What’s Your Favorite Yoga Book?
January 2, 2007Zazazu (love that name!) asked if we could share our favorite yoga book recommendations. I think that’s a great idea — there’s nothing like leafing through a new yoga book, or an old favorite, to inspire your practice.
Some of my favorites:
Ashtanga Yoga, by David Swenson. This is my go-to book if I have a question about a particular asana in the primary series. Lots of good photos, descriptions and ideas for modifying poses you can’t quite get into yet.
Light on Life, by BKS Iyengar. I read this last year and thought it was one of the best yoga philosophy books I’ve read. I’d like to pick it up again as there was a lot to digest.
Yoga Mala, by Sri K. Pattabhi Jois. Of course, this is the “bible” of ashtanga yoga. Especially good on the philosophy behind the practice.
Moving into Stillness, by Erich Schiffmann. This book has a lot of helpful asana instruction as well as practice sequences. And Schiffmann has such a nice, mellow yogic vibe to his writing.
Anyone else want to share recommendations?
I’m something of a simpleton but I really loved Happy Yoga by Steve Ross. I’ve got several other yoga texts on my to-read list for this year and can’t wait to add some of the ones I see presented here as well!
Thanks for starting this thread, YogaGumbo!
I like “Living Your Yoga” by Judith Lasater. It’s a great and practical book.
I dig the somewhat new Gregor Maehle book Ashtanga Yoga: Practice and philosophy. He’s a teacher and Ph.D in comparative religion in Perth, Australia. The back section on his views of the Yoga Sutras and their connection to Ashtanga Yoga (ala Pattabhi Jois) is a real gem. Its packed with good stuff on asana practice as well.
David
i loooove kundalini yoga and yoga for women by shakta kaur khalsa.
The Heart of Yoga – developing a personal practice by T.K.V. Desikachar is one of my favourite books because of how he in a very down to earth way explains yoga in all its different forms.