Yoga - Useful books and websites
Books
Birch, Beryl Bender: “Power Yoga: The Total Strength and Flexibility Workout”
(Fantastic book on Ashtanga yoga with lots of photos.)
Birch, Beryl Bender: “Beyond Power Yoga: 8 Levels of Practice for Body and Soul”
(More of the same, with very good contemplations on integrating the 8 limbs of yoga.)
Bouanchaud, Bernard: “The Essence of Yoga: Reflections on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali”
(My favourite book on the YSP, which includes T.K.V. Desikachar's translation.)
Busia, Kofi (ed): “Iyengar: The Yoga Master”
(Many stories from Iyengar's students.)
Clark, Bernie: “The Complete Guide to Yin Yoga”
Desikachar, T. K. V.: “The Heart of Yoga: Developing a Personal Practice”
(Excellent book in the tradition of Vinyasa Yoga, including full translation of the YSP.)
Devi, Nischala Joy: “The Secret Power of Yoga”
(I don't much like this interpretation of the YSP.)
Easwaran, Eknath (tr.): “The Bhagavad Gita”
(All of Easwaran's books are beautifully rendered and a pleasure to read.)
Easwaran, Eknath (tr.): “The Upanishads”
Farhi, Donna: “Bringing Yoga to Life: The everyday practice of enlightened living”
(Short but thought-provoking take on bringing the 8 limbs of yoga into your life.)
Feuerstein, Georg: “The Deeper Dimension of Yoga: Theory and Practice”
Feuerstein, Georg: “The Yoga Tradition: Its History, Literature, Philosophy and Practice”
(A must-read, including all you need to know on the history and many excerpts from the classics.)
Feuerstein, Georg: “The Yoga-Sutra of Patanjali”
(Hard-going but painstakingly accurate.)
Feuerstein, Georg (ed.): “Teachings of Yoga”
Feuerstein, Georg, & Miller, Jeanine: “The Essence of Yoga”
Feuerstein, Georg, and Bodian, Stephan (ed): “Living Yoga: A Comprehensive Guide for Daily Life”
(Anthology of Yoga Journal articles.)
Feuerstein, Georg, Kak, Subhash, and Frawley, David: "In Search of the Cradle of Civilization"
(A very interesting analysis of the origins of yoga and Vedic civlization.)
Forstater, Mark, and Manuel, Jo: “The Spiritual Teachings of Yoga”
(A surprisingly good summary of the main philosophies and trends in yoga history.)
Frawley, David: “Yoga and Ayurveda”
(I love all of Frawley's books.)
Frawley, David, & Kozak, Sandra Summerfield: “Yoga for your Type”
(A life-changing book which enhanced my practice immensely.)
Goswami, Shyam Sundar: “Layayoga: The Definitive Guide to the Chakras and Kundalini”
(It is indeed definitive, complete and detailed.)
Grilley, Paul: “Yin Yoga”
Hirschi, Gertrud: “Mudras: Yoga in your Hands”
Iyengar, B. K. S.: “Light on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali”
Iyengar, B. K. S.: “The Tree of Yoga”
Iyengar, B. K. S.: “Light on Yoga”
(A must-read classic on the asanas.)
Iyengar, B. K. S.: “Light on Pranayama”
Iyengar, Geeta S.: “Yoga: A Gem for women”
(My personal favourite book on the asanas.)
Judith, Anodea: “Wheels of Life”
(Very readable book on the chakras.)
Kaminoff, Leslie: “Yoga Anatomy”
(The new edition may be much improved; the first edition was disappointing.)
Kempton, Sally: “Meditation for the Love of it”
(Fantastic book on meditation.)
Khalsa, Shakta Kaur: “Kundalini Yoga”
(Book on kundalini yoga kriyas.)
Kilham, Christopher S.: “The Five Tibetans”
(The Five Tibetans are a set of supposedly ancient yoga exercises.)
Krishnamacharya, Sri T.: “Yoga Makaranda or Yoga Saram: The Essence of Yoga”
(Book by the guru of BKS Iyengar, Sri Pattabhi Jois, Ramaswami and Desikachar.)
