The Best of Sivananda Yoga Books

Having sold over 800,000 copies worldwide, ‘The New Book of Yoga,’ also published as ‘The Sivananda Companion to Yoga,’ is, hands-down, one of the best of all Sivananda Yoga books. This complete step-by-step guide was compiled by the Sivananda Yoga Center and has been updated in the year 2000. It’s a classic must-have that provides easy-to-understand information for yoga practices of all levels.

About the Book

The entire book is delightfully peppered with enlightening quotes and beautiful excerpts from Hindu texts, such as the Bhagavad Gita and the Upanishads. Short lessons on religion and literature make the connection between Yoga in the modern world and deeper subjects such as physiology, mythology and history. In addition, detailed and practical illustrations, informative diagrams and full colour photographs impart precise instructions on the correct way to perform asanas, breathing techniques and various other yogic practices.

What’s most appealing is that the book is written for beginners, experts and all levels in between! It not only offers easy-to-follow practice charts for different courses and levels, but also breaks down each asana and breathing technique into their essential components.

Topics

The following subjects are covered in detail:

• The Philosophy of Classical Hatha Yoga
• The Five Points of Yoga
• The Sun Salutation
• The Principles of Meditation
• The 12 Basic Postures (including an entire section devoted to variations and cycles)
• Pranayama (Anuloma Viloma, Kapalabhati and other breathing exercises)
• Kriyas
• Food and Diet
• Relaxation
• The Anatomy of Yoga
• Yoga during Pregnancy
• Yoga for Children
• Yoga for Seniors

In conclusion, the Sivananda Companion to Yoga is a classic definitive guide that should be on the bookshelf of every practitioner and enthusiast of yoga. It serves as a handy manual for instructors, a useful reference for the study of yoga and a veritable testament to ancient philosophies.