Our library of favourite books, podcasts, research and online resources on yoga, philosophy, bodywork, anatomy, physiology & science
Never stop learning
It doesn’t matter if you’ve just qualified as a yoga teacher, or if you’ve been teaching for years. Yoga teachers never stop learning and honing their skills and knowledge. But there are so many interesting and insightful books and podcasts out there, it’s difficult to know where to start.
So we’ve asked our wonderful teachers for their personal recommendations.
We’ll keep adding to this list, and if you have read or listened to something, please let us know as we’re always looking for more.
+ Recommended Reading
Whilst we’ve linked to bookshop.org for you to find the books, why not scour your local charity shops and independent bookshops first, or start a book swap with your friends.
The Heart of Yoga: Developing a Personal Practice, T.K.V Desikachar
Son and student of T Krishnamacharya (often referred to as “the father of modern yoga”), T.K.V. Desikachar offers a distillation of his father's system as well as his own practical approach, outlining a step-by-step sequence for developing a complete practice of yoga. Desikachar has devoted himself to teaching yoga and making it relevant to people from all walks of life and with all kinds of abilities. In his book, Desikachar discusses all the elements of yoga, poses and counterposes, conscious breathing, meditation, and philosophy, teaching how you may develop a practice tailored to your current state of health, age, occupation, and lifestyle.
Purchase The Heart of Yoga: Developing a Personal Practice, T.K.V Desikachar
Light on Yoga, B.K.S. Iyengar
Light on Yoga has become a classic and is considered one of the ultimate reference manuals of asana practice with over six hundred photographs demonstrating poses. The book contains a 300 week-by-week development plan allowing gradual progression from novice to advanced techniques as well as guide to pranayama and an introduction into yoga philosophy.
B.K.S. Iyengar's unique teaching style brings precision and clarity to the practice, as well as a mindset of 'yoga for all', which has made it into the worldwide phenomenon it is today.
Miracle of Mindfulness, Thich Nhat Hanh
Buddist Monk and Nobel Peace Prize nominee, Thich Nhat Hanh, offers gentle anecdotes and practical exercise as a means of learning the skills of mindfulness. Once we have these skills, we can slow our lives down and discover how to live in the moment. Even simple acts like washing the dishes or drinking a cup of tea may be transformed into acts of meditation. Irrespective of our particular religious beliefs, we can begin to reap the immense benefits that meditation has been scientifically proven to offer.
Purchase Miracle of Mindfulness
Science of Yoga: Understand the Anatomy and Physiology to Perfect your Practice, Ann Swanson
Yoga and meditation have positive effects on more than just muscles and bones. Science of Yoga explores how yoga and meditation affects all 11 systems of the body with simple, need-to-know information and key scientific research woven throughout. The annotated artworks show the mechanics, the angles, and how your blood flow and respiration are affected. Learn about the key muscle and joint actions at work below the surface of each pose, and safe alignments to get the most out of your yoga practice.
Purchase Science of Yoga: Understand the Anatomy and Physiology to Perfect your Practice
Buddha’s Brain: The Practical Neuroscience of Happiness, Love, and Wisdom, Richard Mendius, M.D.
Neurologist Richard Mendius joins modern science with ancient teachings to show you how to have greater emotional balance in turbulent times, as well as healthier relationships, more effective actions, and greater peace of mind. Well-referenced and grounded in science, Buddha’s Brain is full of practical tools and skills that you can use in daily life to rewire your brain over time.
Purchase Buddha's Brain: The Practical Neuroscience of Happiness, Love and Wisdom
+ Blogs & Articles
Useful and interesting things we have read elsewhere.
Yoga Pose/Counterpose Rules: Are They Necessary?
Jenni Rawling explores factors to consider when planning a yoga sequence, such as, peak pose, specific areas of the body you can look to target, nervous system regulation and the placement of the sequence.
+ Podcasts
For those times where you want to listen, not read, why not plug into these podcasts.
We’ve linked to the original publishers, but most of these should be available on your usual Podcast apps and websites.
What's the Best Way to Sequence a Yoga Class?
In this episode, Jenni and Travis have a thorough, nuanced discussion about yoga sequencing. Using a movement science lens, they cover what yoga sequencing is, why it matters, some common approaches to sequencing, and they include a special focus on “peak pose sequencing” – arguably the most popular style of sequencing out there!
Chitheads from Embodied Philosophy
Interviews with leaders, elders and teachers from the yoga and wider wisdom community on eastern philosophies, consciousness studies, social justice and the human spiritual condition.
Episode 137 - Tracee Stanley on Yoga Nidra explores the philosophy of yoga nidra, obstacles of rest in our culture and the importance of safety in moving toward rest.
Episode 125 - Shailla Vaidya on Yoga for Stress & Burnout explores the value of yoga and mind body practices in medicine and education, Stress, trauma and burnout, and ways in which embodied practices can help.
SOAS Centre of Yoga Studies Podcasts
Centre of Yoga Studies event recordings. You can also access some of their video recordings on their youtube channel.
History of African and Indian Philosophy
Peter Adamson, Jonardon Ganeri and Chike Jeffers present the philosophical traditions of India, Africa, and the African Diaspora.
