Those who know me well know that I LOVE a good book. I also don’t like to waste time reading things that aren’t helpful or don’t connect with me. But when I find a book I love, one that really juices up my soul, that’s when I want to spread the word far and wide!

On Sunday, May 6 I’m going to present a yoga philosophy workshop at Mudra Yoga in Eugene. I’m excited about this not only because I LOVE working with yogis, but because I get to talk about some of my favorite texts on this topic.

The workshop is going to be amazing—not because I’m amazing, but because what we’re talking about is truly life enhancing, soul edifying, and fun.

I know my readers are far and wide, so if you can’t make it to the workshop in Eugene (register here if you can!), you can at least know my top picks for your yogi bookshelf.

My top 5 Yogi Books:

Tantra Illuminated by Christopher Wallis

I can’t say enough good things about this book. It’s written from the perspective of a scholar-practitioner and is historically grounded and immensely inspirational. The author is an amazing speaker in his own right and has also studied with my meditation teacher, Paul Muller Ortega. Warning: this book is thick, not a beach read.

The Radiance Sutras (Vijnana Bhairava translation/interpretation) by Lorin Roche

I’ve been doing yoga a long time, so I know that yogis love a good breathing or mediation technique. This book is written as a conversation between god and goddess, and is filled with 112 techniques for yoga. Read as poetry, or try one of the techniques yourself!

Awakening Shakti by Sally Kempton

Women and men today are looking deeper into tantric schools of thought that revere women as essential to the divine. This interesting and readable book by Sally Kempton shows how to access these esoteric energies and engage with them in every day life.

The Bhagavad Gita translation by Stephen Mitchell

This classic epic poem out of the Mahabharata gives a wonderful meditation on what a truly awakened person is like. It contains lots of food for thought, and a wonderful introduction by the translator, which examines the cultural context of the text more fully.

Your favorite spiritual/religious/or poetic text

Once you develop the skill for viewing life through a yogic lens, you’ll likely begin to see yoga philosophy in all things. Can a yogic lens be applied to your current spiritual beliefs or even to your favorite novel? You bet! Start to listen to those texts that speak to your soul, and you’ll find your yoga.