Yoga Books - A Selective Bibliography of Serious Yoga Books
Compiled by Terry Slade (tslade@ionet.net)   About This Page   www.ionet.net/~tslade/yogabook.htm
See also my pages on Yoga Videos,   Body BooksBooks on Food and HealthAtlases of Human Anatomy and Qigong
Categories on this page:
Ashtanga Yoga Books
Krishnamacharya/Desikachar/Vini-Yoga
Iyengar Yoga Books
Therapeutic/Restorative/Gentle Yoga
Yin Yoga
Yoga Anatomy
Other Selected Yoga Books
Women's Yoga/Pregancy
Teaching Yoga
Pranayama/Breathing
Bibliographies
Yoga Scriptures
Magazines/Articles

Ashtanga Yoga (and related) Books


An excellent source for books and videos on Ashtanga yoga is
www.ashtanga.com
NOTE - I would consider the first six books below (Jois, Miele, Scott, Swenson, Sweeney, Maehle) as authoritative references on Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga. (most are available from www.ashtanga.com)
Yoga Mala - Pattabhi Jois
Second Edition:
2002 North Point Press 160 pages (paperback $17.00) ISBN:0865476624
Previous edition:
1999 Eddie Stern/Patanjali Yoga Shala 140 pages (paperback $25.99, also may be available in hardback)
Amazon.com: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/0865476624/
Also available from: Ashtanga.com.
Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute: www.ayri.org/publications.html

Essential reference for Ashtanga yoga. Written in 1958, this is the first English translation (1999). After a 42-page introduction, each posture in primary Ashtanga series is covered. The method and benefits of each asana are given and each is illustrated with a photo. Includes about 16 photos of Pattabhi Jois which were probably taken over 40 years ago and a couple of recent photos, including his beaming face on the cover. Remaining asanas are illustrated by more recent photos of his grandson, Sharath.


Astanga Yoga - Lino Miele
3rd edition 1999 166 pages (paperback $26.95) Lino Miele's website: www.astanga.it
Also available from: Ashtanga.com

Excellent book, written under the guidance of Pattabhi Jois. Lino Miele is one of the few Certified Ashtanga teachers in the world. Covers Primary Series (Yoga Chikitsa), and Intermediate Series (Nadi Sodhana). Each posture is illustrated with a photo of Sharath. There is no description of how to do the postures, other than the listing of the vinyasas for each posture (each inhalation and inhalation is listed and numbered in sanskrit). Describes effects or benefits of each posture in primary series (but not for intermediate series). Dristi is given for each posture. Includes some text on vayus, pranayama and chakras. Index at the end is actually contents, listing each posture by page number.


Ashtanga Yoga - John Scott
Subtitled: The Definitive Step-by-Step Guide to Dynamic Yoga
2001 Three Rivers Press 144 pages (paperback $18.95) ISBN: 0609807862
Amazon.com: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/0609807862
Amazon.co.uk: www.amazon.co.uk/o/ASIN/1856751813
John Scott's website: www.ashtanga.co.nz
Also available from: Ashtanga.com

Foreward by Pattabhi Jois. John Scott is one of the few Certified Ashtanga teachers in the world. Formerly based in the UK, now located in New Zealand. This book has detailed coverage of primary series. Illustrated with photos of John Scott. Published in England (Gaia) 10/27/00, in the US 05/01.

A review of the book from Yoga UK.     An interview with John Scott at Yoga UK.


Ashtanga Yoga - "The Practice Manual" - David Swenson
Subtitled: An Illustrated Guide to Personal Practice
First edition: 1999 Ashtanga Yoga Productions 263 pages 650 photos (hardback, spiral-bound $24.95) ISBN:1891252089
Second edition: 2007 Ashtanga Yoga Productions 264 pages (hardback, spiral-bound $26.95) ISBN:1891252089
Amazon.com: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/1891252089/
A source in UK: www.yogashop.co.uk
David Swenson's website: www.ashtanga.net
Also available from: Ashtanga.com

Excellent book. Very user-friendly. Spiral binding allows book to lay flat on floor. Large book covering primary and intermediate series. Lots of description for each posture. A notable feature of this book is that it gives variations for all postures. Includes photos of all postures and variations. Swenson is an Authorized Ashtanga teacher.


Astanga Vinyasa Yoga As It Is - Matthew J. Sweeney
3rd edition - 2005 Yoga Temple 84 pages (paperback ringbound $35.00) ISBN 0975780700
2nd edition - 2002 Yoga Temple 44 pages (paperback booklet $25.00)
1st edition - 2000 Yoga Temple 17 pages (paperback booklet $25.00)
Amazon.com: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/0975780700/
Author's website (Australia): www.yogatemple.com
Ashtanga.com.

This well-respected book contains photographs illustrating all of the postures from the first four series of Ashtanga yoga (Primary, Intermediate, Advanced A, Advanced B). As far as I know this is the only printed source for the advanced postures. (There are some videos which show some of the advanced series - see my yoga videos page). The photos are small (a bit larger in the 2nd edition), but I think part of the concept here is to have a concise reference. Each posture is labelled with its name in Sanskrit. Also includes translations of opening and closing prayers. And much printed info not otherwise available in one book. Contents: Traditional Astanga Yoga Prayer, Salute to the Sun (Version A&B), Standing Postures, Primary Postures, Intermediate Postures, Advanced A Postures, Advanced B Postures, Back Bending, Finishing Postures, Vinyasa Sequencing Variations, Closing Prayer, Glossary.

Sweeney has also produced some wall charts of Ashtanga yoga postures which may be available from www.yogatemple.com


Ashtanga Yoga Practice and Philosophy - Gregor Maehle
Original self-published edition: 2006 Kaivalya Publications 305 pages (paperback $55.00) ISBN:0977512606
2007 New World Library 320 pages (paperback $24.95) ISBN10:1577316061 ISBN13:9781577316060
Amazon.com: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/1577316061/
Publisher's website:www.newworldlibrary.com/productdetails.cfm?PC=442
Available from: Ashtanga.com
Author's website (Australia): www.ashtangayogabooks.com

Part 1 - Fundamentals (about 10 pages) describes breath, bandhas, dristi, vinyasa. Part 2 (about 112 pages) comprehensive description of Primary series, with lots of detail. Part 3 (about 8 pages) - The History and Lineage of Yoga. Part 4 (about 154 pages) translation and commentary on Patanjali's Yoga Sutras. Probably the most comprehensive book yet on Ashtanga yoga.


Ashtanga Yoga - Petri Raisanen
2006 185+ pages
Author's book website: www.ashtangabook.com
Author's studio website: www.astanga.fi

Currently in Swedish and Finnish. Soon in English.


Moola Bandha - the Master Key - Swami Buddhananda / Swami Satyananda Saraswati
1978 Bihar School of Yoga 144 pages (paperback $9.95) ISBN:8185787328
Amazon.com: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/8185787328

A whole book on the subject of Mula Bandha (root lock). Highly recommended. Not written from an Ashtanga point of view, but this practice is central to the practice of Ashtanga yoga.


