Yoga Folks discussion

Hi all:

I finally got a chance to browse Learning to Breathe: My Year-Long Quest to Bring Calm to My Life, a memoir that came out a few months ago about a woman's trial of various ways to try to calm her panic-attacked mind. Yoga and meditation play a key role, and an online yoga book group on twitter enjoyed it. The book is honest and easy to read and ultimately uplifting. As we did with Suzanne Morrison, I think we could get author Priscilla Warner to answer our questions after we finish our own discussion.

I know December is a busy time, but if even a few people are up for a discussion on this book, I'd love to do it. Do be careful to buy the book by Priscilla Warner; there are several books with this title on this market.

Meryl Davids Landau

Meryl, count me in! I have never heard of this book or author. Even if we choose not to discuss this book, I am definitely buying it. I love the reviews of the book, and it sounds like it was written for me to read, ASAP!

One thing that I have not shared with this group is that I have suffered from anxiety/panic attacks for years, which has limited me from doing many things in life, especially travel. That's another story for another time, lol!

Meryl, there was certainly a reason you were put into my life. I think I am going to perform a 5 minute sujaling. :-)

Okay, I just got done reading an excerpt from Amazon. This is a MUST read for me. I then went to the B&N website. I see it is available on my Nook. However, I think I would prefer the actual book, so I can take notes and highlight certain parts. :)

Meryl, I would also be up for reading this one.

Julie, thanks for sharing about your panic attacks. I for one appreciate your honesty. I'm really glad this book pick speaks to you. I also want to let others know that there's a lot in this book about calming the mind that's relevant for those of us who don't have anxiety issues.

Meryl Davids Landau

Hi Meryl...I missed last month's book...but I'll try to pick up this one, sounds great! Another one to consider is "Stretch--the unlikely making of a Yoga Dude" by Neal Pollack. I always want to attract more men to my class, since most yoga classes are predominantly women. Reading a male's perspective (a funny, sometimes crude, perspective) should be enlightening.
Meryl, also just read an article written by you in one of my Health/Wellness magazines....! Ilene

I still haven't finished November's book! This one does look wonderful--but I wonder if instead of reading "Learning to Breathe" I should just concentrate on learning to breathe during the holidays hahahah! I'll be happy to be inspired by others' comments even if I don't get to the book myself :).

P.S. I did just order the book online, though. I will try to get to it!

Robin wrote: "This one does look wonderful--but I wonder if instead of reading "Learning to Breathe" I should just concentrate on learning to breathe during the holidays..."

LOL. But actually, that's why I thought this could be a good book to read during the holidays, when it's easy to get stressed-out and overwhelmed; hopefully we'll pick up some tips to help us!

Glad there's at least a few people interested, so let's definitely do it. As usual, I'll post questions on the first third or so of the book after the first week of December, to give everyone a chance to do some reading before then.

Ilene, thanks for the heads-up about Stretch. I'd seen that book listed on Amazon as a book people who bought my novel also purchased, but I didn't know much about it. Sounds fun, so definitely worth considering as a group read in 2012. Thanks! (And fun that you saw an article I wrote in a magazine; I freelance for quite a few magazines, often on health topics.)

Meryl Davids Landau

Great! I'll order the book today. I look forward to the discussion! :)

Hi, Meryl, as my list of books I planned to read is growing and growing, I´ll try to put this one at my list too. It sounds interesting! Maybe an excerpt will help starting earlier, lol. Thank you!!

I just ordered the book. I was going to download it on my nook the other day, but decided to purchase it through Amazon. I hope I won't be too late! I should have it by December 1st.

Julie wrote: "I just ordered the book. I was going to download it on my nook the other day, but decided to purchase it through Amazon. I hope I won't be too late! I should have it by December 1st."

Julie, that timetable is fine. This is our December book group read, so I don't expect anyone to start reading before December. That's why I don't post questions on the first part of the book until a week or so after the first.

Others should also feel like they can jump into the discussion anytime during the month.

Meryl Davids Landau

Perfect! I am really looking forward to this book and the discussion. :)

Hello Yoga Folks!
I was lying in bed wondering if I should eat yet another one of the cookies I baked for Thanksgiving, when I decided to browse goodreads instead. I was so excited to see this group pop up, and when I took a closer look, I discovered this topic. Thank you so much, Meryl, for bringing my book to the attention of this group, and thank you to everyone for all these lovely comments. I would be honored if you'd consider reading Learning to Breathe, and I'd love to participate in any discussion format you'd like to suggest.
Now I will go eat a cookie in celebration of finding you!
I wish you all the very best -
Priscilla

Count me in! I requested it from the library.

