The Yoga of Breath: A Step-by-Step Guide to Pranayama

My own yoga teacher suggested this book when I began teaching meditation and yogic breathing techniques tools for as pain relief and stress management for people with advanced chronic medical conditions.I cannot speak highly enough of Richard Rosen's lucid introduction to the profound effects of intentionally bringing one's full intention to the breath. Most helpfully, he is superb at identifying and describing the subtle (as well as sometimes dramatic) shifts in our conscious awareness when we mindfully begin to explore the vast potential of Pranayama (more or less literally "breath control" from the Sanskrit) to transform consciousness.Richard Rosen has drawn not only from the voluminous Vedic texts of a wisdom tradition thousands of years old, but at least as usefully for contemporary students of yoga and mediation, he also excels in finding simple language to communicate his own experiences under the guidance of his teachers.This is rich stuff, and while I understand Mr. Rosen has also written even more advanced books on the fascinating topic of yogic breathing, myself, I have been returning to The Yoga of Breath for over a year now and still feel there is more here for me to glean from this extraordinary volume.My only caution might be that this book is not so appropriate for new students of yoga and/or mediation. It takes a couple of years' regular practice to develop the proprioceptive awareness of the intersection of breath and energy within the human body. For beginners, I'd strongly encourage you to first find a yoga or a mediation teacher with whom you sense a comfortable rapport and gain some experience of the possibilities yourself before you begin to try and make some sense of these phenomena with the help of Mr. Rosen's book.It's definitely experiential stuff, not mere academic theory to be comprehended intellectually, and some of the Pranayama practices can be strong medicine indeed for those not already well-grounded in a stable practice. Without that solid foundation, some of the techniques certainly have the potential to knock loose long-buried emotional traumas and the like, and most people, I think, are better served traversing that sometimes rocky territory with a teacher intimately familiar with a terrain that may at first appear alien or unsettling to the new traveler. There's no rush, you know, to get "there," and it's my opinion that personal transformation only becomes permanent and integrated in our individual lives when approached slowly, gently, and ever so thoroughly.If you are the sort of person who finds satisfaction in expensive seminars promising immediate improvement in all aspects of your life, well, by all means go for it, but one doubts you would find this understated--modest, even--book so satisfying.If, however, you are well-seasoned student gifted with a modicum of patience, or a yoga teacher interested in looking more deeply to enrich your perspective, I sincerely hope you find Mr. Rosen's observations at least as useful as they have proven for myself.

A wonderful book for all yogis interested in learning pranayama. Having personally spent time with Richard, I can attest to his depth of knowledge. He certainly knows what he is talking about -there is so much to learn here, it is an impressive use of the page, he packs an enormous amount of information in this very readable text. Through his many years of personal experience, Richard has written out this guide with wit, concise and useful explanations, and encouraging examples. Highly recommend.

The reviewers below fail to recognize there are different schools of yoga - with the attendant different approaches to pranayama. In the Iyengar method - which Rosen employs - the approach is slow. You begin with ujjayi breath, start to incorporate breath retention, i.e., viloma, and well down the road (i.e., months/years) start to incorporate alternate nostril, bastrika, etc.I began pranayama with an eclectic practice - pasted together from Integral Yoga, Sivanadana, various media (Shiva Rea, etc.), Kripalu.I find the most fulfillment with the Iyengar method. Pranayama is slow and rewarding - gives me intimacy with myself. Rosen's book is intelligent and well constructed - a door opening to that path.

Absolutely THE best introduction to the world of pranayama. It is very obvious that Richard Rosen has devoted life and soul to this subject, and to the spiritual path. The book is simple, forthright, and filled with the type of tips and humor that only a master could impart.

The book is fine - I'm starting my yoga teacher training in a couple of weeks and it is on the reading list. It's the quality of the actual book that's the issue. It was supposedly in 'good' condition but it is actually an old library book that is coming apart at the spine in the first 50 or so pages. I was hoping to pass it on to my husband when he does his TT next year but I doubt it will make it through my own TT Intact.

I expected to love this book but it didn't happen. It got off to a good start but then got SO trapped in the mechanics of pranayama - how to sit or lie, how to place limbs, how to use accessories that, instead of shining a light on pranayama, it loses its pranayama.I still plan to read the follow-up book since I bought it at the same time as this first book but I'm sure hoping that the breath comes back.

great book in wonderful condition. thanks!

Didn't finish. Wasn't really used in class. Other references were better. I hope to go back to read it, but it didn't really keep my attention.

Anyone who has a regular yoga practice will find this book tortuously slows and not particularly informative. On the other hand I can't imagine anyone who does not have some sort of yoga practice already sticking with this approach for more than a week. To understand the breath exercises you also need a pretty good grasp of modern Western Anatomy, which again I can't imagine will be the case for anyone who is a genuine novice to working with the breath.And when after 2 years work we finally arrive at actual Pranayama, of the two techiniques decribed, one is not a traditional techinique (and was really invented by Mr Iyengar as a learning technique.In my opinion, if you want to calm you mind and learn to breath softly and mindfully, buy a book on Mindfulness or Breath Meditation; meanwhile if you want to learn Pranayama techniques stick with Mr Iyengar.

Excellent book written in plain English for those who struggle with books translated from Sanskrit. The physical postures needed to master before controlling (Yama) breathing (Prana) hence pranayama are well explained and illustrated. Good especially for beginners such as I am.

Great book, lots of detail

So much emphasis is given to the asanas in the West, leaving the significance and beauty of Pranayama in its shadow.Richard Rosen shines a much needed light on this topic and presents it in a very enthusiastic and accessible way.

Will be returning it.