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Starting a home practice is a little awkward at first, and you probably won't know exactly what to do, but I guarantee you will grow into it. Just keep it consistent and learn to listen to your body. The cool thing about a home practice is that it is tailored to YOU! I love going to class and get a lot out of having an instructor guide me in alignment and offer new and exciting sequences, but my home practice has become sacred.

A few tips to start:

• Pay attention to the tips your instructors give about form and alignment. While you're holding poses, try to bring these tips to mind in order to refine them.
  
• Sun salutations are always a good warmup.
  
• If you can remember any sequences from class, even if you can only remember part of it, do it! It will help you fill up the time at first and maybe give you a bit of direction about what to do next.
  
• If you can't think of what to do, holding poses and really trying to refine them as you hold them is always a good option.
  
• Develop a pose or maybe a few poses that you want to focus on (maybe crow or bridge/wheel, for example) and do poses that will open up the parts of your body that you need open for those poses. As an example, when I want to do bird of paradise, I make sure I do a lot of standing splits and other poses to open up my super tight hamstrings.
  
• Don't get discouraged if it doesn't flow smoothly at first. It will eventually. You'll find sequences that you love and sequences that don't do much for you. And it's all ok.
  
  I hope some of this helps. Also, I just started reading this book, Yoga Sequencing by Mark Stephens for my teacher training, and it is a huge help. It explains the principles of sequencing but also provides a lot of sequences for all levels. More than worth the cost.
  
  Starting a home practice can be scary, but I'm so grateful for my self practice. It's made me more aware of and grateful for my body. It's your time to explore. I think you'll find that mixing in a studio practice and a home practice will help you to balance and refine your own practice. The two will inspire and inform each other.
  
  Edit: I apologize about the awful formatting. I tried really hard to get the bullet points to actually be bullet points, but I can't figure it out.

First of all don't think of it as a kick start. More of a gradual change and transition. This does not mean to lack dedication. What got me on the path of regular yoga was a firm desire to make it the priority in my non-working life. Also, finding a studio with an encouraging community is a big help. Much of yoga is an inward practice but it helps to have an environment of people radiating positive energy outward to keep you motivated.

Much luck in your journey. I practice Ashtanga. David Swenson's practice manual is great if you can't get to a studio. Try to avoid commercialized vanilla flavored practice DVD's. The help of a skilled teacher can pick out many adjustments to your practice that can save you from needless injury. It's impossible to see yourself in a pose while you are deep in it.

If you are looking for the meditative side I think you are best served in one of the styles more rooted in the heritage of yoga (Ashtanga, Iyengar and a few others). Everyone's path is different though. Try a few styles out but never mistrust your heart when it tells you that it has found a yoga home.

EDIT: http://www.amazon.com/Ashtanga-Yoga-Practice-David-Swenson/dp/1891252089/ref=tmm_other_meta_binding_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1332167707&sr=8-1

Kino has A LOT of great videos...this is her introducing Ashtanga http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11C1021vKGU

I practice 90% home and 10% studio and for me it's perfect. Classes are a special treat. At home I am low/medium effort.

I do a lot of active style but also a lot of passive/restorative style at home. At class I always pick the really hard one, 90+ minute drenched in sweat type.


I purchased a 20pack of classes at the studio at a discount (worked out to 50% off, in bulk) they never expire. this makes it easy to drop in on a class whenever I feel like and I don't even need to have $$ on me.

Mostly at home I do my favorite yoga dvd (Rodney Yee A.M. Yoga) or use the channel youtube:Yoga With Kassandra.

Honestly I get way more out of yoga classes now that I am in good yoga "shape". When I go to a class now, I can nail it because I learned the poses at home.

Those two teachers are really solid because they focus almost entirely on getting you to get into an honest and safe version of the pose. You aren't cheating on the form but you also have very low chance of injuring yourself.

The home yoga practice has the most benefits from getting into a routine and practicing more frequently. For example most of the yoga classes I first experienced were in the evening, but at home I like to practice in the morning (no travel time - no barrier to practice)

I really noticed a huge difference doing yoga for a little bit each morning (10-30 min) as compared to 90 minute classes at less frequent intervals. I feel better all day now. Tons of crazy little benefits too that I did not expect.


