Mindful Alignment: Foundations of Educator Flourishing develops a foundation for educators to flourish by promoting self-awareness as a mindful approach to ongoing professional inquiry. It presents three mindful arts—the art of well-being; the art of positive relationships; and the art of living from strengths, passions, and purposes—detailing several practices that, when executed over time, can provide a focus for developing mindful alignment. The authors present an approach to personal, professional learning that encourages educators to slow down, create space to notice, and then nurture their intentions and actions toward fulfilling their purposes and passions, in order to grow a sense of flourishing at work and overcome the challenges presented by teaching in ever increasingly fast-paced, rapidly-changing, accountability-driven professional environments.

Restoring healthy posture from childhood for relief from chronic pain, easy flexibility, and enduring strength and vitality well into old age • Offers 12 physical exercises to become mindful of your posture and discover pain-free alignment of your pelvis, rib cage, shoulders, neck, and back • Provides simple yet detailed instructions on how to sit, stand, walk, bend, get up from a chair, sit to meditate, sleep, and practice yoga with proper alignment • Includes detailed diagrams and posture photographs from around the world Our bones are the framework of support for our bodies, much like the wall studs and beams of a house. Yet the alignment of the skeleton along the vertical axis of gravity is largely overlooked today, even by fitness experts and yoga teachers. In a culture of cocked hips, sauntering models, and slouching TV watchers, where “chin up, shoulders back, stomach in” is believed to be good posture, we have forgotten what healthy alignment looks and feels like--leading to chronic neck, shoulder, and back pain for millions. Sharing photographs from around the world of “gurus” of natural posture and authentic strength, such as women in their 80s who easily carry heavy loads on their heads and toddlers learning to walk, Kathleen Porter shows what natural skeletal alignment truly looks like. With insights based on the fundamental laws of physics and detailed diagrams, she guides you through an understanding of the body’s naturally pain-free design. She explains that when the body is aligned as nature intended, your weight is supported by your bones rather than your muscles, allowing a blissful release from chronic muscular tension--which you may not even be aware you had. She offers 12 physical exercises to become mindful of your posture and discover healthy alignment of your pelvis, rib cage, shoulders, neck, and your body as a whole. Providing easy-to-follow instructions for mindful alignment during the most ordinary daily activities, even sleeping, as well as a chapter on practicing yoga safely, Porter shows how returning to our forgotten alignment from childhood can offer relief from chronic pain and tension and can provide easy flexibility, enduring strength, and vitality well into old age.

Ageless Spine, Lasting Health clearly illustrates just how the body is designed to really work and what true fitness and graceful aging can look like when you simply sit, stand, bend, walk, lift, reach and even sleep in a natural way. Genuine, natural strength is not about 'developed' muscles, as almost all of us have come to believe, but is a natural interplay between elastic muscles and aligned bones. It's more about 'working in' rather than 'working out, ' and this book will show you how.

Restoring social harmony requires both emotion and the difficult embrace of past felt traumas. Jeremy A. Rinker provides a clarion call for practitioners to bravely explore human emotions and past trauma. He interrogates current conflict intervention practice—moving past interest-based negotiation and needs-based conflict resolution—and provides a guide for more emotionally mindful and trauma-informed conflict intervention work. The Guide to Trauma-Informed and Emotionally Mindful Conflict Practice addresses the underattended aspects of emotions and foregrounds historical harms in the work of resolving social conflict. It critically investigates trauma and human emotions as an underexplored resource in addressing local and entrenched community violence and integrates the theory and practice of trauma-informed approaches using cultural framing, storytelling, resilience, and emotional human connection to chart new ways toward peace. This refocusing of peace work is critical for not only conflict resolution but also for overcoming the ossification of polarized social identity formations.

Complementary Health Approaches for Occupational Therapists provides practitioners and students with foundational knowledge on complementary and integrative health. This guide is a great asset for occupational therapy students at the graduate level and practicing therapists wanting to incorporate these modalities into their treatment or to gain information regarding new trends in practice. Written by Brittany Ferri, MS, OTR/L, CCTP, this text enhances one’s occupational therapy education as it pertains to treatment addressing occupational performance. Introductory information is provided on more than 30 complementary and alternative modalities, including acupuncture, aquatic therapy, massage therapy, and tai chi. In Complementary Health Approaches for Occupational Therapists, each modality’s chapter includes: Basic guidelines for established complementary and alternative modalities that can be used in practice Literature reviews of the scientific benefits or lack thereof Credentials needed to practice, when applicable Contraindications, precautions, and side effects Practical applications in occupational therapy practice Included with the text are online supplemental materials for faculty use in the classroom. New modalities are constantly generating within occupational therapy. Complementary Health Approaches for Occupational Therapists will help differentiate between new modalities while also encouraging therapists to remain true to the roots of their profession in research and best practice.

