Richard Hittleman
Richard Hittleman | |
---|---|
Born | New York | 7 March 1927
Died | 14 October 1991 Santa Cruz, California | (aged 64)
Nationality | American |
Occupation(s) | Yoga teacher, television presenter |
Richard Hittleman (7 March 1927 – 14 October 1991) was an American Yoga teacher and author who taught
Early life
Richard Lowell Hittleman was born at New York on 7 March 1927,
Career in yoga
Richard Hittleman specialized in introducing Yoga in an easy-to-follow fashion to those who were new to the subject. Through his books, lectures, recordings and TV programs, he brought Yoga to more people than any other person alive at the time. He was most active in the 1960s and 1970s.[4][5] It has been said that Richard Hittleman introduced Yoga to literally millions of people via the medium of television.[6] His method was to start with the most elementary Hatha Yoga postures and gradually bring the student into more advanced physical asanas and the more profound Yoga philosophy of Advaita Vedanta. So popular did his Yoga For Health TV programmes become that "... the programs were repeated again and again - indeed, in New York 'Yoga for Health' was screened for more than four-and-a-half years without a break".[7]
Hittleman stated his philosophy as follows: "In the Yoga scriptures, it is explained that the word "Self" is used to indicate that the Absolute we are attempting to describe is Self-luminous. It shines by its own light that has no beginning and no end. It is dependent upon nothing and is not affected by, nor does it react to, any occurrence in the phenomenal world. It is further characterized as having the qualities of Bliss and Knowledge. That is, when you manifest as that which you truly Are, the experience is one of unqualified Joy and direct (not relative) Knowledge."[8]
He wrote numerous popular books on
There were two later series of "Yoga for Health". One was a co production with KTEH, San Jose, starring Hittleman as the instructor and master, with a male model demonstrating intermediate posture and a female model demonstrating beginning postures. The title of the second series was "Yoga and Meditation." the second series was a 1/2 hour shows one for each week or 52 shows. This series covered virtually all types of yoga instructions Bhakti, Hatha, Raja and Karma as well. Each show started with introductions of guests, and instructions of poses. last 1/2 of the show was devoted to lectures on yoga types, foods, and life styles. also several shows had lectures on very many meditation techniques and styles, deep breathing, deep relaxation. he also lectured on "White light healing." These shows were produced by Mort Levit and Gabreal Franklin. A later, and last series, was produced by Mort Levit, and directed by Gabreal Franklin at KMST Studios.
Death
Hittleman died of prostate cancer on 14 October 1991 at Santa Cruz.[2]
Books
- Richard Hittleman's Introduction to Yoga, Bantam Books, August 18, 1997
- Yoga for Health, Ballantine Books, March 12, 1985
- Richard Hittleman's Yoga: 28 Day Exercise Plan, Workman Publishing, 1969 (Bantam, 1983 ISBN 978-0-553-27748-7)
- Guide for the Seeker, Bantam Books, 1978 ISBN 978-0-553-11171-2
- Richard Hittleman's Guide to Yoga Meditation, Bantam Books, 1969
- Yoga Philosophy and Meditation, 1964
- Yoga at Home, 1962
- Yoga: The 8 Steps to Health and Peace
- Yoga for Physical Fitness
- Yoga for Personal Living
- Be Young With Yoga
- Yoga Natural Foods Cookbook
- Richard Hittleman's 30 Day Yoga Meditation Plan
- Weight control through Yoga
- Richard Hittleman's Yoga for Total Fitness
- The Yoga Way to Figure and Facial Beauty
- The Yoga Way
- Yoga U.S.A: The unique exercise system 10 million Americans believe
- Yoga for Special Problems
References
- ^ Joe Hyams, "Hittleman’s Taking Yoga to the Ladies", The Washington Post, August 2, 1961.
- ^ a b "California Death Records". vitals.rootsweb.ancestry.com. Archived from the original on 2008-03-27.
- ^ Richard Hittleman, Yoga for Health, Ballantine Wellspring, New York, 1983, p. 185
- ^ Howard Kent, "Yoga for Health: A Breakthrough in Television Programs" in Yoga and Health, edited by Ronald Hutchinson, Astrian, London, 1972, p. 18
- OCLC 456171421.
- ^ Ami Chen Mills, Yogi's Boo-boo, 22-November 29, 1995 issue of Metro and Howard Kent in Yoga and Health, London, 1972, p. 18
- ^ Howard Kent, 'Yoga for Health' in Yoga and Health, ed. Hutchinson, 1972, p.18.
- ^ Richard Hittleman, Yoga for Health, Ballantine Wellspring, New York, 1983, p. 172.