Interesting and UsefulNovember 15, 2008 What are the wheels of life? They're the seven primary energy centers in the body that influence how we think, feel and interact with the world around us. These centers are more commonly called chakras.
While the book contains a multitude of fascinating details on the history and traditions associated with the belief in the chakra system, some of the most fascinating reading is contained in the seven sections that cover each chakra in amazing detail.
With the 400-plus pages, the reader will learn about the crown chakra which governs spirituality, the brow chakra which offers inspiration, the throat chakra which promotes communication, the heart chakra which teaches us to give, the solar plexus chakra which brings analytical ability, the spleen chakra which governs emotions, and the root chakra which promotes survival.
This book also will help the reader explore their own chakras using poetic, meditation, physical expression and visionary art. Another nice feature of the book is a brief series of questions to help the reader analyze their own chakra activity. This book has sold over 100,00 copies, and it's easy to see why.
Good all around directions to lifeNovember 11, 2008 I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in chakra or "alternative" spirituality. I would have given it 4 and a half stars but it wouldn't let me. She goes into a lot of detail in this book but sometimes she leaves you wanting more which prevented me from going the full 5 stars. Still, if that's the worst I can say... Wheels also has a lot of yoga and meditations in it so I think that I'm going to be referring to the book long after I'm done.
Great ResourceFebruary 24, 2008 I use this book as a guide for my home yoga practice. It is a great resource for understanding and working with the chakras, ie. the blocks that are showing up in your life based and how to release them. So far, this is the most user friendly and detailed book on chakras I've found.
the authorityDecember 17, 2007 this book really is the aurthority on the chakra systems and a very well organized version of all the cultural information that is out there about them.
Should have been called Anodea's thoughts on Chakras.October 14, 2007 21 out of 23 found this review helpful
I bought this book , after reading all the reviews written by Yoga teachers on this page. I was kind of disappointed with the quality of information in the book in quite many ways. This book preaches a lot of good and useful things , right from diet to exercise to visualization. I liked the concept of balancing of chakras for kids and would help guide new or to-be parents. Also the fact presented in the book that women are ignored in most yogic scriptures which explain self realization.
But, there are some major doubts on the main subject being discussed in this book. 1. The author has suggested that use of LSD or Marijuana might be good to get a glimpse of what to expect when higher chakras get excited. There is no mention of which research led her to conclude the same. Please Do not believe this!! 2. For every Chakra the author mentions the Tarot Suit, Sephira, Archangel names. But there is not mention of why is there this association. 3. There is no or very less reference to Kundalini power. I would have expected a chapter dedicated to this with detailed references to the Nadis in the appendix. Any serious book on chakras would do that. 4. Too much visualization and imagery , and a lot less information of Mantra Yoga ( Chanting Yoga used to steady the mind ). 5. Well , Jogging a aerobic exercises have been suggested to help balance the chakras. I agree , aerobic exercises and weights are excellent workout ( I myself am a kettlebell fan ).But these activities actually increase excitation and the author seems to have left out important information on Pranayama. Seems strange for a PHD and Yoga teacher. 6. Kapalabhati and Mool Bandha, Ashwini Mudra are for the first 3 chakras, the author mentions them only for the 3rd chakra, and that too with no mention to their sanskrit names or their meanings.
Well, I would suggest anyone who wants to seriously understand chakras , to look elsewhere.There is a wealth of information on the internet. No book may give you all the knowledge, but atleast take care that it does not give you incorrect information. Every person find's his or her own way to self realization. I dont believe, that to understand eastern philosophy, the author needs to mix it with western philosophy and vice-versa. They are different schools of thought and both of them can co-exist independently. A person wishing to understand either of them just needs to gain a better understanding of the perception of each philosophy before diving into the details. I am going to go further in my study to understand and realise the chakras, but I am done with this book.