Source:

https://www.amazon.com/M-Yoga-Your-Week/dp/B000YV1L4E

https://www.youtube.com/user/yogawithkassandra/playlists

it really depends on what kind of thing you're looking for (practice, philosophy, anatomy, fiction, etc), but here's a pile of ideas anyway.

The first book I ever got, read, and liked: Yoga Body, Buddha Mind. Some philosophy and a lot of practice. Has little stickman sequences in the back.

My Body Is A Temple: Yoga As a Path to Wholeness. Mostly philosophy, and I really like the author.

The Mirror of Yoga: Awakening the Intelligence of Body and Mind. Haven't read it, but I hear it's accessible and humorous.

How Yoga Works. Pretty much covers the yoga sutras, but in fictional story form.

Yoga: The Spirit and Practice of Moving into Stillness. Constantly declared one of the best hatha yoga books ever. I've read and enjoyed it, but it's been a while.

Yoga Beyond Belief: Insights to Awaken and Deepen Your Practice. Really good book. Hard to explain quickly... theres a long description on the amazon page.

Jivamukti Yoga: Practices for Liberating Body and Soul. Lots of philosophy, also some sequences and poses with plenty of pictures.

There are lots of books that are considered must-reads but I think many of them can get boggy for beginners. I might suggest Light on Yoga, Light on Life, and Light on Pranayama by B.K.S. Iyengar... but they can be a little dense/overwhelming at first. However - they're dense - so they're FULL of good information.

Okay, I'm also quite new to yoga, but maybe I can give you a few pointers.

First, check out DoYogaWithMe. Super cool videos over there.

Next, consistency: you learn about your body when you listen to your body. Step on the mat, do your thing, as often as you can.

Furthermore, your boyfriend can help you by helping you correct some poses. He can see if your back is straight, for example, something which I have trouble with at times.

Lastly, I like this book. It shows form progressions, as well as beginner's variants to the poses which you can do at first.

Oh, and some encouragement: Super cool that you decided to do this. It's an amazing experience for your body. :)

I love this book for understanding the physical practice
http://www.amazon.com/The-Key-Poses-Yoga-Scientific/dp/1607432390/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1396563465&sr=8-2&keywords=yoga+pose+books

For the ethical/discipline base of yoga, this is a short, easy, and really helpful read. Non-harming, non-clinging, etc.

http://www.amazon.com/Yamas-Niyamas-Exploring-Ethical-Practice/dp/0974470643/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1396563657&sr=1-1&keywords=the+yamas+and+niyamas+by+deborah+adele

For the pure philosophy, I'm a fan of this book on Tantra(where yoga came from). It's overwhelming the first time through, but there is so much powerful knowledge locked up in here
http://www.amazon.com/Tantra-Illuminated-Philosophy-Practice-Tradition/dp/0989761304

This is a great book on mindfullness with some applicable meditation techniques framed for the modern day, but it's all based on ancient teachings

http://www.amazon.com/Search-Inside-Yourself-Unexpected-Achieving/dp/0062116924/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1396563508&sr=8-1&keywords=search+inside+yourself

Also, the Chakra system is fascinating and Anodea Judith offers some guided meditations. This book is really helpful and accessible

http://www.amazon.com/Wheels-Life-Chakra-System-Llewellyns/dp/0875423205

And, diet. This book helped me shift my diet in a way that's been extremely helpful
http://www.amazon.com/Eat-Taste-Heal-Ayurvedic-Cookbook-Modern-Living/dp/0976917009/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1396563932&sr=1-1&keywords=eat+taste+heal

These have been some of the most influential books in my practice. Hope they help!

I don't thin this will help in your case, but its a funny story anyway =) My Mom had a yoga book from the 70ies. (found it here http://www.amazon.com/Richard-Hittlemans-Yoga-Exercise-Plan/dp/0553277480) I was 14 and found an exercise in it called "Chest expansion" So.... being naive and 14 I did that lots hoping it would expand my 'chest'. Flipping through the pages I found lots of fun things to do like plough and cobra.

