The Magic Ten and Beyond: Daily Spiritual Practice for Greater Peace and Well-Being

This eclectic book from Gannon (Simple Recipes for Joy), dancer, musician, and cofounder of the Jivamukti Yoga Method, presents a spiritually uplifting 10-week program of practices inspired by Egyptian hieroglyphs. After beginning with a short chapter on mental exercises such as giving blessings, Gannon introduces the core physical practices of her program: meditation, breathing (pranayama), and dancing (based on aerobics) that are intended to help elevate one’s spiritual awareness. The title refers to a 10-minute series of yoga-based spinal movements. Gannon’s “mystery and magic” approach—particularly her attempts to draw links between Indian yoga and ancient Egyptian spiritual practices, without evidence beyond her intuition—may not appeal to some readers, but much of the information will be useful for the general seeker, including easy-to-follow exercises and key wisdom about the spiritual path (such as reduction of the ego, kindness, and the importance of daily practice). Black-and-white photos of the author illustrate various poses, and a glossary of Sanskrit terms is included for comprehension and further study. Gannon’s simple advice will be welcome to all spiritual seekers, but some of her expert poses shouldn’t be attempted by beginners without a yoga teacher’s guidance. Those already exposed to the spirituality of yoga (or Gannon’s work in particular) will be most likely to find this uneven book helpful. (June)