A Student's Guide to the History and Philosophy of Yoga

A Student's Guide to the History and Philosophy of Yoga PDF

Author: Peter Connolly

Publisher: Equinox Publishing (UK)

Published: 2014

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 9781845532246

DOWNLOAD EBOOK →

The word yoga conjures up in the minds of many Westerners images of people performing exercises and adopting unusual, contortive postures. Such exercises and postures do have a place within the practice of yoga, but it is much more than that. Indeed, the early literature on yoga describes and defines it as a form of mental rather than physical discipline. Yoga is also associated with the Indian subcontinent and the religions of Hinduism and Buddhism. This revised edition of a classic textbook concentrates on the evolution of yoga in the context of Indian culture, although the final chapters also explore its links with non-Indian mystical traditions and its developments outside India during the modern period. The book is aimed at both university students taking courses in comparative religion and philosophy and practitioners of yoga who seek to go beyond the activity and explore its spiritual dimensions. It presents yoga in the context of its historical evolution in India and explains the nature of its associations with various metaphysical doctrines. It also draws on a number of conceptual schemes designed to facilitate comparative study. Some of these are employed throughout the book to link the material from each chapter within a common framework. This edition incorporates revisions and expansions to most chapters and contains a new chapter on the future of modern yoga in the West.

Yoga Student Handbook

Yoga Student Handbook PDF

Author: Sian O'Neill

Publisher: Singing Dragon

Published: 2019-09-19

Total Pages: 242

ISBN-13: 0857013882

DOWNLOAD EBOOK →

An accessible guide on the history, anatomy and philosophy behind yoga, showing how yoga students can develop and grow their personal practice. By offering students and teacher trainees guidance on how to move on to the next stage in their learning, this practical companion helps to deepen their understanding of holistic yoga practice. Including insights from renowned yoga professionals, including Lizzie Lasater, Andrew McGonigle, Graham Burns, Tarik Dervish and more, this book offers practical ways to hone yoga skills and knowledge. Covering everything from how to use your breath and the different styles of yoga, to what to expect from yoga teacher training, this is an essential handbook for all students and trainee teachers of yoga.

The Truth of Yoga

The Truth of Yoga PDF

Author: Daniel Simpson

Publisher: North Point Press

Published: 2021-01-05

Total Pages: 169

ISBN-13: 0374722684

DOWNLOAD EBOOK →

A succinct, approachable guide to the origins, development, key texts, concepts, and practices of yoga. Yoga is practiced by many millions of people worldwide and is celebrated for its mental, physical, and spiritual benefits. And yet, as Daniel Simpson reveals in The Truth of Yoga, much of what is said about yoga is misleading. For example, the word “yoga” does not always mean union. In fact, in perhaps the discipline’s most famous text—the Yoga Sutra of Patanjali—its aim is described as separation: isolating consciousness from everything else. And yoga is not five thousand years old, as is commonly claimed; the earliest evidence of practice dates back about twenty-five hundred years. (Yoga may well be older, but no one can prove it.) The Truth of Yoga is a clear, concise, and accessible handbook for the lay reader that draws upon abundant recent scholarship. It outlines these new findings with practitioners in mind, highlighting ways to keep traditions alive in the twenty-first century.

The Inner Tradition of Yoga

The Inner Tradition of Yoga PDF

Author: Michael Stone

Publisher: Shambhala Publications

Published: 2018-07-17

Total Pages: 265

ISBN-13: 1611805910

DOWNLOAD EBOOK →

A wise, accessible guide that makes the spiritual and ethical teachings of the yogic tradition immediately relatable to our practice on the mat—and in our everyday relationships and activities “There is no daily practice without some formal training; and there is no deep spiritual training without the mess of relational life. The two are one,” says Michael Stone. At the root of yoga practice there is a vast and intriguing philosophy that teaches the ethics of nonviolence, patience, honesty, and respect. Innovative teacher Michael Stone draws from numerous disciplines—including Buddhism and psychotherapy—to provide an in-depth, completely clear explanation of yogic philosophy, along with teachings on how to bring our understanding of yoga theory to deeper levels through our practice on the mat—and through our relationships with others. Yoga, says Stone, is a practice that helps us be more present with the actual, fluid life we are living right now—and there is no yoga without the conditions of your life. This book describes how to work with those conditions and how to fully appreciate yoga as a practice of being intimate with moment-to-moment reality.