When I was 16 I was diagnosed with a lung disease. I was an avid runner, did very well at track & field and suddenly my doctor told me I couldn't run anymore. I was devastated. I explored non-aerobic forms of exercise and rediscovered yoga. I was much more dedicated to it after my diagnosis and continued until I was 28 when I decided I should be a yoga teacher. Been teaching ever since.

As for help for you... I'd go to a few classes, find a teacher you like. It can be nerve wracking to try something new in public, but the nature of yoga is to be focused intently on yourself. No one will be looking at you except for the teacher. If you are still worried, maybe try http://www.doyogawithme.com/

Ashtanga is awesome for building both strength and flexibility! You should check out David Swenson's Practice Manual: http://www.amazon.com/Ashtanga-Yoga-Practice-David-Swenson/dp/1891252089/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1451489201&sr=8-1&keywords=David+Swenson
It has helped me a lot in my own practice - and he breaks it down into shorter sequences of 15, 30, 45 mins if you don't have a full 90 mins to run through the whole primary series. I hope that helps, Ashtanga is a wonderful practice. Good luck! :)

You might like the ashtanga sequence. It has a pretty good emphasis on strength and upper body compared to other styles, and it's widely popular so lots of good information is floating around. I'd recommend starting out with at least a class or two from a studio, and then you might like to check out a practice guide like Ashtanga Yoga: The Practice Manual or The Power of Ashtanga Yoga if you prefer more or less the same thing with a woman modelling the poses. Both have lots of useful information, I refer to David Swensons book quite often for my daily practice.

Re: getting into savasana, I survived savasana the first few years of practice because my first teacher would always do a truncated version of rotation of consciousness. You can search for that (there are great versions to read all the way through in this Yoga Nidra book) or search for 61 point relaxation for guides. It gave my mind something to do to bridge the gap. I find that lots of new students also find it helpful.

For coming out of savasana, I always use the same phrases- I don't do readings as a rule. For folks who really go deep into savasana I feel that it's easier to have something predictable on the way out rather than feeling like they need to focus on anything I'm saying. One of my favorite teachers used this though, and I love it:

> You carry both lightning and thunder in that space between your bones and soul. Become the storm you are hiding from,
a hurricane does not run from the rain.

— Nikita Gill, The Space Between

A lot of that healing comes from the yoga philosophy. Most people are taught patanjali's 8-limb path that has philosophy as well as physical practices. Yoga ideals are not so much about the thought process, but they are about doing the actual actions. For example cleanliness is one of the 10 philosophies but it's not the idea of being clean that makes you happy it's the actual work of doing the dishes, washing your car, keeping good hygiene, and fixing your diet that makes you happy. Here is a book that everyone reads that will get you started. The first 50 pages are all about the background of yoga. I also imagine that Patanjali's sutra's will help too. And there is Buddha's 8-fold path that is very similar to what Patanjali says.

http://www.amazon.com/Light-Yoga-B-K-Iyengar/dp/0805210318?ie=UTF8&keywords=a%20light%20on%20yoga&qid=1465499433&ref_=sr_1_1&sr=8-1

> Am I doing something wrong?

Might as well double check for the obvious even though you're probably not doing this. Are you using the towel to wipe your hands, and then putting your hands back on the mat? It's probably a better to put the towel on the mat, and then your hands on top of the towel.

> I have tried different towels for traction and have had no luck.

I also have sweaty hands, but literally any towel works for me. I typically use two facecloth sized towels, one for each hand, because this is what my gym has available everywhere. What do you mean that you had no luck? Are you slipping on the towel? Is the towel slipping off the mat? Is the towel wrinkling up?

I'm also interested in the answers here. I didn't know yoga gloves were a thing! There are also different things you can rub on your hands, like rosin:

www.amazon.com/Aurorae-Yoga-Rosin-Slipping-Sticky/dp/B003329SIM

I don't know if this product or brand is any good, I've just heard people talking about rosin and thought I'd mention it and attach the first link I found.

I'm curious if this is the same rosin as people put on violin bows, or if it's just a common word.

I do both weightlifting 3 times a week and yoga everyday. My motivation for starting yoga is the exact same reason as yours. This is what I've learned.

