Customer Reviews

Total Relaxation: Healing Practices for Body, Mind & Spirit 1 CD (Book +CD)

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John Harvey doesn't just write about how to use relaxation skills effectively -- he successfully conveys the meaning behind these skills so that the reader can connect with the concepts behind the techniques. This book is an invaluable resource for anyone seeking balance and equilibrium in their lives; it's clear that Dr. Harvey practices what he preaches; as a clinical psychologist I have recommended this book to many of my clients and have used it as a reference in the classes I teach and the groups I facilitate on anxiety and stress management. The CD is also a real bonus; clients often ask for tapes of guided practices, and this CD meets the need for many people just starting out with these practices and needing both a calming voice, and a voice of experience like Dr. Harvey's, to help them establish their own internal voice of total relaxation.

I would just like to say that this is the best book I have ever had the fortune to stumble across. I myself suffer from depression and have been taking medication for it for almost a year now and I have never felt more wonderful and peacefull until I read this book. It really helps you learn how to rid yourself of negative emotions and think positively about what is going on in yoru life at that moment instead of dwelling on negative emotions. I tried to find a way to thank Dr. Harvey personally but am finding it hard to do, so from a young college student in Arizona...THANK YOU SO MUCH! It has literally changed my view on life and helped me feel better about myself!

Dr. Harvey has done a wonderful job distilling a complicated literature into a very approachable and thorough review of the most effective holistic strategies for reaching "total relaxation." The accompanying CD is especially useful in this regard. (And, you cannot beat the price!) I am recommending the book to all of my students, patients and colleagues who wish to learn more about relaxation.

To anyone that feels the need to take time to relax, this is the book for you!!! I suffer from anxiety and high blood pressure.....not only does this book look at that, it also looks at muscle tension, anger, sadness, and meditation! I have been looking for a book like this forever! It has everything combined all in one book! Better yet, it has a 60 minute cd with it! Dr. John Harvey's voice is so very relaxing! It is just a wonderful package all together for someone who may suffer from these things or just to combine his thoughts in your every day lifestyle..... This is a great book!!!!! I am very thankful for finding it!!!

"Total Relaxation" by John R. Harvey, PhD, is one of the most comprehensive yet concise books on the subject of tension and relaxation. Harvey takes the reader on a journey through every system of the body in which tension can occur. He goes into great detail about the possible causes of tension in each system, and helps the readers assess for themselves where and why their own tension resides. Most importantly, Harvey provides detailed instructions for how to release that tension.

The layout of the book is brilliant. Each system of the body -- or "level" of tension, as Harvey describes it -- has its own chapter, and the following chapter contains the relaxation techniques associated with that system, or "level." This format makes the book highly accessible for a variety of readers. A reader who is interested in learning about all the possible causes and places of tension can read the book from start to finish, gain a wealth of knowledge about how the body works with regard to producing tension, and learn how to achieve the deepest states of relaxation. Conversely, someone who already knows where his or her tension lies can go directly to the chapter containing techniques that apply to that type of tension and learn to start relaxing immediately.

The book comes with an audio CD containing four guided relaxation techniques that are also described within the text. This added bonus definitely makes the book worth the purchase. The step-by-step instructions on the CD, with relaxing music in the background, teach the techniques beautifully and effectively. They are easy to follow and a joy to practice.

There are so many books about relaxation available now. If you are looking for one book that will serve as a complete reference guide as well as an instruction manual, John Harvey's "Total Relaxation" is that book.

Thank you Dr. Harvey for taking the time to author Total Relaxation. Your book and CD are joys. As a developer and facilitator of workshops for personal change, Total Relaxation is an excellent resource that I recommend.

Dr. Harvey moves smoothly from simple to complex techniques. The book is well researched providing solid information for those readers who like more detail. The book design and illustrations are beautifully executed and add to the understanding of the material. I especially appreciate the four guided relaxation practices on the CD (included with the book). These "practices" give life to the words in the book by allowing the reader to "learn by doing." Completing these practices moves the information from the head into the body/mind. Buy this book for yourself as well as for friends.

