Every Body Yoga

February 15, 2017

Written from the perspective of a person who does not fit the Western ideal of beauty, yoga teacher Stanley's book succeeds in dispelling the myth that yoga is for the lean and fit. Incorporating models who are not skinny to demonstrate 50 basic poses and using her experiences with self-image, black-dyed hair, and societal expectations of body types, she leads us in a practice that is refreshing, reassuring, and engaging. Stanley discusses the history of yoga; how to communicate with your instructor; the eight-limbed path; styles of yoga, poses, and what to purchase if you're just starting out. Stanley's preteen pageant experiences, foodie jaunts, Weight Watchers projects, and insights meaningfully address how self-image affects one's life choices. While many words may be a bit vulgar for some readers, this uplifting volume makes yoga approachable. VERDICT Recommended for yoga enthusiasts, the yoga curious, the Western-beauty challenged, the yoga teacher, the student-novice to advanced, Millennials, and LGBTQ readers.--Cheryl Branche, Brooklyn

Copyright 2017 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

December 19, 2016
Yoga teacher Stanley shares her path to becoming a yogi and embracing looking different from the lean practitioners
typically shown in the media. This mix of memoir and guide is suffused with Stanley’s enthusiasm and honesty. Part one reveals her early encounters with yoga, along with the discouragement that stemmed from being a “fat girl”; it goes back to her childhood eating habits and family life, and also includes an honest, vulnerable FAQ (“What if I’m the fattest person in the class and everyone stares at me?”). Part two includes Stanley’s witty nutshell history of modern yoga and breaks down the different styles and recommends useful clothing, mats, and props. Part three is devoted to the “ABCs of Asana,” or yoga postures, and also recommends asking “How do I feel?” rather than “How do I look?” In part four, Stanley teaches readers to do yoga on their own by sharing stories of her own triumphs. In part five, Stanley reminds readers that everyone struggles while doing yoga, including her. This touching work is a must for those new to yoga, no matter their age or body type.

April 1, 2017
Stanley, who first found a community of fellow yogis, and then a whole bunch of followers (281,000 and counting) on Instagram, addresses anyone who's ever felt too fat, too old, too short, too self-conscious, or just too intimidated to attempt the popular practice of yoga. She discusses yoga's history, the eight-limbed path (in a section titled What the fuck is the eight-limbed path? ), the different types of yoga, and the gear and props yogis really need, before going into step-by-step instructions for practice and poses, complete with helpful photographs of herself and others. Stanley incorporates her own stories: of her long and dignified lineage of proud, black, curvy women and her gathering from teen magazines that society's agreed-upon vision of beauty . . . didn't have jack shit to do with her; of a wake-up call about her drinking; of loving herself with or without a partner. Stanley's playful tone and personal, approachable advice provide a warm welcome to her historical, technical, and altogether different guide to yoga.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)