Comments for The Yoga Fitness Guide http://theyogafitnessguide.com Yoga Fitness Tue, 12 Oct 2010 07:55:07 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 Comment on Gaiam Tree of Life Yoga Mat by buddhabelly http://theyogafitnessguide.com/386/gaiam-tree-of-life-yoga-mat/comment-page-1/#comment-414 buddhabelly Tue, 12 Oct 2010 07:55:07 +0000 http://theyogafitnessguide.com/386/gaiam-tree-of-life-yoga-mat/#comment-414 good mat for the price...good for beginners...not the right one for teachers...would enjoy a thicker version Rating: 4 / 5 good mat for the price…good for beginners…not the right one for teachers…would enjoy a thicker version
Rating: 4 / 5

]]> Comment on Gaiam Tree of Life Yoga Mat by Jenn http://theyogafitnessguide.com/386/gaiam-tree-of-life-yoga-mat/comment-page-1/#comment-413 Jenn Tue, 12 Oct 2010 05:57:10 +0000 http://theyogafitnessguide.com/386/gaiam-tree-of-life-yoga-mat/#comment-413 I'll be honest this is my very first yoga mat but I can't believe I waited so long to get one. This mat is good and sticky. It really helps me reach my full length in various poses such as downward facing dog and even bending forward in cobbler's pose etc. <br /> <br />I have noticed a smell of plastic when my nose is pushed up to the mat but no other time. I do not have any sensitivity to chemical smells but I do live in a house with someone who does and he can't smell a thing. I have only had it a few days; however I expect the smell will eventually be undetectable even up close, much like a new car. <br /> <br />The color is very pretty, a soothing green with a light greenish-yellow tree. The tree is screened on. Some people may feel this is a bad thing as screened on images sometimes begin to peel off. This image appears to be very secure to the surface and I have no such worry. <br /> Rating: 5 / 5 I’ll be honest this is my very first yoga mat but I can’t believe I waited so long to get one. This mat is good and sticky. It really helps me reach my full length in various poses such as downward facing dog and even bending forward in cobbler’s pose etc.

I have noticed a smell of plastic when my nose is pushed up to the mat but no other time. I do not have any sensitivity to chemical smells but I do live in a house with someone who does and he can’t smell a thing. I have only had it a few days; however I expect the smell will eventually be undetectable even up close, much like a new car.

The color is very pretty, a soothing green with a light greenish-yellow tree. The tree is screened on. Some people may feel this is a bad thing as screened on images sometimes begin to peel off. This image appears to be very secure to the surface and I have no such worry.

Rating: 5 / 5

]]> Comment on Gaiam Tree of Life Yoga Mat by Daniel R. Johnson http://theyogafitnessguide.com/386/gaiam-tree-of-life-yoga-mat/comment-page-1/#comment-412 Daniel R. Johnson Tue, 12 Oct 2010 03:29:31 +0000 http://theyogafitnessguide.com/386/gaiam-tree-of-life-yoga-mat/#comment-412 The Gaiam Tree of Life Yoga Mat is exactly what I needed to help me get started in Yoga practice. Though this mat is a very thin version compared to many I have seen, I thoroughly enjoy my purchase and am glad I invested into a necessary piece of equipment that is versatile for general stretching, core exercises, gym use, and pilates as well. Rating: 4 / 5 The Gaiam Tree of Life Yoga Mat is exactly what I needed to help me get started in Yoga practice. Though this mat is a very thin version compared to many I have seen, I thoroughly enjoy my purchase and am glad I invested into a necessary piece of equipment that is versatile for general stretching, core exercises, gym use, and pilates as well.
Rating: 4 / 5

]]> Comment on Gaiam Tree of Life Yoga Mat by Tara http://theyogafitnessguide.com/386/gaiam-tree-of-life-yoga-mat/comment-page-1/#comment-411 Tara Tue, 12 Oct 2010 02:35:03 +0000 http://theyogafitnessguide.com/386/gaiam-tree-of-life-yoga-mat/#comment-411 Upon purchasing this mat I was very pleased, loving the design and stickiness. I have only been doing yoga for 5 months and my mat is already stretching. I was not sure what to look for in a mat, and should have done some research first. When in down-dog my mat stretches and sort of bunches up in front of my fingers and behind my toes. It has also never flattened completely. Rating: 2 / 5 Upon purchasing this mat I was very pleased, loving the design and stickiness. I have only been doing yoga for 5 months and my mat is already stretching. I was not sure what to look for in a mat, and should have done some research first. When in down-dog my mat stretches and sort of bunches up in front of my fingers and behind my toes. It has also never flattened completely.
Rating: 2 / 5

