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Unroll your mat, open a book: 7 yoga books for mind, body & soul
On June 21, for the 11th consecutive year, practitioners around the world will spread out their yoga mats, and perform a bevvy of poses – from the warrior pose (virabhadrasana) to downward facing dog (adho mukha svanasana) – in a tribute to the ancient Indian discipline of yoga. When the United Nations declared an International Day of Yoga in 2014 (though it was observed for the first time in 2015), people in the West were already flocking to classes on hot yoga, aerial yoga, and Bikram yoga. The practice, one of the few that focuses on holistic wellbeing (bridging the conscious and unconscious), is arguably India's most influential cultural export.
Before yoga studios opened around every corner, enthusiasts would turn to illustrated books to learn the postures and understand their benefits. Indeed, finding a book or two on yoga was commonplace in Indian middle-class households. Here are six books that might serve as faithful companions on the journey to mastering the practice and embracing the philosophy of yoga.
If one were to pinpoint the moment the ancient Indian practice of yoga captured the western imagination, it would be Swami Vivekananda's speech at the Parliament of Religions in Chicago in 1893. This volume compiles the spiritual leader's teachings on the four main paths of yoga—karma (spiritual liberation through duty to others), bhakti (devotion), jnana (self-realisation), and Raja (control of body and mind). Drawing from ancient scriptures, including the Bhagavad Gita and Patanjali's Yoga Sutras, the helps explain the philosophical and spiritual foundations of yoga.
Muthanna, who runs a popular yoga school in Bengaluru carries out workshops across the world, blending tradition and modern wellness in her book. She melds the wisdom of ancient Sanskrit texts with contemporary lifestyle needs. In the book, she offers 21 yoga routines designed to address several common maladies. The book, which is also inspired by Patanjali's Yoga Sutras, demystifies yogic philosophy while offering visual guides and practical tools for those navigating busy schedules.
Focussing on yoga tailored to the individual (viniyoga), the book outlines a step-by-step sequence to develop a customised yoga routine taking into account the practitioner's health, age, occupation and lifestyle. Desikachar – the son of Tirumalai Krishnamacharya, the father of modern yoga – draws from his father's teachings as well as his own practical approach. In his own words, he offers 'a programme for the spine at every level: physical, mental, and spiritual.' Desikachar discusses all the elements of yoga, including, but not limited to poses and counterposes, conscious breathing, meditation, and philosophy. For those going for the latest edition, the book now comes with 32 poems of Krishnamacharya that capture the essence of his teachings.
Iyengar – Krishnamacharya's brother-in-law – gave the world 'Iyengar Yoga', a form of Hatha yoga that reinforces precise body alignment and encourages learners to use props to achieve proper posture. His students famously include the violinist Yehudi Menuhin and Standard Oil heiress Rebekah Harkness. His 1996 book, Light On Yoga, is recommended reading for beginners as it serves as a comprehensive introduction to the discipline. Iyengar breaks down poses into steps allowing students to practice yoga on their own. He explains the meaning of yoga, asanas and kriyas and dedicates a whole section to Pranayam and its effects.
The Latvian actor, Eugenie Peterson, better known by her stage name Indra Devi, was once known as the First Lady of Yoga. Another disciple of Krishnamacharya, she is known to have taught Hollywood actors such as Greta Garbo and Gloria Swanson. Her guide for her American audience, who she said needed yoga the most, victims as they were of a competitive, tension-ridden society suffering from its own 'superabundance.' With obesity, 'underactivity,' and psychosomatic illness becoming common outside the continent, one might crack the spine of her book, which includes introductory FAQs (Frequently-asked-questions), illustrations, diets, and advice for those suffering from arthritis, asthma, and overweight.
In Swami Satchidananda, a widely respected yoga master and spiritual teacher, presents Patanjali's Yoga Sutras with English transliteration, translation, and analysis. The book is structured as a manual for self-discipline and mental clarity, covering the eight limbs of yoga, from ethical living (yamas and niyamas) to meditation (dhyana) and bliss (samadhi). This book serves as a meditative companion for both seasoned seekers and those new to the spiritual path.
Known for his mastery over Hatha Yoga techniques (asanas, pranayamas, mudras, bandhas, and kriyas), Vishnu-Devananda was a discipline of Swami Sivananda and trained under him at an ashram in Rishikesh before he set up yoga centers across the United States and Canada, establishing the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta headquarters in Montreal. First published in 1960, the book comprises photos of different yoga poses and touches upon a variety of allied philosophies, including the conquest of old age and the astral body.
