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Teaching Yoga: Essential Foundations and Techniques
Teaching Yoga is an essential resource for new and experienced teachers as well as a guide for all yoga students interested in refining their skills and knowledge. Addressing 100% of the teacher training curriculum standards set by Yoga Alliance, the world's leading registry and accreditation source for yoga teachers and schools, Teaching Yoga is also ideal for use as a core textbook in yoga teacher training programs.
Drawing on a wide spectrum of perspectives, and featuring more than 150 photographs and illustrations, the book covers fundamental topics of yoga philosophy and history, including a historical presentation of classical yoga the Vedas, Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita, Yoga Sutras of Pataljali, and the main historical sources on tantra and early hatha yoga. Each of the eleven major styles of contemporary yoga is described, with a brief history of its development and the distinguishing elements of its teachings. Exploring traditional and modern aspects of anatomy and physiology, the book provides extensive support and tools for teaching 108 yoga poses ( asanas ), breathing techniques ( pranayama ), and meditation. Teaching Yoga offers practical advice for classroom setup, planning and sequencing classes, as well as the process involved in becoming a teacher and sustaining oneself in the profession. The book has over 200 bibliographic sources, a comprehensive index, and a useful appendix that lists associations, institutes, organizations, and professional resources for yoga teachers.
Drawing on a wide spectrum of perspectives, and featuring more than 150 photographs and illustrations, the book covers fundamental topics of yoga philosophy and history, including a historical presentation of classical yoga the Vedas, Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita, Yoga Sutras of Pataljali, and the main historical sources on tantra and early hatha yoga. Each of the eleven major styles of contemporary yoga is described, with a brief history of its development and the distinguishing elements of its teachings. Exploring traditional and modern aspects of anatomy and physiology, the book provides extensive support and tools for teaching 108 yoga poses ( asanas ), breathing techniques ( pranayama ), and meditation. Teaching Yoga offers practical advice for classroom setup, planning and sequencing classes, as well as the process involved in becoming a teacher and sustaining oneself in the profession. The book has over 200 bibliographic sources, a comprehensive index, and a useful appendix that lists associations, institutes, organizations, and professional resources for yoga teachers.
432 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2010
832 people are currently reading
1688 people want to read
About the author
Mark Stephens
122 books112 followers After dabbling in yoga in my teens (1970s!), I've been passionately devoted practicing yoga since January 1, 1991, and since January 1, 1996 I've been equally passionate in sharing yoga as a personal practice for making every moment of one’s life better – healthier, clearer, and altogether more joyful. While Yoga Journal referred to me as "the teacher's teacher," I steadfastly believe that the best teach you will ever have is inside of you. At the same time, with practice and study, we can offer meaningful guidance to others, and this is precisely the intention in my textbooks for yoga teachers: Teaching Yoga (2010/2024), Yoga Sequencing (2012), Yoga Adjustments (2014) Yoga Therapy (2017), and Yoga for Better Sleep (2019.) I now writing a book on Yoga Histories and Philosophies from Ancient to Modern Times. All odf this taps into my background in Ashtanga Vinyasa, Iyengar, Vinyasa Flow, Tantra, and Yoga Therapy, plus fairly deep academic study of things like anatomy, philosophy, research methods and more. I try to bring an eclectic perspective to the practice that's all about making yoga more accessible, sustainable, and deeply transformational.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
October 27, 2011
I found this book to be very helpful. It's geared towards teacher training students who want to know all of the basics. I used it to learn the names of all the poses (both English and Sanskrit); the history of yoga; bare bones info on the chakras, nidras, and Sutras; various styles to class sequencing; and pranayama.
However, there are a lot of problems with this book. The "Body Structure and Movement" section was a joke. It took intensive study of each section with my girlfriend who has taken many anatomy and physiology classes to even understand what he was talking about. It was not written for a teacher training student, but for someone who had extensive knowledge on the subject. But the ideas he is actually trying to communicate with all of the unexplained jargon are so basic that someone with that knowledge would find the chapter useless.
