Click here to return to the list of Products

Yoga Therapy: A Guide to the Therapeutic Use of Yoga and Ayurveda for Health and Fitness

EXCERPT: AUTHOR'S INTRODUCTION

My wife Indra and I have been teaching Yoga for over 25 years. Since the demise of my teacher Sri T. Krishnamacharya in 1989, we have been studying Ayurveda, and other fields related to physical and mental health, in great detail. Our son Ganesh, has been practicing Yoga from childhood. After studying Ayurveda in college for four years, he is currently studying Western medicine, and is now in his final year. A few years ago, he suggested that we present the practice of Yoga in a systematic, rational manner. Our daughter Nitya who has also been practicing Yoga from childhood, is herself a Yoga teacher and she agreed to help. This book is a family endeavor.

We have tried to make this book clear and unambiguous. Wherever possible, we have explained not only what should be done, but also why it should be done that way. In fact, we revised the presentation of this book several times during it preparation with this emphasis on clarity and rationality in mind.

The main portion of this book deals with the practice of asana and pranayama. However, we have also explained the fundamental approach of Ayurveda, and how it can complement Yoga in providing a comprehensive health system. The practical application of these principles is illustrated by numerous case studies of people we have treated over the last three decades. We have also touched upon some other important topics-including the relationship between asanas and the doshas, the approach to using pranayama in Yoga therapy, the concept of brmhana and langhana, as well as the principles of Ayurvedic diet. As a result, this book contains material for both Yoga practitioners and teachers.