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

I have been slowly introducing myself to yoga - through books, some classes, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and a supportive friend who is also a yoga teacher. Somehow through it all I never got the whole picture. I initially thought yoga was an exercise class for really fit people - and that yoga would make you super fit. Only through my friend did I start to see there was much more to yoga than just exercise classes. This is the first book that laid out the full yoga path or which asana is only one piece. This finally gave me the language I needed to start asking more questions. In addition to the introduction to yoga, the book provided a good walk through of basic asana poses as well as some good flows. As a mostly at home practitioner this is very handy and something I have been looking for in an easy to follow format. Finally, the yoga in the book is interwoven with stories - relatable stories. So many of the stories are filled with moments of “oh yeah - been there” all surrounding being the one on the mat who doesn’t look like she belongs in the yoga class (or any fitness class). Jessamyn does an excellent job of weaving her tale with yoga flows to fit. For anyone who is living in a world where learning to love your body exactly feels as insurmountable as Mt Everest (thanks to the inundation of the health, beauty, weight loss and fitness messages pushing a single standard of beauty/health/fitness) this book is one to read. You won’t get a “follow me and your life will be perfect” message - instead you will hear “you are not alone, your are normal and you are allowed to unapologetically live your life in the body you have” message. It’s a beautiful book on every level.

I loved it. You poetically opened up more and more. Thank you so much for sharing your story - it means a lot to a lot of people

I devoured this book. Ms. Stanley has an engaging way of bringing you into her world and breaking down the how and why to her personal practice. With giving credit to those who came before her, she humbly offers insights to her personal journey to yoga. In addition to her personal tale, she breaks down a number of poses and movement flow suggestions and even puts what she looks to get out of each sequence. This is one I will referring to often in my own practice. Thank you to the author for putting it all out there and assuring others that we are not alone!

I was very excited to read this book as it is one of the few available that offers a diverse perspective. However, I’m struggling with some big errors including when the author says: “Yoga means “to yolk” (as in an egg yolk) versus the correct definition “to yoke”. Such a big typo. Also, she describes Ujjayi breath as “breathe in through your nose, out through your nose-but keep your mouth shut.” No mention of the throat lock. How did the author, readers, and editor not catch these HUGE errors? That being said, the author’s personal story and raw honesty are engaging and inspiring. She is actively living her yoga and shares how this practice has helped her in so many ways. I appreciate the tips she offers teachers and practitioners.

As a woman who isn’t skinny-skinny, who has big boobs, who has cellulite, who has a belly, and who was intimidated in “traditional” yoga classes with women who weren’t like me, I found Ms. Stanley a breath of much-needed fresh air! I shared this book with friends of all sizes and genders, each of whom said to me, “THIS is what I’ve needed.” This book not only helps people not judge themselves on the mat, but also to not judge ourselves in life. Her philosophy shows me that you don’t have true health until you let go of all of your “mental trashbags” about yourself. Every time I practice, I am starting to throw those trash bags away—sometimes with great and powerful heaves into the dumpster, and sometimes just carrying them a few steps in the dumpster’s direction. Ms. Stanley has also helped me realize that there are other, non-judgmental studios out there. Because of this book, I plucked up the courage to go out and find one where the bodies were all different, all races and religions are represented, all genders along the spectrum are represented, and all of the teachers have “normal” bodies—bellies and all! I am so grateful for this book, not only because of the mental and physical benefits, but also because it gave me inspiration to find a community of loving, supportive, and friendly yogis and yoginis In this big city.

I thought this would just be about the physical, technical aspects of being a larger-bodied yogi – but Ms. Stanley has opened my mind up to the entire life-expanding scope of Yoga. And she shows practical application of that path through letting us in on the touching, sometimes messy and difficult lessons of her own life. I found this little book so well written! Never too self-deprecating, confessional, preachy, sanctimonious, precious. I’m so thankful she has made the choices in her life to bring us the gift of this book. Regarding the “profanity” objection so many reviews raise. I’m an older woman who doesn’t personally use profanity and I’m not crazy about hearing it from others. From reviews I expected there to be tons of objectionable language. In actuality, there’s not much - typically used to make a point, or be funny. And really, this is just how Ms. Stanley expresses herself. So what? Big deal. Though we may not want to accept it, girls, grown women, yogis, spiritually evolved folks might use profanity. This is just life. And life is what Ms. Stanley writes about. Finally, this is a really good looking book! The photos are bold and clear. The cover and pages are sturdy.

Yes, yes, yes. I've been dabbling on and off for years with yoga, never sticking with it. As I've gotten older and been experiencing more pain due to too many years behind a desk, I recently restarted with the goal to really stay with it this time. Living in a rural area AND being overweight has added to the challenge of feeling like I'm doing things right. That's when I stumbled across Jessamyn's book. THANK YOU. I may be older and shorter than Jessamyn, but I've got the curves. And it's so refreshing to see her rocking it. It's pushed me to try harder and more consistently. Yes, there's profanity. The earthiness didn't bother me, because I thought her underlying message was so much more important. If you want an excellent, down-to-earth guide to get yourself moving, with pictures of real bodies to show you it can be done, then grab this book. The other yoga books on my shelf have taken a back seat. Loved it so much, I had to get the Kindle and the paperback versions.

Love this book and it is in brand new condition. Highly recommend seller

Jessamyn Stanley hace un excelente trabajo describiendo el yoga como disciplina integral evitando caer en el lugar común yoga=asanas. Un libro inspirador, lleno de pequeños comentarios y expresiones amenas a lo largo del recuento de la historia que cuenta.

Livre pratique, décomplexant pour les novices du yoga. Conseils pour l'achat de matériel : du coup, on achète moins et mieux. Photos des postures si l'on veut s'entrainer chez soi. Même en anglais, il n'est pas dur à lire (il faut quand même se débrouiller un minimum dans cette langue, je vous l'accorde !). Et si vous hésitez, allez sur Le Monde et Libé lire les articles consacrés au bouquin, c'est ce qui m'a donné envie.

Libro esencial para cualquier persona con cuerpo fuera de la normativa yogui, me encanta el enfoque que le da a la práctica de yoga, gracias a este libro y los tips que dan me he animado a enfocarme en mis practicas de yoga. Es un libro bastante practico pero con mucho contenido, las fotos son preciosas y la calidad increible.

If you have any reservations about starting a yoga practice, maybe you have a disability, an injury, or you're just not the stereotypical thin, athletic, terrifyingly bendy white woman, then this is the book for you. Its not just a book with a variety of yoga poses, there are personal stories, a historical and spiritual view of yoga, as well as a nice range of practices for different moods and moments in your life. The thing I loved most about this book is Jessamyn's honesty. She writes in such a personal and accessible manner, it's more like you're reading a friend's writing, someone you know well and can so easily empathise with. There are hilarious and heartbreaking stories, as well as great advice, including all the newbie yoga students questions and fears answered, but what really got me was how yoga has affected Jessamyn's life. If you think it's all just stretching then you're in for a surprise! I'm fairly skeptical by nature, but the health benefits of yoga for more than the physical have really interested me since reading this book. It's also lovely to find a book that is so full of body positivity and representation of different bodies participating in yoga. This book is all about self love and self acceptance, but it's not sacharine, it doesn't paper over the bad days nor make these lofty goals seem easy. This is not easy, but nothing of substance ever is. I may have only been practicing for a few days since I finished this book, but it got me on the mat and I'm looking for local classes. I would say that is 100% down to this book as I am admittedly a very unfit and sedate person. A fantastic motivational and educational tool that I'm sure I'll be referring to for a long time.

Fun and a nice change in the yoga world.