Recommended Books

I devour books about yoga.  Here are some of my favorites:

Iyengar, BKS.  Light on Yoga. — THE book on asana by a living  legend.  Densely detailed instructions on each asana.  The pictures are relatively small and in black and white, so beginners might prefer a book with clear photographs, like the next book below.

Iyenger, BKS.  Yoga: The Path to Holistic Health. — Also by B.K.S. Iyengar, with vivid color photographs.  Iyengar has written a 20-week yoga course, with a different sequence of poses each week.  This book is a wonderful resource for all levels.  Includes sequences for various ailments.

Lasater, Judith. Relax & Renew: Restful Yoga For Stressful Times.– Restorative yoga postures with photographs by the foremost expert on restorative yoga.

Sparrowe, Linda and Patricia Walden.  The Woman’s Book of Yoga & Health: A Lifelong Guide to Wellness. — Yoga sequences that support women during all stages of life.

Faulds, Richard.  Kripalu Yoga: A Guide to Practice On and Off the Mat. – Fundamentals of Kripalu Yoga, by one of its senior teachers.  A well-rounded discussion of the non-physical aspects of yoga, along with postures, warm-ups, breathing, and breathing exercises.  A practical guide to integrating yoga into daily life.

Kraftsow, Gary.  Yoga for Wellness:  Healing with the Timeless Teachings of Viniyoga. — I love viniyoga.  The more I practice yoga, the more I love this approach because it addresses the imbalances that cause us pain.  Kraftsow is the pre-eminent teacher of Viniyoga, which comes from the tradition of T.K.V. Desikachar.  The movements taught in Kraftsow’s book are wonderful for stretching and strengthening problem areas.  Sequences address common aches and pains in the neck and shoulders, upper and lower back, and the hips and knees.  Kraftsow also demonstrates sequences for chronic diseases of the digestive, respiratory, and cardiovascular system, among others.