Yoga: 55 Yoga Poses for Beginners and Experts by Christopher Lombardi
My first introduction to Yoga was in 1973: a Cosmopolitan insert with drawings and photos which I still have and use. Since then I have read many books that attempt to introduce beginners to the ancient practice of Yoga. The theory is, of course, very important for awareness and understanding of the basic principles, however, since the practice of Yoga entails physical positions, this is the sort of book that I find most useful.
After a very short preamble, the author introduces 55 poses, organized by goal or objective, presenting beginner poses alongside advanced and expert ones. The sections deal with positions intended to:
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I like this approach; it lets me customize my workout to my current mental state and it has already helped improve the quality of my sleep.
For each pose there is a description of the technique and breathing sequence, and a photo illustrating the final position. The descriptions are adequate, but what really makes this book invaluable are the photos. They are good quality and fairly crisp but, in some cases I think that a second photo would have been helpful to show different stages of the same position. I don't always agree with the definition of some poses as “easy” and others as “advanced” or even “expert”. For example, I find all the cross-legged positions (including the one called “The Easy Pose”) almost impossible to emulate, no doubt due to age and joint stiffness, although I can still do “The Plough” which is described as “expert”.
Aside from these personal observations, I think that this book is concise and well executed and can be very useful as a portable reference for those who are already well versed in Yoga. I like to take my Kindle with me outside, set it up where I can see it, beside my exercise mat, and then attempt some of the poses using the book as an aide memoir to the correct form - keeping in mind that I am trying to emulate the perfect execution of people who are as supple as my cats.
For each pose there is a description of the technique and breathing sequence, and a photo illustrating the final position. The descriptions are adequate, but what really makes this book invaluable are the photos. They are good quality and fairly crisp but, in some cases I think that a second photo would have been helpful to show different stages of the same position. I don't always agree with the definition of some poses as “easy” and others as “advanced” or even “expert”. For example, I find all the cross-legged positions (including the one called “The Easy Pose”) almost impossible to emulate, no doubt due to age and joint stiffness, although I can still do “The Plough” which is described as “expert”.
Aside from these personal observations, I think that this book is concise and well executed and can be very useful as a portable reference for those who are already well versed in Yoga. I like to take my Kindle with me outside, set it up where I can see it, beside my exercise mat, and then attempt some of the poses using the book as an aide memoir to the correct form - keeping in mind that I am trying to emulate the perfect execution of people who are as supple as my cats.
The Younger Man by Dermot Davis
So it's true what they say about La La Land and its self-obsessed denizens! Dermot Davis applies his abundant sarcastic humour to the psycho-analytically obsessed, egocentric, hyper self-questioning culture that, rightly or wrongly, we identify with LA.
The story is narrated by Frances, a very beautiful and youthful-looking 38-year-old woman who is struggling to emerge from the heartbreak of a second divorce. Frances has had enough of men and their nefarious effect on her life and has spent the last few years in a barely functional state, heavily dependant on her supportive psychoanalyst, Dr. Roberts, her daily yoga sessions and a compulsion to read every relationship and self-improvement book ever printed. Despite still attracting male attention, Frances is miserable but, when a chance encounter with a geeky but charming young man reawakens the fun-loving woman in her, she sees a chance to reclaim her life. The snag is that Martin is 14 years younger than her and, although the two have the greatest fun socially, when it comes to intimacy, the age difference looms large. The narrative is fascinating and compelling, and I really felt for Frances, but then the author does something quite daring and unexpected. |
After enlisting our sympathy for the poor woman, who has apparently been rejected three times by the men in her life and left too traumatized to even consider taking another chance on romantic love, he now shows us our heroine through the eyes of her family and friends and a very different side of Frances emerges. Her relationships with her mother, sister and daughter are all strained and fraught with repressed anger and unresolved issues and her erratic, capricious behaviour risks destroying the loving connection she has established with Martin.
I was curious to see how a male writer would handle a female first-person narrative, and I must say that Dermot Davis succeeded brilliantly, displaying a remarkable understanding of the way some women think. His humour and humanity shine through and carry a challenging story where most of the action and much of the dialogue take place inside the head of one person. He also displays some major writing chops in making me sort-of care for such a self-absorbed, neurotic heroine, who has suffered, yes, but has also behaved rather badly and whose main appeal is that, deep down, she means well. The supporting characters add interest and variety and I am now eager to read the previous, companion book “Zen and Sex” which is, apparently, the same story told from Martin's point of view.
