‘The incidence and burden of mental health challenges in our modern stressed society is formidable. A limitation of our current medical system’s approach to treatment of mental health conditions is that it is focused on pharmaceutical, cognitive and talking therapies. These do not address the many physical, creative and spiritual aspects of these conditions, which, if they were treated, could substantially improve treatment efficacy. This book effectively addresses this limitation by providing a comprehensive and detailed theoretical and practical guide to the skills and behavioral practices from both art and yoga therapy, and is likely to be a valuable resource for both art and yoga therapists as well as conventional mental health providers.’
Sat Bir Singh Khalsa PhD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Chief Editor, The Principles and Practice of Yoga Therapy

Western psychological processes (compared to the Kleśas, Vṛittis, Kośas, Guṇas, Doṣas, Nadi System, Cakras, and the Yamas and Niyamas) make this book accessible even to those unfamiliar with yogic philosophy and psychology. Clearing exercises, warm-up techniques, yogic breathing for mood management, modifications and sequencing of poses, assessments (for the mind and body), digital and telehealth applications, yoga prop usage, and co-morbid, clinical cases (children, adolescents and adults) are presented throughout as a guide for the reader. Practical reflection exercises are offered in the Introductory chapter and chapters 3-6. These suggested practices summarize and reiterate the clinical material for the reader, and afford expansion toward oneself and /or one’s clinical caseload.

See inside this beautiful book here…

No matter what form it takes to move towards a creative opening, the reader will find that this book will aid you in moving yourself and your patients into the exploration of art, yoga, and well-being. This interoceptive research facilitates an expansion towards self and others and ensures that expansion, whether making art, practising yoga or working with disease. May this book move you and your patients toward that trajectory of sattva and well-being!

Head and Heart is a valuable resource for:

• all health professionals who focus on mental health and/or wellbeing and want to broaden their understanding of how yoga and creative art therapy interventions can influence mental health approaches, best practices, and efficacy of treatment
• those who assist the therapeutic /healing processes who aspire to incorporate both yoga and creative art therapy interventions into their practice
• yoga therapy practitioners/teachers and creative art therapists/teachers who wish to deepen their knowledge of integrating yoga and creative art approaches into yoga, mental health and well-being