diff --git a/mistralclient/api/v2/actions.py b/mistralclient/api/v2/actions.py
index ea5e12ef..18c866ca 100644
--- a/mistralclient/api/v2/actions.py
+++ b/mistralclient/api/v2/actions.py
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
 import six
 
 from mistralclient.api import base
-
+from mistralclient import utils
 
 urlparse = six.moves.urllib.parse
 
@@ -30,6 +30,10 @@ class ActionManager(base.ResourceManager):
     def create(self, definition, scope='private'):
         self._ensure_not_empty(definition=definition)
 
+        # If the specified definition is actually a file, read in the
+        # definition file
+        definition = utils.get_contents_if_file(definition)
+
         resp = self.client.http_client.post(
             '/actions?scope=%s' % scope,
             definition,
@@ -45,6 +49,10 @@ class ActionManager(base.ResourceManager):
     def update(self, definition, scope='private'):
         self._ensure_not_empty(definition=definition)
 
+        # If the specified definition is actually a file, read in the
+        # definition file
+        definition = utils.get_contents_if_file(definition)
+
         resp = self.client.http_client.put(
             '/actions?scope=%s' % scope,
             definition,
diff --git a/mistralclient/api/v2/environments.py b/mistralclient/api/v2/environments.py
index 062ddb51..da53d4e7 100644
--- a/mistralclient/api/v2/environments.py
+++ b/mistralclient/api/v2/environments.py
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ import json
 import six
 
 from mistralclient.api import base
+from mistralclient import utils
 
 
 class Environment(base.Resource):
@@ -39,6 +40,12 @@ class EnvironmentManager(base.ResourceManager):
     resource_class = Environment
 
     def create(self, **kwargs):
+        # Check to see if the file name or URI is being passed in. If so,
+        # read it's contents first.
+        if 'file' in kwargs:
+            file = kwargs['file']
+            kwargs = utils.load_content(utils.get_contents_if_file(file))
+
         self._ensure_not_empty(name=kwargs.get('name', None),
                                variables=kwargs.get('variables', None))
 
@@ -49,6 +56,12 @@ class EnvironmentManager(base.ResourceManager):
         return self._create('/environments', kwargs)
 
     def update(self, **kwargs):
+        # Check to see if the file name or URI is being passed in. If so,
+        # read it's contents first.
+        if 'file' in kwargs:
+            file = kwargs['file']
+            kwargs = utils.load_content(utils.get_contents_if_file(file))
+
         name = kwargs.get('name', None)
         self._ensure_not_empty(name=name)
 
diff --git a/mistralclient/api/v2/workbooks.py b/mistralclient/api/v2/workbooks.py
index f0b7b471..990533f4 100644
--- a/mistralclient/api/v2/workbooks.py
+++ b/mistralclient/api/v2/workbooks.py
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@
 #    limitations under the License.
 
 from mistralclient.api import base
+from mistralclient import utils
 
 
 class Workbook(base.Resource):
@@ -26,6 +27,10 @@ class WorkbookManager(base.ResourceManager):
     def create(self, definition):
         self._ensure_not_empty(definition=definition)
 
+        # If the specified definition is actually a file, read in the
+        # definition file
+        definition = utils.get_contents_if_file(definition)
+
         resp = self.client.http_client.post(
             '/workbooks',
             definition,
@@ -40,6 +45,10 @@ class WorkbookManager(base.ResourceManager):
     def update(self, definition):
         self._ensure_not_empty(definition=definition)
 
+        # If the specified definition is actually a file, read in the
+        # definition file
+        definition = utils.get_contents_if_file(definition)
+
         resp = self.client.http_client.put(
             '/workbooks',
             definition,
@@ -67,6 +76,10 @@ class WorkbookManager(base.ResourceManager):
     def validate(self, definition):
         self._ensure_not_empty(definition=definition)
 
+        # If the specified definition is actually a file, read in the
+        # definition file
+        definition = utils.get_contents_if_file(definition)
+
         resp = self.client.http_client.post(
             '/workbooks/validate',
             definition,
diff --git a/mistralclient/api/v2/workflows.py b/mistralclient/api/v2/workflows.py
index 6cef0693..3bd48754 100644
--- a/mistralclient/api/v2/workflows.py
+++ b/mistralclient/api/v2/workflows.py
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 import six
 
 from mistralclient.api import base
+from mistralclient import utils
 
 
 urlparse = six.moves.urllib.parse
@@ -31,6 +32,10 @@ class WorkflowManager(base.ResourceManager):
     def create(self, definition, scope='private'):
         self._ensure_not_empty(definition=definition)
 
+        # If the specified definition is actually a file, read in the
+        # definition file
+        definition = utils.get_contents_if_file(definition)
+
         resp = self.client.http_client.post(
             '/workflows?scope=%s' % scope,
             definition,
@@ -48,6 +53,10 @@ class WorkflowManager(base.ResourceManager):
 
         url_pre = ('/workflows/%s' % id) if id else '/workflows'
 
+        # If the specified definition is actually a file, read in the
+        # definition file
+        definition = utils.get_contents_if_file(definition)
+
         resp = self.client.http_client.put(
             '%s?scope=%s' % (url_pre, scope),
             definition,
@@ -99,6 +108,10 @@ class WorkflowManager(base.ResourceManager):
     def validate(self, definition):
         self._ensure_not_empty(definition=definition)
 
+        # If the specified definition is actually a file, read in the
+        # definition file
+        definition = utils.get_contents_if_file(definition)
+
         resp = self.client.http_client.post(
             '/workflows/validate',
             definition,
diff --git a/mistralclient/tests/unit/resources/action_v2.yaml b/mistralclient/tests/unit/resources/action_v2.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..32360f25
--- /dev/null
+++ b/mistralclient/tests/unit/resources/action_v2.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+
+---
+version: 2.0
+
+my_action:
+  base: std.echo
+  base-input:
+    output: 'Bye!'
+  output:
+    info: <% $.output %>
diff --git a/mistralclient/tests/unit/resources/env_v2.json b/mistralclient/tests/unit/resources/env_v2.json
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e4945430
--- /dev/null
+++ b/mistralclient/tests/unit/resources/env_v2.json
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+{
+    "name": "env1",
+    "description": "Test Environment #1",
+    "scope": "private",
+    "variables": {
+        "server": "localhost"
+    }
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/mistralclient/tests/unit/resources/env_v2.yaml b/mistralclient/tests/unit/resources/env_v2.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..f13454eb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/mistralclient/tests/unit/resources/env_v2.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+---
+
+"name": "env1"
+"description": "Test Environment #1"
+"scope": "private"
+"variables":
+    "server": "localhost"
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/mistralclient/tests/unit/resources/wb_v2.yaml b/mistralclient/tests/unit/resources/wb_v2.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..344f4cfe
--- /dev/null
+++ b/mistralclient/tests/unit/resources/wb_v2.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+
+---
+version: 2.0
+
+name: wb
+
+workflows:
+  wf1:
+    type: direct
+    input:
+      - param1
+      - param2
+
+    tasks:
+      task1:
+        action: std.http url="localhost:8989"
+        on-success:
+          - test_subsequent
+
+      test_subsequent:
+        action: std.http url="http://some_url" server_id=1
diff --git a/mistralclient/tests/unit/resources/wf_v2.yaml b/mistralclient/tests/unit/resources/wf_v2.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..c9e30e93
--- /dev/null
+++ b/mistralclient/tests/unit/resources/wf_v2.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+
+---
+version: 2.0
+
+my_wf:
+  type: direct
+
+  tasks:
+    task1:
+      action: std.echo output="hello, world"
diff --git a/mistralclient/tests/unit/v2/test_actions.py b/mistralclient/tests/unit/v2/test_actions.py
index 5a538b38..9416fe3c 100644
--- a/mistralclient/tests/unit/v2/test_actions.py
+++ b/mistralclient/tests/unit/v2/test_actions.py
@@ -11,6 +11,11 @@
 #    WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
 #    See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 #    limitations under the License.
+
+import pkg_resources as pkg
+from six.moves.urllib import parse
+from six.moves.urllib import request
+
 from mistralclient.api.v2 import actions
 from mistralclient.tests.unit.v2 import base
 
@@ -54,6 +59,26 @@ class TestActionsV2(base.BaseClientV2Test):
             headers={'content-type': 'text/plain'}
         )
 
