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One Simple Thing: A New Look at the Science of Yoga and How It Can Transform Your Life
A pragmatic and succinct introduction to the purposes and benefits of yoga--philosophical, physiological, mental, and spiritual--and how practice affects the body/mind to realize those purposes and benefits
Yoga is reputed to improve our physical and mental health, and to help us become more productive at work, more caring in relationships, and a more responsible contributor to society and inhabitant on this planet. If yoga does accomplish all that--and most practitioners will swear it's true--how exactly does it do it? Believe it or not, there are answers. And they are based in how the human body/mind functions, how we are built and wired, and how what we do can direct and change that.
Drawing on modern neuroscience, ancient wisdom, and decades of practice and teaching, Eddie Stern's One Simple Thing, with a foreword from Deepak Chopra, explains how what we do affects who we become, and reveals how a steady routine of physical movements, activities, and attitudes are able to transform not just our bodies but our brain functions and emotions, and how we experience life.
Yoga is reputed to improve our physical and mental health, and to help us become more productive at work, more caring in relationships, and a more responsible contributor to society and inhabitant on this planet. If yoga does accomplish all that--and most practitioners will swear it's true--how exactly does it do it? Believe it or not, there are answers. And they are based in how the human body/mind functions, how we are built and wired, and how what we do can direct and change that.
Drawing on modern neuroscience, ancient wisdom, and decades of practice and teaching, Eddie Stern's One Simple Thing, with a foreword from Deepak Chopra, explains how what we do affects who we become, and reveals how a steady routine of physical movements, activities, and attitudes are able to transform not just our bodies but our brain functions and emotions, and how we experience life.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published March 12, 2019
421 people are currently reading
1,945 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 92 reviews
July 25, 2019
This isn't a bad book, but I could not get on board with the simplification of yoga philosophy. First, to collapse the yamas and niyamas into "be nice" categories (although Stern does dip back into them later, in brief.) The other major issue with the philosophy was the popular concept of balancing the gunas. The gunas are tools to understanding, but the goal isn't to balance them. It is to transcend them. This is laid out clearly in the Bhagavad Gita. Sure, balancing them may be an easier, less slippery goal than transcending them. I truthfully doubt that in my lifetime, I will be able to even balance them. But the goal should still be in mind. I also feel that using Pattabhi Jois as a philosophy source is somewhat suspect, given that evidence has mounted up that he had issues with his treatment of female students. Can the other teachings be true if the behavior was bad? I don't know.
The physical aspects of this book seemed solid. Vagal response, heart rate variation, that was all good. The problem was that I couldn't surrender to the second half because of the first.
For someone who isn't particularly interested in the philosophical aspects of yoga in the first place, I don't think this book would do any harm. It would be a nice introduction to some of the concepts if nothing was known. And of course, I come from a particular viewpoint in regards to yoga philosophy, and Stern has his. So, not a bad book, but perhaps realize that the philosophy will have its contenders.
The physical aspects of this book seemed solid. Vagal response, heart rate variation, that was all good. The problem was that I couldn't surrender to the second half because of the first.
For someone who isn't particularly interested in the philosophical aspects of yoga in the first place, I don't think this book would do any harm. It would be a nice introduction to some of the concepts if nothing was known. And of course, I come from a particular viewpoint in regards to yoga philosophy, and Stern has his. So, not a bad book, but perhaps realize that the philosophy will have its contenders.
November 26, 2019
It’s all about the vagus nerve, baby.
One Simple Thing by ashtanga practitioner, Eddie Stern, investigates why yoga seems to work. Yoga poses don’t have to be done well or right for people to feel good, yet it’s still different from the feeling you get after an aerobics work-out. Stern explores the science behind yoga and how it is an “effective practice for nervous self-regulation” , making a good case for understanding how exactly yoga helps our mind, body and breath through the vagus nerve.
The vagus nerve extends from the brainstem down into the stomach and intestines, the longest and most complex cranial nerve to connect brain to our organs. Through postures, breathing and focused attention, yoga accesses our nervous system, which perceives stress, and can have a profound impact on the vagus nerve to help balance the nervous system. Yoga is not the cure-all, be-all but it sure can help, as Stern says.
I highly enjoyed the chapters on the self, reality and having a healthy self-narrative. Overall, a great book although the science chapters are a bit dry. Enjoyed this and am going to have to review the science chapters.
One Simple Thing by ashtanga practitioner, Eddie Stern, investigates why yoga seems to work. Yoga poses don’t have to be done well or right for people to feel good, yet it’s still different from the feeling you get after an aerobics work-out. Stern explores the science behind yoga and how it is an “effective practice for nervous self-regulation” , making a good case for understanding how exactly yoga helps our mind, body and breath through the vagus nerve.
The vagus nerve extends from the brainstem down into the stomach and intestines, the longest and most complex cranial nerve to connect brain to our organs. Through postures, breathing and focused attention, yoga accesses our nervous system, which perceives stress, and can have a profound impact on the vagus nerve to help balance the nervous system. Yoga is not the cure-all, be-all but it sure can help, as Stern says.
I highly enjoyed the chapters on the self, reality and having a healthy self-narrative. Overall, a great book although the science chapters are a bit dry. Enjoyed this and am going to have to review the science chapters.
April 8, 2019
Eddie Stern brings together many of the concepts and practices of yoga, and explains, in a very easy to understand way, how they work scientifically. Definitely worth reading.
August 9, 2022
Not everything from ancient Indic literature can be explained through western view point nor it has the vocabulary to comprehend it. But still this book comes close to elaborating on the process of how to find answers to the most pertinent questions...
Who am I?
What am I doing here?
What should I do next?
Can you imagine consciously managing your heart beat, remember to inhale and exhale, digest your food, guide the development of the baby (if you are pregnant) or any other functions of your internal organs? And then, what happens when you go to sleep? Who manages all this? Autopilot? Our inner ear tracks gravity of earth’s core, calculates sun’s salutation to keep us balanced and stand upright. There are two parts of our nervous system sympathetic (that communicates with organs to maintain a working balance) and parasympathetic (that works when we rest or are asleep). You will find information both yogic and scientific on these complementary systems, one being metabolic and the other nurturing.
It dwells with Yoga as a practice. Yoga is a practice, and if you do even just a little bit every day, the effects are compounded over time and carry over into the rest of our lives. Yoga is considered to be the steady fixing of the sense organs. To have some sense of control on stimulus received so that one can experience other dimensions as ….
One with nature
One with yourself
One with the element (universe)
Not everything is about GYAN, it has notes on how one can tweak your current daily routine to include these practices like…
How to BREATHE?
How to eat and what?
How to go to sleep?
How to create a feeling of gratitude and appreciation?
Interesting quote:
The yogis uprooted cycle of action, memory, desire by not acting upon every desire that arose in their mind.
Who am I?
What am I doing here?
What should I do next?
Can you imagine consciously managing your heart beat, remember to inhale and exhale, digest your food, guide the development of the baby (if you are pregnant) or any other functions of your internal organs? And then, what happens when you go to sleep? Who manages all this? Autopilot? Our inner ear tracks gravity of earth’s core, calculates sun’s salutation to keep us balanced and stand upright. There are two parts of our nervous system sympathetic (that communicates with organs to maintain a working balance) and parasympathetic (that works when we rest or are asleep). You will find information both yogic and scientific on these complementary systems, one being metabolic and the other nurturing.
It dwells with Yoga as a practice. Yoga is a practice, and if you do even just a little bit every day, the effects are compounded over time and carry over into the rest of our lives. Yoga is considered to be the steady fixing of the sense organs. To have some sense of control on stimulus received so that one can experience other dimensions as ….
One with nature
One with yourself
One with the element (universe)
Not everything is about GYAN, it has notes on how one can tweak your current daily routine to include these practices like…
How to BREATHE?
