Light on Life: The Yoga Journey to Wholeness, Inner Peace, and Ultimate Freedom

B. K. S. Iyengar, hailed as "the Michelangelo of yoga" (BBC) and considered by many to be the most important living yoga master, has spent much of his life introducing the modern world to the ancient practice of yoga. Yoga's popularity is soaring, but its widespread acceptance as an exercise for physical fitness and the recognition of its health benefits have not been matched by an understanding of the emotional, intellectual, and spiritual development that the yogic tradition can also offer. In Light on Life, B. K. S. Iyengar explains this new and more complete understanding of the yogic journey. Here Iyengar explores the yogic goal to integrate the different parts of the self (body, emotions, mind and soul); the role that the yoga postures and breathing techniques play in our search for wholeness; the external and internal obstacles that keep us from progressing along the path; and how yoga can transform our lives and help us to live in harmony with the world around us. For the first time, Iyengar uses stories from his own life, humor, and examples from modern culture to illustrate the profound gifts that yoga offers. Written with the depth of this sage's great wisdom, Light on Life is the culmination of a master's spiritual genius, a treasured companion to his seminal Light on Yoga.… (more)

User reviews

LibraryThing member yogiclarebear

I appreciated Iyengar's perspective on the Yogic life. He draws a lot on his own life to exemplify the teachings of Yoga as outlined by Patanjali. At times it seems like he touts himself a lot, but most likely well deserved. The outline of his book via the “sheaths of being” make for an good

base to expand on the purposes, paths, and tools to honing one’s Yogic life.

Show Less

4 more

LibraryThing member DianeBickers

The asana sequence for equanimity at the end of the book is a true gift to students!

LibraryThing member jepeters333

One of the world's masters of yoga invites both those new to yoga and those who are experienced practitioners on an inward journey designed to increase their physical health, emotional vitality, mental clarity, intellectual wisdom, and spiritual bliss. As B.K.S. iYengar says, the potential for

enlightenment lies in the heart of every person and the yogic journey will illuminate the path.

Show Less

LibraryThing member jasoncomely

There is the saying 'how you do anything means everything'. Likewise, how we do yoga is how we will engage life in general. That seems to be the gist of this book. However there is so much wisdom here that I enthusiastically recommend it to anyone, whether they practice yoga or not.

LibraryThing member AlisonY

This is a reread (well sort of, as I only read the first part of it previously). I'm hoping to go back to my Iyengar yoga class in the New Year, so following on from the previous book on breath was interested in returning to Iyengar's insights on breath work, etc.

The first two chapters (on the

asanas, or poses, and breath) were interesting enough, but it wasn't long before I remembered why I'd given up after that previously. There's a lot of lecturing on inner wisdom and enlightenment, and despite a lot of text around successful yoga practice (and life) relying on loss of ego there seemed plenty of ego coming across from old Iyengar himself. Iyengar had a lot of opinions, and boy did he allow himself the luxury of examining them in minutiae detail in this book.

2 stars - recommended for insomniacs or those interested in alternative torture methods.

Show Less

Fewer