Premodern and early modern yoga comprise techniques with a wide range of aims, from turning inward in quest of the true self, to turning outward for divine union, to channeling bodily energy in pursuit of sexual pleasure. Early modern yoga also encompassed countercultural beliefs and practices. In contrast, today, modern yoga aims at the enhancement of the mind-body complex but does so according to contemporary dominant metaphysical, health, and fitness paradigms. Consequently, yoga is now a part of popular culture. In Selling Yoga, Andrea R. Jain explores the popularization of yoga in the context of late-twentieth-century consumer culture. She departs from conventional approaches by undermining essentialist definitions of yoga as well as assumptions that yoga underwent a linear trajectory of increasing popularization. While some studies trivialize popularized yoga systems by reducing them to the mere commodification or corruption of what is perceived as an otherwise fixed, authentic system, Jain suggests that this dichotomy oversimplifies the history of yoga as well as its meanings for contemporary practitioners. By discussing a wide array of modern yoga types, from Iyengar Yoga to Bikram Yoga, Jain argues that popularized yoga cannot be dismissed--that it has a variety of religious meanings and functions. Yoga brands destabilize the basic utility of yoga commodities and assign to them new meanings that represent the fulfillment of self-developmental needs often deemed sacred in contemporary consumer culture.

Christina Sell knows the difference between a surface buzz in the yoga business (for a better, more beautiful “ME”), and its roots as an ancient practice of ethical life and spiritual transformation. With over twenty-five years “on the mat,” her voice of courage and sanity has never stopped urging yoga students and teachers alike to take a deeper dive: to confront media hype about body-image and the promise of any quick-fix in favor of a lifelong commitment to wholeness and freedom. This book is both an epitome of that call, and a practical guide to ongoing self-discovery. As the author of two previous books: Yoga From the Inside Out (2003) and My Body Is a Temple (2013), Christina Sell holds an international reputation as a gifted and compassionate teacher and trainer of yoga. As a former gymnast who dealt with eating disorders and addictions in her early years, Christina knows how to redirect thoughts and habits of negative body image toward spiritual practice and inner-awakening. A Deeper Yoga is for any practitioner or teacher who wants tools and support in finding a loving, expanded relationship with his or her body, mind, emotions and spirit. Her book is for anyone on the path of yoga. Newer yoga students will benefit from the compassionate explanations of the inner journey and find direction in building a stronger foundation of practice. Experienced yoga practitioners will find a refreshing and honest exploration of both the hype and the heart of the work. Teachers of all traditions will benefit from the ongoing reminder that yoga is not only for the body, but for transformation of consciousness and spiritual unfolding. This is a book for the long haul! A Deeper Yoga is uniquely aimed at practitioners who initially found help from yoga, but who are now experiencing impatience, discouragement or even disillusionment. It leads the reader to yoga’s more esoteric teachings, using language without jargon or unnecessary details. The tone is compassionate, yet strong and authoritative?inviting us to empower our own deeper knowing, yet without watering down the traditional teachings. Topics of body image, self-hatred, eating disorders, addiction and emotional imbalance are considered throughout. Christina skillfully dismantles the illusions and early conditionings that lead to unrealistic norms of perfection and empower a media-driven standard of beauty. A Deeper Yoga offers an alternative view of genuine beauty.

An introduction to Anusara Yoga, a style of hatha yoga, discussing how it can be helpful to overcome weight and self-image issues, and providing guidance and photographs for yoga practices and poses.

With the freshness of a memoir, author and yoga teacher Christina Sell draws upon her first visit to an extraordinary temple in southern India to present basic principles of yoga. Beyond the ordinary aims of yoga as a means of stretching and strengthening, or even for being happier or more centered, My Body is a Temple is an instruction manual for dedicating oneself to a life of the spirit, in and through the vehicle of the human body. The body as a temple is a common metaphor within many spiritual traditions. In this book, Christina Sell delves into the “how” and “why” of this widely accepted comparison. My Body Is a Temple will encourage readers to listen to and honor the body; and to enter more fully into their everyday lives to see that each activity contains a Divine blueprint for success. It will help any yoga student to reclaim the raw materials and energy, always already present, to build his or her body as a temple-to provide refuge and sanctuary for themselves and inspiration for others. While the author’s tradition is that of Anusara Yoga, a strongly heart-centered approach, the book is written for any hatha yoga aspirant or practitioner. Her commitment is to traditional yogic practices and ideals, without being rigid. My Body Is a Temple is a vital and realistic treatment about the process of human change and transformation. Beyond Fitness ... Yoga is a Means of Self-Honoring and Spiritual Transformation This book will be well-used by both students and teachers of yoga. It should be included in all yoga and fitness centers and in popular library collections.

A handbook for the ultimate Yoga business professional

Join the ranks of top eBay sellers with even more insider tips! Are you ready to take your eBay selling to the next level? This beyond-the-basics guide reveals the trade secrets that have propelled the savviest entrepreneurs into eBay PowerSellers. Now it's your turn to start earning up to $150,000 per month through your eBay business! The Second Edition of eBay PowerSeller Secrets is packed with up-to-date guidance in effectively running a eBay store, selling and shipping internationally, finding little-known sources for products, advertising your wares, managing inventory, collecting payments, keeping records, and much more. [Sidebar] NEW! Covers eBay Express, eBay's Marketplace Research reports, ProStores, Skype, eMail Marketing, and even selling through Amazon and your own website. Plus, checklists to help you stay on track! Learn from hundreds of PowerSellers just what it takes to succeed on eBay: Determine what sells best on eBay, when it sells, and why Develop listings that create high traffic and product demand Handle end-of-sale payments and protect yourself from fraud and loss Manage listings, inventories, and communications Track incidentals, deductions, expenses, and other tax-related items Automate to ease processes such as creating and posting listings, managing feedback, e-mail, and shipping Use Blogs and eBay Guides and Reviews to drive traffic to your listings Make big money through eBay's Affiliates program

How many more students would you like in your yoga classes? In The Business of Yoga the world's leading sales trainer for the health and fitness industry teams up with an experienced and successful yoga instructor who is also the former owner of an award winning ad agency to show you exactly how to use modern marketing concepts and tools to get more students and enjoy more profits from your studio or as an individual instructor. DISCOVER * Tons of ways to fill your classes with new students ' * How to create dozens of new profit centers within your studio or practice * Key steps to building long term students * How to stop worrying about the competition * The secrets for preventing low revenue periods & maximizing income year round Whether you're a studio owner who wants to take your yoga business to the next level, a yoga instructor who is finding it challenging to make ends meet, or just getting started with your career in the yoga business you will find this book to be transformational! You'll get the exact information, marketing methods and tools need to become successful doing what you love most - teaching yoga!