One Minute to Ama-Zen: A Christian Guide to Yoga
By Kimberly Snell
What an interesting little read. As someone who is Christian and has enjoyed yoga throughout her attempts to maintain fitness and good health, I was most definitely intrigued when I received a blurb for this book. I do not review non-fiction, but I sometimes make exceptions and this is one of them.
There is no trickery or fancy wording here. One Minute to Ama-Zen is very upfront in that it’s simply a Christian Guide to Yoga. For those who aren’t familiar with yoga, there is definitely a spiritual aspect to it, including mantras, spiritual and prayer poses, and such. I have only ever used yoga as a way to stay flexible and fit but there are some who want to explore the spiritual aspect more deeply without blurring the lines of their own faith.
To the unsure, I would recommend this book. Many of the poses and stances have been reimagined from a Christian perspective. You can now enjoy your favorite form of exercise while getting that sweaty workout you always dreamed of.
The best part about this book is the scripture included with each pose. It’s almost like having a miniature Bible study at the ready right beside a description of the yoga position. Everything is very well explained and can be used by beginners and grand masters alike! I think a lot of Christians shy away from yoga because they aren’t sure of—or are turned off—by the spiritual aspect of it but having this book break it down and present it in a manner that coincides with our faith makes this exercise so much more enjoyable.
My only complaint would be that I would have liked a little more comparison of the poses before the insertion of the Christian faith. How do people who aren’t Christian approach these positions versus how they are shown and described to us in this book? Obviously that isn’t necessary for enjoying and taking advantage of the information provided but it would have been a nice little bonus for readers who like a bit more info with their non-fiction.
If you like health and wellness, then this is a book you should consider. Inspirational junkies and Christian readers will probably appreciate this the most.
*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*