Yoga Mythology

Deepen Your Yoga Experience with the Origin Stories of 64 Common Asanas

Explore the stories from Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain mythology that nurtured the idea of yoga and shaped the development of its most iconic asanas. Learn how svana-asana (dog pose) is connected to Shiva, bhujanga-asana (cobra pose) was inspired by shape-shifting beings who live below the earth, and much more.

Many practitioners are unaware of yoga's underlying philosophy, symbols, and rituals because modern teachers often emphasize the physical over the mental and spiritual components. Yoga Mythology brings this overlooked wisdom to light by recounting the lore behind more than sixty asanas, drawing attention to an Indic worldview based on the concepts of eternity, rebirth, liberation, and empathy. With hundreds of photos and playful illustrations, this book makes it easy and enjoyable to connect with yogic principles and expand the mental and spiritual aspects of your practice.

Devdutt Pattanaik is a renowned mythologist and TED speaker from India. He has authored over fifty books and over one thousand columns on the subject.

Matthew Rulli is a former US marine and an experienced registered yoga teacher (E-RYT 500) who has been studying Sanskrit and Eastern philosophy for over a decade.