The Mirror of Yoga: Awakening the Intelligence of Body and Mind

Description

Awakening the Intelligence of Body and Mind The world of yoga is astonishingly rich in its array of schools and practices. Yet as diverse as they seem, they share a common aim- the discovery of the essence of existence that can be found at the core of our being, and the liberation that comes from that discovery. With this worthy goal in mind, Richard Freeman presents an enlightening overview of the many teachings, practices, and scriptures that serve as the basis for all the schools of yoga-hatha, bhakti, jnana, karma, tantra, and others. He shows how the myriad forms are ultimately related and can even be perceived to make up a vast, interpenetrating matrix, symbolizing the unity, profundity, and beauty of the ancient tradition.

Richard Freeman has been a student of yoga since 1968. His background includes studying Ashtanga, Iyengar, bhakti, and traditional hatha yoga; Western and Eastern philosophy; and Sanskrit; all of which he incorporates into the Ashtanga yoga practice as taught by his principal teacher, K. Pattabhi Jois of Mysore, India. Richard teaches at his studio, the Yoga Workshop, in Boulder, Colorado, as well as at studios and conferences throughout the world. He also has a video series, Yoga with Richard Freeman, which has inspired many people to take up yoga. He is also a frequent contributor to Yoga Journal.

"[This book contains] everything that I have wanted to say and everything that I wish I knew that I had wanted to say. Richard Freeman once again proves that he is superhuman and yet knows everything about being human and knows how to teach us to draw out the nectar of life with this evolving art of yoga."-Rodney Yee "At last, here is an expose on the most vital and dynamic themes relevant to the yoga practice. Richard has the unique and entirely delightful ability to speak to the intricacies, the paradoxes, the depths and surfaces that belong to the yoga experience. What a great boon that Richard should hold up such a clear mirror for all of us on the yoga path today."-Tias Little "Collectively, these essays form an insightful and oftentimes humorous introduction to the deeper aspects of yoga philosophy, suitable for both the neophyte and the seasoned practitioner. In addition to being quite original, imaginative, and at times almost whimsical, The Mirror of Yoga is also firmly grounded in references to, and excerpts from, those yogic texts most respected by all schools of practice."-Namarupa Magazine Online "This thoughtful and beautifully written book . . . will take the average yogi to the next level."-New Age Retailer