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The Practice Is the Path: Lessons and Reflections on the Transformative Power of Yoga
Internationally known yoga teacher Tias Little shares powerful, inspiring wisdom from a lifetime of practice.
For over 30 years, Tias Little has explored yoga as a spiritual path. In this book he offers key teachings from his journey that will resonate with anyone who has dedicated themself to a mind-body discipline. In short, accessible chapters, Little shares his struggles and joys as a yogi and chronicles the transformation of his understanding and practice along the way.
There are many physical and emotional trials that come up in yoga as a spiritual the urge toward perfectionism, the desire to get it all right, the way we push ourselves in the practice, being with "not-knowing," and the many ways some people use yoga as a sedative. To help the reader embody and experience each theme, Little includes companion practices at the end of each chapter including poses, reflections, meditations, and explorations.
For over 30 years, Tias Little has explored yoga as a spiritual path. In this book he offers key teachings from his journey that will resonate with anyone who has dedicated themself to a mind-body discipline. In short, accessible chapters, Little shares his struggles and joys as a yogi and chronicles the transformation of his understanding and practice along the way.
There are many physical and emotional trials that come up in yoga as a spiritual the urge toward perfectionism, the desire to get it all right, the way we push ourselves in the practice, being with "not-knowing," and the many ways some people use yoga as a sedative. To help the reader embody and experience each theme, Little includes companion practices at the end of each chapter including poses, reflections, meditations, and explorations.
- GenresSpiritualityNonfiction
192 pages, Paperback
Published August 4, 2020
42 people are currently reading
275 people want to read
About the author
Tias Little
13 books22 followersTias is committed to teaching yoga as a contemplative path, leading to greater sensitivity, tolerance and deep understanding (prajna).
Tias has a unique and skillful teaching style, enabling students to find greater depth of understanding and awareness in their practice. His approach is inter-disciplinary, passionate, intelligent, and insightful. Tias synthesizes years of study in classical yoga, Sanskrit, Buddhist studies, Somatic practices, anatomy, massage and trauma healing. Tias began studying the work of B.K.S Iyengar in 1984 and lived in Mysore, India in 1989 studying Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga with Pattabhi Jois. His teaching includes precision of alignment, anatomical detail and meditative awareness.
Tias is a licensed massage therapist and his somatic studies include in-depth training in cranial-sacral therapy. He is influenced by the work of Ida Rolf, Moshe Feldenkrais and Thomas Hanna. Tias is a long time student of the meditative arts and Buddhist studies beginning with Vipassana and continuing in Tibetan Buddhism and Zen. His teaching style is unique, weaving together poetic metaphor, clear instruction, compassion and humor. Tias earned a Master’s degree in Eastern Philosophy from St. John’s College Santa Fe in 1998.
Tias lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico where he directs his school, Prajna Yoga, with his wife Surya and is the author of four books, The Practice Is the Path: Lessons and Reflections on the Transformative Power of Yoga, The Thread of Breath, Meditations on a Dewdrop, and Yoga of the Subtle Body (Shambhala Press).He is the founder of SATYA, Sensory Awareness Training for Yoga, a somatic practice that complements yoga. In addition to leading yoga workshops and teacher trainings throughout the US and around the world, Tias currently offers on-line classes through Glo, Shambhala, YogaU, Yoga Journal, and Embodied Philosophy.
Tias has a unique and skillful teaching style, enabling students to find greater depth of understanding and awareness in their practice. His approach is inter-disciplinary, passionate, intelligent, and insightful. Tias synthesizes years of study in classical yoga, Sanskrit, Buddhist studies, Somatic practices, anatomy, massage and trauma healing. Tias began studying the work of B.K.S Iyengar in 1984 and lived in Mysore, India in 1989 studying Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga with Pattabhi Jois. His teaching includes precision of alignment, anatomical detail and meditative awareness.
Tias is a licensed massage therapist and his somatic studies include in-depth training in cranial-sacral therapy. He is influenced by the work of Ida Rolf, Moshe Feldenkrais and Thomas Hanna. Tias is a long time student of the meditative arts and Buddhist studies beginning with Vipassana and continuing in Tibetan Buddhism and Zen. His teaching style is unique, weaving together poetic metaphor, clear instruction, compassion and humor. Tias earned a Master’s degree in Eastern Philosophy from St. John’s College Santa Fe in 1998.
Tias lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico where he directs his school, Prajna Yoga, with his wife Surya and is the author of four books, The Practice Is the Path: Lessons and Reflections on the Transformative Power of Yoga, The Thread of Breath, Meditations on a Dewdrop, and Yoga of the Subtle Body (Shambhala Press).He is the founder of SATYA, Sensory Awareness Training for Yoga, a somatic practice that complements yoga. In addition to leading yoga workshops and teacher trainings throughout the US and around the world, Tias currently offers on-line classes through Glo, Shambhala, YogaU, Yoga Journal, and Embodied Philosophy.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
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October 24, 2020What does it mean to be on the yoga path and what does that path look like once you break free of the performance of yoga? That's what's at the heart of this fabulous, thought-provoking read. I love Little's teaching style and philosophy, and his insights into the power of slowing down, of allowing for spontaneity, for leaning into discovery, all align with my core teaching and practice values.
