Going Om is a behind-the-scenes look at life in a men's correctional facility, complete with alarming and surprisingly funny stories. Mike Huggins shares letters he had written from inside, lessons he had learned along the way, and how he discovered his true calling and ultimate sense of purpose. Yoga gave Huggins the strength, direction, and tools he needed to shift from his role as a corporate executive on the outside to sharing a cell in our often-corrupt prison system. Before long, he started teaching incarcerated men breathing exercises, anger management, and how to take yoga off the mat to be spiritually free.
About the Author :
Michael D. Huggins is the founder and board president of the Transformation Yoga Project. After receiving an undergraduate degree from Villanova University and an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, he worked his way up to being the chief operating officer, president, and chief executive officer of several medical device firms. In 2009, Mike plead guilty to a misdemeanor as a responsible corporate officer for crimes that occurred under his watch. He and three other executives were sentenced to prison. The high-profile case drew national media attention, and Mike's world unraveled in the blink of an eye as he was whisked to the Federal Detention Center in Philadelphia. The yoga he had practiced and taught some years before incarceration turned out to be his salvation behind bars. Upon his release, he declined lucrative offers to return to the corporate world, and instead founded the non-profit organization Transformation Yoga Project, which serves people impacted by trauma, substance abuse, and incarceration through trauma-sensitive yoga programs. Specially trained in applying yoga practices for substance abuse recovery and trauma-related issues, Mike remains active in teaching yoga in prisons, as seen in Yoga Journal, on CBS, FOX, ABC, and NBC News. He is a frequent speaker on tools for empowerment and the power of yoga as a tool for rediscovering your true self. He is also the co-author of the book Yoga for Recovery: A Practical Guide for Healing, and a contributor to several books that focus on best practices for teaching trauma-sensitive yoga and mindfulness to under-served populations. For more information, please visit https: //GoingOmLLC.com
Review :
"This is a book of personal triumph, discovery, and the resiliency of the human spirit. It challenges our inner strength to identify what is truly important in our daily lives. More than a cautionary tale that every corporate executive should read, it's an inspirational measure of a strong, centered, spiritual individual, calling us all to reset our personal GPS." -- Michael Daley, Ph.D., Founder, President, and Chief Executive Officer of OrthogenRx, Inc.
"Few books describe the real-life application of yoga with such intrigue. This inspiring story details yoga's transformative power in a straightforward and eloquent way. Beyond the resiliency of the human spirit, Michael Huggins journals his own spiritual growth that ultimately inspired the development of community-based programs, sharing the powerful and practical tools of yoga and mindfulness with those who would not normally have access to them." -- Rob Schware, Co-Founder and Executive Director of The Give Back Yoga Foundation.
"Every executive should read this story to better understand their personal liability for actions occurring in every facet of their organizations. Being a responsible corporate officer is about providing insightful and thoughtful leadership while dealing with personal and professional adversity. Although Mike's life was crushed under the absurdities of our terribly flawed criminal justice system, his journey is ultimately about hope and determination to re-invent himself and rise again. This is a gripping page-turner with an impactful message for dealing with life's challenges while positively impacting the lives of so many. This is a book for everyone!" -- Eric Wargotz, M.D.
"Going Om offers an authentic, firsthand view of the shortfalls and dysfunction of the U.S. prison system, and the inhumane treatment of prisoners. At the same time, it illustrates the compassion and understanding one can still nurture under trying circumstances through a committed, spiritual practice." -- James Fox, Founder of Prison Yoga Project.
"This is a gripping, insightful, and fast-paced read, showing the humanity and potential in all of us. Through mindfulness, meditation, and yoga, Mike not only found salvation for himself, he changed the lives of the people around him. The stories are simultaneously humorous, outrageous, and insightful." -- Jim Martin
"A truly inspirational tale of how yoga can heal and transform us. This book will fill your soul with possibility, and light the way to discover meaning and purpose that we all so desperately need." -- J. Brown, Yoga Teacher, Writer, and Host of the J. Brown Yoga Talks Podcast.
"I'm not a yoga person. A friend suggested I read Going Om, and I found it amazing that Mike was not only able to maintain his sanity through incarceration, but come out of it immensely stronger (both physically and spiritually). Stories of 'life in the slammer' are entertaining when you aren't there, and this book packs a powerful, positive impact in a relatively quick and easy read." -- C. Daniels
"Entertaining and thought-provoking, it's hard to believe this is not a story from a creative team of Hollywood writers, but a real-life reminder that each of us has the capacity to handle whatever life may send our way with grace. Like Alice in Wonderful, Michael falls through the rabbit hole into a world filled with peculiar and irrational creatures. His story provides much food-for-thought. " -- C. Cote
