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Every Body Yoga: Let Go of Fear. Get On the Mat. Love Your Body
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.
It’s a book for readers already doing yoga, looking to refresh their practice or find new ways to stay motivated.
It’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 color.
It’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 Energize 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.
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.
It’s a book for readers already doing yoga, looking to refresh their practice or find new ways to stay motivated.
It’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 color.
It’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 Energize 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.
222 pages, Paperback
First published April 4, 2017
833 people are currently reading
4104 people want to read
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February 6, 2017Out in April (I know!), Stanley’s book is beginner-and-advanced guide to yoga basics; there are incredible photos of each asana featuring bodies of all shapes and colors, along with notes on how to safely find comfort in each of them. But like yoga itself, this isn’t a book about how to make shapes or find a way to make your body twist in impressive ways.
It’s about the “why.”
This book is half about why one would ever want to try yoga, how one could ever find a beginning, and it’s half about why it is Jessamyn took up the practice herself. It’s an intimate look at life’s challenges and how letting go of your own damn ego is the first step in finding fulfillment and success in whatever it is you set your mind to doing. Stanley is open and honest about her mental health, including addictions she struggled with and some of the lowest, most painful, parts of her life. She mixes those stories in with FAQs from new yogis, along with short sequences that can help people find mental, physical, and spiritual wellness.
Even for those who don’t practice yoga or have never had an interest, this book would be an excellent one to borrow because of how it turns perceptions of the yoga life upside down and digs deep into some of the stereotypes or beliefs about it and how it’s been rendered in Western culture/pop culture. For those who practice yoga, want to practice yoga, or want to support brave, fat babes who know how to talk to you to keep your attention wrapt, this book is a buy. It sound absolutely, positively be a buy for any yoga teacher or yoga studio, as it’s the kind of book that would help teachers who haven’t themselves been struggling with body size, fatness, or the stigmas surrounding fat bodies making shapes find ways to encourage and welcome all bodies into their studio.
from Buy Borrow Bypass: Fat Girls Have Stories, Too http://bookriot.com/2017/01/30/buy-bo...
It’s about the “why.”
This book is half about why one would ever want to try yoga, how one could ever find a beginning, and it’s half about why it is Jessamyn took up the practice herself. It’s an intimate look at life’s challenges and how letting go of your own damn ego is the first step in finding fulfillment and success in whatever it is you set your mind to doing. Stanley is open and honest about her mental health, including addictions she struggled with and some of the lowest, most painful, parts of her life. She mixes those stories in with FAQs from new yogis, along with short sequences that can help people find mental, physical, and spiritual wellness.
Even for those who don’t practice yoga or have never had an interest, this book would be an excellent one to borrow because of how it turns perceptions of the yoga life upside down and digs deep into some of the stereotypes or beliefs about it and how it’s been rendered in Western culture/pop culture. For those who practice yoga, want to practice yoga, or want to support brave, fat babes who know how to talk to you to keep your attention wrapt, this book is a buy. It sound absolutely, positively be a buy for any yoga teacher or yoga studio, as it’s the kind of book that would help teachers who haven’t themselves been struggling with body size, fatness, or the stigmas surrounding fat bodies making shapes find ways to encourage and welcome all bodies into their studio.
from Buy Borrow Bypass: Fat Girls Have Stories, Too http://bookriot.com/2017/01/30/buy-bo...
September 20, 2020
What a wonderful breath of fresh air this book is! Over the past year, I have read and reviewed a big pile of yoga books, some good, some bad, some deeply puzzling. But none quite like “Every Body Yoga”. Part memoir, part Yoga-101 book, this little gem made me laugh, nod sympathetically, gave me a ton of great information to chew on and really inspired me.
If you don’t like cussing, stay away from this one: Jessamyn Stanley has a potty mouth, but so do I, and I really enjoyed her style – though I know it's not for everybody (in the same way that Brad Warner’s style isn’t for every Zen nerd – and he’s my favorite). Unlike yoga practice, which, she really wants you to know, is for every BODY and EVERYBODY.
Her answers to the questions asked by yoga newbies are down to earth, realistic and reasonable, and I really appreciated her very grounded honesty. She is also wonderfully reassuring and encouraging. Her clear and conversational style could make anyone feel motivated to hop on their mat and brush away the anxiety and self-consciousness – which are often bigger hurdles to overcome than lack of flexibility.
I loved the section explaining the differences between ancient yoga and modern yoga (as well as the pros and cons of both). She follows that with a quick but informative history of modern yoga and an exploration of the Eight Limbs as outlined in the Yoga Sutra. Her open-minded approach that suggests trying out many styles of yoga asana practice makes perfect sense to me, as different circumstances in life sometimes call for different levels of intensity and effort; I’m not a purist, and I think it can actually make a practice much stronger to borrow elements from a different style when you need to make adjustments or can’t quite seem to progress on a specific pose.
