Resources

In uncertain times, the traditional Indian epic the Bhagavad Gita is uniquely suited to guide us through our fear, confusion, and paralysis and help us find the way forward on the path of compassion and love. Here, Richard Freeman and Mary Taylor, both deeply respected yogic teachers, offer a practical, immediately relevant interpretation of the Gita that emphasizes self-reflection and waking up in our modern world. Following the traditional sequence of teachings in the Gita—from its opening scene in which the protagonist, Arjuna, finds himself in the middle of a battlefield, torn by the various paths of action he might choose in the process of awakening—Freeman and Taylor interweave insight into how these classic teachings are relevant for modern readers struggling with what it means to live responsibly in challenging times.

With quotes, citations, and a full, original translation of the text, they look at how the Gita’s teachings relate to the turmoil that arises for Arjuna, and any of us in the face of crises of conscience, spirit, and form. By exploring the essential themes such as love, wisdom, and karma and offering embodiment exercises to apply the teachings, When Love Comes to Light guides us in the step-by-step process of waking up to our intelligence and toward living a balanced life.

The Art of Vinyasa: Awakening Body and Mind through the Practice of Ashtanga Yoga takes a look at yoga as a meditation in motion that produces profound inner change. Exploring Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga not as a gymnastic feat but as a meditative form, Richard and Mary reveal that doing the practice—and particularly the vinyasa, or the breath-synchronized movements—in a deep and focused way allows practitioners to experience a profound awakening of the body and mind. It also develops an adaptable, flexible practice that can last a lifetime.

The Mirror of Yoga: Awakening the Intelligence of Body and Mind is a welcome resource to all yoga practitioners who wish to better appreciate the profound philosophy underlying their practice. Richard’s wide-ranging discussion includes the Upanishads and Samkhya philosophies, the Yoga Sutra of Patanjali, the eight limbs of Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga, and much more. He also explores the role of the guru, chanting, meditation, and the yogi imperative of offering service to others.

Women have many secrets. But a woman’s secret relationship with food and her body can overshadow other aspects of her life, filling her with obsession, shame, and fear. Many women waste countless years focusing on food and appearance, rather than spending energy on what holds deepest meaning for them.

It’s such a temptation to imagine yoga provides a golden key to unlocking the gate to freedom of mind and body. For students new to yoga, or any of us really, that temptation to find one answer can persist for lifetimes. Having practiced and studied yoga for well over half a century, from our perspective it is increasingly clear that the simple path does exist and it is to practice consistently over a long period of time, continuing to look deeply at others and what you think you already know. In this way we continue to nourish the body and mind with intelligence of breath, awareness and curiosity and the gentle nature of an open heart emerges. 
It is in that light that we are recommending a classic Indian text, considered by many to be a foundational, though often overlooked, teaching on Hatha Yoga (along with the Hatha Yoga Pradipika and the Yoga Sūtra). The Gheranda Samhita, compiled by the 17th century sage Gheranda, is a collection of sutras and practices that pull together ideas from earlier texts. It is presented through Gherands’s insights as he teaches his student, Chanda, about the benefits of a lifelong yoga practice and continuous study as a means of clarifying and preparing one’s body, soul and mind for liberation.
The basic teaching of the Gheranda Samhita is that of saptāṇga yoga (sevenfold yoga) and it examines many practices—some interesting and some a bit out there—which attempt to transmute the body into a proper vessel for the divine. Among other teachings the text includes 32 āsana, 10 prāṇāyāma practices and 26 mudras along with lessons on pratyāhāra and lifestyle all of which are said to lead to samadhi. The emphasis on awareness and preparation of the body is unique and important within the broad range of traditional yoga schools and spiritual practices where there is often a tendency to ignore or dismiss the body. 
You may or may not agree with everything you find in the Gheranda Samhita, and that’s a good thing. Our experience is that for practitioners from all schools—whether we concur with one another or not—it is essential to read and appreciate the variety of practices that others have experimented with for countless ages if we are to continue to deepen our understanding and the benefits of the practice. Finding strength and solid balance requires rocking the boat from time to time.