3 comments about Meditations.

1. I bought these cassettes expecting guided meditations from a woman who is considered to be a "master" in the field of meditation. During the first listening of the first tape, I had to wait while Shakti talked for nearly fifteen minutes about meditation, and nothing she said during this introduction was very earth-shaking. I don't have time to listen to the same lengthy introduction every day, so I have to fast-forward through it, which is inconvenient. She has a nice voice, but I found several things distracting. First, it's apparent that she was working without a script (I never expected this from a writer!). She hesitated often, indicating that she was trying to think of the next thing to say. Second, she was apparently nervous because I could detect her voice shaking a bit and her mouth was dry. I understand nervousness very well, but hearing it definitely strained my meditation! Her tone of voice was not focused; sometimes it had a "sing-song" quality that undermined the importance of what she was saying. And, throughout the tapes, I can hear her swallowing between phrases, and I can hear what I can only describe as "mouth noises"; it seems she had the microphone much too close to her mouth. These surely cannot be the best meditation tapes available. (As a side note, I am enjoying reading Shakti Gawain's book, "Creative Visualization".)



2. This inspirational CD provides four different guided meditations to help the listener focus on a self-healing and develop a stronger outlook and more balanced perspective on life. The author provides step-by-step encouragement for nurturing the healing process from within. Shakti Gawain is probably best known for her book on creative visualization.



3. The meditations are fine, but I suppose I've heard better in the past. Her discussions are less than stellar, though, in particular leading into the "Find your inner male/female"... which is a place where "male" and female" just aren't the right words to use. If you're a woman you may dig it because it SOUNDS LIKE "women are in tune with the universe and men are just the muscle necessary to get things done". Sure, people do have those aspects within themselves: that part which is the decision-maker and is in tune with your surroundings, and that other aspect that has the drive and desire to get things done. But why call one "female" and one "male"? Gawain herself goes to great pains to make the listener comprehend that she doesn't REALLY mean male and female... but she then continues to draw EXACTLY that parallel with the world we live in. I think she should remake this and some other terms (e.g. "Yin" and "Yang", "feeler" and "doer", "id" and "ego"... whatever), which essentially mean the same stuff, but wouldn't hit you with a non-stop barrage of, essentially, "females should be in charge".
   
   The other two meditations are very nearly worth the price of the CD package though: I imagine I will continue using those ones for meditation for quite some time. But, as one other reviewer suggests, her voice isn't as smooth as it could be. Sooner or later I'll look for something better, but if she would release a "2nd edition" where she cleans things up a bit, both in her discussions and in the overall smooth delivery during the meditations, I'd consider getting that even though I already have this.

1 comments about Burn Your Anger: Write It, Rip It, Torch It!.

1. I am a big fan of Ms. Salmansohn's books... After I read HOW TO BE HAPPY, DAMMIT and THE 8 MINUTES GUTS BUILDER...I started to look into her other books. This one is (like many of Ms. Salmansohn's books) both fun to read...and also very helpful. Basically it explains why (and how) to go about burning off your anger. You fill out the pages about the all the things that might make you angry and then you set them on fire. It really got me thinking about all the things I should be "letting go" of in my life. I recommend this book big time!

2 comments about Relieve Stress and Anxiety.

1. Barnie's voice along with the background gently relaxes me & I have listened to it so much that I am ordering a new one. The background is the perfect blance of ocean waves, soft piano, & flowing wind insturments. Barnie's voice is smooth, gentle, yet keeps my attention. I use it in the car, home, & at bedtime. I know different people have different likes, but time & again friends & family have agreed "this is an excellent recording".



2. I bought my first copy of this tape when I was living in the suburbs of Chicago working in downtown, communting and working in a high-stress job. Turns out I also have horrible chronic insomnia. Barrie's Voice can usually do what three full doses of ANY sleeping drug on the market can't do ----- from Chloral Hydrate then to Lunesta now. It could put me to sleep!! I helped with the daytime stress and anxiety that ran rampant in my life when I really had little time for therapy or even eating a proper dinner! :) I am SO glad that I found this tape. This tape has moved with me from leaving my fiance and prosecuting him as a felony stalker, helped me find a new job, move cross country, move again to another state, find a good mate, find out I have a permanent and disabling illness and help get me through labor and delivery of a 8 lb preemie child, who is now, 7+ years later the light of my life, but brings his own set of stresses. My tape is quite worn out and after having bought what I thought was an identical tape for a friend, I listened to theirs, and it had different music on the daytime side. I liked the original, problably just because it was familiar, but I held on to my ancient tape for dear life. Now, 15 years later, I am looking for a way to get it on CD or mp3 or something that will be more durable and transportable than a cassette player!!! My tape has been carefully preserved but on it's second case, and I fear that it will break in the new future rendering the tape destroyed. Additionally, it's getting harder to find a casette player which was once ubiquitous, a la iPod nowdays. I guess we need to get Barrie into the 21st century!!
   
   One side note, this is not the only Barrie Konicov tape I bought -- I also tried the weight reduction one and that one was not as helpful. The daughter of a dietician and now diabetic, I realized that the idea of not eating at all once a week was not an option for me. However, the music and many of the general suggestions in that tape for raising one's self esteem are quite good -= enough for me to replace the tape if I can't find my other one.

5 comments about De-Stress, Weigh Less: A Six-Step No-Diet Plan For Relaxing Your Way To Permanent Weight Loss.

1. Drs. Clark and Rosch have proved that high quality gems can come in small packages. De-stress, Weigh Less is an excellent, compact reference book for anyone trying to loose weight, minimize the adverse effects of stress, prevent a heart attack or stroke, reduce the ravages of diabetes, improve overall health or just add zest, energy and years to life. It has sufficient research evidence for medical practitioners following a scientific based practice with their clients. At the same time it is written in user friendly terms that anyone can understand. The thought provoking questions, examples, menus, and suggestions for substitions provide life style changes that ensuer success in life enhancement activities. I am using De-stress, Weigh Less as a reference book for myself and will enthusiastically recommend it to my clients.



2. Drs Clark and Rosch have proved that quality gems can come in small packages. De-stress, Weigh Less is an excellent, compact reference book for anyone trying to lose weight, minimize the adverse effects of stress, prevent a stroke or heart attack, reduce the ravages of diabetes, improve over all health or just add zest, energy and years to life. It has sufficient research evidence for medical practitioners following a scientific based practice with their clients. At the same time it is written in user-friendly terms anyone can understand. The thought provoking questions, examples, menus and suggestions for substitutions provide life style changes that ensure success in life enhancement activities. I am using De-stress, Weigh Less as a reference book for myself and will enthusiastically recommend it to my clients. Judith O'Neill, RN, MN, COHN-S



3. What more could we want?? This superbly written book is well organized, referenced and easy to read and understand. And...the authors are transformed into our personal "coaches" who are cheerleading for our success along the weight continuum. They readily share detailed, thought provoking life-altering information and are with us all the way.



4. De-stress, weigh less is a well organized compacted book with all the data one needs to know for staying fit and noting which foods cause stress and weight gain.
   
   I liked having the checklists handy, which foods reduce the stress of boredom, weekly goals, the recipes and the tomato sauce for a week and the exercise data showing the symptoms of too much exercise.
   
   For me the best aspect of De-stress, Weigh less is having the exact listing for which foods are vitamin rich along with the deficiency symptoms.
   
   Usually when reading a book that states you need more protein or Vitamin B, for example, you will not get examples of what this is. I liked having this data listed so I could make adjustments in my diet.
   
   The book covers MSG, eggs, sweeteners, binge eating, time management, allergies, food sensitivities and much more in six steps to follow.
   
   I already eliminated Aspartame from my diet and liked seeing the list of what types of items this can be found in. The book also touched on the confusion between assertive and aggressive - an issue I have faced many times in deciphering the two meanings.
   
   There is a food seduction test in step two. The index is extensive and covers every aspect for this no-diet plan to permanent weight loss.



5. I thought this book was helpful to me by listing all the stressors that many people wouldn't think of. I hadn't thought of chocolate as a stressor and tylenol. These were to i didn;t think of. But all this info in this book helped tremendously. It helps you loose wieght along with de-stressing yourself. I also learned that drinking tea does not help you but hurt you.

3 comments about Sharing A Place Without Losing Your Space: A Couple's Guide to Blending Homes, Lives, and Clutter: A Couple's Guide To Blending Homes, Lives, And Clutter.

1. At first you think it will be just one more book of organizing tips. It's much more than that. The author focuses on techniques not just for clearing out clutter, but on resolving personal differences in a couple's relationship that lead to the disorganization in the home. The target audience is newly merged households, but it works for anyone moving to a new house, or for long-term relationships that still have problem areas in their home.
   Although some of her examples end up suggesting seeing a marriage counselor, there is much the average couple can apply to their home situation and organizational problems.
   I like the final chapter where she talks about creating a "sacred space" or a personal retreat in your home. This goes on to involve feng shui principles which I was already reading about in other books (101 Feng Shui Tips for your Home by Webster, 10-Minute Clutter Control by Alexander.)
   The book goes room-by-room through the house pointing out ways to improve and make it more liveable. Throughout the book are written exercises to help you sort out your issues that interfere with a comfortable home.



2. Regina Leeds is extremely talented in motivating one to get rid of clutter and make a home livable. She has helped me immensely, and hope you feel the same when you read it as well.
   
