Recommended Reading for the Holidays at She Knows Yoga

One of the most important–and with my schedule, too often overlooked–things I have time to do when the year winds down, is catch up on my reading.

Because, yoga, meditation, Pilates and what I call the “lifestyle” are such deep and studied topics, I am going to begin a new tradition with this blog.  I’d like to share with all of you some of the books I have found helpful and instructive, and recommend them to you to check out and share.   

My first choice would be the The Heart of Meditation, Pathways to a Deeper Experience, by Sally Kempton.  This is an amazing book that explores Eastern Meditation, and one that will open your eyes and your heart.  Pick it up, and I promise it will deepen your understanding and your practice.

There’s an awful lot of discussion about the benefits of vegan and vegetarian diets.  There’s a school of thought that such a diet can even help reverse Type II diabetes.  Dr. Neal Barnard’s book by that name, The Reverse Diabetes Diet, proposes (and is supported by research) that the low-fat vegan diet controls blood sugar three times more effectively than the American Diabetes Association’s diet.  If you or someone you care about is afflicted with diabetes, it’s definitely worth taking a look at this book. 

If you’re looking for a book that will provide you with illustrations of yoga positions and details of breathing techniques, then The Light of Yoga by B.K.S. Ivengar, first penned back in 1966, is still a staple for your library and practice.  Whether it’s for you, or a gift for someone special, this is a wonderful addition to a yoga lover’s library.

Hope you’ll have some time to catch up on your reading and meditation this holiday season. Makes all the difference in the world.  That’s my wish for all of you.

Peace.