Richard Hittleman's Introduction to Yoga: Beginning and Intermediate Exercises for Peace and Physical Fulfillment

I must have half a dozen yoga books, but this is the one I keep coming back to. I have worn out at least three copies! About a year ago, I underwent serious surgery in which part of my jaw was replaced by bone from my leg. During my recovery, I stiffened up badly. I lost mobility in my shoulder and I moved like an 80-year-old. As soon as I could walk without a cane, I gingerly started practicing yoga again, using this book as a guide. The results were immediate. From the first day I could see the difference in how I stood and moved. Now, after months of almost-daily practice, I have not only regained my full range of motion, I am more limber than I was before the surgery! I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in starting a yoga practice.

I had the original paperback version of this book many years ago. I decided to start doing yoga again, so I ordered a new copy. When the book arrived, I was pleased to see that it is now in a trade paperback size, compared to the standard paperback size of the original.Then I saw the photo illustrations. The photos in the original book looked like regular black and white photos. In this edition, it looks like they took the photos straight out of the old edition, copied them on a Xerox machine, and then reprinted them, instead of going back to the original photos. If the original photos were no longer available, the publisher should have re-created them with new photos. In some cases, the quality of the photos is so bad that you can barely understand what's going on. As a matter of fact, looking at the quality of the type, I suspect that the publisher actually just made photostats (or a digital equivalent) of the original book, type and all and used that as the master to print this version. The text and photos in this edition are about the same size as the original, meaning that although the book itself is bigger, everything inside is the same size with large white borders.While the content of the book is excellent, you can tell by the inferior quality of the printing that the publisher just doesn't care.

I got this 1st yoga book when I was just 10 or so. I saw my neighbor doing strange moves. She gave me this book. I liked it. All the stretching helped me loosen up my muscles. Then, I saw this on Amazon. Got it right away to re-introduce me to yoga. Buy it.

I was looking to yoga essentially as an exercise program, nothing more, and this simple and straightforward book was excellent for that purpose. It was totally unexpected and rewarding when this practice opened up the incredible potential for growth and discovery available by way of what, on the surface, seemed to be nothing more than an exercise program. I highly recommend it. Design yourself a simple excercise program and pursue it with serious intent and if your experience is like mine you will awaken, in all liklihood, for the first time in your life. I recommend a menu of asanas centered around spinal alignment and, of course, the breathing exercises ( esp. pranayama).

Compared to a paperback printed in 1984 this book is a mere fuzzy photocopy on cheap paper. Had I realized I would have purchased the “mass market paperback” for a better deal. I find the contents of the book to be excellent and wish an electronic version was available.

The book is very worn with bent pages and brittle yellow pages ready to fall out. Cover is very worn and bent. I believe if try to open and read it, it will fall apart.

I've had this book years ago and it's still outstanding. My favorite of all Yoga books. Mr. Hittleman knows what he's talking about and encourages the benefit of SLOW MOTION to body, mind and spirit.

I started my yoga journey with this book at age 26. I am now 53. I bought it again to return to my yoga roots. The most significant paraphrase from the book: "You do not gain value from the completion of the positions, you gain value from the attempt, whatever skill level you are at"

I'm on my second copy of this book, my first one having fallen apart after decades of use. It's a great book. But... every other page in the book is printed upside down. I'd like to think it was a symbolic yoga gesture... but it's simply a nightmare to read.

as expected

Richard Hittleman has made Yoga accessible to westerners for many years now. This text is down to earth and provides an easy entry to the subject

I was a little disappointed with the quality of the paper. I gave it as a gift so I cannot comment on whether or not it meets the needs of a new student.

Happy with product.