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Light on Life: The Yoga Journey to Wholeness, Inner Peace and Ultimate Freedom by B.K.S. Iyengar
thetarantulalounge's review against another edition
4.0
“The practice of yoga teaches us to live fully.”
Iyengar is something of an ambassador of yoga. Even though he has died, he continues to educate and influence those curious about yoga’s practice and precepts. Personally, I first started reading Iyengar because he was on the reading list of Yoga with Adriene’s Adriene Mishler. The Tree of Yoga is the short and nourishing title on Adriene’s list, and that was the first one I read. This book is longer (around 300 pages) and still dense. However, while other books may be better introductions to yogic philosophy, don’t let that scare you. This is dense the way a sacred text or poetry or a textbook is dense. It’s not meant to be grasped all at once. If you’re a religious type, it’s almost like each little section is food for contemplation in a daily devotion.
Whereas the Tree of Yoga uses the illustration of a…tree…of yoga…this book primarily uses flower petals of yoga as its through-line for its non-fictional narrative:
“There are eight petals of yoga that reveal themselves progressively to the practitioner. These are external, ethical disciplines (yama), internal ethical observances (niyama), poses (asana), breath control (pranayama), sensory control and withdrawal (pratyahara), concentration (dharana), meditation (dhyana), and blissful absorption (samadhi). We call these the petals of yoga as they join together.”
The book essentially zooms in on each petal from the external to the internal. That in itself is a nice example of yogic philosophy. The outward practices can lead to inward change, cleanliness, strength, and right action.
If you’re interested in reading more on yoga, I would say start with Adriene’s list first, including The Tree of Yoga. Next I’m going to read some Patanjali or Paramahansa Yogananda.
Iyengar is something of an ambassador of yoga. Even though he has died, he continues to educate and influence those curious about yoga’s practice and precepts. Personally, I first started reading Iyengar because he was on the reading list of Yoga with Adriene’s Adriene Mishler. The Tree of Yoga is the short and nourishing title on Adriene’s list, and that was the first one I read. This book is longer (around 300 pages) and still dense. However, while other books may be better introductions to yogic philosophy, don’t let that scare you. This is dense the way a sacred text or poetry or a textbook is dense. It’s not meant to be grasped all at once. If you’re a religious type, it’s almost like each little section is food for contemplation in a daily devotion.
Whereas the Tree of Yoga uses the illustration of a…tree…of yoga…this book primarily uses flower petals of yoga as its through-line for its non-fictional narrative:
“There are eight petals of yoga that reveal themselves progressively to the practitioner. These are external, ethical disciplines (yama), internal ethical observances (niyama), poses (asana), breath control (pranayama), sensory control and withdrawal (pratyahara), concentration (dharana), meditation (dhyana), and blissful absorption (samadhi). We call these the petals of yoga as they join together.”
The book essentially zooms in on each petal from the external to the internal. That in itself is a nice example of yogic philosophy. The outward practices can lead to inward change, cleanliness, strength, and right action.
If you’re interested in reading more on yoga, I would say start with Adriene’s list first, including The Tree of Yoga. Next I’m going to read some Patanjali or Paramahansa Yogananda.
ktburrichter's review against another edition
3.0
Found the first few chapters on the Asana and Prana quite interesting. They definitely added to my home yoga practice. I struggled with the remaining topics that dealt with more details of the inward journey. It's a good read, but one I will need to reread several times in order to fully absorb its meaning.
mmtong's review against another edition
2.0
I couldn't finish this.
I was trying to read both the printed edition and listened to the abridged audiobook. There were gems here and there, but otherwise, I found it difficult to swallow the rest of the book.
I was trying to read both the printed edition and listened to the abridged audiobook. There were gems here and there, but otherwise, I found it difficult to swallow the rest of the book.
valeriebrett's review against another edition
5.0
I listened to this on audio. I need to get a hard copy & reread to digest. Lots in this.
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