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Brain and Body Book Club - more titles coming soon!

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"The Body Keeps the Score" by Bessel Van der Kolk M.D.

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In depth explanation of how events we've survived in the past impact the way we think, act and feel in the present.  Excellent discussion of modern treatment techniques including psychomotor therapy, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing and somatic exercise.

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"Mindset: The New Psychology of Success" by Carol S. Dweck Ph.D.

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Do you have a growth mindset or a fixed mindset?  Do you believe you can develop skills and abilities through purposeful effort or that you are born with innate talents that can't be changed?  This book dives into the wealth of research supporting the idea that how you think can dramatically impact your life.  Unlock your own hidden potential and promote resilience and success in others with the power of possibility.

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"Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art" by James Nestor

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Fascinating and scientific but very readable deep dive into the myriad complex and subtle ways how we breathe affects how we feel.  Many cases of persistently recurrent headaches, neck pain or upper back pain have links to breathing dysfunctions.  The same is true for problems with mood and sleep but also blood pressure and how easily you catch the bug that's going around.  The audiobook includes 30 minutes of verbal coaching through some of the breathing techniques discussed in the book.

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"Lifespan: Why We Age - and Why We Don't Have To" by David A. Sinclair, PhD

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This one gets kind of heavy on the genetics and molecular biology at points but the author does a good job of using analogies and plain language without over-simplifying the concepts he's talking about.  This book is the main reason I get frustrated when I hear people say "I'm just getting old" as a way of justifying their pain.  Parts of the aging process are optional or at least modifiable based on how you treat your body and what you consume.  It was published in 2019 and I would expect the research he describes has been continuing and evolving since then.

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"The Body has a Mind of Its Own" by Sandra Blakeslee and Matthew Blakeslee

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Fascinating recap of discoveries about motor control and planning that were facilitated by advances in brain imaging and other technologies in the early 2000s.  I'm certain there has been further research since then, but this book does an excellent job of explaining concepts that have become foundational to our understanding of how our brains talk to our bodies.  Highly readable with lots of anecdotes and real-world examples to make complex ideas digestible.

Medicine adds days to lives, occupational therapy adds life to days

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