The Yoga Teacher

by Alexandra Gray

Dissatisfied with her job as a pharmaceutical rep and struggling with the decline of her long-term relationship, Grace, a well-heeled Londoner, uses yoga class to unwind, reflect, and momentarily transcend her earthly dilemmas. While pitching her company’s latest antidepressant to the disarming Dr. James, she is inspired by his plan to study Eastern medicine in Vietnam and decides to quit her job to become a yoga teacher.

After studying at the eccentric White Lotus Foundation in California, Grace returns to London, ready for her new life.  But nothing could have prepared her for the motley crew of students she amasses--from the octogenarian industrialist desperate for distraction, the supermodel who indulges yogic aspirations when she tires of kabbalah, to the American film star who uses yoga classes to conceal a scandalous affair. Overwhelmed, Grace soon finds herself relying on her bi-continental correspondence with Dr. James for solace and inspiration, his words hovering above her London life like a sweet promise.

With an eye for the absurdity in every encounter, Alexandra Gray gently skewers our society’s preference for a quick-fix nirvana in this chronicle of one woman’s quest for love and meaning in a world numbed by materialism and psychotropic drugs.

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary, Spirituality, British Literature, Chick Lit

250 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2008

Reviews

[Tricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel follows a young woman, who, disillusioned with her job as a pharmaceutical sales rep, decides to become a yoga instructor. She has been a student for many years, but a break-up with her boyfriend, an encounter with an engaging, altruistic doctor, and other factors bring her to make this big change in her life.

She has a lot of funny experiences about her yoga training in California ; and, later, wealthy clients that engage her services as a private yoga instructor.

A great read for those interested in yoga -- each chapter starts out with a yoga pose and what the pose offers physically and psychologically. Also a good book for those who like to read about male-female relationships. Probably geared more to a female reader. The book is set in London.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the detached 3rd person perspective (it matches the practice of yoga). I know some of the reviews think the main character is boring, but she does transform through the novel and I like that she seemed like anyone else who is on a path to become a more authentic version of themselves. Her character also discusses not enjoying talking much of herself, so it makes sense the story would frame around those she interacts with to help reveal more of her character. I also attended the teacher training she referenced (with a false name) and found a lot of similarities between people I met and the people she did, which was a nice little reminder of my own retreat experience. I do agree with other reviewers that if you are not a practitioner of yoga, you may not relate to the character or the book.

[Malavika · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great combination of a fictional story with real information about certain yoga poses. I really enjoyed this book.

[Tara Rahimi Semple · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s interesting if you’re into yoga, and enjoy a detached yogic narrative style :)

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

please, someone tell me when the solstices have fallen on June 17 and December 17. Is it so hard to research books these days?

The other major "really?" I had with the book was Grace, the financially distressed main character constantly shops at Whole (paycheck) Foods. I haven't been to England, but is Whole Foods cheap out there? Cause here in the states - shopping organic on a budget - you aren't going to be at WF.

I heard about this book from about.com yoga blog. It was enjoyable enough, and each chapter starting with a yoga pose and a description was lovely. My question to the author would be why all "advance" poses? Tadasana not worth your attention? Savasana not give you anything? I think someone that was introduced to yoga by this book would be discouraged at best.

[Sue]

Grace, still mourning the death of her boyfriend Ted, and betrayed by her current boyfriend Harry, leaves her well-paid job as a sales representative for a pharmaceutical company to go to California to study yoga so she can become a yoga teacher. On her return to London, she gathers a quirky group of students: a wealthy senior citizen who just wants to talk to Grace during his classes, an American movie star who uses Grace to cover up her affair with a married man, and patients referred to her by a local medical practice. Woven throughout is the possibility of a romantic relationship with a doctor who has gone to Vietnam to study acupuncture. Grace sorts out her past, realizes her dream of becoming a yoga teacher, and begins to see even more exciting possibilities to come.

[Sonya Feher · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Yoga Teacher is a fun and light read about a middle-aged woman trying to find herself. I could relate to that desire. Her crappy job and even crappier boyfriend propel her to pursue yoga training with an eclectic group of very funny characters in California. Upon re-entry in England, she'd got to figure out how to make a living and a new life for herself. It's chic lit at its best: a character substantive enough not to be insulting and a quirky enough cast and setting not to be predictable.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

overall--fairly weak chick lit. Woman has great life, woman has crisis, woman overcomes crisis. It's kind of Eat Pray Love with a dash of Bridget Jones (but the main character is no where nearly as pathetic as Bridget)

I gave it 3 stars because of the focus on yoga (one of my favorite things) and the great descriptions of neighborhoods in London...

Don't read it if you're not interested in yoga. you'll probably be bored...

[Amber Polo · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Yoga Teacher is a woman's novel where yoga background adds wonderful spice and plot to a charming story. The theme of how teachers learn from their students is well handled, as is the problems of teaching in a variety of settings. The mix of yoga students,old and eccentric and rich and famous may not be what every teacher encounters but the situations ring true. Honest, funny, with touch of satire. For American readers, a Londoner going to California for teacher training was a delightful surprise. A good read for yoga teachers and students.

[bookinglibrarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book better the 2nd time around, perhaps because many of the aspects regarding yoga was more meaningful due to my current training program. My primary complaint about this book was that Grace, the yoga teacher, had many potentially interesting students, but the author chose to focus on her relationships with the model and the movie star, which then kind of devolved into celebrity tabloidism. This is a topic with a lot of potential and it would be great to see others delve into this more deeply.

