Downward Dog Upward Fog by Meryl Davids Landau
Publisher: Alignment Publishing Company
Pages: 296
Format: print
Buy the Book: Amazon
Goodreads: Lorna Crawford has a great boyfriend, longtime friends, and a well-paying job as special- events coordinator at a premium ice-cream manufacturer. But, out of sorts and filled with self-doubt, the 33 year old soon realizes that what she really wants is to stay on the spiritual path she keeps diving off of. Lorna jump-starts her efforts at a silent yoga retreat. But after returning from the mountain, she quickly loses her connection in the face of scheming coworkers, judgmental girlfriends, and, especially, her overly critical mother. Lorna also wrestles over her future with her boyfriend, a hot guy who takes her to the hottest places, but who can’t discern a meditation cushion from a toad stool. Reading spiritual books and visiting a channeler and energy healer move Lorna forward, but her confusion remains. Lorna’s seeking is put to the ultimate test when personal tragedy strikes. Will she come to truly understand that living spiritually has little to do with how you pretzel yourself on the yoga mat (although she gets plenty good at that), and everything to do with embracing the twists in everyday life?
Kritters Thoughts: Lorna is a daughter, sister, co-worker and friend. At times each one of these titles and the people that make her these titles causes her stress. Throughout the book she tries out techniques to use to center herself and find more of the good in each situation. At times, her struggles were resolved quite easily in comparison to the "real" world interactions the reader would encounter.
A piece of fiction that made me reflect on my daily interactions with co-workers and friends, this doesn't happen often. I was engrossed in Lorna's battle with becoming more centered, yet having to interact with co-workers that caused stress and a mother that pushed every button imaginable. I took her struggle to heart and was able to start thinking about the techniques she used and try to place them in my every day life. Although, this wasn't a self-help book - this book can help the reader find some of the things that she does useful to their everyday life.
I would recommend this book to those who have always seen the yogi existence as something that is too big to be achieved, but instead in parts some of her exercises can be incorporated into one's life. We could all find a little positivity and yogi in our lives.
Rating: absolutely loved it and want a sequel
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one copy of this book free of charge from the author. I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the book; rather, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.
I'm about halfway through this one and definitely enjoying it, too! Though novels often getting me thinking about my own life, it's a rare thing to find myself using tips set forth in a book. I've definitely been thinking about getting more "centered" and even took a yoga class myself.
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