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Sacred Fire My Journey Into Ashtanga Yoga
Sacred Fire is a spiritually oriented memoir that takes the reader from the East Coast of America to India and Nepal in search of inner peace. The narrative explores the dynamic of the sacred teacher-student relationship in the spiritual tradition of India. By presenting the intensity of transformation achieved through yoga and spiritual practice through the eyes of an American woman many readers will easily identify with the narrator's personal dilemmas, issues, and accomplishments. Sacred Fire is a courageous, vulnerable, unflinchingly soul-searching account of the journey from a girl to a woman, a student to a teacher, and a seeker to devotee of love in all its forms. Anyone who has ever felt self-doubt, wished for grace, or dreamed of peace will find a compassionate friend and guide within.
117 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2012
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230 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
October 7, 2014
Right now I'm pretty into "yoga journey" and "spiritual journey" books, and I happen to really admire and adore Kino MacGregor. I'll start with the bad: This book is really, really small (113 pages) and costs $18. It's not available as an e-book. Also, it appears to be self-published and un-edited. As a copy editor, this made me a little crazy. Examples of mistakes that come to mind (besides basic typos and dropped words): lepricon instead of leprechaun and "I couldn't help but feel that Guruji was the udder that guided the course of my life..." rather than "rudder."
On to the good stuff: Kino is very likeable and very relatable. It's easy to put high-profile, very advanced yogis on a pedestal and think that they just took up yoga one day and could do all of these fancy arm balances and floating jump-backs. But Kino admits to the struggles and weaknesses. Seeing as how that's where I am right now, I appreciate her honesty and how down to earth she is.
Kino was an average young woman who wandered into an ashtanga yoga class one day in Florida and became hooked. She journeyed to India numerous times and studied under ashtanga's founder, Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, and his grandson. She's one of the select people who were certified to teach ashtanga by Jois himself. He died a few years ago at 94, so she really had an experience nobody will have any longer. It really is quite an accomplishment. Of course, to all yogi newbies, going to India to study yoga seems like the ultimate romantic notion. In that vein, I really enjoyed her book. I just hope that she'll do an edit on it if she ever does a new edition. A copy editor is worth the money, if I do say so myself!
On to the good stuff: Kino is very likeable and very relatable. It's easy to put high-profile, very advanced yogis on a pedestal and think that they just took up yoga one day and could do all of these fancy arm balances and floating jump-backs. But Kino admits to the struggles and weaknesses. Seeing as how that's where I am right now, I appreciate her honesty and how down to earth she is.
Kino was an average young woman who wandered into an ashtanga yoga class one day in Florida and became hooked. She journeyed to India numerous times and studied under ashtanga's founder, Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, and his grandson. She's one of the select people who were certified to teach ashtanga by Jois himself. He died a few years ago at 94, so she really had an experience nobody will have any longer. It really is quite an accomplishment. Of course, to all yogi newbies, going to India to study yoga seems like the ultimate romantic notion. In that vein, I really enjoyed her book. I just hope that she'll do an edit on it if she ever does a new edition. A copy editor is worth the money, if I do say so myself!
November 22, 2012
Sacred Fire captures the emotional journey of Kino MacGregor and her spiritual awakening as she discovers the power of ashtanga yoga. This memoir barely mentions yoga poses, let alone techniques, which I was kind of hoping for, since Kino is an amazing advanced practitioner.
Nevertheless, it documents her battle with negative body image and an unknowing hatred against men. Through the practice and medication, Kino heals herself. She accepts her body and recognizes a true yogi has everything they need on the inside, just waiting to be found. Although I have not had the same types of hardship as Kino, I felt empathetic to her struggle in finding peace. The memoir is written like a journal in an easy to read way. Kino recounts certain events, with salient imagery, and her emotional, spiritual, and physicals state in them. Although the memoir does move forward in time, it isn't strictly linear. She doesn't burden the reader with references to yoga and Hinduism, but clearly states when she does, and the meaning, and it is all in small doses. In fact, she doesn't really describe ashtanga yoga clearly, but as an ashtanga practitioner, I didn't mind. She focuses on her journey rather than trying to write some yoga education.
She writes in depth about her visits to Mysore and her relationship with the late Guruji. Her struggle in changing her feminist, modern, American attitude to meet with the Indian way of life gave insight on to how women yoga practitioners may feel (although Kino did not write about taking time off for ladies' holidays! Too private I suppose).
Her accounts of visions/dreams are interesting. I am not someone who believes that they have concrete meaning outside of our minds, but I have no experience with any of the sort, so I am trying to keep an open mind. Kino herself doesn't even try to categorize them. I wonder if finding the way to inner peace and calm involves reliving unconscious memory of oneself or even someone else. Kino suggests it's necessary to remove these blocks in order to find peace. It's provoking to think that one could even experience memory of outside oneself, but I suppose I will leave that thought hanging.
Nevertheless, it documents her battle with negative body image and an unknowing hatred against men. Through the practice and medication, Kino heals herself. She accepts her body and recognizes a true yogi has everything they need on the inside, just waiting to be found. Although I have not had the same types of hardship as Kino, I felt empathetic to her struggle in finding peace. The memoir is written like a journal in an easy to read way. Kino recounts certain events, with salient imagery, and her emotional, spiritual, and physicals state in them. Although the memoir does move forward in time, it isn't strictly linear. She doesn't burden the reader with references to yoga and Hinduism, but clearly states when she does, and the meaning, and it is all in small doses. In fact, she doesn't really describe ashtanga yoga clearly, but as an ashtanga practitioner, I didn't mind. She focuses on her journey rather than trying to write some yoga education.
