{"id":9859,"date":"2022-12-21T21:59:13","date_gmt":"2022-12-21T21:59:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.yogajournal.com\/?p=107598"},"modified":"2022-12-21T21:59:13","modified_gmt":"2022-12-21T21:59:13","slug":"the-10-books-we-couldnt-put-down-this-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/yogacourseware.com\/index.php\/2022\/12\/21\/the-10-books-we-couldnt-put-down-this-year\/","title":{"rendered":"The 10 Books We Couldn\u2019t Put Down This Year"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

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One good thing about living in contemporary times:  There is so much information available to us instantaneously. Although as much as we appreciate the immediate access and take-it-anywhere-ness of digital content, sometimes we want to linger as we take a deep dive on a subject or revel in the writing of an author who has wisdom to share.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s been no shortage of wisdom in the books we were drawn to in 2022. Some pointed us toward our journey. Others encouraged us along the way. As we explored their various themes, we were reminded that a book doesn\u2019t have to talk about yoga to embrace the essence of the practice. Following are the books that inspired us the most.<\/p>\n

The 10 books we couldn\u2019t put down this year<\/h2>\n
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\"Book
(Published by Green Tree)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Rest + Calm:  Gentle Yoga and Mindfulness Practices to Nurture and Restore Yourself<\/a><\/h3>\n

By Paula Hines<\/p>\n

Hines<\/a>, a London-based restorative teacher and OM Yoga magazine columnist, shares practical guidance on how to cultivate rest and calm into our busy days.<\/p>\n

The first section of her book, Rest, includes detailed instructions on how to get into restorative poses. Her in-depth instructions are illustrated by images that give just enough visual guidance for approaching each pose.  The section also includes \u201crest sessions\u201d that offer \u201cposes and sequences you can turn to when you feel in need of some restorative rescue.\u201d Here, you\u2019ll find sequences to address depression, grief, anger<\/a>, anxiety, as well as insomnia, menopause<\/a>, endometriosis, and other emotional and physical conditions.<\/p>\n

The second section, Calm, examines various ways to bring ease to everyday situations using practical tips and research-backed ideas. Hines offers grounding techniques such as self touch, and explains the benefits of using blankets, sandbags, and other props to apply gentle weight to your body. Pranayama, mudra practice, body scans, and yoga nidra are among the calming practices she recommends. And she suggests that we embrace new habits that foster a calmer existence, including choosing mono-tasking over multi-tasking, and \u201cputting the day to bed\u201d by incorporating mindful rituals for end-of-day activities.<\/p>\n

$10 at Amazon<\/a><\/p>\n

\n
(Published by Hay House Inc.)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

You Are More Than You Think You Are: Practical Enlightenment for Everyday Life<\/a><\/h3>\n

By Kimberly Snyder<\/p>\n

A self-described holistic wellness expert, Snyder is the host of the Feel Good Podcast<\/em> and founder of the lifestyle brand Soulluna. She\u2019s written best-selling books including Radical Beauty<\/em> with Deepak Chopra. As such, she has plenty of influencer cred. But her approach to this book is firmly rooted in the teachings of Paramahansa Yogananda<\/a>, the first Indian yogi to settle in America. His quotes and instructions are interspersed throughout the book in every chapter and almost every page.<\/p>\n

One of his sayings was:  \u201cYou don\u2019t have to acquire anything. The gold of the soul is right there with you.\u201d Snyder attempts to draw out the precious substance of our lives and help readers along the path to the power of the True Self.<\/p>\n

Each chapter is an extended affirmation\u2013you are fearless, you are love, you are whole, you are magnetic\u2026 you get the picture. Snyder uses ancient texts and contemporary situations to support her encouraging words of guidance. Interspersed are practical exercises for deepening the affirmation. She offers guidance on how to use pranayama, mantra, and meditation to support these affirmations and urge her readers along the path to recognizing our True Self.<\/p>\n

$16.99 at Amazon<\/a><\/p>\n

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\"Book
(Published by Wild Strawberry Productions)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Your Yoga series<\/a><\/h3>\n

By Bernie Clark<\/p>\n

\u201cThe human body and the human experience of our body are complex, vast, and varied,\u201d begins Your Body, Your Yoga<\/em>. \u201cIt will never be possible to reduce the full range of variation and its implications for our yoga practice into one book.\u201d<\/p>\n

So Clark wrote three. The series began with Your Body, Your Yoga, <\/em>which was published in 2016, followed by Your Spine, Your Yoga<\/em> in 2018, and Your Upper Body, Your Yoga<\/em> earlier this year.<\/p>\n

