Yoga Folks discussion

Do you know of great yoga books that came out recently or are slated to appear in 2012 that you'd like to recommend that our Yoga Folks book club read together? Or have a classic or two you think is just divine (both because the message is great and also that the book is a compelling read), that would also make a good book group pick next year? (Although I do mostly think new(ish) books are best, because most of us won't have read them yet.)

I don't mean to be the only one picking books for us to read together, although I do like to skim through possible selections before making a final choice to be sure it's a compelling read and, of course, that it relates to yoga.

Meryl Davids Landau

Hmm. Let me do some research and see what books are up and coming. One of the magazines I get, Yoga International, has a section of new reads and a review of each book. I'll get back to you in a couple of days regarding this topic. :)

I have my eye on William Broad's history of yoga coming out in Feb or so. I'm currently reading another yoga history, but it's kind of plodding. I do find the topic so interesting, though.

I have been looking for interesting new releases, and have not been sucessful in finding anything that really grabs me to share. Will keep looking.

Thanks for looking, Julie. We'll keep this thread all year so anytime any of you come across something to recommend, just add it here. Thanks!

Meryl Davids Landau

Ilene wrote: HI all....A suggestion for next book, not a yoga book but a memoir dealing with happiness, Bhutan...sounds spiritual interesting....but if group only wants yoga I do understand.
Radio Shagri-la by Lisa Napoli
http://www.helensbookblog.com/2011/03/re...

Julie replied:

Ilene, I looked it up here on Goodreads and provided a link. I enjoyed reading the description on the link you provided. This might be a great book to read in 2012! Meryl started a thread for 2012 book read suggestions, and there aren't many yet. I am going to copy/paste this and also add it to that thread. Thank you so much for the recommendation!

Julie


Radio Shangri-La: What I Learned in the Happiest Kingdom on Earth Lisa Napoli

Meryl and Yoga Folks, I would like to suggest Downward Dog, Upward Fog: A Novel for a group book discussion by our very own moderator, Meryl. It seems as if some of us already have it, and I would love to discuss your own book with you, Meryl!

Meryl Davids Landau

I'll second that Julie!

Kimz wrote: "I'll second that Julie!"

Wonderful! I think Downward Dog, Upward Fog: A Novel would be the perfect book to start off the new year. Let's see if anyone else chimes in.....

However, Meryl might enjoy reading a book she has never read before, much less wrote, lol!

count me in!

Amy wrote: "I agree! Having the group read it together would give me motivation to make the time. My mother had a stroke on Dec 8 and between hospital, rehab and full time CPA work, my leisure hours have tak..."

Amy, so sorry to hear about your mother. Doing yoga (or a quickie meditation, or an appreciation exercise or whatever) is a fabulous thing for you to do in your free moments. No one has to tell you that nurturing yourself is the best way to be able to give what you need to to your mom and others.

Meryl Davids Landau

Julie wrote: "Kimz wrote: "I'll second that Julie!"

Wonderful! I think Downward Dog, Upward Fog: A Novel would be the perfect book to start off the new year. Let's see if anyone else chimes i..."

You guys are so cute. I am flattered that you want to discuss my novel. I was going to suggest we take the month of January off as a book club, but if there's interest in Downward Dog, Upward Fog I'd be honored to have whoever wants to in the group read and discuss it. Chatting about Learning to Breathe will likely continue into early January, with the holidays and all, so be sure to keep reading and discussing that as well.

Those of you interested in Downward Dog, Upward Fog might want to check out a lovely interview with me about the novel that posted this weekend on Elephant Yoga (a great yoga website if you all don't know it)
http://www.elephantjournal.com/2011/1...
I know Julie read this (she seems to read everything!) because she was so sweet to leave a comment on the post :)

Meryl Davids Landau

Meryl, just consider my one of your "groupies," lol! Since we will still be discussing Learning To Breathe in early January, maybe we could take a break like you suggested, then resume in February with your book.

