(Part 2) Best books about yoga according to redditors

You should recommend Donna Farhi's book on teacher student relationships to her. I'm sorry you're dealing with this and hope that your yoga practice provides a structure of support for remaining compassionate towards your body and mental state.

Yes you're both consenting adults, but she is providing a professional service in a community/culture where overstepping sexual boundaries are a relatively frequent issue. I think we can all agree a teacher making a move on us, no matter how welcome or not, colors our perception of the studio and what we are there to learn. Not to mention it can affect the experience of the other students around us. Some studio owners have stricter rules about this than we know.

Students may not realize it, but teachers learn (or should learn) about this topic during their trainings and it is a lifelong endeavor. Anyone who deals with an imbalanced transactional relationship (teachers, therapists, counselors, doctors/nurses/EMTs, bartenders, etc.) has to face appropriate boundary setting and also how to manage students' potential lack of boundaries. It's a difficult but educational process.

Warning: wall of text. For realz. I'm not sure I've ever gotten this close to the 10k character limit before. And because I wanted this to be useful both for you and in general, it may meander a bit. I am ABSOLUTELY open to adding to this (w/in 1k characters) to get things I've missed. Let's make a list, people!

Finding the right one for you, given that you are already teaching, is going to be different than for someone else, but only in that your list will look different. But making a list- a list of your strengths and weaknesses- should be something that most people thinking about training should be doing.

You may also find that to get the absolute most from your training that you need to reframe your approach to one that covers concepts but also bolsters your outside study. My hope for my second YTT (I had been teaching for 3 years) was to address gaps I knew existed and to make for a more cohesive body of knowledge, giving me the chance to address anew topics that were either not on my radar or I was not yet at a place to soak in at the time of my first training.

It's probably fair to argue that anyone unable to make a list of their strengths and their gaps in knowledge is not yet ready to choose a training. Not that they're not ready for YTT, but that they need to do more self-study on what there is to know so as to build a list of gaps. For people looking at doing a training that don't know what that is, simply looking at the suggestions here for books will give an idea about the fact that there are Sutras, and a Pradipika, as well as the numerous resources about alignment and anatomy. From there, comparing the 200hr requirements for YA and some syllabi will further allow someone to consider what other gaps they need to address.

For the people answering the gaps question with, 'I don't know anything about anything outside of asana'... I'd suggest that you start reading, and focus on finding teachers you connect with whose syllabus is solid. Know that it's quite likely that you will need to do a significant amount of work outside of your 200hr (and that those already possessing the information you are lacking have probably already had occasion do to that work.) You'll learn more from teachers you connect with. I'd only suggest intensives for those with an incredibly solid base of knowledge (I'd been practicing for over 10 years, and though the training itself was an intensive, it was followed up by a practicum in which we did our observations/assisted classes, and our practice teaching). I'd only suggest trainings abroad/you'd travel to with a similar base, unless you already know that teacher well.

For you I'd suggest a list of your strengths, your weaknesses... and your passions. Those things that, even if you consider them to be strengths, that you are passionate about and hope that you get more information about.

I'd suggest taking that list and, again as objectively as possible, determine how many of those things are reasonable to expect in a 200hr training. I think this is probably most important for the last item on that list. You'll want to consider that the things you are passionate about and want to learn more about, given that you are already teaching, may well be outside of the scope of a 200hr training for you to really gain depth.

Keep in mind that as you well know, many 200hr trainings are impacted most noticeably by the fact that they don't set the bar as high as you and I would expect to allow those 200 hours to actually focus on training amazing teachers.

So... with your list in mind (I tried to keep it both general enough that others will find it useful but also address things specific to where you're at)...

• What are the requirements of the training? Do they have requirements? (Hint: They should!) Understand that trainings that don't have baseline requirements are then forced to start from the ground up, which directly impacts the amount of valuable information you will receive.
  
• Do you connect with the vibe of the studio or, in the case of an apprenticeship, the people you'll be learning from?
  
• Do you respect their level of knowledge?
  
• How many people are in each class? Is there a limit? Is this what you imagined?
  
