Downward Dog

by Edward Vilga

“What Karl Lagerfeld is to fashion, Edward Vilga is to yoga.
He has poured his years of experience into this sexy, charming and well-written escapade.”
–– Simon Doonan, author Beautiful People, Gay Men Don't get Fat and the upcoming fashion memoir 'The Asylum'

A study in love, loss, and sexual misadventures in New York City, DOWNWARD DOG tells the tale of a handsome Bad Boy who becomes a yoga instructor while trying to redeem his womanizing ways and win the forgiveness of the only woman he’s ever really loved.

Down on his luck thanks to a failed nightlife venture which fell apart because of his womanizing, our hero’s stuck with massive debt and broken dreams.

His only safe haven is the yoga world, and when his well-connected best buddy launches his yoga career among NYC’s elite, our working class hero becomes a guru to society’s top 1%, a wolf let loose amongst a flock of comely sheep.

“DOWNWARD DOG is not only a sexy/funny page turner, it also shares the emotional journey of one Bad Boy’s transformation and romantic redemption.”
—Chip Conley, Founder of Joie de Vivre Hotels and Author of PEAK and Emotional Equations

Genres: Fiction

307 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 9, 2013

About the author

I have a formal, fancy "designed to impress" bio on my website –– www.EdwardVilga.com ... But here's the real story:

In many ways, I’m an altar boy gone wrong. (Sometimes VERY wrong.)

Fresh out of college, while working for an acclaimed documentary filmmaker and the Oscar, Emmy, and Peabody-winning American Masters series, I actually co-wrote (and published under a pseudonym) an unauthorized celebrity biography. It was subsequently excerpted in the Star. The Associated Press said of it “Journalism has hit an all time low.”

Nonetheless, my career’s comic low point was my first event for Bloomingdales, months before my YOGA IN BED DVD was released.

As I sat on the bed about to begin my yoga demo, the floor manager refused to believe this was an authorized promotion and went in search of security to explore having me thrown out of the store. (Sorry Kathy Griffin, but it doesn’t get more D-list than being threatened with eviction
from one of your own events.)

Ironically, one year later, at the exact same location, once the DVD hit #1 for all of wellness on Amazon.com after my appearance on REGIS & KELLY, I experienced my career’s comic high point: Bloomingdales took out not one, but two 1/2 page ads in the New York Times describing me as a “legendary yoga master.”

(Lesson: believe none of what you read.)

By the way, I believe I am the only person to have been in bed with both Pat Sajak and Kelly Ripa (certainly at the same time, and definitely on national television.)

I also believe I am the only writer/director to have cast Sandy Duncan and drag artist Lypsinka in the same West Village reading of one of my scripts.

My favorite review of my work is from ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY for an internet feature I wrote and directed they selected for their “Best of the Web” and praised as “a cross between DAWSON’S CREEK and SCOOBY DOO.” (Frankly, entertainment couldn’t possibly get any better than that.)

Or maybe I’m proudest of winning first place in this state-wide Catholic Daughters of America poetry contest in Junior High (and no, I don’t still own those pants.)

Some other interesting facts:

I definitely believe wine is fine on any cleanse.

My favorite Christmas tradition is my sister’s best friend’s annual cookie bake-off in Connecticut where I’m famous for being the most impartial, impeccably honest, and rigorous cookie judge.

I promptly return all my emails.

I love watching lots and lots television (and not the stuff on PBS or CNN).

Coffee has no effect on me whatsoever, yet I may very well be addicted to Words With Friends on my iphone.

Although I like to think of myself as very “go with the flow” I seem to have an outrageous number of strong opinions on countless unimportant topics.

I actively avoid the news.

I got a letter of commendation for Literary Theory yet nearly flunked Latin.

Although I’ve taught hundreds and hundreds of yoga classes, by far the most talked about is the one where I played three Britney Spears songs in a row.

I don’t “get” twitter at all but I’m quite passionate about massage.

And since I really love all personality assessment systems, I believe it’s the best way to get to know me fast. Thus, I’m proud to reveal myself as …

A Cancer Sun with a Scorpio Moon and Scorpio Ascendent;
In Vedic Astrology I’m a Gemini with a Scorpio Moon and a Libra Ascendent;
In Mayan astrology I’m a White Dog;
In Chinese, I’m a Rabbit;
In Cherokee, I’m a Wolf.
In Myers-Briggs, apparently I’m an ENFJ,
In Human Design, I’m an Emotional Projector (a minority type that includes Barack Obama, George Clooney, and Charlie Sheen).
And numerologically, I’m a number 1.

