Table of Contents
Foreword ixAcknowledgments xiA Note to the Reader xiii
Introduction Mussar and Yoga: A Brief History • Why Combine Mussar and Yoga?• Is the Mussar Yoga Path for You?
How to Practice Mussar Yoga 9Awareness: How Do You Measure Up? • Accountability: FromAwareness to Action • Getting Started • The Fundamentals of YogaPoses: Easy Pose • Mountain Pose • Forward Fold • DownwardFacing Dog • Warrior II
1 Truth 25Why We Lie • To Thy Own Self Be True• Be True to Others: Six GuidelinesPoses: Mountain • CamelMeditation: Ten-Minute Mindfulness Meditation
2 Courage 37Play Your Edge • The Contagion of Courage• Courage versus RecklessnessPoses: Triangle • Handstand • CrowBreathwork: Lion's Breath
3 Humility 49The Challenge of Ego • Balancing Ego • Managing EgoPoses: Warrior I • Humble Warrior • Half Moon • Headstand
4 Order 63Creating Order Is Spiritual Work • The Beauty of ChaosPoses: Side Plank • Flipped DogBreathwork: Alternate Nostril Breathing
5 Nonjudgment 73Honoring Others, Honoring Ourself • Finding BalancePoses: Eagle • Warrior III • Seated Forward Bend
6 Zeal 85Your Patterns of Energy • Obstacles to Living with Zeal• Staying InspiredPoses: High Push-up (Plank)/Low Push-up • Warrior IIBreathwork: Breath of Joy
7 Simplicity 95Six Ways to Simplify Your Life • Finding Balance with SimplicityPoses: Revolved Lunge • Half (King) Pigeon • Corpse PoseBreathwork: Skull Brightening Breath
8 Equanimity 109Put Yourself in a Storm • Be the Inner Witness • Stay withEquanimity • Equanimity for Ourself and Others • Ups and DownsPoses: Chair • Bound Extended Side Angle • Reverse WarriorBreathwork: Victorious Breath
9 Generosity 123More Than Money • The Abundance Cycle• Widening the Circle of Giving • Letting Others GivePoses: Boat • Partner BackbendsBreathwork: Breath Retention
10 Silence 133Silence Is Golden • Silence and ConflictPoses: Upward Facing Dog • Tree • Supine Twist
11 Gratitude 143Gratitude as Perspective • Gratitude and Impermanence• Gratitude for Life's Challenges • Gratitude and Memory• Gratitude as Domestic Currency • Environmentalism asGratitude • Blessings PracticePoses: Downward Facing Dog • Child's • Bridge
12 Loving-Kindness and Compassion 155Finding Oneness in the Midst of Differences• Loving-Kindness: A Two-Step Approach• Compassion: Responding with Understanding and ActionPoses: Pyramid • LocustMeditation: Loving-Kindness (Metta)
13 Trust 167Limits on Human Control • How to Surrender• The Lightness of Letting GoPoses: Forward Fold • Seated Twist • Frog
Conclusion 179Begin Again • Creating a Mussar Yoga Practice Group
Notes 184Glossary 188Resources 190