• How many trainings do they do a year/have going on at once?
  
• How many teachers are involved, and how available are they to you throughout?
  
• How do they handle missed hours? (Yes, it's reasonable that at a certain point you're charged extra for contact hours you need to make up. Start doing the math and you'll quickly understand why.)
  
• How much teaching will you be doing as part of the training? At what point? Doing what? Who is observing?
  
• Are you expected to be practicing with a wide variety of teachers during your training?
  
• What other activities are you expected to be doing during your training?
  
• Is the opportunity to observe/assist available/required?
  
• Are you ok with the fact that these people are human beings with flaws and they may not live up to whatever lofty ideals you would like to project on them? (This is most certainly for newer students, but as someone with a long practice history, I found myself having to ask, 'does this person have information that I want/need/do they have enough experience to add to what I have already learned?' - it kept me focused on waiting for the right training.)
  
• Is this a training that will address your gaps in a meaningful way?
  
• How do they approach adjustments? (This is important if you come from an adjustment-heavy lineage and the trainers feel it's wrong to touch people, for instance- and can be an issue vice versa if you are not willing to be open to learning the value of adjusting and whether there's a way to do so that takes into account your feelings about consent/contact.)
  
• How much emphasis is there on the 8 limbs/spirituality? Is this in line with where you are right now? Example: my 500hr was with someone that was a direct disciple for nearly a decade. It had a huge impact on what he taught and how. Had this been the case in my first training it would not have been something I was ok with. For my 500hr it was a perfect fit.
  
• How do they approach ethics? I'd ask specifically what they teach here. If it's a glossing over, honestly I'd ask why. This may be something that longtime teachers don't think as much about covering situationally and in-depth, because for them it's so... common sense. Don't discount those people out of hand, but perhaps suggest that discussion about potential issues is invaluable and that you as a student would find it very useful. I highly recommend this book, though when I first encountered it, as one of the above people, initially felt that it was silly and SO very obvious: https://www.amazon.com/Teaching-Yoga-Exploring-Teacher-Student-Relationship/dp/1930485174 - the reality is that as new teachers it's important to think ahead toward how you'd handle the questionable situations you will likely eventually encounter.
  
• Are you ok with the training being a little lighter on the items you are already strong in, if that training also meets your gaps?
  
• Do you realize that as a 200hr training it really is a foundational training, and for someone already teaching, it may be a good amount of review?
  
• Are you open to the notion of 'making your own depth' - be that asking the next question, or doing additional reading based on the topics or concepts covered? Keeping in mind that there's a limit to the time that can be spent in class on topics broader than the intended scope, good teachers will suggest or do some digging for suitable suggestions.
  
• Is some sort of trauma-sensitive training covered or offered?
  
• How much is accessibility discussed?
  
• How is anatomy covered? Is functional anatomy part of that conversation?
  
• Especially for long-time practitioners and those already teaching- are you willing to practice beginner's mind?
  
• Also for those long-time people- do you want to do a training focused on your primary practice? Or do you want to branch out?
  
• Have you considered how you'll respond/handle information that is different- be it a little or fully at odds- with what you have already learned?
  
  
  Other things to consider:
  
  
• Are they excited about training teachers?
  
• What do they love about offering TTs?
  
• Are they open about what they cover?
  
• Can they speak to why/how they have set up the training the way they have? (Example: I cover accessibility because I have training specific to it and it's something I am passionate about.)
  
• If you ask about the program's strengths, can they tell you what and why?
  In short... ask about the program with some direct but open-ended questions. The answers should give you some insight into what's important or at least some opening to ask the questions that will get you to those answers.
  
• Are they open to questions/have they left some time in the syllabus for the specifics of their group?
  
• Should you be looking for a class, or an apprenticeship?
  
  edit 1- a word
  

It's a take from a website where the set of authors are systemically nothing but malice towards Hindu institutions,all while hypocritically professing love for Hindus.