]]> Comment on Gaiam Tree of Life Yoga Mat by Astro76 http://theyogafitnessguide.com/386/gaiam-tree-of-life-yoga-mat/comment-page-1/#comment-410 Astro76 Tue, 12 Oct 2010 02:14:05 +0000 http://theyogafitnessguide.com/386/gaiam-tree-of-life-yoga-mat/#comment-410 I have had this mat for three months, using 3-4 times a week for a 1 hour class, and it falling apart, coming into pieces all over, and now on my clothes. I have never had this happen with a mat, and I have three other ones I still use that are nearly 5 years old. But this was a gift and I guess I broke it in! And I am only 158lbs and not used in a power yoga class...just a standard Astanga. Rating: 1 / 5 I have had this mat for three months, using 3-4 times a week for a 1 hour class, and it falling apart, coming into pieces all over, and now on my clothes. I have never had this happen with a mat, and I have three other ones I still use that are nearly 5 years old. But this was a gift and I guess I broke it in! And I am only 158lbs and not used in a power yoga class…just a standard Astanga.
Rating: 1 / 5

]]> Comment on Teaching Yoga: Essential Foundations and Techniques by S. Schewe http://theyogafitnessguide.com/385/teaching-yoga-essential-foundations-and-techniques/comment-page-1/#comment-408 S. Schewe Tue, 05 Oct 2010 06:24:15 +0000 http://theyogafitnessguide.com/385/teaching-yoga-essential-foundations-and-techniques/#comment-408 This book is just great! It contains everything a new teacher needs, is really comprehensive and will be my most valuable tool I will use to prepare classes (sequencing, how to instruct poses in general & also specific poses), I am sure about that one! I can only recommend it to every young teacher. Rating: 5 / 5 This book is just great! It contains everything a new teacher needs, is really comprehensive and will be my most valuable tool I will use to prepare classes (sequencing, how to instruct poses in general & also specific poses), I am sure about that one! I can only recommend it to every young teacher.
Rating: 5 / 5

]]> Comment on Teaching Yoga: Essential Foundations and Techniques by Kevin L. Dougherty http://theyogafitnessguide.com/385/teaching-yoga-essential-foundations-and-techniques/comment-page-1/#comment-407 Kevin L. Dougherty Tue, 05 Oct 2010 05:37:42 +0000 http://theyogafitnessguide.com/385/teaching-yoga-essential-foundations-and-techniques/#comment-407 Admitedly, one may say that as a student of Mark Stephens, this is a biased review. I won't argue with the fact that as a student of yoga, Mark Stephens in an excellent teacher who has very popular yoga classes here in Santa Cruz, CA. He is a very friendly, approachable teacher who treats all of his students (which are many) with equal attention and equanimity. His teaching style is easy to grasp and grow upon. My own yoga practice has improved markedly in my classes at Mark's studio. <br />Despite all this, I own many yoga books and videos and have enough of them to understand the differences between those that are well-done, and those that aren't. This book is definitely one of the former. <br />Although titled Teaching Yoga, this book has obviously been written for not just the teacher, but the student (which I am), too. As a student, I'm very interested in the teaching process, what the teacher is trying to convey to an aspiring student of yoga. <br />Mark's book is a holistic production. Unlike many books, Teaching Yoga encompasses the whole gambit of what we in the West interpet as "Yoga". Roots, traditions, lore, history, styles, philosophies, the physical practice, what to look out for, etc. is found in this obvious labor of love. <br />The chapter on sequencing ideas in itself is a gem and can easily be rendered into a book itself. For those who want a home-based practice without carbon-copying what was learned in class (I believe that the truely rich realm of yoga is that of self-exploration, the ability to translate a yoga practice to that of "being" yoga.), the underlying philosophy of sequencing gives ones a template to begin with. <br /> Rating: 5 / 5 Admitedly, one may say that as a student of Mark Stephens, this is a biased review. I won’t argue with the fact that as a student of yoga, Mark Stephens in an excellent teacher who has very popular yoga classes here in Santa Cruz, CA. He is a very friendly, approachable teacher who treats all of his students (which are many) with equal attention and equanimity. His teaching style is easy to grasp and grow upon. My own yoga practice has improved markedly in my classes at Mark’s studio.

Despite all this, I own many yoga books and videos and have enough of them to understand the differences between those that are well-done, and those that aren’t. This book is definitely one of the former.

Although titled Teaching Yoga, this book has obviously been written for not just the teacher, but the student (which I am), too. As a student, I’m very interested in the teaching process, what the teacher is trying to convey to an aspiring student of yoga.

Mark’s book is a holistic production. Unlike many books, Teaching Yoga encompasses the whole gambit of what we in the West interpet as “Yoga”. Roots, traditions, lore, history, styles, philosophies, the physical practice, what to look out for, etc. is found in this obvious labor of love.

The chapter on sequencing ideas in itself is a gem and can easily be rendered into a book itself. For those who want a home-based practice without carbon-copying what was learned in class (I believe that the truely rich realm of yoga is that of self-exploration, the ability to translate a yoga practice to that of “being” yoga.), the underlying philosophy of sequencing gives ones a template to begin with.

