A yoga book for curious people.

Meet the monks and maharajas, gods and gymnasts who shaped yoga as we know it.

Have you ever wondered why yoga postures look the way they do, or how they got their names? From Lotus to Warrior, Cobra to Happy Baby, this book takes a fresh look at the stories behind 30 familiar poses.

A treasure trove of yoga history, mythology, philosophy and pop culture that enlightens and entertains by turns, and an ideal mat companion for the curious yoga enthusiast.

Now also available in German at bookshops across the DACH region or via the links below.

Deutsche Ausgabe: “Krieger, Hund, Sonnengruß” (Knesebeck Verlag)
Übersetzt von Christiane Burkhardt

German language edition / Deutsche Ausgabe

My third book is an exploration of the histories, mythologies and symbolism of yoga asana. It’s a book for people who love yoga, and also have questions. In it, I take a deeper look at 30 familiar yoga poses and unpack some of the stories behind them: looking at where they may have originated, exploring how they got their names, and interrogating some of the more recent myths that have sprung up around them. How did this fusion of gymnastics, ancient philosophy and New Age self-improvement become a mainstream leisure activity across the globe? And how reliably can we locate its origins in ancient and medieval India? Throughout the book, you’ll also find a sprinkling of suggestions for practice and further exploration drawn from my own 25 years of yoga, as both a student and a teacher.

It’s beautifully designed, lavishly illustrated by Amanda Léon, and was published by Green Tree Books in October 2022.