Girlvana: Self-Love, Yoga, and Making a Better World--A Handbook

by Ally Maz

A handbook for the self--a compassionate, honest, and personal guide to empowering yourself, and others, for a safer and more inclusive world.BEING A TEENAGER can be a beautiful time in your life. But it can also be one filled with self-doubt, worries, and complicated relationships. Focusing on school and activities, friendship and family, feeling comfortable in your body, knowing and celebrating who you are in this world--it's hard to do all at once. Sometimes it may feel as though you're not doing it right, or that you don't know how to do it. Sometimes you may feel alone, and like you don't fit in--because you don't look like other people, or because you're not the "right" size or shape or skin color. It's tough to feel like you belong when so many things, like social media and the internet, are telling you that you don't.Girlvana will inspire you to connect with your body, mind, and community to become the best possible version of yourself. Using the ancient teachings of yoga and the foundations of meditation and breathwork, this book will teach you to explore yourself from the outside in--to honor your body, to invite and accept your feelings, to work through tough conversations and negative thoughts--to develop self-acceptance and self-love. Along the way, you'll also discover the power of finding and using your voice so you can become a better friend and ally; so you can speak out and fight against injustices and inequities; so you can use your privilege for good; and so you can, ultimately, demand change for a brighter world.Featuring yoga flows and meditations, and in­cluding breathing exercises and journaling prompts, Girlvana is the essential guide for any self-identified young woman in today's world. 

Genres: Self Help, Nonfiction

277 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 15, 2021

Reviews

[Chelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

oh, to be able to go back in time & give this book to my teenage self🥹 it’s an adorable read, scattering of journal prompts, yoga sequences, and written guided meditations, this book is an great starting place for beginner yogis!

[Jessica Rushton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ally Maz is the gift that keeps on giving. This book is the wisdom she brings to every yoga practice, the joy she shares with her community, and the voice we need to all hear. Thank you for telling me that “you are the one you’ve been waiting for” and to focus on the core of who I am. The busy world that surrounds us often causes us to forget who we truly are and this book brings us home. It is a reminder not to get lost in work, people, relationships, material things. The journal prompts, meditations, yoga practices and breath work in this book are the essential tool kit we all need. It is a guide for all ages and genders and I think it should be something everyone reads in their life time. It has shaken my thought processes, and made me so much more self aware. To top all of this off, it is written beautifully. I truly aspire to be this talented with the written word.

It’s a book I’ll now reread when I need to reset. It will be a go to for when I need to come back to myself, when I need to find that home is in fact not a place, not a person (as I still deeply often believe), but in myself.

Thank you for telling me to choose myself, Ally.

[Sean · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book for all of the humans who feel like we don’t fit in, for those of us who feel like we’re just not enough. I read this book and at the end, the words playing on my mind were: you are enough. So it was a nice reminder of that. Self-compassion and self-love isn’t easy. In fact, it’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done, but I’m grateful for the information in this book which is a reminder that it is possible to love myself and be compassionate toward myself, and put a stop to the self-hatred. The only downside is that I’m a male and the content is female focused. However, this one surprised me, and I still got a lot out of it.

Full review will be available soon at www.avocadodiaries.com

[chantalle · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Bible for all women.

[Maureen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a handbook on self-love, yoga and working on making a better world. Ally encourages all gals to "keep breathing, moving, writing, and finding time to be quiet with yourself". She recommends doing yoga as it is the bringing together of the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual worlds. The Girlvana movement is about taking care of yourself and then taking care of others. She offers a self-care checklist (p202). Create a tool kit for self-care: a special cup for your tea, taking 5 breaths, call a safe friend, go for nature walk, play music , take a nap....She has a wonderful section on the power of intuition or inner knowing. One of her lines I have spent time with is "If you really knew me, you would know that" (your turn). Lots of emphasis on various yoga moves, feeling your feelings, and also on journaling.
Then she finishes with Savasana and a Breath of Joy Yoga move then a page of resources including books (spirituality, yoga, wellness, social justice, anti-racism and creativity) and websites if you feel in need of help.

[Isabel Echeverría · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is really interesting for newly becoming teenagers and to introduce a new way of being and thinking for a peaceful life. For me personally it was a little basic, I didn’t read anything I didn’t know before, but that might be because I’m a little bit older and I study psychology, and the book is targeted for younger girls, so I can’t really criticize it for that.

All in all, I agreed with most things mentioned in the book and the perspective in which it suggests to see the world and yourself is one that could help everybody’s mental health, so if you struggle with that this book is one you should read.

[Christie Pitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was the perfect mixture of tales of Ally's work with teenage girls, of her own challenges, yoga flows and journal prompts for self reflection. The stories and yoga flows were enriching and offered interesting perspectives. I could definitely make connections on many different levels. Ally's work is very meaningful and she surpassed barriers to share her work with others.

[Alana Nuñez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a beautifully written book! I didn’t find my love of reading until I was an adult, but any woman, at any age would love this. It’s a book of love. I hope to share with my sweet girls! Ally, I have been in love with your work since I first saw you with Lulu. You’re a special soul, and thank you for your work with Women. ❤️

[Cara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommend this book for anyone. It is a beautiful book full of powerful stories as well as tools anyone can implement in their own life. Ally you wrote an incredible book - I loved reading it.

[Yolande · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish I had had this book in my teens. So I am hoping the copy I am sending to my granddaughter will be helpful to her, as she grows up in a much more dangerous and stressful time than mine in the sixties.

[charlotte · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

What a book. So many lessons, meditations, journal prompts, yoga flows…
A very emotional but empowering read, every teen girl and woman should read this book, it is so beautifully written with so much advice!!

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish I had this book as a teen. I can’t wait to share it with my two girls when they’re older and will be gifting it for the foreseeable future.

[Alyssa Carroll · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was amazing. It truly felt like therapy and a big bear hug all wrapped in one. This is exactly what I needed and it really spoke to my soul.

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really great resource, very accessibly written, for teenagers (or anyone) looking to tap into the self love that yoga can offer.

[Reyna Rodriguez · Rating 5 out of 5]

A positive and uplifting book that encourages people to reconnect with themselves. Wish I had it as a teen, but I am glad to have it now as a young woman.

[Danielle ♥ romcommoisseur · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so incredibly beautiful. If you are looking to get started on a mindfulness practice, or just need some help with self love, I definitely recommend this book to you. Namaste 💗

[amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved this but forgot to log that i finished it whoops. anyways i've read it twice since the first time i've read it.

[Erin Higgins · Rating 5 out of 5]

FINALLY finished this beauty.

Bought one for my teenage cousin. I think all female identifying high school students should read this book.

🩷🩷🩷

[Daisy Love · Rating 5 out of 5]

In total awe of this beautiful book 🥰🎀it feels like a warm hug, and really did help me soooo much !!!

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

really liked using this as a resource when teaching a teen yoga class.