Books published by North Atlantic Books,U.S.

An experiential guide to re-orienting our understanding of late adulthood as one of life's most meaningful and transformative stagesAging can bring new fears, challenges, and concerns. Loss of career, loved ones, or changing physical and cognitive abilities can leave us feeling isolated and scared. Sandi Peters shows us that growing older need not mean the end of personal growth. In fact, late adulthood can prove to be the most meaningful and transformative period of one's life. The key, says Peters, is the development of one's inner life, and with it a shift in one's relation to the aging process. The book draws on history, philosophy, psychology, gerontology, and spirituality to deepen and expand our understanding of what it means to grow old in the twenty-first century. Peters shares time-tested contemplative practices such as meditation, active imagination, dream work, and creative writing designed to enhance one's inner worlds and enable us to face life's inevitable changes with equanimity and insight. She offers practical advice on issues such as assisted living and home care, and a refreshingly new perspective on matters of memory and cognitive change.

An integrative approach to support your health and well-beingWhile Western medicine often relies on a one-size-size-fits-all approach to treating depression, Ayurveda offers an individualized, holistic model that draws upon five thousand years of scientific knowledge and practice to address depression systemically--restoring balance and nourishing mind, body, and spirit. The Ayurvedic anti-depression protocols outlined in this book can work alone or in concert with conventional therapies to help you develop a tailored plan that meets your unique needs. You'll learn how to identify your inborn and mental constitutions (prakruti and manas prakruti) to better understand the root causes of your condition. This book will empower you to create daily and seasonal routines using dietary adjustments, mind-body training, and herbal remedies to reawaken your body and cultivate the wisdom needed to heal from depression.

Reimagining Buddhism through a feminine lens: A powerful memoir of healing, strength, and spiritual awakening.Written by the first and only layperson to receive full dharma transmission in the Suzuki Roshi Soto Zen lineage, A Bigger Sky explores what it means to traverse the gaps of a Buddhism created by and for men, navigate the seemingly contradictory domains of secular and spiritual life, and walk a path through the heart of the world. Blending memoir, Buddhist practice, and cultural observation, Weiss reorients Buddhism through a wider and more inclusive feminine lens. Her personal and spiritual journey speaks to the bits of brokenness in us all, shining a light on the different pathways we can walk to become whole. Through beautifully crafted prose, Weiss shares what it means to be an ordinary Bodhisattva, describing how the Buddha's profound vision of freedom can be lived outside of institutions and rule-bound practice to support us in deepening our connection with ourselves, each other, and the planet. A Bigger Sky illuminates how integrating a more feminine approach to Buddhist teachings can be applied in spiritual practice, community, relationships, and day-to-day life.

Combatting fatphobia and racism to reclaim a space of belonging at the intersection of fat, Black, and female.Even if Black bodies were thin bodies, we''d still be considered ugly and unacceptable. Even if we were slender, we''d be criticized about our wide hips, noses, and lips. Our fatness exacerbates America''s already anxious views against race and further demonizes our existence by relegating our roles in society. We''re good enough to be mammies, but never to have a family of our own. We can work in the office, but never as the receptionist. We can be the girlfriend...in the dark...that no one sees. Ever.To live in a body at the intersection of fat, Black, and female is to be on the margins. From concern-trolling--"I just want you to be healthy"--to outright attacks, fat Black bodies that fall outside dominant constructs of beauty and wellness are subjected to healthism, racism, and misogynoir. The spaces carved out by third-wave feminism and the fat liberation movement fail at true inclusivity and intersectionality; fat Black women need to create their own safe spaces and community, instead of tirelessly giving labor to educate, chastise, and strive against dominant groups.Structured into three sections--"belonging," "resistance," and "acceptance"--and informed by personal history, interviews, and community stories, Fat Girls in Black Bodies breaks down the myths, stereotypes, tropes, and outright lies we''ve been sold about race, body size, belonging, and health. Cox''s razor-sharp cultural commentary exposes the racist roots of diet culture, healthism, and the ways we erroneously conflate body size with personal responsibility. She explores how to reclaim space and create belonging in a hostile world, pushing back against tired pressures of "going along just to get along," and dismantles the institutionally ingrained myths about race, size, gender, and worth that deny fat Black women their selfhood.