[Francesca · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good, easy read, probably most of interest to those practicing or familiar with yoga.

[Kathe Forrest · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting read. One of the things I liked best was seeing yoga asanas explained at the chapter pages, however, I'm not sure other than just featuring them added to the book. I did not see a clear reference to them in the chapters that they proceeded.
This is a woman's story on becoming a yoga teacher and the students she encounters. It is also a love story.
I am a yoga teacher and we (teachers) all have a different experince but she did seem to go right from
training into teaching and got a following quickly. Hey, maybe she is a great teacher. ;-)
Bottom line - entertaining and I read through to finish!

[Leah Shepherd · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun read and a nice love story. As a longtime student and teacher, I can vouch that all of the yoga information was spot on. Very accurate portrayal of the practice. I would caution readers that almost all of the poses featured in chapter headings are advanced and challenging.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nicely structured, very fun read.

If a yoga teachers life was a RomCom it would be this book.

Enjoy

[Beena Pagarani · Rating 3 out of 5]

Didn’t love the book, but didn’t get bored either. A quick and easy read.

[Karen · Rating 1 out of 5]

An interesting snapshot of the yoga culture. But ultimately unsatisfying. Grace begins taking yoga to cope with the death of her lover. Her mother died when she was a child and then she also lost her father to alcoholism. She meets Harry in yoga class and they become lovers. Grace tries to be happy with this relationship but it not fulfilling. Finally, she recognizes that she is dissatisfied with her life. She breaks it off with Harry and quits her job to become a yoga teacher. She meets some interesting students. They bring and take different things from their yoga practice. This exploration of offers some insight about the reasons people practice yoga and what individuals can gain from the practice. Ultimately Grace realizes her dream of teaching yoga to underprivileged youth and finds a soul mate. I wouldn't recommend this book.

[Allison · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book. It was a book that was more about the journey than the ending and I got a lot out of the journey. Lots of insight into Chinese Traditional Medicine and the practice of yoga. Each chapter started out with a specific description of pose - the purpose, what it targets, and the physical benefits. The main character struggles with how far her life has moved away from her intentions and uses yoga and the people she meets as the means to realign. Nothing earth shattering but very relatable and real. Makes me think hard about Western medicine and what we are setting ourselves up for.

[Marissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. The plot took Grace, the protagonist, from London to LA to New York. Quirky characters were throughout and I did ultimately want to know how Grace managed on her new path. However, for some reason it seems to take me a long time to finish the book. At only 250 pages I should have breezed through the book. So that is why I'm giving this only two stars.
It was a good story, and if you've ever wanted to quit your job to pursue something completely different, then you would enjoy this book.

[Clare · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book even has a yoga-like tempo. From the slide-to-a-slow-finish end of a romantic relationship to the yoga school in California and even to the beginnings of a new romance, this writer takes her time and measures her pace along her journey. I enjoyed this book especially the way in which each chapter is connected to a particular yoga pose. Good story filled with hope for new beginnings.

[Suzanne Ross · Rating 4 out of 5]

In no way was this earth-shattering or life-changing. It did, however, provide me with a light, brainless read on yoga and this person's path. By far more interesting if you practice yoga. If you don't, best of luck getting through it! Perfect on a chilly night with a cup of tea. I wouldn't say "You HAVE to read this", but it had a good fit for me.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'll be finishing this one tonight. One of my clients recommended it to me, thinking I'd like it, being a yoga teacher, but I'm finding it to be incredibly melodramatic. The main character is so unrealistic as are her elite London students...however, I'm sure someone teaches them.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A young woman's journey to find herself. Although the plot took the reader nowhere in particular throughout the enire book, the story was still readable. The main character was likable. Each chapter had a short but detailed introduction to a different yoga position- I enjoyed learning about them.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about a women who searches for meaning in her life, through the ancient practice of yoga and romantic love. It was an easy read with interesting information about the purpose of various yoga poses.

[Val · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked that the main character followed her dreams and struggled with the decision to go from a well paid position to one of uncertainty - and it worked out just fine. I liked the chapters opening with a different yoga pose and background.

[Tennessee O'Donnell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book it made me quite reflective on reading and I could relate to the main character, it also inspired me at a time when I was feeling restless to connect back with my desire one day to attend a yoga retreat /Ashram.

[DauphineOT · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked her description of coming to yoga. Not super zealous but enjoying the benefits yoga gave her and wanting to bring that to others. Plus how Yoga servied her well during hard times. I can relate to much of her life experiences throughout the book. Well written story.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this book up because one of my resolutions this year is to do more yoga, an reading about ot is almost the same, right?! This was just the right amount to easy to read and a step up from chick lit.

[Maree · Rating 3 out of 5]

I always enjoy stories of women finding themselves, becoming stronger - holds true here, too. I love the asana shadow figures and Vedic descriptions at the start of each chapter. There are some genuine pearls on yoga. 3 stars though, as the storyline wasn't as compelling as I'd hoped.

[Heather McCloud · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had high hopes for this book--takes place in London, all about yoga. Big disappointment--it was okay, and I kept reading it, but my suggestion is don't bother. Nothing compelling here.

[Holly · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh. I had such high hopes for this book based on a review from Booklist, but it was just too chick-lit for me. I did like all the yoga references, but I expected more humor too.