Science of Life » Books http://scienceoflife.co.nz Ayurveda & Yoga Thu, 22 Jul 2010 06:24:59 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc Book review – Ayurveda: A Life of Balance http://scienceoflife.co.nz/ayurveda-a-life-of-balance/ http://scienceoflife.co.nz/ayurveda-a-life-of-balance/#comments Tue, 06 Jan 2009 09:12:37 +0000 gerald http://scienceoflife.co.nz/?p=168 Author: Maya Tiwari (now Swamini Mayatitananda)

Publisher: Healing Arts Press, USA

Paperback; 368 pages

Available from amazon.com

A comprehensive guide to ayurvedic nutrition and cooking by a pre-eminent female authority on Ayurveda. This book gives a clear introduction to the principles of Ayurveda, including the body types (doshas); and how to apply them in a way that promotes not only health but also spiritual wellbeing.

Maya Tiwari emphasises the practice of ritual (sadhana) as a path to holistic wellness; especially the rituals of preparing and eating food. Ritual is nothing more than action with awareness – the rhythmic hand-pounding of spices; the sensuous kneading of dough; the langourous stirring of ghee as it bubbles on a fire. This practice brings back meaning to these essential activities, in an age of “convenience” instant foods that are eaten on the run, or in front of the television.

Tiwari asserts that it is precisely this loss of meaning, this disconnection with the vital processes of nutrition, that have led to poor digestion, inappropriate eating and cravings, and emotional emptiness that eventually lead to serious disease. Awareness and meaning in daily activities, on the other hand, lead to greater satisfaction in life, and a growing sense of love for oneself and all beings.

Full lists of foods for each dosha are given, along with tasty and wholesome recipes.

Ayurveda: A Life of Balance is a passionate, humane and compelling approach to Ayurveda and ayurvedic cooking – a book to be reread and treasured for a long time.

Available from amazon.com

]]> http://scienceoflife.co.nz/ayurveda-a-life-of-balance/feed/ 1 Book review – Asana Pranayama Mudra Bandha http://scienceoflife.co.nz/asana-pranayama-mudra-bandha/ http://scienceoflife.co.nz/asana-pranayama-mudra-bandha/#comments Fri, 14 Nov 2008 06:30:36 +0000 gerald http://scienceoflife.co.nz/?p=132 Author: Swami Satyananda Saraswati

Publisher: Bihar Yoga Bharati, Munger, Bihar, India

ISBN: 81-85787-14-X; Paperback; 550 pages.

Available from amazon.com

There are innumerable books on yoga to be found; some emphasising the practical aspects with postures (asana), complete with colour photos – and some impossibly esoteric, meant for the select few with mystical leanings. This book combines a comprehensive overview of asana; while at the same time giving clear explanations of the deeper aspects of yoga, including breathing (pranayama), body attitudes (mudra), energy locks (bandha), energy centres (chakra), and yogic cleansing (hatha yoga).

The roots of yoga are in the ancient vedic and tantric texts; many of which have remained inaccessible to western readers until the last century. Much of the teachings were kept secret; firstly, because they had been banned by a Hindu priesthood that felt threatened by anarchic schools of self-liberation; and secondly, for fear that the powerful techniques could be misused by misguided opportunists.

Swami (now Paramahansa) Satyananda Saraswati was one of the renegades who shocked the yogic establishment by not only translating the tantric texts and teaching the techniques to western students; but then went on to publish an entire series of books, clarifying and promoting yoga in an unprecedented way.

Satyananda’s other significant move was to bring yoga into the domain of medical science, and explain esoteric techniques in terms of western anatomy and physiology. He started the Bihar Yoga Bharati, which offers undergraduate and postgraduate studies in subjects like Yoga Psychology and Applied Yoga Science; and initiated the Yoga Research Foundation which studies the medical effects of yoga.

Asana Pranayama Mudra Bandha (APMB) is a required text for any serious yoga aspirant. It not only clears away the mysticism around yoga left behind by the early Theosophists, and revived by the New-Ageists; but gives a sound theoretical foundation enabling one to understand the underlying purpose and efficient practice of yoga techniques.

The clarity of the illustrations and the wealth of information will ensure many years of delving into this classic reference work.

Available from amazon.com

]]> http://scienceoflife.co.nz/asana-pranayama-mudra-bandha/feed/ 1