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Yoga Body, Buddha Mind: A Complete Manual for Physical and Spiritual Well-Being from the Founder of the Om Yoga Center
A complete manual for physical and spiritual well-being from the founder of the OM yoga center.
In Yoga Body, Buddha Mind, the first book to give readers the best of both inextricably linked practices, Cyndi Lee -- author of the bestselling series OM Yoga in a Box -- shares her twenty years of experience as a practicing Tibetan Buddhist and one of the country's most famous yoga instructors. This easy-to-use guide shows readers of all yoga levels how to combine the basic tenets of Buddhism and meditation with yoga practice. Her book offers simple meditation programs and exercise sequences that can be done just about anywhere, in addition to more advanced and rigorous regimens. Written in the same personal, comfortable, and charismatic style that Cyndi Lee has brought to her classes, Yoga Body, Buddha Mind is a comprehensive how-to guide for spiritual well-being and the ultimate enlightening experience.
In Yoga Body, Buddha Mind, the first book to give readers the best of both inextricably linked practices, Cyndi Lee -- author of the bestselling series OM Yoga in a Box -- shares her twenty years of experience as a practicing Tibetan Buddhist and one of the country's most famous yoga instructors. This easy-to-use guide shows readers of all yoga levels how to combine the basic tenets of Buddhism and meditation with yoga practice. Her book offers simple meditation programs and exercise sequences that can be done just about anywhere, in addition to more advanced and rigorous regimens. Written in the same personal, comfortable, and charismatic style that Cyndi Lee has brought to her classes, Yoga Body, Buddha Mind is a comprehensive how-to guide for spiritual well-being and the ultimate enlightening experience.
288 pages, Paperback
First published August 2, 2000
50 people are currently reading
533 people want to read
About the author
Cyndi Lee
26 books48 followersCyndi Lee is the first female Western yoga teacher to fully integrate yoga asana and Tibetan Buddhism in her practice and teaching. In 1998, she founded the OM yoga Center in NYC, which became a mecca for yogis worldwide. One of the most influential teachers in the U.S., Cyndi is known for her dynamic and contemplative classes, creative, safe and sane sequencing, smart and soulful teachings -- all offered in a non-competitve environment of goodness. Be prepared to move, to apply clarity to your alignment, to watch your mind, to sweat, to stay steady, to get bored and let go, to engage and be inspired.
When she's not on the mat and cushion, Cyndi writes. Her newest book is the The New York Times critically acclaimed May I Be Happy: A Memoir of Love, Yoga and Changing My Mind. Other books include Yoga Body, Buddha Mind and OM yoga: A Guide to Daily Practice. She writes regularly for Yoga Journal, Shambhala Sun, Yoga International and Tricycle Magazine. Cyndi is a long time student of Gelek Rimpoche.
When she's not on the mat and cushion, Cyndi writes. Her newest book is the The New York Times critically acclaimed May I Be Happy: A Memoir of Love, Yoga and Changing My Mind. Other books include Yoga Body, Buddha Mind and OM yoga: A Guide to Daily Practice. She writes regularly for Yoga Journal, Shambhala Sun, Yoga International and Tricycle Magazine. Cyndi is a long time student of Gelek Rimpoche.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
July 5, 2010
I may have just not been ready to read this, but there's really nothing compelling me to pick it back up. The title itself is trite and I'm personally tired of this theme in book titles lately. If anyone wants to read it, let's trade!
March 10, 2015
As a (semi-serious) practitioner of both yoga and Buddhism, I have for some time wondered about the connections between the two. I feel that there is some connection, but it is hard to know what it is. Neither my Buddhism classes or my yoga classes make any reference to the other, and they almost seem to be competing philosophies at times. Unfortunately the book, although not bad, was a bit of a disappointment.
This was an enjoyable, somewhat rambling discussion that seemed more like a relaxed lecture than a serious monograph. As someone who is a highly regarded yoga teacher and who runs a successful yoga center (one of the most popular in New York from what I can tell), she clearly knows about yoga. But her knowledge as expressed in this book, although not superficial, does not seem very extensive. In the realm of Buddhism, she is not an experienced teacher or scholar. She makes a few references to things that some yoga teachers have said, but her knowledge does not seem particularly broad. The book is basically structured like a casual talk, interspersed with photos and descriptions of ashtanga asanas. Now so far as that goes, it is not bad, but it is the kind of thing I would rather watch or listen to than read about.
The key question for me is whether the book began to answer my questions and add to my knowledge of the intersection(s) of yoga and Buddhism. In that regard, I must tip my cap to Cyndi Lee and thank her. She does begin to touch on some things, but not nearly to the extent that the title suggests. She may have done some damage to her cause with this overly ambitious title, which implies that she will explain the hows and whys of the linkage of yoga exercise and Buddhist thinking. In fact, she goes on primarily about yoga, and makes the occasional reference to Buddhism. However, some of her comments are illuminating, and helped me to understand why I often experience something similar when I meditate and when I do yoga.