A longtime student of yoga and meditation, Clark began to teach in 1998. Since then, he has continually explored and researched the interrelationship between yoga and science. He shares his findings in a manner that is suggestive rather than prescriptive.<\/p>\n

The books take what Clark refers to as a \u201creductionist\u201d approach to the different anatomical elements while remaining respectful to the practice and experience of yoga. What results are beautifully and brilliantly detailed books with nuanced explanations and annotated illustrations of the body and movement through the lens of poses.<\/p>\n

Each book guides students and teachers through the intricacies, dangers, and variations inherent in the practice. And the emphasis he places on the experience of the student is apparent in the advice and cues he offers to teachers.<\/p>\n

The books are perhaps best relied on as references, not as read-throughs. Yoga teachers shouldn\u2019t skip  \u201cHow to Read This Book\u201d at the outset of Your Body, Your Yoga, and the sidebars, charts, and notes are essential reads.<\/p>\n

$60.97 for the series of three books at Amazon<\/a><\/p>\n

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\n
\"Book
(Published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Yoga<\/a><\/h3>\n

By Emmanuel Carr\u00e8re (translated by John Lambert)<\/p>\n

Carr\u00e8re\u2019s intention, as he repeatedly explains in this work, was to write \u201can upbeat, subtle little book on yoga.\u201d He had anticipated it being a simple exploration of his decades of experience with the physical and meditative aspects of the practice. What resulted is a meandering and complex exploration of the unraveling of his life over the last four years.<\/p>\n

Yoga<\/em> begins with a 134-word first sentence taking readers back to just before Carr\u00e8re began a silent meditation retreat. That introduction divulges pretty much everything you need to know about where the author will take you in the book. It\u2019s how he does so that is the book\u2019s draw.<\/p>\n

The New York Times <\/a>details the celebrated French writer\u2019s writing style as \u201cmarrying deep reporting to scholarly explorations of theology, philosophy, psychology, personal history and historiography.\u201d Yoga is a melding of memoir and novel in which Carr\u00e8re offers his perspective, musings, and questions on self, love, loss, morality, and a diagnosis of bipolar disorder. As he does so, Carr\u00e8re draws on all manner of disciplines, including Chinese martial arts, Greek philosophy, meditation, even hiking,<\/p>\n

With only occasional paragraph breaks, the book takes the reader along as witness to the writer\u2019s search for lessons from yoga and meditation and his attempt to understand life, its entanglements, and the sometimes brutal lessons that ensue.<\/p>\n

$21.99 at Amazon<\/a><\/p>\n

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\"Book
(Published by The Experiment)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Seven Ways of Ayurveda: Discover Your Dosha, Tap into Your Strengths, Thrive in Work, Love, and Life<\/a><\/h3>\n

By Sarah Kucera<\/p>\n

Kucera introduces readers to \u201cyoga\u2019s sister science,\u201d the ancient Indian medical system that promises health benefits for body and mind. The introduction covers the basics of Ayurveda\u2014including an overview of the significance of the elements (earth, air, fire, water, ether) and the gunas<\/em><\/a>. From there, the book focuses on the doshas<\/em>\u2013the energies that contribute to our unique personality and guides how we operate in the world. \u201cOur inherent dosha, or prakriti<\/em>, serves as our home base. It\u2019s the place we feel the healthiest and our strongest ability to thrive,\u201d she writes.<\/p>\n

While people with a basic understanding of Ayurveda are familiar with the three basic doshas\u2013kapha, pitta<\/em>, and vata<\/em>\u2014Kucera takes the explanation further to delve into the dosha \u201chybrids\u201d that can influence our wellbeing. \u201cYou may be dual doshic, meaning two doshas are strongly expressed, and the third is far less detectable,\u201d she writes. Tridoshic types<\/a> are rare, she says, but she addresses the traits of those who exhibit all the doshas equally. The chapters focus on how each dosha type tends to think, communicate, and handle stress. She also describes the light and shadow sides\u2013the gifts and challenges of each type<\/a>. Readers can take a simple dosha quiz that allows them to identify theirs, as well as tips to know whether they are out of balance.<\/p>\n

In the third part of the book, Kucera shows how doshas influence our interactions with the world around us, and applies this understanding to how we live with, work with, and love one another across our doshic differences. What are pittas like as children versus adults? What\u2019s the best way to motivate a kapha type at work? How do you plan a dream date for a vata? Finally, there\u2019s a chapter on how to help any dosha type succeed in life. \u201cNo matter where you are in your dosha journey, there are always ways to thrive!\u201d she writes.<\/p>\n

