Books are a great way to learn almost anything, including yoga. Whether you are a novice who wants to step into the world of yoga or an expert keen on taking your skills to the next level, plenty of Yoga Books are available to suit your learning needs and goals.
Team DuniaKaGyan has scoured through plenty of books on the subject over the months. As a treasure trove of knowledge, they offer a unique and exciting view into the world of yoga while making you a better yogi. Here is our pick for the 10 best Books on Yoga.
Best Yoga Books
1. Light on Yoga: The Bible of Modern Yoga
Highlights:
Best for beginner’s
Originally Published- 1979
Author- B.K.S Iyengar
Level- Beginner to intermediate
Description:
Light on Yoga by B.K.S Iyengar has been in print for over half a century. Guess what? It is still one of the highest-selling books on the subject. This says a lot about the quality of the book and justifies its numero uno position on this list.
Throughout the book, Iyengar shows that yoga is much more than the culmination of poses (Asanas). Rather, It is a way of life. The author provides a week-by-week guide to incorporate yoga into your life, speeding up your journey from novice to advanced practitioner.
In addition, you can find specific asanas for specific health problems like hypertension, migraines and heart issues, etc. another salient feature of the book is that it provides alternatives to difficult-to-perform exercises. These exercises prepare you to perform the actual challenging poses.
You can buy this from here
2. The Yoga Beginner’s Bible: Top 63 Illustrated Poses for Weight Loss, Stress Relief and Inner Peace
Highlights:
Best for beginners
Originally Published- 2016
Author- Tai Morello
Level- Beginner
Description:
If you want to start with yoga but feel clueless about where and how to start, the Yoga Beginner’s Bible could be of help. It provides 63 illustrated poses for weight loss, stress relief, and inner peace.
The book equips you with basic yoga poses to start doing them even at home. Each pose is described vividly with all the benefits discussed at length. Even if you are stressed about joining a yoga class, this book will come in handy as it will prepare you for it.
If you know the basics of yoga and have only been away from it for some time, this book will put you on the right path.
You can buy this from here
3. 2,100 Asanas: The Complete Yoga Poses
Highlights:
Comprehensive Guide
Originally Published- 2015
Author- Daniel Lacerda
Level- Intermediate to Advance
Description:
True to its name, 2100 Asanas by Daniel Lacerda is a comprehensive guide to over two thousand yoga asanas. It is an excellent reference book to the practice of yoga. Although many asanas are slight variations of the common ones, the author has done an incredible job of compiling them.
The author of the book is Daniel Lacerda, a Canadian yogi. He has named each of the asanas in Sanskrit and English. The yoga pose photos provide the necessary visual aid required to perform these asanas.
The book has something for everyone, whether you are a beginner, intermediate, or advanced yoga learner. If you are serious about yoga, it is a must-have and a great gift for any serious yogi.
You can buy this from here
4. The Yoga Bible
Highlights:
Originally Published- 2003
Author- Christina Brown
Level- Intermediate to advance
Description:
The Yoga Bible by Christina Brown contains 170 asanas and helps you find the mental and physical balance in life through yoga. Rather than merely teaching a bunch of yoga asana, the book encourages the reader to find a yoga sequence that suits their personal needs.
All the asanas in the book come with label variations and other helpful information. The postures are very well explained, with varying options for beginners and advanced practitioners. There are also excellent pictures to demonstrate each position.
The book is well structured into four parts. In addition to the asanas, the book also explains pranayama, internal energy locks, and yogic cleansing practices.
You can buy this from here
5. Science of Yoga: Understand the Anatomy and Physiology to Perfect Your Practice
Highlights:
Originally Published- 2019
Author- Ann Swanson
Level- Intermediate to Advanced
Description:
This is one of the select books that we recommend for all levels of yoga practitioners. It is not just another book about postures and asanas. Instead, it goes deep into the science of yoga by explaining the anatomy and physiology behind yoga practice.
