Alanna Kaivalya - Yoga Beyond the Mat

Llewellyn Publications

Woodbury, Minnesota

Copyright Information

Yoga Beyond the Mat: How to Make Yoga Your Spiritual Practice 2016 by Alanna Kaivalya.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any matter whatsoever, including Internet usage, without written permission from Llewellyn Publications, except in the form of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

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First e-book edition 2016

E-book ISBN: 9780738749716

Cover art: iStockphoto.com/60837998/Sonya_illustration
iStockphoto.com/19157502/mediaphotos
iStockphoto.com/15000955/Jeja
iStockphoto.com/12564643/krishnapriya
iStockphoto.com/79016965/anyaberkut

Cover design: Ellen Lawson

Interior chakra images: Llewellyn Art Department

Interior illustrations: Mary Ann Zapalac

Llewellyn Publications is an imprint of Llewellyn Worldwide Ltd.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Kaivalya, Alanna, author.

Title: Yoga beyond the mat : how to make yoga your spiritual practice / by

Alanna Kaivalya.

Description: First edition. | Woodbury, Minnesota : Llewellyn Publications,

[2016] | Includes bibliographical references.

Identifiers: LCCN 2016025309 (print) | LCCN 2016032584 (ebook) | ISBN

9780738747644 | ISBN 9780738749716 ()

Subjects: LCSH: Yoga.

Classification: LCC BL1238.52 .K35 2016 (print) | LCC BL1238.52 (ebook) | DDC

204/.36--dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2016025309

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Llewellyn Publications

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Woodbury, MN 55125

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Manufactured in the United States of America

Disclaimer

This book contains information that is intended to help the readers be better-informed yoga practitioners. It is presented as general advice. This book is not intended to be a substitute for the advice of a physician or a psychologist/psychiatrist. Before beginning any new exercise program, it is recommended that you seek medical advice from your healthcare provider. The reader should consult with his or her respective provider in any matters relating to physical or mental health. The information in this book is meant to supplement, not replace, proper yoga asana training. Like any physical activity, yoga can pose some risk of physical injury if done improperly. The author and publisher advise readers that they have full responsibility for their safety and should know their limits. Before practicing asana poses as described in this book, be sure that you are well informed of proper practice and do not take risks beyond your experience and comfort levels. The publisher and the author assume no liability for any injuries caused to the reader that may result from the readers use of the content contained herein and recommend common sense when contemplating the practices described in the work.

Acknowledgments

A project of this scope and magnitude takes a lifetime and many helping hands to complete. It is a dream come true to present this work to you, and it would not have been possible without the help of a great many dedicated, loving, persistent, and intrepid folks. First, I must thank the man who carefully watched over every word of this work, wiped every bead of sweat from my brow, and was the first to help me celebrate its completion; my wonderful husband, Peter. Without his support and love, my sleepless nights and marathon writing days would not have been impossible. I would also like to thank my mother, Pola, who has always been my biggest fan and has never ceased her championship of this endeavor. Her belief in me lifts me up and keeps me going.

The dream of this book became reality with the faith and tirelessness of my incredible agents at MDM Management, Steve Harris and Michele Martin, for whom I am so grateful. During the writing and editing process, I was incredibly humbled and blessed to work with two dedicated, brilliant yoga colleagues: Avery Westlund and Elizabeth Rowan. They fact-checked, spell-checked, and clich-checked everything and made sure I was saying exactly what I meant to say. The lovely Chakra Queen, Shira Engel, was instrumental in putting together the chakra practices, and I honor her attention to detail and graciousness in the process. Every writer dreams of a haven in which to write, and Tom and Marilouise Ruane provided me with the perfect retreat at the time it was most needed.

This book is one part of my dissertation work, completed at Pacifica Graduate Institute, and so I cannot thank the faculty there enough for their scholarship and influence, namely: Dr. Dennis Slattery, who lit the fire for personal mythology; Dr. Carol Horton for her honest advice and diligent contributions; Dr. Steven Aizenstat, who shepherded this project with wisdom and encouragement; and finally, Dr. Patrick Mahaffey, my dissertation chair, who went to the ends of the earth to see this project through in record time with great poise, faith, and kindness.

The team at Llewellyn Worldwide is exceptional to work with, and I must call attention to the great efforts of the acquisitions editor, Angela Wix, and the production editor, Stephanie Finne. They both worked hard to produce the final work you hold in your hands. The books beauty is owed to cover designer, Ellen Lawson, and interior designer, Donna Burch-Brown. Publicist Vanessa Wright is owed many thanks for helping spread the word about this work to the world.

Finally, and I know it sounds silly, but I need to give a shout-out to my dog, Roxy. She was there every step of the way: through grad school (she attended every class), during the writing process, and even as I teach the work, she is by my side. For those of you with furry friends, you know how much their unconditional love teaches us to keep our heart open at all times.