YogaUK Bookshop

Yoga philosophy, history and theory

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The Yoga Tradition
The ultimate spiritual path
(Georg Feuerstein)
This heavily illustrated 720-page book is a comprehensive overview of the Yoga tradition (covering the Hindu, Buddhist, Jaina, and Sikh forms of Yoga). It includes complete translations of the Yoga-Sutra, Shiva-Sutra, Narada's Bhakti-Sutra, and Goraksha-Paddhati, as well as partial renderings of many other Yoga scriptures ranging from the ancient Rig-Veda to late medieval works and covering Raja-Yoga, Hatha-Yoga, Jnana-Yoga, Karma-Yoga, Bhakti-Yoga, Tantra-Yoga, and a great deal more. The author is founder-director of the Yoga Research Center in Northern California and the author of 30 books on yoga.

Yoga
The ultimate spiritual path
(Swami Rajarshi Muni)
Swami Rajarshi Muni presents in this book a clear and uplifting exposition of the philosophical basis to yoga. He explains the six classical systems of Indian philosophy, including Sankhya and Vedanta, and how yoga is a unifying link between them. The book gives a clear explanation of karma, reincarnation and the kleshas (afflictions). This isn't the kind of book you can dip into -- it demands studious attention. There are no practical sections on postures or how to do meditation. Instead it deals with complex ideas about time, space and reality.

Your Body's Energy
A practical introduction to the secrets of vitality from both East and West
(General Editor: Emma Mitchell)
This book is about working with subtle energies to create good health. The ancient Indian yogic system, the ancient Chinese systems and the modern Western model are explored by specialists in their own areas. It is a comprehensive book with lots of colour illustrations, and includes instructions for yoga postures and other exercises to balance the body’s energies.

The Beauty of Yoga
(Jacine Harrington)
This book provides a detailed list of up to 10 asanas that relate to each chakra, along with comprehensive instructions on carrying out the pose, and concentration points. A detailed explanation of each of the chakras is included.

See full book review in YogaUK on-line magazine.

Chakra Workbook
Rebalance your body's vital energies
(Pauline Wills)
This book contains lovely illustrations and a series of imaginative and interesting mental practices to work on the chakras. Some postures not very accurately illustrated and the text is not very authoritative or adequately referenced.

See full book review in YogaUK Online Magazine

Vedanta (Swami Vivekananda)
Available in hardback or paperback.

The Yoga Book (Stephen Sturgess)
A book for those who want to look at the philosophical and spiritual aspects of yoga in greater depth. Easy to read, but very much a text book with few illustrations. The book covers each of Patanjali's eight limbs of yoga in detail, and also the subtle bodies and the chakras. A highly recommended reference for student teachers.

The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying (Sogyal Rincpoche)
So many people spend their life in denial of their invevitable death --
choosing to shy away or ignore it. Tibetan spiritual leaders believe death
is part of life and you should invest a lot of time considering and
preparing for your own death. A classic book on how to live, and how to
die. Available in hardback or paperback (illus).

Autobiography of a Yogi (Paramhansa Yogananda)
A classic and a masterpiece. You wont be able to put it down as you follow Paramahansa Yogananda's spiritual journey from a young man to leader of a worldwide movement. A must for anyone interested in India's spiritual tradition and holy men. A potentially life-changing book, which contains a surprising amount of Christian spirituality.

Living Your Yoga: Finding the Spiritual in Everyday Life
(Judith Lasater)
This book is aimed a people who would like to integrate the insights of yoga into their everyday life. It is not a manual of yoga postures, but an attempt to bring the wisdom of Patanjali's yoga sutras and the Bhagavad Gita into daily relationships.

Sharing the Quest (Muz Murray)
Sharing the Quest provides an inspiring guide to any and all who seek to answer the age-old questions: Who am I? What am I doing here? Is there any purpose to my existence? Muz Murray has spent 30 years exploring and experiencing the spiritual paths of many different traditions, from Christian mystics to Sufi dervishes, from Zen masters to Chinese contemplatives.
See interview with Muz on the People Page of YogaUK Online Magazine