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Wild Asana: Animals, Yoga, and Connecting Our Practice to the Natural World
Ever wonder about the dog in Downward Dog or the pigeon in Kapota? Rewild your yoga practice by connecting to the animals behind the asanas.
For nature-loving yogis and readers of World of Wonders and Yoga Mythology
From Downward Dog to Cobra, Wild Asana invites you into an embodied exploration of the animals that inspire familiar yoga poses. Drawing on wildlife science, anthropology, Hindu mythology, Eastern philosophy, and personal stories, this insightful guide by environmental educator and yoga instructor Alison Zak explores the connections among our bodies, our minds, and the animals that inspire our practice.
In illustrated chapters on asanas like Tittibhasana (Firefly), Garudasana (Eagle), Bidalasana (Cat), and Ustrasana (Camel), Zak invites you to bring the deep nature of animals into breath and movement.
You’ll learn
Respect the monkey in “monkey mind” to honor—not tame—your own wildnessFly like an eagle to move from imprisonment to liberation Embody a pigeon’s stillness and nonattachmentImbue your practice with the agility, flexibility, and fierce commitment of a cat Incorporate asana variations, mudras, and meditations inspired by animal naturePractice lovingkindness meditations that include the more-than-human world
With an encompassing ecological compassion, gorgeous original illustrations, profound insight into animal wisdom, and the humor and perspective of lived experience, Zak offers a path to deepen and enliven your practice. Whether you’re an animal lover, a first-time yoga student, or an experienced practitioner, Wild Asana is a practical and accessible guide to becoming animal on your yoga mat.
For nature-loving yogis and readers of World of Wonders and Yoga Mythology
From Downward Dog to Cobra, Wild Asana invites you into an embodied exploration of the animals that inspire familiar yoga poses. Drawing on wildlife science, anthropology, Hindu mythology, Eastern philosophy, and personal stories, this insightful guide by environmental educator and yoga instructor Alison Zak explores the connections among our bodies, our minds, and the animals that inspire our practice.
In illustrated chapters on asanas like Tittibhasana (Firefly), Garudasana (Eagle), Bidalasana (Cat), and Ustrasana (Camel), Zak invites you to bring the deep nature of animals into breath and movement.
You’ll learn
Respect the monkey in “monkey mind” to honor—not tame—your own wildnessFly like an eagle to move from imprisonment to liberation Embody a pigeon’s stillness and nonattachmentImbue your practice with the agility, flexibility, and fierce commitment of a cat Incorporate asana variations, mudras, and meditations inspired by animal naturePractice lovingkindness meditations that include the more-than-human world
With an encompassing ecological compassion, gorgeous original illustrations, profound insight into animal wisdom, and the humor and perspective of lived experience, Zak offers a path to deepen and enliven your practice. Whether you’re an animal lover, a first-time yoga student, or an experienced practitioner, Wild Asana is a practical and accessible guide to becoming animal on your yoga mat.
223 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 27, 2023
11 people are currently reading
2841 people want to read
About the author
Alison Zak
2 books29 followersAlison Zak is an author, book coach, yoga teacher, and wildlife conservationist. She is always reading and writing about animals! Learn more at www.alisonzak.com. Follow me on Instagram @animal_asana and on Substack at https://alisonzak.substack.com/
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
May 28, 2023
I wrote it and I read it. I quite like it, and I hope you do too :)
July 23, 2023
Alison I think this has been my Introduction to loving nature writing
June 8, 2023
3.5 stars rounded up.
If you were a fan of Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer or World of Wonders by Aimee Nezhukumatathil, but you're also a practicing yogi and you want to tie your practice in more with nature and the animal poses associated with it, I recommend this book. While it didn't deliver quite what I was hoping (I pictured more education and history, less personal memoir-style narration), I still think this is a great book to pair with a yoga practice. I liked the exercises at the end of each chapter and the flow at the end of the book that incorporates all the poses we learned about. They called for positive reflection and awareness while in nature without feeling preachy or agenda-driven.