Routledge Handbook of Yoga and Meditation Studies

Routledge Handbook of Yoga and Meditation Studies PDF

Author: Suzanne Newcombe

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2020-10-28

Total Pages: 718

ISBN-13: 1351050737

DOWNLOAD EBOOK →

The Routledge Handbook of Yoga and Meditation Studies is a comprehensive and interdisciplinary resource, which frames and contextualises the rapidly expanding fields that explore yoga and meditative techniques. The book analyses yoga and meditation studies in a variety of religious, historical and geographical settings. The chapters, authored by an international set of experts, are laid out across five sections: Introduction to yoga and meditation studies History of yoga and meditation in South Asia Doctrinal perspectives: technique and praxis Global and regional transmissions Disciplinary framings In addition to up-to-date explorations of the history of yoga and meditation in the Indian subcontinent, new contexts include a case study of yoga and meditation in the contemporary Tibetan diaspora, and unique summaries of historical developments in Japan and Latin America as well as an introduction to the growing academic study of yoga in Korea. Underpinned by critical and theoretical engagement, the volume provides an in-depth guide to the history of yoga and meditation studies and combines the best of established research with attention to emerging directions for future investigation. This handbook will be of interest to multidisciplinary academic audiences from across the humanities, social sciences and sciences. Chapters 1, 4, 9, 12, and 27 of this book are freely available as a downloadable Open Access PDF at http://www.taylorfrancis.com under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives (CC-BY-NC-ND) 4.0 license.

Tracing the Path of Yoga

Tracing the Path of Yoga PDF

Author: Stuart Ray Sarbacker

Publisher: State University of New York Press

Published: 2021-01-01

Total Pages: 308

ISBN-13: 1438481233

DOWNLOAD EBOOK →

Clear, accessible, and meticulously annotated, Tracing the Path of Yoga offers a comprehensive survey of the history and philosophy of yoga that will be invaluable to both specialists and to nonspecialists seeking a deeper understanding of this fascinating subject. Stuart Ray Sarbacker argues that yoga can be understood first and foremost as a discipline of mind and body that is represented in its narrative and philosophical literature as resulting in both numinous and cessative accomplishments that correspond, respectively, to the attainment of this-worldly power and otherworldly liberation. Sarbacker demonstrates how the yogic quest for perfection as such is situated within the concrete realities of human life, intersecting with issues of politics, economics, class, gender, and sexuality, as well as reflecting larger Indic religious and philosophical ideals.

Teaching Yoga

Teaching Yoga PDF

Author: Mark Stephens

Publisher: North Atlantic Books

Published: 2011-09-06

Total Pages: 867

ISBN-13: 1583944729

DOWNLOAD EBOOK →

The first comprehensive guide for new and experienced yoga teachers—featuring an exhaustive overview of yoga philosophy and history, yoga poses and styles, plus breathing practices and meditations. The author of Yoga Sequencing and Yoga Adjustments offers an “authoritative and engaging” guide that “will help instructors fine-tune their classroom skills and empower their personal practice” (Yoga+Joyful Living Magazine). Drawing on a wide spectrum of perspectives, and featuring more than 150 photographs and illustrations, Teaching Yoga covers the fundamental topics of yoga philosophy and history, including a historical presentation of classical yoga literature: the Vedas; Upanishads; Bhagavad Gita; Yoga Sutras of Patanjali; and the main historical sources on tantra and early hatha yoga. Each of the 11 major styles of contemporary yoga is described, with a brief history of its development and the distinguishing elements of its teachings. Exploring traditional and modern aspects of anatomy and physiology, the book provides extensive support and tools for teaching 108 yoga poses (asanas), breathing techniques (pranayama), and meditation. Teaching Yoga also offers practical advice for classroom setup, planning and sequencing classes, as well as the process involved in becoming a teacher and sustaining oneself in the profession. 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 also ideal for use as a core textbook in yoga teacher training programs. It includes over 200 bibliographic sources, a comprehensive index, and a useful appendix that lists associations, institutes, organizations, and professional resources for yoga teachers.

