Finding More onthe Mat: How I grew better, wiser and stronge through Yoga

by Michelle Berman Marchildon, Christina Sell (Foreword)

Practicing yoga is an invitation to live up to our potential as human beings. So our mat becomes a catalyst for transformation. When we assume a yoga pose, it is not necessarily the shape of the body that counts. Rather, it is a chance to create an offering of the highest intention in our hearts. Practicing becomes our path, as we grow not just older, but better, wiser and stronger. We become so much more, both for ourselves and for those we love, every time we surrender to something greater, like Grace. Grace is in many ways reflective of the attitude we bring to the mat. It is the difference between a yoga practice that leaves you radically transformed and an exercise class. It’s the difference between feeling full of hope and potential, or feeling like a schmuck. Our attitude creates the distinction between growing better, wiser and stronger on the mat, or afraid that we’re going to die every time we bend over. “In the beginning,†the author explains, “I did not know that I needed Grace. After all, I had gone through the better part of my life without anything nearly looking like Grace. You should see me dance or sing. Oh my God! A goose suffering an epileptic attack would describe my attempts at being graceful. I would never be mistaken for a soul sister. “Then one day on my mat, struggling for the millionth time to touch my toes, I gave up. I said, ‘To hell with it.’ And that’s when it happened. The tension in my body released and I lowered down another six inches toward the floor. I got so excited I almost pulled a hamstring. All the years I had been practicing yoga I thought what I needed to touch my toes and to get better in general was more effort. But in fact, I needed more Grace.†Living with ease is Grace. Living with forgiveness and acceptance is Grace. Taking the good with the bad is Grace. Saying “yes†first, rather than “no,†is Grace. Trying new experiences with a light heart is Grace. Knowing that we are filled with forgiveness just because we were born is Grace. You will need equal parts of redemption and emancipation to find transformation, which is not easy. “Today,†the author explains, “I am stronger and more vibrant than ever before. I hauled my tired old ass out of a steep depression to live a better life. I hope to make the second half of my life my best achievement yet. The journey begins with Grace.â€

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir

284 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2012

Reviews

[Karina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book not only about yoga but also about overcoming fear, letting go of what doesn't serve you and be happier..I highly enjoyed it and recommend it even if you are not into yoga like me :-)

[JennShooky · Rating 5 out of 5]

I related to this book on too many levels! Michelle is amazing and I am lucky to have recently discovered her classes at the studio where I practice.

[Kelsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Yoga is love. You will fail before you get it right."-Love this book. brought me back to the mat after a long hiatus.

[Amanda Smothers · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is really inspiring. So much so that every time I start reading it, I put it down to do some yoga. Taking me forever to read it, but it's taking me forever in a good way :)

[Lisa Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Part of my curriculum for my Yoga teacher training.
Amazing read for any woman coming into herself.
I cried, I laughed, I practiced, I grew.
I read it again and again ❤️

[Niki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny and just inspiring

Before I start I want to explain that I wanted to give this book five stars but have decided to give it four because of the typos (there were many) within the Kindle version of this book. Otherwise it's a pretty good read. In fact it's such a good read that I finished it in two days owing to the fact I could only read during my daily commute and sometimes at night before bed.

Michelle is a wonderful storyteller and I love how her yoga story isn't about being beautifully perfect in the poses or having a perfect life. Hers is a story that's filled with all its quirks and challenges without making the reader feel like she's being self-deprecating. She weaves her stories practicing yoga with stories from her childhood and motherhood. She's great at finding that golden nugget in even the most dire of situations all without making it feel like she's being preachy.

I love this book and would recommend it to anyone who has been practicing yoga for three days or three decades.

[Juli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Most of the Amazon reviews I read for this title were wildly positive, but there were a few that called the author self-gratifying and expressed that the content was lacking. While I do agree that her writing style is a little unorthodox and free form, and at times the emphasis of her stories seemed more like a personal journal than an illuminating guide for others (truth in advertising - check the subtitle), overall I felt that I gained something from reading the book. It wasn't an exceptionally profound experience for me personally, but it was positive and enjoyable one (due in part to her lively writing style), and I came away with some helpful insights, applicable to both life and yoga. Had the reading experience not been so lighthearted and fun, I probably would have given it a 3/5 star rating, because it didn't quite provide the depth/insight I was hoping for after my yoga teacher's recommendation, but the playfulness of the author made it an enjoyable read overall.

[Shalaka · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great stories, great quotes and I totally agree with all the arguments the author makes about finding more. The only reason this book didn't get more stars is because the editing is poor (multiple typos of extra or misplaced words) and the writing style gets a bit annoying. The author repeatedly uses catchphrases like "Right?" and "WTF" like she's writing an email or text message. You would not know she was a trained journalist from the way she writes sometimes. Also I kind of prefer memoirs in chronological order and while I understand why she had to jump around to keep the book organized around the chapter themes, there is a lot of meat to her life story that would be better shared in a more straightforward timeline.

[Stacey Rowcliffe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is just fabulous! I recently began my yoga practice due to an injury to my achilles which left me unable to do the high impact and intense cardio I had been doing. I got this book to help grow my yoga practice. This book has helped me to not only grow my practice, but re-connect with myself and see the good in life. Michelle has such a great sense of humor while sharing her wisdom of not only yoga but also life. Great book for anyone looking to grow, laugh and live better than they did yesterday. Thanks for sharing Michelle!

[Dave Frenz · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very entertaining and frequently deep book. A great start to a promising career

[Carmen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the book I wanted "Full" to be. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I dog-eared several pages for continual reference.

[Cate Meredith · Rating 5 out of 5]

A surprisingly wonderful book. I loved it - read it all in one sitting. We need more yoga books like this one!

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book I'll come back to again and again.