Asana Pranayama Mudra Bandha

著者のSatyananda師は、その師のShivananda師や自身の後継者であるNiranjanananda師と三代にわたるインドヨーガのホンモノの師匠である。Bihar School of Yogaをインドで運営されていて、ハタヨーガ、ラージャヨーガ、クリヤヨーガ、クンダリーニヨーガ、Japa Mantra Yoga、Yoga Nidraに関して多数の実践の手引き書を書いておられる。 彼らの著作はほとんど日本語に訳されていないが、貴重なモノばかりである。 哲学書や一般書を読んで物足らず、自習を進める個人のヨーガ行者や、日本で発行されてるヨーガ書を読んだ人は、その具体的詳細な指導とたぶん成就されたと思われる親切な解説に驚かされる。 どの本から読んでもヒントが満載であるが、ハタヨーガ的な切り口から入る人にはこの本は最適だと思う。 ヨーガを始めたけど、行き詰まった人や、何をすればいいのかわからない人はこの本に取り組むといい。 瞑想に興味がある人なら、前段階の浄化の方法やプラーナを扱うやり方、外に向く五感を内側に退避させるPratyahara〜Trataka、休息を睡眠時の半覚醒状態に高めるYoga Nidraなどの解説本を参照するといい。 ヨーガが宗教や信仰というより、自分の身体と心を用いて実験するサイエンスであることを知るであろう。

ヨーガのポーズがイラスト入りで解説されています。誰にでもできるようなところから、こんなこと、人間ができるのだろうか？というようなポーズまで載っています。また、ひとつひとつにそのポーズが何に効くのか、どのような人はしていけないのかなどもかかれていて、とても親切です。 他に呼吸法やムードラについても書かれています。英語も易しいので、興味があれば十分理解できると思います。

I have just started training to become a yoga teacher, and this is the first book I purchased as recommended reading for our course. It is extremely comprehensive, and covers and explains all aspects of Yoga practise concisely and practically, including Pranayama (breath work), and other practises which are less well known, but which are as much a part of yoga practise as the Asanas (postures). If I just open the book on a random page, there is something fascinating to read. It gives in-depth details of postures, breaking each description down into a clear line-drawing, the physical side of the posture, the breathwork during the posture, and the spiritual emphasis of the posture.Most importantly, it gives the contraindications for each posture as well as the benefits. I wouldn't be without this book and I know it will provide valuable material for me for the rest of my life. The only small drawback is that the postures and practises are indexed only by their Sanskrit names, which can be quite problematic when you just want to quickly find something. However, the sections are quite distinctly grouped as to the type of posture, so once you are familiarised with the book, it's not so hard to find what you need. Also, it means that you quickly start to learn the Sanskrit names- although pronunciation is another matter! I would recommend this book for someone who is looking to deepen their practise and find out more about Yoga. It might be a bit heavy-going for the beginner, but on the other hand, it may be very inspirational.

If you are after a comprehensive and authentic book on asana, pranayama, mudra and bandha, this is the one to get. Well laid out and illustrated with all that you need to know.

Extremely well written with simple details and illustrations. Also it is so reasonably priced. A must have book for every yoga enthusiasts

As described

This book is truly a timeless classic. I have been practicing yoga for almost six years, 1 to 4 times a day. I have many good books and DVDs on yoga. However, this book is THE most comprehensive. I had joined a yoga studio for several months when I first began in January of 2003. The teacher taught the yoga using blocks, chair, belt and the wall. It was a good start and I attended for 4 months, two to three times a week. Whatever I learned I practiced at home, sometimes twice or more a day. Even after I discontinued class, I kept up my practice several times a day. I derived tremendous benefits from the practice. I was healed of several serious ailments, known and unknown. I had been using the standard yoga books, such as "Light on Yoga" by BKS Iyengar, "30 Essential Yoga Poses" by Lasater, and many many others. Not to mention many DVDs by various people of repute. I found that despite my dedicated and persistent efforts I was not making headway in my ability to acquire the more advanced asanas. It seemed that there were groups of muscles in my body that would not open no matter how earnestly I applied myself. Then I came across this book. Specifically the first three chapters. The asanas in the frist three chapters constitute the Pawanmuktasana series. I have practiced them for a week, twice a day. My body and mind seemed to have ascended into another realm. These seemingly simple asanas have a PROFOUND effect on one's being. I am at a complete loss to describe their wonderful and deep benefits. Practice of this series has done more for me in the last week than all the numerous benefits I derived through my practice over the last nearly 6 years. I am at a total loss to explain why the Pawanmuktasana series has not been written of in other books of yoga! It is a VERY POWERFUL series to bring about a total change in the physiology and mental patterns of a person. If I had known about this series sooner I would have become a very advanced practitioner by now. However, nothing is lost due to the delay! I only hope that people who find themselves stuck in their practice and unable to make gains, would read this review and start to practice the Pawanmuktasana series! I cannot sufficiently applaud its power and benefits. Also to be noted is the fact that this classic text is put out by the Bihar School of Yoga founded by a great Sage -- Swami Satyananda Saraswati. This school is perhaps the only school in the world that grants degrees in yoga -- bachelors, masters and PhDs. They are in the forefront of the research being conducted in the healing of diseases through the various yogic practices. The body of knowledge that has accumulated since its founding in 1964 has found its way into the contents of this book as well. It is not a book just put together in an amateurish manner. It is LOADED and AUTHENTIC! If one practices the seemingly simple Pawanmuktasana series alone for a fortnight, he or she will become a brand new person! One will be astonished by the transformative powers of this seemingly simple series of asanas. Since it is the tendancy of the mind to associate power with complexity, it is only natural to think of this seemingly simple series to be ineffective. You will be TRULY surprised! The discovery of the Pawanmuktasana series is the greatest discovery of my entire yoga practice over the last six years! Such is its power! They have the capacity to open up the body and allow the flow of energy through it like few other asana practices. Once these have been practiced for a long time, I believe the other asanas should come naturally. I cannot say for certain, since I have only practiced the Pawanmuktasana series for a week. However, by extrapolating along the gains I have made in this short duration the foregoing claim is likely to be true. I think most people who practice yoga, do want to make progress at every stage. No one will be content to just stay at the same level year after year. If that is the case with you, then I strongly advise you to purchase this book and practice the three chapters on Pawanmuktasana in earnest. I would also like to recommend a DVD, if I may, for the practice of Pawanmuktasana series. This DVD is "Yog Science Part 1 & 2 Pranayam & Yog Asan" by Swami Ramdev ji. It is available through Amazon and other dealers through Amazon's site. After practicing this series through the book or the DVD, I assure you your practice will improve by leaps and bounds. My search for "THE" book and DVD on yoga has finally come to an end :-)