The only problem I had with the story is that it wasn't clear to me what exactly, apart from good looks, endeared Frances to her previous husband, and the young men who pursue her. The prose flows effortlessly. In different hands, such protracted self examination might have become tedious but the author has such a way of exposing human frailties and follies that the action blends seamlessly with some gut-busting humour that had me laughing and guffawing for much longer than seemed possible. The book is an intelligent and thought-provoking excursion into the consequences of irresponsible behaviour, miscommunication and over-analysing every nuance in people's actions. It goes to show that real life is often more interesting than fiction.
I was curious to see how a male writer would handle a female first-person narrative, and I must say that Dermot Davis succeeded brilliantly, displaying a remarkable understanding of the way some women think. His humour and humanity shine through and carry a challenging story where most of the action and much of the dialogue take place inside the head of one person. He also displays some major writing chops in making me sort-of care for such a self-absorbed, neurotic heroine, who has suffered, yes, but has also behaved rather badly and whose main appeal is that, deep down, she means well. The supporting characters add interest and variety and I am now eager to read the previous, companion book “Zen and Sex” which is, apparently, the same story told from Martin's point of view.
The only problem I had with the story is that it wasn't clear to me what exactly, apart from good looks, endeared Frances to her previous husband, and the young men who pursue her. The prose flows effortlessly. In different hands, such protracted self examination might have become tedious but the author has such a way of exposing human frailties and follies that the action blends seamlessly with some gut-busting humour that had me laughing and guffawing for much longer than seemed possible. The book is an intelligent and thought-provoking excursion into the consequences of irresponsible behaviour, miscommunication and over-analysing every nuance in people's actions. It goes to show that real life is often more interesting than fiction.
Zen and Sex by Dermot Davis First in the Frances series, a refreshingly honest and revealing sojourn in the mind of a romantically-inclined young man trying to sort out the great mystery of how to relate to women. At twenty-four, Martin is still relatively inexperienced in matters of the heart. He's had a few girlfriends but his latest one, Roxanne, the one he was desperately in love with, has left him … claiming that she is not ready to settle down.
Imagine Martin's surprise when, a few months later, and still hoping for a reconciliation, he instead receives an invitation to Roxanne's wedding! Not only does this come as a shock, he now has to decide whether to stay away and confirm his bereft state, or show up and brave the sight of his beloved entering married bliss with another man. His best mate, Mike, advises him to go “with a hot chick who's all over you” and so begins a search for the perfect candidate (or candid date) via an internet dating service, something Martin dislikes profoundly. After yet another prospective instant girlfriend fails to click, Frances and Martin meet and their story begins. The set-up is not altogether original, but what Dermot Davis does with it is rather special. A mirror image to the storyline from his other book “The Younger Man”, this is the male perspective of the same events. |
For me, a female, it was fascinating to be allowed inside Martin's head, although he does sound a little immature for his age. Frances (in her own narrative a depressed victim of men's bad behaviour) here emerges as cool, controlling and somewhat calculating. Despite being needy and unpredictable, she seems to have a magic effect on Martin and, while her spell holds, he is powerless to resist her, whims and all.
With “The Younger Man” still fresh in my mind, I thoroughly enjoyed revisiting the events I had just followed from Frances' point of view and trying to remember how things were. Martin, although a less complicated personality, seems equally inclined to mull things over and lives a lot inside his own head but he does not carry quite as much baggage as Frances. At least his relationships are working reasonably well and his effect on Frances is just as powerful. She just can't resist his cuteness.
As always with this author, the story unfolds with great timing and I found myself fully invested in the main characters, imperfect as they are. Davis has a knack for creating a very interesting supporting cast who contribute both background and vibrant interaction with the protagonists. In fact, my favourite is Steve, a relatively minor player. If you have ever been curious about what men think in romantic situations, this charming, humorous but tender insight into a young man's psyche will entertain and enlighten you.
With “The Younger Man” still fresh in my mind, I thoroughly enjoyed revisiting the events I had just followed from Frances' point of view and trying to remember how things were. Martin, although a less complicated personality, seems equally inclined to mull things over and lives a lot inside his own head but he does not carry quite as much baggage as Frances. At least his relationships are working reasonably well and his effect on Frances is just as powerful. She just can't resist his cuteness.
As always with this author, the story unfolds with great timing and I found myself fully invested in the main characters, imperfect as they are. Davis has a knack for creating a very interesting supporting cast who contribute both background and vibrant interaction with the protagonists. In fact, my favourite is Steve, a relatively minor player. If you have ever been curious about what men think in romantic situations, this charming, humorous but tender insight into a young man's psyche will entertain and enlighten you.