“There is no daily practice without some formal training; and there is no deep spiritual training without the mess of relational life. The two are one.” —Michael Stone

The Inner Tradition of Yoga—this wise, accessible guide by Michael Stone, now revised and updated in 2018—makes the spiritual and ethical teachings of the yogic tradition immediately relatable to our practice on the mat and in our everyday relationships and activities. Stone draws from numerous disciplines—including Buddhism and psychotherapy—to provide an in-depth, completely clear explanation of yogic philosophy, along with teachings on how to work with the conditions of our life and fully appreciate Yoga as a practice of being intimate with moment-to-moment reality.

“In this new edition, I’ve edited any areas where I’ve idealized a liberation that’s free from the suffering of being human. There is no way beyond this human life. Yoga is a practice that helps us be more present with the actual, fluid life we are living right now. Yoga is a practice of being intimate with moment-to-moment reality, without holding on. Since being alive in this way teaches us that our actions have an echo, we begin to see that how we speak, move our body, and use our minds is both a gift and a responsibility. The more we see through our reactivity, while transforming the momentum of old habits, the more we begin to enjoy our lives and tune in to the pain and joy and experience of others.” ~Michael Stone

 

About the Author:

Michael Stone (1974 – 2017) was a prominent and innovative Buddhist teacher, yogi, psychotherapist, and author. He was the founder and director of the Centre of Gravity Sangha, a community of Yoga and Buddhist practitioners based in Toronto, and he taught widely and had a large international  following. He is the author of The Inner Tradition of Yoga, Yoga for a World Out of Balance, Freeing the Body Freeing the Mind, and Awake in the World. For more information visit michaelstoneteaching.com.