How to eat and what?
How to go to sleep?
How to create a feeling of gratitude and appreciation?
Interesting quote:
The yogis uprooted cycle of action, memory, desire by not acting upon every desire that arose in their mind.
July 17, 2022
Life is always filled with hardships, and to be able to endure them patiently is the sign of a yogi. If we get upset by small things, according to Eddie Stern, the learned author of One Simple Thing, then our minds are not ready for the deeper levels of yoga. But by building up endurance through purposefully engaging in small amounts of hardship – such as calmly staying in a challenging pose for some time or sitting for periods of meditation without moving – we build up strength of mind to be able to endure discomfort, and this helps to make the mind steady. The book is full of such simple and practical insights. Somewhere it is suggested that decide how often you want to practice. Two, three, four, or five times per week – it is up to you. Even once a week is okay as long as you actually do.
Eddie Stern has been teaching, practicing, and studying yoga, Sanskrit, and related disciplines for more than three decades in America. The book, One Simple Thing, is a result of his explorations into various yogic ideas and scientific research on the underlying neurobiological mechanisms that help explain how and why yoga has a positive overall impact on our bodies, our minds, and the world, and how we can find happiness, meaning, and purpose in it. He tries to bring clarity on how by doing one simple thing, one generalized yoga practice, people are able to reduce stress, ease body pains, improve cardiovascular function, reduce diabetes medication, feel happier, get angry less often, and improve their sleep and digestion. It’s a well-researched book with extensive references and a bibliography.
There is total eleven chapters in the book, starting with what is yoga, the eight limbs, the practice of postures, the seat of awareness, where is my mind, who am I, the first two limbs, internal energy, breath as spirit, tips on practice, and the nervous system. The experienced author has also provided separate sections for guided practices on resonance breathing, unilateral breathing, loving-kindness meditation, and body scan. A must read for anyone interested either to understand a complete vision of yoga’s potential, or to transform their body and mind.
Eddie Stern has been teaching, practicing, and studying yoga, Sanskrit, and related disciplines for more than three decades in America. The book, One Simple Thing, is a result of his explorations into various yogic ideas and scientific research on the underlying neurobiological mechanisms that help explain how and why yoga has a positive overall impact on our bodies, our minds, and the world, and how we can find happiness, meaning, and purpose in it. He tries to bring clarity on how by doing one simple thing, one generalized yoga practice, people are able to reduce stress, ease body pains, improve cardiovascular function, reduce diabetes medication, feel happier, get angry less often, and improve their sleep and digestion. It’s a well-researched book with extensive references and a bibliography.
There is total eleven chapters in the book, starting with what is yoga, the eight limbs, the practice of postures, the seat of awareness, where is my mind, who am I, the first two limbs, internal energy, breath as spirit, tips on practice, and the nervous system. The experienced author has also provided separate sections for guided practices on resonance breathing, unilateral breathing, loving-kindness meditation, and body scan. A must read for anyone interested either to understand a complete vision of yoga’s potential, or to transform their body and mind.
August 20, 2019
Nice balance of science and spirituality. All aspects of yoga philosophy, Ayurveda, Science and Anatomy, and practices (including meditation and asana) are covered. I would recommend it for a well seasoned practitioner or the 300/500 level of yoga teacher training. One needs to know basic concepts of yoga before reading this in order to comprehend everything and experienced and lived their yoga, for the words to resonate.
October 25, 2019
wow! this is definitely one of the best and the most important books i have read this year.
its title does a great job at clarifying what the book is about, so i won`t go that way. i will simply say that if you are eager to know more about your well-being and are willing to make some changes, this is a must-read. it is complex and complicated, but definitely worth the efforts.
its title does a great job at clarifying what the book is about, so i won`t go that way. i will simply say that if you are eager to know more about your well-being and are willing to make some changes, this is a must-read. it is complex and complicated, but definitely worth the efforts.
June 28, 2019
What to say... Eddie Stern is my teacher. He’s an inspiration. Reading this book is like to be at one of his conferences or yoga therapy classes. This book is like a first brick that will help us to grow in our personal journey. Thanks for sharing all your intuitions, knowledge and love.
December 24, 2019
40th book of 2019 (124th book overall)
Quote from the Book I Liked - ‘To accept healing is difficult, and mental healing the most difficult of all.’ (Page no. xii)
&
‘When the mind functions as both the jailer and the prisoner, finding an end to mental suffering seems incredibly difficult. Even motivating people to try is daunting’ (Page no. xiii)
Rating - 4 Stars
Plot Summary - HARNESS THE POWER OF YOGA TO TRANSFORM YOUR LIFE.
Yoga was created as a science for liberation, but in modern times it is used by many to improve physical and mental health, helping us become more productive at work, more caring in relationships, more responsible contributors to society, and better inhabitants of this planet. How does yoga accomplish all that?
Believe it or not, the answers lie in how the human body and mind function. Eddie Stern’s One Simple Thing explains from both a yogic and a scientific perspective on how the human nervous system is wired. It describes the mechanics taking place beneath the surface of our bodies and shows how we can consciously use yogic practices to direct and change our lives in positive ways.
Drawing on modern neuroscience, ancient wisdom, and decades of practice and teaching, Eddie Stern reveals how what we do – from diet to chanting, from postures to meditation, from ethical practices to breathing techniques – affects who we become, and how a steady routine of activities and attitudes can transform our bodies, our brain functions, our emotions, and our experience of life.
My Review - For a long time, I wanted to read some good book on Yoga which mixed the ancient art of wellness with modern science to give a better and trustful insight of it. And finally, I got my hands on ‘One Simple Thing’ by Eddie Stern. Thank you, Pan Mac Millian and Eddie Stern for presenting us with such an intuitive book which made the simple are of yoga more reachable to those who searched for the scientific meaning behind it. Yoga has been part of India since its dawn and for the past few decades, people started practising for the sole purpose of weight loss and as a health regime (which it is), yet the core meaning of Yoga being a connection between Soul and the Human body felt a bit faded. This book helped even me who loves to read and implement yogic and spiritually inclined stuff in my life. The simple explanation and techniques mentioned in this book will surely help all those seeking the meaning behind what they do (In this case yoga). As the age-old saying goes – ‘Yoga se hi hoga‘, (Will only happen with yoga). Yoga is a healing tool whose core purpose is lesser-known to the common people and this book will benefit them as well as those who want to know more about this ancient technique.v
Conclusion - This book will help in culminate Yoga in your daily life.
Full Review on Blog.
Link to Blog - The Tales of Fugitive Biker
Quote from the Book I Liked - ‘To accept healing is difficult, and mental healing the most difficult of all.’ (Page no. xii)
&
‘When the mind functions as both the jailer and the prisoner, finding an end to mental suffering seems incredibly difficult. Even motivating people to try is daunting’ (Page no. xiii)
Rating - 4 Stars
Plot Summary - HARNESS THE POWER OF YOGA TO TRANSFORM YOUR LIFE.
Yoga was created as a science for liberation, but in modern times it is used by many to improve physical and mental health, helping us become more productive at work, more caring in relationships, more responsible contributors to society, and better inhabitants of this planet. How does yoga accomplish all that?
Believe it or not, the answers lie in how the human body and mind function. Eddie Stern’s One Simple Thing explains from both a yogic and a scientific perspective on how the human nervous system is wired. It describes the mechanics taking place beneath the surface of our bodies and shows how we can consciously use yogic practices to direct and change our lives in positive ways.
Drawing on modern neuroscience, ancient wisdom, and decades of practice and teaching, Eddie Stern reveals how what we do – from diet to chanting, from postures to meditation, from ethical practices to breathing techniques – affects who we become, and how a steady routine of activities and attitudes can transform our bodies, our brain functions, our emotions, and our experience of life.
