The yoga and classical dance traditions of India have been inextricably entwined for millennia. The exacting hand gestures, postures and movements of Indian classical dance can only be achieved through yogic concentration. Conversely, the esthetics, symmetry, and dynamism of dance enhance the practice of yoga. These two traditions, so complementary and essential to one another, are united and explicated for the first time in A Yoga of Indian Classical Dance. Twenty-five years ago Roxanne Kamayani Gupta embarked on a journey of dance and yoga, yearning to unlock their mysteries and discover their common origins. As a twenty-year-old student from America she was miraculously and mysteriously absorbed into Indian culture, became a Hindu, and began an odyssey so unusual and unique that the reader will be enchanted by its telling. Choosing the path of the dancer, Roxanne Gupta accomplished what no Western woman had done before: being accepted and trained by Indian masters and then performing in the Indian classical traditions--from the palaces of maharajas to the arts festivals of Europe and America--while at the same time achieving a doctorate in the anthropology of religion and being initiated into a number of yogic traditions. Having mastered the classical form of Kuchipudi dance and studied with teachers of the hatha and kriya yoga traditions, she brings together these two great streams of consciousness and practice. In this tantric approach to yoga and dance, expressed through the body and through a yoga of emotions, we see the traditions embodied in a manner that embraces the totality of the human experience. The result is the dance of the yogini, the sacred feminine initiatress who dances with one foot in nature and the other in the realm of the gods. With extensive photographs of innovative yoga routines, Roxanne Kamayani Gupta distills her experience into techniques for yogic study certain to assist students of all levels to achieve a dynamic, beautiful, and graceful practice.

- Describes Odissi's mechanism for creating, dispersing and expressing energy - Explores the principles of yoga in Indian dance and building a tangible artistic practice based on this understanding - Meant for performers, dance enthusiasts and general readers alike Dance as Yoga addresses the background, technique and embodiment of the odissi dance form. It describes odissi's mechanism for creating, dispersing, and expressing energy, as well as some early experiments in choreography that extended its accepted parameters with reference to Choreological Studies. It is meant for both performers and audiences to better appreciate the reasons for the restraints inherent in such dance forms and, by doing so, have an informed appreciation of innovation that builds on traditional strengths. Contents: Preface; Introduction; 1. Odissi's Temple Legacy; 2. The Guru's Path; 3. Choreological Studies; 4. Strand Body; 5. Strand Movement; 6. Sound-Movement Nexus; 7. Covert Structures; 8. Reflections on Choreography; Annexure A; Annexure B; Glossary 1; Glossary 2; Bibliography; Acknowledgements; Index.

Dance Anatomy is a visually stunning presentation of more than 100 of the most effective dance, movement, and performance exercises, each designed to promote correct alignment, improved placement, proper breathing, and prevention of common injuries.

An eagle soaring among the clouds or a star twinkling in the night sky . . . a camel in the desert or a boat sailing across the sea—yoga has the power of transformation. Not only does it strengthen bodies and calm minds, but with a little imagination, it can show us that anything is possible. New York Times bestselling illustrator Peter H. Reynolds and author and certified yoga instructor Susan Verde team up again in this book about creativity and the power of self-expression. I Am Yoga encourages children to explore the world of yoga and make room in their hearts for the world beyond it. A kid-friendly guide to 17 yoga poses is included.

An indispensible resource for those interested in all forms of movement education, including yoga, pilates, dance, and more Somatic educator and writer Liz Koch has spent decades studying the principles of Core Awareness—a body-based approach to movement that utilizes attention to inner sensation as the key to increasing strength, gaining flexibility, preventing injury, and improving resilience. In this book, she shares her vast knowledge of Core Awareness with readers, providing movements, stretches, and mindfulness explorations that she developed herself. Her exercises are designed to enhance sensory development and shift readers from the standard paradigm of the body as an "isolated object" to a holistic paradigm of the human being as part of a living process of dynamic expression. This shift in perspective offers practitioners and teachers of movement, yoga, pilates, bodywork, exercise, and dance an empowering model for self-healing and the key to becoming stronger, more flexible, and more resilient. As Koch describes the practice of moving from one's core, she highlights the importance of engaging the psoas muscle—located on either side of the spine—to integrate the body, mind, emotion, and spirit. Koch also discusses how the pelvis is the foundation of our physical core, the vital connection with our bones, and crucial in gaining a sense of support, nourishment, joint integrity, skeletal balance, and healthy muscle tone. Rewritten with updated information, this revised edition includes 247 new photos and 25 new Core Awareness explorations—with 64 in total. A suggested reading list at the end of the book provides resources for continuing the development of the ideas presented within the book.

"What is the secret to boundless energy, vitality and a fearless spirit? Millions across the globe have been inspired by 97-year-old Tao Porchon-Lynch-- WWII French Resistance fighter, model, actress, film producer, wine connoisseur, competitive ballroom dancer, and yoga master. In 2012, she was named "Oldest Yoga Teacher" by Guinness World Records. The twinkle in her eyes and the brightness of her spirit capture you. Her YouTube videos have garnered over two million views. In June 2015, she wowed judges on America's Got Talent dancing with her 26-year-old partner to Pitbull's "Fireball." With Peter Pan-like endless youth, she says, "In my head I'm still in my 20's, and I have no intention of ever growing up." How did she get this way and how can we exude such light? [This] is an inspirational autobiography that shows us what is possible-- that we each can live to our highest potential by inhaling life, exhaling strife and dancing to our own rhythm. Through Tao's reflections, we are given the gift of insights from almost a century of wisdom that can be applied to our modern-day challenges. We learn her "secrets" to vitality while taking a soulful odyssey of love and loss, hope and joy"--Amazon.com.