Shop - Yoganama - Yoga, Ayurveda, Philosophy for everyday life

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Curated Products

I receive many requests for recommendations related to Yoga, Ayurveda, home cooking, and my other interests. So rather than attempting to answer such queries individually, I have set up this page with links to some of the books and products I have found most useful. Please note that some of these are affiliate links, and Yoganama may get a small commission if you purchase an item. However, everything I recommend here is something that I either own or have used and appreciated.

Categories

Kitchen & Others

Yoga Tools

Foam Roller

Lightweight, handy, good for gentle massage and to improve flexibility. If you're looking for moderate pressure, this is a good option. Else you can go for one with more spikes/bumps.

Skudgear Camera Remote, Iphone Camera Remote

iPhone Camera Remote

Very useful and handy for any social media influencer or casual phone photographer. Allows me to click a lot of my yoga photos with great ease.

Portable Phone Stand

Portable mobile phone stand

A handy stand to set up the mobile to take yoga photos or videos. Can fit into the purse making it easy to carry with you while travelling.

Yoga wear, cotton shorts

Cotton Shorts for Yoga Practice

Comfortable cotton shorts that I use for at-home yoga practice.

Strauss Massage Ball

Strauss Yoga Massage Ball

An excellent tool to have handy around the house. I even take it with me every time I travel. It's a very self-sufficient way to release tight spots and give yourself a little massage.

Iyengar Chair by Friends of Meditation

I bought it in May 2018 and it's still in good condition. I was most worried about rust in the Mumbai humidity but even after 2 rainy seasons, it is intact.

YogiKuti Cotton Yoga Blanket

I wanted a cotton blanket for my meditation and yoga practice. I've had it with me for a year and it is great. It's soft, made of natural fibre has a rustic charm to it and I use it as much for my meditation seat as for my headstand support!

The Sweatshop Yoga Wheel

The SweatShop Yoga Wheel

I've been using it for two years and it's been working well. I like the nice bright colours and it is fully functional. No issues to date.

Philosophy and Yoga Books

Yoga in India, Imogen Moore, Dr. Otto Stricker

Yoga Schools Reviewed

This book reviews 24 Yoga Institutes in India giving a brief overview of them. It's a useful book if you are looking to find a place to pursue your yoga studies/TTC. The good thing is that this is a first-hand account as the authors travelled to each of these places. However, I would recommend doing your own research before finally choosing a place.

Mudras by Gertrud Hirschi

Mudras by Gertrud Hirschi

A brief yet comprehensive book which explains many of the hand Mudras from Tantra and Buddhism. I have mixed views on some of the claims made about the benefits of each mudra but it is a useful reference book.

Shiva Sutras, Siva Sutras, Jaideva Singh

Siva Sutras by Jaideva Singh

I really like this book and how it summarizes the Shiva Sutras. It's a good introduction to Kashmiri Saivism and an easier read for someone who is already familiar with Patanjali's Yoga Sutras.

Mahabharata Box set by Bibek Debroy, Mahabharata Translation

Mahabharata Box Set by Bibek Debroy

A laborious but word by word translation of Mahabharata. Gets repetitive but if you are curious about the subject and not a Sanskrit speaker, it is worth exploring.

Yoga for Wellness by Gary Kraftsow, Viniyoga

Yoga for Wellness by Gary Kraftsow

This is a book on Viniyoga and covers the therapeutic aspects of Yoga and mind-body movements. This is not like the typical yoga books with lots of postures but is a good book for stress management and mindfulness.

Sarva Darsana Sangraha by E.B. Cowell

Sarva Darsana Sangraha

Reviews all the different schools of Indian Philosophy. For those interested in the original schools of philosophy of ancient India - this is a useful reference book to own.

Complete Illustrated Book of Yoga by Vishnudevananda

Complete Illustrated Book of Yoga

While there are a lot of books that give details of postures, I particularly like this one for the overall commentary and insights into the philosophical and metaphysical aspects of Yoga. Very succinct and easy to read.

Yoga Mala Pattabhi Jois

Yoga Mala by Pattabhi Jois

It's an interesting book and a worthwhile read for any student of Yoga.

