Serenity Toolkit

How to Harness the Benefits of Mindfulness, Yoga, and Meditation

By: Mala Cunningham

Narrated by: Mala Cunningham

Length: 4 hrs and 45 mins

Publisher's summary

Bring serenity into your busy life with scientifically proven healing practices.

In our hectic world, we need tools to help us weather life’s storms. Yoga, mindfulness, and meditation are some of the most powerful tools you can wield - and their benefits are backed by neuroscience. Using new technology in brain imaging, researchers have confirmed the ability of these practices to improve your neurobiology and overall wellness.

Through this innovative 12-lecture audio course, you will find inner calm and gain a scientific understanding of your brain. Your guide, Dr. M. Mala Cunningham, is a licensed counselor and clinical professor at the University of Virginia. A leading expert in mind-body medicine, she draws on cutting-edge neuroscience research as well as more than 35 years of experience teaching yoga.

Dr. Cunningham begins with the foundational concepts of yoga and mindfulness theory. You will then explore the mechanisms and effects of stress and examine your emotional blueprint. After looking into how to activate happy hormones and practice meaningful self-assessment, you’ll dive deeper into the intersection of neuroscience, yoga, and mindfulness. You’ll also consider communication patterns, intuition, and formulas for healing.

Each lecture contains strategies and activities for stress reduction, emotional resilience, and self-care. You are sure to return to these healing exercises and guided meditations again and again, leading you to deeper levels of peace and happiness.

This course is part of the Learn25 collection.

©2019 Now You Know Media, Inc. (P)2019 Now You Know Media, Inc.

A Heart & Soul Touching Course

I’m interested in neuroscience, psychology, and mindfulness and I have listened to many courses talking about and teaching mindfulness techniques. But this course took mindfulness to a whole new level.

The first thing you will notice about this course is how relaxing Mala’s voice is. I literally haven’t heard such a relaxing voice in my whole life. Once she started telling me about how to breathe, I followed her without even thinking; I was EXTREMELY RELAXED.

When I heard the first chapter, I decided to listen to each chapter on a separate day. I wanted to make the best use of it so I did whatever I was supposed to do each day and then returned to this course. I listened carefully and absorbed every single word Mala was saying.

After 12 days, I realized what they meant when they named this course “The Healing Power of the Mind”. No words can describe how deep and fascinating the techniques in this course are. When Mala was saying “squeeze”, I felt stress and any negative feelings getting out of my system.

As a doctor, I know how powerful neuroscience is, especially when it is mixed with such a great and experienced psychologist and amazing techniques. The final result must be such a great course.

Whatever I say, I will not describe how amazing this course is. Dr. Mala, YOU ARE OUTSTANDING. Thank you so much!

For yoga enthusiasts or skeptics

I'll admit that I wasn't the most knowledgable or interested person about the benefits of yoga or a spiritual mindfulness lifestyle to start with. After listening to Mala Cunningham's book, I can say that it has changed my life. She provides a perspective I haven't heard before that provides good scientific evidence that the benefits are not just spiritual, but physical as well. I think everyone will get some positive benefit from listening to this book.

Excellent resource. Beautifully presented!

Dr. Cunningham is clearly a deeply knowledgeable expert able to skillfully bridge ancient yoga practice with modern neuroscience and psychology. It's a joy to listen to her thoughtful and compassionate presentation style. I would highly recommended this program to family and friends.

Great balance of Eastern and Western perspectives

As someone who practices yoga and mindfulness but sometimes struggles to integrate Eastern perspectives into an ingrained Western mindset, this course was a perfect. Dr. Cunningham does a great job of helping the listener learn the science behind why these practices work as well as guiding us through the practices themselves. She incorporates vivid examples from her own life and encourages the listener to tailor their "tool kit" to the practices that work for them. Also, her voice is so soothing!

Knowledgeable Presenter, and What a Voice!

This was such a relaxing listen. You can tell by the author's even-keeled and cheerful delivery that she practices what she is talking about. She lays out all sorts of interesting research about the impact yoga and mindfulness can have not only on the body, but also the mind. Highly recommend this for any one interested in science-based approaches to mindfulness, or people who want to experience less stress in their day-to-day lives (don't we all?)