Anywhere, Anytime, Any Body Yoga: A Practical Guide to Using Yoga in Everyday Life - Paperback

by Emily Slonina (Author)

This encouraging guide introduces the spiritual and physical benefits of yoga and explains how readers can learn to work with their own body type to perform postures safely and effectively. Sections include Chair Yoga, Bed Yoga, Travel Yoga, Office Yoga, and Anywhere Yoga. Each chapter features step-by-step instructions and clear, corresponding illustrations. In every picture, the moves are performed by regular yoga practitioners and not intimidating masters. For people with physical limitations or illnesses, the book focuses on stretching, pain prevention and reduction, relieving stress, and helping with symptoms of sickness. The postures work out every part of the body, and the book also features exercises that can be done in comfortable positions with many simpler alternatives. For frequent travelers there are stretches to relieve commuter stress, keep flexible, and prevent blood clots, jet lag, and anxiety. With no acrobatics needed, these postures can be done anywhere, from standing in line to watching TV.

Back Jacket

Yoga for you - your body, your schedule, your physical and mental well-being

If you think yoga is only for the young, fit and flexible, or that it requires lots of time and money for classes, think again!

Yoga was never meant to be intimidating, exclusive or a fashion trend. Yoga has endured for five thousand years because everyone - no matter what their age or condition - can practice it. Each of us can experience its benefits for body, mind, and spirit.

These benefits include:
stronger bones fewer injuries
increased flexibility decreased stress
stabilized blood pressure pain relief
improved balance graceful aging

Real yoga for real people

In this get-you-going guide, gentle teacher Emily Slonina shares simple exercises and ideas that you can incorporate into your daily life right away while
sitting in a chair
lying on a bed
working at the office
traveling
doing housework

Photos of regular people - not advanced students or masters - show you how to modify poses as needed. Like many of us, some of these models have health issues such as chronic pain, heart disease, scoliosis, arthritis, or fibromyalgia. That's okay, because yoga is not a "no-pain no-gain" exercise or a competitive sport. Modified poses and chair yoga offer all the benefits that traditional poses do. With that in mind, Slonina shows you how to:
breathe for ease
listen to and work with your body
warm-up and de-stress
enjoy and modify classic poses
experience meditation and relaxation whenever, wherever

With yoga, a few minutes here and a few there add up. And because yoga is designed to help us develop balance and awareness, chances are that as you become more flexible in your body, you'll find your mind and spirit become more calm and resilient also. Remember, all kinds of people have practiced yoga for centuries because it just plain feels good!

So start where you are. The benefits begin when you do.