. This last illustrates how well Sachidananda understood Westerners and their priorities. He also states that expecting his students to rid themselves of harmful habits before beginning Yoga is like "a doctor asking his patients to cure themselves of their ailments before receiving his treatment." So readers can begin practice regardless of their starting place.
In addition to the asanas, Sachiananda gives hints for aged, beginning, women, and children practitioners, as well as specifics about how to practice (dress, diet, breathing, relaxation, etc.). Eye exercises, meditative poses, mudras (hand placement for quieting the mind) and a wide variety of pranayama (cleansing breathing) practices are covered. More esoteric topics such as chanting and yogic cleansing practices are also covered, but more briefly.
The main difference between this and other yoga references is the clear photos of Swamiji illustrating each technique along with a complete description. Most other references provide just one or the other. Some of the images of the 57-year old full-bearded yogi in his diamond-patterned skivvies in complicated asanas seem anatomically impossible, even with photographic evidence. Most asanas seem more feasible, and remind those of us fortunate enough to have made his acquaintance in his yoga classes, where he sometimes removed his robes to reveal leopard-patterned bikini briefs, ever aware of American cultural whimsy. In his late 60s then, he still looked (and was) remarkably fit.
To begin practice, follow Swamiji’s asana suggestions for beginning, intermediate, or advanced students. Listen to your body and proceed with such asanas as are comfortable, keeping in mind that even a little regular practice will improve your flexibility and balance as well as your ability to concentrate and relax.
January 12, 2012
Returned to this last night after many years on the shelf. I used this in my twenties when I practiced yoga regularly. Straight-forward guide with clear photographs, and directions, as well as explanations of the benefit of each pose.
November 28, 2023
a great introduction to yoga, with various asanas and photos of the Satchidananda performing the poses. He gives a good foundational introduction to yoga, and provides a simple intro guide to the lifestyle of a yogi.
April 1, 2008
a classic.
the pictures of swamiji are just sooo very 70's. oh, enlightening hippies all over the world.
the pictures of swamiji are just sooo very 70's. oh, enlightening hippies all over the world.
July 12, 2023
A PHOTOGRAPHIC INTRODUCTION TO THIS SYNTHESIS OF YOGA SYSTEMS
The back cover of this 1970 book explains, “Yoga is a system for purifying the body and the mind, for making each of us the master of our senses so that we may develop our emotions and intellect to a level at which we function healthfully and in perfect harmony… Swami Satchidananda has prepared a simple, lucid… introduction to Hatha Yoga which can be used individually in the home or in conjunction with local yoga classes… Satchidananda was born in India … He tried his hands at many fields… But none of these endeavors brought him the lasting joy he sought. At the age of twenty-eight Swamiji started upon his full-time spiritual quest. For several years, he practiced … in seclusion…
“In 1947, he met his Master---His Holiness Sri Swami Sivananda Maharaj, the founder of the Divine Life Society… he was initiated into the Holy Order of Sanyasins… A year later, his master conferred upon him the title of Yogiraj, for his mastery of the intricate techniques of the Yogic science. Swamiji… became a professor Raja and Hatha Yoga at the Yoga Vedanta Forest University in Rishikesh. He has organized and served branches of the Divine Life Society and other Yoga centers… In 1966 Swamiji came to New York for an intended two-day visit. He was immediately surrounded by students who wanted to study under his guidance, and, in August of 1966, the Integral Yoga Institute was founded.”
He explains in the Preface, “What is Integral Yoga? Integral Yoga is a combination of specific methods designed to develop every aspect of the individual: physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual. It is a scientific system which integrates the various branches of Yoga in order in order to bring about a complete and harmonious development of individual…
Integral Y0oga is a synthesis of all Yogas. The goal is a body of perfect health and strength. Mind with all clarity, calmness, and control. Intellect as sharp as a razor, will of steel, heart full of love and mercy, a life dedicated to the common welfare and Realization of the True Self… This book contains very little theoretical material, but has been set up as a sort of Hatha Yoga directory---including precise and simplified technical details plus pictures with each pose.”
This well-photographed book will be “must reading” for anyone wanting to practice Integral Yoga.
The back cover of this 1970 book explains, “Yoga is a system for purifying the body and the mind, for making each of us the master of our senses so that we may develop our emotions and intellect to a level at which we function healthfully and in perfect harmony… Swami Satchidananda has prepared a simple, lucid… introduction to Hatha Yoga which can be used individually in the home or in conjunction with local yoga classes… Satchidananda was born in India … He tried his hands at many fields… But none of these endeavors brought him the lasting joy he sought. At the age of twenty-eight Swamiji started upon his full-time spiritual quest. For several years, he practiced … in seclusion…
“In 1947, he met his Master---His Holiness Sri Swami Sivananda Maharaj, the founder of the Divine Life Society… he was initiated into the Holy Order of Sanyasins… A year later, his master conferred upon him the title of Yogiraj, for his mastery of the intricate techniques of the Yogic science. Swamiji… became a professor Raja and Hatha Yoga at the Yoga Vedanta Forest University in Rishikesh. He has organized and served branches of the Divine Life Society and other Yoga centers… In 1966 Swamiji came to New York for an intended two-day visit. He was immediately surrounded by students who wanted to study under his guidance, and, in August of 1966, the Integral Yoga Institute was founded.”
He explains in the Preface, “What is Integral Yoga? Integral Yoga is a combination of specific methods designed to develop every aspect of the individual: physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual. It is a scientific system which integrates the various branches of Yoga in order in order to bring about a complete and harmonious development of individual…
Integral Y0oga is a synthesis of all Yogas. The goal is a body of perfect health and strength. Mind with all clarity, calmness, and control. Intellect as sharp as a razor, will of steel, heart full of love and mercy, a life dedicated to the common welfare and Realization of the True Self… This book contains very little theoretical material, but has been set up as a sort of Hatha Yoga directory---including precise and simplified technical details plus pictures with each pose.”
This well-photographed book will be “must reading” for anyone wanting to practice Integral Yoga.
July 22, 2023
Excellent! My first book on yoga, and as relevant as ever! Highly recommend.
October 24, 2009
I learned yoga from this book and it completely changed my life.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews