Reading was instilled in me from an early age by my parents. Along with my brothers, we are a family of bookworms and I am lucky to have married a fellow bibliophile. Fiction and nonfiction feature heavily and in balance on my bookshelves. Poetry makes me happy, especially that of W.B. Yeats. Yes, I am a cookbook addict and cannot resist a good travel journal. For work, I have a section of shelves dedicated to anatomy and movement. I don’t discriminate between digital or analogue, I love it all.

These are my current reads, would love to know your faves!

On my kindleThe Amber Spyglass, Philip Pullman. The third book in ‘His Dark Materials” trilogy. Through these books, I have come to appreciate the poetry of William Blake. The prequel to this trilogy called “Belle Sauvage” is next up on my kindle wish list. Tip: If you can’t be bothered to read the trilogy, the BBC has a 2019 television series based on the books and it is amazing. I am hooked on both.

By my bedside table: The Quiet American, Graham Greene. I couldn’t put this book down. It is beautifully written and took me right into the early Vietnam war, a topic I am personally interested in because my father served as a 1st Lieutenant with the Philippine Civic Action Group in Vietnam, stationed there from 1966-68.  This is my first experience with this legendary author. Looking forward to reading more.

For work: Yin Yoga Principles and Practice 10th Anniversary Edition, Paul Grilley. Continuing education is a big priority for our entire Barre 2 Barre team, and in preparation for my next Yin Yoga Teacher Training at Tula Amsterdam, this is one of the required texts.

In my kitchen: Simple Fare, Fall/Winter – A guide to everyday cooking and eating, Karen Mordechai. Beautiful wintery dishes made with a few ingredients. Simple recipes, gorgeous photography and a section dedicated to toast. What’s not to love?

Subscriptions: My husband gifted me with a Monocle subscription on my last birthday and I keep up with design and travel trends through them. He also shares with me his Economist subscription, which I find to be the best-written news source. I like reading the obits at the back first.

Mylène Mackay is co-founder of Barre 2 Barre and Master Trainer for BarreAmped. She is based in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Check out her bio here and connect with her @mylenemackay 

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