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Yoke: My Yoga of Self-Acceptance
Funny, thoughtful, inspiring, and deeply personal essays about yoga, wellness, and life from author of EVERY BODYYOGA,JessamynStanley. Stanley exploresher relationship (and ours) to yoga (including why we practice, rather than how); wrestles with issues like cultural appropriation, materialism, andracism; and explores the ways we can all use yoga as a tool for self-love.
208 pages, Paperback
First published June 22, 2021
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June 29, 2021
I don’t use the expression “yas, queen� because as a geriatric millennial, it seems forced; but if I did use it, I would have used it a lot reading this wonderful little book.
I absolutely loved ”Every Body Yoga� (/review/show...), so it goes without saying that as soon as Jessamyn Stanley’s new book was available, I made sure to get a copy ASAP.
Just so we are clear, this is not a how-to yoga book, but rather a collection of essays about Jessamyn’s relationship to yoga and to those things that are connected to it, and about the constant balancing art that is being a human being on this fucked up planet. If you’ve read her previous book, you know she curses, that she’s hilarious and brutally honest, and she remains so in this book as well. A quick glance at other reviews and at a few articles that mention this book shows that she ruffled some feathers � and I am glad she did.
The entire book is wonderful, but I was especially happy to read her chapter called “Wealth and Other American Values�, and that she seems to have coined the brilliant expression “yoga industrial complex� to describe the aggressive commodification of yoga in America (I use the word in the continental sense, to include Canada). She perfectly articulated why I have very mixed feelings about yoga classes, people who post their practice incessantly on Instagram and the possibility of doing a yoga teacher training myself. The fundamental nature of social media being performative, it is in very sharp opposition to the nature of yoga, which is self-reflective, so the combination ends up feeling, well, gross. It’s nice to see it expressed by someone else, it made me feel a little less insane. And while we have wildly different life experiences, I have been in similar positions of asking “spiritual� teachers questions they’d rather I hadn’t brought up and leaving a room feeling like an impostor, simply because I wasn’t nodding along with everyone else. I really appreciated her thoughts about teachers and how they continue to teach us even when we are not in direct contact with them anymore.
Other stand-out chapters were those on the poses, cultural appropriation, white guilt and meditation. Her chapter on smoking weed seems to have been especially annoying to some, and I can see why, but as someone for whom prescription anti-anxiety drugs do nothing, but half a joint keeps the panic attacks away, you’ll forgive me for taking her side on that one � even if I don’t use it within my yoga practice.
Inspiring, down to earth, funny, moving and very necessary, anyone interested in yoga beyond the physical practice should take a look at this book, as it is riotously uplifting and very honest. I wish more people were as honest and open as she is.
I absolutely loved ”Every Body Yoga� (/review/show...), so it goes without saying that as soon as Jessamyn Stanley’s new book was available, I made sure to get a copy ASAP.
Just so we are clear, this is not a how-to yoga book, but rather a collection of essays about Jessamyn’s relationship to yoga and to those things that are connected to it, and about the constant balancing art that is being a human being on this fucked up planet. If you’ve read her previous book, you know she curses, that she’s hilarious and brutally honest, and she remains so in this book as well. A quick glance at other reviews and at a few articles that mention this book shows that she ruffled some feathers � and I am glad she did.
The entire book is wonderful, but I was especially happy to read her chapter called “Wealth and Other American Values�, and that she seems to have coined the brilliant expression “yoga industrial complex� to describe the aggressive commodification of yoga in America (I use the word in the continental sense, to include Canada). She perfectly articulated why I have very mixed feelings about yoga classes, people who post their practice incessantly on Instagram and the possibility of doing a yoga teacher training myself. The fundamental nature of social media being performative, it is in very sharp opposition to the nature of yoga, which is self-reflective, so the combination ends up feeling, well, gross. It’s nice to see it expressed by someone else, it made me feel a little less insane. And while we have wildly different life experiences, I have been in similar positions of asking “spiritual� teachers questions they’d rather I hadn’t brought up and leaving a room feeling like an impostor, simply because I wasn’t nodding along with everyone else. I really appreciated her thoughts about teachers and how they continue to teach us even when we are not in direct contact with them anymore.
Other stand-out chapters were those on the poses, cultural appropriation, white guilt and meditation. Her chapter on smoking weed seems to have been especially annoying to some, and I can see why, but as someone for whom prescription anti-anxiety drugs do nothing, but half a joint keeps the panic attacks away, you’ll forgive me for taking her side on that one � even if I don’t use it within my yoga practice.
Inspiring, down to earth, funny, moving and very necessary, anyone interested in yoga beyond the physical practice should take a look at this book, as it is riotously uplifting and very honest. I wish more people were as honest and open as she is.
Read
June 6, 2021Whether or not you practice yoga, Stanley's essay collection is an outstanding read for those wrestling with the big questions and concerns in today's modern culture and society and more, where each person fits within those issues. Essays span cultural appropriation, Fatness, colonization and capitalism, and so much more. They're explored through the lenses of the yoga sutras, and for those who do practice, Stanley offers outstanding explanations for why sitting back and practicing ~good vibes only~ is bullshit.
One of the essays that really made me pause and think was the one on asana. i really dislike how American yoga focuses so deeply on the postures and poses, as it's only one limb of the eight of the practice. Stanley agrees, but she's also able to articulate clearly why for some practitioners, the focus on asana really DOES matter -- and it's not at service of one's ego, but rather the only way to settle down one's ego. It's a reversal of a script I too frequently stick to, and being forced to sit with that is powerful.
And really, that's precisely what the point of the book is: sitting with discomfort. Moving with discomfort. Speaking with discomfort. That's the why and the how of yoga: finding ease in dis-easing situations but not allowing yourself to become complacent within them.
One of the essays that really made me pause and think was the one on asana. i really dislike how American yoga focuses so deeply on the postures and poses, as it's only one limb of the eight of the practice. Stanley agrees, but she's also able to articulate clearly why for some practitioners, the focus on asana really DOES matter -- and it's not at service of one's ego, but rather the only way to settle down one's ego. It's a reversal of a script I too frequently stick to, and being forced to sit with that is powerful.
And really, that's precisely what the point of the book is: sitting with discomfort. Moving with discomfort. Speaking with discomfort. That's the why and the how of yoga: finding ease in dis-easing situations but not allowing yourself to become complacent within them.
