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Yoga is many things to many people. However, the basics of yoga are worth understanding given its popularity and the benefits of the practice. This includes understanding yoga's roots, its origins, its development within and outside India as well as the research involving yoga as an integrative therapeutic modality. The author introduces the topic of yoga to healthcare officials, practitioners, skeptics, and a range of curious people in between. For yoga practitioners and those interested in the practice, The Politics and Promise of Yoga: Contemporary Relevance of an Ancient Practice outlines a condensed view of traditional yoga practices and provides a glimpse into the origin of yoga within Indian history and philosophy. The author hopes that policymakers will be interested in this evidence-based scientific practice so that it can be systematically incorporated into mainstream biomedical systems around the globe. This book also serves to confirm existing knowledge and historical nuances about yoga and also addresses contemporary debates and politics which revolve around the practice.

Eminent yoga teachers Richard Freeman and Mary Taylor explore essential lessons from The Bhagavad Gita to reveal a practical guide for living in today's complex world.The Bhagavad Gita is one of the most influential and widely recognized ancient texts in Indian epic literature. Through the telling of the story and its many different philosophical teachings, the text provides deep insight into how to meet life's inevitable challenges while remaining open, clear, and compassionate. It offers modern day wisdom seekers a framework for understanding our core beliefs and who we really are--revealing the fact that healthy relationships to others and the world are essential to living a full, compassionate, balanced life. Richard Freeman and Mary Taylor, both deeply respected yogic teachers, offer a practical, immediately relevant interpretation that emphasizes self-reflection and waking up in our modern world.Following the traditional sequence of teachings in The Bhagavad Gita--from its opening scene in which Arjuna finds himself in the middle of a battlefield, hesitating and trapped between opposing sides, torn by his dharma and confused by the various paths of action he might choose in the process of awakening--Freeman and Taylor interweave insight into how these classic teachings are relevant for modern readers struggling with what it means to live responsibly in the twenty-first century. With quotes, citations, and a full translation of the original text, they look at the overall arc of the The Bhagavad Gita's teachings and how that relates to the turmoil that arises, not only for Arjuna, but for any of us in the face of crises of conscience, spirit, and form. Exploring the essential themes such as love, wisdom, and karma, and by offering embodiment exercises to apply the teachings, When Love Comes to Light guides readers in the step-by-step process of waking up their intelligence and finding a path toward compassionate action.

Providing simple explanations of the various philosophical strands underpinning yoga as well as guidance on how to integrate them into teaching, this practical work from Wendy Teasdill concerns itself with values that are often lost in modern-day practice. It looks at balance, moderation, introspection, self-development and liberation, integrating these into asana practices in a way that deepens the experience. Each chapter covers a particular aspect of yoga philosophy in the key texts, with links to asana, pranayama, moral codes, as well as some contemporary issues such as orthorexia, the question of cultural appropriation, the role of the guru, misuse of power and recognition of authenticity in an ever-evolving scene. By presenting practical skills rooted in yoga's long history, Integrating Philosophy in Yoga Teaching and Practice makes the transition from physical to metaphysical easy for both yoga teachers and students.

The talks presented in this volume, first published in 1977, were originally delivered during a retreat in New York, in which speakers from a variety of spiritual traditions were represented. It aims to show the value of yoga in everyday life, and its relation to many other religions and philosophies.

The lessons which compose this volume, originally appeared in the shape of monthly lessons. These lessons met with a hearty and generous response from the public, and the present volume is issued in response to the demand for the lessons in a permanent and durable form. There have been no changes made in the text. The publishers take the liberty to call the attention of the reader to the great amount of information condensed within the space given to each lesson. Students have told us that they have found it necessary to read and study each lesson carefully, in order to absorb the varied information contained within its pages. They have also stated that they have found it advisable to re-read the lessons several times, allowing an interval between each reading and that at each re-reading they would discover information that had escaped them during the course of the previous study. This has been repeated to us so often that we feel justified in mentioning it, that other readers might avail themselves of the same course and plan of study. Following his usual custom, the writer of the lessons has declined to write a preface for this book, claiming that the lessons speak for themselves, and that those for whom they are intended will receive the message contained within them, without any prefatory talk.'When the soul sees itself as a Center surrounded by its circumference when the Sun knows that it is a Sun, surrounded by its whirling planets-then is it ready for the Wisdom and Power of the Masters.'

