I must admit I’m a sucker for beautifully bound books. There’s a greed to acquire it when I see one, especially if the topic appeals to me. This year, I’ve been on a self-imposed book-buying restriction. I’ve sort of vowed not to buy more books till I finish at least half of what I have in my to-be-read shelf. But during a recent trip to a bookstore with a friend who wanted a specific Nepali book, my eyes fell upon ‘The Stories Behind the Poses’ in the new arrivals section. I picked it up just to have a look but I couldn’t put it down. In hindsight, I shouldn’t have entered the bookstore if I were serious about not buying more books. But I walked out with a stunning copy of the yoga guidebook that I have been leafing through every single day since then.
I started doing yoga a few years ago, following some health issues and it really helped me heal. I had never felt more active and at ease with my body. So, now I do yoga every day for an hour and it makes me feel good about myself. My periods and skin have also gotten better. But I felt like I had gotten into it blind and wanted to educate myself about the history of yoga. Though I have several books on Ayurveda and yoga, they haven’t been as immersive reading as The Stories Behind the Poses.
The Stories Behind the Poses is a collection of Indian myths behind 50 yoga postures. Each posture is explained in detail and accompanied by a stunning illustration of a god or goddess on colorful pages. It’s a visually appealing book that can be used as a great coffee table book. It’s too beautiful not to be displayed and just shoved in the shelves. The good thing about the book is that you don’t have to read it in order and you can just dip in and out, choosing to read a few pages at a time.
If you do yoga, you can also choose to enhance your practice by learning about one pose before or after your class every day. Alongside that, you’ll also boost your knowledge about Hindu mythology. This is a must have book for yoga enthusiasts, spiritual seekers, and even students of mythology. Balkaran tells compelling stories and invites yoga practitioners to deepen their practice with a thorough understanding of what they are doing and why.
The Stories Behind the Poses
Dr Raj Balkaran
Illustrated by Devika Menon
Published: 2022
Publisher: Leaping Hare Press
Pages: 224, Hardcover
