Books that Beckon: Yoga and Homeopathy | Whole Life Times — Los Angeles Holistic Health Magazine

Whole Life Times receives a truly overwhelming amount of intriguing, inspiring books. Tying to single out a few to highlight in each issue is a painful process, because so many worthy endeavors can’t be included. Here, just a few that particularly caught our attention.

Homeopathy for Today’s World
Discovering Your Animal, Mineral, or Plant Nature
Dr. Rajan Sankaran
Don’t let the simple title of this volume deceive you. This book is truly groundbreaking in the information it presents, and it explores an entire other universe from most homeopathy books. According to the author’s theory, we all have a secret true self, an “other song” that lies beneath what we present to the world. We cannot talk about it in therapy because we don’t know what it is. It reveals itself in repeated movements and other unspoken aspects of our being, and only a skilled practitioner can recognize it, bring it forward, and prescribe the precise homeopathic remedy that will ease distress. Read this book and you’ll find yourself in a new realm. Highly recommended for both you and your homeopath. (Healing Arts Press)

Ethical Intelligence
Five Principles for Untangling Your Toughest Problems at Work and Beyond
Bruce Weinstein, Ph.D.
A few years back there was much ado about EQ, or emotional intelligence, as opposed to IQ, and we all know what that is. Bruce Weinstein now proposes an Ethics IQ, and considering what’s been happening in politics and the economy, it is none too soon. Weinstein proposes five questions be asked to be sure you are being ethical in your speech: Will this avoid causing harm? Is it fair? Is it respectful? Will it make things better? Is it a loving thing to do? Not really so different from what our parents taught us: “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.” But ethics is key to a “civilized” society and this book should be mandatory reading for certain media outlets. (New World Library)

Fierce Medicine
Breakthrough Practices to Heal the Body and Ignite the Spirit
Ana T. Forrest
There seems to be a run on “fierce,” but when it comes to yoga, Ana Forrest wins, hands down. The childhood she describes is a nightmare and her recovery, a virtual miracle. But the yoga she prescribes is so grounded that you will find yourself spreading your toes as you read, extending your hands as you go through your daily routine, pulling breath down to the bottom of your pelvis as you walk around the block. While you will find her work particularly powerful if you are battling your own formidable demons, there is definitely something here for everyone. Direct and inspiring, this is a practical handbook you can use in your daily life. (HarperCollins)

The Four Desires
Creating a Life of Purpose, Happiness, Prosperity and Freedom
Rod Stryker
Another very practical book, this one from a veteran yoga teacher looks deeper into desire than having a healthy body or living debt free. Stryker asks the reader to plumb his or her deepest desires—evaluating how deep they really are, how much proscribed by what we think we should want—and then allow the answers to arrive, via meditation, tea ceremony or just relaxing into the moment. Part of the process seems to be recognizing one’s sankalpa siddhi, or perfect manifestation of resolution; and distinguishing it from one’s vikalpa, or rule one follows above all others. Once again, we seem to be exploring the authentic inner self to create a more fruitful and satisfying life. (Delacorte Press)