Man is a far more complete being than is generally imagined. He has not only a body and a soul, but he is a spirit possessing a soul, which soul has several vehicles for expression, these several vehicles being of different degrees of density, the body being the lowest form of expression. These different vehicles manifest upon different'planes,'such as the'physical plane,'the'astral plane,'etc., all of which will be explained as we proceed. The real self is pure spirit, a spark of the divine fire. This spirit is encased within numerous sheaths, which prevent its full expression. As man advances in development, his consciousness passes from the lower planes to the higher, and he becomes more and more aware of his higher nature. The spirit contains within it all potentialities, and as man progresses he unfolds new powers, new qualities, into the light. The Yogi philosophy teaches that man is composed of seven principles - is a sevenfold creature.

The ‘Yoga Sūtras of Patañjali'are 196 Indian sūtras (aphorisms) that constitute the foundational text of Ashtanga Yoga, also called Raja Yoga. In medieval times, Ashtanga Yoga was cast as one of the six orthodox āstika schools of Hindu philosophy.

A practice to consciously explore wakefulness, dreaming, deep sleep, and the very structure of your emotional, mental, and energy bodies • Details the simple postures of Yoga Nidra, breathing exercises and guided meditations, and tips for maintaining awareness in the liminal state that precedes sleep • Explains how Yoga Nidra allows you to explore different states of consciousness and any blockages in the emotional, mental, and energy bodies • Includes four complete sessions as well as pointers for creating your own sessions Known as the “yoga of conscious sleep,” Yoga Nidra is an ancient Indian practice that allows you to consciously explore the states of wakefulness, dream, and deep sleep as well as your own psyche by combining deep relaxation with attentive awareness. Stemming from Hindu, Buddhist, and Tantric philosophies, the practice--which could be called the “sleep of the sages”--centers on techniques for putting the mind and body to sleep while keeping your consciousness alert. Through Yoga Nidra you can directly observe and understand specific physiological, emotional, and mental processes within yourself as well as experience moments of great inner tranquility, joy, and well-being. Providing a step-by-step guide to Yoga Nidra, Pierre Bonnasse offers a full range of practices focused on the time of awakening and that of going to sleep, yet adaptable to any time of day or night. He details the simple postures of Yoga Nidra and includes preparatory techniques that work with breath and guided meditations to help you become an attuned observer of your inner world. Offering tips for withdrawing the senses and maintaining awareness in the liminal state that precedes sleep, the author explores how all practices in this discipline begin with a phase of relaxation and observation of breathing, followed by immersion into a very subtle awareness of the physical, energy, and mental bodies. He explains how Yoga Nidra sessions allow you to discover “that which is held on to,” making it is easier to let go and become free from all states and processes. A session can explore different states of consciousness as well as your senses, desires, and fears. The higher states of more advanced sessions focus on the energy body and its components: the chakras, nadis, and pranavayu, the vital breath and autonomic functions of the body. Including four complete sessions as well as pointers for creating your own, Bonnasse shows how Yoga Nidra offers positive, stabilizing, and therapeutic effects for the body, emotions, and thoughts. It is the ideal practice for getting rid of stress, anxiety, and the fear of death the source of all other fears. Connecting Indian and Western philosophical ideas, the author shows how sleep can be an opportunity to practice a form of yoga that changes not only our nights but every minute of our days.

A longtime yoga teacher and Buddhist meditation practitioner, Charlotte Bell describes in passionate detail how she applied the eightfold path of the Yoga Sutras and the Buddha's heed for mindfulness to her hectic Western life—with practicality and precision, grace and guts.Her insights honor these timeless teachings while staying relevant to contemporary life. She recounts personal stories that depict her commitment to practice in her own life: in relationships, music, asana, meditation, teaching, and even writing this book. And it's not all rosy. She writes about self-doubt and struggles, all while welcoming, time and again, the life she has, imperfections and all.Charlotte Bell shows by example how to be a yogi in the particularity of your own life. Her suggestions about how to bring mindfulness into asana will deepen your practice; her recommended daily practices, or Reflections, will reveal new inner landscapes. Mindful Yoga, Mindful Life is an inspiring guide for anyone seeking to live a yogic life.

