Jane’s Pick: Every Body Yoga by Jessamyn Stanley:

I recently have gone back to an (almost) daily yoga practice and part of the reason for my newly inspired passion is discovering Stanley’s book. I had been dappling in doing yoga, but not really getting anything out of it. Jessamyn’s way of teaching really opened my eyes to how to develop a practice, not just a half hearted attempt to make a pose. I hadn’t thought about the importance of sitting in my discomfort – I turned away if anything was too difficult or uncomfortable to face. But, with Jessamyn’s personal stories and lessons I came to understand what that meant and how important it is, not only in yoga – but in life. This book does double duty as it is an instruction guide to yoga basics, but it is also a personal memoir of sorts – with stories that are totally unique, but also totally relatable.

I now follow Stanley on Instagram and have subscribed to more of her online classes – her passion inspires me and teaching skills are a perfect match for my budding yoga practice.

“I wrote this book for every fat person, every old person, and every exceptionally short person. I wrote it for every person who has called themselves ugly and every person who can’t accept their beauty. I wrote it for every person who is self-conscious about their body. I wrote it for every human being who struggles to find happiness on a daily basis, and for anyone who has ever felt overwhelmed by the mere act of being alive. I’ve been there. We all have. Yoga”

― Jessamyn Stanley, Every Body Yoga: Let Go of Fear, Get On the Mat, Love Your Body.