The stories about how old yoga is as a practice, where it originated from, and who it belongs to are as many as they are conflicting. Yoga practitioners often have to navigate through a jungle of information in order to seek answers to their questions. What exactly is the goal of yoga? Is it relevant for contemporary yoga practitioners to study the Yoga Sutra? What do the various Indian gods and goddesses really symbolize? And what do yogic and tantric traditions have in common? This book offers its readers a clear overview of the origin and historical development of yoga and tantra and an in-depth understanding of the various philosophical systems and concepts used under the name "yoga philosophy". The book also provides insight into how the classical literature often referenced in yoga can be understood contextually, i.e., how it relates to and reflects the time and place it originated in. As well as how yogic mythology and its many deities can be used to put words on an inner experience or shed light on aspects of ourselves. The book is a must-read for yoga teachers, curious practitioners, as well as knowledge seekers.

 About The Author

TOVA OLSSON is a yoga teacher, religious scholar, and writer. She has been published in scientific journals and lectures internationally on the history, philosophy, and mythology of yoga and tantra. She holds an MA in history of religions from Gothenburg University and is currently working on her Ph.D. at Umeà University.