Posts In: choose your path

by Olivia Cecchettini

Man’s Search for Meaning

by: Viktor Frankl

Summary: “Man’s Search for Meaning” may not seem like a “yogi read” at first glance, but its message about the universal search for meaning in suffering gets at the heart of why many people practice yoga. After reading it, I’m not surprised the Library of Congress listed it as one of the ten most influential books in America.

From 1942-1945, Viktor Frankl lived in four different Nazi concentration camps, including Auschwitz. His entire family – parents, brother, wife – were separated from him upon arrival and ultimately perished in the camps. Frankl writes vividly about his struggle for physical and spiritual survival, “…you can take away everything from a man, but you cannot take away the freedom to choose one’s own attitude.” 

Frankl developed Logo-therapy, a concept that our primary drive in life is the discovery and pursuit of what we personally find meaningful. Logo-therapy states that when one finds meaning in their experience, they can endure any circumstances.

Why I Love It: I love books that make me question why we do things, not just how. I studied Psychology at SDSU and Spiritual Psychology at USM, so this book had been on my list for a long time. I was very emotional reading Frankl’s account of the Holocaust – the stories of people living in the camps, how everyone reacted differently, how they coped, who survived, and who didn’t. It can be hard to process this as someone’s reality.

I understand the desire to only put your time and energy into those things that nourish and support you – I do this myself! But it’s important to be aware of violence and suffering in the world. It’s healthy to feel uncomfortable and empathetic. The experience of shared suffering, of empathy, drives us to take better care of one another, not just our immediate family but our universal family. I love this book because it reminded me to think and feel on this global level.

Recommended For: Individuals interested in finding fuller meaning in life, but especially those who are suffering. Frankl states that suffering is part of the human experience, it is unavoidable. The amount of suffering doesn’t matter; a trivial experience for one person could be crushing for another. We cannot avoid suffering, but we CAN choose our response, we can choose to find meaning in it and to move forward with renewed purpose. When we have purpose, we do more than just exist, we are present, feeling, connected and vibrantly alive.

Ciao,
Olivia

Olivia Cecchettini
Contributing Writer

Olivia’s yoga journey began in 2003. She is certified in Vinyasa, Hatha, and Aerial Yoga and holds a Masters degree in Spiritual Psychology. She believes the mind, body, soul connection is sacred and encourages her students explore and expand within their own bodies and consciousnesses.

 

by Olivia Cecchettini

“Yoga Girl”

by Rachel Brathen

Summary: Rachel Brathen, also know as Yoga Girl, is spreading love across the globe one hug at a time. If you’re not already following her on social media, you most likely will be soon, as her US book tour, also know as, The Happiness Tour, is going on at this very moment. Rachel is a woman who loves yoga, her man, her dogs, and practicing handstands on the beach but there is more to her than meets the eye. This book introduces the reader to Rachel’s childhood in Sweden and how she has worked to transform her life into the life of her dreams.

Yoga Girl is light-hearted, fun and beautiful, but it also connects on a deeper level to the heartache and joy of Rachel’s real personal life. Weaving through each of the seven chapters are easy to do yoga sequences as well as recipes to inspire a nutritious, plant-based diet. The entire book is sprinkled with beautiful photos that will make you want to venture to the nearest beach, get upside down and enjoy life to the fullest.

Why I Love It: I love how Yoga Girl focuses on the positive and recognizes that this is a choice. Everything can be taken away from you, absolutely everything – except your attitude. Rachel Brathen has experienced firsthand how yoga heals and transforms lives and reading her story is a breath of fresh air.

This book reminds me to choose happiness and to acknowledge when I’m hurting. I was reminded of my own grief over losing my grandmother and how yoga helped me breathe and eventually heal. Rachel’s heartfelt reflections made me feel that life is truly a process of remembering what our hearts and souls already know.

Recommended For: Anyone new to yoga will find a great introduction to yoga and its philosophy in Yoga Girl. The more experienced yogi will enjoy the depth and wisdom in Rachel’s personal testimony.

This book invites readers to go past the surface and love others, but more importantly, to love themselves. Yes, there are a lot of bikini pictures which may spark insecurities, but I encourage you to receive it’s overarching message: that you are a true co-creator of your life. If that includes bikinis, great! If not, great!

This month I invite you to slow down and check in with yourself. Are you living in a way that is in alignment with who you are and with your dreams? Let go of people pleasing. Let go of control. Pick up this book or recapture anything that inspires you to move forward with your authentic life.

Ciao, Olivia

“For me, the book was like a perfect yoga class—it left me inspired, relaxed and at the same time gave me tons of ideas.” – Katarina Tav?ar, Elephant Journal

Olivia Cecchettini
Contributing Writer

Olivia’s yoga journey began in 2003. She is certified in Vinyasa, Hatha, and Aerial Yoga and holds a Masters degree in Spiritual Psychology. She believes the mind, body, soul connection is sacred and encourages her students explore and expand within their own bodies and consciousnesses.