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The Healing: One Woman's Journey from Poverty to Inner Riches

Saeeda Hafiz (Goodreads Author)

4.08 · Rating details · 40 ratings · 14 reviews

In this memoir of upward mobility through an unexpected route, a young black American woman signs up for lessons in yoga and clean eating as signifiers of her new middle class status, little realizing that her new lifestyle will bring her face to face with the inner demons fed by the domestic violence, addiction, and poverty she witnessed as a child.

Graduating, getting ...more

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Paperback, 296 pages

Published July 17th 2018 by Parallax Press

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Jul 17, 2018 Michelle rated it liked it

Shelves: ebooks, netgalley, reviewed

The Healing: One Womans Journey from Poverty to Inner Riches, author Saeeda Hafiz shares her life story of her discovery of the healing elements of yoga and following whole foods macrobiotic diet. Throughout her career which has lasted over two decades, Hafiz has studied yoga at ashrams located in Istanbul, Budapest, and Cyprus to the Sahadri Mountain in Kerala, India. Though these exotic locations abroad sound exciting, and they areHafiz has also had to work through her own challenges resulting The Healing: One Woman’s Journey from Poverty to Inner Riches, author Saeeda Hafiz shares her life story of her discovery of the healing elements of yoga and following whole foods macrobiotic diet. Throughout her career which has lasted over two decades, Hafiz has studied yoga at ashrams located in Istanbul, Budapest, and Cyprus to the Sahadri Mountain in Kerala, India. Though these exotic locations abroad sound exciting, and they are—Hafiz has also had to work through her own challenges resulting from a neglectful and dysfunctional family background that included serious problems related to alcohol and substance abuse, and the loss of a family member to gun violence.

As teen, Hafiz was determined to graduate from college, and following her graduation she worked in the corporate banking industry. Being a role model for black college bound teen girls was important to her. Eventually her own mentor was terribly disappointed in Hafiz when she decided to quit her job to follow her aspirations to teach yoga (1993) and remarked: “Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, Rosa Parks and Lena Horne didn’t sacrifice so you could do the same work as your grandmother.” While it was true she might need to do domestic work and being a yoga instructor didn’t require a college degree, she was excited to do something she loved.
Hafiz began her formal training at the Sivanandia Yoga Center located in NYC, under the Swami Shan Kara. At the ashram, she believed her studies should be peaceful and non-confrontational, nor did she wish to begin a new romantic relationship during this transitional period. It was surprising to her that not everything met her expectations and how challenging it actually was to support herself on her new career path, with frequent moves, and forming a mutually fulfilling relationship with a partner.

It is helpful for reader’s to know the basic facts about yoga, special diets and the holistic lifestyle; otherwise the story is hard to follow. We learn that some health conditions can be healed with diet and eliminating sugar is likely the best decision a person can make regarding diet. Hafiz wrote honestly about her PTSD, depression and anxiety and family problems regarding her sibling’s substance abuse and incarceration. It was really inspiring to see how following holistic principles can help and improve ones lifestyle. The author was eventually nationally recognized for her health consciousness and skills in Essence Magazine (May 1998) after prior interviews and promises to run a story. Hafiz was also a yoga and holistic educator at the Women’s Holistic Wellness Center (YWCA) and taught at Carnegie Mellon University. ~ 3* GOOD. With thanks to Parallax Press via NetGalley for the DDC for the purpose of review. ...more

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Mar 07, 2019 Kathryn rated it it was amazing

Just finished reading this book!
Brilliant!! I cried, laughed, felt everything.
I actually went out and bought a second copy this morning to send to my sister.

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Oct 11, 2018 Jan Dudas rated it it was amazing

Wow! This book is POWERFUL! GREAT GIFT for EVERYONE on your LIST!
The Author does a beautiful job of taking the reader along with her on her journey from Poverty to Inner Riches. I felt like I was with her every step of the journey.

I have suffered from and had to learn how to manage the symptoms of a digestive disorder for the past 20+ years. I constantly remind myself that what goes into my body should be looked at as medicine to remain healthy. A question I constantly ask before putting food ...more

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Jun 12, 2018 Edel Pace rated it it was amazing

Note: I got the book for free, a gift from the author, as a participant in an online book club Im part of.

A powerful story of a woman that overcame an abusive upbringing and found herself through yoga and a holistic approach. The Healing is an appropriate name since that is what she did with her life, healed her childhood wounds. The book starts at the moment where change started, even though she didnt realize it then. Her story is a testament that we should live our life at our own pace, stay ...more

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Aug 19, 2018 Rachael Peretic rated it it was ok

Saeeda Hafiz takes us on a journey of mind, body, and soul as she brings to light the truth of a dark childhood, one rattled with domestic violence, absence, and addiction, and the relationships that grew out of it. Determined to push herself above the backdrop of her youth, she soon finds herself established among the middle class in the corporate world of banking only to realize that she still feels out of place. Interspersed with emotional flashbacks to what she fears is the typical black Saeeda Hafiz takes us on a journey of mind, body, and soul as she brings to light the truth of a dark childhood, one rattled with domestic violence, absence, and addiction, and the relationships that grew out of it. Determined to push herself above the backdrop of her youth, she soon finds herself established among the middle class in the corporate world of banking only to realize that she still feels out of place. Interspersed with emotional flashbacks to what she fears is “the typical black American family”, this is one woman’s struggle to leave behind a stereotype that can feel like a legacy. Her story is not one without shame, which makes it all the more courageous.

