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Living in the Light: Yoga for Self-Realization
Reach your highest potential and a deeper understanding of self with Deepak Chopra’s groundbreaking guide to the philosophy and practice of Yoga.
Royal Yoga is the highest and most important of the yoga traditions—an all-embracing path to personal transformation that reaches beyond any approach to wellness and healing that exists today. Whatever you are doing to enhance your life, Royal Yoga can bring you more of everything you want; it brings every experience, no matter how small, into the light. By learning to live in the light, you deliberately and consciously accept your true self as a being of infinite possibilities, unfettered by worry or self-doubt.
In this groundbreaking new work, international bestselling author Deepak Chopra and his coauthor Sarah Platt-Finger, yoga director at Chopra Global and co-founder of ISHTA Yoga, offer an illuminating program for self-realization, bliss, and wholeness. Combining a practical thirty-day program that will help you break limiting habits and belief systems with an in-depth exploration of fifty stimulating and restorative yoga poses, Deepak and Sarah provide a thorough and inspiring way to unite the mind, body, and soul.
With new insights on social and emotional intelligence, the power of attention, body awareness, breathing, wholeness, and transcendence, and with dozens of specially commissioned illustrations of yoga poses (accessible for all skill levels, from beginner to enthusiast), Living in the Light provides the ultimate guide to your exciting, bright, and enlightening future.
Royal Yoga is the highest and most important of the yoga traditions—an all-embracing path to personal transformation that reaches beyond any approach to wellness and healing that exists today. Whatever you are doing to enhance your life, Royal Yoga can bring you more of everything you want; it brings every experience, no matter how small, into the light. By learning to live in the light, you deliberately and consciously accept your true self as a being of infinite possibilities, unfettered by worry or self-doubt.
In this groundbreaking new work, international bestselling author Deepak Chopra and his coauthor Sarah Platt-Finger, yoga director at Chopra Global and co-founder of ISHTA Yoga, offer an illuminating program for self-realization, bliss, and wholeness. Combining a practical thirty-day program that will help you break limiting habits and belief systems with an in-depth exploration of fifty stimulating and restorative yoga poses, Deepak and Sarah provide a thorough and inspiring way to unite the mind, body, and soul.
With new insights on social and emotional intelligence, the power of attention, body awareness, breathing, wholeness, and transcendence, and with dozens of specially commissioned illustrations of yoga poses (accessible for all skill levels, from beginner to enthusiast), Living in the Light provides the ultimate guide to your exciting, bright, and enlightening future.
288 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 3, 2023
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October 17, 2022
LIVING IN THE LIGHT: YOGA FOR SELF-REALIZATION
BY: DEEPAK CHOPRA, MD AND SARAH PLATT-FINGER
This book which is called, "Living in the Light: Yoga for Self Realization written by Deepak Chopra, MD, and Sarah Platt-Finger is filled with outstanding and enlightening information. It is way too much valuable comprehensive information to include everything in a review about a non-fiction book. Just as the Title indicates its core message is for those interested in "living in the light," it takes a deep dive into practical ways in which the practice of instructions embedded into both the First Part narrative, and in the Second Part Yoga illustrations, and the explanations as to how they are effective.
In the First Part, Dr. Deepak Chopra talks and guides you into six individual weeks-five days a week-Monday through Friday, leaving week-ends free, as he gives an exercise to do each day of the week for six consecutive weeks. He goes into great depth about what these exercises mean, what they accomplish, and he gives self checklists or tests to take to self evaluate where you need to concentrate, or focus your attention on.
In the Second Part, of this wonderful book, I believe, is where his Co-Author, Sarah Platt-Finger gives illustrations of Yoga Poses, followed by a written Overview of each yoga pose. Next is a written step-by-step How-to: with written sequential directions on how to do each yoga pose physically. Next, comes a written explanation of the Benefits of each yoga pose. Next, the Therapeutic applications of the yoga pose are described. Lastly, there is an explanation of Helpful Tips to each yoga pose.
I have already read this book from cover to cover. I have just started again, today, doing today's first day's exercises again, because I chose to start over in this incredible resource. I am going to do the exercises, which means re-reading and doing the self evaluations for today which, Dr. Deepak Chopra's incredible informational section for Monday includes. That entails the mental focus of this day and, I would be remiss if I didn't emphasize the gentle voice, in which this book is written. Also, what I find comforting is that it is the journey of practice which matters. I interpret that to mean that I can be patient with myself, and there is comfort in knowing that the more that I do it the more ingrained in my memory it will all be. After I finish that, I will move to the second half of the book to do the yoga poses, and physical part of these exercises.
What I love about this book is that it is written for both beginners, and experienced Yoga practitioners. My favorite part is that these can be done on my own, in the comfort of my own home, and knowing that I will get stronger with practice. Another aspect of this book is all of the multi-faceted information it gives about our breathing. It explains in great detail the different ways in which we all breathe, and what each type of breathing means. It gives you proper instructions on the healthiest way we should breathe, and detailed descriptions on how to build up endurance. I am so grateful that I found this terrific resource, and I plan on following it for the rest of my life. It is valuable, and terrifically insightful, and can be incorporated into what I already do to workout. It also gives inner calm, peace and light.
Publication Date: January 3, 2023
Thank you to Net Galley, Deepak Chopra & Sarah Platt-Finger and Rodale Inc., Harmony Publishing for generously providing me with this fantastic ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.
#LivingintheLightYogaforSelfRealization #DeepakChopraMD #SarahPlattFinger #RodaleIncHarmonyPublishing #NetGalley
BY: DEEPAK CHOPRA, MD AND SARAH PLATT-FINGER
This book which is called, "Living in the Light: Yoga for Self Realization written by Deepak Chopra, MD, and Sarah Platt-Finger is filled with outstanding and enlightening information. It is way too much valuable comprehensive information to include everything in a review about a non-fiction book. Just as the Title indicates its core message is for those interested in "living in the light," it takes a deep dive into practical ways in which the practice of instructions embedded into both the First Part narrative, and in the Second Part Yoga illustrations, and the explanations as to how they are effective.
In the First Part, Dr. Deepak Chopra talks and guides you into six individual weeks-five days a week-Monday through Friday, leaving week-ends free, as he gives an exercise to do each day of the week for six consecutive weeks. He goes into great depth about what these exercises mean, what they accomplish, and he gives self checklists or tests to take to self evaluate where you need to concentrate, or focus your attention on.
