media reviews
Mind Vows
These days, we have so much on our minds that it constantly feels like we are fighting a traffic jam in our heads. From the grocery lists to work deadlines, it is no wonder we find ourselves stressed, run-down, and (at times) a complete wreck. Minding the Body, Mending the Mind (Da Capo Press, 2007) may help cure you of your frazzled mindset and guide you to relaxation bliss. Joan Borysenko, co-founder and director of the Mind/Body Clinic, shares her years of wisdom by teaching you how to use your mind power to manipulate your health and negative energies into everyday healthy habits. In each chapter, Borysenko shares interactive ways to apply the mind-body connection into your daily life, starting with gaining control of your thoughts through simple meditation exercises. In addition, she offers a unique stretching regimen that relaxes your major muscles, as well as easy-to-use breathing techniques that can be done anywhere, at any time. Each section ends with useful tips to boost your inner healer like putting up signs to remind you to practice being mindfully aware during everyday activities. After reading this self-help book, you won’t need to worry about making a doctor’s appointment because you will have the tools to obtain full body balance on your own.
Have you ever missed an exit on the highway because you were daydreaming? Mental Resilience: The Power of Clarity (New World Library, 2008) will help you control your focus and concentration by exercising your mind. Author Kamal Sarma reminds us that we tend to take our most precious asset for granted, but without mental resilience you wouldn’t be able to make decisions, recall memories, or focus at work, so it is important to exercise your mind just like you do your body. Don’t worry, however, you don’t have to practice arithmetic to keep your mind strong; in fact, Sarma’s number one way to keep your mind power intact is through meditation. Sarma says that meditation can be just as easy as the focused concentration that you dedicate each week to your favorite TV show. The book brings you from the most basic level of mind workouts (like finding a space and learning good posture) to more advanced meditation techniques, such as discovering emotional tranquility or developing insight. Equipped with illustrations that help you easily adapt Sarma’s meditation lessons into your lifestyle, you are instantly able to awaken your mind and energize your spirit while turning the pages.
—Talia Goldenberg
March/April 2008
