This book has morphed from a breakfast conversation into a dharma book into a memoir, which means that a lot of people listened to me talk about this thing for a long time.
Thanks must first go to Amy Hertz, my dharma sister and editor of Yoga Body, Buddha Mind, for recognizing my essay “I Hate My Body” as the seed syllable for a book that I should write.
A warrior’s bow to my friend and agent, Stephanie Tade, who has ridden the stormy waves of samsara with me and helped me get to the other shore with this project.
Much appreciation, gratitude, and respect to my editor, Denise Roy, not just for nudging me to write more and keeping me on track, but for being able to do an awesome handstand in the middle of the room.
An anjali bow to dear Brenda Rosen, who shepherded this project to deadline by fine-tuning my work and even more by being an inspiring dharma teacher and a loving friend.
My knitting pal and author Adrienne Martini actually volunteered to read my book in progress. I bravely emailed her an early, incomplete draft, which she printed out and sent back to me with markings, because she is also a writing teacher. Those notes woke me up and enriched my writing a lot. Thanks and woot.
Namo Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo, for reminding me that obstacles are not a problem; they are always part of the path; in fact, they are the path.
Thank you to Dr. Christiane Northrup. You made me laugh so much, and you were right about everything. The time for flowing shakti is here!
Thank you to my friend Jamie Lee Curtis, for being your smart, big-hearted, and totally honest self and for reminding us to stop worrying about things that don’t matter.
Thank you to Louise Hay, for making it personal in the fiercest and most friendly way.
I know the best way for me to thank my dear guru, Gelek Rimpoche, for all that he has given me and continues to give me, is to keep my commitments and do my daily practice. I promise to be a better disciple, Rimpoche.
Thank you to my earthquake friends, especially Brad Bateman, for your natural strength, stability, and clarity.
Namaste and thanks to the thousands of yoga students all over the world who have willingly opened to the OM yoga practice of vinyasa, precise alignment, and Buddhist meditation methods of mindfulness and compassion. You are my dots of awareness and my seeds of inspiration.
David gets more than a thank-you, more than an acknowledgment, more than a low bow to the floor, for continuing to meet me just like always and never the same.