Must read for yoga-fanatics. Some section were very insightful, some were a bit more fluffy than I expected from a science journalist. Three and a half star. ( )

'The Science of Yoga is a wonderful read that any yoga practitioner thirsting for authenticity should study carefully before suiting up.'-David Gordon White, author of Kiss of the Yogini

In this remarkable book about yoga, William Broad, a lifelong pracitioner, shows us that uncommon states are integral to a hidden world of risk and reward that lies beneath clouds of myth, superstition, and hype.

Five years in the making, The Science of Yoga draws on more than a century of painstaking research to present the first impartial evaluation of a practice thousands of years old. It celebrates what's real and shows what's illusory, describes what's uplifting and beneficial and what's flaky and dangeous-and why. Broad illuminates how yoga can lift moods and inspire creativity. He exposes moves that can cripple and kill. As science often does, this groundbreaking book also reveals mysteries. It presents a fascinating body of evidence that raises questions abut whether humans have latent capabilities for entering states of suspended animation and unremitting sexual bliss.

The Science of Yoga takes us on a riveting tour of unknown yoga that goes from old archives in Calcutta to the world capitals of medical research, from storied ashrams to spotless laboratories, from sweaty yoga studios with master teachers to the cozy offices of yoga healers. Broad unveils a burgeoning global industry that attracts not only curous scientists but true believers and charismatic hustlers. In the end, he shatters myths, lays out unexpected benefits, and offers a compelling vision of how the ancient practice can be improved.

William J. Broad has practiced yoga since 1970. A senior wirter at The New York Times, he has won every major award inprint and television as a science journalist. With Times colleagues, he has wice won the Pulitzer Prize, as well as an Emmy and a duPont. He is the author or coauthor of seven books, including Germs: Biological Weapons and America's Secret War (Simon & Schuster, 2001), a number one New York Times bestseller.

'William Broad is optimistic and hopeful in pointing the away to the future of yoga as a major force in preventing and treating disease.'-Gail Sheehy, author of Passages in Caregiving

'Yoga, an ancient practice with millions of modern practitioners, has been the subject of overheated speculation and grandiose claims; it has been dismissed without warrant as well, underappreciated by some who might well benefit from it. The Science of Yoga is a lucid and long overdue account of what scientists have found in their attempts to ferret out the truth abut what youga can and cannot do to heal and make better the body and mind. It is a fascinating and important book.'-Kay Redfield Jamison, author of An Unquiet Mind and Touched With Fire

'The Science of Yoga offers a riveting much-needed clear-eyed look at the yoga mystique. In this investigation, science journalist William Broad pulls back the curtain on the little-discussed world of yoga injuries and risks, while setting the record straight about the numerous potential benefits. Downward Dog will never look the same.'-Daniel Goleman, author of Emotional Intelligence

'If this book doesn't motivate you to practice yoga, nothing will. Broad sheds light on yoga's health benefits and hoaxes, covering everything from headstands to hypertension, the vagus nerve to the YogaButt. Finally, I understand why I feel so good when I do yoga. His lively exploration of its evolution from Benares to Beverly Hills flows like any great practice should-with intelligence, good humor, and some mind-blowing insights.'-Priscilla Warner, author of Learning to Breathe: My Yearlong Quest to Bring Calm to My Life and coauthor of The Faith Club

'After reading The Science of Yoga, I am even more awed by the magnificent complexities of the human body and mind, and astonished that we can exert so much control over this invisible realm through the practice of yoga. Brad has not only thoroughly researched his topic, he has lived it.'-Alan Lightman, author of Einstein's Dreams

Contents

List of illustrations
Main characters
Styles of yoga
Chronology
Prologue
I Health
II Fit perfection
III Moods
IV Risk of injury
V Healing
VI Divine sex
VII Muse
Epilogue
Further reading
Notes
Bibliography
Acknowledgments
Index

The book started out strong and talked about a lot of studies of various sizes, and took us quickly through the history of Yoga. Then in the last 1.5 chapters (maybe the publishers were rushing him?) he threw the scientific premise out the window and went into talking about personal experiences of various people. For example, the man who claimed to have magically learned German without ever having seen or heard it. Not only did he forget that the book was supposed to be about science at this point, he also forgot it was supposed to be about Yoga!

Despite this, I really enjoyed most of this book, and it really instilled in me the importance of putting ego and ambition aside and not trying to do poses I'm not ready for.

I recommend it to Yoga fans, I'm sure it would be boring to anyone else.