In the Second Part, of this wonderful book, I believe, is where his Co-Author, Sarah Platt-Finger gives illustrations of Yoga Poses, followed by a written Overview of each yoga pose. Next is a written step-by-step How-to: with written sequential directions on how to do each yoga pose physically. Next, comes a written explanation of the Benefits of each yoga pose. Next, the Therapeutic applications of the yoga pose are described. Lastly, there is an explanation of Helpful Tips to each yoga pose.
I have already read this book from cover to cover. I have just started again, today, doing today's first day's exercises again, because I chose to start over in this incredible resource. I am going to do the exercises, which means re-reading and doing the self evaluations for today which, Dr. Deepak Chopra's incredible informational section for Monday includes. That entails the mental focus of this day and, I would be remiss if I didn't emphasize the gentle voice, in which this book is written. Also, what I find comforting is that it is the journey of practice which matters. I interpret that to mean that I can be patient with myself, and there is comfort in knowing that the more that I do it the more ingrained in my memory it will all be. After I finish that, I will move to the second half of the book to do the yoga poses, and physical part of these exercises.
What I love about this book is that it is written for both beginners, and experienced Yoga practitioners. My favorite part is that these can be done on my own, in the comfort of my own home, and knowing that I will get stronger with practice. Another aspect of this book is all of the multi-faceted information it gives about our breathing. It explains in great detail the different ways in which we all breathe, and what each type of breathing means. It gives you proper instructions on the healthiest way we should breathe, and detailed descriptions on how to build up endurance. I am so grateful that I found this terrific resource, and I plan on following it for the rest of my life. It is valuable, and terrifically insightful, and can be incorporated into what I already do to workout. It also gives inner calm, peace and light.
Publication Date: January 3, 2023
Thank you to Net Galley, Deepak Chopra & Sarah Platt-Finger and Rodale Inc., Harmony Publishing for generously providing me with this fantastic ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.
#LivingintheLightYogaforSelfRealization #DeepakChopraMD #SarahPlattFinger #RodaleIncHarmonyPublishing #NetGalley
October 3, 2022
TRANSFORMATIVE & INFORMATIVE!
This is such a PHENOMENAL and UNIQUE book. I’ve never read anything quite like it. It’s split into two parts. The first part focuses on living in the light – living consciously – living in complete union physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Deepak describes the gifts of Royal Yoga and the principles to practice in order to transform and live an ideal life. It’s absolutely beautiful and brilliantly written. It’s divided into six weeks. Each week focuses on an individual leg of yoga or stage of transformation. Each day has a theme, practice, and exercise. His ability to describe the exercise is so well done and makes something that could seem complex, easy to understand.. I initially read the book over a few days and I look forward to going back and implementing it as a daily practice over the next 6 weeks.
The second part begins with a high-level introduction to some yoga fundamentals. Then it dives into wonderfully specific detail on certain yoga poses including an overview,, how-to, benefits, therapeutic applications, and helpful tips. I’ve been practicing yoga for a while, and it took me some time to find a yoga style and teachers that resonated for me. I appreciate yoga instructors who explain the posture, the benefits, and the subtle micro movements to help you get the most out of the position. That’s exactly what the second half of the book does very skillfully.
Thank you to the authors for this extraordinary creation.
Thank you NetGalley & Rodale Books for sending this book for review consideration.
This is such a PHENOMENAL and UNIQUE book. I’ve never read anything quite like it. It’s split into two parts. The first part focuses on living in the light – living consciously – living in complete union physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Deepak describes the gifts of Royal Yoga and the principles to practice in order to transform and live an ideal life. It’s absolutely beautiful and brilliantly written. It’s divided into six weeks. Each week focuses on an individual leg of yoga or stage of transformation. Each day has a theme, practice, and exercise. His ability to describe the exercise is so well done and makes something that could seem complex, easy to understand.. I initially read the book over a few days and I look forward to going back and implementing it as a daily practice over the next 6 weeks.
The second part begins with a high-level introduction to some yoga fundamentals. Then it dives into wonderfully specific detail on certain yoga poses including an overview,, how-to, benefits, therapeutic applications, and helpful tips. I’ve been practicing yoga for a while, and it took me some time to find a yoga style and teachers that resonated for me. I appreciate yoga instructors who explain the posture, the benefits, and the subtle micro movements to help you get the most out of the position. That’s exactly what the second half of the book does very skillfully.
Thank you to the authors for this extraordinary creation.
Thank you NetGalley & Rodale Books for sending this book for review consideration.
May 1, 2023
Many thanks to NetGalley, Rodale Inc., and Deepak Chopra for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts and opinions are 100% my own and independent of receiving an advance copy.
Living in the light, that’s where we all want to dwell. No one does this better than Chopra. This is an amazing gem of a book that combines Deepak Chopra’s wisdom, teachings and roadmap on how to get there in thirty days. He explains the concept of Royal Yoga and the benefits of shifting your mind to living in the light. Actually, he explains we are all living in the light, just not all the time. There are six chapters, you work on each for five days and the weekend is spent reflecting. He breaks down each aspect of life and how your awareness can grow in each area. He then connects it to Yoga. This isn’t too out there and woo woo, but rather Chopra is practical and relates each idea clearly and logically.
The second section is written by Sarah Platt Finger who take you through essential Yoga poses. She writes briefly about Yoga basics and meaning behind the central ideas like chakras, breath work, etc. She then breaks down the poses into sections like standing poses, balancing poses, seated twists etc. and gives a few examples of each. For each pose she gives you the how-to, the benefits, therapeutic applications and some helpful tips.
I will keep this book as a reference so that I can come back to it time and again. I believe there are many valuable lessons that can be learned. The book was well thought out and easy to understand. The exercises can easily be done at home, although I’d be interested to know how it would be for people who have never done yoga before. The book is beginner friendly, but still translating things off the page into the practical can sometimes be tricky. I am no yoga expert and think that the poses will be very manageable along with the breathing. I am so happy to have come across this book and recommend it to everyone.
