Wild Asana

Animals, Yoga, and Connecting Our Practice to the Natural World

By: Alison Zak

Narrated by: Mandy Kaplan

Ever wonder about the dog in Downward Dog or the pigeon in Kapota? Rewild your yoga practice by connecting to the animals behind the asanas.

For nature-loving yogis and fans of World of Wonders and Yoga Mythology

From Downward Dog to Cobra, Wild Asana invites you into an embodied exploration of the animals that inspire familiar yoga poses. Drawing on wildlife science, anthropology, Hindu mythology, Eastern philosophy, and personal stories, this insightful guide by environmental educator and yoga instructor Alison Zak explores the connections among our bodies, our minds, and the animals that inspire our practice.

In illustrated chapters on asanas like Tittibhasana (Firefly), Garudasana (Eagle), Bidalasana (Cat), and Ustrasana (Camel), Zak invites you to bring the deep nature of animals into breath and movement.

You’ll learn to:

• Respect the monkey in “monkey mind” to honor—not tame—your own wildness
• Fly like an eagle to move from imprisonment to liberation
• Embody a pigeon’s stillness and nonattachment
• Imbue your practice with the agility, flexibility, and fierce commitment of a cat
• Incorporate asana variations, mudras, and meditations inspired by animal nature
• Practice lovingkindness meditations that include the more-than-human world

With an encompassing ecological compassion, gorgeous original illustrations, profound insight into animal wisdom, and the humor and perspective of lived experience, Zak offers a path to deepen and enliven your practice. Whether you’re an animal lover, a first-time yoga student, or an experienced practitioner, Wild Asana is a practical and accessible guide to becoming animal on your yoga mat.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2023 Alison Zak (P)2023 North Atlantic Books

Critic reviews

“Wild Asana is inviting, imaginative, and restoring, reestablishing our ancient connection with all of life in an original, welcoming, freeing way. A great way to celebrate and honor our bodies and our world!”—Sy Montgomery, author of How to Be a Good Creature

“With every page, I felt Wild Asana attuning me to the living connection between the yoga postures I love, the animals they honor, and the heart of humanity. In her paean to the interdependence of the human spirit and the natural world, Alison Zak flows effortlessly between science, poetry, myth, and memoir—reminding us that true yogis are both naturalists and mystics.”—Anne Cushman, author of The Mama Sutra and Moving into Meditation

“Wild Asana uses storytelling, personal experience, and research to uncover the tapestry of animal kinship, nature, and the roots of yoga. Equal parts scientific, scholarly, and spiritual, [the book] brings us closer to both our divine and animal natures, lovingly detailing their interdependence, and the ways in which the ancient art of yoga intertwines with our humanity.”—Sarah C. Beasley, award-winning author of Kindness for All Creatures

Great listen for yoga and nature lovers

Absolutely enjoyed listening to Wild Asana! For anyone interested in learning more about embracing the animals behind yoga poses, this book is for you.