Compound weightlifting exercises will fix your posture more than yoga will. Because these postural issues are usually created by lack of muscle in certain areas of your body, most likely your upper back. In order to fix this you need to build muscle. The most effective way to do that is barbell exercises because you can control and increment the load easily.

Sorry, despite what many on this subreddit think, yoga isn't very effective at building muscle or strength. It isn't a fix all solution. If you want the most bang for your buck for fixing posture then you'll need to lift. And you should want this because you're 35. You don't have time to waste when undoing years of damage.

Follow the [Starting Strength](Starting Strength: Basic Barbell Training https://www.amazon.ca/dp/0982522738/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_Od2mDbPWCCCHD) method by Mark Rippetoe. It's a great novice program that teaches you correct form for the most effective barbell exercises.

Having said that, yoga will help, but it'll take months of daily practice before you notice any improvement. After that, there will be severe diminishing returns. It's a very inefficient way to achieve your goal of improving posture. I learned this the hard way.

On the other hand, you'll notice improvement from weightlifting within the first 6 workouts, and it'll compound shortly after that.

I'm glad to see that my fav yoga app has the most upvotes! Yoga Studio used to be the sole reason I owned an iPad, it's only been on Android for a few months. If you're an absolute beginner, you even have great sessions that last 15 minutes, great way to get started. Even just 15mins/day is enough to get you started into seeing benefits, making you want to go for longer sessions.

There's also the awesome book Yoga Anatomy

I use books, really.

BKS Iyengar has a section of sequencing in Light on Yoga (basically the Sanskrit listed out, in order)

And then there's this book (fairly thick too) with just images of the yoga poses.

And I like the Home Practice section on Yoga Journal!

edit: but my general skeleton of a class is something like this

• 5-10 minutes of breathing/centering
  
• 5-10 of gentle stretching
  
• then some slow flow (like sun salutation c) or easy standing balance
  
• then like the sun salutation a's with standing poses, planks, balances mixed in b/n
  
• then deeper flexibility poses that we hold or standing postures that we hold (hopefully I've warmed them up properly so they can do this safely)
  
• then back/belly work or floor work (like reverse plank, locust, bridge pose, shoulderstand type things)
  
• deeper seated stretching, if time or reclining twists/stretches
  
• savasana!

In addition to Ray Long's anatomy book and blog that were also mentioned here which are really amazing and a must have as it is broken down by muscle. It's what we used in my yoga teacher training and something I look on frequently. One of my teachers were trained by Judith Lasater. I hear her her old book is a good pairing with that, although she is writing a new one that has a better editor and more years of wisdom behind it. She take a slower moving approach that is a awesome for when getting into specific regions of the body safely.

Light on Yoga has what you're looking for, and it's really great, but it shouldn't be a substitute for a well trained teacher who can help you progress into advanced poses in a safe way.

This reminds me of this book.

It definitely helps to know what muscles I'm supposed to be working with (other than all of them) so as to reduce injury and increase awareness. My friend wanted to learn massage therapy so we started yoga together and picked up anatomy alongside. This developed a strong sense of where the muscles were and what they felt like personally. Which can definitely be beneficial to your meditations.

A little late to the party but here goes:

Getting distracted from your intention is pretty normal so don't feel badly. It is difficult and takes some practice and most of us (as you can see in the other comments) still struggle. But that's the beauty of it. The act of focusing and refocusing often in the practice is part of the exercise.

Practically though, I would sometimes set an intention as simple as "focus on foot placement today" or "make breath steady today". I found those much easier than dedications or intentions toward less tangible things, or at least things I couldn't control while inside the studio (a loved one, manifesting something in your life etc).

During a difficult time in my life I picked up How Yoga Works by Geshe Michael Roach. The book is based on a girl teaching yoga to her captor and she teaches a new lesson each chapter or so, or at least each chapter covers a different sutra. Each day I would read one chapter and focus on applying the principle/sutra addressed in that chapter during class. Just seeing what I notice. It was just one specific thing I could focus on that day and bonus: it helped advance my practice.

https://www.amazon.com/Hoerev-Super-Modal-Spandex-Pilates/dp/B07CR9X6ML

Cheap, durable, breathable, soft, elastic waistband cuffs. I’ve been wearing the same two pairs 4-5 days a week, mostly to hot classes, and they’re still kicking without any tears or anything.