Enlightenment isn't a strange, mystical, or faraway place. It's a fundamental human experience available to us all in different ways and in different moments.Learn how the ancient philosophy of yoga, modern neuroscience, and positive psychology can help you discover your life's meaning and purpose, rewire your brain, and uncover lasting happiness and joy. Everyone is looking for happiness, but very few really know where to find it. Maybe it's that house you've been dreaming of buying, or a new car, or the perfect relationship? Or maybe it's a grand, epic revelation about the meaning of life? But when will that revelation come to you, and how long should you wait? And what if happiness isn't something you achieve or obtain, but how you respond to the conditions of your life? After all, yogis can find peace and joy even when life is painful and unpleasant. In Yoga and the Pursuit of Happiness, you'll discover that lasting happiness is already at your fingertips—in the small, everyday moments inherently infused with purpose and meaning. The philosophy of yoga—rather than the poses and postures—boils down to one fundamental process: overcoming suffering by coming to know ourselves and aligning our actions with our own intrinsic sense of spiritual purpose. And yoga gives us the tools to address two basic existential questions: Who am I? What should I do? Meanwhile, positive psychology and neuroscience show us how our actions are constantly rewiring our brain in helpful ways—which points to happiness as something we must practice and carry out each day. Happiness is, simply put, something we do. In this unique, lighthearted guide, celebrated yoga instructor Sam Chase blends ancient wisdom from the Bhagavad Gita and Yoga Sutras with his own personal journey of enlightenment to show you how to deepen your understanding of yourself and the world around you, end the cycle of materialism and greed that can get in the way of cultivating stillness of mind, and achieve lasting well-being.

In today's complex world, how is it possible to truly live as a yogi? Traditional yoga theory offers fresh, insightful solutions to today's practical lifestyle concerns, ranging from environmentalism to personal health and wellness. Tuning in to classic yoga philosophy and teachings can bring to light our greatest strengths while showing us how to maintain a healthy body and clear mind while attaining inner happiness. Drawing from his personal experiences of yoga and insight into ancient Sanskrit texts, Dr. Shankaranarayana Jois connects yogic philosophy to how we approach food, work, education, relationships, and other conscious lifestyle choices to support our deepest longings for happiness, peace, and balance. Practical and insightful, The Sacred Tradition of Yoga begins with a clear and deep inquiry into the human condition, reminding us of the true purpose of Yoga. The second half of the book focuses on the yamas and niyamas, the personal disciplines and social ethics of yoga. Throughout, Dr. Jois's teachings honor ancient traditions and underscore the benefits we can gain from adopting a yogic way of life in the modern world.

This pocket edition offers a convenient format for this ageless guide and companion to the student on the Yogic path. Includes the full text of this classic Yoga work, along with brief commentary from a revered master of Raja Yoga.

The Yogi Philosophy may be divided into several great branches, or fields. What is known as'Hatha Yoga'deals with the physical body and its control; its welfare; its health; its preservation; its laws, etc. What is known as'Raja Yoga” deals with the Mind; its control; its development; its unfoldment, etc. What is known as'Bhakti Yoga” deals with the Love of the Absolute. What is known as'Gnani Yoga” (The yoga of wisdom) deals with the scientific and intellectual knowing of the great questions regarding Life and what lies back of Life − the Riddle of the Universe. Each branch of Yoga is but a path leading toward the one end − unfoldment, development, and growth.

This companion guide is designed to be used with Darren Main's best selling book'Yoga and the Path of the Urban Mystic'. It provides questions for personal reflection, exercises and quotes that can be used for journal writing and group discussions. This guide also provides detailed instructions on how to start a discussion group in your home, yoga studio or community center.

