"...I can't continue to wither under imposter syndrome until other people cosign my self-worth. I can only ever try to know myself and be present in my own divinity. I'm the only one who will ever know me, and I'm enough. Imposter syndrome is a distraction from the work at hand."

This is a real, raw memoir of life and yoga from a woman who does not fit the contemporary Platonic ideal of a yogini. She calls out the overarching whiteness of the American yoga world, its emphasis on thin as both ideal and healthy, and its inability to see either of those as a problem. If that bothers you, you should probably step away and sit with that discomfort for a bit. Same if you find a young Black woman's authentic speech, including profanity, upsetting.

Stanley's book isn't a how-to on yoga, which she makes abundantly clear in her introduction. (If that's what you're looking for, check out her first book, Every Body Yoga.) It is, instead, her story of negotiating spaces that aren't welcoming, on silencing the doubt in her mind, on struggling through and living her own best life.

I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

I found Jessamyn's words to really and truly sit well with me and I felt so compelled to highlight everything in this book, draining my pen of its ink. From the beginning, I found her to be highly relatable, and to carry within her so much beauty and wisdom about the practice of yoga, and the living of life, which in itself can be a total bitch sometimes (most of the time).

"All wounds need to breathe , no matter how painful or smelly. Even the wounds you’d rather keep hidden."

Jessamyn talks about practicing Bikram yoga in Durham for a year to aid her mental health, and I found Bikram in the same way, and also practiced for a year in order to aid my own mental health. I practiced Bikram before finding Ashtanga yoga. These days, my yoga practice is limited. My mind is flooded with thoughts of "you should be practicing. Why aren't you practicing? You're lazy." But I was reminded through this book that the practice of yoga is not about showing up to a fancy class, it's not about rolling out your mat and holding a headstand for five minutes, and it's not about trying to be something or somebody that you're not.

"Your postural work doesn’t need to be particularly complicated. Honestly, you really only need to know one pose and it’s called sitting the fuck down. In fact, give it a shot right now. Sit down and be quiet," she continues, "Breathing is what defines a yoga practice because breathing connects you to the life force that’s constantly flowing in and around you."

A couple of years ago, before treatment for my eating disorder, my yoga, at least in my mind, was showing up on my mat every morning before five AM, and sweating profusely while completing the Ashtanga series. When I didn't do it, I would beat myself up. I would vow to do better the next day. There were days when I couldn't do all of the postures, my body so physically bruised from pushing myself the day prior, that it was impossible to get them that day. I put so much emphasis on the postures and on how I looked and was perceived by other people, encouraged by their comments like, "wow, you are so disciplined," when really, I had forgotten why I started practicing yoga in the first place.

Yoke by Jessamyn Stanley was a reminder that yoga, for me and my body today, is sitting still.

I took so much away from this book that it's impossible to summarize it here, so you're just going to have to go out and buy a copy to inhale some of Jessamyn's wisdom. I felt so absorbed by the content that I almost couldn't wait to get to the end, so I could purchase and read a copy of Every Body Yoga, which I've summarized below.

This book felt like a really good yoga class, when everything sails along nicely from beginning to end and you feel fully engaged in the process, and leave that class feeling like a million bucks. I put down this book, and I truly felt better. I read much of it with a smile on my face. I really hope I get an opportunity to practice with Jessamyn someday, because she is a shining light, and exactly what the yoga world needs. I adored Yoke and highly recommend this one to anyone interested in yoga and spirituality, beginners, and also dedicated practitioners, because this book is a reminder of why we practice yoga.

Twenty years ago Colson Whitehead wrote an amazing essay in the New York Times, "The Way We Live Now: 11-11-01; Lost and Found", where the concept was "My New York is not your New York - we each build our own perspective of the city." And I kept thinking of that essay as I read Jessamyn Stanley's "Yoke" because her yoga is definitely not my yoga. But that shouldn't detract from my perception of her yoga or how she lives her life. Ms. Stanley is a necessary disruptor. She is taking on body image and the stereotypes that surround yoga. But while the collection of essays within Yoke are aligned with Yoga Sutras, this isn't really a yoga text. It is a memoir and chronicle of a lifestyle that is not the norm for many yoga practitioners.
Don't go into this book thinking you'll gain insight into the practice of yoga - this book is instead an Own Voices take on society and perception. Think of it as one person's presentation of life's challenges and how they've taken to their yoga mat to make sense of the world.