I typically pull the cuffs up to just below my knee for a little more breeze, tucking most of the extra fabric under the elastic, but I guarantee you’ll love them. They aren’t shorts, but they turn into them when I use them. I’ve had a few women I practice with buy a pair (I’m male) and absolutely love them too.

Yamas & Niyamas by Deborah Adele is a pretty accessible place to start.

Light on Life by BKS Iyengar is really great with many gems upon rereading.

I'm still looking for good meditation books for my experience since i don't struggle with letting thoughts go. I don't however see pictures so visualization exercises often fall flat for me. Hopefully these books can help you out :D.

I second The Heart of Yoga, but the author is not T. Krishnamacharya (one of the greatest yogis of the modern era, who lived to be over 100 years old) but one of his sons, who is still alive.

I would also recommend the books by Ramaswami, who studied with Krishnamacharya for 30+ years:

• The Complete Book of Vinyasa Yoga
  
• Yoga for the Three Stages of Life

Light On Yoga has been enormously influential for me. A wonderful resource even for non-Iyengar people.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0805210318/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1407672746&sr=8-1&pi=SY200_QL40

Yoga Anatomy has some of the most detailed illustrations of asanas I've ever seen and includes a huge amount of alignment information.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1450400248/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1407672879&sr=8-1&pi=SY200_QL40

Lastly, my personal favourite is The Power of Ashtanga Yoga. It could be argued that other books have more asanas or more detailed descriptions (see above), but this book is my favourite because it helped me figure out what it means to be a young westerner practicing an ancient tradition from India. It also helps that the author is very open about the challenges she faced in her practice, which is refreshing and encouraging when I work on mine. Highly recommended.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1611800056/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1407672988&sr=8-1&pi=SY200_QL40

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Yoga-Kriya-Systematic-Ancient-Techniques/dp/8185787085

Working through this book would be an adventure for anyone, whatever level their skill in asana, pranayama, etc.

All the best to you - I still feel like a beginner and I've been practicing for a few years now. Never stop opening yourself up to new territory and never stop observing. Everything can be learned from, my friend :)

A good yoga mat sitting in a corner in your house can encourage you to practice a bit more yoga. I personally use the Valka cork yoga mat. They're made from natural materials and smell fantastic. Cork mats are becoming trendy because cork is naturally antimicrobial and their grip improves during sweaty sessions. I believe they're $70 on Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/Valka-Yoga-Cork-Mat/dp/B07FYSR1TJ

The bandha yoga books look awesome! I just spent some time looking through the Vinyasa Flow book on their website and it looks extremely helpful. I started yoga about 4 or 5 months ago and I gotten Yoga Anatomy by Leslie Kaminoff and though I like it and it's pretty cool, there are a lot of terms that many people might not be familiar with if they haven't taken an intro anatomy class. Those arrows on the 3D images make all the difference! I am putting this on my list of "next books to get"

There are always cheaper ways to partake in yoga, you just need to be resourceful.

1. Most yoga studios offer karma (aka pay what you can) yoga classes
   
2. If you have a lululemon near you, they usually offer once or twice a week free yoga
   
3. Sites like meetup.com have yoga groups that are usually free or really cheap
   
4. Does your city have a Park and Rec guide? You can usually get cheap yoga through an avenue like that.
   
   I'd suggest going to a few yoga classes before relying on a dvd to follow. Once you've done that, you can definitely grab a dvd and work through the routines at home.
   Personally, I use the following book, there is a section in it for 15/30/45 minute variations of the ashtanga practice. But you should definitely attend a couple of classes before trying to do ashtanga on your own.
   http://www.amazon.ca/Ashtanga-Yoga-The-Practice-Manual/dp/1891252089
   
   

We're talking about Western teachers, right? I mean I haven't gone to the East to learn yoga, but I'd be surprised if they approached it in the same way we do in the West. I think the "bizarre guru cultism and Hollywood style glitz," sensationalizes yoga in unnecessary New Age glitter, which has been the primary lack of attraction I've had in paying for or even attending many classes. My brother bought me an introductory book to yoga which addressed the practice in a totally different light than it has been illuminated to me in the States. Some classes seem to ignore what I interpret as rather essential to good yoga practice.

