Best Yoga and Pilates Books

Yoga and Pilates are two of the most popular forms of group exercise across the world and it’s easy to understand why. Regardless of your ability level and past experience, there are a range of physical and mental benefits to be gained on the mat with either form of exercise. Accessibility is also a contributing factor; you’ll never be short of finding a yoga or Pilates class in your local gym or boutique health club. If you’re browsing online then you’ll be absolutely spoilt for choice, not just with the many notable teachers and instructors already offering online workouts but there’s been a recent rise in bespoke yoga and Pilates online services as well.

If you already have an interest and in yoga and Pilates and you’ve found yourself with perhaps a bit more free time recently, here’s a great selection of books to help broaden your understanding and help refine your own practice. The beauty of this selection is that you need you don’t need to be an experienced Pilates instructor or yoga teacher at all, each book is easy to grasp and will hopefully prove hard to put down. Happy reading. 

Return to Life Through Contrology 

For those that don’t know, Pilates began life as ‘Contrology’ and was developed by the eponymous Joseph Pilates. Written by Joseph Pilates and William John Miller, this short but seminal book is essential reading for anyone with even a passing interest in Pilates. It explores the fundamental principles of ‘Contrology’ and includes explanations and illustrations of the original 34 exercises, and yes that’s Joseph himself demonstrating them.

For more about the man himself, this brief origins and history of Pilates is as interesting as it is inspiring.

Hatha Yoga Pradipika

Written in the 15th century CE by Svatmarama, this is said to be one of oldest surviving hatha yoga texts, hatha perhaps being the most prominent form or style of yoga. Pradipika means ‘light’ and that’s exactly what this book does, shedding light on the physical yoga poses that we all know so well (officially called asanas), finger and hand positions (mudras), breathing exercises (pranayama) and concentration achieved through meditation (samadhi).

Pilates

A straightforward title if there ever was one. Written by world-renowned teacher Rael Isacowitz, this is a fantastic read for Pilates enthusiasts, experts, or if you feel like you fall somewhere in-between. It covers a range of mat work exercises, exercises performed using apparatus, such as the reformer, and provides guidance on alignment and structure. 

The Goddess Pose: The Audacious Life on Indra Devi, the Woman Who Helped Yoga to the West

Michelle Goldberg provides a fascinating biography of Eugenie Peterson, who eventually became known as Indra Devi. Indra has been dubbed the ‘first lady of yoga’ not just because she was the first woman to study under the great Krishnamacharya (himself dubbed ‘the father of modern yoga’), but also because she’s credited as bringing yoga to Hollywood. 

Mindfulness: A Practical Guide to Awakening

This is perhaps one more geared to yogis than Pilates enthusiasts, but regardless of which camp you find yourself in, this book on mindfulness (possibly the movement of the 21st century) is essential reading. Written by Joseph Goldstein who can considered one of the West’s most revered meditation teachers, this is fantastic guide to finding for inner peace. 

If you are keen to develop your knowledge about Pilates or yoga perhaps in a more formal way and become a qualified teacher, take a look at this selection of Pilates instructor courses and yoga teacher training.

Written by Josh Douglas-Walton, a health and fitness writer for HFE, the UK’s leading provider of personal trainer courses and fitness qualifications.