Foundations

Anatomy, the body, koshas, asana books.

These are a small selection of the books that help reveal the depth and value of asana. Any are a good place to begin to build the foundation of a yoga practice.

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Light On Yoga, BKS Iyengar

The foundational book of Iyengar yoga. An important place to start to understand asana as a whole.

The Subtle Self, Judith Blackstone

Beyond the physical we get lost in trying to understand the other layers of our existence, commonly referred to as the Koshas. Blackstone uses her own experience with physical and spiritual healing to demonstrate the interplay of the psycho social forces of the subtle body. Its a short book that captures the esoteric nature of the subtle body in simple and understandable terms.

Healing Mantras, Thomas Ashley - Farrand

Small in stature, this book resonates not just within the tradition of mantra but effectively demonstrates the role of sound in life. The book is divided into various prescriptive mantras and demonstrates their transformative power. 

Myths of the Asanas: The Stories at the Heart of the Yoga Tradition, Alanna Kaivalya & Arjuna van der Kooij

This book is like fairy tales for yogis. The asanas are divided into categories according to their corresponding myth. Each pose gets a 2-3 page philosophical anecdote that deepens the connection between physical and energetic expression of asana.

The Heart of Yoga, T.K.V. Desikachar

Traditional textbook style about how to build a yoga practice using the vinyasa tradition. A great academic book for history and asana.

Yoga of the Subtle Body, Tias Little

This book is an exploration of what happens to the anatomy through the lens of philosophy & spirituality. Little makes the gap between the physical realm and the subtle tangible and easy to understand. This is one of my favorite books reviewing anatomy, because it is a comprehensive consideration of the “bodies” within a physical yoga practice.