The book discusses the physiology of 30 of the most common postures from every angle. In addition to explaining how yoga works, the book also elaborates on how you can practice safely and achieve the best results.
The book is a must-have, even if you are a yoga teacher. You can better explain the science behind yoga asana to your students.
You can buy this from here
6. Restorative Yoga for Beginners: Gentle Poses for Relaxation and Healing
Highlights:
Originally Published- 2019
Author- Julia Clarke
Level- Beginner
Description:
If you are recovering from an illness or injury and have heard about the healing benefits of restorative yoga, this is the right book for you. It discusses gentle yoga poses for healing and relaxation with exceptional detail and clarity.
The book’s author explains how you can use items available at home to practice restorative yoga. The description and diagrams are sufficient even for a complete novice. What makes the book even more of a user manual is the way the author discusses strategies to help you create your sequences.
You can buy this from here
7. Ashtanga Yoga: The Practice Manual
Highlights:
Originally Published- 2007
Author- Dawid Swenson
Level- Beginners to Intermediate
Description:
Ashtanga yoga is the modern-day form of classical Indian yoga. The book by the same name from author Dawid Swensen is called the bible of Ashtanga Yoga. Each posture in the book is illustrated on various levels, from beginner to advanced. All the poses are shown with pictures which makes practicing them easier.
The book is for anyone looking for a practice manual that focuses on asanas, proper posture, and minor modifications to those postures. It also comes with a spiral binding which is an added advantage as it makes flipping through the pages easier and keeps the book in better condition.
You can buy this from here
8. Yoga for Everyone: 50 Poses For Every Type of Body
Highlights:
Originally Published- 2019
Author- Dianne Bondy
Level- Beginner to intermediate
Description:
If you can’t imagine your body bending into one of those super flexible postures but want to start with yoga, this book is for you. It contains easy to perform asanas that help you get started with yoga in no time.
Many illustrative photos are provided for the benefit of beginners. Some of these asanas are performed by a yogi in a wheelchair. This is in line with the book’s title, Yoga is for Everybody,’ even if you are a wheelchair user.
The book features a total of 8 different models with different body types. First, you see the standard way to do an asana, and then the models perform them.
You can buy this from here
9. The Heart of Yoga: Developing a Personal Practice
Highlights:
Originally Published- 1999
Author- T. K. V. Desikachar
Level- Beginner to intermediate
Description:
The Heart of Yoga by T.K.V. Desikachar is another classic on the list. The book promotes a deeper understanding of yoga while teaching its basics as well. For example, the author emphasizes how breathing alignment is an essential yet overlooked aspect of yoga.
The book touches on every aspect of yoga and is a must-have if you try to incorporate the practice into your daily life. What the book lacks in illustrations makes up for in the texts.
Desikachar shows throughout the book how yoga is for everyone. Yoga teachers will also find this book very helpful with its beautiful insight into an ancient practice.
You can buy this from here
10. Yoga: The Top 100 Best Yoga Poses: Relieve Stress, Increase Flexibility, and Gain Strength (Yoga Postures Poses Exercises Techniques and Guide For Healing Stretching Strengthening and Stress Relief)
Highlights:
Originally Published- 2017
Author- Susan Hollister
Level- Beginner to intermediate
Description:
This is the perfect book to start your journey to the yoga world. It clears many of the misconceptions related to yoga. By the end of the book, you will realize that yoga is for everyone, and you do not need to dedicate a lot of time to it. You can do as much or as little as you like.
Other than illustrating the common poses with the help of yoga, the book also provides asanas for common illnesses like chronic migraine, asthma, etc. All the popular asanas are provided in a step-by-step manner, allowing even a complete novice to learn real quick.
You can buy this from here
Conclusion
So that’s our pick of the top ten yoga books out there. There’s no best book for everyone in the field of yoga. Classics like ‘Light on Yoga’ are a must-read whether you are a student or an expert. Other than that, no one book suits everyone’s requirements. So, discretion on your part is always recommended.
Did we miss any of your favorites? Let us know in the comments section.
People are also reading:
