Truth is, I LOVE reading, yet don't make as much time as I'd like for it. I learn and retain more by doing and feeling, so find myself doing more of that. These books I'm recommending are one's that I feel are important when it comes to this work. And many of these people I have learned from directly or indirectly. 

There is no need to read these. But if you're someone who is into reading here's a few to get you started! 

I'll continue to add to this list as I find gems. 

** These books should be available on Amazon. I suggest checking in with your local bookstore first to see if they can order them for you ;) 

When it comes to books about trauma, nervous system health and neuroplasticity these are some of my go to's! 

BOOKS BY PETER LEVINE (Founder of Somatic Experiencing®) 

To start I suggest:

• Waking The Tiger - Healing Trauma

• Healing Trauma - A pioneering program for restoring the wisdom of your body healing trauma

Here is Peter's website and a description of all of his books.

Click here to view the Somatic Experiencing® Website. 

BOOKS BY DR. GABOR MATÉ

Vancouver based, and filled with SO much knowledge. If you don't read his work be sure to listen to him on podcasts or on YouTube.

• When the Body Says No - Exploring the Stress Disease Connection.

Here is a list of all of his books. 

BOOKS BY KATHY KAIN (co-wrote with other authors)

A big mentor of mine, especially when it comes to working with survival physiology through touch work. Not the easiest read if this work is new to you as her books are more geared towards practitioners but if you like reading... 

Nurturing Resilience - Helping Clients Move Forward from Developmental Trauma--An Integrative Somatic Approach by Kathy Kain and Stephen Terrell. 

The Tao of Trauma - A Practitioner's Guide for Integrating Five Element Theory and Trauma Treatment by Kathy Kain and Alaine D. Duncan.

BOOKS BY MOSHE FELDENKRAIS

Some more heavier reading yet so much good content if your brain is willing to take it in! 

To start I suggest checking this book out. It has some lessons where you can self explore and gives you a good sense of his work.

• Awareness Through Movement - Easy to Do Health Exercises to Improve Your Posture, Vision, Imagination, and Personal Awareness

Feel free to check out the Feldenkrais® website. (You will also be learning more as we continue with EXPAND).

NORMAN DOIDGE, M.D. 

• The Brain's Way of Healing - Remarkable Discoveries and Recoveries from the Frontiers of Neuroplasticity.

• The Brain That Changes Itself - Stories of Personal Triumph from the Frontiers of Brain Science. 

BESSEL VAN DER KOLK, M.D.

• The Body Keeps the Score - Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma.

LYNNE MCTAGGART

This book specifically inspired my desire to do group sessions. My suggestion is to listen to a podcast with her (see below) as the book is more about the science behind and experiments that were done to prove the power of intention. So if you're into that, read the book! If you're into the just behind what she discovered, start with the podcast :) 

• The Power of 8 - Harnessing the Miraculous Energies of a Small Group to Heal Others, Your Life, and the World

STANLEY ROSENBERG

I haven't read this yet. But have heard good things. I get the impression when I glance through it is that many of the exercises have similar "feels" to what we do here. 

• Accessing the Healing Power of the Vagus Nerve - Self-help exercises for anxiety, depression, trauma, and autism 

And if you're interested in taking things a bit more spiritual here are 2 of my fav's which I'm still constantly reflecting back to... 

JOHN PRENDERGAST, Ph D. 

• In Touch - How to Tune in to the Inner Guidance of Your Body and Trust Yourself

ELLEN GRACE O'BRIAN 

• The Jewel of Abundance - Finding Prosperity through the Ancient Wisdom of Yoga

This is one of my favourite ways to take in little tidbits of information. Give it to me while I'm driving, cleaning my house or wanting to chill (and avoid Netflix...)

I also find this is a good way to get a sense of what someone is about before reading their book. So below are a few podcasts that interview the authors that I mention above. 

ALANIS MORISSETTE (Yup. For real)

Believe it or not, she is a big believer in this type of work. So much so that she started a podcast a while ago interviewing people who contribute to this line of work. 

Here are some of my recommended episodes. 

• Episode 8: Conversation with Dr. Peter Levine

• Episode 21: Conversation with Dr. Gabor Maté

Plus there are many more great conversations to be heard! 

Access the links through iTunes, or search for her wherever you get your podcasts. 

• Here's a podcast with JOHN PRENDERGAST.

• Here's a podcast with KATHY KAIN.

• Here's a podcast with KATHY KAIN AND ALAINE D. DUNCAN.

• Here's a podcast with LYNNE MCTAGGART. 

• Here's a podcast by Justin Sunseri all about the Polyvagal Theory - STEPHEN PORGE'S work on the Autonomic Nervous System

I'll be adding to this list as we go on, but for now here are a few great videos/people to check out. 

IRENE LYON (a good friend, mentor and colleague) 

Here's a link to her YouTube channel. You could get lost for days in there... 

DR. GABOR MATÉ 

Just search his name. You can't go wrong. Seriously. 

That should be enough to get you started for now! 

Enjoy. And if you have any suggestions on books, podcasts or videos that are relevant to the content we are learning here, please feel free to share it in the Community Page!