Summary of scientific findings:


Yoga can:

Slow your heart
Slow your metabolism
Reduce levels of stress and anxiety
Treat depression
Cause serious injuries and even death (especially certain poses)
Improve your sex life (It started as a branch of Tantra)
Treat some injuries (according to some Yoga Therapist MDs)
Restore movement in some parts of the body (according to some Yoga Therapist MDs)
Increase strength and flexibility

Yoga can't:

Prevent / cure cancer
Make you levitate
Stop your heart
Give you a proper cardio work out (At least not Sun Salutations and not Ashtanga yoga )


Finally, I want to point out that no type of physical exercise helps you lose weight, because I think that is a totally unfair criticism to lob solely at Yoga: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCtn4Ap8kDM ( )

Generally, an interesting (and fairly quick) read highlighting the relatively small set of scientific research behind yoga and measuring it against the claims made by both traditional texts and modern "masters" of the practice. Both the health benefits and the risks are highlighted, and the author does a good job of balancing positive, negative, and indeterminate research. That said, the book is still generally positive toward the practice, and takes an almost idealist view of how science can help yoga become safer and part of a more mainstream (MORE mainstream?!) practice.

One thing I would have liked to have seen is some comparative insight in relation other practices that focus on stretching, flexibility and breathing, such as, for example, tai chi and qigong. Similarly to yoga, such practices have also received some limited scientific research that point to various benefits. It would be interesting to see which has more support for various types of health benefits, which might contain greater risks, and perhaps what types of conditions one might be better to practice over another. Perhaps there isn't enough research out there to draw such comparisons, but the author's apparent bias toward yoga seem to have trumped any thought of such a comparison regardless.

The only real annoyance I had with the book was in the epilogue. I agree with the author that more scientific study of the health benefits of yoga is warranted. That said, the implication that it must come at the hands of federal funding is absurd, especially considering a decent amount of the research the author cited in the book was not federally funded. In any case, scientists and science supporters need to get past the idea that government should provide funding for everything they want to study (or have studied). Set up a freakin' kickstarter, for crissake. Or dedicate proceeds from your book to support a study. There are plenty of ways to have scientific studies done without government support.

Anyway, the minor irritation noted above notwithstanding, the book is worth reading overall if you enjoy yoga, are thinking about doing yoga, or even are interested in health-related sciences in general. ( )

This book impressed me when I first opened it and saw right-up-front, a page with a paragraph about each of the current yoga styles, and several pages with a paragraph about each of the major characters in the book, and a 7 page chronology from 1500 BC to the present. And, at the back there is a 2 page list of "Further Reading", which includes [b:Yoga for Arthritis: The Complete Guide|2534330|Yoga for Arthritis The Complete Guide|Loren Fishman|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1347371477s/2534330.jpg|2541851]. The body of this book includes a lot about the author, [a:Loren Fishman|249983|Loren Fishman|https://www.goodreads.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-d9f6a4a5badfda0f69e70cc94d962125.png].

"Yoga Journal - the field's leading magazine, founded in 1975 - claims two million readers and identifies its audience as 87 percent women. It revels in their quality, citing high incomes, impressive jobs, and good education. A brochure for prospective advertisers notes that more than 90 percent have gone to college."
"The colorful pages of the magazine offer a vivid example of how companies target the demographic. Hundreds of ads promote skin-care products, sandals, jewelry, natural soaps, special vitamins and enzymes, alternative cures and therapies, smiling gurus, and ecofriendly cars. Each issue features an index to advertisers." (Page 3)

"I came to this book as a knowledgeable amateur. During my freshman year of college, in 1970, I got hooked on yoga because it felt goo and seemed to make me healthier in body and mind. My first teacher said it was important to do some - even a little - every day. That's alwasy been my goal, despite the usual struggle with good intentions. Yoga has become a good friend to whom I turn no matter how crazy my life gets" (Page 5)

Chapter 4: Risk of Injury: was initially scary, but I came to realize that it's just like running. Excess (either in time or intensity) is likely to cause injury. Still there are some poses where one should be cautious to avoid neck injury.

"In recent years, many people have learned to ignore the exaggerated claims and the unabashed gurus (with or without fleets of Rolls-Royces). They lift weights to build muscles and run to challenge their hearts even while pursuing yoga for flexibility and its other rewards. They are know as cross trainers. Their diverse workouts complement one another to produce a balance of benefits. (Page 95)
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