“I practice yoga. Why should I read about it?”

Why everyone, especially yogis, should read: 

• Reading is good for your brain, increasing blood flow and improving connectivity in the brain. 
• It increases your ability to focus and deepens your concentration.
• Reading introduces you to new ideas, different worldviews, other beliefs, diverse practices & challenging perspectives.
• It broadens cultural knowledge and knowledge of history. 
• Reading inspires and feeds your imagination. 
• Losing yourself in a good book is an excellent way to relax. 
• Reading reduces stress. 

And, of special note to older yogis, according to Yale researchers[1] who studied 3,635 people over 50,  people who read books live longer.  Other highlights from their research include: 

• Book reading provides a survival advantage among the elderly
• Books are more advantageous for survival than newspapers/magazines
• Books are protective regardless of gender, wealth, education, or health conditions.

Finally, reading is practicing yoga! Yoga is about the whole of  your life - thoughts, words, actions - body, breath, and mind.  Reading supports all these areas of your life and is an essential part of taking yoga beyond simply a physical practice.

“Reading takes us to places, thoughts and understandings that we could never make by ourselves. Reading allows us to savor, ponder and return again and again.” - Sarah Ramsden, Sports Yoga 

Ready to read about Restorative Yoga? Click here for a list of 10 recommended books.

[1] A Chapter a Day – Association of Book Reading with Longevity, by Avni Bavishi, Martin D. Slade, and Becca R. Levy. Soc Sci Med. 2016 Sep; 164: 44–48; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5105607/#R3