The 10 Best Iyengar Yoga Books

My Recommendations for the Best Iyengar Yoga Books

There are many good yoga books on all the different aspects of yoga. I've accumulated a number of excellent books that help me with my study, practice, and teaching of Iyengar Yoga. It was difficult paring down my list to what I thought were the 10 best, but this list will give you a place to start if you're interested in Iyengar Yoga or yoga in general.

I chose books on Iyengar Yoga that represent different facets of the study and practice of yoga, including good all-purpose books for learning and practicing yoga asanas (poses) and pranayama (breathing exercises), books that focus on health-related issues and different segments of the population, and books on the philosophy of yoga.

Important Note: Light on Yoga, by B.K.S. Iyengar, is by far the most important Iyengar Yoga book. I list it second only because, in my experience, many beginners are daunted by the amount of information given and the number of very difficult poses featured. Any serious Iyengar Yoga student should have this book, though. But the average beginner relates better to books with bigger "prettier" pictures and less text.

1. Yoga: The Iyengar Way: Silva, Mira, and Shyam Mehta

Yoga: The Iyengar Way was one of the two first yoga books I bought when I started yoga, and it’s still one of my favorite books for referencing poses and for showing photos of poses to my students. It’s accessible to most new students, as well as an excellent resource for the continuing, experienced student. This is the book I recommend most often to new students, along with the next book on my list, Light on Yoga.

I feel that Yoga: The Iyengar Way is more accessible to the brand new student than Light on Yoga, which is why I list it first. It includes about 100 postures with step-by-step instructions on how to do the poses and is accompanied by detailed, beautiful photos. The poses shown are inspiring and exquisitely executed! Instructions include modifications, along with the use of props, to safely work toward the full poses. Postures are rated for their difficulty level, from one diamond for easy to four diamonds for very difficult.

Besides the detailed information on how to do the yoga asanas (poses), there are also sections on pranayama, relaxation and meditation techniques, and the philosophy of yoga. At the end, there are lists of suggested sequences of poses to follow, including general sequences for regular learning and practice and sequences for improving different health issues. The pose names are listed in Sanskrit, so the reader will have to do some work to translate them (which is a good thing, in my opinion!).

2. Light on Yoga: B.K.S. Iyengar

Light on Yoga is the other book that I bought when I first started taking yoga classes and another one that I recommend most frequently to students. The subtitle of this book is appropriate: The Bible of Modern Yoga — Its Philosophy and Practice. It's a definitive text on hatha yoga and a great resource for anyone who is serious about the study and practice of yoga.

The name Light on Yoga refers to the book's purpose of "shedding light" on the subject of yoga.

The book includes over 200 poses, with at least one photo per pose, and often more than one photo to show different stages of the poses. The first 50 pages or so of the book define what yoga is and gives a summary of the philosophy of Patanjali's yoga, which is the basis of Iyengar yoga (and some of the other yoga methods).

Light on Yoga is required reading for anyone looking to become certified in the Iyengar Yoga method. I'm currently wearing out my third copy of this book!

3. Yoga: A Gem for Women: Geeta Iyengar

This is another book that's required reading for Iyengar Yoga teachers (I'm currently on my second copy of this book!) and strongly recommended for anyone who's serious about the practice of yoga. As the name implies, it's truly a "gem" of a book. Even though the title is Yoga: A Gem For Women, most of the book is applicable to men as well.

Geeta Iyengar is the daughter of B.K.S. Iyengar and a world-respected yoga teacher and writer. This book contains fewer poses than Light on Yoga, but more description of the techniques for doing the poses, including variations if the classical pose is too difficult. Geeta Iyengar also includes a section on practicing yoga poses safely during pregnancy and segments on what to practice and what to avoid during certain stages of a woman's life.

4. The Tree of Yoga: B.K.S. Iyenga

This is a good introduction to the philosophy of yoga.

Most of my students start yoga for the physical health benefits that the practice of asanas (poses) can give them and for relief from stress. These are great reasons to start yoga. But there is so much more to yoga than the poses and relaxation techniques.

When my students start to become more interested in the "big picture" of yoga, this is a great book to introduce them to the philosophy of yoga. The Tree of Yoga refers to the eight different parts of Patanjali's yoga, which include ethical concerns, physical postures, breath work, and practices leading to meditative states. Mr. Iyengar also includes his essays on various aspects of yoga and life.

