The Complete Illustrated Book of Yoga is written by Swami Vishnu-devananda, who is one of the most respected, knowledgeable and accomplished yoga teachers in the world and founder of the Sivananda Yoga Center. Many people have found this book to be helpful for understanding the philosophy of yoga, asanas and all aspects of the yoga lifestyle.
The book has chapters on the science of yoga, dating back to pre-historic times and delves into the philosophy of yoga. Much of this philosophy relates to the belief that one cannot understand the soul and mind, as long as the person is trying to find the truth from the outside of the body. To do so, one must turn inward and transcend beyond the mind to find divine knowledge.
This book has a mental and spiritual perspective, rather than focusing only on the exercise and health benefits of yoga. The ultimate goal of the practice is to achieve universal consciousness. The unity of mind, body and spirit can only be fully attained when transcend the limitation of the body and mind.
Although the spiritual aspects of yoga are addressed in this book, it is not geared toward one religious practice, but to the spiritual aspects in general. The philosophy of this book is compatible and can be practiced with all major religions and spiritual traditions.
The author delves into many aspects of the yoga lifestyle, including asana, breathing, mediation, relaxation and diet. There is value in this text for both beginning students and advanced yoga practitioners.
The material in this book is dense and comprehensive, which makes it read somewhat like a textbook. It is a good resource, if you want to delve into the history, science, and spirituality of the practice of yoga, as well as the physical practice of yoga.
The illustrations in this book are comprehensive. There are over 140 photographs in the book to demonstrate the yoga asanas. The pictures and guides are easy to understand. And the physical benefits of yoga asanas are described in detail.
The asanas in this book include the major categories of hatha yoga; including twists, forward bends, back bends, balancing, and inversions. The physical benefits of yoga are described along with detailed instructions for each asana.
The lessons section of the book is useful for developing your own practice to use at home. There are several practice routines and time tables that are suitable for any level of experience or ability.