my top 10 book recommendations
Yoga + Tantra + Ayurveda:
Meditation for the love of it - Sally Kempton
Sally speaks to my soul. Her approach to meditation is like a warm hug. Whenever i am feeling like i need some inspiration on my path, I open to one of the many highlighted pages in this book, and without a doubt, my inspiration returns.
2. Tantra Illuminated - Christopher Wallace
Getting to the root of the highly misunderstood spiritual tradition of Tantra. Wallace has a wonderfully eloquent and scholarly approach to tantra. It’s a dense book but well worth the read if tantra is something that piques your interest.
3. The Radiance Sutras - Lorin Ronche
This book is poetry. Literally. It’s a poetic interperetation of a tantric text called the Vijnana Bhairava Tantra. Many scholars don’t vibe with it because it is a poetic interpretation - but it speaks to my soul, and that’s what matters.
4. Yoni Shakti - Uma Dinsmore-Tuli
This is a biggie. Yoni Shakti asks the very important questions about women and yoga. The yoga we see presented today is not necessarily made for women’s bodies. We have a different anatomy, a different energetic structure. This book is very important for all female yoga practitioners.
5. Goddess Durga and Sacred Female Power - Laura Amazzone
Another one for the ladies - The mythology, rituals, philosophy, and spiritual practices of this distinctly female-centered and millennia-old tradition of Durga offer an alternative model of female potential and empowerment, focusing on peace, healing, spiritual liberation, and realization of inherent divinity.
6. Yoga & Ayurveda - David Frawley
The perfect yoga practitioners handbook. Frawley eloquently and in an approachable way shares the fundamental principles of yoga and ayurveda. Whether you are beginning on your yoga + ayurveda journey or you are firmly established on the path, this is an excellent guide.
7. Prakriti - Dr Robert Svoboda
All of Dr Svoboda’s books are wonderful. Not only is he scholarly, but a wonderful writer who does a great job at sparking joy and mystery. Prakriti is a great book to understand your ayurvedic constitution.
Other:
8. Already Free - Bruce Tift
Buddhism meets psycotherapy. I’ve read this book twice and will certainly read it again. Tift is the embodiment of smart meets heart.
9. Braiding Sweetgrass - Robin Wall Kimmerer
Indigenous wisdom, scientific knowledge, and the teachings of plants. A joyous and emotional book that brings us into closer understanding of our disconnection with Earth. A graceful, illuminating study of the wisdom of the natural world, from a world-renowned indigenous scientist
10. Breath - James Nestor
This is a must read to understand the power of our breath for health and thriving in a human body. Please read it!