>these yogis professed a belief in one unseen god

Yes,but this nondual unseen supreme reality is nothing like the exclusivist Jehovah of the Jews(who thankfully keeps himself to his people),the God of the Christians,or Allah of the Muslims(who,incidentally,is a close copy of Jehovah,but is terroristically universalized,so as to hurt heathens like us). Heck,in Krishnadevaraya's time,there was a poet who could visualize the fallen Muslim warriors in Indra's heaven(warriors slain in battle go there)! Contrast to that,the Muslim view would be that we are still destined to the hellfire.

For more about this, this blog post based upon the Egyptologist Jan Assmann's works is a good start. You can also read Meditations:Yogas,Gods,Religions by Ram Swarup.

>Since disregarding the words of Gorakhnath that preached a transcendence of duality and an identity that was neither Hindu nor Muslim in the 1920s, the leaders of the Gorakhnath temple at Gorakhpur have reconstructed themselves as exclusively Hindu.

Huh? So Vidyaranya Swami also did that(he was an Advaitin yati,and they too have nondual identity which transcends all worldly labels) when he advised Harihara and Bukka?

>You are Hindus by birth, Muslims by wisdom, and Yogis by absorption.
>Oh, Kazi and Mulla, acknowledge that path which Brahma, Visnu, and Mahadev have already accepted.

Shah Waliullah,the great Sufi revivalist of India called Krishna and Rama as people who encouraged others to worship them,and thus,unfit to be even called men of wisdom,let alone prophets. And if you notice here,Brahma,Vishnu,Mahadeva---no one is excluded.

An example of assimilation of Muslim elements: Gorakhbani and Śrī Nāth Rahasya(the latter is a compendium of mantras to be used in rituals) have several verses praising Muhammad...saying that Allah Bismillah Ram is Rahim,etc etc. It is the Muslims who are rejecting,not us.

The scholarship of this author is very factual,but it is of this type for which there is a Bengali saying(loosely translated),"After reading the entire Ramayana,you want to know who Sita is".

Further reading:

I've mostly skimmed this book, but it was fascinating from what I read: https://www.amazon.com/Theories-Chakras-Bridge-Higher-Consciousness/dp/8178220237

I have not finished reading this book yet, but I was told to read it by a friend which is supposedly all about Kundalini energies: https://www.amazon.com/Serpent-Power-Secrets-Tantric-Shaktic/dp/0486230589

I'm probably more experienced with actually practicing and using subtle energies than I am well read on them. I actually discovered Kundalini on Youtube, the class I link to in the article. But lately I got a subscription to https://www.yogaglo.com/ and I've been doing a lot of Kia Miller's classes. She's probably become my favorite Kundalini instructor, and you can practice from home.

As for the substances I mention, always start low and slow and work your way up with anything. Most recommended doses can be found online with a little research, and a lot of supplements have recommended dosages. Everything I listed can be safely consumed in high doses without major side effects, but you should still use caution.

The safest substance listed is probably the MSM, which you can take in large doses up to 20grams per day, but again start low and go slow. It is a powerful anti-inflammatory, and even has anti-parasitic properties and will clear out your blood. Its basically sulfur which is a binder and binds to all the toxins in your body and helps excrete them. So its common to have GI symptoms in the first week or two even at low doses as it removes toxins from your body.

Iodine is also critical as most of us our iodine deficient, but again a single drop can kill bacteria and parasites especially if you are deficient so go low slow. You can take up to 50mg per day safely, but start around 2.5mg. I still only take between 5-15mg per day, even after a year I have not been able to work myself higher because it is killing something.

As for meditation, Yogaglo and https://www.gaia.com/ are both great resources but both subscriptions. I also use Headspace for my daily meditation practice, but again another subscription service. There's a new app called Oak from Kevin Rose thats available on the App Store for iOS devices which is a good free starting place.

The key to meditation is to make it a daily practice. Its kind of like working out, except in this case you're trying to relax the brain and create a state of meditation which requires daily practice. There's really no other way around it. If you stop for even a few days you could of lose it and have to start over again. You're able to get back into more quickly if you know how to do it, but its still something that requires commitment and focus. I intend to publish more about this soon and may even start doing some video content so if you want to follow me on Medium or Twitter thats always an option.

Feel free to PM for more personal questions or reply here of course as well.