How awesome to have the author chime in! This is quite an honor, Priscilla!

Thank you for the lovely and unexpected reply, Pricilla! I look forward to reading your book and having you participate in a discussion. As Robin said, what an honor! Thanks again!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4EvJfI6qyA

Above is a link to a 2 minute video that I found this morning from Priscilla regarding her book, Learning to Breathe: My Year-Long Quest to Bring Calm to My Life. Really looking forward to this book!!!

Thanks again to Meryl, for yet another wonderful recommendation. You rock!

@ Julie: Thank you, Julie for this link from Priscilla! It was really inspiring, last but not least because of the wonderful pics in the garden, the sea, the beach, with the garden bench in the rain. Everything is meditation. Namaste to that!

Sabine wrote: "@ Julie: Thank you, Julie for this link from Priscilla! It was really inspiring, last but not least because of the wonderful pics in the garden, the sea, the beach, with the garden bench in the rai..."

You're quite welcome, Sabine! :)

Yikes! Just got back from Costa rica and haven't finished the last one yet (didn't want to lose my iPad). I'm torn because I want to participate (I don't celebrate the holidays) but feel as though I've lots of catching up to do already. In the interest of making more space in my life, I think I will lurk and come back more attentively in the new year! (I hate saying no! :-( especially when it's about things I know are good for me.)

Jen, Costa Rica! How wonderful! Take your time and re-group from your trip. I was unable to join all of you with Living Your Yoga, but read all of the posts. I was also able to chime in from time to time on a certain topic. So, be a lurker! :)

Priscilla wrote: "Hello Yoga Folks!
I was lying in bed wondering if I should eat yet another one of the cookies I baked for Thanksgiving, when I decided to browse goodreads instead. I was so excited to see this grou..."

Hi Priscilla:

Thanks for finding us! I was planning to tweet you (I follow you thanks to Suzanne Morrison who #FF'd us both) down the road to see if you'd be willing to answer our questions after we finished reading the book. But if you want to chime in throughout the discussion, that would be great! Please feel free to add your insights to our discussion at any time. (Let me know if you think you might be able to be a regular participant; if so, I'll send another email alerting group members in case that inspires others to join our conversation.)

I don't expect anyone to start reading until early December so the first discussion prompts don't go up until after the first week.

Meryl Davids Landau

Jen wrote: "Yikes! Just got back from Costa rica and haven't finished the last one yet (didn't want to lose my iPad). I'm torn because I want to participate (I don't celebrate the holidays) but feel as though ..."

Wow, do tell about Costa Rica! Was it fabulous? Were you able to "live your yoga" there :) ?

No pressure to read the book. And, as Julie says, since the books we read here are about our own spiritual growth and practice as much as the authors' feel free to chime in even if you don't have time to read it.

Meryl Davids Landau

Costa Rica was fabulous! We spent a week, first in Guanacaste and then in Arenal. It rained the whole time we were in Arenal, even though rainy season is technically over. We stayed at the most lovely resort there, and had the best massage of my life, in a partially outdoor spa to the sound of (live) driving rain!

Not sure if this link will work, but here are some photos: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?s...

I had a REALLY hard time living my yoga there actually! Especially the trip back, where I was SO tired and with so little food and water (security theater, you know), screaming kids, delayed and full flights, etc. I'm actually very happy to start getting back into my typical routine. I think that without having a *really* sound practice (which is what I'm trying to build), it's difficult enough living yoga within your daily life -- it's much harder when you're out of your normal element and life throws all sorts of completely random things at you!!

I did do yoga most days I was there though. :-)

Jen wrote: "Costa Rica was fabulous! We spent a week, first in Guanacaste and then in Arenal. It rained the whole time we were in Arenal, even though rainy season is technically over. We stayed at the most lov..."

Jen, thank you so much for sharing your photos. They are BEAUTIFUL! Sometimes we need a "vacation" from a vacation to get back to the normal of every day life, lol!

