Advanced Yoga Practices-Easy Lessons for Ecstatic Living

The philosophy of yoga teaches that serenity and ecstatic joy are the natural state of all human beings. Experiencing this state of living is not a matter of building something new, but rather of setting free what is already there. In Advanced Yoga Practices-Easy Lessons for Ecstatic Living (AYP), Yogani provides instruction in a series of ancient yogic practices that go to the core of that liberation.

Surprisingly, the techniques presented in Advanced Yoga Practices are not difficult. Unlike hatha yoga, there are no elaborate postures, no dramatic twistings and stretchings. AYP contains techniques for breathing and meditation that gently but powerfully tone up the nervous system, raise energy, and liberate our natural serenity and joy. Also surprising is that Yogani, the author, presents this information as a non-sectarian mechanical process-follow the procedures and the results happen. Just as when you lift weights your muscles gradually become stronger regardless of whether you're a Hindu, Muslim, Christian, or Atheist, when you practice the AYP methods, serenity and joy are gradually liberated regardless of religious or philosophical belief. And, as with physical training, AYP methods recognize that individuals develop at their own pace. Students are constantly reminded to practice at a level that maintains a comfortable balance between inner development and outer life.

The book compiles dialogs from the AYP online discussion group and adds a substantial amount of new material not found online. The format consists of techniques taught by Yogani, questions from group members, and Yogani's replies. Yogani writes in impressively lucid, literate, American English that reveals not only his formidable understanding of Eastern and Western spirituality, but also his gentle sense of humor and grounding in the modern world.

I have practiced yoga for over 30 years and have read a lot of yogic literature. I feel that the information I learned in AYP has done more to further my spiritual evolution than any other resource. It's truly a practical guide to enlightenment for the 21st century.