I love books. I always have done. My childhood was full of books and reading and my Mum has bookshelves of books of all kinds. So there is never any excuse for me not to buy a new book!

My yoga bookshelf is getting pretty full, this picture is just one shelf of many,but there are a few books that I return to over and again as resources for my practice and my teaching. I’m sharing them here as they are all really accessible for any yoga student and I hope I inspire you to buy one as a gift to yourself this Christmas. They are available on Amazon unless otherwise stated.

1. Light on Yoga: The Definitive Guide to Yoga Practice by B. K. S. Iyengar

The definitive work by B.K.S. Iyengar, the world’s most respected yoga teacher. B.K.S. Iyengar devoted his life to the practice and study of yoga. It was B.K.S. Iyengar’s unique teaching style, bringing precision and clarity to the practice, as well as a mindset of ‘yoga for all’, which has made it into the worldwide phenomenon it is today. ‘Light on Yoga’ is widely called ‘the bible of yoga’ and has served as the source book for generations of yoga students around the world. It is the classic text for all serious students of yoga.

• B.K.S. Iyengar’s own photo-illustrated, step-by-step guides to every yoga routine.
• Week-by-week development plan – with a total of 300 weeks to allow gradual progression from novice to advanced technique.
• B.K.S. Iyengar’s unique and inspired guide to Pranayama – yoga breathing techniques.
• B.K.S. Iyengar’s yoga philosophy for life and an introduction to the spiritual aspects of yoga.
• Yoga sequences and asanas to help heal a range of specific illnesses and conditions.

I love the photographs of Iyengar in some amazing postures, his clarity on how poses work and their benefits and it really is a go to book.

2. Restore and Rebalance: Yoga for Deep Relaxation Paperback by Judith Lasater

Restorative yoga teacher Judith Hanson Lasater offers a program of yoga poses to help rebalance your mind and body and counteract the effects of chronic stress. Restorative yoga, says Judith Hanson Lasater, is active relaxation. It makes use of props to create positions of ease and comfort that facilitate relaxation and health. In this companion volume to her seminal book Relax and Renew, Judith Hanson Lasater, a well-known and respected yoga teacher, offers a fresh set of restorative practices--with accompanying photos--to help balance and reset the body when you feel weak, fatigued, or stressed from your daily activities. They are especially beneficial for the times before, during, and after major life events, or when you are recovering from illness or injury. Lasater points out that restorative yoga is a wonderfully adaptive practice that can be tailored to people of all ages, all levels of yoga experience, and in all states of health. Yoga practitioners and teachers will appreciate this new collection of practices and sequences that build on concepts from the first volume.

This is Judith’s most recent book and the basis for the Restorative Yoga Training I have just completed. It is a great resource for those of you who enjoy restorative yoga in class and would like to do more at home. Good photographs and step by step set ups of props. You can adapt props you don’t have with pillows, cushions, large books instead of blocks, so don’t be put off by the amount of equipment needed for some poses, you can improvise. Some poses are more complex but there are lots of simple ones that anyone can enjoy. This book opens up Yoga to everyone as a resting practice – really great for anyone with a busy or stressful lifestyle, an injury or medical issue. 20 minutes of deep rest in your week or even daily will make a huge difference to your energy, sleep patterns and general well-being.

3. The Inner Tradition Of Yoga: A Guide to Yoga Philosophy for the Contemporary Practitioner by Michael Stone

A wise, accessible guide that makes the spiritual and ethical teachings of the yogic tradition immediately relatable to our practice on the mat--and in our everyday relationships and activities. At the root of yoga practice there is a vast and intriguing philosophy that teaches the ethics of nonviolence, patience, honesty, and respect. Innovative teacher Michael Stone draws from numerous disciplines--including Buddhism and psychotherapy--to provide an in-depth, completely clear explanation of yogic philosophy, along with teachings on how to bring our understanding of yoga theory to deeper levels through our practice on the mat--and through our relationships with others. Yoga, says Stone, is a practice that helps us be more present with the actual, fluid life we are living right now--and there is no yoga without the conditions of your life. This book describes how to work with those conditions and how to fully appreciate yoga as a practice of being intimate with moment-to-moment reality.