I'm so glad you had a chance to get away for the weekend! :-)

Julie wrote: "Meryl, just consider my one of your "groupies," lol! Since we will still be discussing Learning To Breathe in early January, maybe we could take a break like you suggested, then resume in February..."

So fun to have a groupie! I can certainly say I've never had a groupie before! :)

Ok, here's my idea for January. Let me know what you all think:

1) We continue Learning to Breathe discussion into the early part of the month.

2) Because I see on the status updates that some of you have been reading or plan to read interesting yoga/spiritual books that I, at least, would like to hear about, I'll open a new thread called "Another yoga/spiritual book we're reading in January" or somesuch. On this thread people can share info and start mini-discussions about a book they're currently reading. (Don't include other books discussed in this thread that we might do a full-fledged book discussion about in 2012.)

3) Anyone who doesn't want to participate in this can guiltlessly take the month off. (Of course, you should always feel guiltless if you take time off and don't join in a book discussion.)

Namaste!
Meryl Davids Landau

Hi everyone, I'm new to the group, but want to start off with a recommendation for The 11 Karmic Spaces: Choosing Freedom from the Patterns that Bind You.

The author, Ma Jaya Sati Bhagavati, is an interfaith spiritual teacher, also the founder of Kali Natha Yoga. The 11 Karmic Spaces is not exactly a yoga book, although it offers some practices. It presents a path for dealing with past karma by being present and developing intuition and awareness. There's an introduction by Dr. Jean Houston, and glowing reviews on the back cover from a rabbi, a bishop, a yoga master, an Aryuvedic doctor, and a best-selling self-help author -- in other words, this is a book that covers a lot of ground!

Julie wrote: "Kimz wrote: "I'll second that Julie!"

Wonderful! I think Downward Dog, Upward Fog: A Novel would be the perfect book to start off the new year. Let's see if anyone else chimes i..."

I have this on my to-read, so I vote for this too!

I just ordered Downward Dog, Upward Fog and Fierce Medicine - hopefully they will be here in a day or two. I also requested Learning to Breathe from the library, though it appears to still be on order......so I'll keep an eye on the threads and post in the appropriate places. Hope you all enjoyed the holidays!

Hi, I am new to the group and still trying to find my way around. I have read Downward Dog Upward Fog & just started Learning to breath. I will continue to browse around and hopefully jump in to the discussion at an appropriate time. This is my first book discussion group. "Choosing Freedom from the Patterns that Bind You" sounds like an interesting read.

I just purchased Downward Dog and Upward Fog so I would enjoy sharing thoughts and discussion with this book as well.
Susan

Amy wrote: "People might enjoy reading Kelly McGonigal's Yoga for Pain Relief. I've been dipping in and out of it and have found some helpful ideas and suggestions."

Oh, I have Yoga for Arthritis: The Complete Guide and I've found it invaluable for my practice since I do have arthritis.

Most of the time,I tend to like books with a little more teeth -- So I'd love to read Autobiography of a Yogi, Bringing Yoga to Life (by Donna Fahri), and American Veda (by Philip Goldberg.

I can also highly recommend both of Stephen Cope's books. His Wisdom of Yoga made the Yoga Sutras very accessible to me.

I've got Will Yoga & Meditation Really Change My Life on my bookshelf, too. I see it's on the group's to-read list... I haven't read it yet, though.

I second Julie's recommendation about the Donna Farhi book (love her!) & would like to recommend The Secret Power of Yoga by Nischala Joy Devi. It's a Yoga Sutra book for women & I would love to know more about the Yoga Sutras. Also Amy Weintraub's book Yoga for Depression is very good. Anything by Pema Chodron would be welcomed by me. Love that we are discussing Downward Dog Upward Fog in February!

I second Julie's comments about Stephen Cope's books.

And I second her comment about Autobiography of a Yogi. A great book and a real classic. For a lot of people of my generation it was our very first spiritual book, and it could still be that for anyone today. He's a yogi not in the sense that he does yoga, but in the sense that his whole life is the spiritual quest -- first to learn, then to teach.