Living in the light, that’s where we all want to dwell. No one does this better than Chopra. This is an amazing gem of a book that combines Deepak Chopra’s wisdom, teachings and roadmap on how to get there in thirty days. He explains the concept of Royal Yoga and the benefits of shifting your mind to living in the light. Actually, he explains we are all living in the light, just not all the time. There are six chapters, you work on each for five days and the weekend is spent reflecting. He breaks down each aspect of life and how your awareness can grow in each area. He then connects it to Yoga. This isn’t too out there and woo woo, but rather Chopra is practical and relates each idea clearly and logically.
The second section is written by Sarah Platt Finger who take you through essential Yoga poses. She writes briefly about Yoga basics and meaning behind the central ideas like chakras, breath work, etc. She then breaks down the poses into sections like standing poses, balancing poses, seated twists etc. and gives a few examples of each. For each pose she gives you the how-to, the benefits, therapeutic applications and some helpful tips.
I will keep this book as a reference so that I can come back to it time and again. I believe there are many valuable lessons that can be learned. The book was well thought out and easy to understand. The exercises can easily be done at home, although I’d be interested to know how it would be for people who have never done yoga before. The book is beginner friendly, but still translating things off the page into the practical can sometimes be tricky. I am no yoga expert and think that the poses will be very manageable along with the breathing. I am so happy to have come across this book and recommend it to everyone.
September 16, 2022
I have always enjoyed yoga as a form of exercise but I always felt like there was something missing. When following along with a yoga class or exercise video, the session would move on to the next pose or the same pose just on the opposite side. I would be left behind feeling like I hadn’t begun to get everything from the last pose I needed to. I felt rushed and not ready. The book answered the questions I had and helped me to realize why I felt that way. I am so thankful I was able to receive and advance copy of this book. Dr. Chopra and Sarah Platt-Finger explain the eight limbs of yoga in a way that I could understand.
There is so much more to yoga than the asanas as explained in the first half of the book my Dr, Chopra. Utilizing the teaching I followed the guide for the six weeks. I have grown and found a level of peace I didn’t know I was capable of. The second half of the book explains the asanas in detail. How to perform each one, what to focus on and what it does for you. Sarah is very knowledgeable and she explains how to pick the poses from each section to put a personal yoga practice together for what you need. They also explain your practice should evolve as you do. People are forever changing and your practice should change with you.
If you are looking for a deeper understanding of yoga or want to begin a yoga practice this book is perfect.
There is so much more to yoga than the asanas as explained in the first half of the book my Dr, Chopra. Utilizing the teaching I followed the guide for the six weeks. I have grown and found a level of peace I didn’t know I was capable of. The second half of the book explains the asanas in detail. How to perform each one, what to focus on and what it does for you. Sarah is very knowledgeable and she explains how to pick the poses from each section to put a personal yoga practice together for what you need. They also explain your practice should evolve as you do. People are forever changing and your practice should change with you.
If you are looking for a deeper understanding of yoga or want to begin a yoga practice this book is perfect.
March 19, 2023
Living the light is based on the principles of yoga, not so much the asana’s that Westerners are most familiar with, but the guiding principles of living a life of Yoga where the light is the way.
The book was written in an enjoyable, easily understood manner. I have learned much and deepened knowledge that I previously held. I feel I have a better understanding of the yogic foundations. I also appreciated the Asana’s in the book, the diagrams were easy to follow but I am even more grateful for the fabulous written descriptors of why the asanas are done and how to do them. This information filled a void I had often found in classes I had attended.
I fabulous book and highly recommended. I have read this twice but will be buying the hard copy to refer to regularly.
Thank you Rodale and NetGalley for this ARC.
The book was written in an enjoyable, easily understood manner. I have learned much and deepened knowledge that I previously held. I feel I have a better understanding of the yogic foundations. I also appreciated the Asana’s in the book, the diagrams were easy to follow but I am even more grateful for the fabulous written descriptors of why the asanas are done and how to do them. This information filled a void I had often found in classes I had attended.
I fabulous book and highly recommended. I have read this twice but will be buying the hard copy to refer to regularly.
Thank you Rodale and NetGalley for this ARC.
February 26, 2023
I like the format of this book. A 6 week program that explains the 8 Limbs of Raja Yoga in the first half and Asanas described and illustrated in 2nd half. You will reach a better understanding of Yoga as more than a physical practice
January 3, 2023
I received a complimentary ARC copy of Living in the Light Yoga for Self-Realization by Deepak Chopra, MD; Sarah Platt-Finger from NetGalley and Rodale Inc. in order to read and give an honest review.
“….a wonderful life-changing and insightful book that brings light to your spiritual, emotional, and physical health, I highly recommend….“
Living in the Light is a yoga book that offers a unique and comprehensive program based on Dr. Deepak Chopra and Sarah Platt-Finger’s teachings of Royal Yoga. Divided into two parts, the first part is an overview on living consciously or “living in the light” spiritually, emotionally, and physically. Featuring a six week program (M-F) focusing on the eight limbs (ashtanga) of yoga, each day focuses on explaining the lessons of each limb in detail. There are daily lessons, mantras, and exercises designed to help one embody the principle or theme of the day into their daily yoga practice. Dr. Chopra uses his wisdom and wonderful teaching skills to make even the most challenging concept easy to understand and incorporate into a daily practice.
The second part from Dr. Chopra’s Co-Author, Sarah Platt-Finger begins with overview of yoga fundamentals. The book then dives into detailed instruction of about fifty yoga poses each including photos depicting the proper form of each pose, the benefits and therapeutic applications associated with each pose as well as extremely helpful tips that are suitable for both beginners and experienced yoga practitioners alike.
Having had some experience with yoga I still was able to learn so much from this book. I honestly believe it will help me take my practice to the next level and launch a lifetime “in the light.” I have read the book from cover to cover, and this week began my weekly practice, following along with the book again. I look forward to following this practice and I am enjoying the journey so far. A wonderful life-changing and insightful book that brings light to your spiritual, emotional, and physical health, I highly recommend.
