Customer Reviews

Magical Beginnings, Enchanted Lives

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Magical Beginnings, Enchanted Lives is a deeply nourishing and inspiring book for expectant mothers, their partners and attendants.

Drawing on the centuries-old philosophies of Ayurveda and yoga, Deepak Chopra and his Chopra center colleagues David Simon MD and Vicki Abrams (who runs the Magical Beginnings birth education programme) have created a rich blend of mind-body medicine for pregnancy and childbirth that recognises childbearing as a spiritual, as well as a physical, process.

Magical Beginnings, Enchanted Lives is both beautifully written and practical, offering excellent information on nutrition (from an Ayurvedic perspective), alternative remedies for pregnancy complaints and a simple pregnancy yoga routine. Chopra and co also emphasize the many benefits of meditation during pregnancy. Throughout, there is a gentle emphasis on slowing down, being mindful and paying attention to our internal signals.

As a family physician, writer on pregnancy birth and mothering, and mother of four (with a large collection of pregnancy and birth books!) I particularly welcomed the chapter for fathers and the advice on changing relationships, which are not often covered. Chopra et al advocate Dr Marshall Rosenberg's nonviolent communication (NVC) techniques which are wonderful tools to enhance conscious communications.

I also relished the philosophy, woven all through this enlightening book, of respect for mother and baby and for the amazing changes that happen over the months of pregnancy and birth.

New insights in mind-body medicine are confirming the traditional wisdom that a mother's mental and emotional state in pregnancy can have long-lasting effects on the well-being of her child. Magical Beginnings, Enchanted Lives provides the tools and insights to help us all to nourish our babies and ourselves at this important time. As the authors conclude, `The souls of our children are the potential for tomorrow's world.'

This book is exactly what I have been looking for.
It has empowered and inspired me in so many ways.
There are wonderful visualizations and exercises throughout the book which have helped me to connect deeply with my unborn baby and body.
Because of this book I have become much more aware of how my daily stresses affect my unborn baby and have used the suggested exercises to create a more peaceful space inside me. Nothing could make me happier.
I recommend this book to every pregnant woman. The information throughout will help you become more integrated in your mind and body and much more in-tune with your unborn baby.

This book takes you on a journey to the spiritual side of pregnancy and childbirth. For my second pregnancy the last thing I needed was another book telling me what stage of development my fetus was at. This book takes a look at all the deeper emotional things that are going on.


I recommend this book for everyone, especially second time moms that had a bad experience the first time. It's been pretty helpful for me, facing my fears and helping to make my own informed decisions about my pregnancy and the birth of my baby.

This book wonderfully supports the couples' journey into parenthood. The book magically brings the pregnancy to life with great visualizations, relaxations, and concrete activities for the pregnant mom and father. The book empowers the mom to have the birth she would like and provides great tools through the process of birth. It brought us closer as a couple and began the bonding process to our child inutero. The book allowed us to experience the true wonderment of pregnancy and birth in strength and love.

Always looking for practical solutions, I found that the Ayurvedic principles to deal with the misery of Morning Sickness were particularly useful. And loved the yoga positions too!

Not much to say, there are lots of repetitions in the book and the suggestions can be read in many pregnancy websites. The book is peaceful but limited, I expected a little more.

This is a book that makes you feel more envolve in your pregnancy, in a way that is forgotten. You learn to connect whith your baby naturaly, with meditattion, yoga, drawing, writting and much more. You feel much more confortable and much less afraid because you understand that this is the most beautiful journey of your life!
I am loving it.

The introduction I read was amazing and was the reason I purchased the book. But after reading it I was a bit disappointed it seemed to lack the "magical" aspect I was looking forward to. Pretty basic info for a healthy pregnancy none the less.

It seems that so many women rush through their pregnancies, complaining about the discomforts and longing for it to be over. Having just delivered a beautiful baby boy only 2 months ago, this book truly helped me to slow down and enjoy the process. It provides wonderful suggestions on how to really take care of the little life being created and how to honor this very special time that only happens a few times for most of us... :) it's not preachy or over the top - just reminds us what an amazing process this is.

(Note: This review was written by my wife, Laura...)

If you've ever read any of Deepak Chopra's books then you know they are beautifully written, full of inspirational messages, and grounded in spirit. This book is definitely no exception: in it you will find lots of suggestions for connecting with your baby through communing with nature, self-nurturing, healthy, Ayurvedic-based eating, meditation, visualizations and much more.

You will learn how to find your center of peace within and how to live more and more from there as the months go by. He'll help you visualize your ideal birth and guide you towards making that a reality. If nothing else, this book will leave you feeling more grounded and full of love and peace.