Keep your soul fit in 15 minutes a day! Using insights from the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius Loyola, Jansen brings to life each of the disciplines. Practiced daily, these simple techniques will recharge your soul and enhance your relationship with God and others. Hardcover.

A fitness program for the soul that offers simple techniques to recharge your spirit and enhance your relationships with yourself, with others, and most importantly, with God. Jansen's engaging, personal style brings to life each of the practices he suggests as he shares his own growth through the disciplines.

Gary Jansen is an editor at Doubleday Religion and the former editor-in-chief of the Quality Paperback Book Club. His writing has appeared in USA Today, Newsday, and the Chicago Sun-Times.

In this conversational guide to historic and contemporary Christian meditative exercises, Doubleday religion editor Jansen persuasively argues that the incorporation of spiritual practices into one's daily routine is not only desirable but achievable without extraordinary effort. The book is divided into five sections, one offering the rationale for trying to connect with God, and four that walk the reader through exercises devoted to prayer, encountering God, engaging the parables, and meditating on the Stations of the Cross (this section includes both traditional and contemporary versions). Chapters build on each other: for example, the parable exercises incorporate previously introduced prayers. Jansen's relaxed, second-person narrative voice amuses and inspires trust; when discussing Christ as the intersection between humanity and all creation he begins, "I hate to do this to you, but I would like to talk briefly about math." Small vignettes and stories reflective of the author's own spiritual journey appear throughout; some, including the two that open and close the book, "White Rabbits" and "Coda," have a magical realism tone, adding a playful element to this well-done spiritual workbook, which both individuals and groups may find enlightening and useful. (Aug.) Copyright 2010 Reed Business Information.

In this conversational guide to historic and contemporary Christian meditative exercises, Doubleday religion editor Jansen persuasively argues that the incorporation of spiritual practices into one's daily routine is not only desirable but achievable without extraordinary effort. The book is divided into five sections, one offering the rationale for trying to connect with God, and four that walk the reader through exercises devoted to prayer, encountering God, engaging the parables, and meditating on the Stations of the Cross (this section includes both traditional and contemporary versions). Chapters build on each other: for example, the parable exercises incorporate previously introduced prayers. Jansen's relaxed, second-person narrative voice amuses and inspires trust; when discussing Christ as the intersection between humanity and all creation he begins, "I hate to do this to you, but I would like to talk briefly about math." Small vignettes and stories reflective of the author's own spiritual journey appear throughout; some, including the two that open and close the book, "White Rabbits" and "Coda," have a magical realism tone, adding a playful element to this well-done spiritual workbook, which both individuals and groups may find enlightening and useful.

Praise for Exercising Your Soul:

"Whether you are a veteran or a novice in prayer, this jewel of a book holds inspiration for us all."

"This is one of the rare books where the author captures the authentic goal of the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises, namely, Dive Union and the interconnectedness of all life. In a simple and collective style, Gary Jansen makes it easier to experience God who is present in every creature."

"Prayer is not just for the saints, but for you. Gary Jansen's beautiful book is filled with simple, how-to advice on jump-starting your relationship with God. Using insights from the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius Loyola, Jansen offers straight-forward advice on how to begin, or deepen, your relationship with the One who loved us into being."

"This book will be fun to read and will lead readers into what will be for many, a new and exciting adventure."

"Gary Jansen's powerful book will send you into a spiritual awakening. Start reading Exercising Your Soul and you will truly desire to love others in a new way. He not only writes a beautiful work, but more importantly, he lives the message."

"Gary Jansen has accomplished what no other spiritual author before him has: explained the Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius of Loyola in language I understand! He educates, entertains, and inspires with his charming stories and simple prose."

"I love this book. Gary Jansen has an endearing, attention-deficit quality that lets him deliver big lessons not only painlessly, but humorously. He goes deep, and takes us readers deep, without even a whiff of pious unction. For Jansen, a tattooed foot on the subway is the start of a mystical flight. By the end of the story, we know that these everyday distractions should be graces for us as well."

"Exercising Your Soul is brilliant! Whether you are a beginning or a vetran of the spiritual life I think you will find Gary Jansen's approach immensibly practical."

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