Books
These are book recommendations that have shaped our teaching, deepened our understanding, and inspired our approach to yoga, movement, and living well.
Almost all of these titles can be found at The Boulder Book Store or Trident Booksellers & Cafe—please support local when you can.
"The Heart of Yoga: Developing a Personal Practice" by T.K.V. Desikachariar
A beautiful, accessible entry into yoga philosophy and the Yoga Sutras. Desikachariar (son of Krishnamacharya) demystifies the practice and makes it deeply personal and practical. This book teaches you how to practice for yourself, not for anyone else. Essential reading for understanding yoga as a lifetime practice that adapts to you.
"A Beginner's Guide to Constructing the Universe" by Michael S. Schneider
Sacred geometry, pattern, and proportion—explored through nature, art, architecture, and the human body. Schneider makes the esoteric accessible, showing how the same patterns that organize galaxies also organize our bones. A favorite among Katonah Yoga teachers for understanding the body as geometry. This book will change how you see everything.
"Staying Healthy with the Seasons" by Elson Haas
A guide to living in rhythm with the natural world through Taoist principles and Traditional Chinese Medicine. Haas offers practical wisdom for aligning your diet, movement, and energy with the seasons. Perfect for anyone interested in holistic health, cyclical living, and understanding the body through an Eastern lens.
"Light on Yoga" by B.K.S. Iyengar
The definitive guide to asana practice and philosophy. Iyengar's precision, depth, and lifetime of devotion to the practice are evident on every page. Comprehensive, technical, and transformative. This book teaches you how to see—both the poses and yourself.
"Soulcraft: Crossing into the Mysteries of Nature and Psyche" by Bill Plotkin
A guide to discovering your soul's purpose through nature-based practices and depth psychology. Plotkin weaves together wilderness rites of passage, Jungian psychology, and earth-centered spirituality to help you uncover who you truly are beneath your conditioning. For anyone seeking transformation beyond the mat.
“Trail Guide to the Body: A Hands-On Guide to Locating Muscles, Bones, and More” by Andrew Biel
A widely used textbook for learning surface anatomy and palpation. It's a key resource for students and professionals in fields like massage therapy, physical therapy, athletic training, and other manual therapies, featuring detailed illustrations and step-by-step instructions to make learning the musculoskeletal system accessible and practical. The book is known for its clear, visually rich content, often including supplementary online resources like videos to enhance learning.
“Trail Guide to Movement: Building the Body in Motion” by Andrew Biel
A guide to teaching human movement by building the body from interconnected components (connective tissue, joints, muscles, nerves) rather than dissecting it. It covers biomechanics, posture, and gait with clear illustrations and study aids for students in health and fitness fields. It's part of the Trail Guide series, known for making complex subjects like kinesiology accessible and engaging.
“Yoga Anatomy” by Leslie Kaminoff and Amy Matthews
An illustrated guide that explains the connection between yoga poses and the body’s anatomy, detailing how muscles, bones, and breathing work together. The book serves as a resource for practitioners, instructors, and health professionals, featuring detailed anatomical illustrations to provide a deep understanding of movement principles, spinal mechanics, and the nervous system's role in yoga.