This book is dedicated to the members of The Yoga Institute of Santa Cruz East, Mumbai, India; its leaders Shri and Smt. Yogendraji; and Dr. Jayadeva, Hansaji Yogendra, and Patanjali Yogendra, who teach yoga as a total approach to life.
Much gratitude is offered here to the community members and teachers from the YogaLife Institute who assisted in the foundational research and editing of this book: Julie Rost, Kristen Butera, Linda Lyng, Shirley Weaver, Steve Sonnefield, Mythri Menon, Caroline Thomas Barnhart, Carol Elia, Jim Dougherty, and Angela Nevius. Jeff Gurrier and Karen Batchelder took the beautiful yoga pose photos that are included in this book. And a big thank you to my literary agents, Michael Ebeling and Kristina Holmes, for their passion and dedication to this book. Their consistent support and guidance throughout the publishing process has been invaluable and is most appreciated. To Carrie Obry and Nicole Edman of Llewellyn Publications who transformed this work into the appealing, readable, and accessible book.
Finally, to the many members of our yoga programs, who over the years, in weekly classes and teacher-training sessions, shared personal insights that informed our understanding of the complete experience of yoga poses.