Yoga connects us to the earth, to the universe, to our own physical experience thru breathing and movement. Things are always in flux and life moves to the same rhythms that our breath does. Unlike other forms of exercise, yoga is built around the breath, and this begins to connect us to our minds and to nature as well. When the mind and body are in synch, then we are more in tune with all life, and we are in a position to grow spiritually, as well as become healthier. Yoga grew out of the Hindu (altho Lee says it is separate from Hinduism) Sankhya philosophy, which came along around 200 CE and proposed a dual level of existence: purusha (which basically means spirit) and prakriti (matter). I am a little unclear where the mind fits into it, but yoga means union, and it is an effort to join the two - body and mind, matter and spirit. I am also a little uncertain as to where the Yoga Sutra of Patanjali comes into the picture, since that was another huge point of origin for yoga. Lee's book is a good starting point for further explorations, and she has a nice yoga center, too. I respect her willingness to take on such a big subject and attempt to popularize it.
This was an enjoyable, somewhat rambling discussion that seemed more like a relaxed lecture than a serious monograph. As someone who is a highly regarded yoga teacher and who runs a successful yoga center (one of the most popular in New York from what I can tell), she clearly knows about yoga. But her knowledge as expressed in this book, although not superficial, does not seem very extensive. In the realm of Buddhism, she is not an experienced teacher or scholar. She makes a few references to things that some yoga teachers have said, but her knowledge does not seem particularly broad. The book is basically structured like a casual talk, interspersed with photos and descriptions of ashtanga asanas. Now so far as that goes, it is not bad, but it is the kind of thing I would rather watch or listen to than read about.
The key question for me is whether the book began to answer my questions and add to my knowledge of the intersection(s) of yoga and Buddhism. In that regard, I must tip my cap to Cyndi Lee and thank her. She does begin to touch on some things, but not nearly to the extent that the title suggests. She may have done some damage to her cause with this overly ambitious title, which implies that she will explain the hows and whys of the linkage of yoga exercise and Buddhist thinking. In fact, she goes on primarily about yoga, and makes the occasional reference to Buddhism. However, some of her comments are illuminating, and helped me to understand why I often experience something similar when I meditate and when I do yoga.
Yoga connects us to the earth, to the universe, to our own physical experience thru breathing and movement. Things are always in flux and life moves to the same rhythms that our breath does. Unlike other forms of exercise, yoga is built around the breath, and this begins to connect us to our minds and to nature as well. When the mind and body are in synch, then we are more in tune with all life, and we are in a position to grow spiritually, as well as become healthier. Yoga grew out of the Hindu (altho Lee says it is separate from Hinduism) Sankhya philosophy, which came along around 200 CE and proposed a dual level of existence: purusha (which basically means spirit) and prakriti (matter). I am a little unclear where the mind fits into it, but yoga means union, and it is an effort to join the two - body and mind, matter and spirit. I am also a little uncertain as to where the Yoga Sutra of Patanjali comes into the picture, since that was another huge point of origin for yoga. Lee's book is a good starting point for further explorations, and she has a nice yoga center, too. I respect her willingness to take on such a big subject and attempt to popularize it.
September 19, 2008
I'm really liking this. Of all the yoga books I've read, this one really simply combines the ideas that I learned from my favorite teacher Chris about how the body, mind and spirit are truly connected and can be expressed through yoga. Just like Chris taught, this is written in a very practical way and not flighty at all. Flighty yoga talk drives me nuts, as does stuff that only anatomical.
January 6, 2014
As I have been consistently practicing yoga for the past year, I have been increasingly yearning to delve deeper into the meaning and purpose of the asanas. This book has helped me pair both the physicality of yoga, along with the philosophy - a wonderful book if you're ready take your practice to the next level and truly immerse yourself into the true meaning of your yoga practice.
October 25, 2019
I honestly used this book as a prop to get my father to come with me to a recent Philly brain conference yoga seminar. I may get a copy sooner or later, as a few of my friends have spoken of hearing about it before. It is helpful, but the lack of index was aggravating to me.
This is a manual of an ancient practice. You may want to read it for more detail.
The images help explain what is happening if the text fails to convey the meaning, not unlike anything else I've learned in a foreign language. (Not just Chinese, also Japanese, also Russian. Also French. They must all follow the same paradigm.)
The reason I didn't give it more stars: I am missing the index. The time waste of flipping pages! Sure, it may not be more than 283 pages, but, couldn't we be doing something more productive than that...?
