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Tales from the Yoga Studio
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A sparkling new series introducing five unforgettable women who flock to yoga at turning points in their lives and find the gift of lasting friendship.
The yoga studio is where daily cares are set aside, mats are unfurled, and physical exertion leads to well-being, renewal, and friendship. An aggressively expanding chain of Los Angeles yoga "experience centers," has Lee and her extraordinary teaching abilities in its sights. They woo her with a lucrative contract, a trademarked name for her classes, and a place for her handsome musician husband. But accepting the contract means abandoning the students at the homey studio Lee runs in L.A.'s Silver Lake district- and leaving behind four women whose friendships are suddenly more important to her than retirement benefits and a salary increase.
Tales from the Yoga Studio is an insider's look at the current obsession with yoga, told with enough humor, wit, and warmth to charm and delight readers, whether or not they've ever done a Downward Dog.
A sparkling new series introducing five unforgettable women who flock to yoga at turning points in their lives and find the gift of lasting friendship.
The yoga studio is where daily cares are set aside, mats are unfurled, and physical exertion leads to well-being, renewal, and friendship. An aggressively expanding chain of Los Angeles yoga "experience centers," has Lee and her extraordinary teaching abilities in its sights. They woo her with a lucrative contract, a trademarked name for her classes, and a place for her handsome musician husband. But accepting the contract means abandoning the students at the homey studio Lee runs in L.A.'s Silver Lake district- and leaving behind four women whose friendships are suddenly more important to her than retirement benefits and a salary increase.
Tales from the Yoga Studio is an insider's look at the current obsession with yoga, told with enough humor, wit, and warmth to charm and delight readers, whether or not they've ever done a Downward Dog.
279 pages, Paperback
First published October 26, 2010
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858 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 293 reviews
August 28, 2011
I really enjoyed this novel, a great diversion, pretty light, but not overly so. There's one passage that I carried with me, where Lee begins a yoga session with this meditation:
"Let's start seated," she says, "eyes closed. This class has been described as a journey. But before we embark, how about doing a little UNpacking? Your expectations, your desire to do ten sun salutations, your plans for later in the day, the argument you had this morning, your safety net. Leave them all behind. Start off feeling light and liberated, no fears, no assumptions, nothing to knock you off balance or distract you. Just you and me and a beautiful empty slate to play with. Once you see it and feel it, open your eyes, and we'll begin."
Well, even if it's only in a novel, it is still a great mediation. I shall use it in many applications, not just yoga.
"Let's start seated," she says, "eyes closed. This class has been described as a journey. But before we embark, how about doing a little UNpacking? Your expectations, your desire to do ten sun salutations, your plans for later in the day, the argument you had this morning, your safety net. Leave them all behind. Start off feeling light and liberated, no fears, no assumptions, nothing to knock you off balance or distract you. Just you and me and a beautiful empty slate to play with. Once you see it and feel it, open your eyes, and we'll begin."
Well, even if it's only in a novel, it is still a great mediation. I shall use it in many applications, not just yoga.
July 1, 2018
I know almost nothing about yoga, but what I do know is that Rain Mitchell is the pseudonym of Stephen McCauley, one of my favorite novelists. This was a totally lite and fluffy diversion, complete with lots of yoga, which I now know something about.
July 12, 2013
A chick-lit novel that centers around a yoga studio. Overall it started off well, but quickly deteriorated into cliches--the married couple with troubles. The former drug addict trying to move forward. A woman who seems to have it all but has to overcome an awful loss. Blah blah blah blah blah.
Initially engaging, after a while I found I couldn't really care about the characters and had trouble keeping them apart. My paperback version had a helpful guide to the four main characters, but even when reading and re-reading it I got bored out of my mind.
Something about the author's writing style is off too. I found she was pretty good at the end of sections to have mini-cliffhangers that kept me reading. But the meat of the text got tedious to read, and as I said, none of the characters were particularly memorable. Some of them are a little more memorable than others, but otherwise I wasn't impressed.
I suppose part of it was that yoga in itself doesn't really play a big role in the story. There are some aspects of the business-side that didn't surprise me, but overall yoga isn't really a major backdrop. It could have been a coffee shop, a clothing store or something else and it wouldn't have made much of a difference in terms of the stories for the characters.
A beach read for a yogi, I suppose. Library or buy it as a bargain.
Initially engaging, after a while I found I couldn't really care about the characters and had trouble keeping them apart. My paperback version had a helpful guide to the four main characters, but even when reading and re-reading it I got bored out of my mind.
