Customer Reviews

Yoga from the Inside Out: Making Peace With Your Body Through Yoga

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I figured since Christina Sell was local, I would check her book out. I had never met Christina, but saw her in a demo at a John Friend workshop and wanted to know what she had to say about about Anusara Yoga (flowing with grace) and her experiences with yoga. I was truly impressed and for the first time felt like someone really understood the struggles of life and how they come to the mat with us when we practice. The book is honest and heartfelt and it hit home with how we all deal with weight and self-image issues. The book shares her experiences with weight loss and gain and overexercise, as well as, other yogis experiences with eating disorders and how yoga can heal your spirit. Through the practice of the Anusara Principles of Alignment, we can set our spirit free by safely practicing yoga. Along with this freeing of our spirit comes acceptance and surrender as we let go of this constant battle we wage against our body and ourselves. I think this is an excellent addition to anyone's library and clearly illustrates that yoga is a spiritual path, more than the physical asanas and more than looking good. A lot of people, including those who go to yoga studios, just don't get it. Buy the book. You don't have to know about yoga to relate; Christina's language is clear and well-written and not esoteric. Excellent photos of real women allowing their True Self shine through. I was so moved and impressed by this book that I contacted Christina and asked her to conduct a workshop so she can share with us in person how yoga can set you free. Definitely get the book; you won't be disappointed.

When I'm preparing to teach my own yoga classes, Yoga From The Inside Out, has become one of the 4 or 5 books I draw from as a sure source of heart oriented yoga philosophy. After nearly 30 years of yoga, I have quite a library of books on on the subject, but this book has quickly taken a special place as, with clarity, heart, and sound philosophy, it reminds us that yoga is a journey towards union and peace, not another weapon to use to master ourselves, make ourselves "as good as" or "better than". I highly recommend this book to any teacher or practitioner of yoga who is ready to engage in the authentic spirit of yoga as a path to peace and an end of the war on our bodies and our selves. I look forward to reading more of Christina Sell's work.

I loved reading this book. Christina Sell writes with style and feeling about her personal experiences with yoga. Her passion for the practice of yoga is evident throughout the book. She reminds her readers that the practice of yoga is about inner transformation. Christina draws upon the wisdom she has gained from a life long struggle with the desire for bodily perfection. She recognizes that her personal struggle with the body represents the lived experience of most women in contemporary American society. The numerous interviews with other yoga practioners and the delightful pictures of real world yoginis amply illustrate how Christina's story provides a forum for other people to articulate their own. What is great about Yoga from the Inside Out? It reaches out from the heart and encourages us to move beyond the focus on the body to the depth of being. Everyone should read it!

Christina Sell's personal story woven with yoga philosophy is so real to the heart. The personal stories are powerful - I couldn't put this book down! This book is not only for yoga students, practitioners and teachers, it is for everyone. Christina asks us to wake up and engage in our lives more fully, with respect and honor for ourselves. This book has changed my life and the way I view myself and others on and off the yoga mat! I will be giving this to all my friends and family, to men, women, yogis, runners and climbers.

*****
This book really spoke to me about weight issues, body acceptance, self-image, and how yoga can be used to deal with all of these. The subtitle of the book is "Making Peace with Your Body Through Yoga", and every time I read it (I've read it three times so far) this book helps me to accomplish this. I have the parts I like best highlighted and often reread them for inspiration; it is a beautifully written book.

The book focuses on a type of yoga called Anusara Yoga, but as other reviewers have said, you don't really have to be interested in yoga to benefit from the book. It's more about mindfulness, philosophy, attitude, being with feelings, and acceptance than it is yoga and yoga positions. The women modeling the poses are women of all shapes and sizes, all obviously content with their bodies and enjoying their practice.

The only part of the book I did not relate to was about having a guru, which is part of the philosophy of the author, and I just skip over those parts when I reread it. That part is peripheral, and the book is more than worth it for the rest.

Highest recommendation.
*****

This book speaks to me like none other. I am a yoga teacher and absolutely passionate about what I do. I also do not resemble the models on the covers of Yoga Journal. I have spent years dealing with eating disorder issues and body image issues and yoga has helped me immensely. No matter what I do, I will never look like those tiny, lithe yoginis and I am finally learning not to care so much. I try to bring the body awareness and acceptance that this book describes into the classes that I teach. My goal is to change the world, one yoga class, one person at a time. If I can bring yoga into someone's life who would never even think of walking into a yoga studio, then I am successful. Thank you, Christina, for a very important book, and for having the courage to bring your story and experiences to those of us with whom it resonates. Love it!

Ms.Sell is an extraordinary writer who weaves the philosophy of Yoga and the importance of the master/student relationship with personal growth.
The author deserves our gratitude for her selfless service.
As a fellow yoga practitoner and educator I highly recommend this book.

Like the title says, this is about making peace with your body. So often, when we want to make a change in our lives, even if it's a positive change to bring more ease and freedom into our lives, we forget to be kind and compassionate with ourselves.
This book contains numerous stories from yoga practitioners, including the author, that reinforce the focus on compassion.
There are pictures of beautiful rounder bodies doing yoga!
Kit Muehlman

I read the reviews before I bought this book so I knew for the most part what to expect. I enjoyed reading it, and have used it as a jumping off point in my own yoga journey.

An interesting, easy to read book about yoga and accepting your true inner self. This by means of doing yoga and accepting your body as it is and not what it should be according to the outside world, where women have to look perfect, being muscular, slim and beautiful. I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 as the "theme" repeats itself throughout the book which get a little bit too much in the end. Nevertheless a very inspiring book, a must to have when you have body image problems.