The Language of Yoga - Nicolai Bachman
Subtitled: Complete A to Y Guide to Asana Names, Sanskrit Terms and Chants
2005 Sounds True 139 pages (spiral-bound $24.95) (includes 2 CDs) ISBN:1591792819
Amazon.com: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/1591792819/
Author's website:www.sanskritsounds.com/LOYPage.html

A description from the author's website: "Learn how to read, write and pronounce over 200 asana names and over 300 sanskrit terms relating to yoga. Includes 7 chants, asana names in alphabetical order, and separate tracks for Ashtanga sequences." The book includes 2 CDs so you can hear the pronunciations. While this book is useful to anyone studying any kind of yoga, it seems to be oriented to Ashtanga, and will be very useful to Ashtanga students wanting to learn more about Sanskrit, pronunciation of asanas names, and chanting. A super-duper book.


The Only Way Out Is In - Anthony "Prem" Carlisi
Subtitled: A Modern Day Yogi's Commentary on the Synergy of Ashtanga Yoga, Ayurveda, and Tantra
2007 Dream Weavers International 286 pages ($19.95 paperback) ISBN13: 978097986980S
Available from the author's website: www.ashtangaworld.com/book.html
Also available from: Ashtanga.com.


Ashtanga Yoga as Taught by Shri K Pattabhi Jois - Larry Schultz and Janice Gates
2nd edition - 2001 (paperback $18.00)
1st edition - 1997 Nauli Press 83 pages (paperback, spiral-bound $22.00)

This manual on primary series Ashtanga yoga comes from the Its Yoga studio in San Francisco. After some introductory material, each asana is described and illustrated with a drawing. This is followed by 9 pages of just the names and pictures to be used as a practice guide. I have not yet seen the newer edition, which I think has color pictures. Can be ordered directly from It's Yoga: www.itsyoga.net. (A sample of this book can also be read online or printed out from the above website). It's Yoga does not teach "strict" Ashtanga, and this is not a highly regarded source, but the original edition was one of the first books on Ashtanga Yoga.


Power Yoga - Connect to the Core with Ashtanga Yoga - Liz Lark
2000 Firefly Books 60 pages (paperback $19.95) ISBN:1552095029
Amazon.com: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/1552095029/
Author's website: www.lizlark.com

Basic coverage of primary series Ashtanga yoga.


Ashtanga Yoga: The Complete Mind and Body Workout - Juliet Pegram
2001 Sterling 128 pages (paperback $19.95) ISBN:0806966556
Amazon.com: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/0806966556/


Ashtanga Yoga for Women - Sally Griffyn, Michaela Clarke
2003 Ulysses Press 128 pages (paperback $17.98) ISBN:1569753503
Amazon.com: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/1569753503/


Power Yoga - Beryl Bender Birch
1995 Fireside Books 286 pages (paperback $15.00) ISBN:0020583516
Amazon.com: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/0020583516/
Beryl Bender Birch's website: www.power-yoga.com

Though not regarded as an Ashtanga purist, Beryl's book was probably the only Ashtanga yoga book available for several years after being published. Describes primary series postures in detail. Many photos. The term "power yoga" usually refers to some vigorous style of yoga based on Ashtanga to some extent but usually deviating quite a bit from the form of Ashtanga (Bryan Kest, Baron Baptiste, Geo Tacoma). Though Beryl Birch may have coined the term power yoga, this book presents pretty much straight-forward Ashtanga yoga.


Beyond Power Yoga - 8 Levels of Practice for Body and Soul - Beryl Bender Birch
2000 Fireside Books 288 pages (paperback $16.00) ISBN:0684855267
Amazon.com: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/0684855267/

Sequel to Power Yoga, covering the eight limbs of ashtanga yoga.


It's A Long Way To The Floor - David Byck
2006 Jonathan Styles (paperback $9.99) ISBN 817525680X
Amazon.com: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/817525680X/
Author's website: www.davidbyck.com

A personal story of practicing Ashtanga yoga.


The Yoga Tradition of the Mysore Palace - N. E. Sjoman
1996 Abhinav Publications 124 pages (hardback $21.95) ISBN:8170173396
2nd edition - 1999 Abhivan Publications (hardback $30.00) ISBN10:8170173892 ISBN13:9788170173892
Amazon.com: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/8170173892/

Very interesting book. Most of the book is a translation of a manuscript from early or mid 1800's found in the Mysore palace. This book is the subject of an article in Yoga Journal (JUL/AUG 1999), which is discussed below. This is not an instruction manual, but a very interesting study of the development of the yoga styles of Pattabhi Jois and B.K.S. Iyengar. Advances the theory that the emphasis on asana practice is a recent development, which can be seen as an adaptation to the needs of modern people. This is partly based on the observation that there is very little documentation of asana practice prior to this century.


Yoga Touchstone - N. E. Sjoman and H.V. Dattatreya
2004 Black Lotus 160 pages (hardback $40.00) ISBN:0973616202
Have not seen this, and it is not easy to find. A review at Amazon's Canadian site gives some info:www.amazon.ca/o/ASIN/0973616202/
More info and reviews are at the publisher's website: www.blacklotusbooks.com


Krishnamacharya/Desikachar/Vini-Yoga


Sri Krishnamacharya was the teacher and guru of Pattabhi Jois (they created Ashtanga yoga together), the teacher and guru of BKS Iyengar (who developed Iyengar Yoga), Desikachar (his son, who developed Vini-Yoga), and several other modern teachers.
Health, Healing and Beyond - Yoga and the Living Tradition of Krishnamacharya - T.K.V. Desikachar
1998 Aperture Foundation 211 pages (hardcover $35.00) ISBN:0893817317 Amazon.com:
www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/0893817317/

This is a biography of Krishnamacharya by his son. Dsicusses Patanjali's Sutras and the origins of yoga extensively. Krishnamacharya was the teacher of K. Pattabhi Jois, B.K.S. Iyengar, B.N.S Iyengar, T.K.V. Desikachar, Indra Devi, and others. This means that a great amount of the yoga that is taught today can be traced back to him. Lots of photos (in fact Aperture is a publisher of photography books). Excekkenbt book - highly recommended.

Some other books by or about Krishnamacharya can be found here:
Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram - kym.org


The Heart of Yoga - Developing a Personal Practice - T.K.V. Desikachar
1995 Inner Traditions International 244 pages (paperback)
Revised and expanded edition published May 1999.
Amazon.com: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/089281764X/
Publisher's website: www.innertraditions.com/titles/heayog.htm

This book is about Vini-Yoga, which says that yoga must be adapted to the individual. Desikachar is Krishnamacharya's son and student. Includes a translaton of Patanjali's Yoga Sutras.


Yoga for the Three Stages of Life - Srivatsa Ramaswami
2000 Inner Traditions International 262 pages (paperback $19.95) ISBN:0892818204
Subtitled: Developing Your Practice as an Art Form, a Physical Therapy and a Guiding Philosophy.
Amazon.com: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/0892818204/
Publisher's website: www.innertraditions.com/titles/yothst.htm.

Very interesting book, written by a long-time student of Krishnamacharya. Not meant for beginners, this book can be a guide for adapting a yoga practice to the needs of an individual.


