The yoga teacher training course practiced today bears little resemblance to the discipline that began humbly almost 5,000 years ago, but in its rich and varied history, yoga has always evolved to meet the needs of the culture it serves. In this combination of how-to guide and inspirational text. Linda Sparrowe blends a historical overview with a wealth of exercises to help readers strengthen the mind and body. In brief, lively portraits, the author describes the 20th-century masters who helped bring yoga to the West and, indeed, the world. the centerpiece of the book contains 400 "asanas, or postures. Rendered in sumptuous black-and-white photographs that illustrate the development of modern physical postures derived from ancient Indian tradition, the asanas and the accompanying text show how the flexibility and stamina achieved on the yoga mat can transform all areas of life.