Assessment:
Plot: Hrehirchuk’s story gently swings between descriptions of her day-to-day family life and career obligations and her retreat from physical pain and stress through a year of yoga. The author describes her pain as motivation for taking steps to relax and enjoy her personal and professional life. The detailed acknowledgment of the narrator’s growth over her year of yoga is inspiring, funny, and heartwarming, and the narrative comes full circle at the end, focusing on the blessings of family.
Prose: Prose is often poetic and eloquent, mirroring the calmness and elegance of yoga practice. Hrehirchuk integrates Yoga and meditation terminology as she discovers the practices first-hand. Hrehirchuk’s warm, relatable voice as narrator will keep readers invested, while leading them to accept that they too could aspire to such a spiritual journey.
Originality: Hrehirchuk’s descriptions of detailed yoga practice poses lends authenticity to the memoir. The use of inspirational quotes offers a sense of closure at the end of each chapter, while they serve as broader reflections on the author’s journey. The witty chapter titles provide a humorous and playful reprieve from the more serious underlying subject matter—rehabilitating oneself physically and spiritually.
Character Development: In addition to the author herself, primary characters in this memoir are her mind, body, and soul in need of care and repair. Hrehirchuk powerfully emphasizes the connection between the physical and psychological. References to outside characters, including a steadfast friend, a yoga guide, and fellow yogis serve as touchstones.
Date Submitted: May 22, 2018
A profound and thought-provoking read in which the author shares her journey through motherhood, family, and work. Yoga is a union of body, mind, and spirit and is available everywhere, even in boiling eggs, according to the author. The book teaches readers presence, patience, compassion, and forgiveness and how the real cause of suffering is what the mind conjures up. The power of yoga, meditation, writing, and creativity is highlighted and the author's words are like a soothing balm that will help to open the lens of awareness and possibilities around everyone.