Episode 29 - Practice Makes Perfect explores how Patañjali yoga offers a practical complement to the Sāṃkhya theory of the cosmos and the self.
BBC Radio 4 In Our Time - The Bhagavad Gita
Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss the contents and influence of the Bhagavad Gita, one of the most revered texts of Hinduism.
Yoga is Dead
This revolutionary podcast explores power, privilege, fair pay, harassment, race, cultural appropriation and capitalism in the yoga and wellness worlds. Join Indian-American hosts Tejal and Jesal as they expose all the monsters lurking under the yoga mat.
Brené Brown
Brené Brown has spent the past two decades studying courage, vulnerability, shame and empathy, is the author of five #1 New York Times bestsellers, and the host of the weekly Spotify Original podcasts Unlocking Us and Dare to Lead.
In this episode of Unlocking Us on The Inside Story of the Ever-Changing Brain, Brené talks with David Eagleman, a neuroscientist, New York Times bestselling author, TED speaker, and Guggenheim Fellow, all about the brain and how it works and digs deeper into the research in his book Livewired: The Inside Story of the Ever-Changing Brain on the power of being uncomfortable and trying new things and how important new experiences are for continued brain development and health.
The Model Health Show
Bestselling Author, Entrepreneur, #1 Health Podcaster, Worldwide Health & Fitness Expert, Shawn Stevenson interviews world-renowned experts on the topics of health, fitness, nutrition, personal development, and more.
In episode 402: Secrets Of The Female Brain, Dr. Lisa Mosconi shares groundbreaking insights from her new book, The XX Brain. You’ll learn about the biochemical and functional differences between men and women’s brains, how hormones tie into brain health, and how to ensure cognitive health for years to come.
The Mentor Sessions
Full-time yoga teacher and yoga teacher's mentor, Francesca Cervero, offers nourishing support to help you feel more confident in your teaching and realistic strategy to help you find more clarity on your career path.
In episode 74: Where Do We Go From Here? Francesca speaks with Theo Wildcroft and Matthew Remski about some of the particular challenges American yoga teachers are facing in the midst of COVID-19 and the country’s semi-shutdown. We talk about the future of brick and mortar yoga studios, the challenges of teaching online, the difference between performing and teaching and creative ways YTT’s are pivoting and the new accessibility that offers. Whilst this is US focused, a lot of the challenges and themes are relevant to the UK too.
Conspirituality Podcast
Journalist, cult researcher, and philosophical sceptic, Mathew Remski, discusses the stories, cognitive dissonances, and cultic dynamics tearing through the yoga, wellness, and new spirituality worlds.
+ Online Resources
Here’s a round up of other websites that offer useful resources.
Yoga Journal
A source for yoga pose instruction, practice tips, sequences, free video classes, guided meditations, and inspiration.
NICAMB - National Institute for the Clinical Applications of Behavioral Medicine
Online educational programs featuring new research and ideas adaptable for health and mental health care professionals to use in their work. They have a number of free resources available.
Yoga International
Paid online resources of articles, courses and online classes for yoga, meditation, and mindful living.Up to date reference material created by industry professionals. They have a host of over 500+ expert teachers who specialize in a variety of styles and focuses including yoga therapy, anatomy, ayurveda, meditation, vinyasa, yin, restorative, and more.
+ Research Articles
Yoga Effects on Brain Health: A Systematic Review of the Current Literature
While the health benefits of physical exercise are well established, in recent years, the active attentional component of breathing and meditation practice has garnered interest among exercise neuroscientists. As the scientific evidence for the physical and mental health benefits of yoga continues to grow, this article aims to summarize the current knowledge of yoga practice and its documented positive effects for brain structure and function, as assessed with MRI, fMRI, and SPECT. We reviewed 11 studies examining the effects of yoga practice on the brain structures, function and cerebral blood flow. Collectively, the studies demonstrate a positive effect of yoga practice on the structure and/or function of the hippocampus, amygdala, prefrontal cortex, cingulate cortex and brain networks including the default mode network (DMN). The studies offer promising early evidence that behavioral interventions like yoga may hold promise to mitigate age-related and neurodegenerative declines as many of the regions identified are known to demonstrate significant age-related atrophy.
Yoga for Psychiatry and Mental Health: An Ancient Practice with Modern Relevance
Historically, the practice of yoga was a spiritual discipline whose goal was spiritual advancement and these component practices were intended to create an ideal state of psychophysiological health and optimal functioning of body and mind in support of contemplative states of consciousness. However, in modern society, these yoga practices have often been used in a more limited application in order to maintain physical fitness and psychological well-being and also as a therapeutic intervention for psychological and medical disorders, or so called “yoga therapy,” both of which have become highly popular in the general public internationally. Documented evidence for the systematic use of yoga as therapy appears in the early 20th century in India, and the popularity of yoga therapy has grown steadily both in India and internationally.
What are you reading and listening to?
We hope you find this list of resources useful. We’ll keep adding to it, so make sure you check back now and then to see what’s new, and please do share anything you find interesting, as we’re always looking for more.
You can email us, or get in touch through Instagram or Facebook, or just have a chat next time you’re in the studio.