Jul 24 2008
Mindful Yoga, Mindful Life [book]
I am not clear who the audience for this book is intended to be. This is not an instructional book on asanas, not a memoir, nor a how-to for enlightenment. 
My sense is this text is intended to gently introduce deeper yogic philosophies - the Eight Limbs, the idea of mindfulness, the establishment of your own practice. In this sense, the book succeeds.
Starting off each chapter with Charlotte Bell’s personal experiences provides an accessible access point for jumping into, say, the Fourth Limb of Pranayama. Sutras are quoted, which Bell supports with her own insights. She breaks down complex concepts in a supportive, understandable manner.
Each chapter then closes with a small series of reflective questions for the reader’s personal growth.
The book strikes me, most usefully, as a philosophy course textbook for beginning yoga students.
It’s not a relaxing bedside read or a gripping story. It’s the kind of book you want to read one chapter from after each yoga class, with a notebook to journal your reflective responses to questions asked.
I could readily see highlighting nuggets of wisdom to help better learn/understand the Eightfold Path, using the text as a reference book. I might pull out a chapter later, and then meditate on that theme in Savasana.
One could also possibly use this as focus for a book club, where readers discuss their own insights and anecdotes, relating them to Bell’s experience.
Basically, although I at first thought this was to be a sit-down story, memoir-type book, I quickly realized this a workbook in disguise. Not that there is anything wrong with that! 
It’s just not what I was expecting from reading the Amazon.com blurb.
Mindful Yoga, Mindful Life: A Guide for Everyday Practice
Stumble it!
Interesting, but I prefer doing my practice
I come from the Tai Chi corner, but I respect true Yogis/Yoginis a lot. Your book descriptions are awesome! Keep on doing that.You write clear and good for the audience - one gets the point.
Tai Chi and Yoga do have a lot in common but they are different ways. Reading and studying what you practice is both important I guess. We all didn`t start our artforms by “practicing” did we?
The more detailed explanations are the deeper the understanding gets. The deeper the understanding, the better your teachings and the better your teachings the better your students. The better your students are, the more happiness you`ve created. Think about this…