Don't let the author's yoga background fool you. There is so much more going on in these pages.

Drawn in from the first page, the author does not hold back or mince words in this collection of essays. If you are not okay with profanity this book is not for you. Stanley talks to the reader as if you are close friends.

This book explains how yoga brought clarity and acceptance into Jessamyn's life. Most importantly not being afraid to hold a place in the yoga community as a fat, black, and queer person (words used by the author).

This should be required reading for anyone who engages with yoga in America, especially white people. Stanley's work is full of revelations, uncomfortable truths, and her own vibrant voice. My only qualm is that I wanted more of the rad essays and less about spirituality, but that's definitely just a personal preference.

This was honest, funny, real, raw, and whipsmart. Jessamyn Stanley is the real deal and not just when it comes to yoga. I loved every word of this book.

4 stars

Stanley takes an approach that will appeal to folks who enjoy the benefits of yoga but who maybe also feel uncomfortable with - or even outright disgusted by - the appropriative nature of various aspects of it. In other words, if you're trying to buy this book in your "Nama-stay in bed all day!" t-shirt, this is not what you think, and it is not for you. Or maybe it IS for you, and that shirt becomes a cleaning rag.

My favorite part of this collection is Stanley's varied approach to this concept of appropriation and misuse of yoga in modern American culture. I really enjoy the perspectives on these issues and the consistent reminders of what yoga is supposed to be instead of what we're fed by the exact offenders Stanley mentions.

Stanley's more personal revelations - reactions to teachers and even a horrifying set of examples of her own experiences with sexual assault - are difficult to read but essential in shaping her character and persona. In case this isn't already clear, TW: sexual assault.

My greatest wish for this collection is for it to be expanded. At times, some of the essays felt a bit less developed than I'd have liked. But overall, Stanley is speaking truth to so many folks' experiences with yoga, and it is nice to have a reminder of what yoga can and should be as well as what it has been transformed into (sadly). A recommended read for perhaps a niche audience.

Wow was this book refreshing. I found myself nodding along to things she was saying and highlighting whole passages. This book was the reminder I needed to bring myself back to the practice and focus on myself and stop worrying about impressing others. So many things that were said in this book resonated with me on a deep level. I didn't read her first book, but I will be going back and doing that for sure. Thanks to Netgalley, Jessamyn Stanley and Workman Publishing Company for an early copy.

Wow. As a relatively new yoga practitioner (and even more recently, a yoga teacher), this is the most valuable book I've read so far. Some chapters were challenging to read, but Stanley writes in such a laid-back, intimate tone that even the hard chapters felt just like having a difficult, but ultimately necessary, conversation with a best friend.

In her debut Every Body Yoga, Jessamyn Stanley walked readers through the how of yoga. Now, in her follow up, Yoke: My Yoga of Self-Acceptance, Stanley goes over the why. Breaking her personal whys down into thirteen sections, Stanley covers everything from personal acknowledgment and acceptance, to cultural appropriation, to poses and meditation. She spoke truth to power and detailed her own journey through the predominantly white world of American yoga practice. Sometimes raw, but always honest and insightful, Stanley has written the modern manifesto for the practitioner who doesn’t fit the yogic mold.

I had such a hard time putting Yoke down. Once I started reading, I was drawn in by Stanley’s often-brutal honesty about practicing and teaching yoga as a queer, Black woman in a predominantly skinny, white yoga world. With all the honesty, however, there was no need for sympathy; Stanley owned the situations she often found herself in, acknowledged their importance, and learned from them. We can all stand to learn from her outlook on life.

There are many lessons to learn from Yoke. From persevering when first starting out with yoga to how yoga practices, like meditation, are so heavily interwoven into our lives--our very essence of being--already, Stanley makes yoga accessible in a way the old texts and sutras do not. I particularly took to heart her emphasis that yoga isn’t just the poses and that, in fact, you can truly practice yoga without contorting yourself into odd positions. The chapter on meditation was also especially insightful, and for the first time in possibly forever I can see myself actually meditating. Usually, yogis emphasize letting thoughts flow out of you when meditating, but Stanley’s imagery of feeling like you’re sinking deeper into a bottomless ocean actually made the idea of being overcome with thoughts while meditating doable. I feel like I can meditate now without feeling like I’m failing at it.

