«All over the world, millions of people practice yoga. They believe that it
is beneficial for them. In this book, the author argues that for about 90
percent of the population, yoga is detrimental to health.
Traditionally, the peoples of India looked down on yogis, noting easily that
they went mad. They stood on one leg for long periods in the Himalayas with
their hands stretched up or they walked about the streets aimlessly chanting
silly things.
In this book the author explains why traditional thinking was correct and
that there are indeed harmful effects as outlined in the Indian textbooks of
old. For example, the revered sage Swatmarama refers to yogic breathing
techniques as "like taming a lion"; most other ancient philosophers did not
accept yoga philosophy. Sage Patanjali, father of Yoga, is known in the
Indian scriptures as the divine cobra.
This is the first book, and the author has seen many, that specifically
looks at the harmful effects of yoga practice.
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