10 Must-Read Yoga Books for this Summer

Over the years I have come up with a small library of those reads that inspire me, get me to think differently, give me giggles or simply take me to another level of yoga awareness, here is a list of my favorites and why:

Yes, yogi superpowers are to be ignored because they distract us from the real path and the real truth and blah blah blah, however, if you are into superpowers, or, like me, enjoy reading about very accomplished yogis and their out of this world quests, here are some that will take you there as you sip lemonade.

Funny that I did not get to read this book until it was mandatory for me to do so as a pre-requisite for Thailand’s yoga teacher training.  Autobiography of a Yogi, by Paramhanssa Yogananda got to me.  His story from childhood to adulthood and the eventual creation of the Self Realization fellowship (which he saw in a vision years before manifestation) is fascinating.  

One of the stories that I loved was when one of his gurus along the path tells him and his brother to go on a train trip for a few days (a weekend or so) without any money or food.  They were told not to beg or ask for money, just trust that the Divine Mother will provide for them.  

Can you imagine if someone told you, say, to go from New York City to Boston (without having breakfast first) for a weekend and come back, on the same conditions?  A few summers ago something like it happened to me…  Kindle edition? yes, and there is even a public domain one!

I discovered Swami Sivananda Radha when I visited her ashram in British Columbia 7 years ago, and nothing could have prepared me for her amazing soul.   She was a woman with a job and a dance career who in her mid 40s saw a vision of Sivananda and follwed it to India.

One of the great stories for me here was when she met Padre Pio (a Capuchin priest from Italy -considered a saint- who became famous for his stigmata).  She had no appointment and the Vatican was, well, full, of course, I imagine it being as if you went today to see the Pope with no appointment.  It is fascinating how she did indeed end up meeting the saint face to face and communicating with him telepathically.

She also talks about her personal experiences with Shirdi Sai Baba, the Dalai Lama, Anandamoyi Ma, and others.

Rampuri is a native of California who in the 60s and at 19 set off for India with 20 dollars.  His adventures and his stumbling upon Hari Puri Baba are a great read.

I remember one of the stories where he had run completely out of money and was feeling hungry, so he reached into his wondering mendicant little bag and in it he found a paper bill for some amount of Rupiahs.  I just love how people who are more “connected” can manifest money out of the blue.

I appreciate good books that urge me to put them down and get on with practice, these are two I found that have exactly that effect.  Make sure to have your mat/cushion ready, the urge will strike.

By Gregor Maehle.  I love this book because I find that it is even better than the frist one (Ashtanga Yoga: Practice and Philosophy, about the primary series).  I actually wrote a post on the 8 things I liked about it.

Both the primary series book and the intermediate series book are worth reading way beyond the pose explanations and anatomy indications.  The beginning of both books contain gems when it comes to the philosophy of yoga and they continue to inspire me.

This is one of those books that not only talks about enlightenment, but also tells you of a very specific way of reaching it, which, by the way, involves training yourself to hold your breath for over 1.5 hours. Is that too long? don’t worry there are shorter term milestones.

I happen to re-read this book every quarter or so.  Swami Rama has the best explanations and directions on how to approach a pranayama practice, and how to progress within it.  I happen to like it even better than Light on Pranayama, because this book speaks to the fast paced westerner mind, it gives down to earth explanations and does not leave anything to the wondering imagination, it just brings it down to concrete terms and it is also fluid and easy to read.   By the way, if you are curious about Volume 2, I am not so keen on it. Kindle edition? yes!

These books are not yet out, but I have already pre-ordered them so that I get them fresh off the print.  I am so curious I can hardly wait, and will be reviewing them soon, watch this earthyogi space.

By Eddie Stern and Guy Donahaye who are long term students of the Guru and spent a considerable amount of time studying directly with him back in the day.   If you are curious like me, you can now read an extract at Guy’s place.

This book has been written by A.G. Mohan who studied with the master for 18 years, (and up until his death).  The book has personal stories drawm from diaries, lectures etc.  Will be a good way to glimpse at Krishnamacharay, again, from the eyes of a student.

Just got this one today, and by the introduction alone I can tell I will be getting into it.  The author is one of those guys who happen to go to yoga here and there, nothing serious, and then one day moved to a house (in Nyack, NY) and realized by the little details on the paintings and fixtures that the house he was inhabiting belonged to a controversial famous yogi of the 20th century.  I am game.

If you are up for a good conspiracy theory and some controversy, then this is the book for you.  Be warned that if you are an ashtangi by yoga trade it might steer you up a little, make you feel that your practice is “just gym stuff”, and leave you with more questions than answers, at least that is what happened to me as per the review I wrote a few weeks ago, and which inspired a long list of comments by other yogis. Kindle edition? yes.

This book was recomended to me by a yogini friend right before my first trip to India, and I loved it, much better than Eat Pray and Love. One of those stories of hate India/love India, with colorful side stories that illustrate what its like to live in such an overpopulated setting. Kindle edition? yes.

So there you have it.  If you read any of them I would be very curious to read/hear what you think.  Enjoy the summer!