The only thing that kept it getting a higher rating from me came down to, again, my misguided expectation. I went into this thinking we'd get more history of these yoga poses (we get some!) and while I appreciated the expertise of the author in sharing what she knew and experienced in her travels and with friends regarding these animals, a lot of it was information I could have (or did) learn watching documentaries on nature channels. There were a lot more personal essays than I expected, which were nice but, again, not what I went into this book for. However, I will be going back and doing the exercises and yoga flows from this book in my own practice in the future :)
Thank you to NetGalley and North Atlantic Books for giving me advanced reader access to this in exchange for an honest review. This title publishes on June 27, 2023!
If you were a fan of Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer or World of Wonders by Aimee Nezhukumatathil, but you're also a practicing yogi and you want to tie your practice in more with nature and the animal poses associated with it, I recommend this book. While it didn't deliver quite what I was hoping (I pictured more education and history, less personal memoir-style narration), I still think this is a great book to pair with a yoga practice. I liked the exercises at the end of each chapter and the flow at the end of the book that incorporates all the poses we learned about. They called for positive reflection and awareness while in nature without feeling preachy or agenda-driven.
The only thing that kept it getting a higher rating from me came down to, again, my misguided expectation. I went into this thinking we'd get more history of these yoga poses (we get some!) and while I appreciated the expertise of the author in sharing what she knew and experienced in her travels and with friends regarding these animals, a lot of it was information I could have (or did) learn watching documentaries on nature channels. There were a lot more personal essays than I expected, which were nice but, again, not what I went into this book for. However, I will be going back and doing the exercises and yoga flows from this book in my own practice in the future :)
Thank you to NetGalley and North Atlantic Books for giving me advanced reader access to this in exchange for an honest review. This title publishes on June 27, 2023!
March 26, 2024
This copy was kindly given to me by Netgalley and Publisher for review. All opinions are my own.
This book was an interesting take on our connection with the natural world and yoga's connection to that world as well. The author pulls on personal experience and her interaction with these connections; personally I really enjoyed the break down of history of the animals' and their poses. I also enjoyed the flows that were also provided.
This book was an interesting take on our connection with the natural world and yoga's connection to that world as well. The author pulls on personal experience and her interaction with these connections; personally I really enjoyed the break down of history of the animals' and their poses. I also enjoyed the flows that were also provided.
June 30, 2024
I won this book through Goodreads Giveaways. Thank you to the author and publisher.
I was pleasantly surprised not only with the content of this book, but also with the artistic and clever ways in which it was presented. As a person who practices yoga only occasionally, it was my first introduction into the animals behind the poses. The author is well-traveled and used her experiences and observations to help the reader feel more in tune with the animals she describes and the poses they inspire. She also interweaves legends, myths, and religions surrounding the various animals which adds to the intelligence of her writing.
As an educator, the wisdom of teaching children (and adults) first about where the pose originated, the stories associated with those poses, and helping the student to visualize those animals while learning to do the pose gives a much more well-rounded lesson and appreciation for the practice.
The author cleverly changed her writing style and writing tempo to match the "feel" of each animal.
At the end of each chapter are suggested related activities that anyone can do.
I was able to appreciate the author's overall content, while still having a visceral reaction to her quoting a PETA leader, responsible, in part, for a viscous attack that nearly killed my parents. The author talks about not being able to watch an animal sacrifice, while still acknowledging the respectful and meaningful way that humans can and do sacrifice animals as part of the circle of life, so I felt her mention of this leader was more likely just misunderstanding the truly cruel nature of that organization.
I was pleasantly surprised not only with the content of this book, but also with the artistic and clever ways in which it was presented. As a person who practices yoga only occasionally, it was my first introduction into the animals behind the poses. The author is well-traveled and used her experiences and observations to help the reader feel more in tune with the animals she describes and the poses they inspire. She also interweaves legends, myths, and religions surrounding the various animals which adds to the intelligence of her writing.
As an educator, the wisdom of teaching children (and adults) first about where the pose originated, the stories associated with those poses, and helping the student to visualize those animals while learning to do the pose gives a much more well-rounded lesson and appreciation for the practice.
The author cleverly changed her writing style and writing tempo to match the "feel" of each animal.
At the end of each chapter are suggested related activities that anyone can do.
