Spirituality in Yoga
Bridging the Sacred and the Human
by Lee Majewski
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Pub Date Nov 21 2025 | Archive Date Nov 03 2025
Jessica Kingsley Publishers | Singing Dragon
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Description
Are you a yoga practitioner seeking deeper meaning in your practice and teaching? This book invites you on a journey beyond technique, into the transformative world of spiritual growth through yoga.
In an era of declining religiosity, Spirituality in Yoga explores how yoga can help us find connection, heal old wounds and live with joy and compassion. It delves into ancient Vedic frameworks and classical yogic texts while also highlighting personal stories to illustrate the wide breadth of spiritual journeys.
Whether you're a yoga teacher, a healthcare professional or a spiritual seeker, this book provides practical tools, insights and reflective questions to help you bring spirituality into your classes and your own life.
Advance Praise
Yogacharya Dr. Ananda Balayogi Bhavanani, DSc (Yoga) Ashram Acharya ICYER Ananda Ashram; Director, Institute of Salutogenesis & Complementary Medicine, Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth, Pondicherry, India
Spirituality has become a rare element in modern Yoga therapy as it is often mistakenly associated with religiosity. In trying to be secular, we have taken the soul out of the body. This book brings about a greater understanding of this most important part of a wholesome approach to wellness. Every pioneer chronicled here shares life transforming lessons they have experienced in their spiritual quest. This will motivate generations to come, as they learn to holistically bridge modern science and spirituality for the betterment of humanity. Healing is only possible when we become whole once again. Be wholesome, be one.
Paul J. Mills, Ph.D. Professor of Public Health and Family Medicine, Author of Becoming: The Spiritual Lives of Scientists
While there are certainly upsides to the widespread dissemination of Yoga into Western cultures, the significant downside is that to increase its appeal, Yoga was shorn of much of its deep spiritual heritage. It became understood more simply as physical exercise. As a result, Spirituality is a rare element in modern Yoga and Yoga therapy. Spirituality in Yoga: Bridging the Sacred and the Human does us a great service by reminding us of and teaching us that Yoga is actually a truly holistic integrative practice. It is a bridge to developing our own wholeness and higher consciousness, and a pathway to creating a life of purpose and wellbeing.
Sat Bir Singh Khalsa, Ph.D., Corresponding Member of the Faculty of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Chief Editor of The Principles and Practice of Yoga in Health Care
Spirituality, defined as a secular characteristic based on experience of contemplative states, is at the core of the historical practice of yoga. Scientific biomedical research on spirituality arising from yoga practice is growing and providing credible evidence that yoga practices can and do precipitate contemplative experiences and related increases in spirituality. This research is part of a large body of continuing research in medicine emphasizing the importance of spirituality in health, well-being, and quality of life. This excellent book is a comprehensive and scholarly review and analysis covering the history, philosophy, sociology, science, and experience of yoga and spirituality, and is a must read for anyone interested in this important topic.
Richard Miller, PhD, Founder iRest Institute and developer of the Integrative Restoration – iRest Meditation Program.
Lee Majewski's Spirituality in Yoga is a luminous guide for those seeking meaning beyond dogma, offering a profound invitation to journey inward and rediscover the boundless depths of human consciousness through yoga. With remarkable clarity, Majewski interweaves ancient wisdom, contemporary research, and personal narratives to reveal spirituality as a lived experience-rooted in breath, body, and awareness-rather than a distant ideal. Bridging the chasm between science and spirit, she presents yoga not merely as a physical practice but as a path to wholeness, integrating mind, body, and soul in pursuit of higher consciousness. Whether navigating an existential crisis or seeking wisdom in modern life, readers will find in these pages a sanctuary of insight and inspiration, a beacon guiding them toward resilience, healing, and profound inner awakening.
Available Editions
| EDITION | Other Format |
| ISBN | 9781805013785 |
| PRICE | £26.99 (GBP) |
| PAGES | 240 |
Available on NetGalley
Average rating from 8 members
Featured Reviews
Connie B, Reviewer
I chose to read this Spirituality in Yoga by Lee Majewski, because I have been rather active in Yoga practices, but I never considered the possibility that it was tied up with spirituality. This was a rather intriguing concept to me.
