A Must-Have List to Build Your Yoga Library

Over the course of my Yoga classes and yogic journey, I’ve found and accumulated quite an eclectic collection of knowledge and sources of various kinds from the general to the specific. It’s gotten to the point where I even have my own shelf of books, manuals, and informative texts on yoga, meditation, and living a yoga lifestyle covering a variety of topics for the yearning mind to delve in to. Thus as I continue to move forward in my yogic life, I thought it appropriate to briefly share some of my favorite books for you the yogi and knowledge seeker to use in your own personal journey. These are books I’ve read on my own, used as textbooks, found as a good reference, or just overall enjoyed in regards to Yoga.

Siddhartha, by Hermann Hesse

Arguably the only non-fiction book on this list (at least for now), Hesse’s novel describes the life of a man on a spiritual journey to find himself during the time of the Buddha whom he has several personal and impersonal interactions with. While not the most fast-paced or detailed read in the world, Hesse’s theme of experience i.e. the collective sum of the conscious events of a human life as the best way to find and achieve enlightenment—is a unique and beautiful one that ties directly in to the yogic and meditation lifestyle and many of the spiritual concepts that come along with it. Every action produces a tangible reaction with the simple observation and mindfulness of each action being what ultimately brings the man to what he seeks. Life is a complete experience in and of itself and this message comes across strongly by the book’s invigorating finale.

Asana Pranayama Mudra Bandha, by Swami Satyananda Saraswati

First published by the Bihar School of Yoga in 1969, ‘Asana’ has since become one of the most prominent manuals for Hatha yoga you could ever hope for. It is the main text used in many classes (including my own personal Yoga I class) and gives in depth detail not only on a variety of poses but also on meditation techniques, pranayama, and many other various yogic practices. It does a very good job of bringing the reader from beginner to advanced and Saraswati’s writing is not only flowing but basic enough to where everyone can read and understand it. There’s a reason that this book is now a standard textbook in most yoga classes nowadays. If you have even a passing interest in yoga or are just starting out, this book is an absolute must read and is the perfect place for you to base yourself in in moving forward with your journey.

The Yoga Bible, by Christina Brown / The Meditation Bible, by Madonna Gauding / The Chakra Bible, by Patricia Mercier

These three books combined together provide a good general basis for a strong yoga / meditation practice. While nowhere near as in depth or as fluid in writing as ‘Asana’, these books serve as good reference manuals and quick reads for yogis who need just a dash in their day or don’t have as much time for their schedule to get in depth with poses and alignment.

The Yoga Bible is particular is one that I strongly recommend as it was another I used

and continue to use prominently in classes. While I do use the Meditation Bible fairly regularly and the Chakra Bible a bit more sparsely, I would say they don’t stand out quite as strong in terms of what you’ll get out of them. But combine them together and you pretty much have a good introductory Yoga class in a nutshell so I heartily recommend these books for any yogi’s bookshelf.

The Key Muscles of Yoga, by Ray Long M.D.

This book is a necessity in terms of getting to know your body’s anatomy in regards to yoga. If I had to pick the strongest point of a yogic lifestyle that I still greatly struggle with, it’s the in-depth anatomy of a pose and so I keep this book around more or less at all times and try to come back to it frequently. It’s another book that I used for a class and while it can be a very hard read for the uninitiated / unfamiliar, what you’ll get out of it in terms of your yoga practice and teaching is more than worth it for a few slower and tricker paragraphs of reading.

The Heart of Yoga: Developing a Personal Practice, by T.K.V. Desikachar

A beautiful yoga read written by one of the foremost authorities and famous teachers of yoga T.K.V. Desikachar. This is the main text book that I used for my Yoga III course and it did a wonderful job in bringing together all aspects of yoga (mind, body, and spirit) in to one amazingly cohesive whole. It also touches strongly on the personal individual practice of yoga more so than any of the other books on this list and what a person can do to put these aspects in to action while complimenting other styles and sources. This book is tailor made to be used to conjunction with everything in a yogi’s life and is one of THE essential texts for yogis, student and teacher.

Meditations from the Mat: Daily Reflections on the Path of Yoga,

by Rolf Gates and Katrina Kenison

‘Meditations’ is one of those books that works best as a one chapter a day read as opposed to going through it all at once. Day by day, this book gives you something to new to chew on and off the mat whether it be a pose position, a mindfulness technique, a spiritual lesson, or all of the above that can be ready at any time of the day for a variety of uses and powerful messages. Sometimes instead of a full read, you just want something light and that’s exactly what Gates and Kenison have written down here: a year long treatise on the path of yoga that’s meant to last all year.

Yoga Sequencing: Designing Transformative Yoga Classes, by Mark Stephens

Planning sequences and classes is one of the hardest things for a yoga teacher to do. It takes skill, effort, and knowing the effects of each pose fluently in and out as well as the mental, energetic, and spiritual effects of what you are trying to accomplish. Stephens’ book is thus a godsend in so many ways and has been useful for me as a growing teacher in bringing to life visually interesting and passionate classes for my students. It brings examples of Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced sequences of many different varieties and themes as well as bringing vital and detailed tools to the table including cues, pose details, and more for creating your own sequences and classes. This is one of those invaluable books on this list that I’m shocked isn’t required reading but honestly needs to be.

