Books for Yoga Teachers: 29 Great Books For Continuous Learning

Authors Amy Ippoliti and Taro Smith have outdone themselves with this read. Readers will find this book guiding them through the practical side of the yoga teaching business and how to stay true to oneself.

It’s perfect for both new and established professionals looking to maximize their impact and learn to effectively build, plan, and optimize their practice. This is a quick read that will be sure to help you for years to come.

The authors, Joseph and Lilian Le Page, have created a text that offers readers access to several mudras that blend modern-day practices with the mudras’ understandings and uses for healing.

The book is organized into sections of different uses for mudras, including core quality, benefits, cautions, instructions, and similarities between other mudras. This text is helpful for those interested in the journey of spiritual awakening through the use of mudras.

The field of yoga therapy is vast. To encompass the entirety of yoga and its practices in one book would never do it full justice.

However, Mark Stephens has taken on assembling a great bit of information for aspiring therapists to understand. He has created a resource that surveys historical writings on yoga and creates a resource for yoga therapists, teachers, and students to relate to health through the learning of adapting yoga practices to accommodate a wide array of healing techniques.

Bernie Clark begins his book with an exploration of the principles and benefits of Yin Yoga. While Yin Yoga has the same objectives as other types, it directs the stimulation created in the asana deeper than superficial sources.

Clark provides a great portion of various poses and several suggested flows that are best associated with Yin Yoga practice. He provides well-explained philosophical concepts and insight into how Yin Yoga was influenced by Indian Yoga and Chinese Medicine.

As the title suggests, Donna Farhi’s text looks at how yoga practice can move beyond the mat and into our everyday lives. This book provides intriguing ideas about all the possibilities yoga has to offer, such as the transforming power that yoga has over our life’s practice. The objective is to restore the traditional functions of yoga and how to take the path to deeper self-awareness.

This book is perfect for those that want to learn more about the yamas and niyamas. One could say that they are similar to the ten commandments but for yogic spirituality. The book acts as a guide to practice these in daily life.

Deborah Adele explains the first five guidelines, which refer to the Yamas, and how they focus on encompassing nonviolence, truthfulness, not stealing, non-excess, and non-possessiveness.

Unlike the other books we have looked at, this is one that doesn’t simply look at perfecting yoga posture (asanas) or breathing techniques. Rather, Darren Main’s text focuses on changing how we see the world by providing a way for readers to apply more of yoga’s ancient wisdom to everyday life.

This text is rich in context, but the writing is clear, concise, and easy to follow. In his book, Main brings awareness to those searching for answers by offering a deeper exploration of yoga.

The authors, Allison Gemmel Laframboise and Yoganand Michael Carroll, dive deep into the ancient hatha yoga traditions’ techniques. They uncover the past to prepare for the future. The text is written more so for the modern yoga practitioner to reclaim the lost valuable, traditional teachings.

Readers can enjoy daily Pranayama practice plans that are offered throughout the text and share the elements of this yogic practice. Pranayama is all about opening you up to a journey of self-discovery.

Swami Muktibodhananda and Satyananda have taken the original Sanskrit text of Hatha Yoga Pradipika (Light on Hatha Yoga) to translate and expand the great writings. They give insight into how hatha yoga practices can be done in today’s world while still transforming and composing new ways in the modern era.

Hatha yoga was considered to be the foundation of all other yogas. The text expands on this knowledge with traditional context and the physical and mental transformation that would be part of the process.

Yoga has always been more than stretching and bending. Gary Kraftsow uses his book to bring back traditional aspects of the practice by showing readers the physical and spiritual healing components through yoga.

Throughout the text, you will find images of basic postures and sequences that can be included in the routine. Not only does the text give information about form, but Kraftsow also explains how the postures function in alleviating ailments.

A book designed for daily reflection for a year, the authors offer ways to integrate mindfulness from yogic practices into everyday life. Included in the text, you will find more than just exercise routines. Rather, you will be informed of the importance of yoga, the yamas and niyamas, asanas, and other ways to enhance your yoga journey.

Swami Satyananda Saraswati has created a piece of work that every yoga teacher should read. Four Chapters of Freedom offers extensive commentary and an accurate translation of the original text by Rishi Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras.

The insight will give you a new outlook on the path of raja yoga, where you can seek invaluable guidance in everyday life. What you once recognized as normal will seem life-changing. This is definitely a must-read book!

Unlike other books about the eight-limb path of raja yoga, Swami Rama has created a piece that offers extensive knowledge with simple, clear, and concise text. It’s perfect for beginners as it outlines the basic physical movements and mental disciplines associated with ratha yoga and takes you to a place where you learn how to practice mindfulness in your new yoga journey.

Few works provide a fresh approach to ratha yoga, but Rami has taken the initiative to do just that. It is a great read with wonderful insight on the entire path and leads you to pursue your own journey in a personal way.

While Mark Singleton’s book, Yoga Body, has been the center of some controversial topics, it does offer quite a unique outlook on the most commonly held beliefs about the nature and origins of asana.

Many believe that postural yoga was an ancient Indian tradition that came to dominate modern-day yoga across the globe. However, Singleton has brought into question that very idea.

If you are looking for a read that offers straightforward, systematic techniques for your yoga practice, then this is the book for you. Swami Rama offers a text filled with various techniques to suit any yogi on their self-journey. It is not simply a book filled with rules, but rather it includes helpful tips for finding the best fit for you.

