Every Body Yoga: Let Go of Fear, Get On the Mat, Love Your Body. Paperback – Illustrated, April 4, 2017

I have been slowly introducing myself to yoga - through books, some classes, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and a supportive friend who is also a yoga teacher. Somehow through it all I never got the whole picture. I initially thought yoga was an exercise class for really fit people - and that yoga would make you super fit. Only through my friend did I start to see there was much more to yoga than just exercise classes. This is the first book that laid out the full yoga path or which asana is only one piece. This finally gave me the language I needed to start asking more questions.In addition to the introduction to yoga, the book provided a good walk through of basic asana poses as well as some good flows. As a mostly at home practitioner this is very handy and something I have been looking for in an easy to follow format.Finally, the yoga in the book is interwoven with stories - relatable stories. So many of the stories are filled with moments of “oh yeah - been there” all surrounding being the one on the mat who doesn’t look like she belongs in the yoga class (or any fitness class). Jessamyn does an excellent job of weaving her tale with yoga flows to fit.For anyone who is living in a world where learning to love your body exactly feels as insurmountable as Mt Everest (thanks to the inundation of the health, beauty, weight loss and fitness messages pushing a single standard of beauty/health/fitness) this book is one to read. You won’t get a “follow me and your life will be perfect” message - instead you will hear “you are not alone, your are normal and you are allowed to unapologetically live your life in the body you have” message. It’s a beautiful book on every level.

I thought this would just be about the physical, technical aspects of being a larger-bodied yogi – but Ms. Stanley has opened my mind up to the entire life-expanding scope of Yoga. And she shows practical application of that path through letting us in on the touching, sometimes messy and difficult lessons of her own life. I found this little book so well written! Never too self-deprecating, confessional, preachy, sanctimonious, precious. I’m so thankful she has made the choices in her life to bring us the gift of this book.Regarding the “profanity” objection so many reviews raise. I’m an older woman who doesn’t personally use profanity and I’m not crazy about hearing it from others. From reviews I expected there to be tons of objectionable language. In actuality, there’s not much - typically used to make a point, or be funny. And really, this is just how Ms. Stanley expresses herself. So what? Big deal. Though we may not want to accept it, girls, grown women, yogis, spiritually evolved folks might use profanity. This is just life. And life is what Ms. Stanley writes about.Finally, this is a really good looking book! The photos are bold and clear. The cover and pages are sturdy.

As a woman who isn’t skinny-skinny, who has big boobs, who has cellulite, who has a belly, and who was intimidated in “traditional” yoga classes with women who weren’t like me, I found Ms. Stanley a breath of much-needed fresh air! I shared this book with friends of all sizes and genders, each of whom said to me, “THIS is what I’ve needed.” This book not only helps people not judge themselves on the mat, but also to not judge ourselves in life. Her philosophy shows me that you don’t have true health until you let go of all of your “mental trashbags” about yourself. Every time I practice, I am starting to throw those trash bags away—sometimes with great and powerful heaves into the dumpster, and sometimes just carrying them a few steps in the dumpster’s direction. Ms. Stanley has also helped me realize that there are other, non-judgmental studios out there. Because of this book, I plucked up the courage to go out and find one where the bodies were all different, all races and religions are represented, all genders along the spectrum are represented, and all of the teachers have “normal” bodies—bellies and all! I am so grateful for this book, not only because of the mental and physical benefits, but also because it gave me inspiration to find a community of loving, supportive, and friendly yogis and yoginis In this big city.

This book was so easy to read because Jessamyn writes to the reader as if we're close friends. She shares deeply personal anecdotes about what brought her to yoga, including the daily struggles that the practice helps her overcome. She is passionate about sharing this healing tool with the world, and as a teacher, her insights are candid, accessible, and highly motivating.While Stanley's approach is incredibly frank and down to earth, this book has something of a magical quality to it. Not only does she give a quick primer on some inspirational, ancient yoga philosophy, but the asana are like ingredients and the flows are like spells one can do for instant relief from common (mostly mental) health ailments. Additionally, the Kindle version is thoroughly indexed and linked for fast, easy navigation. That's an important feature to have when an e-book is a somewhat nonlinear instructional guide.

This was not what I expected. It is so much more. Her attitude reads well on the pages and her sarcasm translates as funny and not bitchy. My daughter is studying to be a yoga instructor and I will be buying this book for her as well. Jessamyn speaks on the non inclusion of people of color in the yoga community as well as the stigma plus size trainers and people who practice. The realest and most down to earth book about yoga in an ignored demographic. Plus size women of color will appreciate this book as there are points to relate to as well as adaptations to yoga poses catered to people that are not the "typical" yoga size.