Asana Pranayama Mudra Bandha 2008 Fourth Revised Edition
Asana Prana Yama Mudra Bandha is recognised internationally as one of the most systematic yoga manuals today. Since it’s first publication by the Bihar School of yoga in 1969 it has been reprinted seventeen times and translated into many languages. It is the main reference text used by Yoga teachers and students of Bihar Yoga/Satyananda Yoga within the International Yoga Movement, and many other traditions as well. This comprehensive text provides clear illustrations. step by step directions and details of chakra awareness. It guides the practitioner or teacher from the simplest to the most advanced practices of hatha yoga system. A therapeutic index is provided for use by doctors and yoga therapists incorporating recent information from research into yoga. This edition successfully brings the exposition of yoga practices to the standard of a university text. This latest Fourth Revised Edition has been revised and updated under the direction of Swami Niranjananda Saraswati,the successor of Swami Satyananda Saraswati. Since publication of the first edition,interest in yoga has spread widely.Now the book is used in ashrams,centres and yoga schools in many countries as the standard textbook for teachers and students alike.The techniques presented have been assimilated by fields as diverse as medicine,education,entetainment,business,sports and the training of spiritual aspirants.
User Ratings and Reviews
5 Stars This book will be a classic for generations to come.
This book is truly a timeless classic. I have been practicing yoga for almost six years, 1 to 4 times a day. I have many good books and DVDs on yoga. However, this book is THE most comprehensive.
I had joined a yoga studio for several months when I first began in January of 2003. The teacher taught the yoga using blocks, chair, belt and the wall. It was a good start and I attended for 4 months, two to three times a week. Whatever I learned I practiced at home, sometimes twice or more a day. Even after I discontinued class, I kept up my practice several times a day. I derived tremendous benefits from the practice. I was healed of several serious ailments, known and unknown.
I had been using the standard yoga books, such as “Light on Yoga” by BKS Iyengar, “30 Essential Yoga Poses” by Lasater, and many many others. Not to mention many DVDs by various people of repute. I found that despite my dedicated and persistent efforts I was not making headway in my ability to acquire the more advanced asanas. It seemed that there were groups of muscles in my body that would not open no matter how earnestly I applied myself.
Then I came across this book. Specifically the first three chapters. The asanas in the frist three chapters constitute the Pawanmuktasana series. I have practiced them for a week, twice a day. My body and mind seemed to have ascended into another realm. These seemingly simple asanas have a PROFOUND effect on one’s being. I am at a complete loss to describe their wonderful and deep benefits. Practice of this series has done more for me in the last week than all the numerous benefits I derived through my practice over the last nearly 6 years.
I am at a total loss to explain why the Pawanmuktasana series has not been written of in other books of yoga! It is a VERY POWERFUL series to bring about a total change in the physiology and mental patterns of a person. If I had known about this series sooner I would have become a very advanced practitioner by now.
However, nothing is lost due to the delay! I only hope that people who find themselves stuck in their practice and unable to make gains, would read this review and start to practice the Pawanmuktasana series! I cannot sufficiently applaud its power and benefits.
Also to be noted is the fact that this classic text is put out by the Bihar School of Yoga founded by a great Sage — Swami Satyananda Saraswati. This school is perhaps the only school in the world that grants degrees in yoga — bachelors, masters and PhDs. They are in the forefront of the research being conducted in the healing of diseases through the various yogic practices. The body of knowledge that has accumulated since its founding in 1964 has found its way into the contents of this book as well. It is not a book just put together in an amateurish manner. It is LOADED and AUTHENTIC!
If one practices the seemingly simple Pawanmuktasana series alone for a fortnight, he or she will become a brand new person! One will be astonished by the transformative powers of this seemingly simple series of asanas. Since it is the tendancy of the mind to associate power with complexity, it is only natural to think of this seemingly simple series to be ineffective. You will be TRULY surprised!
The discovery of the Pawanmuktasana series is the greatest discovery of my entire yoga practice over the last six years! Such is its power!
They have the capacity to open up the body and allow the flow of energy through it like few other asana practices. Once these have been practiced for a long time, I believe the other asanas should come naturally. I cannot say for certain, since I have only practiced the Pawanmuktasana series for a week. However, by extrapolating along the gains I have made in this short duration the foregoing claim is likely to be true.
I think most people who practice yoga, do want to make progress at every stage. No one will be content to just stay at the same level year after year. If that is the case with you, then I strongly advise you to purchase this book and practice the three chapters on Pawanmuktasana in earnest.
I would also like to recommend a DVD, if I may, for the practice of Pawanmuktasana series. This DVD is “Yog Science Part 1 & 2 Pranayam & Yog Asan” by Swami Ramdev ji. It is available through Amazon and other dealers through Amazon’s site. After practicing this series through the book or the DVD, I assure you your practice will improve by leaps and bounds.
My search for “THE” book and DVD on yoga has finally come to an end 
5 Stars A new addition to the “Absolutely Indispensable” list.
This is the most complete book of yoga I have ever encountered. And it joins Erich Schiffmann’s “Yoga — The Spirit and Practice of Moving into Stillness” and Dr. Ray Long’s “The Key Muscles of Hatha Yoga” on my ‘Absolutely Indispensable’ yoga book list. I have purchased three more copies — as gifts and as an addition to our Yoga Teachers Association library. For teachers, it is an excellent reference book when planning a class (be it beginning, continuing or advanced). For students, it contains a wealth of information that I have not previously found in any single volume. Highly, highly recommended.
5 Stars Nice Reference Book
This book won’t substitute for having a real teacher to help you learn yoga, but it is definitely an incredibly awesome reference to have.
5 Stars a classic
I have found no other book which is as practical, and gives so much insight into what is behind yogic philosophy
5 Stars One of the best books on Yoga available
This is in my opinion one of the best books available on yoga. It covers the most basic techniques to some of the most advanced poses. I picked this book up about a week ago and have only gone though some of the basic poses but already I benefited. Throughly comprehensive and detailed, the pictures and instruction are clear and step by step. It also goes into detail on breathing techniques and other aspects of yoga. Certainly a must by in my opinion for anyone new to yoga or anyone who has been doing their own daily practice for while, this will add to it!