Yoga Sutras by Swami Veda Bharti

Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras by Swami Veda Bharti

A good reference book to have if you're looking to deep dive into the Yoga Sutras.

Yoga Therapy by AG Mohan

Yoga Therapy & Ayurveda

A strong foundational book which introduces the Vini Yoga style of practice. Do not expect to find lots of postures and advanced practices here. It is a therapy book to the core and focusses on simple breath-based movements.

Gudrun Buhnemann, 84 Asanas in Yoga

84 Asanas in Yoga

A beautiful book with the history of postural yoga and a reprinted collection of 84 postures as given in a medieval book on Hatha Yoga, called Jogapradipika by Jayatarama

Yoga Anatomy by Lesli Kaminoff

Yoga Anatomy by Leslie Kaminoff

Every student of Yoga must study anatomy. I cannot reiterate this enough. Most TTCs don't really cover the subject in detail so a lot of self-study is required. This book is relatively easier to read and has clear visual images. You will need to study more, but this is a good beginning.

Raja Yoga by Swami Vivekananda

Raja Yoga by Swami Vivekananda

This is a book every yoga practitioner must read. It sets the context for the Yoga Sutras and also introduces the reader to Swami Vivekananda's adverse views on Hatha Yoga. Something to keep in mind as you start your journey of physical asana practices.

Yoga and Kriya by Bihar School of Yoga

Yoga and Kriya: A Systematic course by Bihar School of Yoga

"How can I start a home Yoga Practice?" - This is the most common question I receive. I must add that nothing can compare to working with an actual teacher. But when you really have no one around here's a relatively safe book to start your practice.

Introduction to Indian Philosophy

An Introduction to Indian Philosophy

I accidentally came across this book one day and decided to pick it up. I’m glad I did. You could perhaps read this even before the Upanishads - It talks about the Darshanas and the schools of Indian Philosophy in a very readable manner. Even though both authors are PhDs they’ve done a wonderful job of keeping the book simple and informative.

Vedas

The Vedas: Samhitas of 4 Vedas

This is one colossal compendium of all Vedic hymns from Rig, Yajur, Sama and Atharva Vedas. All have been translated into English. This was written in 1896 and is not a book I’d say one would read word by word…the font is really small and the content is vast. But here's to say such a book exists. :)

Upanisads by Patrick Olivelle

Upanisads

It is a scholarly book so can appear a bit heavy to read. But it just takes a bit of getting used to. Once you get into the flow and get familiar with his style it picks up momentum on its own.

Meditation Vishnudevananda Mantras

Meditation and Mantras

A great book on the science of meditation by Swami Vishnudevananda. I'd picked up this book before going for the Sivananda TTC. I left the TTC in five days but I really enjoyed some of the books from the tradition.

Upanishads Ram Piparaiya

Ten Upanishads of Four Vedas

It is a wonderful and well-researched summary of the key Upanishads. Unfortunately, it does not have actual Sanskrit text but it is an excellent reference book that gives a very interesting and readable overview. Disclaimer: He is my father-in-law, but even if he wasn’t I’d still recommend this book. He passed away in March 2018.

Kitchen & Others

Borgonovo Indro Bottle

I tried many glass bottles before settling on this one. Metal caps rust, small-mouth bottles are Uber hard to clean and most others just break too easily. I bought the first lot in Jan 2016 and still using them in 2020. These carafes are made in Italy, strong, durable, lead-free, and super easy to clean!

Knife Sharpener

Keeps the kitchen knives sharp, making it easier to chop and that helps keep the wrists safe. I also use to sharpen the blades of some of my blenders.

Braun Hand Blender

I've been using this hand blender for 4 years now and it is an indispensable part of my cooking process. It enables me to work faster and more efficiently in the kitchen - leaving me time to focus on other responsibilities as well.

Laptop Table

A functional table that allows me to work while standing or sitting on the floor. Comes with a laptop cooling fan, though I haven't really used that feature. I bought it because the table height is adjustable.

