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Hell-Bent
- Obsession, Pain and the Search for Something Like Transcendence in Bikram Yoga
- Narrated by: Ben Lorr
- Length: 9 hrs and 42 mins
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Hell-Bent
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Summary
Author Benjamin Lorr wandered into a yoga studio - and fell down a rabbit hole. Hell-Bent explores a fascinating, often surreal world at the extremes of American yoga. Benjamin Lorr walked into his first yoga studio on a whim, overweight and curious, and quickly found the yoga reinventing his life. He was studying Bikram Yoga (or "hot yoga") when a run-in with a master and competitive yoga champion led him into an obsessive subculture - a group of yogis for whom eight hours of practice a day in 110-degree heat was just the beginning. So begins a journey.
Populated by athletic prodigies, wide-eyed celebrities, legitimate medical miracles, and predatory hucksters, it's a nation-spanning trip - from the jam-packed studios of New York to the athletic performance labs of the University of Oregon to the stage at the National Yoga Asana Championship, where Lorr competes for glory.
The culmination of two years of research, and featuring hundreds of interviews with yogis, scientists, doctors, and scholars, Hell-Bent is a wild exploration. A look at the science behind a controversial practice, a story of greed, narcissism, and corruption, and a mind-bending tale of personal transformation, it is an audiobook that will not only challenge your conception of yoga, but will change the way you view the fragile, inspirational limits of the human body itself.
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What listeners say about Hell-Bent
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Jim
- 16-05-16
The further shore of the West's Modern Yoga
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
This is a personal and passionate look at the crazy world swirling around Bikram Chauderey and the crazy level of denial amongst many of his followers. The book also skilfully places Bikram's life and teachings in context of the Guru tradition as well as modern psychology.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Countess_Dracul
- 29-08-14
Fascinating!
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
Yes, and not just someone interested in yoga. It was absolutely fascinating and really well written. I don't think I'll personally be trying Bikram, I think I'll stick to a calmer practice, but a lot of what is said re pain, and physical effects of the yoga are very interesting for other yogas or for anyone with chronic pain.
Who was your favorite character and why?
It wasn't really the sort of book where you would have a favourite character.
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
No, some of the information is quite dense so I did actually find myself turning it off to digest at times and returning to it later.
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3 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- maxreview
- 27-09-19
Exceeded my expectations
So well written. I finished the book in 2 days👌🏻
Would definitely recommend to anyone who is into yoga but also to others.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- Oliver Bellamy
- 22-02-19
Terrific book
This is my first ever review of a book, this was engaging, informative and a brilliant read.
if you ever had any questions about yoga and how it effects the body, told in a fascinating narrative then this book is for you (and if not read anyway).
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- C. Serginson
- 26-01-18
A good surprise
Initially expected a weird weekends aka Louis Theroux type rip-off but was surprised how engaging this was. Very interesting discussion about what yoga is and some of it might make you question your assumptions. It was also very entertaining and well written.
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- scott
- 23-08-18
Epic listen
As a yoga teacher I always strive to expand my knowledge and understanding of other lineages of yoga, this book was extraordinary Benjamin Lorr is a genius and captures the imagination with each tale. Great book can’t wait for another one
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