An inspiring children''s book that introduces young readers to the environmental challenges facing the planet though the wisdom of Native American culture."You have family on land as you do in the sea. . . As tomorrow''s sun rises you will emerge from the sea as a human boy, and you will show your little sister that being a caretaker of the earth begins with taking care of the water that all life depends on." Shiny is a whale child. One day his mother teaches him about the harm facing the world''s oceans because of human carelessness. Shiny agrees to be turned into a boy by the ocean''s water spirit so he can visit the land and alert people to these dangers. He meets Alex, a young girl who learns from Shiny that the living spirit of water exists in everything--glaciers, rivers, oceans, rain, plants and all living creatures. Together the two travel the earth, confronting the realities of a planet threatened by an uncertain future. Inspired by Shiny''s hope, humor, and ancestral wisdom, Alex makes the promise to become a teacher for future generations. She realizes that the timeless Native American value of environmental stewardship is needed now more than ever, and that we must all stand up on behalf of mother earth. The Whale Child introduces children ages 7 to 12 to existing environmental issues with a message of hope, education, sharing, and action. Its goal is to inspire younger generations to develop a critical morality for the treatment of the natural world and the well-being of future generations.

An innovative somatic and attachment-based treatment for working with children and adolescents who suffer from complex trauma and neglectThe SMART (Sensory Motor Arousal Regulation Treatment) program addresses three key processes that can be derailed by developmental trauma--somatic regulation, trauma processing, and attachment-building--and uses movement and sensation to target the neurological structures that support emotional and behavioral regulation. Transforming Trauma in Children and Adolescents teaches therapists the eight key skills required for SMART mastery and provides seven regulation tools for clients, helping children and adolescents manage their feelings and attend to developmental tasks like making friends, participating at school, learning to play with others, and developing a sense of self that includes--but isn't defined by--the trauma they've experienced. Enriched with case studies and recommended adaptations, the book includes resources for parents and other caregivers who want to provide ongoing supportive care outside the clinical setting.

Achieve balance, connect to Spirit, and tap into the sacred power of dance with 365 daily movement meditations.Throughout human history, people all over the world have recognized dance as an age-old yet timeless connection to Spirit. In celebration, to mark moments of change, and in times of despair, dance has been used to seek the Divine, connect with the Earth, and call into being the sacred energy we each possess within ourselves.In Sacred Dance Meditations, Carla Walter, PhD, offers readers 365 dances--one for every day--rooted in traditions from around the globe. From Polynesia to Peru, each dance is different in origin and technique but connected in common purpose: as sacred conduits for hope, love, connection, community, and spirituality. Walter provides a theme each new day, drawn from mystical and spiritual principles that originate from pre-colonial religious traditions. Descriptions, video links, accessibility modifications, and invitations for deeper reflection allow the reader to engage their Spirit fully with the sacred power of dance, carrying it in their heart as they move throughout each day.Readers--both seasoned dancers and those who want a more active style of meditative practice--will discover powerful regenerative healing and a new way to awaken. Broken up day by day and month by month, Sacred Dance Meditations makes it simple and gratifying to practice each day''s dance and fulfill its intended theme. Readers can begin at any "point of entry" section, and work their way throughout the year with a time commitment of just ten to twenty minutes a day. Importantly, each dance is designed to supplement any existing (or non-existent) religious or spiritual practice, allowing all to tap into the Divine through the spirit of dance.

An inclusive, research-based guide to working the 12 steps: a trauma-informed approach for clinicians, sponsors, and those in recovery.Step 1: You admit that you''re powerless over your addiction. Now what?12-step programs like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA) have helped countless people on the path to recovery. But many still feel that 12-step programs aren''t for them: that the spiritual emphasis is too narrow, the modality too old-school, the setting too triggering, or the space not inclusive enough. Some struggle with an addict label that seems to eclipse the histories, traumas, and experiences that can feed into addiction, or neglects to consider the effects of adverse experiences like trauma in the first place. Advances in addiction medicine, trauma, neuropsychiatry, social theory, and overall strides in inclusivity need to be integrated into modern-day 12-step programs to reflect the latest research and what it means to live with an addiction today.Dr. Jamie Marich, an addiction and trauma clinician in recovery herself, builds necessary bridges between the 12-step''s core foundations and up-to-date developments in trauma-informed care. Foregrounding the intersections of addiction, trauma, identity, and systems of oppression, Marich''s approach treats the whole person--not just the addiction--to foster healing, transformation, and growth.Written for clinicians, therapists, and sponsors, and those in recovery, Marich provides an extensive toolkit of trauma-informed skills that:  •  Explains how trauma impacts addiction, recovery, and relapse  •  Celebrates communities who may feel excluded from the program, like atheists, agnostics, and LGBTQ+ folks  •  Invites in outside help from the fields of trauma, dissociation, mindfulness, and addiction research  •  Explains the differences between being trauma-informed and trauma-sensitive; and  •  Discusses spiritual abuse as a legitimate form of trauma that can profoundly impede spirituality-based approaches to healing.<

