Yoga Therapy for Overcoming Insomnia [Hardcover]

Peter Van Houten (Author)

Book Description

Series: Yoga Therapy | Publication Date: February 23, 2005

Insomnia is one of the most common health complaints in America. Routines and advice aresimple, easy-to-understand, succinct, non-sectarian, and require no priorknowledge or practice of yoga. Four-color photographic illustrations throughout, presentedin a beautiful gift-book format.Topics covered include types, causes, and treatments of insomnia how to create good sleephabits instructions for simple yoga postures and breathing exercises to lead you into sleeepeverything you wanted to know about sleep and a bibliography or more resourses.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Peter Van Houten, M.D. has been a primary care physician since 1981. The non-profit medical clinic he founded is an example of "the best that modern medicine has to offer," integrating mental and behavioral health into everyday medical care, and practicing with kindness and compassion. As a yoga practitioner himself, he is uniquely qualified to collaborate on this book.

Gyandev Rich McCord, Ph.D. is the worldwide director of Ananda Yoga, one the most established and respected schools of yoga in America. He is a co-founder of the Yoga Alliance, the body now setting standards for yoga teachers in the United States. Gyandev has been teaching yoga since 1983.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 158 pages
• Publisher: Crystal Clarity Publishers (February 23, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1565891740
• ISBN-13: 978-1565891746
• Product Dimensions: 6.3 x 6.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #496,911 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A practical guide to better sleep, July 11, 2005

By 

Philip J. Romano (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Yoga Therapy for Overcoming Insomnia (Hardcover)

I have had insomnia for years and have tried many different types of treatments like drugs, exercise, and diet. All have worked to varying degrees of success, but none like the yoga rountines offered in "Yoga Therapy for Overcoming Insomnia". Not only does this book offer a yoga practice for better sleep, but also a comprehensive medical backround of what insomnia is and how you can also make some simple lifestyle adjustments to sleep more soundly. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking to get a better night's sleep and improve their quality of life. -Phil Romano

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Herbal Tea and Yoga, March 19, 2005

By 

Rebecca Johnson "The Rebecca Review" (Washington State) - See all my reviews
(COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Yoga Therapy for Overcoming Insomnia (Hardcover)

Yoga Therapy is a revolutionary new approach to working with common physical and mental ailments. ~Peter Van Houten, M.D. & Gyandev Rich McCord, Ph.D.

There are many reasons people experience sleeplessness. The causes could range from emotional stress (anger, jealousy, worry, fear, insecurity, resentment, hurt), watching too much stressful TV before bed, pain in your body from injuries, anxiety, depression or drinking to many cups of coffee during the day. Insomnia can also be an age-related problem and it does seem that the older I get, the more difficult it is to get to sleep. Having a new kitten has taught me a lot about the joys of sleep and Meesa also seems to love sitting on the edge of my yoga mat while I do yoga.

I have noticed a direct correlation between emotional stress and a lack of sleep. When the mind is overly active trying to solve problems, it can be very difficult to fall into a restful sleep. Even answering e-mails later in the evening seems to keep me awake longer.

Yoga can magically alleviate emotional stress and give you a center of calm and a place to relax completely into the moment. It is a way of loving yourself and nurturing your body and soul. Yoga is very much about "time for you." It is a beautiful escape into your own personal power and into a place where you can feel complete peace and a sense of joy.

This book contains excellent advice from an acclaimed professional yoga teacher and an experienced medical doctor.

You will find information on the reasons people can't sleep, what the body does while we sleep, how sunlight and darkness affect sleep patterns, how to create good sleep habits, the secrets of a great night's sleep, relaxing Ananda Yoga Postures and affirmations, breathing exercises to lead you into sleep, what to do when you wake up in the middle of the night and want to go back to sleep and if you should consider a snack before bed and what type of snack?

So, if you are tired of taking sleep medications, give yoga a try. You can incorporate this into your regular exercise routine or daily routine. I like walking first to get the nervous energy out of my body. Walking also seems to make me happier and when I'm happier, I sleep better.

Yoga is a healing therapy that can truly help you to sleep. That is why I generally do relaxing yoga workouts in the evening. There are many different styles of yoga and you may find that one style invigorates your body, while a gentle practice will lead you to a place of complete joy and peaceful sleep. A cup of relaxing herbal tea and a quiet space with candles also seems essential to the process.

Gyandev McCord has also created videos to teach the Ananda Yoga routines. Look for Yoga for Busy People and Yoga to Awaken the Chakras. I found that imagining colors inside your body is actually very healing and relaxing. It might sound different, but it definitely works for me.

~The Rebecca Review

Also recommended:

The Metabolic Plan - Good advice for staying young and balancing your life.

Natural Health Magazine Complete Guide to Safe Herbs - Information on Valerian, Kava Kava and Chamomile.

Ali MacGraw Yoga Mind & Body - Hypnotic musical score.

Crunch Candlelight Yoga - Relaxing candles and soothing stretching poses.

Hemalaya Behl's Yoga for Urban Living - Evening Bath helps you relax completely.

Yoga Zone Flexibility & Stress Release - At the end of this workout I can truly say I enter a state of bliss.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Providing expert instruction on creating good sleep habits, June 12, 2005

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Yoga Therapy for Overcoming Insomnia (Hardcover)

Insomnia is the single most prevalent sleep disorder with an estimated ten percent of the American population having insomnia nightly. Yoga is a recognized exercise technique with established healing effects. Now Yoga has been applied to treating insomnia with a therapeutic regimen made accessible for the non-specialist general reader through the collaborative efforts of practicing primary care physician Peter Van Houten and Rich McCord, the worldwide director of Ananda Yoga, one of the largest schools of yoga in the United States today. Yoga Therapy For Overcoming Insomnia articulately discusses the types, causes, and treatments of insomnia, as well as providing expert instruction on creating good sleep habits. Extensive information is provided on how to use yoga postures as an aid in treating and preventing insomnia, along with useful conventional and alternative treatments to supplement the utilization of yoga in combating insomnia. Enhanced with a variety of additional "tips, techniques, and tools", Yoga Therapy For Overcoming Insomnia requires no prior knowledge of, or expertise with, yoga in order to quickly benefit from the advice and instruction provided. If you or a loved one is grappling with the problem of insomnia, whether chronic or intermittent, then give a careful reading to Yoga Therapy For Overcoming Insomnia.