Writing Yoga

Book excerpt: Writer and editor Bruce Black began studying yoga five years ago, when his knees could no longer stand the stress of running. After taking classes for a few years, he started keeping a journal to explore his experiences on the mat. Out of his journal and his devotion to Anusara Yoga has emerged a book that delves into the nexus of yoga, writing, and life. In Writing Yoga, Bruce begins by sharing tips he has learned along the way: the benefits of keeping a practice journal, how to select just the right blank book, writing at different times of day, how often, and more. He has organized the book, by theme, into chapters with guided writing exercises. Part memoir, part writing guide, Bruce reflects on practice as life: the excitement of walking into his first yoga class, apprehension about bending backward, discomfort with body appearance, the yoga of family relationships, the exhilaration of coming into a headstand for the first time, deepening appreciation for his teachers, and waking up to the exquisite beauty of the world around him. And he weaves excerpts from his own journal throughout. Bruce guides you in stepping onto your mat and picking up your journal with curiosity and commitment. He shows how your journal can become a good friend, a confidant, a tool to deepen your experience of asana and pranayama, and a mindfulness practice in itself.