Yoga is so prevalent in the modern world--practiced by pop stars, taught in schools, and offered in yoga centers, health clubs, and even shopping malls--that we take its presence, and its meaning, for granted. But how did the current yoga boom happen? And is it really rooted in ancient Indian practices, as many of its adherents claim?
In this groundbreaking book, Mark Singleton calls into question many commonly held beliefs about the nature and origins of postural yoga (asana) and suggests a radically new way of understanding the meaning of yoga as it is practiced by millions of...

This is a comprehensive introduction to the inspirational world of yoga for children. Mark Singleton adapts more than 40 yoga positions to make them safe, effective and fun for children. Practical and fun, the book contains everything you need to know to start practising yoga with your child. With the emphasis on safety and enjoyment, it shows how to make yoga sessions exciting, interactive and child-friendly by playing yoga games, going on 'yoga adventures' and imitating animal shapes, walks and noises. The instructions for postures and exercises are addressed to the children themselves, to...

The first single, reliable collection of primary material from the source traditions of yoga

Despite the immense popularity of yoga today, there is surprisingly little knowledge of its roots among practitioners. This book brings together, for the first time, the core teachings of yoga in the words of their authors, rather than in the secondary versions of modern interpreters. Including key passages from the Upanishads, the Buddhist and Jaina traditions, the yoga sections of the Indian Tantras, and many texts that are being critically translated for the first time,...