The following section is what she calls her asana ABCs; the basic poses to practice, that eventually unlock more advanced poses, followed by a series of personal stories and life-lessons she learned, paired with a sequence of poses linked to that lesson. It goes without saying, but it’s refreshing to see the various asansas she describes performed by non-stereotypical models. I love mindlessly scrolling through Instagram yoga posts, but sooner or later, they make me feel self-conscious, or wonder how these people survive on a diet of one kale leaf per day. Obviously, Instagram is not real life, fuck unreasonable beauty standards and viva la pizza – my point is, this book wants you to love your body because beauty, grace and flexibility do not require you to be rail-thin. And we need more books like that!
Anyone who has ever felt insecure about their bodies, wondered if theirs was still a valid yoga practice even if they couldn’t get into a peacock pose or was just annoyed with the saccharine New Age tone often used in yoga books will enjoy, learn and feel inspired by this little book. I especially recommend it for beginners!
(My only criticism of this book is that she often refers to Bikram yoga; given what we know about Bikram Choudry's organization and actions, I'm puzzled by the name-dropping. Why not just call it "hot yoga" and not endorse Choudry's crap?)
If you don’t like cussing, stay away from this one: Jessamyn Stanley has a potty mouth, but so do I, and I really enjoyed her style – though I know it's not for everybody (in the same way that Brad Warner’s style isn’t for every Zen nerd – and he’s my favorite). Unlike yoga practice, which, she really wants you to know, is for every BODY and EVERYBODY.
Her answers to the questions asked by yoga newbies are down to earth, realistic and reasonable, and I really appreciated her very grounded honesty. She is also wonderfully reassuring and encouraging. Her clear and conversational style could make anyone feel motivated to hop on their mat and brush away the anxiety and self-consciousness – which are often bigger hurdles to overcome than lack of flexibility.
I loved the section explaining the differences between ancient yoga and modern yoga (as well as the pros and cons of both). She follows that with a quick but informative history of modern yoga and an exploration of the Eight Limbs as outlined in the Yoga Sutra. Her open-minded approach that suggests trying out many styles of yoga asana practice makes perfect sense to me, as different circumstances in life sometimes call for different levels of intensity and effort; I’m not a purist, and I think it can actually make a practice much stronger to borrow elements from a different style when you need to make adjustments or can’t quite seem to progress on a specific pose.
The following section is what she calls her asana ABCs; the basic poses to practice, that eventually unlock more advanced poses, followed by a series of personal stories and life-lessons she learned, paired with a sequence of poses linked to that lesson. It goes without saying, but it’s refreshing to see the various asansas she describes performed by non-stereotypical models. I love mindlessly scrolling through Instagram yoga posts, but sooner or later, they make me feel self-conscious, or wonder how these people survive on a diet of one kale leaf per day. Obviously, Instagram is not real life, fuck unreasonable beauty standards and viva la pizza – my point is, this book wants you to love your body because beauty, grace and flexibility do not require you to be rail-thin. And we need more books like that!
Anyone who has ever felt insecure about their bodies, wondered if theirs was still a valid yoga practice even if they couldn’t get into a peacock pose or was just annoyed with the saccharine New Age tone often used in yoga books will enjoy, learn and feel inspired by this little book. I especially recommend it for beginners!
(My only criticism of this book is that she often refers to Bikram yoga; given what we know about Bikram Choudry's organization and actions, I'm puzzled by the name-dropping. Why not just call it "hot yoga" and not endorse Choudry's crap?)
July 15, 2020
4.5★
I found this book empowering!
I used to be a slim, young thing but now I'm neither and nowadays I would prefer to do yoga in the comfort of my own home.
Most of the photos are nice and clear, although occasionally I couldn't see exactly how a foot was positioned. And Jessamyn is so encouraging in her belief that if she could overcome her own negative self image , than anyone can. Jessamyn emphasises what Ihave been told by other yogis - that if your goal is weight loss and only weight loss, then yoga may not be the exercise programme for you. While I do want to lose weight, inner peace and maintaining flexibility are the most important things for me. Its very simple. if I want to lose weight, I need to put less food in my mouth.
I appreciated her biography, but it is spliced into the yoga routines. I would rather have my yoga book focused solely on yoga or even have the yoga routines at the back, so long term, Jessamyn's yoga You Tube clips may be more helpful. I love the clips with her early, determined efforts. Jessamyn you are a diamond. Never change.
I found this book empowering!
I used to be a slim, young thing but now I'm neither and nowadays I would prefer to do yoga in the comfort of my own home.
Most of the photos are nice and clear, although occasionally I couldn't see exactly how a foot was positioned. And Jessamyn is so encouraging in her belief that if she could overcome her own negative self image , than anyone can. Jessamyn emphasises what Ihave been told by other yogis - that if your goal is weight loss and only weight loss, then yoga may not be the exercise programme for you. While I do want to lose weight, inner peace and maintaining flexibility are the most important things for me. Its very simple. if I want to lose weight, I need to put less food in my mouth.