“….a wonderful life-changing and insightful book that brings light to your spiritual, emotional, and physical health, I highly recommend….“
Living in the Light is a yoga book that offers a unique and comprehensive program based on Dr. Deepak Chopra and Sarah Platt-Finger’s teachings of Royal Yoga. Divided into two parts, the first part is an overview on living consciously or “living in the light” spiritually, emotionally, and physically. Featuring a six week program (M-F) focusing on the eight limbs (ashtanga) of yoga, each day focuses on explaining the lessons of each limb in detail. There are daily lessons, mantras, and exercises designed to help one embody the principle or theme of the day into their daily yoga practice. Dr. Chopra uses his wisdom and wonderful teaching skills to make even the most challenging concept easy to understand and incorporate into a daily practice.
The second part from Dr. Chopra’s Co-Author, Sarah Platt-Finger begins with overview of yoga fundamentals. The book then dives into detailed instruction of about fifty yoga poses each including photos depicting the proper form of each pose, the benefits and therapeutic applications associated with each pose as well as extremely helpful tips that are suitable for both beginners and experienced yoga practitioners alike.
Having had some experience with yoga I still was able to learn so much from this book. I honestly believe it will help me take my practice to the next level and launch a lifetime “in the light.” I have read the book from cover to cover, and this week began my weekly practice, following along with the book again. I look forward to following this practice and I am enjoying the journey so far. A wonderful life-changing and insightful book that brings light to your spiritual, emotional, and physical health, I highly recommend.
November 11, 2023
No meditation practices would ever work if dhyana weren’t a natural tendency of the human mind. To love, create, be kind, act selflessly, experience wonder, and feel inspired are totally human and natural. They are made possible by dhyana, the impulse to transcend.
I create the peace that surrounds me. I create the peace that surrounds me.
2500 years of Hindu Raja Yoga, and this book breaks it down into steps that are really beautiful and seemingly easy. I read it like poetry, all the words are beautiful to me. Bliss, joy, energy, love, compassion, alert, vibrance, thrive, diversity, timelessness, evolving, gratitude, grace. In just one paragraph.
I did some of the exercises, and I can see how this is powerful stuff. The poses ranged from easy to hard, and I will continue to sample one. I am a sampler, less an acolyte. Of nearly everything. Except love, I am an acolyte of love.
Some favorite visualizations:
Sit quietly with your eyes closed and take a few deep breaths. When you feel calm and centered, visualize an outline of your body. Keeping the outline in mind, start filling it in with light. An easy way to do this is to see light expanding from the center of the image, the heart, and radiating outward as a soft white glow. Another aid is to feel yourself breathing the light into the outline.
In your mind’s eye, see yourself plucking an apple from a tree. Take a bite of the apple and swallow it. Mentally follow the path of the apple as it gets digested and gives up its energy. See the energy entering a heart cell and fueling a single heartbeat. Now ask yourself: At what point did life leave the apple? There were only stages of transformation as the fruit went from the tree to your heart. At each stage, different processes took over. Yet the chain of energy is unbroken, and so is the flow of life.
I treat every day like a new world. I treat every day like a new world.
No matter what you happen to be doing or thinking, you are floating at some level of samadhi, present awareness. This isn’t something people are normally aware of, but you can experience your level of awareness with the following exercise. Make a list of three things you like, three things you like a lot, and three things you deeply love. Perhaps a TV sitcom or a peanut butter cookie is something you like, while going to the beach or playing chess is something you like a lot, and your child or the music of Bach is something you deeply love. Whatever you wrote down, you went to a different level of awareness to make your choices. You can verify this by taking each item of your list, shutting your eyes, and experiencing it inside as an image or feeling. The intensity of something you casually like will be shallow compared to the intensity of something you deeply love.
Today take a little time to inspire yourself by going back to your own touchstones, the things that have helped you to realize that there is more to life than just material experience. Whether the source is scripture, poetry, music, or a movie, the test is for you to allow yourself to enter into, say, a Mozart concerto or a ballad by Alicia Keys, and experience transcendence. Let go and be present in the notes, in the rhythms, in the harmonies. Allow someone else’s epiphany to reach out and touch you. Such experiences provide a foretaste of what unity consciousness is like all the time.
Behind every experience there is awareness, which you can locate anytime you wish. To show yourself how this works, try the following: Sit back and look around you. Focus on any object—a table lamp, a chair, a paperweight, the sky outside. Now tune it out by allowing your eyes to go into soft focus while you move your attention to the center of your chest. Now go back and forth. See the object, then go inward and tune it out. Repeat for a minute or two. The process is simple, and you might have your own way of moving your attention inward. Regardless of how you do it, what we call “tuning out” moves your attention and shifts your focus, which is the critical element in meditation. Once you feel familiar with how to turn your attention inward, you know how to transcend.
To use a traditional image from Yoga, imagine that the Absolute is sending arrows of light into the created world. Consider that the highest values in life, including love, compassion, creativity, empathy, beauty, truth, and spiritual inspiration, are what the arrows carry to our world. This is a good start for practicing contemplation. Sit quietly and let your mind go to an experience of one of those values just listed. Feel the lightness, vibrancy, joy, and fulfillment your experience contained. Let these subtle feelings expand and settle in your awareness. You are learning the truth of the Yogic saying “This isn’t knowledge you learn. This is knowledge you become.”
I experience my body as a flow of awareness. I experience my body as a flow of awareness. Your body isn’t a machine, even a miraculous machine, but a storehouse of infinite knowledge. If we look at any process in the body, from a cell dividing to reproduce itself to the immune system repelling an invader or the digestive tract extracting energy from food, a vast amount of knowledge is on display. No process is mechanical. The body’s knowledge is alive, flowing, and conscious.
The Gifts of Royal Yoga Existence becomes blissful. You experience a joyful, energetic body; a loving, compassionate heart; an alert, vibrant mind; and lightness of being. You control your mental activity. You can generate thoughts, feelings, and impulses that are evolutionary. You are the one who gives them meaning, and therefore the whole world as you perceive it has meaning. You see everyday life as a lucid dream, incredibly vivid but an illusion. You can improve the dream without getting trapped in it.
Joy becomes the only measure of success because your essential nature is joy. It is the beginning and endpoint of every journey. You understand what it means to thrive. You savor the diversity of life, which brings richness to your unfolding story. You recognize that the point of arrival is always now. You can’t move to where you are already standing—this is the experience of timelessness.