The Complete Book of Vinyasa Yoga - Srivatsa Ramaswami
2005 Marlowe 352 pages (paperback $24.95) ISBN 1569244022
Subtitled: An Authoritative Presentation, Based on 30 Years of Direct Study Under the Legendary Teacher Krishnamacharya
Amazon.com: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/1569244022/


Iyengar Yoga Books


Light on Yoga - B.K.S. Iyengar
Original edition: 1966 Schocken Books 342 pages (paperback) ISBN:0805203532
Revised edition - 1995 Schocken Books 544 pages (paperback $18.00) ISBN:0805210318
Amazon.com:
www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/0805210318/

When people say "Iyengar yoga", they mean the yoga of BKS Iyengar (not to be confused with BNS Iyengar, an Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga teacher in Mysore). Light on Yoga is one of the most classic of yoga books, sometimes called the "bible of hatha yoga". Extensive discussion of yoga. Encyclopedic section on asanas with photographs (of BKS Iyengar) and instructions for each asana. Earlier editions (with silver cover) had all photographs together in the back, newer edition has illustrations paired with descriptions of asanas.


Yoga: The Path to Holistic Health - B.K.S. Iyengar
2001 DK Publishing 416 pages (hardback $40.00) ISBN:0789471655
Amazon.com: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/0789471655/

A beautiful and comprehensive book with over 1,900 color photographs. Specific sequences of postures are given (and illustrated) for various conditions.


Light on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali - B.K.S. Iyengar
1993 Thorsons 337 pages (paperback $20.00) ISBN:1855382253
Amazon.com: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/1855382253/


Light on Life - B.K.S.Iyengar
subtitled: The Yoga Journey to Wholeness, Inner Peace, and Ultimate Freedom
2005 Rodale Books 304 pages (hardback $24.95) ISBN:1594862486
Amazon.com: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/1594862486/


The Tree of Yoga - B.K.S.Iyengar
1988 Shambhala 194 pages (paperback $9.95) ISBN:087773464X
Amazon.com: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/087773464X/


Yoga the Iyengar Way - Silva, Mira & Shyam Mehta
1990 Dorling Kindersley 192 pages (paperback $23.00) ISBN:0679722874
Amazon.com: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/0679722874/

Excellent presentation. Photos and details for many asanas.


Yoga - A Gem for Women - Geeta Iyengar Revised Edition: 2002 Timeless Books ($23.95 paperback) ISBN10:0931454980

A classic book on yoga as it relates to women (pregnancy, etc.) Soon to be "superceded" by a new book, Iyengar Yoga for Motherhood.
Amazon.com: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/0931454980/


First There is a Mountain: A Yoga Romance - Elizabeth Kadetsky
2004 Little, Brown 274 pages (hardback $23.95) ISBN10:0316890960 ISBN13: 9780316890960
Amazon.com: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/0316890960/
Author's website: elizabethkadetsky.typepad.com

Details her experiences studying yoga with B.K.S.Iyengar in India and her investigations into the origins of modern yoga. Very interesting book! I read it cover to cover and enjoyed it greatly. Looks like this is out of print and probably will not make it to paperback. Cheap used copies available at Amazon.


Yoga: Awakening the Inner Body - Donald Moyer
2006 Rodmell Press 256 pages (paperback $23.95) ISBN10:1930485123 ISBN13:9781930485129
Amazon.com: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/1930485123/
Publisher's website: www.rodmellpress.com Author's studio website:www.yogaroomberkeley.com

Have not yet seen this book.


Iyengar: The Yoga Master - Kofi Busia
2007 Shambhala 384 pages (paperback $18.95) ISBN10:1590305248 ISBN13:9781590305249
Amazon.com: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/1590305248/
Author's website:www.kofibusia.com

Essays, stories, and interviews about BKS Iyengar from about 20 top yoga teachers. I have not yet seen this book.


Therapeutic/Restorative/Gentle Yoga Books


Structural Yoga Therapy - Mukunda Stiles
2000 Samuel Weiser 344 pages (hardback $40.00) ISBN:1578631777
Amazon.com:
www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/1578631777/
Author's website: www.yogatherapycenter.org

Excellent book.


Yoga for Wellness - Gary Kraftsow
1999 Penguin 334 pages (paperback $24.95) ISBN:0140195696
Amazon.com: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/0140195696/
Gary Kraftsow's website: www.viniyoga.com

Excellent book. Gary is a teacher of Viniyoga and a student of T.K.V Desikachar. Viniyoga stresses that a yoga practice must be based on the unique needs of the individual. Tons of info on anatomy and on therapeutic yoga for various specific conditions. Lots of info on spinal curvatures (scoliosis, lordosis, kyphosis). Highly recommended. Also has newer book: Yoga for Transformation. And be sure to check out his series of DVDs from Pranamaya: www.pranamaya.com


The New Yoga for People Over 50 - Suza Francina
1997 Health Communications Inc. 286 pages ($11.95 paperback) ISBN:1558744533
Amazon.com: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/1558744533/
Author's website: www.suzafrancina.com

Excellent book with tons of info on how yoga can be practiced by older people. Also lots of info on how to teach yoga to older students. The book is also available in German and Russian. The author is a certified Iyengar teacher. She's also the mayor of Ojai, California! Also has newer book: Yoga and the Wisdom of Menopause


Back Care Basics - Mary Pullig Schatz, M.D.
Subtitled: A Doctor's Gentle Yoga Program for Back and Neck Pain Relief
1992 Rodmell Press 248 pages ($19.95 paperback) ISBN:0962713821
Amazon.com: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/0962713821/
More info at publisher's website: www.rodmellpress.com/backcarebasics.html

Excellent book written by a doctor who studied yoga to help with her own back problems. She has studied with BKS Iyengar and is a certified Iyengar teacher. Lots of info on practicing yoga specifically for back problems.


Open Body - Creating Your Own Yoga - Todd Walton
1998 Avon 105 pages (paperback $12.00) ISBN:0380795353
Amazon.com: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/0380795353/

Here is a comment from the back cover by Donna Farhi: "Todd Walton's book embodies the highest teachings of yoga...If you've ever felt tyrannized just looking at a yoga book or tried and failed to force your body into physical fitness, OPEN BODY offers the hope and encouragement we all need to trust our instincts and then let the body tell us what it knows."
Rather than presenting any specific exercises or plans, this book develops some basic ideas about being creative and exploratory.
Currently out-of-print but used copies are around.


Recovery Yoga - Sam Dworkis
Subtitled: A Practical Guide for Chronically Ill, Injured, and Post-operative People.
1997 Three Rivers Press 157 pages (paperback $19.00) ISBN:0517883996
Amazon.com:www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/0517883996/
Available from RecoveryYoga.org

Lots of info on how to make yoga very easy for anyone to do.


ExTension - Sam Dworkis
Subtitled - The 20 Minute-a-Day Yoga-Based Program to Relax, Release and Rejuvenate the Average Stressed-Out Over 35-Year-Old Bod.
1994 192 pages (paperback $20.00)
Amazon.com: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/067186680X/

This is a great book. I have been spending a lot of time with it. The program he presents in this book is based on the Sun Salutation. Sam Dworkis has a website with tons of info from this book: extensionyoga.com. Check it out!


Relax and Renew - Judith Lasater Ph.D, P.T.
1995 Rodmell Press 240 pages (paperback $21.95) ISBN:0962713848
Amazon.com: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/0962713848/

Thorough coverage of "restorative yoga", which seems to be the therapeutic branch of Iyengar yoga. Lots of very gentle postures with extensive use of props.