I appreciated her biography, but it is spliced into the yoga routines. I would rather have my yoga book focused solely on yoga or even have the yoga routines at the back, so long term, Jessamyn's yoga You Tube clips may be more helpful. I love the clips with her early, determined efforts. Jessamyn you are a diamond. Never change.
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January 26, 2023
i adore jessamyn stanley, and her voice shines so brightly in this book! reading her words feels similar to listening to her yoga instruction, and it's a joy. she is so grounded and authentic, and i always appreciate her guidance and company.
the book's structure and organization are fantastic. jessamyn starts with some yoga history and basics. the differences between ancient yoga and modern yoga are particularly interesting, and it's good to be reminded that there are eight limbs of yoga, all important. the asanas are only one area of practice.
in the second half of the book, jessamyn alternates short memoir chapters with yoga sequences that match the lessons from the life stories she tells. these sequences are super empowering.
i love how much jessamyn stresses accessibility: that anyone can practice yoga. supports and accommodations can easily be made, and everything we need to know can be learned at home for free. it's extremely motivating for an instructor to put all the power of creating a practice in their readers' hands.
i'll definitely be referring back to the sequences in this book, and now that i know more about jessamyn personally, i have even more appreciation for her as a person 💜
things to remember:
‣ breath should always come before motion, and should guide every action. jessamyn points out that this applies to life in general as well.
‣ the most important thing is getting your ass on the mat:
the book's structure and organization are fantastic. jessamyn starts with some yoga history and basics. the differences between ancient yoga and modern yoga are particularly interesting, and it's good to be reminded that there are eight limbs of yoga, all important. the asanas are only one area of practice.
in the second half of the book, jessamyn alternates short memoir chapters with yoga sequences that match the lessons from the life stories she tells. these sequences are super empowering.
i love how much jessamyn stresses accessibility: that anyone can practice yoga. supports and accommodations can easily be made, and everything we need to know can be learned at home for free. it's extremely motivating for an instructor to put all the power of creating a practice in their readers' hands.
i'll definitely be referring back to the sequences in this book, and now that i know more about jessamyn personally, i have even more appreciation for her as a person 💜
things to remember:
‣ breath should always come before motion, and should guide every action. jessamyn points out that this applies to life in general as well.
‣ the most important thing is getting your ass on the mat:
...motivation is actually more like a car - really helpful if you have one, but you can find other ways to get around.
March 21, 2025
Jessamyn's candor and humor come through brilliantly in this biographical self-help book.
Instead of the author telling you what YOU need to be doing to make Yoga work for you, she is using herself as a relatable example to inspire you to give yoga a try. Some slightly ranty parts could alienate anyone on the other side of the "mat," though. I would consider it more biographical than self-help, but it was still an enjoyable read.
Worth checking out whether yoga scares you or not.
4 Stars.
Instead of the author telling you what YOU need to be doing to make Yoga work for you, she is using herself as a relatable example to inspire you to give yoga a try. Some slightly ranty parts could alienate anyone on the other side of the "mat," though. I would consider it more biographical than self-help, but it was still an enjoyable read.
Worth checking out whether yoga scares you or not.
4 Stars.
June 3, 2017
Jessamyn Stanley could get anyone excited about yoga. The whole point of her book is that everyone can benefit from yoga, no matter your size, age, or ability. I have really enjoyed incorporating a home yoga practice into my weekly routine, and while I’m not super into books about fitness, Every Body Yoga was affirming and encouraging in every way. It’s sort of a how-to and memoir in one, with stories about Stanley’s life and how she came to yoga as well as instructions for basic poses and sequences. She is super irreverent and approachable; if you’ve been curious about yoga or turned off by a bad experience in the past, I promise Every Body Yoga will rinse that bad taste from your mouth and make you a fan for good.
June 24, 2017
This book is a great guide for anyone that is uncomfortable with their body and hesitant to do yoga. Jessamyn goes through how to use props as well as the type of yoga and yoga class etiquette. She makes the readers feel at ease with telling her journey into yoga and her feelings about being bigger than what she perceived as socially acceptable.
I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars on Goodreads.
I received a free advanced copy of this book from NetGalley for review consideration.
I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars on Goodreads.
I received a free advanced copy of this book from NetGalley for review consideration.