+    def test_create_with_file(self):
+        mock = self.mock_http_post(content={'actions': [ACTION]})
+
+        # The contents of action_v2.yaml must be identical to ACTION_DEF
+        path = pkg.resource_filename(
+            'mistralclient',
+            'tests/unit/resources/action_v2.yaml'
+        )
+
+        actions = self.actions.create(path)
+
+        self.assertIsNotNone(actions)
+        self.assertEqual(ACTION_DEF, actions[0].definition)
+
+        mock.assert_called_once_with(
+            URL_TEMPLATE_SCOPE,
+            ACTION_DEF,
+            headers={'content-type': 'text/plain'}
+        )
+
     def test_update(self):
         mock = self.mock_http_put(content={'actions': [ACTION]})
 
@@ -68,6 +93,29 @@ class TestActionsV2(base.BaseClientV2Test):
             headers={'content-type': 'text/plain'}
         )
 
+    def test_update_with_file_uri(self):
+        mock = self.mock_http_put(content={'actions': [ACTION]})
+
+        # The contents of action_v2.yaml must be identical to ACTION_DEF
+        path = pkg.resource_filename(
+            'mistralclient',
+            'tests/unit/resources/action_v2.yaml'
+        )
+
+        # Convert the file path to file URI
+        uri = parse.urljoin('file:', request.pathname2url(path))
+
+        actions = self.actions.update(uri)
+
+        self.assertIsNotNone(actions)
+        self.assertEqual(ACTION_DEF, actions[0].definition)
+
+        mock.assert_called_once_with(
+            URL_TEMPLATE_SCOPE,
+            ACTION_DEF,
+            headers={'content-type': 'text/plain'}
+        )
+
     def test_list(self):
         mock = self.mock_http_get(content={'actions': [ACTION]})
 
diff --git a/mistralclient/tests/unit/v2/test_environments.py b/mistralclient/tests/unit/v2/test_environments.py
index 4628ada6..a88faa4a 100644
--- a/mistralclient/tests/unit/v2/test_environments.py
+++ b/mistralclient/tests/unit/v2/test_environments.py
@@ -11,12 +11,17 @@
 #    WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
 #    See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 #    limitations under the License.
-
+from collections import OrderedDict
 import copy
 import json
 
+import pkg_resources as pkg
+from six.moves.urllib import parse
+from six.moves.urllib import request
+
 from mistralclient.api.v2 import environments
 from mistralclient.tests.unit.v2 import base
+from mistralclient import utils
 
 
 ENVIRONMENT = {
@@ -33,6 +38,7 @@ URL_TEMPLATE_NAME = '/environments/%s'
 
 
 class TestEnvironmentsV2(base.BaseClientV2Test):
+
     def test_create(self):
         data = copy.deepcopy(ENVIRONMENT)
 
@@ -46,6 +52,32 @@ class TestEnvironmentsV2(base.BaseClientV2Test):
 
         mock.assert_called_once_with(URL_TEMPLATE, json.dumps(expected_data))
 
+    def test_create_with_json_file_uri(self):
+        # The contents of env_v2.json must be equivalent to ENVIRONMENT
+        path = pkg.resource_filename(
+            'mistralclient',
+            'tests/unit/resources/env_v2.json'
+        )
+
+        # Convert the file path to file URI
+        uri = parse.urljoin('file:', request.pathname2url(path))
+        data = OrderedDict(
+            utils.load_content(
+                utils.get_contents_if_file(uri)
+            )
+        )
+
+        mock = self.mock_http_post(content=data)
+        file_input = {'file': uri}
+        env = self.environments.create(**file_input)
+
+        self.assertIsNotNone(env)
+
+        expected_data = copy.deepcopy(data)
+        expected_data['variables'] = json.dumps(expected_data['variables'])
+
+        mock.assert_called_once_with(URL_TEMPLATE, json.dumps(expected_data))
+
     def test_update(self):
         data = copy.deepcopy(ENVIRONMENT)
 
@@ -59,6 +91,29 @@ class TestEnvironmentsV2(base.BaseClientV2Test):
 
         mock.assert_called_once_with(URL_TEMPLATE, json.dumps(expected_data))
 