White Hot Truth. by Danielle LaPorte

Not quite a book on yoga so much as one on spirituality and the conflicts between our spiritual beliefs and our internal beliefs, this book is easily the best read on an overall sense of spirituality for the modern era that you could ever ask for. The writer LaPorte is funny and relatable and what she says in her book is sometimes not easy especially if you are used to being coddled and comforted in this kind of a book. But if you are really looking for some cold hard truths that will enlighten you all at the same time as well as encourage you to look deeply inward at your inward and outward behaviors, then look no further. It is primarily meant for women and the tone and speech of the book definitely reflects that but I was able to get through it and feel completely happy and satisfied with it as a male and so I would say that this is a good read for everyone regardless of gender. Apparently she’s got a few more books and manuals out there and if they are as any good as this one, you can bet I’ll be checking them out in the future.

Wherever You Go, There You Are: Mindfulness Meditation in Everyday Life, by Jon Kabat-Zinn

This book is my true meditation bible. I had the opportunity to read this one during my meditation training and it’s since become a favorite of mine to come back to not just for myself but for others as well. Author Kabat-Zinn’s writing is simple but powerful and his lessons on awareness, meditation, and mindfulness are things that we all truly need more of in our day to day life. I also really loved his writing style as while there are a ton of chapters, they are all fairly short and easy to get through and so you get a lot out of even the most bite-sized chapter in this book. This is one that I recommend to everyone who needs a good dose of mindfulness and meditation in their life in small or large doses.

The Path of the Yoga Sutras: A Practical Guide To The Core of Yoga, by Niccolai Bachman

This book was featured prominently in my Yoga IV class and a good number of the chapters were read out loud to us based around the Yamas and Niyamas found within the Eight Limbed Path of Yoga. But after deciding to purchase this book for myself, I am finding out there is much more to this book than meets the eye. Chapter by chapter, Bachman goes over yoga concepts and Sanskrit terms covered in and out of the Sutras that don’t get quite as much exposure but yet are so important in a yogic lifestyle. It gives guidance on some of the harder to understand and finer points of a yogic life and it makes you think about each term on a much deeper level. ‘Path’ is one of my favorite new yoga books for those who want to go deeper in to the yogic tradition on a personal level.

Wanderlust: A Modern Yogi’s Guide to Discovering Your Best Self, by Jeff  Krasno

At time of writing, this book is the one I am currently reading and I have to say that I’m rather impressed with it. Taking a much more interactive style as sort of a yoga workbook in conjunction with being an actual inspiring and informative read, ‘Wanderlust’ feels like a good review for anyone who’s already a yogi and a great starting place for anyone who is interested in starting yoga. Its modern day Bohemian aesthetic is wonderful to anyone who fits in to those veins such as myself and the writing is accessible to anyone and everyone especially those who might not know the first thing about some of the concepts mentioned here. It takes some of the ancient concepts and modernizes them beautifully with a gorgeous feel that will keep you wanting to read just to see what’s on the next page. ‘Wanderlust’ is a great book not just for yogis searching for internal and external inspiration and review but also Bohemian wanderers searching for themselves in a crazy modern lifestyle.

Yoga for Christians: A Christ-Centered Approach to Physical and Spiritual Health,

by Susan Bordenkircher

The first book I received on yoga from a former friend, this book takes a somewhat narrow-minded but still fascinating view on what a Catholic interpretation on yoga would look like. As I’ve stated multiple times in multiple articles, yoga is not a religion whatsoever but it can be used to further one’s individual spiritual and religious beliefs and this book makes a very good effort in combining and interpreting Christianity in to the style of a yogic life. While it’s not an entirely necessary read regardless if you are a Christian or not, it did help to start me off on my yogic journey and become unafraid of the yogic life as well as allow me to start to see the nature of yoga as a help to a Christian life rather than a hindrance.

Yoga: The Spirit and Practice of Moving Into Stillness, by Erich Schiffmann

The primary book I used for my Yoga IV class, ‘Stillness’ is a great overall book that describes not just the best way to get in to pose but combines that with how specifically the energy lines of a pose should feel and flow. His descriptions of the lines of energy and nadis running through our body and how to access that in a pose is simply wonderful and something that I’ve not seen another yoga book pull off quite as well. On top of this, Schiffmann also beautifully describes how asanas are simply one part of a yogic life and goes in to strong detail on breathing, life lessons, and combining them all together in an individual yoga practice. Not only is this one a great textbook but it’s a wonderful read in and of itself.

Eastern Body Western Mind: Psychology and the Chakra System as a Path to the Self,

by Anodea Judith

This book is easily my favorite one when it comes to learning about the Chakras and the Energetic system. It combines Western psychology with Eastern ideas of the mind and spirit and brings them together in a beautiful synthesis of how these viewpoints and concepts apply to an individual living in our modern society. The detail that author Anodea Judith gives to each chakra, the characteristics of how each affects aspects of ourselves, and what we can do to work with and connect stronger with each chakra is varied, interesting, and especially unique in a society flooded with constant ways to harm and erode ourselves spiritually. This is a great resource to use to tap in to and get to know our Chakras, how open/closed each one is in our body, and what we can do to heal and keep our spiritual channels healthy.

With more books and exciting research to come on my lifelong yoga journey, this library is sure to expand and grow.

About the Author: Michael Joseph Goleniewski

Michael is a 200 Hour Certified Yoga Teacher (CYT) and is RYT 200-hr through Yoga Alliance. He is the founder of Regen Yoga, a Jnana (Knowledge-Based) Vinyasa style with major elements of Hatha, Yin, and Ashtanga and minor elements of Kundalini, Iyengar and Power Yoga. The primary goal of this style is to allow us as yogis to get to know, accept, and regenerate our bodies through physical, mental, and spiritual yoga practices with an energetic awareness.

Find more about Michael and Regen Yoga at www.michaelgoleniewski.com