Stretch: The Unlikely Making of a Yoga Dude

Allow me to start off by saying that I'm one of the (apparently few) 40-year-old women on Earth who could not get through "Eat Pray Love." I've only realy done anything resembling Yoga on the Wii Fit. If anybody else had written this book, I doubt I'd read it... but Neal Pollack is painfully honest about his journey into yoga, and though he is trying to find his best self, he never loses his bite. I'd recommend this book to anyone who thinks that yoga is delegated either to wealthy soccer moms or that patchouli-smelling barefoot guy who had a vitamin store in the 70s. And to anyone who has reached, gone through, or even thought about having any kind of personal identity crisis.In "Stretch," Pollack embarks on an early-midlife crisis after a literary reviewer makes a crass comment about his appearance. He doesn't have a "lighting bolt" turnaround; none of what he's going through is easy (emotionally or physically), but he's also upfront about the fact that his suffering is on a relative scale.This is not a book about how someone overcame a great outside obstacle (traumatic disability, violence, force of nature), but how he took on a very personal crisis. I love that Pollack is so honest about how some teachers and methods really appealed to him, and some did not -- and that he was brave enough to try a little bit of everything he could to develop his own approaches. He reveals throughout the book how his wife both supported his search and sometimes was the voice of reason for him. And I think that the fact that he did go on this personal journey will make him a better teacher, because in sharing his own trials and tribulations, he will be more able to relate to those of others.Witty, touching, and very down-to-earth for a book that's really about a spiritual journey, "Stretch" won't force you into studying yoga, but don't be surprised if you start downloading Michael Franti and standing a little taller after reading it.

Neal Pollack was mostly known for his sardonic, goofy fiction and journalism back in the day (late 90s, early aughts) - and maintains his trademark snark and cynical touch for his exploration into the philosophy of yoga. The book chronicles his beginnings in yoga as a physical exercise and his discovery of the meditative aspects and how it affected his life philosophically.Yes, it follows a narrative that would be familiar to many concerning the "underdog discovers himself, then his newfound love in life begets success in his life - which he passes on to others."But, it's a funny and uplifting ride which only takes a couple sittings to get through.While Pollack does play up the "dude" part of his persona, "Stretch" does actually interweave the philosophies of yoga and the sutras into his personal story. In this way, it acts as an excellent primer for the beginning yogi (and I'm a perpetual beginner...), while also being a funny romp for the experienced yogi, as is the friend who recommended this book to me.I gave it five starts based on those reasons: it's a great narrative, it's honest, it's a great primer into exploring yoga and how it helps to shape how one relates to the world. This sounds totally hippy-drippy, but you can tell that Pollack, through his cynical sneering, loves his fellow yogis and pokes fun at them from a place in the heart. A quick, fun, and enjoyable read.

Neal Pollack's humor tends toward the snarky, with a very sharp eye for the foibles of contemporary culture. After getting trashed by a New York Times book review for looking doughy and having thinning hair, he experiences a bit of personal crisis. He's no Saint Augustine, and the depths of his angst are toward the shallow end of the pool. He starts doing yoga at a 24 hour fitness center, and discovers that he likes it and it seems to do something a bit more worthwhile than tone his abs. He begins to suspect that yoga might help him reconnect with his best self, an entity which he hasn't seen since his less sophisticated youth, before becoming an edgy writer.Along the way, he explores many of the wacky and creative versions of yoga in the United States, including an overly severe vegan style in New York, and yoga rave music. He settles on a more traditional school, ashtanga, and eventually studies with a serious, renowned teacher overseas. His humor is often funniest, though, when it's turned on himself, including some silly but entertaining sessions with a chiropractor, problems with barfing, and the mandatory flatulence-at-yoga scene.Pollack has a keen eye for the American yoga scene and understands well the different schools of yoga study and practice. We root for him as he stumbles on his enlightenment road, although he never seems to recognize that doing marijuana through a vaporizer is probably not auspicious practice. Namaste, Neal.

I enjoy reading biographies of all types, and being a yoga practitioner I enjoy reading about people's journey on their yogic path. However this one missed the mark for me completely. Describing masturbating to internet porn as one of his sacred tasks, being stoned and drunk all the time, and the absolutely distasteful way he relates to and talks about his wife left me cold to say the least. I lost track of the number of times he referred to a female yoga teacher or fellow student as a "hot yoga babe" or some variation thereof. He is a sexist and completely self centered as far as I can tell. And his "tongue in cheek" sense of humor was not funny to me in the least. However I am giving him the benefit of the doubt with the three stars. I am guessing he wrote this tasteless tome to speak directly to a population that desperately needs the story - namely his cohort, the average American male. I am guessing (hoping) his sleazy, sexist approach to this sacred journey was purposefully directed to those who can relate to that writing method. Hopefully, he is correct and the story will speak to those who communicate in like terms and think and act in such a manner. They certainly need it.

Xmas present so cant really comment, however i was told to buy this from a friend as they said its really amusing.

This is a very funny and also very astute observation of the yoga in the States, by a comic writer, stung into exercise by a chance remark that he was 'doughy' ie fat. Non-yoga dudes, both male and female may be less interested in what he has to say about his encounters with some famous names and brands from the world of yoga, but if you are a yogi or yogini it is a fascinating insight. Pollack is the antithesis of a yoga dude in many ways, as early in the book he manages to obtain an unlimited supply of medicinal marijuana, which he often partakes of before class, but gradually yoga gets under his skin. It is so unusual to have a book about yoga written by a man, but Pollack's metamorphosis will, I hope, encourage more men to take it up. I don't think you will ever have a comic book written by a man that doesn't have some poo jokes and vomiting somewhere along the line and this is no exception, but it is still a good read for yoga fans.

As someone who is new to yoga, I liked reading up on Neal’s experience. It does get a bit difficult to follow when you don’t know much about the history of yoga but overall is a good read. Recommended

Sehr humorvoll geschriebenes Buch, das sich dem Thema nicht verkopft aber dennoch anschaulich annimmt.Man möchte es dem Author gleichtun, und mit den ersten Übungen beginnen, um Ruhe und Frieden in sein Leben zu lassen.Ich habe während der Lektüre sehr viel gelacht, aber auch sehr viel gelernt.