As I announced several days ago, I officially released my new book, Yoga at Home, this week in conjunction with DC Yoga Week. Below is a review by Australian author, Ruth Barringham, that she posted in her writer's blog. I asked her for her honest opinion. You can see her review at her blog at:http://writeaholics.net/blog/?p=138 or read the text below.
Book Review
Yoga At Home: Gain Energy, Flexibility, and Serentity in 20-30 minutes a Day
By Laura Venecia Rodriguez
190+ pagesPublished May 2011
Review date: 10th May 2011
Personal review by Ruth Barringham
"I myself, have always been a great lover of yoga, but because I always feel stiff and clumsy, I've never practiced it consistently. So this new book was of great interest to me. It is primarily aimed at the complete yoga novice yet it also contains valuable advice and new perspectives that would also be of interest to seasoned yogis.
To many people the art of practicing hatha yoga seems unobtainable because they feel they won't understand the Sanskrit terms used in yoga or that the 'pretzel-like' poses will be too overwhelming.
In 'Yoga At Home' Laura Rodriguez, who commically describes herself as a "consummate non-athlete", shares her own simple and personal experiences of yoga poses, language and understanding.
She talks at length about her own personal journey of discovering yoga, the benefits that can be derived from regular practice, yoga equipment, correct breathing, meditation, mindset, motivation, weight loss through yoga and the importance of creating a daily yoga routine.
There are photos throughout the book of the author herself practicing yoga poses "at home" and it's clear to see from how great she looks that she is a positive advertisement for the yoga she is teaching.
Every pose mentioned in the book details not only how to do it, but also the benefits to be obtained. There are also extra details about the personal problems the author herself encountered when she first started to do the poses and how she remedied it, all contained in a "Spectial hints and Laura's Experience With This Pose" section after each exercise.
Being able to read her own personal problems is very reasuring for anyone (like me) who may be struggling, just to know that someone else wasn't perfect first time either.
E.g. After the Arm and Leg Pose, Laura's Experience says "...I have found that keeping my eyes fixed backward on a point on the ceiling can help maintain my balance...it helps to do this pose next to a wall so you can catch yourself and regain your balance if you start to wobble...Some days I can keep my balance perfectly. Other days I wobble back and forth like a first-time trapese artist on a tight-rope!"
What I liked most about this book is the easy-to-read and laid-back style of the author. E.g.One of the chapters is simply called "Yoga is no longer for the hippie-dippie artsy-fartzy crowd." Hilarious! :)
Most yoga books are too intimidating and full of bronzed, heavily-photoshopped models, who make the poses look stylish, classy, yet impossible to do.
'Yoga At Home', on the other hand, shows you how anyone regardless of age, lack of ability or lack of time can do yoga easily, privately and most importantly, without feeling pressured to keep up with the ridiculously beautiful and inhumanly bendy people who are always portrayed in other glossy yoga books.
I've read quite a few yoga books over time but none of them are as down to earth and easy to follow as this one. And, I'd even recommend it to people who don't want to do yoga, just becasue it's an unpretentious and fun-to-read book.
But be warned...
The author doesn't want to let you get away with only reading the book. At the end is a Permanent Life-Long Commitment to sign stating that you'll not only start practicing yoga every day, but you'll do it with "an attitude of joy, enthusiasm and love". And just in case you thought you could get away with doing yoga only "At Home", there are also sections on how to do yoga at the office, in a hotel room and even in a cruise ship cabin. So she really does leave you with no excuse for not practicing yoga.
And if that's not enough there is also a list of further yoga books you can read and yoga DVDs you can watch. And not only that...You are also invited to have a free 30-minute telephone yoga consult with the author herself.
Phew!"
Yours for starting yoga at home now!
Laura Venecia Rodriguez
Hi Laura! I'm an avid reader of your blog and I love your honest posts here. I'm from Iloilo and I want to know where I can buy your book please. Thanks!
Posted by: MJ | May 22, 2011 at 10:28 AM
Hi MJ - thanks for your comment. You can order my book, Yoga At Home: Gain Energy, Flexibility, and Serenity in 20-30 Minutes a Day directly at amazon.com or on the link I provided in my book announcement on my blog last week.
Best,
Laura
Posted by: Laura Rodriguez | May 23, 2011 at 07:38 AM
Eh, not bad, Yoga can make your body stronger. I read a strange piece of news about the Yoga several days ago.
Posted by: Tiffany Jewelry | July 29, 2011 at 05:30 AM