I was able to appreciate the author's overall content, while still having a visceral reaction to her quoting a PETA leader, responsible, in part, for a viscous attack that nearly killed my parents. The author talks about not being able to watch an animal sacrifice, while still acknowledging the respectful and meaningful way that humans can and do sacrifice animals as part of the circle of life, so I felt her mention of this leader was more likely just misunderstanding the truly cruel nature of that organization.
October 9, 2023
Reading like personal journals, Wild Asana delivered something different than I had anticipated but nevertheless highly enjoyable. Bluntly, I was prepared for a more dense read- more anatomy and zoology, more references to ancient yogic texts. A nerdfest for those zealous about yoga asana. This book is a mini dose of that mixed with the author's reflections and personal anecdotes connected to each of the beautiful creatures highlighted. Thus it extremely readable and certainly more accessible to people who don't practice or know much about yoga. I think it would be excellent to offer young people as well as adults mildly curious about yoga who love to read. I also see this as a lovely reminder about connecting with and appreciating our fellow creatures and truly every component/companion on earth that Nature resources us with. I have a shared adoration of Robin Wall Kimmerer with the author and I appreciated the effort made to use inclusive and tender language in reference to all beings. Finally but not to be overlooked, the illustrations captured the sentiments shared and essence of both pose and namesake admirably.
Thank you to Alison Zak, North Atlantic Books and Goodreads for sending me a copy of such a delightful book!
Thank you to Alison Zak, North Atlantic Books and Goodreads for sending me a copy of such a delightful book!
June 30, 2023
A thought provoking and inspiring book that will stay on your bookshelves for a long time. What makes it special is how the author weaves personal stories, scientific research, her anthropological point of view, and yoga philosophy together to create a unique and insightful guide to rewilding our yoga practice.
I found the book to focus on her personal stories, the biology and behavior of the various animals, how humans can embody certain animal qualities, and finally, the asanas themselves that help us connect with these animals in a way I never thought possible. I tried Hanumanasana as part of the exercise in one of the chapters and found that it was much more fun than daunting to attempt it now that I have a deeper understanding of the asana itself.
Her writing is clear, engaging, and informative, and I especially appreciated the way that she challenged me to think about my relationship with animals, bits of mythology, and nature itself in a new way and to see myself as part of a larger web of life. This makes yoga truly transformative and fun.
Overall, the book is:
* Inspiring, and makes you look at yoga differently than just a mere workout. (This is much needed in American yoga culture.)
* Not just for the best of yogis out there, as it covers various topics with her personal experiences. This makes it less scary and more inclusive.
* A++ for illustrations. Hanuman (Monkey) and Eagle are probably the best of all!
I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in yoga, animals, with the author's personal touch.
I found the book to focus on her personal stories, the biology and behavior of the various animals, how humans can embody certain animal qualities, and finally, the asanas themselves that help us connect with these animals in a way I never thought possible. I tried Hanumanasana as part of the exercise in one of the chapters and found that it was much more fun than daunting to attempt it now that I have a deeper understanding of the asana itself.
Her writing is clear, engaging, and informative, and I especially appreciated the way that she challenged me to think about my relationship with animals, bits of mythology, and nature itself in a new way and to see myself as part of a larger web of life. This makes yoga truly transformative and fun.
Overall, the book is:
* Inspiring, and makes you look at yoga differently than just a mere workout. (This is much needed in American yoga culture.)
* Not just for the best of yogis out there, as it covers various topics with her personal experiences. This makes it less scary and more inclusive.
* A++ for illustrations. Hanuman (Monkey) and Eagle are probably the best of all!
I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in yoga, animals, with the author's personal touch.
September 5, 2023
This book an artful piece of personal storytelling, anthropological insight, and historical perspective that explores the relationship between human beings and beyond-human beings. One does not need to be interested in yoga to enjoy this book. The memoir sections carry the narrative, acting as both independent stories and the thread between chapters.
I typically don’t find non-fiction books to be page-turners, but I couldn’t put this one down because I wanted more of the author’s perspective. This book has forever altered my outlook on my relationship with the natural world.
I highly recommend!
I typically don’t find non-fiction books to be page-turners, but I couldn’t put this one down because I wanted more of the author’s perspective. This book has forever altered my outlook on my relationship with the natural world.
