About the AuthorGeeta Iyengar is the distinguished student and daughter of Mr. B.K.S. Iyengar, one of the most respected leaders in the yoga world. what is the #1 best selling book Iyengar Yoga for Motherhood: Safe Practice for Expectant New Mothers
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Comprehensive resource for yogi-mama'sBy Katie A.If you're looking for an overview of prenatal yoga or are a newbie, this probably won't be what you want. But if you want to learn more about the topic, keep reading! When I found out I was expecting, one of my concerns was how my yoga practice should be specifically modified. Advice from my teachers and online articles helped, but I wanted was a comprehensive, trustworthy resource to understand WHY I should or shouldn't do a pose. That is this book. There are highly detailed instructions for each pose, what trimester they're appropriate for, and sequences for beginner and advanced yogis in each trimester. There are also thorough chapters on diet, meditation, pranayama and more. As the other reviewers have said, the Iyengar approach does include a lot more props beyond the usual bolster-blanket-block combo. The book does offer alternative ways to do these poses, like using the back of a chair instead of some fancy gymnastics balance beam looking contraption. Or just skip those. This is a wealth of knowledge and I'm betting a lot of prenatal yoga teachers have this in their library. As a side note, I like that the photos are of "real life pregnant women", not like the prenatal chapters in other books I have with lithe celebrity yogi's who are not pregnant and wearing very little - I'm sure I'll like the former the bigger I get ;-)11 of 11 people found the following review helpful. THE book for yoga during pregnancyBy E. RichMy Iyengar yoga teacher told me about this book and I am so glad he did. It was exactly what I wished I had found earlier in my pregnancy. It is NOT specific to Iyengar yoga, either. If you practice yoga and want to continue to do so during conception, pregnancy, labor, and after, then this book will tell you which poses are okay for which trimester and which ones are not. Also how to modify common poses. There are recommended sequences for practice at home. The only drawback is that some of the poses rely on using a lot of equipment that you absolutely would not have at home--trestle, some crazy back-bending table, ropes hanging from ceilings. But this is not true of all the poses. I bought two blocks, a strap, a wedge, yoga ball, and a bolster and feel like I can do a lot of the poses on my own. I also think these props will be helpful during early labor at home. With this book, I am able, at 7 mos. pregnant, to continue in a Level 1/2 class with confidence!0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Great book for mamas-to-be!By mplsmoonVery informative and well-organized with several recommended sequences from which to choose during different trimesters. I like that Ms. Iyengar's book allows for certain supine poses well into the second or third trimester, as long as you feel capable. In my previous pregnancy I felt like yoga instructors were teaching classes as though we were all near the end of the third trimester and barely able to move! This book offers a great way to keep up your practice all the way up to your baby's birth day with variations appropriate to your comfort and stage of pregnancy. I'm not wasting my time or money on boring prenatal yoga classes this time around!