(Part 3) Best products from r/yoga

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.

Hatha yoga (yoga based on physicality; postures, kriya, mudra) isn't actually based on Patanjalic yoga. It started as reaction against that high-minded asceticism. Have you read the Hatha Yoga Pradipika? Maybe you would find more agreement with the aims stated there.

Futhermore, the modern regime that you are no doubt doing is a melange of the few sitting asansa as described in the Hathapradipika, Harmonial and Scandinavian gymnastics, British military calisthenics, and 20th century Indian body building and wrestling techniques.

In other words, yoga (as we know it now) is already a cherry-picked form of many influences, east and west, spiritual and physical. Don't worry about those sutras, they are tangential at best.

I had similar hang-ups a few years ago after 4 or so years of practice. A lot of teachers and practitioners are ignorant of the true origins of our practice and will try to cram all manner of hooey down your throat. Ignore them.

I would also recommend Yoga Body: The Origins of Modern Posture Practice (http://www.amazon.com/Yoga-Body-Origins-Posture-Practice/dp/0195395344). Its a bit dry and academic, but I think it would be right up your alley and help you to answer some of your questions. It was certainly revelatory to me, as someone who loved the forms, discipline and breath-work, but wasn't so keen on some of the dogma.

Yes, we all pick and choose, even if we don't realize it. Enjoy your practice, its a beautiful thing!

OK, so shaking when doing crunches isn't because you're stretching something, it's related to contracting muscles (ie your abdominal muscles tighten to pull your chest closer to your knees) and your muscles not being used to that movement. You can google it and see that it's a fairly common issue for people.

BUT since it aggravates your head injury, I agree with the other person - maybe ask for a referral to a physical therapist or someone else who can guide you to restoring normal physical activity safely.

I know it may sound lame, but there's some pretty good chair yoga out there for people who can't invert. Also this Iyengar book is really great, it breaks down all the common poses and has many sequences in the back for various ailments. It doesn't have one specifically for your situation but it might be useful.

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

6'3 here and I use a jade harmony 74" mat in hot yoga classes. I am by far one of the sweatiest people in the class and the mat holds up very well. It's $70 shipped from amazon w/ amazon prime. Fantastic reviews. Eco friendly. Amazing grip.


Get it.


http://www.amazon.com/Jade-Harmony-Professional-16-Inch-Yoga/dp/B000ECD6N2

It’s not a major brand, but I have tried a few in the $50 range & I love this. Had it for a year, use daily for ashtanga practice, still perfect. Don’t slip at all, from day 1. https://www.amazon.com/IUGA-Unbeatable-Performance-Certified-Lightweight/dp/B079BK15PT/ref=mp_s_a_1_7?dchild=1&keywords=iuga&psc=1&qid=1572424304&sr=8-7

When I teach I play Mantras in Motion! (amazon link) People LOVE Bliss by Yogini. They'll come up to me afterwards and ask me what that last song was.

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

i'm amused at her reaction. Please have her read Mark Singleton's book yoga body and get back to you with what yoga really is. here's a link:
http://www.amazon.com/Yoga-Body-Origins-Posture-Practice/dp/0195395344

short answer: what we call yoga in the west, and modern hatha yoga in general is as much descended from homeless dudes doing contortions for spare change as it is from the YMCA's 19th century fitness programs as it is from the western yogis cultural imperialism.

I also find is somewhat interesting that a western yoga teacher is negatively judging a cultural tradition that she's currently engaged in ripping off.

Sure, you can research David Emerson who's involved at Kripalu, or there's Bessel van der Kolk who is a badass, you can listen to a great interview with him from the show On Being. There's also Stephen Levine.

Here's a Kripalu article that quotes van der Kolk.

