I’ve always been a writer and avid reader. In four cities, I participated (or ran) book clubs. For five years, I posted videos on social media about a different (loosely related) yoga book each week. A few replays are on my YouTube channel, and others are in the FB and IG archives.
Since International Day of Yoga (IDOY) is in June, I am sharing to-be-read yoga-related titles. Another year for IDOY, I compiled a list of my Top Yoga Books. But today’s picks are from others I respect, too.
Gene Hayworth is the owner of Inkberry Books in Niwot, Colorado with an inventory of approximately 6,000 new and used titles. He strives to build community by hosting weekly author readings, First Friday ArtWalk art exhibits, a monthly book discussion group, music concerts, and more. I will be leading an International Day of Yoga book reading in his cozy open space, Friday, June 19.
Gene suggests any books by Gary Allen. The poet and yoga instructor has a B.A. and M.F.A. in Writing and Poetics from Naropa University where he studied with the poet Allen Ginsberg and many luminaries. For the last 16 years he’s been the Education Director for the Mindfulness Peace Project which runs programs teaching meditation and Buddhist spirituality to prison inmates, and secular mindfulness to military veterans and inmates in solitary confinement.
Kellie Adkins was the catalyst for me becoming a certified yoga therapist. She was one of the most knowledgeable and well-read yogis I’d met, so I trained with her for three years. One day, she brought out armloads of her books. I was like a kid in a candy store as she talked about them, and we opened pages at random.
Her impactful recommendations include:
True to her character, she says after reading Max Strom’s book, she sought him out as a teacher. “I most appreciated his approach to spiritual work in the context of yoga.” Thanks to Kellie, “Yoga Anatomy,” which she found innovative and eye-opening, was a must-have for me.
Vanda Scaravelli, who trained with the yoga greats Iyengar and Desikachar, was born in Florence, Italy, in 1908. Born in Latvia, she died in Argentina at age 103. Kellie says her book “is more poetry than didactic, and she pairs imagery with philosophy so reading it becomes a rich experience in the many layers of a yoga practice.”
Finally, I think the Bhagavad Gita is a must-read for everyone. But just as Shakespeare or ancient sacred texts are not usually easy reads, many versions that try to elucidate the messages. Kellie likes Eknath Easwaran’s commentary and translation “because he writes both from a scholastic and a personal perspective. I appreciate the combination and how his own spiritual insights enrich the work.”
Sarah Woods owns Boulder-area Soul Tree Yoga. Her cozy lounge area features a lending library filled with some of my yoga bibles. Her top pick is “You Better Be Lightning” by Andrea Gibson. Sarah says this award-winning poetry collection “speaks to our souls. It touches the depths of vulnerability, grief, and choosing life, all of it.” Sadly, the Colorado Poet Laureate passed away last year after battling cancer. Following is sample verse:
“Regret is a time machine to the past. Worry is a time machine to the future. Gratitude is a time machine to the present.”
Radhanath Swami is an incredible change-maker and humanitarian. And, he’s one of my gurus featured in my book. His unbelievable life story has been made into a feature film, and his book is available in 20+ languages.
Philip Goldberg, an interfaith minister, lecturer, and author of several books, explored Eastern philosophy and yoga back in the 60s and 70s. “American Veda” shares great stories about people from Ralph Waldo Emerson to the Beatles and even Mia Farrow. Learn more.
“Como Andar/How to Walk" is a tiny treasure. I read it at Senda Loto meditation center in Colombia one late afternoon. The words are few, but powerful. And each page is laid out beautifully.
“The Goddess Pose” was one of the first books we read in my San Antonio book club, and it still is one of my favorites. The subtitle tells it all: The Audacious Life of Indra Devi, the Woman Who Helped Bring Yoga to the West. Her story was fascinating. The yoga teacher to Greta Garbo, Gloria Swanson, and even a colonel who tried to overthrow Panama’s leader, Manuel Noriega. She was Latvian, but died in 2002 in Argentina at the age of 103. Indra crossed so many cultural, gender, and generational barriers making this a fascinating read.
Finally, “Sita’s Fire” is a masterpiece. The author created three books that take the stories from the Ramayana and make them relatable and memorable. Plus, the illustrations are gorgeous. I framed a card I purchased from the author which sat on my altar for many years. Plus, there are incredible coloring sheets, bookmarks, and you downloadable phone screensavers.
Please let me know if you’ve read any of the above yoga books. Better yet, share your feedback and any of your favorite titles.