Yoga for the Joy of It! immerses the beginning yoga student in the history and practice of yoga by educating the student on the background of yoga, its health benefits, and showing specific exercises and poses. This text is an essential resource for any student embarking on a new yoga class or for those students who are already familiar with the practice of yoga. Yoga for the Joy of It! details of what to expect in class, what to wear and bring to class, correct yoga alignment, a solid foundation of yoga poses, how to modify each yoga pose, correct yoga breathing, beginning meditation, styles of yoga, a history of yoga, and how to bring the benefits of yoga practice into your daily life. Features: The Study Questions provided at the end of every chapter encourage learning. The Yoga Moment encourages experiential learning and brings the essence of yoga into the student's daily life. The Student Testimonials provided in each chapter authentically reveal personal experiences that are relevant. A Historical Timeline featured in the history chapter (14) easily illuminates important yoga milestones. The worksheets included at the end of the text - a health history, flexibility assessment, alignment assessment, and yoga practice and nutrition logs - allow the teacher to assess the student, and the student to track his/her improvement. Yoga Science Boxes discuss some of the science topics connected to yoga. Chapters 6-13 provide descriptions of specific yoga poses (asanas), which include the following: Drishti, Alignment Cues, Benefits of the Pose, and Modifications for Making the Poses Work for You.
Yoga for the Joy of It! immerses the beginning yoga student in the history and practice of yoga by educating readers about the background of yoga, its health benefits, and specific exercises and poses. This text is an essential resource for any student embarking on a new yoga class or for those students who are already familiar with the practice of yoga. Yoga for the Joy of It! details what to expect in class, what to wear and bring to class, correct yoga alignment, a solid foundation of yoga poses, how to modify each yoga pose, correct yoga breathing, beginning meditation, styles of yoga, a history of yoga, and how to bring the benefits of yoga practice into your daily life.
Minda has been a full-time instructor at Mission College for 30 years, having taught dance, aerobics, weight training, stress management, body alignment for personal trainers, and yoga. She created a Fitness Professional Certification program at Mission College that is highly regarded and attended. She is the author of two other college texts that are both in their fifth edition, Jump into Jazz: A Primer for the Beginning Jazz Dance Student and Beyond and Keep Moving: Fitness through Aerobics and Step. Minda has been studying yoga for 35 years and has taught yoga for 15 years. Her greatest yoga inspirations include Ganga White, Shiva Rea, Seane Corn, and Baron Baptiste. Although Minda has been teaching body movement for over 35 years, she continues to find new inspirations and keeps growing and learning as both a student and teacher.
Barbara has practiced yoga and meditation for 30 years and has been teaching for 15 years. She has facilitated more than 25 yoga retreats in California, and two yoga/meditation/hiking retreats in Italy. She has also generated websites, written educational films, and designed and presented corporate wellness programs. An article about her use of relaxation techniques in dentistry has been published in Yoga Journal. Barbara's foundation of yoga is grounded in the teachings of Paramahansa Yogananda. A devoted practitioner, she has trained with Erich Shiffmann, Ganga White, and Tracey Rich, and is certified in Therapeutic Yoga. Barbara teaches from her heart, illuminating the spirit of yoga. She has served as a volunteer for Children's Hospital LA and Direct Relief Int'l. Committed to personal growth, Barbara continually takes courses in nutrition, neuroscience and stress reduction. She integrates her love of science and yoga into her popular workshops, How to Meditate, Pray, Heal and Women's Health and Healing. Barbara received her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Southern California. She enjoys hiking, the poetry of Rumi and spending time with her family and friends.