Yoga for Healthy Knees - Sandy Blaine
Subtitled: What You Need to Know for Pain Prevention and Rehabilitation.
2005 Rodmell Press 95 pages (paperback $9.95) ISBN10:1930485085 ISBN13:9781930485082
Amazon.com: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/1930485085/

Very good book!!! If you have knee issues, get it.


Yoga for Wimps - Miriam Austin
Subtitled "Poses for the Flexibly Impaired". 2000 Sterling Publishing 108 pages (paperback $17.95) ISBN:0806943394
Amazon.com: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/0806943394/

Very gentle yoga, well presented. I like this book.


Yin Yoga


Yin Yoga - Paul Grilley
2002 White Cloud Press 136 pages (paperback $15.95) ISBN:1883991439
(Originally self-published in 2001 as Taoist Yoga: Outline of a Quiet Practice)
Amazon.com:
www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/1883991439

Yin yoga = still, cool, long holds. Yang yoga = moving, heat, less time in postures. Yang forms (Ashtanga) are mainly working with muscles (removing tension and strengthening). Yin yoga is more concerned with connective tissue - fascia, tendons, ligaments, bones. This book puts forth the theory that the energy pathways (meridians in oriental acupuncture system, or nadis in Indian chakra system) are within the connective tissues of the body, specifically fascia/tendons/ligaments, and that the appropriate way to work with this system is slow stretching - holding postures for 3 to 5 minutes. Connective tissue is yin, while muscles are yang. Gives examples of about 20 yoga postures which can be held for extended periods. Additional info on chakras, pranayama, meditation. The author studied with Paulie Zink and with with Dr. Hiroshi Motoyama. I think the author has some Ashtanga background and it looks like quite a lot of Ashtanga teachers and students are finding the Yin Yoga approach to be interesting and useful in complimenting (yang) Ashtanga yoga practice. Though they may not come right out and say it, it seems to me that Yin Yoga has arisen "in response" to Ashtanga Yoga.

Paul Grilley's website: www.paulgrilleyyoga.com

Paul Grilley's article on Yin Yoga in AUG 2001 Yoga Journal: www.yogajournal.com/practice/580_1.cfm

Info on Paul Grilley's DVD - Anatomy for Yoga: www.pranamaya.com

More on Paulie Zink (master of Monkey Kung Fu, teacher of Taoist Yoga):
www.pauliezink.com
www.monkeykungfu.com
www.martialinfo.com/WHo_is_Who/pauliezink.htm
w3.blackbeltmag.com/halloffame/html/155.html

Dr. Hiroshi Motoyama:
www.cihs.edu


Yinsights - Bernie Clark
Subtitled: A journey into the Philosphy & Practice of Yin Yoga
2007 Booksurge Publishing 417 pages ($23.95 paperback) ISBN10:096876651X ISBN13:9780968766514
Amazon.com: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/096876651X/
The author's website: www.yinyoga.com


Yoga Anatomy


Scientific Keys - Volume 1: The Key Muscles of Hatha Yoga - Ray Long MD FRCSC, Illustrated by Chris Macivor
1st edition: 2005 Bandha Yoga Publications 165 pages 400 color illustrations (spiral-bound $32.00)
2nd edition: 2006 Bandha Yoga Publications 187 pages 400 color illustrations (spiral-bound $55.00) ISBN 0977961400
3rd edition: 2006 Bandha Yoga Publications 244 pages 650 color illustrations (spiral-bound $55.00) ISBN 0977961419
Amazon.com:
www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/0977961419/
Author/publisher's website: www.bandhayoga.com

Totally amazing book - highest recommendation. Seems to be using some new computer graphics imaging techniques to achieve some very clear anatomical illustrations. The illustrations show exactly which muscles are involved in each asana covered. The muscles are shown in isolation on a bare skeleton. Much explanatory information on anatomy and yoga is included. The author is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon who has been studying yoga for over 20 years. Excerpts of the book and other info is available at the author's website.


Scientific Keys - Volume 2: The Key Postures of Hatha Yoga - Ray Long MD FRCSC, Illustrated by Chris Macivor
2008 Bandha Yoga Publications over 400 color illustrations (spiral-bound) ISBN:
Author/publisher's website: www.bandhayoga.com


Anatomy of Hatha Yoga - David Coulter
2001 Body and Breath 623 pages (hardback $40.00) ISBN:0970700601
Author/publisher's website: www.bodyandbreath.com
Amazon.com: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/0970700601/
Lots of detailed info on the physiology and anatomy of hatha yoga. This is a book you could study for years. Highly recommended. Note - my copy (purchased new in 2001) had some missing pages (449-456, 473-480) and duplicated pages (457-464, 465-472). You may want to check that before buying. (Amazon happily replaced mine).


Yoga Anatomy - Leslie Kaminoff
2007 Human Kinetics 221 pages (paperback $19.95) ISBN10:0736062785 ISBN13:9780736062787
Author's website: www.yogaanatomy.org
Amazon.com: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/0736062785/


The Anatomy of Yoga - Chris Jarmey
2008 North Atlantic Books 192 pages (paperback $29.95) ISBN10:1556436564 ISBN13:9781556436567
Amazon.com: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/1556436564/ (due to be released Septmeber 2008)


Other Selected Yoga Books


Yoga Mind, Body & Spirit - Donna Farhi
Subtitled - A Return to Wholeness, for Students of all Levels and Traditions.
2000 Henry Holt and Co. 271 pages (paperback $20.00) ISBN:0805059709
Amazon.com:
www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/0805059709/
Author'website: www.donnafarhi.co.nz

A great book from a great yoga teacher. Very useful and inspiring. From the back cover: "Providing detailed instructions, practice tips, and inspiration for students at all levels, Donna Farhi works with universal movement principles that may be applied to all styles of yoga, including ashtanga, Iyengar, Kripalu, and vivniyoga. At the heart of the book are 75 fully illustrated asanas, with descriptions of their exectutions and benefits."


Yoga - The Spirit and Practice of Moving Into Stillness - Erich Schiffman
1996 Pocket Books 357 pages (paperback $16.00) ISBN:0671534807
Amazon.com: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/0671534807/
Author's website: www.movingintostillness.com

Excellent book - highly recommended. I got a lot out of reading the introductory chapters. He is very good at explaining yoga. Erich is featured in Ali MacGraw's yoga video, Yoga Mind and Body.


Dancing the Body of Light (The Future of Yoga) - Dona Holleman, Orit Sen-Gupta
2000 Pandion Enterprises 316 pages ($29.50 paperback) ISBN:9080511323
Amazon.com: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/9080511323/
Dona Holleman's website: www.donaholleman.com

Excellent book. Comprehensive coverage of asana practice.


Mastering the Secrets of Yoga Flow - Doug Swenson
2004 Perigree 324 pages ($19.95 paperback) ISBN:0399529454
Amazon.com: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/0399529454/

Have not yet seen this. Doug is David Swenson's brother.


Dynamic Yoga - Godfrey Devereux
1998 Thorsons 257 pages (paperback $18.00) ISBN:0722536577
Amazon.com: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/0722536577/
Godfrey Devereux's website: www.windfireyoga.com

Excellent book. Godfrey has studied and practiced extensively in both the Iyengar and Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga traditions (with BKS Iyengar and BNS Iyengar respectively) and presents here his own synthesis of these major schools. Lots of concepts of asana practice are broken down and explained. 78 asanas are illustrated with photos of the author. This is a very valuable book for any serious student of Ashtanga yoga.


