Synopses & Reviews
On the surface it may appear that yoga is yoga is yoga, but take a closer look and youll discover myriad different yoga systems and lineages. There are dozens of yoga styles to choose from, and while yoga is for everyone, not every style is the perfect fit for every person. But how do you choose between mysterious-sounding names such as Ashtanga, Kundalini, Bikram, and Kripalu? As Meagan McCrary discovered when she began exploring different classes, finding the right style is essential for establishing a steady yoga practice.
Pick Your Yoga Practice is the first book to describe the most prominent yoga styles in depth, including teaching methodology, elements of practice, philosophical and spiritual underpinnings, class structure, physical exertion, and personal attention. Those new to yoga will discover they have options and can confidently attend a class of their choosing, while experienced practitioners will expand their understanding of the vast world of modern yoga, and perhaps find themselves venturing into new territory.
Styles included:
Ashtanga * Iyengar * Kundalini * Integral * Kripalu
Bikram * Jivamukti * Sivananda * Ananda
Viniyoga * Svaroopa * Power * Forrest * ISHTA
Anusara * Moksha * AcroYoga
Review
A wonderful and very helpful book to guide you through the various choices of yoga practice.”
— Doug Swenson, author of Mastering the Secrets of Yoga Flow and founder of Sadhana Yoga Chi
Meagan McCrary captures the essence of multiple styles of yoga in this easy-to-read text. With the global explosion of yoga that has taken place over the past decade, this much-needed guide will help anyone to navigate the wide variety of choices now available. This book is an important complement to everyones yoga practice, providing deeper insights into the nuances of each style.”
— Kia Miller, creator of the Radiant Body Yoga DVD series
Until Meagan McCrarys book, choosing the right style of yoga was like blind dating. Youd have to try various styles before finding the one for you. Now, finally, theres a guidebook. Let this book be your yoga matchmaker.”
— Brian Leaf, author of Misadventures of a Garden State Yogi
Meagan McCrarys book is perfect not only for those who are wondering how to choose a yoga class or style but also for those who are interested in an intelligent and thorough historical account of these yoga styles and their evolution in the West. This is a much-needed asset for anyone whos ever been overwhelmed by the diversity of yoga methods out there!”
— Amy Ippoliti, yoga teacher and cofounder of 90 Monkeys
Synopsis
In
Pick Your Yoga Practice, McCrary explains the histories, philosophies, and health benefits of the most popular yoga styles. Readers will learn about yogas rich and varied traditions, and will be able to identify which practice best fits their intentions. We all go to the studio for different reasons some of us to lose weight, some to gain strength, some to heal injuries, and some to relax. With McCrarys book, readers can make informed decisions about which classes are right for them. Perfect for both curious new students and those who want to deepen their understanding of yoga,
Pick Your Yoga Practice is the ultimate guide to understanding yogas transformative powers.
Anyone interested in health and wellness in America today has likely tried a yoga class or two. Most of us choose classes that are convenient to our busy schedules, maybe not quite paying attention to the individual styles the studio offers. Hatha, Ashtanga, Bikram, Iyengar its all Greek when youre new to the yoga mat. Depending on how we react to the classes, we might become yoga devotees, or we might give up on yoga altogether, not realizing that the different styles of yoga are as distinct and varied as our unique personalities.
Since first arriving in the states on the robe-tails of Indian swamis at the turn of the 20th century, yoga has captivated the attention of scholars, intellectuals, hippies, politicians, movie stars, and the like, making its way into the heart of mainstream America. Today yoga studios are common fixtures in cities and suburbs, yoga teachers are gaining celebrity status, and the business of yoga is booming. It seems everyone from seniors to athletes and high-powered executives to stay-at-home moms is headed to yoga class but which one?
Of the hundreds of yoga books available, not one contains an extensive presentation of multiple yoga systems and their histories. Pick Your Yoga Practice is for those students who are curious about more than one style of yoga and would like to deepen their understanding of yoga and explore how and why people practice different types.
There are dozens of yoga styles to choose from: Some that are rich in history and others that just arrived on the scene; some that are overtly spiritual and others that are plainly physical; some that are extremely rigid and demanding and others that are more gentle and adaptable. In this book you will discover, in-depth, eight of the most prominent systems of yoga as well as ten more need-to-know styles in the best of the rest.” Everything from philosophical foundation and teaching methodology to levels of physicality and health benefits will be discussed to give readers a complete impression of each system. As cliché as it sounds, yoga really is for everyoneyou just have to find the right fit for you.
In each chapter, McCrary will explore what a class might be like, what type of training the instructor has had, and what to expect in the way of philosophy and spirituality and physical exertion. Each chapter includes sidebars which will offer tips and other background material to enhance the readers understanding.
Synopsis
Millions practice yoga, but what kind? Hatha, Ashtanga, Bikram, Iyengar? Hot room, flowing, or held postures, with or without meditation and chanting? And everyone practices for different reasons weight loss, strength training, injury healing, relaxation. Those new to yoga should know they have choices (so as not to be put off by one bad fit), and regular practitioners should know that there are dozens of ways to expand or reinvigorate their routine. This is the first yoga book to help everyone interested understand all their options. Eight of the most prominent yoga approaches, plus ten best of the rest,” are explained in terms of what a class is like, level of physical exertion, and philosophical and spiritual underpinnings. As in the fairy tale, some may find some yoga too hot or too cold, too hard or too soft but virtually everyone can find a yoga that is just right.
About the Author
Meagan McCrary is a certified yoga instructor and journalist. Her yoga, wellness, and lifestyle writings are widely featured online and in print. She lives in Los Angeles, California, where she teaches at various Equinox Sports Clubs, and leads yoga retreats nationally and internationally.