$15.99 at Amazon<\/a><\/p>\n

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\n
\"Book
(Published by New Degree Press)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Yoga for Bendy People: Optimizing the Benefits of Yoga for Hypermobility<\/a><\/h3>\n

By Libby Hinsley<\/a><\/p>\n

A self-described \u201cbendy person,\u201d Hinsley practiced yoga for years before understanding that her extreme flexibility on the mat was related to her baffling pain and other physical symptoms she experienced each day. She was eventually diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, a group of connective tissue disorders.<\/p>\n

Hypermobility has begun to be more commonly discussed and diagnosed, but many who are drawn to yoga precisely because of their innate flexibility are still uninformed about its prevalence and risks. Hinsley, a physical therapist and yoga therapist, addresses this \u201cinvisible disability\u201d with frankness and humor, first in the telling of her story and then in her methodical and thorough explanations of ways that students and teachers of yoga can safely navigate it.<\/p>\n

Hinsley\u2019s approach is designed to help anyone learn how yoga can support, rather than exacerbate, the symptoms of hypermobility through variations and cues on how to engage their body in safer, if unfamiliar, ways. Those who need anatomical insights and encouragement will find it in abundance in this book.<\/p>\n

$29.99 at Amazon<\/a><\/p>\n

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\"Book
(Published by Mitchell Beazley)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

And Bloom: The Art of Aging Unapologetically<\/a><\/h3>\n

By Denise Boomkens<\/p>\n

Boomkens, a former fashion model and photographer, felt a lot of things upon entering her 40s. Refusing to let age define her appearance or her sense of self, she set out to ensure that she didn\u2019t disappear into the background. Thus began And Bloom<\/a>, a blog and online community dedicated to aging gracefully and embracing life without fear.<\/p>\n

\u201cI started to miss inspiring websites with coolness and authenticity towards aging,\u201d she explains. So she turned her love for \u201cphotography, fashion, lifestyle, and spiritual consciousness\u201d into a counterpoint for society\u2019s \u201cdistorted perception of aging.\u201d She achieves this through photographs and profiles of other women and their real, relatable, and often rebellious thoughts, actions, frustrations, and approaches to life.<\/p>\n

The book compiles these stories\u2014full of sass and class, flamboyancy and revelry\u2014and allows readers a glimpse into the beautiful visages of those who are not yet done experiencing life in all its grandeur. The concept of mindfulness appears throughout the books pages in numerous stories of reframing one\u2019s perspective. The confident faces and stories and attitudes shared here are of people who are not only owning the woman they have become, but loving her.<\/p>\n

$28.49 at Amazon<\/a><\/p>\n

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\"Book
(Published by HarperOne)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Seven Circles: Indigenous Teachings for Living Well<\/a><\/h3>\n

By Chelsey Luger and Thosh Collins<\/p>\n

This book draws from the work of the wellness initiative Well for Culture, where health activists Luger and Collins developed their \u201cseven circles\u201d health model as a way to promote better health in their Indigenous communities.<\/p>\n

The premise is based on the First Nations<\/a> wisdom that an optimal life requires seven essential elements: food, sleep, movement, land, sacred space, ceremony, and community. Each chapter is devoted to one of these seven circles, and offers ways to approach these elements in a way that enhances spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical health.<\/p>\n

The circles are all interconnected. For example, the land circle represents a source of healthy food, a place to gather with loved ones, an opportunity to get in touch with circadian rhythms for better sleep, and a place to move and strengthen your body in what they call the Earth Gym.<\/p>\n

Equally rooted in medical science and the Native American medicine wheel<\/a>, their health advice resists the idea that we need to \u201cfix\u201d ourselves. Instead, they ask readers to identify the circles where we are thriving and focus on developing those.<\/p>\n

Their guidance isn\u2019t just for Indigenous communities. It\u2019s for anyone who seeks information that is \u201cculturally relevant, justice oriented, and decolonized.\u201d The authors point out that Americans have embraced wellness practices from other cultures\u2013practicing yoga, doing tai chi, sitting in saunas. They say that Native American culture offers equally helpful health practices that grew out of North American soil. Their emphasis on balanced living, self awareness, gratitude, and respect for teachers will be familiar to anyone who has studied yoga.<\/p>\n