January 18, 2018
4 stars
⛤⛤⛤⛤
Let me start by saying that I have done yoga before and I found it to be energising and after my lunchtime classes I did go back to the office feeling light and perhaps a little happier sounding than my regular office self. But I didn't keep up "the practice" as it's referred to here. I picked up this book to see if there was a way to perhaps pick up some tips for doing a bit of yoga on the boat, its winter here and I may be eating a fair bit of wintery food, phenomenal that it tastes in Turkey! Jessmyn Stanley has written a guide to yoga practice, theory, technique and attitude, all in one. You may not actually be able to "do" yoga after reading this book (I think you need to watch video's, subscribe to an online class or attend actual real people classes to really get the moves), but you will certainly be in the right frame of mind and feel like you can accomplish anything if you try it. All of your potential questions will be answered . Yoga is apparently all about the spiritual connection to your self and if you're planning to do yoga for just a physical fitness thing, then this is not the right application. Hmm. Back to my Olivia Newton John Let's Get Physical videos I think.
Note that Jessmyn has a huge potty mouth, swears like a wharfies daughter, you never know when she's going to drop the f bomb or call her aunty a m*fr. I'm not sure if this is supposed to attract the younger readers or if Jessmyn is a young person herself but I think that the book would have worked without so much cussing. And I swear a lot, but not everywhere and not to all audiences.
⛤⛤⛤⛤
Let me start by saying that I have done yoga before and I found it to be energising and after my lunchtime classes I did go back to the office feeling light and perhaps a little happier sounding than my regular office self. But I didn't keep up "the practice" as it's referred to here. I picked up this book to see if there was a way to perhaps pick up some tips for doing a bit of yoga on the boat, its winter here and I may be eating a fair bit of wintery food, phenomenal that it tastes in Turkey! Jessmyn Stanley has written a guide to yoga practice, theory, technique and attitude, all in one. You may not actually be able to "do" yoga after reading this book (I think you need to watch video's, subscribe to an online class or attend actual real people classes to really get the moves), but you will certainly be in the right frame of mind and feel like you can accomplish anything if you try it. All of your potential questions will be answered . Yoga is apparently all about the spiritual connection to your self and if you're planning to do yoga for just a physical fitness thing, then this is not the right application. Hmm. Back to my Olivia Newton John Let's Get Physical videos I think.
Note that Jessmyn has a huge potty mouth, swears like a wharfies daughter, you never know when she's going to drop the f bomb or call her aunty a m*fr. I'm not sure if this is supposed to attract the younger readers or if Jessmyn is a young person herself but I think that the book would have worked without so much cussing. And I swear a lot, but not everywhere and not to all audiences.
November 27, 2016
I need a paper copy of this amazing book! This is the inspirational story of someone who struggled to fit into the classic image of a yoga practitioner but was resilient and determined, so much so that she truly is inspiration in encouraging others to persevere and have a go. The book is part memoir about the author’s experiences and also celebrates some of her achievements, gives background information on the different types of yoga and equipment options but it is also a fun guide to basic yoga poses. The memoirs are written in a conversational style, you could imagine Jessamyn Stanley is chatting to you about it all whilst reading them. I admit to not appreciating the repeated use of a certain (f) word but that’s me being me and I know most people won’t worry about it.
One of the best bits about the poses is that they aren’t demonstrated by the stereotypical skinny, flexible blonde but by all shapes and sizes of people. The instructions are clear and easy to follow, the photos motivating, I’d never tried yoga before but even I could follow these! This is a book for everybody, regardless of their body shape and it certainly one I’ll be looking out for when it is actually released. It even has an inspirational tag line - “Let Go of Fear. Get On the Mat. Love Your Body.” I intend trying to do just that! Hope it inspires others, too.
Many thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for gifting me an ARC of this novel with no obligation. This is my honest review.
One of the best bits about the poses is that they aren’t demonstrated by the stereotypical skinny, flexible blonde but by all shapes and sizes of people. The instructions are clear and easy to follow, the photos motivating, I’d never tried yoga before but even I could follow these! This is a book for everybody, regardless of their body shape and it certainly one I’ll be looking out for when it is actually released. It even has an inspirational tag line - “Let Go of Fear. Get On the Mat. Love Your Body.” I intend trying to do just that! Hope it inspires others, too.
Many thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for gifting me an ARC of this novel with no obligation. This is my honest review.
December 7, 2018
As a person who has a on again/ off again relationship with yoga, and as a woman of color, I so appreciate the message of this book. Yoga and I are currently having a lovely relationship this year, and the benefits have been both tangible and intangible.
Here's the thing though, I am probably not the right reader for this book. I've heard that the author has a large Instagram following, and I think it's wonderful that she's so body positive and encouraging, but I wasn't particularly interested in the memoir portion of this book and skimmed most of it. The book started out well, and though a quick read, not one I found particularly useful. I gather she is an internet celebrity, and those kinds of memoirs are not my usual fare, so there's that too. Also, and this is biggie - there are photos with text about particular poses and then flows based on mood/what you need, and the flows do not show transitions at all, so if you are a newbie I'm not sure how that helps.
