Yoga For Wimps: Poses for The Flexibly Impaired

by Miriam Austin, Barry Kaplan (Photographer)

Crave yoga's benefits--but feel afraid to look "weird?" Think yoga requires you to look like a pretzel? Now there's a friendly, full-color, hand-holding, one-step-at-a-time, few-minutes-a-day way to get started. It meets you right where you are, with three different approaches to fit your needs. Instant Yoga gets you going immediately with 15 practice sessions for any time of the day, even when there's only a few minutes to spare. Run through a sequence and the workout's over! FixIts offer solutions to specific problems, such as a sore neck, back pain, those aching feet, or stress. In the Glossary, the author demonstrates every pose correctly, with instructions for improving technique. The changes you experience will amaze and delight you so much you'll never want to wimp out on your workout! The author lives in Lexington, VA. 128 pages (all in color), 8 1/2 x 11.

Genres: Health, Nonfiction, Reference, Fitness, Self Help, Humor

128 pages, Paperback

First published December 12, 1999

Reviews

[Shayshkers · Rating 4 out of 5]

I told myself if a book had less than one hundred reviews I would take the time to write one out. Here goes: I really liked Miriam Austin's attitude towards yoga for absolute (pre) beginners. As someone who has done some yoga in the past, I was aware of most of these poses and their benefits, but keeping in mind that this book was written for someone with absolutely zero previous exposure or practice, I thought it well suited for the audience it was intended for. I even saw some modifications to current poses I like to do but find difficulty with. Such as, downward dog. I have bad wrists and find difficulty in some positions and this book did just what I needed and offered a simpler, more achievable alternative. The only downside, and this is the lazy side of me talking here, is sometimes it was more involved with props than ideal. There were many poses alternating between chairs and blankets and ties and I'm not sure how fluid it could be, but I think that's also just me nitpicking. If you have no experience with yoga, or find yoga too difficult and feel yourself discouraged, this is a must read.

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been doing bits of yoga on and off for years, but there are still fairly basic and all too common poses that I just can't do. Downward-facing dog is an excellent example. I've seen modified poses before, but in many cases, yoga blocks are not enough to solve my inflexibility.

Enter Yoga for Wimps. The book is full of really modified poses with no special equipment. A chair, wall, a couple rolled up towels, and a couple of ties cover the accessories used. The text is easy to follow and the photos demonstrate the poses well (though the attire could be more appealing). The poses are arranged in sequences you can do. You know you're done when the model changes. Very easy.

There are also sections devoted to achieving certain results: reducing stress, getting refreshed if you've been walking around a museum or a mall for a long time, things to do while watching tv, poses for doing after an action-packed weekend, etc.

The back of the book has a section describing all the poses in greater detail: how to do them, their benefits, things to avoid, ways to makes them more challenging.

Straightforward and very simple to follow. I'm going to check out some more from the library but this one's definitely a contender for buying. I like that I can do a sequence in a couple of pages without committing 30 minutes to an hour to yoga. Makes it more likely I'll incorporate at least some yoga into my day rather than none.

If you have trouble with certain yoga poses that seem to come up all the time even in beginner classes/videos, give this book a look. It lets you get the desired benefit from the poses when you're unable to achieve them unmodified.

[Jessi Waugh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good "desk yoga" type book, but not useful for me

[Lance Schonberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't get to be the target market very often, but this book is aimed straight at me. I am absolutely among the group referenced in the subtitle. The exercises in it are all things I can do or get close to and work towards.
The pictures in it are real people not yoga masters.
The poses are not impossible for beginners or people who aren’t very flexible. They’re modified from the advanced stuff and still give you benefits and hope that you can someday move on to the advanced stuff if you’re interested in doing so.
Working through the book, you get exercises that target certain areas of the body and collections of things designed to target things like stress relief. The workouts provided are short and easy to follow and if you can’t tell by the titles when the workout changes, they switch up the model, too.
There’s a section in the back given you a little more
Things you need? A wall, a towel, a tie or a belt. Well, and a body. That makes it easier.
Overall rating: 3.5 stars. Which seems mean, so I’ve rounded up on Goodreads. I liked this book quite a bit for the simplicity and ease of getting into it. What I might have liked was for the book to be longer. A few more workout mixes, a few more exercises.
But it’s a great place to start.

[Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really wish this book had a better name because I think it's a huge turn-off to people. However, the information inside is great. The book covers basic postures using normal people (not fitness models) and household items (rather than fancy yoga props). Although most won't admit it, I think many students and teachers alike struggle with developing a home practice. This publication sets the reader up for success by offering practice sessions that alleviate common stresses to the body. It features "Alternatives to the Couch Potato," "Rx for the Weekend Warrior," and "Oh, My Aching Feet," to name a few. If you're curious about yoga but don't know how/why to start... this is your book!

[Bernie4444 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally, Yoga for real people

I hate those pretzel things that I think they use CGI to make. Worse is learning some ancient philosophy when all you want to do is yog.

This book is a great starting (and finishing) point. I am not sure I like to use chairs and ties. The next book should use beds. However, you work with what you have. This oversized book has plenty of straightforward pictures, the next best thing to video. For people that are not specially orientated that is a description of what you are looking at.

My question is what is in the cup of the guy on the cover?

All kidding aside this can get addictive. So be prepared to cut out some time in your day.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great book for some poses that you can do in your own home! It is simple and positive. It tells us that the more we practice yoga the more we will get back from it (just like anything!). I liked reading this @ the same time that I am taking yoga class.

[Greyer Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this book!! If you want to do yoga, but think its to mysterious for you, read this book. Friendly, humorous, well organized, with both mini practices ( when the pictures change models, you ate done with the sequence) and fixits for everyday annoyances (stress, headache, low energy)....

[TC · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great, practical, non-threatening yoga book for beginners. It has excellent photo illustrations and good descriptions.

[Leigh-ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

A unique introduction to yoga, featuring exercises a person can easily do while at work or behind a desk.

[Nicolas · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book which is as it says: if only it were longer . . .

[Moxie Carroll · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great way to get started (or re-started!) into Yoga, or even just stretching/exercise in general. Well illustrated and very easy to use. Wish it had even more in it!

[Bandknito · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favourite yoga book.....makes yoga accessable for beginers and flexibly impaired.

[Lynda Weller]

good start for a beginner. currently take 2/3 yoga classes per week, poses are similar but not quite the same. as I said, great start for beginners