Within the Yoga Sutra, an ancient text on the practice of yoga, only two verses mention asanas, or the postures we commonly associate with yoga in the West. Patanjali, the legendary sage and author of this 2,250-year-old-work, was concerned not solely with physical development, or even mental development. In fact the original purpose of yoga was and remains to function as a complete spiritual path where the body serves as a gateway to enlightenment.
On The Yoga Matrix, the renowned instructor Richard Freeman immerses us in the rich teachings and sutras that inform the many schools of yoga, and reveals how the body can serve as the ultimate laboratory, temple, and place of pilgrimage for spiritual inquiry. Looking back 5,000 years, Freeman uncovers the living roots of yoga philosophy, and observes how they have grown into many schools, techniques, and philosophies that are united by a vast, interpenetrating matrix which holds the key to understanding yogas full depth and greater purpose.
Created Especially for Serious Students of Yoga in the West Freeman first traveled to India in 1968, where he began a lifetime of study with the living masters of yoga and its mysteries. Now he teaches these authentic lessons and their original subtleties, with the questions and concerns of the serious Western student in mind. What is the yogic view of reality? Why was yoga first developed? How is progress traditionally measured? What are the principles of working ...
This review is from: Yoga Matrix: Format-CDs
The Yoga Matrix is of monumental scope and Richard Benjamin with his steady, calm voice does a great narration. I enjoyed the CD set and feel that it's a good investment in time and cost, but on the second listening, problems came up. First off, this exposition of yoga seems "Hatha-centric," mentioning asanas again and again, which might be understandable for an American audience, but in an expanded view, enough already! Hatha is great fun, organized, sellable, but let's face it, the relevance to yoga is at best shaky. One example: when discussing the opening scene of the Bhagavad Gita, "Assembled here on this field of Dharma, Kurukshetra, desiring war..." Mr. Freeman comments, "Reminds me of my sticky mat!" Cute. But that glib comment actually comes closer than most of his others. The Bhagavad Gita, from what I understand, is mainly an exposition of the inner battle, the psychology, the standoff between good habits and bad habits, the long and arduous quest for awakening. That's the Bhagavad Gita; not really about warfare, politics, and outer dealings. And one final observation in the capacity of "critic" that prevents me from giving this five stars: finally discussing my favorite, The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, isn't it pronounced Pa-TAN-jali and not Patan-JAL-i? Hearing PatanJOLLY again and again, grates....
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