Some teachers are great. Some are horrible. On this side of the world, I think you're more likely to find great variation in the quality and type, but perhaps it is the same over seas?

Also, I love skepticism and an outside scientific look, but it's even better if they're able to approach this from both sides; sometimes people are too much one thing.

Not sure about online references, but this book is great. It shows the muscles that are engaged and lengthened when doing most poses. It also gives you a fairly good idea of how the poses should look in their full extension.

Yoga Anatomy by Leslie Kaminoff

LINKS FOR CONVENIENCE

• The Heart of Yoga; developing a personal practice by T.K.V. Desikachar.
  
  
• The Seven Spiritual Laws of Yoga: A Practical Guide to Healing Body, Mind, and Spirit by Deepak Chopra
  
  and in case you meant this too (but I don't think so)
  
  
• The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success: A Practical Guide to the Fulfillment of Your Dreams by Deepak Chopra

I think Yoga Body is a great selection. Looking forward to the discussion! My book suggestion would be Yoga and the Quest for the True Self by Stephen Cope. He shares personal stories about himself, his friends, and the Kripalu community in order to illustrate the transformative power of yoga on the whole being. As a former psychotherapist, he draws many links between yoga and western psychology.

http://www.amazon.com/Yoga-Quest-True-Self-Stephen/dp/055337835X

It only does some of what you're asking, but Yoga Anatomy is pretty awesome. There's not a whole lot on chakras -- at least not in the first edition -- but the physical body stuff is there.

Light on Life by B.K.S. Iyengar. It should be given out to people on their first class. Honestly, just looking at the cover makes me smile. The guy is just plain rad :D good luck!
http://www.amazon.com/Light-Life-Journey-Wholeness-Ultimate/dp/1594865248

Why don't you do more of the practice? Start moving to the seated section of the primary series. There is a good book here: http://www.amazon.ca/Ashtanga-Yoga-The-Practice-Manual/dp/1891252089

Or you can look at the free online resource: http://www.ashtangayoga.info/practice/primary-series-yoga-chikitsa/

Or try a different style of yoga - see if that helps.

I read a review of someone who did it with earplugs so he could hear his breathing more. Perhaps focusing on making noise with your breath will help keep your mind concentrated on a single subject.

Combining sequencing is fine as long as you do everything in an order that "makes sense." There's certain things to stay away from, like never go from an extreme back bend directly into a deep forward fold and vice versa. And then there are some things that are recommended, like you should open your hips before your do deep back bends. If you really get into it, I would recommend this book on yoga sequencing

Yes! Second best: Yoga and the Quest for True Self

I really enjoyed "How Yoga Works". It is story based and focuses on Philosophy and meaning. For me it was a fun, cute story that impacted me quite a bit.

https://www.amazon.com/How-Yoga-Works-Michael-Roach/dp/0976546906

Well done brother! I can only advise that keep things small to begin with. Even if you just do 20m of pranayama per day to start, it’s better than trying to do an hour per day and giving up at Day 4.

If you really want to get deep into I would recommend reading this (no affiliation, promise) - Yoga and Kriya: A Systematic Course in the Ancient Tantric Techniques: 1 https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/8185787085

Check the other sellers of the book as you can buy it for 1/3 the prime price

The Ashtanga System prepares the student mentally and physically for advanced postures that would be potentially harmful if done before he is ready. David Swenson's Practice Manual is an excellent reference that provides a variety of modifications to fit various skill levels and physical limitations.

As a guy who has been in rehab/PT and now an S&C program for a blown lumbar disc: Heed that advice.

However: Having a blown disc isn't the end of the world.

Get imaging and a PT assessment, and if you cleared to do strength building, I highly recommend you do some light powerlifts (squat, deadlifts, bench). Key word here is LIGHT.

