In 2007, I traveled to India to complete my yoga teacher training. I wasn’t sure what to look for in a training program; I just knew I wanted to go to India to do it. I happened upon a course with dates that worked out perfectly for me at the time, and it was reasonably priced. I applied and was accepted, and about six weeks later I boarded a 15-hour flight.
It was the best decision ever.
Yogrishi Vishvketu was my teacher. He smiled often, laughed easily, and always had a story to complement what he was teaching. It was impossible to tell how old he was, and no one would say. I felt so at ease, so capable, so empowered, and so loved during the five weeks I spent at the ashram. Yogrishi Vishvketu and his team of teachers created an incredible environment for learning and growth.
And now, he has written a book.
Yogasana: The Encyclopedia of Yoga Poses
I ordered during the pre-order phase, and it arrived at my door the day before I had to get on the plane to head back to Colombia.
Already, I can’t recommend this book enough.
(You can buy it via my affiliate links, and you should know I indeed bought this book with my own money and I’m recommending it on my own accord out of absolute love of the book and deep respect for its author.)
It includes English/Sanskrit translations and a pronunciation guide and information on the chakras, as well as hundreds of poses and variations, all demonstrated in clear photographs. The chapters are divided by the types of poses: standing, balancing, moving toward the earth, seated, arm balances, backbends, hip openers, lying on the back, lying on the stomach, inversions, and resting.
The Sanskrit provides a beautiful learning opportunity that doesn’t usually show up in yoga books: “This book includes over eight hundred and fifty yoga poses grouped according to root characteristics that are reflected in the naming system. This system shows yoga practitioners the natural deepening progression of each pose.”
As I have traveled, I have learned that you can learn a lot about a culture by which words they use and how they describe certain things. In the same way, we can learn a lot about yoga through the language of yoga.
There are a few illustrated sequences in the back, as well, including the classical sun salutation (which is the one I teach). People often ask me what “style” of yoga I teach, and, while that topic really deserves a blog post all its own and I’ll probably get it to at some point, what I say is “Akhanda” and at the back of the book you’ll find an explanation of that.
Fellow yoga teachers will be inspired by all the variations on the poses we teach every day. Those of you with a home practice will love that, too. Each pose is accompanied by a chakra chart, showing which chakras are balanced by the pose. As you start to understand the movements, feelings, and parts of the body that are associated with each chakra, you’ll find it interesting to design your practices around your needs.
I love the little quotes sprinkled throughout the book, as well, including this one on page 157: “Start from where you are. It is never too late.”
