Yoga abs : moving from your core

87 Pages·2005·1.46 MB·English

by  Lasater

Table of Contents

Praise
Title Page
Dedication
Acknowledgements

Part One - A Gut Feeling
The Western Belly
The Eastern Belly
Blending West and East
How to Use This Book

Part Two - The Abdominals: A Woven Set of Muscles

Part Three - Moving from Your Core
Experiencing the Abdominals as Stabilizers
The Bad News About Sit-Ups
Strong Abs
Asana as Strengtheners
The Abdominals on Their Own
Freedom in Backbending: Opening from the Belly
The Belly and Breathing

Part Four - Putting It Together
Level 1 Starting to Strengthen/Postpartum
Level 2 Making It a Little Harder
Level 3 Challenging Yourself

Part Five - Everyday Abs

Part Six - Resources
Yoga with Judith Hanson Lasater, Ph.D., P.T.
Books
Props Photographed in Yoga Abs
Other Recommended Resources
Where to Find a Yoga Teacher Online

About the Model
About the Author
From the Publisher
Index
Copyright Page
Praise for Yoga Abs
In Yoga Abs, Judith Hanson Lasater provides a much-needed and fresh look at the
abdominal muscles. Bypassing the usual curls and crunches, she examines their
lesser-known—but more important—function as spine and torso stabilizers.
The exercises integrate abdominal awareness into yoga poses, and range from
very gentle, which are appropriate for postpartum mothers, to challenging
enough for advanced yoga practitioners. She even includes a section about how
to use the abdominals in daily activities. Yoga Abs will appeal to a wide audience.
—Julie Gudmestad, P.T., director, Gudmestad Yoga Studio, Portland, Oregon; author of Yoga
Journal’s “Anatomy of a Yogi” column

Well beyond cosmetic concerns, the lack of strength and flexibility in the abdominal muscles
contributes to everything from back pain to falls in the elderly. In Yoga Abs, Judith Hanson Lasater
shows how to tell if these muscles are weak and provides a step-by-step plan to remedy the situation.
If you still think that stomach crunches are the best way to firm up your belly, do yourself a favor and
buy this book.
—Timothy McCall, M.D., medical editor of Yoga Journal; author of Yoga as Medicine

Judith Hanson Lasater’s expert yoga guidance will introduce you to muscles that you never knew you
had and to new ways of using them! Both practical and compassionate, Yoga Abs is a vote for
intuition and self-reliance.
—Julie Lawrence, director, Julie Lawrence Yoga Center, Portland, Oregon
Relax and Renew: Restful Yoga for Stressful Times (1995)
Living Your Yoga: Finding the Spiritual in Everyday Life (2000)
30 Essential Yoga Poses: For Beginning Students and Their Teachers (2003)
Yoga for Pregnancy: What Every Mom-to-Be Needs to Know (2004)
Yoga Abs: Moving from Your Core (2005)

Also by Judith Hanson Lasater, Ph.D., P.T. and published by Rodmell Press

To Ike Kampmann Lasater, whose clarity and love enrich my life every day
Acknowledgments
My sincere thanks to all who made this book a reality.

My family is a constant support and inspiration: Ike, Miles, Kam, and Elizabeth.

My deep namaste to B. K. S. Iyengar, for his willingness to share his knowledge
of yoga with me.

I am grateful to Julie Gudmestad, P.T., Julie Lawrence, and Timothy McCall,
M.D., not only for their endorsements, but also for their friendship.

My enthusiastic appreciation goes to the photography crew: photographer David
Martinez, model Diane Sherman, hair and makeup artist France Dushane, studio
manager Aneata Hagy, photographer’s assistant Hudson Cuneo, and caterer Jeff
Mason, who contributed to the visual presentation of this book. I enjoyed so
much the spirit of teamwork that prevailed.

I appreciate Hugger-Mugger Yoga Products, who generously provided their
props for the photographs.

I extend my gratitude to the editorial and design team at Rodmell Press for their
expertise and vision: editor and photo producer Linda Cogozzo, copy editor
Kathryn L. Kaiser, indexer Ty Koontz, and designers Gopa and Veetam, at Gopa
& Ted2, Inc.

I especially thank my publishers, Donald Moyer and Linda Cogozzo, for their
immeasurable help and encouragement in shaping this book.