Not my situation so just spit balling ideas. Maybe look for a place close to home with child care at the gym. Even better if you can find other moms in the area, it can be like a play date for the kids while the moms work out.

Look for exercises to do with the kids, walking, biking, hiking, sports.

There are options out there for family yoga too (wish I could remember the name of the company, but there is one out there that makes cartoon cards for different yoga exercises to help introduce yoga to kids - found it randomly window shopping and my sister in law says her and the kis are enjoying it).

Edit: http://www.amazon.com/Yoga-Pretzels-Cards-Tara-Guber/dp/1905236042

Matt Fitzgerald really seems to think it's pretty awesome for runners. IIRC, he says that it helps us to learn how to activate muscles that we don't commonly use... something like that... In his book Run! he's got a section on it... The book is a great read.. I've got it at home, if you're interested drop me a PM and I'll try to give you a little more info on what he has to say about it.

He also recommends picking up The Athlete's Guide to Yoga.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N6DSM8I/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_ep_dp_A5y3yb0WG3CWY

Regardless of whether someone else answers the question, here is the book in German, in case you didn't know about it yet.

Anything by Sir John Woodroffe, such as this book. He was literally one of the first people to bring esoteric Hinduism to the West.

Also a great website:

http://www.soul-guidance.com/houseofthesun/tantra.htm

edit: He published under Arthur Avalon.

This reminds of the book that I read some years ago; very enlightening book. Hope OP will also share her book with us. :)

https://www.amazon.com/Myths-Asanas-Stories-Heart-Tradition/dp/1601090579

First, realize that your condition is normal for any "self-aware human being". We all go through these phases. The following is based on my attempts to cope with this condition. It is a ongoing process.

The key is to understand that you have to change the mental conditioning that has led you to this stage. The mental conditioning is the sum total of experiences in the various environments that you have been in since birth.

Change your immediate social environment and the change in internal perception will follow. Next, try and change your response to environmental stimulus from the pre-learnt ones. I recently read an article which beautifully explained the relationship between external stimulus and our response to it in a given environmental context (think Pavlov's dog). The gist is that, when we encounter a new stimulus in a given environmental context our initial response is based on our reading of the context, our past experiences and inferences from those. When next we again encounter the same stimulus in the same context we often choose to use the same response. Over time pathways are laid in the brain and the tuple {environmental context, stimulus, response} becomes a conditioning. Now guess what? By just putting you in the same environmental context your brain automatically jumps to the associated response even without the stimulus. Next realize that with the power of imagination we can recreate the environmental context without being physically in it. Thus i am responding in a known way to a stimulus without the context being actually present! The same also happens to be the case when the stimulus is absent but the context is recreated! Subconsciously we pick up on the context and the preset response is triggered (bodily changes) before we notice the absence of stimulus and control ourselves. Hence the great importance of controlling thought patterns.

Start by avoiding those social situations which you know are dragging you down. Learn to be comfortable in your own company i.e. cultivate healthy solitude. Exercise and maintain health so that the body helps you to control the mind. Slow down everything so that you have a chance to regulate your perception of an event and thus modulate the response. Use imagination to play out scenarios of successful response to situations before you encounter them. This is a well-proven technique. "Faking it" is a learning mechanism, not the end goal. Thus for example if you are always walking slouched and downcast, by consciously throwing out your chest, chin up, looking people in the eyes and walking straight you are breaking the previous conditioning and reinforcing a new positive one. By imagining (i.e. currently non-existent) and asserting confidence in a subject of choice, you are building up a new neural pathway so that as you progress the real confidence substitutes the scaffolding.

Here are some books which i found useful;

1. Science of Happiness: How our brains make us happy and what we can do to get happier - Nice overall view. Backed by science and not a pep talk.
   
   
2. The Body has a Mind of its Own - The synergy between mind and body.
   
   
3. Yoga and Western Psychology - Ignore the cover (some idiot's idea of appeal). The authoress was a practicing psychiatrist who saw parallels between classical Raja Yoga and western psychology (freud, jung, all that good stuff.). This book contains an overview of both and a comparison so the cultural context does not obscure the real substance. Invaluable. Nothing religious. Focuses on how to use the techniques for a better life.
   