August 5, 2021
I first heard of Jessamyn Stanley through a podcast by Dr. Laurie Santos called The Happiness Lab. The episode where Dr. Santos interviewed Ms. Stanley was all about how our bodies are designed to move and how science actually proves that we are happier when we move our bodies. (The kind of exercise you do is not important, the benefit comes from just not being sedentary). I've been running for 22 years with a little pilates thrown in here and there, but my exercise routine has grown stale and I've been looking for a change. So, when I heard Ms. Stanley discussing the benefits of yoga, I decided to give it a try.
I started practicing yoga three months ago and I have really felt more centered and calm and I'm happier. So, when I saw Ms. Stanley's new book Yoke on Netgalley, I was excited to read it. Sadly, it was a huge disappointment. Yes, there were a few gems here and there, but overall, it was crass, rambling, and full of ranting and not at all what you would think when you read the blurb or think of yoga in general.
First, what I liked:
Stanley writes in a very informal tone and the reader feels like she's sitting on the mat next to you just discussing life. That immediately makes the concepts more accessible.
Stanley does a good job of explaining how yoga isn't about the poses, it's about connecting with your own body and being present in the moment. It's about connecting with the life forces all around you. Near the beginning she quotes the Satchidananda, 92, which says, "Remember that the body is not the experience. Life is experienced by the mind through the body. The body is only a vehicle." Amen.
Second, what I didn't like:
For the first several chapters it feels like there's profanity in every other sentence. Then in later chapters it's every couple of paragraphs. Don't get me wrong, there's a time and place for profanity and it can be very powerful in a book when used sparingly - to great effect. But, when every other sentence contains completely unnecessary vulgarity, it pulls the reader out of the flow of the story. For example, in the very first chapter Stanley is talking about receiving an email about her last book having a typo and she says, "Right there, on page twenty-f*cking-nine, I'd accidentally..." and then again a chapter later she says, "They watch me f*ck around for a bit and eventually they shout..." Neither of these are at all necessary, nor do they actually advance the point she's trying to make. This happens over and over and over in the book. For a book about yoga, which supposedly is about connection with your own inner self and the divine within all living things, something that calms and centers you, this is just not what the reader expects.
Also, the author spends more time ranting about cultural appropriation, white supremacy, and capitalism than she does explaining the benefits of yoga. She spends more time dissing the culture of American yoga than she does extolling the virtues of yoga itself as a practice. Now, I happen to completely agree with her points about white supremacy and cultural appropriation - she's right - but that's not what I want to read about in a yoga book. It's not what the blurb suggests the book is about and it's not what the reader is led to believe will be the content.
There's also an entire chapter on the benefits of astrology. Ok, great if that's your thing, but again, this book is purported to be about YOGA , not astrology and crystals and tarot cards.
Last complaint: There's an entire chapter devoted to the virtues of smoking weed. Seriously?? Again, not really on topic and not relevant and not appropriate.
Sigh, I really wanted to like this book. Sadly, I found it far more crass and rambling than I was led to expect, or wanted to read, in a book about yoga. If I hadn't committed to doing this review by accepting a free copy of this book, I would not have finished it.
Not recommended.
Disclaimer: I received a free electronic copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
I started practicing yoga three months ago and I have really felt more centered and calm and I'm happier. So, when I saw Ms. Stanley's new book Yoke on Netgalley, I was excited to read it. Sadly, it was a huge disappointment. Yes, there were a few gems here and there, but overall, it was crass, rambling, and full of ranting and not at all what you would think when you read the blurb or think of yoga in general.
First, what I liked:
Stanley writes in a very informal tone and the reader feels like she's sitting on the mat next to you just discussing life. That immediately makes the concepts more accessible.
Stanley does a good job of explaining how yoga isn't about the poses, it's about connecting with your own body and being present in the moment. It's about connecting with the life forces all around you. Near the beginning she quotes the Satchidananda, 92, which says, "Remember that the body is not the experience. Life is experienced by the mind through the body. The body is only a vehicle." Amen.
Second, what I didn't like:
For the first several chapters it feels like there's profanity in every other sentence. Then in later chapters it's every couple of paragraphs. Don't get me wrong, there's a time and place for profanity and it can be very powerful in a book when used sparingly - to great effect. But, when every other sentence contains completely unnecessary vulgarity, it pulls the reader out of the flow of the story. For example, in the very first chapter Stanley is talking about receiving an email about her last book having a typo and she says, "Right there, on page twenty-f*cking-nine, I'd accidentally..." and then again a chapter later she says, "They watch me f*ck around for a bit and eventually they shout..." Neither of these are at all necessary, nor do they actually advance the point she's trying to make. This happens over and over and over in the book. For a book about yoga, which supposedly is about connection with your own inner self and the divine within all living things, something that calms and centers you, this is just not what the reader expects.
Also, the author spends more time ranting about cultural appropriation, white supremacy, and capitalism than she does explaining the benefits of yoga. She spends more time dissing the culture of American yoga than she does extolling the virtues of yoga itself as a practice. Now, I happen to completely agree with her points about white supremacy and cultural appropriation - she's right - but that's not what I want to read about in a yoga book. It's not what the blurb suggests the book is about and it's not what the reader is led to believe will be the content.
There's also an entire chapter on the benefits of astrology. Ok, great if that's your thing, but again, this book is purported to be about YOGA , not astrology and crystals and tarot cards.
Last complaint: There's an entire chapter devoted to the virtues of smoking weed. Seriously?? Again, not really on topic and not relevant and not appropriate.
Sigh, I really wanted to like this book. Sadly, I found it far more crass and rambling than I was led to expect, or wanted to read, in a book about yoga. If I hadn't committed to doing this review by accepting a free copy of this book, I would not have finished it.
Not recommended.
Disclaimer: I received a free electronic copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
July 27, 2021
Add this to the very short list of books I read from the library and then immediately went and purchased a copy for my forever shelf. Stanley approaches and writes about yoga and meditation with a beginner’s mindset ~ as in, we’re ALL beginners no matter where we are on our journey. As is she. A queer, fat, Black woman taking her rightful place in the yoga-sphere makes me so damn happy and I want her to write more, more, more. And definitely check out her yoga app to practice with her ~ it’s called The Underbelly, and it’s divine.
