Hip Tranquil Chick is a yoga/lifestyle book by Kimberly Wilson, a yoga entrepreneur (teacher, studio owner, yoga-wear designer). Her book is divided in to two sections – “On the Mat” and “Off the Mat,” and that’s where my opinion on the book is divided as well.
On the Mat
The “On the Mat” section consists of illustrations of yoga poses with a great section of suggested sequences, which could be very useful for home practitioners. Her down-to-earth explanations make such yogic concepts as the yamas and niyamas easy to understand and seem relevant to the “modern girl.”
Off the Mat
When Wilson moves her advice off the mat, however, she runs in to trouble, her flowery prose being the least of it. The “Off the Mat” section is designed to help the aforementioned modern girl figure out how to take the fabulous feeling she gets from yoga and apply it to the rest of her life. My experience has been, do the yoga and the rest will follow. No amount of lavender scented silk eye pillows, sassy leopard accessories, Kimberly Wilson-designed wrap tops, kitten-heeled shoes, or soy chai lattes (all actual suggestions from the book) is going to make you more hip and tranquil, despite Wilson’s assurances. The “Off the Mat” section is essentially guide to getting Kimberly Wilson’s lifestyle- her wardrobe, her favorite perfume, even her dog. Better to try the path that brought her so much contentment – do the yoga and the rest will follow.
