Six yoga books to brighten your day
This article is part of a week-long series dedicated to beating the winter blahs. View the series here.
Yoga books 2015
The Little Book of Yoga
What it’s about: This fun-sized hardcover book is broken into five digestible parts: the history of yoga, step-by-step poses, yoga’s philosophical background, meditation and breathing tips and sequences to try off the mat.
Why we love it: This read makes a great gift, fits in your pocket, and is a perfect introduction to the practice for beginner yogis.
The Little Book of Yoga, Nora Isaacs, $20.
The Joy of Yoga
What it’s about: From subtle poses to try on your daily commute to soothing yoga for daily aches, The Joy of Yoga offers a variety of sequences for every type of person at any time of day.
Why we love it: If the instructions aren’t clear enough, the cute illustrations will easily guide you through every step.
The Joy of Yoga, Emma Silverman, $26.
I Hate Yoga
What it’s about: Yoga has changed a great deal as it's become more popular in Western society. Toronto-based yoga studio owner Paul McQuillan explains some flaws of modern practice and explores its spiritual roots.
Why we love it: It's pretty humbling to have a yoga guru call out our most common mistakes. Expect lots of laughs throughout this easy read.
I Hate Yoga, Paul McQuillan, $22.
Do Your Om Thing
What it’s about: If you think about it, there are really two versions of yoga — the fitness kind and the deeper, more spiritual kind. Is it possible to reconcile your "real life" (alcohol) and your "yoga life" (attaining enlightment)? Teacher Rebecca Pacheco translates ancient yogic texts for use in a present-day context.
Why we love it: It doesn't get better than this if you're looking for a deeper understanding of yoga's history, along with a rundown of its mind-and-body benefits.
Bar Stool Yoga
What it’s about: If you ever wanted evidence that yoga can be done anywhere, this book is for you. Set in various bars around New Orleans, this laidback tome takes you through classic yoga poses you can try out in the comfort of your living room.
Why we love it: Each move is paired with a "happy-hour hint" (or alternate position) and a happy-hour drink inspired by the name of each pose.
Happy-Go-Yoga
What it’s about: This book modifies yoga poses and breathing techniques so they fit into real-life scenarios, whether that's waiting at a red light or brushing your teeth.
Why we love it: In addition to plenty of handy how-to steps, each move includes a few facts about the pose it was based on.
Happy-Go-Yoga (available March 10), Christine Chen, $20.
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