Myths of the Asanas

Author: Alanna Kaivalya
Publisher: Mandala Publishing
ISBN: 1683838483
Category : Health & Fitness
Languages : en
Pages : 224

Book Description
Enhance your yoga practice with this all-new expanded edition of the ultimate guide to the stories behind the most beloved poses of all time. Many yoga practitioners explore the benefits of yoga through its poses, but did you know that the magic and mystery of yoga lie within the power of yogic mythology? Myths of the Asanas was the first book to collect and retell the ancient tales of yogic myth to a modern audience, and has since become a beloved resource for yoga practitioners and instructors the world over. This expanded edition contains nine unheard stories about some of the yoga world's most beloved poses. The myths behind yoga’s spiritual tradition have the power to help students of all levels realize their full potential. Understanding the subtle whimsy and power of the child while in child’s pose gives us permission to recall forgotten dreams and find the power to manifest them now. Learning of the disabilities of the great sage Astavakra while attempting his arm-balance pose encourages us to understand how powerful we are when we recognize the strength that lies beyond any perceived limitations. Marveling at the monkey-god Hanuman’s devotion to his best friend, Ram, keeps us in alignment with our integrity during the hanumanasana splits pose as we dig deeply to discover the source of spiritual strength within ourselves.

Yoga Mythology

Author: Devdutt Pattanaik
Publisher: Llewellyn Worldwide
ISBN: 0738771686
Category : Body, Mind & Spirit
Languages : en
Pages : 414

Book Description
Deepen Your Yoga Experience with the Origin Stories of 64 Common Asanas Explore the stories from Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain mythology that nurtured the idea of yoga and shaped the development of its most iconic asanas. Learn how svana-asana (dog pose) is connected to Shiva, bhujanga-asana (cobra pose) was inspired by shape-shifting beings who live below the earth, and much more. Many practitioners are unaware of yoga's underlying philosophy, symbols, and rituals because modern teachers often emphasize the physical over the mental and spiritual components. Yoga Mythology brings this overlooked wisdom to light by recounting the lore behind more than sixty asanas, drawing attention to an Indic worldview based on the concepts of eternity, rebirth, liberation, and empathy. With hundreds of photos and playful illustrations, this book makes it easy and enjoyable to connect with yogic principles and expand the mental and spiritual aspects of your practice.

Myths of the Asanas

Author: Insight Editions
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
ISBN: 1683838491
Category : Health & Fitness
Languages : en
Pages : 224

Beyond Āsanas

Author: Pragya Bhatt
Publisher: Penguin Random House India Private Limited
ISBN: 9353055725
Category : Literary Collections
Languages : en
Pages : 184

Book Description
Downward dog, tree pose, Marichyasana . . . Have you ever wondered how these names for yoga poses came about, inspired from animals, nature, and even sages? Using thirty carefully researched asanas, yoga teacher Pragya Bhatt draws upon her own yoga practice and research to make a connection between ancient Indian mythology and modern yoga practice. By depicting the beauty and form of each asana through the lens of Joel Koechlin, this book intends to add meaning and value for practitioners and non-practitioners alike, shedding new light on a familiar subject.

The Stories Behind the Poses

Author: Raj Balkaran
Publisher: Stories Behind
ISBN: 0711271887
Category : Health & Fitness
Languages : en
Pages : 226

Book Description
A beautifully written introduction to Indian mythology, join storyteller, scholar and teacher, Dr Raj Balkaran, and explore the unforgettable tales behind 50 key yoga poses.

Sacred Sound

Author: Alanna Kaivalya
Publisher: New World Library
ISBN: 1608682439
Category : Body, Mind & Spirit
Languages : en
Pages : 234

Book Description
The mantra and kirtan (call-and-response devotional chants) of yoga practice sometimes get short shrift in the West because they aren’t well understood. These chants are an integral part of most every Eastern spiritual practice because they are designed to provide access into the psyche while their underlying mythology helps us understand how our psychology affects daily life. Sacred Sound shares the myths behind the mantras, illuminating their meaning and putting their power and practicality within reach of every practitioner. Each mantra and kirtan includes the Sanskrit, the transliteration, and the translation. Clear retellings of the pertinent myths highlight modern-day applications so that readers discover their own personal connection to the practice. Alanna Kaivalya has refined her teaching over a decade with tens of thousands of diverse audience members. Her unique and popular approach to human connection and self-knowledge turns a time-tested tradition into a versatile and potent tool.

Eighty-four Āsanas in Yoga

Author: Gudrun Bühnemann
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Health & Fitness
Languages : en
Pages : 218

Book Description
Physical Postures (Asanas) Are The Most Important And Often The Only Constituent Of Modern Yoga. Many Practitioners Believe That The Postures Derive From An Ancient Original Set Of Eighty-Four Asanas. This Book, For The First Time, Traces Traditions Of Eighty-Four Postures By Examining Original Materials, Including Drawings, Descriptions In Older Indic Texts And Modern Publications Which Reflect Contemporary Traditions. It Also Takes Up A Number Of Broad Issues Related To The Topic Of Yoga Postures So As To Provide The Reader With A Larger Context.

Science of Yoga

Author: Ann Swanson
Publisher: Penguin
ISBN: 146549166X
Category : Health & Fitness
Languages : en
Pages : 218

Book Description
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 Myths

Author: Judith Hanson Lasater
Publisher: Shambhala Publications
ISBN: 1611807964
Category : Health & Fitness
Languages : en
Pages : 273

Book Description
The essential guide to correcting yoga misconceptions and avoiding injuries in your practice from Judith Hanson Lasater, a yoga instructor, physical therapist, and bodywork expert. "Tuck your tailbone to protect your back." "Increase your breath." "Pull your abdominal muscles into your backbone." Following these movement cues is often believed to benefit your yoga practice and protect your body when entering and holding poses. However, what may seem like a helpful correction can actually lead to injury or physical harm. In Yoga Myths, Judith Hanson Lasater draws on almost fifty years of experience as a yoga instructor and physical therapist to address the most common mistakes in our yoga practice and provide clear instructions for correcting these errors. Focusing on the eleven "myths" most detrimental to our practice, Lasater provides a comprehensive discussion of what the myth is, why it can hurt us, and how we can avoid it through step-by-step instructions and guiding photos. This book will allow you to return to the inherent wisdom, natural goodness, and spiritual wholeness of yoga and avoid life altering injuries for as long as you practice.

Yoga for Pregnancy

Author: Judith Hanson Lasater
Publisher: Shambhala Publications
ISBN: 1930485646
Category : Health & Fitness
Languages : en
Pages : 63

Book Description
Drawing on her experience as a mother, a yoga teacher, and a physical therapist, author Judith Lasater, PhD presents a comprehensive and easy-to-follow program of yoga poses and breathing practices. These will help the mother to stay flexible and healthy throughout the pregnancy, remain present during the challenges of labor and delivery, and care for herself during the postpartum period. In addition, the author has created a special section called "Mantras for Mom and Baby," where the mother can explore heart-centered practices, one for each month during pregnancy and baby’s first year.