Meticulously researched and compellingly written, The Gift of Consciousness is an engaging and approachable overview of Patanjali's Yoga Sutras through the prism of both Eastern and Western psychology. Grounded in a thorough knowledge of the Sanskrit original and training in psychology, Gitte Bechsgaard opens out these complex texts to the general reading public. Bechsgaard's clear-eyed approach makes this ancient text relevant to anyone interested in Yoga philosophy and practice. This book, with its emphasis on integrating Yogic insights into everyday life, will be an important resource for Yoga teachers and practitioners, academics, and general readers who have an interest in Eastern religion and philosophy, meditation and psychology.


Gitte Bechsgaard, PhD, is the founding director of the Vidya Institute, Toronto, Canada. Bechsgaard has studied and practiced Yoga for over 20 years in Copenhagen and Toronto, focusing on a variety of Vedic disciplines with Sri Krishan Mantri for the past ten years. She works as a psychotherapist in private practice.