Stories are fun! Important stories guide us and educate us; they create mental models which work at an unconscious level to help us navigate through our modern society and govern our reactions to the ups-and-downs of life; they provide meaning and purpose for our life; and our stories entertain and entrance us. In this book, Bernie Clark looks at the spiritual stories found in the West that create a base map for our lives and then looks at the stories found in the East to see how they could improve our base maps. The stories offered are mix of light-hearted and enjoyable, and deep and profound.
"This third book in the series looks at the upper body: the shoulder complex, arms and hands. But, there is more. This final book also includes explorations of how asymmetries and proportions affect our practice. You are unique. No one else in this whole world has your biology or biography. Why suppose that your yoga practice should be, or even could be, the same as anyone else’s? How far apart should your hands be in Down Dog? Where should they be pointing? Should you avoid hyperextension of the elbows? Is hyperflexion of the shoulders safe? The answer is — it depends! Your Upper Body, Your Yoga looks at the upper body from both the Western anatomical/biomechanical point of view and the modern yoga perspective. It is filled with detail, discussion, illustrations and practical advice for bodies of all types. Proportions and asymmetries are highly variable from person to person. The implications of asymmetries for a yoga practice and whether these asymmetries need to be changed, accommodated or simply accepted is examined along with variability in our proportions and their effect on postures." -- Amazon.com
"Your Spine, Your Yoga is arguably the first book that looks at the spine from both the Western anatomical/biomechanical point of view and the modern yoga perspective. It is filled with detail, discussion, illustrations, and practical advice for spines of all types. This emphasis on variety is welcome and necessary: no two spines are exactly alike, and no two people have the same biology and biography. What your spine is able to do may be vastly different from what other yoga students' or teachers' spines can do."--Amazon.com
Why practice yoga or Yin Yoga in particular? YinSights, a new book by Bernie Clark, has the answers. In YinSights, Clark explores the benefits of yoga, as viewed by both the Eastern and Western worlds and relates how it affects the body and mind. Although more and more students are embracing the Yin-side of yoga, Yin Yoga is still relatively unknown. Filling a void in yoga literature, YinSights serves as a practical guide for students interested in understanding Yin Yoga. YinSights is divided into two main sections. The first investigates the benefits of yoga on the physical body, the energetic body, and the mind/emotional body. Clark presents three points of view those of the yogis in India, the Daoists in China, and the medical and scientific researchers of the West. The second section explores the practice of Yin Yoga in detail, and several flows are offered each with different themes. Slower versions of the normally active or yang Sun Salutations are provided, as well as even gentler ways to stimulate the flow of prana, chi, or energy. While YinSights illustrates how to practice Yin Yoga, it is not just for those seeking knowledge about Yin Yoga in particular. The book also discusses the advantages of all styles of yoga and will be of interest to every yoga student. Bernie Clark's Yinsights is one of the best yoga resources now available, no matter what your preferred style of practice. Paul Grilley, author of Yin Yoga
Compares the myths of yoga to stories that have influenced Western culture and explores how these spiritual stories can work at an unconscious level to provide road maps for navigating through modern life.
All forms of yoga can provide benefits physically, emotionally, and mentally. Yin yoga works the connective tissues of the ligaments, fascia, joints and bones and the energetic channels of the meridians, nerves and blood system. One big difference is the long-held, passive nature of the posture, which gives time for a deeper journey to unfold, a journey into the meditative aspects of yoga, a bridge to living life mindfully.
