The centered heart Evidence-based, mind-body practices to stress less and improve cardiac health

When Amendola suffered from depression as a teen, her mother brought her to an ashram where they studied yoga and meditation. Amendola joined the community and became immersed in the food, practices, and natural settings, eventually leaving to start her own yoga center. When she was contacted by Dr. Dean Ornish, a leader in lifestyle medicine, she agreed to join his study on healthy life practices, working with medical and mental health professionals to fight disease and stress with mind and body lifestyle changes. Here, she chronicles the study's findings and her own experiences. Each chapter opens with a "centering moment" in which Amendola offers a step-by-step relaxation session (free recorded versions appear on the book's website) and then focuses on an aspect of yoga training. Beginning with gentle movements, relaxation, and breathing, the author goes on to offer instructions on meditation, imagery, compassion, nature consciousness, and unity. She gently leads readers through the movements (seated and standing), providing ample illustrations and medical evidence of the power of these actions in taming tension and heart disease. Instead of trying to find time in your day for self-care, yoga-therapist Amendola suggests scheduling your life around your practices, aiming for a stress-free, healing existence. Under her expert guidance, this not only seems enticing but possible.