This is a manual of an ancient practice. You may want to read it for more detail.
The images help explain what is happening if the text fails to convey the meaning, not unlike anything else I've learned in a foreign language. (Not just Chinese, also Japanese, also Russian. Also French. They must all follow the same paradigm.)
The reason I didn't give it more stars: I am missing the index. The time waste of flipping pages! Sure, it may not be more than 283 pages, but, couldn't we be doing something more productive than that...?
March 18, 2021
I enjoyed this book. I started reading it after hearing this author’s introduction in another book. I am a Christian and practice Christian yoga. This book did not focus on Buddhist fundamentals but instead what makes yoga. I loved it and got a handful of theme ideas for my classes. It was a quick, easy, and enjoyable read.
November 18, 2018
Good book for both thoughts and practice.
June 27, 2020
One of my all time favorite yoga books! A go-to for anytime I need spiritual and physical inspiration!
January 13, 2011
I have a few of Lee's books at home (well, her "Yoga in a box", and her Yoga in 15/30/60/90 minutes, which might not count), and i had started this book years ago, but once I started reading it again, I remembered why I liked her so much. She really explain the main tenets of yoga asanas (standing, sitting, strength, balance, restoration) and ties them to the tenets of Buddhist philosophy in our daily life, the importance of being present and of using your breath to do so. Her language and stories are relatable, her message simple, and it's accompanied by yoga flow sequences to illustrate her message. Really enjoyed it, and it inspired me to literally get on my mat and do some yoga at home.
March 28, 2019
This is a book that balances your energy and reunites your purpose; "OMs" you into remembering how each day we can reconnect- or connect, to everything else around us- to be in "flow", to BE "flow" for ourselves and everyone else around us:
"When we practice meditation we are studying humanity in the form of ourselves." - quoted from Pema Chodron
Cyndi Lee's writes with a comfort that is so easy to receive. She is a connector....of originally yogic philosophy, her own experiences, and those experiences of her students in her New York studio. I am looking forward to rereading this book for years to come.
"When we practice meditation we are studying humanity in the form of ourselves." - quoted from Pema Chodron
Cyndi Lee's writes with a comfort that is so easy to receive. She is a connector....of originally yogic philosophy, her own experiences, and those experiences of her students in her New York studio. I am looking forward to rereading this book for years to come.
August 5, 2014
This book was an easy read and it helped to make sense of a lot of the aspects I was unsure about with Yoga. I liked that it not only gave real life scenarios but it broke philosphies down to laymen terms. I also found the sequence guides with pictures and descriptions very helpful in creating a unique and polished home practice. I have adopted a lot of these strategies into my own practice and found that not only are they tried and true, but they are easy to come back to!
January 17, 2016
This book was a required text for my Yoga Teacher Training course. I love how it is at the same time practical and insightful. This book delves beyond the physical benefits of yoga, and looks into its philosophical roots and applications in daily life. With a suggested pose sequence for each topic, this book is a good place for a yogi to grow stronger in their practice.
May 8, 2007
This book is a fun accompaniment to any level practitioner. The book balances philosophy and physical asana practice into this complete guide to anyone interested in yoga. It is an enjoyable read as well, which cannot be said for all yoga literature.
August 11, 2007
This book is truly enlightening. Buddhism for beginner's and yoga for those of us who haven't quite gotten the hang of it yet. The simple approach and relatable text makes this a must have reference for anyone attempting to live a peaceful and mediative life.
January 18, 2010
A book that would be great for someone with no knowledge of yoga or buddha.
The class charts in the book are great for someone who wants to learn.
As for the rest of it I found it to be a slow read and I forced myself to finish it.
The class charts in the book are great for someone who wants to learn.
As for the rest of it I found it to be a slow read and I forced myself to finish it.
February 19, 2008
Awesome, inspiring, worth a re-read every once in a while as a reminder.
September 20, 2010
I am using this book as reference for an almost-daily practice...
May 14, 2013
I so needed this book when I was on my last job. A great help for stress.
July 5, 2014
This book has lots of good diagrams to practice yoga with
January 18, 2016
Great linkage of Buddhism to yoga; need to get this book to practice the sequences.
October 2, 2016
Enjoyed this book. Beginner, intermediate and advanced poses with good descriptions and photos.
April 28, 2021
One of the best yoga books ever :)
January 1, 2009
yoga teacher training required reading
February 7, 2010
I love the combination of yoga asanas and Buddhist philosophy. Cyndi Lee is a great teacher.
June 21, 2011
So much of what I feel and how I approach life just flowed from this book.
February 12, 2013
Nice study on how the mind and body work together for wellness while practicing yoga.
August 9, 2013
Great book for anyone who is interested in yoga and meditation.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews