Vital Yoga

Book excerpt: This is a full-color yoga book like no other on the market. Meta Hirschl opens the door to the full vision of yoga with graphics, photographs, and personal stories. Interwoven with discussions about the eight limbs of yoga as presented in the original literature, including the core principles, Sanskrit Devanagari, mantras, poses, breath work, mediation, a derivation of terms, compassionate communication guidelines, basic teaching principles, wisdom and photos of the great sages, recipes, and illuminating accounts by contemporary yogis. Throughout, readers are guided to connect with their inner selves, transcend fear, emotional turmoil, and attachment to the stresses of life. This informative reference features a highly visual format, including a first-ever historical timeline of yogic philosophies, texts, and key figures. Introduced too is yoga therapy for everything from low back or knee pain to depression. Each chapter concludes with specific invitations to delve further into the heart of yoga. It is designed to enrich any chosen style of practice, and this book is ideal not only for yoga students and aspiring yoga teachers, but also for healing arts practitioners and their patients, as well as anyone seeking to cultivate a vibrantly healthy body, mind, and spirit.