Every Body Yoga: Let Go of Fear, Get On the Mat, Love Your Body.

by Jessamyn Stanley

From the unforgettable teacher Jessamyn Stanley comes Every Body Yoga, a book that breaks all the stereotypes. It's a book of inspiration for beginners of all shapes and sizes: If Jessamyn could transcend these emotional and physical barriers, so can we. lt's a book for readers already doing yoga, looking to refresh their practice or find new ways to stay motivated. lt's a how-to book: Here are easy-to-follow directions to 50 basic yoga poses and 10 sequences to practice at home, all photographed in full colour. lt's a book that challenges the larger issues of body acceptance and the meaning of beauty. Most of all, it's a book that changes the paradigm, showing us that yoga isn't about how one looks, but how one feels, with yoga sequences like "I Want to Energise My Spirit," "I Need to Release Fear," "I Want to Love Myself. "Jessamyn Stanley, a yogi who breaks all the stereotypes, has built a life as an internationally recognized yoga teacher and award-winning Instagram star by combining a deep understanding for yoga with a willingness to share her personal struggles in a way that touches everyone who comes to know her.
Now she brings her body-positive, emotionally uplifting approach to yoga in a book that will help every reader discover the power of yoga and how to weave it seamlessly into his or her life.

• ISBN13: 9780761193111
• Publish Date: 4 April 2017
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Workman Publishing
• Format: Paperback
• Pages: 232
• Language: English

Reviews

[Angie]

As soon as I saw the title and cover for Every Body Yoga, I knew I had to read it. In the mean time, I looked up Jessamyn's website, then soon got lost in a sea of YouTube videos of her. She is amazing! As a fellow fat, black, queer Instagram yogini, I was simply in awe of her. This book is part memoir and part beginner's guide to yoga, complete with a few yoga sequences to get you started.

I absolutely loved Every Body Yoga. Jessamyn has a very distinct voice. She tells it like it is. She's very intelligent, witty, and at times naughty! There's plenty of swearing, but it felt natural rather than gratuitous or for shock value. It was easy for me to picture her and hear her voice while I was reading her words. She makes the topic of beginning yoga very approachable and accessible for a lot people. There were so many times where I was thinking "This is me! I know how this feels!" and was so happy to know that I'm not alone in this exciting and terrifying journey.

Every Body Yoga is a mix of personal stories and straightforward yoga information. Jessamyn tells us all about how she first got started doing yoga, her successes and setbacks, and how it ultimately saved her life. She also gives us seemingly unrelated stories from her childhood and teen years, but at the end of each she tells us how yoga could have helped and gives some postures and sequences that would fit that situation. Like if you want to relieve anxiety or get a new perspective. There's a sequence for that!

Every Body Yoga also breaks down the yoga basics. There's a brief history of where yoga came from and how it has evolved. There's a list of a few of the most popular types of yoga and who might enjoy them. Jessamyn also gives a brief overview of using props (blocks, straps, and bolsters). In the sections with poses and sequences, she explains how to do them unsupported and with the props if needed. It's very simple to follow if you're just getting started. I also loved how the models doing the poses aren't the typical thin, tall, white yogis that we see in magazines. Yoga is for everyone, regardless of body size, type, shape, or ability.

I just really loved Every Body Yoga. It spoke to me in ways that other yoga books didn't. Maybe I just related to Jessamyn more, or perhaps she just writes/speaks in a way that simply clicked. Whatever it is, I'm feeling much more confident in my home practice and can't wait to continue to grow it.

Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.