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Yoga by the Numbers: The Sacred and Symbolic in Yoga Philosophy and Practice
Numbers play a meaningful role in the philosophy of many spiritual traditions—and yoga is no exception. For example, the number one is the quintessential yoga number, representing “unity” and “wholeness”; number two sometimes stands for co-operative effort, and other times for conflict; and number four is the number of completeness or stability, as it “stands” on “four legs.” There are twelve different names for the mantra OM, each one revealing a different aspect of this root sound.
With his distinctive blend of knowledge and humor, Richard Rosen unpacks the fascinating significance that numbers hold in the philosophy and practice of yoga. Stories and practices woven throughout—like the Eka Danta simple meditation exercise, which concentrates on "one pointedness" and is associated with the one tusk of Ganesh—offer readers a hands-on way to explore the importance of numbers in their own practice. Yoga by the Numbers will enlighten and entertain the yogi in your life.
With his distinctive blend of knowledge and humor, Richard Rosen unpacks the fascinating significance that numbers hold in the philosophy and practice of yoga. Stories and practices woven throughout—like the Eka Danta simple meditation exercise, which concentrates on "one pointedness" and is associated with the one tusk of Ganesh—offer readers a hands-on way to explore the importance of numbers in their own practice. Yoga by the Numbers will enlighten and entertain the yogi in your life.
232 pages, Paperback
First published December 6, 2022
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December 13, 2022
Book Of The Day – Yoga by the Numbers
Today’s Book of the Day is YOGA BY THE NUMBERS, written by Richard Rosen and published in 2022 by Shambhala Publications.
Richard Rosen is an American Yoga teacher, with more than 35 years of experience. He began his journey into yoga in 1980 following the training program of the Iyengar Yoga Institute of San Francisco and since 1987 he has been teaching and writing books and articles about Yoga.
The reason I wanted to present you with this book is that it explores the Sacred and the Symbolic in what I consider the greatest gift that yoga gave its practitioners: its philosophy.
Almost every spiritual practice and philosophy gives numbers a special role, and so does Yoga.
In this book, Rosen guides the reader into a fascinating, intriguing, yet fun journey into the hidden meaning and significance of numbers in the deeper realm of Yoga knowledge, understanding, and practice. Philosophy in Yoga is sometimes one part of the practice that is left behind, as there are some practitioners who prefer to use it just like a sort of physical activity, neglecting the thousands of years of study, research, and development that this extraordinary practice has.
In the book, Rosen mixes stories and practices, so as to give the readers a practical approach to the meaning and knowledge of numbers. In this way everyone can implement this teaching into his/her own practice.
One surprising thing about this book is the humor that the author uses and shares. Even in the most complex ideas and themes, his deep knowledge does never seem imposed on the readers. On the contrary, the readers are invited into the path of philosophy with wit and a friendly approach.
If you have never read Richard Rosen’s books or articles, you will be surprised by how much you will be engaged in the text, like if it was written by a friend of yours, telling you a fascinating tale about a topic he is knowledgeable about.
Yet, humor and engaging writing does not hamper the depth of the teachings about Sanskrit spiritual texts, which are presented and explained brilliantly.
So, if you are interested in enriching your practice of Yoga with some meaningful knowledge of its philosophy, this book is the perfect starting point!
Today’s Book of the Day is YOGA BY THE NUMBERS, written by Richard Rosen and published in 2022 by Shambhala Publications.
Richard Rosen is an American Yoga teacher, with more than 35 years of experience. He began his journey into yoga in 1980 following the training program of the Iyengar Yoga Institute of San Francisco and since 1987 he has been teaching and writing books and articles about Yoga.
The reason I wanted to present you with this book is that it explores the Sacred and the Symbolic in what I consider the greatest gift that yoga gave its practitioners: its philosophy.
Almost every spiritual practice and philosophy gives numbers a special role, and so does Yoga.
In this book, Rosen guides the reader into a fascinating, intriguing, yet fun journey into the hidden meaning and significance of numbers in the deeper realm of Yoga knowledge, understanding, and practice. Philosophy in Yoga is sometimes one part of the practice that is left behind, as there are some practitioners who prefer to use it just like a sort of physical activity, neglecting the thousands of years of study, research, and development that this extraordinary practice has.
In the book, Rosen mixes stories and practices, so as to give the readers a practical approach to the meaning and knowledge of numbers. In this way everyone can implement this teaching into his/her own practice.
One surprising thing about this book is the humor that the author uses and shares. Even in the most complex ideas and themes, his deep knowledge does never seem imposed on the readers. On the contrary, the readers are invited into the path of philosophy with wit and a friendly approach.
If you have never read Richard Rosen’s books or articles, you will be surprised by how much you will be engaged in the text, like if it was written by a friend of yours, telling you a fascinating tale about a topic he is knowledgeable about.
Yet, humor and engaging writing does not hamper the depth of the teachings about Sanskrit spiritual texts, which are presented and explained brilliantly.
So, if you are interested in enriching your practice of Yoga with some meaningful knowledge of its philosophy, this book is the perfect starting point!
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August 31, 2023Taking his inspiration from the book Spirituality by the Numbers, Rosen has crafted a thoughtful text that links theory and practice. He strikes a balance between esoteric, academic discourse and an everyday vernacular—referring casually, for instance, to “the old yogis” before delving into etymological distinctions and Sanskrit words. While the book may seem arcane to some readers, it draws together ruminations on language, the significance of numbers, and stories from texts at the heart of yoga in ways that serve as a reminder of how deep the spiritual roots of what many now view as a purely physical practice are. Well-organized, meticulously researched, and dense yet approachable, this book will appeal to yoga practitioners interested in the discipline’s historical and spiritual origins.
December 14, 2022
#YogabytheNumbers #NetGalley Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this novel.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews