The Complete Yoga Book by Hewitt, James -- Read -- Imperial Library of Trantor

Index

Cover Contents About the Book About the Author Also by James Hewitt Title Page Preface Volume I: Yoga of Breathing

I: Yoga and Yogas

What is Yoga? The Svetasvatara Upanishad Classifying the Yogas Overlapping of Paths The Classic Texts of Hatha Yoga Sanskrit—Classic Language of Yoga Benefits from the Yoga of Breathing

II: Yogic Relaxation

Corpse Posture How to Relax Stage by Stage Relaxation Relaxing the Facial Muscles Aids to Relaxation

III: Yogic Posturing

The Yogi as a Freak The Current Popularity of Yoga Posturing The Aims of Posturing The Unique Character of the Asanas The Origins of the Asanas Pre-Requirements of Posturing The Most Popular Classic Asanas Sitting Postures A Typical Programme of Postures Programme Planning

IV: Yogic Hygiene

The Six Cleansing Acts Dhauti (Washing) Basti or Vasti (Colonic Irrigation) Bladder Irrigation Neti (Nasal Cleansing) Trataka (Cleansing Vision) Nauli (Recti Isolation) Lauliki (Abdominal Rolling) Kapalabhati Cleansing the Breath) Hygienic Achievement

V: Abdominal Retraction and Recti Isolation

Abdominal Retraction (Uddiyana Bandha) Recti Isolation (Nauli) Benefits The Breath of Life Pranayama Defined Prana Faulty Breathing Man’s Need for Oxygen The Respiratory Tract The Thoracic Cage The Breathing Process Resuscitation A Beautiful System Residual Air Vital Capacity Oxygen Debt Breathe Better Slimming Why We Need to Learn to Breathe Surely Controlled Breathing is Unnatural? Automatic Control Conscious Control

VI: Yogic Breath Control

The Four Stages of Breathing Inhalation (Puraka) Suspension (Kumbhaka) The Importance of Suspension Locks (Bandhas) Warning Exhalation (Rechaka) Timing Sitting for Yogic Breathing Hand Positions How Often, and for How Long? Pre-Requirements Performance Preparations for the Traditional Pranayamas The Traditional Pranayamas Additional Breathing Exercises Aims and Uses of Yogic Breathing

VII: Poisonous Air and Vital Air

Air Pollution Air as Food Air Ions Smoking and Health

VIII: Yogic Breathing and Health

The Uniqueness of Pranayama Yogic Breathing as Healer Healing Others Self-Healing Longevity and Yoga

IX: Extraordinary Feats

Extraordinary Feats Burial Alive Tumo Levitation

X: Yoga and Sexual Health

Yoga and Sexual Fitness Postures and Sexual Vigour Bandhas and Mudras The Ten Chief Mudras and Bandhas Yoga and Sex Control Sex and Maturity Tantrism

XI: Yogic Diet

Classic Guidelines Foods and Human Consciousness Alkaline-Forming Foods The Case for Lacto-Vegetarianism Modern Yoga Diet Conclusion

Volume II: Yoga of Posture

I: The Rewarding Practice of Yoga Posturing

A Complete Guide for Westerners The Number of Postures Naming of Postures The Problem of Classifying Is a Teacher Necessary? Programme Planning Contra-Indications Therapy Breathing Preparing for Practice Conditions for Practice Manner of Posturing

II: Warm-Ups and Limber-Ups

Warm-Ups and Limber-Ups Standing Exercises Sitting Exercises Supine Exercises Prone Exercises Slow-Motion Exercises

III: Warm-Ups: Programme Planning IV: Group A Postures

Standing Postures Sitting and Kneeling Postures Relaxing and Sleeping Postures Supine Postures Prone Postures Inverted Postures Series Postures Muscular Locks (Bandhas)

V: Group A Postures: Programme Planning VI: Group B Postures

Group B Postures Standing Postures Sitting and Kneeling Postures Supine Postures Prone Postures Inverted Postures Balancing Postures Muscular Locks (Bandhas)

VII: Group B Postures: Programme Planning VIII: Yoga Therapy

Volume III: Yoga of Meditation

I: Why Meditate?