June 22, 2021
Wow was this book refreshing. I found myself nodding along to things she was saying and highlighting whole passages. This book was the reminder I needed to bring myself back to the practice and focus on myself and stop worrying about impressing others. So many things that were said in this book resonated with me on a deep level. I didn't read her first book, but I will be going back and doing that for sure. Thanks to Netgalley, Jessamyn Stanley and Workman Publishing Company for an early copy.
February 22, 2022
As a black yoga teacher myself navigating this world of American yoga is a hellscape. And a lot of practitioners don’t wanna have the conversations. A lot of studios talk the talk and don’t walk the walk and my white peers have a hard time accepting our distasteful experiences with their beloved teachers. I felt so seen by Jessamyn and her words for honestly the very first time in the context of yoga. Every single person who has felt marginalized by yoga and chatturanga barbie and the strong white supremacy running covertly through the practice should read this book. Every white practitioner and teacher should read the book twice and take notes.
November 22, 2021
I was pretty excited to read this book since one of my yoga instructors posted this on the gram. It was hard to read because of the profanity which I usually do not mind.
If you are committed to yoga and the philosophy I’m not sure that you would be ranting the whole book�
A lot of the topics were unrelated to yoga about after halfway through the book. I understand that a lot of yoga in the U.S. doesn’t pay much tribute to traditional yoga practice but geez, can we calm down on the F^%k White Ppl mentality? A lot of generalization In the book. Wasn’t a fan. There were things I resonated with but the delivery of her ideas were just not my taste.
It’s nice to have someone to represent a different culture within the yoga community but I don’t think that the author took that privilege seriously. DONT READ this if you actually want to learn something about yoga, there are better yoga books that aren’t as negative as this one. Nothing about this book is “deep�
If you are committed to yoga and the philosophy I’m not sure that you would be ranting the whole book�
A lot of the topics were unrelated to yoga about after halfway through the book. I understand that a lot of yoga in the U.S. doesn’t pay much tribute to traditional yoga practice but geez, can we calm down on the F^%k White Ppl mentality? A lot of generalization In the book. Wasn’t a fan. There were things I resonated with but the delivery of her ideas were just not my taste.
It’s nice to have someone to represent a different culture within the yoga community but I don’t think that the author took that privilege seriously. DONT READ this if you actually want to learn something about yoga, there are better yoga books that aren’t as negative as this one. Nothing about this book is “deep�
May 7, 2021
Have you ever entered a yoga studio and felt like you didn’t quite fit in? Do you believe the American Yoga Association is bias against individuals of a certain size or individuals of a certain color? Well in her soon to be released sophomore book 𝐘𝐨𝐤𝐞: 𝐌𝐲 𝐘𝐨𝐠𝐚 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐞𝐥𝐟-𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 author Jessamyn Stanley shares her experiences with these issues plus so much more.
⠶
I went into this book thinking it was going to be all about peace, zen and tranquility. HA! Boy was I wrong. Jessamyn goes way beyond the surface and dives deep into the racial disparities and body shaming within the American Yoga Community.
⠶
If you’re sensitive to profanity, this may not be the book for you. But if you are open to blunt truth and unwavering candidness, then grab a copy and enjoy the ride. Jessamyn writes about a wide range of topics including the importance of moving the body, meditation, appropriation in yoga, the #Metoo movement, and how she has overcome imposter syndrome.
⠶
You can feel Jessamyn’s strong and witty personality from the very first page as she describes being called out by a fellow yogi for misspelling a word in her first book. It was this experience that led to the title of this her second book.
⠶
Personally I loved reading her raw, real and honest stories. I didn’t read Jessamyn’s first book so I didn’t know what to expect with this one. I was pleasantly surprised by the relatability of it all. I know what it feels like to enter into a yoga class and feel out-of-place. Yet, I also know what it feels like to find peace and a sense of calm in that same studio.
⠶
Jessamyn is not your typical yogi. And this is not a typical book about yoga. I enjoyed the journey.
⠶
𝐘𝐨𝐤𝐞: 𝐌𝐲 𝐘𝐨𝐠𝐚 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐞𝐥𝐟-𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 will be released June 22, 2021.
⠶
Thank you @workmanpublishing for gifting me this eARC in exchange for my honest feedback.
⠶
I went into this book thinking it was going to be all about peace, zen and tranquility. HA! Boy was I wrong. Jessamyn goes way beyond the surface and dives deep into the racial disparities and body shaming within the American Yoga Community.
⠶
If you’re sensitive to profanity, this may not be the book for you. But if you are open to blunt truth and unwavering candidness, then grab a copy and enjoy the ride. Jessamyn writes about a wide range of topics including the importance of moving the body, meditation, appropriation in yoga, the #Metoo movement, and how she has overcome imposter syndrome.
⠶
You can feel Jessamyn’s strong and witty personality from the very first page as she describes being called out by a fellow yogi for misspelling a word in her first book. It was this experience that led to the title of this her second book.
⠶
Personally I loved reading her raw, real and honest stories. I didn’t read Jessamyn’s first book so I didn’t know what to expect with this one. I was pleasantly surprised by the relatability of it all. I know what it feels like to enter into a yoga class and feel out-of-place. Yet, I also know what it feels like to find peace and a sense of calm in that same studio.
⠶
Jessamyn is not your typical yogi. And this is not a typical book about yoga. I enjoyed the journey.
⠶
𝐘𝐨𝐤𝐞: 𝐌𝐲 𝐘𝐨𝐠𝐚 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐞𝐥𝐟-𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 will be released June 22, 2021.
⠶
Thank you @workmanpublishing for gifting me this eARC in exchange for my honest feedback.
May 20, 2022
As someone who has practiced yoga at home and at a studio, I've got so much out of practice. I was lucky to have had some thoughtful yoga teachers who were not strict about poses being exactly so. There was also a recognition of the history of yoga (originally, poses weren't even part of the practice) and an understanding of cultural appropriation.
If it had not been for these teachers, I highly doubt I would have stuck with the practice. I wouldn't have benefited from feeling reconnected to my body instead of focusing on what I came to realize was only my neck up. I developed a new appreciation for my body and what it can do, how to trust it and on the most practical level, I had fewer aches and pains.
Jessamyn incorporates all of this in her book and so much more. Reading her personal experience as a plus-sized black woman taking part in a very white culture was illuminating. I found myself reflecting on how I participate and contribute to the harmful aspects of yoga. She recounts some specific experiences where she spoke up about what she recognized were problematic aspects of yoga culture and was met with coldness and even hostility.
