How We Live Our Yoga Pa or How Not to Be My Patient

How We Live Our Yoga Pa: Personal Stories

Author: Valerie Jeremijenko

"This captivating, fresh collection of personal stories provocatively explores the question of 'what happens to a practice based on stillness and acceptance, in a world based on striving, distraction and insatiable appetites.' More than a dozen yoga practitioners shine light on their own lives to reveal a great breadth of possibilities about the reach of yoga for Americans."-Publishers Weekly, starred review

Village Voice

...space and the doctrine of fair use dictate that I urge you to buy this book and read the whole (Adrian Piper) essay, as well as the 13 other chapters by writers whose lives have been irretrievably altered by their practice of yoga. Jeremijenko, who teaches in the dance department of Virginia Commonwealth University, has done a great service in assembling this collection. Whether yoga is already part of your life or you merely feel it beckoning, How We Live Our Yoga is the perfect companion for what may well become a life-changing journey

Publishers Weekly

This captivating, fresh collection of personal stories provocatively explores the question of "what happens to a practice based on stillness and acceptance, in a world based on striving, distraction and insatiable appetites." More than a dozen yoga practitioners shine light on their own lives to reveal a great breadth of possibilities about the reach of yoga for Americans. Editor Jeremijenko has done fine work pulling together startlingly different lives that are revealed through superior, thoughtful writing. Not all the stories are glowing tributes by any means, which gives this compilation all the more credibility. Fulbright scholar Elizabeth Kadetsky's "Coming Apart in Pune" commences the collection with a less-than-flattering account of a stint in yoga guru B.K.S. Iyengar's studio in India. Indian-American poet Reetika Vazirani's poignant, ironic and hopeful "The Art of Breathing" crystallizes America's variant of yoga, detailing its strengths and weaknesses. For the estimated 15 million Americans who practice yoga, this book is a real boon. It isn't at all about how to do yoga, but it is about how to comprehend yoga in a very rich way. Lacking a glossary to explain some terms, this work is not for those with no familiarity with the world of asanas (poses). But for those with even a cursory knowledge of yoga practice, it proffers a highly interesting, refreshing and deeper gaze at an ancient gift. (Oct.) Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

Library Journal

Most yoga texts instruct readers on how to achieve postures, how to sit during meditation, and so forth. In contrast, the evocative essays assembled in this volume illustrate yoga "off the mat" that is, practicing yoga in daily life. The contributors are practitioner-writers who follow a variety of yoga paths and have published in periodicals and anthologies. They do not shy away from tough subjects: practicing celibacy as a spiritual discipline, the way we subsume cultures without according them their depth, what yoga can teach us about death, and the relationship of yoga to injury, illness, and depression. The voices are strong even when they are unsure, as in essays that question the deification of teachers and gurus. Editor Jeremijenko, a yoga teacher and professor of dance and choreography at Virginia Commonwealth University, presents vital, high-quality, writing that speaks directly. Highly recommended for all public libraries and academic libraries with movement therapy collections. Elizabeth C. Stewart, Portland, ME Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

Table of Contents:

introduction Valerie Jeremijenko	1
coming apart in pune Elizabeth Kadetsky	8
brick by brick Samantha Dunn	27
the meaning of brahmacharya Adrian M. S. Piper	36
lyric yoga Stanley Plumly	57
the practice of paradox Alison West	67
balancing acts: two views on ashtanga Janet Bowdan and Roz
Peters	77
an insomniac awakes Lois Nesbitt	91
journey in yama-yama land Robert Perkins	107
the art of breathing Reetika Vazirani	120
how i became swami mommy Judith Hanson Lasater	135
journey of a lifetime Vyaas Houston	142
the guru question Jeff Martens	159
subtle alchemy Gladys Swan	173
corpse pose A. B. Emrys	181
contributors	191
acknowledgments	195

Book review: Rogovs Guide to Israeli Wines 2007 or Calico Cupboards

How Not to Be My Patient: A Physician's Secrets for Staying Healthy and Surviving Any Diagnosis

Author: Edward T Creagan

"By the time I see most of my patients, they have weeks, not months, left to live,"says Edward T. Creagan, M. D. , cancer specialist and professor, Mayo Clinic Medical School. "Let there be no doubt, they are courageous, and we have many incredible success stories that defy what we know about cancer. But truth be known, half of my patients never needed to walk into my exam room because their cancers were related to lifestyle choices they made along the way. I'm not placing blame or guilt. In this book, I will tell you what you can do, for yourself and your family, so you won't ever be my patient. "

How Not to Be My Patient teaches people how to talk so their doctors will listen. Dr. Creagan shares insights doctors are never taught in medical school-insights readers will be surprised to learn. He takes readers inside the examination room and teaches them how to make the most of their seven minutes-the average time of an office visit. Every one of us can lower our own risk of premature death and disability right now-it's never too late. But first, we need to take personal responsibility for our own health and welfare in order to decrease the risks of developing diseases, especially cancer-the most-feared disease of all.

With Dr. Creagan's prescription for prevention and survival, readers can take control of their health care, their medical records and their decision making. Dr. Creagan will also show patients how to wisely select and build partnerships with their doctors, even though today's bureaucratic strangleholds are driving doctors to retire early and forcing patients to the Internet for advice.

For those whose future includes anencounter with a life-changing illness such as cancer, heart disease or diabetes, Dr. Creagan has this empowering message: You can survive any diagnosis.

Publishers Weekly

Creagan, a cancer specialist at the highly acclaimed Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., and co-writer Wendel present a hopeful yet realistic view of cancer treatment and prevention. Having treated thousands of cancer patients in the past 35 years, Creagan has seen it all. Contrary to its title, however, the book fails to reveal any truly earth-shattering secrets, but it does offer a comprehensive overview of the best ways to prevent cancer or deal with a diagnosis. Creagan stresses that a diagnosis of cancer need not be a death sentence, nor are our health destinies solely defined by heredity. A number of factors influence health, and Creagan outlines the ways to combat disease. Along with religion, spirituality and connectedness, Creagan advocates lifestyle changes, explaining that exercise, nutrition and early detection all play vital roles. The book includes a helpful section on how to communicate effectively with a physician as well as an explanatory checklist of important diagnostic tests. Becoming an "empowered" patient is crucial; Creagan suggests that all patients maintain copies of their medical records. Creagan responsibly and compassionately covers the many steps readers can take to give themselves the best odds of surviving or avoiding cancer and other diseases. (Oct.) Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

Library Journal

Creagan, a Mayo Clinic cancer specialist, teams with Wendel, a consumer health information specialist, to outline how anyone can reduce the chances of being diagnosed with cancer, heart disease, stroke, and other major illnesses. Unlike other physician-written how-to-stay-healthy books, their guide addresses not only the body but the mind and spirit as well, discussing lifestyle behavioral choices, judicious health screening, and effective doctor-patient relationships for both genders at any age. Part 1 defines good health skills, such as exercise, nutrition, and eliminating negative behaviors (e.g., smoking). The authors also stress such psychosocial factors as having meaning and purpose in life. Part 2 outlines how to work with the doctor through good communication and becoming medically knowledgeable about one's health. Part 3 outlines how to survive any life-threatening diagnosis through additional measures, like a good support system, a good attitude, and appropriate complementary medicine. Incorporating patient stories, informative tables and sidebars, and encouraging "My Thoughts" at each chapter's end, the authors offer readers a sensible game plan for maintaining health and reducing their risks of life-threatening diseases. Highly recommended for all public and health consumer libraries.-Janice Flahiff, Medical Coll. of Ohio, Toledo Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.