Resources

On this page we've collected some of the resources and recommended readings from our training program.  We've sorted them into categories to make it easier to find what you are looking for. Brief descriptions from Mira, our Director of Training, are also included.

If you are interested in these or any of the thousands of other items available at amazon.com, please click on the link just to the right.  You'll enjoy the convenience and cost savings offered by Amazon and a small percentage of your purchase price will go to Global Family Yoga.

A great place to find award-winning children's books, CDs and gifts is at Barefoot Books.  Mira has created whole lesson plans around some of the books they offer.

Yoga for Children 

Yoga Education for Children by Swami Satyananda Saraswati.  This traditional children's yoga book has pose descriptions, games and philosophy.

Yoga for Children by Swati and Rajiv Chanchani.  A classic children's yoga book, it contains philosophy and mythology in simple terms.  If you get only one children's yoga book this is it!

YogaKids by Marsha Wenig.  Colorful photos and simple directions make this a great introduction to the basics of yoga for children.

I Love Yoga: A Guide for Kids and Teens by Ellen Schwartz.  This is a great practice guide for older kids.  Ellen gives it to us in straight, simple language and relates the practice to real life.

Yoga General

Asana Pranayama Mudra Bandha by Swami Satyananda Saraswati.  This is a dictionary for yoga poses and other practices.  Sanskrit names, directions, benefits and other practice notes are included.  This is one of my most well-worn books.

Yoga Nidra by Swami Satyananda Saraswati.  This is a practice for everyone.  The book includes the science behind the practice along with practice scripts, including several especially for children.

Partner Yoga by Cain Carroll and Lori Kimata.  These partner poses are great for partners of similar size as well as parents and kids.

Ashtanga Yoga "The Practice Manual": An Illustrated Guide to Personal Practice by David Swenson.  Spiral bound for easy use, this guide will lead you through a traditional ashtanga yoga sequence.

Awakening the Spine by Vanda Scaravelli.  The photos of the author, an older woman gracefully inhabiting intricate poses, inspire any practitioner.  The writing is poetic and uplifting.

Real Men Do Yoga: 21 Star Athletes Reveal Their Secrets for Strength, Flexibility and Peak Performance by John Capouya.  Young yogis will be inspired to practice by their favorite athletes.

Anatomy

The Anatomy of Hatha Yoga by David Coulter.  If you miss the intensity of the studing you did in college, this book is for you!  It is very comprehensive and highly recommended for anyone who wants to understand how yoga relates to the physical anatomy.

Anatomy of Movement by Blandine Calais-Germain.  A dancer describes with illustrations the physical structures of the musculoskeletal system and their functional relationship to the movements of the human body.

The Key Muscles of Hatha Yoga by Ray Long, M.D., FRCSC.  Computer graphics make the images in this book very interesting and instructive. 

Back Care Basics by Mary Pullig Schatz, M.D.  Practical tips on yoga exercises for the back can be found in this book along with lifestyle tips to help those with back injuries recover faster and prevent future injury.

Live Your Yoga

Living Simply With Children: A Voluntary Simplicity Guide for Moms, Dads, and Kids Who Want to Reclaim the Bliss of Childhood and the Joy of Parenting by Marie Sherlock.  This book will support families who are committed to a "less is more" lifestyle.

How to Talk so Kids Will Listen & Listen so Kids Will Talk by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish.  This is a must-have for anyone who would like to enjoy better communication not only with their children but with spouses, co-workers and friends as well.

Speak Peace in a World of Conflict by Marshall B. Rosenberg, Ph.D.  This book outlines the steps to non-violent communication.  Also visit cnvc.org.

Connecting Across Differences by Jane Marantz Connor, Ph.D. and Dian Killian, Ph. D.  A guide to compassionate nonviolent communication.

Siddhartha by Herman Hesse.  A beautiful, timeless tale of one man's search for enlightenment.  I recommend this book to my high school students.

Know Your Yoga

Bliss Divine by Swami Sivananda.  This is a classic compilation of the vast writings of a great modern day spiritual leader.

The Living Gita by Swami Satchidananda.  Engaging commentary with modern examples of these ancient teachings.

The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali by Swami Satchidananda.  An excellent translation and commentary in accessible prose.

The Yoga Tradition Its History, Literature, Philosophy and Practice by Georg Geurstein, Ph.D.  This is a veritable encyclopedia on all things yoga.

Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramahansa Yogananda.  A personal account of the yogic path from a fascinating spiritual figure of our era.

Yoga Unveiled (DVD) The evolution and essence of a spiritual tradition.  Produced by Gita and Mukesh Desai, this is a gorgeous and engaging presentation of the history of yoga right up through modern times.

General

Spinning Inward by Maureen Murdock.  Full of simple guided visualizations, this book should be on every teacher's shelf.

Brain Gym by Paul Dennison, Ph.D.  This handbook shows simple exercises to enhance whole brain learning.  Based on "Educational Kinesiology."

Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers - An Updated Guide to Stress, Stress-Related Diseases, and Coping by Robert M. Sapolsky. The title says it all.  This is a fascinating book on the science of stress, laid out in layman's terms.