My Review - For a long time, I wanted to read some good book on Yoga which mixed the ancient art of wellness with modern science to give a better and trustful insight of it. And finally, I got my hands on ‘One Simple Thing’ by Eddie Stern. Thank you, Pan Mac Millian and Eddie Stern for presenting us with such an intuitive book which made the simple are of yoga more reachable to those who searched for the scientific meaning behind it. Yoga has been part of India since its dawn and for the past few decades, people started practising for the sole purpose of weight loss and as a health regime (which it is), yet the core meaning of Yoga being a connection between Soul and the Human body felt a bit faded. This book helped even me who loves to read and implement yogic and spiritually inclined stuff in my life. The simple explanation and techniques mentioned in this book will surely help all those seeking the meaning behind what they do (In this case yoga). As the age-old saying goes – ‘Yoga se hi hoga‘, (Will only happen with yoga). Yoga is a healing tool whose core purpose is lesser-known to the common people and this book will benefit them as well as those who want to know more about this ancient technique.v
Conclusion - This book will help in culminate Yoga in your daily life.
Full Review on Blog.
Link to Blog - The Tales of Fugitive Biker
May 30, 2022
One Simple Thing by Eddie Stern is a Health & Lifestyle book which talks about mind-body axis and how the wellbeing of one impact the health of the other. I have received this as the first book by the Indica Org under the second edition of its 1000 Reviewers Club.
Stern looks at the Science of Yoga, which has been passed down to us from thousands of years through the teachings of our Rishis and Gurus and has been codified by Patanjali, and links it with the latest findings in the fields of Medical Science to understand how the practice of Yoga has deep connection with how our mind-body relates with each other and interacts with the world outside of us. How we are one piece of the entire cosmos, integrated with other people and the environment around us.
The author starts with the introduction of Yoga, with a brief background about himself and his quest of life; and builds on his knowledge of Yoga and Yoga-sutras as he came to understand them through his Gurus. He draws heavily on what he learned about the science of Yoga from his own experience over the last several decades to present his argument about Ashtanga Yoga.
He presents his argument citing Yoga Sutras for the eight-limb yoga, shares the importance of breathing exercise, postures, healthy eating, and positive thoughts and lists out the tools and techniques for each of them. He marries-off these techniques with modern Science in the later part of the book where he cements the practice of Yoga with scientific discoveries and how it helps us in living a more integrated healthy life. He shows how Yoga-asanas and breathing exercises impacts our mind-body complex, how important a balanced vagal tone is; and how integrated the seemingly disparate cog and wheels of a human mind-body complex is.
At the end, he shares a few techniques like Resonance Breathing, Loving-Kindness Meditation and Body Scan and suggests that if one simply try to start from basic relatively easy exercise and make it a part of their life’s routine after a while they will see positive changes in their body, mind, emotions, and thoughts.
The author has tried for simple language and broken the narration in small chapters to make it an easy read. He has also tried for neutral tone to share his learnings and experiences rather than selling Yoga. However, somehow, I didn’t connect with this book. At the start Stern says his focus is on Ashtanga Yoga but so far, I understood, he veered off after introducing the eight-limbs and then he spent so much time on vagal tone that I lost him. He presented a few Yoga Sutras by Patanjali and mentioned that the Sutras are codification, and they don’t elaborate on the whys and whereof, which is essentially correct, however, there are commentaries which helps in understanding those Sutras, which examines a sutra minutely and give detailed explanation for it but he doesn’t touch upon them.
Also at one place, Stern mentions that Yoga is beyond religion and yogis, I disagree with the author here. Yoga is an essential part of Sanatana Dharma, it may not fit into the religion as people have come to understand it today but one cannot isolate it from Hinduism; and yogis are the custodian of this knowledge who have kept it alive through centuries. Also, I would have thought the author to reference Sun Salutation as Suryanamaskara as he did with most of the Indic terms, but he failed to refer it as such, the term used most often in the book.
Overall, it is a good book for a person who wants to learn about the basics of Yoga and few simple techniques and their impact on mind and body.
Stern looks at the Science of Yoga, which has been passed down to us from thousands of years through the teachings of our Rishis and Gurus and has been codified by Patanjali, and links it with the latest findings in the fields of Medical Science to understand how the practice of Yoga has deep connection with how our mind-body relates with each other and interacts with the world outside of us. How we are one piece of the entire cosmos, integrated with other people and the environment around us.
The author starts with the introduction of Yoga, with a brief background about himself and his quest of life; and builds on his knowledge of Yoga and Yoga-sutras as he came to understand them through his Gurus. He draws heavily on what he learned about the science of Yoga from his own experience over the last several decades to present his argument about Ashtanga Yoga.
He presents his argument citing Yoga Sutras for the eight-limb yoga, shares the importance of breathing exercise, postures, healthy eating, and positive thoughts and lists out the tools and techniques for each of them. He marries-off these techniques with modern Science in the later part of the book where he cements the practice of Yoga with scientific discoveries and how it helps us in living a more integrated healthy life. He shows how Yoga-asanas and breathing exercises impacts our mind-body complex, how important a balanced vagal tone is; and how integrated the seemingly disparate cog and wheels of a human mind-body complex is.
At the end, he shares a few techniques like Resonance Breathing, Loving-Kindness Meditation and Body Scan and suggests that if one simply try to start from basic relatively easy exercise and make it a part of their life’s routine after a while they will see positive changes in their body, mind, emotions, and thoughts.
The author has tried for simple language and broken the narration in small chapters to make it an easy read. He has also tried for neutral tone to share his learnings and experiences rather than selling Yoga. However, somehow, I didn’t connect with this book. At the start Stern says his focus is on Ashtanga Yoga but so far, I understood, he veered off after introducing the eight-limbs and then he spent so much time on vagal tone that I lost him. He presented a few Yoga Sutras by Patanjali and mentioned that the Sutras are codification, and they don’t elaborate on the whys and whereof, which is essentially correct, however, there are commentaries which helps in understanding those Sutras, which examines a sutra minutely and give detailed explanation for it but he doesn’t touch upon them.
Also at one place, Stern mentions that Yoga is beyond religion and yogis, I disagree with the author here. Yoga is an essential part of Sanatana Dharma, it may not fit into the religion as people have come to understand it today but one cannot isolate it from Hinduism; and yogis are the custodian of this knowledge who have kept it alive through centuries. Also, I would have thought the author to reference Sun Salutation as Suryanamaskara as he did with most of the Indic terms, but he failed to refer it as such, the term used most often in the book.
Overall, it is a good book for a person who wants to learn about the basics of Yoga and few simple techniques and their impact on mind and body.
May 29, 2022
Very interesting and informative. There was so much information to take in that I will probably forget most of it. But I gained a lot from reading it and it improved my understanding of yoga.
December 23, 2023
Helt fel att ge rating till en sån här bok. Men jag tror att den kan hjälpa en att bli en gladare människa.
November 24, 2020
I've been looking for a while for "Level 2" book on yoga—after going to classes for a few years, taking it more seriously in grad school when anxiety was at an all-time high, I've started wondering what comes next, and also what came before. And I think this filled that need exactly. What is yoga all about? What is its spiritual and scientific basis? How can I take my practice further? Is it really just fancy stretching? Is there a contemporary source I can read to learn this stuff without going back to enigmatic Hindu texts? Is yoga sacrilegious for christians? Lots of good answers to these questions in this easy reading introduction.