The Elements of Yoga - Godfrey Devereux
1994 Element Books 135 pages (mass-market paperback $9.95) ISBN:1862040745
Amazon.com: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/1862040745

Excellent introduction and overview of yoga from the author of Dynamic Yoga. Covers a lot of territory not explored in his later books, which focus more on asana practice. Highly recommended.


15 Minute Yoga - Yoga for a Busy World - Godfrey Devereux
2000 Thorson Books 192 pages ($14.95 paperback) ISBN:0722539665
Amazon.com: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/0722539665/.

Totally excellent book. Even if you don't have a need for 15-minute yoga routines, this book is loaded with deep yoga wisdom, presented clearly and concisely. Aimed mainly at beginners, but much useful info for any yoga student or teacher. Highly recommended.


Hatha Yoga - Breath by Breath - Godfrey Devereux
2001 Thorson Books 224 pages ISBN:0007103107
Amazon.com: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/0007103107/

Another cool book from Godfrey. The format here is that hatha yoga (asana practice) is taught in a series of 15 lessons. Much here for anyone to learn from. Beautiful book.


Yogi Bare - Naked Truth From America's Leading Yoga Teachers - Philip Self
1998 Cypress Moon Press 302 pages (paperback $16.95) ISBN:0966689402
Amazon.com:www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/0966689402/

This very readable book is a collection of 20 interviews with well-known yoga teachers. The whole list is: Lilias Folan, Erich Schiffmann, Patricia Walden, Gary Kraftsow, Bryan Kest, Julie Lawrence, Alan Finger, Rodney Yee, Donna Farhi, Baron Baptiste, Thom and Beryl Bender Birch, Rod Stryker, Rama Berch, Vyaas Houston, Sandra Summerfield Kozak, Martin Pierce, Gabriel Halpern, Gabriella Giubilaro, Richard Freeman, John Friend. Great book, highly recommended.


Awakening the Spine - Vanda Scaravelli
1991 Harper 191 pages (paperback $22.00) ISBN:0062507928
Amazon.com: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/0062507923/

This is a very magical and inspiring yoga book. The first part of it is kind of an art book, with a full page illustration on every other page and some text and more illustrations on the alternating pages. The illustrations and text pertain to various topics somehow related to yoga. This is followed by smaller sections on asanas and pranayama. Vanda Scaravelli was about 80 years old when this book was published. She passed away in 1999 at the age of 91. She studied with BKS Iyengar and TKV Desikachar. One idea that is woven into the book is that the spine can be thought of as a tree or plant, which grows both upward and downwards, with the dividing point between roots and trunk/stem corresponding to the 5th lumbar vertebra. This is a very special book - could be a good book to look at every day for some inspiration/motivation.

A brief article on Vanda is online at Yoga Journal's website here.

A lengthier article by Esther Myers appeared in the June 1996 issue of Yoga Journal.

A video about Vanda Scaravelli is available from Esther Myers website: www.estheryoga.com


Advanced Yoga Practices - Easy Lessons for Ecstatic Living - Yogani
2004 AYP Publishing 520 pages ($39.95 paperback) ISBN:0976465507
Author/Publisher's website: www.advancedyogapractices.com
Amazon.com: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/0976465507/

Tons of info that you will not easily find elsewhere. No-nonsense presentation. Yogani has written several other books, also recommended. His book on Tantra is the best book on tantric sex. (See my Sex Books page here). Much or all of the content of this and his other books can be found on his website at no charge.


Asanas: 608 Yoga Poses - Dharma Mitra
2003 New World Library 672 pages ($19.95 paperback) ISBN:1577314026
Amazon.com: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/1577314026/
Publisher's website:www.newworldlibrary.com/productdetails.cfm?PC=222


Yoga - Linda Sparrowe, photographs by David Martinez
2002 HLLA/Yoga Journal 448 pages ($75.00 hardback) ISBN10:0883635097 ISBN13:9780883635094
2004 HLLA/Yoga Journal 454 pages ($19.95 paperback) ISBN10:0883635119 ISBN13:9780883635117
2008 Rizzoli/Universe 454 pages ($19.95 paperback) ISBN10:0789399873 ISBN13:9780789399878
Amazon.com: (hardback) www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/0883635097/
Amazon.com: (2008 paperback) www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/0789399873/
Amazon.com: (2004 paperback) www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/0883635119/
Original Publisher's website: www.hlla.com - Hugh Lauter Levin Associates
Current Publisher's website: www.rizzoliusa.com - Rizzoli/Universe

Very nice book! The first 60 pages or so covers the history of yoga (lots of color illustrations). The rest of the book consists of high-quality photographs of accomplished yoga practitioners demonstrating about 400 yoga postures. Most of the photos are full-page and black and white. Some color photos. The original hardback is quite large and is the ultimate "yoga coffee table book". But definitely a serious and special book. The paperback editions are much smaller, but contain the same content. Apparently Rizzola acquired HLLA and has republished the paperback. The hardback seems to be out-of-print, but you can still find it around.


The Yoga Tradition - It's History, Literature, Philosophy and Practice - Georg Feurstein
1998 Hohm Press 720 pages (paperback - $39.95) ISBN:0934252831
(hardback $49.95) ISBN:0934252882
Amazon.com (paperback):www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/0934252831/
Amazon.com (hardback):www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/0934252882/"
Publisher's website: www.hohmpress.com

Quite a hefty volume. Indepth coverage of all aspects of the vast subject of yoga. Lots of history. The author is one of the top scholars on yoga has written many other books on yoga.


Yoga and the Quest for the True Self - Stephen Cope
1999 Bantam Books 358 pages (hardback $24.95) ISBN:055310313X
Amazon.com: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/055310313X/

The author is a psychotherapist who has lived at the Kripalu yoga center for over 10 years. The book discusses the philosophy, psychology, and practice of yoga in great detail, using many personal examples from the author's own experiences and his observations of others. A short appendix breaks down some of the complexities of the Indian traditions that yoga comes from. A very enjoyable and satisfying book to read.


A History of Modern Yoga - Patanjali and Western Esotericism - Elizabeth De Michelis
2005 Continuum 256 pages (paperback $44.95) ISBN10:0826487726 ISBN13:9780826487728
Amazon.com: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/0826487726/
Hardback: 2004 Continuum ISBN10:0826465129 ISBN13:9780826465122
Publisher's website:www.continuumbooks.com/Books/detail.aspx?BookID=124258
I have not yet seen this book.


Positioning Yoga - Sarah Strauss
2005 Berg Publishers 224 pages (paperback $34.95) ISBN10:1859737390 ISBN13:9781859737392
Amazon.com: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/1859737390/
Hardback: $99.95 ISBN10:185973734X ISBN13:9781859737347
Amazon.com (hardback): www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/185973734X/
Publisher's website:www.bergpublishers.com/?tabid=1753

Discusses the history of yoga and how it has spread to the west. Oddly, the book seems to be concerned mainly with the lineages of Sivananda yoga.


