Contents Foreword by Jessamyn Stanley xxiii Preface xxv Introduction 1 1/January 11: I Start Over: Celebrating Fresh Starts and Authentic Living Queer Musings: How Yoga Can Help Us Start Over 12 Queer Yoga: Downward-Facing Dog, Child''s Pose, Mountain Pose, Forward Fold, Warrior II 13 Putting It All Together: Bringing Your Queer Authenticity to Yoga 22 Tip: Finish Your Yoga Session with Savasana 26 Honouring the Roots of Yoga: The Eight-Limbed Path and Ahimsa 27 Queer Joy: Waterfall Visualisation 29 Ritual: Cleanse the Five Senses 31 January Journaling Prompts: Reflections on Starting Over 34 2/February 37: I Am Held: Finding Community and Holding Space for Yourself Queer Musings: How Queer Community Holds Us 38 Queer Yoga: Cat-Cow, Tree Pose, Sway, Belly Twist 38 Putting It All Together: Be Open to Every Emotion 47 Tip: Experiment with Props 51 Honouring the Roots of Yoga: Satya and Asteya, the Second and Third Yamas 52 Queer Joy: Rainbow Heart Visualisation 54 Ritual: Letter Writing 55 February''s Journaling Prompts: Reflections on Feeling Held 58 3/March 61: I Take Up Space: Making Space for Your Queer Self and Others to Blossom Queer Musings: How We Make Space for Each Other 62 Queer Yoga: Flamenco Arms, Side Stretching, Squat 63 Putting It All Together: Choose Your Breath Pattern 70 Tip: Move Your Spine in All Directions 74 Honouring the Roots of Yoga: Brahmacharya and Aparigraha 75 Queer Joy: Alternate Nostril Breathing with Blossoming Flower Visualisation 77 Ritual: Use Images to Be Here and Queer 80 March Journaling Prompts: Reflections on Taking Up Space 82 4/April 85: I Use My Voice: Listening to Yourself and Others and Making Your Voice Heard Queer Musings: How to Listen and Be Heard 86 Queer Yoga: Chin Rolls, Cobra Pose, Low Lunge 87 Putting It All Together: Listen to Your Body 94 Tip: Work with Your Soft Edge 98 Honouring the Roots of Yoga: Saucha, the First Niyama 99 Queer Joy: Throat Chakra Visualisation 101 Ritual: Chant, Sing, or Make Your Own Music 103 April Journaling Prompts: Reflections on Being Heard 106 5/May 109: I Choose Hope: Living with Courage and Campaigning for LGBTQIA+ Rights Queer Musings: How to Be an LGBTQIA+ Activist 110 Queer Yoga: Seaweed, Bridge Pose, Cactus Arms 111 Putting It All Together: Using Counterposes 118 Tip: Embrace the Wobble 122 Honouring the Roots of Yoga: Santosha and Tapas 123 Queer Joy: Loving-Kindness Meditation 125 Ritual: Channel Harvey Milk 127 May Journaling Prompts: Reflections on Choosing Hope 130 6/June 133: I Shine Bright: Leaning into Queer Joy, Creativity, and Playfulness Queer Musings: How We Sparkle in Pride Month 134 Queer Yoga: Side Plank, Warrior I, Warrior III 136 Putting It All Together: Dedicate Your Practice to Queer Joy 142 Tip: Choose an Intention at the Start of Your Practice 146 Honouring the Roots of Yoga: Svadhyaya and Ishvara Pranidhana, the Fourth and Final Niyamas 147 Queer Joy: Sacral Chakra Meditation 149 Ritual: Be Inspired by LGBTQIA+ Organisations 151 June Journaling Prompts: Reflections on Shining Bright 154 7/July 157: I Create My Own Freedom: Thinking Flexibly and Moving Beyond the Binary Queer Musings: How Queer Thinking Can Create Flexibility 158 Queer Yoga: Starfish, Plank, Triangle 159 Putting It All Together: Move Beyond the Binary 165 Tip: Express Your Queer Identity Through Movement 170 Honouring the Roots of Yoga: Asana, the Third Limb of Yoga 171 Queer Joy: Blue Skies Visualisation 172 Ritual: Create a Drag Mood Board 174 July Journaling Prompts: Reflections on Finding Freedom 176 8/August 179: I Am Grounded: Connecting to Your Roots and Finding Pockets of Peace Queer Musings: How to Pause and Find Pockets of Peace 180 Queer Yoga: Ankle Rotations, Wide-Legged Forward Fold, Hand-to-Knee Balance 181 Putting It All Together: Connect to the Root Chakra 187 Tip: Honour the Desire for Rest 192 Honouring the Roots of Yoga: Pranayama, the Fourth Limb of Yoga 193 Queer Joy: Tree Roots Visualisation 195 Ritual: Find a Sacred Space in Nature 197 August Journaling Prompts: Reflections on Feeling Grounded 198 9/September 201: I Am Seen: Valuing Your Queer Self and Turning Within Queer Musings: How to Value Your Self-Worth 202 Queer Yoga: Thread the Needle, Forward Fold with Interlaced Hands, Cow Face Arms 203 Putting It All Together: Let Go of Control 209 Tip: Make Space in the Body and Mind 213 Honouring the Roots of Yoga: Pratyahara, the Fifth Limb of Yoga 213 Queer Joy: Third Eye Meditation 215 Ritual: Plant Bulbs of Intention 218 September Journaling Prompts: Reflections on Being Seen 220 10/October 223: I Belong: Letting People In and Arriving in the Present Moment Queer Musings: How We Let People In 224 Queer Yoga: Opposite Arm and Leg Balance, Eagle Pose, Hip Stretch 225 Putting It All Together: Belong in Every Breath 231 Tip: Come Home to Yourself with a Daily Practice 235 Honouring the Roots of Yoga: Dharana, the Sixth Limb of Yoga 235 Queer Joy: Network of Queer Love Meditation 238 Ritual: Create Your Own Queer Journey Timeline 239 October Journaling Prompts: Reflections on Belonging 242 11/November 245: I Am Strong: Channelling Queer Power and Strength in Vulnerability Queer Musings: How to Channel Queer Power 246 Queer Yoga: Boat Pose, Side Angle Pose, Chair Pose 247 Putting It All Together: Find Strength in Vulnerability 253 Tip: Protect Vulnerable Joints 257 Honouring the Roots of Yoga: Dhyana, the Seventh Limb of Yoga 258 Queer Joy: Candle Meditation 260 Ritual: Connect to Queer Stories 262 November Journaling Prompts: Reflections on Being Strong 264 12/December 267: I Heal: Connecting to LGBTQIA+ History and Paying Tribute Queer Musings: How We Connect to LGBTQIA+ History 268 Queer Yoga: Restorative Fish, Restorative Rotation, Restorative Butterfly 269 Putting It All Together: Trust Your Inner Teacher 274 Tip: Creating Your Own Sequences 279 Honouring the Roots of Yoga: Samadhi, the Final Limb of the Eight-Limbed Path 280 Queer Joy: Heart Chakra Visualisation 281 Ritual: Paying Tribute on World AIDS Day 283 December Journaling Prompts: Reflections on Healing 286 Acknowledgements 289 Recommended Reading List 291 Appendix A: List of Poses 293 Appendix B: List of Sequences 305.