Chakras is a favorite among many yogi’s—and not just because it is filled with many amazing illustrations of the various chakras. Harish Johari has created a text that is informative about the different chakras depending on sound, mantra, yantra, geometric symbols, coloring, and more in-depth explanations of their symbolic meanings.

Chakras have been useful tools throughout history by activating centers of energy. Johari emphasizes the classical principles of this ancient science of tantra and how they can be applied in modern times.

Dr. Deepak Chopra’s text is an original guide for applying the ancient wisdom of Ayurveda, a 5,000-year-old medical system, in your everyday life. He explains the concept of Ayurveda by emphasizing the constant renewal of our bodies as we are created anew each and every day. Readers are given the tools for finding balance in the body and awareness.

Further, Perfect Health provides a step-by-step guide of the mind-body medicine discussed. There is even a quiz included for you to find which mind-body type you identify with. Once you find that, there are specific exercises and routines added for you to have a personal plan.

T. K. V. Desikachar, son of Tirumalai Krishnamacharya, a yogi and scholar, has composed a highly regarded text on the methods of his father’s teachings. It is the first book to outline the step-by-step sequence of viniyoga practice, which continues to adapt to modern people’s changing needs in achieving their yogic journey to the fullest.

While his book is based on many of his father’s teachings, Desikachar has also offered some of his own ideas on a more practical approach. He describes the program at every level—physical, mental, and spiritual.

Roots of Yoga encourages you to forget everything you thought you knew about the history of yoga. James Sir Mallinson and Mark Singleton take new critical translations from ancient texts to thread together a clear and interesting commentary about the deep practices. This text is highly resourceful for everyday practitioners and beginners alike.

Included in the book, you will find passages from the early Upanishads, the Mahabharata, and the Tratric. The authors also cover varying yoga definitions, practices, traditions, and models.

Have you ever wondered about who you are? Michael Singer explores this question in his book The Untethered Soul. This book will challenge you both psychologically and intellectually in considering aspects of yourself and how you are “defined.” There is much more to you than you have ever thought.

Throughout the book, Singer shines a light on the process of observing ourselves and the world around us. You are greeted with the sense that you are not your thoughts, sensations, or pain, but rather our identity is found in our consciousness.

American yogi and spiritual teacher Ram Dass (Dr. Richard Allpert) has composed a work covering mind-expanding information to guide others to become a yogi.

Throughout the book, you will witness Dass’s spiritual transformation as he travels to India for his guru initiation. You will find a canny resemblance of your own life through his journey, which will draw you to wonder if the answers you seek for becoming a yogi will be found in the wonders of India.

Many Lives, Many Masters is a classic story based on a true case that Dr. Brian Weiss encountered while he was a psychotherapist.

This is not the traditional text for a yoga teacher; rather, it is a text that enlightens you about the aspects of skepticism throughout your career. Continuing on the journey of becoming a yogi will require you to have an open mind, just as Dr. Weiss was with one of his patients.

Stereotypes are meant to be broken. Jessamyn Stanley does just that with her book by inspiring beginner yogis of all shapes and sizes. However, this book is not simply about technical and physical aspects for larger-bodied individuals; rather, she opens readers to a life-expanding scope of yoga.

Further, Stanley offers advice for yogis with 50 yoga poses and ten sequences for individuals to practice at home. Her guide is easy to follow and includes outstanding photography to act as a reference.

Yoga has reached popularity in recent years for creating a healthy body, but few recognize the full potential that it has to offer with emotional and spiritual benefits. Nischala Joy Devi captures the essence of each sutra in a way that surpasses any traditional translations on the topic. She adds a greater dimension of deeper understanding.

We suggest this book for everybody, but especially yoga teachers who want to embrace yoga’s spirituality throughout their day and teach these ways to their students.

Paramahansa Yogananda, hailed as the “Father of Yoga in the West,” composes an inspiring story of his life and the experiences he encounters which led him to the life of a yoga master that lived and taught in America. He founded self-realization, which was emphasized in his many writings and teachings worldwide.

Have you ever felt as though something was missing in your life? Are you longing to be understood? Debra Silverman uses her remarkable talent to offer you ways to gain insight into yourself.

The world will suddenly seem as though it comes from your own eyes. The ability to see the world the way you yourself see it. This vision will take you away from feeling so isolated or different. Silverman continues to use her words to remind you of your very potential in this world and your place in it.

Loren Roche brings readers a beautiful translation of an amazing perceived conversation between two gods. This conversation acknowledges 112 meditations (Sanskrit teachings) for readers to find their spiritual spark from within. Roche gives a beautiful, unique explanation of each guided meditation practice for those to embody and practice them.

This teaching, as a whole, offers a startling revelation for readers to savor. Yoga teachers and students can nurture their relationship with these wise teachings as they continue their yogic journey in finding the deep truth of what they need.

You might be wondering why we are recommending a book about trauma on this list. Everyone faces some sort of trauma in their life, and as Dr. Bessel van der Kolk notes from his scientific research, trauma can reshape both the body and brain of those that have suffered.

By using modern neuroscience, he demonstrates that trauma physically affects the body and brain by causing rage, anxiety, or other tensions. Simply put, victims lose control.