   
4. Discouses and Selected Writings of Epictetus - Greek/Roman Stoicism. A very practical way to regulate perception and response.
   
   

This book has a lot of cycling specific information in it: http://www.amazon.com/Athletes-Guide-Yoga-Integrated-Flexibility/dp/193403004X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1371761288&sr=1-1&keywords=yoga+for+athletes

That's great. Feel free to post here for questions. Also if your first language is German, I think this is the German language edition if it's any help:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N6DSM8I/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_ep_dp_A5y3yb0WG3CWY

You have mistakenly focused on the cultural package something comes wrapped in, instead of focusing on the beneficial essence within.

Please read this book and you will find something really worthwhile: Yoga and Western Psychology, A Comparison

Thank you for this post as it prompted me to search for a decent book, since I have also been meaning to gain more insight on Mudras... I did a brief scan, and it seems legit (second link pdf):

https://www.amazon.com/Mudras-Yoga-Hands-Gertrud-Hirschi/dp/1578631394

http://bookzz.org/book/615663/4b8b08

The Yoga Fan is good for basics.
It's format is somewhat nifty also. Compact, if that's of benefit to you.

My daughter (almost 4) likes Cosmic Kids Yoga on YouTube. A British lady wears a onesie and tells stories about animals through yoga. This is probably for your 6 year old only but honestly I'm not up on what 10 year olds like! She also has Zen Den on the same channel, which are guided meditations for kids, and we love them. That should be interesting for both kids.

We also have Yoga Pretzels, which is a deck of cards with yoga positions. You can create a flow with them, and there are some yoga games. My daughter is still a bit too young for this, but even so, she's learned about five poses now and likes to do the partners yoga poses she sees on the cards.

I read a fairly good book on these issues, The Science of Yoga by William J. Broad. It addresses mainly the health aspects of yoga and dispels many of the pseudoscientific claims of the industry, though it does briefly touch on some of the more spiritual mumbo-jumbo. As a yoga practitioner, I found it to be a good investigation into the effects of yoga on the body, and it has helped me make more informed choices about my practice and my overall workout routine. Would recommend.

this book might be a good start, if I recall but I haven't read all of it.

Also this book is very concise but dense, it emphasizes more the philosophical dimensions and it is written for somebody who holds a degree in philosophy.

Some of the sequences in here are pretty intense: https://www.amazon.com/Power-Yoga-Strength-Flexibility-Workout/dp/0020583516

Also the NYTimes scientific 7 minute workout, coupled with the advanced 7 minute workout, would definitely get your heart rate up for a good short session.

I myself would love to know exactly which muscles are used in each pose, and which poses might best benefit my unique needs. I recently stumbled upon this book on Amazon and plan to buy it soon, it looks like exactly what I've been looking for! Might it be of some help to you, too? http://www.amazon.com/Yoga-Anatomy-Second-Edition-ebook/dp/B0076DDI8A/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=1QOXFQLAOGZVI&coliid=I3PUF9KPPUVVXB

To understand the philosophical foundations of Yoga, I would suggest Yoga, Karma and Rebirth by Stephen Phillips.

http://www.amazon.com/Yoga-Karma-Rebirth-History-Philosophy/dp/0231144857

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chakra

Read The Serpent Power by Woodroffe
link - https://www.amazon.com/Serpent-Power-Secrets-Tantric-Shaktic/dp/0486230589

Yes, "holy shit, that's a lot"...

http://www.amazon.com/Mejda-Paramahansa-Yogananda-Self-Realization-Fellowship/dp/0876122659

http://reluctant-messenger.com/ - warning: the site is absolutely freaking huge. It's based on PY and you will find most of the texts referenced including Autobiography of a Yogi. This one I cannot recommend enough because it talks about everything I've always believed since I was young enough to have memories.