Furthermore, there is almost no information about teaching yoga to niche groups like bigger bodies, seniors, kids, or students with injuries. In fact, there was little mention of modifications at all. Maybe this approach is great if you are teaching a class where every student is completely devoid of injuries or body issues, but who teaches classes like that? The real world is full of bodies that are various shapes, sizes, and skill levels. I was disappointed that there was not more information on how to teach in a more practical kind of classroom.
That said, I did read this book from cover to cover, learned quite a bit of Sanskrit terms from it, and got quite a bit from the sequencing section. I would recommend it to future teachers working on their certification as a starting point, regardless of its limitations.
However, there are a lot of problems with this book. The "Body Structure and Movement" section was a joke. It took intensive study of each section with my girlfriend who has taken many anatomy and physiology classes to even understand what he was talking about. It was not written for a teacher training student, but for someone who had extensive knowledge on the subject. But the ideas he is actually trying to communicate with all of the unexplained jargon are so basic that someone with that knowledge would find the chapter useless.
Furthermore, there is almost no information about teaching yoga to niche groups like bigger bodies, seniors, kids, or students with injuries. In fact, there was little mention of modifications at all. Maybe this approach is great if you are teaching a class where every student is completely devoid of injuries or body issues, but who teaches classes like that? The real world is full of bodies that are various shapes, sizes, and skill levels. I was disappointed that there was not more information on how to teach in a more practical kind of classroom.
That said, I did read this book from cover to cover, learned quite a bit of Sanskrit terms from it, and got quite a bit from the sequencing section. I would recommend it to future teachers working on their certification as a starting point, regardless of its limitations.
June 9, 2020
Basically, I am a Mark Stephens fangirl, I'll just come out and admit it. I have as many of his books as I can get my grubby mitts on. This was the first that I bought, and I sat down to read it after completing a 200 hr YTT. And I feel, honestly, like I learned more from this book than the teacher training course. He's incredibly thorough, and while he doesn't spend a great deal of time in yogic philosophy or the cleansing practices, etc, he is basically a yoga teacher training in a book here. He focusses on the parts of philosophy that a teacher needs to know the most--that balance between ease and effort, to which he returns again and again.
He teaches a number of pranayama practices, for one (no mantra, however) and not only how to, but he suggests, in a really beautifully laid out table, when he feels you can teach them--like what level of class is appropriate for the particular pranayama practice.
He does not teach every asana ever, and he does mention a few that he does not include in his glossary, but he gives an incredible range of asana, and breaks them down into the kinds of poses, the tips and hints...really a solid foundation of anatomy and focus for asana.
This is a book you don't read through, but treat like a textbook--with a pen and page flags in hand, and one I will be reviewing again and again.
He teaches a number of pranayama practices, for one (no mantra, however) and not only how to, but he suggests, in a really beautifully laid out table, when he feels you can teach them--like what level of class is appropriate for the particular pranayama practice.
He does not teach every asana ever, and he does mention a few that he does not include in his glossary, but he gives an incredible range of asana, and breaks them down into the kinds of poses, the tips and hints...really a solid foundation of anatomy and focus for asana.
This is a book you don't read through, but treat like a textbook--with a pen and page flags in hand, and one I will be reviewing again and again.
January 27, 2012
There are many books on yoga but few give the needed breadth and depth. Much fewer is able to convey subject simply, in a way that the layman can understand. Most books touch on subject superficially, focussing just on beautiful pictures of asanas.
This is one of those books I would recommend, whether you are a teacher or a student. Mark Stephens is able to cover breadth yet he is able to do this simply so that interested student can use the basic understanding gained here to explore further and deeper. I like the book for its thoughtful and insightful approach to the various aspects of yoga which may seem unaccessible to the layman. The author touches briefly yet succinctly on the ancient history of yoga and its modern developments and variations, giving the essence on the yoga scriptures and philosophy, and approaching learning and teaching with empathy. In short, there is a bit of everything yet lends some depth because of the author's own depth of experience as a teacher.
I would not fault the book for being short on some areas (such as anatomy) as this is a general book that aims to give a broad view of the subject. Interested students and aspiring teachers would gain much reading this as it is foundational knowledge and understanding - put in a very readable way. The author's sharing of this own vast experience in such an unassuming way is valuable.