Something about the author's writing style is off too. I found she was pretty good at the end of sections to have mini-cliffhangers that kept me reading. But the meat of the text got tedious to read, and as I said, none of the characters were particularly memorable. Some of them are a little more memorable than others, but otherwise I wasn't impressed.
I suppose part of it was that yoga in itself doesn't really play a big role in the story. There are some aspects of the business-side that didn't surprise me, but overall yoga isn't really a major backdrop. It could have been a coffee shop, a clothing store or something else and it wouldn't have made much of a difference in terms of the stories for the characters.
A beach read for a yogi, I suppose. Library or buy it as a bargain.
April 4, 2017
I'm not really one for chic lit. Especially chic lit centered around a yoga studio. But, this was wasn't terrible - it was just the fluff I needed I suppose. And, if nothing else, Tales from the Yoga Studio made me excited to get back into a yoga routine and possibly find a studio again in a few months. It was fun getting to know the four women from the studio and read a bit behind-the-scenes of what goes on into running a business. But, it felt a little like forced friendship with "outside-the-studio" problems intertwined. My favorite character was probably Graciela, the injured dancer who bounces back in a big way and doesn't take crap from anyone. She turns to yoga to heal her and bring her peace and I admired that as it is often the reason I turn to yoga from time to time in my life. A few of the love stories got under my skin and were mostly there just for testosterone's sake - and the "drama" of Lee, the owner, trying to decide if she should leave her mom-and-pop shop for the big corporate yoga chain always was an underlying tale that brought the quartet together as friends. If you're in the mood for something light and predictable, this one's for you. Or, if you are ready to get back to your mat and need a little inspiration, this will do the trick, too.
January 29, 2015
Ok I'm probably 4 books in to the yoga novel world, and I'm starting to identify some of the consistent tropes, and it's so, so much fun. The small studio owner with a plot arc about the fate of the studio is one. THis owner tends to be described as 'blond, no makeup, boring looking until you look into her eyes and see the wisdom of the ages' and so on. Another is that there is a persistent and I think successful effort to have a racially diverse cast. There's often a workaholic type, like a Miranda Hobbs style person, who is reluctant about yoga or way too intense about it, who learns to mellow out. There is also a romantic plot going, usually very cute with another character who is for whatever reason described as not conventionally babealicious. ANyway, I'm so excited to see if these observations remain consistent in the next four books on my list. This is so much fun. Oh, and this book is very lovely, I'm going to go to a yoga class in Silverlake as my final 'book report' project. I live, yes, in fifth grade land.
February 20, 2011
I gave this two stars because I was hoping this would be really good brain candy. Instead it was more like a sour patch kid for my brain - it started off nice and sweet and like it was going to be really good. However, as I read more and more and none of the characters ever really got developed - the just did stuff - and the ones that the author did try to develop fell flat - I find myself wondering why I was reading the book at all. I have taken several yoga classes in my life and most of the time, the teacher would use both the English and the Sanskrit name of the pose. The fact that 99% of the yoga poses mentionned in this book (by either teachers or students) were referred to only by their Sanskrit name irked me - it seemed unnecessary and even condescending.
I guess there is already a second novel in this "series" being written by Ms. Mitchell. I will not be reading it.
I guess there is already a second novel in this "series" being written by Ms. Mitchell. I will not be reading it.
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December 21, 2014A couple quotes I liked..."the craving is just a ghost from the past that visits her from time to time, drops in from the misguided study and too much stress..."
"Inhale through your nose into whatever traces of tension you're still holding on to, and sigh it all through your mouth. Let it go."
Let's start seated," she says, "eyes closed. This class has been described as a journey. But before we embark, how about doing a little UNpacking? Your expectations, your desire to do ten sun salutations, your plans for later in the day, the argument you had this morning, your safety net. Leave them all behind. Start off feeling light and liberated, no fears, no assumptions, nothing to knock you off balance or distract you. Just you and me and a beautiful empty slate to play with. Once you see it and feel it, open your eyes, and we'll begin."
"Inhale through your nose into whatever traces of tension you're still holding on to, and sigh it all through your mouth. Let it go."
Let's start seated," she says, "eyes closed. This class has been described as a journey. But before we embark, how about doing a little UNpacking? Your expectations, your desire to do ten sun salutations, your plans for later in the day, the argument you had this morning, your safety net. Leave them all behind. Start off feeling light and liberated, no fears, no assumptions, nothing to knock you off balance or distract you. Just you and me and a beautiful empty slate to play with. Once you see it and feel it, open your eyes, and we'll begin."
