Light on Yoga: The Bible of Modern Yoga...
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Light on Yoga: The Bible of Modern Yoga...

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4.33 of 5 stars 4.33  ·  rating details  ·  1,099 ratings  ·  108 reviews
The definitive guide to the philosophy and practice of Yoga--the ancient healing discipline for body and mind--by its greatest living teacher. Light on Yoga provides complete descriptions and illustrations of all the positions and breathing exercises. Features a foreword by Yehudi Menuhin. Illustrations throughout.
Paperback, 544 pages
Published October 14th 1987 by Schocken
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Light on Yoga by B.K.S. IyengarOm Chanting and Meditation by Amit RayYoga and Vipassana by Amit RayOm Chanting And Meditation by Amit RayAutobiography of a Yogi by Paramahansa Yogananda
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1st out of 16 books — 9 voters
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Lidia
Lidia rated it 5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for: yogis
About a year ago, I got myself a mat (eco friendly, of course), some stretch pants (organic cotton, duh), and went to a yoga studio to investigate what this bottle-nursing, teeny-tiny-spandex-wearing, mat-bag-dangling gang of people that I observed roaming the streets of my neighborhood were up to.

Now, after a year of actually sticking to a regular practice, (Insert applause here. Actually, forget that. Because, you see, I don't need that external validation. No offense.), I have dis...more
Anne
Anne rated it 5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for: anyone interested in yoga
Recommended to Anne by: Kim my Yoga Teacher
I'm in love with this book. It is a great life Bible, and it helps solidify the emotional and subconscious effects yoga has on me. For anyone who's thought about practicing yoga, you will be more than inspired if you read the 50 page introduction to this book. There is also a huge section of this book dedicated to the poses and the effects of the poses, and the final section of the book is about breathing. Yoga is definitely more than flexibility and if anything, being tight and gaining flexibil...more
Alissa
Alissa rated it 4 of 5 stars
This is on my "currently reading" shelf in perpetuity. Or until I hammer together a couple more e-shelves. Regarding the book: I sort of get eye-rollish about things referred to as "the Bible" of anything, and find it even a bit more grating when the topical focus is of a spiritual nature that is more broad than should be described in analogy to the pre-eminant book of one particular path to spirituality. Ok, that aside, it isn't this book's fault that the title did that. ...more
Danimal4288
Danimal4288 is currently reading it
apparently i'm supposed to attain freedom from desire. gotta lotta work to do on that one.
Craig Shoemake
As they say of Porsches: "There is no substitute." Legal notices aside, every yogi on the planet could say the same for this book. And for once in a blue moon a sensational blurb on a cover-"The Bible of Modern Yoga," in this case-is truer than true. If you own only one book on yoga, let this be the one.

It begins with an introduction "from the inside," so to speak. As has been made plain by some of my previous reviews, the background of the writer is as...more
Uday Desai
Uday Desai rated it 5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for: everyone
Shelves: must-read


This book deserves more than 5 stars.


This book is all times Yoga classics. As it is written in 1976 (I will check my copy and will update this if necessary), you may not see the presentation and writing style of Yoga books published in the western world now days.
But this is very dense book, so that every word in it is important. This book is not to be read in usual sense. The reading of this book includes practice of yoga for number of years (At least 2 years -- but this my vie...more
Dennis Littrell
Dennis Littrell rated it 5 of 5 stars
Shelves: yoga
Iyengar, B. K. S. Light on Yoga (1965)
Simply the best

This is the definitive text on hatha yoga. This is the book you want if you are serious about beginning your yoga practice. This is also a text of reference for professional teachers used throughout the world. It is no exaggeration to say that all yoga instructors in the United States know this book, and most of them own a copy and refer to it regularly.

Iyengar's text is characterized by a thoroughness of conte...more
Jessie Toporek
“Light on Yoga” is the perfect resource manual to learn more about alignment, transitions between poses and breathing techniques. There are photos of Iyengar demonstrating nearly every pose, detailed instructions on how to approach them, and comments on their symbolic meaning.

The symbolism is the most interesting part of the book to me. My yoga teachers don’t tend to focus on this aspect of the practice, so it’s nice to pair Iyengar’s analysis with my teachers’ emphasis on physic...more
Ryan Leier
The Yoga "Bible" is a must for any one interested in Yoga. This is the first of many books written by "The Michaelangelo of Yoga." It Has a great introduction which covers the philosophy and science of yoga. Most of the book is filled with asana. There are helpful instructions and great stories accompanying the pose.

Because BKS Iyengar practiced asana for hours a day over a period of many years, this books explains how the asanas work on many levels. The pic...more
Donna
Donna rated it 5 of 5 stars
I didn't read this book from cover to cover, but reading the introduction thoroughly gave me a good idea of what it takes to develop a yoga practice. It's a great book that details the history and origin of yoga, as long as imparting the philosophies and disciplines of a 'yogi.' It has definitely changed the way I view yoga, and I look forward to practicing yoga with my new mindset.

