Newest round of welcomes

[Wilderness]

Hello, just wanted to introduce myself a bit. I just found this group and have had a fun time perusing the discussions. I am from Portland, Oregon but currently live in Raleigh, NC. I have practiced yoga as long as I can remember and taught for 8 years.

In the last few years I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease loosely called Inflammatory Arthritis, and have struggled both mentally and physically. My physical relationship with yoga has changed two fold and mindfulness and meditation have become an integral part of my life. It has helped me gain "acceptance" of my disease and assisted me through the grief of losing the life that I had and the future that I saw.

It looks like there are amazing people in the group and I look forward to getting to know you all better! (If anyone is interested I have a chronic illness support blog on tumblr that you can check out if thats something that may be of interest/helpful for you http://wdoregon.tumblr.com/)

Namaste

[Meryl]

Welcome, Wilderness! So glad to have you contributing here. So sorry to hear about your health situation.

The group goes through phases of activity and quiet, and it's definitely on the quiet side right now. Feel free to post on any thread, and if you've read any yoga books (instructional, memoir, fiction, whatever) that you want to briefly review, we've started a new (and so far pristine) folder for book reviews and I would love for you to dive in.

Namaste!
Meryl

[Wilderness]

Thanks for the warm welcome Meryl!

I'm ok if it's a bit quite. It feels like a good place to be :)

[Jillian]

I see there is some activity here so I thought I'd join in :)
I have been practising yoga for almost ten years, starting when I was 15. I was inspired to teach when I was diagnosed with interstitial cystitis and my own teacher was able to help me heal and over come through yoga. My training focused on hatha and yin yoga, with some Iyengar influence as well. I have since also had training in pre and post natal yoga.
I have taught freelance for the last two years and am fulfilling my dream by opening my own studio this fall!
New to goodreads and looking forward to connecting with other yogi bookworms! :D

[Meryl]

Welcome, Jillian. I'd love to hear more about how yoga helped with your medical condition. I know many in this group (myself included) are dealing with health issues. Also, what type of yoga do you do?

Thanks!

[Jokoloyo]

Hi,
Sorry to make introduction so late. I am from Indonesia, and have been practicing yoga since 2011.

I am afraid my yoga starting story is not inspiring. I joined a gym club but I didn't have sport shoes yet, so I join a yoga class. The first plan is to join yoga classes only until I buy sport shoes.

I bought sport shoes on October 2014.
(a small details in my yoga life: I've completed my yoga teacher training on July 2014. The training just made me aware that I still need much more practice and learn. It is my yoga teacher that inspired me to buy sport shoes: try to commit with our goals.)

I haven't found my ideal style yet. I have tried some Hatha styles like Vinyasa-Asthanga (but not so good because I am not athletics), Iyengar (I do this style better than previously mentioned), Yin (could Yin considered as Hatha style?), Bikram (great for mental practices), and some newer styles that I could find (so far I like Vikasa style the most).

I believe that I can learn some new things about yoga here, and meet great yogi/yogini.


Namaste

[Meryl]

Welcome, Jokoloyo!

You've certainly tried many types of yoga. I don't know if they have Sivananda yoga where you are but that is a gentle form if you don't like the more athletic kinds.

[Meryl]

Welcome, Jokoloyo!

You've certainly tried many types of yoga. I don't know if they have Sivananda yoga where you are but that is a gentle form if you don't like the more athletic kinds.

[Jokoloyo]

Thank you, Meryl.
As far as my knowledge, there is no official Sivananda center at my city. But I like to try it if I have a chance, practicing the chakra from Sahasrara to Muladara.

[Stephanie]

Hi Everyone!

I'm Stephanie and love all things related to Yoga both on and off the mat!

I've completed a 200 teacher training course in Ashtanga and am currently taking a 40 hr restorative and another 200 teacher training!

I'm currently reading two great yoga books! How Yoga Works by Geshe Michael Roach and Bringing Yoga to Life by Donna Farhi.

I'm excited to be a part of your group and get recommendations!

[Stephanie]

Hi Everyone!

I'm Stephanie and love all things related to Yoga both on and off the mat!

I've completed a 200 teacher training course in Ashtanga and am currently taking a 40 hr restorative and another 200 teacher training!

I'm currently reading two great yoga books! How Yoga Works by Geshe Michael Roach and Bringing Yoga to Life by Donna Farhi.

I'm excited to be a part of your group and get recommendations!

[Tim]

Hi all, just joined goodreads and wanted to join this group. I practice yoga regularly and read a lot of esoteric type books. My favourite book I've read about yoga is Sivananda Buried Yoga by manmoyanand. I have just finished reading Sri M.

Look forward to meeting people

Tim

[Meryl]

Welcome, Tim! We'd love to hear more about the books you read and recommend.

[Meryl]

Welcome, Tim! We'd love to hear more about the books you read and recommend.

[Tim]

Hi Meryl,

I have enjoyed reading the following philosophy books yoga sutras, Bhagavad Gita and upinashads.

I also like the book of secrets by osho and synthesis of yoga by sri aurobindo.

Tantra by georg fuerstien... Holy cow by Sarah macdonald.... I have just finished reading the autobiography of sri m...

Am sure there are some more but can't think of them right now...

Kind regards
Tim

[Meryl]

Welcome, Bobbi. So nice to have you here.

Yoga books come in many flavors, as you can see in these threads: instructional (like Light on Yoga), philosophical (eg, Swami Satchidananda's To Know Your Self), memoir (one of my favorites: Yoga Bitch) and even yoga fiction (dear to my heart as I've written one myself. I also like Breathe).

We haven't read any group books in a while but it would be great if you could post recommendations or reviews of any books you read on your own.

[Conny]

I am a 37 year old mom from Germany and I have been doing Yoga for 2 years now. I started with Hatha and now settled with Ashtanga.
I love books and I read a lot ... and Kind of Genre.
Looking forward to finding even more great books here.

[Mary Ellen]

Hello. I'm Mary Ellen and have been practicing yoga since 2001 - first hatha, then Anusara, and now Baptiste. I've also tried Jivamukti and Bikram. I love, love, love restorative when I can get to a class! I don't read books on yoga too often- maybe one or two if I try out a new style-I joined hoping to get a few recommendations and read a little more on the subject a little more regularly.

[Meryl]

Welcome Mary Ellen! We're a little quiet here these days but please feel free to chime in on any of our many discussion threads.

[Diana]

Hello! I have not been active with my yoga in a few years. It has drifted off somewhere & I intend to find it and revive it. I have loved the practice of breathing, moving & living in the moment for well over 20 years & even became a certified teacher. I am moving toward mid-life & want to do so with content, calmness & peace. ~blessings Diana

[Meryl]

Welcome, Diana! Glad to have you join us--and in our book discussion as well (I see that you're reading our October book!). Looking forward to hearing more about your practice and life.