August 9, 2016
The book is two stars. But picking it up, you know you are in for chick-lit reading. For me, that lowers my expectations and allows this book to receive three stars.
The book does a good job of describing how people compare themselves to others and in the process judge or accept themselves and others.
The main character - the yoga instructor - has an impending crisis. And it's saved for the very end. I wish it came a little earlier and allowed for a little more in depth look into that resolution. Instead, the reader is given plenty of warning that it's coming so it can be dealt with in a few pages, but as the reader it's not very satisfying to have it wrapped up so quickly. Bec. this looks like the first in a series, I'm sure more will follow.
The book does a good job of describing how people compare themselves to others and in the process judge or accept themselves and others.
The main character - the yoga instructor - has an impending crisis. And it's saved for the very end. I wish it came a little earlier and allowed for a little more in depth look into that resolution. Instead, the reader is given plenty of warning that it's coming so it can be dealt with in a few pages, but as the reader it's not very satisfying to have it wrapped up so quickly. Bec. this looks like the first in a series, I'm sure more will follow.
August 22, 2018
Yes, it has some of the typical yoga cliches, but they are real (for yoga peeps, you'll have fun recognizing the lingo, idiosyncrasies and mindset), and the book is surprisingly engaging and personable. Fun to think it has been written by a guy :)
October 1, 2020
Bookoplathon - Set in the present
Priča prati 5 žena, jedna je vlasnica joga studija, a ostale dolaze vježbati kod nje. Svaka ima drukčiju životnu priču. Skoro sve imaju problem s muškarcima, a kroz priču se provlače i različiti životni problemi (razvod, pobačaj, zlostavljanje, problemi s roditeljima, ovisnost...). Žene se kroz knjigu sprijatelje i pomažu jedna drugoj.
Prvi dojam kad sam ju uzela u ruke: naslovnica neprivlačna, djeluje kao jeftini chic lit, ni tekst na poleđini ne obećava.
Drugi dojam: kad sam počela čitati: površna tema, površni odnosi, besmisleni problemi, umišljenost likova, zavist... I dosta loš prijevod s puno grešaka.
Dojam po pročitanom: hmmm, čak sam se ugodno iznenadila.
Prvotno sasvim površna, kako se priča razvija, knjiga ipak donekle dobija dubinu.
Priča prati 5 žena, jedna je vlasnica joga studija, a ostale dolaze vježbati kod nje. Svaka ima drukčiju životnu priču. Skoro sve imaju problem s muškarcima, a kroz priču se provlače i različiti životni problemi (razvod, pobačaj, zlostavljanje, problemi s roditeljima, ovisnost...). Žene se kroz knjigu sprijatelje i pomažu jedna drugoj.
Prvi dojam kad sam ju uzela u ruke: naslovnica neprivlačna, djeluje kao jeftini chic lit, ni tekst na poleđini ne obećava.
Drugi dojam: kad sam počela čitati: površna tema, površni odnosi, besmisleni problemi, umišljenost likova, zavist... I dosta loš prijevod s puno grešaka.
Dojam po pročitanom: hmmm, čak sam se ugodno iznenadila.
Prvotno sasvim površna, kako se priča razvija, knjiga ipak donekle dobija dubinu.
January 16, 2018
Joge ima u tragovima, ali zato ima žena u potrazi sa smislom života, pravom srećom i idealnim muškarcem. Mjesto radnje je sunčana Kalifornija, grad anđela i njegova okolica što posljedično uvlači u knjigu filmsku industriju, zgodnog vatrogasca i Beyonce, probleme s alkoholom i ostalu Beverly Hills tematiku.
Chick-lit koji pati od anemije.
Chick-lit koji pati od anemije.
September 1, 2021
Wish I had the option of 3 1/2 or even 3 3/4 stars. It was a cute, easy and entertaining book and I liked it. Now I need to read the second one to find out what happened to everyone.
March 20, 2011
Blurb: The yoga studio is where daily cares are set aside, mats are unfurled, and physical exertion leads to well-being, renewal, and friendship.
In Los Angeles, yoga teachers have become celebrities and designer tank tops can cost a small fortune. Still, many students flock to the relatively unglamorous Edendale Yoga in the hip, out-of-the-way Silver Lake neighborhood. It's here where Lee uses her extraordinary teaching skills and unusual empathy to help students gain control of their bodies and possibly their lives as well.
