3 books every yogi needs to read
Anyone who has practiced yoga knows that there are quite a few different things you could focus on in each class. From your breath, to the physical shapes your body is making, to the Sanskrit language, it can be a little overwhelming. That’s why I picked out 3 excellent books that will help elevate your knowledge of the practice and guide you to learn more about yoga. Happy reading!
Yoga Anatomy
by Leslie Kaminoff & Amy Matthews
This book is a staple for beginners and advanced yogis alike. The full color anatomical illustrations of asanas (our physical poses) are fantastic for visual learners like me to help understand the biomechanics and movement patterns that your body makes in your yoga practice. The in-depth information gives you a clear understanding of how everything in the body is linked: your breath, spine, joint movements, and muscle patterns are all related to each other. It’s important to remember how your body is working as a whole and find ways to move smarter, not necessarily harder. I particularly like to find a challenging pose in the book and bring it to class as a visual aid for students--it helps remind us that we are working with our bodies on a deep level and to focus on what is happening internally, rather than just what the pose looks like externally.
The Science of Yoga: The Risks and the Rewards
by William J Broad
Written by a lifelong yogi and science writer for the New York Times, this book dives deep into the history and research of yoga as a healing practice. There are lots of claims made about yoga as a cure for just about everything, and the author does a great job of dissecting fact from fiction. He also reveals the potential dangers of yoga, which I believe is very important for teachers and students to recognize. Yoga has many positive health benefits, but it’s critical to remember that pushing too deep or too quickly in your body can have serious consequences. There is growing research in the science of yoga, and I appreciate the concrete evidence that is used in this book to reveal what is myth and what is real in this ancient practice. Smart, well written and a fascinating addition to any yogi’s library.
The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali
translated by Sri Swami Satchidananda
Sutra translates to ‘thread’, and these threads were compiled at least 4,000 years ago by Patanjali and his yogic scholars. The Sutras contain instruction on the 8 Limbs of Yoga and are a fantastic way to deepen your yoga practice by taking it off the mat and into the world. The sutras cover teachings on physical postures, meditation, ethics, and provide guidance for dealing with situations that might arise in everyday life. The Sutras are presented with the original Sanskrit and translation with commentary by Sri Swami Satchidananda. He offers the reader practical advice based on his own experience for mastering the mind and achieving physical, mental and emotional harmony. The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali are a perfect way to start understanding the rich history of yogic philosophy and bring context of our physical practice.
I hope these books are a good start to your yoga library and help bring focus to your physical practice. Let me know what your favorite yoga books are in the comments below!