The Heart of Yoga: Developing a Personal Practice

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

The Heart of Yoga: Developing a Personal Practice

Written by: TKV Desikachar

First line: To begin, I should like to share some thoughts that might help us understand the many different meanings of the word yoga.

Why you should read this book: The asanas, or mat practice, commonly understood in western culture to be "yoga" are only one of eight branches of yoga, which is a system that unites the body, mind, and spirit and affect all aspects of human life. The author, inspired by the life of his father, Krishnamacharya, explains many of the physical and sublime details of a full yogic practice, the result of which can be a lightening of the heart and a process that sets the individual free from the world. This book includes several appendices, along with Krishnamacharya's Yoganjalisaram and Patanjali's Yoga Sutra.

Why you shouldn't read this book: Just want to fold yourself into a pretzel. Or, threatened by spiritual systems beyond those into which you were indoctrinated as a small child.

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Tuesday, June 12, 2012