Chakra Yoga

Finger, Alan. Chakra Yoga: Balancing Energy for Physical, Spiritual, and Mental Well-Being.

A few days ago, I thought I would leave this one with a superficial reading because it was presenting so much information, so many Sanskrit words, so many lists, so many definitions.

For example:

~the five kleshas: avidya, asmita, raga, dvesa, abhinivesa (and definitions)
~the five prana vayus: apana, vyana, samana, prana, udana (and definitions)
~a very few (thank you!) of the 72,000 nadis
~the seven main chakaras : Muladhara, Svadhishthana, Manipura, Anahata, Vishudda, Anja, and Sahasrara--and the location, background color, mantra, yantra, element,
domain, gland, sense, organ of action, organ of knowledge, and vayu of each one
~applications, asanas that benefit each area, and more

Was I feeling a bit overwhelmed? Oh, yes. However, before making a final decision, I tried the meditation CD included with the book (it is a library book and the CD is still there!) I liked it so much, I decided to go back, take my time, decide what I thought most important, and take notes only on those things.

Understanding and remembering all of the rest will have to be a gradual process; it isn't something that has to be learned well on the first exposure and some of it may never be anything that really concerns me. My attitude toward the book changed entirely.

As I went back through, it was much easier on a second reading, to determine what would be useful for me at my level of knowledge.

I like that the book associates the asanas with certain physical benefits and, of course, chakras.

Another nice feature: at the end of the book, in addition to a full daily practice sequence, there are several 10 minute focus practices, for days you don't have much time; each short practice has a specific purpose and includes only poses that benefit that purpose.

And I really like the meditation CD!

Nonfiction. Yoga. 2005. 138 pages.