Original Yoga
Widely respected yoga teacher and author Richard Rosen draws on ancient yoga encyclopedias to explain how yoga was practiced before it became popular in the West. He compares the three main existing sources known to yoga scholars to describe how complex and rich the practice of yoga once was. It included systematic teachings on personal hygiene, good health, and good relationships, and other practices of yoga that went far beyond just the physical postures.
Each section of the book offers a guided practice session of ancient poses and breathing techniques to enable readers to connect to the roots of their yoga and to offer a framework from which to understand the sequences they use in their regular sessions.
"Drawing from the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, the Gheranda Samhita, and the Shiva Samhita, Richard Rosen presents a surprisingly modern and practical take on ancient asana, pranayama, meditation, bandhas, mudras, and cleansing practices. The author sneaks in enough historical tidbits and painstakingly precise etymological breakdowns to satiate the most hard-core 'yogeeks,' and his wry humor and engaging metaphors make Original Yoga a page-turner—a rarity indeed for what is essentially a practice manual. His down-to-earth guidelines provide readers access to age-old techniques that are sure to complement—and perhaps even transform—our modern practices." —Yoga International
"In the midst of the plethora of superficial books on yoga currently available, Original Yoga shines as a beacon of intelligence, tradition, and inspiration." —Judith Hanson Lasater, PhD, PT
"Once again Richard Rosen is a compass that reorients me to true north and teaches me where I have strayed from the yogic path. This book not only dispels so many of my ridiculous assumptions about the history of yoga but it reveals so many engaging practices that will enrich my everyday exploration of Life itself." —Rodney Yee, author of Moving toward Balance
"Original Yoga breathes new life into yoga today by unearthing a storehouse of yogic practices that up to this point have gone largely unnoticed. Not only is it rich in history and lore, but for those of us on the path, it provides a sure means to expand, diversify, and enliven the practice." —Tias Little, author of Meditations on a Dew Drop