A Life Worth Breathing: A Yoga Master's Handbook of Strength, Grace, and Healing [Hardcover]

Max Strom (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 7, 2010

Go beyond the yoga revolution to find greater meaning in everyday life.

We can do more with this life. We all know it, we all wish for it, but just how to do it—that eludes us. In his new book, A Life Worth Breathing, internationally renowned yoga teacher and spiritual philosopher Max Strom shows us the way. His groundbreaking book reaches past expected dogma in a language that is vital, inspired, and accessible. Strom leads us on a journey of self-discovery as we excavate our past in order to have a better understanding of our present.

According to Max Strom, “We live in fear of terrorism but in actuality the most devastating terrorism comes from within us as we sabotage ourselves.” With practical techniques, A Life Worth Breathing offers us a path to transformation with visionary insights on forgiveness, gratitude and self-empowerment. The teachings are rooted in Yoga, Sufism and Eastern philosophy, but make no mistake, this is not just another yoga book of postures, it is a guidebook for living. A Life Worth Breathing teaches us that by healing our past emotional wounds, silencing the inner critic that cripples us, and cultivating a yoga and breathing practice, we can elevate ourselves from the mindset of a reactionary victim to a higher level of awareness and empowerment. With these life skills we can achieve our true destiny, that of a fully integrated soul living an authentic life of meaning, success and joy. A life worth living, a life worth breathing.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“I love the energy and flow of Max Strom’s yoga classes . . . but perhaps above all, I respect his quiet strength and deep humility.” (Ali McGraw )

About the Author

Teacher, speaker, and author of A Life Worth Breathing, Max Strom is known for inspiring and positively impacting the lives of his students and readers, and he has become a new voice of personal transformation.  Due to an ever-increasing demand for his teachings, Mr. Strom travels extensively teaching and lecturing on transformation, spirituality, and yoga.   His system guides us to live the daily experience of a meaningful life and includes a philosophy for living, self-inquiry, breath-work, yoga postures, and meditation.  His book A Life Worth Breathing is available in five languages.  Max Strom has been the keynote speaker at numerous conferences and forums.  Among his 2011 and 2012 speaking appearances were two TEDx events, and a keynote speech on ethics in business at the Lu Lu Lemon management conference.  His articles and interviews have appeared in The Utne Reader, Huffington Post, Whole Living, Happinez, Yoga Journal (USA), Yoga Journal (DE), New York Times, and other online and print media.  

 

Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Skyhorse Publishing; First Edition edition (April 7, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1602399808
• ISBN-13: 978-1602399808
• Product Dimensions: 6.3 x 0.8 x 9.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (48 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #265,248 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Born with severe clubbed feet, Max Strom spent much of the first six years of his life with his feet confined in plaster casts and braces. Today, he is known for inspiring and impacting the lives of his students and has become one of the most respected teachers of personal transformation and yoga worldwide, guiding his students to grow into happier, healthier, and empowered human beings. He has taught tens of thousands of students, and trained several hundred teachers. He is the author of the new release, A Life Worth Breathing, Skyhorse, 2010. You can see more of his work on his DVDs, Learn to Breathe, to heal yourself and your relationships, and, Max Strom Yoga - Strength, Grace, Healing. www.maxstrom.com

When we are in pain, we become self-centered and myopic. When we heal, we become more empathetic, self-less, and sympathetic to the pain and welfare of others. It is our gift to others to heal ourselves. ~ Max Strom

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars I didn't want to stop reading March 28, 2010

By Jamie B. Elmer

Format:Hardcover

It is so refreshing to read Max Strom's observations and ideas on living authentically and spiritually. With Max's life experience, yoga experience and time as a teacher he brings many great tools and practical ways to enhance our authentic life in every day life. This book touches upon subjects such as health, relationships and politics to stretch our idea of what living authentically and honestly means for us in all areas of our life. I knew after reading just a few pages that I'd be giving this book to friends and family in the coming years and that each and everyone I know would enjoy and benefit from the contents. Thank you for your inspiration, Max.

28 of 33 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Refreshing, Life-Changing, Sincere April 6, 2010

By Caroline Weaver

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

With this book, Max Strom makes an invaluable contribution to the existing yoga literature. In a very practical way, he shows us how different yoga practices can work to counteract the modern plagues of sleeplessness, anxiety, depression, and apathy. This book includes an extensive discussion of ethics and the importance of living one's life, on and off the mat, with a "code" -- leading by example, or in the words of Gandhi, being the change one wishes to see. The book's philosophy is universal and ecumenical: Strom draws on traditional yogic teachings and also early Christianity, Buddhism, Sufism, and Taoism.

What really sets this book apart, perhaps, from other yoga books, is its emphasis on yoga breathing. Readers will learn how and why breathing is such a highly effective tool for healing. Almost anyone can do and benefit from the breathing practices Strom describes, which is what makes them so beautiful. You don't need to be able to do headstand or scorpion pose or one-armed handstand; you just need to breathe. Essentially, Strom's point is that when we breathe well, we heal ourselves; when we heal ourselves, we heal our relationships, our communities, maybe even the world.

"The ancient yogis said that the breath was our direct energetic connection to spirit, or God. If this is so, then if you focus on your breath with spiritual devotion, hatha yoga becomes a spiritual practice, a wordless prayer. This is because as you fill your body/mind with breath, you are also filling yourself with spirit and the breath of God. Your body then radiates who you are from your soul, and what you stand for in this world." (p. 121)

Highly recommended for beginners and experienced practitioners alike!

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Gift March 29, 2010

By E. Delaney

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

This book was easy to read and so refreshing. This books gives simple stories and tools to help open our eyes to the world around us. I have already read the book twice and we sold 10 copies in two days at our yoga school. Anyone who is looking for a place to begin or a place to grow, this book is it. I am glad Max has chosen to share his insights with us.