Heart Yoga: The Sacred Marriage of Yoga and Mysticism

by Andrew Harvey, Karuna Erickson, Rodney Yee (Foreword)

***WINNER, 2010 Spirituality & Practice Best Spiritual Book Award – Yoga In Heart Yoga, renowned spiritual writer and Sacred Activist Andrew Harvey and longtime yoga teacher Karuna Erickson present a vision of hatha yoga practice that links ancient spiritual traditions to contemporary life. Including excerpts of poetic sacred writing from mystical sages through the ages, the book reminds readers that the purpose of yoga is not to improve one's physical health or even to achieve peace of mind (although these results may be achieved along the way), but to reach a state of unity with the divine, the goal of mystics from all traditions. With detailed descriptions and photographs of fifty yoga poses and their alchemical effects on the body and consciousness, Heart Yoga presents yoga as a simple meditative practice that enables the practitioner to dwell in the heart and experience the bliss of union with the sacred power underlying all of life. The book explains how to prepare for Heart Yoga and describes the “Five Great Joys” that are part of the path. Included are the authors' own compelling stories of their individual journeys along the path of stories of suffering, transcendence, and joy that both inspire and enlighten.

Genres: Spirituality, Self Help

280 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

Andrew Harvey is an author, religious scholar and teacher of mystic traditions, known primarily for his popular nonfiction books on spiritual or mystical themes, beginning with his 1983 A Journey in Ladakh.

From Wikipeadia

Reviews

[shaqayeq]

This book has collected and used remarkable selected poems of Rumi, Hafez and quotes from inspiring people in it's different sections where the author refers to Yoga poses. A very precious collection that connects mysticism with Yoga. for example, this poem from Hafez and you see how it connects with specific poses :

In the morning
When I began to wake,
It happened again —

That feeling
That you, Beloved,
Had stood over me all night
Keeping watch,

that feeling
That as soon as I began to stir

You put Your lips on my forehead
And lit a Holy Lamp
Inside my heart.

[Sameera Kamulkar]

Difficult to say I finished reading this book. Though I did reach the last page today.
This is a book I will read through my life...again and again.
Yoga is not just the physical asanas. Its a thought process, which most yoga practitioners miss out on. Infact its a rare teacher who would tell you what is happening to your spirit when you are practicing conscious yoga.
This book does. Read it, I haven't found a better explanation of the 'why' of yoga.

[Lynn]

I am a huge fan of Andrew Harvey, but I could not get into this book at all. Something about it seemed totally false to me. The flaw is likely in my own level of understanding. But for now, all I can say is that I felt a deep aversion to it.

[B]

yes yes yes....

[wendy]

a beautiful book, filled with spiritual journeys and soul-touching poetry.

[Terence]

I really like the simplicity and depth of this book - not so much a "how to do yoga" book as a guide on how to take the practice of yoga way beyond the purely physical. The authors weave together poetry and inspiration with practical programs for daily yoga practice. Recommended.

[Holly Lewis]

Yoga from a heart space. Harvey is a poet and the writing is amazing.

[Manda]

For more of an "advanced yoga reader" but amazing book. Challenges the thought processes