I highly recommend!
July 1, 2025
In this book, Zack explores different yoga poses and the animals they were inspired by. Each chapter focuses on a different pose and animal ranging from eagle, monkey, dog, firefly and many more. She weaves interesting factoids from wildlife science, multiple religious perspectives, and her own experiences as a wildlife conservationist and yoga instructor. Definitely not a linear narrative, but an interesting book for the nature lover or yogi looking to be more attuned with the animal inspiration for each pose.
April 5, 2023
Lovely book with some nice background information about the asanas and how they tie in with the animals. It was well set out and is a helpful book for both novices to yoga and more experienced practitioners. The only down side for me was that I read it on Kindle and I'm sure the illustrations would have looked much better in a hard copy.
Thanks to NetGalley, the publishers and the author for the preview copy of this book.
Thanks to NetGalley, the publishers and the author for the preview copy of this book.
July 3, 2023
This is an insightful and compelling book for lovers of nature. I enjoyed the thoughtful and personal essays. The author’s writing style is very engaging, and her essays really made me think about humans and their connection to nature. This book will help you experience yoga differently, and make you think more about the animal poses.
There’s something that will resonate with everyone in Zak’s book!
There’s something that will resonate with everyone in Zak’s book!
November 15, 2023
This book was absolutely fantastic. I cannot recommend it enough. The mix of science, yoga, animals ( I love the term beyond human), mysticism, story-telling, and spiritualism make for one of the most original and heartfelt books I have read in a long time. I especially liked the sequencing of the chapters of this book, from oneness and birth and life and death and back to life again. I can see this being a book I find myself turning too again and again.
June 28, 2023
This book released on the 27th of June, and I began reading it right away. It is NOT just about yoga; there is so much more to this book. It will make you cry and laugh. It is a book that will feed your soul and remain with you for the remainder of your life. The writing is excellent! Please read this book!
September 3, 2024
Overall, really enjoyed this. Some parts felt a little disjointed. The writing style left me either wanting more or needing less. Love the perspective that it offers and has definitely taught me (another) new way to think about yoga. Some real thought nuggets in here though that I will be revisiting!
December 31, 2023
NetGalley Review.
Authentic, Heartfelt. Highly recommend for any Yoga Student and Teacher. Topic in this book I have often thought about and wanted to discuss with others, and this author opens the door for this to be an open conversation.
Absolutely loved this book.
Authentic, Heartfelt. Highly recommend for any Yoga Student and Teacher. Topic in this book I have often thought about and wanted to discuss with others, and this author opens the door for this to be an open conversation.
Absolutely loved this book.
March 7, 2024
This book has changed my perspective about the natural world. Fave quotes:
“If snakes feel happiness, she is happy. If snakes feel God —or are God—she is divine”.
“Leopoldo had to learn that the mountain needed grass and deer and wolves, but the mountain already knew”.
“If snakes feel happiness, she is happy. If snakes feel God —or are God—she is divine”.
“Leopoldo had to learn that the mountain needed grass and deer and wolves, but the mountain already knew”.
July 5, 2023
A beautiful book that lifts the spirit and examines our connections with nature using animal poses in yoga. There is so much to discover and enjoy.
March 26, 2025
This was insightful and enjoyable. Part memoir and part bringing yoga back to its roots.
July 26, 2023
This book is delightful! I will be forever inspired in my yoga practice with my new spiritual connections to the animals whose poses I aspire to emulate. It was fascinating to read about the history and meaning behind the animals and poses. I especially loved the suggested practices at the end of each chapter to strengthen those connections. The personal stories the author includes are a bonus, meaningful and poignant. I highly recommend this book to all lovers of nature and animals.
November 22, 2023
Informative, inspirational mix of nature writing and yoga history, philosophy, and practice. The combination of storytelling and practical application (yes, there are beautiful prompts at the end of each chapter!) provide an opportunity for connection to each other, all of what surrounds us, and the many ways we move (or opt for stillness) on and off our yoga mats. I truly loved this book and can’t wait to share it with my community!
December 17, 2023
an engaging, thought-provoking exploration of how we embody – and relate to – the animals that inspire popular poses like downward-facing dog, cobra, eagle and more.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews