One Simple Thing: A New Look at the Science of Yoga and How It Can Transform Your Life

Description

Yoga is reputed to improve our physical and mental health, and to help us become more productive at work, more caring in relationships, and a more responsible contributor to society and inhabitant on this planet. If yoga does accomplish all that-and most practitioners will swear it's true-how exactly does it do it? Believe it or not, there are answers. And they are based in how the human body/mind functions, how we are built and wired, and how what we do can direct and change that. Drawing on modern neuroscience, ancient wisdom, and decades of practice and teaching, Eddie Stern's One Simple Thing explains how what we do affects who we become, and reveals how a steady routine of physical movements, activities, and attitudes are able to transform not just our bodies but our brain functions and emotions, and how we experience life.

Eddie Stern has been teaching and practicing Yoga for over 30 years. He collaborates on scientific research on Yoga, has spent 18 years developing Health and Wellness curriculum for public institutions, and collaborates on programs to reduce gun violence through therapeutic interventions. Among his projects are two apps, The Breathing App and Yoga365, which aim to further access to yoga and mindfulness for those who have little access to these modalities. One Simple Thing is his first solo book.

You can feel Eddie's compassion shining through every page of this book. His genuine wish that we could all be optimally happy, healthy, strong and more at peace in our lives is coupled with his direct knowledge of and skill in transmitting the heart of yoga. Covering yoga's transformative potential for body, mind and spirit, Eddie clearly knows of which he speaks. The book, therefore, is an ideal combination of inspiration and practical tools all at once. --Sharon Salzberg, author of Lovingkindness and Real Happiness "This is a formidable book. Mr. Stern is not a scientist, but he has made convincing scientific arguments for why yoga works--often highlighting how foundational yoga principles have parallels in traditional science. This book is a welcome addition to the growing body of work attempting to establish a unifying theory of modern medicine through the intermingling of Eastern and Western traditions." --Erich Anderer, MD, neurosurgeon, New York University School of Medicine "In my fifty years of practicing the Transcendental Meditation technique, I've come to see that simplicity in practice is the one thing that helps people access the deepest levels of their own being. One Simple Thing captures the perfect balance between yoga and science, and shows the mechanisms that allow yoga to be such an effective practice for so many people. It fills a void in the world of yoga literature." --Bob Roth, CEO of David Lynch Foundation and author of New York Times bestseller Strength in Stillness "An insightful and accessible synthesis of the science of yoga from an expert at the top of his game. A must-read for anyone looking to transform their body and mind." --P. Murali Doraiswamy, professor of psychiatry and medicine, Duke University Health System "Written from broad knowledge and deep practice, One Simple Thing should point the way forward equally for aspiring yogis and for practitioners in the healing sciences and arts." --Neil Theise, MD, diagnostic liver pathologist, adult stem cell researcher, and Zen Buddhist practitioner This lovely book shows how ancient wisdom and modern science can enrich each other. Eddie Stern is both deeply trained in yoga and highly informed about psychology and the brain. He puts it all together in very practical ways, showing how to develop lasting calm, love, and inner peace. --Rick Hanson, Ph.D., author of Buddha's Brain: The Practical Neuroscience of Happiness, Love, and Wisdom