Customer Reviews

Bountiful, Beautiful, Blissful: Experience the Natural Power of Pregnancy and Birth with Kundalini Yoga and Meditation

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BEAUTIFUL, BOUNTIFUL, BLISSFUL is an amazing introduction to the technology of Kundalini Yoga and meditation for expectant women. As with her powerful first book, EIGHT HUMAN TALENTS, Gurmukh presents practical information, divided into sections based on the three trimesters of pregnancy. Each section is a wealth of knowledge and insight into the choices that pregnant women and their loved ones face; specifically, subjects like breastfeeding, labor, diet, exercise, the decision of where to birth, and mothering. In the spirit of attending one of Gurmukh's classes, the sections conclude with perfect and powerful meditation suggestions to address the emotional and spiritual needs of the new mother.

Gurmukh's positivity and encouraging tone throughout the book and her use of real-life examples from her own experiences and those of her students make this volume very enjoyable to read and share with others. Another terrific feature of the book is the presentation of the information by trimester. This will make mothers feel organized and able to "check off" many of their concerns as they address them in a way that makes perfect sense of the baby's development inside of them. The simple pencil illustrations in the book are a celebration of women's pregnant bodies, and nicely demonstrate exercises and meditations.

This book is a delight to read, an attractive reference, the perfect gift for expectant mothers, and a wonderful addition to one's own library of yoga, health, pregnancy, and parenting titles.

I bought this book after reading some very positive reviews on Amazon.com. Unfortunately there are grave misconceptions and mistakes in Gurmukh's book, which means I don't dare trust her advice. Some of the worst mistakes include:

Nourishment - Gurmukh claims there is more protein in broccoli than in meat (p 80). She suggests pregnant women should try a vegetarian or vegan diet. There is very little protein in broccoli (3,5%) whereas there is a lot in meat (15-20%). However there is plenty of proten in soy flour (37%), nuts (15-25%), beans, peas and tofu (8 - 10%). Gurmukh's claim is wrong, potentially harmful and unnecessary, since there are lots of great sources for vegetable protein, just not broccoli.

Exercise - Gurmukh says she once had a student who was a dancer on a fairly rigourous training schedule. She ended up having a C-section because her cervix would not dilate (p 151). Gurmukh thinks her abdominal muscles might have been so tight that she couldn't let go. I have studied the subject of pregnancy and exercise carefully and versions of this story are often used to scare women to take it easy during their pregnancy. Yes, there are exercising women who had to have a C-section. But this complication in childbirth is more common in women who exercise little or not at all! Abdominal muscles cannot get too tight to give birth, it is the cervix and uterus that are involved in the birth process. Exercising women who generally find it easier to relax than those who don't and recover faster after childbirth. Read James F. Clapp, "Exercising through your pregnancy" for well researched information.

Heavy Metal - Gurmukh says that heavy metal is bad for your baby p 88). This is a matter of opinion but my personal belief is that anything that makes mother feel good will make baby happy.

Men - Gurmukh thinks most men can't stand to see blood, are unsuitable as birth attendants and can only do one thing at a time. Now, let's not generalize... the men I know are intuitive, sensitive, brave and supportive. And I can only do one thing at a time!

Furthermore, Gurmukh says that religion doesn't matter but at the same time she recommens that everyone should try making an altar for the baby, celebrate the arrival of the child's soul and so on. If you like a lot of references to religion and God, this book may be right for you.

Anything good in the book? There is some wholesome advice against circumcision and planned C-sections and Gurmukh is in favour of family beds and attachment. But if these are subjects that interest you, you'll get better value for money if you buy a copy of Sears "The Baby Book". The book is not as much about yoga as about how to expect, deliver and be a mother the Gurmukh way. There is a single yogic exercise at the end of each chapter, I would have preferred suggested exercise programs with routines to follow every day.

I can only say that I wish I had this book when I was having my children - Gurmukh relates her own personal experience in a way that a lot of women in my age group can identify with. Through the beauty of yoga and meditation, she has found a lovely way to hand the power of your own pregnancy and decisions that need to be made back to the mother where it belongs. I recommend this book to all expectant moms!

After reading Spiritual Midwifery and Birthing From Within, I thought nothing would match the beauty and strength contained in those books. Imagine my surprise when I opened Gurmukh's book and found myself immediately captured by her descriptions of her feelings during her first trimester of pregnancy. I was hooked. My husband bought me the book for Christmas and I am using the exercises and Gurmukh's wise, nurturing voice to accompany me during my second pregnancy.

This is a must read for every pregnant woman. It touches on so many subjects that other books don't. The first time I read it I couldn't mark in it because I had borrowed it from my midwife. It was so good I had to get my own copy so I could re-read it and mark important things I want to show my husband or just look back on. I highly recommend this book.

This book is fantastic. it's very inspirational,informative and teaches you some exercises. Wonderful! Worth it!

I have found that most of my prenatatl yoga classes are based on chapters of this book. I can read it and follow along. Anyone can leisurely read this book, do the practice and be mindfully prepared for childbirth and cope with pregnancy in a very cheerful and relaxed way. I'm very happy with this purchase!

I love this book. It is one of a kind. I found it when I was in my fifth month of pregnancy and found it a wonderful empowering book to help me connect with my baby and savor the experience of being pregnant. When I became pregnant with our second child I began to read it again for the same comfort and inspiration.

Bountiful, Beautiful, Blissful, Gurmukh's beautifully written book on pregnancy and birth, introduces us to an inspiring way of approaching this transformative time in a woman's life. A way not portrayed in mainstream media or talked about by mainstream caregivers. Though written from the perspective of one who understands the mind-body-spirit connection, this book is accessible to all women, no matter where they are on the path to motherhood.

Organized in chronological sections - first, second, and third trimester, birth, and beyond - Bountiful, Beautiful, Blissful speaks to the emotional, physical and spiritual aspects of pregnancy and childbirth. Gurmukh intertwines her own experience, anecdotes from her students, spiritual texts and medical research to give a well-rounded, judgment-free depiction of how pregnancy, birth and family life can be.

Pregnancy is often a time of reprioritizing, making space and letting go of what is no longer working. With thoughtful discussion and relevant suggestions for meditation and exercise, Gurmukh invites women going through just that process to discover a world full of love, self-acceptance, peace and joy. To use Gurmukh's words, she aims to "ignite within you your own innate knowingness."

In the first trimester chapter, Gurmukh addresses issues such as morning sickness, emotions, self-acceptance and questions for potential caregivers. Topics for the second trimester range from nutrition and dreams to intimacy with your partner and birth options, including home birth, hospital birth, birth by Caesarean section and epidurals. In the third trimester chapter, Gurmukh discusses sleep, redefining pain and waiting for the birth. And later she tackles subjects like creating a family, breastfeeding, circumcision and the family bed.

During these times of scheduled Caesarean births, multi-tasking, and not letting "a little thing like pregnancy" slow you down, Bountiful, Beautiful, Blissful is a must-read. This beautifully written and important book deserves to be alongside Ina May Gaskin's Spiritual Midwifery on recommended reading lists for pregnant women, and the caregivers and teachers who work with them.

This is a great book for pregnancy. It if full of wonderful yogic information about pregnancy and birth (much of it is hard to find elsewhere) and is written in a very accessible manner. I enjoyed it so much that I read it cover to cover as fast as I could. I think this is a helpful and comforting book for pregnant women who are new to yoga, experienced in yoga, or those who just want some conscious and uplifting information.