Poser: My Life in Twenty-three Yoga Poses

hestudiowasdecoratedinthestyleofDon'tBeAfraid,We'reNotaCult.Allwaswhiteandblondandclean,asthoughtheroomhadbeendesignedforsurgery,orSwedishpeople.TheonlyspotofcolorcamefromtheTibetanprayerflagsstrungoverthedoorwayintothestudio.InflagrantdefianceofmylongtimepolicyofneverenteringastructureadornedwithTibetanprayerflags,Iremovedmyshoes,paidmytenbucks,andwalkedin...Tenyearsago,ClaireDedererputherbackoutwhilebreastfeedingherbabydaughter.Toldtotryyogabyeveryonefromthewomanbehindthecounterattheco-optothehomelessguyonthecorner,shesignedupforherfirstclass.Shefellmadlyinlove.Overthenextdecade,shewouldtackletriangle,wheel,andthedreadedcrow,becomingfastfriendswithsomeposesanddevelopinglong-standingfeudswithothers.Atthesametime,shefoundherselfconfrontingtheforcesthatshapedhergeneration.Daughtersofwomenwhoranawaytofindthemselvesandmadeafewmessesalongtheway,Dedererandherpeersgrewupdeterminedtobegood,good,good—evenifthismeantfeelinghemmedinbythesmugnessoftheirorganic-buying,attachment-parenting,anxiouslyconscientiouslittleworld.Yogaseemedtofitrightintothisvirtuousprogram,buttohersurprise,Dedererfoundthatthedeepershewentintotheposes,themoretheytestedhermostbasicideasofwhatmakesagoodmother,daughter,friend,wife—andthemoretheymadeherwantsomethingalittlelesstidy,alittlemoreimprovisational.Lessgoodness,morejoy.Poserisunlikeanyotherbookaboutyogayouwillread—becauseitisactuallyabookaboutlife.Wittyandheartfelt,sharpandirreverent,Poserisforanyonewhohasevertriedtostandontheirheadwhilekeepingbothfeetontheground.