A comprehensive guide to Iron Palm--an advanced training course for developing a strong striking hand and delivering powerful blows Iron Palm is a set of martial art conditioning skills--dating back to the Shaolin Temple of fifth-century China--whose purpose is to strengthen the hand while empowering the fighter to strike with force and precision. Training is focused and incremental, requiring the guidance of an experienced master. In Authentic Iron Palm, author, instructor, and five-time US National Chinese martial arts Champion Phillip Starr provides the definitive guide to Iron Palm. He meticulously outlines the three sequential steps of training: hardening limbs, developing technique, and engaging Qigong for coordinating breath and mind. The end result is a more powerful and precise strike that can impact the target's viscera (with no trace on the outer body). Lavishly illustrated with more than 200 images, this book is ideal for experienced practitioners of gong-fu, karate, and taekwondo.

As we all wake up, the outside world bustles with life! Discover new facts about familiar creatures-from fluttering moths and scurrying beetles to shy foxes and humming bees-as they go about their morning activities. In the city, the countryside, and the suburbs, nature can be found everywhere!A series of haiku takes readers on a closeup, observational look at the amazing abundance of nature right outside our homes. Each stanza focuses on an aspect of the natural world or a creature going about their daily activities as the sun begins to rise. Alongside the haiku, informative text goes into depth about each subject-from how much honey a bee can make to the size of a hummingbird's egg. Instructions to help kids create their own haiku poems, a unique form of poetry from Japan, as well as a glossary add value for a STEAM and Core Curriculum book that can be enjoyed both in the classroom and at home.

A quintessential resource for yoga teachers to master the art and practice of adjustments, assists, and alignments--based on Stephens' best-selling Yoga Adjustments.This deck empowers yoga teachers and trainers to understand the principles of hands-on yoga teaching and apply the most effective methods of tactile cueing to improve alignment, support stable foundations, and honor safe biomechanics. Focusing specifically on teaching effective alignments and safe adjustments, it includes 105 full-color yoga cards with instructional photos, color-coded by type of posture. An accompanying booklet provides detailed explanations of how to assist students in a variety of poses so users are equipped with practical guidance for in-class adjustments. The cards are a perfect companion for new teachers to use as flash cards, experienced teachers who need to make adjustments on the fly, and home practitioners with a deep personal practice.

Want to be healthy in an unhealthy world? Get ready to start breaking some rules. This convention-busting book explains how, equipping you with the counterintuitive skills you need to transform your body and your life for the better.Here, award-winning health journalist Pilar Gerasimo points out that in an unhealthy society like ours, becoming and staying a healthy person requires choices, habits, and attitudes so unconventional, they amount to a form of positive social deviance.After all, what kind of society makes being healthy so difficult that only a single-digit percentage of the population can pull it off? The answer: a sick society. And within a sick society--one where illness, anxiety, and depression are the prevailing norms --what does it mean to be one of the few people to beat those unhealthy odds? It means bucking a lot of your society's norms and rejecting a lot of its conventional health prescriptions. It also means acknowledging a disturbing truth: If you aren't breaking the rules, you're probably breaking yourself.That's the simple, provocative philosophy behind The Healthy Deviant, one seasoned health seeker's quest to reframe healthy choices as a positive form of social rebellion. Combining insights from sociology, psychology, evolutionary biology, functional medicine, and the school of hard knocks, this category-defying book rejects the idea that diet and exercise alone can save us--or are even the best places to start.Instead, Gerasimo's 14-day Healthy-Deviant Adventure Program presents a series of powerful perspective shifts and simple daily practices -- plus illustrations, infographics, worksheets, reminders, and progress tracking tools -- that put you firmly back in charge of your own wellbeing. Integrating two decades of journalistic research with keen cultural observation, Gerasimo explains how we can reclaim our health, happiness, and autonomy -- by refusing to play games that are rigged against us, and by breaking away from the systems that have been breaking us down. Part manifesto, part whispered wake-up call, The Healthy Deviant is a modern-day survival guide for being a healthy person in an unhealthy world. Starting now.