Katherine, the studio's resident masseuse, is trying hard not to sabotage what could be the perfect relationship.
Graciela is a dancer on the cusp of getting her breakthrough job, assuming she can overcome a suspicious injury.
Imani, a happily married and successful actress, struggles to get beyond the one big loss she can't seem to forget.
Stephanie, a talented screenwriter and development girl, might be driving herself to the breaking point.
But will Lee's students have learned enough from their beloved teacher to help her when she faces financial problems and a marital crisis of her own?
Tales from the Yoga Studio is a warm, funny, and gripping novel about the gift of connection and the joys of discovery, featuring five amazing women you will never forget.
What Stephanie Thought: Vivid descriptions and easy-to-relate struggles are brought alive in Rain Mitchell's debut novel. The lives of five women are intertwined thoroughly, each one with varying, realistic concerns. I loved how each woman was a small part of me, and not just me, but every woman in this common world.
Katherine is my intrinsic factor. Always true to herself, she won't let anyone fool her, and risks hurting her own heart in the process. In Graciela, I find my own vulnerability, one that is too unsure to speak out, but is never still never completely satisfied. Imani represents my success, my smiling face that only the public sees, and she also contains the rapid deterioration of my self and body that only I know of. Stephanie (aside from our same names!) is my weakness, my breaking point, but also my determination, as well as my will. And Lee, she's everything I want to be, my zen, my composure, and my selfless strength. Each woman is beautiful because each woman is a part of me, which was what spoke out most about this book.
Tales from the Yoga Studio is the kind of story that brought new revelations and surprises within every page, thanks to Mitchell's precisely-composed, lyrical prose. A lot of it was very tongue-in-cheek too, which was entertaining. The only reason I am not rating Tales from the Yoga Studio higher is because I felt some parts were too long and dragged out. There were several times while reading, where I would flip back and see how many pages I had left to read -- I was sort of bored. But that set aside, it was a fantastic, too-good-to-be-true story that every woman can relate with because essentially, it is a book about every woman and what is really in her neglected heart.
Stephanie Loves: "'Whatever comes up for you in these [yoga] poses,' Lee says, 'try to let it go. Maybe anxiety? Maybe sadness? Anger? They're just thoughts. Let them go. They only control you and have power if you let them. They're parasites -- they can't live on their own.'"
Where Stephanie Got It: Received from FSB Media for review.
Radical Rating: 8 hearts- Would recommend to lots of really good friends. ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥
In Los Angeles, yoga teachers have become celebrities and designer tank tops can cost a small fortune. Still, many students flock to the relatively unglamorous Edendale Yoga in the hip, out-of-the-way Silver Lake neighborhood. It's here where Lee uses her extraordinary teaching skills and unusual empathy to help students gain control of their bodies and possibly their lives as well.
Katherine, the studio's resident masseuse, is trying hard not to sabotage what could be the perfect relationship.
Graciela is a dancer on the cusp of getting her breakthrough job, assuming she can overcome a suspicious injury.
Imani, a happily married and successful actress, struggles to get beyond the one big loss she can't seem to forget.
Stephanie, a talented screenwriter and development girl, might be driving herself to the breaking point.
But will Lee's students have learned enough from their beloved teacher to help her when she faces financial problems and a marital crisis of her own?
Tales from the Yoga Studio is a warm, funny, and gripping novel about the gift of connection and the joys of discovery, featuring five amazing women you will never forget.
What Stephanie Thought: Vivid descriptions and easy-to-relate struggles are brought alive in Rain Mitchell's debut novel. The lives of five women are intertwined thoroughly, each one with varying, realistic concerns. I loved how each woman was a small part of me, and not just me, but every woman in this common world.
Katherine is my intrinsic factor. Always true to herself, she won't let anyone fool her, and risks hurting her own heart in the process. In Graciela, I find my own vulnerability, one that is too unsure to speak out, but is never still never completely satisfied. Imani represents my success, my smiling face that only the public sees, and she also contains the rapid deterioration of my self and body that only I know of. Stephanie (aside from our same names!) is my weakness, my breaking point, but also my determination, as well as my will. And Lee, she's everything I want to be, my zen, my composure, and my selfless strength. Each woman is beautiful because each woman is a part of me, which was what spoke out most about this book.
