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Yoga and the Path of the Urban Mystic
by
Darren Main (Goodreads Author)
Yoga and the Path of the Urban Mystic" brings classical teachings alive and helps us move our rewarding experience of yoga beyond the mat and meditation cushion and into the whole of life. For modern yogis feeling challenged in our efforts to remain deeply spiritual, contemplative, and centered amid the stresses and complications of urban life, this book serves as both ins...more
Paperback, 276 pages
Published
October 29th 2007
by iUniverse Star
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A very accessible, easy to read, and easy to understand overview of the major tenets of traditional yoga, including maya (illusion), lila (the cosmic dance), kundalini, karma, and the eight limbs of yoga as laid out by Patanjali a couple thousand years ago. Darren Main is a local San Francisco yoga teacher, and I recommend checking out his restorative yoga classes if you're in SF! He weaves in many of his own personal stories as well as stories about people he knows, which makes these ancient co...more
Mar 05, 2012
Julia Coney
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
yoga-teacher-training-2012
This book is part of my yoga teacher training. I loved it.
Darren Main has an accessible, disarming style of writing; and this book was easy to read. I have, many times, tried to find a suitable entry point for a sustainable yoga practice in my daily life. And I did find some useful ideas and inspiration in here for incorporating a yogic-styled approach to the the fast-paced lifestyle of the aspiring urban mystic.
However, I found Main's expectations as to the amount of time I would be able to devote to a yoga practice daunting and a little disheartening...more
However, I found Main's expectations as to the amount of time I would be able to devote to a yoga practice daunting and a little disheartening...more
I liked this book a lot and found it comforting at times. At other times, it annoyed the piss out of me. I think Mains is perhaps on the extreme end of things...too "new age" for my tastes (at least at this point in time). Nonetheless, his coverage of "the 8 limbs" is good and include a lot of personal experience. I read from it every day until it was finished. As a fairly new student of yoga (about 2 years in), I am really enjoying reading different perspectives and deliveries on Ashtanga/Raja...more
I am a bit torn by this book. First and most importantly I think it is a good, accessible who's who in the zoo for me as a uninformed beginner in yoga. But, when Main strays from this core message into comparing to western traditions there are several flat notes that sound out. On the whole, I do suggest this as a sane overview of terms and concepts for anyone curious about what may be going on in the yoga traditions at a thumbnail level.
I think I read this book at the exact right time in my life. It changed the way I see myself and how I react to the people in my life. I also become fascinated with the concept of Maya. The best discourse on the Yamas/Niyamas I have read; Darren makes them very accesible.
anxious to read it again, not for class [yoga instructor training], because i know that will change my approach to it. lots of esoteric thoughts... like i said, i want to read it again when i'm not trying to answer discussion questions from it.
I had a love/hate relationship with this book. First it was required reading, so that made me not want to read it. However, throughout the book he had little nuggets of insight that I thought were so perfect. Then he would do something dochey, like use the title"uban mystic," in a sentence, and I would hate it again. I was expecting so much from this book, and I was pretty disappointed.
Many great insights into living your yoga and still living in modern society. Very easy to read, a book that I will always open up for extra inspiration.
This book was generally inspiring, but I felt like it was coming from a younger place than where I am now. That is, the author is single, no kids. I'm a mom, 2 kids. There were some places where I just felt it didn't apply to me. Darren Main, however, is an incredibly insightful and inspired yogi, and when he speaks, I will tune in.
As inspiring on the 10th read as it was on the first.
If you read one book on yoga in your lifetime make this the one.
If you read one book on yoga in your lifetime make this the one.
recommended by ishtahar
22nd book of 2011
May 01, 2013
Katie
is currently reading it
May 19, 2013
Kestrel Lancaster
is currently reading it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
to-read-yoga
Mar 04, 2013
Laura Szewczyk
added it
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Darren Main is a well-known yoga and meditation instructor and author. His books include Yoga and the Path of the Urban Mystic, Spiritual Journeys along the Yellow Brick Road, The Findhorn Book of Meditation and the forthcoming book, Hearts and Minds: Talking to Christians about Homosexuality.
In addition to his writing, he facilitates workshops and gives talks on yoga and modern spirituality throu...more
More about Darren Main...
In addition to his writing, he facilitates workshops and gives talks on yoga and modern spirituality throu...more
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May 19, 2013 11:31pm