Healing Mudras: Yoga for Your Hands
These two titles address the benefits of practicing yoga. Finger's Yoga ZoneR Introduction to Yoga takes a broader approach. Creator of the ISHTA yoga taught at his New York City-based Yoga ZoneR studios, Finger explains his program and offers a brief history of different types of yoga. Outlines of two series of beginners' programs are well illustrated with photos of poses and accompanied by detailed instructions, tips, and variations. A section covers relaxation and meditation and breathing techniques. Healing Mudras has a much narrower focus. Mudras, in Buddhism and Hinduism, are symbolic gestures involving hands, fingers, and arms that are used in ceremonies and dance or seen in artwork. Mesko, a former dancer and certified yoga therapist, takes a mindful and introspective approach combining movement with chants in order to achieve specific self-affirming goals. All 52 mudras are demonstrated with photos of the author, along with instructions for breathing, eye movements, and mantras, which spoken aloud impart greater mental and physical energy and a healing quality. Experienced yoga students seeking to move beyond the basic postures or individuals with physical limitations will find this guide useful. Both titles are easy to follow and understand. However, since a number of introductory yoga books are already available, Finger's is an optional purchase. Because it concentrates on a very specific aspect of yoga practice, Mesko's guide is a preferred choice for a wellness collection or public library with a limited budget seeking to round out its yoga collection.-Deborah Anne Broocker, Georgia Perimeter Coll., DunwoodyCopyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.