I have to confess, I have very little interest in yoga.  I couldn’t tell you the difference between a downward dog and an upward cat, but all my friends love this alternate form of exercise, so it must be somewhat effective. They all try to get me to join in on the fun, but I’d so much rather hit the trails at Town Lake than pretzel myself into uncomfortable poses in a sweaty room full of strangers.  For the life of me, I can’t figure out what all the hype is about. Why would you rather do the splits on a little rubber mat than go for a nice little jog in the great outdoors? Can you really get a real workout by staying in one place? And what’s the deal with all the mind, body and soul mumbo jumbo? 

When the author contacted me about this book, I figured this would be a good opportunity to broaden my spiritual – and cardiovascular – horizons.  I’m so glad she did because I now have a whole new perspective on yoga and the people who love it. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not signing up for a yoga class just yet, but I do have some newfound appreciation for the people who love the art of deep breathing and downward dogging.  

The story begins when 33-year-old Lorna Crawford is struck by a spiritual crisis while sipping cosmos at the local bar with her gossipy gal pals.  Suddenly she loses her desire to toss back drinks and play the “let’s make fun of the people around us” game.  You know the type, right? The group of girls who snicker at unfortunate “fashion victims” at trendy bars. The ones who whisper rude remarks just loud enough for their targeted victims to hear.  Who could blame Lorna for wanting to bail?

Fortunately Lorna’s sister, Anna (aka Angelica), is a minister who can help her find a new spiritual path. With Anna’s guidance, she stocks up on new age books and dabbles into the mysterious realm of yoga. Just before she can master the sitting lotus, she signs up for a silent yoga retreat with her new best friend and yoga aficionado, Janelle.  Sure, a yoga retreat sounds like a nice break from the trappings of modern-day life, but this one requires no caffeine, no meat, no boozy drinks and no electronics…did I mention NO CAFFEINE?!?! Ouch, my head hurts just thinking about it.

Along the way, she gains a posse of yoga friends who just love, love, love organic salads, green tea, and meditating.  Pretty hardcore, right? Well hey, to each their own. When all of life’s stressors come to a head, Lorna gains strength from her friends and the healing powers of yoga. From a high stress corporate job, to calculating coworkers, to a workaholic boyfriend to a nightmare of a mom, this girl has a lot on her plate. But through yoga and “sujaling” she gradually learns how to look at her adversaries in a whole new light.

Now here’s where the book gets really interesting. I’m not sure if I’m a believer in yoga or rhythmic chanting, but I am a HUGE believer in positive psychology. Right after college I read the Divine Wisdom of Florence Doval Shin to gain confidence before entering the “real world” and it all made perfect sense. Just like Lorna, I was able to get through some tough situations by visualizing good outcomes and blocking negative thinking.  If your motto is “expect the worst, hope for the best,” you may think differently after reading up on positive psychology.  Trust me, I’m no Pollyanna, but I do know negative thinking leads to self-sabotage. 

Overall this book is worth checking out – even if you’re not interested in yoga or religion.  Part women’s fiction, part self-help, this book is both entertaining and enlightening.  I can’t say that Lorna’s spiritual journey inspired me to sign up for yoga, but I did learn a few things about myself that I’d like to change. I can say that I wholeheartedly agree with the book’s underlying messages: Be compassionate toward others, abandon judgments and kill your enemies with kindness.  At the risk of sounding corny, I have to say that if everyone read this book with an open mind, the world would be a better place.  I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Get it, read it, share it!