Graphics: ©The Magazine of Yoga™
A handbook for living, The Heart of Yoga is the book that made me want to teach.
BY MAGAZINE COLUMNIST TALI KOZIOL
One of the foundation books we’ve been asked to read prior to training is The Heart of Yoga by T. K. V. Desikachar.
This is a text I never tire of. I first read it prior to my first training, as part of an online book club. This is the book that made me want to teach. This is the book that helped me recognize that all those things that were suddenly going better in my life, in the self-talk in my head, since I started yoga were a result of the yoga; it’s the result of taking if off the mat. I feel it’s a must-read. Period.
The Five
In what way does this book connect to everyday life?
This book in way is like a handbook for living. Between a clear explanation of the yamas and niyamas and collection of the Yoga Sutras there is a little gem for every day. This stays on my bedside table and I have it on my Kindle as well.
What three things will stay with me from reading this?
1. Yoga is a practice for the mind, body, and spiritual self.
2. Perfection is not a tangible goal, authenticity is.
3. To be a sustainable practice you have to find your own path in yoga.
Is this a breakfast book or a dessert book?
I think this book goes great with dessert. I like to curl up with the book, a warm cup of tea, and a couple of cookies to nibble on.
What questions did I find myself asking after I read the book?
Who can I talk to about this? That was the question going through my head. There were so many “aha!” moments that I wanted to share them and more so find out what others had experienced.
I think like all good plans the changes will have to be subtle, take it one day at a time as it were. More specifically I will need to start incorporating this shift from feeling inadequate or out of time and energy into different areas of my life, one at a time. I have already seen a shift in my yoga teaching and my consulting business. Now I will have to slowly start weaving it into the other parts of my life. I am not sure if it will hold, but it has worked so far.
If I could ask the author one question what would it be?
If you lead a book club on your text what would it look like? The duration, the demographics, the structure…what would your dream group be to discuss your text with?
Live. Breathe. Love.
We may publish any content, comments or ideas sent to us.
Name may be withheld by request.
© 2011, The Magazine of Yoga, LLC.