"Mindful Healing : Nurturing Mental Wellness" is a transformative book that serves as a guiding light in the pursuit of mental well-being. Written with compassion and insight, it offers a holistic approach to navigating the complexities of the human mind. Through engaging narratives and practical exercises, the author unravels the intricate nuances of emotional resilience, stress management, and self-care. Drawing from the latest research in psychology and mindfulness, the book empowers readers to cultivate healthy habits, build emotional intelligence, and develop strategies for maintaining balance in an increasingly chaotic world. With its gentle encouragement and invaluable wisdom, "Mindful Healing" encourages individuals to embrace their unique journey toward mental wellness and discover the power within themselves to find peace and fulfilment.

A longtime yoga teacher and Buddhist meditation practitioner, Charlotte Bell describes in passionate detail how she applied the eightfold path of the Yoga Sutras and the Buddha’s heed for mindfulness to her hectic Western life—with practicality and precision, grace and guts.Her insights honor these timeless teachings while staying relevant to contemporary life. She recounts personal stories that depict her commitment to practice in her own life: in relationships, music, asana, meditation, teaching, and even writing this book. And it's not all rosy. She writes about self-doubt and struggles, all while welcoming, time and again, the life she has, imperfections and all.Charlotte Bell shows by example how to be a yogi in the particularity of your own life. Her suggestions about how to bring mindfulness into asana will deepen your practice; her recommended daily practices, or Reflections, will reveal new inner landscapes. Mindful Yoga, Mindful Life is an inspiring guide for anyone seeking to live a yogic life.

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""Mindful Living Now"" offers a comprehensive exploration of mindfulness as a transformative life practice, bridging ancient wisdom with modern neuroscience. This engaging guide delves into the science behind mindfulness, practical techniques, and methods for seamlessly integrating mindful awareness into daily routines. The book's unique approach lies in its accessibility, presenting mindfulness not as an additional task but as a fundamental skill with wide-ranging applications in work, relationships, and self-care. Readers are guided through a journey that begins with the historical context of mindfulness, progresses to evidence-based practices, and culminates in real-world integration strategies. The book draws on neuroimaging studies to illustrate the tangible effects of mindfulness on the brain, while also incorporating relatable case studies. By exploring interdisciplinary connections with fields like cognitive psychology and organizational behavior, ""Mindful Living Now"" presents a holistic view of mindfulness's potential impact. Striking a balance between scientific rigor and practical advice, the book caters to a diverse audience seeking stress reduction and improved well-being. Interactive elements such as self-assessment tools and guided exercises encourage active engagement, allowing readers to personalize their mindfulness journey and discover how this ancient practice can revolutionize their approach to modern living.

This is the first research-based text intended to help teachers and practitioners implement mindfulness and yoga programs in schools. A complete review of the literature on mindfulness and yoga interventions is provided along with detailed steps on how to implement such programs. Training requirements, classroom set-up, trauma-sensitive practices, and existing quality programs are reviewed. Twelve core principles of mindfulness and yoga in schools are woven throughout for the utmost in continuity. As a whole, the book provides tools for enhancing classroom and school practices as well as personal well-being. It is distinguished by its emphasis on research, translation of research into practice, and insight into potential roadblocks when using mindfulness and yoga in schools. Mindfulness and Yoga in Schools provides: A thorough examination of the efficacy of mindfulness and yoga in reducing stress and conflict and enhancing student engagement to serve as a rationale for integrating such programs into schools How-to sections for training, classroom and lesson plan preparation, and implementing specific techniques and comprehensive programs Photographs, scripts, and figures to help implement your own programs A tool for assessing and cultivating teacher and student self-care Part I reviews the conceptual model for embodied self-regulation and the risks associated with a lack of self-regulation, an intervention model used in education, and tips for implementing mindfulness and yogic practices within this approach. Parts II and III review the philosophical underpinnings of mindfulness and yoga and critically review the mindfulness and yoga protocols and interventions implemented in schools. Part IV addresses mindful self-care for students and teachers, including a scale for establishing self-care goals and a scoring system.