Yoga For Dummies

Sharing the benefits of yoga in a way that everyone can enjoy and understand Practicing yoga has many health benefits, including improving your overall fitness, flexibility, and strength. It has also been known to reduce heart rate and blood pressure. And if you're suffering from chronic lower back pain, yoga is a perfect choice for you. Yoga For Dummies, 3rd Edition will show you how to get up to speed on the fundamentals of Yoga, whether you're participating in a class, teaching a class, or practicing it on your own. This new edition features over 20% new and updated content plus 12 companion videos featuring the hottest and most popular poses. Inside, you will find: Do-it-yourself yoga programs for you to practice The latest techniques for breathing properly Photos on key poses that can improve front sides and backsides New coverage on yoga against the wall, the use of props in yoga, couples yoga, and more If you suffer from anxiety, depression, or chronic pain, yoga can be a wonderfully relaxing exercise for you. Whether you decide to persist in a traditional do-it-yourself yoga practice or experiment with the use of props in a new yoga routine, this book can help. Children, pregnant women, mid-lifers, and seniors can all enjoy the benefits of yoga simply explained in this comprehensive, fun guide.

Sharing the benefits of yoga in a way that everyone can enjoyand understandPracticing yoga has many health benefits, including improvingyour overall fitness, flexibility, and strength. It has also beenknown to reduce heart rate and blood pressure. And if you'resuffering from chronic lower back pain, yoga is a perfect choicefor you. Yoga For Dummies, 3rd Edition will show you how toget up to speed on the fundamentals of Yoga, whether you'reparticipating in a class, teaching a class, or practicing it onyour own. This new edition features over 20% new and updatedcontent plus 12 companion videos featuring the hottest and mostpopular poses. Inside, you will find:* Do-it-yourself yoga programs for you to practice* The latest techniques for breathing properly* Photos on key poses that can improve front sides andbacksides* New coverage on yoga against the wall, the use of props inyoga, couples yoga, and moreIf you suffer from anxiety, depression, or chronic pain, yogacan be a wonderfully relaxing exercise for you. Whether you decideto persist in a traditional do-it-yourself yoga practice orexperiment with the use of props in a new yoga routine, this bookcan help. Children, pregnant women, mid-lifers, and seniors can allenjoy the benefits of yoga simply explained in this comprehensivefun guide.

Foreword xvIntroduction 1Part I: Getting Started with Yoga 5Chapter 1: Yoga 101: Building a Foundation 7Chapter 2: Ready, Set, Yoga! 23Chapter 3: Preparing for a Fruitful Yoga Practice 33Chapter 4: Relaxed Like a Noodle: The Fine Art of Letting Go ofStress 41Chapter 5: Breath and Movement Simplified 55Part II: Moving into Position: Basic YogaPostures 77Chapter 6: Please Be Seated 79Chapter 7: Standing Tall 89Chapter 8: Steady as a Tree: Mastering Balance 107Chapter 9: Absolutely Abs 115Chapter 10: Looking at the World Upside Down: Safe InversionPostures 123Chapter 11: Easy 'round the Bends: Classic Bending FloorPostures 133Chapter 12: Several Twists on the Yoga Twist 151Chapter 13: Dynamic Posture: The Rejuvenation Sequence and SunSalutation 159Chapter 14: A Recommended Beginners' Routine for Men andWomen 167Part III: Creating and Customizing Your YogaRoutine 177Chapter 15: Designing Your Own Yoga Program 179Chapter 16: Partnering Up for Yoga 215Chapter 17: It's Never Too Soon: Pre- and Postnatal Yoga231Chapter 18: Yoga for Kids and Teens 243Chapter 19: It's Never Too Late: Yoga for Midlifers andOlder Adults 265Chapter 20: Prop Art: The Why and How of Simple Props 287Chapter 21: Yoga Against the Wall 295Part IV: Living Life the Yoga Way 309Chapter 22: Yoga throughout the Day 311Chapter 23: Meditation and the Higher Reaches of Yoga 323Chapter 24: Yoga Therapy: Customizing Your Back and BodyTreatments 337Chapter 25: Using Restorative Postures to Relieve Stress andChronic Pain 357Part V: The Part of Tens 371Chapter 26: Ten Tips for a Safe Yoga Practice 373Chapter 27: Ten Ways to Get the Most out of Your Yoga Practice377Index 379