The practice of YOGA is one of my favorite self-care tools. I really need to get back to a consistent practice. Cory's book is a reminder that prevention is better than cure but to have this to help with those with health challenges is not promoted enough. It can be done sitting, standing and there are several for every fitness level. This was so well done and a quick and comprehensive read.

Enjoyable and easily applied to life. I'm not sure it'll cure all that ails me, but it definitely will help.

I am sorry for the inconvenience but I don’t have the time to read this anymore and have lost interest in the concept. I believe that it would benefit your book more if I did not skim your book and write a rushed review. Again, I am sorry for the inconvenience.

Posted January 8th
I received a complimentary ARC copy of The Yoga Prescription: A Chronic Illness Survival Guide by Cory Martin from NetGalley and Write Out Publishing in order to read and give an honest review.

“….an amazing book for those of us who struggle with chronic illness, it doesn’t make empty promises but helps us gain tools to help us live our best life possible…”

As someone with a chronic illness I wish this book had been around ten years ago when I was struggling. Cory Martin does an incredible job at describing honestly the overwhelming thoughts and feelings one goes through upon hearing a diagnosis that can change your life. Suffering from MS and Lupus herself, Corey sums up perfectly the things that it took me over a decade to learn by myself. I came to yoga late in my illness and I still struggle to maintain the perfection of a pose even though I usually suffer afterwards by going too far. Cory teaches one how to adapt postures and manage possible symptoms through a series of simple poses, explaining their purpose and how they will help you.

Cory speaks “with” the reader not “to” the reader, offering easy to understand, non-intimidating advice that comes from someone who has walked the path. Looking for relief over the years I have read book after book on the benefits of yoga, gleaning some information but always walking away feeling disappointed that I cannot do everything as suggested. With what I have learned from The Yoga Prescription I definitely feel that I can take my practice to the next level. This is an amazing book for those of us who struggle with chronic illness, it doesn’t make empty promises but helps us gain tools to help us live our best life possible.

I originally thought The Yoga Prescription by Cory Martin was about a literal prescription for yoga in life, and I decided to read it for the same reason I read most of such books: to observe the science and/or beliefs backing them, and to review their empirical worth in the patient/physician environment.

Of course, there is always a little bit of personal interest. I have tried yoga now and again, and actually have found that it does make me feel better. As a doctor-reader, when I read contemporary books about disease and treatment, I hope to encourage a good discourse between healthcare providers, scientists, and laypersons.

It turns out that The Yoga Prescription is part-memoir, part-instructional - and that is the perfect format for this topic. Martin shares her experience with chronic illness: more than the physical course from diagnosis to treatment, she also opens up about the psychological impact and the imperative upon herself to come to terms with her diagnoses.

Cory Martin shares how her yoga practice has helped her - as well as how it has not. She also delves into much of her yoga routine and philosophy. This background philosophy is especially helpful, because I find that it is the thing that many yoga instructors don’t teach in their classes - as if the philosophy of yoga is something secret that instructors and experienced yogis are privy to.

(Actually, one of the major stumbling blocks for me in “conventional” yoga has been that some circles can be really exclusivist.)

By instructing on asanas and variations that can aid in comfort and safety for both beginners and people with disabilities, Martin plays her part in breaking the barriers faced by many who would benefit from yoga. She makes the practice and philosophy of yoga not only more attractive, but also more accessible.

There is a third category this book threatens to enter, and it is the part I should like to warn of. At times, The Yoga Prescription veers into “inspirational”. I’m almost certain the author is aware of it, because the push-pull is tangible. A very fine line is trod between toxic positivity vs encouragement, and those are the parts that had me at risk of putting down the book.

The Yoga Prescription is fairly unique among books about alternative healing in that it does not unfairly criticise medicine, nor encourage a sense of distrust in the field. Instead, she encourages a multidisciplinary and multimodal approach to chronic illness. Her honesty about coming to terms with the chronicity of chronic illness is disarming.