And there's psychologists that talk a lot about somatic holding, or at least subconscious holding patterns. An easier read would be stuff from Daniel Siegel(I know it kinda looks like pop psych but it's actually pretty good), one of my favorite authors on trauma is Donald Kalsched, which is a bit more dense and more about work through talk psychotherapy. But often I find myself applying his concepts in yoga classes as a way to understand what's going on inside mentally/emotionally that's connected to my physical experience. Also sheds some light on how I relate to other students and the teacher.

Then there's the bodywork stuff, cranial sacral therapy or somatic body work but there's too much misinformation for me to guide you. All I can say is that I have a yoga teacher that also gives me bodywork sessions that supplement my yoga practice, and the inner growth I've experienced has been profound.

Out of all of this, if you're going to research anything I would highly suggest the van der Kolk interview, which you can download and listen to.

I have a PrAna mat and love it. I recommend ordering off Amazon because they discount colors that don't sell as well. At the time that I bought mine, the blue was only $50. It looks like the spinach one is cheapest now.

http://www.amazon.com/prAna-Womens-Indigena-Natural-Yoga/dp/B0059STE50/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1421250313&sr=8-3&keywords=prana+yoga+mat

I bought this yoga backpack and I love it so much! I longboard to my studio and it stays put nicely! I can carry towels, a water bottle, and whatever else I need all in my backpack!

Aurorae Yoga Multi Purpose Crossbody Sling Back Pack Red https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00D2BVHF6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_wuuWzbC3VA23J

OMG I totally feel you. I'm 34G, and finding a suitable bra was a major barrier to even trying yoga when I first got interested. I found these bras from Hanes are perfect. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00L5YKF0A/_encoding=UTF8?coliid=I2YTNN96A7GXR2&colid=2QYW9Q32HH72Z

Not super supportive, but they keep the girls from flying all over the place and are extremely comfortable. With boobs as big as mine, they're arguably more comfortable than not wearing a bra because they keep everything in line without the slightest feeling of compression or constriction. AND they're wicked cheap! I buy 2-3 every year or so because they do stretch out a bit over time, but for the price, they're totally worth it.

I have sensitive knees, too. One day I went to a class at a local yoga studio and they had these: https://www.amazon.com/Aiweitey-Kneeling-Cushion-Support-Head-2/dp/B07C5YTQJH/ref=sr_1_5?keywords=yoga+knee+pads&qid=1568759890&s=gateway&sr=8-5

​

I bought some for my practice, best $12 I have spent. They cushion really well.

Partial list:

• Yoga Sutras with a sound commentary. Samadhi Pada, Sadhana Pada, Vibhuti Pada, and Kaivalya Pada.
  
• Samkhya Karika.
  
• Hatha Yoga Pradipika
  
• Yoga Sequencing and Yoga Adjustments by Mark Stephens (2 books)
  
• Yoga Anatomy by Leslie Kaminoff
  
• Sanskrit lessons from a qualified school (I am studying with a teacher from www.eastwestsanskritinstitute.com )
  
• Paul Grilley has some fabulous anatomy resources.
  
  Anything by Georg Feuerstein, Dr. Lad Vasant and David Frawley.
  
  Peace.
  

> https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00L5YKF0A/_encoding=UTF8?coliid=I2YTNN96A7GXR2&colid=2QYW9Q32HH72Z

Thank you! These look so comfy. I just ordered two because I'm not sure about size- 34DD isn't included on their chart but I'm hopeful!

Light on Life is a great suggestion, as is a Bhagavad Gita translation with a companion explanation novel (or get one with both explanation and translation).


I read the Bhagavad Gita and it was the initial turning point inward in my yoga practice.


Next I picked up (and I am still reading/absorbing) this translation and commentary of Sri Patanjali's Yoga Sutras. The Yoga Sutras are basically everything.