I very much related to Jessamyn's skepticism around spiritual practices, and like her, I have relaxed in my judgment as I've found some that have very much enriched my life.
I loved her honesty, her life philosophies, her warmth, and her humour.
I also very much enjoyed the illustrations at the beginning of each chapter.
If it had not been for these teachers, I highly doubt I would have stuck with the practice. I wouldn't have benefited from feeling reconnected to my body instead of focusing on what I came to realize was only my neck up. I developed a new appreciation for my body and what it can do, how to trust it and on the most practical level, I had fewer aches and pains.
Jessamyn incorporates all of this in her book and so much more. Reading her personal experience as a plus-sized black woman taking part in a very white culture was illuminating. I found myself reflecting on how I participate and contribute to the harmful aspects of yoga. She recounts some specific experiences where she spoke up about what she recognized were problematic aspects of yoga culture and was met with coldness and even hostility.
I very much related to Jessamyn's skepticism around spiritual practices, and like her, I have relaxed in my judgment as I've found some that have very much enriched my life.
I loved her honesty, her life philosophies, her warmth, and her humour.
I also very much enjoyed the illustrations at the beginning of each chapter.
March 10, 2021
This review is provided by NetGalley.
I've been a fan of Jessamyn Stanley for several years. I believe it was seeing an image of her when I didn't know her name. Then I saw her on Good Morning, America and was thrilled to finally learn her identity and follow her on social media. She has that kind of fame in the yoga world already and it happened fast.
When I read her first book, Every Body Yoga, I was a little disappointed in my own expectations. I thought it was going to be a book about how to get into yoga postures regardless of one's size or shape. That ended up being only a small part of the book. It was a memoir which I was happy and curious to read. She bares all.
I had to wonder what could be left to tell about her history when I read the summary for Yoke and to paraphrase -- EBY tells us how to do yoga and Yoke tells us why -- I felt more confident in what the book would deliver. It is gloriously real and inviting.
Jessamyn Stanley does not shy away from vocabulary. She is fat, black, and queer. All terms she uses with complete openness. She invites others to stop seeing fatness as bad or not beautiful. There aren't trigger warnings anywhere, but if you're memoir reader, allow this review to be that warning for you. In EBY, she revealed unfortunate history regarding sexuality, sexual assault, and feelings of confusion about what women are supposed to control in their own bodies. In Yoke, she tells a couple of stories that I wish were unbelievable, but they are sadly, too relatable and easily believable. Even this person I see as a celebrity still gets assaulted and it keeps happening! You can tell by her own words that she is shocked it keeps happening and snowballs into self doubt, embarrassment, and shame.
In my opinion, Yoke should be required reading in all western (re: not in the Middle East, South Asian, or Far East Asia) yoga teacher trainings. I got more out of Yoke with its chapter introductions of Swami Satchidananda's sutras and Stanley's authentic lessons about her yoga journey than I did from reading the tome of B.K.S. Iyengar, Light on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. While Patanjali is considered the source of yoga training, what we need in today's world is to hear from voices like Stanley who struggle against self-doubt, body positivity, equality, racism, misogynoir, homophobia, and white supremacy in yoga. Yeah, even in yoga all that shit is still there and Stanley points it out.
Oh, you think we're all part of the greater Wholeness of the Universal Energy so race doesn't matter? Ha! There are still classes filled with mostly white women and specifically thin, able-bodied, white women (who can afford to be there). Like Stanley, I was the only fatty in my yoga teacher training. I was also from a poorer area of New Jersey unlike my Princeton suburb classmates. But, our teacher was a fierce, black Haitian woman with endless energy who gave us her all. I wish Jessamyn Stanley had had a teacher like mine.
This does bring up how yoga has historically had a guru-student relationship and that we should not deify our teachers. Outside of Stanley's book with her own personal stories of being let down by what goes on in the yoga classroom, there are people like Bikram, Iyengar, and others who abuse their power and abuse their students. Stanley does discuss the Jivamukti yoga film her class watched during teacher training. She was the only one to call out Jivamukti's founders, Sharon Gannon and David Life, for perpetuating the unhealthy racism with their western pastiche of South Asian culture. Stanley said they "managed to roll all the most annoying parts of American yoga culture into one video."
Gurus and teachers can let you down.
Like in EBY, Stanley shares her heritage with the Baha'i Faith and how she noticed that it too, despite it's interracial tolerance, was still homophobic. No matter what subject Stanley introduced, readers are going to get cold hard lessons on reality about what's considered progressive.
Yoke is well-organized and weaves the sanctity of yoga into the modern world and how it has affected Stanley's adult life. There's a saying in yoga: the pose (asana) you least want to do is the pose you should do. The same can be said for addressing what ills the yoga industries. If you don't want to discuss racism and fatphobia, then you're probably the one who needs to hear that conversation from the people who are targeted. Her chapter on meditation is invaluable. She begins by saying she never thought she would meditate and now it's a part of her daily routine.
Yoke ends with Stanley discussing her marijuana usage. She isn't preachy about it. She admits it's not for everyone, but it helps with her yoga by calming her mind. There are sweet stories about her grandmothers and how different they are, yet they have their own type of magic that they bring to the world. That's more of the point than go get high. It's about the need people have when they come to yoga to be who they are meant to be without any mask.
Rating: 5 stars
I've been a fan of Jessamyn Stanley for several years. I believe it was seeing an image of her when I didn't know her name. Then I saw her on Good Morning, America and was thrilled to finally learn her identity and follow her on social media. She has that kind of fame in the yoga world already and it happened fast.
When I read her first book, Every Body Yoga, I was a little disappointed in my own expectations. I thought it was going to be a book about how to get into yoga postures regardless of one's size or shape. That ended up being only a small part of the book. It was a memoir which I was happy and curious to read. She bares all.
I had to wonder what could be left to tell about her history when I read the summary for Yoke and to paraphrase -- EBY tells us how to do yoga and Yoke tells us why -- I felt more confident in what the book would deliver. It is gloriously real and inviting.
Jessamyn Stanley does not shy away from vocabulary. She is fat, black, and queer. All terms she uses with complete openness. She invites others to stop seeing fatness as bad or not beautiful. There aren't trigger warnings anywhere, but if you're memoir reader, allow this review to be that warning for you. In EBY, she revealed unfortunate history regarding sexuality, sexual assault, and feelings of confusion about what women are supposed to control in their own bodies. In Yoke, she tells a couple of stories that I wish were unbelievable, but they are sadly, too relatable and easily believable. Even this person I see as a celebrity still gets assaulted and it keeps happening! You can tell by her own words that she is shocked it keeps happening and snowballs into self doubt, embarrassment, and shame.
