preface
introduction
Chapter 1: A Journey Inward
Chapter 2: Stability - Physical (Asana)
Chapter 3: Life Force - The Energy Body (Prana)
Chapter 4 Clarity - The Mental Body (Manas)
Chapter 5: Wisdom - The Body of Intellect (Vijnana)
Chapter 6 Joy - The Divine Body (Ananda)
Chapter 7 Living Freely
Asanas for emotional stability

From the question of whether to quit smoking to the path to freedom and liberation.
A heartfelt teaching from a great yoga master to solve all human problems!

B., a master of modern yoga.
KS
In Ayengar's latest work, the veteran practitioner, who has reached the final stage of life, looks back on his intense journey of practice and generously shares all the achievements he has made with his disciples.
Yoga views the human body as being made up of five layers, and this book is largely structured around this framework within which the yoga system analyzes the human body.

Chapter 1 is general in nature and introduces the basic concepts of the yoga system, such as Kosa (the five layers that make up a human being), Purusa and Prakrti, and the eight stages of yoga, and identifies the conditions and problems that humans are inherently faced with.
Chapter 2 is about asana.
It shows that asanas are not only for physical health but also play a hugely important role in the overall practice of yoga.
The author's insight into asana practice is so thorough and profound that it will fundamentally change your previous perception of asana.
Chapter 3 deals with control of breath, energy, mind and senses.
The part that explains the meaning and importance of yogic breathing, focusing on inhalation, exhalation, and retention of breath, is traditionally the realm of pranayama, while the realm of pratyahara is overcoming emotional turmoil through well-regulated breathing and achieving control of the mind and senses.
Familiar everyday terms and easy examples help you gain a clear understanding of pranayama and pratyahara.
If Chapter 3 deals with the body of energy, Chapter 4 is about the mental body, or Manomaya Kosa.
Here we analyze the inner workings of consciousness to show how the mind connects to action.
The mind and the ideal, which are the elements of consciousness, are controlled by the intellect, another element of consciousness, so that we can act prudently and wisely in our daily lives, free from bad habits such as irritability, overeating, and smoking.
The series of processes for forming healthy behavior patterns through psychological self-analysis are presented humorously and persuasively.

Chapter 5 deals with the fourth layer of existence, the Vijnanamaya Kosa (the body of intelligence).
In this level, humans deepen their self-understanding and refine their intellect to a higher degree, completing the exploration of our existence as individual souls.
The yogic tools that help with this are dharana (concentration) and dhyana (meditation).
In this chapter, the author removes the conceptual confusion between concentration and meditation and encourages us to achieve concentration and meditation through breathing.

Chapter 6 is the chapter on the body of joy, Anandamaya Kosa.
This layer of the body is the innermost place of our human existence where our soul lives and where we can experience cosmic oneness.
This chapter addresses some important issues that arise specifically with samadhi and urges practitioners to be cautious about the illusions they may have about samadhi.

Chapter 7 discusses the challenges remaining for the enlightened practitioner after samadhi, but the author emphasizes that even ordinary people can live lives that align with the ultimate purpose of yoga in their daily lives.
Above all, the reflection on the relationship between Savasana and time shows that it is possible to experience timelessness in everyday life.


The emotional stability asanas at the end of the book are designed for modern people who struggle with anxiety and worry, but they also contain valuable information that helps us understand how adjustments occur in asana postures.