svadhyaya
the study of self
As students learn to properly align themselves, not only does the physical body experience freedom, but the emotional, intellectual, and spiritual bodies open up as well. Yogis are inspired to deepen their experience through asana (physical practice of yoga), reading, meditation, and constructive action. Below are some recommendations to help you along that path.
This list will evolve - recommendations most welcome.
Books on Asana and/or Physical Health
- Light On Yoga, Light On Pranayama, The Tree of Yoga, Light On Life , B.K.S. Iyengar Yoga - the Path to Holistic Health. All by B.K.S. Iyengar
- A Gem for Women - Geeta Iyengar
- Yoga the Iyengar Way - Silva, Mira and Shyam Mehta
- The Breathing Book - Donna Farhi
- Health, Healing, and Beyond - T.K.V. Desikachar
- Yoga For Wellness - Gary Kraftsow
- Jivamukti Yoga - Practices for Liberating Body and Soul - David Life and Sharon Gannon
-Yoga Anatomy - Leslie Kaminoff
- Anatomy of Hatha Yoga - H. David Coulter
- Cool Yoga Tricks - Miriam Austin
- Extension, Recovery Yoga: A Practical Guide For Chronically Ill, Injured, and Post-Operative People - Both by Sam Dworkis
- Cure Back Pain with Yoga - Loren Fishman, MD, and Carol Ardman
- Dr. Dean Ornish's Program For Reversing Heart Disease - Dean Ornish, MD
Books on Meditation
- Meditate - Swami Muktananda
- Meditation for Beginners, A Path With Heart, After the Ecstasy, the Laundry - All by Jack Kornfield
- A Gradual Awakening - Steven Levine
Books on Yogic Philosophy
- Yoga of Discipline - Swami Chidvilsananda
- The Yoga Tradition - Georg Feurstein
- The Heart of Yoga - Developing a Personal Practice - T.K.V. Desikachar
- Autobiography of a Yogi - Paramahansa Yogananda
- Yoga Sutras
- The Bhagavad Gita
- The Upanishads
- Hatha Yoga Pradikipa - with commentary by Swami Muktibodhananda
Yoga in Action Off the Mat
Lokha Samasta Sukhino Bavhantu: May All Beings Everywhere Be Happy and Free, and May Our Thoughts, Words, and Actions Help To Bring About Such a Place.
- Quietly do a good deed every day.
- Contribute to your favorite charities. Many traditions suggest giving 10% of your income to those in greater need than yourself. If you have the resources, consider starting a family charitable trust.
- Try to volunteer at least a couple hours a month - you may be surprised to learn that you benefit as much, if not more than, the recipient of your work.
- Buy local produce - it will be fresher, will support local farmers, and will leave less of a carbon trail.
- Choose items without excessive packaging.
- Choose items from companies committed to environmental and social health.
- Use canvas shopping bags and re-use the plastic ones you already have.
- Bring your travel mug when you buy your coffee or tea - some cafes give you a discount when you do!
- Try not to buy plastic water bottles. Plan ahead and fill a re-usable bottle instead.
- Use both sides of all sheets of paper.
- Recycle the waste you generate, despite all your good efforts!
- Determine where in your house you can make improvements: cloth napkins instead of paper, wax paper sandwich bags instead of plastic, ecologically safe cleaning products instead of toxic ones.
- Turn off the lights when not in use. Use light timers for when you\\\\\\\'re not home.
- Turn down the thermostat a few degrees in winter and put on another layer instead. Turn it up a few degrees in the summer if you have central cooling.
- Choose Energy Star rated appliances.
- Unplug chargers and power strips when not in use, as they constantly draw energy.
- Use the coldest water appropriate for your laundry - cold for darks and mediums works beautifully.
- Invest in Low "E" windows when it's time to replace them, invest in superior insulation.
- Maintain all home systems to ensure they're running efficiently.
- Conserve water: fix leaky faucets, switch to low-flow faucets and dual flush toilets.
- Maintain your car, and check your tire pressure regularly. Don't drive whenever possible!
- Calculate your own emissions and get a sense of where you can make changes. Check out carbon offset services such as Carbon Fund, Terra Pass, and Native Energy.