She writes in depth about her visits to Mysore and her relationship with the late Guruji. Her struggle in changing her feminist, modern, American attitude to meet with the Indian way of life gave insight on to how women yoga practitioners may feel (although Kino did not write about taking time off for ladies' holidays! Too private I suppose).
Her accounts of visions/dreams are interesting. I am not someone who believes that they have concrete meaning outside of our minds, but I have no experience with any of the sort, so I am trying to keep an open mind. Kino herself doesn't even try to categorize them. I wonder if finding the way to inner peace and calm involves reliving unconscious memory of oneself or even someone else. Kino suggests it's necessary to remove these blocks in order to find peace. It's provoking to think that one could even experience memory of outside oneself, but I suppose I will leave that thought hanging.
April 26, 2020
One of the best books I’ve read in the last year. The style is easy and direct, as Kino is having a conversation with the reader. So true, so deep and sincere, her experience through the sacred fire of Ashtanga Yoga should inspire every reader- and eventually yogi- to commit to the practice with devotion and love. Because love is exactly what makes us strong. Not our muscles nor our stamina: love is the wonderful power that we have to seed everyday in order to let our true spirit blossom from within. This is the profound message contained in this small yet precious book.
August 14, 2020
The point of Sacred Fire is the journey of a dedicated yogi. Not the typos found within. There is much to love about this book and it’s author. While I haven’t yet met Kino, I consider her my teacher and I find her vulnerability and open heart to be an inspiration.
May 4, 2017
I could hear Kino's voice a lot in the writing, which I loved. I'm a huge fan of hers, hence me buying the book. It did seem a bit too descriptive in parts, though. Sometimes less adjectives is more.
I'm not sure if this was self-published or not, but there were a lot of grammatical and spelling errors. I also felt this book was very over-priced for how long it was - or should I say how short it was? I don't usually comment on the price of the book in my review, but I didn't realise how short this read would be until it arrived. I was a bit disappointed with that. I usually check page count when buying a book - mostly for curiosity - but this time I didn't.
Overall, it was a good read and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who considers themselves to be a yogi, or is on the path to becoming one.
I'm not sure if this was self-published or not, but there were a lot of grammatical and spelling errors. I also felt this book was very over-priced for how long it was - or should I say how short it was? I don't usually comment on the price of the book in my review, but I didn't realise how short this read would be until it arrived. I was a bit disappointed with that. I usually check page count when buying a book - mostly for curiosity - but this time I didn't.
Overall, it was a good read and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who considers themselves to be a yogi, or is on the path to becoming one.
September 1, 2016
LOVE IT!
July 29, 2022
If I was a yogi, I’m sure I would have rated it higher, but as someone new to yoga, I did enjoy it. I read this book because my friend Mary bought it for me. My friend was attending Kino’s Miami Life Center in Florida, so I flew out to help nanny her daughter. In gratitude, my friend bought me this book and had Kino sign it (my first signed book!). I actually really enjoyed hearing Kino’s story. It made me want to practice yoga (despite me being an amateur) and meditation. It is really cool that at the time Kino was one of twenty US citizens to receive license to teach and certification from the yoga school in India. My friend is truly lucky to learn from her! Kino seems really down to earth, genuine, and hard working.
February 6, 2019
I appreciated the journey, but the book is littered with misspelling, typographical errors, and a lack of editing. The organization is somewhat unclear and confusing. The heart of her message remains, and I do feel inspired to return to my yoga practice.
July 30, 2019
This was an enjoyable, quick read. That said, only a few things said really resonated with me as inspiration for yoga/life. I did cry once.
September 1, 2014
I really enjoyed having a window into Kino's yoga journey in the form of this narrative. Having tuned into her social media posts, a more comprehensive narrative gave me a great context and deeper insight into her inspirational practice. Some of what she shared proved o be quite profound and influential to my own growth as one who practices and teaches yoga. That being said, it could have used a good editor, and copious typos were distracting.
March 25, 2016
I've followed Kino MacGregor on social media and even followed along on her videos. It was a joy to read her story. She is a surprisingly good author, with a written voice so down to earth that it felt like she was speaking directly to me. I know that most of my friends who read my Goodreads reviews are not into yoga, but if any of you find that you are interested in what it's about, this book is a fantastic start.
October 3, 2016
I really enjoyed this thoughtful, personal account of Kino's discovery and experience of Ashtanga. She writes with intelligence, feeling, and clarity. I've read a few yoga-journeys at this point, and this one really rang true.
November 8, 2014
Poorly written, poorly edited, if it was edited at all. But it's Kino, and her story often supersedes quibbles about spelling or missing words or grammatical impossibilities.
August 13, 2013
Personally inspiring to read about someone else's yoga journey. I read this very quickly, it was a page turning non put down book. It touched me personally.
November 22, 2015
Only because I love Kino!
November 17, 2017
I’m going through this yoga journey myself so I could definitely relate to it! Thank you kino!!!! 🙏🏻🙏🏻
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews