Taking Yoga Off the Mat (ePub)

A catchy title is the first example of the creative use of metaphors which fill Taking Yoga Off the Mat, by Jenni Carmichael Clark. The philosophy is simple, "We can do hard things ON the mat. So, we can also do hard things when we roll it up and leave. We can handle challenges ON the mat, and we can handle what we face OFF the mat as well."
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While it may sound like a book written for yoga enthusiasts, every chapter introduces imaginative concepts which have universal application. Some messages refer to specific yoga poses where Jenni provides ideas on how to apply the exercise principles in day-to-day life. In the Chapter, Get Your Ticket for The Happiness Express, Jenni pulls back the curtain to the most common, yet elusive, trait we are all seeking... happiness... and shows its relation to (you guessed it) ...yoga!

"I have heard it said that 'Happiness is a decision, not an occurrence.'
That it's something you choose. No matter what comes at you, you can decide
whether to allow it to thwart your joy or strengthen your spirit. That Finding
Joy is not the same as Living in Joy. I learn that in my yoga practice. No matter
what pose I am faced with, or how difficult/easy it might be, I can determine
how to react and manage the challenges it presents. I can choose my response.
And I can take that decision off the mat every time I walk back into the world."
—Taking Yoga Off the Mat pg. 103

In the chapter titled, Taking Child's Pose... Inconceivable! Jenni uses multiple (surprisingly fitting) references from the story, Princess Bride, to show how something perceived as a simpler stretch, the Child's Pose, is much more complex than it appears. Jenni explains, "Child's Pose actually takes me deeper. It gives me a chance to reset, reflect, meditate, and get ready for what comes next in my own time. To find my breath and go deeper inside myself."

Many themes throughout the book speak to the heart of a mother, high-five an adventurer, honor the curiosity and wonderment of a child, and encourage bravery and resilience. Jenni is promoting what she often calls her "Disney Philosophy," which is to Believe in Impossible Things, Have Courage & Be Kind, and Do The Next Right Thing. As Walt Disney said, "Around here, we don't look backwards for very long. We keep moving forward—opening new doors and doing new things—because we're curious. And curiosity keeps leading us down new paths!" Jenni echoes these words of Walt Disney and exclaims, "that's my Alice 'Muchness' philosophy in a nutshell!"

From the beginning in the Author's Note, readers will discover a kindred spirit in Jenni Carmichael Clark. It is as if Jenni has always been the best friend you turn to for encouragement, when you need a good laugh, or are hungry for a reminder that despite all of its adversity, life is a fascinating and worthwhile adventure! In the chapter titled, What's Next? Jenni brings her readers to the ice rink and reminds them that, "Despite bumps in the ice that cause you to take a tumble or two, the skating is amazing!" Towards the end of her book, Jenni gives the compassionate encouragement we all need, "I know firsthand that stars shine more brilliantly in the deep darkness. I've huddled in the dark and gazed at them up there, twinkling. We just do the work and then we let it go—in class and in life. On the mat and off of it."

Jenni began writing reflective essays and thoughts in a blog she started in 2013 called My Own Little Corner by Jenni (myownlittlecornerbyJenni.Wordpress.com). As she found clarity and grace on her yoga mat, Jenni decided to share more of these themes in her first book, Taking Yoga Off the Mat. Learn more at www.TakingYogaOffTheMat.com