Top Ten Gift Ideas for an Advanced Yoga Practitioner

Hatha Yoga practice has been around (in Western countries as well as, of course, in her motherland, India) long enough to have produced not only an ever-increasing number of new students, but also quite a few more advanced practitioners. If there's someone on your gift list who has been practicing yoga asana, fairly regularly and seriously, for, say, upwards of five years, here are some things that they'd probably really benefit from, and enjoy …

1.A new translation of/commentary on Patanjali's "Yoga Sutras" or Narada's "Bhakti Sutras." The "Yoga Sutras" is one of the foundational scriptures of Hatha Yoga philosophy ~ really a must-have for any serious practitioner. So a new or hard-to-come-by translation of this classic text makes a great gift. "The Science Of Yoga" by I.K. Taimni, with its extensive and unique commentary, is one I would highly recommend. Narada's "Bhakti Sutras" outlines the path of Bhakti Yoga ~ the Yoga of Devotion, and is another Yoga philosophy text that serious students will find illuminating.

2.A singing bowl. A wonderful gift for advanced yoga students who also are teachers. Singing bowls were brought to us originally via the Tibetan tradition. They are small, medium-sized or large inverted bells, which can be made to "sing," i.e. to sound forth in a continuous modulation of sound ~ very beautiful! They can be used, of course, to deepen ones own practice, but are especially nice for teachers, who can "sing" to their students during Savasana or sitting meditation ~ the final poses of a yoga asana practice.

3.A Zafu & Zabutan for sitting meditation. A sitting meditation practice is a useful and perhaps even necessary compliment to a deep yoga asana practice, providing a context to work more exclusively with mind. An excellent gift, for your friends who don't already have these, is a Zafu (round cushion) and Zabutan (square padding that the cushion sits on).

4.American Sanskrit Institute's "Sanskrit By CD" series. The original language of a majority of scriptures of the Yoga Tradition is Sanskrit. And almost all of the chanting associated with Yoga practice is the chanting of Sanskrit mantras or prayers. So to embark upon a formal study of this "mother of all languages" is indeed a noble (if a bit daunting) endeavor. Happily, the Sanskrit Institute, with their excellent CD/tape instructional series, as well as their "live" teaching programs, has made this a workable option.

5.Program credit at Feathered Pipe Foundation. Feathered Pipe Foundation offers a wide variety of Yoga retreats and training programs, with many wonderful asana instructors. So a gift of generic "program credit" at Feathered Pipe will allow your yoga friend to pick and choose the program(s) that most interest them.

6.A "treasure-chest" of Superfoods & Helpful Balms. Those who go deep into Yoga asana practice will of course suffer from the occasional injury, or at the least some fairly sore muscles! Some great "super-foods" supportive of radiant physical health, strength and stamina, include Goji Berries, Tulsi Tea, and LifeForce "Body Balance" (a liquid supplement that is the equivalent, basically, of a world-class multi-vitamin). And to recover quickly from the occasional injury, every yogi should, in my opinion, have in their medicine chest the following creams, balms, etc.: arnica cream, Tiger Balm, Tea Tree Oil or cream, and Bach Flower's Rescue Remedy. A gift package which includes some or all of these will, for sure, be greatly appreciated!
7."Kashmir Shaivism: The Secret Supreme" by Swami Lakshmanjoo or "Tantric Quest" by Daniel Odier. These two books provide an excellent introduction to the tradition of Kashmir Shaivism ~ a form of Hindu Tantra which has been much misunderstood in the West. Important and interesting reading for advanced asana practitioners.

8."Form Of Beauty: The Krishna Art Of B.G. Sharma" with text by Swami Tripurari. For those who love visual art, this small book is a feast for the eyes and heart alike … All of the painting feature Sri Krishna (the "King of Yogis") in his various roles as warrior, lover, butter-thief, etc. A delightful companion for the serious (and playful and aesthetically sensitive) yoga practitioner.

9.Framed photo of a famous yogi (e.g. B.K.S. Iyengar, K. Patabhi Jois, Sri Ramakrishna, Shankaracharya, Yogananda, Nityanda). To have a beautifully-framed photograph of a Yoga Master who is particularly inspiring to us, is a wonderful support for practice. So find out who your friend's "Yoga heroes" are, locate an excellent photograph (or painting) of them, put it in a nice frame, and voila! ~ you've created a stunning gift, to be cherished for years to come.

10."The Yoga Matrix" or "Studio Talks" by Richard Freeman. Among contemporary Yoga teachers, few are as adept at presenting Yoga philosophy in as deep and creative and engaging way, as is Richard Freeman. Interweaving Sanskrit chanting, insights from Buddha Dharma, Taoist practice and Sufism, and modern philosophy, Mr. Freeman brings to life, and makes relevant to our contemporary practice, the ancient philosophies of the Yoga Traditions.