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

by Nikita Desai

'Crucial and timely' – VEX KING

SHORTLISTED FOR THE HEALTH AND WELLBEING AWARDS 2025 – BEST WELLBEING BOOK
GOLD AWARD WINNER AT THE LIVING NOW AWARDS 2025 - EXERCISE, FITNESS AND YOGA BOOK

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

Yoga in its authentic form is focused on inclusivity, inner work and peace. But the yoga that is practised in the Western world has got a little lost along the way…

Join Nikita Desai on her mission to help us understand yoga beyond the physical poses and pricey outfits that we're so familiar with today. Drawing on research and teachings from ancient sources, Desai helps us navigate this complex practice as we learn how

- Unpick the problems in modern yoga
- Understand the fundamentals of what yoga is in its truest form
- Explore key yogic texts and gurus to support our learning
- Add in practical elements of traditional yoga to our current practice, both on and off the mat.

A Beginner's Guide to the Roots of Yoga is the essential companion for anyone who wants to practise yoga respectfully and fully.

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What readers are

'This was exactly what I never knew I needed to assess my foundation of knowledge'

'An outstanding book for yoga lovers and learners everywhere'

'If you are new to yoga practices and you are looking to gain some insight and deepen your connection, jump in, practise, read this book and enjoy the journey'

Genres: Nonfiction, Audiobook, Spirituality

250 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 30, 2025

Reviews

[Sian]

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)

[Luke West]

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

[Megan Bettis]

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.

[Sinéad Furlong]

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

[Iida]

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 🌟

[Jess ~]

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]

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]

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!

[Books Tea Magic]

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. ✨

[Paige]

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 ❤️

[Jen Forsyth]

As someone brand new to yoga (just 23 classes in!), this book was a wonderful start to understanding the history and roots of the practice and learning how to cultivate a more authentic personal journey.

My initial goal when beginning yoga was to heal my nervous system and process the physical wreckage of a cancer diagnosis and radiation fibrosis. However, I quickly realized I was intensely drawn to the spiritual aspect of yoga. I immediately wanted to know and understand more and more about where these practices come from and what they truly mean beyond the physical postures.

This book is a great place to start in your yoga journey—especially if you're looking to deepen your understanding beyond the studio floor. Highly recommended for beginners and dedicated practitioners alike!

[Maddie]

WOW!!! I’m sure I’ll find myself returning to my highlighted and flagged version of this many times over, but this book really opened my eyes to the depth of the practice.

There’s a lot of great, surface level information in here. You can think of this as an index or glossary or overture for any deeper yogic study / practice rather than a comprehensive guide to each and every element of such a storied tradition.

I’m so excited to incorporate some of these ideas and this has completely reshaped how I’m approaching my yoga and my day to day.

Thank you Nikita for taking the time to create such a comprehensive and beautifully accessible entry point for deeper study! I cannot imagine this being a simple undertaking.

[Michelle Croal]

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.

[Lucca]

4.5⭐️
Started this book just wanting to learn more about the thing I was practicing everyday, yoga. And boy was I not prepared for how huge it actually is and that I wasn’t practicing it authentically. This has helped me learn the basics and wanting to dive deeper into it all. Would literally recommend this to everyone

[Jorgen]

I’ve been practicing yoga for a couple of years and am actually following a 200hrs foundational training at the moment. This book gave me so much more insight in things we are seeing in the course or even on why we are seeing them. This book gave me more insight in how yoga in the western world works, made me think about racism and discrimination… I’m definitely reading this book again!

[Alex Ramchand]

An accessible read for beginners and those wanting a refresher of what they learned in YTT! I picked it up because I wanted practical guidance on how to create a more authentic practice; the book did just that and I’ve already started implementing some of the recommendations. Rated a 4, though, as I was expecting ‘just’ a little bit more than ‘that’.

[Esme]

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]

a must-read for every yoga teacher

[Randi-Lee Grandel]

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

[Annabelle]

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

[Emily Brouard]

Super helpful, insightful companion to my Yoga teacher training which I’ve now completed! Will definitely apply the learnings to add a higher level of authenticity to my classes/ practice.

[Abbe Chittleborough]

A wonderful start to understanding the roots of Yoga and a great book for an authentic practice

[Maria Dimova]

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.

[Celine Primiceri]

The book I would have liked to read before my yoga training. Beginner friendly approach to yoga philosophy and roots

[Celeste]

This book is so wonderful! You can truly read the compassion and love for the yogic paths in the text. It has highly helped me in my practice and knowledge, i wish everyone interested in yoga would read this.

[Helena Davidson]

Such a good introduction to the foundations of yoga philosophy. Each chapter/topic is so well articulated! However, minus points for her section on accessibility where she claims veganism isn’t a necessary part of practising Ahimsa. Couldn’t disagree more :/

[Nikita Nevison]

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

[Joel Schaefer]

This is an excellent introduction to the depth of spirituality of yoga and its rich history. The author covers a lot of ground in a supportive voice. Short of taking a yoga teacher training, reading this book opens the door to many new pathways to explore.

[Katie Mickunas]

I listened to the audiobook and just ordered the physical book to refer back to. I especially liked the practices portions for meditation.

This was great refresher from my yoga teacher training. It gave a good reminder that we’re constantly learning and many concepts need to be visited repeatedly. This book did a great job at making yoga philosophy understandable.

[Jessica C]

Must read for all yoga teachers regardless of level!