You recognize that you have no fixed identity. Your identity is unique but always evolving. It is your karmic story, but you don’t need to be bound by it. You recognize gratitude as the sanest response to existence. It is insanity to believe that existence is a problem. You recognize that existence is lavish and abundant. Grace becomes an everyday experience. It reveals itself by the perfect way that every experience fits together. Instead of brief glimpses of synchronicity, you live in total synchronicity.
THE PRACTICES OF PEACE Don’t create stress for yourself and others. Look for areas of agreement instead of areas of discord. Take responsibility for your own anger and resentment. Don’t unleash them on other people. Get out of the habit of blaming others. Be aware of your impulse to judge, criticize, and get offended. Don’t indulge in the impulse whenever possible. Distance yourself from hostile people and hostile situations.
I trust the truth to show me the way. I trust the truth to show me the way.
I create the peace that surrounds me. I create the peace that surrounds me.
2500 years of Hindu Raja Yoga, and this book breaks it down into steps that are really beautiful and seemingly easy. I read it like poetry, all the words are beautiful to me. Bliss, joy, energy, love, compassion, alert, vibrance, thrive, diversity, timelessness, evolving, gratitude, grace. In just one paragraph.
I did some of the exercises, and I can see how this is powerful stuff. The poses ranged from easy to hard, and I will continue to sample one. I am a sampler, less an acolyte. Of nearly everything. Except love, I am an acolyte of love.
Some favorite visualizations:
Sit quietly with your eyes closed and take a few deep breaths. When you feel calm and centered, visualize an outline of your body. Keeping the outline in mind, start filling it in with light. An easy way to do this is to see light expanding from the center of the image, the heart, and radiating outward as a soft white glow. Another aid is to feel yourself breathing the light into the outline.
In your mind’s eye, see yourself plucking an apple from a tree. Take a bite of the apple and swallow it. Mentally follow the path of the apple as it gets digested and gives up its energy. See the energy entering a heart cell and fueling a single heartbeat. Now ask yourself: At what point did life leave the apple? There were only stages of transformation as the fruit went from the tree to your heart. At each stage, different processes took over. Yet the chain of energy is unbroken, and so is the flow of life.
I treat every day like a new world. I treat every day like a new world.
No matter what you happen to be doing or thinking, you are floating at some level of samadhi, present awareness. This isn’t something people are normally aware of, but you can experience your level of awareness with the following exercise. Make a list of three things you like, three things you like a lot, and three things you deeply love. Perhaps a TV sitcom or a peanut butter cookie is something you like, while going to the beach or playing chess is something you like a lot, and your child or the music of Bach is something you deeply love. Whatever you wrote down, you went to a different level of awareness to make your choices. You can verify this by taking each item of your list, shutting your eyes, and experiencing it inside as an image or feeling. The intensity of something you casually like will be shallow compared to the intensity of something you deeply love.
Today take a little time to inspire yourself by going back to your own touchstones, the things that have helped you to realize that there is more to life than just material experience. Whether the source is scripture, poetry, music, or a movie, the test is for you to allow yourself to enter into, say, a Mozart concerto or a ballad by Alicia Keys, and experience transcendence. Let go and be present in the notes, in the rhythms, in the harmonies. Allow someone else’s epiphany to reach out and touch you. Such experiences provide a foretaste of what unity consciousness is like all the time.
Behind every experience there is awareness, which you can locate anytime you wish. To show yourself how this works, try the following: Sit back and look around you. Focus on any object—a table lamp, a chair, a paperweight, the sky outside. Now tune it out by allowing your eyes to go into soft focus while you move your attention to the center of your chest. Now go back and forth. See the object, then go inward and tune it out. Repeat for a minute or two. The process is simple, and you might have your own way of moving your attention inward. Regardless of how you do it, what we call “tuning out” moves your attention and shifts your focus, which is the critical element in meditation. Once you feel familiar with how to turn your attention inward, you know how to transcend.
To use a traditional image from Yoga, imagine that the Absolute is sending arrows of light into the created world. Consider that the highest values in life, including love, compassion, creativity, empathy, beauty, truth, and spiritual inspiration, are what the arrows carry to our world. This is a good start for practicing contemplation. Sit quietly and let your mind go to an experience of one of those values just listed. Feel the lightness, vibrancy, joy, and fulfillment your experience contained. Let these subtle feelings expand and settle in your awareness. You are learning the truth of the Yogic saying “This isn’t knowledge you learn. This is knowledge you become.”
I experience my body as a flow of awareness. I experience my body as a flow of awareness. Your body isn’t a machine, even a miraculous machine, but a storehouse of infinite knowledge. If we look at any process in the body, from a cell dividing to reproduce itself to the immune system repelling an invader or the digestive tract extracting energy from food, a vast amount of knowledge is on display. No process is mechanical. The body’s knowledge is alive, flowing, and conscious.
The Gifts of Royal Yoga Existence becomes blissful. You experience a joyful, energetic body; a loving, compassionate heart; an alert, vibrant mind; and lightness of being. You control your mental activity. You can generate thoughts, feelings, and impulses that are evolutionary. You are the one who gives them meaning, and therefore the whole world as you perceive it has meaning. You see everyday life as a lucid dream, incredibly vivid but an illusion. You can improve the dream without getting trapped in it.
Joy becomes the only measure of success because your essential nature is joy. It is the beginning and endpoint of every journey. You understand what it means to thrive. You savor the diversity of life, which brings richness to your unfolding story. You recognize that the point of arrival is always now. You can’t move to where you are already standing—this is the experience of timelessness.
You recognize that you have no fixed identity. Your identity is unique but always evolving. It is your karmic story, but you don’t need to be bound by it. You recognize gratitude as the sanest response to existence. It is insanity to believe that existence is a problem. You recognize that existence is lavish and abundant. Grace becomes an everyday experience. It reveals itself by the perfect way that every experience fits together. Instead of brief glimpses of synchronicity, you live in total synchronicity.
THE PRACTICES OF PEACE Don’t create stress for yourself and others. Look for areas of agreement instead of areas of discord. Take responsibility for your own anger and resentment. Don’t unleash them on other people. Get out of the habit of blaming others. Be aware of your impulse to judge, criticize, and get offended. Don’t indulge in the impulse whenever possible. Distance yourself from hostile people and hostile situations.
I trust the truth to show me the way. I trust the truth to show me the way.
