You can gain a deeper understanding of yoga traditions, yoga philosophy, psychology and wisdom by delving into the diverse range of books in the Yogamatters collection of Yoga Philosophy, Wisdom and Spirituality. The truths found in these books will enrich your yoga practice and inform your whole life in ways you cannot imagine. Explore and celebrate the rich history of yoga across centuries and continents, as you discover your own place in the global community of yogis stretching out across space and time.
If you’re not sure where to begin, then Yogamatters have compiled this list of its top five books on Yoga Philosophy, Wisdom and Spirituality to get you started.
The Living Gita: The Complete Bhagavad Gita£15.99This commentary on the Bhagavad Gita for modern readers is a lively, enjoyable text and lifelong guide, including every verse of the Gita. A classic scripture of the East, the Bhagavad Gita tells the story of how Arjuna the great warrior is seated in his chariot about to engage in battle when he sees his own kinsmen and his revered teacher arrayed in battle against him and he feels that he cannot fight. It is then that Krishna the Cosmic Lord comes to counsel him. Having been a finalist for the Publishers’ Marketing Association Spiritual Book of the Year award, this translation and commentary makes the deep truths of the timeless classic more accessible than ever to the Western mind. “Just as the many great yogis of the past bequeathed commentaries on the Bhagavad Gita to the people of India, Swami Satchidananda, who is a master of communicating the way of yoga with Western words and images, has finally done the same for us. All popular English editions of the Gita must now take a backseat to this exquisite new edition.” – Meditation Magazine.
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The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali£15.99This commentary on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali by Sri Swami Satchidananda is a complete manual for the study and practice of yoga. This timeless treasure is a book you will read and refer to constantly as you tread the spiritual path. In his commentary and translation, Sri Swami Satchidananda offers practical advice, based on his own experience, for mastering the mind and achieving physical, mental and emotional harmony. The classic sutras are presented here in the purest form, with the original Sanskrit, English translation, transliteration, and commentary.
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Core of the Yoga Sutras£14.99This work from BKS Iyengar, the world’s most respected yoga teacher, is a wonderful introduction to the spiritual philosophy that is the foundation of yoga practice. His seminal book, ‘Light on Yoga’ has served as the source book for generations of yoga students around the world. In ‘Core of the Yoga Sutras‘, he applies this same clarity to the philosophical core of yoga – the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali are 196 aphorisms forming the foundational text of yoga philosophy. BKS Iyengar has translated each one, providing an insightful commentary and explanation for modern readers, as well as linking the various themes throughout the sutras to one another. Each sutra is presented as Sanskrit text, transliteration and English translation, followed by BKS Iyengar’s unique commentary and authority only he can bring to the work. BKS Iyengar’s insight on the sutras show the reader how we can transform ourselves through the practice of yoga, gradually developing the mind, body and emotions, so we can become spiritually evolved. |
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Light on Yoga£18.99It’s nearly 40 years since ‘Light on Yoga’ brought yoga to a Western audience and this book is now an essential guide for yoga students at every level. Throughout his life, BKS Iyengar devoted himself to his lifelong practice, study and teaching of yoga becoming the greatest exponent of yoga the world has yet seen. More than anyone, Iyengar is responsible for bringing yoga from the East to the West. He believed wholeheartedly in yoga for all, irrespective of sex, race, class or creed. In 1966, he published this ground-breaking book ‘Light on Yoga’ to bring yoga out from the darkness. Regarded by many as the Bible of modern yoga, this book is the definitive guide to the philosophy and practice of yoga. The book includes classic photos and instruction on asana and pranayama, a 300 week practice and development programme and yoga sequences to help heal a range of illnesses and conditions.
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From the Gita to the Grail£24.50Stories are fun! The stories offered here are a mix of light-hearted and enjoyable, and deep and profound. Important stories guide us and educate us. In this book, Bernie Clark looks at the spiritual stories found in the West that create a base map for our lives and then looks at the stories found in the East to see how they could improve our base maps. The practice of yoga has become quite common and popular in the West; however, the stories of yoga are still strange to Western ears. What do these ancient symbols mean, what are they trying to teach us, and how should we incorporate the knowledge skillfully into our Western lifestyle? By looking at the myths of yoga along with the stories that have influenced Western culture, we are presented with opportunities to select the best of both worlds, and create new maps to help guide us through the uncertainties of modern living.
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