Yogini: The Power of Women in Yoga

by Janice Gates

Shakti is the Sanskrit term for the feminine energy of the Divine. Yogini is created for, and by, women, and all who have a passion for yoga as a path and a way of life. There is no other yoga book which addresses women’s issues and concerns; while 90% of yoga students are women, the majority of yoga leaders have been men. Yogini traces the rise of women teachers in modern yoga and offers women stories and ideas for what can be done off the mat to integrate yoga practice into daily life. Here is an inspirational guide for the modern yogini offering a fresh perspective for everyone’s yoga or spiritual practice. The candid photos and personal stories of intention, intuition and devotion of many of today’s leading yoga teachers; Angela Farmer, Nischala Joy, Sarah Powers, Shiva Rae, Donna Farhi, Anna Forest, Rama Jyoti Vernon, and Tenzin Palmo. Contributing essayist Linda Sparrowe is the author of many bestselling yoga titles and is the former managing editor of Yoga Journal

Genres: Nonfiction

168 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2006

Reviews

[Cherie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Randomly got this book at the library, and although it is dated (published in 2006), it still is inspirational and SO important. Yoga is not about asana, which is what so many people think - yoga is abt so many other things, and I know many yogis who never practice asana. These yoginis get the truth, the depth of yoga. Many of these teachers I knew, many I didn't, but will be reading more based on this book. Excellent.

[Nicolette Tura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved. Must read.

[Gabby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honestly had no idea how many bad ass women were in the front line moving yoga into the Western world. Great read for all yoga teachers!

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

My thinkgirl.net review:

Yogini is a gorgeous and informative book for anyone interested in women visionaries in yoga, meditation, and women’s health. Gates’ concise chapter on the history of women in yoga introduces readers to yoga’s span: from its more gender-neutral origination in India 5,000 years ago, through the decline of women’s participation amid the patriarchy of India’s caste system, to yoga’s resurgence among women in the West. The majority of the book consists of illuminating biographies of women in yoga. Readers meet early leaders such as Indra Devi, a Latvian-born woman who studied yoga in India, taught in Shanghai in 1939 and brought yoga to California post-World War II. In the same spirit, German-born Canadian Swami Sivananda Radha became the first Western woman to be initiated into the guru tradition.

Feminists may find the stories of women overcoming their disempowerment the most compelling. Donna Farhi faced anorexia; Angela Farmer, childhood sexual abuse; and Gurmukh Kaur Khalsa, a disempowering birth and infant loss, among other stories. Each woman has become a teacher who contributes to women uniting their minds and bodies in celebration of peace, health, empowerment, and enlightenment. —Review by Julie Fiandt

[Ripa Ajmera · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like this book because it tells the history of women in the yoga tradition, which stems from a strongly patriarchal society. This society, however, a very long time ago, revered women. Years of conditioning have led away from this and the stories of the women yoga teachers depicted in this book offer hope for younger generations of women. Using yoga as their platform, they teach a powerful message of self-respect, internal empowerment and embodying peace in all realms of life.

[Sonia Crites · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found the stories extremely compelling and inspiring. I enjoyed getting to get a glimpse into the lives of these women who have done so much to pave a path for us in yoga.