Open Body (1998)
"I love this book! Open Body quenched my soul thirst. As a person who was afraid of 'doing yoga wrong,' I found healing invitations in this book that caused me to breathe deeply and do a somersault." —Sark
Knowing of my lifelong quest in the department of self-healing, my friends have often asked me for guidance in dealing with aches and pains and chronic stiffness. So one year, for a Christmas present for friends, I made a little booklet of musings about various yoga-related topics and asked my friend Vance Lawry to illustrate the gift with his inspiring gesture drawings. My literary agent of that moment said if I would expand the text she might sell the book. So I did, and she did. In 1998. To Avon. Big New York publisher.
Despite my previous nightmarish experiences with the New York multinational corporate publishers, I had high hopes for my little missive. Alas, they not only spent as little time and money as they possibly could to make the book, they back-listed it (took it out of print) BEFORE it was formally published. Officially, the book sold four hundred copies. However, it continues to sell on the internet (for which I get nothing) and has brought me letters from yoga teachers and grateful readers from far and wide in America, England, Italy, Australia, and India. I do have a limited supply of new copies (for $10):
I have made notes for twelve new chapters should I ever have the energy to create a revised edition.
The book seems especially helpful for people recuperating from injury, and has been called “a wonderful encouragement” by more than one serious yoga person.