This is a book for those of you who would like to go deeper into yoga philosophy and meditation. There is a richness to Michael’s writing which inspired me to recently complete an online meditation course with him, recorded before his untimely death. If you’ve been practising yoga and/or meditation for a while this one is for you.

4. Yoga for Pregnancy, Birth and Beyond by Francoise Barbira Freedman

Enhance your experience of pregnancy and birth with the meditative power of yoga. Step-by-step yoga postures specially adapted for each trimester, relaxation techniques and simple breathing exercises will show you how to adjust to the physical demands of labour and give birth with minimum strain. From conception to birth, help develop shared wellbeing, with the only guide to identify the real advantages of yoga for mother and baby.

Francoise is the Founder of Birthlight, dedicated to supporting women throughout their life through yoga and especially through pregnancy and into motherhood. I took my Mum and Baby Yoga and Postnatal Yoga training with Birthlight and I use a lot of Birthlight techniques through my pregnancy classes too. This is a simple, safe and accessible guide to practice yoga at home during your pregnancy.

5. Yoga for Mother & Baby by Françoise Barbira Freedman

Discover simple stretches, poses and massages that will help your flexibility and suppleness, as well as nurture the bond between you and your baby. Yoga is beneficial to everyone and with today's emphasis on a healthy lifestyle, what could be better than carrying out simple yoga exercises with your baby? Here, Francoise Barbira Freedman offers exercises for all stages of early parenthood, from basic postnatal stretches to routines you can do with children up to the age of three. The stretches have been designed to calm the mind and increase alertness, but not put strain on any part of the body. If you already practise yoga, suggestions are offered on adapting classic poses to include your baby. Also included are exercises for special babies with particular combinations of motor skills. The routines aren't just aimed at mothers - fathers and grandparents are encouraged to take part as well, and no previous experience is required.

This is the book that would be a great accompaniment to my Mum and Baby Yoga classes. It includes lots of the yoga poses we do in class for both adult and baby. The photographs are lovely. Because the book also includes yoga practices beyond crawling you will be able to use this book beyond my classes too as your baby develops into a toddler.

6. Mother's Breath: A Definitive Guide to Yoga Breathing, Sound and Awareness Practices During Pregnancy, Birth, Post-natal Recovery and Mothering by Uma Dinsmore-Tuli

The definitive guide to yoga breathing, sound and awareness practices during pregnancy, birth and postnatal recovery. Detailed, easy-to-follow practical instructions for yoga breath, sound and awareness practices for pregnancy, birth, postnatal recovery and mothering. Gripping stories and case studies of the practical application of yoga breath and sound by mothers. Includes birthing breath, pre- and postnatal sonic massage for babies, and the specific application and safe modification of classical yoga pranayama practices. An ideal reference for all women yoga students of childbearing age - and especially their teachers. Reflections on the links between conscious and unconscious breath as the basis for the hidden power of pranayama make this book a valuable reference for those teaching any form of pranayama, especially those with an interest in the practical application of pranayama skills in daily life and times of challenge. Reads like a dream!

I love this book and use many of the techniques in my Pregnancy Classes. This is a real celebration of pregnancy and birth and beyond and how the breath supports you throughout. I love the case studies as they really bring the practices to life.

