BarefootAndUpsideDown

Before you begin reading and listening/watching, please think about what Francois Raoult said in a workshop in Westfield NY. A student asked if there was a particular book he recommended for yogic reading. Francois answered “Read none–or all.” He went on to say, and I totally agree, that there is no ONE yoga book. In fact, and here I believe he’d agree with me, we can learn A LOT about our yoga from texts that are not explicitly about “yoga.” So decide if this type of learning is for you, or if you would prefer to learn from the oral tradition and your own experience before you delve further here.

The following pages contain annotated lists of influential pieces. Please add your own thoughts after reading, watching or listening to any of the recommended media.

Articles - A list of links to full text articles to support your practice.

Yoga texts – Classic books that teach asanas, texts about integrating yogic philosophy into your daily life, sources for yogic healing of the physical as well as psychological self, yoga for young people, yoga for elders, and anatomy especially as it relates to asana practice.

Meditation and Deep Relaxation – Categories here include texts on Deep Relaxation and Yoga Nidra, Mindfulness, Zen, Mantra, and Tantra practices.

Inspiration - Some deeply moving accounts of travelers on the path included in sections on Inspiring Lives and Inspiring Journeys as well as a section on Spirituality.

Something that just didn’t work in other categories:

Declutter Your Life With Feng Shui. OK didn’t think I would ever own an “organizational” book, but this one was amazing. My meditation teacher had been suggesting I read it for months; I kept answering him that all I needed was time to get my place de-cluttered. When I finally got the book, I read it in a morning at one sitting. It works on your motivation, rather than providing actual strategies for organization. The idea being that everything has an energy signature and you will do best by having objects that exude a positive energy in your life. Once you begin to realize all of the “stuff” you are holding on to—emotionally as well as physically—you begin the process of letting go. This creates space for change to happen in your life. This is a very yogic concept. Why do we do asana? For one reason, we release the “knots” in our physical and emotional and spiritual being so energy can flow through our channels. I am far from totally de-cluttered, as the book says, it’s a process. I started with my home altar and have worked through four bookshelves full and overflowing with books.