I consider myself an intermediate yogi, and I do echo the encouragement here. For newbies and others who might not have access to yoga classes, or find the idea of a public class too stressful, I'd highly recommend checking out Yoga With Adriene on YouTube and get on your mat. At home. For free. Namaste.
Here's the thing though, I am probably not the right reader for this book. I've heard that the author has a large Instagram following, and I think it's wonderful that she's so body positive and encouraging, but I wasn't particularly interested in the memoir portion of this book and skimmed most of it. The book started out well, and though a quick read, not one I found particularly useful. I gather she is an internet celebrity, and those kinds of memoirs are not my usual fare, so there's that too. Also, and this is biggie - there are photos with text about particular poses and then flows based on mood/what you need, and the flows do not show transitions at all, so if you are a newbie I'm not sure how that helps.
I consider myself an intermediate yogi, and I do echo the encouragement here. For newbies and others who might not have access to yoga classes, or find the idea of a public class too stressful, I'd highly recommend checking out Yoga With Adriene on YouTube and get on your mat. At home. For free. Namaste.
Read
December 8, 2016Real, raw, and empowering. Stanley not only offers up compelling arguments for starting a yoga practice and a guidebook through which anyone can begin, but she offers up deeply personal stories about her own life, about hitting rock bottoms, about accepting herself as she is and loving herself because of those things. A powerful book to hand to anyone who has dealt with feeling like they don't fit in or their bodies are "wrong" for any reason. Also a powerful book for those curious about yoga but are only conscious of the media's representation of yoga (thin, pretty white ladies). Stanley is a treasure and her voice is outstanding.
I can't wait to have a finished copy to underline all of the brilliant nuggets of wisdom.
I can't wait to have a finished copy to underline all of the brilliant nuggets of wisdom.
February 3, 2017
I thought I may not want to continue reading this book in the very beginning. Jessamyn started out talking out her first yoga class and how miserable it was. I was not feeling it. Fortunately, I knew that this book would not continue to discuss how much she did not like yoga and so I continued.
The first half of the book was mostly about yoga and gave a lot of background information on yoga. I was expecting more about Jessamyn. This was remedied in the second half of the book, where Jessamyn started talking about her life as a young girl and woman. This half of the book was much more memoir style than the first part of the book, but still incorporated yoga, and was more of what I had expected going into it. I enjoyed her stories and her “lessons learned” at the end of each one. I also enjoyed the yoga poses added after each chapter that she associated with the story. It was a great format.
The eight limbs explanation, descriptions of different types of yoga, and ABC’s of Asana were all interesting and helpful.
There was a lot of swearing in this book. I don’t have an issue with this. At first I thought it was nice to read something where she felt free to be herself and let the cuss words fly, but after a while I felt she was throwing them in unnecessarily. It didn’t feel natural. If felt as if she was adding more emphasis where it wasn’t needed and didn’t come across as genuine. Maybe she was just nervous writing the book? Whatever the reason, this feeling cleared up for me in the second half of the book. There was still some swearing, but it felt like she was just being herself.
There were a lot of great poses in the middle in the middle of the book with explanations on how to do them. Additional tips and even examples of supported poses were given. This part I wish I had a physical copy of the book just for this reason. It was a great section, particularly for anyone just starting their practice or wanting to start practicing at home on their own, which Jessamyn is a big proponent of. I think I may have to start an at-home practice myself.
Recommended for anyone wanting to learn more about yoga and interested in reading personal stories related to yoga.
Thank you to NetGalley and Workman Publishing Company for providing me with a free PDF copy of this book for review purposes.
The first half of the book was mostly about yoga and gave a lot of background information on yoga. I was expecting more about Jessamyn. This was remedied in the second half of the book, where Jessamyn started talking about her life as a young girl and woman. This half of the book was much more memoir style than the first part of the book, but still incorporated yoga, and was more of what I had expected going into it. I enjoyed her stories and her “lessons learned” at the end of each one. I also enjoyed the yoga poses added after each chapter that she associated with the story. It was a great format.
The eight limbs explanation, descriptions of different types of yoga, and ABC’s of Asana were all interesting and helpful.
There was a lot of swearing in this book. I don’t have an issue with this. At first I thought it was nice to read something where she felt free to be herself and let the cuss words fly, but after a while I felt she was throwing them in unnecessarily. It didn’t feel natural. If felt as if she was adding more emphasis where it wasn’t needed and didn’t come across as genuine. Maybe she was just nervous writing the book? Whatever the reason, this feeling cleared up for me in the second half of the book. There was still some swearing, but it felt like she was just being herself.
There were a lot of great poses in the middle in the middle of the book with explanations on how to do them. Additional tips and even examples of supported poses were given. This part I wish I had a physical copy of the book just for this reason. It was a great section, particularly for anyone just starting their practice or wanting to start practicing at home on their own, which Jessamyn is a big proponent of. I think I may have to start an at-home practice myself.