Why Meditate? Meditation as Mental Hygiene Hatha Yoga and Raja Yoga The Quiet Mind The Mystical Dimension Greater Self-Mastery Mental Powers What is Meditation? Many Yogas

II: Yoga’s Hindu and Mystical Setting

The History of Yoga Hinduism The Hindu Gods Caste Stages of Life (Asramas) Karma Reincarnation Moksha (Liberation) Sacred Literature Brahman Equals Atman Maya The Mystical Experience

III: Yogic Philosophy

The Six Systems of Philosophy Samkhya Yoga Vedanta Purusha Prakriti Stages of Cosmic Evolution The Twenty-Five Categories (Tattwas) Yoga Metaphysics

IV: Sitting for Meditation

Sitting for Meditation Place Clothing Cleanliness Eating and Drinking Sleep Moderation Posture for Meditation Egyptian Posture Easy Posture (Suskhasana) Perfect Posture (Siddhasana) Lotus Posture (Padmasana) Breathing Right Attitudes Coming out of Meditation How Long Should Meditation Last?

V: Patanjali’s Royal (Raja) Yoga

The Yoga Sutras The Sutra Method of Exposition Section 1 of the Yoga Sutras: Stilling the Mind Section 1 of the Yoga Sutras: Samadhi Sections 2 and 3 of the Yoga Sutras: The Eight Limbs of Yoga Yogic Methods of Meditation

VI: Techniques of Concentrative Meditation

Concentration (Dharana) Steady Gaze Meditation An Experiment in Visual Concentration A Stable Image Experiment Visualization Meditation Gross, Luminous, and Subtle Contemplation Thought Observation and Reduction Breathing Meditation The Witness

VII: Mantra Yoga

Japa Listening to Internal Sounds Music Poetry Om (Aum) Some Other Mantras Kinds of Japa Mantras in Other Traditions

VIII: The Transcendental Meditation of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi

Marharishi Mahesh Yogi The Method Effortless Meditation? TM Laboratory-Tested The Source of Thought Levels of Consciousness Dr. Herbert Benson and the ‘Relaxation Response’

IX: Yantra Yoga

Form-Symbols Mandalas Triangles

X: Kundalini (Serpent Power) Yoga

Serpent Power Wilhelm Reich Chakras The Sushumna Self-Realization

XI: Yoga of Action (Karma)

Wisdom in Action Gita Yogas Non-Attachment The Gita’s Teaching of Karma Yoga

XII: Yoga of Devotion: Bhakti

Bhakti Practice Bhakti Hymns Mantras Krishna Consciousness Bhakti Samadhi Christian Yogas The Gita on Bhakti Yoga

XIII: Yoga of Knowledge: Jnana

Reason and Beyond Regression or Evolutionary Advance? The Onion Game The Chandogya Upanishad I Am The Elusive I In Pursuit of the I

XIV: Psychic Powers (Siddhis)

The Correct Attitude for Yogins Patanjali’s Listing of Psychic Attainments Extraordinary Sense-Perceptions

XV: Yoga of Sex: Tantrism

Yoga and Sexual Energy What is Tantrism? Sexual and Religious Ecstasy Gods and Goddesses Sacramental Coitus Tantric Practice Semen Hoarding Karezza Yoga and Sexual Fitness The Spirit of Tantrism

XVI: Press-Button Yoga: Biofeedback

Is Biofeedback Instrumental Yoga? Biofeedback Explained The Two Nervous Systems Biofeedback Therapy Reducing Anxiety Brain Waves Controlling Brain Rhythms Biofeedback and Meditation Bringing Together the Two Psychologies Biofeedback Instruments

XVII: The Future of Yoga

East and West—A New Synthesis Science Looks at Yoga The Evolution of Human Consciousness

Bibliography

Works on Hatha Yoga General Works

Glossary of Sanskrit Terms English Posture Index Sanskrit Posture Index Copyright

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