May I Be Happy

A Memoir of Love, Yoga, and Changing My Mind

By: Cyndi Lee

Narrated by: Cyndi Lee

"How can I help others grow and transform if I haven’t done it myself...?" Cyndi Lee asks in the opening pages of her memoir, May I Be Happy, where she makes a surprising revelation. In spite of her success in physically demanding professions - dancer, choreographer, and yoga teacher - Lee was caught in a lifelong cycle of repetitive self-judgment about her body, which was infecting her closest relationships - including her relationship with herself.

Inspired by the honesty and vulnerability of her students, Lee embarked on a journey of self-discovery that led her outward - from the sacred sites of the parched Indian countryside to the center of the 2011 earthquake in Japan - and inward, to seek the counsel of knowing women, friends and strangers both.

Author and actress Jamie Lee Curtis; visionary health pioneer Dr. Christiane Northrup; and a founder of the self-help movement, Louise Hay, each have wisdom to impart. Applying the ancient Buddhist practice of loving-kindness meditation - "Normally you do it for others," a sage scholar advises, "but you must do this for yourself right now" - Lee comes to learn that compassion is the only antidote to hate.

With candid, contemplative prose, May I Be Happy gives voice to Lee’s belief that every life arises, abides, and ultimately dissolves. By becoming her own best student, Lee internalizes the strength, stability, and clarity she imparts in her Buddhist-inspired yoga classes.

©2013 Cyndi Lee (P)2013 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Great Book ! Even if you don't do yoga!

I really enjoyed this book. Cyndi Lee's voice is pleasant to listen to and the content of the book will resonate with any woman who has looked in the mirror and not liked what she sees. Its great to hear that even a "celebrity" who is a yoga teacher therefore is calm & enlightened, actually has a lot of the same issues as us regular girls. She talks about being on the path to learning to love herself for who she is right now. I learned a lot from this book about how we need to practice that self love and negative thought become ingrained in our minds and it takes courage and practice to let go of those. I'm definitley planning on listening to this book again, something I normally don't do!

Lovely

I appreciated hearing the author read her own story. The short yoga practice she narrates at the end is quite nice.

Connect w/ "your best friends" thoughts&challenges

Would you listen to May I Be Happy again? Why?

Yes, women (at any age) would find humor and various levels of connection to the author's thoughts, experiences and challenges as a woman with different roles in life...including try to love herself

What was one of the most memorable moments of May I Be Happy?

When she watch herself years back on a video teaching yoga and thinking about all the negative body images she had at the time of the recording. Looking back now she explains how amazing the person she sees that looks beautiful and how silly she would be to think so negatively.

Which scene was your favorite?

her meeting with the meditation teacher and discussing forgiveness. Cindi Lee gave her a face that I know so well when not wanting to easily forgive...just yet.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Her relationship with her husband. Mixed emotions about that for myself.

Any additional comments?

If you are a woman with endless body, diet, negative thought patterns about self AND/OR you are in a profession that represents the complete opposite, this book with bring humor, light and peace to the contradiction. I am glad I listened (and read) the book. Yes, I went back to actually read it!

Touched a cord in me....

Overall this book really spoke to me in a way I cannot explain.
As for her writing, I found it wandered here and there. It wasn't what I expected. That is not a bad thing but I found myself scratching my head occassionally saying, "How did we get here"....the thread that links the past, present, events, it was there but not easily located.
Nothing in my life has been in any arena similar to this woman. I can only conclude as women we do share a very strong bond. She certainly makes the point of self acceptance. I found this book worth the credit.