Do your om thing Bending yoga tradition to fit your modern life

Yoga teacher and blogger (OmGal) Pacheco pays tribute to the roots of yoga and touts its many physical, mental, and spiritual benefits in this inspiring book. Each student, according to this personable instructor, must sift through the pop-culture trapping of modern yoga to find the teachings and truths that ring true for her or him. Pacheco talks about the need to focus inward by using meditation to improve concentration and to, as she explains, protect life force. Pacheco isn't afraid to introduce some complex principles related to Buddhism, chakras (the body's seven energy points), and koshas (five spiritual and physical aspects of the body). She taps into the lessons of ancient sages, discusses ethics as well as principles, and offers practical suggestions on how to apply these teachings in How You Can Do It and Doing Your Om Thing sections found at the end of each chapter. Her gift is her ability to weave traditional yoga wisdom into everyday life and to make the principles so accessible and nonthreatening that even beginning students can be enlightened without feeling overwhelmed.--Smith, Candace Copyright 2015 Booklist

Vinyasa yoga teacher and Omgal.com blogger Pacheco presents a balanced view of how yoga aligns with modern life. The author began yoga at age 16 and has been practicing for 18 years; she and contemporary yoga "grew up together." The text comprises four parts, all emphasizing yoga's more spiritual aspects: "Yoga: Ancient and Modern," "The Body," "The Mind," and "The Spirit." Pacheco stresses that there's much more to it all than asana (yoga postures), celebrity practitioners, and pricy clothing. She delves into the practice's roots, exploring each of the foundational Eight Limbs, or tenets, of yoga in a present-day context. For example, Pacheco urges readers to practice ahimsa (non-harming) in their thoughts and words as well as deeds, and to engage in aparigraha (greedlessness) by "flexing" their sense of gratitude and generosity daily, as they would flex muscles. Though the section on "Body" includes photos of Pacheco in various advanced poses, it focuses more on explaining elusive concepts like chakras and koshas (layers). Elsewhere, in a particularly intriguing section, she proposes that Hindu deities can serve as archetypes in modern readers' individual spiritual journeys. Pacheco's thoughtful approach to yoga's ancient underpinnings is applicable to new and seasoned practitioners alike. Agent: Kathryn Beaumont and Katherine Flynn, Kneerim, Williams & Bloom Agency. (Mar.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.