“The Gift of Consciousness: Patañjali’s Yoga Sūtra’s by Gitte Bechsgaard, Ph.D., is to be read by those who love Yoga in general and by practitioners of Yoga in particular. This book acts as a guide book to take a journey from the bank of mundane life towards the bank of spiritual life. The author has held to the basics of Yoga which act as a foundation for her to explain the importance of each sutra.”
“I highly recommend this work on Patañjali’s Yoga Sūtras to all who are seekers in the art, science, and philosophy of Yoga. Bechsgaard’s overview and organization of Patañjali’s work is of great benefit to students of Yoga, and her expressive commentary is especially wonderful in linking Patañjali’s teachings to our own lives.”
Director, B.K.S. Iyengar Yoga Center of La Mesa
“Bechsgaard has isolated and explained many of the guiding concepts in the Yoga Sūtras… she has provided practitioners with the tools to fine tune their own understanding and practice. Any reader will be highly rewarded in their own lives and Yoga practices through a careful reading of this book.”
University of Iowa
“Gitte has written a thought-provoking book that will help turn today’s Yoga students into true Yoga practitioners.”
Director, B.K.S. Iyengar Yoga School of Central Philadelphia
“A classical interpretation though with a modern language, this commentary, simple and at the same time profound, is easy to follow for beginners but also useful for mature practitioners.
This book will help with your understanding of the sūtras as well as give you enthusiasm and practical guidance for balancing your time and energy in order to become steady in your practice. Only then the practitioner becomes dṛḍha bhūmiḥ’, which means literally solid and unshakable like the earth.”
Director, Centro Iyengar Yoga of Florence
“Books are in a certain way like people – there are two kinds: those you tend to forget and those few that actually makes a difference in your life. The Gift of Consciousness is of the latter kind and may actually make an important difference for you. This book on the Yoga Sutras is filled with insight and important guidance about the dynamic relation between Yogic journey and life as such. Read it!”
Director, B.K.S. Iyengar Yoga Center – Copenhagen, Denmark
“As Gitte’s first Yoga teacher I am very proud of this work! I have taught many Yoga students, but few who shine through in the way that Gitte did when I first met her and still does today.
I am convinced that her book The Gift of Consciousness will end up on many bookshelves around the world becoming a new classic in Yoga literature. It is an amazing book – all yogis around the world should read it!”
Director, B.K.S. Iyengar Yoga Center – Copenhagen, Denmark