December 28, 2022
Living in the Light: Yoga for Self-Realization
By Deepak Chopra, MD & Sarah Platt-Finger
Harmony Books
Publication date: January 3, 2023
Living in the Light is part philosophy, part physical yoga book focusing on Royal yoga. To “live in the light” means to live a conscious life.
This book is a 30 day journey., divided into 6 weeks, with 5 days a week to practice.
Part 1, all about the Royal yoga philosophy, is written by Deepak Chopra. It covers the 8 limbs of yoga (levels of transformation). The goal of all this is discovering your true self and living an ideal life. Each day starts with a theme and a mantra. Then it explains the principles for each theme and includes an exercise to deepen your practice. (A lot of visualization and breathing.)
Part 2, the yoga postures, is written by Sarah Platt-Finger. It doesn’t just show an illustration of each yoga pose covered, it explains how to do it, the benefits, the therapeutic applications and tips, which I love. I found part 2 to be more interesting.
Here is a line from the book that describes what “living in the light” means.
“Yoga merges the disparate parts of the self into one united state of awareness, allowing us to live fully in the light.” Pg. 91
Thanks to NetGalley and Harmony Books for the opportunity to read and review this book.
By Deepak Chopra, MD & Sarah Platt-Finger
Harmony Books
Publication date: January 3, 2023
Living in the Light is part philosophy, part physical yoga book focusing on Royal yoga. To “live in the light” means to live a conscious life.
This book is a 30 day journey., divided into 6 weeks, with 5 days a week to practice.
Part 1, all about the Royal yoga philosophy, is written by Deepak Chopra. It covers the 8 limbs of yoga (levels of transformation). The goal of all this is discovering your true self and living an ideal life. Each day starts with a theme and a mantra. Then it explains the principles for each theme and includes an exercise to deepen your practice. (A lot of visualization and breathing.)
Part 2, the yoga postures, is written by Sarah Platt-Finger. It doesn’t just show an illustration of each yoga pose covered, it explains how to do it, the benefits, the therapeutic applications and tips, which I love. I found part 2 to be more interesting.
Here is a line from the book that describes what “living in the light” means.
“Yoga merges the disparate parts of the self into one united state of awareness, allowing us to live fully in the light.” Pg. 91
Thanks to NetGalley and Harmony Books for the opportunity to read and review this book.
August 4, 2023
this is about yoga Asanas
Very disappointed to see that a luminerary right about yoga postures which is all available on YouTube for free. The title is misleading and i do not recommend this book to anyone
Very disappointed to see that a luminerary right about yoga postures which is all available on YouTube for free. The title is misleading and i do not recommend this book to anyone
January 5, 2023
In the first half of this book, Deepak Chopra explains the eight limbs of Raja Yoga and presents a six-week program for conscious living and self-realization. Each week focuses on a different stage of transformation, presented as themes such as Social Intelligence and Emotional Intelligence. There are five lessons within each week, one for each weekday with weekends off for integration. Each lesson begins with an affirmation and discussion, followed by an exercise. Many lists are provided, making the material easy to understand and implement.
Although Sanskrit terms are introduced, most of the text was accessible and the lessons were practical. I love the gentle, encouraging way that Deepak teaches. I particularly appreciated his discussion of karma. A few sections were more esoteric and lost me a bit, but I am comfortable using what works for me now and leaving the rest.
In the second half of the book, yoga teacher Sarah Platt-Finger focuses on the asanas. She lost me a bit with some of her discussion of subtle energy (e.g., nadis, chakras, gunas, vayus, bandhas), but her presentation of 54 poses was mostly understandable. The poses are grouped into categories such as simple standing poses and forward bends with the intention that you can create a well-rounded practice by choosing one or two poses from each category. Each pose includes a drawing or two, an overview, how-to, benefits, therapeutic applications, and helpful tips, including cautions and modifications. My main frustration with this section is that the drawings didn’t always match up with the text. As an example, the how-to section might describe a twist to the left, while the drawing shows a twist to the right.
I wish the book had a more detailed table of contents, but otherwise, I liked the presentation. I recommend this book for anyone interested in yoga and personal growth.
I was provided an ARC through NetGalley that I volunteered to review.
Although Sanskrit terms are introduced, most of the text was accessible and the lessons were practical. I love the gentle, encouraging way that Deepak teaches. I particularly appreciated his discussion of karma. A few sections were more esoteric and lost me a bit, but I am comfortable using what works for me now and leaving the rest.
In the second half of the book, yoga teacher Sarah Platt-Finger focuses on the asanas. She lost me a bit with some of her discussion of subtle energy (e.g., nadis, chakras, gunas, vayus, bandhas), but her presentation of 54 poses was mostly understandable. The poses are grouped into categories such as simple standing poses and forward bends with the intention that you can create a well-rounded practice by choosing one or two poses from each category. Each pose includes a drawing or two, an overview, how-to, benefits, therapeutic applications, and helpful tips, including cautions and modifications. My main frustration with this section is that the drawings didn’t always match up with the text. As an example, the how-to section might describe a twist to the left, while the drawing shows a twist to the right.
I wish the book had a more detailed table of contents, but otherwise, I liked the presentation. I recommend this book for anyone interested in yoga and personal growth.
I was provided an ARC through NetGalley that I volunteered to review.
August 13, 2023
Vor allem den ersten Teil der ersten Hälfte fand ich sehr erhellend. Hier skizziert Deepak Chopra einen Weg aus dem Negativ-Zyklus der Gedankenspirale hin zu einem positiveren Selbst- und Weltbild.
Das ganze ist dann auch relativ konkret in einem sechs Wochen Programm zusammengefasst mit Aufgaben, die man jeden Tag selber machen kann.
Auszug:
THE PRACTICES OF PEACE
Don’t create stress for yourself and others.
Look for areas of agreement instead of areas of discord.
Take responsibility for your own anger and resentment. Don’t unleash them on other people.
Get out of the habit of blaming others.
Be aware of your impulse to judge, criticize, and get offended. Don’t indulge in the impulse whenever possible.
Distance yourself from hostile people and hostile situations.
THE PRACTICES OF INNOCENCE
Don’t bring old expectations to new situations.
Don’t fear the present because of bad experiences in your past.
Practice trust, including the ability to trust yourself.
Be open to other people as your default, rather than being defensive or suspicious of them.
