Yoga for the Three Stages of Life
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Product Description
New York Spirit, October & November 2001
Yoga for the Three Stages of Life has a clarity and simplicity unlike many of the other books recently published.
Int'l Journal of Yoga Therapy, No. 11, 2001
This is a thoroughly enjoyable book, written with the sincerity and wisdom you would expect from a long-time, dedicated student.
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MORE BOOKS ON YOGA HAVE BEEN WRITTEN in the past twenty years than ever before, perhaps since Vedic times. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
MORE BOOKS ON YOGA HAVE BEEN WRITTEN in the past twenty years than ever before, perhaps since Vedic times. Read the first page
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Browse Sample PagesConcordance
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4.7 out of 5 stars (11 customer reviews)
44 of 47 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A great book, but not perfect., 16 May 2001
By "sadhaka" - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Yoga for the Three Stages of Life: Developing Your Practice as an Art Form, a Physical Therapy, and a Guiding Philosophy (Paperback)
This is a rich treasure trove of information about yoga in the context of an authentic tradition. I found it to be endlessly fascinating and rewarding. However, despite what some other reviewers have said, I think it may not be what many people are looking for. Here are some things one should be aware of:1. The philosophical information is quite dense and not always accessible. While the author's English is quite good, it is not always completely "comfortable" and people may become confused. For instance, he frequently uses terms most westerners will not be familiar with (names of deities, etc.), only some of which are in the glossary. If you are looking for an accessible, down to earth philosophy that will enrich your asana practice, read T.V.K. Desikachar's "The Heart of Yoga." If you are looking for a richer, less watered down version of this information, and are willing to put up with a less clear format, then this book may be preferable.
2. This is not a good presentation of the asanas. Many asanas are described but not pictured, and in addition, there is not a lot of detailed instructional information about most of the poses. In his defense, Ramaswami says that he is only cataloguing the asanas for reference purposes and that they should be learned only under the supervision of a teacher. All of the above applies equally to the section on pranayama. The presentation of vinyasakrama is the only bridge I've seen between Desikachar's viniyoga and Pattabhi Jois's Ashtanga yoga. Basically, it involves starting all poses in samasthiti and using the sun salutation poses to connect them, but with emphasis on the slower, gentler and personally customized routines that characterize viniyoga. This content came to me as a truly wonderful gift.
So, I would recommend this book only to people who are looking for a source of thought provoking yoga philosophy and especially those who want all the information they can get about Krishnamacharya's yoga system(s). This book will greatly enrich most aspects of your practice, however, it is best to approach it as a supplemental rather than primary source of information.
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Yoga for the Three Stages of Life, 14 Jun 2003
By Cassandra Barnes "Cassandra" - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Yoga for the Three Stages of Life: Developing Your Practice as an Art Form, a Physical Therapy, and a Guiding Philosophy (Paperback)
Srivatsa Ramaswami studied for more than thirty years with a legendary yoga instructor and has taught yoga himself for more than twenty years. He's blended all that he's learned over the years into a program designed to be adaptable to individual needs, abilities, and ages while remaining true to the principles of traditional yoga.Yoga for the Three Stages of Life: Developing Your Practice as an Art Form, A Physical Therapy, and a Guiding Philosophy is the result of his life's work.
He begins with personal information on how he began learning from the incomparable T. Krisnamacarya as a child, followed by descriptions of the various kinds of yoga and the philosophies underlying each. He says that his book "follows the thought progression of Patanjali, author of the Yogasutras, but it adds material gathered from my guru and from other authentic yoga texts."
Ramaswami includes the history of the development of yoga, and discusses the roles of chanting and scripture study in making yoga part of lifestyle, rather than just a routine. He also devotes large sections to the importance of proper breathing while performing the yoga postures. Correct breathing "helps one to reach and work on the deeper muscles and organs inside the body, which may not be possible otherwise." Additionally it aids in relaxation and concentration.
The remainder of the book describes the yoga postures. Each has detailed written instructions, as well as photographs. Ramaswami notes whether each posture can be safely done by those with physical ailments. He includes a chapter on yoga practices for pregnant women.
While he does include basic yoga postures and complete instructions, Ramaswami notes that his book is not for beginners, but rather for those who have been practicing for some time and/or have a knowledgeable teacher to guide them.
He says that "my goal is to portray the three aspects of yoga-as art, physical therapy, and philosophy-that are appropriate for the young, for the middle-aged, and for retirees, in that order." Readers will discover that he met this goal in Yoga for the Three Stages of Life.
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Review of Yoga for the Three Stages of Life, 8 Mar 2001
By Felicia Marks - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Yoga for the Three Stages of Life: Developing Your Practice as an Art Form, a Physical Therapy, and a Guiding Philosophy (Paperback)
YOGA FOR THE THREE STAGES OF LIFE is an extensive resource for anyone seeking an authentic, detailed description of yoga theory and practice. Srivatsa Ramaswami is an erudite scholar of yoga and an experienced teacher and practitioner. His teacher, Sri T. Krishnamacharya was also that of B. K. S. Iyengar and J. P. S. Pattabhi Jois, who both currently have extensive follwings in the United States. It may only be a matter of time before this is also true of Srivatsa Ramaswami. The book is divided into two sections. The first, on yoga theory is filled with innumerable quotes and references to authentic yogic texts. In this section, Ramaswami gives in-depth explanations of yoga, the story of Patanjali, the meaning of yogic terminology and its practical import. This aspect of the book alone is worth its price. I own many yoga books that only give a small portion of the information available in this text. The second section is on practice and presents the unique system of "vinyasa krama", which coordinates movement into and out of the classical postures with the breath. All major areas of practice are included and there are some quite advanced postures described and depicted. The section on breathing is one of the most detailed you will ever find short of going to India and training at the foot of a master. Ramaswami not only describes the practices but also explains how these exercises benefit health at every level of being. Because this is not a watered down introductory book, any yoga enthusiast will find expert guidance into expanding capacity. There are also chapters on practices particularly beneficial for women and on more esoteric aspects of yoga, such as stilling the mind and yoga's ultimate goal of freedom. Srivatsa Ramaswami has provided an enormous amount of information, detail, and source material for the benefit of the entire yoga community, and especially for the experienced practitioner who wants to improve and learn even more.
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