Body Mind Therapies Book Review

I have always believed that a positive attitude can change a lot of things for you, and make things go right.  I surround myself with verses and phrases that lift me up and keep me moving forward.   I know that "Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference" (Winston Churchill)   I knew my mind liked the positive connections. Until now, I thought positive thoughts and positive energy just fed my disposition.  

I just finished reading BODY MIND THERAPIES for the BODYWORKER by Kathy Gruver, Phd, LMT.   Dr. Gruver, the host of the TV series, The Alternative Medicine Cabinet, is an author of books and articles, and has had a massage therapy practice for over 20 years.  What caught my attention the most was that the book was so down to earth and actually funny at times.  That makes sense, since I doubt she intended anyone to read the book and not feel relaxed!

So, what is this all about?  Can you really change your physical health by changing your mind?   Of course you can, because they are connected. They are not separate. What you do for your body, you do for your mind, and it goes the other way around - what we feed our mind actually creates paths of healing (or harming) in our bodies. If we have an ailment, we can usually trace it back to something bothering us. Once we find what is getting on our nerves, we can begin to heal ourselves. 

Dr. Gruver believes that Stress is the biggest disease we are facing.  Stress is a real or imagined threat that makes us feel powerless. When we experience these threats, there are physical reactions in our bodies-our hearts beat faster, we breath heavier, our bodies release hormones, we shake, our blood vessels dilate, our digestion slows down, our bladders relax, and we lose some sight and hearing.   When we experience constant stress, our bodies can't get the rest they need (sleep) and we get sick.  How sick?  It is estimated that 60 to 90% of  doctor's visits are related to stress related disease. 

So what do we do to fight stress?  RELAX. Yeah, but how do we do that? This book is great at explaining how you can help yourself relax, as well as help others relax. The book explains Cognitive Distortions (irrational thoughts).  These are things like Jumping to Conclusions (they are looking at me funny) and Magnification (where one little thing becomes a big thing) as well as Labeling (I'm a Loser).  The book follows with some tools to help others/yourself become relaxed:  Biodots, Affirmations, Visualization, Hypnosis, Meditation, Prayer, Reiki, Bach Flower, Aromatherapy, Tai Chi, Yoga,  BEST (Bio Energetic Synchronistic Technique) and other therapies that use the mind to heal the body. 

If you are like me-just an average person reading up on self help, I think you will love this book.  It gets right to the point on the therapies.  I didn't feel like I was studying for an exam.  I read the book and it all pretty much stuck with me enough to start sharing the information verbally with others.   If you are a bodyworker, you will want this book in your practice.  The book shares some practical tips on how to help others reduce stress.   My favorite is a list in the back of the book on How to Stay Healthy.

You can purchase the book from Infinity Publishing and from other online retailers.   

WHETHER YOU THINK YOU CAN OR YOU THINK YOU CAN'T, YOU'RE RIGHT (Henry Ford)

*Cathy was given a copy of this book to review, her opinions are her own.