A Beginner's Guide to the Roots of Yoga: How to create a more authentic practice

by Nikita Desai

Learn how to incorporate traditional yoga into your modern practice – and feel the benefits.

Yoga in its traditional form is a practice focused on inclusivity, inner work and peace. But the yoga that is practised today in the West has got a little lost along the way. In this accessible beginner's guide, Indian yoga teacher Nikita Desai brings us back to the authentic roots of this ancient practice.

In A Beginner's Guide to the Roots of Yoga, Desai unpicks the complexities of the modern yoga space. Moving away from the focus on physical poses, she delves into traditional resources to show how yoga can help your mental and spiritual wellbeing.

With a range of enlightening essays, she explores why change in the industry is vital, before centring key yogic texts, philosophy and history in a digestible manner to give you a basic understanding of the origins of yoga. Desai then guides you through integrating these foundations into your current practice both on and off the mat, so you can enjoy the benefits of the tradition while helping to make yoga today a more inclusive and diverse space.

A Beginner's Guide to the Roots of Yoga is the perfect companion for anyone wanting to make their practice more authentic.

Genres: Spirituality, Nonfiction

240 pages, Paperback

Published May 6, 2025

Reviews

[Megan Bettis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. It’s a meaningful refresher for yoga teachers and practitioners, especially in how it speaks to modern challenges in the yoga community with thoughtful solutions to practice and teach with more integrity and cultural awareness.

It’s described as beginner friendly, but I think it might be a bit overwhelming for a true beginner. If I had picked this up at the very start of my journey, I probably would have set it down simply because there’s so much to take in. That said, it feels like a wonderful fit for teachers, trainees, and students who already have some experience and are ready to deepen their understanding beyond the physical practice.

[Luke West · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good. Informative, practical and with a real mission. Can’t say I love the authors writing style, but with so much important stuff to say I’m not fussed in the least

[Sian Lile-Pastore · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not aimed at me as have been studying yoga for a while (always learning tho!) but would definitely recommend this to beginners as it does cover everything and is very clearly laid out.
I felt that describing Bikram and other people's sexual assaults and r*pe as 'controversies' wasn't appropriate.
(edited to add that I LOVE Nikita's tiktok and feel that works better for me than this book, but also super handy to have everything in one place and in more detail)

[Iida · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tosi selkee ja helppolukuinen oppikirja joogan juurista, eri muodoista ja sen historiasta, ja siitä miten länsimainen ja kaupallistettu käsitys joogasta eroaa perinteisestä joogasta. Hyvä tasapaino historiaa sekä konkreettisia tapoja toteuttaa eri joogan muotoja ja rakentaa itselle toimiva tapa harjoittaa 🧘

Luin tän kahdesti, ekalla kerralla vaan läpi ja tokalla kerralla kirjoitin ylös muistiinpanoja jutuista jotka erityisesti kiinnosti ja resonoi 🌟

[Sinéad Furlong · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommend for anyone just beginning, already on or considering starting their yoga journey.

[Jess ~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first started following Nikita Desai in 2020 on TikTok because of her authentic approach to yoga. I appreciated her calling out the modern sexualization of yoga and was humbled as a western practitioner and inspired to learn more and do better in my practice. I was overjoyed when I found out she was writing a book, and she did not disappoint. Everything I loved about her social media presence is captured in A Beginner’s Guide to the Roots of Yoga.

If you’re looking for an overview of the tenets of an authentic yoga practice, then this is the book for you. As well as the asanas (physical poses) aspect, Nikita recounts the spiritual aspect and history of yoga in a digestible way for those new to these concepts. Some parts are very repetitive, but I found that helpful as I wasn’t always familiar with the Sanskrit words used.

I haven’t read a book like this in my 5+ years of practicing yoga and this was exactly what I never knew I needed to assess my foundation of knowledge. I am looking forward to exploring the reference books mentioned in A Beginner’s Guide to the Roots of Yoga as a way to deepen my own practice.

My sincerest thanks to NetGalley, Bloomsbury USA | Green Tree, and Nikita Desai for providing a digital copy in exchange for an honest review. A Beginner’s Guide to the Roots of Yoga will be available on May 6, 2025.

[Annabelle Brittle · Rating 5 out of 5]

An outstanding book for yoga lovers and learners everywhere.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading A Beginner's Guide to the Roots of Yoga as someone who is keen to create a more well-rounded, holistic, authentic and sensitive yoga practice.

The structure of the book is fantastic, breaking this very expansive topic down into very manageable chapters and offering moments of reflection, key insights and recommendations for further reading. I loved that fact that the myriad Sanskrit terms were defined all throughout the book no matter how often they were repeated, which came in very handy for jogging my memory about concepts that had been mentioned 100 pages earlier.

Nikita's passion and skill for teaching is evident in the relatable and accessible way the book has been written, providing plenty of context and information for the points she makes, but without overloading the reader. There was one point where, after reading the sections about Dharana and Dhyana, I found myself contemplating what the differences between them were, as they seem quite similar. Brilliantly, the next section in the book was a small box titled "The difference between Dharana and Dhyana" - so it's like Nikita grasps exactly what sort of questions we might ask and seeks to answer them.

