21 for 2021 :: Wellness Books
A return to a sense of normalcy feels like a mirage of an oasis that keeps disappearing on the horizon. Over the last week, I’ve canceled an international adventure and one domestic trip to Florida. And the European Union again recommended member states ban US citizens from traveling to Europe for anything that isn’t essential. And no, tourism is not essential. Italy, however, made clear immediately that vaccinated Americans with additional testing are still welcomed until at least the end of October.
Our world is permanently changed, and we all will rebuild our lives in a way that prioritizes all that is meaningful and newly valued. We are now in an era being called The Great Resignation. Monetary compensation is no longer enough. We have all been reminded of how fragile and precious life is, so we're all evaluating what qualities we wish for in our lives.
And we all better appreciate that our health is our wealth. And while we might not be able to travel right now for an international wellness retreat, that doesn't mean you have to postpone your health regimen. (And even some parts of the US may not be okay to travel too for wellness.)
The art of practicing wellness improves your mind and body, regardless of where that growth may take place.
For me, the fall is always a time to pick up a book. So as we celebrate Labor Day, this 21 for 2021 Series post offers a list of books through which you can promote wellness and boost your health from your own home, now and until we can travel safely.
1 | Anatomy of the Spirit: The Seven Stages of Power and Healing
by Caroline Myss
Building on wisdom from Kabbalah, Hindu, and Christian traditions, this comprehensive guide to energy healing reveals the hidden attitudes, stresses, and beliefs that cause illness. Dr. Myss synthesizes spiritual practices in her work to show how the human body possesses seven centers of spiritual and physical power that can help you grow.
2 | Ayurveda Beginner's Guide: Essential Ayurvedic Principles and Practices to Balance and Heal Naturally
by Susan Weis-Bohlen
Ayurveda is a profound science with millennia of wisdom that can make it difficult to know where to start. This beginner's guide breaks down the complex network of Ayurvedic information efficiently and straightforwardly so that anyone can comprehend the healing modality of Ayurveda.
3 | The Ayurvedic Self-Care Handbook: Holistic Healing Rituals for Every Day and Season
by Sarah Kucera
This authoritative guide to ancient healing offers over 100 daily and seasonal Ayurvedic rituals (each taking no more than 10 minutes) to reconnect you with nature's rhythms. You will unlock better health and rediscover your potential to feel good by aligning with the earth.
4 | Bliss More: How to Succeed in Meditation Without Really Trying
by Light Watkins
Light Watkins, one of America's top meditation teachers, is here to provide revolutionary, simple approaches to everyday meditation. Whether you're a novice or experienced practitioner, this guide will help you on the path to a clearer mind, better sleep, and more bliss in daily life.
5 | Body Thrive: Uplevel Your Body and Your Life with 10 Habits from Ayurveda and Yoga
by Cate Stillman
Discover an innovative new curriculum for smarter, naturally revitalizing daily habits through yoga and Ayurveda. Wellness expert Cate Stillman guides you through critical routines that will align your schedule with natural biorhythms for positive rejuvenation.
Learn more from the Insights At The Edge podcast.
6 | Change Your Schedule, Change Your Life: How to Harness the Power of Clock Genes to Lose Weight, Optimize Your Workout, and Finally Get a Good Night's Sleep
by Suhas Kshirsagar, MD
From a leading Ayurvedic physician, this eye-opening handbook mixes cutting-edge science on "clock genes" with ancient Eastern wisdom to help us better harness the power of chronobiology. The results? Weight loss, better sleep, more vigorous exercise, stress reduction, and better wellbeing.
7 | The Clarity Cleanse: 12 Steps to Finding Renewed Energy, Spiritual Fulfilment and Emotional Healing
by Habib Sadeghi, DO
Advisor to celebrities like Gwyneth Paltrow and Emily Blunt, Dr. Sadeghi will show you how to transform obstacles into healing and energizing opportunities. The book's two components, Dietary and Emotional, will help you achieve a sense of peace and control in your life.
Learn more from the Ask the Health Expert podcast.
8 | Cured: Strengthen Your Immune System and Heal Your Life
by Jeffrey Rediger, MD
Dr. Rediger has spent over 15 years studying spontaneous healing and recovery from incurable illnesses. In this book, he explains the science behind miracles and shows you how to create an environment that sets the stage for healing.
9 | Holistic Aromatherapy: Practical Self-healing With Essential Oils
by Marc J. Gian
Use the power of essential oils to heal your body, mind, and spirit. Discover the healing connection between aromatherapy and Chinese Medicine, learn the acupressure points for effective application of essential oils, and practice simple massage techniques for overall self-care and rejuvenation.
10 | How to Breathe: 25 Simple Practices for Calm, Joy, and Resilience
by Ashley Neese
Breathwork expert Ashley Neese gives practical tips for channeling the power of your breath to help you tackle common challenges to serenity and mindfulness. This guide demonstrates how small exercises in breathing can have a massive impact on daily health and happiness.