This book is extremely good at getting you started on lifting properly:

http://www.amazon.com/Starting-Strength-3rd-Mark-Rippetoe/dp/0982522738/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1415384805&sr=8-1&keywords=starting+strength

I recommend this book: The Heart of Yoga By T. K. V. Desikachar

​

It covers what you're after and teaches Yoga as a spiritual practice. It also includes a copy of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, which I would say is essential if you wish to understand the purpose of Yoga.

This one is what I currently started with :) good luck!

I teach power yoga so I use a lot of Baptiste Journey into Power. For more general hatha styles, Mark Stephens has a really good book on basic principals of sequencing, with lots of variations for beginners, intermediate, advanced, different health conditions, pregnant students, elderly students, etc. Really good resource!

The book Yoga Sequencing: Designing Transformative Yoga Classes is an amazing book with many sequences provided. It also goes over the theory of sequencing so you will be able to build your own. I think it was originally intended for teachers, but will work solo just fine. Well worth the investment.

This book is pretty great: Meditations from the Mat. Author is a recovered addict and yogi.

Sounds like a shift away from Vinyasa flow and towards traditional Hatha (or at least Hatha-like).

Mark Edwards has written a good book that you might find helpful here.

I literally JUST received Meditations from the Mat in the mail! I suppose I shouldn't offer it as a suggestion just yet since I haven't read it, but a teacher I very much admire and enjoy taking classes with suggested it, because it offers daily reflections, so you can read a little and get "little tastes" of the spiritual side of yoga.

I tried to read the Seven Spiritual Laws of Yoga but had a really difficult time getting into it. :/ I'm excited to hear others' suggestions!

I have been wondering what style I really want to pursue. Right now I have a this DVD that I am starting to do. I think his style is Iyengar. Which if I'm correct was started by the guy who invented pilates right? So far I like it. I don't know much about the different styles though and I have no idea what the differences really are. I plan on taking classes when I can afford it and trying a few different ones to see what feels best to me.

http://www.amazon.com/A-M-Yoga-Your-Week-Rodney/dp/B000YV1L4E/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1371841822&sr=8-2&keywords=a.m.+yoga%2C+rodney+yee

It's an old but great book - I initially learned Yoga using Richard Hittleman's Yoga in 28 Days book.

Check this out on AMZN: Richard Hittleman's Yoga: 28 Day Exercise Plan http://amzn.com/0553277480

The Yamas & Niyamas: Exploring Yoga's Ethical Practice is my favorite.

How Yoga Works is a pretty neat read.

This man is an inspiration. I'm reading his book, Light on Life: I highly recommend it for anyone that knows of his styles or teachings.

sure! I have the book Yamas & Niyamas: Exploring Yoga's Ethical Practice

Iyengar's book Light on Yoga is good for giving a progression of easy to difficult poses.

I recommend the following 2 books to anyone interested in How Yoga Works: How Yoga Works and this translation of Patanjali's Yoga Sutra

Meditations from The Mat is a great book too!


http://www.amazon.com/dp/0385721544/?tag=googhydr-20&hvadid=35077703004&hvpos=1t1&hvexid=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=5667773347437400616&hvpone=11.15&hvptwo=&hvqmt=b&hvdev=c&ref=pd_sl_5vcab3xz8u_b

The Heart of Yoga: Developing a Personal Practice by T. K. V. Desikachar

While my manduka is starting to break in, I've been using this since I got it, and it works like a charm for keeping me steady in my practice.

David Swenson's book (Ashtanga Practice Manual) has some suggested practices in the back of varying duration. One or two of them are about 30 mins long. The rest of the book is great, too, and goes into a lot of detail for getting in and out of postures.

Some yoga poses have chakra balancing properties. Working with those in a targeted way, and preceding your meditation with asanas, could help.

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This is the book I read when I first started exploring the chakras in connection to my yoga practice: https://smile.amazon.com/Wheels-Life-Chakra-System-Llewellyns/dp/0875423205/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1556553116&sr=8-11

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But as others have said, I might take the notion that all of yours are blocked with a grain of salt, and do some self-exploration to see if that really rings true.

I keep a Rosin Bag in my yoga mat bag. It's tiny and you can dab it on your hands and your mat before or during class. Just like a gymnast or Lebron James, you can use the rosin and it will absorb the sweat from your hands and keep them from sliding during Down Dog.

