Yoga Noobs; 27 Things to Know About Yoga Blog Tour + Book Giveaway!

Although yoga has been a part of my life for about 5-6 years now, I still feel like a yoga-noob all the time. I very much feel like my practice is growing and still so young and wide-eyed.

Which is why I was quite interested in the recent email I received from Victoria Klein regarding her book- "27 Things to Know About Yoga". Kinda like a primer for yoga, her book is a great starter giving the essentials without the fluff or hippie intimidation (yep, I think hippies can be intimidating... lol).


I was especially interested in her focus on environmental living. As a writer, photographer and eco-consultant she's interested in knitting, sewing, reading and of course, practicing yoga. I'm very pleased that she was willing to answer a few questions, not all of which are yoga-centric. 


Even better, Victoria sent me a reading copy of her book "27 Things to Know About Yoga", which I enjoyed. As I think this book would give a nice lift for those other yoga-noobs out there I'd really like to share the book-love... which means Book Giveaway!! After the fabulous interview, please read instructions on how to win a copy of "27 Things to Know About Yoga" by Victoria Klein!!

 Atreyu inspecting the book. No worries, it's safe from kitten mayhem :)

1. Writing a book about yoga is a pretty big deal. How did you and yoga "meet"? Was it love at first sight, or was there a progression with some bumps along the way?
I met yoga nearly 10 years ago & loved it after my first class. Since then, my practice has had some bumps, including finding the right teachers, relocating to new cities, and simply maintaining my commitment to practice regularly at home. No matter where my life has taken me, I always end up coming back to yoga. Yoga is what you make of it – it does not judge or grade you – it just is what it is. As humans, we assign meaning to things & yoga means the world to me.

  2. With the recent drama regarding Yoga's image in advertising what are your thoughts on the "business" and image of yoga? As a fashion model and photographer does this shift your perspective?

The whole “drama” was a long time coming. Yoga is at a very transformative point in its awareness in Western culture. Yoga is still very much a physical & spiritual practice, but it also has a business side to it. You can’t have an effective yoga studio if you don’t manage the business correctly; the same goes for brands that focus on selling to yoga practitioners.

As someone who is personally & professionally interested in visual arts, especially photography (both in front of & behind the camera), I think I do have a different perspective on yoga’s business and image. Should we use sex or sexy-ness to sell yoga or yoga products? No. Should we use sex to sell anything? No – but we do anyway, because it works. Advertising is another business altogether & I don’t claim to know it well.

I’m not against using sexy concepts to get folks interested in yoga. I personally believe that once folks actually try yoga, whether their reasons are sex-related or not, they will grow to love yoga for other reasons – the practice has an unwavering ability to constantly surprise people. In actuality, yoga has little to do with sex at all, and that needs to be reinforced in classes, but advertisers are advertisers & removing the “sex sells” mantra will be a long uphill battle.

3. Although 27 Things to Know About Yoga is obviously about yoga, you have many other passions in your life including a pretty intense focus on environmentally friendly living. How do you see Yoga meshing with eco-friendly living? 
Yoga meshes seamlessly with living a sustainable life. As I highlight in 27 Things to Know About Yoga, the spiritual side of yoga includes commandment-esque values like non-harming, truthfulness, non-stealing, and non-possessiveness. All of these values can be related to our treatment of ourselves, each other, animals, natural resources, and our overall environment.

I often use practicing yoga & food as an example. As you practice yoga, your diet naturally changes – you want to keep your body healthy and strong, so you start to gravitate towards fresh fruits and vegetables instead of processed and packaged foods. The same can be said for practicing yoga & living sustainably.
There is both a wonderful organization & book (not related) on the subject. California-based Green Yoga Association helps yoga studios run their operations more sustainably, get their students interested in green living, and be an active part of their community. Canada’s Georg & Brenda Feuerstein wrote Green Yoga, a frank connection between environmental preservation and the ethical concepts of yoga.

4. I've read that you're married (and had an "eco-wedding blog" but I can't find it anymore... :(- I'm getting married in October and it would have been a fun read). Does your husband share your eco and yoga views? Do you practice together and if so, did you introduce him to yoga? If not, has it been difficult to mesh eco-living with someone of a different perspective?

Yes and no. He is an eco-yogi, but not nearly as committed as I am. I was the one who introduced him to yoga & we have taken a few classes together, but he doesn’t maintain a regular practice. Whenever he is sore from a workout or military event, the first thing I do is recommend a few yoga poses. Though he has only taken a few classes, he vividly remembers how great they made him feel, so he usually takes my advice. When it comes to living sustainably, we do see eye-to-eye on just about everything, though sometimes I do have to remind him of our environmental impacts. 

5. Why did you write the book, 27 Things to Know About Yoga? 

To dispel the ever-present myths about yoga. From coffee shops and airports to restaurants and local streets, I meet folks that think yoga is nothing but funny-looking poses for flexible people. It’s these myths that are keeping millions of people from experiencing the fantastic possibilities of a yoga practice. I wanted to write a book that could explain yoga to anyone.

6. If you only had one "Thing" you could tell someone about Yoga, what would it be?

You can do yoga – yes, you, behind that computer, smart phone or iPad. No ifs, ands, or buts.

******

Wow! Thank you very much Victoria for answering so thoughtfully.

Now for the extra fun bit- Win the book!

How: In the comment section tell me how you are a "yoga-noob". I'll need some way to identify you, so a name at least would be ideal. :) You have until this Sunday, September 12th to enter. I'll put all the names in a hat and announce the winner!

Good luck!