Richard Hittleman's Yoga: 28 Day Exercise Plan Mass Market Paperback – April 1, 1983

I've actually been using this book as my guide for my daily yoga practice since the 1980s, but my copy's gotten more than a bit torn up over the years. I was so pleasantly surprised to discovered it still in print and still on the shelves of my local Barnes & Noble. So this can be said to be one of the best (if not at least best selling) manuals on how to do yoga that exists for the beginner and intermediate student. (Hittleman's process does actually take you through advanced positions if you want to go that far.) I was due to update mine so I got it through Amazon. A little surprised to find that nothing has been updated; it's actually exactly the same book I got in the 80's. But if it works, why fool with it? It's a four week program that teaches you beginning, intermediate and advanced positions for over 60 exercises, starting you out at square one, so there's nothing in here to start that anybody can't easily handle, the only prerequisite being that you're assumed to be basically healthy. (If you're not healthy, there are any number of yoga classes you can take at studios and medical facilities that will get you into good enough shape to use this book.) Of course, you're not going to be a master after four weeks, but the four weeks is enough time (certainly eight weeks) to make it into a daily habit that you look forward to. It takes years to become a master but you'll start noticing a positive difference already after just a week and that will just keep improving week after week. Once the four weeks are done, you're given a 3 routine plan to rotate through one day at a time for the rest of your life. So it really is all you need for a lifetime of rewarding yoga. In my opinion, it's the best exercise system that's ever been invented. When done correctly, it provides aerobics, strength training and of course relaxation and tranquility. In fact, I find it feels like I've been on a mini-vacation every time I finish a workout. Highly recommend yoga and highly recommend this book to learn how to do it.

One of the best things I've ever done for myself was to buy this book (in the early '70s) and, through it, teach my body to tune into itself. I quickly became more flexible, more aware, slept more easily, and moved more gracefully. The next best thing I did was to have it spiral bound when it started falling apart (lol), which made it really easy to use. I still have the same book after nearly 40 years.Off and on throughout the years I have stopped doing yoga for a few years, then started again. In my forties I took a power yoga workshop - the only time I've done yoga outside of the book - and the instructor told me I was really flexible. This was after having not done it for awhile. Your body remembers and even if you become tense, a gentle stretch or two will get you relaxed again.Now I'm 61 and still flexible, still tuned in. From this book I developed an ability to recognize immediately when something is off in my body. It led to an interest in nutrition, and in the effects of my emotions and thoughts on my body, both of which have also been impactful. Although I could be stronger, my health is great - better than any of my younger six siblings - and I attribute that in large part to the simplicity and comprehensiveness of the asanas I learned from this book. Thank you, Richard Hittleman.

I chose this book in the 1970s when I wanted to begin Hatha Yoga. I found it's step-by-step and day-by-day method very effective. I liked three days of progress followed by one day oc rest and consolidation. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I had learned and absorbed after 28 days.I always intended this to be a baby book, an introduction, and I fully expected to have to find better books later as I advanced. It turned out that this book was good enough on its own. I lost track of it over the years, and was please to be able to find the book again.This book is in a larger format than the original pocket-sized book I once had. You can still get the smaller book. I like the larger format.I regret discontinuing my yoga practice. I had started late, in my thirties, and after a few years I had had made good progress. I don't remember why I stopped, except that I did when I got remarried. I must have been distracted by a full life.I remember coming home from work and being tired. The last thing I wanted to do was thirty minutes of yoga. I almost always practiced anyway, and when I was finished I felt refreshed and glad that I had made the effort.Now, as a senior, I believe it is best to return to at least some parts of Hatha Yoga in order to gain flexibility and suppleness. I dislike the idea of slowly becoming rigid and contracted, both physically and mentally.

Especially good for those who want to learn yoga at home. Starts slow and simply. Gradual build up. Three good routines. Emphasis on learning and holding poses.Think cobra, not sun salutations.

Fantastico facile e veloce

This is the standard guide to learning and performing hatha yoga. I've used it for 30 years and bought a new copy because the old one was too full of food and coffee stains to be clearly viewed. Most of the book is the learning section which carries us through the main yoga poses, starting with easy steps and slowly introducing us to the full poses over 28 days. The final pages of the book show a three-day routine that we can use as shown or we can intermix the poses in our own desired format into the future. Easy to follow. The poses are correct. Clear illustrations of each pose in detail. For those of us who can learn from a book and don't need group classes to learn yoga, this is the Real Deal. Don't listen to yoga teachers who laugh at the idea of learning hatha yoga from a book--they're nutz.

Using this book for last 3 years, wonderful book, beautifully illustrations and descriptionsMust Have for beginners

It looks like for beginner, but is not. Each pose is done by baby steps, so next day( exercise are divided by day) is the same exercise with more range of motion; I think this idea is great because you progress. Usually you repeat each exercise 3 times, and after all sequence ( 3 to 5 exercises) twice. You see another hand position in many exercises ( cobra, triangle) than usual, so book not copy instructions like nowadays in yoga magazines. It's include breathing techniques, again with diffrent approach than I know. Highly recommend.