Whether you are looking to improve the performance of your physical body, find some inner peace, elevate your consciousness, develop a spiritual practice or achieve ultimate union with the divine, yoga is a pursuit that can reap unlimited benefits. But you don't always need to join a class to learn yoga - you can start with a book!
That’s why we have researched the best yoga books available for those just getting started or who wish to take their practice to the next level. We found that the best source of pure yoga being offered in English today is Sadhguru’s Inner Engineering. The author embraces the entirety of yogic science at its essence and makes it digestible to a wider audience. Check out the other great books in our 10 best list, and use our buying guide that has been reviewed by a certified yoga instructor!
Quick List - Top Yoga Books
Karin is a certified yoga instructor and HR director in addition to running a successful Instagram account about fashion, lifestyle, and more. She describes herself as "a Boho Girl living in a Yogi World".
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Here are some points to keep in mind as you browse the shelves for a great book on yoga.
Although there are many different kinds of yoga, there are several common ones with which it may be best to familiarize yourself before you commit.
The most common form of traditional yoga today is Hatha Yoga. If you're not sure which type to choose, then Hatha Yoga is a safe bet.
“Ha” means sun and “Tha” means moon. Through physical practices, concentration, and meditation, proper diet, and pranayama (or breath control), the yoga practitioner learns to take control of their physicality.
Vinyasa Yoga is a bit more physically demanding than the average yoga type. It cycles through many asanas, or postures, in a quick flow. "One breath, one posture" is the saying. If you want quick physical development, this is for you.
Vinyasa yoga sessions are often called "flow classes", which links breath with movement through piecing together different postures into almost a routine-like sequence. Each sequence is completed on the right side, and then the left, and instructors can use a lot of creativity to make different classes for different groups of people.
It typically consists of a warm-up, one to three surya namaskars, and two or three sun salutation B's or C's. Cool-down and seated postures are optional but typically included.
Thousands of years ago, the Indian sage Patanjali attempted to take the excessive diversity of many schools of the yogic sciences and organize them into a single system. This system is called Raja Yoga or Ashtanga Yoga, and it means the eight limbs of Yoga.
It has a clearly mapped out path for energetic purification. This is a widely available form nowadays and suits everyone from casual to serious practitioners.
Ashtanga yoga, if compared to vinyasa yoga, is different in that one asana is done on the right and then the left side, and that completes that cycle. It's a very structured practice in which each asana or pose is held for five breaths.
It traditionally lasts 90 minutes and takes you through standing poses, then seated, and you are not allowed to progress to the next level of practice until you have mastered the first course (traditionally, of course!).
Iyengar Yoga was developed about 50 years ago by B.K.S. Iyengar. He focuses on precision, detail, and near-perfect alignment in every yoga asana. This type also incorporates the use of props such as blocks, ropes, and blankets to help one achieve this mastery. It is excellent for beginners who want to master the forms.
B.K.S. Iyengar revolutionized the yoga world in the 20th century with his classes, incredibly specific descriptions, and training of classic poses and postures found in a yoga class.
Very technical in nature, Iyengar stresses alignment and uses unique tools such as the Iyengar wall to support a student's practice and deepening into poses. His son carries on his legacy, and Iyengar's Light On Yoga is a book that many yoga teacher training courses will use.
There are three general directions you can approach yoga books with: instructional, scientific, or spiritual. Some books focus on the physical aspect of yoga while others address it as an energetic science that has many levels of application. The best yoga books balance the physical practice and the study of yoga as an energetic science.
Instructional books on yoga are like manuals, with a collection of illustrations and photographs explaining how to do the physical postures, or asanas and yogasanas, as they're officially termed. If you just want to use yoga as part of your regular workout routine, these instructional yoga books may be best.
Yoga translated in the purest form of the Sanskrit word means "to yoke" or "to bind". Yoga is a practice that can be physically exerting and can tone up your body, and it is an art that reaches far beyond just the physical.
It links the body, breath, mind and spirit together, so the four pieces can move as one and be in harmony with one another. So many portions of our lives are disjointed and detached, and the practice or ability to find flow in these different pieces of ourselves is the beauty of yoga.
Other types of books deal with the science of yoga and how its practice can refine your body and health. A subset of these books is the autobiographies and biographies of famous yogis that paint a picture of how some people have lived yoga as a way of life.
These may be useful if you want to be a yoga teacher someday or perhaps explore the possibility of adopting the yoga mindset.
