Roots of Yoga
Ivory Howard
Have you ever wondered “Is it wrong to focus solely on the physical postures of yoga?” or “Should I adopt a vegan diet to practice ahimsa (non-harming)?”
These questions and more are discussed in A Beginner’s Guide to the Roots of Yoga: How to Create a More Authentic Practice by Nikita Desai. Available in paperback and audiobook.
Whether you’re new to yoga or an advanced practitioner, this informative guide can help you learn the fundamentals of yoga, explore how to incorporate traditional yoga into your practice on and off the mat, and better understand the controversies with modern yoga including the emphasis on physical poses, cultural appropriation versus cultural appreciation, commercialism, sexualization of yoga, lack of diversity, and sexual abuse.
If you want to dive deeper into yoga outside of the studio, this is a good place to start. Desai provides a brief history of yoga and influential gurus; discusses yogic teachings, styles of yoga, chakras, and the eight limbs of yoga; and shares photos of her personal practice. I love hearing about her perspective as an Indian British woman navigating the yoga in the western world as well as her stories about grandparents, culture, and Hindu faith. Since this is a beginner’s guide, Desai also cites historical texts and offers other resources to help you continue your yoga journey long after the last page of this book.
Join me in reading this book. I love to know what you think. Leave a comment below and let me know.
