The Healing Path of Yoga: Time-Honored Wisdom and Scientifically Proven Methods That Alleviate Stress, Open Your Heart, and Enrich Your Life
It's not surprising that yoga has become a highly popular pastime in  21st-century America. "Recent medical research by well-known clinicians shows  that stress is a major factor in causing heart disease, cancer, and a myriad of  chronic and acute diseases of today's world," according to author and revered  instructor Nischala Joy Devi, who has pioneered yoga programs for heart  specialistDean Ornishand cancer specialistMichael Lerner.  "While the stressful events around us may not change, we can learn how to  respond quickly to life's difficulties, maintaining our equilibrium and a sense  of well-being."Although the practice of yoga can create this well-being and has even been  associated with reversing serious medical conditions such as hypertension and  heart disease, Devi never makes grandiose promises. Instead, she shows readers  how yoga can be realistically integrated into a contemporary lifestyle. Forget  the contorted poses and mysterious religious overtones associated with yoga.  Think "attitude adjustments" as Devi offers suggestions for opening the heart,  achieving deeper rest and relaxation, breathing more effectively, and learning  to meditate. Toward the end she addresses the physical plane with a  well-illustrated routine ofeasyphysical poses (asanas) as well  as chapters on "Eating for Wholeness" and "Prelude to Sleep." Devi is indeed a  masterful yoga teacher. Not only does she blend Eastern philosophy with Western  living, she does it in a way that is grounded, approachable, and thoroughly  welcoming for people from all walks of life.--Gail Hudson