Best Books about Yoga, Boat Maintenance and Cruising:
What we read and recommend
Do you need a good boat repair manual, or a list of books about yoga and meditation?
There are many great books on the market that cover both subjects well and whenever Manny and I pass a bookstore we can’t help but spend an hour or two checking out their shelves. Often we pick up a new book, but over the years there are a few classics that we return to again and again. Here then, in our opinion, are some great books to read and refer to on boat maintenance, cruising, Hatha Yoga and Meditation.
BOAT MAINTENANCE AND BOAT REPAIR MANUALS
Most of my knowledge about boat repair comes from from experience. I have learned from other professionals in the business, neighbours, and cruisers I have met along the way. I have also learned a lot from trial and error. In the beginning I started learning by reading books and taking technical courses. Some books were more useful than others. Here is a list of boat maintenance books that sit on Yofy’s bookshelf. These books are well thumbed and some of the jackets are torn, but I’m not willing to let them go. They are keepers and books I’d easily recommend to anyone looking for a boat repair manual.
Nigel Calder: Just about any technical book I pick up by Nigel Calder turns out to be a great reference book. The three books listed below cover most of the regular repairs that crop up on any boat.
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Boatowner's Mechanical and
Electrical Manual
We received this book as a Christmas gift from Jeff, Robyn’s brother, over twenty years ago and I have used it ever since. This is an excellent book on troubleshooting, repairing, and maintaining your boat’s mechanical and electrical systems. Good, simple to follow explanations and clear diagrams. Marine Diesel Engines In this book, Nigel Calder describes the diesel engine in a very readable way. He offers detailed, clear explanations, good diagrams and straight forward procedures. A great book for all diesel maintenance and troubleshooting. Refrigeration for Pleasureboats This book is a good book for anyone who wants to build a marine refrigerator, or wants to tackle a refrigeration repair on their own. While quite technical, you will find a comprehensive, detailed explanation of the marine refrigeration system as well as maintenance and troubleshooting ideas The Boat Repair Manual by George Buchanan This book may be a little dated, but I still recommend it if you are restoring a wooden, metal or fiberglass boat. There are dozens of good sketches on every page illustrating structural repairs. Buy this book for everything you need to know about working with fiberglass, wood or metal. |
YOGA
If you are like me, then you started learning about yoga from a teacher. Perhaps you joined a class, bought a DVD, or found a teacher online. And that is the best way to start. Eventually though, you may look for a good book to advance your studies. The thing is, with the growing popularity of yoga, it seems that everyone is writing a book on the subject these days. Choosing a good book can be a little overwhelming.
Over the years I have read many books about asana practice, meditation, yoga philosophy and even anatomy. I have learned something new from each one but there are a few books that stay on my bookshelf – books that I return to over and over. I practice Hatha yoga in the Sivananda tradition, so many of the books below reflect this. These are books that added light to my asana practice and deepened my understanding of yoga philosophy and meditation. They are books that I often recommend to students and fellow teachers alike.
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The Sivananda Companion to Yoga
This is an excellent book for anyone wanting to begin a regular yoga practice at home. It is a complete guide to the yogic way of life, with lots of good pictures, diagrams and easy to follow step by step instructions. There is a good introduction to the history and philosophy of yoga, a chart for setting up your own home practice, basic and advanced asanas, pranayama and much more. Very readable and easy to follow. The Complete Illustrated Book of Yoga
by Swami Vishnu Devananda This is the book for anyone who wants to delve deeper into the practice of Hatha yoga. Swami Vishnu Devananda gives a thorough description of yoga asanas, kriyas and pranayama, as well as philosophy and the spiritual aspects of yoga. This is a reference book that you will refer to often. Yoga and You by Esther Myers
While Esther Myers trained in the Iyengar tradition,she studied under Vanda Scarvelli in her later years. If for no other reason, buy this book for Esther’s guidance on breath work and awakening the spine. Esther teaches from a woman’s point of view and gives a new perspective to many of the asanas. Very readable. Good photos. Anatomy of Hatha Yoga by David Coulter
This book is a must for yoga teachers or advanced students who want a deeper understanding of anatomy and yoga. David Coulter offers a tremendous amount of information in this book. In this meticulous guide, he takes you through every phase of Hatha Yoga exploring the stretches, balances, twists and bends from the perspective of a former anatomy professor and dedicated yogi. Meditation and Mantras by Swami Vishnu Devananda
A concise book on meditation and the use of mantras. There is a lot of information here including chakra charts and a chapter on bio feedback. This book contains techniques from Raja, Hatha, Karma, Kundalini, Jnana and Mantra Yoga all explained in detail. The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali with commentary by Swami Venkatesananda
No serious student of yoga should be without a copy of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. On my bookshelf I actually have three different copies with commentaries by different people. What I like about this book is Swami Venkatesananda’s simple, clear commentaries that reveal depths of knowledge. A book to return to again and again. The Bhagavad Gita with commentary
by Swami Sivananda Here is where it all began. If you want to understand why we practice yoga, read the Bhagavad Gita. With the original Sanskrit, pure and traditional commentaries by Swami Sivananda, this book offers something for everyone, no matter what your religious or spiritual persuasion. |