Yoga Bitch by Suzanne Morrison.

Maggie is a very dear friend to me.  We met in kindergarten and we have been friends ever since.  We have been separated by time and distance but, no matter how long it has been since we last spoke, we are always able to pick up right where we left off.  My entire childhood and teenage years are bursting with memories of Maggie: our silly clubs (there was an Archie fan club, a cooking club, and a babysitting club, just to name a few), an intense fight one slumber-party-night over who loved Jordan of New Kids on the Block more, and the woefully pathetic crushes (and, let's face it, stalking) that plagued our high school years (we didn't call ourselves social lepers for nothing).  Maggie is also where I have always turned for legendary conversations about life and love.  We share a sense of humor that I've never found with anyone else and she can make me laugh like nobody's business.  


Maggie is to me what Yoga Bitch is to memoirs.  Reading it was like an epic conversation with an old friend.  Perhaps I am flattering myself, but I think Morrison, Maggie and I would have a great time over dinner.  I first pulled Morrison's Yoga Bitch from the library shelf because who wouldn't be intrigued by such a title?  I have been practicing yoga for several years, on and off.  Yoga and I were currently on a break when this cover attracted my eye and I thought the memoir might help us kiss and make up.


I loved loved loved this book.  I think the phrase "could not put it down" was coined after this book was published.  Morrison narrates this memoir and her voice is strong, honest and convincing.  She had me laughing out loud (the "pissdrinkers" references still make me chuckle) and soaking up her view of the culture of both yoga and Bali.

Yoga Bitch begins by introducing us to mid-twenties Morrison, a recent college graduate living in Seattle.  She is in a loving but somewhat lackluster relationship, suffering from a semi-paralyzing fear of death and eternally pondering the existence of God.  One night she wanders in to a Capitol Hill yoga studio and her adventure is born.

Morrison discovers a passion for yoga and a borderline obsession with Indra, her yoga instructor.  Seeking the spirituality and enlightenment she believes Indra possesses, Morrison travels to Bali for a two month yoga retreat.  Through yoga, Balinese culture, and her fellow yogis, Morrison learns some surprising things about herself and teaches much to the reader along the way.  


Yoga Bitch is equal parts hilarious and insightful.  Morrison is witty, self-deprecating, and brilliant.  I loved her candid approach to everything and the way she said things out loud that most of us would only dare to whisper in our heads.  She reminded me of all the things I love about yoga and I could relate very much to her spiritual quest.  I'm not usually one to re-read books, even those that I have loved (the exception being The Diary of Anne Frank, which I have read many times...it's funny how I know how it ends but each time I find myself hoping it will be different).  But although the title might imply something shallow and silly, Morrison's Yoga Bitch is anything but.  This is a book I want to buy and have on my shelf and a book I already want to read again.  Oh, and yoga and I are totally back on again.