I share Mark Stephen's approach in my own teaching, going back to the core philosophy and approach of yoga even in teaching asanas, and putting asanas in its proper perspective. There is an over-emphasis on asana practise in the market, so that it becomes just like another other exercise. Worse, a lack of understanding of the real value and purpose of yoga asana causes many students and teachers to push themselves to the point of injury, causing undue stress.
I highly recommend this book to students and teachers. It helps your navigate through the vast field of yoga and the great variety of hatha yoga styles available today.
The other book that is a must read is TVK Deshikachar's The Heart of Yoga, which also stresses on understanding the purpose and value of asana and yoga, as well as the need to be empathetic to your students. These 2 yoga books are sorely needed in current times, when yoga has become a fad but few understand its real purpose, much less how to teach it, and to educate others properly.
Some excerpts:
(On tradition vs innovation)
"We can look at these traditional schools as spanning a continuum from relative insistence on teaching and practicing in a prescribed way to more open and eclectic approaches in which teaches feel a sense of creative freedom. Many observers have characterized the one extreme as fostering dependence on authority, diminishing spirit and humanity in the practice, and the latter as drifting into body sculpting or other practices that are more exercise than yoga, where traditional ideas of yoga virtually disappear. Beautiful and authentic teachings can be found throughout the spectrum, as can sloppiness and practices that result in a high incidence of injury."
(On the great variety of Hatha yoga styles today)
"One of the challenges in describing some yoga traditions is evaluating the veracity of claims - the verifiable truthfulness about the origins and evolution of their practices. Many famous yogis claim to have received a yoga teaching directly from a divine source or from ancient writings that have since been lost. The believe that we are teaching or practicing in a tradition that was divinely inspired can be a powerful motivation to accept that tradition and create a sense of superior ordination. Yet whether or not the many fascinating stories about the creation or evolution of a style are true, what matters is whether the substance of the teachings has integrity. As a teacher, it is important to teach from a place of truth as you best feel it, know it, and understand it, ultimately this derives form intensive study and open-minded exposure to different traditions as well as experience on your mat and practice in the art of teaching. There is no question that much of the received wisdom of tradition was transmitted orally, often through memorization of songs or slokas. It may well be that every claim is true, although many stretch even the most tolerant imaginations, especially when considered in context of other claims made by the guru that test credulity. A few things we do know can be applied in thinking about this and navigating our way through the traditions."
(on the various teaching styles)
"The best teachers are those attuned to their students' needs and capable of teaching in a way that addresses those needs while safely introducing them to new challenges and possibilities. If, as a teacher, you are committed to one approach, then acknowledge that to yourself while appreciating that you will have many students for whom another approach is probably better suited. Broadening your repertoire of skills and knowledge will enable you to more easily recognize these fits and help you prepare to respond in the most effective, appropriate, and honorable way. Sometimes that might involve offering variations and modifications, other times suggesting a completely different practice or teacher. If you are committed to a certain lineage, this will help define who you are as a teacher. If you are more independent in your approach, how you choose to relate in your teachings to the many lineages and stules of yoga will go far in defining your own teaching. But no matters your perspective in relation to gurus, systems, and approaches, what will always most define you as a teacher is how you choose to relate as a human being to your students.With compassion, knowledge, and skills, you will be the best teacher you can be."
(on Bikram yoga)
"Perhaps more than any yoga teacher, (Bikram) Choudhury is unabashedly boastful in describing his personal accomplishments both on the mat ("I am beyond Superman") and off the mat, frequently reminding others of his financial success....Railing against other forms of Hatha yoga in the West as ill-informed, inventive, and dangerous, Choudhury asserts that his method is "the right way" to do yoga. Asserting that "using props to help you do the postures only makes matters worse and not better," he warns that Americans are "getting rippped off, even getting hurt" in practices that deviate from the true system of yoga he claims was given in Yoga Sutras...Ironically, the one and only prop allowed by Choudhury - an extremely heated room - is itself a source of injury. Stretching in an environment heated to such an extreme as in Bikram yoga allows a person to stretch much further than would otherwise be possible for his or her body. The problem is that this extended stretching ability is often beyond what the body is ready for, often resulting in injuries....Bikram yoga responds well to the powerful impulse in Western culture to feel quick results from any effort."