I would recommend this book to people with chronic illness who need a more holistic approach to their health, as well as to anyone wanting to get into yoga - regardless of whether they have chronic illness.

Thank you to the Author, publisher and NetGalley for the privilege of reading this book.

Cory Martin shares her life story with two chronic illnesses - MS and Lupus, and how her challenges are faced and met and managed through many avenues, the most influential being Yoga.
The book was a great read. It was extremely inspirational, honest, heartfelt, and I love Martin’s humor. She talks about her yoga practice, her body and how her expectations have changed over time. It was so relatable to me I felt she knew me!
She has so much positive news to share - refreshing.

Ending each chapter with a yoga asana was just an awesome gift. I could not wait to see which pose was coming next, prompting me to recall her instruction and beautiful sketch of the pose when I go to my own yoga classes. I carry her “hints” with me in my heart when I roll out my mat and set up the props I formerly saw as a weakness - now they are right there with me.

I was at Yoga every single day pre-Covid. My “second home” Yoga studio went under due to the pandemic and the grief was real, while I could also feel the change in my body, mind, soul and spirit. I still practiced, but alone, and it is not the same. I logged on to every single Zoom yoga class I could find, to stay connected, but eventually, people began to fade from the screen. While mourning my yoga community, I also lost my mom and several others, then got Covid. The good news is that my former yoga instructor tried again to do online classes, allowing me to “be” in class and noone was the wiser than I had the virus! Yoga helped me through that period of isolation and grief of my mom.

Now, thankfully I am back to “live” classes. I practice my poses, slowly picking up where I left off, and do not ever compare myself or beat myself up if I cannot do “Crow pose” without my blocks. My yoga community does not take itself all too seriously - when we fall out of an intricate pose or get stuck , we share a laugh together and get up and try again - or not.
I love how the author talks about keeping our eyes closed - I do my entire practice with closed eyes!
Enjoy this fantastic book - good health to all and “just breathe”.

I don’t personally have a chronic illness, but my husband has a few, so when I saw The Yoga Prescription available, I thought it would be a good idea to review it. Learn a few things, see if I’d recommend it to folks with chronic illness, maybe try some of the methods and poses myself.

I now highly recommend this to anyone with chronic pain or illness, chronic fatigue, or a body that’s just plain aging (i.e., anyone who tells me they’ve got stiffness or pain).

The Yoga Prescription by certified yoga instructor and multiple-time published author Cory Martin is not a “cure-all” for your pain, obviously. But following the ideas expressed in the book may undoubtedly help reduce stiffness, soreness, chronic pain levels, and more.

In the book, Cory expresses her own chronic illness journey as she shares the methods and poses she has used to help deal with her own pain and illness. It’s a personal yet prescriptive journey from page first to page last.

Plus, if you participate in yoga for at least 10 minutes daily, studies have shown your overall health that’s impacted negatively by sitting around daily can be drastically improved.

Each chapter discusses a different aspect of chronic illness, such as feeling alone in your pain, comparing your health to others, or the self-imposed guilt brought on by chronic conditions. Then, the chapters deal with these issues with poignant thoughts, encouraging words, and a yoga pose to help deal with that particular concern.

I can’t say I practice the prescription each day. Still, I’m sure thinking about incorporating it into my daily routine, especially while traveling, under stress, or any other distinctively challenging times for my body.

The Yoga Prescription could be a great tool in your life whether you deal with a chronic illness like arthritis, RA, fibromyalgia, Chrons, Lupus, or practically anything else. The key is whether or not you can do the poses as prescribed or not. If not, I still think you could benefit from the overall words in the book and could find applicable poses you can do.

This was a good book. More than just an instructional book, The Yoga Prescription shows one practitioner's view of the benefits of the activity.

I really liked the idea of this book, but I thought the execution could have been a bit better. It was a bit too simplistic, barely grazing points, so I didn't feel like I got too much out of it. I really think the author had good intentions and I love the integration of yoga, I just wish there had been more substance.

