8 Must-Read Yoga Books That Can Help You Stretch Your Body And Soul

Yoga is an ancient Indian practice that focuses on keeping the body, mind, and spirit aligned. Yoga is not just a regular wellness practice; it keeps you grounded and connected with your body and mind. With time, Yoga has carved a place all over the world for its holistic benefits and profound philosophy. However, with the growth of modern fitness culture, Yoga has also taken new forms, but what is still consistent is its purpose and philosophy.

Nowadays, when online yoga classes, specialised yoga studios, or group yoga in open places such as parks have created their place in people’s lives, Yoga books still carry the traditional value to help you stretch your body and soul. When these yoga studios were not in trend, practitioners used to turn to these yoga books for learning poses and stretching asanas. It was a common thing to find Pranayama or other yoga books in Indian households. Even school physical education books used to explain yoga asanas and their benefits through illustrations.

When technology has made several digital resources and video tutorials available to learn and understand Yoga, books still carry a detailed analysis, pinpoint information, and comprehensive guidance. If you are also a bookworm or want to understand Yoga philosophy and asanas in detail, here are eight yoga books to look for:

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1. Yoga Namaskar: The Divine Yogic Salutations (By Grandmaster Akshar - A Siddha Yogi From Himalayas)

Yoga Namaskar is an essential guide for dedicated yoga practitioners. It introduces you to seven powerful yoga namaskaras, including the popular Surya Namaskar and Chandra Namaskar. It contains a step-by-step guide for practising each salutation, with a strong focus on the alignment of the five elements (Water, Earth, Fire, Wind, and Space). Beyond guiding the various namaskaras, the book also offers culinary advice, making it a holistic resource for well-being.

2. The Complete Book of Yoga: Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Raja Yoga, Jnana Yoga (By Swami Vivekananda)

Swami Vivekananda was not just a philosopher or spiritual leader; he was also a proponent of Yoga. If you want to find out when exactly the Western world started understanding Yoga and its benefits, credit can be given to his speech at the Parliament of the World’s Religions in Chicago in 1893. This book describes the spiritual leader’s teaching about the four Yoga paths and which are Karma (your actions), Bhakti (devotion), Jnana (self-realisation), and Raja (control of body and mind). The book contains drawings from the Bhagavad Gita and Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, along with other ancient scriptures, and helps readers understand the yoga philosophy and its foundation.

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3. The Heart of Yoga: Developing a personal practice (By T.K.V. Desikachar)

TKV Desikachar was a pioneer yoga teacher who devoted fifty years to teaching and practicing yoga. In this book, he combines all the elements of yoga, including poses, counterposes, breathing practice, helpful tools, meditation practices, their benefits, and philosophy. The book also provides detailed, step-by-step sequences of customised yoga according to the practitioner's age, health, and lifestyle. If you are going for the latest edition, you will also find more than 30 poems of his father, Tirumalai Krishnamacharya, popularly known as the father of modern yoga.

4. Light On Yoga (By B.K.S. Iyengar)

This book also comes from the lineage of Trumalai Krishnamacharya. B.K.S. Iyengar is the brother-in-law of Krishnamacharya and introduced the world to a form of Hatha Yoga called ‘Iyengar Yoga’. This form of yoga reinforces precise body alignment and encourages practitioners to include different props for various postures. The book, Light On Yoga, serves as a comprehensive guide for beginners, explaining the major tenets of yoga, which is discipline. The book also explains the importance of pranayama and different yogic kriyas.

5. The Power of Yoga (By Yamini Muthanna)

Written by a renowned international yoga teacher, Yamini Muthanna, this book combines twenty-one yoga routines that aim to address different maladies. Muthanna runs a well-established yoga school in Bengaluru, Karnataka, and also provides unique and immersive yoga workshops around the world. She has given a traditional and modern wellness blend in her book, along with the wisdom of ancient Sanskrit texts, which is a need of the hour for the modern lifestyle. The book also includes Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, wisdom and yoga philosophy, along with visual guides and tools for those looking to incorporate yoga into their hectic lifestyle.

6. The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali (By Swami Satchidananda)

Swami Satchidananda was a prominent yoga guru and religious teacher who introduced the Western world to the classical form of yoga. He translated Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras into English with a detailed analysis. The book works as a manual for yoga practitioners for self-discipline and mental clarity, and covers the eight limbs of yoga, including ethical living (Yamas and Niyamas), meditation (dhyana), and bliss (samadhi).

7. The Complete Illustrated Book of Yoga (By Swami Vishnu Devananda)

Swami Vishnu Devananda is well known for his teaching of Hatha Yoga techniques, which include asanas, pranayamas, and mudras. He was a disciple of Swami Sivananda and first published this book in the 1960s. The book comprises illustrations of different asanas and explains their philosophies. This book gives a detailed exposition of traditional yoga and serves as a daily yoga guide for many.

8. Yoga And Mindfulness (By Mansi Gulati)

Written by famous yoga advocate and author Mansi Gulati, this book explains the benefits of yoga and its philosophy. The book helps readers to incorporate yoga practice into their daily life by exploring the connection between physical practice and mindfulness. Through various illustrations and images, the book details different poses, breaking them down into simple steps for the understanding of the common people.