I share this view on Bikram Yoga too. Every practioner has a freedeom of choice, and I encourage those who find Bikram yoga helpful to continue along that path but I also advise discretion and care as Bikram's style can be punishing for beginners, those not already quite fit, and those already with prior injuries. Bikram Choudhury's approach to yoga is extremely commercial compared to others I have seen, and patenting his posture sequence in USA is contrary to the spirit of yoga that the teachings are a gift to mankind. His derisive comments of other styles and approaches is too prescriptive and narrow.
This is one of those books I would recommend, whether you are a teacher or a student. Mark Stephens is able to cover breadth yet he is able to do this simply so that interested student can use the basic understanding gained here to explore further and deeper. I like the book for its thoughtful and insightful approach to the various aspects of yoga which may seem unaccessible to the layman. The author touches briefly yet succinctly on the ancient history of yoga and its modern developments and variations, giving the essence on the yoga scriptures and philosophy, and approaching learning and teaching with empathy. In short, there is a bit of everything yet lends some depth because of the author's own depth of experience as a teacher.
I would not fault the book for being short on some areas (such as anatomy) as this is a general book that aims to give a broad view of the subject. Interested students and aspiring teachers would gain much reading this as it is foundational knowledge and understanding - put in a very readable way. The author's sharing of this own vast experience in such an unassuming way is valuable.
I share Mark Stephen's approach in my own teaching, going back to the core philosophy and approach of yoga even in teaching asanas, and putting asanas in its proper perspective. There is an over-emphasis on asana practise in the market, so that it becomes just like another other exercise. Worse, a lack of understanding of the real value and purpose of yoga asana causes many students and teachers to push themselves to the point of injury, causing undue stress.
I highly recommend this book to students and teachers. It helps your navigate through the vast field of yoga and the great variety of hatha yoga styles available today.
The other book that is a must read is TVK Deshikachar's The Heart of Yoga, which also stresses on understanding the purpose and value of asana and yoga, as well as the need to be empathetic to your students. These 2 yoga books are sorely needed in current times, when yoga has become a fad but few understand its real purpose, much less how to teach it, and to educate others properly.
Some excerpts:
(On tradition vs innovation)
"We can look at these traditional schools as spanning a continuum from relative insistence on teaching and practicing in a prescribed way to more open and eclectic approaches in which teaches feel a sense of creative freedom. Many observers have characterized the one extreme as fostering dependence on authority, diminishing spirit and humanity in the practice, and the latter as drifting into body sculpting or other practices that are more exercise than yoga, where traditional ideas of yoga virtually disappear. Beautiful and authentic teachings can be found throughout the spectrum, as can sloppiness and practices that result in a high incidence of injury."
(On the great variety of Hatha yoga styles today)
"One of the challenges in describing some yoga traditions is evaluating the veracity of claims - the verifiable truthfulness about the origins and evolution of their practices. Many famous yogis claim to have received a yoga teaching directly from a divine source or from ancient writings that have since been lost. The believe that we are teaching or practicing in a tradition that was divinely inspired can be a powerful motivation to accept that tradition and create a sense of superior ordination. Yet whether or not the many fascinating stories about the creation or evolution of a style are true, what matters is whether the substance of the teachings has integrity. As a teacher, it is important to teach from a place of truth as you best feel it, know it, and understand it, ultimately this derives form intensive study and open-minded exposure to different traditions as well as experience on your mat and practice in the art of teaching. There is no question that much of the received wisdom of tradition was transmitted orally, often through memorization of songs or slokas. It may well be that every claim is true, although many stretch even the most tolerant imaginations, especially when considered in context of other claims made by the guru that test credulity. A few things we do know can be applied in thinking about this and navigating our way through the traditions."
(on the various teaching styles)
"The best teachers are those attuned to their students' needs and capable of teaching in a way that addresses those needs while safely introducing them to new challenges and possibilities. If, as a teacher, you are committed to one approach, then acknowledge that to yourself while appreciating that you will have many students for whom another approach is probably better suited. Broadening your repertoire of skills and knowledge will enable you to more easily recognize these fits and help you prepare to respond in the most effective, appropriate, and honorable way. Sometimes that might involve offering variations and modifications, other times suggesting a completely different practice or teacher. If you are committed to a certain lineage, this will help define who you are as a teacher. If you are more independent in your approach, how you choose to relate in your teachings to the many lineages and stules of yoga will go far in defining your own teaching. But no matters your perspective in relation to gurus, systems, and approaches, what will always most define you as a teacher is how you choose to relate as a human being to your students.With compassion, knowledge, and skills, you will be the best teacher you can be."