I loved that this wasn’t another how-to yoga guide. Stanley is very much aware of the arena she’s playing in, and that makes her trials getting to this point that much more raw and sometimes brutal. Her personal anecdotes throughout Yoke showed that she is impassioned and unafraid to clear her own path within the yoga world. This was a fantastic read, full of heart and soul and the inspiration for me to maybe give yoga another try--but under my own terms.

I loved the first 60% of this book but felt the last part was rushed and seemed to wander--it just wasn't as tight and well done as the first half. The chapter where Stanley complains about being hit with other people's trauma stories and then in turn hits you with hers was jarring and I didn't find a purpose for this chapter. The weed chapter was eh, I would have cared more if it was linked to the traditional use of drugs in meditation or something.

I was super amped on this book and would still recommend it for fans but wouldn't recommend it to anyone else really.

If you're familiar with Jessamyn Stanley, you know that she's an absolute gem. Inspiring thousands of people to lean into body acceptance, and proving that yoga is for every body, Stanley holds no punches in this book of essays. From the idea of applying the lessons of yoga to every day life, Stanley traverses through topics that include: the current state of cannabis, calling out the whiteness of Western yoga, combatting impostor syndrome, and everything in between. A delightful read from a delightful human.

Thank you to NetGalley and Workman Publishing for advance access to this title!

Have you ever entered a yoga studio and felt like you didn’t quite fit in? Do you believe the American Yoga Association is bias against individuals of a certain size or individuals of a certain color? Well in her soon to be sophomore release Yoke: My Yoga of Self-Acceptance, author Jessamyn Stanley shares her experiences with these issues plus so much more.
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I went into this book thinking it was going to be all about peace, zen and tranquility. HA! Boy was I wrong. Jessamyn goes way beyond the surface and dives deep into the racial disparities and body shaming within the American Yoga Community.
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If you’re sensitive to profanity, this may not be the book for you. But if you are open to blunt truth and unwavering candidness, then grab a copy and enjoy the ride. Jessamyn writes about a wide range of topics including the importance of moving the body, meditation, appropriation in yoga, the #Metoo movement, and how she has overcome imposter syndrome.
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You can feel Jessamyn’s strong and witty personality from the very first page as she describes being called out by a fellow yogi for misspelling a word in her first book. It was this experience that led to the title of this her second book.
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Personally I loved reading her raw, real and honest stories. I didn’t read Jessamyn’s first book so I didn’t know what to expect with this one. I was pleasantly surprised by the relatability of it all. I know what it feels like to enter into a yoga class and feel out-of-place. Yet, I also know what it feels like to find peace and a sense of calm in that same studio.
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Jessamyn is not your typical yogi. And this is not a typical book about yoga. I enjoyed the journey.
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Thank you Workman Publishing for gifting me this eARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

Thank you to Netgalley for the advance copy of this title!

I’ve been doing yoga for a couple years now but never felt like yoga classes, videos, or books were intended for me (a plus size woman) but this book really spoke to my soul. Jessamyn Stanley is a wonderful author and the inclusivity, acceptance, and love in writing is something I will keep coming back to in the future. Yolk gave me an even deeper love and understanding of the art and practice of yoga and now I look forward to my daily sessions more than ever.

Stanley’s follow up to Every Body Yoga is a book of essays moving beyond the poses of yoga into the “yoga of everyday”—taking the lessons of into our understanding of ourselves and the world around us. The essays are personal, honest, and fascinating. They range from Stanley’s issues with imposter syndrome, learning to meditate, to cultural appropriation and cannabis. It’s a collection to get people thinking and maybe on their own path to recognizing their authentic truth.

Wow, still floored by this book a week after finishing it. I follow Jessamyn on Instagram, so I had some idea of what to expect, but I also got so much more from this than I could've anticipated. This book is about yoga, but it is more about loving yourself. It is more about confronting what is problematic in this world, but doing so from a grounded and centered place. Everything is the yoga.

The essays in this collection are personal and humorous, but also touch on a lot of important topics. I appreciated the discussion about cultural appropriation and racism in yoga practices in America. It seems to be something that most (white) practitioners don't want to acknowledge or discuss. One part, in particular, has stuck with me, when Stanley recalls a black man asking her how he was supposed to feel calm and safe enough to practice yoga in rooms typically filled with white women, who are socially conditioned to see him as an enemy. Issues like this need to be discussed, and I appreciate the author for presenting and addressing them.

