Simple Meditation and Relaxation by Joel Levey and Michelle Levey

Simple Meditation and Relaxation
By Joel Levey and Michelle Levey
Completed August 30, 2008

I needed a book that would begin my journey of self-healing through meditation and relaxation techniques. I stumbled across Simple Meditation and Relaxation at my local library. It's a square book with wide margins. Something about the design of the book drew me from the other meditation books that I checked out. Sometimes, you can tell a book by its cover!

Simple Meditation and Relaxation discussed five different types of meditation and devoted a chapter to each one: concentration, mindfulness, reflective, creative and heart-centered meditations. Each one is the foundation for the other, and as a beginner, I reread the concentration and mindfulness chapters twice (maybe even three times). There are also sections about how to dedicate time to meditate and what other resources are available to learn more.

This book has taught me some wonderful breathing exercises that I can use during a meditation period or simply while driving in my car. It showed me that my mind is in constant motion - and not necessarily in a good way. I worry too much about the past and the future, without focusing on the now. It was an insightful lesson.

I would highly recommend Simple Meditation and Relaxation to people interested in learning more about meditation, especially if you're a beginner like me. ( )

My Book Finds

My therapist suggested I learn some more about mindful thinking and meditation. I thought the best place was to look in the library for Buddhist texts that may instruct me on these techniques. For a small library, I think I hit the jackpot and checked out the following books:

• The Art of Happiness by His Holiness the Dalai Lama
• The Beginner''s Guide to Insight Meditation by Arinna Weisman and Jean Smith
• How To Practice: The Way to a Meaningful Life by His Holiness the Dalai Lama
• Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy by Sarah Ban Breathnach
• Simple Meditation & Relaxation by Joel Levey and Michelle Levey

Now, mind you, I have only two weeks to read these books (not going to happen!), so my goal is to skim through them and figure out which one(s) can help me. Then, I will renew or purchase accordingly.

So far, I discovered that Simple Abundance is a book of daily entries, filled with inspirational stories or messages. I ordered a copy from Bookmooch and that should be coming in the mail soon (so, cross one off the pile!).

I usually write book reviews on my completed reads, including non-fiction, so I will post my reviews on The Anxiety Journal too.

It's really not surprising that I turn to books during a time like this. Books help me stay calm by learning. I suspect that's what makes me a bibliophile!