10 BEST BOOKS TO REFRESH YOUR YOUR YOGA PRACTICE

Whether you are a novice yogi or you have been practicing since birth, there is always a new dimension to explore with yoga.  Below are 10 Books that will help you not only revitalize but also evolve your practice.

Insight Yoga: An Innovative Synthesis of Traditional Yoga, Meditation, and Eastern Approaches to Healing and Well-Being

Whether you are familiar with Yin yoga or not, this a wonderful way to refreshen your practice.  I love to incorporate a handful of yin postures into a flow.  It feels like a very intuitive choice.  Sarah Powers is well-known for her yin postures.  Insight Yoga combines traditional yoga with the meridians of Chinese medicine, as well as Buddhist meditation. Using Yin and Yang poses, she demonstrates a series of different yoga sequences that bring benefit to organs, muscles, joints, and tendons.  She combines the physical and the mindfulness aspect.  She also incorporates the far east approach with traditional Chinese medicine theory and mindfulness meditation instruction.  It is concise, clear and inspiring.  If you are interested in deepening your understanding of your practice, open up this book.

The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali

This is a classic yoga texts.  It is definitely intense reading.  But it is fascinating nonetheless.  Whether you want to use is as reference material or get cozy and find some time to delve into it, you will appreciate this  fundamental yoga book.  The original text dates back to approximately 2200 years ago. The interpretation of Patanjali Sutras is very well-known in yoga communities.    Swami Satchidananda’s explanations make this more accessible.  He breaks down the meanings of each sutra.  The Pranayama (breathing)  is also very detailed.  It may be read a little at a time to absorb and integrate into your life and practice.  You may also use it as a resource.  If you have not read this book, it will take your yoga practice to another level.

Hatha Yoga Pradipika

Hatha Yoga Pradipika (Light on Hatha Yoga) includes the original Sanskrit by Maharshi Swatmarama with a translation and thorough commentary in english by Swami Satyananda and Swami Muktibodhananda.

This covers asana, pranayama, shatkarma, mudra and bandha. The Pradiipika requires an analysis, because there is so much more to getting to what the original creator of the work meant.  It is very thorough.  It also reviews cleansing techniques and meditative states of consciousness.

“It points out that hatha yoga is not just a physical practice but a process of cellular transmutation from gross to subtle to divine.”  It will most definitely assist you in evolving your practice.

Path of Fire and Light, Vol. 1: Advanced Practices of Yoga

The Path of Fire and Light moves into some of the systematic techniques that yogic teachers and sages have used for millennia to gain control over mind and body.

About the Author

Sri Swami Rama, the founder of the Himalayan International Institute of Yoga Science and Philosophy, was raised n the Himalayan cave monasteries and ordained a monk in early childhood. He studied Western psychology, philosophy, and medicine in Europe and taught in Japan before coming to the United States in 1969. Here he founded the Himalayan Institute to create a bridge between the ancient teachings of the East and the modern scientific approaches of the West.

Autobiography of a Yogi

This is a classic yoga book.  This is  personal accounts from an enlightened yogi. It contains many stories of the saints and sages of India, a beautiful account of the progression of Yogananda from human seeker to enlightened soul.  It is definitely for someone who has a sincere desire to connect with divinity within his/her yoga practice and life.

Shambhala Encyclopedia of Yoga

This is an encyclopedia.  It gives an authentic portrayal of a rich and highly complex spiritual tradition of India. There is a guide to pronunciation of the Sanskrit words.  It has an entire chapter on the pronunciation of Sanskrit words and numerous illustrations that will help readers understand the meanings of many words and asanas.  There are even black and white artwork and photos. If you want to know more about your practice of yoga, explore this book.  It has history and spirituality. Featuring more than 100 illustrations.  It is very complex.

There is a newer version of this also: The Encyclopedia of Yoga and Tantra.

KISS Guide to Yoga

Are you surprised to see this on the list?  This book is incredible.  Keep it simple and it does.  But it also covers the more complex concepts of yoga and reviews it in easy to grasp manner.  It makes it accessible to everyone.  It is a great refresher for the more accomplished yogi/yogini because it covers so much.

Yoga Anatomy

This book is a must in any yoga library especially for the yoga teacher.  It covers all the anatomical information but also the roots of yoga.  It allows the reader to put together the breath, the pose and the parts of the body.

Perfectly Imperfect: The Art and Soul of Yoga Practice

Baron Baptiste covers so much in this book.  It is a beautiful memoir and yet also inspirational and instructional.  He takes you on a lovely journey growing-up with parents immersed in the yogic culture.  It covers  so much of the practice and also life’s daily’s events.  Especially wonderful are his review on the complexity of Drishti (focused gaze). It weaves yoga into our daily lives.

Light On Yoga

Again, this book is essential in your yoga library.  In addition to the yoga asanas in part one it also covers the niyamas, yamas to samadhi and how to obtain enlightenment.  B.K.S Iyengar talks a truth for every yogi whether you practice Iyengar or not.  Many modifications are also covered.  There is also an entire section dedicated to pranayama and the technique.