DR ANANDA’S NEW BOOK, “A PRIMER OF YOGA THEORY” RELEASED

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" A Primer of Yoga Theory " , the new book by Yogacharya Dr Ananda

Balayogi Bhavanani dealing with literary and philosophical aspects of

Yoga was officially released on the 12th November 2004 by Shri Neela

Gangadharan, Chairman, Pondicherry Tourism and Transport Development

Corporation during the 19th Pondicherry and 1st Tamil Nadu State Yoga

Sport Championship 2004. The first copies were presented to Shri R

Siva and Shri AM Krishnamurthy, honorable members of the Pondicherry

Legislative Assembly and Shri K Venkatraman, Managing Director, Dina

Malar, the leading Tamil daily of South India.

The book had an earlier soft release during the inauguration of the

36th Yoga teachers training course at ICYER on 2nd October when

Yogacharini Dr Nalini Devi of the Gitananda Yogalayam Spain received

the first copy and then students from Canada, Switzerland, Italy,

Germany, Spain, England, Australia, USA, Czech Republic, India and

Holland received a copy thus symbolising the start of their Yogic

journey.

This 160 page book has been compiled by Yogacharya Dr Ananda Balayogi

Bhavanani from a reference base of 35 different authoritative Yoga

books such as Yoga: Step-By-Step by Dr. Swami Gitananda Giri, Raja

Yoga Sutras by Swami Jyothirmayananda, Four Chapters On Freedom by

Swami Satyananda Saraswati, Light on Yoga by Padmabhusan BKS Iyengar,

The Science of Yoga by I K Taimni, Laghu Yoga Vashistha by Narayana

Swami Aiyar, Yoga Sutras of Patanjali by Dr. Georg Feuerstein,

Bhagavad Gita by Swami Chidananda, Yoga Kosha. Published by

Kaivalyadhama, Lonavla, Maharasthra, Yoga. Published by V. K.

Prakashan Trust Chennai, Hatha Yoga Pradipika: English Translation by

Pancham Sinh, Gheranda Samhita: English Translation by Rai Bahadur S

C Vasu, Shiva Samhita: English Translation by Rai Bahadur S C Vasu,

Prasnopanishad: Commentary by Paramahansa Niranjananda, The Six

Systems of Hindu Philosophy by Swami Harshananda, Shambala

Encyclopedia of Yoga: by Georg Feuerstein, Asana, Pranayama, Mudra,

Bandha - by Swami Satyananda Saraswathi, Light on the Yoga sutras of

Patanjali by BKS Iyengar, A primer of Hinduism by DS Sharma, Yoga in

education by Dr HR Nagendra, T Mohan and A Shriram, Integrated

approach of Yoga therapy for positive health by Dr HR Nagendra and Dr

H Nagarathna, Pranayama: The art and science by Dr HR Nagendra,

Health Benefits of Yoga by Trisha Lamb, Forty Types of Yoga by Georg

Feuerstein, Ancient Yoga and modern science by Prof TR Anantaraman,

Nathamuni's Yoga Rahasya translated by TKV Desikachar, Yoga sutra of

Patanjali with the commentary of Vyasa by Bangali Baba and from many

back issues of Yoga life (the International Journal of Yoga Jivana

Satsangha) edited by Yogacharini Meenakshi Devi Bhavanani .

Nowadays organizers of Yoga Sport competitions are taking into

consideration the theoretical Yoga knowledge of the competitor as

well as their proficiency in Yogasanas. In this situation it is

necessary to have a systematic approach to the theory papers in the

competitions. This book is an attempt to systematize the theory

questions in Yogasana Competitions and provide the competitors as

well as organizers a foundation on which to base the theory papers.

The book is also useful for all those interested in learning more

about the theoretical and philosophical aspects of Yoga. It is

beneficial for those undergoing University as well as college

education in Yoga as it is a useful quick reference guide to

innumerable concepts. The neat index is an added bonus to help in

quick reference of topics.

As the easiest way to learn is through question and answer models

this book is presented in the question and answer pattern. The

material given in this book is merely a beginning and the Sadhaka

must actualize these concepts in themselves through extensive

contemplation and self-analysis. Model theory papers are also given

at the end of the book so that similar papers can be used in theory

exams.

The book has 19 chapters that deal with questions and answers on

topics such as What is Yoga, Yogic prayers, Ashtanga Yoga, Yama and

Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Hatha Yoga: The Physical Science of

Balance, Chakras, Nature of Man, Yogic Texts, Yoga Sadhana, Yoga

Therapy, Yoga In Modern India, Yoga and Sports, Stress: the Bane of

Modern Living, and also has a lot of useful Quiz and Viva Questions

as well as Model Theory Papers. A special attraction is the

Mahabharatha Quiz that helps us to understand the epic much better