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Insight Yoga: An Innovative Synthesis of Traditional Yoga, Meditation, and Eastern Approaches to Healing and Well-Being
Acclaimed yoga and meditation teacher Sarah Powers is known and loved for her unique approach—Insight Yoga—which combines traditional yoga with the meridians of Chinese medicine, as well as Buddhist meditation. Using Yin (passive) and Yang (dynamic) poses, she demonstrates a series of different yoga sequences that bring benefit to organs, muscles, joints, and tendons—as well as the mind. She also provides a foundational explanation of traditional Chinese medicine theory and mindfulness meditation instruction. Sarah Powers brings us on an inspiring journey inward, and shows the path for cultivating a lasting relationship with yoga that cultivates and strengthens our physical well-being and our mental and emotional clarity.
208 pages, Paperback
First published December 9, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
May 25, 2015
Love Love Love, this book and all of Sarah's work. I hope to study with her one day. This book is a perfect launching point for understanding Yin and teaching it. I often refer to it for inspiration or general reference. Love!!
May 6, 2019
Ce livre a été une sacrée claque, tout d’abord, il est hyper clair, hyper bien écrit et abordable par le plus grand nombre, qu’on pratique le yin ou qu’on l’enseigne. Il remet les choses en perspective et m’a fait (re)prendre conscience de l’importance d’une pratique régulière du yin yoga en complément d’une pratique de yoga dite yang (vinyasa, ashtanga, hatha…).
L’ouvrage est surtout axé sur le yin yoga (même s’il y a une partie dynamique). Si vous n’êtes pas familier avec la médecine traditionnelle chinoise, vous pourrez en acquérir de bonnes bases avec tous les détails des paires de méridiens et l’importance d’un qi équilibré. Sarah détaille les conséquences d’un déséquilibre du qi pour chacun des organes et grâce à des séquences détaillées en photo, elle propose de pratiquer chez soi pour retrouver un équilibre.
J’ai adoré ce livre et je sais déjà que je vais le relire régulièrement !
L’ouvrage est surtout axé sur le yin yoga (même s’il y a une partie dynamique). Si vous n’êtes pas familier avec la médecine traditionnelle chinoise, vous pourrez en acquérir de bonnes bases avec tous les détails des paires de méridiens et l’importance d’un qi équilibré. Sarah détaille les conséquences d’un déséquilibre du qi pour chacun des organes et grâce à des séquences détaillées en photo, elle propose de pratiquer chez soi pour retrouver un équilibre.
J’ai adoré ce livre et je sais déjà que je vais le relire régulièrement !
January 27, 2018
Great book introducing and providing exercises in the realm of Yin Yoga. Paul Grilley, who originated or popularized Yin Yoga, writes the foreword. if you have circled around yoga from the vantage point of Tai Chi (taiji) and Qigong, you will likely find Sarah Powers' style of yoga approachable and useful.
She approaches her sequences, concepts and thoughts about meditation from the point of view of Chinese five element and meridian teachings. At times, it seems a bit eclectic, yet the principles will make sense particularly if you come from that background.
On its own terms, I appreciate that she provides many variations on the positions and movements to suit beginners at different levels. I also got her DVD set which complements the presentation in the book. She writes clearly, with helpful photographs.
Most useful.
She approaches her sequences, concepts and thoughts about meditation from the point of view of Chinese five element and meridian teachings. At times, it seems a bit eclectic, yet the principles will make sense particularly if you come from that background.
On its own terms, I appreciate that she provides many variations on the positions and movements to suit beginners at different levels. I also got her DVD set which complements the presentation in the book. She writes clearly, with helpful photographs.
Most useful.
October 15, 2020
During a yin yoga teacher training I did in fall 2019, this was recommended for additional reading. It's a nice addition to my yoga library. I've benefited from the sequences provided and especially enjoyed the clear, easy to understand explanations of the mental and energetic aspects of a yoga practice. The introductions to mindfulness and meditation are also helpful for beginners and those seeking to approach with a beginners mind.
August 25, 2020
Used this for my 300hr advanced yoga teacher training and found it superb! Well-written, easy to understand, includes sequence options for classes, and goes beyond asana and explores breath, Buddha dharma, mindfulness and so much more.
Read
November 14, 2020There were long sections of the book that I found to be redundant, repetitions of the same black and white photos and details on how to get into poses. The other chapters were great though. I'd only recommend reading it if you aren't like me and need to read every word.
May 31, 2017
Wonderful melding of yin yoga, Buddhism and meditation.
June 7, 2018
Recommended by a yin teacher, and I really enjoyed it! I'd recommend it as well.
February 19, 2019
Excellent reference for yin and yang yoga, meditation and mindfulness, meridians, and other related topics. Very well supported with illustrations, and options for poses and sequencing.
