Hi, I’m Kimber Simpkins, author of “Full: How I Learned to Satisfy My Insatiable Hunger and Feed My Soul” (New Harbinger Publications, Apr 2015).
From civil rights lawyer, to mother, to yoga teacher, and now writer, I’ve learned over the years that the most important thing is letting my heart guide me, even when I was unsure of the direction it was headed. Hey heart? None of this looks familiar. Are you sure this is the right way? Shouldn’t we stop and ask for directions?
The heart has its own internal GPS, the inner workings of which are mysterious to me. Instead of asking for directions, my heart will take me to sit for long hours at meditation retreats or lead me to practice yoga poses as the sun sets over a walnut orchard. Once I’m quiet, mostly my heart repeats the words, “Listen. Wait. Feel.”
Heart also says: “Write.” Full is the story of learning to listen to my heart and finding out how to include my body in the circle of what is beloved. I hope it speaks to your heart too, and encourages you, as Anne Sexton said, to “Put your ear down close to your soul and listen hard.”
My heart is also guiding me through a second book, "52 Ways to Love Your Body" (New Harbinger Jan 2016), which is full of simple practices you can use daily to treat your body with more love. When I’m not balancing on my wobbly indoor standup paddleboard yoga mat, I might be outside in the garden meditating on our flock of backyard chickens while getting ready to go teach a yoga class or workshop. I am a big fan of the Health At Every Size (HAES) movement and community, and welcome students of all sizes and levels in class. I’m grateful to be a long-time Bay Area resident, enjoying the California weather with the love of my life, son, dog, and cat in Oakland.
(Profile photo by In Her Image Photography)