Journey from Center to the Page
Monkfish Publishes Second Edition by Jeff Davis
While the idea of using yoga to reach a deeper level in our writing seems natural to someone who gets to the mat every day, that idea seems a little wacky to "regular writers".
The first line of Jeff Davis's introduction immediately sets us at ease. "This book is not about purity. If you smoke Marlboros, drink Jack Daniels, and cuss like my great grandmother Mudder, that's your business."
In the second edition of his book, "Journey from the Center to the Page", Davis integrates his own book with the yoga poses. Initially, he wanted the book to be perceived as a writing book, not a yoga book. For this reason, the first edition tucks all of the pose definitions, illustrations and exercises in an appendix.
The second edition has been revised, updated, and most importantly, reorganized to become a simple how-to manual for the writer seeking to gain depth in his or her own work. It is a yoga book, and it is a writing book.
Yoga as Muse: A Matter of Trust
The popularity of yoga in mainstream western culture is not by accident. We are over-stimulated and disconnected from the innate wisdom that rests deep within our own bodies. We crave relaxation, connection, and integration.
The concept of integrating a yoga practice with a regular writing practice seems odd at first. But consider the gut level of instinct, the bravery and heart it takes to write an authentic piece. We must first reconnect with those visceral places of knowledge in order to write from them.
This book is about writers trusting their own inner wisdom to be able to say what needs to be said.
In a way, it is also about finding a guide to your writing who you can trust as much as you trust a yoga teacher. Davis is gentle, compassionate and kind. His personal anecdotes and real-world examples make this guide accessible and a pleasure to read.
The Second Edition: Seamless
Perhaps the increasing acceptance of yoga in mainstream culture prompted the revision and republication of this ground-breaking book. Davis has to spend far less time and effort convincing writers that yoga can help them feel more centered and grounded, that they don't have to be unhealthy to successfully write.
The major revisions in the second edition include:
- Instead of piecing routines together on our own, Davis offers his own "Writers Concentration Sequence" - a series of simple movements that are simple enough for most levels of yogis to understand and follow that includes strength-building poses, balancing poses, heart-opening back-beds and pranayama exercises.
- Four New Chapters appear in the second edition, including notes for advanced practitioners of yoga, for teachers of writing, and for artists from other discipline who would like to integrate yoga into their own practices. Painters and musicians alike attend Jeff Davis's Yoga as Muse workshops.
- Reorganized chapter flow - to keep you writing from start to finish. Davis begins with what he calls "The Four Preparations" necessary for beginning a regular practice. Then he delves into drafting and encourages his readers "to get lost" in the process. He follows the writing process through places we get stuck straight through to editing and revising our own work.
For those seeking for a way to listen to their own truth and to speak with that deepest voice, Jeff Davis's "Journey from the Center to the Page" is an invaluable tool.
