The Heart of Yoga

The first yoga text to outline a step-by-step sequence for developing a complete practice according to viniyoga--yoga adapted to the needs of the individual. A contemporary classic by a world-renowned teacher. This new edition adds thirty-two poems by Krishnamacharya that capture the essence of his teachings. Sri Tirumalai Krishnamacharya was one of the finest yogis of the contemporary age, living to be over 100 years old. Through the work of B. K. S. Iyengar, Pattabhi Jois, and Indra Devi, all of whom trained under Krishnamacharya, elements of Krishnamacharyas teaching have become well-known across the world. T. K. V. Desikachar, Krishnamacharyas son, has spent his whole life studying and practising with his father and now teaches the complete range of Krishnamacharyas yoga. Desikachars technique is founded on Krishnamacharyas essential notion of viniyoga, which states that in order to obtain maximum therapeutic effectiveness, practices must be continuously tailored to the individuals changing requirements. Desikachar distils his fathers theory as well as his own practical approach in The Heart of Yoga, which he characterizes as a regimen for the spine at every level—physical, mental, and spiritual. This is the first yoga book to lay out a step-by-step plan for building a full practice based on yogas age-old principals. Desikachar covers all aspects of yoga, including poses and counterposes, mindful breathing, meditation, and philosophy, and demonstrates how a yoga student may adjust his or her practice to his or her present health, age, work, and lifestyle.