I discovered yoga in 2013 and it has made an incredible difference in my life. I can do things now that I couldn’t do when I was … well, ever really. Yoga is not just about improving strength, flexibility, concentration, and general well-being – though of course it does all that. Yoga is also a way of life that weaves together our mental, physical and spiritual dimensions. It opens us up to possibilities we hadn’t imagined.
I was registered as a RYT1500 teacher with Yoga Alliance, (until I decided to let that lapse after paying a lot of money and not seeing much for it). I completed my 200 hour Vinyasa teacher training with Power Living Australia Yoga, and went on to complete a further 1600 hours of training with more advanced modules in sequencing and further studies in Sanskrit and yoga philosophy. I am enjoying my own ongoing transformation and have seen students thriving as we deepen our practice together.
I practice and teach both in Melbourne, Australia and in the UK, where I completed studies in Sanskrit, yoga and Hindu and Buddhist spirituality as part of an MPhil in Classical Indian Religion at Oxford University. I’m mostly back in Oxford now, working on a DPhil in Theology and Religion, focussed on yogic ethics. In Melbourne, my home studios are Seed Yoga & Wellness in Blackburn and Light Space Yoga in Balwyn. In Oxford I teach at Prana Yoga, a beautiful studio in north Oxford.
I like to bring a sense of expansive spaciousness to my classes – a strong flow, an empowering energy and an experience of possibility where students might find themselves reaching beyond what they had thought were their limitations, both on and off the mat.
Resources
I’ve prepared a list of Principal Yoga Poses, or āsanas, with their names in both English and Sanskrit, cross-referenced to Duncan Peak’s Modern Yoga. There’s also a guide to Sanskrit pronunciation included. I also had an article published online in the Australian Yoga Journal on Deciphering Sanskrit Yoga Pose Names. If you are interested in learning more about Sanskrit, check out my Sanskrit page.
Books
There are so many yoga books! Here are some I would recommend for students, for teachers, and further reading for those who want to delve deeper. This list is not meant to be comprehensive, and I welcome recommendations if you know a particularly good book I’ve missed. Please use the form at the bottom of this page.
Recommended for students
Cope, S., (2000) Yoga and the Quest for the True Self, Bantam Books, New York, xxii + 358 pp.
Cope, S., (2007) The Wisdom of Yoga: A Seeker’s Guide to Extraordinary Living, Bantam Books, New York, xxxiv + 316 pp.
Cope, S., (2012) The Great Work of Your Life: A Guide for the Journey to Your True Calling, Bantam Books, New York, xxvi + 272 pp. (Not specifically a yoga book but a brilliant book by a yogi).
Hall, J. and Hall, D., (2014) The Practical Encyclopedia of Astanga Yoga & Meditation, Hermes House, Anness Publishing, London, 256 pp.
Peak, D., (2014) Modern Yoga, 2nd Edition; Power Living Australia Yoga, Sydney, 279 pp. (Also available as a digital version)
Recommended for teachers
Bachman, N., (2004) The Language of Yoga: Complete A to Y Guide to Āsana Names, Sanskrit Terms, and Chants, Sounds True, Boulder CO, 139 pp.
Bryant, E.F., (2009) The Yoga Sutras of Patañjali: A New Edition, Translation, and Commentary, North Point Press, New York, lxvii + 598 pp.
Bryant, E.F., (2017) Bhakti Yoga: Tales and Teachings from the Bhāgavata Purāṇa, North Point Press, New York, 688 pp.
De Michelis, E., (2005) A History of Modern Yoga, Bloomsbury, New Delhi, London, Oxford, New York & Sydney, xvii + 282 pp.
Ellsworth, A., (2010) Anatomy of Yoga: An Instructor’s Inside Guide to Improving Your Poses, Firefly Books, Buffalo NY & Richmond Hill ON, 160 pp.
Feuerstein, G., (1989) The Yoga-Sūtra of Patañjali: A New Translation and Commentary, Inner Traditions International, Rochester VT, xiii + 179 pp.
Feuerstein, G., (1996) The Philosophy of Classical Yoga, Inner Traditions International, Rochester VT, xi + 140 pp.
Feuerstein, G., (2007) Yoga Morality: Ancient Teachings at a Time of Global Crisis, Hohm Press, Prescott AZ, xxi + 292 pp.
