Myths of the Asanas: The Ancient Origins of Yoga

After reading an excerpt from "Myths of the Asanas: the Ancient Origins of Yoga" in the October 2010 issue of "Yoga Journal" magazine, I got online and ordered a copy of the book from Amazon.com. A student of the works of Joseph Campbell and Carl Jung, I immediately recognized the authors' understanding of, and respect for the mythic tradition. The writing, like magic realism, is reminiscent of children's literature, yet contains deep truths relevant to those in all stages of life. The book is a collection of short stories: synopses of the myths which correspond with the asanas or postures familiar to contemporary practitioners of yoga. Highly informative, but not patronizing, each short section is a relaxing read which gives those who practice yoga a greater understanding of the longstanding tradition in which we take part.I have enjoyed the book and recommend it to anyone who practices yoga or is interested in mythology/collective consciousness. My only complaint is, however, like so many things "yoga" the presentation is uber-feminine, specifically the cover art. Not everyone who practices yoga is female. Is it too much to ask the marketing gurus to take a more androgynous approach?

reading this book is like sipping a warm cup of tea made with love. I actually csn feel how much love is flowing in between the pages. I want to remember all the wonderful stories here but I think what I will remember the most is the warmth emanating from holding and reading it.Truly glad that I read it

I LOVE this book. It's beautifully composed in every aspect: the art, the writing, the format. It is truly a work of art. I also love having a resource wherein the mythology behind so many popular postures is so articulately explained. One of my favorite ways to add depth to the classes I teach is to incorporate such stories and explanations as students feel out a posture, and this book provides incredible fodder for such endeavors. 14/10, highly recommend.

When I opened the book entitled, Myths of the Asanas, I read the Preface and thought: "Now, this book is inspiring!" It is very well written and has interesting stories about the origin of yoga poses. But soon, as I read further, there were missing pages in the first Chapter... When I got to the second Chapter, some pages from Chapter one were repeated and some missing again!!! I stopped reading it because I'm afraid of what I will find further on. I'm not happy that this well-written book was not proofread before distributing it to the public.I tried to call the Publisher to inform them about this, and would have asked that they resend me a corrected published copy, but wasn't successful in getting a person answering. I did not want to leave a message since I'm calling from Canada.Please do not distribute this book until it is reedited and republished!!Carole SigouinProfessional Editor

I love everything about this book! I have been wanting to find a book with these stories since I received my 200-RYT last year, and this was the only one that I have come across. It provides a very minimal description of what each asana looks like, along with an image, that is followed by the myths/stories/teachings behind the asana. I plan to incorporate these stories into my teaching mat and aerial yoga classes at the studio and during my personal practice at home.

I love this book. It helps to deepen my practice by knowing of the mystical history of the asanas. I teach Yoga. The students enjoy the stories. It helps the students to accept that Yoga isn’t exercise. It is a path yours your self transformation and ultimate well-being. I have the hardback and the digital on my phone. I just read a section daily.

Dive deeper into your personal yoga practice by learning the history and deeper meanings behind many popular yoga poses. I would highly recommend this engaging read. Also be sure to check out the author Alanna Kaivalya's Yoga Teacher Training!

i really thought this book was inspirational for a yogi like myself. a lot of ppl practice yoga but don't have a clue about the origins of where the postures and poses come from. knowing the story of hanuman just makes struggling to get fully into hanumanasana more meaningful for me, for example. the author's thoughts are nicely integrated as well, and offer some words that have further inspired my practice. definitely a good one for yogis that are in it for more than just the good workout!

Regardless of whether you do yoga or not, this is an inspiring read. Full of deep wisdom and reminders to live a more conscious and purposeful life. Highly recommend!

Interesting myths and legends which tie to many of the common asanas that we use. It gives them that extra something and students have told me it helps them to remember poses and sequences.

This book is very interesting and gives you a greater understanding of the yoga postures and the history behind them. I can now practice yoga with a deeper connection to each asana. The book has a fantastic balance of knowledge and description.

interesting view of the asanas ,but not sure these stories behind postures are truly from India or it is just a european interpretation (?)

I use this book in my Yoga classes. I can use one story to build a theme with the pose and the philosophy, its a good book to lend out to students as well.