Yogi

Relax Like An Australian Yogi

Yoga is not all beds of nails an* wild-eyed emaciated fanatics con templating their navels. Anyhow, no according to Michael Volin am Nancy Phelan who have collaborate < in “Essence of Yoga”, especially pro duced for prospective Australiai addicts of the cult.

Nonetheless, few matur people living what they call “tfi Western life” would get past first bas< —the four sitting poses. Neither th< Easy Pose, Pose of an Adept, Half Lotus, or Lotus (traditional!] assumed for contemplation and al of them requiring the practitioner t( sit cross-legged on the floor), ar< likely to do more for most peopl< than have them crack-off at the hij joints.

Yoga is an ancient philosophy birthplace India, and there are eigh main steps to achieving “the fina liberation of the spirit”. This bool concentrates on only two of tin steps—breathing control and exercise; which are the basis of the cult; anc the bodily positions, or asanas, o: which there are in all 84.

It is this physical aspect of yogai designed to “retain good health anc delay the process of ageing”, tha most interests Westerners, By anc large they aren’t inclined to go the whole hog like the Eastern sage* with celibacy, total abstinence from alcohol, vegetarian diet and fasting.

The book has dozens of illustra tions—many of them of people stand ing on their heads with their legs tied in true-lovers-knots; or reclining in relaxed positions on the back oJ their necks, Michael Volin is a New Australian White Russian, learned his yoga in China and now runs a school ol his own in Sydney. Nancy Phelan is our old friend, ex-South Pacific Commission, photographer, novelist and associate of Volin in his yogs work. (In case you don’t know: yoga is the cult; a yogi, is a person who practises it). (Published by Dymock’s Book Arcade* Sydney. Price, 31/6.)