The Way of the River: Adventures and Meditations of a Woman Martial Artist

I have just finished reading this book. I have not yet read this book. This is a book you will want to read and revisit and cherish.BK Loren uses words like brushstrokes in painting intimate images quietly charged with feelings, emotions and insights gathered from a life well lived and grounded in the flow of the martial arts. Unpretentious, she directly shares what she has learned and experienced and seen and felt. Her essays -- meditations -- gradually unfold and grow on you with the resonance of life and clarity. They grow like flowers, well rooted in the earth and opening to reveal personal memories and lessons learned. The cumulative effect stays with you.I don't know that my words do her book justice. At the very, very least this is a great read. But it goes beyond that. This book is a gift to share with others. Read it and you'll know why. Highly recommended!

BK Loren's book captures the reader in the first paragraph and takes you on a wonderful journey of self-empowerment and personal growth. Ms. Loren's artful use of words and descriptions of events make every reader actually feel as though they are going through this journey with her. An excellent book! I look forward to many more from this talented writer

This is an exciting and beautiful collection of essays that does the near-impossible: combine body and spirit into language that is so clear you are there, holding those poses with Loren. Many of the experiences here were scary--for where the body travels, yes, but also for where the mind and spirit go. This book expands, and so will you reading it. It's a book probably every woman should read, to feel strong, to feel elated, to feel alive. Oh, and every man should probably read it too, for all the same reasons. But for women--we don't have enough of these stories, honest in every way.

I have spent many years sutdying various martial arts and I now teach yoga. I have read many fellow sojourner's stories but this book is hands down the best. It completely captures the richness and beauty of the mental and spiritual growth that comes of the study of the martial arts as well as being a downright fun book to read. It's warmth, sincerity and fantastic humor kept me completly captivated. I recommend this as the very best book of the past few years.

Martial Arts are the perfect backdrop for these beautiful stories. I'm not a big ole' literary reader or anything but BK Loren's words so perfectly one by one drew me into each story. You know the kind of story telling that puts you right there experiencing all of it with an uncanny sense of holding your hand as she walks with you through it. As if to say rather than, "this what I saw, heard and smelled" - she says, "see, hear and smell this" rather than "this is what I felt" - she says, "feel this". The stories are so empowering and full of a truth with emotions that leave you laughing out loud, ready to defend honor and shed a tear for the honesty of her relationships. As someone who enjoys a good physical challenge, I found the stories to be inspiring and motivational. BK Loren really gets and reveals the mental and spiritual path to achieving and assessing your own goals and their relationship to the world. I am turning all my friends on to this book and buying more copies for gifts. Oh yeah - not just for women - I am getting a copy for each of my brothers and my Dad.