Rachel Krentzman Releases New Book

Reading Rachel Krentzman’s “As Is: A Memoir on Healing the Past Through Yoga” feels a little like having a long conversation with a friend who isn’t afraid to tell you the truth. The book starts with pain—physical, emotional, generational—and somehow, by the end, you find yourself feeling just a bit lighter, like you’ve set down a burden you didn’t realize you were carrying.

Krentzman’s story is deeply personal, but it never veers into self-indulgence. She writes about her journey with yoga, not as a straight path to bliss, but as a series of small, sometimes faltering steps toward understanding and acceptance. The honesty here is bracing. She explores her family dynamics, her relationship with her body, and the moments when healing felt impossible. If you’ve ever felt stuck or broken, there’s something comforting about the way she refuses to tie everything up with a neat bow.

What struck me most was Krentzman’s willingness to sit with discomfort. She describes, in vivid detail, the ways trauma lodges in the body, and how yoga became a language for her to start listening to herself. This isn’t a book about quick fixes or overnight transformation. It’s about learning to live with yourself, exactly as you are, and finding space for compassion—even when it’s hard.

The writing is clear and inviting, with moments of poetry tucked in among the straightforward prose. Krentzman has a gift for making the reader feel seen, whether she’s describing a difficult childhood memory or the quiet triumph of holding a pose she once thought was impossible.

I’d recommend “As Is” to anyone who’s ever felt like their past was holding them hostage, or who’s wondered if real healing is possible. Krentzman doesn’t promise miracles, but she offers something more valuable: the reminder that showing up for yourself, day after day, is enough. Sometimes, that’s all you need.

Nicole Killian