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Strength & Grace: A Collection of Essays by Women of Ashtanga Yoga
In Strength & Grace, established Ashtanga Yoga practitioners reveal how they have maintained their Ashtanga Yoga practice as they journey through various stages of life. Through the recollections of these exceptional women, we are given a glimpse of how powerful and healing the Ashtanga system can be when practiced with wisdom and patience.
This collection of essays provides guidance on how to develop and maintain a regular practice with an awareness - not a rejection - of the unique qualities of a woman's body. It is through their words that we see the strength and grace that is open to all of us who show up to practice with devotion and an open heart.
This collection of essays provides guidance on how to develop and maintain a regular practice with an awareness - not a rejection - of the unique qualities of a woman's body. It is through their words that we see the strength and grace that is open to all of us who show up to practice with devotion and an open heart.
211 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
May 18, 2016
Strength & Grace is a nice essay collection, but it really needed an editor. There were lots of misspelling and formatting issues.
These aren't all new essays. Each one is dated, and I assume a few were written or updated for this collection. Kino MacGregor's essay won't say anything new if you have read her other books and follow her on social media.
Krista Shirley's essay was the most informative, as she goes into detail about modifying asana during each trimester. Overall, for the women who discussed asana during pregnancy, there were differences among what some women would do and what others would. It's clear that by the third trimester it's slow and whatever you feel like doing.
After children, it was common across those essays that everyone took it slow and found their attachment to the practice totally changed. Considering that the body has undergone physical change and is under a lot of stress with a young child, it would make sense that this would occur, but it there is also a profound mental change that reduces the need to be constantly achieving.
I am interested in reading Sharmila Desai's book on ashtanga and motherhood. She has an essay in here as well, and I liked that she had a strong female mentor-ship in her family. Seems to be missing from a lot of the other essays (or at least not discussed).
Moon days are discussed, and again it's variable for how long to take off. It is definitely agreed upon to take time off. Many practitioners at first shunned taking off moon days, but then after awhile came to embrace it, and use it as a time for self-reflection. I find that as I get older, I can't just run around and do everything the first few days of my menstrual cycle anymore. I need hot soups and lattes, and a comfy couch.
I wouldn't say this collection gives any sort of systematic advice about practicing ashtanga as a woman, but you get a varied perspective of female practictioners, some which you will probably identify with, others not as much.
These aren't all new essays. Each one is dated, and I assume a few were written or updated for this collection. Kino MacGregor's essay won't say anything new if you have read her other books and follow her on social media.
Krista Shirley's essay was the most informative, as she goes into detail about modifying asana during each trimester. Overall, for the women who discussed asana during pregnancy, there were differences among what some women would do and what others would. It's clear that by the third trimester it's slow and whatever you feel like doing.
After children, it was common across those essays that everyone took it slow and found their attachment to the practice totally changed. Considering that the body has undergone physical change and is under a lot of stress with a young child, it would make sense that this would occur, but it there is also a profound mental change that reduces the need to be constantly achieving.
I am interested in reading Sharmila Desai's book on ashtanga and motherhood. She has an essay in here as well, and I liked that she had a strong female mentor-ship in her family. Seems to be missing from a lot of the other essays (or at least not discussed).
Moon days are discussed, and again it's variable for how long to take off. It is definitely agreed upon to take time off. Many practitioners at first shunned taking off moon days, but then after awhile came to embrace it, and use it as a time for self-reflection. I find that as I get older, I can't just run around and do everything the first few days of my menstrual cycle anymore. I need hot soups and lattes, and a comfy couch.
I wouldn't say this collection gives any sort of systematic advice about practicing ashtanga as a woman, but you get a varied perspective of female practictioners, some which you will probably identify with, others not as much.
October 6, 2016
I admire these women so much and I enjoyed seeing their different perspectives and wisdom! Will definitely be one to read again and again and gain different insights at different times in my practice and life.
July 28, 2018
LOVED THIS BOOK.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews