Yoga Explained: A New Step-by-step Approach to Understanding and Practising Yoga

We all know that yoga is great for stress relief, flexibility and weight control, but do we really know how and why it works? In gym classes and living rooms around the world students are familiar with the techniques of yoga practice, but often lack understanding of the 'why', 'how' and 'in what order'. As a result, bad habits and injuries can ensue. In yoga, as in any subject, the foundation is crucial and Yoga Explained addresses both the physical and theoretical aspects of this ancient art from its very beginnings. Using modern teaching skills, based on the popular lyengar method, over 100 foundation postures are introduced gradually over a series of 12 units, each with step-by-step instruction and guidance on how you can progress. This is coupled with simple, accessible insights into the philosophy that supports the practice. Yoga Explained offers a truly unique approach to learning and practising yoga. By the end of the book you will have a clear grasp of the foundation postures and relaxation techniques, plus a strong - essential - understanding of the overall purpose of yoga and its key doctrines.

Mira Mehta began yoga as a child and returns to India annually for further study. She has a Masters in Sanskrit and Indian philosophy from Oxford University and runs her own school, The Yogic Path, in London. She has an unrivalled range of teaching skills and has a huge following all over Europe, India and North America where she holds lecture tours and workshops. In 1991 the Indian Government chose pictures of Mira for use on their national stamps and in 1993 she was listed in The Best of British Women yearbook for her work in the field of alternative therapy. She is a successful author; her first book Yoga: The lyengar Way was in Amazon.com's Top Ten yoga books of all time. This is her fifth book. Krishna S. Arjunwadkar is an award winning scholar of Sanskrit and has taught Sanskrit and classical Indian subjects in schools and universities in India and Canada. He has written many books and articles on philosophy and linguistic studies, notably a language textbook for schools and a popular guide to the Bhagavad-Gita.