Combine the ancient practice of hatha yoga with the shapes and mystical meanings of the Hebrew letters to enhance your physical health and deepen your spiritual life.
This unique guide shows both the yoga enthusiast and the yoga novice how to use hatha yoga postures and techniques to physically connect with Jewish spirituality.
"If you are curious about hatha yoga, Aleph-Bet Yoga provides a safe introduction to the basic yoga postures and techniques. If you are one of the tens of thousands of Jews who already practice hatha yoga, Aleph-Bet Yoga will connect your yoga to something explicitly Jewish. With its Jewish content and intent, Aleph-Bet Yoga will enhance rather than interfere with your religious identity."
-from the Introduction
As we move our bodies through the Hebrew aleph-bet, turning toward the inner meaning of the letters, we can tap into the deep connections between our body, mind and spirit.
Drawing on the sacred texts and mystical writings of Judaism, combined with the insights of yoga teacher Steven Rapp, Aleph-Bet Yoga is an East-meets-West experience for our whole selves.
Aleph-Bet Yoga makes it easy for anyone to incorporate yoga into their life, and combines the physical and spiritual aspects of Judaism. It features step-by-step instructions, photographs clearly demonstrating each yoga pose, and insightful words to inspire and guide us in connecting the spiritual meaning of the Hebrew letters to our yoga practice.
Industry Reviews
"Beautifully synthesized yoga and Judaism in understandable and poetic ways. A testament to the power of yoga as a way of life to enhance any faith."
-Marsha Wenig, creator of YogaKids
"At last, a whole-bodied approach to Hebrew that not only informs the mind but opens the soul. This is not your Bubbe's aleph-bet book, but it should have been"
-Rabbi Rami Shapiro, translator/annotator of The Hebrew Prophets: Selections Annotated and Explained and Hasidic Tales: Annotated and Explained
"An intriguing, interesting and innovative concept. Using Hebrew letters as parallels to ancient yogic asansas opens exciting possibilities of intregration."
-Aruni Nan Futuronsky, director of Retreat and Renewal, Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health
"Reader-friendly, poetic, and insightful ... an excellent beginning guide for those who want to view yoga through a Jewish Lens."
-Alan Reder, contributing editor to Yoga Journal; coauthor of The Whole Parenting Guide