Absolutely, one of my favorite instructor guides/yoga books is "Yoga for Everyone" by Diane Bondy, it includes images of adjustments that may help for different body types, including amputees.


https://www.amazon.ca/Yoga-Everyone-Poses-Every-Type/dp/1465480773/ref=asc_df_1465480773/?tag=googleshopc0c-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=335298220709&hvpos=1o1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=17659693979158353899&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9001093&hvtargid=pla-525398671883&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/Hallmark-Keepsake-Ornament-Yoga-Santa/dp/B07NDHMS1T

I think this is what we are trying for here 😊

Since all addiction is a form of medication for internal pain usually stemming from trauma of some sort i would recommend this book: http://www.amazon.com/Overcoming-Trauma-through-Yoga-Reclaiming/dp/1556439695
Pranayama is really good for me to keep off pot & cigarettes. Good luck!

I just used a Clever Yoga brand Liquid Balance mat for the first time in my not-hot-yoga-but-almost class, and where the sweat drops fell, ten seconds later you couldn't see them. Suuuper grippy (which was a bit disconcerting at first). Pricey at $97, but I think I'm going to really like this mat.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06XX1T8XV

I would suggest The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali with commentary by Swami Satchidananda. The sutras are basically the source of modern yoga as it's known and practiced today. I live at a yogic ashram and this is the only book I really return to. Also Midnights with the Mystic is a great introduction to all things yoga

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

I found a list on on Amazon. Is this the correct one? Looks nice!

https://www.amazon.com/Panache-Womens-Non-Wired-Sports-Bra/dp/B011RAZ5ME?th=1&psc=1

I have the Jade Harmony and I love it.

[amazon](http://www.Hallmark.com/ Keepsake Christmas 2019 Year Dated Festively Flexible Ornament, Yoga Santa https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07NDHMS1T/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_4qg4DbFRWV084)

[For some great philosphy and sequencing] (http://www.amazon.com/Yoga-Spirit-Practice-Moving-Stillness/dp/0671534807) this would be my recommendation.

I like most of Donna Farhi's books, especially Bringing Yoga to Life where she talks about how she made it a daily practice and incorporated yogic mindset into everyday life.

For really getting into each pose, Iyengar's book Yoga is pretty detailed pose by pose, how to get in and out of each one, plus it has sequences for many common ailments, from depression to varicose veins. I'd suggest attending a few Iyengar classes just to get a better understanding of Iyengar yoga because it's quite different from standard hatha/vinyasa classes.

I have an Iuga Pro mat from amazon. It has awesome grip and cushion. I don’t slide around at all during hot yoga. Only downside is it has a bit of a scent to it.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B079BK15PT/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_XPDXCbQXF9HAB

I'm 5'9" and have a 78" x 26" prAna mat and it doesn't stand out. While it takes up more floor space than a standard mat, it doesn't really make a difference when it comes to having enough room for all yogis to practice, even in the classes where there are 30-40+ people in one room. It does make a huge difference in my comfort level since prior to buying it I'd constantly end up on the floor.

There was a lady who had a big, square mat in some of my classes and even her mat didn't really make much of a difference in available space.

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

Yoga Body by Mark Singleton & Sinister Yogis by David Gordon White are two books which explore this topic in greater detail

I read this book when I went through my first TTC. I still call upon often.

http://www.amazon.com/Yoga-Spirit-Practice-Moving-Stillness/dp/0671534807

https://www.amazon.com/Overcoming-Trauma-through-Yoga-Reclaiming/dp/1556439695

Yoga Body: The Origins of Modern Posture Practice by Mark Singleton

"Mark Singleton's Yoga Body is a cultural history of asana practice, concentrating on the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. "

Autobiography of a Yogi - Paramahansa Yogananda

The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali - Swami Satchidananda

The Yoga Teachers' Toolbox - Le Page

The Essence of the Bhagavad Gita: Explained by Paramhansa Yogananda, As Remembered By His Disciple, Swami Kriyananda

Maybe it steps on a few toes, depending on your inclinations, but I found Yoga Body helped me cut through a lot of overly-mystifying statements I'd come across in my practice and teacher training.