book reVIeW
IYeNgAr YogA ASANA AlterNAtIVeS: the Neck AND ShoUlDerS by Lois Steinberg, PhD Reviewed by Jesse Moore Kelsch
Without a doubt, Lois Steinberg
themselves because of the tamas and the lack of consciousness that have built up in
understands the background tension
the joints over time.
that sufferers of neck and shoulder trauma experience on a regular basis.
Lois also addresses the difficulties that multi-part poses present to students with
This is why the first several poses in her
upper-body trauma. For example, Anantasana (Vishnu’s couch) is presented, but only in
new book, Iyengar Yoga Asana
its intermediate stage. She instructs the student to lengthen the armpit to the elbow
Alternatives: The Neck and Shoulders, are
to close the gap between the armpit and the floor. This preliminary action can be
very targeted and deep releasing poses—
unobtainable to those with stiff shoulders, so the student is instructed to practice this
so releasing and opening that I, with my
stage regularly. For Chaturanga Dandasana, Lois gives explicit directions for the hands,
own complicated history of shoulder
knuckles, elbows, shoulders, and sternum—directions to be maintained with repeated
injuries, imbalance, and mobility
practice from a nearly vertical position (hands on the wall at shoulder height)
limitation, almost cry in gratitude when
progressively toward the classical pose. The reason I (and maybe others) don’t come
practicing them.
into the full pose from straight arms is an instability in the shoulders that causes last moment misdirection of correct actions into incorrect ones. Through repetition of the
Even though her prescribed sequences
correct actions as we build up to the final pose, “strength will build intelligently,” Lois
start with exceptionally releasing poses,
tells us. I will certainly testify that I stand taller with a more expanded chest after
she goes farther than this because there
practicing this progression of variations even once.
is work to be done. Quite specific work, in fact. An example is Ardha Parsva
This book, like the first edition from 2000, is organized as a series of photos with
Hastasana, where the palm is placed on
captions, although this edition is much more extensive. The instructions are
the wall at shoulder height, arm straight
unequivocal, leaving no doubt in the student’s mind about what to do and how to do
out to the side. Lois directs the student
it. Lois also provides reasons for the instructions, including both immediate and long-
(and the Iyengar instructor who is
term effects. For me, an Iyengar yoga student with long-time shoulder trauma, this
assisting the student) to rotate this,
collection exemplifies the satisfying thoroughness with which the Iyengars continue
press that, move this here… and she
to “discover improved and innovative ways to address what ails the human race
tells us to feel the actions in the arm all
through the art and science of yoga.” As a teacher, I believe that therapeutic
the way to the sternum and upper back.
instructors will find this book indispensable. The teachings in this volume are so
This pose is a foundational, active
valuable because they thoroughly address the anatomical problems students with
reliever of chronic misalignment for the
neck and shoulder issues struggle with, and they provide clear solutions.
upper body, and it’s clear to me when practicing, when I feel the actions she
Jesse Moore Kelsch has been practicing Iyengar yoga for eleven years and teaching for five. She has
describes, that it should be repeated
passed her Introductory I teaching assessment and is pursuing Intro II. She teaches at the Granada Yoga
often. Lois’ clear instructions help
Studio in Alpine, Texas. Earlier in life, she carried a heavy backpack on one shoulder, had low self-
students organize the actions that they
esteem resulting in poor posture, had an unaddressed case of whiplash from a car accident, used to
wouldn’t have been able to discover for
reach for gallon jugs of water behind the passenger seat while driving, liked to throw a baseball without warming up, sat (and still sits) at the computer a lot, forgets to put ice on her injuries…
Yoga Samachar
Spring /Summer 2011
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