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Interested in learning more about yoga? Explore some of the following good books, videos, magazines and websites. |
With its beautiful imagery and description, Awakening the Spine (Scaravelli) is my all-time favorite yoga book. Rather than describing details about yoga poses, this book offers a poetic exploration of how yoga relates to life,
nature, art and joy. Yoga: Mastering the Basics (Anderson) is my favorite introductory text, offering a comprehensive overview of the philosophy and practice of yoga along with beautiful photos of many fundamental postures. Light on Yoga (Iyengar), considered the bible for those who study Iyengar yoga, offers photos and descriptions of hundreds of classic postures. The Heart of Yoga: Developing a Personal Practice (Desikachar) offers a mix of philosophy and practice as seen through the eyes of one of the foremost yogis of the century. |
In addition to the Yoga: Mastering the Basics (see above), my favorite picks for beginners are Yoga: The Iyengar Way (Mehta), which offers clear, step-by-step instructions for a range of beginning postures, Yoga: The Spirit and Practice of Moving into Stillness (Schiffmann), Yoga: Mind, Body and Spirit (Farhi) and 30 Essential Yoga Poses (Lasater). |
Although I'm not a big fan of practicing in front of a screen, I highly recommend the Yoga Journal series of videos taught by Patricia Walden – especially Yoga for Beginners and
Yoga for Relaxation. I also recommend the Bodywisom Media DVD's featuring Barbara Benagh, one of my all-time favorite teachers, starting with Yoga for Beginners and Yoga for Stress Relief. I also recommend documentary videos about the lives and teachings of two innovative yoga teachers: Vanda Scaravelli: On Yoga and The Feminine Unfolding: An Exploration of Yoga with Angela Farmer. |
Relax and Renew (Lasater) is devoted exclusively to restorative poses that quiet the mind and body. I highly recommend it to anyone who especially likes the quiet, supported poses we do in class. Back Care Basics (Schatz) provides detailed advice for those seeking to understand and ease chronic back pain. The Women's Book of Yoga and Health (Sparrow and Walden) offers an excellent and comprehensive approach to yoga for women of all ages. Complete Stretching (Tobias and Sullivan) is a good resource for athletes. Recovery Yoga: A Practical Guide for Chronically Ill, Injured and Post-Operative People (Dworkis) offers a clear and gentle approach to yoga for those with special needs. Conscious Breathing (Hendricks) and The Breathing Book (Farhi) are indispensable resources for those who want to learn more about healthy, natural breathing. Are your kids interested in yoga? Try the book Yoga for Children (Stewart and Phillips), or the DVD's Yoga for the Kid in Everyone, and Ei-Ei Yoga. |
Interested in exploring the structure and function of the body from inside out? I recommend The Thinking Body (Todd), BodyStories: A Guide to Experiential Anatomy (Olsen), Anatomy of Movement (Calais-Germain), and Dynamic Alignment through Imagery (Franklin). For an introduction to Body-Mind Centering, an innovative system of movement and exploration focused on integration and wellbeing, explore Sensing, Feeling and Action (Bainbridge-Cohen) and Wisdom of the Body Moving (Hartley). |
My favorite down-to-earth introductions to Buddhism and meditation include A Path with Heart (Kornfield), Wherever You Go, There You Are (Kabat-Zinn) and It's Easier Than You Think (Boorstein). Buddhist teacher Pema Chodron’s books and audiotapes, including Start Where You Are, The Wisdom of No Escape and When Things Fall Apart, are beautiful reminders of the importance of acceptance, kindness and wisdom in our lives. The Posture of Meditation (Johnson) and Aligned, Relaxed and Resilient: The Physical Foundations of Mindfulness (Johnson) offer clear and comprehensive information about the relation between posture and mindfulness in sitting meditation. And the works of Bhikkhu Nyanasobhano, starting with Landscapes of Wonder, offer a poetic vision of the spiritual lessons we can glean through deeper communion with the natural world. |
The Essential Rumi (Barks) and The Illuminated Rumi (Barks) are beautiful introductions to the poems of this great Sufi master. The Gift: Poetry of Hafiz (Landinsky) is also a great pick. Tao Te Ching (Mitchell) is pure poetry, offering ages-old wisdom on living simply, from the center, with honesty, acceptance and peace. For modern poetry that speaks to the life of the spirit, I highly recommend anything by poets Mary Oliver, Wendell Berry and David Whyte - start with New and Selected Poems (Oliver), Collected Poems (Berry) and The House of Belonging (Whyte). I also recommend The Heart of God (Tagore), Rilke's Book of Hours (Barrows) and Sailing Alone Around the Room (Billy Collins). |
Yoga Journal is the most popular yoga magazine in the country and a good resource for basic insight and instruction about yoga, as well as for a range of articles related to health and wellness. Yoga+ Joyful Living beautifully offers less mainstream, more detailed fare about yoga practice and philosophy. The Shambhala Sun, my favorite magazine about spirituality, presents inspiring articles about Buddhism and related topics. |
When browsing the web, a great place to start is _YogaJournal.com_ (http://www.yogajournal.com) , which offers a wealth of information geared toward both beginning and experienced practitioners. Yoga+Joyful Living's website, _yimag.org_ (http://www.yimag.org) , also offers a range of articles about yoga. Yoga.com, _HuggerMugger.com_ (http://www.huggermugger.com) and _Barefootyoga.com_ (http://www.barefootyoga.com) are good places to start if you're
looking for a wide assortment of books, props, clothes and music. And for information about yoga close to home, check out ohioyoga.com (http://www.ohioyoga.com) or yogaonhigh.com (yogaonhigh.com). |
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