Wow, so beautiful!! Thanks for sharing. And thanks for sharing your difficulty living your yoga there. I agree completely that it's harder to stay centered when you're out of your element--although so gratifying in the moments when you are able to do it, which I'm sure you did more than you're remembering, Jen.

Thanks for the vote of confidence Meryl!

And yup, I just couldn't do it -- I couldn't say no to reading yet another fabulous yoga-related book and having great conversations with you all! :-) I caught up a bit on Living Your Yoga, and just bought Learning to Breathe on Kindle. (It seems like it might go nicely with another book I'm currently (re)reading: Breathing Space.)

This will be wonderful, thanks for joining us...I can't wait to see what you make of some of our comments! enriching for us all!

Jen wrote: "Costa Rica was fabulous! We spent a week, first in Guanacaste and then in Arenal. It rained the whole time we were in Arenal, even though rainy season is technically over. We stayed at the most lov..."

Julie wrote: "Jen wrote: "Costa Rica was fabulous! We spent a week, first in Guanacaste and then in Arenal. It rained the whole time we were in Arenal, even though rainy season is technically over. We stayed at ..."

Jen, I was in Costa Rica about 2 years ago and loved it. What place did you stay in? It looks fabulous from the pictures...and when are you going to Kripalu for your training-April?

In Guanacaste we stayed at the Occidental Grand Papagayo, which was all inclusive and lovely. In Arenal we stayed at Nayara, which was absolutely, magically beautiful (even with all the rain)!

Yes, I'm going to Kripalu for the training starting in April, but I also have an Ayuvedic nutrition weekend planned in February that I'm looking forward to as well. Do any of you ever go out there?

Just finished Living Your Yoga this morning so I'm all set to do some more breathing and reading in December!

Hi again -
I am thrilled to chime in whenever you'd like me to chime in, Meryl!
Thanks for following me on twitter, and thanks to Suzanne Morrison for leading you to me!
I'm ready to chat whenever you all are. And if you think we should extend this into January due to the holidays, that totally works for me, too. We can breathe together for as long as you'd like!

Here's a review to whet your appetites if you haven't started Learning to Breathe yet! It's on a great blog called The Pondering Yogini. http://www.ponderingyogini.org/2011/1...

Look for the first set of prompt questions to be posted late next week.

Priscilla: We'd be honored to have you jump into the conversation any time you feel inspired. Readers: If you are directing a specific question directly to Priscilla Warner to answer, please indicate it as such.

Happy reading!
Meryl Davids Landau

Thanks, Meryl! I look forward to the discussion! I received the book yesterday and started reading it last night. :)

Priscilla, I am looking forward to discussing your book with you, as I have had panic attacks for many years. Sometimes it's just comforting to know you're not alone! :)

Hi Julie -
Thank you so much for reading my book. I'm sorry that you've suffered from panic attacks. It is definitely comforting to know that we're not alone in life, whatever it is we're going through. Ironically, even though I've had this extraordinary experience and truly healed, launching my book out into the world can be a lonely undertaking. I'm grateful to the people in this group for keeping me company, and I look forward to many honest, helpful conversations.

Priscilla wrote: "Hi Julie -
Thank you so much for reading my book. I'm sorry that you've suffered from panic attacks. It is definitely comforting to know that we're not alone in life, whatever it is we're going thr..."

I consider it a priviledge to keep you company! I look forward to the discussion. I am really pacing myself to read your book slowly. I have hilighted pages and post-it notes all over the place, lol!

I just got the book and look forward to participating in the discussion!

Last night I was up a lot, restless and unable to sleep. After slowing down my breath and repeating mantras, I was still wide awake so I opened my iPad to read (I use the Kindle app).

I recently finished Downward Dog, Upward Fog so I decided to start Learning to Breathe and got through the first four chapters. I could have read more, but needed to process what was coming up for me.

On the personal level, I'm recognizing a pattern and realize there's probably a reason why these two books and authors intersected with my life now. Both books describe the challenge of integrating spiritual practice with daily life.

I've never had that issue "in my face" as intensely as I do now. Staying anchored in the commitment to the moment through spiritual practice while dealing with the needs aging parents and a demanding job has never felt so essential to survival.

I'm grateful to have found this group and these books because they remind me that even within each of our unique, solitary paths we all face mortality and have stories to share that bring perspective and inspire reflection.

