People keep asking me whether I can recommend any good books on the subject of yoga. The topic of yoga is so broad and deep at the same time that there is less one book on everything yoga, but rather different books on different aspects and subtopics of yoga. Here you will find a selection of different books that I can recommend to delve deeper into aspects of yoga:
However, if there is one book that describes yoga as a whole, then it is definitely Patanjali's Yogasutra. This book comprises the first closed treatise on the concept of yoga, which was written by Patanjali around 325 to 425 AD. The 195 sutras (aphorisms) in four chapters are written in the Indian language Sanskrit and were later translated into other languages by various authors and provided with commentaries on the possible interpretation of the sutras, as the sutras are almost impossible to understand without prior knowledge. Today, Patanjali's work is regarded as the quintessence of yoga. However, anyone looking for instructions on yoga asanas (= yoga postures) in this work will not find them here. The purpose of the original yoga was never postures. These are only a small part of the yoga path to prepare the body for meditation. Accordingly, this book focuses on the yoga path in traditional terms and is more of a philosophical text of instruction, describing the multi-layered (mental) processes of yoga.
William Braod is a Pulitzer Prize-winning science journalist and this is evident in his book, which is characterized by extensive research and his eloquent writing style. I am a big fan of this book! Broad gives a comprehensive and clear insight into the scientific research that has been published to date on various aspects of yoga. These include the effects of yoga on health, moods, the risk of injury, healing, sex and muse. Broad takes a critical look at various controversies in yoga, such as the claim of achieving supernatural abilities through yoga and the risk of injury from different forms of yoga. Personally, I really like the neutral, science-based examination of the spiritual practice of yoga. For me, it is one of the best books to get an initial overview of the effects of yoga. It should be added at this point, however, that the book was published in 2013 and can therefore of course only contain research that has been published to date. In the last decade, however, probably about the same amount of yoga research has been compiled as in the entire previous decades combined. Accordingly, this book is not up to date with the latest scientific findings.
In their book, experienced yoga teacher Anna Trökes and neuroscientist Bettina Knothe describe the effects of yoga (physical exercises, breathing exercises and mediation) on different regions of the brain. They explain the neurological processes that are stimulated by yoga in a very clear and easy-to-understand way. If you are interested in the neurological processes behind improved concentration and memory, emotional balance and stress reduction that a regular yoga practice has been proven to achieve, this is the book for you. The book provides a wonderful initial overview of the links between yoga practice and brain processes, offering a pleasing combination of research into scientific research and practical guidance for readers.
Paul Grilley, the father of YinYoga, who has made a significant contribution to making YinYoga accessible to the West, provides an introduction to the principles of YinYoga in this book. What I find particularly exciting about this book is that he compares the principles of (Yin)Yoga with the principles of traditional Chinese medicine, thus creating a link between two traditions (Yoga/Ayurveda and TCM) that use different words but are based on the same principles. In his book, he discusses the meaning of yin and yang, meridian theory and the anatomy of connective tissue, managing to get to the heart of the matter and keep it short. The book includes illustrations and descriptions of various yin yoga postures and meditation practices. Overall, I would not recommend this book to yoga beginners, but rather to practitioners who want to understand, explore and expand the more subtle levels of their yoga practice.
This book is not directly a book about yoga, but about breathing. However, since breathing and breathing practices (pranayama) play a central role in yoga practice and the book also deals with yoga breathing techniques, I would classify it as yoga literature.
In his book, Nestor takes readers on a journey through his own history of exploring breathing, ranging from traditional yoga breathing techniques to modern scientific discoveries. He describes the effects that our breathing has on our physical and mental health. For anyone who suffers from breathing problems, stress or sleep problems (snoring etc.), this book is sure to be very informative and helpful. In addition, it can be of great potential to consciously deal with this often underestimated function of our body as a breathing person. Nestor explains research findings that show how conscious and correct breathing can positively influence our physical and mental abilities, sleep quality and moods and gives helpful tips for more conscious and comprehensive breathing. For me, Nestor's book is a must-read for anyone who wants to better understand the effects of breathing, also in relation to yoga.
I hope there is something in this list of literature that appeals to you. I hope you enjoy immersing yourself in the practices, effects and different aspects of yoga! If you read any of these books, please let me know how you liked them and if you have any reading tips for me, please let me know! 🙂