Steam Inhaler

A very handy tool to take steam conveniently without standing over a stovetop. It gives out soft, misty steam at just the right temperature. Useful for those with seasonal energies or recovering from cold and flu.

Appe or Paniyaram Pan

I wanted another way to use the Idli-dosa batter. And Paniyaram seemed just right as you don't have to stand over them as they cook. So, I got myself this Appe Pan.

Cast Iron Frypan

This is a pre-seasoned cast iron frypan with a lifetime warranty. It's high quality, authentic, and a good replacement for nonstick cookware.

Marseille Blue Traditional Kettle

Kettles are very quick for boiling water and the whistle option gives you a signal when it's ready so you don't have to keep checking on it.

Marseille Blue Teapot

For chai lovers, this is an elegant teapot that helps keep the tea warm if you're not immediately drinking it. And the blue helps bring a sense of coolness to my ginger-spiced chai recipe

KitchenAid Spiralizer Attachment

KitchenAid Stainless Steel Spiralizer Attachment with Peel, Core and Slice

I had bought this spiralizer attachment as a packaged deal when I bought the KitchenAid itself. Initially, I couldn't find much use for it but over time it has become a handy tool in the kitchen. The small attachments are dishwasher safe making them very convenient to use. It does the job, it's fun and saves a lot of time.

Document storage, Storage Box, Card board box, not plastic, Yellow box, Mustard box

Document Storage Box

I always have a lot of notes and loose papers that I have scribbled on lying all over the house. So I put them all in this box and use them to finish my writing projects as and when the need arises. Very handy, classy and useful!

Pink Glass Bottle, eco friendly

Pink Glass Bottle

I like that these bottles come with a silicone case to protect them. They're handy to travel with or to take to a yoga class. Vibrant colours and a hook in the cap to carry around.

ancient heriloom wheat aata, TWF Reliq Flour

Heirloom Wheat Flour by TWF

An interesting flour with a rich texture. I like the brand and their products, however, the taste and texture will not be like the Rotis made with highly processed flour. It's very rustic and I like that.

Mi Band 3

Mi Band – fitness tracker of choice

I love the price point and it does a good job. Great for counting steps but I divide the *Calories burnt* figure by three as it seems to give abnormally high numbers.

Weighing Scale, Kitchen tools

Kitchen Weighing Scale

A very handy tool to have in the kitchen. And a necessary one if you're looking to lose weight and get into a calorie deficit. Very effective in ensuring we track with accuracy.

SIlicone Stretch Lids

Reusable Silicone stretch lids

I often have a lot of leftovers and half cut fruits, these lids are really helpful to keep the products snugly covered in the fridge.

Whole Wheat Flour, Healthy aata, TWF

Whole Wheat Flour

Milled to order whole wheat flour that I've been using for many months now.

Ayurveda

Samahan Tea

Samahan Tea

A shopkeeper recommended it to me in Rishikesh and now it's a staple in my medicine box. Anytime I feel a sore throat or a cold coming on I brew a cup of this tea.

Ayurveda Yoga Dosha Type

Yoga for Your Type by David Frawley

This book gives a comprehensive overview of how to incorporate Ayurvedic principles for your yoga practice. There is detailed information on which Asanas are suitable for each Dosha along with pictures and instructions.

Ayurveda David Frawley

Ayurveda Nature’s Medicine by David Frawley

David Frawley, aka Pandit Vamadeva Shastri, is one of the most popular Ayurveda practitioners of our times. He blends the essential elements of Yoga and Ayurveda and creates a holistic approach to healing. Any book by him is worth picking up but if you need to choose one - I'd start with this.

Ayurveda Dr. Svoboda

Ayurveda by Dr. Svoboda

Dr. Svoboda needs no introduction in the Ayurveda circles. This is a good book to add to your collection but not necessarily a great first book on Ayurveda. If you are very familiar with Ayurveda then definitely consider this book.

Ayurveda The science of Healing

Ayurveda: The science of self-healing

A good book to start your Ayurveda journey. Dr Vasant Lad is a leading authority on Ayurveda. You can even look up some of his free YouTube Videos - they are insightful and entertaining. He has a good sense of humour :)