Donna Farhi
Bestselling author of Yoga, Mind, Body and Spirit: A Return to Wholeness
Book Recommendations:
Recommended by Donna Farhi
“Susanna Barkataki's new book Embrace Yoga's Roots should become a curricular text in all yoga teacher training programs. We have an opportunity to change the tide and Susanna Barataki is uniquely qualified to act as our guide.” (from Amazon)
Do you want to be on the cutting edge of the future of yoga? If you desire an authentic yoga practice embracing ancient yogic philosophy and traditions but don’t know how to embody that knowledge with integrity in today’s modern yoga culture, Embrace Yoga’s Roots is your guide to honor and not appropriate yoga. "When we mistake yoga for a workout routine, reduce it to physical fitness or even do some of the deeper aspects of yoga without an eye to the whole system of liberation it offers, we rob ourselves and each other of the potential of this practice," says Susanna Barkataki. Embrace Yoga's Roots explores the past's yogic traditions, brings them alive today, and preserves them for the future by examining what separates us, reflecting on our part, taking action for equity and moving toward liberation together. If you practice, teach or want to learn yoga integrating your ethics and values while respecting ancient yoga philosophy, you have found the essential guide to making that goal a reality. "I can't think of anyone more suited to lead the way to embrace yoga's roots than Susanna. This book should be required reading in yoga teacher trainings across the world." ~ Rachel Brathen – author of the New York Times Bestseller Yoga Girl The Embrace Yoga Roots Framework revealed in this book shares four keys steps to deepen your yoga practice, increase empathy and create unity both personally and with the world. Separation: Learning how colonization, cultural appropriation, and oppression results in trauma for yogis and separation from yoga traditions. Reflection: Understanding the causes of separation and our roles, either supporting separation (knowingly or not) versus creating unity and equity in yoga. Reconnection: Exploring specific and concrete skills and solutions for living and practicing yoga as unity, inspiring global transformation. Liberation: Integrating a more honorable and ethical practice in your life supporting personal growth by following the ancient teachings. Barkataki shares tools, resources and gentle guidance demonstrating how you can embody a complete yoga practice that includes and extends beyond the physical, the mindful and the sacred to something equitable, inclusive and accessible for everyone on all levels of their being. This book is more than a textbook on yoga's history but a practical guide offering reflective questions for the personal exploration of challenging topics leading to personal and social transformation. Embrace Yoga's Roots shows you how to take this awakened understanding and vital message into your local yoga community, helping to connect you with the yoga community worldwide. Lead the global movement now by honoring and embracing ancient philosophies, practices and lifestyles supporting a unified yogic state.
Recommended by Donna Farhi
“Jivana Heyman has a heart as wide as the world. Which is just as well, because his new book, Accessible Yoga, is exactly the direction that global yoga culture needs to move towards to restore the practical relevance of this great healing art. Whether you are thick or thin, young or old, ambulatory or need the assistance of a walker, wheelchair, or crutch, Jivana opens up the practice of yoga in the most delightful and creative ways to anyone who can breathe. Through offering progressive points of entry—from free standing, using a wall, sitting in a chair, or lying on the floor or even in bed—Accessible Yoga is a treasure trove of invaluable and practical information that will open many doors for people who might otherwise not have the courage to begin. What shines through in every word of this exceptional book is the clear mind, compassionate heart, and the passionate advocacy of a teacher who is a living and breathing testament of what Yoga, capital Y, is all about.” (from Amazon)
“A treasure trove . . . what Yoga, capital Y, is all about.” —Donna Farhi “Nothing less than a gem.” —Judith Lasater “A vital tool.” —Book Riot This daring, visionary book revolutionizes yoga practice, making it truly accessible to everyone—in every body, at any age, and in any state of health Yoga practice has so much to offer us physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. But many of us feel discouraged to practice because we see young, slim, flexible, well, and able-bodied people dominating yoga spaces. Yet, yoga is truly a practice for all—conferring enormous benefits to our overall well-being as our bodies change, age, and navigate various health challenges. Jivana Heyman, founder of Accessible Yoga, views yoga as a basic human right—saying we all deserve to practice it in whatever state we find our body or mind. Accessible Yoga offers a simple, clear, and wonderfully adaptable practice for all people regardless of ability, health, and body type. Heyman has spent over twenty years sharing yoga with people of all abilities and backgrounds, and in this book, he shares his knowledge by breaking down complex yoga poses, breathing practices, meditation techniques, and yoga teachings into clearly understandable and practical tools we can use every day, regardless of our limitations or challenges.