(Pick the system you like best and we’ll get along just fine.)

Netflix, by the way, believes that my three favorite qualities in a movie are “quirky, witty, and heart-warming” and I think that says a lot. (I also love any action movie provided someone says at least one semi-‘mystical’ thing.)

A

Reviews

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Downward Dog is a hilariously entertaining tale that follows the journey of "Dog," a New York City hipster/ player that loves the nightlife, ladies and yoga. Written in the first person narrative, Dog takes the reader on a wild roller coaster ride as he starts a new year determined to turn his life around and win back the heart of a woman that he had let down.

Filled with amusing introspection and insights into the NYC urban hipster lifestyle, elite NYC society, yoga practices, and his own sexual prowess, emotions and failings, Dog's Alpha male personalty comes shining through in a tale that captivates the reader, and provides them with a lot of laugh-out-loud comedic moments. Dog's colorful way of viewing his life and the world around him is a mixture of tragedy, comedy, and thoughtful introspection, his journey will teach him valuable life lessons, while his transformation will help him find his true path in life.

This was such a fun book to read, but I have to admit that in the beginning I wasn't a huge fan of Dog. I found him to be an egotistical, womanizing, stuck-on-himself kind of guy that seriously needed to be knocked down a peg or two. But once I was able to stop rolling my eyes and looked past his non-stop carousing of the NYC nightlife and over active sexual debauchery, I got a chance to see his sincere introspective take on the last six months of his life and his love of yoga. It was then that I saw the true guy inside that was really hiding in the wolf's clothes. Dog's journey is filled with a mixture of dramatic and comedic trials and tribulations, I found myself cheering for Dog and hoping that he'd get the redemption that he sought. The only thing that irked me was that the author didn't provide Dog with a real name, but then again as his story unfolded, I realized that Dog was an appropriate name for our flawed main character.

I would be remiss if I didn't mention that the author's personal and professional knowledge and experience in the field of practicing yoga is phenomenally interwoven throughout the story. With richly detailed and descriptive yoga poses and illustrations that are highlighted before each chapter, the reader gets a mini course in yoga that is sure to peak their interest.

With a cast of quirky characters who leap off the pages; witty dialogue and humorous interactions; and a yoga themed storyline that features drama, comedy, sexual escapades, romance, and enlightenment, Downward Dog is a thoroughly fascinating and entertaining story that is the perfect summer beach read!

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author / publisher in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Diversion Books.

http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot...

[Em · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the book version of a Judd Apatow movie: sweet and raunchy with ribald humor. That said, I hang my head and admit to liking most Judd Apatow movies, which surprises almost everyone who knows me.

About 25% of the way through this book, I wasn't sure if I was going to like it, but something in the story line changed, and I began to like the protagonist more. It's a fast read, extremely well written and interesting. In short, a page turner. How much of a page turner? I was up until nearly 2 in the morning finishing it.

This is the thing, I would NEVER have picked up this Kindle book had it not been for the strong yoga theme in it and that price point was $3.99. (Under $5, and I'll give you a chance.) I randomly found it when looking over the site of a longtime yoga/pilates instructor whose DVDs I like. She mentioned it, and off I went to Amazon to check it out, as well as the author's web site.

This is the story of one man on his wayward journey in and around the yoga world in NYC. Does he find enlightenment? Read it and find out. Making it all the more enjoyable, it's laugh-out-loud funny in several places.

As for the yoga theme woven into the story, it's real and authentic, to paraphrase one of the book's characters. You can tell the author knows yoga and the yoga world. I'm friends with several longtime yoga teachers, and without revealing any of the plot, I can say that the author nails what it's like to be a yoga teacher. (Then again, the author IS a yoga teacher.)

This is an entertaining book, a perfect summer read. However, it is extremely ribald, so if you are offended by movies such as "Porkys" or "Wedding Crashers," you have been warned.

P.S. I really hope this is made into a movie.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great novel!
This is the story of one man's journey to atone for his womanizing ways and to gain the forgiveness of the only woman he has ever loved.
He becomes a yoga instructor.
We are tantalized with stories of temptation and seduction when he becomes a guru to NYC's elite. We are taken through the ups and downs of his journey and it is quite a ride.
His story captivated me and I really didn't want it to end.
I thoroughly enjoyed the yoga poses displayed and described.
Sexy, funny, sad and charming Edward Vilga has a winner with "Downward Dog".

