I have been practicing yoga on and off for 15 years; and it is honestly one of my favorite things to do but also often a little challenging to fit in - I manage to work out each day but finding a yoga class that I can fit in between work is tough and for that reason I typically practice just once a week! I just felt like I needed a little more inspiration and with all the rave reviews for Yoga Girl , I went ahead and purchased this book!
I will begin with the first thing that stood out, and that is the pictures. Beautiful inspiring shots of yoga poses, or just simple every day moments set in stunning scenery! Makes me just want to practice more, preferably in a location that is depicted in this book! But what also is notable, is Yoga Girl aka Rachel Brathen , is a normal looking healthy individual! There are so many books out there , with tiny, almost emaciated people airbrushed to perfection, telling others how to reach those standards which, are smoke and mirrors thanks to careful editing or require mammoth daily exercise time and a diet of nothing but green smoothies! It is refreshing to see a healthy and attainable look featured!
The introduction simply makes sense - the fact that we all run around, trying to earn more, own more, diet more, look better, searching for balance when in fact balance simply comes from slowing down " understanding your body and needs". I also love, love, love her mantra that balance means you can have your red wine and your green juice, your chocolate and your kale - I have always believed in a healthy and happy balance and yoga Girl does too!
The book is then divided into 7 chapters - the first Yoga Every Damn Day looks the lives we lead and finding ways to incorporate balance and yes, yoga into our lives - simple measures we can take. It is well written and encouraging; peppered with a Sun Salutation Sequence as well as notes for success,
Chapter two talks about in order to love the future, you need to love "what has come before" and the author takes us through her background with very different beginnings, involving drugs, alcohol and excessive behavior and , how this shaped her path and the life she leads today! Its compelling reading; and the notion of making peace with the past makes sense and we cannot change what has happened, only learn! This section has a great sequence : " Twists, hips and hamstrings"
Chapter three talks about life paths, opportunities, and taking charge of our lives, again heavily centered around the experience of the author ,but detailing ways we can make change too. The yoga sequence is core, balance and shoulder work.
Chapter 4 is about the soul ; the energy we put out, finding balance, and listening to your body , ending with a great Vinyasa sequence, including a beginners guide. Chapter 5 is something I can certainly stand to follow more and that is going with the flow, accepting the fact that challenge is part of life, and embracing the good times as well as the bad, with a great restorative sequence to follow! Chapter six helps readers to put love over fear - moving past fears, understanding that nervous energy is us breaking new ground and collecting new experiences including a detailed and challenging inversion set!
Finally we end with moments of silence; the manta: "We must love ourselves in order to receive love from others". This section had my favorite photography; and simply talks about being present in our lives and seeing the beauty that surrounds us. I also loved the fact that this section ends with medication; and is a simple, attainable guide to getting started!
There is so much to love about this book. Though it can help us achieve more balance and get more yoga into our lives, it is not done in a preachy way, but instead the authors shares personal experiences from her life that tie back to changes we can make. The workout sequences are detailed both in pictures and illustrations making them easy to follow along, and they are compact enough that you could do a little each day, or make one longer workout! There are even recipes thrown in - nothing necessarily new or complicated, but healthy, plant based ideas that are simple and easy to make!
A great read and beautiful guide to a more balanced...and yoga filled...life!
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Reviews with images
READ IT. She's a life changer. 👌
It's like when you first get the book there is this energy about it. This excitement. It is beautifully written, in a way that is encouraging, not condescending. Her poses and pictures are inspiring and the yoga sequences and recipes inside are heavenly.
Top reviews from other countries
Zanna
Yoga Girl: Finding Happiness, Cultivating Balance and Living with Your Heart
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 19, 2023
Hasifuzzi
Tolles Buch, tolle Frau ... empfehlenswert
Reviewed in Germany on July 27, 2017Eléonore
Beautiful easy-read for anyone who is looking to start a yoga practice
Reviewed in France on April 6, 2017
