Eat, Pray, Love

I'd been looking forward to reading this book for several weeks after reading a synopsis in a magazine and hearing a recommendation from a friend. Plus, the author (Elizabeth Gilbert) is a resident of Philadelphia, so I requested it at my local library and have been reading it for the last few days.

The book is broken into three sections, the first of which is about the author's four month stay in Italy. Then she goes to India, followed by Bali; it's a one-year adventure in which she does some serious soul searching after the breakup of her marriage and a serious relationship that followed her marriage.

I knew I was destined to love to love the book in the first section when she mentions - you guessed it, gelato (!!) - and how she ate it after every meal and that Italians think nothing of seeing a person eating gelato at 9:30 am. That's my kind of lady, eating gelato at 9:30 am! I did the same thing when I first discovered gelato during my trip to Italy when I studied abroad. Thankfully, I was only in Italy for four days, but I ate gelato after every meal for those four days. After four months, I'd probably weigh, well, a lot...

Back to the book. The second section recounts her four month stay at an ashram in India (similar to what our friend Becky just did).

I've really enjoyed reading about her time in India (haven't gotten to section three yet). I started taking yoga about two months ago and have come to enjoy it in several aspects. After my first class, I told Markus I didn't think I was a yoga person even though Becky had been telling me how great it was. I had a hard time turning my brain off. I stuck with it, though, and have conquered my mind, so to speak, and have discovered that I can make it through a one hour class thinking only of what my body is doing and counting my breaths.

For anyone who doesn't already know this about me, my brain is an overactive thing (just like my mouth, and my keyboard when I'm typing messages) and I've always found it difficult to relax and think about nothing. I had to work at quieting my thoughts, and to relate back to this book, the author describes her personality as being very similar. It took her a long time to conquer her overactive mind and negative thoughts, but through years of studying yoga and meditation, she was finally able to do it as a result of her years spent studying then her work at the ashram.

Not to seem all new-agey, but it really made me admire her, inspired me to continue taking yoga classes and learn more about meditation, and share that information. I had pre-conceived notions about yoga and the new-ageyness of it, but in addition to the mental benefits I've found, it really is great exercise. My arms are looking pretty toned, and I have done NO weight lifting in months. For those who like low impact exercise, exercise that doesn't require too much coordination or quick movement, or just looking for something new, give it a try. And stick with it for a few classes. I think you'll find at least one benefit of it, whether it helps your mind or your body.

So, check out the book (I can't wait to get to the "Love" part of the title about her four month stay in Bali) if you want a good read. She has a down-to-earth writing style, a great sense of humor, and talks about her spiritual beliefs without being preachy. Enjoy the book, if you do decide to read it.