Table of Contents
Introduction 1
Book I: Getting Started with Yoga Principles 5
Chapter 1: Yoga 101: Building a Foundation 7
Chapter 2: Yoga and the Mind-Body Connection 19
Chapter 3: Preparing for a Fruitful Yoga Practice 27
Book II: Basic Yoga Techniques and Postures 41
Chapter 1: The Fundamentals of Yogic Breathing 43
Chapter 2: Please Be Seated 57
Chapter 3: Standing Tall 67
Chapter 4: Steady as a Tree: Mastering Balance 83
Chapter 5: Absolutely Abs 91
Chapter 6: Looking at the World Upside-Down: Safe Inversion Postures 101
Chapter 7: Classic Bending Floor Postures 113
Chapter 8: Several Twists on the Yoga Twist 133
Chapter 9: Dynamic Postures: The Rejuvenation Sequence and Sun Salutation 143
Chapter 10: Basic Preparation, Compensation, and Rest Poses 151
Book III: Yoga for Life 169
Chapter 1: A Recommended Beginners’ Routine for Men and Women 171
Chapter 2: Yoga for Kids and Teens 181
Chapter 3: It’s Never Too Late: Yoga for Midlifers and Older Adults 199
Book IV: Powering Your Way to Fitness: Power Yoga 215
Chapter 1: Key Principles of Power Yoga 217
Chapter 2: Preparing with Powerful Warm-Ups 227
Chapter 3: Taking a Walk in the Park: A Minimum Power Routine 243
Chapter 4: Following Buddha’s Way: A Moderate Power Routine 265
Chapter 5: Staying Young: Power Yoga for Seniors 285
Book V: Yoga-ing Your Way to a Toned Body: Yoga with Weights 301
Chapter 1: Introducing Yoga with Weights 303
Chapter 2: Warming Up for Your Yoga with Weights Workout 319
Chapter 3: From Head to Toe: The Balanced Workout 341
Chapter 4: Waking Up Your Mind and Body: The Energy Workout 361
Chapter 5: Exercises for Seniors 375
Book VI: Ancient Practices in the Modern World: Hot Trends in Yoga 395
Chapter 1: Partnering Up for Yoga 397
Chapter 2: Yoga against the Wall 413
Chapter 3: Yoga off the Mat, in the Heat, and outside the Box 427
Book VII: Meditation, Mindfulness, and Letting Go of Stress 435
Chapter 1: How Your Mind Stresses You Out and What You Can Do about It 437
Chapter 2: Relaxed Like a Noodle: The Fine Art of Letting Go of Stress 457
Chapter 3: Getting Acquainted with Meditation 471
Chapter 4: Mindfulness Meditation: Awareness of the Here and Now 491
Chapter 5: Meditating with Challenging Emotions 505
Chapter 6: Cultivating Spirituality 517
Index 533