Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Book Name - Yoga Taravali


Author - Adi Sankara


Through this poem Yoga Taravali, Sankara poetically and metaphorically summarizes the highest teachings of yoga. A must for every yoga enthusiast, this text will not only provide deep insights into the teachings of yoga, but will also indicate Adi Sankara’s mastery over he ancient discipline of yoga.

This handy book is inspired by the interpretations of T Krishnamacharya, who considered Yoga Taravali one of the best poems on the message of yoga

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Book Name - Mantras to Hindu Gods & Goddesses


Author - V.N. Jha (Preface)


This Volume is a collection of mantras (spiritual signs) addressed to a number of deities of Indian spiritual and Religious Culture. These dieties are commonly known as gods & goddesses. They are symbol of faith and take care of various desires of their devotees and are supposed to satify them. Sanskrit Text and English Translation.

  • Vol 1 : Mantras to Sri Ganesa, Hanuma, Visnu Narasimha, Gopala and Garuda, Text with Trs.
  • Vol 2 : Mantras to Kali, Goddess Tara, Tara Ekajata, Nila Sarasvati, Chinnamasta, Sabri, Svayamvara, Madhumati, Pramoda, and Bandi Devi, Atayaksini, Varahi, Jyestha, Karnapisacini, Svapnesvari, Matangi, Banesi, Madanesvari.
  • Vol. 3 : Mantras to Goddess Bala and Syama, Annapurnesvari, Mohan Gauri, Jyesthalaksmi, Pratyangira, Bagalamukhi and the two Varahis.
  • Vol. 4 : Sri Vidya, Avarna Deities to Sri Vidya

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Book Name - Anatomy of Hatha Yoga


Author - H. David Coulter and Timothy McCall


Information about all facets of anatomy and body movement.

This is the definitive reference book on yoga. It is filled with diagrams of the yoga postures, the muscular system, the nervous system, and explanations on what yoga can do for the body. For any yoga devotee, this is a must.

Anatomy of Hatha Yoga is the only modern authoritative source that correlates the study of hatha yoga with anatomy and physiology. Hatha yoga is comprised of stretching, strengthening and breathing exercises in upright, lying down and inverted postures. Yoga teachers and students, personal trainers, medical therapists, or anyone who is curious or troubled about how the body responds to stretching and exercise will find in this book a cornucopia -- partly new and partly old -- of readable and reliable information. It was written and edited to meet the needs of a general audience largely unschooled in the biomechanical sciences, and yet to attract and challenge the interests of the medical profession. This book features 230 black and white photographs and more than 120 diagrams and anatomical illustrations.


Chapter 1 summarizes general principles of anatomy and physiology as applied to hatha yoga. Breathing is next in chapter 2 because yogic breathing expedites movement and posture. Breathing is followed by pelvic and abdominal exercises in chapter 3 because the pelvis and abdomen form the foundation of the body. Standing postures will then be covered in chapter 4 because these poses are so important for beginning students, and because they provide a preview of backbending, forward bending, and twisting postures, which are covered in detail in chapters 5, 6, and 7. The headstand and shoulderstand, including an introduction to cardiovascular function, are presented in chapters 8 and 9. Postures for relaxation and meditation are treated last in chapter 10.


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Book Name - Mudras: Yoga in Your Hands


Author -Gertrud Hirschi


Mudras, also playfully called the "finger power points", are yoga positions for your hands and fingers. They can be practiced sitting, lying down, standing, or walking. They can be done at any time and place- while stuck in traffic, at the office, watching TV, or whenever you are waiting for something. Hirschi shows you how these techniques can prevent illness, relieve stress, and heal emotional problems.


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Book Name - Yoga Nidra


Author - Swami Satyananda Saraswati


People feel that they are relaxing when they collapse in an easy chair with a drink or a cigarette and read a newspaper or switch on the television. But this, in fact, is merely a sensory diversion; true relaxation is an experience far beyond all this. For complete relaxation you must remain aware. This is Yoga Nidra, the state of dynamic sleep.

This book introduces the practice of Yoga Nidra explaining how it works in both yogic and scientific terms. It includes several class transcriptions and covers the many applications of this versatile technique which has been used for deep relaxation, for educational purposes and to harmonise the deeper unconscious.

"In my early childhood I was guided through Yoga Nidra by Swami Satyananda Saraswati and it is only now that I am becoming aware of the depth of the instructions and training I received."

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Book Name - Swara Yoga (The Tantric Science of Brain Breathing)


Author - Swami Muktibodhannanda and Swami Muktibod


This book contains the original Sanskrit text of the Shiva Swarodaya with a translation in English. The theory section includes references to scientific research into the influence of breathing patterns on the right and left hemispheres of the brain, instinctual behaviour and higher brain functions, which is correlated with the tantric view of human physiology.

In the practice section the techniques of this ancient yoga are explained in detail. For this practice prior experience in pranayama, mudras and some pratyahara techniques including mantra japa, trataka and visualisation are necessary.

This is an important text for advanced yoga practitioners and yoga teachers.

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Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Book Name - Yogic Management of Common Diseases

Author - Dr. Swami Karmananda

Yogic Management of Common Diseases deals with 36 common as well as serious diseases afflicting the human body. Diseases covered include those affecting the head and neck, the cardiovascular and respiratory systems, the gastro-intestinal tract, the joints and musculo-skeletal system, and the uro-genital system.

Basic information is provided about the causes and effects of each condition from both the yogic and medical viewpoints. In depth yogic management of each disease is also presented along with the current medical treatment, dietary recommendations and other advice. This informative text offers a way of managing disease and regaining health the yogic way.

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Book Name - Prana, Pranayama, Prana Vidya

Author - Swami Niranjanananda Saraswati

Prana Pranayama Prana Vidya is an informative text on prana featuring the classic practices taught by Bihar Yoga. Through the techniques of pranayama and prana vidya, the vital force within the mind and body can be activated, regulated and increased. This book discusses the theory of prana and presents a systematic account of the pranayama practices, including detailed instructions and illustrations, and the different stages of prana vidya and other forms of psychic healing.

This edition includes the original prana vidya practice as taught by Swami Satyananda.

Suitable for intermediate to advanced practitioners.

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