Soul to Soul: Poems, Prayers and Stories to End a Yoga Class

by John Mundahl (Editor)

Yoga continues to be a growth industry with an estimated thirty million people in North America now practicing either privately or in most cases with a class. Though the yoga market is fractured by the great number of competing schools and philosophies, what they all have in common is the ending of the session with a period of relaxation coupled with inspiring readings.

Soul to Soul fills just this need with a beautiful collection of 150 inspiring perfect-length readings plus tens of quotes that are just right for ending a yoga class or private session. Honoring many spiritual traditions, it's the perfect teaching tool or gift for yoga teachers and practitioners, or for anyone seeking uplifting messages for any occasion. Includes writing by Swami Kripalu, Thich Nhat Hanh, Deepak Chopra, Eckart Tolle, H.H the Dalai Lama, Don Miguel Ruiz, quotes from Rumi, Hafiz, Gandhi, Meister Eckart, Lao Tzu, as well as selections from the Bhagavad Gita, and the Yoga Sutras of Pantajali. Unlike most books intended for yoga teachers, Soul to Soul has strong appeal to teachers in nearly any tradition, and to a wider range of their students.

John Mundahl has been a yoga teacher and practitioner for over thirty-six years. He was a resident at the original Kripalu Yoga Ashram in Sumneytown, Pennsylvania, from 1977–1981, the four years of Swami Kripalu's remarkable stay. He is the author of twelve books, including From the Heart of the Lotus, the Teaching Stories of Swami Kripalu. He lives in St. Peter, Minnesota.

Genres: Poetry, Reference

202 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 2, 2010

Reviews

[Reagan Crook · Rating 2 out of 5]

There were a small handful of nice poems and stories that would be good to share at the end of a yoga class (maybe six total), but the majority were way too preachy or cheesy or both. Some of these felt like mini sermons. A lot of them felt like memes middle-age women put on Facebook. The only good selections were from famous yogis or famous texts like the Bhagavad-Gita.

[lexi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inundated with worldly wisdom and truths about our existence, written in the most lyrical and poetic way. Stunning collection of religious and spiritual literature! 💟☮️

However, as it natural with collections of various peoples works, some connected more deeply with me than others, resulting the reduced rating. :))

[Holly Scudero · Rating 4 out of 5]

Practicing yoga can be many different things to many different people, but there is no denying that for most, it’s a deeply introspective experience. Yoga classes especially can often border on spiritual for many practitioners, and that experience can be furthered depending on how the instructor chooses to end the session. With a book like “Soul to Soul,” everyone is certain to leave class with something to think about. This book is a fantastic collection of poems, stories, and other writings thoughtfully compiled by John Mundahl, a long-time yoga teacher, and the works included encompass a wide range of names, some well-known and others less known. Each of these writings is a perfect way to conclude a yoga class, and many of the passages include inspirational quotes as well. This beautiful collection can benefit even those who do not teach classes, providing a focal point for at-home practice, or even those who prefer other types of mindfulness practices over yoga, as each passage would make a lovely focal-point for meditation. This is a beautiful collection that can easily be appreciated by many.

Review originally written for San Francisco Book Review.)

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

For the most part I LOVE this book. It is used often and well-loved. It always stays in my yoga bag. I have never taken the time to read it all the way through, so I did so today. As I really sat with it and looked into some of the people whose passages I like, I realized that one prominent figure used throughout the book is from a yoga teacher who was accused of and admitted to using his power to abuse students. I would like to see another edition of this book come out without his work in the mix.

[Abby · Rating 5 out of 5]

This collection of poems and prayers to end a yoga class are wonderful. Some are emotional, some funny, some
deeply meaningful. My classes always commented on how they loved the ending comments. Perfect addition to enhance a yoga class. All teacher should have a copy of this book!

[Buffy Olson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the little stories

[Nadine in California]

Maybe I'm just too cynical, but everything I dipped into seemed trite. Maybe some of the offerings have power individually, but jamming together in a little book sunk them all for me.