6 Books That Are Good For The Head
Sun's out, books out! With those long and light days, summer is the best time of year to catch-up on some reading. Whether chilling on the beach, in a city park, or even in a highly air-conditioned Starbucks, reading becomes a national pastime -- a way to truly unwind.
So why not make this year's summer reads dually good for the head? Relax and enhance your practice by reading up on meditation and mindfulness. Here are our 6 picks that make for great mental reads...
1 // Unplug by Suze Yalof Schwartz, Founder/CEO of Unplug Meditation in CA, USA
Recommended for: newbie meditators
Subtitled: A Simple Guide to Meditation for Busy Skeptics and Modern Soul Seekers. This book breaks down meditation into the simplest of concepts and speaks to all the highly-researched benefits that meditation can deliver. Written with a Californian tone-of-voice and state-of-mind, Suze even gives you a few bespoke practices to try, like the Starbucks Meditation, which is a great practice when waiting for your AM iced latte.
2 // Wherever You Go, There You Are by Jon Kabat-Zinn, Founder of MBSR (Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction)
Recommended for: traveller types
Subtitled: Mindfulness Meditation for Everyday Life. A very accessible read for understanding mindfulness practices and incorporating them into your daily life, wherever you are -- be it at home or on holiday. As the creator of the world renowned stress reduction system, Jon keeps all his theory easy to digest, and completely packable for your suitcase. We love his included Mountain Meditation!
3 // Into The Magic Shop by James R. Doty, M.D.
Recommended for: manifesting minds
Subtitled: A Neurosurgeon's Quest to Discover the Mysteries of the Brain and the Secrets of the Heart. This book is a personal account of how the practice of meditation can lead to great success, but not without serious consequences and life lessons. Overall, it's a very enlightening look into one man's experience of how meditation shaped his future. Spoiler alert: He did well!
4 // The Buddha Walks Into A Bar by Lodro Rinzler, Founder/CSO of MNDFL Meditation in NY, USA
Recommended for: real-world spirit junkies
Subtitled: A Guide to Life for a New Generation. This book breaks down some key Buddhist life philosophies in every day lingo that we can all cheers to. Full of awakening insights and a sense of humour, Lodro gives much food for thought about how to cope with serious life topics like: work, relationships, sex, and even death, like a true Tibetan Buddhist guru.
5 // Wheels of Life by Anodea Judith, Ph.D
Recommended for: rainbow seekers
Making chakras great again, this richly researched read breaks down the mystical chakra system systematically with an academic's eye and explains how it all comes together in the end. It also includes recommended meditations, yoga poses, and an enlightening assess your own chakra quiz.
6 // Mindful London by Tessa Watt, Mindfulness Teacher & Consultant
Recommended for: Londoners & London tourists
Subtitled: How to Find Calm and Contentment in the Chaos of the City. A practical guide to living a mindful lifestyle in none other than our local London. From taking the tube to visiting The National Gallery, whilst grabbing pints at pubs in between, this book offers real-world advice on how and where best to navigate your mindful urban experiences.