In my opinion, Yoke should be required reading in all western (re: not in the Middle East, South Asian, or Far East Asia) yoga teacher trainings. I got more out of Yoke with its chapter introductions of Swami Satchidananda's sutras and Stanley's authentic lessons about her yoga journey than I did from reading the tome of B.K.S. Iyengar, Light on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. While Patanjali is considered the source of yoga training, what we need in today's world is to hear from voices like Stanley who struggle against self-doubt, body positivity, equality, racism, misogynoir, homophobia, and white supremacy in yoga. Yeah, even in yoga all that shit is still there and Stanley points it out.
Oh, you think we're all part of the greater Wholeness of the Universal Energy so race doesn't matter? Ha! There are still classes filled with mostly white women and specifically thin, able-bodied, white women (who can afford to be there). Like Stanley, I was the only fatty in my yoga teacher training. I was also from a poorer area of New Jersey unlike my Princeton suburb classmates. But, our teacher was a fierce, black Haitian woman with endless energy who gave us her all. I wish Jessamyn Stanley had had a teacher like mine.
This does bring up how yoga has historically had a guru-student relationship and that we should not deify our teachers. Outside of Stanley's book with her own personal stories of being let down by what goes on in the yoga classroom, there are people like Bikram, Iyengar, and others who abuse their power and abuse their students. Stanley does discuss the Jivamukti yoga film her class watched during teacher training. She was the only one to call out Jivamukti's founders, Sharon Gannon and David Life, for perpetuating the unhealthy racism with their western pastiche of South Asian culture. Stanley said they "managed to roll all the most annoying parts of American yoga culture into one video."
Gurus and teachers can let you down.
Like in EBY, Stanley shares her heritage with the Baha'i Faith and how she noticed that it too, despite it's interracial tolerance, was still homophobic. No matter what subject Stanley introduced, readers are going to get cold hard lessons on reality about what's considered progressive.
Yoke is well-organized and weaves the sanctity of yoga into the modern world and how it has affected Stanley's adult life. There's a saying in yoga: the pose (asana) you least want to do is the pose you should do. The same can be said for addressing what ills the yoga industries. If you don't want to discuss racism and fatphobia, then you're probably the one who needs to hear that conversation from the people who are targeted. Her chapter on meditation is invaluable. She begins by saying she never thought she would meditate and now it's a part of her daily routine.
Yoke ends with Stanley discussing her marijuana usage. She isn't preachy about it. She admits it's not for everyone, but it helps with her yoga by calming her mind. There are sweet stories about her grandmothers and how different they are, yet they have their own type of magic that they bring to the world. That's more of the point than go get high. It's about the need people have when they come to yoga to be who they are meant to be without any mask.
Rating: 5 stars
June 29, 2021
I found Jessamyn's words to really and truly sit well with me and I felt so compelled to highlight everything in this book, draining my pen of its ink. From the beginning, I found her to be highly relatable, and to carry within her so much beauty and wisdom about the practice of yoga, and the living of life, which in itself can be a total bitch sometimes (most of the time).
"All wounds need to breathe , no matter how painful or smelly. Even the wounds you’d rather keep hidden."
Jessamyn talks about practicing Bikram yoga in Durham for a year to aid her mental health, and I found Bikram in the same way, and also practiced for a year in order to aid my own mental health. I practiced Bikram before finding Ashtanga yoga. These days, my yoga practice is limited. My mind is flooded with thoughts of "you should be practicing. Why aren't you practicing? You're lazy." But I was reminded through this book that the practice of yoga is not about showing up to a fancy class, it's not about rolling out your mat and holding a headstand for five minutes, and it's not about trying to be something or somebody that you're not.
"Your postural work doesn’t need to be particularly complicated. Honestly, you really only need to know one pose and it’s called sitting the fuck down. In fact, give it a shot right now. Sit down and be quiet," she continues, "Breathing is what defines a yoga practice because breathing connects you to the life force that’s constantly flowing in and around you."
A couple of years ago, before treatment for my eating disorder, my yoga, at least in my mind, was showing up on my mat every morning before five AM, and sweating profusely while completing the Ashtanga series. When I didn't do it, I would beat myself up. I would vow to do better the next day. There were days when I couldn't do all of the postures, my body so physically bruised from pushing myself the day prior, that it was impossible to get them that day. I put so much emphasis on the postures and on how I looked and was perceived by other people, encouraged by their comments like, "wow, you are so disciplined," when really, I had forgotten why I started practicing yoga in the first place.
Yoke by Jessamyn Stanley was a reminder that yoga, for me and my body today, is sitting still.
I took so much away from this book that it's impossible to summarize it here, so you're just going to have to go out and buy a copy to inhale some of Jessamyn's wisdom. I felt so absorbed by the content that I almost couldn't wait to get to the end, so I could purchase and read a copy of Every Body Yoga, which I've summarized below.
This book felt like a really good yoga class, when everything sails along nicely from beginning to end and you feel fully engaged in the process, and leave that class feeling like a million bucks. I put down this book, and I truly felt better. I read much of it with a smile on my face. I really hope I get an opportunity to practice with Jessamyn someday, because she is a shining light, and exactly what the yoga world needs. I adored Yoke and highly recommend this one to anyone interested in yoga and spirituality, beginners, and also dedicated practitioners, because this book is a reminder of why we practice yoga.
"All wounds need to breathe , no matter how painful or smelly. Even the wounds you’d rather keep hidden."
Jessamyn talks about practicing Bikram yoga in Durham for a year to aid her mental health, and I found Bikram in the same way, and also practiced for a year in order to aid my own mental health. I practiced Bikram before finding Ashtanga yoga. These days, my yoga practice is limited. My mind is flooded with thoughts of "you should be practicing. Why aren't you practicing? You're lazy." But I was reminded through this book that the practice of yoga is not about showing up to a fancy class, it's not about rolling out your mat and holding a headstand for five minutes, and it's not about trying to be something or somebody that you're not.
