Jim Colyer

I looked for a yoga book to review for my site and decided on this one. Yoga expert Howard Kent offers a program of yoga postures with pictures of men and women demonstrating them. Kent touches on some of the philosophy which accompanies yoga while steering clear of Oriental religions. He founded the Yoga for Health Foundation. He died in 2005 at age 85.

Yoga is about unity: body, mind and spirit working as one. It is about a healthy lifestyle. It is about balance and moderation in eating, the middle path in sexual matters. It is about relaxing. Yoga is self-discipline, controlling your thoughts and behavior. It is peace of mind. Hatha yoga is practised in the west. It utilizes positions called asanas. Pranayama has to do with breathing. Control is always the key, and everyone needs it. The spine plays a major role. It needs to be flexible. Muscle groups stretch upwards, forwards, backwards and sideways. Stretching must be smooth, not jerky. Asanas are held 20-30 seconds.

There should be no constrictions at the waist when doing the asanas. Use a mat and a pillow for the neck and head. You must have ample room. Peace and quiet. Wait two hours following meals. Follow the program suited to your own needs. Mental and physical balance are central to yoga. Postures followe counter-postures. Go slowly.

Many of the asanas in Kent's book are different from the ones I do. I developed my routine when I was 22. I had to modify it since I am now in my 60s.

Kent writes about the Cobra. The Cobra opens the chest while stretching the front part of the body.

I could do the Plow at 22. Barely. I would not try it now. But there are asanas I can do. Like the Bridge. Back, butt and thighs are raised. Hands support.

The Locust becomes a half-Locust while lying on my side.

Kent dwells on visualization and retaining images. There is nothing to be gained by visualizing a blue sky or a wild goose.

Uttering "Om" is downright silly, and the Chakras (energy centers) are not real. There is no way I am going to stare at a candle.

An author sets himself up as an authority. He assumes that he knows and that his readers are to be taught. In no way is the thinking or general approach to life in India superior to that in the west. On the contrary, life in the United States and Europe is vastly more desirable than life in India. Take what yoga has to offer, which is essentialy a series of exercises designed to maintain health. Go light on the weird stuff. Do not run counter to science and common sense.