[.ca] The Woman's Book of Yoga and Health: A Lifelong Guide to ... (ISBN 1570624704)

a guide for women that works:
I teach yoga in a high school and also in a private studio. The majority of my students are female and I have found this book to be a wealth of information. I have developed a curriculum that meets the needs of all my women, from teens with PMS to seniors with arthritis. No, you don't need to invest in lots of props, pillows, blankets, men's ties, all these work in lieu of (purchasing) props. I have seen how my students have come to appreciate and respect their bodies. Thank you Linda and Patricia.

A worthy, commendable and unique effort:
A yoga book focusing on women hasn't been that many in the past. This book solely focuses on women, the various phases in life of a women, the problems (and pleasures) in those phases. Studying Yoga and applying to these various phases is a commendable and worthy effort. The authors have done a great job overall. As a Yoga Teacher I find this book indispensible considering the fact 90% of yoga students are women. It helped me understand many aspects of the women's body as one ages. Each phase in a women's life is analyzed and appropriate yoga postures and practices are recommended. There is three main sequences of postures applicable generally to women of all ages - essential, energizing and restorative. If you read the book in one go you may walk away with the impression that there isn't much difference; but where this book will be more useful is for the women who looks to Yoga to address the particular phase she is in. If you are a woman starting yoga or a yoga teacher, you want to have this book in your library.

Informative, but....:
Be prepared to spend alot of money on props. I understand that having two bolsters and a special backless chair enables people to adapt to their abilities and add to the restorative qualities of yoga. But unless you are prepared to make that much of an investment in equipment or already know how to do the poses without props (or are good at improvising with blankets, etc.), this book is not for you. It seemed that more than 75% of the poses in every sequence were demonstrated with props.

A yoga book with a femine outlook:
My yoga teacher suggested that I should borrow her copy of this book. I have many yoga books and this is definitely one of my favourites. The book contains many clear instructions and good pictures on how to achieve poses; it also provides some good variations of poses with props. There are very interesting and informative articles on a variety of feminine health matters. The suggested asana practices honour your body and your mind. Unlike many other books, the practices found in this book have been written by women for women who are sympathetic to how we may be feeling, what our bodies and minds need to be nourished and nurtured. I suffer from endometriosis and found a wonderful section on the subject and menstrual cramps; the asana routine for menstrual cramps was joyful and calming. This is the first yoga book that I have in my collection that discusses endometriosis. I was pleased to see that it did not cover infertility. The subject of infertility is so huge; there are so many different causes. It is not possible to write one section on the subject that could cover all aspects of infertility. I would recommend this book, a yoga book written by women for women. You will find yourself referring to it from teen years, early adult, pregnancy and through the stages of menopause. Order this book today, you will not be disappointed.

A must-have:
As a long time practioner of Pilates, a relative newcomer to traditional yoga, and a woman who has, and will, experience some of the health issues, I found this book a great source of reference. What I found most useful, aside from Patricia's yoga poses & Linda Sparrowe's easy-to-read writing style, are the suggested herbal & dietary alternatives throughout the book. Not only do I have a copy, I bought one for all my closest girlfriends!! This book is a definate must-have in any woman's bookcase!!