Going Om: Real-Life Stories On and Off the Yoga Mat

by Cheryl Strayed (Foreword), Melissa Carroll (Editor)

With candid, witty, and compelling experiences of yoga from renowned memoirists, including Cheryl Strayed (author of the number-one New York Times bestseller Wild), Claire Dederer (author of national bestseller My Life in 23 Yoga Poses), Dinty W. Moore (author of The Accidental Buddhist), Neal Pollack (author of The Making of a Yoga Dude) and many others, Going Om shares a range of observations about this popular practice. Unlike books on yoga that provide instruction on technique, Going Om is a unique collection of personal narratives from celebrated authors. This anthology of original material values the quality of writing over the authors' flexibility. Ira Sukrungruang shares his heartbreaking struggle as a 375 pound yoga student discovering self-worth on his mat; Gloria Munoz explores the practice of stillness with lyrical elegance in the midst of her busy mind; Neal Pollack's signature sarcasm leads to surprising turns at yoga class with his dad; Elizabeth Kadetsky uses yogic wisdom while coping with her mother's devastating Alzheimer's.

Genres: Nonfiction, Spirituality, Sports

242 pages, Paperback

First published August 18, 2014

About the author

Cheryl Strayed is the author of four books: Tiny Beautiful Things, Torch, Brave Enough, and the #1 New York Times bestseller, Wild. She's also the author of the popular Dear Sugar Letters, currently on Substack and the host of two hit podcasts--Sugar Calling and Dear Sugars. You can find links to her events and answers to FAQ on her web site: http://www.cherylstrayed.com/

Reviews

[Travel Writing · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lovely collection of essays that span from managing a mother with Alzheimers, to being the first college graduate, to relationships, to being heavy, divorce, kids, dogs, pain, death, life and the yogi-who-hates-to-call-himsefl-a-yogi. All touching back to yoga in all of it's marvelous incantations.

The framework of four topics: Breath- Balance- Sweat- Let Go gave a luscious flow to the chapters and had some sparkling surprises and only a few (for me) essays that landed with a thud.

Quotes that were particularly sparkly:

Body Replies: Want fat people do this. To hide ourselves, we exaggerate another part of our personalities.

Duet in Song and Smoke: I imagine my ribcage a cathedral full of space... (gorgeous stuff. Makes me take a deep inhale just reading this line.)

Sitting Doggietations and The Unknown Knowns: The last time I saw Mary, I was having an affair with her husband. (Whaaaaaaat to the what? So many swerves, as another author speaks of in a later essay.)

Sonya Huber: There's nothing inherently wrong with that our with us.

Dinty W. Moore: So I live an imbalance.

Against the Pursuit of Happiness: A Meditation: I didn't take the class, but I hated it anyway.

Swerve: Problems got fixed by adding to faulty infrastructure.

[Jeanette Jay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful collection! Some of these stories made me bust out laughing (like Claire Dederer's essay and Shaw's "Broga") while others (like Ira's "Body Replies" and Elizabeth Kadetsky's story about her mother with Alzheimer's) brought me to tears. I love the range in voices. Even though each story is its own separate perspective, I kept wanting to read quickly straight through to hear what next gift of insight or what new voice would come through on the page.

Merged review:

This book is a gem: the stories range from madly funny (love the Broga & The, Um, Sexy Yoga essays) to heartbreaking and poignant (Elizabeth Kadetsky's story about her mother with Alzheimer's is particularly raw and real). Like a playlist of beautiful songs, each essay is different and yet they all make the reader realize that we're all just on this journey, fumbling as we go, looking to take a deep breath or two. I've only taken a couple yoga classes here or there--mainly practice meditation--and could appreciate this book and its huor and realness so much. Definitely recommend it! Oh, and Cheryl Strayed's foreword is lovely too, and I love her writing.

[Teri-K · Rating 2 out of 5]

A very mixed bag. There were a few good essays that actually were about yoga. As the subtitle implies, many of the entries had only very loose links to yoga - some of them were still good. There were also some that just felt too self-indulgent for me, like literary pity parties, for which I wasn't in the mood.

[Glen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was a bit sceptical of a Yoga anthology, particularly as the authors were referred to as 'Literati', but the book really worked. I liked the way the anthology was split up into 16 short stories based on: Breathe, Balance, Sweat, and Let Go. A number of great Yoga tales, both on, and off the mat.

[Christie Bane · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a collection of essays about how the practice of yoga influences individuals’ perspectives on life. I do not do yoga, but I’m flirting with the idea of doing it after dabbling in it a little during the beginning of COVID lockdown. I used to dismiss the idea of yoga as New-Agey and not for me, totally inferior to cardio, but my feelings about it have definitely changed over time. This book (edited by a Tampa yoga teacher, incidentally) is one more step on the path getting me closer to practicing yoga seriously.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable collection of essays from several writers talking about their lives and how yoga plays a part in their lives in some way. Some of the essays reminded me why I started practicing in the first place which I really enjoyed. Not to mention I always enjoy reading about other people's experiences with yoga.

[Antisolution · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice easy read for someone wants to get more understanding about how yoga can impact you as a person. The layout was fun. A nice collections of stories. However, I was expecting the story to have more depth at times. Overall, an easy read if you want something light and fun.

[chrisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found several of the essays insightful and interesting while others were more meh for me. I would recommend this book to anyone who does yoga and enjoys reading about yoga. I think most people would find at least one or two interesting essays in this book to enjoy.

[Lorraine Monteagut · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every time I'm feeling down, I pick this up and it feels like reconnecting to old friends. Inspiring and beautifully edited, a must-read for any yoga practitioner, or for anyone seeking connection in these difficult times.

