Cool Yoga Tricks

by Miriam Austin

Craving yoga’s benefits but unable to perform even the simplest postures? Think yoga is only for rubber-limbed supermodels?
If your yoga practice is giving you more stress than stress relief , Cool Yoga Tricks is the answer to your prayers.

Although it seems like everyone from Madonna to your eighty-three-year-old Uncle Teddy is practicing yoga, most of us are unable to do even the simplest classic yoga poses without undue stress and strain. Now in this clear, understandable, easy-to-follow book, Miriam Austin offers alternative yoga routines that help you reap the greatest rewards from your yoga practice, and she reveals shortcuts to help you perform yoga like a pro.
Using everyday items, such as chairs, walls, and blankets, Miriam Austin shows how those of us with normal flexibility limitations can experience the very real benefits of yoga—without dislocating our joints, overstretching our muscles, or giving up in frustration. She makes the basics simple, doable, and down-to-earth.

Dog Tricks —lengthen your spine more fully with these Downward Facing Dog tricks, designed to relax your neck, shoulders, and back—and make your Dog Pose much more lovable.
Befriending Backbends —increase your preztebility with a little help from your friends—and from some garden-variety folding chairs.
Tweaking Your Twists —learn the techniques that will stretch your spine and give you more life energy.
Super Stretches —feel as limber as your average bowling ball? Gently coax your muscles to new lengths by practicing the routines in this chapter.

Genres: Nonfiction, Fitness, Reference

320 pages, Paperback

First published December 30, 2003

Reviews

[Kricket · Rating 4 out of 5]

great illustrated tips and tricks for getting the benefits of certain yoga poses even if your body can't "make the shape" yet. if you have a home practice, it's also helpful for making sure you're doing the pose correctly at all.

bonus: fun dated leotard photos. i need to incorporate more full-body leotards into my practice.

[Jessi Waugh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nothing much new here - chair yoga, blocks, walls, and blankets mostly - more of an accessibility text than new tricks.

[Elizabeth Cherry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent overview of props and modifications for a variety of poses. Mostly regressions but some progressions.

[Sarah T Hoops · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has great descriptions of some of the most basic ideas of yoga. The first chapter describes the four corners of the feet and turning in or out of the thighs in a very readable voice and with illuminating precision.

I didn't love the amount of props required for a lot of the poses later in the book. But I could manage to flip around those to find some great tips both to remember in my daily practice, as well as clarity of voice that help me think about how to communicate ideas while teaching.

[Hannah O'Reilly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is kind of the opposite of what it sounds - it is actually a great description of modifications for poses to make them more accessible and easier to take in stages. Although it seems inappropriately named this is a great resource for the injury impaired and those just starting out in yoga.

[Carolina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I used some of the techniques in a Partner Yoga class and plan to use others in a Yoga with props class too. Very clear instructions, very down to earth for us who enjoy yoga and find it sometimes a bit challenging to put our foot on our head - now we can with a wall!

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very useful book for people with inflexibility, injuries, immobility issues, etc. A tool that every teacher and practitioner should be aware of.

[Chanelle30 · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were some good tricks in here to help get more flexible. The format is easy to follow.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good descriptions of modifications and props.

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book on how to use props and do modifications.

[Cj Sime · Rating 2 out of 5]

Solid info, but I didn't find anything major insights that I hadn't already found on various youtube videos which were also more helpful.