Be attuned to the mood of people around you. Don’t impose your own mood on them.
In place of trying to control other people and the events of the day, give them space to unfold the way they want to.
Viele hilfreiche Tipps und Gedeankenanstöße. Alles basierend auf antiker Yoga-Lehre, die hier für die Moderne aufbereitet wird.
Der zweite Teil der ersten Hälfte wird dann immer abstrakter und spiritueller. Das ist dann eher was für Fortgeschrittene.
Die zweite Häfte des Buches besteht dann nur noch aus Yoga-Posen, deren Wirkung und Ausübung erklärt wird.
Das ganze ist dann auch relativ konkret in einem sechs Wochen Programm zusammengefasst mit Aufgaben, die man jeden Tag selber machen kann.
Auszug:
THE PRACTICES OF PEACE
Don’t create stress for yourself and others.
Look for areas of agreement instead of areas of discord.
Take responsibility for your own anger and resentment. Don’t unleash them on other people.
Get out of the habit of blaming others.
Be aware of your impulse to judge, criticize, and get offended. Don’t indulge in the impulse whenever possible.
Distance yourself from hostile people and hostile situations.
THE PRACTICES OF INNOCENCE
Don’t bring old expectations to new situations.
Don’t fear the present because of bad experiences in your past.
Practice trust, including the ability to trust yourself.
Be open to other people as your default, rather than being defensive or suspicious of them.
Be attuned to the mood of people around you. Don’t impose your own mood on them.
In place of trying to control other people and the events of the day, give them space to unfold the way they want to.
Viele hilfreiche Tipps und Gedeankenanstöße. Alles basierend auf antiker Yoga-Lehre, die hier für die Moderne aufbereitet wird.
Der zweite Teil der ersten Hälfte wird dann immer abstrakter und spiritueller. Das ist dann eher was für Fortgeschrittene.
Die zweite Häfte des Buches besteht dann nur noch aus Yoga-Posen, deren Wirkung und Ausübung erklärt wird.
December 14, 2022
Are you interested in a yoga practice more than an exercise regimen? Have you tried yoga classes and wish you understood more? Are you looking for a path to inner connection? If so, Living in the Light is a wonderful book for you!
Deepak Chopra and Sara Platt-Finger have created a path toward spiritual growth and building a beautiful yoga practice. I enjoyed reading the book and learning the concepts as illustrated by the authors. I look forward to continuing along the six week journey outlined in Living in the Light.
It is lovely to have a clear and complete book about a this school of yoga!
I truly appreciated the detailed information and the sanskrit as well as the more modern casual explanation. It was clear and understandable, and the visuals were good as well.
Thank you Deepak and Sarah for a lovely guidebook.
Deepak Chopra and Sara Platt-Finger have created a path toward spiritual growth and building a beautiful yoga practice. I enjoyed reading the book and learning the concepts as illustrated by the authors. I look forward to continuing along the six week journey outlined in Living in the Light.
It is lovely to have a clear and complete book about a this school of yoga!
I truly appreciated the detailed information and the sanskrit as well as the more modern casual explanation. It was clear and understandable, and the visuals were good as well.
Thank you Deepak and Sarah for a lovely guidebook.
October 24, 2025
In "Metahuman", Deepak Chopra encourages us to wake up now wherever we are on our path in life. He guides us beyond mindfulness and meditation to expand our consciousness so our potential becomes reality. This book closes with a 31-day guide.
"Metahuman" pairs well with his book "Living in the Light", a guide to the philosophy and practice of Royal Yoga, co-written with Sarah Platt-Finger. Together, Deepak and Sarah outline a 30-day philosophical program combined with 50 yoga poses (accessible for all skill levels). Together, "Metahuman" and "Living in the Light" uniquely emphasize attention, body awareness, and breathing.
Neither book actually ends. I reread both books on my shelf, and listen to both while walking in solitude on Tower Road...we each have many paths to explore as we climb our personal towers, don't we?
"Metahuman" pairs well with his book "Living in the Light", a guide to the philosophy and practice of Royal Yoga, co-written with Sarah Platt-Finger. Together, Deepak and Sarah outline a 30-day philosophical program combined with 50 yoga poses (accessible for all skill levels). Together, "Metahuman" and "Living in the Light" uniquely emphasize attention, body awareness, and breathing.
Neither book actually ends. I reread both books on my shelf, and listen to both while walking in solitude on Tower Road...we each have many paths to explore as we climb our personal towers, don't we?
December 31, 2022
Thank you to the publisher, to Net Galley and the author for the availability of this wonderful book as a ARC. My review opinions are my own.
I so enjoyed this enlightening self help book that is a focus on yoga as both a tool for our mental health tool and excercise . The author has created a simplified format for both beginners and experienced yogi's. There is much to learn here about leading your life with peace . You will gain much insight from this body of work . The plan and format is easy to follow for anyone that wishes to improve their life and well being. I look forward to adding a hard copy of this book to my library to refer to time and time again. This program I recommend continuing as part of your health practices. Well done to the author.
I so enjoyed this enlightening self help book that is a focus on yoga as both a tool for our mental health tool and excercise . The author has created a simplified format for both beginners and experienced yogi's. There is much to learn here about leading your life with peace . You will gain much insight from this body of work . The plan and format is easy to follow for anyone that wishes to improve their life and well being. I look forward to adding a hard copy of this book to my library to refer to time and time again. This program I recommend continuing as part of your health practices. Well done to the author.
February 25, 2023
Those who know and follow Deepak Chopra will want to take a look at this title. It came out in January, just in time for New Year’s resolutions but it is not too late to try this program.
This is a co-authored title. Chopra offers inspiration and shares his sense of what it means to be “living in the light,” while Platt-Finger shows readers many yoga poses.
These authors deeply believe in the value of Royal Yoga. See if this is for you. Many readers have given this title five stars and have found it to be inspirational.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Rodale Inc for this title. All opinions are my own.
This is a co-authored title. Chopra offers inspiration and shares his sense of what it means to be “living in the light,” while Platt-Finger shows readers many yoga poses.
These authors deeply believe in the value of Royal Yoga. See if this is for you. Many readers have given this title five stars and have found it to be inspirational.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Rodale Inc for this title. All opinions are my own.
