Why do you feel so much better after a yoga class? What is it that takes yoga beyond being merely a way to physically exercise the body, and instead renders it a tool for effectuating deep and lasting emotional change? In Yoga Saved My Life psychotherapist and yoga teacher Sasha Bates demystifies both yoga and psychotherapy, exploring the links between them and showing how each can be transformational. This sits alongside personal stories from members of the Fierce Calm yoga community - people who have experienced all manner of difficulties, whether due to neglect, addiction, abuse, anxiety, depression, stress or any of the other myriad ways in which we all struggle with modern life. Here they tell their stories of finding yoga, and thereby discovering a path through the beliefs and behaviours that had been holding them back and keeping them miserable. If you've ever wondered why you feel so much better after a yoga class, then the explanations of how any why yoga works will enlighten you. Written using down to earth language and in a warm conversational tone, you will come to see how yoga is doing what psychotherapy does: providing a safe, containing, reflective space in which you can access your unconscious, develop self-awareness and find ways to relate to yourself better. This new relationship with your self offers new ways to work with the automatic habits you do without thinking, but which hold you back, practically and emotionally. 'Yoga Saved My Life shows us gently and persuasively that healing the mind is as important as healing the body, and yoga is a great way of doing this' - Vex King, author of Good Vibes, Good Life and Healing is the New High

The ancient and sacred Sister Sciences of Yoga and Ayurveda provide a pathway to profound self-healing, physical & mental vibrancy, and ultimately to Self-realization. Deep Yoga: Ancient Wisdom for Modern Times brings the timeless wisdom of Yoga and Ayurveda into our lives in personal and relevant ways, giving us a host of techniques to deal with the stress and anxiety that permeate our mordern culture.

This is the story of Yoga in America, as told by 46 ardent teachers and devotees from every part of the Yoga spectrum. 46 unique and compelling essays on what Yoga is in America representing the major yoga traditions, Bikram, Kundalini, Ashtanga, Kripalu, Iyengar and some that are much less widely known. The 46 writers assembled in this book show both the great diversity of Yoga and its unifying principles. So dive in to any page and you will find a story or musing that offers you wisdom, profound inspiration, and perhaps even a touch of enlightenment. Here is a sample of some of the fascinating and fun chapter titles: "Hot Yoga in America-Roots and Offshoots" "Skip the Middle Man and Go Directly to Bliss " "How Yoga Saved My Life" "Firm Buttocks or Self-Realization?" "How Patanjali Comes Alive in My Classes and My Life" Proceeds from Yoga in America support Families of Fallen Firefighters.

A Way from Darkness is the unflinching and confessional story of Taylor Hunt's journey from addiction to health - physical, emotional, and spiritual. His parents' divorce set the stage for a downward spiral of self-destruction. The pressure he felt to keep his family together coupled with a deep desire to "fit in" fueled his experimentation with drugs and alcohol. His descent from upper-middle class teen with a promising future to the depths of heroin addiction left him bankrupt in every imaginable sense of the word. Soon, he was fully immersed in the dark underbelly of society and on the brink of death. Finding his way out of the abyss after ten years was neither quick nor easy. A twelve-step program of recovery and the practice of yoga provided the guiding lights toward a new path. Taylor does much more than share his story in A Way from Darkness; he invites the reader to find healing through community, Ashtanga yoga, and ultimately, acceptance.

For more than 30 years, Yoga Journal has been helping readers achieve the balance and well-being they seek in their everyday lives. With every issue,Yoga Journal strives to inform and empower readers to make lifestyle choices that are healthy for their bodies and minds. We are dedicated to providing in-depth, thoughtful editorial on topics such as yoga, food, nutrition, fitness, wellness, travel, and fashion and beauty.

A leading yoga instructor demonstrates how practitioners can apply yogic principles to all aspects of daily living for improved mental and physical health, in a guide that features personal stories and explains how yoga can integrate different parts of the self and assist the progression of a spiritual path.