July 25, 2023
One of the best yoga books I've ever read. Accessible, distilled, mature, true:
-"In time we see that everything occurs on the 'spur of the moment'. While there may be years of planning and rehearsal, nevertheless the moment arises 'out of nowhere.'" This is so poetic. It reminds me of sending kids to college, learning to ride a bicycle, of yoga poses you never could do but (after hours of practice), you can just do one day like a little miracle. Watching your kids learn to read. So much of life is creating the conditions for what you want to arise.
-"Empty before you begin...People think of empty as vacuity, blankness, nothingness, nil. It is, in fact, closer to receptivity...When we are empty, we are available, impartial, broad-minded, tolerant. The uncluttered space of mind and heart is full of potential."
-"Every breath is the actualization of time passing...one of the primary ways to be on the cusp of change and to experience the always new is to decelerate, slow down, bear witness to moments passing. As time slows to a crawl, awareness dilates. The aperture of the mind becomes wider."
-When we rush, experiences become cemented together. Speed re-enforces the importance of "me, my, mine" as we become preoccupied with our own advancement. Hurry ruins saints and artists. In an age of speed, nothing is more exhilarating than going slow.
-When we assume we know, we give up worlds of possibility.
-Each moment involves a tightrope walk between delivering from a script and taking a step that has never been taken before. This is the raw beauty and fearful edge of being.
-"In time we see that everything occurs on the 'spur of the moment'. While there may be years of planning and rehearsal, nevertheless the moment arises 'out of nowhere.'" This is so poetic. It reminds me of sending kids to college, learning to ride a bicycle, of yoga poses you never could do but (after hours of practice), you can just do one day like a little miracle. Watching your kids learn to read. So much of life is creating the conditions for what you want to arise.
-"Empty before you begin...People think of empty as vacuity, blankness, nothingness, nil. It is, in fact, closer to receptivity...When we are empty, we are available, impartial, broad-minded, tolerant. The uncluttered space of mind and heart is full of potential."
-"Every breath is the actualization of time passing...one of the primary ways to be on the cusp of change and to experience the always new is to decelerate, slow down, bear witness to moments passing. As time slows to a crawl, awareness dilates. The aperture of the mind becomes wider."
-When we rush, experiences become cemented together. Speed re-enforces the importance of "me, my, mine" as we become preoccupied with our own advancement. Hurry ruins saints and artists. In an age of speed, nothing is more exhilarating than going slow.
-When we assume we know, we give up worlds of possibility.
-Each moment involves a tightrope walk between delivering from a script and taking a step that has never been taken before. This is the raw beauty and fearful edge of being.
June 12, 2020
This is quite good. Not surprisingly, when written by someone with so much experience, it seems likely that it would contain helpful wisdom, and it does. This is not earth-shattering perspective, but it is grounded with sagacity. Each chapter ends with suggestions implementing each idea in a meditation, on the mat, and off the mat. Gentle, thoughtful perspectives. Recommended.
Thank you very much the ARC for review!!
Thank you very much the ARC for review!!
December 22, 2020
I listened to the audio book read by Tias and I loved it. Inspirational yet simple and practical. My favorite chapter is the one on Savasana.
March 11, 2021
As a long time yoga practioner I am so grateful for the wisdom and experience and poetry in this book. I finished it and immediately opened it back up to re-read several chapters. It's a timely book for the current yoga world in the U.S.
April 24, 2021
Sometimes a book serendipitously arrives at just the right time - this was one of those books. Having just finished a yoga teacher training course, this reflection on the path of yoga resonated with me. The practical explorations were useful and appropriate.
December 8, 2025
Practical yoga practice for daily life and meditations
I enjoyed learning more about yoga and then putting it into practice with the meditations and practical daily advice. I recommend this to other yogis.
I enjoyed learning more about yoga and then putting it into practice with the meditations and practical daily advice. I recommend this to other yogis.
March 24, 2021
A book to re-read , return to and savour.
May 7, 2021
A clear, concise, poetic and well illustrated allegory of the spiritual path of yoga.
June 25, 2022
Poetic, practical, and mature, this is one of the most useful and inspiring books I’ve read on the practice of yoga for modern householders. This will remain in my library to be re-read.
September 1, 2025
Profound…can’t wait to reread this one.
November 11, 2025
Subtle, profound, articulate, accessible and easy to digest.
July 27, 2023
Love this book - can read it over and over and it is like reading for the first time
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews