Yoga for dummies

by Larry Payne, Larry Payne

Once considered the exclusive domain of Eastern mystics, Yoga is, in reality, a practical mind and body discipline that can enrich the lives of everyone - physically and spiritually. Today, Yoga is employed by atheletes in training, recovering heart patients, chronic back pain sufferers' and new mothers, before and after delivery. In "Yoga For Dummies, " George Feuerstein and Larry Payne draw on their comprehensive, expert knowledge of Yoga to demonstrate, in simple and plain language, that anyone can use Yoga for improved health and greater peace of mind.

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

390 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 1999

Reviews

[Jeanette (Ms. Feisty) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This remains my very favorite basic yoga book for my home practice. It has the best step-by-step directions for each pose, as well as modifications. It has photos of people in the poses, which I find much more useful than the drawings found in other books.
The book also gives a good overview of the whole yoga lifestyle, and includes sections on creating your own practice using proper sequencing.
I especially appreciate their emphasis on being gentle with your body, and not pushing it beyond comfort.

[Sophie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is actually quite good, and not just for dummies. Lots of the exercises, poses, stretches are helpful for chronic pain, which is given considerable attention. Chair exercises are very well explained and illustrated. Pretty good resource.

[I wish I had eyeballs · Rating 1 out of 5]

Mixes science and pseudoscience too liberally for my taste.

[Susannah Carleton · Rating 2 out of 5]

I gave up on this poorly organized book, which claims to deliver much, but in the first 100-plus pages, delivers very little except terminology. Interestingly, that terminology is quite different than in two other, much more readable books.

[Charlotte · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was exactly what I went looking for...a way to learn more about the origins of yoga, and what different yoga disciplines there are. There are a lot of great tips in here, especially for beginners. (Apparently, I jumped right into the "deep end" of yoga, but was able to "swim" anyway!)

One thing this book emphasizes is that yoga can be for anyone...you don't have to be a human pretzel to enjoy the physical, mental, and spiritual benefits of yoga. Yoga is a journey, and no matter where you are when you start, there is always room to grow. For me, it's in flexibility, strength, and balance...of the mind, as well as of the body. I LOVE yoga!

[Amberle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recommend this for anyone interested in the theoretical (not read: scientific) basis for Yoga. There are concise explanations of the historical, spiritual and physical aspects of yoga, as well as possible long term benefits. It gave me the information to understand other people's beliefs and to integrate the yoga lifestyle into my non-belief.

P.S. the Explanations of the various breathing Exercises and Asanas are Ace!

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This had a good structure for how to build your own yoga practice, though a somewhat limited amount of poses to choose from, which I suppose is appropriate for a book like this.
I enjoyed the parts of the book that discussed yoga as a lifestyle and the history and non-physical aspects of it.

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very helpful yoga book. Simple workouts, step by step instructions and some basics for other aspects of yoga. I will be using it frequently.

[Jwt Jan50 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this on the airplane 3 days after my first hot yoga class - where any thoughts that I was in good shape were eliminated as I spent half the class in child's pose. This is a great place to start. It took about 90 days of practicing every day before I could get through the class without having to pause in child's pose. Recommend you think about adding yoga to your arsenal as you age whether you're a runner, biker, walker, swimmer - and please modify. Don't hurt yourself. It's okay to skip the pretzel poses.

[vijayan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is cat sat on the wall. Not properly organised, at the start lots of explanation but at the last especially for children yoga, elder people yoga they just give high-level descriptions on the topic. To be frank I'm in a confused state to not recommend or recommend this book. But IMO if you are new to yoga then you'll not see any inconveniences but if you already know then in some yoga poses you get confusion because author infused their style and give them a fancy name I bet you won't found a Sanskrit equivalent for that also you won't found these poses in any classical references.

[Em · Rating 1 out of 5]

Page 284, "...For instance, some women only sleep with their husbands when they can expect a gift in return." Wow, the sexism. In 2025, many of us are well aware of all the sexually misbehaving male yoga "gurus."

This is the 1999 version of this book, and off it goes to the resale shop for some other unwitting person to purchase. At least it will be supporting my local bookstore that's locally owned.

[Maureen · Rating 4 out of 5]

injured myself slightly during yoga class so got this book and learned and practiced a few lighter postures. Ready to go back to regular postures again now but picked up several ideas, postures, good to read about mantras, ten tips for safe yoga practice (find your personal comfort zone), and yoga morals

[Amanda Graves · Rating 3 out of 5]

I always know what I’m getting in the “For Dummies” books. I enjoyed much of the information but lost interest during the wordy descriptions of various routines. It’s nice to have this book on hand to look up postures, but it definitely doesn’t take the place of physical in-person experience-not that the authors are trying to do so.

[Sudarshan Bindal · Rating 5 out of 5]

A small,cute version of the original,this little book fits in the palm of your hand.It's meant for dummies,& it gives a decent introduction to them for it's size.Has some nice reminders for the not-so-dumb also :-D for e.g."The perfect posture is perfectly mythical"!!!

[T. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great intro.

Not only did this book teach a lot about the practice of yoga, it also starts with a pretty good history lesson of yoga and how all the different types and branches of yoga relate to each other.

[Meera Kannan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good book for quick reference. Ideal companion when I am in a hurry to design an upcoming yoga session.

[Camilla · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very helpful, engaging, and fun guide for newcomers to the yoga experience.

[Lewis Smith · Rating 1 out of 5]

I gave up after 200+ pages. Too much information that was not directly related to performing yoga "exercises".

[Patty Chamovitz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great reference book. Has helped me with my yoga practice. A must for any beginner.

[Oleg Somin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is the best dish for beginners in yoga.

[Милена · Rating 5 out of 5]

Интересно е написана. И има хубави упражнения за йога. Добър превод на български език.

[Fabienne Lafon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Livre complet, qui pose bien les bases et peut se consulter régulièrement.

[Teresa Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Yoga book the basics of yoga!

[Daniel Bacer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not shy of being a dummy so yes this book talks my language :)

[Luis Louro Oliveira · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two great authors. The dummies series has definitely made a great choice with this one.

[judith carlisle · Rating 3 out of 5]

It _is_ good as an itroductory overview. I just have a real anti-bias the whole series' title. Same for Idiot's guides.

[Jaime Bayona · Rating 4 out of 5]

Una buena introducción al yoga y sus principios, con capítulos especiales para niños, adultos y yoga para aliviar dolores

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great overview into the world of "dedicated stretching."

[Nilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Práctico, redundante, simplemente dummy.

[Elyse · Rating 3 out of 5]

2018 Reading Challenge #18 - a book by two authors.