Author and Title |
Publisher, Date, ISBN |
My Comments |
T.K.V. Desikachar, The Heart of Yoga |
Rudra Press, 1995; |
Essential reading for anyone interested in yoga in general and Viniyoga in particular. For more information, see the page devoted to this book. |
T.K.V. Desikachar, The Yoga of T. Krishnamacharya |
Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram (Madras, India), 1982 |
Quite a little book, but absolutely fascinating. Written by Krishnamacharya's son, and informative about the man as well as his teachings. For more information, see the page devoted to Krishnamacharya |
T.K.V. Desikachar, In Search of Mind |
East West Books (Madras), 1998; |
This is a fascinating little book. It's based on tapes and transcripts of a seminar given by Desikachar in Paris in 1993. He discusses some central concepts of yoga and meditation. The chapter headings are "Knowing the Mind", "Refining the Mind", and "Directing the Mind". |
Bernard Bouanchaud, The Essence of Yoga: reflections on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali |
Rudra Press, 1997; ISBN 0 915801 69 8 Although the Rudra Press edition is now out of print and very expensive, it is obtainable in an Indian edition: Sri Satguru (Delhi), 2001; ISBN 81- |
This, I think, is the best introduction to the Yoga Sutras. Bouanchaud is a student
of Desikachar, and - |
Chip Hartranft, The Yoga- |
Shambhala, 2003; ISBN 1 59030 023 8 |
Hartranft is another of Desikachar’s students. His edition is also useful, clear, easy to understand, and useful because it approaches the Sutras from a Buddhist point of view. |
Gary Kraftsow, Yoga for Wellness
|
Penguin Arkana 0 14 019569 6
|
This is a textbook of viniyoga techniques. It is packed full of suggested sequences, posture modifications, programmes to alleviate various physical conditions... It has lost of illustrations, showing common faults as well as correct postures. Extremely useful, and well worth the £17 odd that I paid for it. It's a book that I will return to regularly for ideas and advice. |
Holm Press 1998; |
As good as an encyclopaedia. Its subtitle, "Its History, Literature, Philosophy and Practice" says it all! It also includes translations of a number of yoga texts which are not otherwise readily available. It is expensive, but seems to me worth the money. | |
S. Radhakrishnan, The Principal Upanishads |
Harper Collins India, 1994; |
Apart from a massive introduction of considerable use for information about the background to yoga philosophy, this edition is the only one I could find with a translation of the Maitri Upanishad (it has 18 Upansihads altogether). It gives the Sanskrit text transliterated into the Roman alphabet, a translation and a detailed commentary. I got my copy second hand from Powell's for $5! |
Harper Collins India, 1993; IABN 81 7223 087 7 |
This is THE edition to use if you really want to get to grips with this text. It
has a lengthy & detailed introduction, then a verse- | |
Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan and Charles A. Moore, A Sourcebook in Indian Philosophy |
Princeton University Press, 1957; (I got my copy second hand from Powell's.) |
This book has English translations (no Sanskrit texts) of a wide range of material including selections from the principal Upanishads and the Bhagavad Gita as well as Patanjali's Yoga Sutras. What I found particularly useful was an inclusion of extracts from Vyasa's Yoga Bhasya (a commentary on the Yoga Sutras dating from 4th century CE), which at that time I couldn't find anywhere else. |
Swami Satchidananda, The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali |
Integral Yoga Publications, 1990; |
This edition gives the Sanskrit text in devanagari script and Roman alphabet; a translation of each Sanskrit word, and a commentary. The commentary is clear and easy to follow. I personally find the commentary a bit too rambling to be helpful at times, but the word by word translation is very handy. |
I.K. Taimni, The Science of Yoga |
Theosophical Publishing House, 1961; |
Don't be misled by the rather ancient publication date - |
Pandit Rajmani Tigunait, Seven Systems of Indian Philosophy
|
Himalayan Institute Press, ISBN 0 89389 076 6 |
An excellent, very readable introduction to what can be very demanding subject- |
Barbara Powell, Windows into the Infinite |
Jain Publishing Co, ISBN 0 87583 072 8 |
An excellent book - |
Penguin/Arkana, ISBN 0 14 019008 2 |
A translation of the BG with a helpful General Introduction; each chapter also has an Introduction and Notes. The translation is sometimes a little free, but it’s very readable. |