What is the meaning of Shiva dancing on a dwarf named Avidya? Why does Vishnu sleep upon an endless snake? To what did the Buddha awaken? What do we mean by soul? The practice of Yoga has become quite common and popular in the West; however, the stories of Yoga are still strange to Western ears. What do these ancient symbols mean, what are they trying to teach us, and how should we incorporate the knowledge skillfully into our Western lifestyle? By looking at the myths of Yoga along with the stories that have influenced Western culture, we are presented with opportunities to select the best of both worlds, and create new maps to help guide us through the uncertainties of modern living. Stories are fun! Important stories guide us and educate us; they create mental models which work at an unconscious level to help us navigate through our modern society and govern our reactions to the ups-and¬downs of life; they provide meaning and purpose for our life; and our stories entertain and entrance us. In this book, Bernie Clark looks at the spiritual stories found in the West that create a base map for our lives and then looks at the stories found in the East to see how they could improve our base maps. The stories offered are mix of light¬hearted and enjoyable, and deep and profound. The importance of stories East and West are illustrated through the model proposed by the great 20th century mythologist, Joseph Campbell: myths, or stories, serve four great functions - the mystical, the cosmological, the sociological and the psychological function. The stories chosen illustrate these four functions of mythology and show how we can take these stories into ourselves to create a deeper experience of life.

Yoga Happiness: A Path for Transformation provides an insightful companion resource that propels you towards happiness transformation. Syntheses of ancient yoga principles and Eastern philosophies are easily defined to challenge our unwanted negative patterns. This guide provides you with a balance of yoga asanas and breathing exercises to help unify your mind and body and release unwanted tension. You will begin to feel more alive and more open as you become further enriched by Meditation and Visualisation practices. In this breakthrough approach, you are encouraged to draw on your own intuition and faith and make the transition required to recognise your inner truth. Drawing on years of teaching yoga and art, life experiences and a desire to help others, Annushka inspires self-realisation and personal power in this book. You can choose more soundly in respect of self and others to develop strategies that will change your life.

Sophia is the incarnation of wisdom, personified eloquently by the writer of the Wisdom of Solomon. She surfaces repeatedly in both the Old and New Testaments of the Bible, yet her identify remains unclear. Some see Sophia as a deity in her own right, others see Her as representing the Bride of Christ (Revelation 19), others as a feminine aspect of God representing wisdom (Proverbs 8 and 9), and still others as a theological concept regarding the wisdom of God. Author and yogini Monette Chilson doesn't attempt to provide the definitive word on Sophia's identification, and in fact, invites readers to revel in the mystery that surrounds her as they learn how to use yoga to access the divine within. Within each one of us-male and female-whether we choose to embrace or deny her existence, Sophia exists. She is the Holy Spirit, the breath we breathe. She is God-given, not something women dreamed up to feel better about being left out of all the starring roles in the Bible. With an understanding of Sophia, it is esy to see that women were in fact not left out. Sophia was there all along, beckoning to us-right along with Jesus. The masculinization of God has left both men and women looking for a more holistic religious experience that an understanding of the feminine face of God can provide. Finding Sophia is about our ability to perceive a wholly representative image of God within us. God is already there. When we recognize Sophia as she works inside us-guiding us along the path laid before us-we come closest to God. Bringing that awareness into focus is a function of being, rather than doing. It is passive, not active, and it requires us to back off and surrender to that voice that is whispering to us even when our internal dialog drowns it out. Yoga and meditation practices allow us to begin to hear Sophia's voice. Yoga doesn't create the sacred. It merely reveals it in many beautiful ways which are described throughout this book.

A practical guide by an experienced teacher, this book shows how the highest form of yoga, the Rājayoga espoused by the great sage Patanjali, serves as a path to the kind of mental steadiness that ultimately yields self-realization. It explains the foundation of yoga practices — their philosophical, psychological, cosmological, ethical, and religious doctrines — and compares the essential features of Rājayoga with other yoga systems.The first of its two parts deals with yoga metaphysics, delineating the characteristics and functions of Prakrti and Purusa, the reality of the external world, and the process of evolution. The second part expounds yoga ethics and practice, with emphasis on yoga method, stages of samādhi, and related topics.Both beginners and experienced yoga practitioners will find this classic volume a useful and inspiring reference.

