The Gut Wellness Guide: The Power of Breath, Touch, and Awareness to Reduce Stress, Aid Digestion, and Reclaim Whole-Body Health

by Allison Post, Stephen Cavaliere, Sara Gottfried MD (Foreword by)

Overview

A user-friendly guide for anyone grappling with chronic pain, fatigue, gas, bloating, and other common disorders associated with the gut

Addressing a wide range of conditions—including digestive problems, anxiety, and depression—this easy-to-use guide presents simple ways to relieve the stress related to some of today’s most pressing health problems. Authors Allison Post and Stephen Cavaliere explain the devastating impact that imbalances of gut microbiota and the microbiome can have on digestion, and they demonstrate proven techniques to reconnect with our bodies and reclaim our health. The Gut Wellness Guide expands upon the method previously introduced in the authors’ first book, Unwinding the Belly. Unwinding is a clear and accessible way to connect the “gut brain” to the “main brain” and to relax, tune into your body, and create a customized action plan to heal.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781623172565
Publisher:	North Atlantic Books
Publication date:	08/07/2018
Pages:	200
Sales rank:	616,743
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

ALLISON POST is a Somatic Educator and Integrative Medicine Health Coach with over thirty years of experience helping individuals rediscover inherent health and happiness. Her speciality is to draw upon the deep wells of both modern and traditional medical wisdom to help people incorporate breath, gastrointestinal balance, embodiment skills, and movement into their daily life with presence and joy. STEPHEN CAVALIERE is a writer and fitness enthusiast. He holds several advanced fitness certifications and specializes in strength training for older adults. Together, Post and Cavaliere have practiced and taught many forms of bodywork at their own institute and at several renowned spas in the California and the Southwest. They currently teach Unwinding the Belly, Bridge to Embodiment, and Embodied Touch in Psychotherapy in the Northern California Bay Area and abroad.

Table of Contents

Whth Gratitude xiii

Foreword xvii

Chapter 1 My Path toward Embodiment 1

Emergencies 2

Emergence 4

Embodiment 7

Chapter 2 Your Belly Leading the Way 9

Intuition 9

Digestion 12

Emotion 17

Movement 21

Other Sources of Tension 23

Chapter 3 First Steps in Unwinding-Belly Breathing and Working the Navel, Skin, and Lymph 27

Belly Breathing 29

Gentle Touch 33

Unwinding the Navel 34

Exploring the Abdominal Surface with the Cat's Paws Touch 36

Lymph Pumping 38

A Note on Anatomy and Physiology 39

Chapter 4 Intermediate Steps in Unwinding-Lateral Breathing and Elimination 47

Lateral Breathing 48

Connecting to the Large Intestine (Colon) 53

Bowel Movements and Stools 57

Chapter 5 Gut Matters 67

A Deeper Understanding 67

The Three Tubes of the Embryo 69

Infection, Immunity, and Imbalance 72

Imbalance, Birth, and Developing Together 74

The Microbiome 76

The Gut Brain 78

Chapter 6 Further Steps in Unwinding-Expanded Lateral Breathing and Digestion 91

Expanded Lateral Breathing 91

Stimulating the Digestive Organs 92

Supermarkets and Being Mindful 100

Chapter 7 Three-Dimensional Breathing and the Back 109

Three-Dimensional Breathing 109

Integrating the Back 110

Chapter 8 Advanced Steps in Unwinding-Connected Breathing, the Inner Voice, and Bone 123

Connected Breathing 124

The Inner Voice 128

Intercostals 130

Lower Abdomen 132

Bone 134

Chapter 9 An Action Plan for Gut Health 141

Toward a Balanced Life 141

A Note on the Action Plan 144

Blood Tests and Metabolic Markers 145

Saying Farewell to Sugar 147

Digging Deeper with a Comprehensive Stool Analysis 149

A Food-Elimination Protocol 151

Making Adjustments While Keeping with Your Core Program 154

Deepening Your Embodiment Practice 156

Resources 161

Index 165

About The Authors 179

Editorial Reviews

2,500 years ago, Hippocrates said ‘All disease begins in the gut’, and modern research has confirmed this ancient wisdom. Yet all too often our approach to improving gut health focuses too much on diet and supplements, and not enough on managing stress and more fully inhabiting our body. Allison and Stephen recognize that the gut is part of the nervous system, and that truly healing the gut isn’t possible without addressing this crucial component.”
—Chris Kresser, MS, LAc, author of The Paleo Cure

“Unwinding—the method of embodiment presented in this book—is synonymous with unwinding the harmful effects stress can have on your hormones, nervous system, brain function, mood, libido level, digestive health, and even gene expression. In this easy-to-read book you will be able to quickly get to the heart of any stress related issue you hold in your body . . . by leading with your gut. Try it. You won’t be sorry. Thank you  Allison and Stephen for this contribution to the health of our population and our planet!”
—Dr. Keesha Ewers, author of Solving the Autoimmune Puzzle

“Allison and Stephen have done the miraculous: written a book about the functioning of our bodies in an ever-so-personal and delicious way. They write so clearly and with such warmth and mastery that what seemed obtuse and dry is suddenly understandable, even—dare I say—exciting. And, as a grateful recipient of Allison’s hands-on magic, I can say with utter conviction that the love that comes through her work is astounding. It is, after all, love that heals, and now we can all be recipients of that magic through this book.”
—Geneen Roth, author of Women, Food and God

"Through their intimate knowledge of anatomy and extensive hands-on experience, Allison and Stephen gift us with the definitive practical roadmap to a healthy gut, a stronger immune system, increased energy, and a sense of a greater quality of life. Yet the big surprise is that the practice of their simple yet powerful techniques brings us joy.”
—Greg Hicks and Rick Foster, authors of How We Choose to Be Happy
 
“Allison and Stephen have deep knowledge and expertise of both traditional and contemporary healing arts. But more importantly, in this book they point us to our own individual capacity to heal and to rediscover our innate wholeness. Trust your gut—buy this book.”
—Frank Ostaseski, author of The Five Invitations: Discovering What Death Can Teach Us About Living Fully

From the Publisher