In addition to my academic pursuits, I am also an avid yoga practitioner. I practice Iyengar yoga daily and study with Eyal Shifroni for more than twenty years. Our friendship and many discussions have lead to compose the following books The Psychophysical Lab: Yoga Practice and the Mind-Body Problem (2019) and Yoga in Nature and Natural Props for Yoga (2023). The Psychophysical Lab develops a dual approach — theoretical and practical — to explore and conceptualize mind/body relations. The book has already been translated into Italian, Spanish, Chinese, and a Russian translation is to appear soon. The book also lead me to develop the course Mind Body Relations from Plato to Neuroscience that I teach at Technion, and to pursue a new research project (to be detailed below). Yoga in Nature is based on our long and wonderful experience of practicing yoga in nature. It expands the exploratory vision of the The Psychophysical Lab by changing not only the poses but the whole setting for the practice.
The Psychophysical Lab: Yoga Practice and the Mind-Body Problem (Mudita Books, 2019)
How has it come about that the relations between mind and body have come to be seen as a problem – a problem that preoccupies scientists, psychologists, philosophers and therapists? How has it come about that Western civilization developed one branch of medicine (physiology) to take care of the body; another (psychology and psychiatry) to take care of the mind, and none to take care of the whole person? And how is it that yoga has come to be so popular in the west?
In this book, a philosopher and a senior yoga teacher argue that the practice of yoga offers something that western medicine, as well as most forms of physical exercise, do not; it offers a method that engages both mental and physical capacities, so that the one can be used to train and improve the other. In doing so, we draw on an Aristotelian conception of human nature as a psychophysical unity endowed with various capacities.
The book offers a philosophical and historical analysis of the mind-body problem—its origin, development, and possible solution (chapter 3); a practical framework, the psychophysical lab, as a means of observing, studying and developing the relations between mental and physical aspects of human nature through yoga practice (chapter 1); and an attempt to show how yoga practice can foster the mutual development of our mental and physical faculties. The final chapter adds practice sequences with marked mental benefits. The book is unique in offering a comprehensive framework – both practical and theoretical – for investigating and developing our nature as psychophysical unities.
About the authors
Ohad Nachtomy is a Professor of Philosophy at Technion, Israel Institute of Technology and the head of the Department of Humanities and Arts. His recent books have appeared with Oxford University Press and Springer.
Eyal Shifroni is a Senior Iyengar Yoga Teacher and holds a PhD in Computer Science from the Technion in Israel. He is the author of five books: A Chair for Yoga and Props For Yoga, series I, II, III, IV.
Yoga in Nature and Natural Props for Yoga, Dalian University of Technology Press, 2023.
Yoga in Nature and Natural Props for Yoga offers a highly original exploration – both philosophical and practical – of practicing yoga in nature.
The authors, Dr. Eyal Shifroni, a senior Iyengar yoga teacher, and Ohad Nachtomy, a philosophy professor at Technion, Israel Institute of Technology, and dedicated yoga practitioner, join forces to compose their second book, following on the Psychophysical Lab (2019). Drawing on their personal experiences and deep appreciation for practicing yoga in natural surroundings, they explore the profound connection between humanity and the natural world. They strive to convey the unique and transformative effects of practicing yoga in nature.
As practitioners of the Iyengar method of yoga, Eyal and Ohad demonstrate how nature offers a myriad of extraordinary props for enhancing one’s yoga practice. They offer insightful suggestions for using the sand on the beach, the trees in the forest, and the rocks in the mountains as natural aids for yoga. By tapping into the inherent qualities of these elements, practitioners can deepen their practice and find new dimensions of support, stability, and inspiration.
The book features plentiful color photographs and detailed instructions that elucidate the use of natural elements as yoga props. It also offers a fine artistic design. The visual guidance combined with clear explanations facilitates and inspires practitioners to incorporate nature’s resources into their yoga practice.
Overall, Yoga in Nature and Natural Props for Yoga serves as a valuable resource for yoga enthusiasts seeking to explore the fusion of yoga and the natural world, offering inspiration and practical guidance for practicing amidst the beauty and abundance of nature.
Ohad Nachtomy 