11 | The Kindness Method: Change Your Habits for Good Using Self-Compassion and Understanding
by Shahroo Izadi
This book is the key to breaking unwanted habits for good. Shahroo Izadi blends her therapeutic style, personal experiences, and techniques from working in the field of substance abuse to share practical ways to strengthen your willpower. The processes will make lasting change in your life!
Learn more from the Deliciously Ella podcast.
12 | Kintsugi Wellness: The Japanese Art of Nourishing Mind, Body, and Spirit
by Candice Kumai
In this handbook, Candice Kumai shares what she's learned from her Japanese heritage to guide us through her favorite Japanese traditions and cuisine. I enjoyed learning about Japanese wellness and how they cultivate inner strength, graciousness, and health.
13 | Living Ayurveda: Nourishing Body and Mind through Seasonal Recipes, Rituals, and Yoga
by Claire Ragozzino
This book is a hands-on holistic guide to self-care based on the ancient wisdom of Ayurveda but fused with modern-day accessibility. From vegetarian recipes to moon cycle rituals, you will learn how to stay balanced and nourished throughout the year's seasons.
14 | Notes on a Nervous Planet
by Matt Haig
This book gives a broader perspective on how modern life feeds our anxiety and how we can live better lives. Matt Haig observes how various social, commercial, and technological "advancements" can hinder our happiness and how we can reconcile with the twenty-first century's realities for healthier living.
15 | Playing Big: Practical Wisdom for Women Who Want to Speak Up, Create, and Lead
by Tara Mohr
Tara Mohr, a women's leadership expert and popular conference speaker, offers women the practical tools to voice and implement the changes they wish to see in themselves and the world. She illuminates how our culture conditions women to play small. This book is not just for corporate women looking to advance in their careers — the tools laid out can be applied to any context in the public and private spheres.
16 | Practice You: A Journal
by Elena Brower
From yoga and meditation teacher Elena Brower comes this journal: a portable sacred sanctuary to record your flashes of insight, find your ground, create and clarify your goals, and bear witness to your evolution. Over 150 aesthetically pleasing pages are full of questions, lessons, inspiring imagery, and plenty of space to write, draw and reflect.
17 | Radical Acceptance: Embracing Your Life with the Heart of a Buddha
by Tara Brach, Ph.D
Dr. Brach's twenty years of experience with therapy clients and Buddhist students has inspired this book on tender healing and personal growth. In particular, she brings her teachings alive through personal anecdotes and case histories, fresh interpretations of Buddhist tales, and guided meditations.
18 | Sensual Home
by Ilse Crawford
This handbook is the key to create private havens that soothe and enhance each of our five senses: touch, taste, smell, sight, and hearing. The first few chapters focus on the senses themselves, then our sensual needs in categories like Energy & Spirit and Light & Space. A terrific resource for those whose wellbeing is affected by their environment.
See this short film on the importance of design in everyday items from Nowness. Also, Ilse Crawford designed a stunning lounge for Cathay Pacific Airlines in Hong Kong.
19 | Vinegar Socks: Traditional Home Remedies for Modern Living
by Karin Berndl & Nici Hofer
Karin Berndl and Nici Hofer are firm believers in the power of natural remedies. Together, they share 40 traditional home remedies handed down for generations and are proven to help cure common ailments and illnesses. The best part? They are all easily made from ingredients in your home cupboards! The outstanding photography will inspire you to give them a try.
20 | The Way In: 5 Winning Strategies to Lose Weight, Get Strong and Lift Your Life
by Andrea Marcellus
This isn't your typical diet book. Andrea Marcellus, a fitness expert and life strategist with over 20 years of experience, brings a holistic approach to the challenges of losing weight and becoming healthier in this insightful and revolutionary guide. She also notes a scientific study that shows what we think about our food affects how our body digests that food. So when we travel, we should eat as the locals do, enjoy ourselves, and not adhere to a strict diet if we want to lose weight!
21 | Yoga as Medicine: The Yogic Prescription for Health and Healing
by Timothy McCall, MD
This groundbreaking work, a definitive book of yoga therapy, provides lavishly illustrated and minutely detailed instructions on starting a yoga practice geared to your health status and fitness level. It's an immense resource. Designed by a practicing yogi and Western-trained physician, a diverse audience can benefit from this indispensable guide: beginner or experienced, doctor or nurse, yoga teacher or bodyworker, and other health professionals.
Honorable mention ::
The Woman's Book of Yoga and Health: A Lifelong Guide to Wellness
by Linda Sparrowe
This book is the first comprehensive resource on women's health issues and how to treat them with yoga. Through a complete yoga program, pose sequences, and an overview of female development stages, Linda Sparrowe ensures that every woman is prepared to control their health as they grow older. It's an essential resource on my shelf.
Remember: you don't need to be at a spa-cation in, say, Mexico to experience wellness to the fullest. Home remedies, domestic exercises, and personal routines help us live a healthier and more wholesome lifestyle. Trust in these experts, but above all else, trust yourself and implement positive changes in your life for your health and wellbeing.