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[et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text”]I have to admit, I have a huge addiction to yoga books. I have an amazing collection of them on my book shelf. Each of them have been helpful to me along the way. Whether it’s for my own practice or helping others develop their practice or just for general knowledge.

There is so much more to yoga then the physical postures and the practice on the mat. Studying and utilizing the other practices of yoga such as breath work, meditation, and philosophy can literally transform your life. It did mine!

I use these books for my yoga practice and for teaching yoga classes. However, I also use a lot of this information when I am working with patients. Insight from yoga can be life enhancing, that’s for sure. These books can be helpful in all healing capacity or just to figure out the ups and downs life life that is inevitable for all of us.

Essential Guide for Asana Practice

Light On Yoga by B.K.S. Iyengar

Although I tend to not have yoga books pertaining to physical postures, this book, however, is the exception.

Let me digress for a moment, in case you are unfamiliar with Mr. Iyengar.

Mr. Iyengar was one of four yoga masters who introduced yoga to the West as we know it. The other three yoga masters were Pattabhi Jois, known for Ashtanga yoga which then spun off vinyasa style yoga; Desikachar who introduced yoga as a therapeutic modality; and Indra Devi, known as the First Lady of Yoga and introduced the more Classical aspects of yoga to the West.

These four masters of yoga were all disciples of Krishnamacharya who by all intensive purposes would be considered the ‘founder’ of modern yoga. Although Krishnamacharya never came to the West, his teachings, through his masterful students, are a legacy and lives on in our practices today.

Mr. Iyengar’s style of yoga is very much about alignment. His teachings addressed the goal of alignment all aspects of the self which include the body, emotions, mind, and the soul. In short, he believed by first working on the alignment of the physical aspects of the self, we would be able to access the deeper aspects of ourselves.

Asanas with this style focuses on proper alignment and progression of physical postures and breath work. As a physiotherapist, I love this approach.

This book breaks down many yoga poses. There are step by step instructions for each pose and progressions. It also includes the effects and benefits of the pose. At the back of the book, there is a week by week development plan, over 300 weeks. I have met many yoga students who have developed a practice based on this plan.

Yoga as a Healing Modality

The Heart of Yoga by T.K.V. Desikachar

Desikachar was one of the yoga master students of Krishnamacharya. He was also his son. Desikachar’s teachings clarified his father’s teachings but also focused on his approach. He believed that a yoga practice should work on the spine at the physical, mental, and spiritual level.

This book outlines a comprehensive practice to include poses, breath work, meditations, and philosophy. Included in the book is the translation and commentary of the Yoga Sutras by Patanjali and the Yoganjalisaram, poems composed by Krishnamacharya.

The Heart of Yoga is an invaluable resource book. I often refer back to the book to teach beginners about how to link movement with the breath. Desikachar called this a dynamic practice. He believed that the dynamic approach is better for beginners because holding poses, in poor alignment may accentuate problems.  In this book, he also teaches counterposes to neutralize the effects of poses. Finally, he introduces the concept of Vinyasa krama which helps with organizing the course of a yoga practice. This is where the therapeutic aspect comes in. He emphasizes that the yoga practice should be sequenced and built upon based on what our needs and goals are.

I highly recommend this book for yoga teachers who have had experience with developing their own practice and are interested in really understanding the progression of a yoga practice towards a therapeutic goal.

Introduction to the Yoga Sutras

Meditations From the Mat by Rolf Gates

I have recommended this book to many serious yoga practitioners when they express an interest in learning more about yoga then just the postures.

This book is so beautiful! It is organized into eight parts. Each part is referenced to each limb of Patanjali’s 8-limb path. There are 365 entries, meant to be read and meditated on each day. Each entry has a wonderful quote. And the entry has something personal of the author’s relating to the particular yogic philosophy.

I found this book when I began to study Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras more seriously. The author infused yoga philosophy along with his own personal experiences, as well as other references to help make the Sutras much more accessible.

I continue to use this book as a source of guidance and inspiration. Sometimes, I will just flip to a page and see what message I need to hear that day. It is always relevant!

Applying Yoga Philosophy to Modern Life

The Wisdom of Yoga by Stephen Cope

Stephen Cope is a psychotherapist and an experienced yoga teacher at Kripalu, a retreat centre in Massachusetts. This book is written about a group of his friends who have the ‘normal’ problems of every day life. Problems such as in relationships, family dynamics, careers, and aging.

The book brilliantly applies the philosophy of the Yoga Sutras into the modern day dilemmas of his friends. As a result, the Yoga Sutras became very approachable and very understandable in the context of what we all experience on a daily basis.

This book highlighted to me how amazing it is that the yoga sages figured out the plight of the human being. And in reality, nothing has really changed through the ages. The problems and sufferings we have now continues to be from the same reason… our mind.

In reading this book, I was able to relate a lot of what was going on in my life to the people in this book. And subsequently, knowing how yoga can help with diminishing the suffering we all experience.

Resource for Subtle Energy

Eastern Body and Western Mind by Anodea Judith

In my osteopathic practice, I see lots of people with chronic pain and long term dysfunctions. Without exception, the physical pain is always linked to something emotional. The patient may not be conscious of it yet but for sure, healing would not occur without bringing awareness to it.

This book has been a consistent reference book for me. The book presents the chakras with a Western approach. With then makes the book very relevant to the present day psychosocial issues we encounter.

In understanding the chakras and possible dysfunctions, I have then been able to more of a glimpse of what makes my patients the way they are in terms of physical manifestations of pain and dysfunction and coping mechanisms. Treatment or yoga practices could then address more of the underlying reasons of their chronic and persistent pain or movement dysfunctions.

Have you read these books? Do you use them as references? What are your go-to books? Recommend and comment below! I would love to hear your choices.

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