Yoga FAQ: Almost Everything You Need to Know about Yoga-from Asanas to Yamas

by Richard Rosen, Rodney Yee (Contributor)

Concise and readable answers to the most commonly asked questions about yoga, and illuminating little-known facts and esoteric aspects of the philosophy and practice--by renowned yogi Richard Rosen.


Here are answers to all the questions that come up in your yoga practice and study! Renowned yoga teacher Richard Rosen has asked—and been asked—nearly every yoga-related question that there is, and his wonderfully practical, helpful answers will give you a thorough explanation of the tradition’s key concepts, and the nuts and bolts of yoga philosophy and practice,



   • Yoga’s main texts, including the Upanishads,  Bhagavad Gita ,  Yoga Sutra , among others

   • Yamas and niyamas

   • The subtle body—what it means and what it looks like in practice

   • The evolution of asanas

   • Pranayama

   • Mudras and bandhas

   • And much more

Genres: Nonfiction

272 pages, Paperback

Published February 28, 2017

Reviews

[January Gray]

This was informative, but very dull to read. I think even those starting Yoga would get bored with this book. Very disappointing.

[Meryl Landau · Rating 4 out of 5]

Richard Rosen has been around the yoga world for many decades, and that depth of experience shows in his book Yoga FAQ. Although I haven't finished reading it in its entirety (a quasi-reference book, it's the kind of book you flip around in, depending on your interest rather than read straight through), what I've read is both clearly written and insightful. Rosen answers questions I've long pondered, and those that never occurred to me. I found this book so interesting we will make it our Goodreads Yoga Folks group read in the spring when it becomes available. (I got an early copy on Netgalley.)

[Tracy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mr. Rosen's insights are interesting and personal which makes them entertaining. I thought this was a good primer for the more scholarly aspects of yoga although it might not be everyone's cup of tea. I enjoyed it and it set the stage for some more in depth learning/reading. I'm not sure where he got the Frequently Asked Questions from and have a hard time believing that they really are frequently asked, nonetheless I came away a little more educated and a little more curious.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rosen has a wonderful sense of humour - slightly irreverent - but spot on for the modern audience, and respectful to the traditions and academic assessment thereof. It is a good reference book for teachers and students of yoga asana, to realise the broader holistic view of Classical Astanga Yoga.

[Tina Alexander · Rating 5 out of 5]

Richard Rosen is an encyclopedia of yoga. This work helps answer and explaining common questions while providing insights and humor that inspire you to get on your mat. I've taken classes with Richard and am simply amazed by both his practical and philosophical wisdom. Buy all of his books! You'll be grateful you did.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like how Richard Rosen explains and really goes into detail about the various topics. It was more than a FAQ though it was a rich history and it deep read. Not for a new yogi who has some basic FAQ about Yoga and poses. It is a deep dive into the history, language, and nuances of Yoga.

[Xoxi McCauley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Richard Rosen is my teacher, one of my favorites and to read this book is to hear his voice in its entirety. Highly recommended for any yogi, or anyone interested in the depth that yoga is - not just the physical part.

[Cheyenne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! I take Richard Rosen classes every time in in Oakland, and I recognized his familiar sense of humour. It’s quiet easy to read and I’ve learned many things about yoga philosophy and more!

[Amanda]

I'm not sure how to review this book. It definitely had a lot of information; I'll give it that. But, wow it was dry. I found myself dreading it each time a new chapter was due. I had to read it for a yoga teacher training or I definitely wouldn't have selected it on my own.

[Peace · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like the other reviews say, this isn't really a book for beginners. "Frequently Asked Questions" is not inaccurate but it's not Yoga 101.

[Cherie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I could see this being useful in a YTT. But I felt like this dwadled a bit for me and went all over the place. Informative.

[Theresa · Rating 1 out of 5]

It too complicated for my limited knowledge of yoga .

[Giulia M. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very "disjointed", if it makes sense.

[Jessi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I requested this book through NetGalley because it looked like a nice introductory book into yoga and, quite frankly, had a fun cover. But this is not a light book, the author dives right into the depths of yoga. And, I'm gonna be honest, this threw me off for the remainder of the reading. Especially with the subtitles, I was expecting something a little... more basic. A reference you could flip around in and look for answers to various questions.
This is a perfectly nice book about yoga. There are proposed questions and answers, sometimes with accompanying stories related to yoga or short bunny trails containing more, related information.
I'd say that this book is more geared to the advanced practitioner or slightly-past-the-beginning-teacher than newbies; especially since there are a lot of references that those just starting on their yoga path just won't get.

[The Literary Sommelier · Rating 4 out of 5]

First I like to say thank you to Shambhala Publication for providing me with an early copy of "Yoga FAQ" via Netgalley.
As a casual yoga practitioner (for the last 40ish years), I was surprised at the depth of knowledge shared by Mr. Rosen in this book. Yoga FAQ contains answers to questions I have pondered and some I have never contemplated. It includes a great deal of history about yoga (going back centuries) and thoughtful opinions on the practice. I appreciated learning about yoga from the approach of Mr.Rosen's contemporary analysis.
This would be a great reference book for someone interested in yoga or curious about specific yoga traditions. I found Yoga FAQ a bit difficult to read straight through, but it would a great source to answer specific questions that are rarely addressed in other texts.

[Sherri · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good survey of yoga, the physical side and some of the philosophies.

The author admits most of it is open to interpretation and not the final word. He references traditional texts and modern translations, as well as his own opinions and experience. It's fairly dense and detailed, with a glossary. It would be a good reference for a teacher or curious student who wants to delve more into yoga than just the postures.