Tales from the Yoga Studio is the kind of story that brought new revelations and surprises within every page, thanks to Mitchell's precisely-composed, lyrical prose. A lot of it was very tongue-in-cheek too, which was entertaining. The only reason I am not rating Tales from the Yoga Studio higher is because I felt some parts were too long and dragged out. There were several times while reading, where I would flip back and see how many pages I had left to read -- I was sort of bored. But that set aside, it was a fantastic, too-good-to-be-true story that every woman can relate with because essentially, it is a book about every woman and what is really in her neglected heart.
Stephanie Loves: "'Whatever comes up for you in these [yoga] poses,' Lee says, 'try to let it go. Maybe anxiety? Maybe sadness? Anger? They're just thoughts. Let them go. They only control you and have power if you let them. They're parasites -- they can't live on their own.'"
Where Stephanie Got It: Received from FSB Media for review.
Radical Rating: 8 hearts- Would recommend to lots of really good friends. ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥
April 5, 2011
Tales from the Yoga Studio installed two desires in me. 1) Must learn yoga. 2) Move to a quaint retro southern Californian town. Tranquility is a theme throughout this book, even during the poignant pieces. The very descriptions Rain Mitchell uses make you feel as if you right there in the scene, seeing, feeling, and experiencing everything the characters do. Both yoga fanatics and those who have never tried a downward dog in their lives will appreciate the way in which yoga and zen is woven into the story.
Lee, Katherine, Graciela, Imani, and Stephanie have very different lives and come from very different backgrounds. But their love of yoga and the changes it manifests bind them together. Their stories are narrated in turn, a symphony of joys, broken hearts, painful decisions, and subtle epiphanies. They help and support each other in the way only girlfriends can.
In this sense, Tales from the Yoga Studio reminds me a great deal of Little Earthquakes by Jennifer Weiner. In fact if you like reading Jennifer Weiner, Sarah Pekkanen, or Kristan Hannah, I think you will love this book.
Conclusion:
A dash of chick-lit and smidgeon yoga how-to, Tales from the Yoga Studio is a heart-warming and fun read. Cheering these women on, you will feel as if they were your best friends. I recommend you try it for yourself.
Lee, Katherine, Graciela, Imani, and Stephanie have very different lives and come from very different backgrounds. But their love of yoga and the changes it manifests bind them together. Their stories are narrated in turn, a symphony of joys, broken hearts, painful decisions, and subtle epiphanies. They help and support each other in the way only girlfriends can.
In this sense, Tales from the Yoga Studio reminds me a great deal of Little Earthquakes by Jennifer Weiner. In fact if you like reading Jennifer Weiner, Sarah Pekkanen, or Kristan Hannah, I think you will love this book.
Conclusion:
A dash of chick-lit and smidgeon yoga how-to, Tales from the Yoga Studio is a heart-warming and fun read. Cheering these women on, you will feel as if they were your best friends. I recommend you try it for yourself.
March 4, 2011
Lee is the owner of Edendale Yoga studio. Lately, her perfect life is quickly going downhill. Her husband, Alan moved out a few weeks ago. As if that was not bad enough, Lee is having money issues and had to make a decision about the future of Edendale. With some new clients, Lee decides to focus what she does best…teaching yoga and help others discover their full potential. Lee helps Katherine, her friend and masseuse, Graciela, a dancer, Imani, a famous actress and Stephanie, a screenwriter.
I would classify Tales from the Yoga Studio as a chick lit novel. Not that there is anything wrong with this, as every once in a while I need something to break up my books and a chick lit novel is the way to go. While I liked the ladies and the close friendship they formed, I never really connected with any one character in particular. This was a shame as that is one of the nice things about a novel like this is that usually you can relate to the characters. I found that it was really the other woman that helped lift up Lee and turn her around from being bitter and sad to happy again. This book is a quick read. Tales from the Yoga Studio would make a perfect reading for your next book clue selection.
I would classify Tales from the Yoga Studio as a chick lit novel. Not that there is anything wrong with this, as every once in a while I need something to break up my books and a chick lit novel is the way to go. While I liked the ladies and the close friendship they formed, I never really connected with any one character in particular. This was a shame as that is one of the nice things about a novel like this is that usually you can relate to the characters. I found that it was really the other woman that helped lift up Lee and turn her around from being bitter and sad to happy again. This book is a quick read. Tales from the Yoga Studio would make a perfect reading for your next book clue selection.
November 12, 2016
I love yoga and I haven't come across many novels that revolve around yoga. Therefore, I was excited to read this. What a disappointment.
