Richard Hittleman's Guide to Yoga Meditation Mass Market Paperback

This was my introduction to yoga back in the sixties. After many years of exploring different disciplines I find this book had all of what is essential for those that follow a spiritual path.

I learned Yoga from this and other Hittleman books. His instructions are comprehensive and easy to understand and follow. I taught Hatha Yoga to my Jr High and High School students as an an after school club and practiced Yoga for years before I ever took a formal class. I took a class only to see how I measured up. I was advanced in the practice of Yoga by learning from his books.After sports injuries and a knee replacement I stopped all but basic stretches and turned to the gym and weights. I started back up after years, and find his books still the best. Something about reading the instructions and performing the poses at your own pace and peace of being alone, I find more authentic than taking classes. Yoga is personal. It should be practiced daily as part of your life. Classes tend to make it a gym activity that you only do at a class. A combination of both is what I recommend. The book will give you a better grasp and personalize the experience. I looked at other books. His instructions are by far the best and his meditation techniques are easier to grasp. My other books are Eastern and more in depth and I still come back to Hittleman.

I first bought this book in the early 70s while looking for a book on yoga stretching, with the idea that it would help me prepare for jogging. Anyway I think the stretching exercises presented in this book are good for that but as I began reading the book I also became interested in the meditation part. TM was also taking off at that time but I didn't have the time or money to get into that. Nevertheless I found it easy to follow the simple guidelines in this book and I felt I was achieving something although I didn't know what. It's probably best to have an experienced meditation instructor to guide you into the practice, as there were several occasions in which it felt as if I had fallen out of my body (that's my way of describing it) and and I didn't know how to handle it.Well, after many other books and CDs, I have found that this may have been a good point to reach in meditation and I hope to return.So I'm happy to find this book again, yellowed with age but intact with the wisdom I first had a glimpse of forty years ago.I think it is an ideal place for anyone to start.

This was my introduction to yoga so many years ago. His meditation teaching techniques are classic, simple, andeffective. I bought his other paperback book "introduction to yoga" and started my personal practice following his instructions. A couple of decades later, I took a teacher training certification course and have taught yoga for 10 plus years. Although I never met him in person I consider Richard Hittleman my first yoga teacher and the foundation for my teaching. I hope I have assimilated some of his wisdom and am passing along the essence of his teachings. (see my similar review for "Introduction to Yoga" by RH. Doing both practices will put you on a great path to assimilating Yoga into your life!!}

I would like PRAISE to the hilt the professionalism of this particular seller! I received an old and rare book carefully wrapped in protective layers. They honor the reference once reserved for lovely bindings & the feel of fine paper.