Publisher's Synopsis
An introduction to this ancient art and discipline, this guide to yoga provides the basics for those just starting out. The book follows the principles of Hatha Yoga (mastery of the body), and stresses the importance of incorporating a Raja Yoga component into the practice of Hatha Yoga by means of meditation. Breathing and relaxation are also emphasized and the text explains why these elements are vital parts of yoga practice.;The text outlines the advantages of practising at home, as a complement to joining a yoga class and having a yoga teacher. The postures are grouped into the categories of general preparatory exercises, sitting, standing, balancing, inverted and rest postures. Photographs appear together with the text so that instructions and pictures of the posture breakdown are clearly visible and easy to follow. The visual focus is on giving equal importance to all variations of the posture, thus encouraging beginners and making instructions as clear as possible.
