Discover the traditional stories and wisdom behind your favourite yoga poses in this stunningly illustrated book of Indian mythology for yogis of all levels. 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, such as: Vīrabhadrāsana II, the original warrior pose Tāḍāsana, mountain pose Bhujaṅgāsana, cobra pose Garuḍāsana, eagle pose Padmāsana, lotus pose Vīrāsana, hero pose Śavāsana, corpse pose Meet iconic Gods and Goddesses, from Gaṇeśa, the elephant-headed god of wisdom, to Śiva, Lord of Yogis, and Kali, goddess of mind, body, soul and death. Explore the rivalry between the sages Vasiṣṭha and Viśvāmitra, and their cosmic feud over a wish-fulfilling cow. Plunge into the depths of one of the richest myths in Hinduism: the battle between the demons and the gods who churn the cosmic oceans in search for the elixir of immortality. And learn how Śiva got his blue throat! Learn, through the mythology of the poses, more about the roots of this ancient practice and how you can use their teachings to better appreciate and respect yoga’s true origins. Enhance your practice by reading one story before or at the end of class, and incorporating the poses and their teaching into your life, as well as your yoga practice, and transform the way you view and practice this timeless art.

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.

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.

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.

We are each a storehouse of personal stories. How do we become awake to these stories so we can get the best of ourselves out into the world, and why is that important? This book will answer these questions and many more, by exploring the power of yoga, and story and in that process, it just may enable us to become aware of the big story that we are all part of.

Deepen your practice and discover the myths, gods, sacred animals and imagery that lie hidden in your favourite yoga postures Meet the monks and maharajas, gods and gymnasts who shaped yoga as we know it. Have you ever wondered why yoga postures look the way they do, or how they got their names? From Lotus to Warrior, Cobra to Happy Baby, this book takes a fresh look at the stories behind 30 familiar poses. By drawing in on Hindu scripture, mythology and the animals, birds and flowers the original Indian yogis saw around them, Curious Poses explores the symbolism of yoga postures many of us practise every week and offers inspiration to regular practitioners and yoga teachers alike. Let this book take you on a journey into a treasure trove of yoga history, mythology, philosophy and pop culture that enlightens and entertains by turns. Featuring full-colour illustrations, Curious Poses is an ideal mat companion for the curious yoga enthusiast.

Learn how to sketch simple yoga 'stick figures' to capture and plan your yoga sequences with this simple, step-by-step system that can be quickly learned, even without any drawing or sketching skills. Also available as an e-book: www.yoganotes.net The first part of the book explains the basic principles of sketching and constructing the yoga stick figures and combining them into sequences.The second part contains step-by-step instructions for sketching over 80 of the most common asanas and their variations. Who is this book for? For Yoga Teachers & Coaches: If you teach yoga classes or work with your own private clients, sketching is a great way to plan out sequencesand practice plans in a visual way.You can use them as a visual overview during class (if you haven't fully memorised the sequence yet). They also make great handouts for your students after a workshop or as personalised practice plans for your one-on-one clients. For Teacher Training Attendees: If you are learning to be a yoga teacher there is a lot of information to take in and to process.Taking visual notes and using sketches to capture the details about postures, alignment and anatomy will help you to get the most out of your training. The notes you create will be clearer, more engaging and actually fun to look at and revise again later. For Students & Practitioners: If you study or practice yoga, you can sketch out your favourite sequences to use as a guide during your home practice or for when you are travelling.Sketch out that great class you attended at your yoga studio or the nice ow you found on YouTube. The sketched overview will be the perfect cheat sheet to keep by your mat during your own practice.