La fois où... les tortues m'ont appris à respirer

By Amélie Dubois

Book Description

When life crashes down around her, Mali Allison makes an impulsive decision that will transform her understanding of healing and self-discovery. Seeking refuge from personal turmoil, she embarks on a month-long yoga retreat, hoping to find the balance and inner peace that everyone promises yoga will deliver.

What unfolds is far from the serene spiritual awakening she anticipated. Instead of graceful poses and enlightened meditation, Mali discovers she possesses all the flexibility of a crowbar and finds herself mumbling strange sounds at dawn. The retreat setting resembles a quirky Eastern European hostel more than a pristine wellness sanctuary, complete with burning incense and an eclectic community of fellow seekers.

Yet within this imperfect reality, something profound begins to emerge. Mali encounters wise souls who embody Buddhist principles, engages in unexpected conversations with farm animals, develops an unlikely attachment to a gnarled tree, and finds herself quietly observing the gentle movements of turtles. Through these seemingly mundane moments, she begins to understand that authentic spiritual growth rarely matches our expectations.

Amélie Dubois crafts a refreshingly honest exploration of one woman's journey toward self-actualization. This 449-page narrative reveals how genuine transformation often arrives not through perfect practices, but through embracing the messy, humorous, and unexpectedly meaningful experiences that teach us how to truly breathe again.