BOOKS FOR THE SOUL

Along with all of the amazing yoga, meditation and spiritual experiences that we offer on our retreat in Bali this year, we also recommend you prepare your body and mind by sinking your teeth into a set of amazing books before you embark on your retreat, or during your week away with us (there’s plenty of down time to relax by the pool with one or all of the following books).

The following books have been important in my own spiritual journey, and have been eye-opening resources that have deepened my knowledge and appreciation of the yoga discipline as well as helped me delve deeper into understanding myself better.

A Complaint Free World – Will Bowen

More than ten million people in 106 countries have used the simple principles found in this book to eradicate the toxicity of complaining from their lives. And, as a result, they have experienced: Better health, relationships, greater career success and a significant increases in happiness.

In this book, you will learn:

· What constitutes a complaint

· Why complaining is destructive

· How to get yourself and others to stop complaining

Full of practical ideas and inspiring stories from people who have already transformed their lives, A Complaint Free World will teach you how to not only stop complaining but to also become more positive and have the life you’ve always dreamed of having.

Loving What Is – Byron Katie (Audio book on Audible)

The Work is simply four questions that, when applied to a specific problem, enable you to see what is troubling you in an entirely different light. As Katie says, “It’s not the problem that causes our suffering; it’s our thinking about the problem.” Contrary to popular belief, trying to let go of a painful thought never works; instead, once we have done The Work, the thought lets go of us. At that point, we can truly love what is, just as it is.

Jivamukti Yoga – Sharon Gannon

Creators of the extremely popular Jivamukti Yoga method and cofounders of the New York City studios where it is taught, Sharon Gannon and David Life present their unique style of yoga for the first time in book form. As they explain their intensely physical and spiritual system of flowing postures, they provide inspiring expert instruction to guide you in your practice.

The Four Agreements – Don Miguel Ruiz

In The Four Agreements, bestselling author don Miguel Ruiz reveals the source of self-limiting beliefs that rob us of joy and create needless suffering. Based on ancient Toltec wisdom, The Four Agreements offer a powerful code of conduct that can rapidly transform our lives to a new experience of freedom, true happiness, and love.

The Power Is Within You- Louise L Hay

In The Power Is Within You, Louise L. Hay expands her philosophies of loving the self through:

-learning to listen and trust the inner voice;

-loving the child within;

-letting our true feelings out;

-the responsibility of parenting;

-releasing our fears about growing older;

-allowing ourselves to receive prosperity;

-expressing our creativity;

-accepting change as a natural part of life;

-creating a world that is ecologically sound

where it's safe to love each other'

-and much more.

She closes the book with a chapter devoted to meditations for personal and planetary healing.

The Power Of Now – Eckhart Tolle

This book takes readers on an inspiring spiritual journey to find their true and deepest self and reach the ultimate in personal growth and spirituality: the discovery of truth and light.

In the first chapter, Tolle introduces readers to enlightenment and its natural enemy, the mind. He awakens readers to their role as a creator of pain and shows them how to have a pain-free identity by living fully in the present. The journey is thrilling, and along the way, the author shows how to connect to the indestructible essence of our Being, "the eternal, ever-present One Life beyond the myriad forms of life that are subject to birth and death."

The Values Factor – Dr John DeMartini

The Values Factor shows you how to create a life in which every minute can be inspiring and fulfilling. The first step is to identify what you find most meaningful - the values in life that are most important to you. Once you understand your own unique values and align your life accordingly, you can achieve fulfillment in every aspect of your life: deepening your loving relationships, creating an inspiring career, establishing financial freedom, and tapping into a rich spiritual life.

Mastering Your Mean Girl – Melissa Ambrosini

Melissa Ambrosini has made a life beyond her wildest dreams, all by mastering her Mean Girl, busting through limiting beliefs and karate-chopping through the fears that held her hostage for years. And now she wants to help you remember not only what you are capable of, but how amazing you truly are!

In this inspiring, upbeat guide, Melissa provides a practical plan for creating your own version of a kick-ass life — one that’s wildly wealthy, fabulously healthy and bursting with love. Designed to propel you out of stuck-ness and into action, this is a must read if you’re ready to let go of your Mean Girl and start living the life of your dreams.

Finding your own north star- Martha Beck

In this book, you'll start by learning how to read the internal compasses already built into your brain and body--and why you may have spent your life ignoring their signals. As you become reacquainted with your own deepest desires, you'll identify and repair any unconscious beliefs or unhealed emotional wounds that may be blocking your progress. This will change your life, but don't worry--although every life is unique, major transformations have common elements, and Beck provides a map that will guide you through your own life changes. You'll learn how to navigate every stage, from the first flickering appearance of a new dream to the planning and implementation of your own ideal life.

The road less travelled – M.Scott Peck

Written in a voice that is timeless in its message of understanding, The Road Less Traveled continues to help us explore the very nature of loving relationships and leads us toward a new serenity and fullness of life. It helps us learn how to distinguish dependency from love; how to become a more sensitive parent; and ultimately how to become one’s own true self.

Recognizing that, as in the famous opening line of his book, “Life is difficult” and that the journey to spiritual growth is a long one, Dr. Peck never bullies his readers, but rather guides them gently through the hard and often painful process of change toward a higher level of self-understanding.

Mindset - Carol Dweck

Dweck explains why it’s not just our abilities and talent that bring us success–but whether we approach them with a fixed or growth mindset. She makes clear why praising intelligence and ability doesn’t foster self-esteem and lead to accomplishment, but may actually jeopardize success. With the right mindset, we can motivate our kids and help them to raise their grades, as well as reach our own goals–personal and professional. Dweck reveals what all great parents, teachers, CEOs, and athletes already know: how a simple idea about the brain can create a love of learning and a resilience that is the basis of great accomplishment in every area.