Traditional Herbal Medicine
Prakriti: Your Ayurvedic Constitution by Robert Svoboda
An excellent introduction to Ayurveda, this book gives a basic understanding of doshic theory and its practical applications.
Ayurveda: The Science of Self-Healing by Dr. Vasant Lad
Dr. Lad is one of the world’s foremost teachers of Ayurveda. This is his primer on Ayurveda.
Complete Book of Ayurvedic Home Remedies by Dr. Vasant Lad
A handy reference with many useful home remedies in this book.
The Way of Herbs by Michael Tierra, LAc, OMD
This simplified materia medica offers information about the major herbs of the Western canon (and a few from Ayurveda and TCM) in a comprehensible format for beginners. What is special about it is that it provides the energetics for these herbs, so that Western folks can incorporate local, Western herbs into their lifestyle within a principle-based Ayurvedic or TCM framework. He also offers two companion books, the Way of Ayurvedic Herbs and The Way of Chinese Herbs.
Ayurveda: Art of Being DVD This DVD captures the beauty and power of Ayurveda in its traditional context and usage and shows off its relevance to the modern world.
Yoga Resources
Asana Pranayama Mudra Bandha by Swami Satyananda Sarasvati
If you need a reference book for the postures, etc, this is the one. A Bihar School classic.
Yoga Nidra by Swami Satyananda Sarasvati
Use this book to understand yoga nidra and make your own recordings for your personal practice.
Hatha Yoga Pradipika by Swami Muktibodhananda
One of the most important classic texts for yoga practice. It is a traditional practice manual. Check out Dharmanidhi Sarasvati’s recorded lectures on this text (available through the online store at Trika Institute) to understand the esoteric implications of the structure and content of this treasure.
Dharma Reading
Dragon’s Play by Liu Ming (listed as Charles Belyea & Stephen Tainer)
This elegant Orthodox Daoist teaching about the twelve stage View is beautifully rendered and easy to understand. The illustrations inspire the reader to take his time reading it and duly contemplate each stage.
Kashmir Shaivism by Kamalaka Mishra
An easy but thorough intro to Kashmiri Shaivist Tantra, my copy of this book has served me so well that the text on almost every page underlined and highlighted. For those who are wondering how the real tantric philosophy is stands apart from what they sell at the new age workshops, start here.
Training the Mind by Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche
One of my favorite reads, this book’s subtitle is, “Training Loving-Kindness.” It is Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche’s teaching on the precepts.
Yoga Nidra Recordings
Yoga Nidra by Dharmanidhi Sarasvati
Sri’s favorite yoga nidra recording. Year after year of listening to the same track, it just doesn’t get old!
Experience Yoga Nidra by Swami Janakanada Sarasvati
A little higher production value, this yoga nidra recording is very nice.
Perinatal Health
Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth by Ina May Gaskin
Learn about sphincter law and other fun and empowering reasons to be excited about natural childbirth. Half of the book is devoted to birth stories written by new moms.
After the Baby’s Birth: A Woman’s Guide to Wellness: A Complete Guide for Postpartum Women by Robin Lim
A great field guide to the postpartum period, including a small listing of herbs for reference.
Natural Health After Birth: The Complete Guide to Postpartum Wellness by Aviva Jill Romm
Cooking and General Health
Nourishing Traditions: The Cookbook That Challenges Politically Correct Nutrition and the Diet Dictocrats by Sally Fallon
This cookbook offers recipes that comply with many of the dietary precepts set down by Weston A. Price. This reference is valuable not just for the recipes it offers, but for the articles preceding each section. These well-written and well-researched passages provide support for the naturalistic dietary overhaul project that more and more people seem to embarking upon as our culture wakes up from its over-stimulated and sugar-crashed, preservative-pickled and genetically-modified, over-processed and under-nourished dietary daze.
Wild Fermentation: The Flavor, Nutrition, and Craft of Live-Culture Food by Sandor Ellix Katz
Get your fermentation on! This book has some great instructions about making your own pickles, yogurt, even your own wine.
The Book of Jook by Bob Flaws
Jook. It’s what’s for breakfast. Find lots of tasty recipes to bring variety to your morning, or better yet, to cater your breakfast to the season and your present state of balance/imbalance.
The Heart’s Code: Tapping the Wisdom and Power of Our Heart Energy by Paul Pearsall
Learn about the intelligence of the heart organ and its implications for self-healing of this psychoneuroimmunologist. The medical science and the personal experiences of the author are moving.
Parenting Resources
Natural Family Living by Peggy O’Mara
I hate the term ‘attachment parenting’, but whaddayagonnado? This is a nice family reference with ideas for common childrearing issues. The information and statistics also come in handy when it comes to bringing around the old guard, cry-it-out enthusiasts. You still might be unpopular, but at least you’ll sound researched.
For Children
Yoga Education for Children by Swami Satyananda Sarasvati
Inspirational and practical, too.
A Kid’s Herb Book by Lesley Tierra, LAc, AHG
Help your children learn about the wild and wonderful world of herbs by making safe and effective teas, linaments, formentations and more. Learn to recognize herbs and make your own lozenges, herbal baths, mouthwashes, even medicinal cookies!
