Yoga: The Iyengar Way: The New Definitive Guide to the Most Practised Form of Yoga

by Silva Mehta, Mira Mehta

A comprehensive, practical, and authoritative guide to the method developed by Iyengar. 100 key postures with detailed step-by-step instructions and photographs. This is our most recently published yoga book and has quickly become a backlist bestseller.

Genres: Health, Reference, Nonfiction, Fitness, Self Help, How To, Spirituality

192 pages, Paperback

First published April 12, 1990

Reviews

[Hannah O'Reilly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous beginner descriptions of poses in big glossy pictures. This is a fantastic entry into the basics and details of poses. It has breakdowns of what is happening in an easy-to-understand way as well as modifications which can come in very useful. A must-have reference guide for yoga teachers and students alike.

[melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Years ago when I was a serious student of yoga I was told that this was the only book to have. I still believe this to be true. Straightforward instruction on asanas with a clean layout and lots of information.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best yoga book by far. I use it at least once or twice a week to give me inspiration on my home practice. It's a classic.

[Kay Coughlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is outstanding practice companion, no matter what kind of yoga you practice. Destined to be a classic for many years to come.

[Ali · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great reference book and primer for teachers and students of all levels.

[Tim Fontona · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like wearing a red outfit just like on the cover of this book when I do the yoga poses.

[aly ☆.。.:* · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great for cues, referred to this a lot during my ytt!! I’m sure I’ll refer to it a lot as a teacher

[Dennis Littrell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Attractive, sound, and a good beginning

Such is the celebrity and influence of B.K.S. Iyengar as a teacher of yoga that a book with his name in the title virtually guarantees publishing success.

This book is a fine example of the phenomenon. It is an attractive, coffee table type yoga book for the nineties written by students of Iyengar. Perhaps the most important feature is the beautiful (and non glamorous) photos that illustrate the asanas with an almost mystic power. There's some irony here because it was the photos of Iyengar himself demonstrating asana (over six hundred of them) that more than anything catapulted him to fame some years ago with his now classic Light on Yoga, which I highly recommend as an extension of this book.

Obviously this is a different sort of book, aimed at beginners, but with some depth. It is more generic in a sense as it delves only lightly into the ideas underlying yoga while concentrating on the practical. Indeed its philosophic stance is succinct, and perhaps that is best for an approach focused on the physical health aspects of yoga. One weakness is that it is a little short on pranayama, and consequently on meditation.

Iyengar does contribute a foreword, however, and his spirit is apparent throughout. Overall this is excellent of its type, reminding me of something by Richard Hittleman from some years ago.

--Dennis Littrell, author of “Yoga: Sacred and Profane (Beyond Hatha Yoga)”

[Cyndee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I lost my original copy of this useful book and just bought another. There is nothing better for demonstrating asanas and for learning the Sanskrit names. A useful tool for Yoga teachers and students.

[Bella · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing

This is great book for iyengar yoga. It has detailed description with step by step pictures. Yoga has such amazing benefits. This book do shed light on it. But it is always advised to learn from a teacher

[Maria Devine Ogino · Rating 5 out of 5]

Any yogi should read this book.

[Chris Brady · Rating 3 out of 5]

Body
Mind
Soul.

Where there is
happiness, be friendly
Misery, compassion
Virtue, rejoice
Evil, be indifferent.

[Ray Quirolgico · Rating 5 out of 5]

After so many of my yoga teachers mentioned this book (over the past year, especially), I was really happy to get my own copy and I am so glad I have it now. It’s a very comprehensive reference to add to my personal yoga library. It explains yoga philosophy and practice in simple terms, and the physical practice pages have great photographs with notations to really deepen the practice. The book also includes full courses of lessons (sequences of poses) to practice on your own.

[S.M. Roffey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid resource for alignment. While I’m not set on Iyengar-based yoga instruction, it’s good to see where alignment is meant to go before modifying to fit the individual body. Offers modifications and work in the posture that I find helpful.

[Brooke Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous and you should do yoga!

[Tati Ana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really great yoga poses. I really like the models and how they demonstrate the poses.

[darebear 😍 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Learning lots about yoga. Very good for beginners 👍👍👍

[Tessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I highly recommend this illustrative guide to anyone interested in learning or strengthening their practice of the asanas. It is a complete step-by-step guide to the positions themselves as well as a beneficial introduction to the rest of the "eight limbs" of yoga.

This book also includes several practice courses and recommended positions to alleviate various adverse conditions from backache to depression. I was also very interested in the chapter on pranayama (advanced breathing techniques) - though the book recommends that the practice only be undertaken with an experienced teacher and after you've developed a certain mastery of the asanas.

Very excellent...this was suggested to me by my Momma. It was one of her study guides for her certification course back in the ninties.

[flms23 · Rating 4 out of 5]

a great entry if you want to start an Iyengar yoga practice. The book provides photos for each posture and a description of how to perform the posture. If you'd not practiced yoga before I'd highly reccommend finding a nearby course, preferably an Iyengar course, so you can receive expert teaching on how to perform the postures. The Iyengar branch of yoga is extremely specific on how to practice each posture, it's almost militaristic in it's approach to postures, but I've found that by following the postures accurately on only performing to my abilities, it lessens potential injury.

[Megan O'Laughlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the book I used when I first started doing yoga in my little house when I served in the Peace Corps. Although nothing replaces having an actual teacher guide you, this book does a good job with providing an overview of the practice and great pictures of poses. It also gives suggestions for practice themes in the back.

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book for beginners (qualifier: better to have taken a certain number of classes first). Focuses on a smaller number of postures than the encyclopedic _Light on Yoga_, but has a number of motivational tips and insights. Perhaps there could be more illustrations/alternatives for students who can't fully accomplish the postures, but that would greatly increase the size of the book.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great book when I was starting out in my practice and beginning to teach. It helped me think about poses in an in depth manner that was a bit outside of the scope of my particular training. I enjoy being able to learn new details and ways to communicate to a variety of students while teaching.

[Amy]

Had to get this for a yoga class I took and I really enjoyed it. The illustrations were very helpful and it had a lot of tips in it for modifications which was really helpful for beginners and tips for "working in the pose" for poses where you need a bit more of a challenge. If you are into Yoga are are new to it, I suggest checking out...especially if you are in a class, its really helpful.

[Mandy Londer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent large color photos and accompanying descriptions of entering the pose. Some of the verbiage is outdated (I suppose depending on your lineage of practice) however still an incredible reference for students and teachers. Use of props in this book is especially useful and of course tied to BKS Iyengar's style of yoga.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

My sister owned a copy of this book long before I did. I used to borrow her copy to practice the poses in the book. I recommend this book for anyone with an interest in yoga. The pictures are fantastic!a

[Triseugeny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Has to be my favorite yoga books, besides "Light on Yoga." Basic to slightly intermediate. Good pictures, detailed just enough. If you are looking for something more basic try her other book, "How to Use Yoga" and the more intermediate, "Light on Yoga."

[Jenni · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have had this book with me in different countries for over 10 years. It is a great reference book and includes in the back pages particular asanas / poses to focus on for particular physical complaints.

[Kdaca]

Almost always in use. It offers visual reminders of where a lot of the Pilates and other fitness mat work come from, not to mention the intended difficulty level of certain asanas and Western mat work moves that are taught in the US today.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fabulous pictures, descriptions, ways to get deeper into postures, beginner variations, and asana details. Highly recommended!

[limber tender · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great illustrations, good for students who are interested in developing awareness in their hatha practice