An innovative yoga manual for teachers, trainers, and advanced students—craft a safer, more effective yoga practice informed by anatomy, physiology, and biomechanics. Supplemented with more than 100 illustrations and photos, The Yoga Engineer’s Manual makes yoga anatomy simple, clear, and accessible. With tips, tools, and practical advice for on-the-mat applications, this essential resource is written for yoga teachers and practitioners of all traditions. It offers a step-by-step, layer-by-layer examination of the connection between our physical and energetic bodies, their activation through finding one’s best personal alignment, and methods for utilizing asana practice to explore the deeper nature of the Self. To experience the full benefits of yoga, author and yoga teacher trainer Richelle Ricard explains that we need to start with understanding the body: its mechanics, physiology, and our own individual strengths and limitations. Too often, outdated yoga modalities and rote memorization fail trainers and students with a one-size-fits-all approach. The Yoga Engineer’s Manual introduces the functional anatomy, postures, asanas, and yoga-classroom skills that teachers need to confidently lead safe and effective classes that work for all students. Ricard also includes exercises, study guides, and supplemental materials for an interactive and continuous learning experience.

his book combines the perspectives of a dedicated yogi with that of a former anatomy professor and research associate at two major American medicine schools. He has set himself the ambitious goal of combining the modern scientific under- standing of anatomy and physiology with the ancient practice of hatha yoga. The result of an obvious labour of love, the book explains hatha yoga in demystified, scientific terms while at the same time honouring its traditions. It should go a long way in helping yoga achieve the scientific recognition it deserves. Useful as both a textbook and a reference work, this is a book that all serious yoga teachers and practitioners will want on their shelves.

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Thought leader, visionary, philanthropist, mystic, and yogi Sadhguru presents Western readers with a time-tested path to achieving absolute well-being: the classical science of yoga. “A loving invitation to live our best lives and a profound reassurance of why and how we can.”—Sir Ken Robinson, author of The Element, Finding Your Element, and Out of Our Minds: Learning to Be Creative NAMED ONE OF THE TEN BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY SPIRITUALITY & HEALTH The practice of hatha yoga, as we commonly know it, is but one of eight branches of the body of knowledge that is yoga. In fact, yoga is a sophisticated system of self-empowerment that is capable of harnessing and activating inner energies in such a way that your body and mind function at their optimal capacity. It is a means to create inner situations exactly the way you want them, turning you into the architect of your own joy. A yogi lives life in this expansive state, and in this transformative book Sadhguru tells the story of his own awakening, from a boy with an unusual affinity for the natural world to a young daredevil who crossed the Indian continent on his motorcycle. He relates the moment of his enlightenment on a mountaintop in southern India, where time stood still and he emerged radically changed. Today, as the founder of Isha, an organization devoted to humanitarian causes, he lights the path for millions. The term guru, he notes, means “dispeller of darkness, someone who opens the door for you. . . . As a guru, I have no doctrine to teach, no philosophy to impart, no belief to propagate. And that is because the only solution for all the ills that plague humanity is self-transformation. Self-transformation means that nothing of the old remains. It is a dimensional shift in the way you perceive and experience life.” The wisdom distilled in this accessible, profound, and engaging book offers readers time-tested tools that are fresh, alive, and radiantly new. Inner Engineering presents a revolutionary way of thinking about our agency and our humanity and the opportunity to achieve nothing less than a life of joy.

“Over an extraordinary thirty year history, Kripalu Center has been a pioneer in combining authentic yoga with a contemporary Western lifestyle.” —John Abbott, President, Yoga Journal From the senior teachers of the world-renowned Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health–the largest yoga and retreat center in North America–comes this comprehensive guide to the unique and influential Kripalu method, which emphasizes individual growth over outward perfection of form, making it accessible to people of all ages, fitness levels, and body types. KRIPALU YOGA A Guide to Practice On and Off the Mat Beginning with step-by-step “experiences” that teach essential body and breath awareness, Kripalu Yoga features fully illustrated routines for beginners and intermediate students , including Kripalu’s easy-to-follow “press point” instructions. For advanced students, there is a broad menu of additional poses to increase strength, flexibility, and challenge. Far more than an exercise program, Kripalu Yoga also teaches the lifestyle practices and energy techniques that make yoga a powerful catalyst for physical healing, psychological growth, and spiritual awakening.

