The Spiritual Teachings of Yoga - Paperback

by Joanna Manuel (Author), Mark Forstater (Author)

There is an ancient philosophy behind yoga practice that is rarely taught in the west. The ancient wisdom of Yoga gives us a way of life, a path, that is at least five thousand years old. The word yoga actually means union, and the 'union' which the word implies represents a union on all levels of being: the union of the soul with the Divine, the union of the mind and body, the union of the heart and spirit, the union of one soul to another, as well as the union of the self to all of nature. This book presents the key philosophical texts from the Yoga Sutras, the Bhagavad Gita, the Vedas, and the Upanishads in an accessible and poetic manner. Through these texts we explore the key recurring themes which are common to all the main schools and systems of yoga. It shows how these philosophical teachings can be incorporated into our lives and into our yoga practise in order to deepen the yoga experience.

Author Biography

Mark Forstater is a film, TV, radio and audio producer as well as the author of six non-fiction books. His most famous film production is Monty Python and The Holy Grail, but he has also made twenty nine other films in a career that has lasted for over 40 years. Forstater has written six books and audios on philosophy and spirituality, including his latest - I Survived A Secret Nazi Extermination Camp, The Spiritual Teachings of Yoga, The Spiritual Teachings of The Tao, The Spiritual Teachings of Marcus Aurelius and The Living Wisdom of Socrates. He has also produced an audio of the famous Chinese classic the Tao Te Ching, read by the late Sir Nigel Hawthorne. Mark Forstater was born in Philadelphia, USA, and moved to England in 1964 to attend Manchester University. After graduating from Temple University, Philadelphia in 1965 he returned to the UK and has lived in London ever since. After attending the London Film School he began making films in 1969. Mark's interest in spiritual matters began in the early 1970s when he was introduced to the works of Confucius, Mencius, Lao Tzu and Chuang Tzu. He was immediately inspired by Chinese philosophy, in particular Taoism. He is a member of the British Taoist Association, a group which aims to bring the authentic teachings of Taoism to the West. Mark Forstater's self-cultivation practices include meditation, yoga, tai chi, as well as massage and self-massage. He is currently researching a new book on longevity. The Age Of Anxiety is the first Guided Meditation that he has produced. Mark has been married twice, has four children and three grandchildren.