Posted in Blog, Reviews

Review: Make Every Move a Meditation by Nita Sweeney

Make Every Move a Meditation delves into using movement in meditation by sharing personal stories, how-to’s, practical examples, benefits, and much more.

In the age of instant gratification, the idea of taking time to meditate quietly can be daunting. By using movement that you are already doing (sports, walking, etc.), it can be easier to add meditation into your life.

As a 200-hour yoga teacher, I have read many books about meditation. Many of them were dry, giving the history of meditation, and written for those that already meditate (don’t get me wrong, there is value in these books). Nita Sweeney writes for both new meditators and new to movement meditators.

She begins by explaining why you should implement movement into your meditation. There is great value in both movement and meditation. By putting them together, you can reap bigger rewards – just read the book to find out!

What I really liked about the book were the actionable steps. Nita not only explains how to use movement for meditation she gives instructions to practice before moving on.

Writing for the world of self-indulgence and sharing personal stories makes this one of the most captivating meditation books that I have read.

Get your copy here.

Posted in Blog, Reviews

Review – Yin, Yang, Yogini by Kathryn E. Livingston

Exercise is often stated as a coping strategy for mental health. I use exercise myself and love the release of endorphins that it gives me. However, yoga specifically is often given as a coping strategy for anxiety. The calmness of yoga and the idea of non-attachment can be very helpful for someone who suffers with anxiety. Being told this can seem silly and I used to wonder how that could possibly be true. How is focusing on my breathe going to help me?

Within this book Kathryn shares how she went from someone with extreme and sometimes debilitating anxiety to someone willing to put herself out into the world. To her this would not have been possible without yoga. She does a great job writing about the transition from her one self to her new self. The words are well chosen and the writing is clean.

I found that I struggled to get into the book in the first bit, kind of like how I struggled to get into yoga (yes not only do I do yoga

but I am also a yoga teacher). As I continued to read to I identified more and more with Kathryn and am so glad that I didn’t put the book down. By the end I couldn’t put the book down.

Not only was I identifying with her journey of learning yoga but her journey with cancer. She had breast cancer and I had cervical cancer. When she writes of wondering if it will ever return I feel her worry. When she writes about having to come to terms with this illness I feel her pain. She doesn’t gloss over the strong emotions that come with this diagnosis. She embraces that part of her journey and shares it openly with all of her readers. I felt like someone else finally understood me!

If you have ever wondered about yoga this book is for you. If you have struggled with cancer and the emotions that go with it, this book is for your. If you love a well written story about someone’s life, this book is for you!

You can purchase your copy on amazon.

Posted in Blog, Reviews

Review: Yoga Cocaine by Daralyse Lyons

This is not the type of book I would normally pick up but I loved it and wanted to see how the main character’s life wouldB081W8SBVR end up. I am happy to say that I have not had to deal with drug addiction but I still felt a deep connection with this book and the struggle of the main character to get her life together. The struggle of failure and the fight to get some semblance of normalcy and happiness.

The book is written in a way that follows the 12-step program which was such an interesting structure. The other main topic of the book was incorporating yoga into recovery. I connected with this portion of the book so much that during one of my yoga flows I cried. Releasing some of the trauma that I had stored, the same way it was described in the book.

If you know someone who is struggling this is a book that you need to read. It will give you some understanding of what they may be going through and the thoughts of self-hatred. Addiction is not a choice that people make. It is a mental health illness that needs serious and long-term help and understanding.

If you are interested in getting your own copy, please consider using my affiliate link.