
Curious Poses
30 Yoga Postures and the Stories They Tell
Lucy Greeves(Author)
Green Tree (Publisher)
Published on 31. March 2025
Book
Paperback/Softback
160 pages
978-1-3994-2656-5 (ISBN)
Description
Deepen your practice and discover the myths, gods, sacred animals and imagery that lie hidden in your favourite yoga postures
Meet the monks and maharajas, gods and gymnasts who shaped yoga as we know it.
Have you ever wondered why yoga postures look the way they do, or how they got their names? From Lotus to Warrior, Cobra to Happy Baby, this book takes a fresh look at the stories behind 30 familiar poses.
By drawing in on Hindu scripture, mythology and the animals, birds and flowers the original Indian yogis saw around them, Curious Poses explores the symbolism of yoga postures many of us practise every week and offers inspiration to regular practitioners and yoga teachers alike.
Let this book take you on a journey into a treasure trove of yoga history, mythology, philosophy and pop culture that enlightens and entertains by turns. Featuring full-colour illustrations, Curious Poses is an ideal mat companion for the curious yoga enthusiast.
Meet the monks and maharajas, gods and gymnasts who shaped yoga as we know it.
Have you ever wondered why yoga postures look the way they do, or how they got their names? From Lotus to Warrior, Cobra to Happy Baby, this book takes a fresh look at the stories behind 30 familiar poses.
By drawing in on Hindu scripture, mythology and the animals, birds and flowers the original Indian yogis saw around them, Curious Poses explores the symbolism of yoga postures many of us practise every week and offers inspiration to regular practitioners and yoga teachers alike.
Let this book take you on a journey into a treasure trove of yoga history, mythology, philosophy and pop culture that enlightens and entertains by turns. Featuring full-colour illustrations, Curious Poses is an ideal mat companion for the curious yoga enthusiast.
Reviews / Votes
This magical little compilation of the back-stories of some of Hatha Yoga's best known postures is a treasure... A rich seam of material for yoga teachers and a wonderful resource for practitioners. -- Tara Fraser, bestselling yoga author Lucy Greeves aims to demystify the practice, get people interested in its history, and empower them to dig deeper into how, why and what yoga is today. * The Observer Magazine * A treasure trove of yoga history, mythology, philosophy and pop culture that enlightens and entertains. The ideal companion for the curious yoga enthusiast * Top Sante Health & Beauty * Fascinating...Greeves combines history, popular culture and practice notes to inspire your understanding of yoga, both on and off the mat. * Women's Fitness *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Unsewn / adhesive bound
Illustrations
30 full-colour illustrations
Dimensions
Height: 187 mm
Width: 137 mm
Thickness: 12 mm
Weight
290 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-3994-2656-5 (9781399426565)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

E-Book
10/2022
1st Edition
Green Tree
€10.99
Available for download

E-Book
10/2022
1st Edition
Green Tree
€10.99
Available for download
Persons
Lucy Greeves is a writer and yoga teacher. In addition to her regular studio classes and workshops, she leads Yoga for Writers residential retreats for the Arvon Foundation. She has written on yoga and meditation for Planet Mindful magazine. Her previous books include The Naked Jape (Michael Joseph, 2006).
Amanda Leon is an artist and illustrator based in Barcelona, Spain.
Amanda Leon is an artist and illustrator based in Barcelona, Spain.
Content
Introduction
Lotus (padmasana)
Hero (vajrasana)
Bharadvaja's pose (bharadvajasana)
Matsyendra's pose (matsyendrasana)
Marichi's pose (marichyansana)
Lion (simhasana)
Cow face (gomukhasana)
Preliminaries (pawanmuktasana)
Sun salutation (surya namaskar)
Mountain (tadasana)
Tree (vrksasana)
Chair (utkatasana)
Downward-facing dog (adho mukha svanasana)
Warrior (virabhadrasana)
Triangle (trikonasana)
Gate latch (parighasana)
Crow (bakasana)
Half-moon (ardha chandrasana)
Headstand (sirsasana)
Lord of the Dance (natarajasana)
Peacock (mayurasana)
Wheel (chakrasana)
Cobra (bhujangasana)
Pigeon (kapotasana)
Forward fold (paschimottanasana)
Squat (utkatikasana)
Child (balasana)
Happy baby (ananda balasana)
Corpse (savasana)
Lotus (padmasana)
Hero (vajrasana)
Bharadvaja's pose (bharadvajasana)
Matsyendra's pose (matsyendrasana)
Marichi's pose (marichyansana)
Lion (simhasana)
Cow face (gomukhasana)
Preliminaries (pawanmuktasana)
Sun salutation (surya namaskar)
Mountain (tadasana)
Tree (vrksasana)
Chair (utkatasana)
Downward-facing dog (adho mukha svanasana)
Warrior (virabhadrasana)
Triangle (trikonasana)
Gate latch (parighasana)
Crow (bakasana)
Half-moon (ardha chandrasana)
Headstand (sirsasana)
Lord of the Dance (natarajasana)
Peacock (mayurasana)
Wheel (chakrasana)
Cobra (bhujangasana)
Pigeon (kapotasana)
Forward fold (paschimottanasana)
Squat (utkatikasana)
Child (balasana)
Happy baby (ananda balasana)
Corpse (savasana)