Chakra Yoga: Balancing Energy for Physical, Spiritual, and Mental Well-Being

by Alan Finger and Katrina Repka

Book Overview

According to the yogic tradition of India, the seven chakras, or energy centers, concentrate and distribute refined life-force energy throughout the body. Yoga master Alan Finger, well-known for his... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1590302559
• ISBN13: 9781590302552
• Release Date: December 2005
• Publisher: Shambhala
• Length: 160 Pages
• Weight: 0.77 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 7.9" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

Excellent introduction to the Chakras for Anyone

I practice and teach chakra meditation separate from a physical yoga practice, and I found this book to be an excellent introduction to the chakras for anyone. Because the author's focus is chakra meditation as a complement to physical hatha-based yoga, it is probably most helpful for those who do practice yoga, and will help deepen your practice. However, it is also great for those just interested in learning more about the 7 core chakras of the Indian/Hindu-based traditions, even if you don't practice yoga. The author starts with an overview of his background, and then briefly covers the history of yoga. He then devotes one chapter to each of the core 7 chakras, describing the energies associated with each, and listing questions for identifying whether you potentially have an imbalance or block within that chakra. Then, because his focus is physical yoga, he depicts (with pictures and explanation) basic physical hatha yoga positions that can help address this imbalance. There is not a lot of information on other ways to work with the chakras, but you can get that from other sources. The included meditation CD is also very helpful and direct. He walks you through the classic yogic breathing technique Nadi Shodhana Pranayama, and then guides you through a mantra (sound) based meditation on each of the 7 chakras. He includes some mudras, or sacred hand movements, associated with each, and in the book he also discusses the yantras, or visual images sometimes used in chakra meditation as well. The meditation techniques he features are safe and easy for anyone to follow. It should be noted that the chakra system, and corresponding mantras, mudras and yantras that he features are specific to the Indian Hatha-based systems. Tibetan and Sufi chakra systems, and others less well-known, actually differ from these. But this system is certainly the one that most Westerners will be the most familiar with, since hatha-based yoga is the most popular form taught here. Overall, a great introductory book and CD for anyone interested in the chakras, and especially for those also interested in physical yoga.

Very good foundation for building up your yoga practice

Alan Finger truly sounds like a yoga guru. In this book, he provides guidance and direction in performing basic yoga poses and reveals their relation to the human chakras. This, in my opinion, is very important in getting your foundation straight & solid, so it can safely be built upon. The book is written well, without bogging you down with excess theory or pages of boring information, yet neatly introducing useful concepts. The author goes into great detail in explaining how to correctly do a certain pose, and points out common mistakes. I have found it very helpful. The brief real-life examples of balances and imbalances in chakras are also quite interesting. Lastly, the spiritual part of the book: meditation. I was quite a novice to the whole practice of meditation prior to reading this book. So no surprise, as I tried, I did not always feel like I was entering "the state of oneness, yoga", and at times I couldn't even let go of restless thoughts. But it improves with time and practice. And Alan Finger emphasizes it - practice consistently, in order to get results. I would probably also play some quiet meditation music while listening to the book's audio, as it comes without background music. I do recommend this book to all who are seeking another dimension in their lives. It will not only help you become better at your yoga practice, but may as well help you make a shift towards a better life and being a better person.

Amazing gateway to a powerful practice

I'd been to Alan Finger's seminar in NYC years ago and wanted to have that information again to try to recreate the miraculous results I got there. The book in combination with the excellent meditation CD were everything I'd hoped they would be. If you're looking to open up your meditation practice and take it to a new level, I strongly recommend this program. If you've never worked with your chakras, you will find a new discipline you never knew existed.

Amazing mantras really work!

I have been doing yoga for many years before it became well known and supposedly popular. (Although every other commercial these days has some woman doing yoga in order to attach their product to this symbol of a healthy lifestyle (even a house paint commercial!), I wonder how many folks actually practice for more than a little while...) At any rate, the feature that made this book better than all the rest was the CD which introduced me to the chakra mantras which allowed me to actually feel the chakras in my body on my very first attempt using the mantras! And this author is offering his wisdom at a very reasonable price! Buy this one new!

A beautiful balance

I found this book to be really helpful in understanding the relationship between yoga and the chakras. It is written so well and I could put it into practice immediately. A must have for those looking to deepen their yoga practice