Marchildon - Finding More on the Mat: How I Grew Better, Wiser and Stronger through Yoga

About the Author

Michelle Berman Marchildon is The Yogi Muse. Shes an internationally known author, columnist, yoga teacher and former executive who left the glamour of a corporate job to raise her family. In the midst of all that excitement, she found time to go upside down on her yoga mat.

Michelle is an award-winning journalist having won AP, UPI and Scripps Howard writing honors, and an alumnus of the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism. She is a Featured Columnist for Elephant Journal , a Columnist for Origin and Mantra Yoga and Health magazine, an ambassador for Teachasana , and a contributor to other yoga media.

For yoga teachers, Michelle wrote the bestselling book: Theme Weaver: Connect the Power of Inspiration to Teaching Yoga , which explains how to use a theme in yoga classes. She is an E-RYT 500 Hatha teacher in Denver, Colorado. Michelle is available for workshops and readings, especially if it gets her out of making dinner. Contact her through: www.YogiMuse.com

About Hohm Press

HOHM PRESS is committed to publishing books that provide readers with alternatives to the materialistic values of the current culture, and promote self-awareness, the recognition of interdependence, and compassion. Our subject areas include parenting, transpersonal psychology, religious studies, womens studies, the arts and poetry.

Hohm Press, PO Box 4410, Chino Valley, Arizona, 86323; USA; 800-381-2700, or 928-636-3331; email: hppublisher@ cableone.net

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Acknowledgements

L ife changes all the time and it is up to us to find our footing in a new world. For this edition, I have many teachers I need to thank, but I cant leave out Amy Ippoliti for lighting the way; Chris Muchow, my teacher in times past; Desiree Rumbaugh; and Christina Sell, who made me an Asana Junkie. I have nothing but love for my yoga BFFs Jane Burdette and Michelle Weller, who traveled with me, practiced with me, and reminded me that we never walk alone.

Thank you to my photographersShannon Hedlund, who documented the early days on the mat, and Kimberly Benfield, who added a few updated views for this edition. Our practice progresses millimeter by millimeter.

Thank you to Hohm Press for seeing the potential in Finding More on the Mat and giving it this second chance. Gratitude to my editor Rabia Tredeau who made this second edition pitch perfect; and to Judith Briles, my first publishing editor, who taught me to dream big. Thanks, lady. Nick Zelinger, you are also in my heart for bringing my story to the printed page with so much flair.

Deep appreciation to my students as you encouraged me to write the themes I explain in the room. Thank you so much for your laughter through the tears!

Most of all, I want to thank my steadfast husband, Mike, and our sons Sam and Teddy. When I wanted to quit in the enormity of running a household, driving carpools, teaching yoga, and writing a book, you never let me.

Lastly, I want to acknowledge my Mom and Dad for giving me incredibly good genes and always doing your best. I think you are the most auspicious parents a yogi could have. For a girl who doesnt necessarily believe in luck, I am a very lucky girl.

Afterword

My Cuisinart is broken. Could it be a sign from the Universe?

Im telling you:

I cant make this stuff up!

The Divine is everywhere.

After Afterword

My husband bought me a new Cuisinart.

Apparently, they are bigger than they used to be and now to store it I might need a new house or at least a new kitchen. The Universe is absolutely giving me a sign. I should forget about dinner and get back on my mat.

I am going to shut up now. Seriously. I know when to listen instead.

Appendix A

The Yoga Sutras
of Patanjali

T he Yoga Sutras of Patanjali were written almost 200 years ago. Patanjalis sutras , [aphorisms] focus on attaining the realization of the self. Here are his Ten Commandments, yogi-style:

Yamas , the five universal moral restraints:

Ahimsa non-violence, non-judgment, not harming

Satya truthfulness and honesty

Asteya not stealing

Brachmacharya chaste living (celibacy) or marital fidelity

Aparigraha non-hoarding, non-grasping, non-acceptance of gifts, being without possessions

Niyamas , the five individual self-observances:

Sauca cleanliness and purity

Santosa contentment

Tapas a burning desire for studentship and wisdom

Svadhyaya self study

Isvara Pranidhana devotion to a higher power, the Divine

Appendix B

Questions for Book Clubs

F inding More on the Mat: How I Grew Better, Wiser and Stronger Through Yoga is a 100% mostly true, often hilarious, sometimes sad, and always inspiring account of one womans journey through life so far.

Suggested Discussion Topics:

Michelle went from an accidental yogi to going all the way down the rabbit hole into yoga obsession. In what ways has something youve been passionate about in your life made you happier or more vibrant?

Finding More is a story about dharma , or discovering what it is we are supposed to do in life. In what ways has your dharma changed over the years? Are you better off doing your dharma ? What does it mean to do someone elses dharma ?

At the end of the book (spoiler alert!) Michelle decides that her true dharma at the moment isnt being on the mat, but making dinner for her family. In what ways is your dharma uncomfortable? Is doing your dharma supposed to be easy?

One key point of yoga is to leave the world a little bit better than you found it. Explain how you do this, even if you dont practice yoga.

When eating animal protein, you may also be eating its karma , so if they suffered terribly or was raised in an inhumane way, you will be eating the animals stress hormones, fear and anger. What do you think of this concept?

There are many ways to eat that reduce the carbon footprint and take care of our planet. Do you consider these things when making dinner?

Michelles tragic mishap as a young girl came back to haunt her in the form of a stuck shoulder as an adult. In what ways does the past haunt you today? Do you carry these things in your body? Has yoga improved this for you?

Yoga has become a billion dollar business of celebrity and multinational corporations. In Finding More , Michelles local teachers were responsible for most of her practice. If you practice yoga, how has your local teacher influenced your life?

The story about setting the turtles free in Chapter 17 is about having to choose what is right even if it may be wrong or against the law. Has this ever happened to you? When is doing the right thing the most difficult? What makes it better?

The message of the dedication, is Always be exactly who you are. In what ways is it easier being your authentic and true self rather than hiding?

Authors Note to the second edition

I n yoga, you get a second chance to do the pose.

Although I worked on Finding More on the Mat for five years, and lived it for more than fifty, I am grateful to Hohm Press for this second edition and therefore a second chance. Because writing a book is just like yoga.