Heal Thy Self: Lessons on Mindfulness in Medicine

by Saki Santorelli, Jon Kabat-Zinn (Foreword)

Today we are experiencing extraordinary technological advances in the diagnosis and treatment of illness while at the same time learning to take more responsibility for our own health and well-being. In this book, Saki Santorelli, director of the nationally acclaimed Stress Reduction Clinic, explores the ancient roots of medicine, and shows us how to introduce mindfulness into the crucible of the healing relationship. His approach revolutionizes the dynamics between the patient and the practitioner. In describing the classes at the clinic and the transformation that takes place in this alchemical process, he offers insights and effective methods for cultivating mindfulness in our everyday lives. As he reveals the inner landscape of his own life as a health care professional and we join him and those with whom he works on this journey of human suffering and courage, we become aware of and honor what is darkest and brightest within each one of us.

Genres: Nonfiction, Psychology, Self Help, Spirituality, Health, Mental Health, Medicine

288 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

Reviews

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an extraordinary book. I read it several times to really absorb it. It's not just about mindfulness in medicine - it's about finding the right balance when helping others and openly acknowledging the times of helplessness when we can do nothing or when we don't know what to do. Saki does what few teachers do - he delves into his shortcomings as a human being and healer. He frames the importance of being humble and open to "not knowing" during the healing process while capturing how messy it is to try to help people. It can be intensely painful to help others yet he paints the value of this process so clearly. This is a beautiful work of unconditional love for both patients and the doctors who struggle to keep their own hearts open while facing sickness and death every day. Saki demonstrates that not only is this possible for doctors but that patients can open their hearts in the midst of sickness and death too. The lessons he presents arise out of a lifetime of experience and can be applied far beyond hospital walls.

[Francesca · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for anyone interested in mindfulness, anyone in the health professions, and everyone else.

Saki Santorelli is Jon Kabat-Zinn's "silent partner," the other half of the brains at the Stress Reduction Clinic at UMass Hospital. He writes so beautifully -- parts of this book read like Rumi poetry, which he borrows heavily from to create metaphors about healing. If you have never read anything about meditation or mindfulness, this is a wonderful introduction. If you've read everything else about it, this will only deepen your appreciation of how profound the act of awareness can be. It is part narrative about the participants at the stress clinic, part explaination, part exercise for the reader, part love poem. Gorgeous.

[George Bremner · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you are health worker looking for a companion book to your MBSR practice, then this is the book for you. It is written in weekly installments to match the eight week Mindfulness based Stress Reduction program at UMASS Worcester founded by Jon Kabat-Zinn. The author, Saki Santorelli, is the current executive director of that program. Saki provides many anecdotes from his own practice as well as practical exercises to guide your own.

If you’re interested in MBSR or mindfulness generally, then there are plenty of better books on point.

[Martin Mühlpacher · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one took me quite some time to read. Not in sense that i haven't been enjoying it, but sometines it just didn't resonated with me and so i put it off for later. Although some parts were really great and descriptive language beatiful, the book as a whole didn't strike me as much as some other in this field.

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good resource especially for those in the helping professions on learning to use mindfulness. Not so much a guide for using mindfulness on your own, but a good introduction and overview.

[Dodi · Rating 3 out of 5]

As someone who has been interested in mindfulness for a few years now, I was excited to read this book and learn more about how mindfulness can be applied in the context of illness and medicine in general.

The book follows the structure of the eight-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program developed at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center in the 1970s by Jon Kabat-Zinn.

I found the book less useful than I had hoped because I struggled to follow the format. There was little development as it mostly consisted of reflections on various stories.

Also, I thought the information was presented fragmentarily rather than in a fluid and organised way, which made it difficult for me to connect with it.

Finally, this book may not be ideal for beginners to mindfulness. In fact I found it to be more of a refresher than an introductory guide.

[Marjorie Hogan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am determined to incorporate mindfulness into life - both personally and at work - and eagerly anticipated reading this book. I am so sorry to find that I got lost in the verbiage - I could not understand a good deal of what Dr. Santorelli wrote. I liked some of the real-people stories and found the instructions about breathing helpful. Some of the poems / musings of great thinkers were wonderful. Perhaps re-reading this book after pursuing mindfulness in more tangible ways will be helpful.

[Lenka Letadlo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Opět kniha, ke které jsem se dostala díky tomu, že ji přeložil Šimon z Vnitřního prostoru.
Ta knížka je jednoduše krásná.
Autor sdílí své zkušenosti s odzbrojující upřímností a bez potřeby poučovat. Při práci s klienty se i u mě dostavuje hodně zajímavých stavů, emocí, pocitů... a je uklidňující si o nich přečíst od někoho dalšího, v tomhle ohledu je kniha objímající.
Ač autor má zkušenost z pomáhajících profesí hlavně s mediky a lékaři, kniha je podle mě vhodná pro kohokoliv v léčivé roli jakéhokoliv druhu. Jako takové pohlazení, podpora...

