I own two copies of this book. I have read one of them, cover to cover, twice. It is like a work book - full of pencil notes and so many page tabs and bookmarks. It is very dog-eared, even though I have only had it since the start of 2022, which was the year I did Norman’s 9 day Yin Intensive. The other copy is a pristine, signed copy which I will cherish.
I have many books on yoga, yin yoga, anatomy, sequencing, philosophy etc. This one is my favourite by far, as it has a little bit of everything which is needed, and nothing which is unnecessary. Its dog-eared condition is perhaps testament to that. But more than that: it is poetic. Yes, it has poetry in it, but the book itself is like poetry, an ode to yin.
I flicked through it once again before writing this. It brought a warm feeling to me and I smiled reading (for the 3rd or 4th time) the story of the ‘Two Wolves’. Norman has created this book with so much care and love, it oozes out of each page, his love for the practice and his love of humanity. Even the cover itself - so wonderfully tactile to touch.
He has included everything that I would wish to have in such a book. The meridian chart is a wonderful additional tool, to have all of that information available at a glance.
The allegories, stories and quotations are all means of a turning inwards, as with the practice, allowing us to become more aware, more like our true nature, and become more human.
The photography is subtle, fitting sattvic photographs of trees and nature and the dullness of the matt pages really lends itself to the imagery, and to the practice of yin yoga as a whole. A quiet practice.
One of the many things I love about the book is that the majority of the poses photographed are of Norman and his wife, Maitripushpa. I don’t want to say ‘real’ people, but what I mean is ordinary bodies. Bodies that are the same age as me. Not young, glamorous and scantily clad nubile women, bent into pretzel style poses.
This beautiful book is the first one I recommend to people wanting to know more about yin, and I have bought it as a gift for friends. I haven’t done that with any of the other books related to yoga and there is much to be said for that! This book and the practice of yin have most certainly brightened my inner sky.
You can buy it from many outlets including the following links:
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