Autobiography of an American Yogi: The Story of Bryan Kest and the Evolution of Power Yoga

by Bryan Kest

346 pages, Paperback

Published November 16, 2023

Reviews

[Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Throughout this book Bryan Kest takes sole credit for almost every new concept/class/product that’s popped up in the yoga world in the last 40+ years. As for me, I can only vouch that it’s all thanks to his ‘Power Yoga’ VHS tape that I even found and fell for yoga originally (and continue to practice to this very day).

Kest was still rocking long curly dark hair back then and I was totally envious of his super cool and smooth “jump through to sitting” move that I still haven’t been able to accomplish, even after all these years.

Did I like his autobiography? Yes, but with some caveats.

The first one – an editor/proofreader could’ve caught the slew of mistakes and errors. (Not to mention they could’ve told him to cool down with his obsession with the exclamation point.)

The second – plenty of questionable thoughts and ideas and opinions and a penchant for continually saying the exact same thing over and over (and over!) again.

But if you’re only here for a solid tale from someone’s incredibly wild and bumpy life… you won’t be disappointed. I’m certain I’ll never read another autobio that bounces between sexual conquests to his admiration of Mother Teresa (someone needs to slip a copy of Christopher Hitchens’ book ‘The Missionary Position’ to Kest) to punching a thug in the mouth that littered while at a red light to Kest’s retreat’s graduation ceremony where he wanted all the participants to be in the buff.

“Remember, the universe knows what it’s doing.”

“When you came to my studio, you were literally entering another dimension of reality.”

“It was kind of like being head over heels in love with someone who has bad breath.”

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finished this book in two days-I couldn’t put it down. Granted, I took yoga from Brian in Santa Monica for more than a decade so this was a fun walk down memory lane for me remembering those super-packed, super-sweaty, classes in the old dance studio. But, Brian has a unique way of delivering ancient wisdom, f-bombs included, that spoke to me in the early 2000s and still speaks to me now. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for an entertaining read coupled with wisdom and knowledge.

[Owen Lister · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really easy reading and flowing book. Can pick it up and put it down with the short chapters. I didn't know much about Bryan Kest before this book, other than him being the "father of power yoga" and it's definitely interesting to read about his life coming to this almost legendary status. Hearing how the LA popularity increased as a full scene is unique and I'd recommend giving the book a go. A lot of self help type philosophy and advice at the end of each chapter as a lesson to what went well and what went wrong in his life was also really great.

[James Webler · Rating 1 out of 5]

Bryan Kest is a great teacher. He was my introduction to yoga. He fed me the desire to explore my body.
That being said, he is not a good person. He fights with is dad, he doesn’t like Pattabhi Jois. He hits Lisa Bonet, and threatens Maty Ezraty and doesn’t get why she’s scared of him. He tried to blackmail a woman to get naked for her graduation and when her husband stands up for her, he thinks she isn’t “truly” a yoga teacher. The guy is a great teacher but he doesn’t get it. And this book drove me nuts.

[Hutson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic read. His tapes are what inspired my love for yoga. I’ve been lucky enough to attend classes during his time at Dancehome and training workshops. Bryan revolutionized yoga and made it accessible long before others were doing it.

[Cori · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed Bryan’s yoga story told in the same refreshingly passionate, cheeky and down to earth way he teaches his online classes.