He gives an extremely brief history of yoga throughout its thousand-year history and its not-that-recent jump to the Western world (Thoreau was a big yogi). He covers the 8 limbs of yoga, of which postures (asanas) are just one, which, by the way, that was the most striking takeaway for me: making postures or poses is just one part of EIGHT parts of yoga practice. We sometimes touch on another limb of breathing (pranayama) but I've never taken a class that really explains why breathing is so important. Stern does. There's a lot more discussion of terminology in the yoga world, and ways to make this a physical, mental, and spiritual activity. Near the end, he gets 'heavier', linking the limbs of yoga to the anatomy of the nervous system, and discusses the measurable, proven effects that yoga has on our bodies and minds.
Something I personally liked was the profuse use of sanskrit terms and their repetition throughout to reinforce learning. (I'd even go one step further and include the devanagari) He breaks down all the words to their core parts/morphemes and explains what they mean. And maybe it's just good ol fashioned crap orientalism on my part but calling a posture 'chaturanga' sounds way cooler than 'half plank' or whatever.
It's all very positive and welcoming and easy reading. I took really detailed notes early on, but I quickly found myself drowning in the lists upon lists of yogic terms, so I dropped the notes and I think I'll just consider the book part-narrative, part-reference for me to check back on later. It did get a little in the weeds with the laundry lists in the middle part, but the last (long) chapter where it's all tied together to the nervous system does make it worth it.
He gives an extremely brief history of yoga throughout its thousand-year history and its not-that-recent jump to the Western world (Thoreau was a big yogi). He covers the 8 limbs of yoga, of which postures (asanas) are just one, which, by the way, that was the most striking takeaway for me: making postures or poses is just one part of EIGHT parts of yoga practice. We sometimes touch on another limb of breathing (pranayama) but I've never taken a class that really explains why breathing is so important. Stern does. There's a lot more discussion of terminology in the yoga world, and ways to make this a physical, mental, and spiritual activity. Near the end, he gets 'heavier', linking the limbs of yoga to the anatomy of the nervous system, and discusses the measurable, proven effects that yoga has on our bodies and minds.
Something I personally liked was the profuse use of sanskrit terms and their repetition throughout to reinforce learning. (I'd even go one step further and include the devanagari) He breaks down all the words to their core parts/morphemes and explains what they mean. And maybe it's just good ol fashioned crap orientalism on my part but calling a posture 'chaturanga' sounds way cooler than 'half plank' or whatever.
It's all very positive and welcoming and easy reading. I took really detailed notes early on, but I quickly found myself drowning in the lists upon lists of yogic terms, so I dropped the notes and I think I'll just consider the book part-narrative, part-reference for me to check back on later. It did get a little in the weeds with the laundry lists in the middle part, but the last (long) chapter where it's all tied together to the nervous system does make it worth it.
September 22, 2022
Eddie Stern has proved to be a marvel in his writing. Let me make it clear that he is the first western author who I have read on Yoga and trust me when I say that he is among those who leaves a mark from his writing. The book is adorable. You take it and right from the cover to the end through its chapters you cannot not adore it. The writing style is lucid and matter of factly. There are no veiled attempts of making the texts complex. In fact tough concepts like those of buddhi, vijnana have been easily explained. It is a must read.
Why must you read it though? You must read it because you are a post COVID generation. The pandemic left us at the mercy of an overburdened medical setup and a helpless self supporting identity. We saw that all those with clear understanding of the truth behind their habits, preferably good ones and those with some woke allegiance with yoga, were able to survive without much issues. This book here is one such great means to ensure that. Yoga as a way of life, without any preconcieved notions, in the absence of statements like 'it must be done this way only' has been presented in this book. You must read it because you love thyself and its in your being to be able to take efficient care of thy being.
The book is an eye opener, a pioneer.
Best place to read - A train or metro journey.
Why must you read it though? You must read it because you are a post COVID generation. The pandemic left us at the mercy of an overburdened medical setup and a helpless self supporting identity. We saw that all those with clear understanding of the truth behind their habits, preferably good ones and those with some woke allegiance with yoga, were able to survive without much issues. This book here is one such great means to ensure that. Yoga as a way of life, without any preconcieved notions, in the absence of statements like 'it must be done this way only' has been presented in this book. You must read it because you love thyself and its in your being to be able to take efficient care of thy being.
The book is an eye opener, a pioneer.
Best place to read - A train or metro journey.
May 28, 2022
Like many others, yoga has changed my life; it's the only thing that I have that is a 100% return on investment. And like many others who feel the same, I really had no idea why it was so - why does yoga work? And am now reading One Simple Thing this time making annotations and spending a little bit more time in each chapter. Eddie does a great job of eliminating the interference that can get in the way of experiencing yoga in the West. Early on in the book, he helps us to frame Yoga as a contemplative practice and begins to steadily build a foundation of understanding through his practical, real-life, modern day interpretations that cut through the opaque and mysterious nature of yogic treatises and elements of the practice. Where Eddie's text really opens up for the reader is when it all comes together in the last chapter: where East and West meet on the neuroscience piece. Using accessible language, he presents his learnings from meeting with subject matter experts in their fields and makes sense of it for us at the right level of information; blending his own personal experience with scientific research. Merging the invisible and the visible worlds. If that's not enough to ponder the question of, "why am I here?" then I don't know what will. One suggestion I have is to listen to some of his recent podcasts between reading the book. This may help enrich your understanding of some of the pieces that may be new to you (the 8 Limbs of Ashtanga yoga, the Yoga Sutras, Sanskrit in general, etc). Further to that, he does spend time talking about the book and can help reinforce some points for you. Slowly, layer by layer, Eddie helps us broaden our perspectives to understand more about how having a practice (yoga, meditation, practicing kindness, etc) can help us discover our purpose in this complex and demanding world.
October 13, 2024
Would def recommend for all yogi’s!
This is such a great book. I have read a lot about yoga already, but this gave me quite a few new insights. And as the title indicates: a new look of yoga.
This is one of those books where you highlight (a lot) and often revisit!! 🙏
This is such a great book. I have read a lot about yoga already, but this gave me quite a few new insights. And as the title indicates: a new look of yoga.
This is one of those books where you highlight (a lot) and often revisit!! 🙏
February 7, 2021
Eddie's book honours the yoga scriptures by weaving in the now known scientific benefits yoga has on the mind and body.
Knowing the power that yoga and breath have on the nervous system is a great nudge to keep showing up on the mat.
Knowing the power that yoga and breath have on the nervous system is a great nudge to keep showing up on the mat.
September 14, 2024
Jogę ćwiczę od dawna a to w sumie moja pierwsza książka „jogowa”. Pozwala głębiej spojrzeć na praktykę jogi i zrozumieć jej działanie. Podoba mi się zwrócenie uwagi na pułapki nadmiernego wkręcania się lub skupiania się na zewnętrznych aspektach jogi. Zostawiam na półce do zaglądania od czasu do czasu. Przydatne opisy praktyk medytacyjnych i relaksacyjnych.
November 4, 2019
If you've read quite a few yoga books or are quite familiar with the theory behind why yoga works, most of what is in here will not surprise you. I thought the structure of the book could be hugely improved by integrating the huge "info-dump" of the second section into earlier chapters. I was hoping for a bit more integration of philosophy and science rather than "this" then "that". I came away from it a bit unconvinced, even though there's some great passages in here that I highlighted in my kindle to come back to.
November 11, 2022
#1000reviwersclub
One simple thing by Eddie Stern , forwarded by Deepak Chopra is the best book to connect yourself.
In modern most of people are following the path of yoga but how deeply you connect us ourselves ,this book represents that picture.
Every step of yoga is deeply described on the basis of science.This book is the the best guide for all yogis.It shows how to maintain a perfect relationship among body,mind and spirit.
This book is the words of a perfect yogi who teaches us the real way,real value and depth of yoga.It shows how to connect ourselves,how to get benefit of good health,mental peace.
The description of this book is beyond my words.A perfect guide for healthy body,mind and spirit.
I highly recommend this book for each and every person because it is the solution of every problem of life.
