Like all of Guruji's works, this book resonates his clarity and precision in his constant endeavour to make us understand the science of yoga. The book commences with the basics - how the science of yoga originated; how man's understanding and accordingly his definitions of yoga changed vis a vis the era he was born in; and then, Guruji begins his exposition on yoga is restraint of the sorrows of the consciousness (Yogah dukha vritti niroddha) for the man of the 20th and 21st centuries. He explains the root cause of sorrow - desires and afflictions - and how man tries to be free of it. He makes us realise our own weaknesses - how our thoughts and actions are distorted with our limited understanding, lack of knowledge and fluctuating intelligence. He then explains consciousness, types of consciousness and how they are tainted by afflictions. This marks the introduction of Asthanga Yoga. According to Guruji, although Asthanga Yoga seems a small part of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, it covers the microcosm of man and the macrocosm of the Universe. Thus, begins the heart of "Light on Asthanga Yoga" where the reader is made to understand each of the eight aspects with great lucidity. Contemporary analogies, tabulations and sketches make it easy for the reader to grasp this complex subject. It is a very apt rendition of Patanjali's Asthanga Yoga for the reader of the modern era.

This book is based on the discourse given by Iyengar on Guru Purnima day, 30th July, 1996 at Pune, India.