The Spirit of Yoga

What is this thing called yoga? Is it just another celebrity exercise system? Another New Age fad? A religion? A kind of diet? What are the differences between yoga's various disciplines? What motivates people to practice it in this so-called secular age? These are some of the questions addressed in The Spirit of Yoga. Yoga is as old as civilization and has been practiced for thousands of years as a gentle but powerful means of achieving strength, flexibility, stillness, and balance in body and mind. Though it originated on the subcontinent of India thousands of years ago, more and more people in the West are turning to yoga as a way of dealing with the stresses and strains of modern living. The Spirit of Yoga is a beautiful, thorough, and distinctive introduction to yoga for interested readers who don't know much about it. This book will also inspire those who have already made yoga a part of their lives and would like to know more. It explains the differences between Ashtanga Yoga, Iyengar Yoga, Hatha Yoga, Karma Yoga, and Kundalini Yoga, enabling the readerto make a considered choice between the various disciplines. The authoritative text wittily examines and demystifies today's yoga culture, and explores how it can be applied appropriately to life in the West. The author uses her experiences as a trained yoga teacher and as Health and Beauty Director of British Vogue to guide us through the complete contemporary discipline - and industry - that yoga has become. Stylish and beautiful photography illustrates the principles of asana practice, pranayama, and meditation. The Spirit of Yoga then traces the roots of yoga, citing ancient scriptures and featuring extraordinary photographs of temple carvings and mandalas. In summary, The Spirit of Yoga disentangles the substance of yoga from the hype.