I recommend Light on Yoga by B.K.S. Iyengar and The Yamas and Niyamas by Deborah Adele for information on yogic science and ethics. The former may be a bit difficult for beginners to fully grasp, as I said earlier, but it focuses on important aspects of yoga.
Much of one's yoga practice is completed within oneself, but keep in mind that going through yoga teacher training and or taking yoga classes, workshops and courses can help guide you in the right direction of where to start in your reading journey.
Every personality is different, but I'd recommend starting your journey by attending a yoga class several times and speaking with teachers and other practitioners before diving into instruction manuals and yogic science.
Finally, there are spiritual yoga books. As the name implies, these focus not only on the physical practice of yoga poses but on the spirituality and mindset of yoga.
Like any practice with such lofty aims, this sort of reading requires more dedication and focus. However, if you truly want to pursue life as a dedicated yogi, these types of books may be a good fit.
A yogi, by definition, is someone who has practiced yoga to such a depth that they have broken the boundaries of their individuality. Many of these individuals who have lived yoga as a way of life and achieved depths beyond casual understanding are based in India.
If you are serious about your pursuit and want to make sure you are learning authentic yoga, you can choose a book or teacher who belongs to a true yogic lineage and has made a significant achievement on that path.
In the Western world, there's also a certification system for yoga teachers if you simply want to ensure that your yoga instruction book was written by a real teacher. The Yoga Alliance breaks down teaching certifications into six categories: four levels of registration for basic yoga instruction, registered children's yoga teachers, and registered prenatal yoga teachers.
Amazon has a strong selection of books and tomes written by yogis, and I would highly recommend reading the reviews on these books before, especially as a beginner, diving into the potentially subjective opinions of one yogi's life and practice over another's.
The science of yoga has many different aspects to it. It is a good idea to get books that focus on certain areas of the practice to help you gain a deeper understanding.
Concentration and meditation form the core of what defines the practice of yoga. Adequate skills in these are essential to make any real progress in your practice. You’ll learn how to let go, be present, and turn your focus inward through these practices.
Mudras are hand postures that a yoga practitioner uses to channel energy in a certain way to gain desired results. Numerous mudras can be learned to help heal health conditions, emotional troubles, stress and to achieve spiritual well-being.
A good book that focuses on this aspect is The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz. This book of wisdom teaches you how to apply four rules to your life that will lead to happiness, peace, and more.
Ayurveda is a holistic lifestyle and spiritual belief system that spans millennia. According to Ayurveda, good health revolves around maintaining a balance within your body and mind. This means keeping up with your mental health, eating well, and of course, ensuring that your body is in good shape.
Following an Ayurvedic lifestyle goes hand-in-hand with pursuing a more yogic way of life. Ayurveda revolves around maintaining your three doshas, or your physical, mental, and spiritual health. You can do this by practicing yoga, and in turn, your yoga sessions will certainly benefit from reading up on Ayurveda. You'll probably benefit physically and mentally from this practice as well!
A good read for Ayurveda is Ayurveda Beginner's Guide by Susan Weis-Bohlen. It focuses less on yoga and more on the lifestyle, but the principles of the two are intertwined.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev | ![]() | Best for Learning About the Spirituality of Yoga | |
2 | Naomi Annand Yoga: A Manual for Life | ![]() | Best Visual Guide to Basic Yoga Poses and More | |
3 | Jessamyn Stanley | ![]() | Best for Body Positivity and Expanding Basic Yogic Knowledge | |
4 | B.K.S. Iyengar Light on Yoga | ![]() | Best for Mastering Poses With Specific Instructions | |
5 | Michael Stone | ![]() | Best Beginner-Friendly Introduction to Yogic Philosophy and More | |
6 | David Swenson | ![]() | Best for Learning Ashtanga Asanas | |
7 | Ann Swanson | ![]() | Best Scientific Approach to Yoga | |
8 | Swami Vivekananda Complete Book of Yoga | ![]() | Best for Deepening Knowledge of the Philosophy of Different Schools | |
9 | Srivatsa Ramaswami | ![]() | Best for Learning Vinyasa Yoga | |
10 | Gertrud Hirschi | ![]() | Best for Learning About Mudras |
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This book is a New York Times Bestseller, written by a modern Indian mystic. Sadhguru has a refined ability to simplify the spiritual path into a traceable step-by-step journey of Hatha yoga, which makes true yogic spirituality available to all.
Many reviewers were amazed by the spirituality behind yogic movements through this book. However, some felt the author was egotistical and only wanted fast results from his teachings. But, many more have attested that this book had a powerful impact on them and gave them the tools to take control of their own lives.
