Rating: 
Summary: A great addition to any Yogis library
Review: "Meditations From the Mat" is a wonderful way to learn the eight limbs of yoga. Rolf gates recommends reading one essay a day. Each of them not only outline Gates personal path, but encourages the reader to look into his/her own heart to discover the meaning of these ancient, yet timeless truths for themselves.
Yoga is a personal journey that is never exactly the same for each of us. This simple yet at times deeply profound book is a beautiful, effortless guide to help each yogi find their own way.
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Summary: Yoga for thinkers
Review: As one who has never attended a Yoga class, I am fascinated by this book because I feel as though I am doing Yoga as I sit and read and think, read and think. Yoga is so much more than being on a mat, although that experience is certainly most central to the discipline. What I am discovering is the meaning of the discipline. I am able to envision the physical movements as I sort out, mentally, the meaning of my imagined activity. Because Gates puts his readers through stages of using their minds, he also expects those readers to repeat those stages over and over. In repeating the exercises, readers bring new thoughts and experiences to the reading activity and each exposure is different from the last one. As such, the book is always new, exciting, provocative, mysterious, riveting.
Rating: 
Summary: Anonymity
Review: For many years, we in A.A. have appreciated the support we have received from our friends in the media. You have assisted in saving countless lives. We seek your continued cooperation in protecting the anonymity of our members at the public level. We ask, therefore, that in presenting A.A. members: you use first names only you do not use pictures in which their faces may be recognized. Anonymity lies at the heart of our Fellowship and assures our members that their recovery will be private. Often, the active alcoholic will avoid any source of help which might reveal his or her identity. Alcoholics Anonymous is not affiliated with any other organization, although many have adapted A.A.'s Twelve Steps for their own use. A.A. is self-supporting, declining outside contributions; and we are non-professional, offering only the voluntary support of one alcoholic helping another. Throughout the world, favorable media coverage has been one of the principal means of bringing alcoholics into our Fellowship. You have helped make this possible, and for that we thank you.
Rating: 
Summary: Teaches that yoga is much more than just a physical practice
Review: I am a fairly casual yoga practitioner; I've just begun to try to incorporate asana (posture) practice on an almost daily basis. This book goes beyond the practice of yoga postures and takes you deep into the philosophy behind yoga. It contains a series of essays and reflections, one for each day of the year; each entry begins with a quote derived from yoga texts, popular culture, or yoga students and teachers. The book is broken down into eight sections which correspond to the eight branches of yoga--the postures, or asanas, are just one of these branches, and the essays focus on incorporating yoga into your daily life both on AND off the mat. Although I found most of the essays to be interesting and enjoyed learning more about yogic traditions, I felt that the book had limited applicability to my own practice, which is more limited to asana. However, those who are interested in integrating yoga/yogic philosophy more pervasively into their lives are likely to enjoy this book.
Rating:
Summary: Teaches that yoga is much more than just a physical practice
Review: I am a fairly casual yoga practitioner; I've just begun to try to incorporate asana (posture) practice on an almost daily basis. This book goes beyond the practice of yoga postures and takes you deep into the philosophy behind yoga. It contains a series of essays and reflections, one for each day of the year; each entry begins with a quote derived from yoga texts, popular culture, or yoga students and teachers. The book is broken down into eight sections which correspond to the eight branches of yoga--the postures, or asanas, are just one of these branches, and the essays focus on incorporating yoga into your daily life both on AND off the mat. Although I found most of the essays to be interesting and enjoyed learning more about yogic traditions, I felt that the book had limited applicability to my own practice, which is more limited to asana. However, those who are interested in integrating yoga/yogic philosophy more pervasively into their lives are likely to enjoy this book.
Rating:
Summary: The philosophy of yoga
Review: I am a fairly casual yoga practitioner; I've just begun to try to incorporate yoga practice on an almost daily basis. This book goes beyond the practice of yoga postures and takes you deep into the philosophy behind yoga. It contains a series of essays and reflections, one for each day of the year; each entry begins with a quote derived from yoga texts, popular culture, or yoga students and teachers. The book is broken down into eight sections which correspond to the eight branches of yoga--the postures, or asanas, are just one of these branches, and the essays focus on incorporating yoga into your daily life both on and OFF the mat. Although I found most of the essays to be interesting and enjoyed learning more about yoga, ultimately, I do not see yoga affecting every aspect of my life as the author describes. However, those who are interested in integrating yoga/yogic philosophy into everything they do are likely to enjoy this book.
Rating:
Summary: Finally, a yoga book for everyone.
Review: I have a dozen yoga pose books gathering dust on my shelf. This book has been in my hands every day since I bought it. Having bought one for a yogi friend, I flipped through it, and had to get a copy for myself -- and also for my friend in recovery, a New Age friend, and several others who don't even do yoga, but who will love the tone and message of this inspiring collection. The authors bring yoga out of the yoga studio and into everyday life. In these 365 short personal essays, Rolf Gates, a young yoga teacher, talks about what it means to really live according the principles of yoga. It is really about living well, and thoughtfully, with compassion for yourself and others. Each day's reflection begins with a quote, and they are great. This must be the only book on the market that quotes from Leonard Skynard, the movie ALmost Famous, the Yoga Sutras, Henry Thoreau, Martin Luther King, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. . .Gates finds his isnpiration everywhere, and that's just the point he makes: We are all living our yoga all the time. Even on days when I don't get near my yoga mat, I am reading this book. Two minutes grounds me for the day. This book is for everyone on any kind of a spiritual path, and for anyone who needs a helping hand staying on track -- which certainly must be all of us.
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Summary: This book is phenomenal!
Review: I have just recently gotten into yoga and I can't believe what a godsend this book is! I feel like I have a teacher and an incredible coach right at my fingertips whenever I need it. I have given this book to some of my dearest friends and we actually call each other to read excerpts every time they seem to "speak directly to our lives"--which feels like all the time. I am getting incredible guidance from this. Really, this book is a gem. (This is the first time I have actually felt moved to write one of these reviews--that has to say something.)
Rating:
Summary: Meditations from the Mat: a daily dose of inspiration
Review: Mediations from the Mat is a one-a-day vitamin for the yogic soul. There are 365 essays here designed to nourish you on your journey off and on the mat. If you practice yoga, you will appreciate this book. If you like thought-provoking quotes, you'll find them here. If you're on a path toward spiritual and emotional well being, this book is for you. Grasping Patanjali's 8-limb path is a daunting task. Gates, along with gifted writer/editor Katrina Kenison, simplifies these lessons by presenting them through examples of his own life experiences and discoveries. What I like best about this book is that it's simple and it's Real. Anybody can relate to these stories of suffering, joy, tragedy, and love, regardless of whether they practice yoga. So with each daily reading, we begin to realize that yoga is not some esoteric, mountain-top guru thing, but a means of meeting ourselves and learning our truth -- simply by showing up on our mats and in our lives. Gates doesn't claim to have answers. He gives us what he has to give: the lessons he has learned through the erratic, grace-filled ride he's had so far. As the essays gradually build on one another, we begin to understand that amid our suffering, fear, and doubt, we can "experience a visceral sense of belonging in a universe held together by love." If you take in one of these essays each day, you will nourish your soul. No doubt about it. I'm only on Day 31 and I feel the difference already!
Rating:
Summary: Simply fantastic
Review: One of the best books I have ever read.
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