[Ilse]

This book may present as being focused on medicine/healing, but it's really appropriate for anyone who's interested in mindfulness or meditation. Santorelli writes like no physician I've read. His writing is the opposite of dry or distant; he takes inspiration from Rumi, and his own words flow and shimmer. Highly recommend.

[Kurt Leblanc · Rating 3 out of 5]

Had to read for a Mind, Body, Spirit connection class in 2011. It was good from what I remember, however I didn’t enjoy it very much the second time. It was tough to get through however I think the book has valuable perspectives from multiple people facing hardships and gives hope to the power of meditation and mindfulness in bringing peace to different areas of life.

[Bahare · Rating 5 out of 5]

این کتاب بی‌نظیر بود من چندین بار خوندمش و به عنوان کسی که تازه درمانگر شده بود بینهایت بهم کمک کرد و یاد گرفتم هرچقدر تغییرات برای مراجع صورت می‌گیرد برای درمانگر هم هست و این سفر برای درمانگر هم شفادهنده‌ست.

[Saundra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this for a meditation course and at first I wasn't very excited but going through the book as I was being trained in the MBSR model was very supportive.

It has enough personal stories and process to be useful for personal or professional use.

[Adele · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully inspiring as an MBSR teacher myself

[Harry Patrick · Rating 2 out of 5]

Definitely not what I expected. Much too touchy-feels for me.

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great read. If nothing else, it rejuvenated my on-going efforts towards a daily meditation practice.

[Jennifer Lawrence · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book can never be fully finished as there are little gems that can be returned to daily.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

“We are all completely genius, being coaxed and drawn forth in a thousand ways, honed into actuality, slowly polished into fullness.” ☺️

[Travel Writing · Rating 3 out of 5]

The lessons are broken into weeks and I would highly suggest taking the time to read and do the activities. I needed to finish the book in 8 days for an immersive yoga training and think I may have missed a lot from the brief amount of time I took to read the book.

My most beloved concepts and quotes:

Don't turn your head.
Keep looking at the bandaged place.
That's whee the light enters you.

It is possible that the entire healing relationship is actually founded on friendship.

Shattered, but still whole.

By healing I mean our willingness to feel and old in awareness all parts of ourselves without division and distinction...an expression of our fundamental wholeness, no matter our what our condition or situation.

I have noticed within myself that helplessness sometimes comes clothed in a guise of helping that easily carries me into doing, planning, frantically scurrying about, imposing concepts on myself and others. Born of fear and dissatisfaction, it is a trap and a subtle form of manipulation.

We all need ballast, something we can count on and return to for support, something that, like the steadying keel of a sailing ship. keeps us trim, in the water, capable of sailing through unpredictable seas. Practice is ballast- a steadying presence moving below the waterline.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book wasn't really what I was hoping for. It focused more on bringing mindfulness to the medical field and how wonderful Saki was at teaching mindfulness to people in pain so they can be in a better place mentally. And that is all good. But I guess I was hoping for a more practical book where I could get suggestions for my clients. There was some in there don't get me wrong, I guess I just hoped for more. By the end it seemed he was just recycling concepts he had already discussed but gave them a different name.

But then I've never been one to use poetry as meditation either...i don't see the point in reading poem 5 times out loud...

[Roberta · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book by the man, who once directed the Stress Reduction Clinic at UMass, is full of stories about his work with patients and teaching medical students about mindfulness--the importance of being truly present with patients, experiencing the patient as a mirror of yourself, letting the patient be your teacher. Santorelli's writing style is beautiful; you feel as if he is speaking directly to you in a very personal way. His chapters are peppered with poetry, particularly that of Rumi and Mary Oliver. Excellent!

[Nickie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I greatly appreciate the witness Saki shares of the value of practicing mindful living and working and failing to be mindful and having to step back and try again. I like his style of writing and I felt I was a part of the story he was showing.

Don't turn your head.
Keep looking at the bandaged place.
That's where the Light enters you.

[Nicoletta Cinotti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Questo libro - adesso tradotto anche in italiano - mostra il lato affettivo della mindfulness: heartfulness. Dare un'attenzione affettuosa come strada per esplorare se stessi, la nostra vita e la vita degli altri

[Mary Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great read for future counselors, social workers, and clinicians of any kind.

[Jodi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I only partially completed this book before returning it to the library, but based on what I have read so far, have added the book to my "to buy" list.