[Gabriella Sofia Buxton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished reading Downward Dog by Edward Vilga about a week ago and I still can't get it off my mind. I downloaded it to Kindle and found myself highlighting passage after passage of words which I feel like I should live my life by. Vilga includes some real wisdom in this book which can only be shared from experience and influence. I related a lot to the main character, as I've always felt that I want to do my own creative thing and don't like working for other people because I feel like I'm selling myself short. However, the main character seems to have such an affinity with his vices of going out at night, getting drunk and having sordid affairs, that I often felt like I hated him. Women always want men to be perfect... not because they are being bitches, but because they WANT men to deserve them and be worthy of settling down with. This is not to say that women are perfect, because they are not. But I WANTED the protagonist to be perfect... I wanted him to be likeable, and for myself to feel sorry for him whenever things wouldn't go his way, but I couldn't. And I liked that, I liked the battle that I had with myself. It is very rare for a protagonist to be un-likeable, and it is even more rare for readers to continue persevering with a book when they don't like the protagonist. I haven't felt this way since reading Wuthering Heights in fact (I never liked a single one of its main characters!) but something forced me to carry on reading. I felt uncomfortable during most of the book but I feel like that is a good thing because it didn't show an idealist world with a perfect resolution. In the end, the character basically just resolves to continue trying his best. I loved the character's Gigi and Calypso as they seemed so in tune with our purpose on this planet. Like, we are just here to muddle on through and do the best we can! And if we can teach people from our own mistakes, then it is all worth it. Hutch, Janek and Shane found what I would normally expect the protagonist to find which is some form of slightly-unrealistic but heart-warming nonetheless 'happy ending' and although I appreciated the fact that the protagonist didn't find the same, I think it was important that SOMEONE did. To me, it felt obvious that Andrew was the one who spilled the protagonist's secret about the Cleavage Twins. I'm not sure whether that was true, but it certainly seemed it to me. I liked the fact that the protagonist didn't agonize over finding out who was responsible for this turn in his fate, I liked that he just accepted the responsibility and the hand he had in it and ignored the fact that someone else might be to blame. This was one of the things which made him more endearing to me, because unlike Andrew who kicked himself for sending his lover tell-tale flowers, the protagonist just accepted that what he had done was wrong and stupid, and allowed Gigi's words to help him to move on. Finally, and this is just a totally random point that I thought was perhaps the only thing I would have changed about the whole thing, I felt saddened that the protagonist didn't interact much with his family. Family is really important to me and it seemed that his family loved him a lot, but that he didn't realize that the love they had for him would always be unconditional. I would have loved for him to turn to his father before calling Gigi to bail him out, or going to Becker to fix his drama with Diwali and Shane. His father wouldn't even have had to provide any money or anything like that, but just have been there for him. Nonetheless, I really enjoyed this book from cover to cover. I would recommend it to anyone as it is really thought-provoking and reminds me about why I love yoga so much!

[Sharon Lippincott · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m not from Missouri, but when I see a book with the sort of rave endorsements accorded to Edward Vilga’s novel Downward Dog, my skeptical nature emerges. Can it really be all that good? I wonder. The title and topic caught my eye, and the Look Inside preview caught my fancy. It looked worth a read, and I learned that yes. It IS that good. I only put the book down when I couldn’t keep my eyes open and finished it the next morning. It did live up to the hype. Each of the five stars I’m awarding this book were well earned.

Most of the book is filled with rollickingly bad boy humor, especially in his irreverent “views from below” of the lifestyle of “the other 0.5%” and night life in the Big Apple. Even the ubiquitous self-deprecating parts have a certain humor. But it’s not all fun and games. He includes plenty of insight into human nature and life in general. Looking back, I realize the book has a well-hidden and surprisingly solid spiritual core. I didn’t have any preconceptions about how it would end, but I would not have guessed right in any event.

Vilga explains in a section at the end of the book that he did teach yoga for many years in New York City, privately and in a number of yoga studios, although he’s careful to point out that this is fiction and not based on actual experiences. This depth of experience enables him to include quirky descriptions of unusual yoga poses most of us will never attempt or even hear of otherwise. It also enables him to give insight into the flow of a typical class, something I never noticed or thought to look for.