5. The Woman's Book of Yoga and Health: Linda Sparrowe and Patricia Walden

This wonderful book covers the different stages in women's lives and discusses how the practice of yoga can help us maintain our physical and mental health as we move through these stages. Sample sequences of poses, with photos, are shown as recommendations for how to practice during different times of our lives and for different issues in our lives.

Sections include:

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Chernobyl's "Radiation Hounds"

No Frying Instant Sambar Powder and Sambar

Flying Furniture and a President-Masked Nudist: 10 New Year True Crimes

1. Essential yoga sequences
2. Entering puberty and the menstrual cycle
3. Pregnancy and post-partum
4. Menopausal issues
5. Aging issues (post-menopausal)

I recently recommended this book during a workshop class I taught about how to develop your own home yoga practice. A couple of women told me they bought it and have been enjoying their practice of the Essential Yoga Sequences as listed in the book.

5. The New Yoga for Healthy Aging: Suza Francina

The subtitle for this book is Living Longer, Living Stronger, and Loving Every Day. Author and certified Iyengar Yoga teacher Suza Francina has written articles and books with baby boomers in mind. Read Suza's Yoga Articles for a number of her online articles.

The New Yoga for Healthy Aging is illustrated by inspiring photos of older yoga students doing poses that require strength and grace, and tips are given to show how the more challenging poses can be done through the use of props and modifications. This book also addresses common ailments of aging, including osteoporosis, arthritis, hip replacements, heart health, and Parkinson's disease. The book includes sequences for "healthy aging."

7. Yoga for Wimps: Poses for the Flexibility-Impaired: Miriam Austin

I love the name of this book! Sometimes my students don't take the book seriously when they see the name, but then I tell them it is such a great book for "the average Joe or Jane off the street" who wants to do yoga but is worried because they can't touch their toes or turn themselves into pretzels.

The models in this book are all "real" students and are shown doing poses and modifications that most people will be able to approximate. Common household items (chairs, belts, ties, walls) are used as props to help do the poses better. Easy sequences are given for quick "fix-its" for simple aches and pains and for stress reduction.

8. Light on Life: B.K.S. Iyengar

The subtitle of this book is The Yoga Journey to Wholeness, Inner Peace, and Ultimate Freedom. This book is about the yogic journey to "realize" our inner divine being. The first sentence says, "Spiritual realization is the aim that exists in each one of us to seek our divine core."

To find this core, we explore our different "sheaths" of being, our different layers or bodies of existence, including our physical, energetic, mental, intellectual, and divine layers. All these layers need to be integrated in order for us to achieve wholeness.

I don't recommend it for those who are just starting their study and practice of yoga (I recommend starting with the physical practice and reading Tree of Yoga before reading Light on Life), but it's an excellent book for those who are already familiar with the philosophy of yoga.

9. Light on Pranayama: B.K.S. Iyengar

This is another of B.K.S. Iyengar's "Light on ... " books—books that shed light on particular aspects of the practice and study of yoga. Light on Pranayama gives instruction on the different techniques of pranayama, or breath work, along with the theory and philosophy of yoga.

This isn't a book for beginners, though. In the Iyengar Yoga system, the formal practice of pranayama isn't started until the student has a strong background in the physical poses, to build up the strength to sit well and to build greater awareness in the body and mind. Before formal instruction in pranayama, we do some practice on breath awareness and are reminded not to hold the breath or to breathe heavily while in poses. Then when the body and mind are prepared, we're taught more formal breathing techniques.

10. A Chair for Yoga: Eyal Shifroni

A couple years after I originally wrote this article a new book came out that has since become one of my favorites: A Chair for Yoga: A Complete Guide to Iyengar Yoga Practice With a Chair by Senior Iyengar Yoga teacher, Eyal Shifroni, from Israel.

If you've taken Iyengar Yoga classes, most likely you've used a metal folding "yoga" chair for some of the poses—perhaps the "back bend" over the chair (Dwi pada viparita dandasana with chair support) or for a simple supported Adho mukha svanasana (downward facing dog pose) with hands on the chair seat, or for other poses.