July 1, 2023
The author, Chopra walks through each of 8 limbs of Yoga, offering Mantras and exercises to help fulfill each of the limbs. I would have liked to seen more of a focus on the Yamas and Niyamas.
The second author Sarah-Platt Finger, walks through the Shariras, Chakras, Gunas, Bandhas, and then provides a one-page summary for over 80 different Asanas (poses) with their associated benefits and modifications.
I liked the exercises and mantra Chopra proposes. I would have liked more details on the Chakras and the Bandhas from the second author and liked the description of each of the poses. Pretty good treatise on the state of western Yoga.
The second author Sarah-Platt Finger, walks through the Shariras, Chakras, Gunas, Bandhas, and then provides a one-page summary for over 80 different Asanas (poses) with their associated benefits and modifications.
I liked the exercises and mantra Chopra proposes. I would have liked more details on the Chakras and the Bandhas from the second author and liked the description of each of the poses. Pretty good treatise on the state of western Yoga.
August 22, 2023
Reading on repeat 🧘🏻♀️ The first part of the book is a daily course on living yoga or “living in the light”. The second part is basically a beginners encyclopaedia into the asanas/yoga postures. I developed a better understanding of the use of breathing and bandhas in energy transfer and how adapting the breath or bandha to each specific asana can help deepen the practice - I’ve definitely seen a difference by using what I’ve learnt in practice. Having a better understanding of the use or benefit of each posture for the body is motivating but also interesting for me from a medical perspective.
November 10, 2024
Living in the Light: Yoga for Self-Realization by Deepak Chopra and Sarah Platt-Finger. is set up in two clear halves. The first is the conceptual discussion of what "living in the light” entails. The section half is a description of the yoga asanas that formulate this practice. As with books of this nature, the extent to which it works for an individual depends on where you are in your individual journey. My goal is to take the ideas that resonate and let of go what does not.
Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2024...
Reviewed for NetGalley.
Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2024...
Reviewed for NetGalley.
February 19, 2023
I loved being able to read this book. It is not a book to sit and read cover to cover, but rather, it is a book to refer to periodically for personal growth and change. Deepak's written voice is calm, gentle and easy to read and learn from. I read the book electronically, so the second half was a bit harder to follow along with, although easy enough to understand. I will buy a print version of the book to have on hand to allow for following the poses in an easier-to-manage fashion.
This is a great book for readers interested in making transformative changes in one's life.
This is a great book for readers interested in making transformative changes in one's life.
January 7, 2024
The first half of the book is written by Deepak Chopra. It’s one of the best explanations I’ve read or heard of the eight limbs of yoga and how to apply them in life. You know Mr. Chopra is walking his talk because he explains complex ideas in succinct, un-flowery language. The second half is written by Sarah Platt Finger, a yoga teacher. It’s a great introduction to how to do more than a handful of asanas and/or someone wanting to learn some benefits and therapeutic uses of poses. She also discusses chakras, shariras and gunas.
The book compares to B.KS. Iyengar’s classic “Light On Yoga.”
The book compares to B.KS. Iyengar’s classic “Light On Yoga.”
April 10, 2024
"I create the peace that surrounds me." I almost abandoned this book after reading that first mantra/meditation practice. How would I ever get past that! I put the book down for a few weeks, ok, maybe more like a month or two. I picked it up again (because I don't like to give up) with the realization that I would have to move on and deal with the list of mantras much later, and more slowly... like maybe a lifetime.
The other part of the book has to do with Yoga poses/practices. This part I could easily and happily manage. I am a work in progress...
The other part of the book has to do with Yoga poses/practices. This part I could easily and happily manage. I am a work in progress...
March 10, 2024
Interesting and accessible way to get to know yoga and the complete beliefs around it. The structured week by week walkthroughs of the different limbs make it a very comprehensive able guide leaving room to contemplate. The explanation of the different asana’s (yoga poses) is very thorough as well. The only thing lacking there for me way the way the poses are ordered or how to combine them in a complete practice. Only reason for me to give it 4/5.
July 7, 2023
Living in the Light is a great resource for both the philosophy of Yoga as well as the asanas, or physical aspect of the practice. I especially liked learning about Bandhas and rechanneling of energy specific to different asana poses as it's not something typically taught in a standard Yoga class. Being familiar with which Bandha(s) to perform during each asana pose really enhances the practice.
July 24, 2023
This book is so helpful as is all of his books. I live with severe anxiety and it sure helped to spend time with this book.
The book will be helpful to you wether you have issues or not.
Thank you so much, Deepak Chopra,MD, Sarah Platt-Finger, your Publisher, and
NetGalley, for the chance to read and review this wonderful book.
The book will be helpful to you wether you have issues or not.
Thank you so much, Deepak Chopra,MD, Sarah Platt-Finger, your Publisher, and
NetGalley, for the chance to read and review this wonderful book.
October 4, 2023
Cute book. Didn’t love the “daily exercise for 6 weeks” style but it was nice to really engage on topics that can be quite abstract. Full description of all of the yoga poses - nice but probably not set out in a way that’s super useful other than to refer back to *after* a class. (Would have preferred more indexing or a different structure - eg poses for x)
November 7, 2023
Thank you #goodreadsgiveaway for the ability to review the book. Combination of religious/spiritual practice along with self-help book, the author's approach to life allows the reader to look within, stepping back from what the negative emotions and aspects of our world are, permitting us to move towards a better and more positive viewpoint.
October 24, 2022
This is highly prescriptive and regimented in its approach. Chopra generally provides good advice, and does so here. Those that like his work, and want to get started with yoga will probably get value from this.
Thanks very much for the free ARC for review!!
Thanks very much for the free ARC for review!!
November 15, 2022
Arc review:
I absolutely loved this book, I will absolutely look forward to the final copy. I’m currently loving yoga/ meditation books with this style of layout, and it’s been beneficial to someone with learning disabilities and being in yoga teaching school.
I absolutely loved this book, I will absolutely look forward to the final copy. I’m currently loving yoga/ meditation books with this style of layout, and it’s been beneficial to someone with learning disabilities and being in yoga teaching school.
December 28, 2022
An elegant book of yoga, taking you through the 8 limbs and offering a unique look at how to easily incorporate yoga into your life with quick daily routines. Refreshing, unique, and informative for those looking to add the light of yoga into their daily living practice.
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