Amy V. Dewhurst - Heartbreak Yoga: Learning to Survive and Thrive Through Yoga, Meditation, and Laughter

The information contained in this book is based upon the personal and professional experiences of the author. It is not intended as a substitute for consulting with your physician or other healthcare provider. Any attempt to diagnose and treat any physical condition should be done under the direction of a healthcare professional.

The publisher does not advocate the use of any particular healthcare protocol but believes the information in this book should be available to the public. The publisher and author are not responsible for any adverse effects or consequences resulting from the use of the suggestions, preparations, or procedures discussed in this book. Should the reader have any questions concerning the appropriateness of any procedures or preparation mentioned, the author and the publisher strongly suggest consulting a professional healthcare advisor.

CHANGING LIVES PRESS

50 Public Square #1600

Cleveland, OH 44113

www.changinglivespress.com

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available through the Library of Congress.

Copyright 2013 by Amy Dewhurst
ISBN: 9780988247659

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission from the author.

Editor: Shari Johnson

Cover and Interior design: Gary A. Rosenberg

Heartbreak Yoga logo designed by Zo Kors

Heart Organ (page 6), heart dividing symbol (page 11), Chakra Girl (page 15), and Hanuman (page 246) by Larissa Hise Henoch

Heart chakra image (page 13) by Paul Heussenstamm

Yoga photography and cover photo by Kelli McCarty

Dancing Nataraj (page 86) by David Young-Wolff

Author photo by Rafaela Hess

Cover and yoga model: Jo Newman

Printed in the United States of America

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Sara Elizabeth Ivanhoe, Master Yogi, Scholar, Celebrity Wellness Coach, TV Personality

Venice Beach, California May, 2008

Sooooo, why do you think youd want to work for a yoga instructor?

Well, Ive been working in the film industry for years and I just want something more meaningful, something I cant really explain it.

Uh, huh ?

I know I dont really have experience in your field, but Im a fast learner.

Ok, well, do you like dogs?

Love them. Oh, shes so cute! Whats her name?

Agatha. Aggie. You can call her Ag.

Ag. Hi, Ag. Im Amy. AwwwAg. Schmag. Can I call her Schmag?

Do we have a choice?

In the yoga world, we call it a Lila. The Sanskrit word Lila essentially means play. The word can refer to watching a play, being playful, or my favoritewhen the gods are PLAYING with you.

A few hours earlier, a 27-year-old, hot, blonde Venice surfer chic went into her production job a little too tired and hung over and just snapped. She was, as we say over it. When the boss headed out to a meeting, she scanned the internet for job postings and came upon one for a yoga instructor needing help running her business.

How hard could that be? she asked herself. A yoga instructor? You mean get paid to sit around stretching? Sign me up! That job is mine.

But it says here that you must love dogsyoure allergic, the friend at the next desk jealously rained on the parade.

Ill fake it. Ill keep that smelly thing away from me, itll be gone within months. You watch. Im giving my notice tomorrow.

The Lila joke was on her. If she had known what she was getting herself into, she might never have taken the first step. Who would have known that not only did she become magically un-allergic to dogs, but that Agatha would become her best friend, co-worker, and the catalyst for her heart cracking open. Somehow once it felt safe to love a dog the flood gates opened. (Turns out that Ag is not really a dog, but a Bodhisattva in a dogs bodywe tricked Amy.) If she had known that she would become an embodied yogini and dedicated to the practice and study of both the physical and philosophical aspects of yoga, she might have said Um, no thanks. I think Ill wait for a promotion to production manager and my own parking spot. Whether it was the gods playing a trick, or just her path, down the rabbit hole Amy went.

We are so lucky that she did.

Everyone has their own How I came to yoga story. And although yours might not be quite as circuitous as Amys was, you took the first step for a reason. If youve picked up this book, youre probably experiencing some sort of pain or grief right now. The bad news is that there is no magic pill to make it all go away. (Okay, there actually are several of them, but if youre reading this, it means youre looking for another way.) Yoga is not a cure, but it has helped millions of people for thousands of years navigate all forms of disappointment, rejection and heartbreak.

Whether your wound is old or fresh, whether you have been doing yoga for years or have never said the words downward facing dogthis book is for you. It is a vulnerable recount of one womans journey that will have you laughing, crying and hopeful that you too, can pick yourself up, dust yourself offand learn to love again.

Heartbreak Yoga includes a balanced yoga routine with beautiful pictures and detailed instructions on how to practice safely. It gives tips on eating healthy, holistic medicine, meditation and breathing techniques. Amy has called on the yoga community to chime in on the topic of love and has assembled a delicious mixture of inspiring quotes, songs and imagessurely ONE of them will get through to you. As we say, all it takes is one for it to matter.

Worldly successes rarely feel as good as they are supposed to, but watching Amy grow into a compassionate, loving young woman, has been one of the most rewarding parts of my life. I still find it hard to comprehend that the Tween that flipped her hair in my living room, interrupted my sentences, said Yeah I got it, and was JUST FINE all the time wrote a book called Heartbreak Yoga. It is a Lilathis time the gods are playing a trick on ME.

After a long writers retreat away, Amy just came back to Los Angeles to finish up the book and start a new production job. She teaches yoga to the people in the office, brings healthy food to them for lunch, and is free to creatively chime in with her yoga wisdom on creative projects and day-to-day operations.

As the Zen saying goes:

Before enlightenmentchop wood, carry water.

After enlightenmentchop wood, carry water.

For the home stretch of writing this book, we once again curled up on the couch where I made her wear socks and drink hot drinks. We called on Ag to help us edit, format and make Ujjayi Breath jokes. Its good to be back. I can now safely say with a smile

My work here is done.

Sara Elizabeth Ivanhoe

Santa Monica, CA

January 2013

With deepest love, gratitude, laughter and tears, in celebration, sadness and memory of my beloved friend, Chris Miller.

I love you more than words can tell.

xo

Sri Sri Mata Amritananadamayi Devi

Danny Ducovny

John & Claire Dewhurst

Laura Amazzone

Vanessa-Ma Harris

Mukti Silberfein

Sridhar Silberfein

The Heartbreak Yoga Team

Photographer: Kelli McCarty

Models: Jo Newman & Paul Teodo

Yoga Tech Advisor: Brianna Welke

Ground Support: Zo Kors, Craig Garfinkle, Eimear Noone, Heather Reinhardt & Mariel Hemingway