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.
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.
"Whether you are a student of yoga or would like to become more familiar with this ancient Indian tradition, you will find this an easy-to-read guidebook that is based on authentic writings and experiences of some of India's great yogis."—
Booklist "Certainly a staple of any well-rounded yoga collection."—
Library Journal "Feuerstein's guide is an important pointer in the right direction that should also help readers understand the astonishingly sophisticated system that has emerged from a 5,000-year-old Indian spiritual tradition."—
Publishers Weekly "This is a classic book for every Yoga enthusiast, whether neophyte or seasoned practitioner."—Sarah Powers, author of
Insight Yoga "This was one of my first philosophical books on Yoga, and it gave me a strikingly clear and accessible doorway into the historically rich interwoven layers of this diverse path. Each time I reread it, I am delighted to find new insights and connections that I had missed before."—Sarah Powers, author of
Insight Yoga "If you're looking for a comprehensive yet very readable introduction to the important schools and practices of the Yoga tradition, look no further. A master work by a master scholar-practitioner, this is the only book I ever recommend to students wanting to lay a historical and philosophical foundation as they begin the serious study of Yoga."—Richard Rosen, author of
The Yoga of Breath "This is an excellent little introduction to some of the practices and theologies of Yoga, with particular emphasis on the Tantra traditions, which, although not mainstream in Hinduism, have recently become popular in the West. Feurerstein is taken seriously by both academics and yogis, and authoritatively combines the qualities of scholarship with the sensitivities of a practitioner. I always learn much from his writings."—Edwin Bryant, professor of Hindu Religion and Philosophy, Rutgers University