"Your postural work doesn’t need to be particularly complicated. Honestly, you really only need to know one pose and it’s called sitting the fuck down. In fact, give it a shot right now. Sit down and be quiet," she continues, "Breathing is what defines a yoga practice because breathing connects you to the life force that’s constantly flowing in and around you."
A couple of years ago, before treatment for my eating disorder, my yoga, at least in my mind, was showing up on my mat every morning before five AM, and sweating profusely while completing the Ashtanga series. When I didn't do it, I would beat myself up. I would vow to do better the next day. There were days when I couldn't do all of the postures, my body so physically bruised from pushing myself the day prior, that it was impossible to get them that day. I put so much emphasis on the postures and on how I looked and was perceived by other people, encouraged by their comments like, "wow, you are so disciplined," when really, I had forgotten why I started practicing yoga in the first place.
Yoke by Jessamyn Stanley was a reminder that yoga, for me and my body today, is sitting still.
I took so much away from this book that it's impossible to summarize it here, so you're just going to have to go out and buy a copy to inhale some of Jessamyn's wisdom. I felt so absorbed by the content that I almost couldn't wait to get to the end, so I could purchase and read a copy of Every Body Yoga, which I've summarized below.
This book felt like a really good yoga class, when everything sails along nicely from beginning to end and you feel fully engaged in the process, and leave that class feeling like a million bucks. I put down this book, and I truly felt better. I read much of it with a smile on my face. I really hope I get an opportunity to practice with Jessamyn someday, because she is a shining light, and exactly what the yoga world needs. I adored Yoke and highly recommend this one to anyone interested in yoga and spirituality, beginners, and also dedicated practitioners, because this book is a reminder of why we practice yoga.
June 22, 2021
Thanks to NetGalley and Workman Publishing Company for this arc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. I’ll post that review upon publication.
Updated 6/22/21
4 stars
Stanley takes an approach that will appeal to folks who enjoy the benefits of yoga but who maybe also feel uncomfortable with - or even outright disgusted by - the appropriative nature of various aspects of it. In other words, if you're trying to buy this book in your "Nama-stay in bed all day!" t-shirt, this is not what you think, and it is not for you. Or maybe it IS for you, and that shirt becomes a cleaning rag.
My favorite part of this collection is Stanley's varied approach to this concept of appropriation and misuse of yoga in modern American culture. I really enjoy the perspectives on these issues and the consistent reminders of what yoga is supposed to be instead of what we're fed by the exact offenders Stanley mentions.
Stanley's more personal revelations - reactions to teachers and even a horrifying set of examples of her own experiences with sexual assault - are difficult to read but essential in shaping her character and persona. In case this isn't already clear, TW: sexual assault.
My greatest wish for this collection is for it to be expanded. At times, some of the essays felt a bit less developed than I'd have liked. But overall, Stanley is speaking truth to so many folks' experiences with yoga, and it is nice to have a reminder of what yoga can and should be as well as what it has been transformed into (sadly). A recommended read for perhaps a niche audience.
Updated 6/22/21
4 stars
Stanley takes an approach that will appeal to folks who enjoy the benefits of yoga but who maybe also feel uncomfortable with - or even outright disgusted by - the appropriative nature of various aspects of it. In other words, if you're trying to buy this book in your "Nama-stay in bed all day!" t-shirt, this is not what you think, and it is not for you. Or maybe it IS for you, and that shirt becomes a cleaning rag.
My favorite part of this collection is Stanley's varied approach to this concept of appropriation and misuse of yoga in modern American culture. I really enjoy the perspectives on these issues and the consistent reminders of what yoga is supposed to be instead of what we're fed by the exact offenders Stanley mentions.
Stanley's more personal revelations - reactions to teachers and even a horrifying set of examples of her own experiences with sexual assault - are difficult to read but essential in shaping her character and persona. In case this isn't already clear, TW: sexual assault.
My greatest wish for this collection is for it to be expanded. At times, some of the essays felt a bit less developed than I'd have liked. But overall, Stanley is speaking truth to so many folks' experiences with yoga, and it is nice to have a reminder of what yoga can and should be as well as what it has been transformed into (sadly). A recommended read for perhaps a niche audience.
March 1, 2022
As someone who recently started practicing yoga again, this stuck out to me while endlessly scrolling Hoopla.
I really enjoyed the audio narration of this and the way Stanley talks about things like capitalism, racism, fatness, and cultural appropriation as it relates to how yoga functions in America and other parts of the world. Her voice was really refreshing and I kind of loved how blunt and honest she was about things that can be hard to talk about, let alone break down in such a digestible and accessible way.
I also loved how she talked about her own relationship with Yoga and spiritual practices, especially as someone who's constantly trying to ✨figure it out� (not that anyone has it Figured Out, per se). Her journey was an interesting one to read.
The essays in this were a little disjointed at times and there were parts that I felt maybe merited a little more attention than others, things that were introduced and not quite connected or fleshed out, etc. I think there are definitely pieces of this that will stick with me and it was something I’m glad I picked up.
I really enjoyed the audio narration of this and the way Stanley talks about things like capitalism, racism, fatness, and cultural appropriation as it relates to how yoga functions in America and other parts of the world. Her voice was really refreshing and I kind of loved how blunt and honest she was about things that can be hard to talk about, let alone break down in such a digestible and accessible way.
I also loved how she talked about her own relationship with Yoga and spiritual practices, especially as someone who's constantly trying to ✨figure it out� (not that anyone has it Figured Out, per se). Her journey was an interesting one to read.
The essays in this were a little disjointed at times and there were parts that I felt maybe merited a little more attention than others, things that were introduced and not quite connected or fleshed out, etc. I think there are definitely pieces of this that will stick with me and it was something I’m glad I picked up.
November 9, 2021
I'm not really sure what the purpose of this book is. I'm still as confused as ever regarding cultural appropriation and yoga. The vulgar language/crassness didn't bother me personally but would affect who I would recommend this too. Like definitely not my mother lol. The random bits about tarot and astrology and weed were kind of like, huh, wut?
December 31, 2022
I started reading this months ago and was taking it in one chapter at a time to really absorb the teachings. I just gobbled up the last few chapters on audio as a kick off to the new year. I’m sure I will be revisiting my print copy frequently.
May 8, 2024
this was such a nice quick read. I am not a yoga person, but I found myself nodding along to a lot of the things Jessamyn had to say. I listened to the audiobook while reading + really enjoyed it!