This book is an interpretation of The Yoga Sutra of Patanjali gained through the author's experiences, practice and accumulative knowledge of life - a process that will long continue for all seekers of truth. The foreword gives a brief background to Yoga and the anonymous ‘Patanjali', then suggests that ‘Life is our teacher'. An attempt has been made to make the sutras themselves as concise as the original, with subtle hints towards interpretation that you will find interesting and original. This is followed by ‘Practice', in which the reader is encouraged to contemplate the significance of the sutra's message in everyday life today, using verse, symbolism and mantra. The object of the work: ‘observing'Patanjali's blessings of spiritual healing through yoga. Patanjali, the father of yoga, has shown us the way via the sutras. This book attempts to bring the destination closer using today's language.

Many people know Yoga as a form of stress-relieving fitness regime. This book delves into the rich philosophy and history of this ancient physical and mental discipline, in the form of four lectures given at the 32nd Anniversary of the Theosophical Society.

In this companion to his best-selling translation of the Bhagavad Gita, Easwaran explores the essential themes of this much-loved Indian scripture.Placing the Gita in a modern context, Easwaran shows how this classic text sheds light on the nature of reality, the illusion of separateness, the search for identity, and the meaning of yoga. The key message of the Gita is how to resolve our conflicts and live in harmony with the deep unity of life, through the principles of yoga and the practice of meditation.Easwaran grew up in the Hindu tradition and learned Sanskrit from an early age. A foremost translator and interpreter of the Gita, he taught classes on it for forty years, while living out the principles of the Gita in the midst of a busy family and community life.In the Bhagavad Gita, Sri Krishna, the Lord, doesn't tell the warrior prince Arjuna what to do: he shows Arjuna his choices and then leaves it to Arjuna to decide. Easwaran, too, shows us clearly how these teachings still apply to us – and how, like Arjuna, we must take courage and act wisely if we want our world to thrive.

The best-selling beginner's guide to the history, schools, practices, and philosophy of the ancient Yoga tradition—from a renowned Yoga scholar This overview of the essentials of Yoga is meant to both broaden and deepen the understanding of beginning students. It covers all the basic elements of this ancient discipline and philosophy of India—including Yoga poses, diet, breath control, meditation, mantras, Kundalini energy, and more. It also includes newly translated excerpts from the scriptures and pays special attention to branches of Yoga, such as Tantra, that are of great interest to Western students but are frequently misunderstood.

Here is a personal tribute to'the father of modern yoga'Sri Tirumalai Krishnamacharya (1888–1989), written by one of his longtime disciples. Krishnamacharya was a renowned Indian yoga master, Ayurvedic healer, and scholar who modernized yoga practice and whose students—including B. K. S. Iyengar, K. Pattabhi Jois, T. K. V. Desikachar, and Indra Devi—dramatically popularized yoga in the West In this book, the author, A. G. Mohan, a well-respected yoga teacher and yoga therapist, draws on his own memories and notes, and Krishnamacharya's diaries and recorded material, to present a detailed and fascinating view of the man and his teachings, and his own warm and inspiring relationship with the master. This portrait of the great teacher will be a compelling and informative read for yoga teachers and students who truly want to understand the source of their tradition and practice.

Internationally renowned and bestselling author Donna Farhi moves yoga practice beyond the mat into our everyday lives, restoring the tradition's intended function as a complete, practical philosophy for daily living. Expanding upon the teachings of Patanjali's Yoga Sutras, the core text of the yoga tradition, Donna Farhi describes yoga's transforming power as a complete life practice, far beyond its common reduction to mere exercise routine or stress management. This is the philosophy of yoga as a path to a deeper awareness of self. Drawing upon her years of teaching with students, Farhi guides readers through all the pitfalls and promises of navigating a spiritual practice. Farhi's engaging and accessible style and broad experience offer important teachings for newcomers and seasoned practitioners of yoga alike. And because her teachings of yoga philosophy extend into every corner of daily life, this book is an equally accessible guide to those seeking spiritual guidance without learning the pretzel bendings of the physical practice itself. As one of the top teachers worldwide, Farhi's exploration of the core philosophy of yoga is destined to become an instant classic.