This is the one I like: http://smile.amazon.com/Aurorae-Yoga-Rosin-Slipping-Sticky/dp/B003329SIM

Good for you! Many libraries participate in Inter-Library Loans, so I hope yours can find it for you.

BTW, Amazon has it for $6-$8; plus a PDF of random pages so you could get an idea of it. https://www.amazon.com/Light-Yoga-B-K-Iyengar/dp/0805210318

Light on Life - B.K.S. Iyengar

I haven't personally read this book, but a couple of my friends swear by it.

You might also want to get her some yoga rosin while she breaks in the new mat. It's very helpful!

Yoga Anatomy by Leslie Kaminoff and Amy Matthews is a fantastic resourse.

It's not the absolute best way to continue moving forward with yoga once you're doing it regularly, but this is a fantastic way to get started. Plus, if you follow this plan day by day, I noticed am immediate improvement in my balance and stretching the first week.

Amazon

I am rather fond of The Key Poses of Yoga! It takes a bit more scientific approach to the poses of yoga. http://www.amazon.com/Key-Muscles-Yoga-Scientific-Keys/dp/1607432382/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1425570889&sr=8-2&keywords=The+Key+Poses+of+Yoga%3A+Your+Guide+to+Functional+Anatomy+in+Yoga

I found this book to be very helpful. You may be able to find it at your library. http://www.amazon.com/Yoga-Anatomy-2nd-Edition-Leslie-Kaminoff/dp/1450400248

I would suggest Meditations from the Mat (Amazon Link). It breaks down the 8 Limbed Yogic path and then goes through a daily examination of the lessons. IT was easy to digest and really hits home.

I found this worked well to help with my hands slipping practice.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003329SIM

Sure, possibly -- but if you're looking for death/rebirth metaphors, how about every night when you go to sleep?

If you want a more complete discussion of the metaphors within the Hatha yoga practice, I'd start with Light On Yoga by B.K.S. Iyengar. There's possibly a lot more (and a lot less) going on than you'd think.

I bought this book for my home Ashtanga practice (no Ashtanga classes in my area). Great step-by-step guide to 1st and 2nd series: photos of each posture, detailed explanations, modifications. Shortened forms for 30, 45, 90 minutes. I dovetail this with youtube videos for specific technique. Kino MacGregor's are exceptional.

http://www.amazon.com/Ashtanga-Yoga-Practice-David-Swenson/dp/1891252089/ref=la_B001HD23HW_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1417637928&sr=1-1

Ashtanga is great to develop a steady home practice because you don't need to think about what you're going to do, its very breath focused/meditative, challenging and progressive. My general advice would be: if it hurts, don't do it. In any daily practice, bad form is going to damage your body over time and you will develop injuries. If you're getting signals from your body that something doesn't feel right, modify it or just skip it! Yoga is a slow process, don't rush things.

http://www.amazon.com/Meditations-Mat-Daily-Reflections-Path/dp/0385721544

Mediation from the mat - it keeps me going and sets my mind on practice.

Light on Yoga by B.K.S. Iyengar. He goes over all poses step by step and includes some philosophy in the text. My studio has a copy in every room, so people can reference it while they practice

Light on Yoga

Try a copy of Light on Yoga.

https://www.amazon.com/Yamas-Niyamas-Exploring-Ethical-Practice/dp/0974470643

http://www.swamij.com/yoga-sutras.htm

start here

I found this Yoga Anatomy https://www.amazon.es/dp/1450400248/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_137yDb2M32Q87

Yoga Anatomy

Maybe check out this book.

I bought this when I first started. http://www.amazon.ca/gp/aw/d/1450400248

A book on yoga poses

Here is the rosin bag.

My suggestion would be finding DVDs or books at the library. If you have the time, do reading on yoga sequencing or the Ashtanga Primary Series, the latter of which is very physically demanding (yet meditative) and should keep you occupied for several years. There also exists books on yoga and depression.

Good luck on your journey. I'm using yoga to treat anxiety problems and it's working wonders.

I had the same problem with my mat and flow too, but one of my instructors suggested using a rosin and that has really helped my slippage. This is the brand I use.