June 23, 2021
Twenty years ago Colson Whitehead wrote an amazing essay in the New York Times, "The Way We Live Now: 11-11-01; Lost and Found", where the concept was "My New York is not your New York - we each build our own perspective of the city." And I kept thinking of that essay as I read Jessamyn Stanley's "Yoke" because her yoga is definitely not my yoga. But that shouldn't detract from my perception of her yoga or how she lives her life. Ms. Stanley is a necessary disruptor. She is taking on body image and the stereotypes that surround yoga. But while the collection of essays within Yoke are aligned with Yoga Sutras, this isn't really a yoga text. It is a memoir and chronicle of a lifestyle that is not the norm for many yoga practitioners.
Don't go into this book thinking you'll gain insight into the practice of yoga - this book is instead an Own Voices take on society and perception. Think of it as one person's presentation of life's challenges and how they've taken to their yoga mat to make sense of the world.
Don't go into this book thinking you'll gain insight into the practice of yoga - this book is instead an Own Voices take on society and perception. Think of it as one person's presentation of life's challenges and how they've taken to their yoga mat to make sense of the world.
October 3, 2021
I enjoyed her predecessor book, Every Body Yoga. It was fresh and authentic, making the case that yoga can benefit anyone regardless of size, age, gender, race or whatever trait you use to categorise the human race.
This second effort felt too much like a series of rambling blog posts cobbled together to take advantage of Stanley's current popularity. She is indeed a unique voice in our society with a physical appearance and social media presence 180 degrees from your stereotypical yoga teacher. And she unabashedly challenges your thinking on racism and cultural appropriation. However...I just couldn't get past the feeling that this book was commercially motivated to her detriment.
This second effort felt too much like a series of rambling blog posts cobbled together to take advantage of Stanley's current popularity. She is indeed a unique voice in our society with a physical appearance and social media presence 180 degrees from your stereotypical yoga teacher. And she unabashedly challenges your thinking on racism and cultural appropriation. However...I just couldn't get past the feeling that this book was commercially motivated to her detriment.
August 9, 2021
I read "Every Body Yoga" and really liked it and thought this would be a good read. Well, it was a hard read. I'm a white woman who does yoga at home and the book made me think about cultural appropriation, racism, and imposter syndrome, among other things. I will need to continue to ponder her words. They gave me a lot to think about.
June 7, 2021
Wow. As a relatively new yoga practitioner (and even more recently, a yoga teacher), this is the most valuable book I've read so far. Some chapters were challenging to read, but Stanley writes in such a laid-back, intimate tone that even the hard chapters felt just like having a difficult, but ultimately necessary and worthwhile, conversation with a best friend.
March 21, 2021
I had the opportunity to review an eARC of this book thanks to #NetGalley. I am certainly not the target audience for this book as a white, middle aged, hetero, reader. Never the less, she had a message of self-acceptance I valued. I needed to hear her complaints about the white American yoga community to work on my own blind spots. Her explanations of mind-body integration and the broad meaning of prana were fantastic.
Her language is quite coarse and gratuitously peppered with f-bombs which would influence who I would recommend the book to and her descriptions of marijuana use as part of a yoga and meditative practice were not my cup of tea.
At times she shifted topics quickly and unexpectedly making some parts of the book harder to connect to broader ideas. I do not regret reading this book, but I would be hesitant to recommend it to other people in my life for the reasons listed above.
Her language is quite coarse and gratuitously peppered with f-bombs which would influence who I would recommend the book to and her descriptions of marijuana use as part of a yoga and meditative practice were not my cup of tea.
At times she shifted topics quickly and unexpectedly making some parts of the book harder to connect to broader ideas. I do not regret reading this book, but I would be hesitant to recommend it to other people in my life for the reasons listed above.
September 7, 2024
Disappointing. Maybe because I listened to the author narrate her story, but this was just awful. So much anger, prideful insecurity, and petty commentary.
What I really found ironic and off putting is that she demonized institutionalized yoga and yoga studios and yet this is what she is known for…being a larger, black woman who teaches yoga. She is PAID to teach yoga.
She does share some yoga-esque philosophies, but by and large a vast amount of this book is me me me and holier-than-thou stories.
Being a yoga teacher and student myself, I could not recommend this book to anyone.
What I really found ironic and off putting is that she demonized institutionalized yoga and yoga studios and yet this is what she is known for…being a larger, black woman who teaches yoga. She is PAID to teach yoga.
She does share some yoga-esque philosophies, but by and large a vast amount of this book is me me me and holier-than-thou stories.
Being a yoga teacher and student myself, I could not recommend this book to anyone.
July 23, 2021
Decided to give this 5 stars when they Kendrick Lamar's good kid, m.A.A.d city is their favorite yoga album. � Each chapter was interesting. I appreciated theur discussion of cultural appropriation. The writing is fresh and feels like their voice. I enjoyed the quotes from Satchidanada.
This book really reminded me that asanas (postures) and not the most important part of yoga. It's so easy to forget that when you only focus on the physical exercise aspects of yoga.
Love this title, too.
This book really reminded me that asanas (postures) and not the most important part of yoga. It's so easy to forget that when you only focus on the physical exercise aspects of yoga.
Love this title, too.
July 30, 2021
I know I’m going against the grain on this one. Jesses the thing.., there is some very good and valid information in this book. I really like the idea of incorporating yoga into everyday life. I like the idea of making it your own. I appreciate the fact that a black gay person would have difficulty in a typical yoga setting. However... the writing was too repetitive in my mind and I couldn’t get past that.
July 15, 2023
The pearl clutching in some of the reviews for this book crack me up.
March 9, 2023
Every day, more of what we know falls apart. The dream of America is burning.