I don't know the book club etiquette regarding getting more specific about the book. I'm guessing it's best to wait for prompts so that I don't give something away prematurely for those who haven't started reading. I look forward to it.

Shanti wrote: "Last night I was up a lot, restless and unable to sleep. After slowing down my breath and repeating mantras, I was still wide awake so I opened my iPad to read (I use the Kindle app).

Hi Shanti -

I also don't know the book club etiquette, either, so I'm going to chime in on this thread and say thank you for your comment. I'm sorry that you were restless and unable to sleep last night. I was restless and unable to sleep the night before :) We could start a night owls' book club I'm sure, and find many members awake and available to chat...

I relate very much to your comment about balancing a spiritual path with the demands of everyday life, and I think that's why meditation has been so important to me. It has become the thread that ties those two essential parts of my life together. My practice transports me to a spiritual oasis in the middle of my everyday life. It links the mundane to the magnificent. It reminds me that along with challenges come transcendent, reflective moments.

Of course my monkeymind keeps chattering away while I'm on my meditation cushion. But peaceful, reflective revelations do pop up in the middle of challenging days as well.

I am reminded of what Rabbi Jacobson told me in LTB, about the Jewish mystics' concept of "yearn and return," where we are constantly moving between what we perceive as a higher realm back down to earth and our commitments as human beings to one another, our work, and our daily frustrations...

Hi Priscilla!
What a lovely book you've written, thank you for sharing your path with us. I'm enjoying it very much and it's difficult to put down. Perhaps I'm just hungry, but would you share your great recipe for those chocolate chip cookies? :-) I'm immersed in experimenting with food at the moment, and could use another healthy sweet something, especially around this time of year!
Thanks, Jen

Jen wrote: "Hi Priscilla!
What a lovely book you've written, thank you for sharing your path with us. I'm enjoying it very much and it's difficult to put down. Perhaps I'm just hungry, but would you share your..."

Hi Jen -
I still consider this a work in progress, so please feel free to tell me how this works out for you, but here's my latest recipe for Rottin' Chocolate Chip Cookies (I read somewhere that Michael Pollan suggested people only eat "food that rots...")

Mix together 1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour, 1/2 cup wheat germ, 1/4 cup rolled oats, 1 tsp baking soda

Roast in toaster oven 1 1/3cups of small walnut pieces and 1/4 cup flaxseeds, until golden brown.

Cream 2 softened sticks of butter w/ 1/2 cup turbinado raw cane sugar, 1 tsp maple syrup, 1/3 cup brown sugar, 1 tsp vanilla.

Add 2 beaten eggs

Add as many semi-sweet chocolate chips or broken up dark chocolate as you'd like

Bake for 10 minutes or until enlightened

PS: If the cookies come out too flat, add some more whole wheat flour to the next batch!

Priscilla wrote: "Shanti wrote: "Last night I was up a lot, restless and unable to sleep. After slowing down my breath and repeating mantras, I was still wide awake so I opened my iPad to read (I use the Kindle app)..."

Hi Priscilla!
Thank you for your response to my post! This is so great. Meryl has started a new thread for the "Learning to Breathe" discussion, so I re-posted there at her request.
You mention Rabbi Jacobson and LTB - (what is LTB?) and I love the expression "yearn and return" - it's so true, that insatiable yearning for the formless, subtle essence is a universal human experience...

I get a lot of comfort from the devotional poetry of mystics and Bengali poets, Ramprasad, and Mirabai. They are so filled with that yearning and the agony of separation from the Divine Beloved, while also full of blissful essence. I find that the more I can contain the "monkey mind" syndrome, the closer I feel to that bliss and to the ability to bring it into whatever is happening in the moment.

Hi all:

Please continue any discussion about Learning to Breathe on the new thread instead of here. Thanks!

I will see you over at the new thread, Shanti... I'm excited to discover Ramprasad and Mirabai... and LTB is Learning to Breathe!

Awesome, thanks! Saving my other (deeper thoughts) for the other thread....

Thanks Priscilla - all I can say about LTB is DUH - LOL!!!!!

Shanti wrote: "Thanks Priscilla - all I can say about LTB is DUH - LOL!!!!!"

Shanti, I didn't realize that she was referring to Learning to Breathe when she wrote LTB either, so definitely don't feel dumb! :)