There is incredible value in hearing other people's stories. I find it easy to worry if I'm good enough. And sometimes I see where other people are and know it isn't what I want.
Besides the value in other's stories, I just find them interesting! These are stories from names I recognize as stars in the yoga and Buddhist world. It's good to see them as human. I get a feeling I know them better, which changes my relationship to them when I see them walking around at a Yoga Journal conference or catch their name in print.
The question the book poses is "Will yoga and meditation really change my life?" In my own life, I've already answered this question (it will), but what this book does is help me not worry so much about needing to think my life needs changing.
To answer the question the title poses: yes, yoga and/or meditation will change your life, but maybe not in the ways you hope or expect.
This is a fairly good collection. Each person's stories is only a few pages long, so I find reading a story a night in bed is a nice way to relax. This book is probably best for neophytes with an interest in and general knowledge of yoga, meditation, or Buddhism who want to know about people with the same interests. There are a few people who made me roll my eyes and think, "this is why people think yoga is weird," but most of the people seem like real, down to earth people who know what it means to live in the real world and make thoughtful choices about how they're going to live. The good stories reminded you that life after yoga isn't perfect, you won't magically become infalliable, holy, strong, wise, or immune to disease. Your feelings won't disappear, things in your life can still hurt you and you will still be a human being. Don't expect answers from this book: this is light reading at its best (like I said, bedside reading), but it might provoke a few questions if you read thoughtfully. Do read this if you're thinking of going deeper into your study of yoga, if you wonder if yoga is a yuppie fad that you've mistakenly bought into, or if you don't yet feel a sense of community with those who you practice with. Note: this book does not offer any advice about yoga postures or how to meditate.
There were one or two stories that made me sad because it seems like yoga is segregated between races. How come people of color get their own teachers and retreats? Doesn't yoga come from the word yoke? If yoga can't unify people here in the US, nothing in the world will ever be able to. I greive that we can't all practice together as a unified community, honoring differences while celebrating what we share as human beings. I hope this changes within my lifetime and I hope I make a difference in bringing people together.