Recommended for anyone wanting to learn more about yoga and interested in reading personal stories related to yoga.
Thank you to NetGalley and Workman Publishing Company for providing me with a free PDF copy of this book for review purposes.
December 7, 2016
There is a lot that I like about this book, and the funny thing is taht I learnt of this amazing woman before getting the chance of reading the book, and I was already in awe: she had to struggle as she didn't seem to fit in the "clasical, stereotypical" image of a yoga practitioner, but she kept on and after various struggles she won. She showed the world you don't need to be skinny, or white, or spend tns of money on clothes or equipment to practise yoga and have fun and relax doing it.
So I liked that the book presented us with sort of a bio/memoir about the author's experience with all of the above, celebrating how she kept going on and struggling to get where she was and her accomplishments, and also presenting an array of yoga poses demonstrated by her.
To be honest, I still have to give them a go, but it is cool to know there is this book to help out, so much with the yoga as with the motivation of keeping on to get where you want to be :)
So I liked that the book presented us with sort of a bio/memoir about the author's experience with all of the above, celebrating how she kept going on and struggling to get where she was and her accomplishments, and also presenting an array of yoga poses demonstrated by her.
To be honest, I still have to give them a go, but it is cool to know there is this book to help out, so much with the yoga as with the motivation of keeping on to get where you want to be :)
January 7, 2024
I love Jessamyn's instagram, so I was stoked that I could get this from my library.
She gives you the same unfiltered honesty and body positivity that had me wanting to get my hands on this to begin with.
There is a lot of great starting points for any level of intensity you are looking for.
Highly recommend!
She gives you the same unfiltered honesty and body positivity that had me wanting to get my hands on this to begin with.
There is a lot of great starting points for any level of intensity you are looking for.
Highly recommend!
October 4, 2016
When I wrote this review, there was only one other review in Goodreads, and the reviewer didn't like how this book wasn't more about Yoga, and the poses, and what kind of yoga book is this anyway. And, at first, when I started to read this book, I wondered the same thing. Why is there so much text? Why am I having to read about so much before I read about the yoga itself.
But, in actually reading this book, I realized that this is more than just a yoga book. You can probably get lots of those at any bookstore. This is a book about a fat, black, lesbian yoga instructor, and I don't think there are a lot of those kinds of books out there. Certainly not the fat part.
So, this book is part memoir, part encouraging, and part instruction of how to practice yoga even if you are not a skinny-minnie, and look like all the other soccer moms out there.
This is more the book for the average person, who isn't thin and blonde and fit. This is for the rest of us out there that are aging, and lumpy in not quite the right places, according to Western society.
So, if you want to read a yoga book, read about how Jessamyn got to where she is, and how you can too, this is a great book for it. If you want to get a basic book of yoga poses, that show differently shaped people, this too is the book for you. And if you want to experience the fun writing of Jessamyn, and she lays everything bare, this too is the book for you.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
But, in actually reading this book, I realized that this is more than just a yoga book. You can probably get lots of those at any bookstore. This is a book about a fat, black, lesbian yoga instructor, and I don't think there are a lot of those kinds of books out there. Certainly not the fat part.
So, this book is part memoir, part encouraging, and part instruction of how to practice yoga even if you are not a skinny-minnie, and look like all the other soccer moms out there.
This is more the book for the average person, who isn't thin and blonde and fit. This is for the rest of us out there that are aging, and lumpy in not quite the right places, according to Western society.
So, if you want to read a yoga book, read about how Jessamyn got to where she is, and how you can too, this is a great book for it. If you want to get a basic book of yoga poses, that show differently shaped people, this too is the book for you. And if you want to experience the fun writing of Jessamyn, and she lays everything bare, this too is the book for you.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
September 16, 2017
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.
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.
December 29, 2016
I really love Jessamyn Stanley's Instagram. It's a real bright spot on the internet: it defies expectations in a brilliant way, and it's endlessly upbeat, optimistic and inspiring. She was the first large-bodied yoga practioner I found online, and remains a favourite.
The autobiographical sections of this book were fascinating. I loved the photos, the stories, and how the routines connected with each story. (Though sometimes, the connections were awkward -- linking death and funerals to certain yoga poses felt a bit forced.) But the routines themselves all fell a bit flat, and the simple images didn't provide the level of detail I'd have liked. For a book catered at beginners, it didn't have the depth I wanted.
I'd love to see these routines as a series of videos. The lack of motion in printed routines felt very prominent, and I think seeming them in motion would have helped on a lot of levels. As it stands, the book is useful as a reference or supplement but doesn't do enough for a newbie trying to start out.
Thank you to NetGalley/Workman Publishing Company for the review copy of this book.