Stanley writes about her experiences with yoga as a queer Black woman of size, and does a fair amount of profane ranting. She has many strong opinions on a variety of topics, from religion (“I drank the Kool-Aid without asking what was in my cup. I didn’t inquire as to the logic of my religious beliefs.... but as you might expect, it didn’t take much to uproot a faith so loosely planted….my church is the church of self-acceptance, and every body is welcome at the altar.”) to capitalism. Much of what she says about racism and body positivity is thought provoking, but I did resent her generalization that “predominately white yoga teaching environments breed a groupthink that’s marbled with white supremacist values.” That being said, I would definitely be interested in taking her yoga class someday. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

I first heard of Jessamyn Stanley through a podcast by Dr. Laurie Santos called <i>The Happiness Lab</i>. The episode where Dr. Santos interviewed Ms. Stanley was all about how our bodies are designed to move and how science actually proves that we are happier when we move our bodies. (The kind of exercise you do is not important, the benefit comes from just not being sedentary). I've been running for 22 years with a little pilates thrown in here and there, but my exercise routine has grown stale and I've been looking for a change. So, when I heard Ms. Stanley discussing the benefits of yoga, I decided to give it a try.

I started practicing yoga three months ago and I have really felt more centered and calm and I'm happier. So, when I saw Ms. Stanley's new book <i>Yoke</i> on Netgalley, I was excited to read it. Sadly, it was a huge disappointment. Yes, there were a few gems here and there, but overall, it was crass, rambling, and full of ranting and not at all what you would think when you read the blurb or think of yoga in general.

First, what I liked:

Stanley writes in a very informal tone and the reader feels like she's sitting on the mat next to you just discussing life. That immediately makes the concepts more accessible.

Stanley does a good job of explaining how yoga isn't about the poses, it's about connecting with your own body and being present in the moment. It's about connecting with the life forces all around you. Near the beginning she quotes the Satchidananda, 92, which says, "Remember that the body is not the experience. Life is experienced by the mind through the body. The body is only a vehicle." Amen.

Second, what I didn't like:

For the first several chapters it feels like there's profanity in every other sentence. Then in later chapters it's every couple of paragraphs. Don't get me wrong, there's a time and place for profanity and it can be very powerful in a book when used sparingly - to great effect. But, when every other sentence contains completely unnecessary vulgarity, it pulls the reader out of the flow of the story. For example, in the very first chapter Stanley is talking about receiving an email about her last book having a type and she says, "Right there, on page twenty-f*cking-nine, I'd accidentally..." and then again a chapter later she says, "They watch me f*ck around for a bit and eventually they shout..." Neither of these are at all necessary, nor do they actually advance the point she's trying to make. This happens over and over and over in the book. For a book about yoga, which supposedly is about connection with your own inner self and the divine within all living things, something that calms and centers you, this is just not what the reader expects.

Also, the author spends more time ranting about cultural appropriation, white supremacy, and capitalism than she does explaining the benefits of yoga. She spends more time dissing the culture of American yoga than she does extolling the virtues of yoga itself as a practice. Now, I happen to completely agree with her points about white supremacy and cultural appropriation - she's right - but that's not what I want to read about in a yoga book. It's not what the blurb suggests the book is about and it's not what the reader is led to believe will be the content.

There's also an entire chapter on the benefits of astrology. Ok, great if that's your thing, but again, this book is purported to be about <b><i>YOGA</i></b>, not astrology and crystals and tarot cards.

Last complaint: There's an entire chapter devoted to the virtues of smoking weed. Seriously?? Again, not really on topic and not relevant and not appropriate.

Sigh, I really wanted to like this book. Sadly, I found it far more crass and rambling than I was led to expect, or wanted to read, in a book about yoga. If I hadn't committed to doing this review by accepting a free copy of this book, I would not have finished it.

Not recommended.

Disclaimer: I received a free electronic copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Real talk: I do not practice yoga, nor have I read Jessamyn Stanley’s first book.

However, I enjoyed Yoke. It’s a collection of essays that discuss more than yoga: spirituality, making mistakes, capitalism, cultural appropriation, racism, and body image. I would recommend for those looking to reflect on their own yoga practice or to be more mindful of how yoga is practiced by others.