Restful Sleep: The Complete Mind-Body Program for Overcoming Insomnia (Hardcover)

~ Deepak Chopra M.D. (Author) "Sleep, like good health in general, is something most people take for granted..." (more)
Key Phrases: quantum mechanical body, three doshas, Applies Applies, New York

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

While most sleep experts advise people who are experiencing difficulty in sleeping to consider a variety of strategies, including drugs, Chopra (Ageless Body, Timeless Mind), director of the Sharp Institute for Human Potential and Mind/Body Medicine in San Diego, relies on the balance and moderation that are keystones of the ancient Indian Ayurvedic approach to health. He suggests that, to enjoy restful sleep, we need to understand more about the nature of the mind and the body, the connections between them and the cycles of nature that are related to sleep patterns. Unlike many sleep specialists, he recommends staying in bed, with one's eyes closed, rather than getting up to read or watch television on those exasperating nights when sleep just doesn't come. He also advocates keeping sleeping logs, gentle daily exercise and discovering and nurturing one's Ayurvedic body type. The latter, understandably exotic to an audience accustomed to Western medicine, is based on three body types-vata, pitta, and kapha-and finding the inner harmony necessary for one's body type. Although not all insomniacs will go along with the Ayurvedic way of thinking, this approach does provide thought-provoking reading-especially on a sleepless night. Harmony is also publishing Chopra's Perfect Weight concurrently.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Description

Deepak Chopra, M.D., eminent physician and best-selling author of Ageless Body, Timeless Mind, explains how to fall asleep easily without trying, identify and eliminate the imbalances that cause your insomnia, and achieve a healthy balance of rest and activity in your life.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 278 pages
• Publisher: Harmony; 1 edition (October 4, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0517599236
• ISBN-13: 978-0517599235
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #978,066 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very helpful resource, July 14, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Restful Sleep: The Complete Mind/Body Program for Overcoming Insomnia (Paperback)

I bought this book several years ago when I first became aware that I was having chronic problems with sleeping. I finally pulled it off my shelf about a month ago and read it. I have found it to be extremely helpful.

Chopra begins by encouraging the reader to consider the connection between waking life and sleeping life, and also the connection between our own biorythms and the rythms of nature.

He then writes about sleep and how to make it restful again rather than stressful. His style is very relaxed and easy to understand. He takes an ayurvedic (the ancient tradition of Indian medicine) approach to helping solve sleep disorders. I was not familiar with the ayurveda prior to reading this book, and really enjoyed learning a little bit about it. As a reader I did not feel that Chopra was trying to convert me, just help me. And - I feel that he did.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lot of useful information!, September 24, 2006

By	Blaine Greenfield "eclectic reader" (Belle Meade, NJ) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Restful Sleep: The Complete Mind/Body Program for Overcoming Insomnia (Paperback)

I sometimes have trouble sleeping . . . not so much getting to sleep, but
staying asleep . . . so when I saw RESTFUL SLEEP by Deepak Chopra,
I jumped at the opportunity to listen to the program.

Subtitled THE COMPLETE MIND/BODY PROGRAM FOR OVERCOMING
INSOMNIA, it delivered a great deal of information . . . but this was not
surprising because Chopra tends to do that with every book and/or tape
he comes out with . . . in my opinion, this was one of his best.

I particularly liked how he backed up his ideas with insights from
Ayurevda, the ancient Indian science of life.

There were many tidbits I gained from listening; among them:
* You can't force yourself to sleep.

* Trying to sleep will not help; it will actually aggravate the
insomnia.

* Turn your clock to the wall. Don't be concerned with the time.

* The solution to all sleep problems is making the period of being
awake totally dynamic and satisfying.

* Lunch should be your heaviest meal of the day.

* Supper should be light and eaten early.

* Take a short stroll after dinner.

* Avoid watching TV at night. If you must, stop by 9 p.m.

* Best to go asleep before 10 p.m., according to the rhythms of
nature.

* Rising earlier will lead to an earlier time for going to bed.

* Wake up at a regular time every day.

* Do reading in a room other than the bedroom.

* Making your bed each day creates an orderly and harmonious
impression when you go to sleep.

* Extract of lavender is considered helpful for sleep.

* Ask yourself: Do you love your job? Are you really happy?
If "yes" to both those questions, then it is likely to will avoid
most heart and other health problems.