There were some beautiful passages about yoga, but otherwise, it was just another shallow chick lit story with way too many characters. The characters were paper thin and the plot almost non-existent. The whole yoga business in Hollywood seemed very pretentious and disgusting and it had very little to do with the yoga I know and love. The author was probably trying to make a point with Lee's holistic approach vs. big yoga center chains that want to make money but I wasn't truly convinced.
I give this one star for the story and another star for yoga, because as I said before, I haven't come across many books with yoga. I think I will read the sequel as well, because I already, optimistically, checked it out from the library.
There were some beautiful passages about yoga, but otherwise, it was just another shallow chick lit story with way too many characters. The characters were paper thin and the plot almost non-existent. The whole yoga business in Hollywood seemed very pretentious and disgusting and it had very little to do with the yoga I know and love. The author was probably trying to make a point with Lee's holistic approach vs. big yoga center chains that want to make money but I wasn't truly convinced.
I give this one star for the story and another star for yoga, because as I said before, I haven't come across many books with yoga. I think I will read the sequel as well, because I already, optimistically, checked it out from the library.
August 8, 2011
I'm giving this four stars on the back of the fact that I'll be looking out for the sequel. Hence, despite its flaws, I have to recognise this as a great read - great in the indulgent/really enjoyable sense as opposed to great in the literature/book club sense. It kind of reminds me of a tv show I'm enjoying - Winners and Losers - warm relationships between women. The thing that did annoy me, and pushes it more into the 3 star category is the fact that almost all the male characters are stereotyped bad guys. I love the fact that it's set around a yoga studio.
As for yoga books have just started reading a memoir called Poser, if you like the genre this one is shaping up well.
As for yoga books have just started reading a memoir called Poser, if you like the genre this one is shaping up well.
March 23, 2012
Joogasta ei ole kirjoitettu paljoakaan romaaneja, muttei se tee tästä teoksesta suurta riemuvoittoa ja uutta aluevaltausta. Joogaa ei ole pakotettu mukaan tarinaan, mutta jotain tästä silti puuttuu. Jatkuvat populaarikulttuuriviittaukset (Eat Pray Love, Zooey Deschanel, Diablo Cody, Starbucks, Kathryn Bigelow jne.) ärsyttivät, mutta joogaviittaukset tuntuivat yllättävän tutuilta ja sujuvilta.
Juoni oli ennalta-arvattavaa perushöttöä, eikä kehenkään henkilöistä pystynyt samaistumaan. Los Angelesin luksusmaailma vaikuttaa romaanissa vain hienolta, vaikkei kirjailija olekaan ollut selvästi varma siitä, mikä hänen oma mielipiteensä on.
Juoni oli ennalta-arvattavaa perushöttöä, eikä kehenkään henkilöistä pystynyt samaistumaan. Los Angelesin luksusmaailma vaikuttaa romaanissa vain hienolta, vaikkei kirjailija olekaan ollut selvästi varma siitä, mikä hänen oma mielipiteensä on.
Read
October 30, 2013I am not going to rate this because if it were possible I would have given it a negative five. This book was very boring. I wasted precious weeks of my limited time on earth trying to like this story and I couldn't. I read it back in 2012 and absolutely can't recall a single thing about the book. I don't remember the story and I don't remember the names of the characters. The only reason I bought this book was because I was starting to do yoga at the time. I really don't recommend it. Life is too short.
May 29, 2012
I hated this book, struggled to get through it. I found most of the characters poorly fleshed-out and shallow - almost like cardboard cutouts instead of people. The plot was meandering and inane, plus the backdrop was unrealistic (coming from the standpoint of someone who is in the yoga biz professionally). I'm glad I didn't pay good money for the book. It was a review copy, but I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.
August 12, 2012
This was a quick, summer read with characters in need of more depthful interaction with one another. My favorite character did not even do yoga and I think I liked him because his Boston accent was featured (reminds me of my buddy from Waltham).
I did enjoy the description of the yoga poses and the sleazy corporate owners, trying to buy out the smaller studios. Maybe a 2.5, when all is said and done.
I did enjoy the description of the yoga poses and the sleazy corporate owners, trying to buy out the smaller studios. Maybe a 2.5, when all is said and done.
July 19, 2011
"Since I received an e-reader for my birthday, I've checked out e-books that I ordinarily would not have read, just to have the exprience of checking out the book. This book, "Tales from the Yoga Studio," was a happy accident. Not the type of book I typically read, it was light and frothy. A quick little read. I enjoyed it."
