Customer Reviews

Off The Mat: Thoughts From a Yoga Practice

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Non-practitioners of yoga usually conceive of the ancient practice as a means to physical fitness, promoting youthful vitality, flexibility and defeating the effects of stress.

Yoga is indeed these things, but so very much more that one hardly knows where to begin: perhaps it is best to begin by saying that yoga is first of all a way of life, a means of integrating body, mind and spirit to achieve the optimal functioning of each. Yoga sharpens the intellect, makes the heart grow more tender and compassionate, and heightens sensitivity to others and to situations, all while promoting physical health.

In this delightful and inspiring collection of essays, Nicole Billa beautifully illustrates some of the many ways that the practice of yoga has impacted on her life and the lives of her students, among many others. She shares her thoughts about how practitioners take yoga's teachings "off the mat" and out into the everyday world of spouses and children, business and family and social obligations, jobs and traffic jams and grocery shopping. Using the experiences of everyday living, the author weaves the subtle wisdom of yogic philosophy, like a golden thread, throughout her anecdotes.

This is a delightfully readable book and I very much appreciate the author's casual, conversational style: I read it from cover-to-cover in the course of a day. It is also an important book, one that in a very few pages (65) manages a Herculean task: to convey the "flavor" of yoga to the non-initiate.

If there were any "first book" that I would recommend to someone new to the world of yoga, this is it. It is also a joy for the experienced yogi to read helping to remind us (and we sometimes need reminding) of the reasons we do what we do.

Are you either developing, or starting, a yoga practice? Perhaps you are an advanced practitioner, or even a yoga teacher, looking for a little bit of earthy wisdom and insight. If so, then buy "Off The Mat" and keep it on your mat. This little book is so simple, intelligent, honest and unpretentious that it is hard to put down once you start. In a series of short essays, Nicole DiSalvo Billa encapsulates the lessons learned through her yoga practice over the years. The reader can easily relate to the challenges of past, present, future, family, work and living. In effect, this anthology forms a cohesive tale of anyone's journey through the labyrinth of obstacles that life, mind and body throws at us along the way. It's all here: struggles, joys, goals, doubts, uncertainties, trials, tribulations, humor and the resulting epiphanies precipitating from the experience. Through it all runs the thread of love, acceptance and understanding. As she confronts her challenges with curiosity, courage and forebearance, Nicole generously shares some private snapshots with whomever is in need of inspiration and reassurance. This effort was obviously born out of love, dear reader. Buy the book. Read the book. It's human...all too human. It encourages us to release any expectations and prejudices we may be harbouring in our minds about ourselves and, thereby, plant the seeds for growth. This author will inspire you...you may even experience an empathetic wink and a smile.

I bought this book for my wife and after listening to her go on and on about it, she told me I just have to read this. So, just as every whipped husband should do, I did what I was told...and loved it. Really. The author's ideas of how yoga doesn't have to be limited to folding yourself in ways that would make a contortionist cringe are actually really interesting. The author focuses on the spiritual, everyday aspect and really opened my eyes to a whole different side of yoga. This is a collection of essays that anyone can identify with. An annoying neighbor, kids driving you to the brink of insanity and so on. She discusses how yoga practices and spirituality helped her through it. It's frank, personal, and involving, and in the tradition of other essayists, it can be absorbed in whole or in parts. Definitely worth the read.

My wife would also like me to add that it's a great way for anyone...young or old, the busy executive or the stay-at-home mom to get in a little dose of peace, exercise and general well being anytime of the day or night.

I couldn't agree more.

Seek out your favorite, quiet, reading spot and settle in for a rewarding read that will enlighten, comfort, warm your heart and no doubt lead you to the mat! The author's easy to understand yoga philosophy and sharing of personal, everyday insights make you want to begin today if you're not already practicing yoga!

This book is the most insightful and well written book I have ever read. Nicole Billa has really done it. Bravo!!! The only part about this book I didnt like was putting it down. BUY THIS BOOK!!!!! BUY IT NOW!!! It will change your life.

When you think of Yoga, you probably envision serene adults flexing on the mat. But in this book, Nicole outlines how yoga goes "off the mat" and into our daily lives. After beginning yoga about a month ago, I now have a new insight on how yoga influences my personal experiences. Nicole's expertise and yoga wisdom clearly shines through in this book. This will make a perfect christmas gift for the novice or experienced yoga partcipants. It changed my life.

this book exemplifies her beautiful teachings. She always ends class with a story about how one of the many daily frustrations we are faced with turned into an opportunity to practice the Yoga off the matt. A very refreshing, easy to relate to book. Great for beginners and even better for those 'competitive' yogi's (if you know what I mean, lol!) It's not all about the pose, it's how you conduct yourself in the pose.
Namaste Nicole, well done!

This book was insightful but geared toward someone who may be newly arriving on the path of yoga for whom some of the basic revelations of yoga is something new to discover. For someone who has been exploring themselves in yoga for longer amount of time it may not offer new inspiration but is refreshing to read about anyway. Not one to keep in the library of re-reads.

Great insights and examples how yoga can make changes in ones life- also great essays with commentaries on motherhood- I really enjoyed it!Very well written and thought out!