Leaving her corporate status behind, she literally follows her gut and decides to adopt a macrobiotic diet which eventually leads to living out her dream of being a holistic health practitioner, live-in chef, yoga instructor, and teacher, continually redefining her life’s path. However, the dreams are short lived and she often finds herself falling back down the rabbit hole of shame and eventually on the brink of depression. The troubles of her past seem to always find a way to haunt her until she is able to face -and accept- them. Along the way, she gains perspective through traveling, new relationships, and therapy, but holistic health is at the heart of it all, guiding her forward. Hafiz’s story is both wretched and relatable; the story of finding oneself born among the rubble and the tedious fight to rise above it, scarred, but intact. In the end, she learns that the constant ups and downs are simply a part of finding one’s balance.

I had high hopes for the newest release from Parallax Press, the publishing company founded by renowned Zen master Thích Nhất Hanh. On one hand it had everything I expected and hoped for; it depicted a holistic lifestyle, told of the author’s journey both through travels and her yoga practice, and had some Oprah-worthy insights along the way. However, it was also the one thing a memoir should never be: a story of the author’s life from beginning to present day. The lack of framing made an otherwise good story a tedious read. The reader is shown the author’s thoughts and habits on a loop, beginning in her early twenties and continuing through three jobs, two yoga retreats, three failed relationships and two decades before finally bringing forth any real resolution. This may mimic the ups and downs of life and stay true to Hafiz’s experiences, but it was the same message being dolled up in different clothing over and over. Hafiz is gifted in metaphor, but certain passages toe the line of being vague and unnecessary. Even the afterword, which is peppered with macrobiotic whole-food recipes, was a bit lackluster when compared to even the most banal of food blogs. No doubt there is a message worth hearing here, but perhaps like the practice of yoga, patience is key with this novel. ...more

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Apr 17, 2018 Kathleen Guthrie Woods rated it really liked it

(Please note: The author gifted me with an advance reading copy in exchange for an honest review.)

Brave. Thats the word that kept coming to me as I read Saeeda Hafizs wonderful memoir of transformation. Ms. Hafiz takes you along on her journey to faraway places and into the deepest parts of her soul as she seeks physical, emotional, and spiritual healing and growth. There is so much hard-won wisdom in this story. She touches upon making peace with family dynamics, the agony of codependency ...more

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Mar 09, 2019 Laura Joakimson rated it it was amazing

Shelves: trauma-recovery, beautiful-memoir

I love that this is such an honest portrait of a womans spiritual journey toward healing childhood trauma. Theres no pretense. She doesnt have easy answers. Just day by day progress.

This book made me want to do yoga and to eat whole grains if I can achieve even part of her clarity of mind. But its also sobering just how much a person can be required to survive.

I admire Hafiz journey not only toward her own enlightenment, but her generous willingness to show her journey to others and to ...more

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Feb 09, 2020 Maria rated it it was amazing

As someone who has been through my own set of early struggles and sought my meditative space, I picked up The Healing and couldn't let it go. Through Saeeda Hafiz' example, The Healing provides a courageous example of healing through meditation and food. Saeeda's early humbe upbringing is an inspiration for persons who have similar backgrounds, yet at the same time, the book educates persons who have not experienced the cycles of poverty and trauma that are more often than not embedded in Black ...more

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Aug 13, 2018 Marlene rated it it was amazing

Hafizs memoir is refreshing and powerful. I loved the authors openness in discussing how she lived with and through violence in her family. She shares vulnerabilities and the second-guessing that can beset first-generation college students. Hafiz writes honestly about fears around repeating the mistakes of ones family, and struggles to fit in as one gains class mobility. The Healing is an inspiring story of empowerment that is not often told. ...more

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Jul 08, 2019 Suzanne McCleary rated it it was amazing

Since I was no longer numbed by the wrong kind of sweetness, I sensed that I wanted to taste a richer and fuller life. I wanted a delicious life, where my inside environment was at peace with my outside environment
Beautiful writing, beautiful journey! I greatly appreciated this story that reminded me that following my heart/soul/intuition is not always easy, but is always worth it. ...more

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Apr 02, 2019 Amy rated it really liked it

I saw this book on the new nonfiction books shelves at the library and was intrigued by the title and the author's story concept. I really liked "The Healing" because it called to me in my own self-care journey now. Saeeda's way of weaving in pieces from her past and being honest that she didn't always have an idea how to make enough money doing what "felt right and good for herself at the time" to feel whole and still pay the rent, also spoke to me.

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Oct 21, 2018 Corinna rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2018

I really enjoyed this book. It was slow, thoughtful, and deliberate. Some might find the pace slow or the details mundane, but to me it helped the story sink in and really resonate. I discovered the transformative power of eating well and radical self care just about two years ago. It is a journey that ebbs and flows. It was heartening to read of someone else who has been on that journey much longer than myself and how it continues to nourish her though lifes ups and downs. ...more

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Dec 15, 2019 Beth Gibbs rated it it was amazing

Shelves: memoir

Outstanding! A must read!

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Jody Silver rated it really liked it
Aug 09, 2018

Apr 18, 2019 meandthebooks rated it it was amazing

The story written by Saeeda Hafiz looks very honest even though it hurts. Violence and drug abuse overshadow Hafiz's life. But this story goes with a gentle but strong healing, yoga and macrobiotic diet.
After getting a decent education and an established job while living a painful life, Hafiz still felt uneasy and always faltered. Until finally yoga becomes a way out for a healthier life and meaningful healthy food. The prose in this story is really interesting and made me aware.
The structure ...more

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About Saeeda Hafiz

Saeeda Hafiz

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About Saeeda Hafiz

Since January 1990, Saeeda has been experiencing the power of her yoga practice and the benefits of eating a whole foods diet. Her initial encounter with this holistic lifestyle led to a personal transformation that ultimately led her to become a certified yoga instructor and holistic nutrition educator for the last 20 years.

Saeeda currently holds a position at San Francisco ...more