"Love Your Journey Through Life!"
William Wittmann, M.Ed., LMP
Bookstore and Tools You Want for Living Well
So you can wholeheartedly enjoy your life.
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Health and Wholeness
Fitness
Pavel Tsatsouline, is marvel. He
was educated in Russia and trained their elite commandos. Wheat he knows
has been tested in the labs and in the fields. His books besides being
useful are well written and fun. Every technique of his that I have tried
has worked, sometimes magically. You can go directly to
Dragon Door for Supreme
Fitness and Well Being to peruse his work.
Pavel is all about functional strength, not just looking good. Functional strength is, as it sounds, strength you can use in your daily life, picking up a 25# bag of bird seed, or a wiggling child, while carrying groceries.
These Are My Favorites from Pavel & Dragon Door
Note all of these from Dragon Door are 100% Guaranteed. Really!
Articles about Fitness
First -- Kettlebells
Kettlebells for Women
Kettlebells for Men
Working with kettlebells, the cannon balls with handles above, guarantees you fat loss. Working with them will deliver massive gains in strength, speed, and endurance. It is the number one exercise tool for strength & conditioning. My own experience and that of thousands of others persuades me this claim is true.
One of my friends heals his knee by only using them minimally. By strengthening his body, just enough, his knee works. Very cool.
I like the functional strength all of Pavel's methods generate but it is especially true with the kettlebells. Don't get dissuaded by the strong hyper rhetoric aimed at elite athletes on their web site and here on my page. I enjoy a taste of hyper rhetoric from time to time. This works exceptionally well for folks over 50. I just started a 57-year-old woman on a program. She wants to be able to pick up a squirming toddler, schlep grocery bags up two flights of stairs, and go hiking. Functional strength!
Functional strength equals core strength. Core strength replaces body building as the holy grail of strength training. An old idea has come home again.
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The intriguing thing he talks about in From Russia with Tough Love is a workout routine that states - train as often as possible while remaining as fresh as possible.
For example: do a set or sets of swings multiple times per day. Do a pull up set every time you walk by the pull up bar. Do one of his abdominal exercises.
Today is an "off day" for me yet I performed 2 sets of 15 swings, later in the morning I did another set of ten swings, even later a set of ten. A pull up here, a pull up there. Some abs stuff before tai chi, some abs stuff after.
These small frequent doses nudge the metabolism each time and keep strengthening you all day. Guess what happens to your energy. Yep, it boosts.
I think kettlebells should be required for everyone over 50. Strength training is required.
Kettlebells are cheap. They take up little space and are intense conversation pieces.
Do be cautious though. Injury is very easy at any age. Start small. Start easy. I started the prime two drills using dumbbells. Dumbbells are safer and a good place to start. The people in my examples above use dumbbells exclusively. All the advanced drill require the more complex kettlebells. The advancement generates greater benefits.
You can find qualified trainers in many places in North America and other places around the world. Look at Dragon Door for Supreme
Fitness and Well Being
Obviously, you can read about the kettlebells Dragon Door .
Get Kettlebells here:
Kettlebells for Women
Kettlebells for Men
The Books
Read on to read about the instruction books...
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From Russia with Tough Love This book is for women primarily. Men will benefit from it as well. I learned heaps. Conversely, women will benefit from the study of the next book -- The Russian Kettlebell Challenge.
Enter The Kettlebell This is the foundation. It is primarily written for men and for people who wish to become elite athletes. Even mortals like me can gain much from it though.
Browse the Rest of Pavel's Great Books, Tapes, and DVDs
But be sure to pick one and get started. He's great.
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I recommend that you just go directly to
Dragon Door for Supreme
Fitness and Well Being and nose around. I haven't been able to keep up with their production. I do recommend the books above. And I suggest you give the starter kit a good look.
The New Fit or Fat by Covert Bailey Paperback This is the best book on fitness and fatness I have found. It is very user friendly. Read an article about the book by William.
Miriam Nelson, PhD. Strong Women Stay Young Hardcover, Paperback My daughter accuses me of getting psyched about things. This book is what's got me psyched now. These folks made a major discovery: weight training heals lots of what ails post-menopausal women. It made them 15-20 years younger. It stops bone loss, and even turns it around a little. Strength goes up, they are happier, more confident, energetic, have better balance, and more flexibility. It also makes it easier to do aerobic exercise. Eight easy exercises twice per week What man doesn't want these benefits for the women he loves; what therapist for the women he works with? What's not to love. Oh, and the principles work for men and young people too. Go to article by William
Bill Phillips: Body for Life: 12 Weeks to Mental and Physical Strength. A huge best seller and a great book on getting strong and fit. See my Body for Life Section of my web site.
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For the Body
Anatomy Coloring Book by Wynn Kapit, Lawrence M. Elson This is another owners manual. It is not just a trivial book; it gets used in lots of massage schools.
Anatomy of Movement by Blandine C. Germain This is a very good look at what moves the body. An owners manual used in all the massage schools around here.
Atlas of Human Anatomy by Frank Netter.