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This book is a visual guide for stay-at-home sessions that offers picture guides of essential yoga poses like Downward Dog, the Warrior poses, and more. It also includes essays that explain how the yogic lifestyle is relevant today, so you can learn about the "why" behind yoga as well.
Even readers not particularly interested in yoga can find inspiration in this book because of its topics on self-care. As for experienced yogis, they loved the book's design and the illustrations that guide readers through asanas and sequences.
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This book is a source of motivation for both beginner and intermediate yogis. It seeks to encourage people of all body shapes and sizes to delve into their yogic journey using accessible, positive, and familiar language.
Readers praised the book for its touching messages and easy-to-follow instructions. They also loved the beautiful illustrations. However, there were several comments on the use of profanities. But some readers agreed that this did not detract from the message of the author.
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The author is known for his own Iyengar Yoga, which is perhaps the most anatomically accurate and precise form of yoga in its execution of the movements. He displays his expertise in this book regarding yogic poses with detailed illustrations.
Many reviewers called this book the go-to resource of reference on yoga asanas. They said it took the basic yoga asanas and brought them to deeper levels of practice. However, some stated that some instructions are overly complex. Nonetheless, check out Iyengar if you want expert methods in physical accuracy.
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This book provides insight into the ethics and morality of yoga. It teaches the readers how to apply their yogic practices to the world and the people around them and gives readers the inspiration to live in the moment.
Most readers struggled with the first few chapters because of their complexity, but they were eventually able to grasp the lessons. Nevertheless, they agreed that they gained valuable insights once they had an easier time understanding the book.
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With over 650 pictures of ashtanga yoga poses, this book is a guide for those who seek to practice this school of yoga. It has a spiral bind, making it easy to keep the book open when following the illustrations.
Readers praised this book for being a great self-teaching book. However, most mentioned that this book was difficult for beginners and better for intermediate yogis. Nevertheless, they praised the illustrations for being clear and easy to understand.
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Combining yogic teaching with scientific research, this book offers an in-depth analysis of the benefits of yoga on your body. It also teaches the connection between joint and spine movements in regards to correct breathing techniques.
Readers deemed it a great guide in learning about the benefits of yoga to one's anatomy. However, some readers found the text a bit hard to read, especially on the eBook version. But, they appreciated the scope of the book that includes all the systems of one's body.
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Swami Vivekananda is one of the first yogis to introduce yoga and Vedanta to Western society. In this book, he showcases his divine ability to bring light to the four different paths of yogic liberation as expounded by Lord Krishna in ancient times.
Reviewers praised this book for taking yogic practice to a deeper level. Negative reviews were about the poor production quality such as its paper and printing quality. Some said their book was even missing entire sections. Despite this, reviewers agreed that this book is a gem.
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The author is a student of Sri T. Krishnamacharya, a well-known and influential yoga instructor. In this book, he lays out his instructor's teachings such as the vinyasa yoga positions and the Vinyasakrama system.
Reviewers said that the book was great for beginners and even intermediate yogis. However, a lot of reviewers noticed that their copies of the book did not include an audio CD that contains the mantras. Nonetheless, yogis have stated that this is the go-to book for learning vinyasa yoga.
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This book explains the yogic discipline of "mudra", or finger yoga. It discusses breathing techniques along with finger positioning, and how these mudras can help improve emotional healing and prevent sickness.
Readers loved the simple language of the book. They appreciated the illustrations and guidelines for the mudra exercises. But, some reviews stated that the eBook version was difficult to read. Nevertheless, the printed copies provide better illustrations and text.
Yoga is a simple activity that doesn't need many accessories, but there are some items which will enhance your experience. Take a look at our other related top 10 lists to get even more from your sessions.
In addition to reviewing our yoga-related articles, Karin also has her own lists of recommended yoga and lifestyle items! In particular, Karin recommends one of her favorite books for yogic thinking and living. You can find the details below, and a full list of her original articles on her creator page.
This expert reviewed the contents of the buying guide for accuracy and provided factual corrections when necessary, as well as extra tips and advice. They did not participate in the product selection process, nor are they affiliated with any of our choices unless explicitly stated so.
No. 1: Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev|
No. 2: Naomi Annand|Yoga: A Manual for Life
No. 3: Jessamyn Stanley|
No. 4: B.K.S. Iyengar|Light on Yoga
No. 5: Michael Stone|
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
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