Genesis of Yoga: Core 26+ Level 1 (Core Yoga Systems)

Genesis of Yoga - Core26+ is a journey into the history of yoga and its relationship to Christianity and Kabbalah based on the writings of Paramahansa Yogananda. The first part of this book describes Tony's introduction to the mysterious world of yoga through Yogananda's "Autobiography of a Yogi". He also gives a detailed description of his first meeting with his yoga teachers and mentors who help him forge his yoga path. After many years of practice, study and investigating the different aspects of yoga, Tony realised that to really know and understand yoga he had to start from the beginning, at the Indus Valley Civilisation (Before 3000 BC) where the practice of yoga first took place. The first known yogis were the Brahmans and Rishis (mystic seers) followers of the God Shiva. They slowly refined and developed the practice of Yoga and documented their practices and beliefs in the Vedas. This period of Yoga is call the Pre-Classical Yoga period. It was followed by the Classical Yoga Period (100 BCE - 500 AD), which was marked by the arrival of the most important texts on Yoga, Patanjali's Sutras, and Ashtanga Yoga or Eight Limb Yoga. Give or take a thousand years later the Post-Classical Yoga period (800 AD-1700 AD) brought with it big changes to the Yoga scene. It was during this time that Tantra and Hatha Yoga were developed. The yogis from the post-Classical period welcome reality with an emphasis on knowing and understanding the present. During this time, a system of practices was developed for the rejuvenation of the body. The period that followed (1700 - 1900 AD) is known as the Modern Yoga period in which great yogis like Ramakrishna, Sivananda, Yogananda, Ghosh, and others started exporting their Yoga philosophy to the western world and new changes began taking place. Tony also explores different yogic concepts of the mind and life energy in relation to the body and organ systems. And lastly a detailed description of the Anatomical planes, practice principles, and the Core-26+ system for Beginner's is presented in detail. All the poses have photographs, lengthy descriptions and modifications to make the practice of this system of Yoga, safe, sustainable and fun.