Yoga Beneath the Surface - by Srivatsa Ramaswami and David Hurwitz

• Paperback: 256 pages

This is a treasure chest full of gems for the serious practitioner and scholar. The book serves as a unique and fascinating guide to the classical tradition that is rarely accessible to the modern student, west or east. The questions by David Hurwitz, a scholar in his own right, are as revealing as the answers by Srivatsa Ramaswami, a modern authority on the traditional written and oral teachings. This is a most humbling, yet equally inspiring book for those of us calling ourselves yoga teachers.

"

Yoga Beneath the Surface

is a unique book, and a must read for all serious students. With his extensive knowledge, and profound understanding, Srivatsa Ramaswami makes accessible a broad spectrum of teachings on yoga philosophy and practice. Thinking of Ramaswami, whom I first met in 1974, the words sincerity, humility, and authenticity come to mind. I am grateful to him, and to David Hurwitz, for bringing out this work." - GARY KRAFTSOW, author of

Yoga for Transformation

and

Yoga for Wellness

, founder of

American Viniyoga Institute

"David Hurwitz has asked the questions that linger in the mind of many a yoga student but often go unasked. Srivatsa Ramaswami provides insightful answers to a wide variety of issues, including details on the practice of pranayama, advice for dealing with specific issues faced by teachers of yoga, and interesting facts on the philosophy and history of yoga. This book includes something for everyone, and is presented in a narrative, conversational style. David is to be commended for his careful crafting of questions and Srivatsa Ramaswami is to be applauded for his cogent, gentle answers." - CHRISTOPHER KEY CHAPPLE, professor of theological studies, Loyola Marymount University

"This book has reached in, grabbed, and tied up so many loose threads for me. David Hurwitz intelligently introduces topics by category and then steps aside to let the master speak clearly to the reader. Conversations on such topics as breath as an uplifting object, breath in asana, meditation on Ishvara, the chikitsa texts, and diagnosis are in depth and sophisticated. Comments on asana practice and karma equally provide implemental treasures for the serious yoga student. The joy of this work is that, in the didactic method of questions and answers that are inherent to the yoga tradition, it offers the serious yoga student user-friendly access to traditional yogic thought. Yoga Beneath the Surface has captured the voice, the footprint, and the gentle echoes that will hum in my brain long after my readings." - VERONICA ZADOR, president of

International Association of Yoga Therapists

, vice president of

Yoga Alliance

"Hollywood writer and life scholar David Hurwitz has turned his attention to yoga. Thank you David! He reveals the vital and sometimes subtle secrets of the great Krishnamacharya, 'the teacher of our teachers.' He shows how you and I as western students can really use yoga to live our lives in peace. David's accord with another great teacher, Srivatsa Ramaswami, in this living lineage of yoga transmission speaks volumes. Ramaswami studied a solid thirty three years with Krishnamacharya to absorb his gift to the world. David asked his own questions, but has asked them for all of us coming to grips with the questions of

What is yoga

? and

How do I practice in the way that is right for me

? Here yoga is made relevant to our present time. Read this book. It reverberates from the ancient source to you." - MARK WHITWELL, author of

Yoga of Heart

Srivatsa Ramaswami

(born in 1939) spent more than three decades studying with T. S. Krishnamacharya (1888-1998), tutor of K. Pattabhi Jois, Indra Devi, B. K. S. Iyengar, and T. K. V. Desikachar, and is considered the greatest exponent of yoga in modern times. Ramaswami is the author of Yoga for the Three Stages of Life (2000) and the best-seller The Complete Book on Vinyasa Yoga (2005).

David Hurwitz

teaches yoga in Los Angeles and has a teacher training certificate from the American Viniyoga Institute. In 1990 Hurwitz began studying the yoga tradition of Krishnamacharya with A.G. Mohan (Chennai, formerly known as Madras, India) and Gary Kraftsow, but when he met Srivatsa Ramaswami a few years ago, they began to develop a deep friendship; the two authors travel together, giving lectures and master classes.