Finding My Balance: A Memoir with Yoga [Paperback]

Mariel Hemingway (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 29, 2004

Stardom, thanks to Woody Allen and his film Manhattan, came at an early age...but so did the problems of a broken and dysfunctional family. Yet in a life so out of kilter, Mariel Hemingway summoned the strength and inner resolve that enabled her to find -- and to keep -- her balance.

In Finding My Balance, actress Mariel Hemingway uses the lessons and practices of yoga as a starting point for her own personal reflections and larger-than-life family story. The result is a searingly honest memoir that is as deeply moving as it is helpfully prescriptive.

Mariel turned to yoga and its meditative practice in an effort to maintain her center when her life threatened to spin out of control. Having experienced family tragedy, sudden stardom, and the continuing challenges of a full and demanding life, Mariel learned through practice how to find her balance in emotionally disorienting situations. Throughout the book, Mariel uses her yoga training as a starting point for each chapter, carefully describing a particular position, then letting her mind wander into thoughts of the past and of her tumultuous life.

As each chapter begins with instruction, so does the book end with exercises organized in a sequence that can be followed by anyone who wants to practice them. As a special bonus for this edition, Mariel has added a section that describes the basics of her own "In Balance Philosophy," calming words of advice for people in search of their own emotional center.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Her grandfather and sister both committed suicide; at times, her parents "seemed not to care enough to parent" her; she was struck with movie star fame at an early age; and she's wrestled with eating disorders and control issues throughout her life. Now 40, Mariel Hemingway says these struggles have shaped who she is today, and presents this memoir as a testament to her own triumph over what some people see as "the curse of the Hemingway family." Hemingway now owns a yoga studio in Sun Valley, Idaho; each chapter of her memoir opens with a description of a yoga pose, segueing into a metaphor for how that pose represents some aspect of her life. So, for example, in the chapter entitled "Mountain Pose," Hemingway writes, "As I reflect on Mountain pose and understand the implications of its name, I can begin to understand my great need for stability and groundness." The youngest of three girls, Hemingway was a tomboy, spending much time alone outdoors. She got her acting start in Lipstick (1976), at age 13, and went on to star in Woody Allen's Manhattan (which featured the "traumatic" scene in which she and Woody made out) and a handful of other films. What makes her book so endearing is her ability to evaluate the actions she's taken over the course of her life-including her decision to have breast implants, her bizarre eating habits and her obsessive need to be in complete control of her life-and still find stability and peacefulness. Her simple writing lets the funny, honest woman shine through. Photos.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

Actor Hemingway recounts her turbulent life and reflects on her experiences with yoga, beginning each chapter with a yoga pose and a discussion of how it relates to, and enriches, her life. Growing up under the shadow of her grandfather's suicide, Hemingway had anything but balance as a young woman. She achieved early success as an actress but along with that came alienation from her body. Attempting to meet Hollywood's standards, she had breast implants inserted while still in her teens and developed severe eating disorders. Yoga and motherhood helped Hemingway reconnect with herself and become centered. Hemingway's writing about yoga is surprisingly good as she describes the essence of each pose. Her reflections on her childhood and family relationships, however, are less interesting. Now in her forties, Hemingway still doesn't seem to realize that most people have imperfect parents and siblings, and that death and illness are inevitable parts of the journey. But perhaps yoga will help her, as it does so many others, attain a wider perspective. Jane Tuma
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster (June 29, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0743264320
• ISBN-13: 978-0743264327
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 5.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #553,286 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Well worth reading, March 13, 2003

By 

SharonF (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Finding My Balance: A Memoir (Hardcover)

Heartwarming insight into the experiences of one cool lady. I admit to following Mariel's (and Margaux') career since before "Lipstick" and I read the book in one session. Very touching, and Mariel really lays a lot of personal pain and joy bare for us to see. A great book for anyone juggling family problems, a difficult adolescence, food demons, and facing adversity. I sure hope the future is kind to Mariel and her family.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hemingway shares both her passion and her soul, January 9, 2003

By 

Sam F. (Dallas, TX United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Finding My Balance: A Memoir (Hardcover)

Being a fan of Ms. Hemingway's film work for several years I was pleased to learn that she had written her memoir. Ms. Hemingway's story of survival and discovery was both a thought provoking and moving read. She openly shares the blessing and the curse of her famous family ties and the lessons gained by years of living in emotional upheaval. The yoga metaphor used throughout the book works well and ties each chapter neatly together. All in all an inspiring autobiography by a very talented and strong woman.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An inspiring & candid memoir of a fine yogini., February 7, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Finding My Balance: A Memoir (Hardcover)

Mariel Hemingway has done much good with her
yoga work and writing.
I love this type of candid writing from such a
clear and peaceful soul.
It may not be a profound or complex work.
But memoirs are not meant to be. She is
sharing intimate experiences of her own
and her families lives.
This is profound enough.

She does know how to share her true life
adventures with us with feeling,
ideas that are a light on our own paths of life.
She keeps on track and there is no fluff in this book.

Also recommended; Autobiography of a Yogi,
by Paramahansa Yogananda.