I am not usually a fan of yoga books, at least not yoga books that actually are about yoga routines — it’s too hard to do yoga while reading out of a book. Hit Reset: Revolutionary Yoga for Athletes (Amazon Affiliate link) may just have changed my mind on that score.
A Quick Peek
Here’s a list of the chapters in the book:
- Intro
- Rediscover Balance
- Breathe & Focus
- Strengthen Your Core
- Balance Your Foundation
- Save Your Knees
- Unstiffen Your Hamstrings
- Wake Up Your Butt
- Mobilize & Stabilize Your Hips
- Sort Out Your Shoulders
- Unstick Your Side Body
- Epilogue
- Routines
- Glossary
If you have not found at least one chapter that speaks to your weakness, I’d be shocked. I’m willing to bet you’ve found multiple areas you need to work on.
A Little more detail
Each chapter begins with several common problems and their solutions. There’s also a very short self test to determine whether or not this is really one of your problem areas. Then it’s on to one or more routines that help you with that particular weakness, with plenty of instruction and photos (and at the back of the book, just the entire routine in photos).
One of the things I really love about the book is all the information you get on the nuances of the poses It’s almost like you’re in a private class with Erin instructing you.
Is it more difficult to do a flow of yoga poses while reading a book? Well, yes, yes it is, there’s no getting around that. One of the things Erin emphasizes, though, is there’s no need to stick to the routines exactly as written. If you have the time, it’s great, but if not, just pick a few poses here, a few poses there.
Yoga is meant to be a practice, not something you do for an hour once a week. Imagine getting good at playing an instrument when you only practice one hour a week? Your body is an instrument, too. Your most important instrument.
Eventually you’ll come to know the poses well and you’ll be able to do them without the book, at least your favorites — probably not an entire routine, unless you have a much better memory than I do.
Which is exactly what I do: a few poses before heading out on a run, or when something felt off, and often right before I went to sleep (bed yoga, anyone?).
I only have one teeny, tiny complaint about this book: because the spine is glued, not sewn, it’s not strong and it didn’t take much use before the cover separated from the spine. As a person who used to work in printing many years ago, I know that this is cheaper than a sewn spine — although it does’t mean the book has fallen apart; I’d just rather a sewn spine so that the book laid flat easier.
I highly recommend Hit Reset for any active person, and use it frequently myself.
It’s even better with the videos
Hit Reset does not come with videos, but the author, Erin Taylor, is the instructor behind Jasyoga. I knew several runners who were posting about Jasyoga, and several months ago I subscribed — and I’ve never looked back.
Many of the routines in Hit Reset are available via Jasyoga. But there’s much more: meditations, recovery, yoga for triathletes — just to name a few categories. There are routines from 5 minutes up to about 40 minutes. I use many of them on a regular basis and I really enjoy my practice.
I was lucky that I subscribed when Jasyoga was still $4.99/month and got grandfathered in at that rate; now the monthly subscription is $9.99 — which I think is still a bargain. You can try it yourself for a month free with the code FREERESET — not an affiliate link — I am just a happy customer.
I did, however, reach out to Velopress and request this book to review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own and I was not compensated for this review.
This week I am also joining up with Running on Happy, Suzlyfe, Crazy Running Girl, and Coach Debbie Runs each week for the Coaches’ Corner linkup
Chocolaterunsjudy 
Lol! I was enjoying reading about your views on yoga, then when you got to the bit about the spine being ‘glued nor sewn’ I thought it was a metaphor for your back 😂😂😂 I spent a whole 3 seconds trying to work it out!!!
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I suppose I should’ve made that more clear! Just trying to keep your brain exercised. 🙂
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I like reading and do not do in near enough. Yoga is another thing I do not do enough, but I doubt I would do it during or after reading a book about it. But maybe this is what I need to start doing it on a regular basis.
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I agree that doing yoga from a book isn’t an easy thing. I was actually very impressed with the book and use it a lot! But use the videos even more.
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This sounds like a really good book. And I liked that it has a self test to determine problem areas. I know I could use more yoga type stretches in my routine since I’m always stiff. I’m going to check it out! Thanks for the review!
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I do a lot of yoga, but I’m still often stiff, or sore; seems like it’s part of getting older.
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A long time ago, I bought a book called Yoga for Runners–it was the only thing I could find on this topic. I’ve been doing yoga almost as long as I’ve been running-I can’t imagine one without the other. This looks like a great book–nice review!
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I’ve been doing yoga long before I became a runner — but then, I haven’t been running anywhere near as long as you!
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Seems like a great book. I took yoga classes weekly a few years ago but then I stopped. I prefer going to classes rather than doing it on my own. However, the class conflicts with STEM (I’m picky about my instructors) but when FRW is over, I may try one in Latham by my old instructor)
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I like that analogy… your body is an instrument. That’s a great way to look at it. Actually very motivational for those who understand how important practice is.
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It just came to me as I was writing, but I did like it. 🙂
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I have that book and its great! And I also use Jasyoga.
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Probably the best yoga book I’ve seen, really (not that I have a lot of yoga books, but I do have a few).
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This sounds really interesting. I’ve never heard of Jasyoga so I’m going to have to check it out!
Also — the spine would drive me crazy, too. One of my favorite cookbooks is glued, not sewn, and it’s one of the most frustrating things ever.
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I actually prefer my cookbooks on my ipad! I’ve slowly been donating my real ones.
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I have not heard of this book, but it looks like an awesome reference tool! I had not thought of yoga as a practice (and not just a once a week thing)…oops…my practice is failing (miserably)…
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I’d say that something is always better than nothing, but yes, it’s really meant to be more frequent (but not necessarily an hour at a time — who’s got time for that?).
So you’re trying & that’s definitely better than failing!
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I am very interested in this book.
I have difficulty following instructions on a tv screen, I just don’t like it. I cobbled together a bunch of poses from various sources and collected them into a three-ring binder. It wasn’t working.
Then I started to take some yoga classes. The class leader took my binder and put the poses into an organized flow. Beginning with a handful of them, I practice every day, on Sunday added from 1-3 poses (depending on difficulty and/or if they are multiple parts of a series, e.g. warrior series). After a couple of months of daily practice, the “flow” is beginning to make sense.
All that said, I think “Hit Reset” would be a marvelous companion. I’m going to amazon right now and add it to my Wish List.
Thanks, Judy.
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I think you’re really going to enjoy it, Connie!
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I like that the book has so many pictures so you can see what you’re supposed to do! I love yoga and enjoy it but you’re right – since it’s a practice, I need to spend more time with the poses between class!
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Well that’s the thing, it doesn’t always have to be an hour long practice! Just a few poses here & there can really make a difference.
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This seems like an awesome book. I have to get it soon, Judy!
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I highly recommend it!
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