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Recommended reading for Yogis
Anna Oldfield on 13 December, 2011 |

Recommended reading for Yogis
The YogaLondon teacher training course uses three main texts alongside a training manual which they provide. During your training David Swenson and his book ‘Astanga Yoga – the practice manual’ will become your best friend; you’ll learn wisdom from Patanjali’s yoga sutras explained and commentated by Sri Swami Satchidananda, and Kaminoff’s ‘Yoga Anatomy’ will give you a view of the poses from the inside. Beyond these titles, there are quite literally millions of texts to choose from. Being a bit of a bibliophile I own an entire shelf of yoga texts, but find that there are certain books I turn to again and again. I decided to open the question of which texts other yogis have found invaluable and inspirational, and received a great response. A pattern emerged of enjoyable reading, texts which entertain as well as inform, and accessible explanations of ancient philosophies. Hopefully you will see some of your own favourites here, as well as discovering some new titles.

Back to the source
The first response I received was the Upanishads. These Sanskrit texts form the basis of the Hindu religion and are at the root of yoga. The title itself translates as “sitting near to”, and refers to a group of pupils listening to their teacher. Transcribed form oral tradition, this ancient knowledge which still resonates today gives the reader a strong sense of yoga, or indeed thought and being, as a timeless experience – the connection between all practitioners. There are over two hundred Upanishads, dating back as early as between 400-800 B.C. however around a dozen are commonly identified as the core teachings and commentated translations are widely available.

Yoga
‘Asana, Pranayama, Bandha, Mudra’, aka the orange book is a key title for any yogi’s collection. One of the core texts of the Swami Satyananda Saraswati series, this book complements the teacher training manual and set texts, providing clear explanations of the asanas and detailing many other aspects of yoga – perfect for consolidation of knowledge and an in-depth but accessible view of yogic systems. The ‘Yoga Nidra’ book from the same series is also very popular. Alongside a historical explanation of the practice, Swami Satyananda Saraswati provides examples of yoga nidra scripts for budding-teachers.

‘The Chakra Bible’ by Patricia Mercier is another text recommended by yogis. A fully illustrated, in-depth explanation of the chakras, this book suggests practical energy work activities as well as the theoretical information.

Rebecca Ffrench, director of the YogaLondon training course, recommended Ram Dass’ ‘Be Here Now’, a book about yoga and spirituality published by a western-born yogi during the 1970s. Described by many as a life-changing book, ‘Be Here Now’ explains the yogic life-style to westerners from the perspective of someone who has come from the same cultural background as them.

For those who, like me, have had to leave their yoga book-shelf in storage, or cannot find the space or funds, online books are an invaluable resource. The Swami Krishnananda website (www.swami-krishnananda.org) is quite literally an online yoga library, providing audio and video clips as well as e-books.

Beyond yoga
Many people first access the philosophy from which yoga stems through Herman Hesse’s ‘Siddhartha’ – a text set in the time of Gautama Buddha which simply and inspiringly presents an individual’s journey of exploration and quest for enlightenment. This cult-classic is definitely worth a read!

I recently stumbled across Jamal Yogis’ ‘Saltwater Buddha’, a captivating account of how yoga and eastern philosophy systems mould and influence peoples’ lives in the modern world. This book really demonstrates how everyone incorporates yoga and belief systems into their own specific life, in this case through surfing.

Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi’s ‘Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience’ explores the attainment of happiness through concentration and effort in a task. A clear link between Csikszentmihalyi’s work and the practice of yoga can be seen in the amazon.com review:
“You have heard about how a musician loses herself in her music, how a painter becomes one with the process of painting. In work, sport, conversation or hobby, you have experienced, yourself, the suspension of time, the freedom of complete absorption in activity. This is "flow," an experience that is at once demanding and rewarding.”

Finally, a light-hearted favourite: ‘The Tao of Pooh’, by Benjamin Hoff. This book presents an accessible interpretation of ancient Chinese Taoist philosophy using the beloved childhood character of Winnie the Pooh. Whilst you may not have expected to learn lessons about life from a teddy bear, this book and its sequel ‘The Te of Piglet’, are best-sellers!

Which books have changed your practice, opened up a new way of seeing things, consolidated your existing knowledge and inspired you? Share your responses on the YogaLondon facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/#!/YogaLondon