(on Bikram yoga)
"Perhaps more than any yoga teacher, (Bikram) Choudhury is unabashedly boastful in describing his personal accomplishments both on the mat ("I am beyond Superman") and off the mat, frequently reminding others of his financial success....Railing against other forms of Hatha yoga in the West as ill-informed, inventive, and dangerous, Choudhury asserts that his method is "the right way" to do yoga. Asserting that "using props to help you do the postures only makes matters worse and not better," he warns that Americans are "getting rippped off, even getting hurt" in practices that deviate from the true system of yoga he claims was given in Yoga Sutras...Ironically, the one and only prop allowed by Choudhury - an extremely heated room - is itself a source of injury. Stretching in an environment heated to such an extreme as in Bikram yoga allows a person to stretch much further than would otherwise be possible for his or her body. The problem is that this extended stretching ability is often beyond what the body is ready for, often resulting in injuries....Bikram yoga responds well to the powerful impulse in Western culture to feel quick results from any effort."
I share this view on Bikram Yoga too. Every practioner has a freedeom of choice, and I encourage those who find Bikram yoga helpful to continue along that path but I also advise discretion and care as Bikram's style can be punishing for beginners, those not already quite fit, and those already with prior injuries. Bikram Choudhury's approach to yoga is extremely commercial compared to others I have seen, and patenting his posture sequence in USA is contrary to the spirit of yoga that the teachings are a gift to mankind. His derisive comments of other styles and approaches is too prescriptive and narrow.
September 14, 2025
4.0- Informative and comprehensive. This is a good text to reference if you want to deepen your practice.
August 21, 2024
so informative. a wonderful book to get for YTT.
the only criticism i have is that i wish the sanskrit names were paired with the english names throughout the book. i don’t know half the sanskrit names for things and i kept having to look them up because there were no english translations after the first mention.
the only criticism i have is that i wish the sanskrit names were paired with the english names throughout the book. i don’t know half the sanskrit names for things and i kept having to look them up because there were no english translations after the first mention.
March 15, 2024
There is a lot of good information here. I would use it as a reference book. I read enough chapters as part of my yoga training that I decided to finish the rest so that I can count it as a boom for my reading challenge.
February 26, 2019
I found this book overly focused on "advanced" poses. It recommended poses for injury recovery that I would do not attempt un-injured. Being more interested in teaching foundations classes, this was not the guide for me.
May 4, 2023
There's a lot of great, practical information in here for both your practice as well as teaching. It just isn't exactly a pleasure read, (as demonstrated by the 9 months it took me to finish). I'd felt I'd missed out on it not being assigned during my teacher training. And I do feel as if I've filled in some gaps, especially with the history and different 'schools' of yoga. Both for teaching purposes, and my own practices, I have turned to this book for information. There's some great sequences, including one for menstrual discomfort I do every month 😉 The pranayama section is the richest in my library, and the meditation chapter had some angles I've enjoyed. However, I feel empowered to put those things into practice given my >decade of practice, RYT certification and teaching experience. This is a yogi supplement, not substitute for deliberate study of both an academic and practical nature. Case in point: you'll need basic understanding of Sanskrit to understand much.
April 28, 2023
I am about to complete 200 hour yoga teacher training and this is the right book at the right time. It augments and supplements much of what I have learned and fills in alot of gaps. One of the most extensive texts on the subject. Mark Stephens covers the original source for yoga practice, a deep study of the yoga 8 limbs. He walks the talk by demonstrating some of the most complex asanas, as well. There are deep and detailed section on breathing (pranayama) and meditation (dharana, dhyama, samadhi).
He could probably benefit to covering more of the variations and use of props for those not quite as advanced, but i appreciated the depths of his asana ability and his respect for the history of yoga.
He probably spends the last amount of time on the yamas and niyamas. Excellent yoga teaching resource.