Infertility Saved My Life: Healing PCOS From The Inside Out exposes the raw teaching moments of Sarah Willoughby’s journey to self-love through Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and secondary infertility. Within Infertility Saved My Life, Sarah Willoughby addresses the challenges and heartbreak she experienced while becoming a mum to three amazing children. She writes about her multiple miscarriages, as well as the trauma she endured, so that anyone still on their journey to parenthood can feel less alone in their loss and grief. Sarah’s story peaks in 2009, when she ended up in intensive care after a disastrous IVF cycle. Lying in her hospital bed, she promised herself that if she survived, she would embrace her fears and empower others to do the same. Seven months later, Sarah Willoughby left the corporate world, emigrated to Australia and fell pregnant naturally twice with her daughters. Infertility Saved My Life shares the wisdom and insight that enabled Sarah to complete her family and begin a heart-centered life and business. She includes practical exercises and tools to help balance the reader’s mind, body and spirit and improve their chances of having a baby.

An inspiring collection of essays that reveal the healing power of yoga, Survivors on the Yoga Mat is an ideal companion for trauma survivors and yoga teachers alike. Weaving together stories from her classes, travels, and workshops, author Becky Thompson shows the brave and unique ways that survivors approach yoga: the creative ways that they practice, the challenges they face, and the transformative experiences they discover. Thompson skillfully draws connections between yoga and social-justice activism, demonstrating how a trauma-sensitive approach to yoga makes room for all of us—across race, class, gender, religion and nationality. Survivors on the Yoga Mat offers stories, reflections, and meditations for people who are healing from a wide range of traumas—sexual abuse, accidents, child abuse, war, illnesses, incarceration, and other injuries. The book consists of 90 true stories—alternately funny, surprising, and irreverent—that together provide a roadmap for survivors on their journey to wholeness. Organized into six sections, the book explores the challenges of beginning a yoga practice; the unique strengths of trauma survivors; the circuitous path of healing; yoga's value as a lifelong practice; the special role of teachers; and the potential of yoga as an avenue for activism. Also included is a description of Pantajali's Eight Limbs of Yoga, a list of resources, an appendix explaining the different styles of yoga, and a beautiful photo glossary with over 100 photos of the yoga postures mentioned in the book.

Embrace the foundations of your hatha yoga practice through gorgeous photos that capture the natural beauty of the asana. Foundational Yoga Flow boasts a comprehensive collection of 90 poses segmented into three parts: Awaken: warming and foundational poses as you start to move Deepen: standing, hand-balancing, inversion, and backbend poses that flow into each other and inspire you to challenge yourself Soften: seated and restorative poses to end your practice Stunning photos depict the beauty, intention, and energy of each pose in relationship with the time of day in which it was photographed: during sunrise to wake up the body (awaken), at midday to invigorate and energize (deepen), and during sunset and nighttime for restoration (soften). Each pose is accompanied by expert instruction and insight to help you gain the most from your practice. Variations are offered to enable you to tailor your yoga practice to your own needs and abilities. Six sequences—including sun salutations, moon salutations, and sequences for a particular time of day—showcase the poses in a flowing rhythm. If you aspire to embody the beauty of asana, let Foundational Yoga Flow be the captivating and enlightening guide that you’ll turn to time and time again.

Essential and uplifting advice that will help you get from where you are to who you hope to become. Often referred to as The Traveling Yogini, beloved yoga teacher Stephanie Spence explores what it means to become our truest selves. Weaving her experience as a writer, mother, and PTSD survivor, Spence affirms that not only is the soul’s messy and unpredictable journey inevitable, it is essential to our quest to live a life we thrive in. Yoga heals—not just the body, but the heart and soul. Whether you’ve only dabbled with the idea of trying yoga, or have practiced for a long time, yoga is about you. Physically, it increases endurance, strength, and flexibility. Mentally, it reduces stress and helps you find stillness in a chaotic world. Spiritually, it helps you evolve to your highest potential and live in a space of gratitude and peace no matter what’s happening around you. Here, Spence has gathered the wisdom of eighty-five acclaimed yogis to enable readers to live their life to the fullest. Real and raw wisdom from global leaders in the yoga community—from classic yoga superstars to today’s rock-your-daily-asana hipsters—will motivate you to live a life beyond your wildest dreams. Filled with universal insights, intimate, comforting stories, and spiritually practical tips, Yoga Wisdom is here to help keep you on the road to truth, authenticity, and balance in all aspects of your life.