LifeSoup by Cherie Dawn Haas

Back in November 2018, I had a whim to learn more about the yoga poses I had been practicing casually, on and off, for the past 25 years. I wanted to know what they meant, why they were called such interesting names, what benefits each one secretly held.

Lucky for me, there was a copy of an amazing yoga-for-beginners book that I randomly picked off the shelf at the library.

In addition to the descriptions of Mountain Pose (Tadasana) and Downward-Facing Dog (Adho Mukha Svanasana), I learned a crucial part of yoga: the eight limbs, which led me on a path of spiritual discovery and gave structure to my formerly nebulous philosophies.

It also led me to many more books. I’ve spent the past year reading every yoga I can get my hands on. Some are heavy and philosophic, and take much, much introspection and re-reading, and I know I need to still read them again to retain the information.

And some are light, fun, and even funny.

If you’re yoga-curious, you might find it helpful to start with the “lighter” books that I’ll share here, and then transition to the ancient texts that are beautifully written and so important to read.

Disclaimer: I’m not an expert on the subject. There are still more books on my reading list, and you may know of some that should be included (if so, share them in the comments, please!).

Without further ado, here are five of the first books I read on my yoga journey.

My Top 5 Books for the Yoga-Curious

1. Every Body Yoga by Jessamyn Stanley
   This is the book I picked up at the library. Jessamyn is also an Instagram inspiration! I suggest this because it’s great for a beginner like me (and like you?).
2. Do Your Om Thing: Bending Yoga Tradition to Fit Your Modern Life by Rebecca Pacheco
   Another contemporary author ~ this breaks down yoga philosophy for those of us practicing it in modern culture.
3. The Seven Spiritual Laws of Yoga by Deepak Chopra and David Simon

The books above, in my opinion, provide an effective overview of what yoga is about and how it can be life-changing when one practices it – all of it, not just the poses. The next books take priority IMO, but I found it helpful to read something like Every Body Yoga first.

3. The Bhagavad Gita: A Walkthrough for Westerners by Jack Hawley
I laugh a little when I tell people the subtitle of this one, but honestly, it’s easier to digest than The Bhagavad Gita As It Is. I read this in a few days, but often pick it back up. Every paragraph has meaning, much of which can be applied to life today.

4. The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, translated by Sri Swami Satchidananda
In a single sentence (the second sutra), we learn everything we need to know. I won’t spoil the surprise for you.

While the books above are my personal top five, based on the path I’ve been on, it’s important to note two things: my journey is not your journey. And, I’m a book hoarder.

Because of that, here are more of my favorite books on yoga, in no particular order:

• Myths of the Asanas: The Stories at the Heart of the Yoga Tradition by Alanna Kaivalya and Arjuna van der Kooij
• Baba: Autobiography of a Blue-Eyed Yogi by Rampuri
• Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramhansa Yogananda
• The Secret of the Yamas: A Spiritual Guide to Yoga by John McAfee
• Ashtanga Yoga: The Practice Manual by David Swenson

And I actually didn’t realize just how many yoga / Eastern philosophy books I had on my shelf until I was putting this together for you, so here’s a lookie-loo at even more titles I think you’ll like:

Am I missing anything? If there’s a great book about yoga, please feel free to list it in the comments section below!

Peace, love, and fire,
Cherie Dawn

Click Here to Learn More About My Favorite Yoga Books
(Note: I am an Amazon affiliate, which means that if you purchase one of my suggested books, I may receive compensation. All the books I recommend are authentically chosen by me, and are probably on my bookshelf or nightstand at the moment.)