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

As I’ve written in previous posts, I am a big believer in having a yoga practice, no matter how small, no matter how “healthy” you are–but I believe even more strongly in yoga for those with PCOS. PCOS is such a tricky condition to deal with and manage day in and day out–one day you may feel pretty good, but the next you may feel anxious and depressed and just overall gross. The benefits of yoga are almost limitless, particularly for PCOS, and I’ve found that it’s a great way to regulate and balance the body more with such a frustrating and unpredictable condition–besides being a great method of self-care. I remember when I do it after not doing for a while why I should be doing it every day–and I believe yoga really can be medicine!

Writer, yoga teacher, and lupus/MS patient Cory Martin clearly agrees, so when I came across her new book The Yoga Prescription: A Chronic Illness Survival Guide (publication date January 11, 2022, available now for preorder), I wanted to check it out and see how it might also apply to those with PCOS.

I’ve both wondered about and seen discussion of whether PCOS should really be considered a “chronic illness.” I would say it should be, based on the definition from the CDC: “Chronic diseases are defined broadly as conditions that last 1 year or more and require ongoing medical attention or limit activities of daily living or both.” While PCOS may not be as physically debilitating as disease like lupus or MS and can be managed to some degree with medication and lifestyle changes, it still requires a great deal of maintenance and time at doctors’ offices depending on a person’s severity. The level of pain one experiences can affect quality of life, and infertility can also be a serious effect of it. Because it’s often misunderstood and/or dismissed, many might not consider it chronic, but those of us who deal with it every day definitely would–especially since it is complex and there is no cure!

So with all that mind, let’s dig into The Yoga Prescription.

How Can Yoga Help People With Chronic Illness?

In the first part of the book, Martin explains her journey in being diagnosed with not one but two serious, potentially debilitating chronic illnessses: lupus and multiple sclerosis (MS). She had already been a yoga devotee before her diagnosis, but its role in her life changed greatly afterwards.

I really love how she describes what yoga is for her and can be for anyone, particularly someone with a chronic illness:

“There’s a common misperception in the Western world that yoga is only the poses, or asanas. But yoga is far more than that. Yoga isn’t a magic pill or a cure-all. Instead, yoga is another piece you can add to your treatment plan. When I talk about yoga now, I talk about it in the same way I talk about the drugs I take to manage my diseases–it doesn’t fully cure me, but it helps me cope with the world around me. Yoga is a practice that evolves as you evolve–day to day, month to month, year to year, diagnosis after diagnosis, symptom after symptom. When I feel defeated, yoga picks me back up. When I am drained by my daily activities, yoga replenishes me. When I can’t get out of my head and stop worrying about my future with the disease, yoga helps me clear my mind. When my body fails me in all its symptomatic ways, yoga becomes my guide.

Regardless of what you may be suffering from, it can be your guide, too.”

Martin, The Yoga Prescription, ebook pp. 8-9

The remainder of the book explores some of the history and philosophies behind yoga, and then dives a bit more deeply into specific poses and their corresponding philosophies. They are:

• Savasana (corpse pose): “Be here now”
• Forward fold: “Give yourself props”
• Easy pose (sitting cross-legged): “Slow down and embrace the beginner within”
• Cat/cow (hands & knees): “Practice makes life”
• Child’s pose: “Listen to your body”
• Down dog: “Close your eyes”
• Side plank: “Stop comparing yourself to others”
• Mountain pose/half sun salute: “Don’t worry be”
• Tree: “You are not alone”
• Chair: “Just say no”
• Be Free: “Stop playing by the rules”
• Savasana: “Surrender to what is”

My Thoughts on The Yoga Prescription

I think The Yoga Prescription can be a good introduction for those with chronic illnesses (including PCOS) 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.

I have never taken a formal yoga class–I’ve only done yoga through at-home videos on YouTube (shoutout to Yoga With Adriene for the initial inspiration and Live Fertile particularly for women’s health and those with PCOS!). I will admit that before I started doing it I dismissed it as “crunchy granola,” and never thought it had real benefits. But once I tried it myself and started doing it regularly, I started to notice a real change in how I felt. And when I don’t do it for a while (we all get lazy, and life happens), I definitely notice the difference, especially once I get back into it again. And like Martin says, I don’t do yoga to master the poses, and there are some poses I skip due to certain physical limitations–sure, it’s great to be able to balance better in tree pose than last time–but it’s more about the intention and the feeling. While it’s okay to challenge yourself sometimes, doing what feels best to you will ultimately help you in the long run.

Overall, I give this book 3 out of 5 stars. My thanks again to NetGalley and the author/publisher for the review copy.

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Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional and do not claim to offer medical advice in these posts. These are meant to be informational only. Please consult further with your doctor for specific advice and treatment plans.

Image by Patrick Malleret on Unsplash