Welcome,
I'm so glad you're here.
This is a space where adults can engage in meaningful conversations, foster thoughtful connections, and read with purpose. Vulnerability is welcomed. Curiosity is celebrated. Real dialogue happens.
I've included all the details below to help you get oriented.
Take your time reading through – knowing how everything works will help us hit the ground running together.
Together, we explore books on
yoga philosophy, yoga tradition, history, meditation, healing, mental health, psychology, and spirituality
– and most importantly, gain perspectives and understanding that you can't get from reading alone.
OVERVIEW
How This Works- Our Monthly Rhythm
The Bookshelf
How to Read for a Book Club
Q&A
Join the Reader's Lounge
Support What We Are Building
How This Works – Our Monthly Rhythm:
2nd Saturday – We decide on next month's book as a group through a voting system
3rd Saturday – Books & Breath virtual call at 9 AM (discussing the current month's book)
4th Saturday – Last chance to sign up for the following month's call ​
Check your time zone here:
​
We are based in Taipei,
We meet on the 3rd Saturday each month at 9 AM
following China Standard Time (CST, UTC+8)
​
If you're in the Asia-Pacific region:
-
New Zealand Daylight Time (NZDT): Saturday, 2:00 PM
-
Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT): Saturday, 12:00 PM
​
If you're in the United States (your call will be Friday evening):
-
Eastern Standard Time (EST): Friday, 8:00 PM
-
Central Standard Time (CST): Friday, 7:00 PM
-
Pacific Standard Time (PST): Friday, 5:00 PM
The Bookshelf
This is where we collect and vote on books for our upcoming discussions.
​
How it works:
-
Vote for what we read next – We each get three votes. Leave your name to the books you want to read. You can change your votes at any time before the deadline.
-
Voting deadline: Usually mid-month, so add your recommendation early to give people time to see it. If there's a tie? We go alphabetically.
(FYI: February's already decided – we're reading When the Body Says No since it tied with January's pick.)
-
Add your recommendation – Each person can suggest one book per month. Include a short description. Consider sharing why it's interesting to you or what you think we could gain from reading it together.​
​
The earlier you add your book, the more time it has to gather votes. Drop yours in now.
How to Read for Book Club
(Especially if This Is Your First Time)
Reading for a book club is different from reading alone – you're not just absorbing the content, you're gathering observations, questions, and personal reflections to bring into conversation.
You don't need to prepare answers or come up with polished thoughts. This is about noticing what sticks with you, what makes you uncomfortable, what opens something up inside – and being ready to explore it together.
​
As you read, consider:
-
Mark what lands differently – Underline passages that make you pause, sit with discomfort, or shift something in how you see your own life.
-
Notice your resistance – When do you want to close the book? What ideas feel too confronting? What makes you defensive? That resistance is worth exploring.
-
Track your questions – Don't worry about finding answers – curiosity is enough.
-
Pay attention to the practices – Which exercises or meditations are you drawn to? Why?
-
Connect to your own life – When does the book mirror your own fears, regrets, or desires?
-
Let yourself be messy – Contradictions, half-formed thoughts, "I don't know how I feel about this but..." – bring all of it. We're sitting with big questions together.
​
The goal isn't to have everything figured out or to complete every practice.
It's to show up honest about what this book stirred in you.
Q&A
How do I get the book that we're reading?
Each person handles getting their own book – library, bookstore, online, wherever works for you. I'll attach any resources that I can find, but you're responsible for getting your own copy
Can I join the meeting if I didn't finish the book?
Yes, absolutely. Not finishing the book is completely valid – you can even show up without having started it at all. This is a space for community first, and you're welcome to join regardless of where you are in the reading.
My only request: be willing to share what kept you from picking it up or why you didn't finish. That honesty – about life balance, motivation, or resistance – is part of what makes this community real. No shame, no guilt. There's no shame or guilt here. Share what you were going through and what drives your engagement. This openness deepens what we're creating here.
Can I join for some books and skip others?
Of course. This isn't an all-or-nothing commitment. Join for the books that resonate with you, sit out the ones that don't. Make sure to RSVP for the months you're participating – it helps me get a headcount and plan the discussion accordingly.
Can I invite a friend?
Absolutely! Just send here and have then enter their email below to sign up. Depending on where we are in the month, they will receive an invitation with all the details for the next meeting.
​
Do you ever meet up in person?
It would be lovely to gather in person. Right now, we have members from all over the world, so getting everyone in the same place is tricky. There might be an in-person gathering in Taipei in the near future for local members.
That said, this community was created with the intention of connecting like-minded people from anywhere in the world – so the virtual space will always be our home base.
Reader's Lounge
Real-time conversation, real community
This is our space to stay connected between calls.
Drop reactions as you're reading,
share thoughts that hit you mid-chapter,
ask questions you're sitting with, or just check in.
This is where you can encourage each other when motivation dips, when the reading feels heavy, or just connect with people who get it. We're here for each other, not just during scheduled calls
Scan the QR code or use this link to join
​​
COMMUNITY AGREEMENTS
By joining, you agree to:
-
Practice giving skillful feedback, practice mindful listening
- don’t give advice unless it’s asked.
-
Honor this as a supportive, explorative space.
-
Listen deeply and be aware of intention and impact.
-
Speak from your own experience.
-
Keep others’ experiences private.
Before we close the book on that...
To support the time and energy that goes into facilitating this space, here's a suggested donation: $10 USD per book to help cover the work of organizing and maintaining the community, and to encourage meaningful participation.
This is completely optional – everyone is welcome, no matter what.
Taiwan
Cathay Bank Code: 013
Bank Acc: 138500009031
Together,
we're building a safe space for the conversations that matter –
the kind that challenge us, inspire us, and help us grow.
As we advance ourselves, we show up more fully for each other here and become better members of our wider communities, too. You don't need to have all the answers. Just bring an open mind, genuine curiosity, and a willingness to share what's real for you.
With Warmth,
Patti Chou