When I closed the book at the end, I felt calm, peaceful and rested — as if I’d just finished a satisfying workout, complete with the teacher’s deft touch at the end. He does not mention branches of yoga, but the ongoing humor in this book provided a laughter yoga workout. Beyond that, the combination of tension, discovery, insight, and the overall pacing of the book, roughly followed the flow of the traditional yoga workouts he describes leading.

If you are a yoga practitioner, you’ll understand the fine points in this book. If you aren’t, you may want to find a class after reading this book. In any event, you’ll learn something while being entertained. It has something to offer everyone.

[Ashley Farley · Rating 4 out of 5]

If You Love Yoga . . .

You must read Downward Dog! Despite my limited knowledge of the practice, I enjoyed the detailed description of the different poses at the beginning of every chapter. Not surprisingly, considering Edward Vilga’s mastery, Yoga is the heart and soul of this novel.

Bad Boy

If you love New York, sexy men, and exciting nightlife, you have to read this book.

The nameless protagonist is a very naughty boy—a self-absorbed playboy who loves to party, practice yoga, and have sex, although never more than three times with the same woman. Bad Boy brings New York City alive as he recounts his escapades and misadventures with his eccentric yoga clients. He is occasionally reflective, often hilarious, always entertaining. When a society queen hires him to be her private yoga instructor, he becomes New York’s biggest talent in demand. But it’s only a matter of time before he screws it all up. Because that’s what Bad Boy does best. Does he get the girl or the fame in the end? That’s for you to find out. But I promise he will make you laugh out loud many times along the way.

What’s his name?

Creating a nameless first-person point of view character is a testament to Vilga’s skill as a writer. I asked him about this in my interview. Not surprisingly, he admitted there were similarities, as well as differences, between himself and his main character. Read on . . .

My Thoughts

Although the first chapters dragged a bit for me, packed with too much backstory, I found Bad Boy entertaining. Don't look for too much depth. On par with The Devil Wears Prada. Edward Vilga gives his readers an insider's look at the elite of New York City.

[Robyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was a little mixed about how to rate this book. I enjoyed reading it a lot and looked forward to picking it up each day. But it had its downside in regards to likability of the main character. It's a "yoga novel," but it's different because it's written by a man and the main character is a man. Not just any man, but a serious cad with little regard for women. So little, that he can't be bothered to learn their names and assigns nicknames such as "serious cleavage," "diamond cleavage" and "symphony" to them, depending on whatever caught his eye or whether the name is too complicated to even learn in the first place. Sometimes this makes him rather unlikeable, but I suspect this is the author's intention. Also, a lot of bad stuff happens to this guy. Then a lot of good stuff. Then more bad stuff, etc. By the way, I've only been to NYC once, but I don't remember seeing hot, supermodel types of women EVERYWHERE.
Fortunately, there is one strong female character in the book, and she even gets called by her name.
In the end, you're just hoping that the main character learns a few lessons and changes his ways. Even when he's being a womanizing jerk, you can still see a glimmer of kind human being underneath.
Without giving away any of the plot, let me simply say that, overall, I really enjoyed this book.

[Artemiz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Edward Vilga's Downward Dog in an interesting book that talks about big questions in life through yoga and comedy.

It's very honest and very open book. Although yoga should be very spiritual and strict, this book gives you the understanding, that it can be spiritual but it also can be just training and if you pick up some spiritualism also on a process it's good, but nothing will happen if you don't. Just do not forget to breath.

This book reminded me Tim Allen's book I'm Not Really Here. Both books talk about serious things through comedy and both actually do have some answers to your questions if you have the right questions and you read the book on a right moment. And my favorite quote from Tim Allen's book applies also to this book - You can use your finger to point at the moon, but once you seen the moon the finger is no longer essential.

Good book, Good read!

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn’t think I was going to like this book because the main character is a womanizer and has a history of being a real jerk but he becomes more endearing as the book progresses. He’s obviously made a lot of mistakes but he really does try to become a better person, mainly because of the woman he loved and lost. I found myself cheering him on and being so disappointed when he made a mistake. By the end of the book, I had a lot of respect for the way Edward Vilga was able to portray this Bad Boy’s journey. He made him very real.

There’s a lot of information about yoga. The way the poses were presented was creative and I learned quite a bit. Like a lot of people, I didn’t realize it was such a workout. I’ve always pictured someone sitting cross-legged and meditating. Wow! Was I wrong! In fact, it may something I’d like to pursue in the future.

