Yoga for the Three Stages of Life

Developing Your Practice As an Art Form, a Physical Therapy, and a Guiding Philosophy

Srivatsa Ramaswami

• Publisher: Inner Traditions
• Year: 2001
• Print ISBN: 9780892818204
• eBook ISBN: 9781594775864
• Topic: Biological Sciences
• Subtopic: Hinduism
• Index: Biological Sciences

Essential reading for those looking to customize their practice to life's changing needs. • Includes sections on vedic chanting, throat breathing, and exercises for women.• Presents a unique portrait of T. Krishnamacharya and his teachings.For 33 years Ramaswami studied with the legendary T. Krishnamacharya, teacher of B.K.S. Iyengar, Pattabhi Jois, and T.K.V. Desikachar and perhaps the most influential figure in the field of yoga in the last 100 years. Since that time he has developed Krishnamacharya's teaching into what may be the most highly evolved program available for making yoga a way of life, rather than simply a routine. In seventeen chapters Ramaswami lays out the whole philosophy of yoga, including principles for right living, postures, breathing practices, meditation practices, and mental disciplines. Key to Ramaswami's teaching is the focus on adapting yoga to individual needs and to different stages of life. During the early part of life, learning yoga as a physical art form is most beneficial for the self-confidence and discipline it instills. In middle age, yoga should focus on physical therapy and maintaining optimum health as far into life as possible. In the last stages of life, the practitioner will be ready to focus on the ultimate goal of yoga--true understanding of the philosophy behind it and the realization of truth.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Dedication
• Acknowledgments
• Contents
• Introduction
• Part One: Yoga Siddhanta, or Theory
• Part Two: Yoga Sadhana, or Practice
• Glossary
• Index
• About the Author
• About Inner Traditions
• Copyright