The Best Yoga Books Recommended by The Serenity Yoga Teachers
Have you ever read a book that just sticks with you long after you finished reading it?
Sometimes it’s a short story or a character novel that grabs your attention and doesn’t let go. And sometimes the books you read can truly transform your perspective and your life. Whether you are new to yoga or have been practicing for years, maybe you already have a yoga book or two that has transformed your experience. These types of books can influence how you think about your practice each time you get on your mat and maybe even give you a new way to think about life off the mat as well.
These are the books that you want to read over and over again.
For the teachers at Serenity, we probably each have at least two or three (or more!) specific yoga books that have dramatically shaped our practice and our teachings.
And today, in honor of World Book Day, we want to share our favorites with you!
Written in each of the teacher’s own words, we hope that this list of yoga-related books will teach you something new about the practices of yoga, about yourself and how you can live a more enlightened and happier life. Enjoy!
Ginny Hamilton’s Favorites
Yoga: The Spirit & Practice of Moving Into Stillness by Erich Schiffmann
This guidebook of hatha yoga and meditation strategies was my intro to yoga, many moons ago. Great photos, detailed descriptions of postures and varied sequences for beginners, intermediate and advanced practitioners to practice at home.
The Secret Power of Yoga: A Woman's Guide to the Heart and Spirit of the Yoga Sutras by Nischala Joy Devi
This book is my favorite interpretation of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. Her translation and commentary places this wisdom squarely in modern life for modern women.
Yoga for Pain Relief by Lee Albert
If you work with me, you shouldn’t be surprised to see this book on my list! Lee describes and illustrates how to identify the specific muscle imbalances in your body that cause your pain and how to create a safe yoga practice to bring the back into balance. This book is designed to help you take charge of your own path to health and well-being.
Emily Salnick’s Favorites
Yoga for Everyone by Dianne Bondy
Dianne offers incredible and accessible “how-to” snapshots of many of the common breathing and movement practices that we see in yoga. Pictures and written descriptions of the practices are clear, and Dianne offers a wide range of variations in each section so that readers can explore what feels right for them and become more in tune with their own body in their practice.
Meditation with Intention: Quick and Easy Ways to Create Lasting Peace by Anusha Wijeyakumar
I love this book because Anusha offers clear ways to set powerful intentions in a variety of settings, while also teaching readers about different breathing practices in a range of brief meditations. This book can make meditation feel more accessible to the modern individual.
Embrace Yoga’s Roots: Courageous Ways to Deepen Your Yoga Practice by Susanna Barkataki
Susanna is informative about all aspects of yoga (including ancient history and current issues) and is deeply honest about the pervasiveness of cultural appropriation in today's western practices. This book offers ways to take a deeper look at our own practices to be more empathic and offers opportunities for self-study and reflection.
Kim Deshaies’ Favorites
These five books have helped me translate wisdom from traditional yogic texts like the Yoga Sutras, Bhagavad Gita, and Upanishads into action I can take towards my own well-being, and towards the compassionate society I want for all of us. They each serve as a practice in svadhyaya (self-study) and a reminder that when we center ourselves in the present moment, we are empowered to spark big changes in ourselves and in the world through small everyday heart centered choices.
Skill in Action: Radicalizing Your Yoga Practice to Create a Just World by Michelle Cassandra Johnson
Embrace Yoga’s Roots: Courageous Ways to Deepen Your Yoga Practice by Susanna Barkataki. This is the second appearance of this book on our list!
See No Stranger: A Memoir and Manifesto of Revolutionary Love by Valarie Kaur
Emergent Strategy: Shaping Change, Changing Worlds by adrienne maree brown
Buddha’s Brain: the Practical Neuroscience of Happiness, Love and Wisdom by Rick Hanson
Steve Sampson’s Favorites
There are lots of great yoga books available, and many are pretty well known. But some of my favorites inform my approach to practice and teaching, without being “yoga” books per-se.
Meditations by Marcus Aurelius
In what is essentially his personal journal, this second century Roman emperor reflects on his philosophy or life…which echoes many of the themes we also see in Eastern philosophy. To see these ideas expressed from another viewpoint in a different part of the world speaks to me of the fundamental truth of many of these reflections on the human condition.
The Road Home: A Contemporary Exploration of the Buddhist Path by Ethan Nichtern
I have a strong interest in Buddhist philosophy, and Ethan provides a nice grounding in these teachings through the lens of our Western lives.
Who Ordered This Truckload of Dung by Ajahn Brahm
Ajahn was the abbot of a Buddhist monastery in Australia. His collection of short, humorous stories and reflections are great, light-hearted entry points into a deeper consideration of our relationship to life.
Michele Lyman’s Favorites
Real Love: The Art of Mindful Connection by Sharon Salzberg
I have read this book twice. It's a creative toolkit of mindfulness exercises and meditation techniques that help you create deeper love relationships with yourself, your partner, your family and friends and with life itself.
The Wisdom Of Yoga: A Seeker's Guide to Extraordinary Living by Stephen Cope
Many folks think yoga is a physical practice of postures and breathing exercises. However, movement is only part of a vast and ancient spiritual science recorded in a text called the Yoga-Sutra. In this book, Stephen uses stories to demonstrate how we can apply this timeless science of awakening to enlighten every aspect of our daily lives. Absolutely fantastic read.
The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself by Michael A. Singer
This is my go-to book for all things related to how we relate to our own thoughts and emotions. Michael Singer offers simple and profoundly intuitive answers to the question, "Who are you really?" This book will absolutely transform your relationship with yourself and the world around you.
The Heart of Yoga: Developing a Personal Practice by T.K.V. Desikachar
Desikachar is the son of Sri Tirumalai Krishnamacharya, one of the greatest yogis of the modern era. I would recommend this book to anyone who is starting to get excited about yoga but may be confused by the different schools of thought and teachings. This book summarizes what yoga is all about - from theory to practice. And, I believe it has the best explanation of The Yoga Sutras of Pantanjali that you will find.
Do your Om Thing by Rebecca Pacheco
This is my all-time favorite book about yoga. It's easy to read and Rebecca has a wonderful way of making difficult concepts easy to understand with inspiring personal stories. This book is for the "non-yogi" looking to learn more about yoga.
Functional Anatomy of Yoga: A Guide For Practitioners and Teachers by David Keil
If you want to geek out on all things body related when it comes to yoga, look no further than this book! It is written and illustrated in a way that allows both a casual reader and a seasoned practitioner to understand and implement the structure and functions of the body in yoga. This book is all about integrating how the entire body works in each of the postures so you can expand your own understanding of anatomy and really dive into your own personal experience.