I enjoyed Downward Dog and highly recommend it.

[Ellen Young · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really, really enjoyed this novel. It engaged me right off with the kind of protagonist I love to indulge in, someone who's kind of a mess but isn't strung out on angst or deep philosophizing, and is committed to debauchery. He also happens to be seriously into yoga, and the descriptions of yoga poses are so appealing they make me want to do them. New York City plays a major role in the book too, as the city that tantalizes him with everything he desires, if only he can behave himself long enough to get it. I love books about temptation and seduction. This is a good one!

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really didn't like this book in the beginning, mostly because I couldn't sympathize with the main character. He really really got on my nerves. I keep reading anyway. Partly because it was a book club selection and partly because the main character knew he was a jerk. I still have a hard time liking this character but in the end really enjoyed the insights and the journey he was on. There were some lol funny moments as well.

[J. Parra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Edward Vilga writes with compassion, humor, and intelligence. His protagonist is a character you can empathize with, rough edges and all. From the onset, Edward Vilga clearly builds on his experiences, giving fascinating insight into New York's Upper East Side and the many dimensions of teaching and learning yoga. It's a fun book that's tough to put down, a winner all around.

[Chris Pezzolla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed reading this book.

[Kathy Flynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun light book. If you are seeking a fun quick read and you have a thing for yoga - this is a good airplane/beach read.

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best Yoga Fiction I've read. Funny and sometimes raunchy. If you're a yogi, its worth readings just for descriptions of poses and the definition of 'yoga -lite'. It's also a great story of someone trying to find their way. To quote my favorite character Gigi "Poses. Life. It's the same shit."

[Carmen · Rating 1 out of 5]

If you like guys that condone using women to get instant gratification because they only love "the one"... and you enjoy mind numbing descriptions of yoga poses this is the book for you.
Also... if you have trouble sleeping.. this will help

[Jill · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book could well be titled "The Metamorphosis of a Yoga Teacher". A man living in debauchery who also happens to be a yoga teacher relates his struggles in life from New Year's Day of one year to New Year's Day the next year. If it wasn't for the yoga effect interwoven into this story I wouldn't have finished the book. The book is well written, quite readable. But to continuously read about the drunken adventures of a self-proclaimed wolf got old fast. Yoga in the end was the salvation of the narrator. No one is perfect. We all have to find our way in life. Yoga came out as the right choice and path of salvation for this man's life. Read it if you have an interest in NYC, the clubbing life of NYC, Yale and Harvard graduates, and yoga. Purely fiction the author says.

[Nata Raya · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you expect just another Yoga Book about Anatomy and Pranayama, this one is not for you.


"Downward Facing Dog" has a bit of "male Sex and the City meets Yoga" for me.
I could find myself as yoga student there.
I could find myself as a yoga teacher there.
I could find myself with my own doubts, hesitations, self-questioning, mistakes, "messing up things" there.
Sometimes I had to laugh thinking "it's exactly like that" and sometimes I was shocked, I was surprised or even felt a pity. All in all, I could not stop reading the book and now I am waiting for the Second Part ;)

[June · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes I just love to read about yoga, and based on the genre, I rated this high. The story about a yogi who has make some big mistakes in his drive to become a nightclub owner, including sleeping with his investor's wife. His yoga practice should have saved him from himself, but he looks at it more as a physical effort than a mental one. While the book is not the best written, I did enjoy it.

[Briana Ford · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was pretty awesome, I really enjoyed it. A first person account of one guy's journey in love, sex, success, failure, and of course, yoga. Lots of laughs but also some semi-serious moments where you wonder "what would I do". An authentic fiction novel, if that makes any sense. Recommended for yogis and non-yogis alike.

[Anna Bez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun read about a man-boy struggling to avoid growing up despite his deeper yearning for progress. The book was well-informed since its author is an experienced yoga teacher. I enjoyed that the book incorporated yogic approaches to concepts like forgiveness, letting go, and success.

[Melissa Faith · Rating 3 out of 5]

I might have given it 4 stars but I felt like it went on foreverrrrrrrrrrrrrr. I read it on Kindle so I don't know how many pages it was but it felt like 100 too many.

[Gina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book!!!

[Melissa Abbott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hard to put Down, well written, engrossing

Interesting novel about a hypothetical NYC Yoga Teacher on an evolutionary journey. Hard for me to put the book down.