From Geeta Iyengar—experienced yoga teacher, author, and daughter of B.K.S. Iyengar—comes a follow-up volume to Yoga: The Path to Holistic Health, this time directed towards mothers-to-be and new moms. With its superb provenance, encyclopedic coverage, and meticulous medical vetting, Iyengar Yoga for Motherhood is an indispensable volume for every woman who wishes to continue her yoga practice during pregnancy and the first 18 months of motherhood.

Lavishly produced, with a fresh, contemporary look that’s easy to follow, it’s broken up into trimesters with thorough explanations of what you can do and when, shown in 350 detailed colour photographs. Most importantly, it focuses on safety, carefully guiding students of every level through each asana. Each spread features extensive instructions and hints, notes on the position’s positive effects and contraindications, and advice on “checking yourself” for proper form and technique—a hallmark of the Iyengar style of yoga.

In addition, a quick reference of the best asanas for relieving common problems, from morning sickness to edema, is provided. Add to this a huge section on nutrition (with recipes), along with invaluable information on female physiology, and the result is a manual that no “yoga mother” should pass up.

…contains a fountain of information on anatomy, physiology, emotional confidence, and intellectual calmness, as well as on the five elements and the seven constituents (dhatus) of Ayurveda, which mold and blend the nectar of life through the five breaths (pranas), churning the energy of life for physical and mental health. —B.K.S. Iyengar, from the Prologue