Recommended Reading

Mindfulness Yoga: The Awakened Union of Breath, Body, and Mind
By Frank Jude Boccio
(Wisdom Publications)
This book is the first to integrate the asana practice of Hatha Yoga with the mindfulness practice of Theravada Buddhism. It begins with an introduction to mindfulness and the Four Noble Truths and then evolves into working with the Four Foundations of Mindfulness in asana. If you’re approaching Buddhism from a yoga background, this is an excellent way to get started.

The Wisdom of Yoga: A Seeker’s Guide to Extraordinary Living
By Stephen Cope
(Bantam Books)
Stephen Cope is a psychotherapist and a longtime Kripalu Yoga teacher. In this book he integrates the Buddha’s insight of suffering into the daily lives of a series of friends who are fellow yoga practitioners. He provides a thorough teaching on the overlap of Patanjali’s yoga sutras with Theravada Buddhism, while respecting both traditions. The book provides a feel for how you might start to incorporate mindfulness in your own daily life.

The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali: Commentary on the Raja Yoga Sutras by Sri Swami Satchidananda
By Chip Hartranft
(Shambhala)
The Yoga Sutra describes how the mind causes suffering and how to bring an end to that suffering. Hartranft’s translation of these sutras is done in the context of the Buddha’s teachings on suffering and mindfulness. Taking this approach he gives us a fresh interpretation of the sutras and makes them very comprehendible. This book is a must-have reference for anyone wanting to integrate the two traditions of Buddhism and yoga.