In this classic, a yoga master describes the techniques of breathing together with a acomprehensive background of yoga philosophy in this authoritative, practical and indispensable guide.

'It seems obvious that this book is destined, like its predecessor Light on Yoga, to become a classic.'-Yoga Journal

'A boon for those interested in the integral development of the body, mind and spirit.'-Dharma Quarterly

Contents

Tribute by my reverend Guruji Sri T. Krsnamacharya
Introduction by Yehudi Menuhin
Foreword by R.R. Diwakar
Preface
Part One
Section I The theory of pranayama
Chapter 1 What is yoga?
Chapter 2 Stages of yoga
Chapter 3 Prana and pranayama
Chapter 4 Pranayama and the respiratory system
Chapter 5 Nadis and chakras
Chapter 6 Guru and sisya
Chapter 7 Food
Chapter 8 Obstacles and aids
Chapter 9 The effects of pranayama
Section II The art of pranayama
Chapter 10 Hints and cautions
Chapter 11 The art of sitting in pranayama
Chapter 12 The art of preparing the mind for pranayama
Chapter 13 Mudras and bandhas
Chapter 14 The art of inhalation (puraka) and exhalation (rechaka)
Chapter 15 The art of retention (kumbhaka)
Chapter 16 Grades of sadhana in pranayama
Chapter 17 Bija pranayama
Chapter 18 Vrtti pranayama
Section III The techniques of pranayama
Chapter 19 Ujjayi pranayama
Chapter 20 Viloma pranayama
Chapter 21 Bhramari, murchha and plavini pranayama
Chapter 22 Digital pranayama and the art of placing the fingers on the nose
chapter 23 Bhastrika and kapalabhyati pranayama
Chapter 24 Sitali and sitakari pranayama
Chapter 25 Anuloma pranayama
Chapter 26 Pratiloma pranayama
Chapter 27 Surya bhedana and chandra bhedana pranayama
Chapter 28 Nadi sodhana pranayama
Part Two Freedom and beatitude
Chapter 29 Dhyana (meditation)
Chapter 30 Savasana (the art of relaxation)
Appendix: Pranayama courses
Glossary
Index

The book is an introduction into the breathing exercises of yoga. I divide the book into a core part (containing the sitting postures and breathing patterns; roughly corresponding to parts 2 and 3) and into the rest. The rest consists of anatomy, basic Hinduistic concepts, and an appendix about meditation and relaxation.

I mainly found the core part helpful. It contains many interesting exercises. However, it is also very repetitive and could be compressed into a third of the length by stronger focusing on concepts than on the enumeration of exercises that only differ in a single aspect; often the most relevant information is already contained in the tables at the end of each section.

I found many statements throughout the book far fetched, obscure, or even esoteric. For example, "If the eyelids are flabby, a feeling of heaviness spreads; if the pupils start to flicker, absent-mindedness sets in." (chapter XI, point 45, translated from the German edition). The book contains a lot statements like this and I do not understand how this statement is helpful or how it is logically deduced.

Also, the book is quite often dogmatic and overly-restrictive. For example, chapter XXII, point 8, tells you to avoid using your left hand to pinch your nose during pranayama, since ... well ... this is the tradition. It is also precisely prescribed which fingers and which part of the fingertips to use for nose-pinching. I can accept that subtle differences in nose-pinching are important, but, again, it would be nice if the focus was more on concepts than on a fixed set of incomprehensible rules. ( )

In this classic book, B.K.S Iyengar, an internationally renowned yoga master, decribes the techniques of breathing together with a comprehensive background of yoga philosophy in this authoritative, practical and indispensable guide.

In this classic book, B.K.S Iyengar, an internationally renowned yoga master, decribes the techniques of breathing together with a comprehensive background of yoga philosophy in this authoritative, practical and indispensable guide.