The Way of the Happy Woman: Living the Best Year of Your Life

I purchased this book, first on Kindle for myself, and then for myself and the other important women in my life, in paperback. As much as I like all my books on Kindle, I find that for reference style books, it is easier to flip through the paperback to find the text I am seeking. My book has Post-It flags all over it.This book is a wonderful reminder for women to fill their own cup, so that they can continue to give and nurture those people/organizations/pets, etc. that they care about. Caring for yourself is an act of love for yourself and others, not a selfish act. Sometimes it can be difficult to remember, but with Sarah's book, caring for myself became easier, and of higher priority.For many years I was living in tune with the seasons, my body, heart, mind and soul, but when I returned to school, and an intense job, I lost many of the tools and ways that had worked for me in the past. This book rekindled the nurturing for myself that I had lost. I also felt it was an important enough book to give to my teen daughter, so that she will nurture herself with the care she deserves. My good friends also received copies.I am not a huge yoga fan, and the book has a lot of yoga in it, but I do enjoy stretching, pilates, and bellydancing, so I combine that as my physical practice. If you are not a yogini, definitely adapt the practices that are in the book to YOUR lifestyle.This year, I added my definite yesses and definite nos to my awareness, and it is helping to shape my enjoyment of my life. I posted a "say outloud--I Love You (your name here)," on the bathroom mirror, and now my whole family tells themselves they love themselves. I am pleased with that. My daughter and I report the most difficult time with that exercise, so I definitely see the need to continue!Care for yourself. It isn't selfish. And, you might just be showing-the-way to someone else that YOU love! In sisterhood...

I LOVE this book! It speaks right to the heart of what a woman wants and needs to feel more balanced and happy in her own skin. I have used the recipes on several occasions and they are great. I am doing the yoga routines and I love that there is a different one for each season, thus aligning me more with Mother Nature. It just feels right and Sara really puts things in words that resonate with me and my beliefs. I have read and re-read sections as I get something different from it depending on what I need at that time.

This book is beautifully written and very practical at the same time. If you are a woman at any age or stage of your life, looking for a change, a way to make your life more fulfilling, The Way of the Happy Women is the book for you.Drawing on different yoga styles, traditional Chinese medicine and Ayervedic medicine, amongst other things, the book gives practical tools and guidelines for aligning your life with the four seasons (spring, summer, fall winter), a woman's monthly cycle, a woman's life cycle (puberty, reproductive years, peri menopause, menopause etc.) as well as the lunar cycle. The underlying premise is that in order to reconnect with ourselves and find our peace of mind and place in the world as women, we need to slow down, discover and focus on our feminine ways, which are often not valued enough in the masculine world we live in.Reading this book won't overwhelm you, and I while I read through the entire book, I keep going back to it, using it as a reference for how to live my life during the different seasons. She provides wholesome and healthy recipes, yoga practices, and creative practices such as journaling promts to suit each season. My favorite is the all day retreat suggestions the book offers for each of the season.A real treat for any woman to teach us how to savor life and live it to the fullest based on our feminine cycles and in connection with nature. I cannot recommend this book enough and have bought several copies for my girlfriends. More importantly, the author herself is sharing proven methods that she's used to embody the feminine in her own life.

Natural health and lifestyle books seem to be proliferating the e-book and the old fashioned book market. This book however, seems to blend natural health answers and the special needs of women together in a cohesive manual for the modern mindful woman. Using easy guides, stick figures to show yoga postures in a clear and concise overview, the author is able to focus her topic upon not only the asanas but also the stay in context for the season. This book was a gamble but I am thoroughly pleased with it. My worry was that this book, which from the amazon description and synopsis on the back of the book, ran the risk of being a tangent riddled blend of natural health and lifestyle philosophies and would be one read then forgotten. It was a pleasant surprise to my skeptic side to see this well balanced book with its clear and organized approach to the subject matter. I would recommend it to any woman who is interested in looking at their natural health in a full scope, through the seasons and through the natural connection we have with the universe. It is a keeper.

I love this book, it is simple and easy to read and offers clear step by step instructions to nourish your body and soul.

Not only did the book arrive well before schedule but its in great condition. I immediately returned my library copy and set my own copy in its place with the rest of my books. Although I'm still in the early chapters The Way of the Happy Woman inspires me to seek connection with nature and use that to explore my authentic self. I've always loved journaling but the exercises in the book allow me to go deeper than just recording or venting on the days events. I write with sincere expression. With healing and growth in mind. It's awesome and I haven't even got to the yoga sequences or conscious eating yet! This is definitely a book for the woman who wants to find pleasure in everyday living.

I highly recommend this book to any woman interested in self-improvement, yoga, meditation, healthy cooking and living. Sara Avant writes in a beautiful way, while she offers several useful tips and strategies for managing stress and anxiety in your life. Her advice and thoughtful explanations have already helped me to gain more awareness and mindfulness in the way that I live every day, and I am only in the second chapter. I have already marked many places with post-it notes and taken notes from this book. This is one of the best books I have ever purchased, if not the best. Please buy this book. Your purchase will help not only you, but others around you as you become more calm, relaxed, centered, and happy from having taken Sara's advice to heart.

I loved this book, it is beautifully written and I found its content to be very helpful.

This beautiful little book offers healthy recipes and rituals for each season, tips on living more fully in tune with winter, spring, summer and autumn.