June 30, 2020
very helpful
October 26, 2020
a classic for yin yoga practitioners
December 22, 2020
Genial las explicaciones, la fotografía y por supuesto el contenido
January 11, 2021
Un must pour toute personne qui aime le yin yoga et désire approfondir sa compréhension!
June 6, 2022
Amazing book to read while completing my yoga teacher training, will definitely revert back to the content as and when needed!
January 21, 2024
Beautiful book and easy to digest and apply to your practice!
July 11, 2024
I learned so much from Sarah’s book. And then learnt so much more from Bernie Clark’s.
October 31, 2020
A must read for every yoga instructor even if you do not practice yin yoga. Bernie Clark does an excellent job defining yin yoga and explaining how yin yoga is practiced. In addition he goes through the theory of exercise explaining the different types and their effects on the body. He provides an indepth section on the poses, including narrative "how to" as well as photographs, with variations for different students. The last third of the book is about anatomy, physical benefits, fascia, comparison of western/Chinese and Indian approaches to yoga, heart and mind benefits. This last third is actually the best part of the book.
August 15, 2020
I first read this book nine years ago and when I joined Goodreads I gave it a 4 out of 5 stars. I recently re-read it for a class I am taking and I am lowering my review by one star. It didn't hold up to time. It's NOT a bad book. It's average.
It's one of those books that if you know nothing, not one single thing about yoga, would be helpful. In addition to photos of the poses she includes a several paragraph verbal description of each pose plus optional alternative versions of each and every pose. That said, by 2020 many many more people have experienced yoga at home, in a studio, a gym, at the park, in a club, using YouTube so the need for those lengthy descriptions? Not so much value as when the book was first published.
If I removed all those descriptions and laid out each sequence like a list, i.e. first you do corpse pose and then happy baby etc etc a bunch of the chapters would be reduced to one page apiece. Which leaves you with what? A chapter on the "history" of yoga. It's not a real history of modern yoga but one of the perfunctory origin-story summaries that all yoga studios push, i.e. yadda yadda yadda it's an "ancient" practice with deep "spiritual" roots. Well, it's not like too many people practicing in 2020 are trying to become wandering mendicants. She kind of leaves out the part about the growth of yoga franchises and copyright wars.
Next there's a chapter on her "journey." If you are interested in her as a possible teacher or attending one of her workshops you may find this interesting. It's not uninteresting - but it won't help you be better at yoga in your own personal "journey."
I give her props for including as much as she does about Chinese medicine. Here Powers is on firm footing proving she has a unique take on modern yoga. While there may be other teachers who paired Chinese medicine with Indian yoga, she deserves credit for creating the branded name "Yin Yoga". There are also chapters on pranayama, and more than average discussion on energy. For those reasons I continue to rate the book a three of four. If you are seriously interested in Chinese medicine there's probably not going to be enough information in here to impress you, but quite a bit more than you would receive in an ordinary yoga class.
Lastly I want to acknowledge that she credits Hiroshi Motoyama as a teacher (or maybe he was her teacher's teacher.) I was not familiar with this person but a quick google search revealed that Motoyama was inspired by Charles W Leadbeater. And who was that you ask? He was a Theosophist and writer born in 1854 who lived until 1934. If you aren't familiar with the theosophists their most famous leader was an occultist named Madame Blavatsky. Meaning what? Meaning although Powers certainly comes off as deeply knowledgeable in the Eastern arts, the golden chain of teachers winds back to the New Thought Westerners from Ojai, California. This is not to say they are totally without merit, I'm just observing that some of the stuff they did was definitely for the optics and much of it questionably esoteric.
That aside Yoga is Fun! And Yin Yoga has an pleasant meditative quality to it. When I practice these sequences I definitely feel better afterwards. So at the end of the day I guess it doesn't really matter if I believe in souls or reincarnation, I'd still do yoga for the feel-good factor.
It's one of those books that if you know nothing, not one single thing about yoga, would be helpful. In addition to photos of the poses she includes a several paragraph verbal description of each pose plus optional alternative versions of each and every pose. That said, by 2020 many many more people have experienced yoga at home, in a studio, a gym, at the park, in a club, using YouTube so the need for those lengthy descriptions? Not so much value as when the book was first published.
If I removed all those descriptions and laid out each sequence like a list, i.e. first you do corpse pose and then happy baby etc etc a bunch of the chapters would be reduced to one page apiece. Which leaves you with what? A chapter on the "history" of yoga. It's not a real history of modern yoga but one of the perfunctory origin-story summaries that all yoga studios push, i.e. yadda yadda yadda it's an "ancient" practice with deep "spiritual" roots. Well, it's not like too many people practicing in 2020 are trying to become wandering mendicants. She kind of leaves out the part about the growth of yoga franchises and copyright wars.
Next there's a chapter on her "journey." If you are interested in her as a possible teacher or attending one of her workshops you may find this interesting. It's not uninteresting - but it won't help you be better at yoga in your own personal "journey."