Arunima Bahadur Khare
One simple thing by Eddie Stern , forwarded by Deepak Chopra is the best book to connect yourself.
In modern most of people are following the path of yoga but how deeply you connect us ourselves ,this book represents that picture.
Every step of yoga is deeply described on the basis of science.This book is the the best guide for all yogis.It shows how to maintain a perfect relationship among body,mind and spirit.
This book is the words of a perfect yogi who teaches us the real way,real value and depth of yoga.It shows how to connect ourselves,how to get benefit of good health,mental peace.
The description of this book is beyond my words.A perfect guide for healthy body,mind and spirit.
I highly recommend this book for each and every person because it is the solution of every problem of life.
Arunima Bahadur Khare
May 17, 2020
Such an excellent primer on the importance of yoga & especially the scientific foundations of its impact on our body, mind and health. Yoga is a truly exceptional (and fun!) practice, and this more me totally solidified its importance in my life. Loved the emphasis on tried and tested science/research as the academic focus really did prove the benefits of practice, as opposed to just “saying”. I’d highly recommend to anyone who is thinking about starting yoga or already loves it and wants affirmation to keep going!
October 21, 2019
I've been reading yoga philosophy books for over 20 years. This book offers some omderful AHA moments. The title says it all! Eddie Stern took an otherwisechallenging topic and made it simpler to understand. I want to incorporate this book in the teacher trainings I lead!
August 31, 2019
Some interesting facts about yoga’s ability to calm the autonomic nervous system via poses, breathing, and meditation.
October 23, 2021
I picked up this book because of its title, hoping for some inspiration for my personal yoga practise. I was looking forward to read scientific discoveries from new research in yoga but I was disappointed.
This was not a very exciting read for me, not just because I'm already familiar with most of the information and content from the yoga teachers training courses that I attended over the years as well as from personal reading. But because the content is a little bit shallow I would say, flipping from a bit of history, a bit of philosophy, to a few quotes from well known gurus. I won't even say this book is more suitable for a general audience new to yoga because it tries to be "deep" using many yoga terms and explanations that would be baffling to newbies, yet not fresh enough for experienced readers and practitioners. So I'm really not sure who this book is targeted at and what new offers it can add to the already crowded yoga book landscape.
But I must say that one interesting thing I learned is about the term vinyasa. Today, the term is more commonly associated with a sequence of postures done one after another in a more aerobic fashion, in a "flow". This seems quite contrary to the 3000 year old Patanjali yoga sutras which said that a yoga posture should be "sthithi" or steady.
Apparently, the word vinyasa has been used in different ways in different ancient texts, and can mean ritual, or sequence. The author referred to how Pattabhi Jois (the author's teacher) regarded the term vinyasa, how he learned it from his teacher Krishnamacharya, who attributed it to a ancient text called the Yoga Korunta by a Vamana Rishi, which said that "when doing yoga, do not do the many types of asanas without the use of vinyasa." And the term korunta means "group" which Pattabhi Jois said contained different groupings of asanas and pranayamas, and that Krishnamacharya learned this from Rama Mohan Brahmachari, but Pattabhi Jois never saw the Yoga Korunta text (actually, the existence of this text is still a mystery). The hearsay that the author repeated was that Krishnamacharya managed to find a copy in the University of Calcutta library but the book was badly damaged as it was written on palm leaves. And I want to add that other well-known students of Krishnamacharya did not seem emphasize vinyasa, only Pattabhi Jois. But if anyone knows better, let me know, and I will stand corrected.
But the principle that the author learned from Pattabhi Jois seems sound to me. That vinyasa is not about the flow of one posture into another but about the movement of the in and out breath that occurs within each discrete asana or transition position. So one has to practise with balanced attention to both the breath and the quality of the posture. And this really makes sense to me, is emphasized in DKV Deshikarchar's book The Heart of Yoga, and syncs with what I knew intuitively or discovered through my own practise - like when I practice surya namaskara, which is really a vinyasa korunta.
Surya namaskara is designed where one posture requires an in-breath, and the next posture requires an out breath. Whenever I practice surya namaskara, I do not let my breath follow the speed of my posture but I make sure that my posture follow the speed of my breath. And I make sure that I pay attention that each posture is dedicated to either an in or an out breath. So I really give credit to this book for letting me learn something really new and I appreciate it. Because I think the term vinyasa has been used by so many yoga teachers and practitioners, without truly understanding the source and intent of the term. Nobody's fault, because few knew.
I flipped the pages of this book very quickly. I guess this book gained more attention mainly because the author was Gweneth Paltrow's yoga teacher. An inspirational asana instructor may not necessarily be a good writer, and vice versa.
For those really interested in the philosophy of yoga, read IK Taimi’s “The Science of Yoga: The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali in Sanskrit and Transliteration and Commentary in English”. For esoteric inspiration, read Swami Vivekananda’s “Raja Yoga or Conquering the Internal Nature”. For both esoteric inspiration and practical application of yoga practise, read Swami's Muktibodhana's translation and explanation of the 500 year old "Hatha Yoga Pradipika" which is one of the classic yoga texts that influenced almost all schools of modern yoga in the 20th and 21st century.
Those wanting recent research findings including the dangers of uninformed yoga asana practise should read investigative journalist William J Broad’s “The Science of Yoga: The Risks and The Rewards “. To understand how the different branches of modern yoga schools developed and what differentiates them, the early chapters of Mark Stevens’ “Yoga Sequencing: Designing Transformative Yoga Classes” are concise, accessible and a delight to read. For quiet encouragement and to fall in love with yoga again, read TKV Desikachar’s “The Heart of Yoga: Developing a Personal Practise” - he’s the unassuming son of Krishnamacharya, the guru of many well-known 20th century yoga giants such as Iyengar, Pattabi Jois and Indra Devi. You will fall in love with your practise again.
Listing the above, alas, I realise I need not have kept searching. I should have just re-read my book list above 😂
This was not a very exciting read for me, not just because I'm already familiar with most of the information and content from the yoga teachers training courses that I attended over the years as well as from personal reading. But because the content is a little bit shallow I would say, flipping from a bit of history, a bit of philosophy, to a few quotes from well known gurus. I won't even say this book is more suitable for a general audience new to yoga because it tries to be "deep" using many yoga terms and explanations that would be baffling to newbies, yet not fresh enough for experienced readers and practitioners. So I'm really not sure who this book is targeted at and what new offers it can add to the already crowded yoga book landscape.
But I must say that one interesting thing I learned is about the term vinyasa. Today, the term is more commonly associated with a sequence of postures done one after another in a more aerobic fashion, in a "flow". This seems quite contrary to the 3000 year old Patanjali yoga sutras which said that a yoga posture should be "sthithi" or steady.
Apparently, the word vinyasa has been used in different ways in different ancient texts, and can mean ritual, or sequence. The author referred to how Pattabhi Jois (the author's teacher) regarded the term vinyasa, how he learned it from his teacher Krishnamacharya, who attributed it to a ancient text called the Yoga Korunta by a Vamana Rishi, which said that "when doing yoga, do not do the many types of asanas without the use of vinyasa." And the term korunta means "group" which Pattabhi Jois said contained different groupings of asanas and pranayamas, and that Krishnamacharya learned this from Rama Mohan Brahmachari, but Pattabhi Jois never saw the Yoga Korunta text (actually, the existence of this text is still a mystery). The hearsay that the author repeated was that Krishnamacharya managed to find a copy in the University of Calcutta library but the book was badly damaged as it was written on palm leaves. And I want to add that other well-known students of Krishnamacharya did not seem emphasize vinyasa, only Pattabhi Jois. But if anyone knows better, let me know, and I will stand corrected.
