I’m adding to my list of favorite books to suggest in pregnancy.   Boston resident (and friend of mine) Ananda Lowe has written a FANTASTIC book all about what you need to know to give birth in the US today.  

It’s called “The Doula Guide to Birth: Secrets Every Pregnant Woman Should Know”  and it’s chock full of helpful tips from Ananda’s years as a doula, prenatal massage therapist, and employee at ALACE (I took her job at ALACE when she left in 2003, and learned much of what I know about pregnancy, birth and postpartum while working there). 

I like this book because it’s very open to all the possibilities of what someone may want in their birth.   I don’t think this book leaves anyone out – she speaks to single moms, lesbian moms, twin moms, and the dads/partners of said moms.  

A student of mine mentioned that she thought the book pushed the idea of getting a doula a little too much.   I’m such a fan of having a doula that I didn’t notice that at all, but I guess someone who knows they do not want a doula might experience that as well.  However, even if you know you don’t want a doula, I found information in this book that is hard to find written about anywhere else, so I still think it’s a great read.

Enjoy!

Barrett

I want to try to review a book and DVD every month, starting in March (in just the nick of time).  This is a new feature of the blog – keep me honest and help me out by sending suggestions!

I picked up this new book a few months ago, called “Metamorphosis.”  It’s mostly a picture book – in fact, it’s going on my coffee table for frequent perusal after this post.  The pictures document some of our most creative asanas, and how the yogis envisioned each asana.   Most of the asanas pictured are of animals and nature (lion, fish, tree, mountain, etc) and the artist does a great job creating a hybrid of the namesake and of the yoga asana as you can see here.  Pictured is Bakasana, or Crane Pose (also called Crow Pose).   

For any of you who have ever wondered *why* certain postures are named as they are, this book may help expand your boundaries and see the poetry in the names, which in turn may help you remember what the postures are called.   

The book’s sparse text also reminds me that there is an intention in each posture, a spirit of the pose.   I’ve always loved thinking about that when I practice and teach.  The text for the above picture says, “In Bakasana, the yogi envisions himself as a graceful and rounded waterfowl, extending his neck forward to graze among the reeds.” 

I’m going to focus on the grace of this posture, instead of just the strength, next time I practice.   It’s a sweet, simple book that is a pleasure to look at and practice from!

Namaste,

Barrett