Yoga in Modern India - Joseph T. Alter
Subtitled: The Body Between Science and Philosophy
2004 Princeton University Press 376 pages (paperback $24.95) ISBN10:0691118744 ISBN13:9780691118741
Amazon.com: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/0691118744/
Hardback: ISBN10:0691118736 ISBN13:9780691118734
I have not yet seen this book.


Yoga: Immortality and Freedom - Mircea Eliade
Original edition: 1958
Second Edition: 1969 Bollingen Foundation, Princeton University Press 536 pages ($29.95 paperback) ISBN:0691017646
Amazon.com: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/0691017646/.

This classic volume is a scholarly treatment of the subject of yoga. In the Foreward, the author states that the book is "addressed especially to historians of religions, psychologists, and philosophers". Eliade is one of the top world authorities on comparative religions and has authored many books. This is not an instructional book or an "easy read". No pictures. Translated from French.


Patanjali and Yoga - Mircea Eliade
1975 Schocken Books 216 pages, (paperback, out of print) ISBN:0805204911
Amazon.com:www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/0805204911/.

Another scholarly work from Eliade. 68 black and white illustrations. Out of print.


Asana Pranayama Mudra Bandha - Swami Satyananda Saraswati
1997 Bihar Yoga Bharati 565 pages, ($29.95 paperback) ISBN10:8186336141 ISBN13:9788186336144
Amazon.com:www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/8186336141/.


The Five Tibetans - Christopher S. Kilham
1994 Healing Arts Press 84 pages (paperback $9.95) ISBN:0892814500
Amazon.com:www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/0892814500/

From the cover: "The Five Tibetans are a yogic system of simple yet highly energizing exercises that originated in the Himalayas. Also known as the Five Rites of Rejuvenation, they were brought to the West early in this century by a retired British army officer who learned them in a Tibetan lamasery." Energy, chakras, breathing, and Kundalini meditation are also discussed in this book. I wish there was more info on the exercises, but they are described well enough to practice them, which is what they are for. There are other books on this subject by Peter Kelder. Each exercise is performed 21 times. The first exercise is spinning clockwise like a whirling dervish. The second is bring the legs up as if about to do a backward somersault. The third is similar to ushtrasana. The fourth is dynamically transitioning between dandasana and something like purvottanasana. The fifth is dynamically transitioning between upward dog pose and downward dog pose. Very interesting. A friend of mine adopted this as his daily yoga practice, as he did not want to commit to a more time-consuming routine.

Also, these exercises are described on the web here.


The Yoga of Heart - Mark Whitwell
2004 Lantern Books 216 pages (paperback $19.95) ISBN10:159056068X ISBN13:9781590560686
Amazon.com:www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/159056068X/
An excerpt from this book can be found on the author's website here: www.yogaofheart.com
A reveiw of the book can be found here: www.vennila.net/yogaintro.html
A review of a workshop with Whitwell is here: http://home.earthlink.net/~frelkins/2002_06_23_archive.html
Info from publisher's website here: http://www.lanternbooks.com/detail.html?id=159056068x


A Physiological Handbook for Teachers of Yogasana - Mel Robin
2002 Fenestra Books 652 pages (paperback $49.95) ISBN:1587360330
Amazon.com: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/1587360330/
(I have not yet seen this book)


Integral Yoga Hatha - Yogiraj Sri Swami Satchidananda
1970 Holt, Rinehart and Winston 189 pages (paperback $7.95) ISBN:0030850894
New Edition:Integral Yoga Publications 189 pages (paperback $17.95) ISBN10:093204042X ISBN13:9780932040428
Amazon.com: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/093204042X/
An old classic from the 70's. Many illustrations of Satchidananda performing asanas and other practices. One of several older yoga books that illustrates nauli kriya with 4 separate photos - uddiyana bandha, mahayama (central) nauli, dakshina (right) nauli, and vama (left) nauli.


Bikram's Beginning Yoga Class - Bikram Choudhury
1st edition - 1978 JP Tarcher (paperback $15.95) ISBN:0874770823
2nd edition - 2000 JP Tarcher 205 pages (paperback $17.95) ISBN:1585420204
Amazon.com: (First edition):www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/0874770823
Amazon.com (Second edition):www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/1585420204
Bikram's website: www.bikramyoga.com

There is an original and a revised edition of this book, both in print. l recently got a copy of the old one (with the red cover). From what I understand, there is not much difference between the new and old editions. I wanted a reference on just what Bikram yoga is. Like Ashtanga, it is very well-defined, consisting of a certain set of asanas performed in a certain way and always in a certain order. This book covers the 26 asanas in Bikram's program thoroughly. Like Ashtanga, a warm practice space is recommended, with Bikram studios heated up to 105 degrees. Bikram is quite a character and the book includes lots of what is supposed to be actual dialog with his students during a class. He is quite outspoken and the book is very entertaining. He claims that he is the only one teaching yoga correctly, his way is the best, etc. There was an interesting article on Bikram in the March/April 2000 edition of Yoga Journal, titled "Yoga's Bad Boy". I'm very surprised that he doesn't have a video. Although he seems like quite a taskmaster and his yoga program is not a super-gentle one, I don't think Bikram yoga is nearly as difficult as Ashtanga and this book is a good one for introducing beginners to a serious, therapeutic, and not too overwhelming asana practice. And its a very fun book. (as of 2007, I think there is a newer Bikram book)


The Runner's Yoga Book: A Balanced Approach to Fitness - Jean Couch
1990 Rodmell Press 224 pages, ($21.95 paperback) ISBN:0962713813
Amazon.com: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/0962713813/
Author's website: www.BalanceCenter.com

First published in 1979 as The Runner's World Yoga Book.


Women's Yoga / Pregnancy


Yoga for Pregnancy - Judith Lasater, Ph.D., P.T
Subtitled: What Every Mom-To-Be Needs to Know
2004 Rodmell Press 63 pages (paperback $8.95) ISBN10:1930485050 ISBN13:9781930485051
Amazon.com:
www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/1930485050/
Publisher's Website:www.rodmellpress.com



Teaching Yoga


Teaching Yoga - Donna Farhi
Subtitled: Exploring the Teacher-Student Relationship
2006 Rodmell Press 178 pages (paperback $16.95) ISBN10:1930485174 ISBN13:9781930485174
Amazon.com:
www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/1930485174/
Publisher's Website:www.rodmellpress.com



Pranayama/Breathing


The Yoga of Breath - Richard Rosen
Subtitled: A Step-by-Step Guide to Pranayama
2002 Shambhala 304 pages (paperback $18.95) ISBN10:1570628890 ISBN13:9781570628894
Amazon.com:
www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/1570628890/


Pranayama Beyond the Fundamentals - Richard Rosen
Subtitled: An Indepth Guide to Yogic Breathing
2006 Shambhala 214 pages (paperback $21.95) ISBN10:1590302982 ISBN13:9781590302989
Amazon.com: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/1590302982/
Includes instructional CD.