Rating: 5 / 5

]]> Comment on Teaching Yoga: Essential Foundations and Techniques by Ash http://theyogafitnessguide.com/385/teaching-yoga-essential-foundations-and-techniques/comment-page-1/#comment-406 Ash Tue, 05 Oct 2010 02:56:42 +0000 http://theyogafitnessguide.com/385/teaching-yoga-essential-foundations-and-techniques/#comment-406 This is a perfect book for people who are new to yoga and are trying to understand and follow their teacher's directions. Every pose is perfectly described, (There's even a detailed section on body structure and movement). I love the foreword by Mariel Hemingway... it's fun to read about her respect and admiration for the author (Mark Stephens). She writes, "He is a teacher's teacher." Beautiful book. <br /> Rating: 5 / 5 This is a perfect book for people who are new to yoga and are trying to understand and follow their teacher’s directions. Every pose is perfectly described, (There’s even a detailed section on body structure and movement). I love the foreword by Mariel Hemingway… it’s fun to read about her respect and admiration for the author (Mark Stephens). She writes, “He is a teacher’s teacher.” Beautiful book.

Rating: 5 / 5

]]> Comment on Teaching Yoga: Essential Foundations and Techniques by John http://theyogafitnessguide.com/385/teaching-yoga-essential-foundations-and-techniques/comment-page-1/#comment-405 John Tue, 05 Oct 2010 00:36:44 +0000 http://theyogafitnessguide.com/385/teaching-yoga-essential-foundations-and-techniques/#comment-405 This masterfully crafted and beautifully designed book is the most comprehensive text written on yoga wince B.K.S. Iyengar's Light on Yoga was published in 1966. It's also practical and resourceful, for beginning and experienced teachers. But unlike Iyengar, the Indian master, Mark Stephens writes as an American yogi steeped in Western culture yet completely absorbed in the wisdom of the East. This is also a work of scholarship, a rarity in a world of yoga long on bold assertions and short on evidence, careful reasoning, and even simple references. This books contains hundreds of insights into teaching and doing yoga. The author presents a well-balanced perspective on scores of topics, then encurages the reader to thnk on his or her own. This is a truly outstanding book on yoga that will become part of every yogi's library. Rating: 5 / 5 This masterfully crafted and beautifully designed book is the most comprehensive text written on yoga wince B.K.S. Iyengar’s Light on Yoga was published in 1966. It’s also practical and resourceful, for beginning and experienced teachers. But unlike Iyengar, the Indian master, Mark Stephens writes as an American yogi steeped in Western culture yet completely absorbed in the wisdom of the East. This is also a work of scholarship, a rarity in a world of yoga long on bold assertions and short on evidence, careful reasoning, and even simple references. This books contains hundreds of insights into teaching and doing yoga. The author presents a well-balanced perspective on scores of topics, then encurages the reader to thnk on his or her own. This is a truly outstanding book on yoga that will become part of every yogi’s library.
Rating: 5 / 5

]]> Comment on Teaching Yoga: Essential Foundations and Techniques by mike http://theyogafitnessguide.com/385/teaching-yoga-essential-foundations-and-techniques/comment-page-1/#comment-404 mike Mon, 04 Oct 2010 22:34:45 +0000 http://theyogafitnessguide.com/385/teaching-yoga-essential-foundations-and-techniques/#comment-404 Okay, this is the best book out there for yoga teachers and teacher trainers, but what makes it truly amazing is that it's a great book for all of us-for students as well as teachers. Although I've been doing yoga for 12 or 13 years, I'm not interested in teaching yoga, but this book is filled with background information and insights to help deepen my practice. One of the things I like most about it is how the author has approached every topic like a scholar, asking probing questions, giving detailed references, and encouraging the reader to think rather than just accept what some guru out there says is the truth. Yet the book is also filled with spirit, giving me a real feeling for doing yoga at a deeper level. Anyone who is serious about going deeper with his or her yoga practice will definitely want to buy this book. And last but not least, it's a beautiful book! Rating: 5 / 5 Okay, this is the best book out there for yoga teachers and teacher trainers, but what makes it truly amazing is that it’s a great book for all of us-for students as well as teachers. Although I’ve been doing yoga for 12 or 13 years, I’m not interested in teaching yoga, but this book is filled with background information and insights to help deepen my practice. One of the things I like most about it is how the author has approached every topic like a scholar, asking probing questions, giving detailed references, and encouraging the reader to think rather than just accept what some guru out there says is the truth. Yet the book is also filled with spirit, giving me a real feeling for doing yoga at a deeper level. Anyone who is serious about going deeper with his or her yoga practice will definitely want to buy this book. And last but not least, it’s a beautiful book!
Rating: 5 / 5

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