But the principle that the author learned from Pattabhi Jois seems sound to me. That vinyasa is not about the flow of one posture into another but about the movement of the in and out breath that occurs within each discrete asana or transition position. So one has to practise with balanced attention to both the breath and the quality of the posture. And this really makes sense to me, is emphasized in DKV Deshikarchar's book The Heart of Yoga, and syncs with what I knew intuitively or discovered through my own practise - like when I practice surya namaskara, which is really a vinyasa korunta.
Surya namaskara is designed where one posture requires an in-breath, and the next posture requires an out breath. Whenever I practice surya namaskara, I do not let my breath follow the speed of my posture but I make sure that my posture follow the speed of my breath. And I make sure that I pay attention that each posture is dedicated to either an in or an out breath. So I really give credit to this book for letting me learn something really new and I appreciate it. Because I think the term vinyasa has been used by so many yoga teachers and practitioners, without truly understanding the source and intent of the term. Nobody's fault, because few knew.
I flipped the pages of this book very quickly. I guess this book gained more attention mainly because the author was Gweneth Paltrow's yoga teacher. An inspirational asana instructor may not necessarily be a good writer, and vice versa.
For those really interested in the philosophy of yoga, read IK Taimi’s “The Science of Yoga: The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali in Sanskrit and Transliteration and Commentary in English”. For esoteric inspiration, read Swami Vivekananda’s “Raja Yoga or Conquering the Internal Nature”. For both esoteric inspiration and practical application of yoga practise, read Swami's Muktibodhana's translation and explanation of the 500 year old "Hatha Yoga Pradipika" which is one of the classic yoga texts that influenced almost all schools of modern yoga in the 20th and 21st century.
Those wanting recent research findings including the dangers of uninformed yoga asana practise should read investigative journalist William J Broad’s “The Science of Yoga: The Risks and The Rewards “. To understand how the different branches of modern yoga schools developed and what differentiates them, the early chapters of Mark Stevens’ “Yoga Sequencing: Designing Transformative Yoga Classes” are concise, accessible and a delight to read. For quiet encouragement and to fall in love with yoga again, read TKV Desikachar’s “The Heart of Yoga: Developing a Personal Practise” - he’s the unassuming son of Krishnamacharya, the guru of many well-known 20th century yoga giants such as Iyengar, Pattabi Jois and Indra Devi. You will fall in love with your practise again.
Listing the above, alas, I realise I need not have kept searching. I should have just re-read my book list above 😂
February 17, 2023
Easily the best book on Yoga I've read yet. So insightful, really comprehensive in its coverage and extremely accessible even in the denser areas.
BK if you're reading this thank you so much again for this gift!
Anyways, below are all the quotes that I took down while reading, some of them have the page numbers/chapters they're taken from attached, others don't because I was far too engrossed x
---------------------------
"The literal translation of Sanskrit words can be cumbersome, and literalism does not always help us progress or transform, or even understood what a word is supposed to indicate." {chapter 2, The Eight Limbs}
"In order for any object to fulfill its purpose, the ratio of the gunas must be balanced." {Chapter 3, The Practice of Postures, The Three Gunas}
"When we boil a pot of water it is the speeding up of the molecules that makes it hot. We do not sip that water and remark, 'Ouch! Too fast!'" {Chapter 3}
"Vinyasa in its most etymological form means 'the rules for sitting in a special way'". {Chapter 3, Vinyasa}
"This comes from practice. The ability to stick with something that is difficult, and to do it with a calm mind, is one of the primary principles of yoga practice. Through gradual mastery we develop an ease of effort, and by keeping the mind focused in a relaxed way on the breath in difficult postures, we learn to bear difficulty. According to Patanjali, this is one of the principal benefits of practicing postures: that through them, we will be able to withstand the ups and downs of life with a calm mind and with fortitude." {The Seat of Awareness, Page 63}
"Since yoga is so largely thought of as a practice of postures, it is only natural to question how it is that by placing my body in a particular position my mind becomes balanced. Postures are physical things-why should they change the way the mind functions, or change what we can call, for lack of a better term, mental content? Isn't this an indicator that my mind and body are not separate, but interconnected? The answer would seem to be yes."{}
"While increased inflammation is a by-product of stress, there are other chemical reactions that accompany how our mind deals with tension. One example of this is that we eat poorly because our body under stress does not produce all of the digestive enzymes it needs to break down complex foods. The occupational therapist Anne Buckley-Reen shared with me that when we are under stress the only digestive enzymes we produce are those that can digest things like bread, pasta, and sugar-comfort foods. If you have ever wondered why, when you are feeling overwhelmed, all you want to eat is a pint of ice cream or a donut, this is the reason."{}
"When we don't know who we are, we have to create an identity, a narrative, which is essentially false in that this assumed identity can change, depending on what we are drawn to, or find unappealing. This is called asmita, or "I-ness." If we don't know who we are, then we have to make something up. The created self-narrative of asmita does not mean "ego"; it means the stories we construct that take the place of self-knowledge. It's a narrative that shifts throughout our lives, eventually, perhaps. leading us to a narrative that is free from storytelling, and becoming a narrative of simply being present.{Asmita}
"The problem with narratives, though, is that no matter how well intended they are, if you hold too fast to them, they will limit you, no matter how based on freedom they are. Thinking that I was a yogi, or spiritual, became another false identity, one that allowed me to think that I knew better than other people who were not eating a vegetarian diet, doing yoga, or meditating. Any narrative is a bind, any narrative is illusory, any narrative will keep us stuck in avidya. The only narrative that leads to freedom that we can tell ourselves is one of no story. If during the day we can spend some time watching every story that comes up in our minds, and not identify with the story, the mind will get very quiet. Thoughts can't dwell in a mind that doesn't indulge them, and thoughts are stories-and of course the hardest story to tell ourselves is that we are not our bodies, because most of our false narratives stem from identification with our bodies." {Page 100}
"Avidya and asmita are at their strongest when we do not look into ourselves to see the transitory nature of our created narrative. The narrative and innate sense of "I am" become as if one and then all we really know is our story! Therefore, if I don't know who I am, then I cling to my story, and fear exists within that clinging because at that moment I am the sum total of my story, and if my story evaporates, then I will cease to exist. That is what is known as extinction."
"7. If you find yourself getting obsessive or compulsive about practice, back off a little. If you are not able to temper yourself in your actual practice, then you may need to take a little break, or relax your discipline slightly. Eat some chocolate, go to a movie, sleep in. As soon as we become too driven about practice, we reinforce old patterns." {Page 156}
"We never come into perfect balance and just stay there, we are always micro-adjusting. Balance is really the act of balancing." {Brain Stem Functions, Page 217}
BK if you're reading this thank you so much again for this gift!
