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Mind and Body FitnessOctober 2014
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"The wisdom of life consists in the elimination of non-essentials." ~ Lin Yutang (1895-1976), Chinese author and translator
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New and Recently Released!
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| The Yoga of Food: Wellness From the Inside Out by Melissa GrabauMany people think of yoga as a method of physical fitness, but it's not limited to toning and strengthening the body -- it's intended to help people integrate the physical, mental, and spiritual aspects of their lives. Author Melissa Grabau, a psychotherapist and yoga practitioner, explains how to apply yoga's philosophy to eating patterns. Clearly and accessibly laying out the principles of yoga, Grabau adds practical advice about developing a more wholesome relationship with food and integrating healthy eating into a busy American lifestyle. She says that The Yoga of Food addresses the "heartache and demoralization" felt by those who find maintaining a healthy diet challenging. |
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| Get Up! Why Your Chair is Killing You and What You Can Do About It by James A. LevineIn Get Up!, obesity expert Dr. James Levine, who invented the treadmill desk, engagingly details the reasons why movement is essential for life. Asserting that too much sitting produces worse health risks than smoking, he demonstrates the connection between sedentary jobs and illnesses such as diabetes and heart disease. He also describes schools and workplaces where there is renewed focus on increasing physical activity. Get Up! is more than a compelling argument for physical fitness, though -- it includes self-assessment quizzes with each chapter and specific, simple changes individuals can apply to their own lives. Levine's charming, conversational style will inspire business leaders, educators, and individual desk-jockeys to get moving! |
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| Rewire: Change Your Brain to Break Bad Habits, Overcome Addictions... by Richard O'ConnorNeurological researchers have discovered that the brain can heal itself by forming new pathways. Applying this information, psychotherapist Richard O'Connor presents techniques for breaking existing bad habits and forming new, good habits. In Rewire, he reviews the relevant findings and offers specific techniques for identifying self-destructive behaviors (including substance abuse, poor eating habits, anger, procrastination, and more) and learning to avoid them. Those who want to understand and change such behaviors will find Rewire "personal and friendly in tone" (Library Journal) and filled with sound, accessible advice. |
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| Ending Back Pain: 5 Powerful Steps to Diagnose, Understand, and Treat... by Jack SternBack pain is one of the most common -- and difficult to treat -- physical ailments. In Ending Back Pain, neurosurgeon Jack Stern aims to empower patients with this comprehensive guide to understanding, accurately diagnosing, and seeking treatment for an aching back. He includes advice about physical fitness and psychological factors, urges physical therapy and exercises in preference to surgery -- unless it’s the only solution -- and details the components of a healthy-back lifestyle. Publishers Weekly says Ending Back Pain is "rich with valuable information and advice." |
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| 8 Keys to End Bullying: Strategies for Parents & Schools by Signe WhitsonIn this concise yet detailed guide, author Signe Whitson, a social worker and educator, addresses a significant problem children may encounter at school or online. Bullying, which Whitson distinguishes clearly from other forms of bad behavior, is sometimes hard to identify and harder to stop, but the eight "keys" provided in this book define the behavior and lay out steps for dealing with it. There are realistic examples of bullying, suggested phrasing for confronting bullies, specific advice about cyber-safety, and other valuable information to help parents and teachers keep children safe and change the behavior of bullies. This book "blasts a hole in the darkness," says Kirkus Reviews. |
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Simplifying and Stress Reduction
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Simplifying one's life and reducing stress levels are closely related, as these books indicate.
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| The Power of Less: The Fine Art of Limiting Yourself to the Essential by Leo BabautaIn The Power of Less, popular blogger Leo Babauta outlines achievable steps for simplifying life by eliminating clutter, noise, and unnecessary work. Beginning with a chapter called "Why Less Is Powerful," he suggests strategies such as limiting tasks to three priorities, focusing on a single large goal at a time, and communicating succinctly (e.g., by limiting emails to five lines or fewer). "Heartily recommended" by Library Journal, The Power of Less concludes with a chapter called "On Motivation." |
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| 10 Mindful Minutes: Giving Our Children -- and Ourselves -- the Social and Emotional... by Goldie HawnYou can't start too young with teaching stress reduction techniques, as this book by actress Goldie Hawn explains. Hawn isn't known just for her flaxen tresses or bubbly personality -- she's also written a bestselling memoir and established the Hawn Foundation, whose MindUP program teaches children the Buddhist technique of mindfulness. Ten Mindful Minutes provides quick and easy physical and mental exercises that can help children (and adults) reduce stress, manage emotions and behaviors, develop greater empathy, and be happier and more optimistic. It may even help them sleep better at night -- a bonus for parents. |
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| Mindfulness for Beginners: Reclaiming the Present Moment -- and Your Life by Jon Kabat-ZinnA Buddhist-based technique called "mindfulness" appears frequently in books on stress reduction and enriching the spiritual life, but not everyone has easy access to information about how to practice it. Author Jon Kabat-Zinn, founder of the University of Massachusetts Medical School Stress Reduction Clinic and Center for Mindfulness, has written extensively on these topics. In this volume, he offers an explanation for beginners that thoroughly but accessibly covers mindfulness concepts and concludes with a section on formal practice. If you've been wanting to try mindfulness practice but didn't know how to start, this is the book for you. |
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| The Simple Living Handbook: Discover the Joy of a De-Cluttered Life by Lorilee LippincottAs blogger Lorilee Lippincott proclaims, de-cluttering your life can make room for a calm and healthy mind -- not just better management of your physical possessions. In The Simple Living Handbook, Lippincott provides a step-by-step guide to shedding extra stuff and effectively organizing what's left, then goes on to spiritual de-cluttering that can create a calm, happy center to your life. Her book isn't just theoretical, either -- she and her family have significantly downsized their own household. While Lippincott openly professes Christianity in her writing, atheists and adherents of other traditions will also appreciate her advice on simplification. |
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| The Hoarder in You: How to Live a Happier, Healthier, Uncluttered Life by Robin ZasioAuthor Robin Zasio is the doctor featured on the A&E television program Hoarders, and in The Hoarder in You she offers her insights on becoming un-stuck from material possessions. After defining various types of clutter-prone personalities, Zasio examines how attachment to our stuff can interfere with relationships and make our lives uncomfortable and unpleasant. She addresses issues such as "The Desire to Acquire" and suggests techniques for clearing the clutter and preventing its re-accumulation. Even if you're not a pathological hoarder, you'll find valuable insights in this "eye-opening look at hoarders" (Publishers Weekly). |
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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512-218-5400, 221 E. Main Street Round Rock, Texas 78664
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