7. Evolving Your Yoga by Barrie Risman

Evolving Your Yoga: Ten Principles for Enlightened Practice is your essential guide to deepening your practice ...on and off the mat. Whether you're new to yoga or have been practicing for years, this book empowers you with tools and insights to expand the way your practice supports your life. A yoga retreat in a book! "This is surely one of the most unique instructional manuals I've run across in nearly 40 years as a yoga student. Barrie, through her ten principles, teaches us how to develop an entirely personal and complete practice based on our own experience. Highly recommended." - Richard Rosen, author of Yoga FAQ "This book bestows a precious gift to every reader - an accessible and authentic exploration of the core teachings of yoga and how to apply them in modern life. This is the best yoga book to appear in a long time and belongs in every yoga teacher training." - Ellen Saltonstall, yoga teacher and author of Anatomy and Yoga and The Bodymind Ballwork Method

Barrie is my most recent yoga teacher. She is dedicated to yoga, its practice and benefits at every level. She is particularly interested in how we develop a personal yoga practice not just in class, but at home and also off the mat. This book is fantastic for helping you to consider where your yoga practice is, what it is, how you can expand your practice in simple ways and how to live your yoga more fully. It is suitable for beginners but especially those who have been practising yoga for a while. The book includes some great sequences with clear photographs and some journaling exercises. There are also bonus materials online as well.

8. Total Yoga Nidra CD- a selection of practices for everyday use Uma and Nirlipta Dinsmore-Tuli

73 Minutes of yoga nidra delivered by Uma Dinsmore Tuli and Nirlipta Tuli to give you a choice of different yoga nidra experiences. Ideally, the practices are done lying down: so get comfortable, and warm enough to rest still and quiet for the length of your chosen track. We recommend a blanket to cover you, and a pillow or two, either just under your head, or also under the knees. If it’s not possible to lie down, you can do the practices sitting up, just be sure you are well supported and able to relax physically. Available at https://www.yoganidranetwork.org/

Ok, this isn’t technically a book but this is a must have in your yoga collection! Yoga nidra or yogic sleep is a state of consciousness between waking and sleeping. It is seen as a form of deep rest and deep meditation. It is very easy to do and suitable for anyone – you just lie down comfortably and listen to the guided instructions. Some forms of yoga nidra can be used to heal, including challenges such as insomnia, anxiety and trauma. At its simplest level a yoga nidra practice will re-balance, restore and rejuvenate. You will see huge benefits if you practice Yoga Nidra at least once in your week.

9. Making Happy Work: A beginner's guide to navigating the world with meditation by Mick Timpson and Katy Ratican

Want to be happy? Do you want to know your purpose and live in a meaningful, fulfilling way? Meditation teacher and inner architect Mick Timpson leads this call to change. Making Happy Work takes the reader on a meditation journey of eight parts which, stage-by-stage, build up into a simple, easy-to-use, powerful practice that can be incorporated into daily activities. The key to making happy work is not what you do in life that matters, but how you live through your life. This is a timely book for the modern world.

Written by my meditation teacher, this book is the accompaniment to my 8 week Meditation Course. A must have if you have taken the course, and if you can’t get to a course this would be a good place to start to approach a meditation practice that is simple and accessible. Suitable for beginners and experienced meditator’s alike.

10 Practice You: A Journal by Elena Brower

When the way forward seems uncertain and we're running low on energy and heart, where do we turn for help we can trust? For yoga luminary, meditation teacher, and artist Elena Brower, the answer has always been close at hand. "Whenever I've needed guidance, strength, or centering, I turn to my journals. Why? Because the answers we seek so often are found within ourselves." Now, for those compelled to the pen and page, Elena invites us to gather our own wisdom through writing, self-inquiry, and reflection. Practice You is a portable sacred sanctuary to play, create, record fleeting gems of insight, find our ground, clarify our dreams and goals, and bear witness to our evolution. With more than 150 beautiful pages of questions, teachings, inspiring imagery--and plenty of space to write, draw, and return to--this journaling adventure guides readers into nine life-changing portals to our highest ways of living.

If you like to journal, or would like to start, this is a gorgeous book which is almost too lovely to write in! Elena gives inspiration to help you enquire about your life, yoga and all that connects the two. This would make a beautiful gift, but also get one for yourself!

10 Yoga books to add to your Christmas list