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Core of the Yoga Sutras: The Definitive Guide to the Philosophy of Yoga
The latest work from B.K.S. Iyengar, the world’s most respected yoga teacher. Foreword from His Holiness the Dalai Lama. B.K.S. Iyengar has devoted his life to the practice and study of yoga. It was B.K.S. Iyengar’s unique teaching style, bringing precision and clarity to the practice, as well as a mindset of ‘yoga for all’, which has made it into a worldwide phenomenon. His seminal book, ‘Light on Yoga’, is widely called ‘the bible of yoga’ and has served as the source book for generations of yoga students around the world. In ‘Core of the Yoga Sutras’, he applies this same clarity to the philosophical core of yoga–the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali are 196 aphorisms forming the foundational text of yoga philosophy. Each sutra is short and to the point – each being only a line or two long. B.K.S. Iyengar has translated each one, providing an insightful commentary and explanation for modern readers, as well as linking the various themes throughout the sutras to one another. Each sutra is presented as Sanskrit text, transliteration and English translation, followed by B.K.S. Iyengar’s unique commentary and authority only he can bring to the work. B.K.S. Iyengar’s insight on the sutras show the reader how we can transform ourselves through the practice of yoga, gradually developing the mind, body and emotions, so we can become spiritually evolved. This is a wonderful introduction to the spiritual philosophy that is the foundation of yoga practice.
314 pages, Paperback
First published October 22, 2012
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About the author
B.K.S. Iyengar
175 books511 followersBellur Krishnamachar Sundararaja Iyengar (Kannada: ಬೆಳ್ಳೂರ್ ಕೃಷ್ಣಮಾಚಾರ್ ಸುಂದರರಾಜ ಐಯಂಗಾರ್), (also known as Yogacharya B.K.S. Iyengar) (Born December 14, 1918 in Bellur, Kolar District, Karnataka, India) is the founder of Iyengar Yoga. He is considered one of the foremost yoga teachers in the world and has been practicing and teaching yoga for more than 75 years. He has written many books on yogic practice and philosophy, and is best known for his books Light on Yoga, Light on Pranayama, and Light on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. He has also written several definitive yoga texts. Iyengar yoga centers are located throughout the world, and it is believed that millions of students practice Iyengar Yoga.
He was awarded the Padma Shri in 1991, and the Padma Bhushan in 2002.
B.K.S. Iyengar was born into a poor Hebbar Iyengar family. He had a difficult childhood. Iyengar's home village of Belur, Karnataka, India, was in the grips of the influenza pandemic at the time of his birth, leaving him sickly and weak. Iyengar's father died when he was 9 years old, and he continued to suffer from a variety of maladies in childhood, including malaria, tuberculosis, typhoid fever, and general malnutrition.
At the age of 15 Iyengar went to live with his brother-in-law, the well-known yogi, Sri Tirumalai Krishnamacharya in Mysore. There, Iyengar began to learn asana practice, which steadily improved his health. Soon he overcame his childhood weaknesses.
With the encouragement of Krishnamacharya, Iyengar moved to Pune to teach yoga in 1937. There his practice developed as he spent many hours each day learning and experimenting in various techniques. As his methods improved, the number of students at his classes increased and his fame spread. In Pune, his brothers introduced him to Ramamani, whom he married in 1943.
In 1952, Iyengar met and befriended the famous violinist Yehudi Menuhin. Menuhin arranged for Iyengar to teach abroad in London, Switzerland, Paris and elsewhere. This was the first time that many Westerners had been exposed to yoga, and the practice slowly became well known. The popularity of yoga in the West can in large part be attributed to Iyengar.
In 1966, "Light on Yoga," was published. It gradually became an international best-seller and was translated into 17 languages. Often called “the bible of yoga,”[citation needed] it succeeded in making yoga well known throughout the globe. This was later followed by titles on pranayama and various aspects of yoga philosophy. Mr. Iyengar has authored 14 books.
In 1975, Iyengar opened the Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute in Pune, in memory of his departed wife. He officially retired from teaching in 1984, but continues to be active in the world of Iyengar Yoga, teaching special classes and writing books. Iyengar's daughter Geeta and son Prashant have gained international acclaim as teachers.
Iyengar has been named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time Magazine.
He was awarded the Padma Shri in 1991, and the Padma Bhushan in 2002.
B.K.S. Iyengar was born into a poor Hebbar Iyengar family. He had a difficult childhood. Iyengar's home village of Belur, Karnataka, India, was in the grips of the influenza pandemic at the time of his birth, leaving him sickly and weak. Iyengar's father died when he was 9 years old, and he continued to suffer from a variety of maladies in childhood, including malaria, tuberculosis, typhoid fever, and general malnutrition.