He could probably benefit to covering more of the variations and use of props for those not quite as advanced, but i appreciated the depths of his asana ability and his respect for the history of yoga.
He probably spends the last amount of time on the yamas and niyamas. Excellent yoga teaching resource.
March 10, 2024
I have been reading this text for the last few years--some of which, I admittedly skimmed, and some of which is hard to really absorb because of the language barriers (Sanskrit for various asanas). This book has a lot in it--from history of various yoga styles to anatomy to philosophy and consideration of diverse bodies and needs. There are poses/asanas and sequencing details, photos and cues. There is a lot about meditation, mindfulness, and breathwork. So much of it is new to me and interesting. I am reading as part of an online yoga teacher training I am doing, less to teach, and more to learn. It will be a book that is an excellent reference!!! It's like a book you had in college that you did not sell back because you knew you needed to hold onto it.
January 25, 2021
I wish that the language of this book was more accessible to those that don't already know Sanskrit (and if you're reading a book about the basics of yoga... it seems safe to assume that you don't). This book COULD have been an *excellent* way for an English reader to learn the Sanskrit names (which I would like to do), if the English name appeared alongside each time. But by only using the Sanskrit names without any context or photos, large swaths of the book became inaccessible and to be honest, I gave up flipping back and forth to look up 12 poses in a single written paragraph and just figured 'oh, I'll go back later' (though I rather doubt I will).
February 11, 2019
A great single source text for 200 hour yoga teacher training classes. I really appreciated the use of sanskrit throughout. Even though that made studying a slower endeavor, it did ensure that I learned A LOT of sanskrit along the way. Larger photos of the asanas would be helpful for visual learners. The ones in the book are so small that they are nearly useless.
March 3, 2021
This book may not be helpful to the recent graduate from a reputable school. However, it was a great recap for me 10-years post graduation. Mark Stephens has written yoga's entire history in one book in a clear and concise way. Any portion within if you want to learn more you are welcome to do so. It is a great overview and will clear things up for the new teacher.
July 24, 2023
I imagine that the author was trying to establish himself as an authority figure by writing this book. It’s overwhelming and exhaustive. The writing was a little convoluted, and by the end, it felt like a manual to skim. It is both clinical and well researched, though not super enjoyable to read through.
June 27, 2025
Un manual estupendo, que toca todos los palos, aunque con diferente profundidad en algunos temas; pero, de todas maneras, es muy completo y es una buena guía para los que quieren entender el yoga de manera más completa, panorámica y actualizada.
November 9, 2017
This book served its purpose. I learnt a lot :). I do wish the Anatomy section was a little more detailed and clear, but this is still a text I will refer to again and again. Namaste 🙏🏼
March 24, 2018
Really nicely supplements yoga teacher training.
August 6, 2018
Must have pour les profs de yoga.
December 3, 2018
I wish that I'd finished this earlier in the year. Oh well.
March 3, 2019
excellent addition to teacher training courses. i love how stephens breaks down the asanas.
October 16, 2019
I'm studying to become a yoga teacher and this book helped me out alot before I even started taking my classes. It's a very good book breaks down everything you need to know
April 15, 2020
This was helpful during my YTT program - very informative
May 19, 2020
Book for 200hr YTT
Overall really enjoyed reading this as a foundation for my teacher training. Will frequently use to sequence my classes as I begin teaching.
Overall really enjoyed reading this as a foundation for my teacher training. Will frequently use to sequence my classes as I begin teaching.
September 2, 2020
Hard to understand the Sanskrit and practical applications at times, but informative and useful overall!
June 27, 2021
Throw a few common names for the poses in there, please!
January 21, 2022
Wonderful book easy to read, to the point, it my reference in my journey with learning and teaching yoga.
August 12, 2022
This was my bible before I booked to go on my yoga teacher training. It is still a go-to book alongside my teacher training manuel. It has everything in it that you need as a foundation of knowledge for beginner yoga teachers.
October 7, 2022
A must have for all Yoga teachers to always have and handbook on the principles and the roots of being Yoga teachers.
April 25, 2023
Literally everything you could ever want to know about yoga AND required reading for my YTT200
January 17, 2024
I always refer to the material!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews