The Pure Heart of Yoga Book Review

"It is important to focus on the goal of gaining self-knowledge, rather than perfection or happiness. The mind is usually most resistant when it is about to make a shift---in the darker moments the light is really near! Transformation is a bit like childbirth, there are labor pains that happen before something new and wonderful is born. Stay with despair. Accept it, acknowledge it, and hope for understanding. Strive for knowledge and awareness on the spiritual journey. In life, there is always something to learn. If we don't learn it now, we will have to repeat the lesson to learn it later, so why not do so now?"
- Robert Butera, Ph.D.

"The Pure Heart of Yoga: Ten Essential Steps for Personal Transformation" by Robert Butera, Ph.D. was an amazing read. I have been practicing yoga for over ten years now, and still to this day am learning new things and myself and the poses. Butera's book is an example of how much there is to learn. It is a great book for those interested in yoga whether they practice or not. He dives in with foundational practices explaining intention, attitude, posture, and breathing. Then Butera moves on to topics involved with "inner yoga" meaning archetypes, energy centers, concentration, and locks and seals. Even though some people are nervous about practicing yoga because either they don't believe in chakras or they're not sure how they feel about it, Butera explains the concept behind it, but makes it clear that many people practice yoga with all forms of religion, and most yoga teachers teach to all no matter what belief. And before Butera details practices and poses, he explains self exploration and pyschology or rather specificaly psychological blocks and emotional transformation.

After reading this book I practice yoga with more intention, focus, understanding, clarity, and desire to be more whole with myself and others. "The Pure Heart of Yoga" is a book that I recommend to those interested in yoga in general and for those interested in continuing a path of enlightenment.

March's read will be a rather humorous memoir by David Finch called "The Journal of Best Practices: A Memoir of Marriage, Asperger Syndrome, and One Man's Quest to Be a Better Husband.

" I had started this book months ago, but never had the chance to finish it. I actually saw him give a speech about his book and life experiences, and it was one of the most humorous and enjoyable speeches I have heard, and I look forward to finishing the book! For those who have not heard of it, David Finch was married with children and THEN found out that he had a form of Asperger Syndrome. With this knowledge he created a journal of best practices for being a husband and a Dad. It is an interesting insight on Asperger's, marriage, and family life. I hope you enjoy it!

Happy Reading!