Part 1- Yoga
The following is a short list of the books I use to guide my own personal yoga practice as well as the books I read from in class. They are available on Amazon and at Mosaic Books in Kelowna.
- The Untethered Soul by Michael Singer. This is my bible. I have, in fact, started gifting it to yoga students while they are on my international retreats. It is simple, life-changing, and timely.
- Meditations From The Mat by Rolf Gates. This is like Rolf's personal guidebook of 365 passages, one for each day of the year. It is concise and thorough. Explains the 8 limbs of yoga and how to put them into practice in our western world. Keep it beside your bed and read one passage every day when you first wake up in the morning.
- Light On Yoga by BKS Iyengar. A classic written by one of the forefathers of modern day yoga. Essentially an encyclopedia of postures (all with photos of a much younger Mr. Iyengar) as well as a brief outline on the practice of yoga.
- Anything by Thich Nhat Hanh. Right now, go buy one of his books. They will enrich your yoga practice off the mat and make you a better person.
Part 2- Sex
- So yoga books are great and all but let's be real.
Sometimes a girl needs to take a break from studying the alignment of matsyasana and get a little hot and bothered OFF her yoga mat.
- This past week I've somewhat embarrassingly enjoyed reading a historical romance that has reminded me what pleasure can be achieved from simply escaping into the pages of a book.
- Last summer, I followed the rest of the women of this world (admittedly like a sheep) and attempted to read Fifty Shades of Grey. Nevertheless, I was challenged by the meagre plot line, pathetic lead character, and repetitive (and often disturbing!) sex scenes. This book actually made me sick to my stomach and I had sadly sworn off reading so-called "romances" until now...
- Outlander by Diana Gabaldon. I can not get enough of this book.
I actually left a party early on Saturday night so I could go home, pour a glass of champagne, light a candle, and read this book by myself.
- I fear that this book may signal the end of my social life. I am so ridiculous that I'm actually savouring the book and allowing myself to read only one chapter a day. Now, in case you're curious, here's a description of the book from the author's perspective:
“In 1946, after WWII, a young Englishwoman named Claire Beauchamp Randall goes to the Scottish Highlands with her husband, Frank. She’s an ex-combat nurse, he’s been in the army as well, they’ve been separated for the last six years, and this is a second honeymoon; they’re getting re-acquainted with each other, thinking of starting a family. But one day Claire goes out walking by herself, and comes across a circle of standing stones—such circles are in fact common all over northern Britain. She walks through a cleft stone in the circle….and disappears. Back into 1743, where the first person she meets is a gentleman in an 18th-century army officer’s uniform. This gentleman, Jack Randall, looks just like her husband Frank—and proves to be Frank’s six-times-great-grandfather. Unfortunately, he also proves to be a sadistic bisexual pervert, and while trying to escape from him, Claire falls into the hands of a gang of Highland Scots, who are also trying to get away from Black Jack Randall—though for other reasons.
In order to avoid being handed over to Captain Randall, Claire is obliged to marry one of the young clansmen. So she finds herself trying to escape from Castle Leoch and her Scottish captors, trying to get back to her husband Frank, trying to avoid being recaptured by Captain Randall—and falling in love with Jamie Fraser, the young man she’s been forced to marry. The story rolls on from there…”
So anyways, the purpose of my post is to triumphantly declare that although it is important to read in order to enlighten oneself, we must never forget how to truly enjoy what brings us pleasure. It is the things that bring us pleasure that teach us how to stay in the present moment because it is easier to do so when we are enjoying ourselves.
That's right; my sexy book is a meditation, baby.
Let go of the guilt you feel for "wasting time" and embrace what you love because this life is short.
When I truly enjoy the activities/guilty pleasures/Lindt Dark Chocolate bars with Sea Salt, I find I need less of the good stuff to feel refreshed, relaxed and totally content. Thus, life becomes even greater than it already is. Isn't that just great.
rock on and namaste,
l.e. martini
