Yoga South London

Yoga book recommendations

The following selection of yoga books and others are all ones that I either use regularly to help me plan classes for my students, or that I have enjoyed very much. I hope that you will enjoy some of them too!

Asana Pranayama Mudra Bandha Swami Satyananda Saraswati	A very useful yoga book which contains many postures (asanas), including the Pawanmuktasana series and some other variations not in Iyengar's book.
The Yoga Bible Christina Brown	Very clear and easy to read - suitable for all levels.
Light on Yoga BKS Iyengar	Classic book with detailed instructions on a large number of postures. Also has sections on pranayama, suggested courses for beginners, intermediate and advanced students, as well as suggested asanas and other practices for various diseases.
The New Book of Yoga Sivananda Yoga Centre	A good introduction to yoga which covers postures, breathing, diet, meditation, and some philosophy/background.
Yogaflows Mohini Chatlani	Focuses on sequences of yoga postures, and shows linking moves between the selected asanas.
Instructing Hatha Yoga Kathy Lee Kappmeier and Diane M Ambrosini	Useful for (aspiring) teachers; very detailed information. Includes a DVD.
Yoga Posture Adjustments and Assisting Stephanie Pappas	Useful for (aspiring) teachers – clear pictures and text
Yoga Mind, Body and Spirit Donna Farhi	Very thorough – with modifications, prenatal suggestions, variations for beginners and advanced students etc.
Healing Mantras Thomas Ashley-Farrand	Contains a large number of interesting mantras with background information about each one. Includes a CD
Acu-Yoga Michael Reed Gach	Marries yoga with acupuncture – shows which meridians/nadis are being worked on etc. Includes yoga postures for various health problems, and shows the acupuncture points affected by the poses.
Autobiography of a Yogi Paramahansa Yogananda	Spiritual autobiography - a classic.
Initiation Elisabeth Haich	Spiritual autobiography/reincarnation, some of it set in ancient Egypt, and some in the 20th century.
The Chasm of Fire Irina Tweedie	Spiritual autobiography, in the Sufi tradition.
The Power of Now Eckhart Tolle	Difficult to define, except it aims to take/keep you in present moment awareness, and is very inspiring.
Loving What Is Byron Katie	Focuses on using a set of questions to show how we misunderstand reality and thereby make ourselves unhappy because of what we believe to be true; by answering the questions honestly we are led to a joyful state.
Surprised by Grace Amber Terrell	Spiritual autobiography – Amber is a student of the American guru Gangaji, who is herself a student/disciple of an Indian guru, Papaji/Poonja (now dead).
Yoga Wisdom and Practice B K S Iyengar	A recent offering from one of the top names in yoga: beautiful pictures, with the emphasis firmly on wisdom, but including some interesting comments on practice also.

This site was last updated August 2009