The book explores one type of yoga: the yoga of meditation or Raja yoga. This introductory booklet consists of 45 pages and is broken down into 19 chapters. It offers a discussion of the basics of all yoga and why one should utilize meditation as a process of healing. It explores Samadhi as looking at the three conditions of consciousness—waking, dreaming, and deep sleep. Also important are the three disciplines—universal charity, strict morality, and development of the mind. It then takes the reader into the value of walking meditation, contemplation, and how to select the meditation site, the clothing worn, the postures, and the physiology of breathing and relaxation.

A basic introductory reader, this book is as easy to follow as it is to practice Raja yoga—since yoga is viewed by some as not just a practice but a way of “being” in the world. The author’s openness about not being strict in your posture (many people are) is valuable for those who cannot do the traditional lotus pose due to health or pain issues. The chapters on the senses, silence, and wisdom are the strongest and most insightful. The writer also utilizes quotes from others which are helpful in understanding his way of practicing. Although it offers only a very brief introduction to the subject and is not a book for those who are well into their yoga practices, this guide can still be a valuable tool for those who are just beginning their learning process and yoga techniques. Simple, concise, and informational, it packs a lot of information into a very short work.

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