Magical Beginnings, Enchanted Lives

January 31, 2005
Chopra (Peace Is the Way
; The Seven Spiritual Laws of Yoga
; etc.) and his colleagues at the Chopra Center for Well Being offer pregnant women, their partners and healthcare providers a practical, thought-provoking framework in which to experience pregnancy and childbirth. Chopra advocates techniques drawn from ayurveda, the centuries-old Indian medical science, combined with daily yoga and meditation practice, to help deepen a woman's connection to herself, her baby and her own intuitive wisdom. Chopra says that the months during which a woman carries a child are a naturally introspective period and provide an ideal opportunity to cultivate awareness of physical, mental, emotional and spiritual states. To facilitate this process, the Chopra Center developed the Magical Beginnings program for parents and training programs for prenatal educators to aid them in integrating ayurvedic therapies (focused on nutrition, sound, sight, touch and aroma), meditation, yoga, visualization and journaling into a holistic approach to pregnancy. According to Chopra, Western images of childbirth can instill unconscious fears, causing undue stress to mother and child. To help women tackle these worries, he offers helpful medical information on the physical aspects of childbirth, ways to process difficult emotions, and suggestions for healthy communication between partners. In addition to pregnant women and their caretakers, readers interested in birthing and raising conscious children will likely be inspired by Chopra's stirring call for mindful parenting from conception through birth and beyond. 23 illus. Agent, Muriel Nellis with Literary and Creative Artists. (Mar.)

Forecast:
Chopra's name alone could sell this book; print ads and national publicity will garner an even larger audience.

April 1, 2005
With David Simon, M.D., ("Vital Energy") and Vicki Abrams, a lactation consultant, doula, and yoga instructor, holistic health pioneer and best-selling author Chopra ("The Seven Spiritual Laws of Yoga") takes an alternative approach to pregnancy and childbirth, combining ancient ayurvedic principles of holistic medicine from India, mediation, and yoga exercises. He and his coauthors discuss in detail the journey of pregnancy from conception to birth, offering a number of techniques for reducing stress and preparing for the childbirth experience. The chapter on labor and delivery is especially concrete and thorough (a useful appendix outlines breathing techniques for labor), and there are fitness routines for promoting recovery after birth. Presenting an ayurvedic perspective, nutritional information emphasizes paying attention to colors, aromas, and flavors of food. Throughout the text, the authors encourage expectant mothers to maintain balance and well-being via positive thinking and a dedication to self-care -steps that will benefit their babies as well. Unfortunately, there are few illustrations, and some (drawings of naked pregnant women, a woman's perineum) might offend more conservative readers. While comparable with Bonnie Berk's "Motherwell Maternity " "Fitness Plan", which outlines a respected maternity exercise program, this guide has a more metaphysical flavor. Chopra is always in demand, so this is a good addition to most health and wellness collections. -Deborah Anne Broocker, Georgia Perimeter Coll. Lib., Dunwoody

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