Anyways, below are all the quotes that I took down while reading, some of them have the page numbers/chapters they're taken from attached, others don't because I was far too engrossed x
---------------------------
"The literal translation of Sanskrit words can be cumbersome, and literalism does not always help us progress or transform, or even understood what a word is supposed to indicate." {chapter 2, The Eight Limbs}
"In order for any object to fulfill its purpose, the ratio of the gunas must be balanced." {Chapter 3, The Practice of Postures, The Three Gunas}
"When we boil a pot of water it is the speeding up of the molecules that makes it hot. We do not sip that water and remark, 'Ouch! Too fast!'" {Chapter 3}
"Vinyasa in its most etymological form means 'the rules for sitting in a special way'". {Chapter 3, Vinyasa}
"This comes from practice. The ability to stick with something that is difficult, and to do it with a calm mind, is one of the primary principles of yoga practice. Through gradual mastery we develop an ease of effort, and by keeping the mind focused in a relaxed way on the breath in difficult postures, we learn to bear difficulty. According to Patanjali, this is one of the principal benefits of practicing postures: that through them, we will be able to withstand the ups and downs of life with a calm mind and with fortitude." {The Seat of Awareness, Page 63}
"Since yoga is so largely thought of as a practice of postures, it is only natural to question how it is that by placing my body in a particular position my mind becomes balanced. Postures are physical things-why should they change the way the mind functions, or change what we can call, for lack of a better term, mental content? Isn't this an indicator that my mind and body are not separate, but interconnected? The answer would seem to be yes."{}
"While increased inflammation is a by-product of stress, there are other chemical reactions that accompany how our mind deals with tension. One example of this is that we eat poorly because our body under stress does not produce all of the digestive enzymes it needs to break down complex foods. The occupational therapist Anne Buckley-Reen shared with me that when we are under stress the only digestive enzymes we produce are those that can digest things like bread, pasta, and sugar-comfort foods. If you have ever wondered why, when you are feeling overwhelmed, all you want to eat is a pint of ice cream or a donut, this is the reason."{}
"When we don't know who we are, we have to create an identity, a narrative, which is essentially false in that this assumed identity can change, depending on what we are drawn to, or find unappealing. This is called asmita, or "I-ness." If we don't know who we are, then we have to make something up. The created self-narrative of asmita does not mean "ego"; it means the stories we construct that take the place of self-knowledge. It's a narrative that shifts throughout our lives, eventually, perhaps. leading us to a narrative that is free from storytelling, and becoming a narrative of simply being present.{Asmita}
"The problem with narratives, though, is that no matter how well intended they are, if you hold too fast to them, they will limit you, no matter how based on freedom they are. Thinking that I was a yogi, or spiritual, became another false identity, one that allowed me to think that I knew better than other people who were not eating a vegetarian diet, doing yoga, or meditating. Any narrative is a bind, any narrative is illusory, any narrative will keep us stuck in avidya. The only narrative that leads to freedom that we can tell ourselves is one of no story. If during the day we can spend some time watching every story that comes up in our minds, and not identify with the story, the mind will get very quiet. Thoughts can't dwell in a mind that doesn't indulge them, and thoughts are stories-and of course the hardest story to tell ourselves is that we are not our bodies, because most of our false narratives stem from identification with our bodies." {Page 100}
"Avidya and asmita are at their strongest when we do not look into ourselves to see the transitory nature of our created narrative. The narrative and innate sense of "I am" become as if one and then all we really know is our story! Therefore, if I don't know who I am, then I cling to my story, and fear exists within that clinging because at that moment I am the sum total of my story, and if my story evaporates, then I will cease to exist. That is what is known as extinction."
"7. If you find yourself getting obsessive or compulsive about practice, back off a little. If you are not able to temper yourself in your actual practice, then you may need to take a little break, or relax your discipline slightly. Eat some chocolate, go to a movie, sleep in. As soon as we become too driven about practice, we reinforce old patterns." {Page 156}
"We never come into perfect balance and just stay there, we are always micro-adjusting. Balance is really the act of balancing." {Brain Stem Functions, Page 217}
June 27, 2021
I had high hopes for this book. I really wanted it to be like a spiritual successor to William J. Broad's 2012 book, The Science of Yoga: The Risks and the Rewards. Unfortunately, Eddie Stern didn't take a critical look at yoga in this book. While Eddie Stern does write about neural pathways, the vagus nerve, and the autonomic nervous system, there doesn't seem to be a critical perspective. What there does seem to be is lots of claims without evidence, and lots of mystical/religious terms in Sanskrit. It is possible that I am simply not a very spiritually advanced being, and this is what has caused me to not grasp the deep truths that are embedder in this book.
Here are some examples of a few quotes that I found to be unhelpful due to the imprecise nature of them. Some of them are deepities, and some of them seem to simply been vague mumbo jumbo.
• "When nature is in equilibrium, the only thing that exists is potential, which is the potential for the universe to come into being, the potential for existence to take shape as form from the formless potential. This is called “infinite potential.” When nature moves out of equilibrium, it creates the manifestation of the universe and all that we see in it, called “infinite creativity” or “infinite manifestation,” and begins to create different patterns and rhythms that are essentially the operating functions of both the universe and our world."
• "They are the ingredients of the elements that make up our world: earth, water, fire, air, and space. All material creations come from a combination of these elements, including things that are invisible to the naked eye, such as atoms and photons."
• "Our cells are the biological basis for interconnectedness. They track the movement of the earth and heavens, and help us keep our balance within it."
It is fairly regularly that I see people make claims along the lines of yoga helping to "lower blood pressure; reduce anxiety and depression; reduce back pain; reduce symptoms of PTSD; reduce occurrences of asthma attacks; improve posture, strength, and coordination; improve breathing and cardiovascular health." It is quite rare that I see people acknowledge that you can also get these benefits from cycling, from pilates, from judo, from aerobics, from dancing, from weightlifting, and from a wide variety of other physical fitness activities. My point is not that yoga isn't helpful, but rather than what is helpful is physical activity. From this perspective, there isn't anything special about yoga itself that you couldn't get from many other fitness activities. It is like stating that I eat carrots every week and claiming that carrots prevent my starvation, but ignoring all the other foods I eat; it is food that prevents starvation, rather than carrots that prevent starvation. Don't mistake one item in the category with the benefits that the category provides you with.
Reading this book also reminded that the plural of anecdote is not data. There were a few examples of the great benefit of various yogic practices. While Eddie does not explicitly write "this single example proves my argument" he does present it is such a way that it is meant to be supporting his argument. Here is an example: "Many years ago one of my students suffered a stroke and lost her gag reflex. While in the hospital, she began listening to, and then chanting, the bija mantras of the chakras, and regained her gag reflex within days."
I assume that Eddie Stern and I have different understanding of science. I understand science as a process by which hypothesis are tested, experiments are replicable, data is shared, blind faith is not a factor, and when something is demonstrated to be false it is discarded. But Eddie Stern describes "The knowledge in the guru-shishya (teacher-student) tradition is tested knowledge, similar to a science experiment that has been proven to be replicable, and its results accepted in the larger scientific field." I disagree that the knowledge in the teacher-student relationship is tested knowledge, similar to a science experiment. Both from my personal experience and from my readings, what seems to be more common in teacher-student relationships in the yoga world is that the teacher makes a claim and provides no evidence for it, which the student either believes to be true, or which the students questions and then has his/her reputation damaged for questioning the teacher.
The best way to describe One Simple Thing is to adapt some of William J. Broad's words: the book is filled with assertions with no references and dreaminess.
Here are some examples of a few quotes that I found to be unhelpful due to the imprecise nature of them. Some of them are deepities, and some of them seem to simply been vague mumbo jumbo.
• "When nature is in equilibrium, the only thing that exists is potential, which is the potential for the universe to come into being, the potential for existence to take shape as form from the formless potential. This is called “infinite potential.” When nature moves out of equilibrium, it creates the manifestation of the universe and all that we see in it, called “infinite creativity” or “infinite manifestation,” and begins to create different patterns and rhythms that are essentially the operating functions of both the universe and our world."
• "They are the ingredients of the elements that make up our world: earth, water, fire, air, and space. All material creations come from a combination of these elements, including things that are invisible to the naked eye, such as atoms and photons."
• "Our cells are the biological basis for interconnectedness. They track the movement of the earth and heavens, and help us keep our balance within it."
It is fairly regularly that I see people make claims along the lines of yoga helping to "lower blood pressure; reduce anxiety and depression; reduce back pain; reduce symptoms of PTSD; reduce occurrences of asthma attacks; improve posture, strength, and coordination; improve breathing and cardiovascular health." It is quite rare that I see people acknowledge that you can also get these benefits from cycling, from pilates, from judo, from aerobics, from dancing, from weightlifting, and from a wide variety of other physical fitness activities. My point is not that yoga isn't helpful, but rather than what is helpful is physical activity. From this perspective, there isn't anything special about yoga itself that you couldn't get from many other fitness activities. It is like stating that I eat carrots every week and claiming that carrots prevent my starvation, but ignoring all the other foods I eat; it is food that prevents starvation, rather than carrots that prevent starvation. Don't mistake one item in the category with the benefits that the category provides you with.
