A dear student asked me after class this week if I had any good book recommendations. I'd just shared a few quotes in class from the inspiring Brene Brown, and he mentioned he liked the kinds of things I often spoke about in class. I thought it would be good to start sharing those things right here on this blog, so you can all fall in love with them too.
One of the books that my first beloved yoga teacher recommended to me when I was going through a particularly tough time (as this student is), was "When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times".
Pema Chodron is a Buddhist teacher who I can't talk about enough - she gives fabulous interpretations of Tibetan philosophy that Western audiences love, and they're so accessible that I've referred to her over and over again - personally and professionally.
What is this book in particular about?
How can we go on living when things fall apart—when we are overcome by pain, fear, and anxiety? Pema Chödrön’s answer to that question contains some spectacularly good news: there is a fundamental happiness readily available to each one of us, no matter how difficult things seem to be. To find it, according to traditional Buddhist teaching, we must learn to stop running from suffering and instead actually learn to approach it—fearlessly, compassionately, and with curiosity. This radical practice enables us to use all situations, even very painful ones, as means for discovering the truth and love that are utterly indestructible. (Source)
I also love and often quote another of her books - "Start Where You Are". There are so many goodies in her works but When Things Fall Apart is often the first book I encourage students to delve into as it's so relatable. I'd love to hear if any of you have read it!
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