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The Inner Tradition of Yoga By Michael Stone Where to find Michael's new book:
Michael's new book, "The Inner Tradition of Yoga: A Guide to Yoga Philosophy for Contemporary Practitioners" looks at yoga practices from a psychological perspective and offers some relevant ideas for those wishing to understand what constitutes the spiritual path of yoga and the traditional understanding of the complex relationship between mind, body and awakening. Here are some reviews of the book: "Michael Stone's teaching brilliantly reveals the profound underpinnings of yoga which are rarely taught or understood. His demonstration of the interdependence of theory, practice and daily life makes yoga work on a level that will truly transform our minds and hearts, as well as our bodies.” - Richard Freeman, Director of The Yoga Workshop, Boulder, Colorado “Michael’s teaching is intense, poetic, wise, practical, intimate and visionary - the mind/body connection has never been better explored nor explained.” - Sharon Gannon, co-founder, Jivamukti Yoga “Engaging with the matter of suffering is an essentially yogic endeavor, perhaps the essential yogic project. Yet all too many modern (Hatha) yogis seem to have an ill-formed misunderstanding of both duh[.]kha and what the yoga tradition has to say about it. Michael Stone goes beyond the sometimes troublesome and problematic philosophical discourse to the existential, phenomenological heart of yogic praxis, common to the Buddha and Patanjali. His approach to yoga details a practical and pragmatic psychology of yoga that can provide all practitioners a way to engage with the deepest transformative possibilities that yoga can offer. …It is certainly what we need now.” "Michael Stone is going to help deepen the practice of yoga in the West by presenting the mental disciplines of this ancient tradition in an accessible manner. People who might have thought the aspects of yoga beyond A[-]sana too esoteric will find a pragmatic presentation of mental and spiritual training." - Paul Grilley , yoga instructor and author Hatha yoga and meditation have both become very popular. What's the relationship between them? Michael Stone reveals that better than anything else I've come across. Michael Stone's work is not to be missed if you are interested in both. “Few people on the planet have Michael’s gift to explore and explain in contemporary language the profound wisdom of Yoga. Highly recommended for teachers and students." "We've seen a report recently which says that 50 million North Americans are doing some kind of yoga. It reminds us of the early days of Buddhism in the West, when there was a lot of enthusiasm for the practice but not yet a lot of hard and authentic information on exactly how to do it properly. Michael Stone's The Path of Yoga is a welcome addition to the increasing appreciation of the spiritual and psychological side of yogayoga. We believe that the modern physical practice of yoga outside of India has already reached a level that compares favorably with that of India and Tibet, and that with more exploration of the kind that Michael Stone has conducted, the inner practice will soon reach the same level, making Western yoga an important contribution to the physical health and spiritual awakening of our entire globe, for centuries to come." - Geshe Michael Roach & Lama Christie McNally Philosophic, practical, personal; Stone's conversational style brings many of the life transforming principals of yoga home to reveal the juiciest part of life, awareness, attention and the inner narrative. A rich practice! |
Yoga For a World Out of Balance: By Michael Stone foreword by B.K.S. Iyengar Michael's new book with Shambhala Publications will be out in summer 2009 Early praise for this new book: "Yoga for a World Out of Balance" upends the typical narcissism of spiritual literature; what we are offered instead is a literate and deeply devotional integration of individual practice and social awareness. Yoga has always meant "union," but here in Michael Stone's world the profound philosophy of yoga permeates the dying earth and our living hearts with phrases and insights that are ancient, scintillating, and incisive. This is not a rehash of prior teachings, but a highly original uncloaking of the deepest meanings that await us in our practice." The careening horror of our environmental dissent has all of us off balance. Michael Stone provides some excellent advice about how to find a place on which to stand. If up until now yoga has just been something you do on a mat, Michael Stone's Yoga For a World Out of Balance will lift you off your feet. I know of no book with such an elevated, informed and inspiring perspective on how yoga belongs in our world, or how the world belongs in our yoga. "An important new work of great clarity that brilliantly explores the core concern of human existence: the coming together of spirit and action." Teaching at a recent conference Michael Stone made this curious statement, "When you look at the river it is the river looking at the river." Hellaluiah! I knew exactly what Michael was talking about and knew that he did too. The wonder and powers of the natural universe are of course our condition too. The nurturing flow of life, extreme intelligence, beauty, perfect harmony is active in everyOne of us, in us as us. .It is our natural state and birth right to enjoy. Like no other time this depth of feeling is possible. It is our personal and public peace even in the midst of the pain of a "world gone wrong." Yoga was developed in ancient wisdom culture to gently reveal what we already have. Read this book. Please! |