Light on Prananyama- The Yogic Art of Breathing - B.K.S. Iyengar
1985 Crossroad 294 pages (paperback $19.95) ISBN10:0824506863 ISBN13: 9780824506865
Amazon.com: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/0824506863/


Science of Breath - A Practical Guide - Swami Rama, Rudolph Ballentine M.D., Alan Hymes M.D.
1979 Himalayan Institute 166 pages (paperback $5.95) ISBN10:089389057X
Amazon.com: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/089389057X/


The Breathing Book - Donna Farhi
Subtitled: Good Health and Vitality Through Essential Breath Work
1996 Holt Paperbacks 272 pages (paperback $20.00) ISBN10:0805042970 ISBN13:9780805042979
Amazon.com: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/0805042970/


Free Your Breath, Free Your Life - Dennis Lewis
Subtitled: How Conscious Breathing Can Relieve Stress, Increase Vitality, and Help You Live More Fully
2004 Shambhala 208 pages (paperback $14.95) ISBN10:1590301331 ISBN13:9781590301333
Amazon.com: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/1590301331/


Bibliographies


Yoga - An Annotated Bibliography of Works in English, 1981-2005 - Daren Callahan
2007 McFarland 354 pages (paperback $49.95) ISBN10:0786431628 ISBN13:9780786431625
Publisher's website:
www.mcfarlandpub.com/book-2.php?id=978-0-7864-3162-5
Amazon.com www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/0786431628/

The bibliography section (the main body) of this book is organized into 3 parts, containing 2,490 entries arranged alphabetically by author. The first and largest is Studies, Manuals, General Reference, containing 1,901 entries. The next part is Translations of Selected Sanskrit Source Materials, containing 286 entries (120 for the Bhagavad Gita and 77 for Patanjali's Yoga Sutras). The last part is Disertations and Theses, containing 301 entries. This is followed by a Glossary of Sanskrit Terms, an Author Index, Title Index, and Subject Index. Almost all of the entries in the first 2 parts of the bibliography are well-described with annotations by the author of the bibliography. This is meant to be a pretty much complete listing of books on yoga published within the period covered. Note that the time frame purposely begins where Jarrell's bibliography (listed below) ends. The Preface explains that periodical articles are not included, as they are more appropriately searched using electronic databases such as JSTOR and PubMed. Definitely an essential resource for studying the literature of yoga. I'm quite proud of my own yoga bibliography (this webpage), but if you want to take it farther, get this book. It would be awesome if revisions could be made every 5 years or so, as the yoga books (good and bad) are continuing to appear with increasing frequency.


Yoga - A Medical Dictionary, Bibliography, and Annotated Research Guide to Internet References
2003 ICON Health Publications 188 pages (paperback $28.95) ISBN10:0597836124 ISBN13:9780597836121
Amazon.com www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/0597836124/
Publisher's website: www.icongrouponline.com/Health/Yoga_Ph.html
I have not yet seen this book.


International Yoga Bibliography, 1950-1980 - Howard R. Jarrell
1981 Scarecrow Press 221 pages (hardback) (out of print) ISBN10:0810814722 ISBN13:9780810814721
Amazon.com www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/0810814722/

The bibliography section lists 1364 books alphabetically by author's last name, followed by journal articles, magazine articles, and yoga periodicals (1713 entries total). This is followed by an author index, title index, and subject index. Includes yoga literature in English, French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian and Dutch. Little or no info is given for each book other than bibliographical information (no reviews, comments, etc).


Yoga Scriptures


Though the practice of yoga may be quite ancient, there are only a few major (not-so-ancient) scriptures describing it. The main one is the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, of which there are many translations and commentaries. Three other major ones are the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, the Gheranda Samhita and the Shiva Samhita. Note - several books listed in other sections above include translations and commentaries of Patanjali's Yoga Sutras - Heart of Yoga - Desikachar, The Yoga Tradition - Feurstein, Ashtanga Yoga - Maehle. Also, many more translations of these scriptures are listed in Calahan's Yoga Bibliography (see bibliography section above).

How to Know God - The Yoga Aphorisms of Patanjali - Christopher Isherwood
New Edition 2007 Vedanta Press 256 pages (paperback $10.95) ISBN10:0874810418 ISBN13:9780874810417
Amazon.com
www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/0874810418/
A translation with commentary of Patanjali's Yoga Sutras.


The Original Yoga - Shyam Gosh
Subtitled: As Expounded in Siva-samhita, Gherandasamhita, and Patanjala Yogasutra
1999 Munshiram Manaharlal Publishers 262 pages ($38.50 hardback) ISBN 8121508916
Amazon.com: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/8121508916/
Translations and commentary of 3 major sanskrit texts on yoga: The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, The Gheranda Samhita and the Shiva Samhita.


The Gheranda Samhita - James Mallinson
Subtitled: The Original Sanskrit and An English Translation
2004 YogaVidya.com 127 pages (paperback $12.95) ISBN10:0971646635 ISBN13:9780971646636 Hardback: ($24.95) ISBN10:097164627 ISBN13:978097164629 Amazon.com: (paperback) www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/0971646635/


The Shiva Samhita - James Mallinson
Subtitled: A Critical Edition and An English Translation
2007 YogaVidya.com 177 pages (paperback $14.95) ISBN10:0917646651 ISBN13:9780917646650 Hardback: ($29.95) ISBN10:0971646643 ISBN13:9780971646643 Amazon.com: (paperback) www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/0917646651/


The Khecarividya of Adinatha - James Mallinson
Routledge Studies in Tantric Traditions
Subtitled: A critical edition and annotated translation of an early text of hathayoga
2007 Routledge 299 pages ($149.95 hardback) ISBN10:0415391156 ISBN13:9780415391153
Publisher's website: www.routledgereligon.com/books/The-Khecarividya-Of-Adinatha-isbn9780415391153
Amazon.com: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/0415391156

The subject of the text which is presented in this book is Kechari Mudra, which is the practice of cutting, removing or elongating the frenum under the tongue so that the tongue can be pressed into a spot at the roof of the palate and used to stimulate the bottom of the brain. Note that this book is about the text, dated at around 1400, rather than the practice described in the text, however there is certainly more information about this obscure practice in this book than anywhere else. This is a very scholarly, academic, and technical book. The actual Sanskrit text is included, as well as an English translation. There are extensive sections for notes and bibliography. The translation is only about 20 pages, but there are over 280 notes for this section, providing quite a bit of commentary and clarification.
The author is one of the top translators of sanskrit texts, other published works include the Gheranda Samhita and the Shiva Samhita, published by yogavidya.com, and several volumes in the Clay Sanskrit Library - www.claysanskritlibrary.org. I first heard of this book from my yoga teacher, who has met the author. He told me that Mallinson flys around India in a paraglider. Here is an article I found on the web, indicating that James is a champion paraglider: www.flyubley.co.uk/suport.php.
More information on the practice of kechari mudra can be found in books by Yogani (or online at his website: www.ayp.org). My teacher advises that this practice is best suited for advanced yogis living in caves, rather than those of us living in civilization. Also, note that cutting of the frenum to any degree may result in problems with eating and/or speaking.