Collins and Luger don\u2019t shy away from sharing their own personal struggles, or addressing the public health challenges that North American indigenous communities disproportionately face.  But they don\u2019t pathologize. Instead, they present the survival of Indigenous peoples as signs of strength\u2013and a beacon for anyone willing to embrace Indigenous wisdom teachings. Their message is an empowering one: \u201cYou are not weak or broken. You are strong and you can heal.\u201d<\/p>\n

$23.99 at Amazon<\/a><\/p>\n

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\"Book
(Published by Avery)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n

I Didn\u2019t Do the Thing Today: Letting Go of Productivity Guilt<\/a><\/h3>\n

By Madeleine Dore<\/p>\n

Dore spent years interviewing who she describes as \u201ccreative thinkers\u201d\u2014writers, researchers, and standouts in various fields\u2014about how they navigate the challenges of life and, more specifically, of each day. These interviews were the basis for her podcast, Routines & Ruts, and her blog, Extraordinary Routines, where she was continually seeking answers as to how to find meaning in the mundane.<\/p>\n

Her epiphany came when she realized maybe there weren\u2019t any. She currently refers to \u201cextra-ordinary routines\u201d as \u201cthe contradictions, tensions and imperfections we find in our daily lives that illuminate the remarkable.\u201d The insights gleaned from her interviews are found in I Didn\u2019t Do the Thing Today.<\/p>\n

Chapters are divvied among various topics such as, \u201cThe Hopeless Search for the Ideal Routine,\u201d \u201cThe Worry of Wasted Time,\u201d \u201cThe Standstill of Indecision,\u201d and \u201cThe Generosity of Kindness.\u201d Dore understands the challenges we experience each day in our struggle to keep work in its place. Her way of writing is both relatable and reassuring, and her musings are interspersed with quotes from creative thinkers\u2014those she has interviewed as well as others\u2014so that the book reads like part social psychology textbook, part hero\u2019s journey, part blog.<\/p>\n

She considers the book a \u201cpermission slip\u201d to let yourself and your unrealistic expectations slide and embrace the messiness and uncertainties of life. It\u2019s a book about \u201cresilience and rejection, motivation and procrastination, successes and setbacks\u2014and how extraordinary lessons can be found amongst it all.\u201d In other words, yoga in everyday life.<\/p>\n

$17.79 at Amazon<\/a><\/p>\n

\n
\"Book
(Photo: Published by New Harbinger Publications)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Intuitive Eating for Life:  How Mindfulness Can Deepen and Sustain Your Intuitive Eating Practice<\/a><\/h3>\n

By Jenna Hollenstein<\/p>\n

When a registered dietitian and nutrition therapist is also a meditation teacher, you can expect her approach to food to be different from the kind of finger-wagging advice you tend to get about food and diet. In fact, Jenna Hollenstein\u2019s latest book is about as far from \u201cdiet culture\u201d as you can get.<\/p>\n

She takes the intuitive eating model, a concept popularized by nutritionists<\/a> Evelyne Tribole and Elyse Resch, and applies Buddhist meditation principles to help support each individual\u2019s journey to a better relationship with food.<\/p>\n

This starts with the ten principles of Intuitive Eating: reject diet mentality, honor your hunger, make peace with food, challenge the food police, discover satisfaction, feel your fullness, honor your feelings, respect your body, move your body, and honor your health.<\/p>\n

Rather than have this become another list of \u201cshoulds\u201d\u2014rules that can be broken in a never-ending cycle of guilt and shame\u2014Hollenstein\u2019s approach encourages readers to approach them with mindfulness and gentle attention.<\/p>\n

She applies the Four Foundations of Mindfulness\u2014a Buddhist concept that encourages mindfulness of the body, feelings, mind, and dharma\u2014and translates them into an approach to building a better relationship with food. The mindfulness practice involves honoring your hunger and fullness, feeling your emotions around what and how you eat, examining your ideas about food, and shifting your focus from \u201cfixing\u201d your body to caring for it.<\/p>\n

Readers are encouraged to engage with food for what it is\u2014a source of physical nourishment, but one that can also bring pleasure, satisfaction, and connection to community. \u201cI have written this book with the aspiration of helping you regain trust and confidence in your body, mind, and heart because I believe that will ultimately make the world a better place,\u201d she writes.<\/p>\n

$17.95 at Amazon<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\"The<\/figure>\n

These reads illustrate how a book doesn’t have to talk about yoga to be about yoga.<\/p>\n

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