Letters from the Yoga Masters contains a treasure trove of previously unavailable material and presents detailed teachings about pranayama, mudras, diet, and much more, all interwoven with stories and personal anecdotes. Taken together, the rare correspondence and personal chronicles provide an unparalleled glimpse into the life of a yogi, the development of yoga in the West, and the ways that spiritual wealth is disseminated across generations.
Letters from the Yoga Masters: Teachings Revealed through Correspondence from Paramhansa Yogananda, Ramana Maharshi, Swami Sivananda, and Others.
Written, researched, and created with love by Marion (Mugs) McConnell & Foreword by Erich Schiffmann. Published by North Atlantic Books. Distributed by Penguin Random House.
A Little About the Book.
Available worldwide at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Chapters, The Book Depository, or at your local bookstore like our lovely Banyen Books and Yoga MCC Calgary!
Mugs McConnell shares in her book the techniques that her teacher, Dr. Hari Dickman was taught by yoga masters such as Paramhansa Yogananda, Ramana Maharshi, Swami Sivananda, Swami Vishnu Tirth, and many others.
Dr. Hari Dickman was a Latvian man who began his yoga journey before world World War II. Many yoga masters wrote him letters full of rich yoga techniques so he could master yoga from a distance. During and after the war, Hari taught yoga in DP camps (camps for displaced persons) until Paramhansa Yogananda was eventually able to bring him to the United States, where Hari resided until his death in 1979. The letters from these yoga masters were the “textbooks” Hari used to teach Mugs. Exploring the 8 limbs of yoga, the book includes teachings on ahimsa (non-violence), brahmacharya (celibacy/chastity), and Hari doing asana. The real depth of teachings lies in the practices of pranayama (breath work), pratyahara (withdrawal of the senses), dharana (concentration), dhyana (meditation), and samadhi (enlightenment). There are additional discussions on kundalini, life after death, the seven lokas, ashram life, Jesus as a yogi, swara yoga, and more.
Mugs follows threads from letter to letter over several years of questions directed to several different yogis. She pieces together the practices for her readers, drawn from yoga masters during a span of over 50 years. The lifetime of a practicing yogi, Dr. Hari Dickman, is held within the pages of these letters, only to be revealed now through the inspiration and love of his last disciple, Mugs.
Hear the voice of Dr. Hari Dickman as he speaks a bit about his life.
Media
BC Booklook Magazine Sept 2016
Marion “Mugs” McConnell of Scotch Creek in the Okanagan was first introduced to yoga as a teenager in 1973 and has practiced yoga ever since, teaching since 1978, having studied with Swami Vishnu-devananda.
BC Yoga Magazine Dec 2018
CLASSICAL YOGA IN MODERN TIMES: MARION “MUGS” MCCONNELL CARRIES FORWARD TRADITION. It is a milestone achievement for Marion “Mugs” McConnell as she celebrates her 40th year as a yoga instructor. As one of Canada’s pioneer yoga practitioners, her long career in the field is nothing short of impressive. “Mugs”, as she prefers to be called, has been instrumental in bringing classical yoga teachings to modern times, ensuring the benefits of the deeper practices are not lost.
“This is an extraordinary book. It is a shining jewel. Truly, it is priceless. You have found buried treasure… I have known Mugs for quite a few years now. I am thrilled she is passing on the teachings she has garnered and cherished from her teacher. These are the teachings that Hari received via personal letters and correspondence with many of the yoga giants of his time.”
“This jewel of a book is a fitting tribute to a great soul, offered lovingly by his dedicated student. How fortunate that the yogic knowledge he gained from many revered teachers has been preserved so carefully and faithfully that it can enrich the lives of many spiritual seekers who otherwise would never have known of him.”
Quotable Quotes from Letters from the Yoga Masters.
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Letters from the Yoga Masters: Techniques
“Some things should never be lost. Letters from the Yoga Masters is a uniquely valuable book containing wisdom and advice from most of the well-known and respected yoga masters of India in the twentieth century. McConnell has done a commendable job preserving this knowledge and presents the stories and teachings in a very entertaining way.” Bernie Clark, author of Yinsights: A Journey into the Philosophy and Practice of Yin Yoga.