Grab your mat! Yoga Month has rolled around again. When you hear the word “yoga,” do you get the mental image of someone folded into a pretzel? Fair enough. But the real heart of a yoga practice has always been quieter than that. It’s about breath, attention, focus, and giving your nervous system a break. This year, we’re celebrating Yoga Month by leaning into that quieter side, and Hoopla has everything you need to explore it: guided video instruction, ambient meditation music, and eBooks you can borrow the moment inspiration strikes. Ready to dig in? Head straight to our Yoga Month collection on Hoopla or keep reading for a few favorites to get you started.
Learn from the Experts: Guided Yoga Instruction
Good instruction makes all the difference, and Hoopla’s video library is filled with it. MasterClass Presents: Donna Farhi Teaches Yoga Foundations walks you through breathwork, warmups, and sun salutations across 10 approachable episodes, closing out with a session on restoring your mind, a reminder that yoga is good for more than just the body.
For something different, try Yoga Nidra, which is practiced lying down. iRest: Integrative Restoration Yoga Nidra for Deep Relaxation offers 24 episodes of research-backed Yoga Nidra practice, designed specifically to ease stress and support trauma recovery. You’ll be taught by renowned teacher Molly Birkholm through the Great Courses. It’s a gentle entry point for anyone curious about mindfulness meditation but unsure where to begin.
And if you’re looking to connect your practice to your mental health even more directly, try Yoga for a Healthy Mind and Body. These Great Courses classes are taught by Dr. Heidi Sormaz and include standout episodes on anxiety, depression, and addictive behaviors. These aren’t token add-ons; they’re thoughtfully built sessions that enlist yoga as a genuine tool for emotional regulation.
Set the Space: Sound as a Mindfulness Tool
Sound shapes a practice nearly as much as posture does. Hoopla’s music catalog has plenty of options for building the right atmosphere at home. David and Steve Gordon’s Chakra Energy Healing – Music for Meditation, Reiki & Yoga offers layered, ambient tracks ideal for slower sessions. Zen Harmony: Relaxing Yoga & Meditation Music by Neo Komorebi leans airier and more spacious, great for guided meditation or simple breathing exercises. And Relax & Meditate is a no-frills option if you want something soothing playing in the background while you stretch, journal, or wind down before bed.
Read into Mindfulness
Yoga studios are very welcoming places (we promise!), but getting started can be a little daunting. Yoga for Dummies by Larry Payne, Brenda Feuerstein, and Georg Feuerstein is exactly the practical reference you’d hope for: clear guidance on safe posture, breath mechanics, and building a routine you’ll actually stick with. Spending a little time with this book beforehand will go a long way to easing you into yoga before you step into a studio.
Once you’ve got the fundamentals down, Anodea Judith’s Chakra Yoga takes things further, weaving postures together with the chakra system (seven energy centers, from the top of the head to the bottom of the spine), bioenergetic exercises, mantras, and guided meditation. It’s been praised by teachers like Shiva Rea and Margot Anand, and it pairs naturally with Yoga for Dummies: start grounded, then go deeper.
And mindfulness isn’t just for grown-ups. A Kids Book About Yoga by Megan Snider introduces younger readers to yoga in an approachable, age-friendly way, helping kids discover how movement, breathing, and mindfulness can help them connect with their bodies and emotions. It’s a great way to make yoga something the whole family can explore together.
Practice Mindfully, Free with Your Library Card
No studio fees. No monthly subscription. No waiting for a hold to come in. (And no putting on yoga clothes. Your sweats are just fine!) Everything above is available on Hoopla the moment you want it, using nothing but your library card.* That kind of instant access makes it easy to actually build a habit around Yoga Month instead of just admiring it from a distance.
Explore the full Yoga Month collection and borrow something that fits where you are today: energized, exhausted, curious, or just in need of 10 quiet minutes. We’ll meet you on the mat!
*Titles may vary by library. Check your local library’s Hoopla catalog for full availability.
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