Table of Contents

Heart of Yoga
Developing a Personal Practice
A Blessing from Indra Devi
Forword by Vanda Scaravelli
Introduction by Mark Whitwell
Part I The Practice of Yoga
1. Yoga: Concept and Meaning
2. The Foundations of Yoga Practice
3. The Principles of Asana Practice
4. The Careful Construction of a Yoga Practice
5. Asana Variations
6. Pranayama
7. The Bandhas
Part II The Understanding of Yoga
8. The Things That Darken the Heart
9. Actions Leave Traces
10. The World Exists to Be Seen and Discovered
11. Living in the World
12. The World Exists to Set Us Free
13. The Qualities of the Mind
14. Nine Obstacles on the Yoga Way
15. The Many Paths of Yoga
Part III The Yoga Sutra of Patanjali
Part IV Yoganjalisaram
Appendix 1 The Texts Mentioned in This Book
Appendix 2 Four General Practice Sequences
Glossary

About the Author

A structural engineer by training, T. K. V. Desikachar lived and studied with his father until Krishnamacharya's death in 1989. He has devoted his life to yoga instruction for people of all backgrounds and all levels of ability and currently teaches at the school founded in his father's memory in Madras, as well as in Europe, the United States, Australia, and New Zealand.

Reviews

"I can think of no better book to recommend to a friend beginning to be excited by yoga but bewildered by the plethora of different schools and their sometimes-conflicting teachings. In addition, I would be hard-pressed to think of a book I would recommend more highly to any yoga student seeking to deepen a yoga practice . . . The great gift of The Heart of Yoga lies not simply in the depth of Desikachar's learning, but in the compassion, gentleness, practicality, and down-to-earth spirit that permeate the book." * Yoga Journal *
" . . . a milestone in the transmission of yoga from the ancient masters to the modern world." * Bodhi Tree Book Review, Winter 1999 / Spring 2000 *
"Read this book from cover to cover and you will begin to understand what yoga is all about." * The Sunday Times *
"Those who are interested in understanding what yoga is about, those who are looking for a larger context and focus for their hatha practice, those who look to the Yoga Su-tra for guidance, and all those who have loved and benefited from Krishnamacharya and/or Desikachar, directly or indirectly, will want this book." * Yoga International *
"An invaluable source of information regarding the theory and practice of yoga. A must for students and teachers alike." * Indra Devi, author of Yoga for You *
"Desikachar speaks from the heart with tenderness as well as an engineer's careful attention to details and individuality." * LA Yoga, January 2011 *