The autobiographical sections of this book were fascinating. I loved the photos, the stories, and how the routines connected with each story. (Though sometimes, the connections were awkward -- linking death and funerals to certain yoga poses felt a bit forced.) But the routines themselves all fell a bit flat, and the simple images didn't provide the level of detail I'd have liked. For a book catered at beginners, it didn't have the depth I wanted.
I'd love to see these routines as a series of videos. The lack of motion in printed routines felt very prominent, and I think seeming them in motion would have helped on a lot of levels. As it stands, the book is useful as a reference or supplement but doesn't do enough for a newbie trying to start out.
Thank you to NetGalley/Workman Publishing Company for the review copy of this book.
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August 19, 2022An excellent book for anyone interested in trying yoga, but are fearful or intimidated. It was a nice kick in the pants for me to start a more regular and consistent practice.
March 10, 2017
This book is aimed at people who have never done yoga and beginners - and as someone who has been practicing for a while I kinda thought there wouldn't be that much new for me here. And I was wrong. Main thing, was it talked quite a lot about adapting poses for larger bodies, something which I haven't read about (or even talked about at yoga training) so that was great. I also loved all the pictures - of jessamyn, but also of other yoga teachers who didn't look like 'typical' yoga teachers.
There's lots about jessamyn's life, her yoga journey and her relationship with food, alcohol and her body. It's an easy read and doesn't go into huge depth, but it's super enjoyable and authentic.
There's lots about jessamyn's life, her yoga journey and her relationship with food, alcohol and her body. It's an easy read and doesn't go into huge depth, but it's super enjoyable and authentic.
September 13, 2018
This is a really good and accessible introduction to yoga. The author intersperses sections on the history and practice of yoga with her own personal story of how she came to love and accept her body with the help of yoga. The book contains descriptions and illustrations of yoga poses and flows but I like also that Jessamyn emphasises yoga as a way of life/ethical practice not just a fitness practice. Her flows aren't called things like "flow for rock hard abs", they have great names like "I Want to Energize My Spirit" and "I Need to Release Fear". Highly recommended.
July 24, 2023
Excellent, quick read. Full of loving anecdotes about the authors life and how to comment these stories, and your own stories to the mat. Included are flows and explanations on how to modify practice for self love.
May 31, 2017
I love this book. As a not small someone who has been doing yoga for almost two years now, Every Body Yoga is a much needed breath of fresh air. While I've been fortunate enough to be a part of a yoga studio where I am just one of many varied body types, not everyone has that experience and inclusion is sometimes hard to come by in the yoga community. While a lot of teachers and practitioners preach about body acceptance no matter what, yogis are still often portrayed as tiny, thin white women. Jessamyn Stanley fits into none of these categories and is completely upfront about her personal yoga experiences. The book combines her personal essays with step by step instructions on various yoga postures and sequences using photos of multiple body types as well as offering modifications that you can take based on your own needs. It's wonderful, and we need more books like this from inspiring and outspoken women who don't always fit the mold that society has tried to stuff them in.
April 10, 2017
This is, in my opinion, the best book about yoga that I've ever read and Jessamy is a goddess! For the first time in my life I thought that I could handle some positions even if I'm far from being thin and as flexible as a piece of wood. I even think is a great book to improve self esteem and braveness.
Questo é, secondo me, il miglior libro sullo yoga che mi sia capitato di leggere ultimamente e Jessamy é fighissima. Per la prima volta in vita mia ho pensato che avrei potuto fare qualche posizione anche se non sono magra e la mia flessibilitá é paragonabile a quella di un ballino di cemento, Penso inoltre che sia un buon libro anche per l'autostima e per infonderci un po' di coraggio.
THANKS TO NETGALLEY FOR THE PREVIEW!
Questo é, secondo me, il miglior libro sullo yoga che mi sia capitato di leggere ultimamente e Jessamy é fighissima. Per la prima volta in vita mia ho pensato che avrei potuto fare qualche posizione anche se non sono magra e la mia flessibilitá é paragonabile a quella di un ballino di cemento, Penso inoltre che sia un buon libro anche per l'autostima e per infonderci un po' di coraggio.
THANKS TO NETGALLEY FOR THE PREVIEW!
June 2, 2017
If you are just dipping your toes into yoga and are worried about having the 'wrong kind of body' for it, this book will be awesome for you. There are awesome photos, some good yoga flows and a bit of jesssmyn's life story as well.
Since I'm a lapsed student (and feeling body shame about returning to class ), it didn't work for me as well. I could have done with a whole book of pictures, or more detailed talk about her practice and progression, more yoga sets, etc. I wanted more! I would love a sequel to this, focusing more on one of these topics.
Still, she's awesome and inspired me to roll out the mat again.
Since I'm a lapsed student (and feeling body shame about returning to class ), it didn't work for me as well. I could have done with a whole book of pictures, or more detailed talk about her practice and progression, more yoga sets, etc. I wanted more! I would love a sequel to this, focusing more on one of these topics.