I give her props for including as much as she does about Chinese medicine. Here Powers is on firm footing proving she has a unique take on modern yoga. While there may be other teachers who paired Chinese medicine with Indian yoga, she deserves credit for creating the branded name "Yin Yoga". There are also chapters on pranayama, and more than average discussion on energy. For those reasons I continue to rate the book a three of four. If you are seriously interested in Chinese medicine there's probably not going to be enough information in here to impress you, but quite a bit more than you would receive in an ordinary yoga class.
Lastly I want to acknowledge that she credits Hiroshi Motoyama as a teacher (or maybe he was her teacher's teacher.) I was not familiar with this person but a quick google search revealed that Motoyama was inspired by Charles W Leadbeater. And who was that you ask? He was a Theosophist and writer born in 1854 who lived until 1934. If you aren't familiar with the theosophists their most famous leader was an occultist named Madame Blavatsky. Meaning what? Meaning although Powers certainly comes off as deeply knowledgeable in the Eastern arts, the golden chain of teachers winds back to the New Thought Westerners from Ojai, California. This is not to say they are totally without merit, I'm just observing that some of the stuff they did was definitely for the optics and much of it questionably esoteric.
That aside Yoga is Fun! And Yin Yoga has an pleasant meditative quality to it. When I practice these sequences I definitely feel better afterwards. So at the end of the day I guess it doesn't really matter if I believe in souls or reincarnation, I'd still do yoga for the feel-good factor.
March 11, 2015
This is simply the best yin yoga book. I relied on it heavily during an isolated three-year meditation retreat to keep my body in great health and sitting in meditation comfortably for hours each day. The sequences are well-designed and the science of the body strong. Sarah Powers' book is a delight to read and easy to use while on your yoga mat. Anyone doing a meditation retreat of any length should bring this in along with their yoga mat and meditation cushion.
James Connor
author of The Superyogi Scenario
James Connor
author of The Superyogi Scenario
April 3, 2015
Book was a requirement for Sarah Power's Yin Yoga teacher training - 30 hours of classes. I really enjoyed reading the chapters for the training. And afterwards, I have used this book over and over as a reference, not just for classes I teach but also for my own practice. Sometimes you take a course and you glance at the book or it sits on a shelf. Not this one. It's been marked up and bookmarked. Well loved! Or maybe I'm just a yoga geek.
November 23, 2020
Very interesting read so far, but I don't have the props I need to do many of the stretches. I don't know what I think about 'chakra theory'.... It's a nice idea, I suppose. BUT, I can use an exercise ball to do a backbend, which feels amazing!
***
Helpful book even if you don't 100% buy into the underlying philosophy.
***
Helpful book even if you don't 100% buy into the underlying philosophy.
unfinished-not-currently-reading
June 18, 2009I had to return this book to the library before I made it very far, but it's excellent. She synthesizes yoga with Buddhism and some Taoism. So as a Buddhist yoga teacher, I'm very keen to buy and finish reading this book.
December 7, 2011
I've been mostly keeping this on hand for yin yoga sessions at home, and finally finished up going over the meditation instruction (something I'd rather listen to than read) When I've got a lot of time, it's a nice practice - set a repeating timer and go... Her DVD is a helpful accompaniment.
June 1, 2010
A really useful guide to Yin yoga. She gives an overview of the different meridians and outlines posture sequences quite clearly. Excellent descriptions of modifications. The best part for me was her list of sequences she does in different moods, including computer haze, anxiety, indecisiveness.
December 20, 2010
Excellent guide to Yoga practice, including explanations of asana association to Meridians, Yin yoga and Yang yoga practices, plus prana and more. This book begins to explain why we do yoga, beyond the exercise value.
I use it both as a guide to asana/yoga practice and as a refresher on yoga.
I use it both as a guide to asana/yoga practice and as a refresher on yoga.
May 15, 2014
Great book, and very complimentary to my current yoga practice. I enjoyed learning more about meridians, chakras, and yin/yang yoga. The book is very well researched and filled with so much information, I feel I will have to read and reread it--in addition to practice the sequences several times.
June 8, 2019
Especially good on the yin yoga side of things. But also the best guide to all yoga positions and their variations that I've come across, all delivered in a very down to earth and accessible voice. A really great practical yoga book.
March 17, 2014
My mother sent me this after attending training with Sarah Powers, a life-changing experience for her. A wonderful introduction to Yin style of yoga. The four yang sequences for balancing with a yin practice are fantastic. Feel very fortunate to learn about Yin 7 years into my practice.
April 4, 2016
Loved loved this book. Lots of great technical information as well as sequencing and information on mindfulness, Buddhism, chakras and Chinese meridians. A great book for anyone interested in more than just yoga poses.
December 18, 2009
interesting book and good sequences. like the blend of yoga and eastern traditions/medicine.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews