The Reluctant Yogi: A Quirky Guide to the Practice That Can Change Your Life by Carla McKay is exactly what it’s title says it is, a quirky guide. I initially picked up this book thinking it would be a personal journey into the English author’s practice and because I always enjoy the voice in which English authors write. The book really gives far more history and information than I expected in a light and sometimes cynical way.
Ms. McKay starts out talking about her experience about how she got on her mat for the same reasons most of do (wanting to feel physically better), but then transitions into the history, description, and social commentary on the current state of yoga in the world. While I like her tone, I feel it makes the book slightly disjointed.
One aspect of the book I really did like is the appendixes; the first is on types of yoga, the second on yoga blogs, and the third is a recipe for kitcheree, which I may have to try.
Overall, this is a nice overview of yoga. It doesn’t go into deep detail, but I don’t think that is what she intended. I would have liked a little more about her experience, and less of the information.