Hatha Yoga - The Report of A Personal Experience - Theos Bernard
104 pages Originally published in 1950, republished in 1968 by Samuel Weiser ISBN 0877280592
British edition: 2001 Essence of Health 104 pages (paperback) ISBN 0958446016
Amazon.com:www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/0877280592/
Amazon.co.uk: www.amazon.co.uk/o/ASIN/0958446016/

A classic book, long out of print and hard to find. Scholarly account of studying yoga in India. One of the first western books to document yoga asana practice. Has lots of pictures of the author performing asanas. Lengthy quotations from yoga scriptures (Hatha Yoga Pradipika, Gheranda Samhita, Siva Samhita). The author got caught in some fighting between Muslims and Hindus and was killed in 1947. He wrote a couple of other books which I have not seen, Hindu Philosophy and Penthouse of the Gods: A Pilgrimage Into the Heart of Tibet and the Sacred City of Lhasa (1939).

A couple of web pages at Columbia University, from which he graduated:

Theos Casimir Bernard c250.columbia.edu/c250_celebrates/remarkable_columbians/theos_casimir_bernard.html
The Life and Works of Theos Bernard c250.columbia.edu/c250_celebrates/remarkable_columbians/theos_bernard_scholar.html
Theos Bernard in Tibet c250.columbia.edu/c250_celebrates/remarkable_columbians/theos_bernard_explorer.html

Here is an interesting article about Theos' uncle Pierre, who had a large library of yoga books back when such a thing would have been very rare: www.Vanderbilt.edu/~stringer/library.htm


Magazines and Articles (mainly pertaining to Ashtanga Yoga):


There is a large collection of articles on Ashtanga Yoga at www.ashtanga.com


NamaRupa - Categories of Indian Thought
This is an unbelievably cool and very serious magazine about yoga. Co-published by Eddie Stern, who is a top teacher of Ashtanga yoga. The magazine is not limited to Ashtanga but has much of interest to any student of Ashtanga (or any kind of yoga). It comes out twice a year and the cover price is $10.00. 114 pages and totally packed with info and pictures. No advertising. You want to subscribe to this! And get all the available back issues while you can!
Publisher's Website:www.namarupa.org
Also available from: www.ashtanga.com


Ashtanga Yoga with Pattabhi Jois - Jane McMullen
Article in Yoga Journal - Issue 82 (SEP/OCT 1988) pages 64-71, 101

Excellent article - back issue may still be available.


Power Yoga - Anne Cushman
Article in Yoga Journal - Issue 120 (FEB 1995) pages 62-71, 143-144

Excellent article - back issue may still be available.
Available on the web here: www.natural-connection.com/resource/yoga_journal/power_yoga.html


New Light on Yoga - Anne Cushman
Article in Yoga Journal - Issue 147 (JUL/AUG 1999) pages 44-49

Very interesting article about the origins of Ashtanga yoga. This is basically a review of the book The Yoga Tradition of the Mysore Palace (listed above). On first reading, this article seemed a bit misleading, hammering on the point that there is no documentation of any particular yoga asanas prior to 1900 with the exception of one manuscript which isn't much older and mentions only a few asanas. Her main point is that "there is no one monolithic yoga tradition". She seems to be implying that Krishnamacharya and BKS Iyengar just made it all up a few decades ago (perhaps to some extent, they did). Although it may come across as a bit one-sided, this is a very interesting article.

Here is a transcription of this article.


Interview with Sting in Yoga Journal - DEC 1995.

Talks about his practice of Ashtanga yoga, which he learned from Danny Paradise.

Appears here on the webwww.stingchronicity.co.uk/yogajour.html
And a more readable version is here


The Yoga Bums - Rebecca Mead
Article in New Yorker - Magazine August 14, 2000, pages 38 - 45.

A good long article about Pattabhi Jois and Ashtanga yoga, written around the time of his visit to NYC.

Can be found on the web here: www.rebeccamead.com/2000_08_14_art_yoga.htm


Interview with Pattabhi Jois, Yoga International, JAN/FEB 1994
On the web here and also here.


Getting Into Position - Cynthia Kling
Conde Nast Traveller - December 2000 - Pages 126,128,130,132,134
An article about travelling to Mysore and checking out the yoga scene. She went to see Pattabhi Jois but wound up studying with BNS Iyengar. Can be found on the web here: http://files.hammock.com/~mnott/Conde-Nast-traveler/.


K Pattabhi Jois, the Guru of Workout Yoga Kajal Basu
Life Positive Magazine - April 1997

On the web here.


The Jois of Yoga
Article about Pattabhi Jois
Hinduism Today JAN/FEB 2001      www.hinduismtoday.com/2001/1/#gen450.
Also, a scanned copy from the printed magazine is here.


Yoga Goes to Goa
Article about Ashtanga yoga teacher Rolf Naujoket
Hinduism Today JAN/FEB 2001      www.hinduismtoday.com/2001/1/#gen456.


Eight Limbs and Your Limbs - John Salovaara
Conscious Choice March 2001
www.consciouschoice.com/health/ashtangayoga1403.html


Repetition and Realization with Sri Pattabhi Jois - Katherine Pew
Yoga International - August/September 2001 - pages 404
On the web here:here.


Yoga's Big Stretch - Mark Jolly
New York Magazine, February 2, 1998
www.nymag.com/page.cfm?page_id=2158


Flex Appeal - Vanessa Gregoriadis
New York Magazine, November 19, 2001
www.nymag.com/page.cfm?page_id=5394


Bright Tights, Resilient City - Pattabhi Jois Returns to New York - Cara Jepsen
Yoga Chicago NOV/DEC 2001
http://www.yogachicago.com/nov01/pjois.shtml


A comparison of Kundalini, Iyengar, Bikram, and Ashtanga Yoga from the LA TIMES


Article from This is London - 01/10/02



Ashtanga Yoga videos are listed on a separate page here.


And here is a document comparing the included postures and spelling of postures in the litereature on primary series Ashtanga yoga.


Yoga Journal Index A rough listing of the contents of Yoga Journal. (plain text file)



About This Page:

This is meant to be a guide to the most serious and useful books pertaining to the physical practice of yoga. I began this page in 1999 to list books about Ashtanga yoga and soon began to include other yoga books. While I make no claims (or aims) of "completeness", I do intend to list all of the best yoga books that I know of which I find to be of interest in my own study and practice of yoga. I am not an advanced practicioner or teacher or any kind of authority. Some have commented that this page is overwhelming. As I research yoga books, I am increasingly aware that there are many hundreds of yoga books being published, and the great majority of them are a bit on the fluffy side. For the most part, the books listed on this page (which are a very small portion of the yoga books available) are, in my opinion, among the very best. With a few exceptions, I have copies of all these books and have spent some time with each of them.
I have links to Amazon.com because they are an excellent reference for more information, including reviews, and because they are an excellent source for quickly and reliably obtaining most of these books. I have ordered many books from Amazon. I do not participate in Amazon's referral program as I would not want that to affect my listing of books here or to give that impression. (I may change my mind someday). More info on Amazon links is
here. There are many other online sources for books. Many of these books may be found in bookstores or ordered from bookstores, don't forget to check out used bookstores. I find lots of stuff cheap on eBay, which is a good source for out-of-print books. There are also websites that specialize in locating out-of-print books. See my Books page for some of those. Sometimes I forget, but books can also be found in public libraries. You can even use inter-library loan to get almost any book. Also, I think it could be a great idea for yoga studios to maintain libraries for students.


Books on Food and Health.

Body Books.

Atlases of Human Anatomy.

Qigong Books.

Back to Slade's Home Page      Back to Slade's Yoga Page      Back to Slade's Books Page

Revised 03/24/08.