Feuerstein, G., (2008) The Yoga Tradition: Its History, Literature, Philosophy and Practice, 3rd Edition; Hohm Press, Chino Valley AZ, xxx + 510 pp.
Flood, G. and Martin, C. (Eds.), (2015) The Bhagavad Gita, Norton Critical Editions; W.W. Norton & Co. , New York & London, xviii + 206 pp.
Kaminoff, L. and Matthews, A., (2012) Yoga Anatomy, 2nd Edition; Human Kinetics, Champaign IL, xii + 276 pp.
Keller, D., (2015) Heart of the Yogi: The Philosophical World of Hatha Yoga, DoYoga Productions, 294 pp.
Keller, D., (2016) The Therpeautic Wisdom of Yoga: Volume One: Foundations, DoYoga Productions, 354 pp.
Keller, D., (2016) The Therpeautic Wisdom of Yoga: Volume Two: Applications, DoYoga Productions, 376 pp.
Lacerda, D., (2015) 2,100 Asanas: The Complete Yoga Poses, Black Dog & Leventhal, New York, 736 pp.
Hartranft, C., (2003) The Yoga-Sūtra of Patañjali: A New Translation with Commentary, Shambhala, Boston MA, xviii + 151 pp.
Harvey, A. and Erickson, K., (2010) Heart Yoga: The Sacred Marriage of Yoga and Mysticism, North Atlantic Books, Berkeley, CA, xx + 257 pp.
Iyengar, B.K.S., (2002) Light on the Yoga Sūtras of Patañjali, Thorsons, London; first published in 1966, xx + 359 pp.
Iyengar, B.K.S., (2012) Core of the Yoga Sūtras, HarperThorsons, London, xxxix + 275 pp.
Iyengar, B.K.S., (2015) Light on Yoga, HarperThorsons, London; first published in 1966, 473 pp.
Long, R. and Macivor, C., (2006) The Key Muscles of Yoga, 3rd Edition; Scientific Keys Vol. 1; Bandha Yoga Publications, Baldwinsville NY, 239 pp.
Long, R. and Macivor, C., (2008) The Key Poses of Yoga, Scientific Keys Vol. 2; Bandha Yoga Publications, Baldwinsville NY, ix + 213 pp.
Mallinson, J. and Singleton, M. (Eds.), (2017) Roots of Yoga, Penguin Classics; Penguin, London, xl + 540 pp.
McGonigle, A. and Huy, M., (2023) The Physiology of Yoga: An Evidence-Based Look at How Yoga Affects Health and Well-Being, Human Kinetics, Champaign IL, xiii + 248 pp.
Rountree, S. and Desiato, A., (2019) Teaching Yoga Beyond the Poses: A Practical Workbook for Integrating Themes, Ideas, and Inspiration into Your Class, North Atlantic Books, Berkeley CA, xiii + 233 pp.
Sarbacker, S.R. and Kimple, K., (2015) The Eight Limbs of Yoga: A Handbook for Living Yoga Philosophy, North Point Press, New York, xiii + 92 pp.
Sarbacker, S.R., (2021) Tracing the Path of Yoga: The History and Philosophy of Indian Mind-Body Discipline, State University of New York Press, Albany NY, xiv + 437 pp.
Singleton, M., (2010) Yoga Body: The Origins of Modern Posture Practice, Oxford University Press, Oxford, viii + 262 pp.
Stephens, M., (2010) Teaching Yoga: Essential Foundations and Techniques, North Atlantic Books, Berkeley CA, xix + 411 pp.
Stephens, M., (2012) Yoga Sequencing: Designing Transformative Yoga Classes, North Atlantic Books, Berkeley CA, xviii + 507 pp.
Stephens, M., (2014) Yoga Adjustments: Philosophy, Principles, and Techniques, North Atlantic Books, Berkeley CA, xx + 384 pp.
Wildcroft, T., (2020) Post-lineage Yoga: From Guru to #MeToo, Equinox Publishing, Sheffield, xiii + 253 pp.
Further reading
Aurobindo, S., (1996) The Synthesis of Yoga, Lotus Press, Twin Lakes WI, 918 pp.
Baba, B., (1976) Yogasūtra of Patañjali: With the Commentary of Vyāsa, Motilal Banarsidass, Delhi, v + 119 pp.