Eyal Shifroni has taken the use of the "yoga" chair to another level in his book, A Chair for Yoga. He shows different ways to use the chair for all of the categories of yoga asanas, or poses, including standing, seated, forward bends, back bends, balance poses, inversions, abdominal poses.

A chair can be used for beginners or for weaker students to help support them in a pose for longer while holding a better alignment, and it can also be used by more experienced students to explore the poses more deeply.

This book has been very enjoyable to work from. I've introduced my students, from gentle yoga through experienced, to many of the chair poses that Shifroni shows in this book.

My Choices May Be Different From Yours

There are many excellent Iyengar Yoga books, and my 10 favorites that I list on this page may be very different than what your choices would be.

I think most of us would agree that the following books are of the utmost importance to serious Iyengar Yoga practitioners. Most I've included on this page:

• Light on Yoga, by B.K.S. Iyengar
• Yoga: A Gem for Women, by Geeta Iyengar
• Light on Pranayama, by B.K.S. Iyengar
• Light on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, by B.K.S. Iyengar (which I didn't include here, since I wouldn't recommend it as one of the first few books that people should get).
• Light on Life, by B.K.S. Iyengar
• The Tree of Yoga, by B.K.S. Iyengar

The other books on this page, and more that I didn't include will appeal to different groups of people. Some are more suitable for beginners, and others are more suitable for people with different needs or interests (aging, women's issues, health issues).

Do You Have a Favorite Iyengar Yoga Book?

Do you practice Iyengar Yoga? Do you have any of the books I've listed here? What is your favorite?

Even if you're not an Iyengar Yoga student, you will find a wealth of information that will benefit your own yoga practice, whatever the method.

More on Yoga

• 3 Best Yoga YouTube Channels for Beginners
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• The Best Iyengar Yoga Books, DVDs, and Videos
  Iyengar yoga DVDs, books and online videos to help with the home practice of yoga poses, deepening your yoga practice, and learning about yoga philosophy.
• Doing Yoga at Home vs. In a Studio
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This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

I'd Like to Hear From You!

Irmine Hero on August 07, 2020:

The best iyengar yoga book for me (i have many of these books listed) are the ones from Bobby Clennel

Karen (author) from U.S. on October 18, 2018:

Yes, marnix, I agree whole-heartedly to those two books! Students, though, can't really get the first one, "Basic Guidelines for Teachers of Yoga"

marnix on October 18, 2018:

Thank you very much.

Also, basic guidelines for teachers of yoga, as well as yoga in action: a preliminary course (geeta and bks Iyengar), are ver good.

Karen (author) from U.S. on February 12, 2018:

Hi Jill - You could take a look at 'Yoga: A Path to Holistic Health' by B.K.S. Iyengar (I don't have it on this list, but it is one that I refer to). It doesn't necessarily address healing physical injuries, but it has many good pictorial sequences that can help the us become stronger, more flexible, and heal as a whole. As a beginner to Iyengar Yoga, though, it is so much more important to work with a well-trained teacher who can guide you through poses, modifications, and sequences that will be beneficial for your own healing. Best wishes!

Jill on February 12, 2018:

I am new to Iyengar Yoga and am using it to heal my body from accidents. Which book old be best to get a deeper understanding of yoga as a therapeutic experience?

Karen (author) from U.S. on July 17, 2017:

Hi Aman,

I'm glad you found some good information about the different Iyengar Yoga books I listed on this page. To use yoga to help with serious health, you need to work in person with a well-trained therapeutic yoga teacher. I am not able to do that. Best wishes!

Aman Sukhala on July 17, 2017:

Hello Karen! I am Amandeep Sukhala from India and 24 years old. I get much information from your books list...but I have a confusion regarding my health problems...I am suffering from pneumonia by birth and cervical from last 4 years...guide me how i cure them with the help of yoga or anything according to you...please help it's urgent... waiting for your reply..

Thank you!

aochan on May 09, 2017:

I mainly take Hatha yoga and Hot yoga at gym. i thought I want to know more about philosophy so I'm looking some books.I'm very glad to find and read your article about Yoga books,it helped me a lot ,Namaste(^-^)v

Yung on February 02, 2017:

"Light on Pranayama" is my most favourite. Mr.Iyengar gives every little detail on Pranayama that I cannot find elsewhere.

