For the first time ever, Rodney Yee explains in writing his highly popular and successful approach to yoga. Yoga: The Poetry of the Body is an introduction to the practice of yoga in both its physical and spiritual aspects. Using more than 400 beautiful black-and-white photos, this book takes beginners, as well as more advanced students, step-by-step through 8 full yoga practices based on 45 of the most basic yoga poses. Using thought-provoking student-teacher dialogs, Rodney makes abstract concepts come alive, thereby allowing readers to better understand and appreciate the essence of yoga. All in all, this book presents a wonderful and stimulating journey into the world of yoga that reflects both the way Rodney teaches and his personal philosophy. It is sure to please yoga enthusiasts everywhere.
User Ratings and Reviews
5 Stars yoga is a lifestyle
if you understand that the asanas are a very small part of what true yoga is, you will love or at least like this book. foremost it is a biography of the writers’ journey through yoga- if you are strictly looking for an instructional guide, this is not it. the negative reviews on this book bother me. the poetry in it is beautiful- this book was meant to inspire people to look at their emotional and mental development instead of their physical development.
5 Stars Great yoga book for those new to yoga.
The best way to describe the book, Yoga: The Poetry of the Body, is as a conversational dialogue between Rodney Yee and Nina Zolotow, a writer and yoga student of Rodney’s. She asks Rodney questions about yoga, his classes, and life in general, to which Rodney responds. The book also includes poetry chosen by Rodney as well as short stories written by Nina.
As someone new to yoga, I really enjoyed this book. The conversational dialogue really helps address a lot of issues and fears that I think a very common with yoga.
The book is divided into six parts:
Part 1 Why - Basically a brief dialogue that addresses the question of why people practice yoga.
Part 2 Before You Practice - Rodney describes the tools of yoga, including an exploration of our own bodies through massage
Part 3 Falling Into Yoga - Rodney presents eight short yoga practices. The idea behind this section is that each practice has a theme and Rodney gives brief description of each pose. He deliberately chooses not to go into detail so that people will just “do” the practices and learn from their own body and observations. More detailed descriptions of the poses are given in Part 5.
Part 4 Being Present - This section of the book focuses on your breath and getting you to focus on it. Rodney gives seven breathing games. To quote Rodney,
“In a breath observation practice, you are trying to get into that same state of deep relaxation while still remaining conscious. It’s like learning how to see all those odd fish in the deepest, darkest part of the sea-you need to be able to drop that far down into your own ocean. When it’s that quiet, you can begin to see your breath.”
Part 5 Posing and Reposing - This section provides detailed descriptions of the individual poses and also provides modifications and shows the use of props.
Part 6 Unwrapping It - Basically a couple of pages to summarize and provide an ending for the book.
There is also a priceless Appendix B: Yoga and Watermelons. LOL
I am really enjoying this book. As someone who has just discovered yoga in the last five months or so, this book is a great introduction to the idea of yoga and establishing a practice. I think yoga and yoga books can often be very intimidating to someone just starting out. This book directly addresses those fears and encourages you to just get out there and do it. I would highly recommend it for someone new to yoga.
4 Stars Any book that begins with a quote by Emily Dickinson has to be good.
“If I feel physically as if the top of my head were taken off, I know that is poetry.” –Emily Dickinson
I Love yoga! (–have since I did my first yoga vhs about five years ago though it feels like a lifetime, it’s so natural for me.) This book is good for all yoga enthusiasts. Everyone will appreciate the photographs of Rodney’s examples of each pose (although I think they should be larger) along with instructions of the poses and probably all who practice yoga should enjoy the conversations between Rodney and Nina Zolotow. In the section of part three, Why We Do Yoga, Rodney shares this: “For me their was an immediate emotional component to the practice of yoga. When I started practicing yoga, I felt like I was no longer ruled by my emotions. I felt like I still had emotions–very strong emotions–in fact, I could observe them more deeply–but I felt like I was no longer controlled by them, that I actually had a sense of choice and a sense of deeper understanding because I wasn’t so emotionally reactive in my life.”
We shouldn’t be controlled by our emotions. I’ve learned this and let me tell you, it is wise and liberating.
One more quote by Rodney…
‘I read an article in a newspaper that quoted the {} church as saying, “Yoga is dangerous because it clears the mind and leaves way for the devil.” It clears the mind and leaves way for the devil. That’s amazing to me, but in some sense, I realize people actually think that. We’ve actually been trained not to think. It’s like in yoga class, people think it’s about stilling the mind. It’s not about stilling the mind. It’s about following the mind. It’s really about deeply following something. What we’re doing is we’re disciplining the mind so that it can continue to follow the present moment, watching things arise as they arise. Watching thoughts arise as they arise and actually being cognizant of life as it’s arising. To really be in it–otherwise you’re not living a life. You’re living an illusion of life. You’re actually disassociated from what’s really going on….’
Hmmmm.
A worthy book to own to use to practice, appreciate and to understand yoga. My practice is something that will be with me forever. I realize now that it is so much a part of my life that I incorporate it into every workout routine I do, at some point! Even if I’m doing a video, I will either do yoga at the beginning or end 99% of the time! If you haven’t tried yoga yet, please do! You won’t regret it. You go at your own pace, and benefit and get more flexible with each effort. It is great for your body and your mind.
Soar!
3 Stars A Mixed Bag - 3 Stars is a Stretch…
I was really looking forward to this book, as I’ve found Yee’s videos (and Patricia Walden’s as well) of great use for my practice. But this book was a real letdown. Apart from the photos (the best part), which would be perfect for anyone beginning a yoga practice, there’s not much to recommend. The “interview” portions between Yee and Zolotow are totally unnecessary, if not outright annoying; it’s more like a schmooze session between “student” and “master”. C’mon, already. Isn’t that what appearances on “Oprah” are for? And the poetry would be better left in a separate volume - they don’t really give anything to the book. All put together, it comes off as a little too “Real Simple” if you know what I mean. For some reason, after reading about all of the interview portions I could stomach, I came away with Yee having this distinct “nobody understands yoga but me” attitude. It could be the way it was written, but it comes off as more than a little prissy. A little humility would be nice, you know? Thanks just the same, but I’d rather re-read the truly essential “Light on Yoga” by B.K.S. Iyengar - THAT’S the book you should buy. Check out Yee’s videos for guidance, but buy this only if you want a good looking coffee table book.
5 Stars Makes yoga accessible for everyone
I have been practicing yoga at home with videos for about 2 years from now, and Rodney Yee is my favorite instructor. However, I’ve heard some people criticize his videos as being too mystical or too fast-paced, especially for beginners. In this book, Yee makes yoga accessible to everyone in part by making HIMSELF accessible–ie, via the reprinted conversations with his co-author, Nina Zolotow. The interviews allow the reader to see Yee as a real person rather than the yogi “master” he is often considered to be (he even jokes about this title in the book!). Furthermore, although he does discuss Eastern influences in his own yoga practice, he places great emphasis on yoga being fun and enjoyable and encourages modifications rather than a strive for “perfect” form.
In addition to talking about his craft, Yee offers eight varied yoga practices appropriate for beginning students; each practice focuses on a theme, such as “falling” or “breathing.” Beautifully simple black and white photographes of either Yee or his wife, Donna Fone, performing the poses accompany each practice. In the last section, “Posing and Reposing,” each of the 45 poses utilized in the practices is photo-illustrated and described in detail. Although this book is aimed at beginners, it will stimulate the thought of any aspiring yogi. Highly recommended!