The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. Illuminations through image, commentary and design

by Gary Kissiah

This book provides a new and inviting approach to studying and living the Yoga Sutras. Each Sutra contains the Sanskrit text, a plain-English translation, imagery and commentary. The use of innovative graphic design, imagery and commentary are intended to illuminate the heart of the Sutras and bring them to life. The book also includes space for journal entries to enable readers to capture their thoughts as they study the Sutras.

429 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2011

About the author

Gary’s life has reflected three passions: athletics, the study of Eastern philosophy and photography. He began his athletic pursuits as a collegiate tennis player and then evolved into triathlon where he competed in over forty triathlons and Ironman Austria. He now pursues trail running, mountain biking and mountain climbing, and is a corporate lawyer with over twenty years of experience.

Gary was introduced to Eastern philosophy in college when he discovered the writings of Alan Watts which led to studies in Zen and Zen poetry. Gary found yoga in 2000 as a way to recover from back pain and has been studying and practicing yoga since that time.

Gary is Registered Yoga Teacher with the Yoga Alliance (RYT 200) and has a Certificate of Yoga Philosophy from the California Institute of Integral Studies. He has studied yoga at Esalen Institute, Parmarth Niketan Ashram and Satchidananda Ashram.

Gary also practices Zen at Kannon Do Zen Meditation Center and has studied at Tassajara Zen Mountain Center. He has taken inspiration from such teachers as Sri Swami Satchidananda, Sally Kempton, Ana Forrest, Gary Kraftsow and Thich Nhat Hanh.

Gary has photographed many spiritual sites in his travels throughout Asia. After four years of study and writing, he published his first book entitled: “The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali- Illuminations Through Image, Commentary and Design.” The book provides a new and inviting approach to studying and living the Yoga Sutras by using photography, poetry and quotation to illuminate the heart of the Sutras.

Gary teaches workshops and immersions on yoga philosophy and supports yoga teacher training programs by teaching yoga philosophy, law, business and ethics. Most of these programs are in the Bay Area and in Costa Rica. Gary brings a broad perspective in teaching philosophy by using imagery, poetry, related wisdom traditions, music and his mountain climbing experiences to open philosophy to our modern lifestyles.

Gary is on the faculty of Breathe Yoga of Los Gatos and teaches weekly yoga philosophy classes and in the teacher training program. Gary is active with the Yoga Alliance and is currently giving a series of Webinars through the Yoga Alliance entitled: “Yoga Law: What You Must Know!”

Reviews

[Alexandra Serra · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book doesn’t go on depth but is more like an initial exploration on the Patanjali Yoga Sutras. I loved how accesible this was for such a complex topic. Would recommend to anyone initiating or interested on this.