Yoke: My Yoga of Self-Acceptance by Jessamyn Stanley

In Sanskrit, yoga means to 'yoke.' In English, 'yoke' refers either to a piece of farming equipment that tethers working animals to a cart or plow, or to the part of a garment where the shoulders meet the body. In both cases, the word indicates a linking together, a gathering into a unity. The meaning is the same for Jessamyn Stanley in this wonderful book on learning to love yourself. The concept of 'yoke' involves connecting the mind and body, bringing the good along with the bad, linking movement and breath, and bringing the lessons learned from yoga to everyday existence. In a series of earnest and funny essays, Stanley explores everything from imposter syndrome, to cannabis, to why yoga in America seems more interested in the perfect pair of leggings than the spiritual dimension of the original practice.