As a psychologist, it is my understanding that more than 50% of doctor / patient visits are reportedly related to stress issues, rather than an actual medical problem. Dr. Harvey, author and director of the Allied Services Psychology Department (Scranton, PA) combines proven techniques in a consise package to offer a simple and effective approach to holistic health and stress management. His included relaxation CD makes this book an even more valuable and affordable purchase.

The exercises, or should I say, relaxation techniques, are outstanding. I'm a soldier, and as you can imagine that the nature of my job tends to place me into tense, stressfull situations. After using the techniques over time, I am able to reach very deep and quite apparent levels of relaxation whenever I can stay still! The CD included with the book is a wonderful guide. The almost hypnotic voice and music is a great teacher. I highly recommend this book for anyone looking for a wonderful addition, if not a basis to start to practice the essential life skill of relaxation.

I originally found out about this book in a Listmania that I liked, so I went ahead and bought it.
Well... I can say that the title is well chosen. The book presents diverse aspects of relaxation (probably all of them), and an integrated and balanced - even relaxing :) - approach to relaxation, with many techniques both modern and ancient, both Eastern and Western.
Moreover, it comes with a CD with 4 guided relaxation sessions - 4 techniques out of the dozen(s) in the book. The voice on the CD is relaxing, the background music is well chosen, and it is just fine. The only complaint I have is that some sessions are too basic for me, but I had been practicing relaxation before and I don't need that much guidance and the breathing in that session is too fast for my taste - I trained to breathe slower than that and thus be more relaxed, but yes, I can see there are many many beginners who need EXACTLY that type of instruction.
Harvey shows that tension manifests on 5 interconnected levels: muscular, autonomic system, emotional, mental and spiritual, and tension in one level affects the others. The levels are hierarchical, and the deepest relaxation is at the top level, but on the other hand it is harder to reach there, at least in the beginning, so people usually need to relax the lower levels first and work their way up to the top. To quote him, learning to relax properly is a lifelong activity, and should be the priority of everyone.
The book has an opening chapter (talking about tension in general, benefits of relaxing and the levels) and an ending chapter (with advices on how to pick techniques and integrate relaxation in daily life).
What's between opening and ending is a set of ten chapters dedicated to the five levels of relaxation - two chapters per level: one presents the effects of tension and relaxation on that level, the other is filled with relaxation techniques applying to that level. Where appropriate, he provides both direct (relaxing directly at that level) and indirect methods of relaxing (doing something that somehow relaxes at that level). For example, at the muscular level an indirect technique is exercising, which, although is tensing in nature, leads to a muscular relaxation deeper than before doing it. A direct technique at mental level is meditation, or at spiritual level is prayer. There is everything for everyone.
When I read the book I liked it. Then I started practicing and of course settled on a technique or two, planning to move to another once I'm proficient with them. Well, after a few weeks I thought that the book was simplistic. Anyway, I read it again, finished it half an hour ago, I already forgot a lot of its content. - I came back to the previous feeling - that this is a great book with clear explanations, comprehensive (covers all levels) and techniques. It covers all the levels, but of course not all the techniques for each level - that would be impossible and not useful anyway - one technique done well is enough.
I achieved some benefits with the techniques I adopted (more clarity, less sleep), and the best has yet to come. After all, this is a lifelong "hobby".
So, if you want to learn to be more relaxed and are actually willing to do something about for 21 consecutive days (it takes that long to make a long-term habit), then pick up this book!

I've had this book forever . My therapist loved it and she thought it was a great tool. She started to recommend it to her other patience. I'm diagnosed with depression and anxiety disorder. So I dont know how to relax and I'm always up-tight. This book is so easy to follow and it makes so much since. You will notice a difference as soon as you start the medatations. I just love it! I wish Dr. John R. Harvey had a web site.