The Language of Yoga by Nicolai Bachman
By far the most inclusive book I have bought to date, late me emphasize "Bought". I am not one to buy books lately after my book cleansing four years ago where I cleaned 10 floor to ceiling bookshelves out of my dinning room and vowed to never clutter up my life again. The only other time I was privy to this much information
was during my teacher training, but I did not care for their format as much. This book is packed with Ashtanga Sequences (including chants, counting in Sanskrit, etc) and Asana Names. It then has an alphabetical listing of asanas with pronunciation an translation. It finishes with a glossary that cross references asana names with their synonyms in Sanskrit (Adho Mukha Virasana also known as Balasana) and then gives another section with English Names(Plow: Halasana).
Great for teachers, especially those whose certifications are done over the course of a weekend – learn what the asanas are classically called – you owe it to yourself and your students (seriously "Turkish Twist" is not a pose name, neither is "Sit Indian Style"). The book even has an introduction that explains the importance of knowing the classical names, it isn’t an elitist thing – it is an anatomical, understanding the pose thing.
The book comes with two CDs with pronunciations – if you are like me and love languages – love learning yoga academically in the mind as well as physical through the body – this is a real treat.
Pick this book up, I got mine on Amazon and it was well worth it. It contains small illustrations of each posture which are quite good considering the are less than an inch or so big.
I give this book 7 out of 7.
