Best Yoga Memoirs (2026): 5 Life Stories Compared

A yoga practice often starts on the mat and ends in a life story, and the best yoga memoirs capture both. We compared five memoirs by page count, edition and what each description says. Every detail below comes from the listings, not from our own reading.

ShelfAnswers earns a commission when you buy through links on this page, at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Affiliate disclosure.

The picks

#	Product	Shelf Score	Buy
1	Autobiography of a Yogi	9.8/10	Buy
2	Yoga for Life by Saidman Yee	9.7/10	Buy
3	Every Body Yoga by Stanley	9.7/10	Buy
4	May I Be Happy by Lee	9.7/10	Buy
5	Yoga Girl by Brathen	9.6/10	Buy

1

Autobiography of a Yogi

Paramahansa Yogananda·9.8/10 Shelf Score

i

The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A 476-page deluxe hardbound edition of Yogananda's 1946 spiritual classic about yoga and meditation.

Check price on Amazon

Pros

• 476 pages, the longest book here
• Deluxe hardbound edition dated July 1, 2023
• The listing states it is translated into dozens of languages

Cons

• First published in 1946; a spiritual classic, not a modern memoir
• Dense philosophy; less of a personal story arc
• Mystical themes may not suit every reader

2

Yoga for Life by Saidman Yee

Colleen Saidman Yee·9.7/10 Shelf Score

i

The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A 254-page memoir of Colleen Saidman Yee's life through yoga, with sequences in each chapter.

Check price on Amazon

Pros

• 254 pages with yoga sequences in each chapter
• Step-by-step photos of the author's signature flow
• The listing quotes The New York Times calling her 'First Lady of Yoga'

Cons

• Published June 2, 2015
• Covers heavy topics: addiction, seizures, grief
• First edition; check for a newer printing

3

Every Body Yoga by Stanley

Jessamyn Stanley·9.7/10 Shelf Score

i

The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A 232-page illustrated book of yoga inspiration, 50 poses and 10 sequences for every body.

Check price on Amazon

Pros

• 232 pages with 50 poses and 10 sequences in full color
• Body-positive approach for all shapes and sizes
• Published April 4, 2017, illustrated edition

Cons

• Half how-to, half memoir; not a pure memoir
• Sequences like 'I Want to Love Myself' may feel niche
• No reading age is stated; written for adults

4

May I Be Happy by Lee

Cyndi Lee·9.7/10 Shelf Score

i

The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

Cyndi Lee's memoir of love, yoga and self-judgment, from India to the 2011 earthquake in Japan.

Check price on Amazon

Pros

• Memoir of a dancer, choreographer and yoga teacher
• Loving-kindness meditation applied to body image
• Published January 24, 2013 by Plume

Cons

• No page count is stated in the listing
• Heavy themes: self-judgment, body hatred
• 2013 edition; check for a newer printing

5

Yoga Girl by Brathen

Rachel Brathen·9.6/10 Shelf Score

i

The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

Rachel Brathen's 176-page illustrated memoir, from Sweden to Costa Rica to Aruba.

Check price on Amazon

Pros

• 176-page illustrated memoir with tropical photos
• Step-by-step yoga sequences and recipes included
• Published March 24, 2015 by Gallery Books

Cons

• Marketing claims in the description are the publisher's, not facts
• Instagram-rooted; may feel dated in 2026
• 176 pages is the shortest here

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

More picks to compare

• The Yoga Manifesto by GilaniSuits readers wanting a 336-page critique of the yoga industry.Check on Amazon
• Finding My Balance by HemingwaySuits readers wanting Mariel Hemingway's 240-page memoir.Check on Amazon
• Into the Heart of YogaSuits readers wanting a 376-page Kripalu ashram memoir.Check on Amazon
• The S@#t I've Heard at YogaSuits readers wanting humorous yoga essays, 288 pages.Check on Amazon
• Fallen Star by ChansonSuits readers wanting a 222-page healing memoir through yoga.Check on Amazon

Compare the picks

Book details as published on each listing, collected 17 October 2026.

How we scored them

The Shelf Score weighs fit for a yoga memoir reader, contents and edition, and value. None of the five listings states a reading age or grade level, so no age points were given. How we pick explains the weights.

Scores run from 9.2 to 9.8: each book’s point total is placed on that range, so more points always means a higher score. Reading age or level counts on a list where at least one listing gives one, and a book whose listing gives none then scores zero on it. Where no listing gives one, the score is taken over the other 85 points. Books carry no warranty, so warranty is not scored.

How to choose the best yoga memoirs

Classic or modern

Autobiography of a Yogi is the 1946 spiritual classic; the other four are modern memoirs from 2013 to 2023. Start with the classic or the era you prefer. Browse history and biography books for more life stories.

Memoir or manual

Every Body Yoga and Yoga for Life include poses and sequences; May I Be Happy, Yoga Girl and Autobiography of a Yogi are stories first. Our New York Times memoirs list covers more celebrated life stories.

Check the length

Page counts run from 176 (Yoga Girl) to 476 (Autobiography of a Yogi). May I Be Happy states no page count.

Before you buy

• Decide between a spiritual classic and a modern memoir.
• Check whether the book includes yoga sequences or is story only.
• Note that one listing states no page count.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which yoga memoir is the longest?

Autobiography of a Yogi, at 476 pages in this deluxe edition.

Which memoir includes yoga poses?

Every Body Yoga, with 50 poses and 10 sequences, and Yoga for Life, with sequences in each chapter.

Is Yoga Girl a memoir?

Yes. It is Rachel Brathen’s illustrated memoir of her journey through yoga.

Still deciding? Our top pickAutobiography of a Yogi

Check price on Amazon

Related lists

See every history and biography list and all nonfiction lists.

More lists: New York Times memoirs, memoirs for young women and memoirs for young men.