Also:

http://www.awaketheyoganandamovie.com/screenings/#organize

Since it's in the same line: http://www.amazon.com/Babaji-Siddha-Kriya-Yoga-Tradition/dp/1895383005

The Holy Science: http://www.amazon.com/The-Holy-Science-Swami-Yukteswar/dp/161427455X

If you really want to dive in: http://www.amazon.com/Babajis-Kriya-Hatha-Yoga-Rejuvenation/dp/189538303X This is written by a guy in Canada who had problems publishing a book because SRF is not what it used to be and raised a "political" stink and prevented it (which is not what PY was teaching).

Check this out: http://www.yogananda.com.au/pyr/pyr_eye1.html

Worth thinking about: http://www.amazon.com/Voice-Babaji-Trilogy-Kriya-Yoga/dp/1895383234

then follow up with: https://www.amazon.com/Handbook-Yogasana-Teachers-Mel-Robin/dp/1587367084

Maybe something like this would help you? http://www.amazon.com/Yoga-Fan-Practice-Guide-Everday/dp/0971245614/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1452439395&sr=8-1&keywords=yoga+fan

Sorry I'm late to this thing, but this is intriguing...

Where do you disagree with Buddhism?

I've been reading Consciousness Is Everything lately, and your 'primordial mind' sounds a lot like the Kashmir Shaivite view of Shiva… and maybe Shakti would be your 'all-potential'?

Do you have a practice that brings you closer to primordial mind, or is this all intellection?

I would start with Surya Namaskar (Sun Salutation) alone, you can find youtube videos. It is the crown jewel of Asanas. You can do 10 sets

I do simple 18 Yoga Asanas


http://www.amazon.com/Babajis-Kriya-Hatha-Yoga-Rejuvenation/dp/189538303X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1422140321&sr=8-1&keywords=18+kriya+asanas

I have documented the Advaita Meditation technique i practice at

http://www.advaitameditation.in

Hope it helps!

here are 4 i found online, all under $20:

Real Men Do Yoga: amazon

The Athlete's Guide to Yoga: amazon again

Power Yoga for Athletes: guess what it's amazon (This one looks especially good for healing injury type things)

Wear and Tear: Stop the Pain and Put the Spring Back in Your Body: yknow (So I know this is kinda for an older age group but it looks really good for joint pain)

Hope these help :)

>we've been focusing on the reaction a Christian man had to the news that yoga was being taught in public schools

A reaction of fear and close mindedness. His reaction is remarkably un-christian. If Jesus were to pop back in he'd pretty much say "you're doing it wrong" to this. Jesus preached enlightenment, love, and understanding, not fear, ignorance and isolationism.

There is zero incompatibility between yoga and christianity. Zero. I have this on authority of learned clergy BTW. Also, full disclosure - I've read the bible and as a result have fully rejected Jesus Christ as my own personal savior.

We went through this same BS recently here - in the yoga capital. The style of yoga I most enjoy is ashtanga - popularized as "Power Yoga". Introduced by Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, spreading the practice has become something of a family business and a foundation has been formed. The foundation donated over half a million dollars for a pilot yoga program in the PE department in Encinitas public schools. One close minded set of parents sued to get it removed - about as sensible a move in Encinitas as suing to get bacon on the menu at a synagog - people here like yoga. If you don't like yoga, you should live somewhere else.

Regardless, the Encinitas program was permitted to continue. It is a popular program and teachers believe the participants show greater mental focus. The Jois family is good people and they give talks from time to time. A recent one stated "We should get connected to whichever god or belief we like. It can be a belief in something without shape. We have created all of these shapes, but there is no one shape for any god."

What terribly dangerous thinking. /s

I have no patience or sympathy for people who desire ignorance.

Raja Yoga
Vivakananda

Oh boy, mind blown. You may quit your job tomorrow and head to the beach. Wait, on second thought, don't read this book until you have spent a few years doing the 9-5. Even Tesla was hooked on Vivakanada.

