Meditations from the Mat: Daily Reflections on the Path of Yoga Author: Visit Amazon's Rolf Gates Page | Language: English | ISBN:
0385721544 | Format: PDF
Meditations from the Mat: Daily Reflections on the Path of Yoga Description
From Booklist
This is a wonderful book of instructive and encouraging daily meditations centered on the practice of yoga. Gates synthesizes his experiences as a yoga student and teacher, former army ranger, and recovering alcoholic, and explores the practice of yoga in a fresh, relevant manner perfect for American readers. Each day's reflection begins with a thought-provoking quote and then explores one intriguing aspect of yoga philosophy. Gates weaves stories of his own remarkable healing and growth with the yoga sutras of Patanjali, and provides illuminating and moving explanations of how yoga teachings apply to real-life situations. With the help of accomplished writer Kenison, Gates succeeds in taking readers beyond the mat, and showing them how yoga works as a tool for transformation. Candid and engaging, Gates will inspire both readers currently practicing yoga and those who are thinking about it.
Jane TumaCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reservedReview
“Utterly different. . . . This is a wonderful (and inexpensive) book for people who are unhappy in their lives and are looking for a healthy way to find peace and a sense of coming home, day by day.” --
USA Today“More than just cultivating more vibrant health, yoga is an evolutionary journey. This book reflects the deepening and expansive effect of a dedicated yoga practice.” --Sifhar Jonathan Foust, President, Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health
“Rolf Gates is an inspiring teacher who has written an inspiring book. A must for yoga teachers and students alike,
Meditations from the Mat brings yoga theory into the 21st century and into our daily lives.” --Baron Baptiste, author of
Journey Into Power“In this free-spirited journey to the heart of yoga, Rolf guides us, through daily meditations, to finding the appropriate balance between standing firm and surrendering to flow -- the key to peace of mind.” --Beryl Bender Birch, author of
Power Yoga and
Beyond Power Yoga
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- Paperback: 448 pages
- Publisher: Anchor; 1 edition (December 3, 2002)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0385721544
- ISBN-13: 978-0385721547
- Product Dimensions: 7.3 x 7.5 x 1 inches
- Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
I expected to love this book. I even flipped through it in person before making the purchase. It is a great idea - handy, bite-sized dharma talks collected together in one book. In particular, I had intended to use the ideas as part of the inspirational themes I share when teaching yoga classes.
However, once I took the book home and started reading, it didn't resonate with me. Just now I had to dig through the back of my closet, in the pile of books hidden behind the regular books, to find it.
As I was perusing the chapters again for this review I realized my main beef. There are no descriptive, impactful images/stories. The principles are basic yoga and yoga related ones. But there is not a lot that catches your heart. A few parts are nice, but mostly it feels dry.
In contrast, I thought of some of my old, favorite books that had even shorter entries, but left you inspired! As an example, even though it has been years since I read it, and I cannot think of the title or author at the moment, one of my old books gives the image of seeing a lone flower that had pushed up through a crack in the cement. The author related that vision to blossoming even in the most challenging situations. That image STILL stays with me, and I have used it repeatedly when speaking with clients, who also found it moving.
The authors of this book mention yamas, niyamas, and various important principles in yoga. But it is missing the emotional, descriptive side. I wish I could give it more stars. My exact rating is 3.5 but will bump it up to 4. I was pretty sad I bought it. Especially because I paid an inflated price to get it RIGHT THEN at the yoga studio (yoga principle of "aparigraha," AKA "don't be so grasping"), rather than hold out a few days and order it on Amazon.
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