📚 The Books That Shape My Teaching, My Practice, and My Life
- Michelle Rae Sobi
- 1 hour ago
- 2 min read
What's on your reading list?
Books have always been companions in my journey — as a yoga teacher, artist, mentor, lifelong learner, and curious human being. My shelves are filled with titles I’ve read, studied from, underlined, cried over, returned to, and carried with me through different seasons of life.
They’re not decorations. They’re mile-markers of growth.
Many of these books have informed my approach to teaching yoga, designing training programs, supporting students, and living with a sense of compassion, curiosity, and embodied awareness.
🧘♀️ Yoga, Practice, and Embodied Wisdom
A meaningful part of my library is devoted to classical and contemporary yoga study. These are the books that deepen my understanding of the body, breath, and subtle awareness — and support the way I teach experiential, real-world-ready yoga.
Some of the core texts on my shelves include:
• Asana Pranayama Mudra Bandha (Swami Satyananda Saraswati)
• The Bhagavad Gita
• Anatomy of Hatha Yoga
• Iyengar Yoga for Motherhood
• Yoga & Ayurveda (David Frawley)
• Sound Healing & Yoga Philosophy resources
• Mindfulness and Buddhist concepts texts
These works ground my teaching in tradition, while also honoring the evolving needs of modern practitioners. They support the balance I strive for — compassionate mentorship blended with strong technical foundations and embodied practice.
🧠 Growth, Psychology, and Human Potential
Another thread throughout my collection reflects my fascination with how people think, heal, and grow.
On these shelves you’ll find titles exploring:
• Mindset (Carol Dweck)
• Reflective psychology and resilience
• Trauma-informed awareness
• Leadership and purpose-driven living
• Storytelling and identity through change
These books help me support students not only as yoga teachers — but as humans navigating career shifts, caregiving, identity transitions, and seasons of renewal.
They remind me that growth is rarely linear — and always deeply personal.
✨ Creativity, Curiosity, and the Art of Learning
You’ll also find shelves filled with inspiration from beyond the mat — because creativity and curiosity are essential parts of my work and my life.
Some of my other study themes include:
• Art, design, photography, and creative process
• Science, space, and the wonder of how things work
• Cooking, culture, and joyful living
• Memoir, storytelling, and lived experience
From books on physics and world history…
to cookbooks splashed with notes…
to music, art, and creative process titles…
Each one reminds me that being a well-rounded teacher means being a lifelong student of the world.
🌿 Why This Library Matters to My Work
My programs, mentorship style, and approach to teaching are shaped by:
• Philosophy and embodiment
• Science and anatomy
• Creativity and compassion
• Real-life application
• Lifelong learning
When I teach — I don’t teach from one book.
I teach from a living conversation between these influences, my lived experience, and the unique journeys of the students I serve.
If you’re someone who loves to learn, reflect, explore ideas deeply, and connect meaningfully with your practice — you’re in beautiful company here.
Looking for something good to read? Check out my latest Zine.