As someone who is dealing with chronic pain, I really admired the author for sharing her story and I appreciate the book. I did Yoga years and years ago (before it became popular) but haven't done it recently because of my pain. I so appreciated the way this book gives methods of using Yoga in spite of the pain.

This is a book that should be read by anyone with chronic illness or pain.

Found this book very helpful and insightful.. I have learned allot just has I had hoped I would. Will be looking for more from this author.

So important to read books about yoga written by those typically excluded from the conversations about the practice--we so need an enlarged version of the work yoga can do for people and in the world. I appreciated this book for this perspective.

This was the message I needed to hear right now. Author Cory Martin doesn't give super revolutionary advice, but the way she gives it--told through her own experience of dealing with dual diagnoses, MS and lupus--it really made an impact on me. I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease last year, and it can be tough. Not only do I deal with my new physical symptoms, but there is that emotional component of feeling out of control and overwhelmed, too. I really loved Martin's willingness to be honest about her ups and downs. It helped me feel less bad about my own emotions.

I especially appreciated Chapter 14 on surrender. How many times have I dissected my diet from the day before--"What did you eat yesterday to make you feel this bad today?!?!" But sometimes, maybe even a lot of times, this pain just is not my fault, you know? I've been blaming myself for how I feel, but I think I may need to show myself some tenderness and kindness, and accept that I'm not always in control. Instead, I can do the best I can to take care of myself physically and emotionally, and deal with the rest as it comes.

This may not be a book for everyone, but this is a really good book for anyone looking to feel better, especially after a life-altering diagnosis.

I would love to give a copy of this book to everyone dealing with autoimmunity or other chronic illness. Yoga teacher Cory Martin uses her own experience coping with multiple sclerosis (MS) and lupus to explain the difficulties of living with unpredictable chronic illness and how yogic philosophy and practice can help.

Martin does a good job explaining the eight limbs of yoga using specific examples from her life. This is one of the most understandable explanations of yoga I have read. She then explains ten different poses, using each one to explain how to live different principles, such as “Be Here Now” and “Listen to Your Body.” I found her cues and the accompanying line drawings easy to understand, and I appreciate all of the suggestions she provides for using props and modifying poses. The poses felt safe for me to do despite my rheumatoid arthritis and other physical limitations. In her excellent discussion of props, the author offers many suggestions for working with what you have on hand, such as pillows, blankets, towels, walls, and chairs.

I loved this book and would recommend it for anyone dealing with chronic illness, or anyone who is curious about yoga. It works well as a Kindle book and does not require any special equipment.

The publisher, Write Out Publishing, provided me with an ARC through NetGalley that I volunteered to review.

As a certified integrative life and wellness coach, I’m a big believer in the power of yoga to significantly contribute to one’s mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual health. I also applaud the author’s resilience and desire to share the learnings of her own struggles with chronic illness with others. That said, this book misses the mark in some unfortunate ways. First, the title – literally The Yoga Prescription. However, in the introduction, the author vacillates and writes that this book is not prescriptive – and then shortly thereafter swings back and refers to it as a treatment plan. We’re suffering though the whiplash of an identity crisis before she even gets to the good stuff.

This identity crisis further plays out in the content – the majority of which is a chronic illness memoir with some useful tips thrown in. The pages are chock full of what she herself has learned along the way from her own illness and practice, but this book would benefit a lot more from her teaching expertise and showing how she’s supported others through their specific health challenges. The promise of the tagline “a chronic illness survival guide” is never fully realized.

How this book is organized is another challenge of applying the yoga information as a “treatment plan” for oneself. The short primer at the beginning explaining the limbs of yoga is long forgotten by the time each chapter offers its specific lesson (e.g., Be Here Now, Practice Makes Life, and Stop Comparing Yourself to Others). While these are useful tips for daily living, the yoga philosophies aren’t consistently clear or well-woven throughout (other than a pose or two in each chapter and the repetition of a Sanskrit term here and there).

