The yoga and classical dance traditions of India have been inextricably entwined for millennia. The exacting hand gestures, postures and movements of Indian classical dance can only be achieved through yogic concentration. Conversely, the esthetics, symmetry, and dynamism of dance enhance the practice of yoga. These two traditions, so complementary and essential to one another, are united and explicated for the first time in A Yoga of Indian Classical Dance. Twenty-five years ago Roxanne Kamayani Gupta embarked on a journey of dance and yoga, yearning to unlock their mysteries and discover their common origins. As a twenty-year-old student from America she was miraculously and mysteriously absorbed into Indian culture, became a Hindu, and began an odyssey so unusual and unique that the reader will be enchanted by its telling. Choosing the path of the dancer, Roxanne Gupta accomplished what no Western woman had done before: being accepted and trained by Indian masters and then performing in the Indian classical traditions--from the palaces of maharajas to the arts festivals of Europe and America--while at the same time achieving a doctorate in the anthropology of religion and being initiated into a number of yogic traditions. Having mastered the classical form of Kuchipudi dance and studied with teachers of the hatha and kriya yoga traditions, she brings together these two great streams of consciousness and practice. In this tantric approach to yoga and dance, expressed through the body and through a yoga of emotions, we see the traditions embodied in a manner that embraces the totality of the human experience. The result is the dance of the yogini, the sacred feminine initiatress who dances with one foot in nature and the other in the realm of the gods. With extensive photographs of innovative yoga routines, Roxanne Kamayani Gupta distills her experience into techniques for yogic study certain to assist students of all levels to achieve a dynamic, beautiful, and graceful practice.

This book explores the synergy between yoga and dance, enhancing physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. It shows how yoga improves dancers' strength, flexibility, and focus, while dance adds creativity and fluidity to yoga. The spiritual essence of Odissi dance and the therapeutic benefits of both disciplines are also examined. Readers will discover how these practices promote a balanced, fulfilling life.

India's rich cultural legacy has been founded on the abiding faith of the Indians in the divine power, whose worship had found expression through dance. 'Bhakti' or devotion was the underlying essence of the various dance forms that developed in India. Indian Classical Dances is a unique presentation of the eight classical dance styles -- Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Kathakali, Kuchipudi, Manipuri, Mohiniyattam, Odissi and Sattriya, through a concise portrayal of the background of each dance form, the salient features, format of presentation, music and costume. The simplistic approach of the narration coupled with the unique collection of photographs, will enable the lay reader to visualise, comprehend and appreciate the diverse dance forms of India.

India’s rich cultural legacy has been founded on the abiding faith of the Indians in the divine power, whose worship had found expression through dance. ‘Bhakti’ or devotion was the underlying essence of the various dance forms that developed in India. Indian Classical Dances is a unique presentation of the eight classical dance styles – Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Kathakali, Kuchipudi, Manipuri, Mohiniyattam, Odissi and Sattriya, through a concise portrayal of the background of each dance form, the salient features, format of presentation, music and costume. The simplistic approach of the narration coupled with the unique collection of photographs, will enable the lay reader to visualise, comprehend and appreciate the diverse dance forms of India.

Dr Tetiana Kapranova is an International Alliance Master Yoga Teacher, Certified Physiology of Yoga from NYU, Doctor an Endocrinologist, Kathak Certificated PP1, PP2, Bhushan 1 st year (Pracheen Kala Kendra, Chandigarh), Fitness, Nutrition and Diet Instructor.She has been practicing Kathak Indian Classical Dance from 2015 in India, Russia, Ukraine. She has organized yoga and medical workshops and sessions for Universities, Schools, Pre-schools, and Organizations. She has a YouTube Yoga Channel. The "Kathak - Indian Classical Dance" book will give you knowledge about Indian Culture, Music, Costume, Gharanas in Kathak Dance.From the book, you will learn Eye, Eyebrow, Neck, Head, Hands, Legs and Body Movements in Kathak Dance."If the spirit is the seed, dance is the water of its evolution."

About the book: In India there are several dance forms in vogue and among them seven dance forms Bharatnatyam, Kathak, Kathakali, Kuchipudi, Manipuri, Mohiniyattam, and Odissi which are recognize by the majority of scholars and art lovers as classical dance forms. Each of these seven classical dances has a tradition of several thousand years. These seven dance forms have established themselves as classical dance on the basis of historical background, purity, technical complexities, and maturity. Each of the classical style come from a specific region of India and is governed by certain rules. These rules are applied either consciously or instinctively and are governed by Bharat Muni’s “Natyashastra.” These dances are performed adopting specific music.

This book contains the fundamentals of Indian classical dance, specifically Bharatanatyam. Covered topics include the eight classical dances forms of Bharat, origin of dance, hasta mudras, music in dance, legends and gurus in the field, abhinaya, exercise and yoga asana that enhances the dance. The book attempts to cover the material outlined in the syllabus for the Junior and Senior, Karnataka State Examinations. In order to facilitate quick revisions, sample question papers, chapter-by-chapter questions, and compendiums have been included. For readers who may be interested in learning more about Indian classical dance traditions, this book is beneficial.

For thousands of years hand mudras have been used in India for healing, storytelling, emotional expression, and to evoke and convey elevated spiritual states. For the first time, the elaborate system of mudras-as applied in yoga and Indian dance-has been organized into a comprehensive, fully-indexed and cross-referenced format that allows readers access to this still esoteric body of knowledge. Mudras of India presents over 200 photographed hand mudras each with detailed instructions on technique, application, health and spiritual benefits and historical background. The authors have extensively researched the usage of mudras and their significance in the larger context of Indian spiritual systems, and taken painstaking efforts to ensure each mudra is rendered with correct Sanskrit name, transliteration and translation to English. The book will appeal to spiritual seekers, students and teachers of yoga and Indian Dance, scholars and lay people, and anyone interested in the rich cultural heritage of Indian mudras, and the transformative effects of these powerful hand gestures.