ABOUT THIS SERIES...
Like yoga, the art of “purposeful” coloring is a meditative exercise, encouraging present-moment awareness while soothing the nervous system and relieving anxiety. Perfect for all levels of yoga practitioners from the beginner to the advanced, this coloring book series is meant to be an extension of one’s personal yoga practice.
Scroll down to read more about the series…
The word sūtra literally means “thread” in Sanskrit. It is a concise statement that—sewn together with other sūtras—forms a distinct type of text in Indian philosophy. The Yoga Sūtras of Patañjali contains 196 sūtras that are stitched into four separate chapters, each with its own emphasis.
Sources and dates vary, but the Indian sage Patañjali was believed to have lived between 200 BC and 400 CE. Although he is best known for his compilation of transformational practices and philosophies called the Yoga Sūtras, Patañjali is said to have also penned treatises on grammar and medicine.
Considered the incarnation of Ādi Ṣeśa, the serpent who forms the bed of Viṣnu, Patañjali is depicted as a half-human, half-serpent figure. His lower body is coiled three and a half times, while his head protected by a multitude of hooded cobras.
This four-volume Coloring Book Series is based upon the four chapters of the Yoga Sūtras of Patañjali: 1) the Samādhi Pāda, the Chapter on Integration (or Meditation); 2) the Sādhana Pāda, the Chapter on Practice; 3) the Vibhūti Pāda, the Chapter on Special Powers; and 4) the Kaivalya Pāda, the Chapter on Liberation.
Although each volume in this series is a self-contained coloring book capable of standing alone in its own right, each book is designed to be an integral part of the series that covers all four chapters of the Yoga Sūtras of Patañjali.
There are approximately 50 sūtras in each chapter.
Each page presents one sūtra in transliterated Sanskrit (Roman script) with an interpretation of that sūtra in lively hand-drawn font embedded in striking illustrations.
The sūtras have been interpreted by Rebecca Polack, a Yoga scholar who holds a PhD in South Asia Philosophy and Religion, and who has studied Sanskrit for over 20 years. The artwork has been created especially for this coloring book series by Dr. Polack, and inspired by Madhubani, folk art of northern India, as well as the nature of Northern California.
The first two books are completed. The third and fourth books are being developed.