At the age of 15 Iyengar went to live with his brother-in-law, the well-known yogi, Sri Tirumalai Krishnamacharya in Mysore. There, Iyengar began to learn asana practice, which steadily improved his health. Soon he overcame his childhood weaknesses.
With the encouragement of Krishnamacharya, Iyengar moved to Pune to teach yoga in 1937. There his practice developed as he spent many hours each day learning and experimenting in various techniques. As his methods improved, the number of students at his classes increased and his fame spread. In Pune, his brothers introduced him to Ramamani, whom he married in 1943.
In 1952, Iyengar met and befriended the famous violinist Yehudi Menuhin. Menuhin arranged for Iyengar to teach abroad in London, Switzerland, Paris and elsewhere. This was the first time that many Westerners had been exposed to yoga, and the practice slowly became well known. The popularity of yoga in the West can in large part be attributed to Iyengar.
In 1966, "Light on Yoga," was published. It gradually became an international best-seller and was translated into 17 languages. Often called “the bible of yoga,”[citation needed] it succeeded in making yoga well known throughout the globe. This was later followed by titles on pranayama and various aspects of yoga philosophy. Mr. Iyengar has authored 14 books.
In 1975, Iyengar opened the Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute in Pune, in memory of his departed wife. He officially retired from teaching in 1984, but continues to be active in the world of Iyengar Yoga, teaching special classes and writing books. Iyengar's daughter Geeta and son Prashant have gained international acclaim as teachers.
Iyengar has been named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time Magazine.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
September 2, 2022
This is a veritable enclyopaedia, a treasure trove of information on explanations of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras. BKS Iynegar innovatively groups the sutras into themes, rather than dealing with each one individually in sequence. Others commented that it felt as though it jumped around. Whereas I felt this was constructive to pull Sutras from the less frequently read chapters 2, 3 and 4 into the mix. This better conveyed the overarching message. It also brings those sutras to the fore to see how they intermingle with Sutras from the first Pada.
It is enclyopaedic in nature, in that it gave me insight and enhanced my knowledge, even though I probably only absorbed a small proportion of the overall wealth of info within. So it would also serve well as a reference text to return to often.
It is enclyopaedic in nature, in that it gave me insight and enhanced my knowledge, even though I probably only absorbed a small proportion of the overall wealth of info within. So it would also serve well as a reference text to return to often.
November 30, 2014
It's slightly difficult to read - expect lots of cross-referencing and flipping.
March 31, 2013
Weirdly organized and confusing. Also, somewhat unnecessary, given the many excellent translations/interpretations of Patanjali's sutras out there, the best being Christopher Isherwood/Swami Prabhavananda's. Also, putting the word "definitive" right in the subtitle? Dude. (I know that was probably not Mr Iyengar's doing, but still).
August 22, 2017
An in depth exploration of the philosophy of yoga.
June 6, 2023
I read this book over a period of 15 months, seems long but I actually should even have read less than a page each time to let the information sink in. I have read a lot of translations or explanations of the yoga sutras over the years, and each is different. This particular one is very dense and academic and really you could keep studying it throughout your whole life. It is very informative, although many of the concepts are still very difficult to grasp. It contrasts with the poetic versions of the translation or the simplification versions of the yoga sutras, which may be easier to implement into your life. All versions are interesting and will bring you something depends on where you are at.
June 21, 2021
Proud to say I've made it all the way through. I love Mr Iyengar's words but they are not always easy to read, especially this book. But I'll be coming back to this continually, it will never be permanently shelved, so many ideas and things to ponder! This has the best glossary for the Sanskrit yoga terms out of all the books I have so far so it's also great for looking up words!
August 8, 2019
I enjoyed reading this slowly and learnt a lot, but the text is quite dense, aiming to get the reader to understand the original words for yoga terms rather than the English language substitutions, and as such I found it quite difficult to read for any length of time.
September 28, 2017
Any person interested in yoga or someone who has never bought a yoga book will love this.
January 3, 2020
Hard to read and the back and forth flipping to understand Sanskrit made it near impossible to understand. Idk what I read
January 22, 2020
These sutras are very important!
June 3, 2016
What Iyengar offers is hope: we can continue to be curious and even delighted by the universe until our waning years. In the introduction, he talks about how this book is comprised of new insights. New to a man in his nineties who has been practicing yoga since he was a child.
July 26, 2014
really jumbled, felt disorganized and disconnected. love iyengar, but this was no bueno.
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Accession No: DL027074-75
Accession No: DL027074-75
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews