Resources (books)

How Yoga Works, a delightful fictional story by Geshe Michael & Christie McNally.

The Yamas & Niyamas, exploration of yoga’s ethical practice by Deborah Adele. The First and Second (of eight) “Limbs” of Ashtanga (classical) yoga.

Ashtanga Yoga Primerby Baba Hari Dass.  Introduction of the Eight Limbs of Ashtanga Yoga to include pictures /explanations of Surya Namaskara (Sun Salutation) and basic yoga poses.

The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, exact dates are unknown but the Sutras were written some centuries before Christ.  There are many translations of the writings, mine is by Chip Hartranft.

Yoga, The Science of the Soul,by Osho.  Osho was a famous Indian yogi who wrote many books and still has many followers…worth the time to do a web search on him.  This book describes the Sutras with humorous simpilicity.

Light on Yogaby B.K.S. Iyengar, a book I continual to go back to.  An all inclusive book about yoga with detailed information about getting into poses and the benefits to the body.

Ancient Secret of the Fountain of Youth (2),by Double.  I first heard about the “Five Rites” from my mentor who had been taught the rites by her father many years ago.  I first purchased book 1 which only describes the 5 rites and later discovered book 2.  Book 2 has a great deal more information about breathing practices, food combining and background on how the book evolved.  The “rites” are 5 exercises, 4 of which are yoga poses, that are to be performed daily beginning with 3 of each and progressing to 21 each.  The first rite is spinning, clockwise, to get chakras balanced and spinning at same rate of speed. 

The Bhagavad-Gita,..means song of god.  One of the greatest spiritual books world has known.  Describes science of self realization.  Somehow I’ve misplaced my copy but it was one of the required reading before attending training in India.