Accessible Yoga: Poses and Practices for Every Body

“With sincere compassion, progressive wisdom, and intelligent instruction, Jivana explores why it is necessary for all bodies—regardless of shape, size, gender, sexuality, race, socioeconomic status, or abilities—to have access to yoga and the myriad benefits it provides. This book should be included in every teacher’s training course worldwide. I know I will include it in mine.” —Seane Corn, author of Revolution of the Soul “Jivana Heyman has a heart as wide as the world. Which is just as well, because his new book, Accessible Yoga, is exactly the direction that global yoga culture needs to move towards to restore the practical relevance of this great healing art. Whether you are thick or thin, young or old, ambulatory or need the assistance of a walker, wheelchair, or crutch, Jivana opens up the practice of yoga in the most delightful and creative ways to anyone who can breathe. Through offering progressive points of entry—from free standing, using a wall, sitting in a chair, or lying on the floor or even in bed— Accessible Yoga is a treasure trove of invaluable and practical information that will open many doors for people who might otherwise not have the courage to begin. What shines through in every word of this exceptional book is the clear mind, compassionate heart, and the passionate advocacy of a teacher who is a living and breathing testament of what Yoga, capital Y, is all about.” —Donna Farhi, author of Yoga, Mind Body & Spirit and Pathways to a Centered Body “One of the most positive aspects of modern yoga is its inclusivity, not only in regard to age, gender, and ethnicity, but physical ability as well. Jivana's program in this well-written and comprehensive manual offers those with physical limitations of whatever kind, access to the full range of benefits each and every student might expect from the practice of yoga. This is also an invaluable reference resource for teachers no matter who their students are.” —Richard Rosen, author of Original Yoga “Accessible Yogaxa0is nothing less than a gem for yoga practitioners of all abilities. At some time or another we will all need the insights it offers to help us keep our yoga practice alive and meaningful, regardless of our age or health.xa0Perfect for all levelsxa0of students.” —Judith Hanson Lasater, PhD, PT, and author of Restore and Rebalance “In this essential book, Jivana Heyman not only explains how the physical, emotional and spiritual benefits of yoga can be truly accessible to everyone—including people who have previously felt excluded due to illness, physical limitations, age, body type, or race—but he also provides the tools for all of us to make the poses, practices, and philosophy our own and to help others do the same. His love for yoga and the people he advocates for shines through on every page.” —Nina Zolotow, coauthor of Yoga for Healthy Aging and Editor in Chief of the Yoga for Healthy Aging blog “ Accessible Yoga: Poses and Practices for Every Body ought to be a required text in all 200-hour yoga teacher trainings. As public demand for yoga dramatically increases, teachers find themselves being asked to serve a wider audience of students than can be addressed in a foundational training. This text meets those teachers where they are, and clearly offers guidance and options to more appropriately bring yoga to those seeking its benefits. There's no pretense to making teachers health experts or therapists...just solid resources based on Heyman’s decades of experience and study.” —Matthew J. Taylor, PT, PhD, C-IAYT. Founder of SmartSafeYoga (www.smartsafeyoga.com) “This user-friendly manual provides a welcome and valuable service in potentially opening the world of yoga up to an even wider population.” — Publishers Weekly “Heyman’s book is a look at poses, practices, and modifications intended to suit a wide range of bodies who deserve to practice yoga. Any yoga teacher worth their salt offering asana-based classes needs to be able to meet and work with any student walking through the door, and this book is a vital tool in helping reframe the ideas of what ‘correct’ or ‘ideal’ alignment and shapes are in practice.” — Book Riot JIVANA HEYMAN, C-IAYT, E-RYT500, is the founder and director of Accessible Yoga, an international non-profit organization dedicated to increasing access to the yoga teachings for people of all abilities and backgrounds. Accessible Yoga offers two Conferences per year, which focus on community-building and education, as well as a popular Ambassador program, and Accessible Yoga Trainings. Jivana is co-owner of the Santa Barbara Yoga Center and an Integral Yoga Minister. For over twenty-five years Jivana has specialized in teaching yoga to people with disabilities with an emphasis on social engagement. Find out more about Jivana's work at www.accessibleyoga.org.