What a gift! Thank you for bringing your yoga contributions into book form! After attempting yoga with dozens and dozens of different teachers, I am happy to say that Peetambar was able to not only get me to return to class, but even practice consecutively for over a week. Bringing just the right blend of strictness, ease, attention to form, and stretching students' abilities, his class hits a perfect tone.

His decades of experience and profound teaching ability transfer directly into this delightful book. The clear step- by-step instructions and detailed photos will aid the entire range from beginners to experienced practitioners. Also much appreciated is noting of the benefits & purposes of each asana. May this work expose many masses to what is possible and the many benefits of yoga.

I was only eleven years old when I started my yoga. It was at a yoga exhibition where I saw a book on the subject. I took a copy and presented it to my grandfather who said, "You don't need a book. Our family tradition is for me to teach you."

My grandfather's yoga was quite advanced, as he'd been practicing his entire life. I can still see him doing Sirsasana (a headstand) without using his hands to support himself. As I began my yoga practice, my young life seemed to become much easier and filled with more clarity and wisdom. I not only became more flexible in my body, but also in my mind and spirit.

Shortly after I began my yoga journey, I was taken to the ashram of my family's guru, where I furthered my practice with him as my teacher. It was at this time I also learned about Vedic chanting, meditation and the six traditional educations of ancient India (The Vedas, Upanishades, etc.)

I lived at the ashram for the next five years, completely devoting my life to the practice, and to gaining knowledge. I didn't see my family at all during this time. This period of my life gave me a lot of understanding and inspired me greatly. I would go to school from 10:00am to 4:00pm and then again from 4:00 to 6:00. I also worked in the public education department, earning less than $1.00 a month. Forty cents would go to my school fees and thirty cents would go to my pen and paper costs. The rest I would save, so I could occasionally see a movie. In 1975, at the age of 15, I achieved the equivalent of a high school degree and moved into the next phase of my journey.

Back with my family, my grandfather began educating me on the subject of Ayurveda, the oldest form of medicine known to man. He taught me the important principles of natural herbs, as it relates to healing the body. He also taught me about the three Doshas (body types) that are the foundation of Ayurveda.

From 1981 to 1983, I went back to school full time and received my doctorate in Ayurveda. I continued my education from there and in 1989, after much devotion and many years of schooling, I graduated with my PhD in Sanskrit Literature.