-Barbara/Highland
-Barbara/Highland
July 4, 2014
Not a mind bender, that's for sure. A quick read--total fun--especially if you live in LA and are familiar with Silverlake!!
January 4, 2015
This is a cute book; an easy, fun read!
July 2, 2016
Chicklit + Hollywood + yoga. Meh.
January 21, 2024
Rain Mitchell - Priče iz studija za jogu @ljevak
Vježbate li vi? Ja, moram priznati, ne vježbam. Nikada nisam bila pretjerano sportski tip, i ne mogu se prisiliti da, nakon radnog dana, idem u teretanu, pilates, jogu ili stretching🙈 Jedino uživam u vožnji bicikla, a kada zatopli, volim uskočiti u svoje role i sat vremena rolati oko kvarta (najčešće napravim tri kruga), eto, to me ispunjava. No, naše protagonistice priče pronalaze se u vježbanju joge i na taj način kanaliziraju svakodnevne probleme, poteškoće na koje nailaze, rješavaju se stresa i jednostavo otpuštaju ono negativno iz svake pore svojega bića. Alan i Lee su roditelji osmogodišnjih blizanaca, te su, zajedno, otvorili studio za jogu. Moram priznati, izuzetno uspješan i domaćinski, gotovo prijateljski pristup, lansirao ih je među bolje posjećene u Silver Lakeu. Katherine je Lee uvela polako u posao, te je sada ona glavna u svom studiju za masažu. Stephanie je producentica i tu vježba otkad zna za sebe, dok Graciela, mlada i ambiciozna plesačica, dolazi na satove jačanja kako bi iscijelila povredu tetive i nastupila na audiciji za nastup u spotu pjevačice Beyonce. Njih su četiri povezane, možemo reći da su postale prijateljice, međusobno se bodreći na Leeinim satovima joge. No, da ne bi sve bilo ružičasto, ispod blistave vanjštine, nalaze se duboke poteškoće. Leein je brak u krizi, a studio ne stoji previše perspektivno, Stephanie se muči s tantijemom za film, Katherine je upoznala dragog, zgodnog vatrogasca Conora, ali se boji da će dati petama vjetra otkrije li njenu, ne baš krasnu, prošlost, dok Graciela drhti i strepi hoće li dobro proći na audiciji...
A sada je Lee odlučila da je vrijeme pobrinuti se za svoju budućnost tako što će potpisati luksuzni ugovor s 'lancem' studija za jogu...
Gdje li će vježbati? Hoće li domaći pristup zamijeniti onaj konzumeristički? Želi li zbilja oduzeti ono 'malo' i dobro, te prijeći na 'veliko' i unosno? Hoće li je njezine polaznice slijediti? Mogu li si to priuštiti? Na koji će joj način prijateljice pomoći? Hoće li se Alan vratiti ako uvidi stabilnost prihoda? Želi li ponovno staviti obiteljski život ispred profesionalnog? Ipak je on glazbenik i tekstopisac...
Iznimno sam uživala u ovom jednostavnom romanu, pisanom na toliko privlačan i pitak način, gotovo kao da sudjelujete u vježbanju i svakodnevnom životu protagonistica, toliko je snažan da se s njima, bez imalo poteškoća, možete poistovijetiti!
#osvrt #preporuka #vježbanje #joga #prijateljstvo #books #studio #bookstagram #volimčitati
Vježbate li vi? Ja, moram priznati, ne vježbam. Nikada nisam bila pretjerano sportski tip, i ne mogu se prisiliti da, nakon radnog dana, idem u teretanu, pilates, jogu ili stretching🙈 Jedino uživam u vožnji bicikla, a kada zatopli, volim uskočiti u svoje role i sat vremena rolati oko kvarta (najčešće napravim tri kruga), eto, to me ispunjava. No, naše protagonistice priče pronalaze se u vježbanju joge i na taj način kanaliziraju svakodnevne probleme, poteškoće na koje nailaze, rješavaju se stresa i jednostavo otpuštaju ono negativno iz svake pore svojega bića. Alan i Lee su roditelji osmogodišnjih blizanaca, te su, zajedno, otvorili studio za jogu. Moram priznati, izuzetno uspješan i domaćinski, gotovo prijateljski pristup, lansirao ih je među bolje posjećene u Silver Lakeu. Katherine je Lee uvela polako u posao, te je sada ona glavna u svom studiju za masažu. Stephanie je producentica i tu vježba otkad zna za sebe, dok Graciela, mlada i ambiciozna plesačica, dolazi na satove jačanja kako bi iscijelila povredu tetive i nastupila na audiciji za nastup u spotu pjevačice Beyonce. Njih su četiri povezane, možemo reći da su postale prijateljice, međusobno se bodreći na Leeinim satovima joge. No, da ne bi sve bilo ružičasto, ispod blistave vanjštine, nalaze se duboke poteškoće. Leein je brak u krizi, a studio ne stoji previše perspektivno, Stephanie se muči s tantijemom za film, Katherine je upoznala dragog, zgodnog vatrogasca Conora, ali se boji da će dati petama vjetra otkrije li njenu, ne baš krasnu, prošlost, dok Graciela drhti i strepi hoće li dobro proći na audiciji...
