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Product Description
You're no idiot, of course. You know that nearly everyone in America is doing yoga--including Madonna and Oprah--and that it is said to reduce stress better than virtually any other activity. But when it comes to finding the time and energy for a yoga session and getting a much-needed aerobic workout, you'd rather meditate in front of the TV. Don't vegetate--invigorate! The Complete Idiot's Guide to Power Yoga, by master yogi Geo Takoma, combines the healing poses and stretches of traditional yoga with an exhilarating workout that requires as little as 20 minutes a day. In this Complete Idiot's Guide, Geo gives you:
From the Back Cover
You're no idiot, of course. You know that nearly everyone in America is doing yoga--including Madonna and Oprah--and that it is said to reduce stress better than virtually any other activity. But when it comes to finding the time and energy for a yoga session and getting a much-needed aerobic workout, you'd rather meditate in front of the TV. Don't vegetate--invigorate! The Complete Idiot's Guide to Power Yoga, by master yogi Geo Takoma, combines the healing poses and stretches of traditional yoga with an exhilarating workout that requires as little as 20 minutes a day. In this Complete Idiot's Guide, Geo gives you:
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
Format:Mass Market Paperback
Well I've had this book for about a month now (bought after the shock and horror of discovering just how much lard I'd gained after Christmas) and in terms of goals, I'm achieving them. I'm practicing happily every night (or thereabouts) for about 50 mins and am over half a stone lighter and an awful lot bendier. There are loads of exercises in this book, ranging from marine/ mountain pose (yes I noticed that too and thought "How silly" - ah well, same principles) through to really scary/ impressive looking ones like Scorpion for advanced people. They also have 20 min routines planned which I find helpful. It's also really helped with my stress levels after a crazy period at work. So far, so good.
The structure of the book is shocking. You're trying to get along with your practice, turn the page and there's a chapter on chakras, or colour healing, or "13 steps to a healthier life". It's a little disruptive, and why I prefer the routines so I can avoid this.
It is very personal and there are more than a few moments where cod science is promoted as fact as a result of anecdotal evidence. I don't find this as much of a problem as the previous reviewer but I imagine it'd annoy some people hugely. Geo does come across as likeable and human (if a touch egotistical) and it's nice to hear how his practice has evolved.
I'm also not so sure that enough precautions were mentioned. I've managed to pull something in my thighs which rather hurts. Problems of using books rather than classes I guess but I can't help thinking that I couldn't have messed up such a simple move as spear thrower.... hohum.
Overall, I would say flawed but good enough that I can comfortably overlook them.
4 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Mass Market Paperback
Having read The Complete Idiot's Guide to Yoga, I was hooked on the idea of a commitment to myself; physically and spiritually. Yoga is for me. I found Eve Adamson's co-written book to be a boon of information to both the novice and skilled yogi alike. It was to my great surprise when I discovered her to be co-author of this tragic tome! I'm afraid I can't comment on the whole book as I could not bring myself to finish it, but what struck me most are the conflicting ideas supported by the text when compared to the former book. The Mountain Pose now being called the Marine Pose - Geo is an ex-marine - being one example amongst many. A little pedantic maybe, but I proceeded through the Idiot's Guide trying to reconcile the theories here with those I have read elsewhere. The prose is difficult to wade through, and the philosophy and spirituality made too personal to the author to offer any real spiritual insight to the reader. Okay, I know - it's Power Yoga; muscles, aerobics, real exercise - what's all the lentil soup/tree hugging got to do with anything? Well, what's the difference between Yoga and Power Yoga at the end of the day? There doesn't seem to be much according to this book! So what's to stop you buying any half decent Yoga book and personalising it by applying your own goals to your Yoga practice? It seems that's all the author has done here.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4 reviews
15 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Very Inspirational!
10 Jan 2000
Format:Mass Market Paperback
This book is full of information benefitting the novice as well as the expert.Geo shares his 25 years of experience on all aspects of yoga including meditation and chakras. It will capture your interest from beginning to end!
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
One of the best!
2 Jan 2003
Format:Mass Market Paperback
Power yoga is great for Americans, especially those who are used to more aerobic workouts and especially for those like me, who have bodies naturally inclined toward strength training and not toward flexibility. Don't get me wrong---you get plenty of flexibility poses with Power Yoga---there are still poses I can't do yet---but there's none of that head under the legs, kissing your back kind of flexibility in Power Yoga. Warrior poses to develop leg strength are essential to this style, as well as some challenging balancing poses. If this sound's like your kind of thing, Geo's book is excellent and provides more info than many other power yoga books. Good luck with your training and Namaste!
12 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Geo's Pseudo-Yoga
27 Sep 2001
Format:Mass Market Paperback
This is an appropriate manual for anyone looking to improve their physical and emotional well-being. However, for the serious Hatha Yoga practioner or beginning student, it is somewhat misleading. There's scant information here about the different types and contexts of the Yogas. Chakras are discussed in some detail. Yet here Geo uses his "personal system" to describe the different energy centers and substitutes there traditional names for those of colors e.g. "Red", "Orange" etc.
Likewise he needlessly renames some of the classic Yoga postures themselves. The "Corpse" pose is now the "Relaxation" pose and the "Plank" is rechristened as the "Board".
Yoga is primarily consists of static isometric forms of postures. In this way the muscles in the body are toned and strengthened gently, in contrast to Western type exercises such as press-ups or weight lifting, where the vigorous repetitions of the exercise break down the muscle fibers in order to achieve the supposedly desireable "sculpted" look. Such physical practice is diametrically opposed to the Yogic concept of non-violence which is applied to all aspects of ones life, which includes the abstienence of these types of exercise. For this reason I was quite bewildered to find such movements as "Eagle Crunches" in Chapter 19. For a better understanding of Yoga, it's practice and philosophy I highly recommend the exhaustive "Idiots Guide To Yoga" or the James Hewitts more erudite "The Complete Yoga Book", wherein the subject is explored in great deepth.
Still, this book contains a number of redeeming features which can't be ignored. The writing is clear and straight-forward throughout. At times it's almost like having your own fitness instructor at home with you- at only a fraction of the price!
Each posture is well explained and illustrated so there can be no confusion as to their execution. The exercises are also helpfuly ascribed an individual "Difficulty Level" rating between 1 and 5 ,so the reader knows exactly what their letting themselves in for. Also included are valuable Chapters on meditation and breathing.
"Geo's Power Fitness" might have been a better suited name for this books highly individualized health system. As it stands "Power Yoga" somehow doesn't suffice. The "Power" part I can understand, theres no doubt that Geo's techniques will revitalize and bring physical and mental strength to all those whom use them. Yet whether or not we can realistically term them
as "Yoga" is arguable.
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