This
is the best look at the
body ever done, beautiful art. It has a thirty page index to help you
find what you're
looking for. Another great owners manual.
Hardcover
Paperback
CD ROM Version
Cranial Sacral Therapy by Upledger This is THE book on Cranial Sacral Therapy for professionals.
The HeartMath Solution by Doc Childre and Howard Martin. This is a great set of techniques on how to live from you heart. Read the article I wrote: Living From Your Heart, It Works Biologically.
Heart of Listening by Hugh Milne. This is a highly professional book on Cranial Therapy. It is clear enough for those not versed in it to learn quite a bit about the body and how it works. It is a good owners manual. Hardcover is $24 off list price.
The paper back version of this book has been divided into two volumes: The Heart of Listening : A Visionary Approach to Craniosacral Work is the more theoretical side and would apply to all healing modes. Paperback-Volume I
Heart of Listening : A Visionary Approach to Craniosacral Work : Anatomy, Technique, Transcendence is the practical side. Paperback - Volume II
The Merck Manual of Medical Information : Home Edition (1st Edition) by Robert Berkow (Editor), Mark H. Beers (Editor), Andrew J. Fletcher (Editor) This is the bible of medical knowledge translated into lay language Making this another owners manual. A terrific boon to us all. Read the descriptions at amazon .com and you'll want a copy for everyone.
The Natural Healer's Acupressure Handbook: Basic
G-Jo
by Michael Blate This is the simplest book on self care and
family
care using acupressure available. It has a great index for finding what
you need and the points are well described and pictured. It makes it all
easy and useful.
Pain Erasure by Bonnie Pruden Great book for correcting pain. She uses trigger points, pressure points to work all over the body. It's simple and works great.
Somatics by Thomas Hanna. Hanna has ten lessons in here which can keep you moving smoothly for the rest of your life. They are clear and self explanatory.
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Myers Briggs
The Myers-Briggs Types originally put together by Carl Jung is a great way to look at the 16 fundamental personalities. Relationships are easier when you understand the nature of who you are and who your intimates are.
Please Understand Me This is a good way to start. It has its own text and is easy to understand.
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Spirituality
This section leads you to an improved soul life. The books, tapes, and CDs are practical and they will awaken your spirit.
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Mike Dooley the heart and soul behind TUT offers this illuminating tape/CD program -- Infinite Possibilities -- the Art of Living Your Dreams. Mike is like your favorite uncle or a very friendly neighbor. It is fun listening to him unravel the universe. The stuff works, too.
This is the stuff you want your kids to grow up with. Anyhow it's the stuff I want my kids to grow up with.
I love driving around in my car listening to Mike. You will, too.
If Infinite Possibilities turns out not to be your cup of tea, Mike Dooley guarantees it, you get your money back.
Go for it. Read more -- click here.
Books by David Spangler. David is one of my favorite mentors and a
genuine mystic.
- The Call
- Everyday Miracles The most soulful book on how to create the life you want.
- A Pilgrim in Aquarius
- The Story Tree is my current favorite. You can read my review here.
Eckhart Tolle -- Books and Tapes by . Tolle is a
best selling author and another genuine mystic.
- Stillness Speaks hardcover audio cassette CD This is a great beside book and may be the best place to start. Read just a paragraph or two before turning the lights off. Because of the nature of the book as just stated, I don't think audio formats are as useful.
- Power of Now hardcover cassette CD is his best seller. The audio form is perfect for this one. Listen to it as you drive around. Let it seep into you. It's great, but I'd start with:
- Practicing the Power
of Now: Essential Teachings, Meditations, and Exercises from The Power of Now
Hardcover
Cassette CD
A Book of Psalms : Selected & Adapted from the Hebrew by Stephen Mitchell
The HeartMath Solution by Doc Childre and Howard Martin. This is a great set of techniques on how to live from you heart. Read the article I wrote: Living From Your Heart, It Works Biologically.
I Ching, the Book of Changes translated by Wilhelm and Baynes This is one of the oldest books in the world, and contains great wisdom. It also gives a clear taste of Taoism and China. This is my favorite translation and it has a foreword by Carl Jung.A Path with Heart by Jack Kornfield. A great journey into the spiritual path. Many gems. Paperback Cassette Tape Version
Joseph Campbell and the Power of Myth with Joseph Campbell and Bill Moyers. These guys did a six hour series on PBS and made history. It is a great primer on how to understand human being. These are the books and tapes: Six Cassette Tape Version Paperback Illustrated Paperback Version
The Way of Chang Tsu by Thomas
Merton This is one of the best
insights into Asian spirituality. It was
written later in his life and he had by now a lifetime of living as a
monk. His spirtiuality meets the deep wisdom of one of the foundational
folks in Taoism. Great book of little wisdom stories.
Tao Te Ching by Stephen Mitchell, Paperback Audio Cassette Version Likewise, this is a great English translation of a Taoist text. No-one does it better.
