Louise has personally hand-picked a selection of the best books on yoga, meditation, nutrition, life-coaching, amongst other things, to inspire you and to broaden and deepen you wellbeing practices.
You can read Louise’s reviews of these books here. We’d love to hear your reviews too! You can order super easily below or check out our local friends at DamnFineBooks. If you have books that have changed your life that you would like me to review just let me know.
The Positive Balance CD and book shop is provided by Amazon.com so you get the best international prices. All prices are listed in $US but it will show in $NZ once you get to the checkout. You will need to use your own www.amazon.com account to process your order – you can easily create one with a click of the mouse once you have selected your books and CD’s if you don’t have one already
Happy Shopping!
Order here: www.amazon.com/PositiveBalanceShop
Bringing Yoga to Life – Donna Fahri
Donna Fahri is one of the best known and respected yoga teachers in the world. Her take on integrating yoga into your life, making it live on and off the mat is fascinating.
I really enjoyed this book and will read again and again. I find something new to ponder in it time and time again. Donna’s book brings the ancient philosophies of yoga into the context of our lives in modern times. This book is an excellent accompaniment to that and an inspiration for anyone looking to deepen their yoga practice. I would wholeheartedly recommend it.
Order your copy here: www.amazon.com/PositiveBalanceShop
The Wisdom Of Yoga – Stephen Cope
I read this book over Christmas and just devoured it on the beach. I loved Cope’s honesty with his own struggles with yoga and how he worked through these to achieve amazing insights into his self and his fellow yogi’s.
Stephen is a psychotherapist as well as a yoga teacher and so his exploration of the mental and emotional side of yoga is from really unique perspective. He discussed not just his yoga journey but that of a small group of his peers, all very different, with their own challenges in daily life, and through that gives an excellent insight into how meditation and yoga and learning to listen to the voice inside can bring a tremendous amount of peace and joy to every day life.
Order your copy here: www.amazon.com/PositiveBalanceShop
The Sivananda Companion to Yoga – The Sivananda Yoga Centre (Fireside)
One of the set texts from my Yoga Teacher Trainers Course this text is a great overview of the Sivananda style of yoga and it’s guiding principles. You can use this to deepen your all round yoga practice as well as to improve your asana practice. As Sivananda students it’s also a great way to understand more about the Sivananda lineage of yoga, handed down teacher to teacher over time.
Order your copy here: www.amazon.com/PositiveBalanceShop
The Happiness Project: Gretchen Rubin
I just love Gretchen’s style. This is one of the most accessible self-help books written in years. Non-preachy and very funny, you cannot help but be inspired by Gretchen’s yearlong experiment to introduce more happiness into her life. A busy working mother and wife she shows how with small steps in small amounts of time we can make big gains in terms of everyday happiness. Love it.
Order your copy here: www.amazon.com/PositiveBalanceShop
Loving What Is – Byron Katie
Byron Katie is nothing short of a legend in the coaching world. Her unique take on changing our thought processes to make us happier has been life changing for hundreds of thousands of people worldwide. Her work can take a while to wrap your head around but is so worth the effort. It’s something I personally use everyday as well as enriching the lives of my clients.
Byron Katie’s work is really a radical form of cognitive therapy which makes you aware that almost all of our ‘problems’ and the negativity we feel is caused by our thoughts.
It’s not the easiest book or concept but I have chosen it as once you ‘get it’ it’s one of the most powerful things you can learn.
Order your copy here: www.amazon.com/PositiveBalanceShop
Eat. Pray. Love – Elizabeth Gilbert
Oh My God I love this book. Way way more than just a novel, the story of Elizabeth’s post divorce travels to find herself are the tale of an incredible soul vacation that leaves her changed forever. There are so many parallels for me with my own soul vacation in 2001/2002 that I feel this book was the book I was meant to write goddamn it! Except Elizabeth has written it so much more beautifully and clearly than I ever could have done.
The film is a pale imitation of the book. The book is filled with insight on every page. This should be on everyone’s bookshelf!
Order your copy here: www.amazon.com/PositiveBalanceShop
The Alchemist – Paulo Coelho
This is without question one of the most beautifully written books of all time. It’s sold a gazillion copies around the world in every language ever written. It’s a deceptively simply written parable of finding happiness. It’s a book I return to again and again; every time I find a different sentence or message that resonates which is just what I need to hear at that time. It really is the most profound yet simple spiritual book, so easy to read. Read it slow and absorb every magical word.
Order your copy here: www.amazon.com/PositiveBalanceShop
Mindless Eating – Brian Wansink
Chosen by the fabulous Claire Turnbull (Mission Nutrition) as one of her two top nutrition book recommendations (until her own book comes out of course!) this book will change the way you think about your next meal.
As a food psychologist Brian Wansink revolutionizes our awareness of how much, what, and why we’re eating—often without realizing it. His findings will astound you.
• Can the size of your plate really influence your appetite?
• Why do you eat more when you dine with friends?
• What “hidden persuaders” are used by restaurants and supermarkets to get us to overeat?
• How does music or the color of the room influence how much—and how fast—we eat?
• How can we “mindlessly” lose—instead of gain—up to twenty pounds in the coming year?
Starting today, you can make more mindful, enjoyable, and healthy choices at the dinner table, in the supermarket, at the office—wherever you satisfy your appetite.
Order your copy here: www.amazon.com/PositiveBalanceShop
Nutrition for Life – Catherine Saxelby
Recommended by the fabulous Claire Turnbull (Mission Nutrition) as one of her two top nutrition book recommendations (until her own book comes out of course!) this book is for all those of us who are tired of too many complicated and unrealistic books about nutrition.
In one user-friendly, practical and readable package in the same clear style that made earlier editions of ‘Nutrition for Life’ a classic comes a newly revised and completely updated version in light of the latest research on food and nutrition.
Catherine Saxelby puts the latest facts and figures at your fingertips, and returns the power for your own health and wellbeing to you. This book will provide the answers to many of your questions about nutrition and health. Learn all about: * weight and body shape * diets and diet products * vitamins and supplements * antioxidants * super foods * allergies and special diets and much more. Catherine also debunks food myths and offers practical ways to improve the average diet, including tips to cut down on fat and salt, ideas to boost fibre, and handy menu guides. The book also provides a comprehensive nutrition glossary and directory with websites.
Order your copy here: www.amazon.com/PositiveBalanceShop
