The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali is a collection of 196 aphorisms (sutras) on the theory and practices of Yoga. It is regarded as a classic text that encapsulates the essence of ancient yogic faith and practice. It is said that understanding the Sutras is the key to understanding Yoga itself and here to explain it all is Dave Charlton. He and his co-author Ranju Roy have created a new way to access the sutras that every yoga practitioner is going to enjoy.

In 2004, the authors founded Sadhana Mala, an organization specializing in teacher training, study courses and retreats. Both Ranju and Dave studied with Paul Harvey in the UK, Peter Hersnack in France and TKV Desikachar in Chennai, and they have led training courses for Viniyoga Britain, the Association of Yoga Studies and the British Wheel of Yoga. They have taught many yoga classes, retreats and workshops around the UK and Ireland and are interested in developing ways of practicing that both respect tradition and the realities of present-day life in the West.

Ranju, born in Udaipur, Rajasthan, is of mixed Indian and English heritage and was brought up in England. He worked for 12 years in England’s National Health Service as an art therapist and family therapist and has considerable experience in counselling and therapy with individuals and groups. Although he travels extensively in India, he lives in Wellington, England, where he and his wife, Lindy, run their own studio, Yoga Mala.

Dave grew up in London and originally studied mechanical engineering. Before pursuing yoga full time, he worked as a software engineer. Always interested in yoga and Eastern philosophy, he completed an MA in Buddhist philosophy in 1993 and has travelled widely in India and Southeast Asia. He and his wife, Gail, teach yoga from their own studio, Living Yoga, in Malvern, England.