Yoga reading: 5 books that work

yoga reading May 7th, 2008

Girl reading on the platform “There is no mistaking a real book when one meets it. It is like falling in love.”

Christopher Morley

Several ages ago most books were very unique. Publishing a book was hard from the step of writing it to consolidating and actually printing. Our century shows quite the contrary, - writing books got much simpler. On one hand, it brought us great books that would never be published otherwise; and on the other we are offered so much low quality reading everywhere!.. It gets quite serious when we look for a health book, spiritual book or a yoga book. Improper advice may cost us health and money afterwards.

To share a good yoga books advice, I gathered my favorite and those recommended by more experienced yoga teachers. I hope it helps you make a right choice next time when you decide to buy one.

How Yoga Works

by Geshe Michael Roach, Christie McNally

How Yoga Works is an incredible story about inner yoga practice, compassion and love that can be raised in every heart. The book is very deep and insightful, written as a life story of Tibetan girl who taught yoga in an ancient India and changed many lives with her yoga classes. Breathtaking from the first page, this book reveals deep levels of mental yoga that could be used by everyone in our day-to-day life, explaining principles of world inconstancy, karma and positive thinking. I read this book several times and keep getting inspired by deep ideas it gives. I would call it “a safety measure book” for all people working on inner transformation.

Light on Yoga: The Bible of Modern Yoga

by B. K. S. Iyengar

A must-to-have book for every Hatha yoga practitioner. Postures, explanations and sequences from one of the most famous teachers in nowadays India. Iyengar’s students successfully teach in Western Europe and USA. The book was republished several times since 1966 with new comments (Iyengar has been practicing and teaching for more then 75 years!).

You will find detailed instructions on both easy and advanced postures, learn how body should respond, what muscles should be relaxed and what breath type should be used in each posture. Numerous photos and pictures illustrate correct asana positions, pranayama section tells about breathing techniques.

A Systematic Course in the Ancient Tantric Techniques of Yoga and Kriya

by Swami Satyananda

This book lists most known practices on yoga and kriya (cleaning procedures), providing detailed explanations and comments. 36 lessons that cover practical and theoretical aspects of yoga were recorded after Swami Satyananda teachings. Systematic course will help you fill gaps in your yoga vision and let you move forward step by step. Swami Satyananda is a well-known Indian yoga master who established famous Bihar School of Yoga, taught yoga for more then twenty years, traveled around India, Nepal and Burma gathering spiritual practices.

When trying to learn these practices by yourself please ask your teacher or community all questions that might appear. Serious practices demand much attention and advanced explanations. Systematic Course best supplements your practical classes in a group.

The Heart of Yoga: Developing a Personal Practice

by T. K. V. Desikachar

In The Heart of Yoga, Desikachar describers the essence of his father’s teaching (Krishnamacharya), given as “a program for the spine at every level–physical, mental, and spiritual.” Based on old texts, this book helps you develop deep and individual practice of yoga. The Heart of Yoga covers meditation, breathing techniques, postures and inner yoga.

The highest value of this book is an overwhelming feeling of your practice and your yoga. The Heart of Yoga is full of compassion, love and gentleness you see and feel between the lines. If you are hesitating over yoga style to follow, reading this book will help you bring up inner acceptance and understanding of your path.

Jivamukti Yoga: Practices for Liberating Body and Soul

by Sharon Gannon, David Life

Jivamukti Yoga will be interesting for both beginners and advanced practitioners. It combines literary beauty of a fiction story and an accuracy of a scientific handbook. Here you will find descriptions of most known Kriya (cleaning procedures), Pranayama (breathing work), Nado (practices that use sound) and Dhyana (meditation). Authors paid attention to correct postures building, poses chain composition and Yama-Niyama principles. This book discovers a tight connection of nowadays yoga with scientific researches, art and culture. Highly recommended!