For those with a chronic illness looking for a relatable “overcomer/striver” type of memoir with a few helpful tips, this book can fulfill a need. For those truly looking for a guide that introduces yoga holistically, keeps it central to the content, and clearly offers a blueprint(s) for personalizing and integrating it into daily living with illness, it falls short.

I was given an e-ARC by NetGalley and Write out Publishing in exchange for an honest review

The Yoga Prescription is a great introduction to those not yet familiar with yoga that suffer from chronic illness. As someone with limited knowledge on yoga it was very educational and enlightening but I can see this being a slow read for those that are already well versed in yoga and the mental impact behind it.

Martin includes anecdotes throughout the book about her experience with being diagnosed with not only one but two chronic illnesses and how yoga helped her come to terms with the news. For those of us that suffer from chronic illness the idea that your body is betraying you is one that I can assume most, if not all, of us have experienced at one point after our diagnosis. Martin touches on this throughout the book and teaches you how to appreciate your body for what it can do instead of hating it for what it cannot.

I suffer from chronic pain and often feel as though I’ll never have a chance at a normal fit life but after reading this I have faith that I can start on my own wellness journey with resources like The Yoga Prescription to fall back on.

It can often feel isolating to live with a chronic illness but this book made me feel seen and understood, like I had a community behind me that understood my hardships but were willing to encourage me to better my life despite them.

I found this book to be interesting and a new take on self help. It was fun to hear different perspectives and stories throughout the text. It was a bit of a slow read though.

I received an ARC from NetGalley & the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review of this book.

See the full version of my review here: https://nbgwriter.com/the-yoga-prescription-a-chronic-illness-survival-guide-by-cory-martin-book-review/

I think The Yoga Prescription can be a good introduction for those with chronic illnesses who are new to yoga. It’s also helpful to hear Martin’s personal experience with managing not one but two serious chronic illnesses, and how yoga is a lifeline for her.

All that said, I think the book beyond the first introductory chapters is a bit simplistic, particularly if you are already at least somewhat experienced with yoga. It can be a good review/refresher and new way of thinking about what types of poses can be good for different elements/feelings/experiences, but I guess I expected a bit more, perhaps some more of the science behind yoga and why it can be good for the body. The sections on the different poses got a little too “woo woo” for my taste, and I started to lose interest despite my sincere interest in the topic. But I respect and understand the background behind and purpose of this book for the author.

Despite my issues with the book, I am glad books like this are out there. Ever since I started practicing yoga, I’ve asked myself many times why this isn’t included in schools for kids starting at a young age–I think if it were, it would help kids adopt healthy attitudes of mindfulness and paying attention to sensations in the body, which can prevent a whole host of other problems later in life. So in my mind, the more books like this are out there, the better. Readers who are new to yoga can use this book as a jumping off point to even more detailed resources, particularly scientifically-backed ones, to see how exactly yoga is working in their bodies.

3.5 stars. Cory Martin shares with us the journey of her yoga practice through the varying obstacles imposed by chronic illness. Diagnosed with both MS and Lupus, the author reveals how her practice of yoga has helped her to deal with her physical and emotional struggles. Yoga is explored briefly, not only as the poses one does on the mat, but as a philosophy that incorporates breath work, meditation, and self discipline. This is a short book but it covers many topics and ultimately leave the reader feeling hopeful.

I enjoyed this book! The layout of the book works well. Cory Martin speaks on the tenants of yoga and tells readers of her diagnosis of MS and Lupus and how accepting them has changed her life. I appreciate the shorter chapters and the book felt an appropriate length. Each chapter focuses on a different mental focus with stories of her own experience with chronic illness and concludes with a yoga pose that ties in. I have been doing yoga off and on for a few years and this is the side of yoga that fascinates me. I'd much rather read about the mental side so it works for me.