Strong, Calm and Free

If you have always wanted to live more peacefully, love more fully, and discover a deeper, more meaningful spiritual life, yoga is the path.
Heartfelt and deeply practical, Strong, Calm and Free brings alive the possibility of a life of inner peace, compassion and joy. Grounded in both modern science and ancient wisdom, this beautiful and inspiring book demystifies the philosophy and psychology of yoga, making the 4000-year old practice accessible for modern life.
Whether you've never stepped foot on a yoga mat before or want to deepen your home practice, this beautifully-illustrated book is suitable for all abilities, gently guiding you through a ten-week journey of yoga sequences, meditations and mindful living practices that will build strength, bring insight and offer a path to healing and freedom.
Written by holistic counsellor and international yoga and meditation teacher Nicola Jane Hobbs, Strong, Calm and Free shares the tools to help you navigate the peaks and valleys of modern life, to dispel the "I'm not good enough" myth that holds so many of us back and to experience the miracle of being yourself.
By sharing her gentle wisdom alongside simple, practical exercises, Nicola invites you on a path of inner transformation. A mindful adventure of self-discovery. A journey towards health, happiness and wholeness. Towards strength, peace and freedom. Towards becoming fully and fearlessly who you are.

Nicola Jane Hobbs teaches yoga and meditation internationally and has a Master's degree in Sport and Exercise Psychology. She is the author of Yoga Gym and Thrive Through Yoga, both published by Bloomsbury. www.nicolajanehobbs.com

Introduction
The gift of yoga
What is yoga?
How to use this book
PART ONE
Wisdom
The eight limbs of yoga
The essence and evolution of yoga
The seven paths of yoga
The ten pillars of mindful living
The five branches of health
The universe of the body
Breath is the bridge
The language of yoga
PART TWO
Practice
The journey
How to begin
You and your mat: practice guidelines
Self-care to enhance your self-practice
Let's begin
The opening sequence
The closing sequence
WEEK ONE: Compassion
WEEK TWO: Honesty
WEEK THREE: Abundance
WEEK FOUR: Balance
WEEK FIVE: Non-attachment
WEEK SIX: Purity
WEEK SEVEN: Contentment
WEEK EIGHT: Self-discipline
WEEK NINE: Self-study
WEEK TEN: Self-surrender
Where now?
PART THREE
Explore
Sequences:
- Grounding
- Releasing
- Energising
- Calming
References
Recommended reading
Index
Acknowledgements