Still, she's awesome and inspired me to roll out the mat again.
July 2, 2017
oh lord its so good. Jessamyn's self reflections are mixed in alongside yoga instructions, focusing on building a home practice. The notes are the same reminders you hear from your instructor at the studio. I love that she offers a variety of sequences for practitioners to add together to make flow. Also, there is so much black, fat, femme joy bursting out of these pages. A much needed addition to the modern yoga canon.
January 12, 2020
Inspiring, refreshingly raw. It’s part memoir and part yoga guidebook for yoga novices of all shapes, sizes and backgrounds. Whether you’ve tried yoga or not, the author’s description of the asana poses as well as the history behind yoga motivates me to get serious about incorporating yoga (in all forms) into my daily life. I’ll definitely pick this up again for reference.
May 16, 2020
Of course it was fucking good. Jessamyn is a global treasure, a fucking unicorn. This was wonderful and I plan on getting an underbelly membership because Jessamyn is amazing. Period.
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August 19, 2020I really enjoyed this but I'm kind of sad that I didn't read this before I had a regular practice of yoga.
Because even though the history of yoga and other things about Jessamyn's life where new to me, the practice, self-love and self-acceptance is already things part of my life.
It's always good to have a reminder. And I'm really glad how honest Jessamyn is when it comes to that yoga is a practice and that it will be hard. For everyone at multiple times. That's why we keep practicing. I want, when the world opens up again, try more different forms of yoga in class. Being that I mostly just practice one kind, I think it would be good to branch out and Jessamyn encourage to try different forms.
Even though I have been practicing yoga for about a year now, I didn't know about the eight-limbed path and the realization that I'm on the path without knowing felt really great. And I want to read more about yoga (thanks for the book recs in the book) to deepen my practice.
Definitely recommend. Especially if you are new to yoga or if you feel like you don't have a body of yogi. Read this, get on your mat and let's start to practice.
Because even though the history of yoga and other things about Jessamyn's life where new to me, the practice, self-love and self-acceptance is already things part of my life.
It's always good to have a reminder. And I'm really glad how honest Jessamyn is when it comes to that yoga is a practice and that it will be hard. For everyone at multiple times. That's why we keep practicing. I want, when the world opens up again, try more different forms of yoga in class. Being that I mostly just practice one kind, I think it would be good to branch out and Jessamyn encourage to try different forms.
Even though I have been practicing yoga for about a year now, I didn't know about the eight-limbed path and the realization that I'm on the path without knowing felt really great. And I want to read more about yoga (thanks for the book recs in the book) to deepen my practice.
Definitely recommend. Especially if you are new to yoga or if you feel like you don't have a body of yogi. Read this, get on your mat and let's start to practice.
May 30, 2017
I adored reading this book! I had just picked up practicing yoga after a very long hiatus, and Jessamyn's no-nonsense approach to practicing is refreshing and takes away any pretentions you may experience about practicing yoga. She is body positive around size as well as ability, so for anyone struggling with these feelings of limitation, you will apprecaite her teachings (including Q&A) on getting into a yoga practice/poses.
She sets it up where the first part is about her story with yoga, and her instructions. Then she shares poses with and without modifications for different body types/abilities. The third part is more of a memior about challenges in her life - I especially loved her stories of being an awkward fat kid - and then she adds a sequence related to that topic: "I need to feel balanced," "I need to release fear," "I need to chill the F out," and the general "sun salultations," and so on.
Her down-to-earth narration makes this book a surprisingly interesting memior (which I didn't expect) and includes beautiful shots of her in yoga poses - which I may have been prepared for if I had been following her on instagram and I also want to tear out and hang on my walls because she is such a lovely inspiration - from her life stories to her teachings to her beauty in yoga poses.
She sets it up where the first part is about her story with yoga, and her instructions. Then she shares poses with and without modifications for different body types/abilities. The third part is more of a memior about challenges in her life - I especially loved her stories of being an awkward fat kid - and then she adds a sequence related to that topic: "I need to feel balanced," "I need to release fear," "I need to chill the F out," and the general "sun salultations," and so on.
Her down-to-earth narration makes this book a surprisingly interesting memior (which I didn't expect) and includes beautiful shots of her in yoga poses - which I may have been prepared for if I had been following her on instagram and I also want to tear out and hang on my walls because she is such a lovely inspiration - from her life stories to her teachings to her beauty in yoga poses.
June 18, 2017
I began following Jessamyn on Instagram a year or so ago, maybe longer, and she has been my heroine for quite some time. I love her focus on loving yourself, being comfortable in your skin, letting go of the crap from the past and taking back the power from those who have caused us to doubt ourselves and live in pain. I also love that she shares the yoga philosophy and the many kinds of yoga and encourages us to find what works for us.
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