Curious Poses - 30 Yoga Postures and the Stories They Tell

Deepen your practice and discover the myths, gods, sacred animals and imagery that lie hidden in your favourite yoga postures

Meet the monks and maharajas, gods and gymnasts who shaped yoga as we know it.

Have you ever wondered why yoga postures look the way they do, or how they got their names? From Lotus to Warrior, Cobra to Happy Baby, this book takes a fresh look at the stories behind 30 familiar poses.

By drawing in on Hindu scripture, mythology and the animals, birds and flowers the original Indian yogis saw around them, Curious Poses explores the symbolism of yoga postures many of us practise every week and offers inspiration to regular practitioners and yoga teachers alike.

Let this book take you on a journey into a treasure trove of yoga history, mythology, philosophy and pop culture that enlightens and entertains by turns. Featuring full-colour illustrations, Curious Poses is an ideal mat companion for the curious yoga enthusiast.

Introduction
Lotus (padmasana)
Hero (vajrasana)
Bharadvaja's pose (bharadvajasana)
Matsyendra's pose (matsyendrasana)
Marichi's pose (marichyansana)
Lion (simhasana)
Cow face (gomukhasana)
Preliminaries (pawanmuktasana)
Sun salutation (surya namaskar)
Mountain (tadasana)
Tree (vrksasana)
Chair (utkatasana)
Downward-facing dog (adho mukha svanasana)
Warrior (virabhadrasana)
Triangle (trikonasana)
Gate latch (parighasana)
Crow (bakasana)
Half-moon (ardha chandrasana)
Headstand (sirsasana)
Lord of the Dance (natarajasana)
Peacock (mayurasana)
Wheel (chakrasana)
Cobra (bhujangasana)
Pigeon (kapotasana)
Forward fold (paschimottanasana)
Squat (utkatikasana)
Child (balasana)
Happy baby (ananda balasana)
Corpse (savasana)