Here are some of the resources we use. There are many others that are also good.

General Books on Asanas and Movement:

                   Body, Mind, Spirit -- Donna Farhi

                   Yin Yoga -- Paul Grilley

                   Awakening the Spine -- Vanda Scaravelli

                   Yoga for Wellness -- Gary Kraftsow

                   Yoga for the Three Stages of Life -- Sarasvati Ramaswami

                   Yoga: Mastering the Basics -- Sandra Anderson, Rolf Sovik. Himilayan Institute.

                    Yoga for Dummies -- Georg Feuerstein, Larry Payne      

Philosophy/History/Ethics:

                   Yoga and the Quest for the True Self -- Stephen Cope

                   History of Yoga -- Vivian Worthington

                   The Yoga Tradition -- Georg Feuerstein

                   Bringing Yoga to Life -- Donna Farhi

                   Teaching Yoga -- Donna Farhi

Pranayama (breathing):

                  The Breathing Book -- Donna Farhi

                  The Yoga of Breath -- Richard Rosen

                  Science of the Breath -- Swami Rama, Balentine, Hymes

Anatomy:

                 Body 3d - A Therapist's Anatomy Reader -- Thomas Myers

                 Anatomy of Movement -- Calais Germaine

                 Anatomy of Hatha Yoga -- David Coulter

                 Yoga Anatomy -- Leslie Kaminoff

Relaxation/Meditation:

                 Relax, Renew -- Judith Lasater

                 Yoga Nidra -- Richard Miller

                 Meditation -- Eknath Easwaran

You may find additional information on particular asanas (postures) on the internet at www.YogaJournal.com. In addition, there are other interesting articles. Curious?? Surf and discover.

A word on practice videos. We feel strongly that as students leave beginning level classes that they should take more responsibility for their own practice. Following a DVD/video does not constitute self-practice. The student is still following another’s voice for guidance. Self-practice means listening to your own voice. The video/DVD just permits you to take a class at home. That said, the following teachers have interesting and instructive DVDs/videos:

Paul Grilley, Sarah Powers, Erick Schiffmann and from the Himilayan Institute --Yoga: Mastering the Basics(2 tapes).

Students new to yoga may also wish to consider the Himilayan Institute's book and tapes as a good source for home review. They feature Milwaukee's own Ragani. Check her web site. She does wonderful Kirtans.

Many leading teachers of yoga (and authors above) have their own web sites. Their sites also list workshops that they offer around the world. For example for Yin Yoga there's www.pauliezink.com.

And finally, a couple of suggestions for those new to yoga:

1. Find a class at the right level for you. Never had yoga before? Then please look for an intro class that is not overly large. You deserve individual attention at this stage.

2. Know that you should always remain in control of your body. Resist peer or instructor pressure to move outside your comfort zone. Only you will feel the pain.

3. Bodies are sensitive instruments. How "far" you can move into an asana (posture) will change from day to day. The discovery and centering of the self is what it’s all about -- not whether you can touch your toes etc.

4. Be sure to let your instructor know of any physical challenges you may have.

5. Always give yourself permission not to do something, even if you can!

6. Never hold your breath and never lock yourself in place.

7. Integrate what you learn into your life.

8. Have fun.