The Concise Book of Yoga Anatomy is the definitive guide to the study of yoga anatomy--a perfect companion book for any yoga teacher or practitioner seeking to understand the biomechanics of the body as it applies to yoga practice. The book is visually designed in quick reference format to offer useful information about the main skeletal muscles that are central to yoga, with asanas to demonstrate the particular muscles and muscle groups. Over 230 full color illustrations detail each muscle's origin, insertion, and action in order to clearly reveal how the muscles come into play in the movements and postures of yoga. Knowledge of yoga anatomy is paramount to the ability to teach or practice with no injury to oneself or others. With this foundation in place, it is possible to focus on the spiritual element of yoga as well as the physical. Yoga is a union of the two, so where appropriate, the more profound side of the practice is mentioned as it relates to the body. The Concise Book of Yoga Anatomy illustrates the form and function of the muscles first, then interlays the muscles into the yoga posture for full understanding in a clear and integrated way, explaining the technique of the asanas, as well as other important aspects of yoga: pranayamas, the bandhas, and chakras. Table of Contents About This Book 1 Anatomical Orientation 2 Muscles of Respiration 3 Muscles of the Face and Neck 4 Muscles of the Spine 5 The Deep Core and Pelvic Floor 6 Muscles of the Shoulder and Upper Arm 7 Muscles of the Forearm and Hand 8 Muscles of the Hip 9 Muscles of the Knee 10 Muscles of the Ankle/Foot Resources General Index Index of Muscles

Are you interested in offering students in your school the most effective, sustainable and inclusive yoga programming possible? Would you like to teach yoga in schools and have the support and advice of those with many years of successful experience? Have you been interested in sharing yoga with your students, but wondering how to do so safely? Best Practices for Yoga in Schools is a guide for yoga teachers, classroom teachers, school administrators, social workers, and anyone else interested in bringing yoga to children safely, and in a just and inclusive way. By outlining suggestions and considerations across a wide variety of topics, this book will help you effectively and sustainably offer high-quality yoga programming for all children. Based on the collective wisdom and experience of 23 contributors and four reviewers, this Best Practices Guide will support your capacity to implement meaningful school-based yoga programs, with the potential to transform the educational environment and help students thrive in a wide variety of situations. Praise For Best Practices for Yoga in Schools "The Yoga Service Best Practices Guide is an invaluable resource for educators bringing yoga into school settings to promote positive student outcomes. Drawing upon what we know about child development and developmentally appropriate practice, the book offers clear guidance on how best to teach yoga to children and teens in school settings. I highly recommend this book." - Patricia Jennings, Professor at UVA Curry School of Education, author of Mindfulness for Teachers "This is a remarkable effort; a sage, inspiring, pragmatic and well presented manual of best practices for every one seeking to provide "safe, effective, inclusive, and sustainable" yoga classes in schools. The collective wisdom and experience is immediately apparent." - John Kepner, Executive Director: International Association of Yoga Therapists "This is a thoughtful, well researched guide that should be an essential read for anyone wanting to bring yoga to schools. I'm so excited that the Yoga Service Council has been able to create a resource of this caliber using a collaborative model that leaves room for individual styles and philosophies. This is exactly what the field of yoga service needs- agreed upon best practices that unify all the great work already being done." - Hala Khouri, M.A. E-RYT, Co-founder Off the Mat, Into the World, Somatic Counselor, Yoga Teacher and Mother "As a principal and superintendent I have implemented yoga programs in urban and suburban schools and have witnessed the success with students of all ages. Academics increase and off task behavior decreases with every yoga breath students take. Best Practices for Yoga in Schools is a great resource to start a yoga program in your school." - Cynthia Zurchin, Superintendent of Schools, author of The Whale Done School

THE FUNDAMENTALS OF YOGA: Discover the history and philosophy of yoga—plus tools for teaching 108 yoga poses, planning and sequencing your yoga classes, and much more. “Will help [yoga] instructors fine-tune their classroom skills and empower their personal practice.” —Yoga + Joyful Living Drawing on a wide spectrum of perspectives and featuring more than 150 photographs and illustrations, Teaching Yoga covers the fundamental topics of yoga for new and experienced yoga teachers. Inside, you’ll find: • A foundational overview of yoga philosophy and history • Presentations of yoga classics like Vedas; Upanishads; Bhagavad Gita; Yoga Sutras of Patanjali • Profiles of the 11 styles of contemporary yoga, including their history and distinguishing elements • Support and tools for teaching 108 yoga poses, breathing techniques, and meditations • Practical advice for classroom setup, and planning and sequencing yoga classes • Guidance through the process of starting and sustaining a career as a yoga teacher • Over 200 bibliographic sources and a comprehensive index • A useful appendix listing associations, institutes, organizations, and professional resources Addressing 100% of the teacher training curriculum standards set by Yoga Alliance—the world’s leading registry and accreditation source for yoga teachers and schools—Teaching Yoga is the perfect resource for experienced yoga teachers, teachers in training, and anyone interesed in deepening their understanding of their yoga practice.