Maehle, Gregor: “Ashtanga Yoga: Practice and Philosophy”
(Very thorough book.)
Maehle, Gregor: “Ashtanga Yoga: The Intermediate Series”
(Equally good.)
Mallinson, James (tr.): “The Gheranda Samhita”
Pattabhi Jois, Sri: “Yoga Mala”
(Book by the man who popularised Ashtanga Yoga.)
Powers, Sarah: “Insight Yoga”
(Nice book on yin yoga.)
Prasad, Rama: "The Science of Breath and the Philosophy of the Tattvas"
(Fascinating book on Swara Yoga.)
Radha, Swami Sivananda: “Hatha Yoga: The Hidden Language: Symbols, Secrets and Metaphor”
(Amazing drawing on every page exploring the imagery of asanas.)
Radha, Swami Sivananda: “Mantras: Words of Power”
Ramaswami, Srivatsa: “The Complete Book of Vinyasa Yoga”
(This book transformed my practice and outlook on yoga.)
Ramaswami, Srivatsa: “Yoga for the Three Stages of Life”
Sabatini, Sandra: “Breath: The Essence of Yoga”
(Beautiful, meditative book.)
Saraswati, Swami Satyananda: “Asana Pranayama Mudra Bandha”
(A classic of its type, but sloppy pictures and instructions.)
Schiffmann, Erich: “Yoga: The Spirit and Practice of Moving Into Stillness”
(This author's writing and thoughts changed my outlook on life.)
Singleton, Mark: “Yoga Body: The Origins of Modern Posture Practice”
(A must-read. Yoga poses are mostly not as ancient as we like to believe, and does that matter?)
Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centre: “Yoga Mind and Body”
Sparrowe, Linda: “The Woman's Book of Yoga & Health”
Websites
http://www.melissawest.com/
(Real yoga for real people: the website of my teacher, Dr Melissa West. There are free hour-long video classes weekly, plus an amazing membership site.)
http://www.yogatoday.com/
(Some good yoga class videos, more of an energetic style. It isn't free anymore, but is fairly cheap to join up.)
Birch, Beryl Bender: “Power Yoga: The Total Strength and Flexibility Workout”
(Fantastic book on Ashtanga yoga with lots of photos.)
Birch, Beryl Bender: “Beyond Power Yoga: 8 Levels of Practice for Body and Soul”
(More of the same, with very good contemplations on integrating the 8 limbs of yoga.)
Bouanchaud, Bernard: “The Essence of Yoga: Reflections on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali”
(My favourite book on the YSP, which includes T.K.V. Desikachar's translation.)
Busia, Kofi (ed): “Iyengar: The Yoga Master”
(Many stories from Iyengar's students.)
Clark, Bernie: “The Complete Guide to Yin Yoga”
Desikachar, T. K. V.: “The Heart of Yoga: Developing a Personal Practice”
(Excellent book in the tradition of Vinyasa Yoga, including full translation of the YSP.)
Devi, Nischala Joy: “The Secret Power of Yoga”
(I don't much like this interpretation of the YSP.)
Easwaran, Eknath (tr.): “The Bhagavad Gita”
(All of Easwaran's books are beautifully rendered and a pleasure to read.)
Easwaran, Eknath (tr.): “The Upanishads”
Farhi, Donna: “Bringing Yoga to Life: The everyday practice of enlightened living”
(Short but thought-provoking take on bringing the 8 limbs of yoga into your life.)
Feuerstein, Georg: “The Deeper Dimension of Yoga: Theory and Practice”
Feuerstein, Georg: “The Yoga Tradition: Its History, Literature, Philosophy and Practice”
(A must-read, including all you need to know on the history and many excerpts from the classics.)
Feuerstein, Georg: “The Yoga-Sutra of Patanjali”
(Hard-going but painstakingly accurate.)
Feuerstein, Georg (ed.): “Teachings of Yoga”
Feuerstein, Georg, & Miller, Jeanine: “The Essence of Yoga”
Feuerstein, Georg, and Bodian, Stephan (ed): “Living Yoga: A Comprehensive Guide for Daily Life”
(Anthology of Yoga Journal articles.)
