cover image Clean Mind, Clean Body: A 28-Day Plan for Physical, Mental, and Spiritual Self-Care

Clean Mind, Clean Body: A 28-Day Plan for Physical, Mental, and Spiritual Self-Care

Tara Stiles. Dey Street, $24.99 (272p) ISBN 978-0-06-294731-4

While it is “widely acknowledged in our culture that the mind and body are interconnected,” most busy modern lives are out of touch with the “mind-body connection,” advises Stiles (Strala Yoga) in this thoughtful guide. Stiles focuses her four-week plan on enhancing this connection, and each week has a goal—the first is “Mental Cleanse,” followed by “Spiritual Detox,” and in these two weeks, Stiles advises decluttering, limiting technology use, and meditation. “Change the Way You Eat,” marks week three, which offers enticing recipes such as Kitchari, an Ayurvedic dish made from mung beans, and week four is “Change the Way You Move,” which works movement into everyday life; these sections feature photographed yoga poses one can fit into a busy schedule. Stiles offers personal stories, as well—for instance, she tells of having a miscarriage, to illustrate that healing can take time, and details the efforts she and her husband, who is also her business partner, have made to achieve a healthy work-life balance. A closing “Daily Wellness Routines” section provides tips for making these changes stick past the four weeks (for example, morning tai chi and evening reflective journaling). Readers interested in a more mindful lifestyle will want to give this a look. (Dec.)