Yoga Warrior

From covering the front lines of the Gulf War to investigating Colombian drug lords to living with freedom fighters in the mountains of Afghanistan, war correspondent Brad Willis was accustomed to risk. But when mortal danger came, it was from an unexpected direction. At the pinnacle of his career, a broken back and failed surgery left Willis permanently disabled and condemned to life in a body brace. Then came a diagnosis of terminal, stage IV throat cancer. At his 50th birthday party, friends gathered around Willis, who was crippled, almost mute, depressed, strung out on narcotic medications, and dying. Halfway through the celebration Willis realized the party's true purpose—his friends were there to say goodbye. Everyone knew Willis was on his way out...everyone except his 2-year-old son, who urged, “Get up, Daddy!" His son's words ringing in his ears, Willis chose to abandon Western medicine and embrace the most esoteric practices of Yoga to heal his body, mind, and soul—ridding himself of cancer and fully restoring his back. As a symbol of his journey, he took the spiritual name Bhava Ram, which stands for “Living from the Heart." Warrior Pose is an adventure chronicling some of the most momentous events of our time through a journalist's eyes, an unforgettable story about the power of love between father and son, and a transformational journey of self-healing, inner peace, and wholeness.

Shannon McQuaide combines her personal experiences, interviews with firefighters and research on yoga and mindfulness in this new inspiring book. Growing up in a firefighter family, she understands the physical and emotional toll the job can have on firefighters and their families. From the science behind how these practices work to the beautiful illustrations and step-by-step instructions, this book will motivate both beginners and veteran practitioners alike. McQuaide’s FireFlex Yoga classes are specifically created for first responders to enhance their mental and physical health and improve their job performance while releasing their true inner warrior. WHAT THEY ARE SAYING: "This is more than 'yoga' training, this is well-rounded resiliency training. - CAL Fire Training Chief Rob Wheatley "I am going to bring mindfulness into SCBA drills and also the PT warm-up/cool-down drills." - CAL Fire Training Captain Daniel Cunningham FEATURES: --The most up-to-date benefits of yoga for first responders --More than 50 beautifully illustrated postures, with instructions and specific applications related to the physical duties of a firefighter --Simple, easy-to-do mindfulness techniques you can do anywhere

War leaves more than physical scars. Military service men and women today bear invisible wounds-PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder), TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury), anxiety, depression-all just as real and painful. This book gives you tools for finding your way as a warrior-whether deployed or in a civilian environment-and adapting to a peaceful life at home. Yoga and meditation have scientific support as a means for relaxing the stress response, sharpening mental acuity, boosting immunity and recovery time, and promoting a general sense of health and psychological well-being. Beryl Bender Birch developed the methods described in Warrior Pose while working with civilians and first-responders in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks. They include yoga postures, breathing techniques, relaxation and "yoga sleep," meditation, and more. In Rear Admiral (ret.) and former Navy SEAL Tom Steffens' words, "Beryl never takes any subject lightly, trust me, and her insight into the mind-body-spirit connection for military members and veterans results from an in-depth study that she undertook to get this right."

Kokoro Yoga, by New York Times bestselling author and former U.S. Navy SEAL Mark Divine, is an integrated physical, mental, and spiritual training, designed initially for the nation's elite special-ops soldiers and now taught to anyone seeking to develop the heart and mind of a warrior. Kokoro, the Japanese concept of warrior spirit—or merging heart and mind into action—is the central focus of Divine's new approach to teaching yoga. Coach Divine's yoga sequences are focused to adapt to all physical and mental capabilities, combining breathing, meditation, and visualization into both traditional poses as well as cross-training/combat-conditioning exercises. His decades of experience with amateur and professional athletes, active and aspiring Navy SEALs, and wounded warriors uniquely qualifies him as an expert motivator and teacher. With Kokoro Yoga the practitioner will: * Get an unbeatable full-body workout through body-weight functional movements that can be done at home or on the on go * Increase flexibility while building long, lean muscle mass * Improve physical and mental balance, focus, and control at all levels—including a special segment designed for those recovering from PTSD * Find emotional, intuitional, and spiritual harmony to achieve peak performance Coach Divine’s methods have been tested by the toughest warriors in the world. Use this book as a guide to experience the profound power of yoga as a developmental system that will allow you to break through any barriers holding you back.

