Cardiologist Dr. Mimi Guarneri created the Scripps Center for Integrative Medicine, and in this book, she describes, through stories of her patients, the many ways that our heart health is influenced by our emotional and spiritual health. Our current medical system is amazing for acute care and trauma, but incorporating other preventative measures and holistic ideas may help us be our healthiest. Very interesting studies and stories in this book.
LESSONS FOR YOGIS:
Some of my favorite lines from the book:
1) Your heart is affected by stress – and stress-reduction techniques like yoga:
“Research has shown that stress reducers such as visualization, hypnosis, deep breathing, medication, and yoga have measurable effects on cardiac risk, helping to relax arteries and reduce levels of stress hormones.”
2) Harden not your heart! We know hostility doesn’t feel good. (So, try practices like LovingKindness?)
“Feelings of hostility – along with mild to moderate depression – in healthy men have also been shown to raise levels of a protein, IL-6, a marker of inflammation that may be involved in the process that causes arterial thickening. People with high hostility levels have more pronounced heart-rate responses and blood pressures when placed in anger-provoking situations.”
3) Your heart can affect how you feel emotionally:
“The heart communicates with the brain and other organs through the production of hormones and neurotransmitters, such as dopamine and adrenaline, which are known to mediate emotion. These scientific advances illuminate the fact that while we may believe the brain is our decision maker and ruler, the ten-ounce heart is more powerful than we ever imagined – functioning as a sensory organ, hormone-producing gland, and information-processing center.”
It’s available on Oyster! So you can read it in your browser or i-product along with unlimited other books..
Used copies are available on sites like amazon, too.
GROUNDING YOGA 