The Yoga book starter library

Whenever I get into something new that I really like I tend to buy a lot of books on that subject. Naturally, when I started yoga my book buying habit transferred over into my new obsession/practice and my yoga library began to grow exponentially.  Chances are you've already had plenty of recommendations as to what is "THE BOOK" to buy but if you're like me then you can never really have too many books.  The following is my list for anyone who is just beginning to build their own personal yoga library.  My list is by no means exhaustive nor does it really represent my whole library.  The following list is intended as a starter for those just beginning to grow their own yoga book collection.  I'm sure that I have missed more than a few good books that are near and dear to someone's heart.  If that is the case then I invite you to send me the title and maybe I will include it in a subsequent blog entry.  Also, I have done my best to include both practical manuals and more philosophical works as well.  I'm sure many of you are familiar with Pattabhi Jois' dictum that "Yoga is 90% practice and 10% theory" I have done my best to list works that represent that 10%. Without further ado here is my recommended yoga book starter collection.

Seated Sage's Yoga book starter collection:

1. The Yoga Sutras by Patanjali, ed. and trans. by Edwin F Bryant  
2. The Bhagavad Gita, ed. and trans. by Georg Feurstein
3. Light on Yoga by BKS Iyengar
4. Light on Pranayama 
5. Light on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali*
6. Core of the Yoga Sutras* 
7. The Anatomy of Hatha Yoga Yoga by H. David Coulter
8. Yoga for the Three Stages of Life by Srivatsa Ramaswami
9. The Complete Book of Vinyasa Yoga 
10. Ashtanga Yoga: The Practice Manual by David Swenson

As I mentioned above this list is a solid core for anyone wanting to get deeper into yoga. It is not exhaustive and it definitely is not authoritative.  It is simply a suggested list of books that include asana, breathing, and a little bit of history and religion.  Again, I welcome any and all suggestions as I may post another entry down the road at some point in time. Happy reading and safe practicing!  

*These two works overlap in many respects but the first is a translation and explanation of the sutras, while the second is a more thematic analysis of the sutras and the underlying yoga theory behind them.