A wonderful book, both regarding content and design. Hobbs sets the perfect tone to give beginners as well as seasoned Yogis an understanding of what Yoga is beyond the Asanas (yoga poses) most of us know. Being not only a yoga teacher but also a psychologist, Hobbs looks at the spiritual yoga elements of Yama and Niyama—yoga’s lesser-known ethical fundament—through a very modern, research-based lens that’s always surprisingly tangible (as well as completely incense- and doctrine-free, which can be quite decisive for those among us who struggle with the more esoteric interpretations of yoga philosophy).
I love Hobbs’s gentle voice throughout the book, her way of asking simple yet meaningful questions, and of guiding her readers through the 10 week mindfulness journey with a distinct focus on encouraging self-awareness and self-care. She manages to explain yoga poses with an easy-to-understand precision I have found nowhere else, via succinct texts and beautiful illustrations. For me, the combination of yoga practice, breathing exercises and journaling was both new and exciting as well as incredibly satisfying and soothing.
Knowing very well you’re not supposed to count your chickens before they hatch, I still have a hunch that this gem of a book is going to be my find of the year.