Meditation and Yoga Recommendations

​I have been practicing daily meditation for eighteen years and yoga for sixteen years. I’m a naturally anxious person.  In a previous generation I may have been called a “worry wart,” but in the modern era it’s called Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Anyway, practicing yoga and meditation keeps me calm(er) and focused.
 
These are some of the books, products, website and apps that have helped with my daily practice. My top suggestions are bolded. As a side note, these recommendations are not sponsored or affiliate links.

​Yoga Videos

The Crunch Candlelight Yoga
Includes a lot of modification for poses, so this is perfect for someone who has never done yoga or rarely practices. It’s also great if you’re injured or you need to relax without any “challenge” poses.
 
Namaste Yoga (with Kate Potter)
This is my favorite yoga practice and I’ve been doing these 22-minute flows for almost two decades. Unfortunately, the DVDs are pretty hard to find and the digital downloads are pricey. The good is, they still play these as episodes on television, so if you find them, DVR them and keep them forever.
 
Yoga with Adrienne
Adrienne has a yoga practice for every skill level and every situation! I always use her pre and post run stretches for my jogs.
 
Cosmic Kids Yoga Adventures
​This is great for getting young kids into yoga. These short videos use yoga movements and a green screen to guide children through an exciting adventure and meditative practice. 

​Meditation Videos, Websites, Apps

Buddha Net 
A large collection of breathing and relaxation instruction and guided meditations.
 
Kelly Howell  
Amazing guided, silent, and sleeping meditations using binaural beats. Binaural beats are a whole other, extensive topic, but in short, they’re sound frequencies designed to stimulate different parts of your brain.
 
Headspace
A guided meditation phone app offering dozens of courses and daily meditations. Very useful, but also expensive at around $100 per year.
 
Insight Timer
​Similar to Headspace, but free. With over 150,000 meditations of varying quality, it can be hard to navigate.

Books

Zen and the Ways by Trevor Leggett
Gives a sweeping history of Zen Buddhism and its relationship to other aspects of life. Also includes translations of rare Buddhist texts.
 
Zen Flesh, Zen Bones
A collection of ancient Zen koans, which are stories meant to encourage meditation and introspection.
 
The Web that has no Weaver
A discussion on Chinese medicine and how to incorporate Eastern ideas into Western medical treatments. 

What are your favorite yoga/meditation guides? Let me know in the comments!