Eliade, M., (2009) Yoga: Immortality and Freedom, trans. Trask, W.R.; Princeton University Press, Princeton NJ & Oxford; Originally published in French in 1954, xxxvi + 536 pp.
Feuerstein, G., (1998) Tantra: The Path of Ecstasy, Shambhala, Boston & London, xvi + 314 pp.
Feuerstein, G., (2011) The Encyclopedia of Yoga and Tantra, Revised Edition; Shambhala, Boston & London, xxvi + 439 pp.
Feuerstein, G., (2013) The Psychology of Yoga: Integrating Eastern and Western Approaches for Understanding the Mind, Shambhala, Boston & London, xii + 292 pp.
Feuerstein, G. and Feuerstein, B., (2014) The Bhagavad-Gītā: A New Translation, Shambhala, Boulder CO, xvi + 509 pp.
Goldberg, P., (2010) American Veda: From Emerson and the Beatles to Yoga and Meditation – How Indian Spirituality Changes the West, Three Rovers Press, New York, xvii + 398 pp.
Griffiths, B., (1987) River of Compassion: A Christian Commentary on the Bhagavad Gita, Templegate Publishers, Springfield IL, 328 pp.
Jain, A.R., (2015) Selling Yoga: From Counterculture to Pop Culture, Oxford University Press, Oxford & New York, xxi + 240 pp.
Maehle, G., (2006) Ashtanga Yoga: Practice & Philosophy, New World Library, Novato CA, xii + 306 pp.
Maehle, G., (2012) Pranayama: The Breath of Yoga, Kaivalya Publications, Crabbes Creek NSW, x + 328 pp.
Maehle, G., (2013) Yoga Meditation: Through Mantra, Chakras and Kundalini to Spiritual Freedom, Kaivalya Publications, Crabbes Creek NSW, x + 279 pp.
Matus, T., (2010) Yoga and the Jesus Prayer, O Books, Winchester UK & Washington DC, ix + 144 pp.
Patten, L.L. (Ed.) (2008) The Bhagavad Gita, Penguin Classics; Penguin, London, liv +234 pp.
O’Brien, J., (1996) A Meeting of Mystic Paths: Christianity and Yoga, Yes International Publishers, St. Paul, MN, xii + 175 pp.
Odier, D., (2005) Yoga Spandakarika: The Sacred Texts at the Origins of Tantra, Inner Traditions, Rochester VT, xvi + 175 pp.
Radin, D., (2013) Supernormal: Science, Yoga and the Evidence for Extraordinary Psychic Abilities, Deepak Chopra Books, New York, xxiii + 369 pp.
Samuel, G., (2008) The Origins of Yoga and Tantra: Indic Religions to the Thirteenth Century, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge UK & New York, x + 422 pp.
Sarbacker, S.R., (2005) Samādhi: The Numinous and Cessative in Indo-Tibetan Yoga, State University of New York Press, Albany NY, xi + 205 pp.
Singh, J., (1979) Śiva Sūtras: The Yoga of Supreme Identity, Motilal Banarsidass Publishers, Delhi, lxvi + 278 pp.
Singleton, M. and Goldberg, E. (Eds.), (2014) Gurus of Modern Yoga, Oxford University Press, Oxford & New York, xii + 386 pp.
Swami Prabhavananda and Isherwood, C., (2007) How to Know God: The Yoga Aphorisms of Patanjali, Vedanta Press, Hollywood CA, 256 pp.
Swami Satchidananda, (1988) The Living Gita: The Complete Bhagavad Gita, Integral Yoga Publications, Buckingham VA, xvi + 329 pp.
Swami Satchidananda, (2012) The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, Revised Edition; Integral Yoga Publications, Buckingham VA, xix + 252 pp.
Swami Vishnudevananda, (2008) Haṭha Yoga Pradīpīkā: The Classic Guide for the Advanced Practice of Haṭha Yoga, 2nd Revised Edition; Motilal Banarsidass, New Delhi, in association with the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centre, Val Morin, Quebec, xiii + 185 pp.
Wallis, C.D., (2013) Tantra Illuminated: The Philosophy, History, and Practice of a Timeless Tradition, 2nd Edition; Mattamayūra Press, Petaluma CA, 506 pp.
Yogananda, P., (2013) Autobiography of a Yogi, Hachette India, Gurgaon India, first published in 1947, 384 pp.