The book has a lot to offer from the perspective of someone who has no desire to be a teacher or the best Yoga student on the planet. One of the things I have always loved a bout the practice is the adaptability of the poses, if you can't do it the way the instructor demonstrates--there are variations you can do instead.
I thoroughly appreciated the wealth of information in this book and how carefully the author researched it.
Lee Majewski’s Spirituality in Yoga feels like both a call to remembrance and a guidebook for transformation. The first section frames the central problem of modern life: the decline of spirituality and religion in contemporary society, leaving many of us unmoored. Majewski defines spirituality not as dogma, but as our lived experience of connecting to something greater than ourselves, a source of meaning, belonging, and resilience. The author underscores the growing body of evidence linking spirituality with health outcomes and longevity, grounding her insights in both reflection and research.
The second part shifts into the heart of the work: yoga as more than postures. Majewski reminds us that yoga was never designed as “therapy” but as a path toward liberation, with healing arising as a natural byproduct. She highlights how yoga therapy integrates body, mind, and spirit while acknowledging the three doshas (mind-body constitutions in Ayurveda). Patanjali’s eight limbs of yoga—restraints (yamas), disciplines (niyamas), postures (asanas), breath (pranayama), withdrawal of the senses (pratyahara), concentration (dharana), meditation (dhyana), and ultimate absorption (samadhi)—are presented as a roadmap not just for well-being, but for expanded consciousness. Practical elements like nonviolence, truthfulness, and breath awareness become both ethical anchors and gateways to mental equilibrium.
The final section offers essays and lived experiences from practitioners of yoga therapy. These stories bring theory into flesh, illustrating how yoga has shaped, healed, and transformed lives in quiet but profound ways. By weaving personal accounts with traditional wisdom, Majewski shows yoga’s relevance as a living practice, not an abstract philosophy.
Overall, this book is both instructional and inspirational and at times went a bit over my head. This book bridges the gap between sacred practice and everyday human struggles, positioning yoga as a spiritual lifeline in a fragmented world. Readers curious about the deeper dimensions of yoga beyond the mat will find this a thoughtful and rewarding guide.
Spirituality in Yoga offers a rich and comprehensive dive into what lies beneath the physical practice. It reaches beyond technique, inviting readers into a more expansive understanding of yoga as a pathway to healing, connection and personal growth. The blend of ancient Vedic perspectives, classical yogic teachings and modern personal stories creates a textured, engaging picture of how spirituality can unfold in many forms – not just through traditional religion.
The book is at its best when it explores the therapeutic side of yoga. The sections on yoga therapy feel grounded and practical, offering real tools and insights that readers can bring into their practice or teaching. The various individual spiritual journeys shared in the book add depth and warmth, reminding us that no two paths look the same.
At times, the sheer breadth of information can feel overwhelming. The book is undeniably comprehensive – perhaps a bit too comprehensive – and it can be challenging to take everything in without pausing to digest. But the depth of knowledge and care with which the material is presented still make it a rewarding and enriching read.
A wholesome, thought-provoking book for yoga teachers, practitioners and anyone curious about spirituality beyond traditional religious boundaries.
Reviewer 1392103
Spirituality in Yoga by Lee Majewski offers a profound exploration into the deeper dimensions of yoga practice. In a time when yoga is often reduced to physical postures, Majewski reminds us of its rich spiritual heritage. The book delves into ancient Vedic frameworks and classical yogic texts, weaving in personal stories to illustrate the transformative power of yoga beyond the mat.
Majewski’s writing is both scholarly and accessible, making complex concepts relatable to readers at all levels. The integration of scientific research with spiritual teachings provides a holistic view of yoga’s benefits, not just for the body, but for the mind and soul.
This book is a valuable resource for yoga practitioners, teachers, and anyone interested in understanding the spiritual essence of yoga. It serves as a gentle invitation to reconnect with the roots of yoga and to explore its potential for personal transformation.
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