An old classic modernised

Walk into any bookshop today (assuming you can find one) and you’ll see whole shelves of yoga books. It wasn’t like that in 1997. Back then, yoga was only slowly becoming mainstream. Information was still hard to find.

I decided that I needed to write a book based on my years of teaching and practising yoga.

This book would express one of my passions. It would help people, no matter their level of experience, take up home practice.

I sold my book idea, ‘Teach Yourself Yoga’ to a publisher. My editor wasn’t much for doing exercise. She said: If you can write this book so that even I feel inspired to get up and do yoga, you will have succeeded. I was delighted when I sent her the first chapter and she congratulated me with the words, Keep on keeping on!

Despite having no prior book writing experience, it took me only five months to write the book. I finished it on the exact day it was due.

It was a kick to see my book being sold in major bookshops and in airport terminals. ‘Teach Yourself Yoga’ sold well enough that the publisher did another print run. That one sold, too.

Eventually I bought the book rights and did several print runs of a spiral bound version of the book. Then, I wrote another book, sold my yoga studio and moved to the country. My love for writing about yoga was channelled into blogging, which I’ve done for over 14 years.

In the back of my mind, and encouraged by my husband Daniel and dear friend Collyn Rivers, I’ve thought about bringing Teach Yourself Yoga back to life. Now, this classic book has moved with the times. There’s a modern version for tablets of all kinds, as well as print-on-demand for those who like holding real books or having them on their bookshelves.

I feel quite affectionate about this book. I believe it does deliver on its promise of inspiring the reader to do yoga, to follow the simple programs and to reap the many benefits of this ancient discipline. It is written in an accessible, inclusive style to reach a wide audience of young and old, male and female and people from all walks of life.

I think the book’s photographic models are inspiring, their ages spanning the decades from 30’s to late 60’s. I can say that even though we have all aged since the photos were taken, yoga has kept us in good health since ‘Teach Yourself Yoga’ was first published.

Where can you get ‘Teach Yourself Yoga’?

Paperback.

If you live in the USA or Europe you can get the paperback from Amazon for US$15.95. https://www.amazon.com/dp/0648794504/ref=rdr_ext_tmb. The book is print-on-demand – they have machines that will produce just the one book you want in a few days. It’s great if you live in the US, Canada or Europe where they have the machinery to produce the books.

Avoid getting the book from Amazon if you live in Australia.  Amazon doesn’t do their printing here. Delivery is only promised to be dispatched in a month or two and is only free for Prime members.

The book has now been widely released by IngramSpark Publishing, so local on-line bookshops should begin listing it soon.  The best option right now is the Book Depository (bookdepository.com).  They are selling it for A$20.67 with free delivery. Shipping is within 3 business days.

eBook.

The Kindle version is available from Amazon.  US$7.41 or A$11.99.

Booktopia sells the ePub version which works on Kobo, iOS, Android.  A$12.35.

It should be available on Apple Books soon for the iPad.