A Primer on Yoga - Theory and Practice (With DVD Inside)

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A Primer on Yoga: theory and practice is exactly what the title implies. It Clarifies what yoga is , explains the distinguishing features of different schools of yoga, and gives a complete guidance on the physical practice s of yoga as is possible through a written text and a DVD . It is clear, concise and complete. It provides clear scientific answers to more than 30 frequently asked question, such as the right time , duration and sequences of asanas, how yogasnas compare with the workout in a gym, the pros and cons of using rubber mats , and considerations that apply to practice during menstruation, pregnancy and illnesses.

Dr Ramesh Bijlani is a former Professor of the Prestigious all India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi . In the year 2000, he established at AIIMS a patient care facility for providing lifestyle modification courses based on yoga . He received an honorary doctorate from Swami Vivekananda yoga Anusadhana, Banglore , in 2006. In the year 2005, he took voluntary retirement from AIIMS to find more times for disseminating yoga . Since 2007 he has been living working at Sri Aurobindo Ashram - Delhi Branch , where he speaks , conducts yoga programmes and continues to write . Professor Bijlani has 16 published books to his credit . For more about and by Dr. Bijlani, One may visit www. speakingtree.in.

I started doing yogic postures (asanas) about forty years ago. like most people , equated yoga with these postures. I had a vague idea that yoga is a spiritual discipline. But what these postures have to do with spirituality I did not understand . it was only when I turned to Sri Aurobindo and the Mother in 1992, and went into their teachings all the hackneyed but ill-understood expressions about yoga came alive. and , in a way it is very simple . Yoga has techniques for improving the performances of the body-mind complex ; that does not make it way of life. Yoga also has guidance on how to use the body mind complex ; that does make it a way of life . the guidance hat yoga provides on how to live is based on the spiritual world - view; that makes yoga a spiritual discipline . thus , yoga is a way of life based on an enlightened view of life . why all this matter s I that improving the performance of the body –mind complex is like sharpening a knife. With the same sharp knife , one may shop chop fruits and vegetable s, or one may stab somebody. Hence, sharpening an instrument is good , but not sufficient. Yoga also tells us how to use the instrument that has started performing better through yogic techniques.

This book, a part from giving a comprehensive view of yoga , also talks about the major traditional schools of yoga , and explains how each schools fits into the central principal underlying yoga . further , it also gives practical guidance on how to perform a judiciously chosen set of asanas and pranaymas , not only through the text , but also through a DVD, which is enclosed in the book. Learning the physical practices of yoga from a teacher is the best: learning them from a DVD is a close second. If you can combine personal instruction with the DVD, you can have the best of both worlds.

It is hoped that the book will address an important need that still exist in spite of a large number of books on yoga how far the book has succeeded demystifying the theory and improving practice , is for the readers to judge. Any suggestions for improving the book further may be e – mailed to me on [email protected]

I am grateful to national book trust , India , for not only publishing the book but also accepting my request to include a DVD in it . the DVD could not have been made Without the facilities available to me at Sri Aurobindo Ashram – Deli Branch , and the technical support provided by Mr. Nalin and Ms. Ranu Sharma.