Yoga's popularity shows no signs of slowing, as men, women and children continue to discover
the practice and new yoga studios pop up in neighborhoods around the city. Having a reference such as "Essential Yoga: An Illustrated Guide" can be helpful when studying at home, as an adjunct to classes.
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Essential Yoga: An Illustrated Guide: This handbook features the fundamentals of yoga, from breathing exercises to warm-ups, poses, meditations and routines. Based on principles of hatha yoga, it describes the benefits of each exercise, offers some tips and goes through a detailed description of how to achieve a pose or meditation. Also included are routines beneficial for certain conditions, such as mental fatigue, and for sports, including swimming and golf. Simple line drawings accompany the descriptions.
"This isn't a substitute for classes, but I'm hoping beginners and people who have practiced for a long time will see this as a resource," said author Olivia H. Miller, a longtime yoga practitioner who also wrote "The Yoga Deck" series of cards featuring poses and breathing exercises.
Price: $18.95. From Chronicle Books; available at bookstores or at www.chroniclebooks.com.
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-- Jeannine Stein
