When I was in grade school, I would walk home from the bus with my nose in a book. I could easily immerse myself in a story, and the world would fall away.

I continue to find inspiration and understanding through books.

This list offers insight into different aspects of the yoga practice, tradition, and its influences. It also includes the books and authors that have helped me see myself and the world more clearly.

I hope you find these resources helpful; please send me an email if you read one of these books and let me know your thoughts.

 

Posture, Movement, Breath

 

  • Yoga Mind, Body, & Spirit by Donna Farhi

  • Yoga of the Subtle Body by Tias Little

  • Thread of Breath by Tias & Surya Little

  • Somatics by Thomas Hannah

  • Light on Yoga by BKS Iyengar

  • Mudras of India by Cain Carroll and Revital Carrol

  • Breathwork: A 3-week Breathing Program by Valerie Moselle (owner & teacher at Luma Yoga)

  • Yoga is for Everyone by Dianne Bondy

 

Yoga Philosophy & Lifestyle

 

  • The Yamas & Niyamas by Deborah Adele

  • The Heart of Yoga by TKV Desikachar

  • Health Healing & Beyond by TKV Desikachar

  • Fire of Love: Teaching the Essence of Yoga by Aadil Palkhivala

  • The Inner Tradition of Yoga by Michael Stone

  • Yoga & Ayurveda by David Frawley

  • Yoga for Wellness by Gary Kraftsow

  • The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali A New Translation & Commentary by Chip Hartranft

  • The Essence of Yoga: Reflections on the Yoga Sutras of Patañjali by Bernard Bouanchaud

  • Threads of Yoga A remix of Patanjali’s Sutras by Matthew Remski

  • Honor Yoga’s Roots by Susanna Barkataki

 

Meditation

 

  • Meditations on a Dew Drop by Tias Little

  • Radical Acceptance by Tara Brach, PhD

  • Peace is Every Step by Thich Nhat Hanh

  • Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind by Suzuki Roshi

  • The Mind Illuminated by Culadasa (John Yates, PhD) & MathewImmergut, PhD

  • When Things Fall Apart by Pema Chodron

  • Bring me the Rhinoceros and Other Zen Koans by John Tarrant

  • Tao Te Ching by Lao Tsu

 

Anatomy

 

  • Anatomy of Movement by Blandine Calais-Germain 

  • Fascia: What it is and Why it Matters by David Lesondak

  • Yoga Body: Anatomy, Kinesiology, and Asana by Judith Hansen Lasater

  • Anatomy Trains by Thomas Myers

  • Yoga Biomechanics by Jules Mitchell

  • Your Body, Your Yoga by Bernie Clark

  • The Architecture & Design of Man & Woman by Alexander Tsiaras

  • Atlas of Human Anatomy by Frank H. Netter

  • Key Muscles of Hatha Yoga by Ray Long

 

Therapy & Trauma Informed Practices

 

  • The Gift of Therapy by Irvin D Yalom, M.D.

  • My Grandmother’s Hands by Resmaa Menakem

  • Accessing the Healing Power of the Vagus Nerve by Stanley Rosenberg

  • The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel Van Der Kolk M.D.

  • All Writing & Podcasts by Brené Brown

 

Inspirational Reading

 

  • A Field Guide to Getting Lost by Rebecca Solnit

  • Braving the Wilderness by Brené Brown

  • Dare to Lead by Brené Brown (ALL of her books)

  • Siddhartha by Herman Hesse

  • Letters to a Young Poet by Rainer Maria Rilke

  • The Way of Chuang Tzu by Thomas Merton

  • The Tales of the Dervishes by Idries Shah

  • Help, Thanks, Wow by Anne Lamott

  • The Art of Gathering by Priya Parker

  • Essentialism by Greg McKeown

  • Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert

  • A Different Kind of Luxury: Japanese Lessons in Simple Living and Inner Abundance by Andy Couturier (a local Santa Cruz author)

 

Poetry & Verse

 

  • The Enlightened Heart by Stephen Mitchell

  • Naked Song: Lalla Translated by Coleman Barks

  • Mary Oliver

  • David White

  • Conflict Resolution for Holy Beings by Joy Harjo

  • The Sun and Her Flowers by Rupi Kaur

 

For Yoga Teachers

 

  • Teaching Yoga by Donna Farhi

  • The Courage to Teach by Parker Palmer