Book Review - Dru Yoga, Stillness in Motion

Dru Yoga, Stillness in Motion, is an accessible introduction to most aspects of yoga and holistic living, finds Lucia Cockcroft.

Like many yoga schools, Dru (literally meaning 'still point') guards its identity closely - yet its foundations are rooted firmly in the ancient, classical yoga tradition.

This book is an engaging, easy-to-follow introduction to a form of yoga that claims to be the second largest yoga organisation in the UK - and growing fast worldwide.

The flowing, relatively gentle style is especially popular amongst older students, though there is a recent focus to broaden Dru's appeal to include younger practitioners and men.

Accessibility
In many ways, it is a relief to find pictures of normal looking men and women, from all walks of life, gracing the pages of a yoga book - rather than images of impossibly sculpted yogis in headstand, or sitting effortlessly in padmasana.

This is very much a book for all followers of yoga, of all age groups and from all traditions. The hallmarks of the Dru style - Activations, Five Stages, Energy Block Release sequences - are explained and illustrated clearly.

But there is much to entertain practitioners from different yoga traditions, and the clearly labelled and divided sections make navigating the content refreshingly easy.

Beginning with posture preps (Dru & You) and ending with information about Chakras and nutrition (Dru in Depth), there are also sections on sequences, individual asanas, spinal health and meditation and relaxation.

I especially like the step-by-step instructions relating to key asanas such as Tadasana, Setu Bandhasana (Bridge) or Bhujangasana (Cobra), each of which includes a silent affirmation, hints for visualisation and a break-away section on benefits for mind and boy.

In-depth
The two-page instructions on Tadasana, for example, encourage the student to focus on the base of the spine. 'Exhale, taking your awareness down your legs, into your feet and into the earth. Feel as if your feet are growing roots, reach down into the earth with each out breath.'

The text continues: 'As you breathe in, feel your body rising from the top of the pelvis. With every in-breath, expand into the space around you. As you exhale and anchor, keep the feeling of spaciousness in your upper body.'

This focus on the breath, and how the flow of breath helps the body expand and settle into the physical asanas, is one of the most helpful tenets of Dru, and a common thread that also runs through the book.

As well as the more formal technical instructions, this book is peppered with fascinating facts and titbits that, for me, make this book stand out: break-out text on page 47 tells the reader that the spine is a 'remarkable demonstration of engineering in action, consisting of five lumbar, 12 thoracic and seven cervical vertebrae.'

On another page, the reader is reminded of the power of laughter, which, we're told, lowers blood pressure, relaxes muscles, reduces stress hormones and give the body an aerobic workout.

Going deeper
It would be good to see at least a couple of paragraphs introducing the history of yoga so that new students can place the practice in historical context and take their investigations further should they want to.

I suspect this may be because the book is squarely focused on the Dru approach - yet, as we're told, this practice has its foundations in the ancient yogic tradition; it seems an omission not to say a little about what this tradition is, and where it comes from.

On another plus side, one of this book's strengths is its presentation of yoga as a practice that goes way beyond the physical.

There are readable introductory sections on meditation, relaxation, breath work and chakras, followed by an explanation on key aspects of nutrition and 'heart power' - an essential aspect of the Dru style.

Emotions of the heart such as love and gratitude possess a powerful ability to strengthen your immune system, we are reminded. 'Heartfelt emotions such as love, appreciation and joy product regular heart rate variations that vie rise to a state of all-round health and wellbeing'.

It's this holistic, rounded approach to physical and emotional health that is the essence of yoga - and, like a loyal friend - this book is a stable reminder that yoga can positively transform every part of your life, irrespective of age or background.

Dru Yoga, Stillness in Motion, is available to buy online from the Dru shop, priced £13.99.

Lucia Cockcroft is a freelance health journalist, yoga teacher and editor of Yoga Abode