This collection of original essays provides fascinating insights into yoga as a historical and pluralistic phenomenon flourishing in a variety of religious and philosophical contexts. They cover a wide variety of traditions and topics related to Yoga: Classical Yoga, Sāṃkhya, Tantric Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, the Guru, Indic Islamic traditions of Yoga, Yoga and asceticism in contemporary India, and the reception of Yoga in the West. The essays are written by eighteen professors in the field of the history of religions, most of them former graduate students of Gerald James Larson, Larson is Rabindranath Tagore Professor Emeritus, Indiana University, Bloomington, Professor Emeritus, Religious Studies, University of California, Santa Barbara, an internationally acclaimed scholar on the history of religions and philosophies of India, and one of the world's foremost authorities on the Samkhya and Yoga traditions. The publication is in honour of him.

Yoga is more popular now than ever. The benefits are recognized worldwide, and athletes and therapists rely on the practice. Yet its appeal is as varied as those who practice it. Regardless of your activity level and fitness background, yoga is truly for you. Yoga Therapy: A Personalized Approach for Your Active Lifestyle will help you see your daily activities in a new light by giving you a new understanding of movement. Whether playing sports or exercising for fitness, you’ll recognize your movement and identify the poses to make them more efficient. With detailed instructions and photos, you’ll be guided through the exercises, breathing, and visualization techniques to improve your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health. Comprehensive and accessible, Yoga Therapy demonstrates the most effective poses for mobility, strength, recovery, and balance as well as techniques to aid relaxation and help with stress management. No matter your age, experience, or desired goal, Yoga Therapy will empower you to create personalized approaches that are as unique as you are and learn how to adapt your practice to your changing needs and goals throughout life.

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.

In this study, philosopher and hatha practitioner Mikel Burley places the soteriological system of hatha-yoga within its proper context, drawing attention to its continuity with Vedic religion, its initiatory pedagogical structure, and to the theoretical underpinnings of hatha practice. In particular, he examines the complex notion of a `subtle bodily matrix`--comprising vital channels (nadis), centres (cakras) and forces (prana)--which is so crucial to the discipline, this matrix being held to form, as it were, a bridge between the gross physical and mental spheres. Use is made of a wide range of source materials, including seminal texts in the hatha tradition such as the Hatha-Yoga-Pradipika and Gheranda-Samhita, as well as primary and secondary works from related streams of Indian thought. The author`s approach is both scholarly and accessible, making the study suitable for specialists, practitioners and general readers alike. Hatha-yoga is concerned with the most fundamental of matters: the development of an ethical and spiritually-oriented appreciation of humanity, the cultivation of maximal health and perceptual acuity, and the quest for Self-realisation. Absorbing and penetrating, Hatha-Yoga: Its Context, Theory and Practice makes a valuable contribution to our understanding of this subject.

Yoga Therapy: A Personalized Approach for Your Active Lifestyle is a comprehensive and practical guide for identifying and incorporating yoga movements into a new or existing routine. This detailed resource offers descriptions and images of awareness exercises and proven poses as well as providing techniques to help you create a personalized practice for better health and performance.

Ashtanga Yoga: Practice and Philosophy is the first book of its kind, presenting a comprehensive guide to all eight limbs of Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga. Join author Gregor Maehle, a seasoned yogi and compassionate teacher, as he guides you through: • the history and lineage of yoga • the fundamentals of breath, bandhas (energy locks within the body), drishti (the focal point of the gaze), and vinyasa (sequential movement) • a detailed breakdown of the asanas of the Ashtanga Primary Series, following the traditional vinyasa count • a lively and authentic rendering of the complete Yoga Sutra of Patanjali, yoga's ancient sacred text • a glossary of yoga terminology In the asana section, Maehle describes each posture with clear, meticulous instructions, photographs, anatomical illustrations, and practical tips. Information on the mythological background and yogic context of specific postures brings further insight to the practice. In the philosophy section, Maehle illuminates the Yoga Sutra using the major ancient commentaries as well as his own insights. This volume makes the entire path of Ashtanga Yoga accessible to modern practitioners. Both practical guide and spiritual treatise, Ashtanga Yoga is an excellent introduction to the eight limbs of yoga and an invaluable resource for any yoga teacher or practitioner.

Yoga for Trauma Recovery outlines best practices for the growing body of professionals trained in both yoga and psychotherapy and addresses the theoretical foundations that tie the two fields. Chapters show how understanding the safe and effective integration of trauma-informed yoga and somatic psychotherapy is essential to providing informed, effective treatment. Uniting recent developments in our understanding of trauma recovery with ancient tenets of yoga philosophy and practice, this foundational text is a must read for those interested in the healing capacities of each modality. Readers will come away from the book with a strong sense of how to apply theory, philosophy, and research to the real-life complexities of clients and students.

John Scott's Ashtanga Yoga is a step-by-step illustrated guide that takes you through the balanced exercise routines and breathing techniques of this dynamic form. Carefully structured, this course starts with a simple sequence for beginners which, once mastered, provides the foundation for moving on to the next level. - Purify your body with dynamic movement and precise postures - Develop physical and mental strength, increased stamina and greater flexibility - Includes a foreword by Shri K Pattabhi Jois, founder of Ashtanga Yoga - This new edition has been fully revised and updated This essential guide is the perfect introduction to yoga or the ideal gift for those who want to take their yoga practice to the next level. Author John Scott studied with yogi Shri K Pattabhi Jois at the Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute in India, where he qualified to teach Ashtanga Yoga around the world. He has instructed many people in Ashtanga Yoga, including high-profile celebrities Madonna and Sting. John now spends much of his time teaching international workshops and undertaking teacher trainings.

“Moss explores how mindfulness is the basic foundation for a yoga practice, and how to live in a more mindful way, whether on the yoga mat or off.” —Spirituality & Health, “100 Books We Love” The Mindful Practice of Yoga teaches beginners and experienced practitioners alike how to incorporate mindfulness and meditation into their yoga routine. Part of the Mindfulness series, this book explores the spiritual foundations of yoga, the importance of the breath and practical exercises that can be used in everyday lives, finishing with an extended mindful yoga routine. Through insightful ideas and personal anecdotes, author Hannah Moss explains the ways in which mindfulness is fundamental to yoga and how the breath becomes a bridge between the two. She invites the reader to join her on an inspiring journey of self-discovery and conscious awareness through the enriching practice of mindful yoga. If you like this, you might also be interested in Mindfulness and Compassion . . .

Many of us face daily demands and overwhelming difficulties that cause seemingly uncontrollable feelings of anxiety and fear. When you feel this way, it's healing to calm yourself and to reclaim your sense of innate goodness and well-being. For centuries, yoga has offered a quiet retreat away from life's pressures and has enabled us to reconnect to our inner wisdom and peace. Regular yoga practice has been proven to calm stress, enhance concentration, and reduce the symptoms of anxiety. This book offers meditations, mindfulness practices, self-inquiry exercises, and yoga poses that soothe anxious feelings and develop mental clarity. Before long, you'll free yourself from the anxiety and fears that hold you back and learn to live with a more open heart and resilient mind. Just as yoga helps you feel more at home in your body, the mental and physical practices in Yoga for Anxiety help you increase your sense of contentment in life.