Yoke: My Yoga of Self-Acceptance
Author: Jessamyn Stanley
Finding self-acceptance both on and off the mat.
In Sanskrit, yoga means to "yoke." To yoke mind and body, movement and breath, light and dark, the good and the bad. This larger idea of "yoke" is what Jessamyn Stanley calls the yoga of the everyday--a yoga that is not just about perfecting your downward dog but about applying the hard lessons learned on the mat to the even harder daily project of living.
In a series of deeply honest, funny autobiographical essays, Jessamyn explores everything from imposter syndrome to cannabis to why it's a full-time job loving yourself, all through the lens of yoke. She calls out an American yoga complex that prefers debating the merits of cotton versus polyblend leggings rather than owning up to its overwhelming Whiteness. She questions why the Western take on yoga so often misses--or misuses--the tradition's spiritual dimension. And reveals what she calls her own "whole-ass problematic" Growing up Baháí, loving astrology, learning to meditate, finding prana in music.
And in the end, Jessamyn invites every reader to find the authentic spirit of yoke--linking that good and that bad, that light and that dark.
Author: Jessamyn Stanley
Finding self-acceptance both on and off the mat.
In Sanskrit, yoga means to "yoke." To yoke mind and body, movement and breath, light and dark, the good and the bad. This larger idea of "yoke" is what Jessamyn Stanley calls the yoga of the everyday--a yoga that is not just about perfecting your downward dog but about applying the hard lessons learned on the mat to the even harder daily project of living.
In a series of deeply honest, funny autobiographical essays, Jessamyn explores everything from imposter syndrome to cannabis to why it's a full-time job loving yourself, all through the lens of yoke. She calls out an American yoga complex that prefers debating the merits of cotton versus polyblend leggings rather than owning up to its overwhelming Whiteness. She questions why the Western take on yoga so often misses--or misuses--the tradition's spiritual dimension. And reveals what she calls her own "whole-ass problematic" Growing up Baháí, loving astrology, learning to meditate, finding prana in music.
And in the end, Jessamyn invites every reader to find the authentic spirit of yoke--linking that good and that bad, that light and that dark.
Author: Jessamyn Stanley
Finding self-acceptance both on and off the mat.
In Sanskrit, yoga means to "yoke." To yoke mind and body, movement and breath, light and dark, the good and the bad. This larger idea of "yoke" is what Jessamyn Stanley calls the yoga of the everyday--a yoga that is not just about perfecting your downward dog but about applying the hard lessons learned on the mat to the even harder daily project of living.
In a series of deeply honest, funny autobiographical essays, Jessamyn explores everything from imposter syndrome to cannabis to why it's a full-time job loving yourself, all through the lens of yoke. She calls out an American yoga complex that prefers debating the merits of cotton versus polyblend leggings rather than owning up to its overwhelming Whiteness. She questions why the Western take on yoga so often misses--or misuses--the tradition's spiritual dimension. And reveals what she calls her own "whole-ass problematic" Growing up Baháí, loving astrology, learning to meditate, finding prana in music.
And in the end, Jessamyn invites every reader to find the authentic spirit of yoke--linking that good and that bad, that light and that dark.
About the Author:
Jessamyn Stanley is an internationally acclaimed leading voice in wellness. Jessamyn is highly sought after for her insights on 21st century yoga and intersectional identity as a queer Black woman. Jessamyn founded her company, The Underbelly, a virtual yoga studio and online shop (available by web, iOS, Android, Roku, Apple TV, & Amazon Fire) to help individuals tune in with themselves and live authentically. The Underbelly is a home for "wellness misfits" who may feel displaced, discouraged, or overlooked due to a lack of diversity in the health and fitness community. The brand has quickly gained notoriety for its inclusive approach towards physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being.
She is a regular contributor for SELF Magazine and is consistently featured in many media outlets, including The New York Times, CNN, Good Morning America, Vogue, InStyle, BET, Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire, Allure, Shape, Out Magazine, and Forbes to name a few. Jessamyn also hosts a bi-weekly cannabis-inspired advice podcast titled Dear Jessamyn, where she offers fresh perspectives on relationships and lifestyles for anyone living and loving outside the box.
