"Be willing to surrender what you are for what you could become."
-- Mahatma Gandhi

Check out the discussion below regarding the elements on the Duke Wheel of Health:

​Mind-Body Connection: Taking advantage of complex connections between state of mind and basic physiologic functions in the body, many mind-body skills can have a profound impact on your health. Breathing techniques, meditation, progressive muscle relaxation, guided imagery, and other therapies are used to activate the body’s automatic healing response and reduce the harmful effects of stress.
Movement, Exercise, and Rest: Exercise supports your health in maintaining weight, blood pressure, reducing lipids, releasing stress, and improving mood and focus. Developing a sustainable, appealing plan that meets your needs and keeps you strong, flexible, balanced, and happy is ideal. You must also balance physical activity with rest, healthy sleep, and restorative relaxation.    READ MORE

---

Books

One Small Step Can Change Your Life -- Robert Maurer
The Power of Habit Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business -- Charles Duhigg
This Year I Will -- M.J. Ryan
Conversations With God (Trio) --Neale Donald Walsch
The Slow Down Diet -- Marc David
Nourishing Wisdom --Marc David
Mindsight -- Daniel J Siegel M.D.
Super Brain -- Deepak Chopra, M.D. and Rudolph Tanzi, M.D.
Into The Magic Shop -- James R. Doty, M.D.
Super Genes -- Deepak Chopra, M.D. and Rudolph Tanzi, M.D.
The Four Agreements -- Don Miguel Ruiz
No Sweat -- Michelle Segar, Ph.D.
The Values Factor -- Dr. John DeMartini
Search Inside Yourself -- Chade-Meng Tan
The Power of Surrender -- Judith Orloff, M.D.
Self-Compassion -- Kristin Neff, Ph.D.
Wherever You Go There You Are -- Jon Kabat-Zinn
How to Meditate -- Pema Chodron
Mindfulness -- Joseph Goldstein
Loving What Is--Byron Katie
The Book of Forgiving--Desmond Tutu and Mpho Tutu

---

Mindfulness Practice

I invite you to try a body scan exercise lead by Jon Kabat Zinn       
​https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15q-N-_kkrU

Here is a link for a unique  loving-kindness meditation by Emma Seppala:
​https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=auS1HtAz6Bs

​Dr. Kristen Neff offers some compassionate guided meditations to try:
http://self-compassion.org/category/exercises/#guided-meditations​

---

Healthy Habits

Browse through the new Duke Integrative Medicine Blog: IM Well.

The blog is designed to support readers in creating a lifestyle that has them feeling their best and able to meet the challenges that life presents with resiliency. We invite you to visit the blog to read the welcome post by Linda Smith, the Director of Educational Programs, as well as enjoy a short video about habits and some tasty recipes and tips.
 
https://www.dukeintegrativemedicine.org/dukeimprogramsblog/