Book Review

Yoga for Diabetes

How to Manage Your Health

with Yoga and Ayurveda

by Rachel Zinman

Monkfish Book Publishing

314 Pages

 

As a long time practitioner and teacher of Kundalini Yoga, I am well aware of the benefits of yoga and meditation. Like the author, I was deathly afraid of getting diabetes. My beloved grandmother, who raised me, died from complications and I have several cousins who had/have it. Of course, when I was diagnosed, I forgot all about the methods that would be most beneficial to my well-being.

This book brings it back into focus for me. Ms. Zinman has gone above and beyond in describing diabetes, it’s symptoms (which are many), and what we can do about it using yoga, breath and Ayurveda.

Ayurveda is an ancient science of healing, depending upon your body type. She explains how each of us is a combination of “doshas”, our own individual, unique constitution. About halfway through the book, there is a questionnaire to find out your personal dosha(s). This is one of the better questionnaires I have seen, as I find that figuring out your dosha is confusing at best, as you are just never one dosha.

Once you figure that out, there are specific asanas (exercise sequences) for your dosha(s), complete with the times they should be done. Toward the end of the book, there is a chart of diabetic symptoms, the dosha it relates to and the different yoga sequences and pranayama (breathwork) for that symptom, along with a list of specific postures to benefit that symptom.

The book is chock-full of breath meditations, asanas and beautiful full color photographs of each exercise and sequence along with written directions for each.

Ms. Zinman talks about our lives, our bodies, our minds, our breath and how it is all pulled together to make us who we are.

There is a myriad of information in this book. While it is specifically marketed to those with diabetes, the practice the author describes in this book is perfect for almost everyone.

If you, or a loved one, has diabetes, do them a favor and pick up this book. While not everyone will be able to do every thing, there is still much to benefit each of us in the pages of this book.

Yoga For Diabetes: How to Manage your Health with Yoga and Ayurveda on Amazon

 

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About the Author:

Susan Morgaine is a Priestess, Healer, Witch, Writer, and Teacher.

She is entering her 21st year teaching Kundalini Yoga and Meditation, being a Certified instructor through the Kundalini Research Institute.

She is a Certified Women’s Empowerment Coach/Facilitator through Imagine A Woman International, founded by Patricia Lynn Reilly. She has long been involved in Goddess Spirituality and Feminism, teaching classes and workshops, including Priestessing local Red Tents.

She is a monthly columnist with PaganPages.org Her writings can be found in The Girl God Anthologies, “Whatever Works: Feminists of Faith Speak” and “Jesus, Mohammed and the Goddess”, as well as Mago Publications “She Rises, Volume 2, and “Celebrating Seasons of the Goddess”. She is the author of “My Name is Isis, the Egyptian Goddess”, part of the “My Name is ” series of children’s book. She has also been published in Jareeda and SageWoman magazines.

She is a a Reiki Master and a proud member of the Sisterhood of Avalon. She can be found at MysticalShores.com