Practicing yoga feels like digging an instrument out of myself. It's all very Walking Dead. It's like I'm pulling an instrument from my organs, something I've never seen before and have no idea how to play. I sit on the curb and snatch a rag out of my pocket, and I start out just wiping off all the blood and guts. Eventually, it's clean enough to play. I put my lips to the mouthpiece and blow like Satchmo. I'm playing with no training or sheet music. I'm just trying to see what's there and feel something real. As I play, a stranger rolls up on me. They watch me fuck around for a bit and eventually they shout, "Hey buddy! Where'd you find that instrument?" I look up from my work and think, "Who is this jabroni with no home training that's shouting me down in the street?" I'm a bit peeved, but I try not to show it. I'm still Southern, after all. I decide to keep it cute but brief and so I simply say, "I found it inside myself." Happy to have summoned the debutante within, I go back to playing my instrument. But the stranger is not satisfied. Head cocked, they say, "You found a whole instrument inside yourself?!" I resist rolling my eyes. "Yes," I reply curtly. My Cancer moon doesn't mean to be a bitch, but she's ready to go back to minding her business and she'd be glad to offer a demonstration of how to do so. The stranger looks hopeful, like a puppy on adoption day. "Do you think there's an instrument inside of me?" My Cancer moon sighs. How is she supposed to resist the face of a puppy on adoption day? Shrugging off my shell of introversion, I nod Yes. "Definitely," I tell the stranger. "I bet there's definitely an instrument inside of you." So the stranger sits down next to me, and before long they've pulled out an instrument of their own. Their instrument is totally different from mine and neither of us knows how to play it, but that doesn't deter us from blowing up a storm with only our intuition as training. As time goes by, other strangers approach and pull out their own instruments. Before you k now it, we're an orchestra of novice musicians, playing tunes that none of us know. We're not playing the same songs--we're not even really trying to make music. We're just unlearning who we thought we were supposed to be.
Hating myself is a reflex of getting to know myself. In my self-hate, I see the reflections of those who've hurt me and those who hurt them. I see the necessity of my pain and the futility of avoiding it. Everyone is doing the best they can with the cards life deals them, including everyone who hurts me.
Practicing yoga feels like digging an instrument out of myself. It's all very Walking Dead. It's like I'm pulling an instrument from my organs, something I've never seen before and have no idea how to play. I sit on the curb and snatch a rag out of my pocket, and I start out just wiping off all the blood and guts. Eventually, it's clean enough to play. I put my lips to the mouthpiece and blow like Satchmo. I'm playing with no training or sheet music. I'm just trying to see what's there and feel something real. As I play, a stranger rolls up on me. They watch me fuck around for a bit and eventually they shout, "Hey buddy! Where'd you find that instrument?" I look up from my work and think, "Who is this jabroni with no home training that's shouting me down in the street?" I'm a bit peeved, but I try not to show it. I'm still Southern, after all. I decide to keep it cute but brief and so I simply say, "I found it inside myself." Happy to have summoned the debutante within, I go back to playing my instrument. But the stranger is not satisfied. Head cocked, they say, "You found a whole instrument inside yourself?!" I resist rolling my eyes. "Yes," I reply curtly. My Cancer moon doesn't mean to be a bitch, but she's ready to go back to minding her business and she'd be glad to offer a demonstration of how to do so. The stranger looks hopeful, like a puppy on adoption day. "Do you think there's an instrument inside of me?" My Cancer moon sighs. How is she supposed to resist the face of a puppy on adoption day? Shrugging off my shell of introversion, I nod Yes. "Definitely," I tell the stranger. "I bet there's definitely an instrument inside of you." So the stranger sits down next to me, and before long they've pulled out an instrument of their own. Their instrument is totally different from mine and neither of us knows how to play it, but that doesn't deter us from blowing up a storm with only our intuition as training. As time goes by, other strangers approach and pull out their own instruments. Before you k now it, we're an orchestra of novice musicians, playing tunes that none of us know. We're not playing the same songs--we're not even really trying to make music. We're just unlearning who we thought we were supposed to be.
Hating myself is a reflex of getting to know myself. In my self-hate, I see the reflections of those who've hurt me and those who hurt them. I see the necessity of my pain and the futility of avoiding it. Everyone is doing the best they can with the cards life deals them, including everyone who hurts me.
August 9, 2021
I've been doing yoga somewhat consistently for over a decade now, but I've never really been a "yoga person." I'm not really into the woo-woo elements of Westernized yoga culture and it seems like there's no way to avoid the appropriative and colonial elements of doing yoga as a white person. I picked up this book because I really value Jessamyn Stanley's work to expand how we talk about American yoga and who "gets to" practice it. There really aren't any firm declarations about or easy answers to any of the hang-ups I have about yoga, but it was still an interesting and enjoyable read. The book did feel a little bit disjointed, though. I didn't really connect to her musings on breath and weed and other sort of conceptual topics, though the parts where she leaned into her own experiences and stories were really great. She's still one of my favorite fitness/wellness professionals and it was lovely to read more about her journey through yoga.
October 24, 2021
Jessamyn Stanley was the keynote speaker at a one-day virtual library conference I attended earlier this year, so I was eager to read one of her books. This Kindle book was available via Overdrive at my local public library, so I got on the long wait list.
Overall, I appreciated Stanley’s honesty and directness. Sometimes it took me by surprise, though, like she was writing for a little shock value, but maybe it was just me. Could be.
A big takeaway for me was that I shouldn’t feel ashamed about doing yoga, despite my size and beginner-ness. Also, breathing is vital (in so many ways!!), and a good place to start.
Overall, I appreciated Stanley’s honesty and directness. Sometimes it took me by surprise, though, like she was writing for a little shock value, but maybe it was just me. Could be.
A big takeaway for me was that I shouldn’t feel ashamed about doing yoga, despite my size and beginner-ness. Also, breathing is vital (in so many ways!!), and a good place to start.
January 7, 2022
So much good stuff in these essays!
I’m currently teaching in a non traditional space with many yoga first timers. I’ve been exploring texts to help me understand what this looks like and widening my perspectives. This book gave me that, but also so much more. There are a lot of things I’m still struggling with internally as a teacher that I was able to reflect on while reading. A big emphasis on the capitalism chapter. Highly recommend for any and all yoga teachers or practitioners!
TW: sexual assault mentioned in an essay toward the end.
I’m currently teaching in a non traditional space with many yoga first timers. I’ve been exploring texts to help me understand what this looks like and widening my perspectives. This book gave me that, but also so much more. There are a lot of things I’m still struggling with internally as a teacher that I was able to reflect on while reading. A big emphasis on the capitalism chapter. Highly recommend for any and all yoga teachers or practitioners!
TW: sexual assault mentioned in an essay toward the end.
February 5, 2022
I did a shit ton of Yoga with Adriene last month and was inspired to pick this up - realizing now that this should be an essential read for anyone regularly practicing (or teaching) yoga. Jessamyn writes about more than just the poses and breathwork but about race and capitalism as well, among so much else in the yoga world, which I really appreciated in this. She’s also funny so this was a nice experience all around.
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