   Remember, don't just let it collect dust, let it make a different you and your home will then reflect.
   
   Good Luck,
   
   
   Susan L. Curtin



3. At first you think it will be just one more book of organizing tips. It's much more than that. The author focuses on techniques not just for clearing out clutter, but on resolving personal differences in a couple's relationship that lead to the disorganization in the home. The target audience is newly merged households, but it works for anyone moving to a new house, or for long-term relationships that still have problem areas in their home.
   Although some of her examples end up suggesting seeing a marriage counselor, there is much the average couple can apply to their home situation and organizational problems.
   I like the final chapter where she talks about creating a "sacred space" or a personal retreat in your home. This goes on to involve feng shui principles which I was already reading about in other books (101 Feng Shui Tips for your Home by Webster, 10-Minute Clutter Control by Alexander.)
   The book goes room-by-room through the house pointing out ways to improve and make it more liveable. Throughout the book are written exercises to help you sort out your issues that interfere with a comfortable home.

3 comments about Journey Through the Chakras: An Extra-ordinary Guided Meditation.

1. Much of the voice guidance was indistinct. To us, the music was overbearing. Headphones will help, but we could not make out the purpose for it, nor many of the words. The voice, though pleasant, seemed breathy and odd for this type of presentation. Our reccomendation would be to check out something else, or go without.



2. I almost didn't purchase the product because of the previous negative review for this product, but friends let me borrow their copy. All I can say is amazing...I have never felt so revitalized and at peace. I have read books on relaxation and mediatation and tried other cds, but none have been as effective as this one!
   
   An excellent purchase...can't wait until my personal copy comes in the mail.



3. I very much like Jackie's work, and find it powerful, but the production on this cd is disappointing specifically because the music is so loud it drowns out the guided hypnosis. You simply can't hear Jackie. It's listenable only with much fooling around with the volume, and even that is not an optimal experience. Her other cds would be better choices than this one.

5 comments about The Little Book Of Stress.

1. This book was given to me by a friend during a difficult time and I have found it not only funny, but that it hits the mark, every time I pick it up. Stressed or not, this is a funny book and great to have around.



2. I do this enough on my own, and this just reminds me of that



3. I laughed that kind of deep belly laughing, almost crying, throughout reading this book. It is absolutely fantastic humor -- so needed. If laughter is the best medicine, this little book should be a blanket prescription. It twists the negative ways we talk to ourselves and the things we do that make ourselves more stressed or depressed, and makes them funny.



4. The author of this book worked as an advertising copywriter before becoming starting to write screenplays. He authors helpful slogans on how arguing, borrowing, worry, hopelessness, pessimism, narcissism, paranoia, rudeness, smoking, junk foods, cynicism, multiple divorces, poor driving, lack of relaxation, materialism, overwork, unrealistically high standards and expectations of others and other self-destructive behaviors can help generate more stress.
   
   In essence, the message of this book is as positive as it is attention getting: people by their actions increase the stress they are subject to and people by their actions can reduce the stress they are subject to.
   
   The sarcastic format--assuming that it is people's desire to maximize the amount of stress they feel--succeeds in being attention getting and thought-provoking. For people who like to feel they have a strong measure of control over their life circumstances, this is an excellent book which they will read with relish. For people who feel hopeless and overwhelmed by events they believe victimize them without any fault of their own, this book can serve as a wake-up call to re-evaluate their own actions and take responsibility for their own lives.



5. This book was given as a gift to my wife, who looked inside and dropped it into the recycling bin about three minutes later. Look at the examples provided above: Are these useful suggestions? Are they even slightly humorous? Are they creative in any way at all? They're suggestions for stupid and boorish ways to irritate, annoy, and inconvenience other people for no reason whatsoever. There may be a certain strain of juvenile mind that finds these things amusing, but most of us (thankfully) grow out of these attitudes before we're far into adolescence. To the writer of this book, and to those who praise it, my advice is to get a life of your own and not try to cause annoyance in those of others.

No comments about Intelligent Fear: How to Make Fear Work for You.

1 comments about Ever Since Adam and Eve.

1. Circumstances can and do change. Self-reliance is not a bad thing. Enjoy baking bread if you want, but be prepared to be a bread winner if your spouse is injured and can't work, dies or leaves you.
   
   Ms. Hekker spent 40 years as a homemaker only to be left by her husband [who served her papers on their 40th anniversary] for a younger woman. She essentially put herself in the position of being 'one man away from poverty'.
   
   If you are a conservative woman considering this book, re-read Proverbs 31. Note that the woman is praised for her work ethic purchasing real estate, running a business, and managing what we'd probably call a ranch. The industry of the Proverbs 31 woman in no way diminishes her womanhood, but rather makes her more valuable than rubies to her husband.

No comments about Concentration.