I loved the sections about yogic scripture and now feel like reading something like a translation of the Bhagavad Gita is less intimidating than I'd have thought before. I also loved all the super modern conversations the culturally appropriative nature of things like puppy yoga, as well as the hyper sexualisation of yoga on platforms like Tiktok - this must be one of the only books (if not THE only) to have discussed this to date.

All in all, I couldn't recommend it more for beginners and more experienced yogis alike, and indeed have already recommended it to a number of family members, friends, and strangers in cafés...

Thank you for writing this excellent book, Nikita.

[Angharad · Rating 5 out of 5]

This gives you everything you could ever want and then some about the spiritual practice of yoga. Many people in the West pick up yoga because it's trendy or for the fashion, but it has its roots in Hinduism and other religions as a form of worship, and there are many different types of yoga. The different types are discussed at length along with a few exercises within the book for you to try yourself.

I really liked that the author recommended reading some of the important central texts in Hinduism like The Bhagavad Gita and explained that you don't have to be a Hindu to apply the wisdom gained from yoga, the spiritual texts, or the meditation practice.

I think this is a must buy for anyone interested in yoga or Indian religions because this book is so interested in making a yoga practice that is sustainable, real, spiritually wholesome, and right for you. There are many different types of yoga (it's not just poses though that is a big part of many different types/schools), and finding the one that suits your soul is so healing. This book will help you find it.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for this early copy in exchange for an honest review!

[Paige · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've followed the author on social media for a handful of years now, so when she announced this book I immediately preordered it because I knew it was going to be good. And I was absolutely right!

The information in this book is so important for anyone who is interested in yoga, whether you've been practicing for years or haven't stepped foot in a yoga class, you will learn something new here, I guarantee it. The book also offers very important conversation regarding cultural appropriation of yoga and how you can practice authentically, which the western world really needs to learn more about.

I cannot recommend this book more and it will absolutely be one of the first books I tell someone about if they mention wanting to learn about yoga ❤️

[Books Tea Magic · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so grateful for this author’s perspective and thankful she addresses some very important concerns in modern yoga, including accessibility, diversity, marginalization, authenticity and inclusivity. The discussion and introspection on gurus was definitely appreciated. Although I’ve taken many in-depth yoga teacher trainings in the West, I’m always looking for books to keep learning and keep growing and to remind myself of the roots of yoga. This one is incredibly well done! Yoga, mantra, Mudra, Pranayama and meditation have enriched my life more in more ways than I can count, so if you are new to yoga practices and you are looking to gain some insight and deepen your connection, jump in, practice, read this book and enjoy the journey. Nikita Desai’s book is an excellent resource. ✨

[Michelle Croal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good foundational resource for those looking to expand their understanding of yoga beyond the physical poses and Instagram highlights. The writing is a bit simplistic at times, but the tone is overall friendly and encouraging, which is good for the target audience of beginners or those new to yoga. I've been practicing yoga for 15ish years but am new to teaching. it's always helpful to review concepts from a different angle.

[Esme · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must-read for beginners or anyone wanting to deepen their understanding of yoga. This book is accesible, informative and full of practices and suggestions that can be incorporated into anyone’s daily practice. I wish I had this book when I started practicing but am glad it exists now!

[Emilie Milne · Rating 5 out of 5]

a must-read for every yoga teacher

[Randi-Lee Grandel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very good read. The roots of yoga are explored in an easily digestible and non judgemental way

[Annabelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for anyone interested in yoga & wanting to deepen their practise

[Nikita Nevison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really great book. Everything a beginner could need to approach such a broad spectrum topic. I’m a yoga teacher with 13 year practice and I got so much out of this book. It’s easily digestible and easy to read. I can tell I’ll be highlighting and dog earring this book for years to come. Would highly recommend

[Gracie Gould · Rating 4 out of 5]

amazing for beginners! But a good refresh if you’ve studied any yoga🌀

[Lisa Konet · Rating 2 out of 5]

I appreciate the author's passion for yoga and describing all the various yoga styles. I am still a beginner and have no idea which type of yoga suits me and this it even more confusing for me. I did learn that anyone and any level benefits from yoga...

This read like more of a textbook than a narrative. Still informative.

Recommded for more advanced yoga enthusiasts wanting to do different styles.

Thanks to Nikita Desai, Netgalley and Blooomsbury USA Green Tree for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Available: 5/6/25

[Candice Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The roots of yoga explains the basics of yoga. It helped me understand a different level. I didn't realize that the yoga in the us is not supposed to be. I appreciated that the understanding of how yoga in the east is more entwined with the daily life. The book always the reader to understand the history and how it should be practiced.

[Maria Dimova · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved reading this book. I’ve been practicing yoga for many years and I completed a teaching course a couple of years ago, and I love getting back to the roots. I praise Nikita for the beautiful way in which she’s written this book. She describes that it wasn’t an easy process, however you can see how much hard work and love she’s poured into it. A must read for anyone and everyone.

[Brittany · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was looking for a book or podcast on this subject for YEARS, love the concept and the content, however it did read a little like a high school essay at times, it was full of information and raises important questions on morals of what we call 'Yoga' in the west today.