Perfect for those who want a total body and mind workout.

It's no secret that yoga increases muscular flexibility and strength, but you may not know that yoga is a proven treatment for back pain, knee pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, and other chronic pain conditions. Yoga also helps to ease the stress, anxiety, and depression that can create and reinforce pain, making you feel more comfortable in both your mind and your body. Written by a yoga instructor and former chronic pain sufferer, Yoga for Pain Relief is packed with gentle postures and practical strategies for ending pain. This complete mind-body tool kit for healing also includes deep relaxation practices drawn from the yogic tradition and psychological techniques for helping you make peace with your body and dissolve pain. As the ancient practice of yoga releases the hold that chronic pain has over your life, you will begin to feel more like yourself again.

Yoga is one of the fastest-growing fitness activities worldwide, and qualified yoga instructors are in high demand. Instructing Hatha Yogadescribes the qualities and knowledge yoga instructors need in order to be competent and effective teachers. It covers all aspects of successful instruction: -Detailed descriptions on how to teach 69 yoga asanas (postures), with more than 300 photos showing the postures -Verbal and visual cues to use in teaching each posture -Specific hands-on adjustments to help students achieve the desired posture -Modifications for each posture and effective ways to work with students of different abilities in the same class -Charts that identify body-segment kinematics and muscles used in individual postures -A DVD that shows how to achieve the most accurate positions for a sampling of postures and the hands-on adjustments instructors can make to assist students Two features in particular set this book apart: simple yet comprehensive cues that teachers can use to bring students into proper alignment and deeper mental focus, and detailed instructions on making safe hands-on adjustments and modifications for students. Authors Kathy Lee Kappmeier and Diane Ambrosini, with more than 20 years of experience in yoga instruction and teacher training, provide a class overview, outlines, lesson plans, and sample syllabi. They present ways to structure a class with flexible teaching plans in a variety of settings, such as schools, community centers, fitness clubs, and wellness centers. With their backgrounds in physical education, kinesiology, biomechanics, and various sectors of the fitness industry, the authors not only understand the art and science of yoga, but they know how to teach it safely and effectively. The authors also equip readers with the following information: -The most popular styles of yoga and how the styles evolved -A questionnaire that helps instructors evaluate their readiness to begin teaching yoga -Modifications for each posture and effective ways to work with students of different abilities in the same class -Study questions and answers that review topics presented in part I of the book -The importance of pranayama (breath work) and how to teach basic techniques -The physical and energetic anatomy applied in the postures -The valued and effective qualities of a yoga teacher, in line with the standards set by the Yoga Alliance Registry Part Ifocuses readers on understanding yoga, on knowing themselves and their students, and on creating a class environment. It also explores breathing techniques and provides an overview of energy and anatomical considerations inherent to yoga. Part IIdescribes the postures and their adjustments and modifications. Among these postures are sun salutations, standing postures, seated postures, supine and prone postures, inverted postures, and restorative postures. Part IIIlays out the practical aspects of structuring classes. The appendixes include reproducible forms for instructors, sample relaxation scripts, a listing of yoga resources for instructors, and answers to study questions covering part I. Developed in line with the standards of the Yoga Alliance and its national Yoga Teachers' Registry, Instructing Hatha Yogahelps instructors develop the attributes they need in order to be qualified teachers who facilitate students' learning and awareness in the practice of yoga.

This book is for anyone interested in health, fitness, or the healing arts. It teaches you the basics of stretching, breathing, and meditation, with exercises designed to help you relax, become more flexible, more productive, and more self-satisfied.