Karen (author) from U.S. on March 20, 2015:

I understand what you mean about "Light on Yoga" being intimidating to beginners! I would page through the book and gawk at some of the photos :-) I agree that 'Yoga: The Iyengar Way" is a gem, and it's one that I commonly recommend to my students. Thanks for your comment!

BrittaFroehling on March 19, 2015:

"Light on Yoga" is my favourite book, but I remember when I was a beginner, I was intimidated by some of the asanas B.K.S Iyengar shows in the book. My mindset has changed in the meantime, so now I see it as inspiration instead of intimidation. The other book I think is a gem in a quiet and unobtrusive way is "The Iyengar Way - by Silva, Mira, and Shyam Mehta" - a very useful book indeed.

Karen (author) from U.S. on May 19, 2014:

@takkhisa: I'm glad you like it! Thank you.

Takkhis on May 19, 2014:

This is great that you have featured the best yoga books here! Thank you.

Karen (author) from U.S. on March 10, 2014:

@TerriCarr: I'm glad you enjoyed the page. I should update it soon since I found another Iyengar Yoga book that I really enjoy.

TerriCarr on March 08, 2014:

I am so happy to see a great yoga page here. I don't seem to stumble upon yoga related pages very often. I have a few of these titles already.

Karen (author) from U.S. on November 04, 2013:

@SmartYoga: Thanks for your feedback. I found Jessie Chapman's books -- she's not an Iyengar teacher, but the books look interesting.

SmartYoga on November 03, 2013:

Hi! My favorite book is "Yoga" by Chapman. It's small, it's beautiful and it's Iyengar. I brought it with me when I went backpacking around the world some years ago, and tried to learn yoga. It worked!

Karen (author) from U.S. on October 31, 2013:

@SalzburgBJ: Thanks for your comment. Yes, I have that book too, and I really should include that one on this list, because it is excellent.

SalzburgBJ on October 30, 2013:

My Iyengar teacher here in Salzburg Austria highly recommends Iyengar's YOGA - THE PATH TO HOLISTIC HEALTH. She says it offers not only philosophy and very good pose instruction, she finds it very important for its recommendations for poses for particular medical ailments, everything from heart ailments to menstrual cramps. It's also published in various languages.

Karen (author) from U.S. on October 23, 2013:

@pjsart: Sure, it would be fine to borrow any of the book ideas from that list. They're excellent books!

pjsart on October 23, 2013:

I am impressed by the large amount of information included here. Would it be alright if I borrow some of this book list for my lens? https://hubpages.com/health/teaching-yoga-and-medi... I love the lady in her nineties still teaching and posted her video.. Have to admit yoga and meditation help keep this great grandmother going....

CoolKarma on November 27, 2012:

Yes, I have B.K.S. Iyengar's Light on Life. I don't practice as much as I should though.

anonymous on November 18, 2012:

Very interesting topic to me, and I see some books I want to read. Thanks You!

anonymous on August 19, 2012:

@maryctucker: nice and cute to see in yoga posture

anonymous on August 18, 2012:

I have YOGA DEEPIKA book of BKS Guruji which is translated into Kannada Language from English (LIGHT ON YOGA). It is my favourite.

Also a book YOGO RAKSHATHI RAKSHITHAHA - by Raghavendra Shenoy. The meaning is - One who follows the path of the science of duty (dharma), it takes care of him. The book with a preface of Guruji, contains 63 paages with explanations in the left page & the postures of asanas on the right page.

Gift-Master on July 21, 2012:

Good Job on the lens. Some great information.

beardedbrian lm on February 24, 2012:

thanks for this lens. Will look into some of these books. Namaste

Rose Jones on October 24, 2011:

I appreciate the work you put into this because I think you really know what you are talking about . All of these books sound good.

markg961 on September 21, 2011:

Great posting, lots of good reading! As an Asthanga practitioner its interesting to note the difference between the two styles, that both go back to one great teacher.

maryctucker on May 07, 2011:

Thanks for this posting.I satisfied with your sharing...

LotusMalas on September 19, 2010:

Great Iyengar lens! Light on Life is definitely my favorite (but I'm not able to vote it up, perhaps I'm doing it wrong :-O ) I lensrolled this one to my Iyengar lens!