Truth is not something we have to seek out. It is not something that is absent and far away, requiring great effort to find. Truth is present within you as the Life that is you. In Yoga of Heart, Los Angeles-based yoga instructor Mark Whitwell takes us back to the time when yoga was first developed—to the shamanic past of the Upanishads, when yoga was practiced as a means of acknowledging, enjoying, and participating in the very source of Life. Whitwell explores the deeper tantric dimensions of hatha yoga—how yoga's purpose is to link the mind to the wonder of our own condition. He shows how hatha yoga is participation in life's polarities already in union—through the male surrender to the female principle. Yoga of Heart shows how we can forge that union of polarities within our body: above and below, front and back, left and right, male and female. Yoga of Heart focuses especially on clearing the energy centers and meridians, fostering dynamic health and allowing practitioners to create a deeper intimacy with both their partners and the energetic life forces in the universe.

An in-depth primer on the history, philosophy, spirituality, and current practices of yoga, from a respected scholar and longtime yoga practitioner Here is a comprehensive survey of the full breadth and depth of the 5,000-year-old Yoga tradition, emphasizing its potent philosophy and spiritual vision. Georg Feuerstein demonstrates that Yoga is much more than a system of physical exercises—it is a profound path of self-transformation that encompasses a range of teachings, practices, and sacred texts that can help us cultivate wisdom, balance, and inner freedom, as well as physical health.Feuerstein is one of the few Western scholar-teachers of Yoga whose writing and teaching penetrate the full richness and depth of this ancient tradition. Here he offers a collection of essays touching on all facets of the discipline.Topics include:• The different branches and styles of Yoga• The ethical teachings of Yoga• Yoga and vegetarianism• Meditation and mantras• Choosing a teacher• Tantric Yoga• The experience of ecstasy

A unique reference work from the foremost writer on Yoga today, THE YOGA TRADITION surveys the 5,000-year history of Hindy, Buddhistm, Jaina, and Sikh Yoga, featuring full and partial translations of numerous key scriptures and over 200 illustrations. It is considered the CLASSIC text on Yoga practice and history.

This is the first comprehensive and systematic analytical study of the major philosophical concepts of classical yoga. The book consists of a series of detailed discussions of the key concepts used by Patanjali in his Yoga-Sutra to describe and explain the enigma of human existence and to point a way beyond the perpetual motion of the wheel of becoming. Feuerstein's study differs from previous ones in that it seeks to free Patanjali's aphoristic statements from the accretions of later interpretations; instead, the author places the Sutra in its original context and sees it as the source of the whole edifice of classical yoga and not just as a summary of previous developments. This book will be of interest to comparative religionists, Indologists, and practitioners of yoga who wish to deepen their understanding of its philosophical basis.

Este valioso libro proporciona un manual completo para el estudio y la práctica de Raja Yoga, el camino de la concentración y meditación. Esta nueva edición de esas enseñanzas atemporales es un tesoro que merece ser leído y recomendado una y otra vez por los caminantes en busca del sendero espiritual. Los Sutras clásicos (hilos de pensamientos) cuentan con más de cinco mil años de antigüedad, abarcan las enseñanzas del yoga en la ética, meditación y posturas físicas, dando orientaciones para afrontar situaciones de la vida diaria. Los Sutras se presentan aquí en su forma más pura, con el sánscrito original y su traducción, transcripción y comentarios de Sri Swami Satchidananda, uno de los maestros de yoga contemporáneos más respetado y venerado. En este contexto clásico, Sri Swamiji ofrece consejos prácticos, basados en su propia experiencia, para dominar la mente y lograr el bienestar físico, mental y armonía emocional.

Gathered during the many years the author spent practicing yoga, karate, and exploring the Far East, this collection of teaching stories will appeal to anyone interested in yoga, oriental philosophy, the martial arts, or the evolving soul.