A compelling collection of the many voices and experiences of trans, genderqueer, and nonbinary Buddhists Transcending brings together more than thirty contributors from both the Mahayana and Theravada traditions to present a vision for a truly inclusive trans Buddhist sangha in the twenty-first century. Shining a light on a new generation of Buddhist role models, this book gives voice to those who have long been marginalized within the Buddhist world and society at large. While trans, genderqueer, and nonbinary practitioners have experienced empowerment and healing through their commitment to the Buddha, dharma, and sangha, they also share their experiences of isolation, transphobia, and aggression. In this diverse collection we hear the firsthand accounts, thoughts, and reflections of trans Buddhists from a variety of different lineages in an open invitation for all Buddhists to bring the issue of gender identity into the sangha, into the discourse, and onto the cushion. Only by doing so can we develop insight into our circumstances and grasp our true, essential nature.

The definitive food lover's guide to making the right choices amidst a sea of ever-changing informationWe live in a culture awash with advice on nutrition and eating. But what does it really mean to eat healthy? FoodWISE is for anyone who has felt unsure about how to make the "right" food choices. It is for food lovers who want to be more knowledgeable and connected to their food, while also creating meaningful dining experiences around the table. With more than thirty years of experience in farm and food studies, Gigi Berardi, PhD, shows readers how to make food choices and prepare meals that are WISE: Whole, Informed, Sustainable, and Experience based. She offers practical guidance for how to comb the aisles of your local food market with confidence and renewed excitement and debunks the questionable science behind popular diets and trends, sharing some counterintuitive tips that may surprise you-like the health benefits of eating saturated fat! FoodWISE will revolutionize how you think about healthy, enjoyable, and socially conscious cuisine.

Pigalina teaches Claire the loving-kindness meditation to help Claire embrace the world with compassion and caring May All People and Pigs Be Happy follows seven-year-old Claire and her stuffed animal Pigalina. From Pigalina, Claire learns a simple meditation that helps her to feel kinder toward herself and spread caring and love to others. The loving-kindness meditation can be practiced by anyone regardless of religion to cultivate loving presence, friendship, tenderness, and love. This book is perfect for those with or without a background in the loving-kindness meditation.

The first book to empower older women writing about erotic experiences in life, the bedroom, and beyond With concrete tools for writing bawdy, fun, and empowering erotica, Aphrodite’s Pen celebrates sexuality and creativity. The book includes approachable activities designed for novice and seasoned writers and guides readers in creating saucy characters and plot, sensual dialogue, poetry, memoir, and more. Author Stella Fosse, founder of the Elderotica Writers group, offers games and fun writing exercises to spark your imagination. She also provides expert advice for creating a writing circle, getting published, and reading in public.

Discover your Animal archetype to transform your martial arts practice and improve your physical, emotional, and sexual healthA cognitive psychologist and respected martial art instructor brings to life the Animals of Ch'ien-lung, and how to live the martial art philosophy--on and off the mat! This martial art belongs to everyone, not just for self-defense but as a force for healing. Keen on detail, big in scope, Unleash the Dragon Within shows how to tap into the Cat and Snakeaspects of your mind and body. When you combine the movement, breath and meditation of a Cat with a Snake you create the Dragon, bringing all you are to your athletic performance, spiritual practices and even your sexual relationships.

A practical and irreverent guide to Burning Man, its philosophy, why people do this to themselves, and how it matters to the worldOver 30 years Burning Man has gone from two families on a San Francisco beach to a global movement in which hundreds of thousands of people around the world create events on every continent. It has been the subject of fawning media profiles, an exhibit in the Smithsonian, and is beloved by tech billionaires and boho counterculturalists alike. But why does it matter? What does it actually have to offer us? The answer, Caveat Magister writes, is simple: Burning Man's philosophy can help us build better communities in which individuals' freedom to follow their own authentic passions also brings them together in common purpose. Burning Man is a prototype, and its philosophy is a how-to manual for better communities, that, instead of rules, offers principles. Featuring iconic and impossible stories from "the playa," interviews with Burning Man's founders and staff, and personal recollections of the late Larry Harvey--Burning Man's founder, "Chief Philosophical Officer," and the author's close friend and colleague--The Scene That Became Cities introduces readers to the experience of Burning Man; explains why it grew; posits how it could impact fields as diverse as art, economics, and politics; and makes the ideas behind it accessible, actionable, and useful.