The second book in the Yoga Service Best Practices Series, created by the Yoga Service Council in collaboration with the Omega Institute, this work is the product of an innovative 18-month project involving leaders in various fields: yoga, mindfulness, veterans' affairs, military operations and culture, traditional and integrative medicine, clinical psychology, trauma therapy, social work, social research, nonprofit management, and more. Best Practices for Yoga with Veterans synthesizes this wealth of knowledge to gather over 100 Best Practice guidelines for teaching yoga to veterans in ways that are safe, effective, sustainable, socially equitable, and responsive to the particularities of the military experience. Best Practices for Yoga with Veterans is designed is to help not only yoga teachers wanting to work with veterans, but also individuals in the medical field working with veterans and veteran family members, as well as VA administrators, and veterans' organizations. Hear from our community: "Best Practices for Yoga with Veterans is truly a remarkable resource for those teaching yoga to veterans. So much practical expertise is extraordinarily well presented. Before reading this book, I had no idea of how much I didn't know about working with veterans and families. Now I see this book as a must-read for those working in the field, and as a model for best practices in other fields as well. - John Kepner, Executive Director, International Association of Yoga Therapists "It is with great pleasure that I give my highest endorsement to Best Practices of Yoga for Veterans. Warriors of all backgrounds will benefit from the skillful recommendations provided, which are designed to help yoga teachers meet the individualized needs of warriors, while respecting the specialized set of norms and values that distinguish them from the general civilian population. It's clear that an immensity of loving care and attention to detail have gone into making this an invaluable resource for yoga and meditation teachers alike, as well as for all who are working with first responders, from firefighters and police, to emergency medical technicians. I will be recommending this to all the teachers I train as a necessary handbook in their work with warriors from all professions. - Richard Miller, Ph.D.; Author, The iRest Program for Healing PTSD; President, Integrative Restoration Institute; Co-Founder, International Association of Yoga Therapy "Best Practices for Yoga with Veterans is a must-read manual for any yoga teacher interested in working with veterans, as well as veterans interested in engaging with yoga. As research continues to validate the use of yoga as tool to build resilience and cope with PTSD, depression, and anxiety, we'll need more guides like this one. Best Practices for Yoga with Veterans provides the building blocks to running a successful "Yoga for Vets" program while reminding us that working with this dynamic group requires "a high level of personal maturity," dedication, creativity, and the same "can do" attitude that military personnel share. In a ready-for-action package, the authors share their depth of expertise in a convenient, all you need, one-stop shop." -Janessa Wells, MPH, author of Redress Your Stress: A Yoga Program for Anxiety and Depression "I am thrilled to see the Yoga Service Council's second Yoga Service Best Practices book. This is a high quality, comprehensive guide that will empower teachers to have the necessary tools to work with veterans. The Editors did a great job of compiling the work of many Contributors and creating a well organized and thorough document that I will be recommending to anyone interested in this work." -Hala Khouri, M.A., SEP, E-RYT; Somatic Counselor, Yoga Teacher, and co-founder of Off the Mat, Into the World

Explore the physiology of 30 key yoga poses, in-depth and from every angle, and master each asana with confidence and control. Did you know that yoga practice can help lower your blood pressure, decrease inflammation and prevent age-related brain changes? Recent scientific research now backs up what were once anecdotal claims about the benefits of yoga to every system in the body. Science of Yoga reveals the facts, with annotated artworks that show the mechanics, the angles, how your blood flow and respiration are affected, the key muscle and joint actions working below the surface of each pose, safe alignment and much more. With insight into variations on the poses and a Q&A section that explores the science behind every aspect of yoga, this easy-to-understand, comprehensive book is an invaluable resource to achieve technical excellence in your practice and optimize the benefits of yoga for your body and mind.

Yoga is rapidly gaining acceptance as a valuable resource for physical, psychological, behavioral and spiritual health in the U.S. criminal justice system and worldwide. Best Practices for Yoga in the Criminal Justice System is a user-friendly guide that explains how to develop, implement, and sustain high-quality yoga programs appropriate for jails, prisons, youth detention centers, and court-ordered programs. Synthesizing the knowledge and experience of 29 leaders in the field, this book is a must-have resource for anyone interested in yoga in the criminal justice system, including yoga teachers and yoga service organizations, correctional officers and other criminal justice professionals, and physical and mental health providers. Key topics covered include problems of mass incarceration, institutional context and culture, teacher training requirements, curriculum and teaching guidelines, adapting trauma-informed yoga to correctional facilities, staffing and developing yoga service organizations, and establishing yoga teacher training programs for incarcerated individuals "on the inside."