After purchasing traditional classics such as “The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali” and “The Bhagavad Gita,” Kelowna educator, Dewi Peters, found herself wanting more. With little idea of where/how to start building her yoga library, she reached out to the brightest, wisest and downright coolest yogis she knows to find out what books they hold dear.

If you're the kind of person who can't get enough of your teacher's wise parting words during Savasana; loves setting an intention for each practice and captions your yoga pictures with motivational quotes, this list is for you.

three incredible yoga reads

Meditations from the Mat: Daily Reflections on the Path of Yoga
Rolf Gates & Katrina Kenison

Interested in the philosophy behind yoga and how it applies to your life but not the heavy reading that sometimes comes with it? You'll love this book. Broken down into 365 short essays that build upon each other, it is written in contemporary language with no shortage of humour, honesty, humility and wisdom. Described by one reader as “a one-a-day vitamin for the yogic soul,” this is a great choice for anyone seeking down-to-earth inspiration in daily life.

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

As the son of T. Krishnamacharya, often referred to as the “father of modern yoga” who taught both B.K.S Iyengar and K. Pattabhi Jois, Desikachar was uniquely qualified to write this book. Based on his personal experiences and "The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali", the emphasis here is on gradually learning and enjoying each pose instead of hurrying to complete your practice. It focuses on both physical and spiritual elements while helping you tailor each aspect to your specific preferences and lifestyle – pitch-perfect for beginners and advanced yogis alike.

The Inner Tradition of Yoga: A Guide to Yoga Philosophy for the Contemporary Practitioner
Michael Stone

Written for a Western audience, this is a highly-accessible exploration of how yoga theory applies to our practice on the mat. Practical and poetic, it's a deep read that's best accompanied by a cup of tea and followed up with some meditation time. Touching on the ethics of non-violence, patience, honesty and respect, Michael explores the mind-body connection and weaves in some Buddhist philosophy to boot.

What yoga books have a permanent home on your bookshelf? Share your favourites with us! 

Having not read a spiritual book before, I was somewhat reluctant when I received this book in the post. The Power of NOW by Eckhart Tolle challenged me a lot, not just wording wise, but mentally and emotionally and I ended the book being more aware and responsible of my actions and reactions. I like to think of his books as 'spiritual psychology', it gets you to think beyond yourself into the greater Being of life that is, as he leads you through a discussion of the condition and behaviour of the human mind. The small chapter breaks are much needed and I found it was a good practice to only read small portions at a time, to mentally digest the teachings. Everyone will take to this book differently and have different levels of 'awakening'. As rare or deep as they may be for you, the moment it happens it truly feel as if a veil has been lifted from your eyes.

Provoking and profound, it is worth a read. Life in the present moment is forever eternal.

What are you reading now?