Feuerstein, Georg, Kak, Subhash, and Frawley, David: "In Search of the Cradle of Civilization"
(A very interesting analysis of the origins of yoga and Vedic civlization.)
Forstater, Mark, and Manuel, Jo: “The Spiritual Teachings of Yoga”
(A surprisingly good summary of the main philosophies and trends in yoga history.)
Frawley, David: “Yoga and Ayurveda”
(I love all of Frawley's books.)
Frawley, David, & Kozak, Sandra Summerfield: “Yoga for your Type”
(A life-changing book which enhanced my practice immensely.)
Goswami, Shyam Sundar: “Layayoga: The Definitive Guide to the Chakras and Kundalini”
(It is indeed definitive, complete and detailed.)
Grilley, Paul: “Yin Yoga”
Hirschi, Gertrud: “Mudras: Yoga in your Hands”
Iyengar, B. K. S.: “Light on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali”
Iyengar, B. K. S.: “The Tree of Yoga”
Iyengar, B. K. S.: “Light on Yoga”
(A must-read classic on the asanas.)
Iyengar, B. K. S.: “Light on Pranayama”
Iyengar, Geeta S.: “Yoga: A Gem for women”
(My personal favourite book on the asanas.)
Judith, Anodea: “Wheels of Life”
(Very readable book on the chakras.)
Kaminoff, Leslie: “Yoga Anatomy”
(The new edition may be much improved; the first edition was disappointing.)
Kempton, Sally: “Meditation for the Love of it”
(Fantastic book on meditation.)
Khalsa, Shakta Kaur: “Kundalini Yoga”
(Book on kundalini yoga kriyas.)
Kilham, Christopher S.: “The Five Tibetans”
(The Five Tibetans are a set of supposedly ancient yoga exercises.)
Krishnamacharya, Sri T.: “Yoga Makaranda or Yoga Saram: The Essence of Yoga”
(Book by the guru of BKS Iyengar, Sri Pattabhi Jois, Ramaswami and Desikachar.)
Maehle, Gregor: “Ashtanga Yoga: Practice and Philosophy”
(Very thorough book.)
Maehle, Gregor: “Ashtanga Yoga: The Intermediate Series”
(Equally good.)
Mallinson, James (tr.): “The Gheranda Samhita”
Pattabhi Jois, Sri: “Yoga Mala”
(Book by the man who popularised Ashtanga Yoga.)
Powers, Sarah: “Insight Yoga”
(Nice book on yin yoga.)
Prasad, Rama: "The Science of Breath and the Philosophy of the Tattvas"
(Fascinating book on Swara Yoga.)
Radha, Swami Sivananda: “Hatha Yoga: The Hidden Language: Symbols, Secrets and Metaphor”
(Amazing drawing on every page exploring the imagery of asanas.)
Radha, Swami Sivananda: “Mantras: Words of Power”
Ramaswami, Srivatsa: “The Complete Book of Vinyasa Yoga”
(This book transformed my practice and outlook on yoga.)
Ramaswami, Srivatsa: “Yoga for the Three Stages of Life”
Sabatini, Sandra: “Breath: The Essence of Yoga”
(Beautiful, meditative book.)
Saraswati, Swami Satyananda: “Asana Pranayama Mudra Bandha”
(A classic of its type, but sloppy pictures and instructions.)
Schiffmann, Erich: “Yoga: The Spirit and Practice of Moving Into Stillness”
(This author's writing and thoughts changed my outlook on life.)
Singleton, Mark: “Yoga Body: The Origins of Modern Posture Practice”
(A must-read. Yoga poses are mostly not as ancient as we like to believe, and does that matter?)
Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centre: “Yoga Mind and Body”
Sparrowe, Linda: “The Woman's Book of Yoga & Health”
Websites
http://www.melissawest.com/
(Real yoga for real people: the website of my teacher, Dr Melissa West. There are free hour-long video classes weekly, plus an amazing membership site.)
http://www.yogatoday.com/
(Some good yoga class videos, more of an energetic style. It isn't free anymore, but is fairly cheap to join up.)
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