By Ruth (Rama) Brooke

For Christmas, I gave my 94-year-old mother a copy of Satguru Swami Nirmalananda’s A Yogic Lifestyle.  Slowly but surely, my mother has been reading it.  She commented, “It’s very Christian!” — meant as the highest compliment.  Then she said, “The lady on the cover looks very nice!  How long has she been your teacher?”  I responded, “Since before she became a Swami.”  Mom asked, “How important is that breathing practice you taught me?  Did you get it from her?”

I don’t know if Mom’s been doing the Ujjayi Pranayama breathing practice.  But Gurudevi Nirmalananda and yoga’s teachings are now on Mom’s radar since she read the book.  She wasn’t much interested before.  Or perhaps I didn’t know how to effectively talk to her about yoga and “the Guru.”

Recently Mom asked, “What’s that name you call your teacher now?”  I responded, “Gurudevi.”  “Well, I can’t remember that, but you can tell her she can work on me now too!”  I marveled to myself that, by writing A Yogic Lifestyle, Gurudevi has already begun her work on my mother.  The Grace (mystical power of revelation) that flows through this book is abundant and easily accessible, even to my mother.  Several reviewers comment on Gurudevi’s approachableness in the opening pages:

“In this beautifully laid out book Swami Nirmalananda Ma provides us with the most profound teaching presented in the simplest way, universal truths presented with a very personal touch…” – Swami Asokananda, President and Spiritual Director, Integral Yoga Institute of New York

“This concise book is simple, clear and penetrating.  Swami Nirmalananda Saraswati guides you through a wide range of down-to-earth, personal explorations of how to live the yoga teachings…”  – Nayaswami Gyandev, PhD, Director of Ananda School of Yoga & Meditation, Co-Founder of Yoga Alliance

“Informed by her profound knowledge of ancient wisdom… her message is to share the guidance that touches the soul, that leads to living a more enlightened life.”- Yogarupa Rod Stryker, author of The Four Desires, founder of ParaYoga, creator of the app, Sanctuary

By becoming a vratin member of Svaroopa^® Vidya Ashram, I took vows to live according to the yogic principles.  Gurudevi beautifully outlines them in A Yogic Lifestyle.  I have studied these teachings and read the articles that this book comprises many times before.  Compiling them in this book, Gurudevi has created an amazing resource.  It is gift to anyone — whether experienced or brand new to yoga — who wishes to delve into these universal principles. Gurudevi Swami Nirmalananda presents profound wisdom based in India’s ancient spiritual legacy.  She offers these teachings succinctly, including personal, inspiring accounts relevant to the Western reader.  She does so in service to her Guru, Swami Muktananda Paramahansa, and to you and to me.  Her great reverence and devotion come across in every Grace-fueled word.