The Heart of Yoga: Developing a Personal Practice

Written by: TKV Desikachar

First line: To begin, I should like to share some thoughts that might help us understand the many different meanings of the word yoga.

Why you should read this book: The asanas, or mat practice, commonly understood in western culture to be "yoga" are only one of eight branches of yoga, which is a system that unites the body, mind, and spirit and affect all aspects of human life. The author, inspired by the life of his father, Krishnamacharya, explains many of the physical and sublime details of a full yogic practice, the result of which can be a lightening of the heart and a process that sets the individual free from the world. This book includes several appendices, along with Krishnamacharya's Yoganjalisaram and Patanjali's Yoga Sutra.

Why you shouldn't read this book: Just want to fold yourself into a pretzel. Or, threatened by spiritual systems beyond those into which you were indoctrinated as a small child.

Anatomy of Hatha Yoga: A Manual for Students, Teacher, and Practitioners

Author: H. David Coulter

First line: A comprehensive statement on the anatomy and physiology of hatha yoga ought to have been written a long time ago.

Why you should read this book: It really is comprehensive, and you actually don't have to read it at all; just looking at the illustrations should give you a strong understanding of how human anatomy works and how to channel this knowledge into healthy movement. In fact, the text tends to be dense and complicated, but at the same time, its level of detail answers all sorts of questions that a standard anatomy book does not, particularly for those whose knowledge of physiology informs their exercise practice. Just a great, detailed, interesting reference book.

Why you shouldn't read this book: You consider getting up to look for the remote too much aerobic exercise.