+    def test_update_with_yaml_file(self):
+        # The contents of env_v2.json must be equivalent to ENVIRONMENT
+        path = pkg.resource_filename(
+            'mistralclient',
+            'tests/unit/resources/env_v2.json'
+        )
+        data = OrderedDict(
+            utils.load_content(
+                utils.get_contents_if_file(path)
+            )
+        )
+
+        mock = self.mock_http_put(content=data)
+        file_input = {'file': path}
+        env = self.environments.update(**file_input)
+
+        self.assertIsNotNone(env)
+
+        expected_data = copy.deepcopy(data)
+        expected_data['variables'] = json.dumps(expected_data['variables'])
+
+        mock.assert_called_once_with(URL_TEMPLATE, json.dumps(expected_data))
+
     def test_list(self):
         mock = self.mock_http_get(content={'environments': [ENVIRONMENT]})
 
diff --git a/mistralclient/tests/unit/v2/test_workbooks.py b/mistralclient/tests/unit/v2/test_workbooks.py
index 1dc3f833..4c8487e9 100644
--- a/mistralclient/tests/unit/v2/test_workbooks.py
+++ b/mistralclient/tests/unit/v2/test_workbooks.py
@@ -13,6 +13,10 @@
 #    See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 #    limitations under the License.
 
+import pkg_resources as pkg
+from six.moves.urllib import parse
+from six.moves.urllib import request
+
 from mistralclient.api import base as api_base
 from mistralclient.api.v2 import workbooks
 from mistralclient.tests.unit.v2 import base
@@ -79,6 +83,29 @@ class TestWorkbooksV2(base.BaseClientV2Test):
             headers={'content-type': 'text/plain'}
         )
 
+    def test_create_with_file_uri(self):
+        mock = self.mock_http_post(content=WORKBOOK)
+
+        # The contents of wb_v2.yaml must be identical to WB_DEF
+        path = pkg.resource_filename(
+            'mistralclient',
+            'tests/unit/resources/wb_v2.yaml'
+        )
+
+        # Convert the file path to file URI
+        uri = parse.urljoin('file:', request.pathname2url(path))
+
+        wb = self.workbooks.create(uri)
+
+        self.assertIsNotNone(wb)
+        self.assertEqual(WB_DEF, wb.definition)
+
+        mock.assert_called_once_with(
+            URL_TEMPLATE,
+            WB_DEF,
+            headers={'content-type': 'text/plain'}
+        )
+
     def test_update(self):
         mock = self.mock_http_put(content=WORKBOOK)
 
@@ -93,6 +120,26 @@ class TestWorkbooksV2(base.BaseClientV2Test):
             headers={'content-type': 'text/plain'}
         )
 
+    def test_update_with_file(self):
+        mock = self.mock_http_put(content=WORKBOOK)
+
+        # The contents of wb_v2.yaml must be identical to WB_DEF
+        path = pkg.resource_filename(
+            'mistralclient',
+            'tests/unit/resources/wb_v2.yaml'
+        )
+
+        wb = self.workbooks.update(path)
+
+        self.assertIsNotNone(wb)
+        self.assertEqual(WB_DEF, wb.definition)
+
+        mock.assert_called_once_with(
+            URL_TEMPLATE,
+            WB_DEF,
+            headers={'content-type': 'text/plain'}
+        )
+
     def test_list(self):
         mock = self.mock_http_get(content={'workbooks': [WORKBOOK]})
 
@@ -145,6 +192,28 @@ class TestWorkbooksV2(base.BaseClientV2Test):
             headers={'content-type': 'text/plain'}
         )
 
+    def test_validate_with_file(self):
+        mock = self.mock_http_post(status_code=200,
+                                   content={'valid': True})
+
+        # The contents of wb_v2.yaml must be identical to WB_DEF
+        path = pkg.resource_filename(
+            'mistralclient',
+            'tests/unit/resources/wb_v2.yaml'
+        )
+
+        result = self.workbooks.validate(path)
+
+        self.assertIsNotNone(result)
+        self.assertIn('valid', result)
+        self.assertTrue(result['valid'])
+
+        mock.assert_called_once_with(
+            URL_TEMPLATE_VALIDATE,
+            WB_DEF,
+            headers={'content-type': 'text/plain'}
+        )
+
     def test_validate_failed(self):
         mock_result = {
             "valid": False,
diff --git a/mistralclient/tests/unit/v2/test_workflows.py b/mistralclient/tests/unit/v2/test_workflows.py
index c4fc2f02..b2a5f407 100644
--- a/mistralclient/tests/unit/v2/test_workflows.py
+++ b/mistralclient/tests/unit/v2/test_workflows.py
@@ -11,6 +11,11 @@
 #    WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
 #    See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 #    limitations under the License.
+
+import pkg_resources as pkg
+from six.moves.urllib import parse
+from six.moves.urllib import request
+
 from mistralclient.api.v2 import workflows
 from mistralclient.tests.unit.v2 import base
 