On top of the intro, the book contains a comprehensive list of all the yoga poses I've ever done and MUCH...more
Cranberry Forrest
Iyengar shows the reader, with compassion and acceptance, the way to enlightenment. Through Patanjali's ancient, revered Eight Steps or Limbs, Iyengar shares with the reader a perspective that will bring light to any situation in life. This is a truely inspiring and relaxing read as well as a comprehensive guide to yoga for beginners and experts.
Morgan
Morgan rated it 4 of 5 stars
Recommended to Morgan by: Dollar-A-Pound
A veritable yoga bible. Iyengar lays out every pose (and then some) with breakdowns of sanskrit names, difficulty ratings, detailed instructions and photos of himself doing things that most human beings cannot even fathom. Not the bast introductory instruction manual, but an awesome resource for any serious yoga practitioner or teacher.
Alternate
Brilliant and instructive. A little heavy on the 'getting to know your soul' for me, but I'm not completely convinced there's no truth in the heightened awareness of our bodies, needs and happiness via the practice of yoga. For the record, my sun salutations have nothing to do with honoring God, but they do honor myself, so religion has it's place in it for even me.
Jason
Jason rated it 5 of 5 stars
An extremely helpful book in gaining an understanding of the varied characteristics and functions of Yoga as a total physical and mental practice.
I was prepared to be critical going into it, but in the end Iyengar pretty much completely won me over. The introductory section is worth the price of the book alone.
Barbara
This is a huge, detailed book, filled with postures ranging from simple, to those which are intensely difficult and rarely done. It is well illustrated and most instructions are clearly stated. Much of the book is also devoted to Eastern philosophy, diet and lifestyle.
Audrey
Audrey rated it 3 of 5 stars
It is literally the Bible of modern Yoga. Anyone who practices Hatha (or a derivative) will appreciate the in-depth dissections of the asanas and their proper alignment, the progressions that Iyengar offers, and the meditations on the significance of an informed asana practice.

It's dense, but an excellent reference.
Donna Witkin
This is not yoga or meditation. This is about free hand exercises. It has very little connection with real yoga. Yoga and meditation bring us back to clear awareness our real Self. But this book bring us back to our body.
That too very complex exercises.
Richard
Lives up to its claim, to be the Bible of Modern yoga. Meant to be read once, and then referred to again and again. And the introduction is as good an introduction to Yoga as you are likely to find. Iyengar is truely a guru.
Ram
Ram rated it 5 of 5 stars
the most authentic and outstanding book on yoga, gives crystal clear and simple descriptions of various asanas. Highly recommended to everybody in this world, young and old, man, woman, every human being.
Elynor
Elynor is currently reading it
Another book required for my yoga teacher training. Definitely the "Bible of Yoga." I'm slowly reading my way through it, learning about poses it would take me many years to master let alone teach to others.
Amanda
Amanda rated it 4 of 5 stars
This literally is the Bible of yoga - no more thorough source on physical postures with sequencing and explanations. The introduction isn't a bad brief summary yoga history either.
Amruth Kumar Juturu
What ever there is to read in this book...I read it....and now I know what "BRAMHACHARI" means...hahaha....Good book if you are interested in Yoga....and a bit of philosophy behind it....
Monika Müller
A very thorough and complete book on yoga with describing the health benefits of the asanas. This book is a good companion of life for a yoga teacher or devoted practitioner.
Christina
Christina is currently reading it
Iyengar is tough...The pictures are very helpful, as are the guided steps. However, you need a teacher or to know what you're doing to modify these poses for a less supple body..
Kelly
Kelly rated it 5 of 5 stars
BKS Iyengar, studied with my guru, Sri K. Patabhis Jois, whom they both had the same teacher. This book is insightful and truly the Bible for yoga.
Wendy
Wendy rated it 5 of 5 stars
I read this on and off to learn more it would be a benefit if I sat down & read it all. Really great information on the benefits of the poses.
Cait
Cait rated it 5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for: yoga practitioners
I am amazed by how many times I can re-read this book and always discover new aspects of poses which I hadn't picked up on in previous reads.
Gina Mccotter
Gina Mccotter is currently reading it
I am on my 2nd or 3rd go on this hefty dude. we're getting along pretty well, but I took a break to get some note cards...Homework!
Jeris
Jeris rated it 4 of 5 stars
This was recommended to me by a friend (a yoga teacher herself). It's one of the best references on yoga that I've found.
Amanda
Amanda rated it 5 of 5 stars
Must read for Yogis- but maybe not cover to cover unless you are doing a TT program.
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Light on Yoga (Paperback)
Light On Yoga
LIGHT ON YOGA (Paperback)
Light On Yoga
Light On Yoga (Paperback)

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Bellur Krishnamachar Sundararaja Iyengar (Kannada: ಬೆಳ್ಳೂರ್ ಕೃಷ್ಣಮಾಚಾರ್ ಸುಂದರರಾಜ ಐಯಂಗಾರ್), (also known as Yogacharya B.K.S. Iyengar) (Born December 14, 1918 in Bellur, Kolar District, Karnataka, India) is the founder of Iyengar Yoga. He is considered one of the foremost yoga teachers in the world and has been practicing and teaching yoga for more than 75 years. He has written many books on yogic p...more
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