27 Things to Know About Yoga by Victoria Klein: Offical Blog Tour Stop!

New to yoga or know someone that is? Have friends that ask you "what's this yoga business" all about? If so, then I've got the book for you! Victoria Klein's 27 Things to Know About Yoga is a fun, lighthearted, down-to-earth look at everything yoga. From the basic, like props, to the more complex, like yamas and niyamas, this book covers it all.

Now, you're probably wondering how you could possibly fit 5000 years of yoga lineage into 27 "things?" I have to admit, I was thinking the same thing when I picked up the book. However, Ms. Klein does a great job of making the world of yoga accessible to everyone. Let's be honest, understanding Sanskrit, talking about the finer points of vegetarianism, and delving into Patanjali's Eight Limbed Path of Yoga is not for the feint of heart, but with this book you get a quick, well thought out explanation of each point, allowing curiosity the freedom to grow and learn more!

Some of my personal favorite chapters include:

Chapter 11: Minding your Manners. Having explored this road myself, I resonated with her thoughts on appropriate asana etiquette.

Chapter(s) 14-21: Covering the Eight Limbs (yama, nyama, asana, pranayama, pratyahara, dharana, dhyana, samadhi). I did not expect this little book to touch on such big topics, but truly appreciated each chapter's quick look at this ancient foundation of yoga.

Chapter 23: Understanding the Significance of Savasana. Love, love, love! I've already used this chapter in my classes, specifically those where my students have a hard time laying still and, believe it or not, some get up and leave before class is over! Savasana is easily one of the most important poses of yoga. Leaving class early or treating this as "nap time" eradicates all the hard work you've been doing for the last 90 minutes.

Regarding Savasana, Victoria writes "allowing yourself  to acknowledge your thoughts but not be emotionally consumed by them is the first step towards a true meditative state. Unlike meditation, though, you are not trying to focus on one specific thing. Savasana is just about relaxation, no matter your mental patterns." So true!

The book is short, but definitely sweet! Check it out, share it friends, or give it as a gift. It may be small enough to fit in your yoga bag, but it's big on content and value.

Capricious Yogi enthusiastically recommends!