Today was all about side bends: rotations from the waist, triangle, side bends with arms raised, side bends while sitting, leg lifts from lying on the side, and some twists.
It’s become automatic to do yoga every day, which is one of the reasons I am doing a course from a book rather than just what I feel like doing, or some existing routines. I have tended to stop after a few days before restarting. The course gives a little prompt at first, and now I wouldn’t want to start the day any other way. My body moves with more ease, my neck and shoulders are unwinding, I feel taller, stronger and more nimble. I like that word nimble.
The Hittleman book is largely aimed at the women’s health market, and discusses beauty quite a bit. It is also old fashioned in places, talking about the housewife at home, the husband in the office. Despite this, it is a great yoga book/course. From a page today on Beauty:
A beautiful woman radiates from within; her complexion glows and her eyes shine. Her movements are graceful, they flow with a natural rhythm. The entire body of a self-realised woman will be beautiful because she is deeply aware of her inner beauty, and this awareness is transferred to all who come into contact with her. The humility, compassion and love of a beautiful woman are genuine, and a mystical quality is present.
Krishnamurti:
We listenwith hope and fear; we seek the light of another but are not alertly passive to be able to understand. If the liberated seems to fulfill our desires we accept him; if not, we continue our search for the one who will. What most of us desire is gratification at different levels. What is important is not how to recognize one who is liberated but how to understand yourself. No authority here or hereafter can give you knowledge of yourself; without self-knowledge there is no liberation from ignorance, from sorrow.
Falling Awake 
Hi Duncan, I am thinking of giving a friend a yoga book as a gift. I think the Hittleman one you are using suits her. Which edition do you have? There’s an 1983 ed. and one is 1969. Do you have comments about either one? Thanks and look forward to reading more of it.
Sometimes reading K I feel the whole body relax and muscles tensions undone. And even body illness relieved. That’s not to say one should skip yoga altogether, but I marvel about that.
Enjoy your day Duncan.
Annie
Hi Annie
You found the book I have http://www.amazon.com/Richard-Hittlemans-Yoga-Exercise-Plan/dp/0911104216 which is the 80s one. Lots of (black & white) photos. As I said, a little bit dated with talk of housewives and being well for your husband! But it’s a good straightforward approach to yoga, a wide variety of postures taught clearly and progressively. The only other version I’ve seen is the UK one from 1998: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Richard-Hittlemans-Yoga-Exercise-Plan/dp/0553277480/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1263929008&sr=8-1 but must be the same inside pretty much. Another course style one I have is Rodney Yee’s 8 weeks. I would say that is harder for a beginner than Hittleman’s.
10 years ago I read a book which said that what we read has a direct effect on the body. I wish I could remember the book title; it was great, and has massive repercussions for health and also what to avoid!
Love
Duncan
Thanks Duncan, that’s helpful. Think I’ll get the newer one for my friend.
I still practice hatha and Scaravelli is so far my fav. But I always enjoy reading up other’s takes. I don’t know if we ever talked about the Sivnanda one, I thought it was a nice one as well. I also have Health, healing, and Beyond by Desikachar(sp?).
That’s nice. I am also seeing how the body tells me what to avoid – food, even certain people! Well, no, that’s also a lesson to learn embedded in the bodily reactions….
joy!
annie