A sada je Lee odlučila da je vrijeme pobrinuti se za svoju budućnost tako što će potpisati luksuzni ugovor s 'lancem' studija za jogu...
Gdje li će vježbati? Hoće li domaći pristup zamijeniti onaj konzumeristički? Želi li zbilja oduzeti ono 'malo' i dobro, te prijeći na 'veliko' i unosno? Hoće li je njezine polaznice slijediti? Mogu li si to priuštiti? Na koji će joj način prijateljice pomoći? Hoće li se Alan vratiti ako uvidi stabilnost prihoda? Želi li ponovno staviti obiteljski život ispred profesionalnog? Ipak je on glazbenik i tekstopisac...
Iznimno sam uživala u ovom jednostavnom romanu, pisanom na toliko privlačan i pitak način, gotovo kao da sudjelujete u vježbanju i svakodnevnom životu protagonistica, toliko je snažan da se s njima, bez imalo poteškoća, možete poistovijetiti!
#osvrt #preporuka #vježbanje #joga #prijateljstvo #books #studio #bookstagram #volimčitati
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 23, 2022
I loved reading this book because it gave great insight into the inside of the world of yoga and yoga teachers. I loved the fact that the yoga teachers are flawed (and real) individuals. It talks about the challenges different kinds of teachers face and how they deal with them. I enjoyed this book immensely because I'm a teacher myself, but I think those who are curious about yoga teachers and the profession of yoga will also find it interesting. The one detail the author forgot when talking about these teachers is no references to them practicing the yoga themselves. We see them teaching and sometimes even showing off complex asanas (think handstands and back bends), but we never see them in the studio, breaking into a sweat, falling out of asanas, going to their own teachers/mentors etc.
All in all, I'm looking forward to reading the next few in the series.
All in all, I'm looking forward to reading the next few in the series.
October 21, 2023
Being an avid listener of the Conspirituality podcast I had to laugh (or cringe) at some of the references, but it honestly wasn't at all as bad as I had feared it was going to be. The really cringe-y parts were, I'm pretty sure, satire. There is a kind of predictability to the story of the women who come together through the yoga classes of a gifted young teacher (Lee), but also a familiarity from when I was more bound up in that world, and quite a lot of resonance with most of them. It's really more like 3 1/2 stars but I give it the extra because it's exactly the thing I needed in these crazy, scary times, and running under the satire is a current of wisdom and hope that I think we could all use, and is probably why so many people flock to yoga as a practice. An enjoyable read bout women's friendships.
July 30, 2018
2 1/2 stars. This was a fine read for what it was - a lightweight, quick beach read. Lee and her husband Alan own a yoga studio near LA, and eventually they're wooed by the owners of a yoga studio chain. The book was filled with cliched characters - a "happily married" couple with secrets, a former drug addict trying to turn her life around, a movie star who seems to have it all but who in reality has suffered a terrible loss she can't quite get over. I picked this up because I know Rain Mitchell is the pen name of Stephen McCauley, and I was curious to find out what the writing style was like. I read an interview where the author said the novel took only a few weeks to write, which felt like the amount of time it should have taken - I agree.
August 16, 2017
Likable characters to root for, but too many of them. Since we had to spend so much time on so many main ladies, big stuff happened in the background and we didn't get to see it. The biggest one was a weeks-long mental breakdown/drinking binge by one of the characters. Instead, we just saw this happen from the periphery, thorough a character who didn't even know her very well, for just three or four pages. I'd have preferred the story focus on one or two fewer ladies and delve even deeper in their pathos.
That being said, I'm glad this is a series. I want to keep following some of these characters, especially Graciela. (These names! Ha!)
That being said, I'm glad this is a series. I want to keep following some of these characters, especially Graciela. (These names! Ha!)
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