The Complete Illustrated Book Of Yoga
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Vishnudevananda Saraswati
Swami Vishnu-devananda was born in Kerala, South India, in 1927. In 1947, he came to the Sivananda Ashram in Rishikesh, in the Himalayas.
There he lived and worked with his Master, Swami Sivananda. Swami Sivananda saw in his young disciple special tendencies toward Hatha Yoga. With his training directed toward this discipline, Swami Vishnu-devananda became an expert, mastering many of the most difficult and advanced Hatha Yoga techniques (asanas, pranayamas, mudras, bandhas, and kriyas). He was appointed the first Professor of Hatha Yoga at the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Forest Academy. In 1957, Swami Vishnu-devananda was sent to the West by his guru with the words, 'People are waiting.'
Vishnu-devananda founded several Yoga centers in the United States, then settled in Canada, where he established the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta headquarters in Montreal. In 1960, his bestselling book The Complete Illustrated Book of Yoga and his respected periodical Yoga Health Digest were first published. Swami Vishnu-devananda's innovations in Yoga instruction have reached millions through his Yoga centers, which are now found in five continents; his popular 'Yoga vacations'; and his Yoga teacher training courses, which thousands have attended.
This fine book was gifted anonymously in the early 1990's and with it vegetarianism, non-violence, samadhi and other associated abilities that are This fine book was gifted anonymously in the early 1990's and with it vegetarianism, non-violence, samadhi and other associated abilities that are unmentionable have been achieved. It is through the austere practice of every asana in this book, every third day while fasting that it is possible to verify the abilities that are now being exemplified in a more openly main stream arena; no food, no breath and change DNA. I have owned this book for around 40 years and continue to view it as the 'Bible' for yoga practitioners. It covers a multitude of items, including the philosophy of this ancient discipline, to complete details in acheiving postures, as well as complete illustrations. The value for me, because I have done yoga for so long, is these asanas are classic and do not involve the use of props or support. Many of those postures are beyond my current ability, but it is good to view photos of those who hav I have owned this book for around 40 years and continue to view it as the 'Bible' for yoga practitioners. It covers a multitude of items, including the philosophy of this ancient discipline, to complete details in acheiving postures, as well as complete illustrations.
The value for me, because I have done yoga for so long, is these asanas are classic and do not involve the use of props or support. Many of those postures are beyond my current ability, but it is good to view photos of those who have such flexibility. Vishnu-devananda, Swami. The Complete Illustrated Book of Yoga (1960). One of the best popular books on yoga This book was my first yoga book; as such it is close to my heart.
I read it (in another edition) in 1974 and used it as a guide to my practice for many years thereafter. It is not, of course, 'complete.' No 'complete book of' ever is. That is a publisher's fiction. It is however, very thorough in presenting the yoga of Patanjali and the classical Hatha Yoga Pradipika to the English sp Vishnu-devananda, Swami.
The Complete Illustrated Book of Yoga (1960). One of the best popular books on yoga This book was my first yoga book; as such it is close to my heart. I read it (in another edition) in 1974 and used it as a guide to my practice for many years thereafter. It is not, of course, 'complete.'
The Complete Illustrated Book Of Yoga Download
No 'complete book of' ever is. That is a publisher's fiction. It is however, very thorough in presenting the yoga of Patanjali and the classical Hatha Yoga Pradipika to the English speaking reader. Much of the book is devoted to asana, highlighted by 146 photos of demonstration by an unidentified young man, who is as good as, if not better than (if that is possible), the accomplished and illustrious B.
Iyengar in showing the sort of suppleness and precision that can achieved. The photos really are extraordinary. There is an excellent and lengthy chapter on pranayama and several on the philosophy and spiritual aspects of yoga. Consequently this goes beyond hatha yoga and becomes a treatise on raja yoga, the so-called 'king's yoga' or 'ashtanga yoga,' or 'eight-limbed' yoga-the yoga codified and outlined by Patanjali about eighteen hundred years ago. Raja yoga, which is a continuation of hatha yoga, is to be distinguished from the three other yogas of the ancients, karma yoga, bhakti yoga, and jnana yoga, respectively the yogas of selfless action, devotion, and knowledge. (There is also tantric yoga, the so-called 'left-handed path,' the beginnings of which are lost in antiquity.
Following the example of the Bhagavad Gita, tantric yoga is not mentioned in this book.) Raja yoga is sometimes called 'the science of mental control,' as it is here on page 220. There are many experts on asana; and there are many academics whose knowledge of yoga and yoga culture is extensive. But there are few public teachers of yoga who have mastered all aspects of yoga and can be said to be truly accomplished.
Vishnu-devananda is one of them, that is clear from this book. Iyengar is another. I have read nearly a hundred books on yoga in English, and I would not be able to identify more than a handful of other authors as 'siddhas,' or 'accomplished ones.' Usually, a yogi who realizes samadhi ceases to be a public person.
It is only the few-perhaps taking their inspiration from the Buddha, who returned from bliss to instruct humankind-that actually take the trouble to write books. I believe that Vishnu-devananda may be one of them. Certainly the knowledge and wisdom emanating from these pages suggests as much. Incidentally, 'Vishnu' is one of the deities of Hinduism ('the Preserver'); a 'deva' is a personal divine (such as Krishna, a manifestation of Vishnu); and 'ananda' is bliss itself. Yoga, fully realized, is a mystical and religious practice-be sure and understand that it is a practice: mere knowledge will not be efficacious.
Its ultimate purpose is the realization of the Absolute, or to be joined with the Ineffable, or to live continually in the state of samadhi (three ways of saying what is essentially the same thing). Nonetheless, physical health and well-being can be gotten along the way (indeed they are prerequisites to samadhi), and sufficient in themselves as reasons for taking up the practice. One of the auxiliary strengths of this book is in its presentation of the Vedic and Hindu viewpoint through the study and practice of yoga. Swami Vishnu-devananda reveals himself here as an accomplished jnana yogi as well as a master of raja yoga.
While I do not agree with everything written here, and could easily point to some exaggerations (hyperbole, of course, is part of the tradition of yogic literature, fulfilling an 'intentional' purpose) as well as to some ideas that are perhaps more central to Hinduism than to yoga itself, I nonetheless believe that what Vishnu-devananda writes is wise and measured and worth careful study. I don't think one can really understand yoga or appreciate its place in our world without not only a long practice but also a concomitant study of its origins and historical development in the Hindu, Buddhist, Tantric, Jainist and other traditions.
This book is an excellent beginning.a review by Dennis Littrell.