The Tao of Pooh by Benjamin Hoff. This is a lovely book and is a great explainer of eastern thought and of Winnie the Pooh. See Children's Books below for more Pooh. Hardcover Paperback
To
Hear the Angels Sing by Dorothy Maclean Dorothy was one of the
founders of the Findhorn Community and has
worked extensively with Angels and Devas. There is a loving no-nonsense
feel to her work. This is the real thing.
Zen Flesh, Zen Bones by Paul Reps This is another book that contains wisdom stories. It is a great introduction to Zen. See my article Drinking a Bowl of Green Tea I Stopped the War for a nice illustration and more.
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Poetry>
Poetry can heal and inform the heart. It can inspire and expand consciousness. Here are some of my favorites.
Sound of Water by Sam Hamill The best translations of haiku
capturing the essence. Here's one:
At the ancient pond
a frog plunges into
the sound of water.
--Basho
New
and Selected Poems by Mary Oliver, Hardcover.
Paperback Her poems are beautifully crafted and
most of them smack me up side the head in the last stanzas, just to awaken
me. These can change your life.
Selected Poems of Rainer Maria Rilke by Robert Bly These are great translations and commentary of the German's stunning poetry.
News of the Universe : Poems of Twofold Consciousness This is a selection of poems gathered by Robert Bly for the Sierra Club. It looks at our views of nature over the last two centuries or so. This book introduced me to some of my favorite poets and poems.The Rag and Bone Shop of the Heart : Poems for Men This is another great collection of poems. Gathered by Robert Bly, Michael Mead and James Hillman
Neruda and Vallejo : Selected Poems More collections and translations by Robert Bly. Neruda and Vallejo are intense and wonderful Spanish language poets. I learned Spanish to read these guys.
Pablo Neruda : Selected Poems/Bilingual Edition This has selections over his entire career, and as the title suggests, it has the original poem in Spanish on one page and an English translation facing. Quite wonderful. Neruda won the Nobel Prize for Literature while in exile from his home land of Chile. A great fictional version of him was key to the film, Il Postino. See my Films that Heal Section.
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Unseen Rain : Quatrains of Rumi Rumi is said to be the most spiritual of poets. Sounds right to me. These are great translations by Coleman Barks (at right) that capture the spirit of this holy man. If you haven't read about Sufis you are in for a treat. These poems are filled with love and ecstasy. Robin Williams in Dead Poets Society jokes that the true purpose of poetry is to woo women. I used this book for such an end with my sweet Suzanne. Because the poems are short, four lines, this is an easy place to start with Rumi.
The Illuminated Rumi
by Jalal Al-Din Rumi, Coleman Barks (Translator), Michael Green
(Illustrator) Love of the Divine, Sacred Truth, ecstasy,
inspiringly
illuminated. Go to my review.
The Essential Rumi by Jalal Al-Din Rumi, Coleman Barks (Translator), Maulana J Lal Al-Din Rumi, John Moyne. As the name implys this is an essential collection of Rumi's poetry. It is the longest of all the books that Barks has written and the same great quality.
We Are Three; New Rumi Poems More translations by Coleman Barks.
Poems of Rumi/Audio Cassettes by Jalaluddin Rumi, Robert Bly, Coleman Barks These guys are the voice of Rumi for me. It is always wonderful hearing poetry read to you. The poems are accompanied by sitar, tabla, flute and percussion. It's all quite perfect.
A Poetry Handbook by Mary Oliver I love Mary Oliver's poetry (see above) and this book talks well about poetry. Her writing is about love and respect.
Writing Down the Bones : Freeing the Writer Within By Natalie Goldberg Although not about poetry specifically, this is a most inspirational book. She'll get you writing and writing from your heart. She's one of my heroes.
The Complete Poetry and Prose of William Blake Blake was a mystic, an artist, and a poet. What's not to love. Well truth be known some of his stuff makes no sense to me. Some of it is right on. Tyger! Tyger! burning bright/ In the forests of the night. Yummmm.
Now We Are Six by A A Milne, Hardcover Cassette Tape Version Read by Charles Kuralt Another Cassette Tape Version Paperback These are poems my dear Suzanne loves by the author of Winnie the Pooh. Reading level 4-8 years.
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Bach Flower Remedies
The Bach Flowers are named after Edward Bach, an English physician circa 1930. He discovered 38 flowers that could be used to heal emotional and spiritual ailments. Further, he felt that these kinds of ailments are at the root of all physical problems. I agree for the most part. At any rate they are gentle and effective. I use them effectively with both my human and my animal patients.
The Handbook of the Bach Flower Remedies by Phillip Chancelor This is a great book for working with the flowers. It gives case studies and explains the positive effects the Flowers bring up in a person.
The Bach Flower Remedies : Including Heal Thyself, the Twelve Healers, the Bach Remedies Repertory This is three books in one. Heal Thyself is Bach's overview of the principles of healing, the Twelve Healers is his description of the 38 Bach flowers. (There were 12 to start with.) The Repertory is a great way to find which flower to use when. Look up the symptom: Sad -- and see which flowers they suggest. These two books are the foundation to the system.
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You can search my site at left or Amazon.com below