Tao of Stress: How to Calm, Balance, and Simplify Your Life

Description

Imagine, for a moment, a branch in the wind. If it moves with the wind, it will sway gracefully and remain intact; but if it refuses to bend, it will break. Like that unbendable branch, many of us refuse to be in harmony with the changes around us, and it is out of this conflict that much of our stress is created. As with most emotions, stress is a natural part of life, but it must be carefully managed in order to keep a sense of balance. When we allow stress to take control, a number of psychological and physical health problems can follow. Anxiety, depression, headaches, high blood pressure, heart problems, and even diabetes can all be caused or exacerbated by stress. In order to live a healthy life, you need to make a change. In The Tao of Stress, an expert in Taoist psychology presents daily meditative skills and movement exercises that can help you simplify your life, fight fatigue, and calm a busy mind. After learning the basics of the Taoist approach to stress management, you will be able to put theory into practice through the various simple exercises and activities offered in this book. By creating your own stress management program, you will stay on the path (Tao) to good health, both in body and mind. Remember, even Zen masters aren't immune to stress. But they do know that in order to break the cycle of stress, you must be willing to give yourself up to the flow of life. This book will show you how.

Robert G. Santee, PhD, is a nationally certified counselor. He is also dean of behavioral sciences, director of the masters of science program in counseling psychology, and full professor of psychology at Chaminade University in Honolulu, Hawaii. He is the author of An Integrative Approach to Counseling, and has presented at international conferences on Taoism in China and California, and at the 119th Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association in Washington DC. Santee is certified as a Wushu (Martial Arts, Qigong) instructor in Fujian Province, China, and is a senior instructor (Taijiquan and Qigong) for the Xiaxing Martial Arts Association in Honolulu Hawaii.

"Bob Santee both expresses the tradition of Taoism accurately in easy-to-understand language and makes this ancient tradition relevant to our modern version of the human dilemma of stress. Readers of this book will learn basic Taoist practices and how to apply them in daily life in order to heal their stress. This is an excellent book for participatory people; mainly those who are willing to be actively involved in their healing. Engaging the Taoist practices as Santee clearly explains them will enable a person to cultivate their natural life energy, thereby not only naturally healing their stress, but also realizing greater health in body, mind, and spirit. --Reggie Pawle, PhD, cross-cultural psychotherapist and professor of Asian psychologies, at East-West Psychology Service, Kyoto, Japan, and Kansai Gaidai University, Hirakata, Japan "Masterful! Robert G. Santee has taken the principles of a classic Eastern practice and has applied them powerfully to our modern western context. He skillfully weaves theory, story, and practice to illustrate the timeless, universal function of Tao. Structured, concise, and accessible, The Tao of Stress is a must-read!" --David Wei, 16th generation lineage holder of Wudang Mountain's Zhang San Feng wellness tradition and founder of Wudang West Cultural Heritage Center "The words of Robert G. Santee's The Tao of Stress are as clear as his obvious command of the philosophy, psychology, and practical application of Taoist principles for calming the 'galloping mind' and simplifying one's life." --Ronald Zelman, founder of DragonTail Mindfulness, LLC, a company that devotes its energies to helping individuals utilize tai chi, qigong, and Wing Chun kung fu to improve their lives