@@ -54,6 +59,26 @@ class TestWorkflowsV2(base.BaseClientV2Test):
             headers={'content-type': 'text/plain'}
         )
 
+    def test_create_with_file(self):
+        mock = self.mock_http_post(content={'workflows': [WORKFLOW]})
+
+        # The contents of wf_v2.yaml must be identical to WF_DEF
+        path = pkg.resource_filename(
+            'mistralclient',
+            'tests/unit/resources/wf_v2.yaml'
+        )
+
+        wfs = self.workflows.create(path)
+
+        self.assertIsNotNone(wfs)
+        self.assertEqual(WF_DEF, wfs[0].definition)
+
+        mock.assert_called_once_with(
+            URL_TEMPLATE_SCOPE,
+            WF_DEF,
+            headers={'content-type': 'text/plain'}
+        )
+
     def test_update(self):
         mock = self.mock_http_put(content={'workflows': [WORKFLOW]})
 
@@ -82,6 +107,29 @@ class TestWorkflowsV2(base.BaseClientV2Test):
             headers={'content-type': 'text/plain'}
         )
 
+    def test_update_with_file_uri(self):
+        mock = self.mock_http_put(content={'workflows': [WORKFLOW]})
+
+        # The contents of wf_v2.yaml must be identical to WF_DEF
+        path = pkg.resource_filename(
+            'mistralclient',
+            'tests/unit/resources/wf_v2.yaml'
+        )
+
+        # Convert the file path to file URI
+        uri = parse.urljoin('file:', request.pathname2url(path))
+
+        wfs = self.workflows.update(uri)
+
+        self.assertIsNotNone(wfs)
+        self.assertEqual(WF_DEF, wfs[0].definition)
+
+        mock.assert_called_once_with(
+            URL_TEMPLATE_SCOPE,
+            WF_DEF,
+            headers={'content-type': 'text/plain'}
+        )
+
     def test_list(self):
         mock = self.mock_http_get(content={'workflows': [WORKFLOW]})
 
diff --git a/mistralclient/utils.py b/mistralclient/utils.py
index d143f9ba..cdc73e2b 100644
--- a/mistralclient/utils.py
+++ b/mistralclient/utils.py
@@ -14,9 +14,12 @@
 #    limitations under the License.
 
 import json
-
+import os
 import yaml
 
+from six.moves.urllib import parse
+from six.moves.urllib import request
+
 from mistralclient import exceptions
 
 
@@ -51,3 +54,28 @@ def load_content(content):
 def load_file(path):
     with open(path, 'r') as f:
         return load_content(f.read())
+
+
+def get_contents_if_file(contents_or_file_name):
+    """Get the contents of a file.
+
+    If the value passed in is a file name or file URI, return the
+    contents. If not, or there is an error reading the file contents,
+    return the value passed in as the contents.
+
+    For example, a workflow definition will be returned if either the
+    workflow definition file name, or file URI are passed in, or the
+    actual workflow definition itself is passed in.
+    """
+    try:
+        if parse.urlparse(contents_or_file_name).scheme:
+            definition_url = contents_or_file_name
+        else:
+            path = os.path.abspath(contents_or_file_name)
+            definition_url = parse.urljoin(
+                'file:',
+                request.pathname2url(path)
+            )
+        return request.urlopen(definition_url).read().decode('utf8')
+    except Exception:
+        return contents_or_file_name
diff --git a/requirements.txt b/requirements.txt
index 2c587080..fa1b7b45 100644
--- a/requirements.txt
+++ b/requirements.txt
@@ -7,3 +7,4 @@ python-keystoneclient!=1.8.0,!=2.1.0,>=1.6.0 # Apache-2.0
 python-openstackclient>=2.1.0 # Apache-2.0
 PyYAML>=3.1.0 # MIT
 requests!=2.9.0,>=2.8.1 # Apache-2.0
+six>=1.9.0 # MIT