The Complete Guide to Yin Yoga

The Complete Guide to Yin Yoga PDF

Author: Bernie Clark

Publisher:

Published: 2019-09

Total Pages: 350

ISBN-13: 9780968766583

DOWNLOAD EBOOK →

This second edition of this bestseller provides an in-depth look at the philosophy and practice of Yin Yoga with illustrated how-to sections, including detailed descriptions and photographs of more than 30 asanas.

Vital Yoga

Vital Yoga PDF

Author: Meta Chaya Hirschl

Publisher: The Experiment, LLC

Published: 2011-12-13

Total Pages: 321

ISBN-13: 1615191445

DOWNLOAD EBOOK →

From a longtime yoga teacher, this highly visual, broadly informative resource gives serious yoga practitioners a wide-ranging framework that will enrich their practice. As any yoga student or teacher knows, there’s more to yoga than Downward Dog. Meta Chaya Hirschl’s immersive guide offers a complete vision of yoga, from its historical and spiritual roots to modern practice. Whether you are a novice yogi or an experienced instructor, Vital Yoga will help you unlock yoga’s full potential—and your own. Focusing on the traditional eight limbs of yoga, Hirschl covers a wide range of essential topics in three sections: Before the Mat, On the Mat, and Into the World. In Before the Mat, you’ll learn about the history and philosophy of yoga, with fresh insights into: • Fundamental texts like the Bhagavad Gita • The role of vibration in yogic practice • Mantras for everything from health to job hunting In On the Mat, you’ll find practical instructions for every aspect of yoga, including: • Breathing consciously to guide your vital energies • Meditating to master and heighten your senses • Posing with intention, strength, and balance And finally, you’ll go Into the World. For Hirschl, the true benefits of yoga come not from perfect poses, but from using yoga every day to help yourself and others—so she covers how you can improve your confidence, health, and even your sex life with yoga, and how you can teach others to do the same. Throughout, Vital Yoga invites you to delve into the heart of yoga with derivations of Sanskrit terms, “stealth” yoga practices you can do anywhere, wisdom from the great sages, and accounts by contemporary yogis. Its goal is to help you connect to your inner self, transcend fear and attachment to the stresses of life, and achieve bliss—and when you’ve achieved it, you’ll be able to share it.

Yoga Philosophy of Patañjali

Yoga Philosophy of Patañjali PDF

Author: Swāmi Āraṇya Hariharānanda

Publisher: State University of New York Press

Published: 1984-06-30

Total Pages: 516

ISBN-13: 1438405820

DOWNLOAD EBOOK →

The Yoga Sutras of Patañjali are universally acknowledged as the fundamental text on yoga and meditation in the Indian classical tradition. This English translation of Yoga Philosophy of Patañjali is widely regarded as the most authoritative and authentic that has been available in recent times. It is a serious and clear presentation of Patañjali's sutras and Vyāsa's Bhāsya, providing these basic texts both in the original Sanskrit and in readable and accurate English. These classical works are augmented by the commentary of Swami Hariharananda Aranya, a scholar and yogi of great repute, who, in his lifetime, was the foremost exponent in India of the Sāṃkhya Yoga system of which the Yoga Aphorisms of Patañjali are the principal work.