[Ashley Auspelmyer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'd give it 3.5 - some essays were quite good.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A few essays are five stars, and a few are one stars. I figured this is the average!

[Pam · Rating 2 out of 5]

Did not finish, can’t remember why …

[Ais · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of the nicest and most inspiring books I've read recently and is probably one of the better collections of essays I've read in some years.

Though the title might lead you to believe that you need to be an advanced yoga person to comprehend or get involved in the essays, this is not true. The people who wrote these essays so clearly poured their souls into their writing, showing how a routine of yoga was a background to some momentous parts of their lives.

Some of these essays are sad and painful to read, but the human capacity to keep going when things are tough has created a collection built on hope and optimism. This had a big impact on my heart.

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful short stories from a range of writers about what lead them to yoga

[Ann Boytim · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a collection of stories concerning yogis and what direction their lives went after practicing yoga. The editor Melissa Carroll is a yoga instructor at the studio I belong to and she is amazing. Anyone in the Tampa Bay Area needs to visit to the Lotus Pond Studio, not only is it is a peaceful setting it has an amazing group of teachers for all levels of students.

[Smitty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reflective and quietly inspiring, it weaves together personal stories that explore yoga as something far broader than physical practice, extending into mindset, resilience, and everyday living. The variety of voices gives it a mosaic-like quality, showing different paths into similar themes of healing, self-awareness, and gradual transformation. Some stories resonate more deeply than others, and the structure can feel a bit uneven, but that diversity also adds authenticity rather than polish. What stays with you is the gentle reminder that growth often happens in small, ordinary moments rather than dramatic breakthroughs, both on and off the mat.

[Tommy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like most collections featuring multiple essays by a variety of writers, there's something here for everyone (at least, those who appreciate and practice yoga), and chapters one will likely choose to gloss over or skip completely. And that's okay. After all, yoga practice is about finding what works for you, and this book is no different in that regard.

I listened to the Audible audiobook, and the narrators were quite good, well suited for the material. This helped immensely, because talking about things as potentially "crunchy granola" as yoga and meditation can often veer into the deep and unforgiving waters of Flaky Lake. Thankfully, such moments are avoided, not only to the credit of the narrators, but to the essayists as well, all of whom are also professional writers in some regard. This is most fortunate, as they find the poetry of the practice not in the Sanskrit names of the poses, but in the power yoga has for facing - and dealing with - the pain of aging, relationships, disabilities, illness, abuse, brokenness, and our own personal demons. This is a book for people who wonder what yoga can do for them, and those who already know and want to hear from kindred spirits.

After a foreword by Cheryl Strayed ("Wild"), readers are treated to humor and heartfelt intimacies form the likes of Neal Pollack, Katherine Riegel, Claire Dederer, and Dinty Moore ("The Accidental Buddhist"), as well as over a dozen others.

This is the perfect book for those who see yoga as more than merely a form of exercise, but instead as a path, a tool, or even a way of life.

[Lowry Mainereader · Rating 4 out of 5]

A pleasure. I love thoughtful personal essays and these were that.

[Lydia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book to better prepare myself for a yoga teacher training course I will soon be starting, so as to gain a better perspective of why students join yoga classes and what their many insights are. In this sense, it is a good book to read - as a bonus you can read each chapter separately or out of order as each chapter is written by a different author. The book is separated into four sections - Breathe, Balance, Sweat, and Let Go; 4-5 stories per section. My favorite was written by Amy Monticello under the Balance section, "Against the Pursuit of Happiness: A Meditation". She describes the Tibetan monasteries in Ithaca, attending their meditation sections, describes their prayer flags, and parts of lovely Ithaca - which she and her friend call Mythaca - a place where multiple yoga studios offer various types of classes, which is surprising since it is still considered a small city at a population of 35,000.

[Deb · Rating 3 out of 5]

What yoga means to an individual is as unique as that person. This is a fun, quick read of diverse essays.

And really, how could one not enjoy a book with this:

"I also like to think that your first yoga session is a lot like your first time watching Doctor Who. That first style, much like your first Doctor, is the one you imprint on and the one against which all future styles and Doctors are measured."

[Monique · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can't really decide between 3 stars & 4...so let's go with 4. There were only 2 of the essays that I just could NOT read. I was turned off to the one by an author named "Dinty Moore" but I got thru that one. I won't tell which 2 I didn't read...I'll leave that knowledge elsewhere. As a collection, I thought these were well collected & diverse.

[Carrie LeAnne · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story that stood out the most to me was Elizabeth Kadetsky's story about her Mom who had Alzheimers, and her sister who was seriously depressed. It was tough to listen to. I hope I remember, if I'm ever the caregiver for a loved one, to remember this story and take heart from it.

[Kathryn West · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got this book because Cheryl Strayed did the foreword. I love her and thought if she was involved it would be good. The book is about what yoga has brought to the lives of people, mostly writers. Some of the stories were good, some I didn't enjoy. Nothing very profound.

[Ardenchild · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed most of the stories. A few seemed a bit long to me. Overall I enjoyed reading this book.

[Kendra · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[MM · Rating 3 out of 5]

Essays - Interesting "takes" on yoga practice

[Gillian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many inspirational stories about people from all walks of life and how yoga fits in.

[Meaghan Alvarado · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely collection of short stories from people affected by yoga.

[Tracy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of great stories about a person's relationship with yoga.

[Robin Zappavigna · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED this book. Each story was distinct from the others and they all had something interesting to offer. Found most of it uplifting and all of it entertaining in some way.