Essential Yoga: An Illustrated Guide to Over 100 Yoga Poses and Meditations

by Olivia H. Miller, Nicole Kauffman (Illustrator)

From the author of the best-selling Yoga Deck comes Essential Yoga -- the only hatha yoga book to offer this many poses (over 100), this many illustrations (over 180), and this many suggested sequences (over 50). Practical and interactive, it focuses on the poses themselves, providing clear, concise instructions and detailed illustrations for each, all in a lay-flat format that's easy to refer to during yoga practice. It also includes six classic moving meditations (such as Sun Salutation and Camel Vinyasa), 10 beginner-to-advanced sessions, and 48 mini-sequences designed to build strength for specific activities or alleviate health problems. Essential Yoga combines physical poses (asanas), breathing exercises (pranayamas), and meditations (dhyanas) into a simple and complete reference guide for yoga practitioners of all levels. Along the way, author Olivia Miller provides guidance on proper technique and alignment; modifications for beginners or those with knee, neck, or back pain; suggestions for preventing injury; and ways to keep a regular practice interesting and active. For beginners as much as experts looking for one complete book that has it all, Essential Yoga is it.

Genres: Nonfiction, Health, Spirituality, Fitness, Reference, Sports, Self Help

240 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

Olivia H. Miller, MS, RYT, is the author of 9 wellness and spirituality card decks and the author of Essential Yoga, a hatha yoga reference book. Olivia teaches energy balancing and wellness techniques such as mindfulness, therapeutic laughter and breathing. A freelance writer for many years, her articles have focused mostly on health and wellness. She is also the editor of Why Don’t Woodpeckers Get Headaches? and the sequel, Why Do Bluebirds Hate Me?

Reviews

[A. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Concise introduction to yoga. Overall would recommend.

Sections on breathing and meditation were helpful. Also enjoyed the custom sequences. Wish the illustrations were clearer on some of the poses. Overall would recommend.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very handy guide for at home yoga practice. I'm not sure how good it would be at explaining yoga to someone who has never practiced with a teacher. It does not have a lot of specifics about hand placement or how to hold a pose in a way safe for the body. So I think this book to be a helpful guide for someone (like myself) who is trying to do take what I've learned in the classroom and start using it at home. The illustrations are helpful. I especially like the meditation section because everything is simply explained and very accessible. The most useful part for me has been the yoga practice sections in the last part of the book, as they string together the poses so you have a guide to lead you through at home.

[Kathie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A nice guide to many poses, sequences, and meditation. It includes written instructions and diagrams for the poses and for all of the poses included in the sequences.

Many people have trouble blocking outside thoughts while going through poses and during meditation. The author provides several suggestions for maintaining focus.

[Laura Inlow · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just bought this one from Amazon.com. It's timeless and easy to understand, and I found it at my local library!

[Abigail · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great explanations & illustrations.

[Jason Bourg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good Overview

Great as a reference book for poses and routines moving forward. Was very helping in explaining why certain poses are done and how they can be put into a routine that can help in a variety of ways.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is fabulous and just what I was looking for -- an easy reference to 100+ poses (and the TOC works as a great index to them), plus sections on actual yoga sessions, sequences, and even a section with meditation practices. And the design stands out, too -- very modern, concise, and serene. This will surely improve my poses during classes at the gym and provide great at-home and travel sessions.

[Abby · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are perhaps clearer guides (see Rodney Yee's "Moving Toward Balance," which I just also finished) to beginner's yoga, but this would be a great reference for someone who has already seen a live person performing poses. The line drawings of figures are clear, but they could be potentially confusing if you had never seen a person perform the pose. The sessions in the back are particularly useful for someone who wants to practice at home but doesn't feel like hooking up a video.

[Cyndie Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now having done yoga off and on for several years there are some postures that I've learned and forgotten the name of. This book is an excellent reminder of the foundational postures and gives good advice for building a practice around certain sets of postures with specific recommended routines. Definitely works best for me along with a yoga class. Easy to read and understand with excellent pictures.

[Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic book. I was able to grasp how to do each pose pretty well and plan on using the Flowing Routines (pg 45)and sessions (pg 157)AND the sequences! I loved at the end the suggestions to do a pose (Triangle or Proud Warrior) while turning on your computer! There are chair modifications for people who need to sit or balance with a chair, and a section on meditation. Very helpful to a beginner.

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book, I just checked it out from the library for the second time and really want to own it someday. It has great illustrations and the series in the back for different aliments is fantastic.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yoga and books about yoga both infuriate me. I'm such a grouch! But this book is good. I almost never fly into a rage when I'm using it. The layout is excellent, and the drawings and explanations have just the right level of detail. For me. You might be different.

[Kailey (Luminous Libro) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the illustrations, and the instructions are clear and easy! I'm glad that this book not only talks about yoga in general, but then gives lots of poses to try and tells you ways to fit those poses together in a smooth session. Very helpful!

[Donna Witkin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very complex exercises. You need a simple yoga book. Not much about twisting hands and legs. The author needs to incorporate more about yoga.

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a great introduction to the asanas, and even includes basic pranayama and easy to follow sequences for building a personal practice. I have easily gotten my money's worth from it.

[Maggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book for any level yogi, however I think its great for a beginner. Illustrations and step by step instructions throughout were well done.

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good book for learning some new poses and enhancing the poses that I already use in my yoga practice. Did not offer lots of poses with modifications or suggestions for using props.

[Mansor Al-shehri · Rating 5 out of 5]

it's helpful book for yoga workouts ,, so let's work and let stress and pain go away !

[Cherie · Rating 4 out of 5]

While much of this is geared towards the beginner yogi, there are a lot of great pranayama and meditation exercises in here that I will be trying.