Heart Yoga: The Sacred Marriage of Yoga and Mysticism [Paperback]

***WINNER, 2010Spirituality & PracticeBest Spiritual Book Award – Yoga

InHeart Yoga,renowned spiritual writer and Sacred Activist Andrew Harvey and longtime yoga teacher Karuna Erickson present a vision of hatha yoga practice that links ancient spiritual traditions to contemporary life. Including excerpts of poetic sacred writing from mystical sages through the ages, the book reminds readers that the purpose of yoga is not to improve one's physical health or even to achieve peace of mind (although these results may be achieved along the way), but to reach a state of unity with the divine, the goal of mystics from all traditions. With detailed descriptions and photographs of fifty yoga poses and their alchemical effects on the body and consciousness,Heart Yogapresents yoga as a simple meditative practice that enables the practitioner to dwell in the heart and experience the bliss of union with the sacred power underlying all of life. The book explains how to prepare for Heart Yoga and describes the “Five Great Joys” that are part of the path. Included are the authors' own compelling stories of their individual journeys along the path of yoga: stories of suffering, transcendence, and joy that both inspire and enlighten.

“This is an amazing book that will accelerate your journey to God-consciousness.”
—Deepak Chopra, author ofThe Ultimate Happiness PrescriptionandReinventing the Body, Resurrecting the Soul

“Heart Yogais a timely book. It can help us stay centered in joyful peace as we are increasingly called to act and serve in the world… the authors have given us a contemporary lens through which to view and experience what yoga has always been: a transformational practice…Heart Yogaguides us to be illumined yet rooted.”
—Yoga Journal

“Longtime yoga teacher Karuna Erickson and scholar Andrew Harveyl#à