Reading this book also reminded that the plural of anecdote is not data. There were a few examples of the great benefit of various yogic practices. While Eddie does not explicitly write "this single example proves my argument" he does present it is such a way that it is meant to be supporting his argument. Here is an example: "Many years ago one of my students suffered a stroke and lost her gag reflex. While in the hospital, she began listening to, and then chanting, the bija mantras of the chakras, and regained her gag reflex within days."
I assume that Eddie Stern and I have different understanding of science. I understand science as a process by which hypothesis are tested, experiments are replicable, data is shared, blind faith is not a factor, and when something is demonstrated to be false it is discarded. But Eddie Stern describes "The knowledge in the guru-shishya (teacher-student) tradition is tested knowledge, similar to a science experiment that has been proven to be replicable, and its results accepted in the larger scientific field." I disagree that the knowledge in the teacher-student relationship is tested knowledge, similar to a science experiment. Both from my personal experience and from my readings, what seems to be more common in teacher-student relationships in the yoga world is that the teacher makes a claim and provides no evidence for it, which the student either believes to be true, or which the students questions and then has his/her reputation damaged for questioning the teacher.
The best way to describe One Simple Thing is to adapt some of William J. Broad's words: the book is filled with assertions with no references and dreaminess.
September 7, 2022
Yoga is much more than asanas. It is much more than yoga clothing, the mat and the namaste. There is a deep philosophical and spiritual aspect to it which sometimes gets misted against the more physical side of it. Eddie Stern, a yoga teacher himself, brings out the deeper part of this ancient Indic practice of well-being in his book, One Simple Thing.
He does not disparage those who look at yoga as the means to get fit. Instead, he accepts that yoga may have different reflections for different people, and that’s all okay. In fact, the physical may be a good way to the metaphysical.
Stern provides different meanings of the word yoga. From union to concentration to remedy the meditative practices. The entire book focuses on the self-discovery aspect of yoga. He also highlights the practical problems of doing yoga, like the fickle nature of the mind, the twitch of the body, the imperfect poses or the lack of concentration. He empathizes with this and emphasizes that the most essential part is to work towards it and continue doing it.
The book also seamlessly traverses between the ancient Indic practice and the modern science of health. It shows that there is complementarity between the two, and they need not be seen as exclusive. He liberally refers to modern scientific discoveries that provide credence to the why of certain practices of yoga. For example, the central nervous system has a deep connection with yoga. Stern shows how each part of the brain can be regulated to attain a higher dimension through yoga.
The book does not skimp on the practice part. Stern also provides easy guidelines for practice, including breathing, loving-kindness meditation and body scan. He also provides guidance on eating and sleeping, which may get overlooked in the current always-connected world. He emphasizes that the food has to have a balance between the gunas of sattvic, rajasic and tamasic. The same gunas need to be present in our sleep quality as well.
In conclusion, he elaborates that the practice of yoga is but a way to attain balance in our lives. This may be done by regulating the way we eat, sleep or breathe. The means to get there are asanas, meditation, and awareness. However, what is needed to be remembered is that the balance we strive for is not a state but our effort to balance ourselves.
He does not disparage those who look at yoga as the means to get fit. Instead, he accepts that yoga may have different reflections for different people, and that’s all okay. In fact, the physical may be a good way to the metaphysical.
Stern provides different meanings of the word yoga. From union to concentration to remedy the meditative practices. The entire book focuses on the self-discovery aspect of yoga. He also highlights the practical problems of doing yoga, like the fickle nature of the mind, the twitch of the body, the imperfect poses or the lack of concentration. He empathizes with this and emphasizes that the most essential part is to work towards it and continue doing it.
The book also seamlessly traverses between the ancient Indic practice and the modern science of health. It shows that there is complementarity between the two, and they need not be seen as exclusive. He liberally refers to modern scientific discoveries that provide credence to the why of certain practices of yoga. For example, the central nervous system has a deep connection with yoga. Stern shows how each part of the brain can be regulated to attain a higher dimension through yoga.
The book does not skimp on the practice part. Stern also provides easy guidelines for practice, including breathing, loving-kindness meditation and body scan. He also provides guidance on eating and sleeping, which may get overlooked in the current always-connected world. He emphasizes that the food has to have a balance between the gunas of sattvic, rajasic and tamasic. The same gunas need to be present in our sleep quality as well.
In conclusion, he elaborates that the practice of yoga is but a way to attain balance in our lives. This may be done by regulating the way we eat, sleep or breathe. The means to get there are asanas, meditation, and awareness. However, what is needed to be remembered is that the balance we strive for is not a state but our effort to balance ourselves.
December 30, 2020
I underlined so many passages from this book! It really helped me see my yoga practice in a new light. It also was inspiring. Like with anything, my practice ebbs and flows. In those times when I'm not so "excited" about my morning practice, referring to this book reminded me of the benefits of yoga and why I do it.
I started the book earlier this year. It was one of those books that I wanted to savor, to just read a few pages at a time in the morning after my practice. But for some reason, I abandoned it for a few months. It's definitely a more scientific read, so it's not like there's a storyline that keeps you moving forward.
Eddie Stern does a great job of making the scientific accessible and readable. But still, I felt I had to work pretty hard to digest some of the information. The book starts out with the more metaphysical aspects of yoga, which was easier to understand than the anatomy/physiology that comes later.
However, I enjoyed learning about the brain and the vagus nerve and how yoga strengthens and stimulates our neurological system. Stern answers the questions of why we do certain poses, why we breathe a certain way, why we meditate, etc.
I will be going back to this book time and again to help the concepts sink in.
I started the book earlier this year. It was one of those books that I wanted to savor, to just read a few pages at a time in the morning after my practice. But for some reason, I abandoned it for a few months. It's definitely a more scientific read, so it's not like there's a storyline that keeps you moving forward.
Eddie Stern does a great job of making the scientific accessible and readable. But still, I felt I had to work pretty hard to digest some of the information. The book starts out with the more metaphysical aspects of yoga, which was easier to understand than the anatomy/physiology that comes later.
However, I enjoyed learning about the brain and the vagus nerve and how yoga strengthens and stimulates our neurological system. Stern answers the questions of why we do certain poses, why we breathe a certain way, why we meditate, etc.
I will be going back to this book time and again to help the concepts sink in.
June 6, 2020
If you are getting to a point where you’re practicing yoga more than 2-3 times a week, if you’re starting to pay more attention to your breath, and if you’re finding that yoga is becoming an integral part of your life, then this book is for you. It’s a really great introduction to the philosophy of yoga, explaining it both scientifically and intuitively, which I really liked. If you’re already quite advanced in your practice then you probably know all of this already, but I’m glad I bought myself a copy of this book because I think it’ll continue to be a reference point for me in understanding my practice. I love the idea that it’s yoga practice, not yoga perfect, and grateful for the way this book has opened me up to how to better incorporate yoga into my life.
July 13, 2020
The first section of the book has practical, applicable and clear tips on how to integrate the 8 limbs into the actual daily practice of yoga, as well as everyday life, which I really enjoyed. Bringing stillness into postures and using drishtis to calm the mind was a wonderful tip I hadn't come across before or discovered myself before - so those were great insights into how I can change my own practice to become more soothing and therefore train my parasympathetic nervous system in a very hands-on and simple way. The second part of the book on the neural system and vagus nerve in particular didn't do it as much for me, though it's great to see some actual neurological research applied to the practice of yoga. I recommend this book!
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