The science of life, death and attaining the knowing if it all. You die, it's not that bad, and what happens next. And this boy chase girl, girl chase boy will seem so meaningless in the end. But that's ok. ;-)

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/8185301166/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?qid=1397048816&sr=8-4&pi=AC_SX110_SY165_QL70

This is a great book if you want to be able to relate them to the asana.

https://www.amazon.ca/Myths-Asanas-Stories-Heart-Tradition/dp/1601090579

u/Ut_baba

https://www.amazon.com/Meditations-Yogas-Religions-Ram-Swarup/dp/8185990646

This is probably the book you are talking about. Not a bad book. Has its flaws, but it's interesting and informative.

The risk of injury is real, with good instruction and sincere practice yoga isn't that dangerous.

Common starting points for Ashtanga include David Swenson's Ashtanga Yoga: The Practice Manual and Beryl Bender Birch's Power Yoga.

I found this book to be very enlightening when doing my teacher training:

http://www.amazon.com/Yoga-Anatomy-2nd-Leslie-Kaminoff-ebook/dp/B0076DDI8A/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1411077815&sr=1-2&keywords=physiology+yoga

Thanks. The featured interviewee here, Dr. Stephen Phillips, wrote a book called Yoga, Karma, and Rebirth, which is more general but has specific chapters devoted to tantric practices. He outlines historically the moment in which Hinduism took a 'tantric turn' and began to embrace a new direction in its already extremely broad spirituality.

Yoga, Karma, and Rebirth: A Brief History and Philosophy https://www.amazon.com/dp/0231144857/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_sD7fub01HPQG6

Also, Dr. David Frawley is a very prolific contemporary scholar on Hinduism & yoga--he's written several books about Tantra specifically.

Inner Tantric Yoga: Working with the Universal Shakti: Secrets of Mantras, Deities, and Meditation https://www.amazon.com/dp/0940676508/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_.E7fub05AY7DM

Tantric Yoga and the Wisdom Goddesses (Spiritual Secrets of Ayurveda) https://www.amazon.com/dp/0910261393/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_vG7fub0VW9PRM

I also found that Kahmir Shaivism (at least what I've learned/read so far) really resonates with whatever awakening experience I appear to be having. I have really enjoyed reading "Consciousness Is Everything" by Swami Shankaranada (a westerner). It is a very accessible introduction. Best of luck with your journey.

https://www.amazon.com/Consciousness-Everything-Yoga-Kashmir-Shaivism/dp/0975099507/ref=sr_1_4?

I'm fond of The Athlete's Pocket Guide to Yoga. If you like books, I highly recommend it. I love their post run cool down sequence.

The Athlete's Pocket Guide to Yoga: 50 Routines for Flexibility, Balance, and Focus https://www.amazon.com/dp/1934030414/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_SrLszb4259AZ9

this
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/8185301166/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1496924863&sr=8-3&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=raja+yoga+by+swami+vivekananda&dpPl=1&dpID=51RmmqnsgRL&ref=plSrch

"Knowledge is rubbish" - Osho

Yoga is primarily experiential. It's the experience of stretching what you call "hips" open. Knowledge and intellectuallism can tell us facts about our hips: they're composed of trillions of cells, they've got fascia, muscle and bone, it feels good to stretch them, push them too hard and you feel pain, etc. But that's all labelling and categorization and the assignment of words performed by the language and understanding centers of your brain. The thing itself is not the word given to it. It's the brain cells that interpret sensation talking to the cells in the hips where the magic of yoga happens. Biologically, the mind-body connection in yoga is largely about increasing activity within the central nervous system. It's about letting go of thought and experiencing your life as it is in the now.

So mostly, a person can be very intellectually "wrong", but still far, far ahead in efficacy of practice over someone who is technically and intellectually "correct".

If you're interested in the philosophical side of yoga, and how belief, religion, science and mythology factor into the practice, check out Bernie Clark's book From the Gita to the Grail. It's a tour-de-force of how the concept of myth and religion things fit into the modern world of science and technology.

Here are some links for the product in the above comment for different countries:

Link: From the Gita to the Grail


|Country|Link|
|:-----------|:------------|
|UK|amazon.co.uk|
|Spain|amazon.es|
|France|amazon.fr|
|Germany|amazon.de|
|Japan|amazon.co.jp|
|Canada|amazon.ca|
|Italy|amazon.it|
|China|amazon.cn|




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