Once you find out that “yoga” in Sanskrit means “union,” it comes as no surprise that the ancient practice is all about the yin and the yang– the union of two opposites.
[/vc_column_text][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”30″][vc_column_text]We believe that to have a truly fulfilling practice, this means physical and mental unity. Not only must you practice the physical poses, but you must strengthen your mind as well.We know all of you are doing a great job working on your physical practices, so we went straight to the experts (our instructors!) to give us a little help with some mental exercise. We’ve asked them what books every yogi should read to help strengthen his or her practice and we got some incredible results. Check them out below![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]
1. Yoga Anatomy by Leslie Kaminoff
[/vc_column_text][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”30″][vc_column_text]Yoga Anatomy is the yogi’s guide to fully understanding each pose and its relationship to your body. Learn how everything is linked and how slight alterations can enhance or reduce effectiveness. “Yoga Anatomy will be an invaluable resource—one that allows you to see each movement in an entirely new light.”
[/vc_column_text][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”30″][vc_column_text]“The Yoga Anatomy says ‘See each movement from the inside out.’ It’s a great tool to learn how the spine, breathing and body position are all linked.” – Jimmy Russo
[/vc_column_text][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”20″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]2. Journey Into Power by Baron Baptiste
[/vc_column_text][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”30″][vc_column_text]Looking for the ultimate transformation? Baron Baptiste can show you the way. In Journey into Power, Baptiste proves that the “key to true power is not to chase an ideal version of ourselves but to reveal the perfect self already within.” This book “heals, detoxifies, and electrifies body and mind at their deepest levels.”
[/vc_column_text][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”30″][vc_column_text]“Baron writes, ‘It’s all yoga. On or off the mat, it’s yoga.’ Journey Into Power takes the reader from understanding the physicality of yoga to understanding the power of living yoga off of your mat. It’s great for understanding the physical postures and the possibility they create in both your body and your life.” – Whitney Koch Owens
[/vc_column_text][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”20″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]3. The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali by Swami Satchidananda
[/vc_column_text][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”30″][vc_column_text]The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali is the manual of Raja Yoga, the spiritual path of self-discipline and meditation. At least 4,000 years old, the teachings discuss the ethics, postures, concentration and dealing with everyday life. The book is said to be “a treasure to be read and referred to again and again by seekers treading the spiritual path.”
[/vc_column_text][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”30″][vc_column_text]“The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali is great because it is like the yogi bible. It’s essentially a ‘how to’ for how to be a good person. It’s about learning how to unlearn all of the things that take us away from our true form of love, selflessness and peace.” -Whitney Koch Owens
[/vc_column_text][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”20″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]4. The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom by Don Miguel Ruiz
[/vc_column_text][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”30″][vc_column_text]Told in the voice of a shaman, The Four Agreements holds the code of personal conduct to “become filled with grace, peace, and unconditional love.” Transform your life with these four simple lessons.
[/vc_column_text][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”30″][vc_column_text]“For me The Four Agreements is a must read because it is so applicable to life. All four agreements encompass characteristics many of us seek to have, but not only to have, but to really live. Working on these four can keep me busy for the rest of my life!” – Chidimma Ozor
[/vc_column_text][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”20″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]Honorable-Mention Books
[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]There were so many great suggestions that we couldn’t leave out, so we created an honorable mention list!
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]- The Hidden Teaching Beyond Yoga: The Path to Self-Realization and Philosophic Insight by Paul Brinton
- I Am: The Power of Discovering Who You Really Are by Howard Falco
- Kundalini Meditation by Kathryn McCusker
- Healing Chakras: Awakening Your Body’s Energy System for Complete Health, Happiness, and Peace by Ilchi Lee
- Enter the Kettlebell by Pavel Tsatsouline
- An Offering of Leaves by Ruth Laurer-Manenti
- Journey to the Heart: Daily Meditations on the Path to Freeing Your Soul by Melody Beattie
- The Places That Scare You: A Guide to Fearlessness in Difficult Times by Pema Chodron
- Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramahansa Yogananda
- Light on Yoga: Yoga Dipika by B.K.S. Iyengar
- The Heart of Yoga: Developing a Personal Practice by T.K.V. Desikachar
- Being of Power: The 9 Practices to Ignite and Empowered Life by Baron Baptiste
- The Voice of Knowledge: A Practical Guide to Inner Peace by Don Miguel Ruiz
- The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
- The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightment by Eckhart Tolle
- Finding My Balance: A Memoir with Yoga by Mariel Hemingway
- 40 Days to Personal Revolution by Baron Baptiste
SOURCES: TruFusion instructors and Amazon.com
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