Yoga Builds Bones: Easy, Gentle Stretches That Prevent Osteoporosis

I was recently diagnosed with advanced osteoporosis. I am 54 with the bones of an 85 year old. I was at first shocked followed by depression, frustration and despair. I bought a stack of books on osteoporosis, all informative and valuable, but it is this one together with Linda Sparrowe's YOGA FOR HEALTHY BONES that gently turned me around, opened my heart, lifted me out of the depth of my depression and inspired me to return to my yoga practice. Jan Maddern in YOGA BUILDS BONES writes with authority and yet with a sensitivity that makes me trust her yoga program and motivates me to help myself heal and strengthen my weakened bones. She has helped heal my fragile heart as well as my fragile bones and I thank her.

This is truly a wonderful book, beautifully and thoughtfully written, with valuable information, excellent exercises, stretches and meditations. It condenses some of the valuable treasures yoga offers in spare, intelligent prose that seem lit from within. I would recommend it for any younger, healthy woman wishing to prevent osteoporosis in later life or looking for a way to balance hormones naturally now.Someone older and anyone with health problems should definitely show this book to her doctor before plunging in. Many of the poses require a great deal of strength in the upper body and great flexibility. I gave it only four stars because having just one illustration per exercise or stretch, most of which are multi-stepped, is often not sufficient for a person new to yoga, as I am, to figure out how to do the sequences correctly. Although I read the instructions a number of times before trying each pose, I fear I might do something wrong and inadvertently hurt myself. Still, this isn't insurmountable: I have other books which show many of the poses in more detail, and a video. I think a teacher or a class would be most helpful, too, for anyone planning to buy this book.All in all, though, it is a great book which will get a lot of use: a real treasure!

muscles, to prevent bone loss.This book is aimed at women; the author is a yoga teacher that specializes with post-menopausal women. Her Mother was diagnosed with osteoporosis. This book is a gem, very well researched and thorough.The book opens with calcium information, what causes oteoporosis, myths, foods that help and don't, a calcium test and ideas beyond calcium to build bones.Then 5 routines are shown to build bone and maintain strong bones and develop muscle tone. Five routines cover: Upper body,Lower body, Ovaries, Adrenals,and Parathyroids, Pineal, and Pituitary glands. Parathyroid glands control calcium levels in the blood. Black and white sketches show the pose, the name, the benefits and instruction, also the focus and sometimes a visualization is given. No equipment is necessary and benefits include more energy, deeper sleep and less stress.The author encouarges Women to see how YOGA can benefit them in other areas of life. The book ends with a bonus section for menopause symptoms.I bought this book as a preventive aid, my grandmother had osteoporosis. I don't know if it was her lifestyle or genetics that caused it to develop or both, but why take any chances.