Yoga Journal

I am just starting my yoga practice, and as I looked for more details of poses and such online after class, I kept ending up on the YogaJournal.com website. Last time grocery shopping I picked up a copy, couldn't put it down, and ordered a subscription. As a beginner I have found it VERY interesting with articles on how yoga is helping patients mentally and physically with breast cancer, common sense articles on herbs for ailments AND yoga poses to ease an ailment also, many others--I read it literally cover to cover. I found it really helpful to go from class (a bunch of ladies bonding over our struggles to balance or stay in a pose) to how the rest of the (yoga) world perceives/practices/enriches through yoga! I found it perfectly readable for a complete beginner to augment class instruction (oooh the possibilities!!!) to wanting to set it aside and review as I get further along in the future. And their website is a wealth of information as well.

I love the articles and ideas for incorporating yoga, meditation, and general mindfulness into life.

I'm really quite fond of this magazine. It does a very good job of mixing in a variety of aspects of a yoga life, and addressing each aspect in a helpful and entertaining manner.

There are of course pages on poses, with clear photos, succinct instructions and explanations on how to modify them if you have to. There are pages on eating healthy. There are stories from people in a variety of walks of life, talking about how even minor changes in their lifestyle brought about significant results.

Then there are the pages which can make a huge difference in another way. A recent article had an article on forgiveness - how it is so important not to carry grudges and hatred. Those feelings rarely harm to "person who did you wrong" - but they eat up your own body, filling you with stress, tension, and unhappiness. It's amazing how many people I run into who carry these kinds of whole-heart grudges, often from incidents 10 or more years ago!

If you're more advanced, there is content for you as well. Articles about some of the intricate details of yoga might seem a bit complex for newbies, but if you store your magazines, after a few months going back and re-reading those articles can bring fresh information.

There are articles about youngsters doing yoga, older people doing yoga, and anything in between. There are ads for very expensive retreats in exotic locations - but also information on being mindful in a frugal manner.

I do have to say that most of the images shown are of young, 20-something sexy models, and it'd be nice to show a wider selection of people doing the poses. Still, that complaint can probably be made with just about every magazine out there.

Well recommended!

I am very glad with this magazine. Always good articles, gets me thinking and motivated. I always look forward to it. Always has great pictures showing yoga moves and new flows pictorial every issue. Highly recommended for those who love yoga physically and mentally.

I have been a subscriber for 7 years to Yoga Journal. In the last few years the magazine has become much more commercialized and glossy.

Yoga is not only for the models on the cover. The models often used are young, slim, and atheletic. They make the poses seem beyond what many people can attain. (take a look at the cover shots)

Now you can purchase anything yoga from the advertisers, some of the items are just materialism and greed and aparigraha (hoarding, collecting).

On the plus side there is a lot of good material inside. The magazine can be an excellent learning source once past the ads.

I would prefer less ads, less about (what seems to me as) feminine crisises, and more about what yoga truly is and its benefits.

Vinny