These days, many individuals are seeking ways to be calm and in the present, appreciate their lives and develop practices to stay focused. The financial events over the past few years have provided a perfect opportunity to practice these tools. Mindfulness. According to mindfulness.org, “Mindfulness is the basic human ability to be fully present,… Read more »
If we look at the practice of meditation from a distance, we notice that this process of rebalancing our body, mind and spirit is something natural. In fact, it is the most natural process for us human beings to recharge and recover. It takes place every night while we sleep. We rest our mind and… Read more »
Over the past month, I have seen a surge of patients presenting with anxiety and/or depression in my practice. “I am so scared, scared to go out, scared to be home alone, scared of how I am going to pay my bills, and scared that my family members and friends could die in the next… Read more »
Do you meditate? If you’re like 80 percent of the people asked, your answer is, “I’ve tried it, but can’t make my mind stop.” This meditation myth and a few other common misunderstandings can keep you from learning this very valuable relaxation practice. Today, I’d like to share some good news with you. Meditation is… Read more »
These simply meditation practices work whether you are walking, hiking, riding a bike, or sitting. 1: Grounding & Opening Start by bringing your awareness to the soles of your feet. Visualize these energy centers opening and growing roots deep into the earth, going down and out to stabilize you. Then bring your awareness to the… Read more »
Not that long ago, the word “meditation” conjured up images of ascetics dwelling austerely in Himalayan caves. Today, just about every town in America has a yoga studio which typically offers some form of meditation practice. Until recently, however, no one really knew if meditation could offer consistent, practical benefits, or if it was merely… Read more »
Our military is well trained for the rigors of combat, but many veterans find themselves unprepared for the debilitating post traumatic stress many experience when they return home to their families. Coping with depression, anxiety, insomnia, and flashbacks of war experiences can be overwhelming. In January, Time magazine revealed that the number of male veterans… Read more »
Stalingrad 1942 was one of the most savage battles in military history. My father, a reluctant German infantry soldier (the other option would have been execution) was wounded and sent back from the front. That saved his life and for me, the guide of my life. He never talked about what it was like. Except… Read more »
We know that stress can be detrimental to adult health, but what about children? Significant research now suggests that American children are indeed experiencing stress at new levels: suicides among adolescents have quadrupled since the 1950s; only 36 percent of 7th graders agreed with the statement “I am happy with my life“; and in the… Read more »
I had only heard of Transcendental Meditation™ (TM®) in the George Strait song “All My Ex’s Live in Texas.” Because of these circumstances, he lived in Tennessee, and through transcendental meditation he would return to Texas each night. “But I always come back to myself, long before daylight.” From this country classic, I always thought… Read more »
We are avid enthusiasts of our valley’s mineral hot springs for the many health benefits they deliver. Our very first edition of Desert Health in 2011 featured the second annual Miracle Hill Spa Tour, and in 2023, we published a special insert, “Hidden Gems of Desert Hot Springs.” Miracle Hill is where you’ll find the… Read more »
The New Year offers a time to reflect on what we’ve learned and imagine what’s ahead. This time of year, we traditionally make our annual resolutions to counteract the “bad” we have done and make corrections so we can be good. But unfortunately, less than 10% of us continue those resolutions past the second Friday… Read more »
A recent theme I posted, “Master Your Energy,” has sparked a lot of conversation about what true energetic alignment really means. Many of us have been out of alignment for so long that it almost feels natural, but alignment is actually our original state. It’s where our energy flows with ease, our decisions feel authentic,… Read more »
Your digestive system is like a food-processing machine. After all, it is responsible for breaking down your meals, absorbing nutrients and eliminating waste. It’s home to trillions of microorganisms; it contains its own nervous system and communicates directly with your immune system, metabolism and your brain. That’s why it is so important to look after… Read more »
Every year holiday joy permeates the air. Festive spirits inspire spreading more light to loved ones, friends, communities and to the world at large. I believe it’s possible to be joy-full all year long with help from several introspective insights. The word simcha in Hebrew is defined as “happiness” or “joy.” The term is used… Read more »
Ikigai (“ee-kee-guy”) is not a newly coined word, but rather a philosophy firmly established in Japanese culture. The term comes from the ancient Japanese language (dating back to the Heian period), where “iki” means life, and “gai” means “value,” translating to “reason for being” or “value in life.” It was in the late 20th century… Read more »
The holiday season asks a lot of us. Between family gatherings, social obligations, gift shopping, year-end work deadlines, and the kids’/grandkids’ school activities, it’s easy to feel you’re being pulled in a dozen different directions at once. What if, instead of white-knuckling your way through, you had an anchor—something that kept you grounded no matter… Read more »
As the days grow shorter and the nights longer, many people notice a subtle, or sometimes dramatic, shift in mood, motivation and energy. For some, these winter blues deepen into a clinical pattern known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) — a recurrent depressive episode that begins in late fall and lifts by spring. Symptoms often… Read more »
Imagine living a life with the potential to harness hardships, neutralize suffering and transform adversity into the silver lining of life. The pearl-producing oyster does just that and provides a lesson for us all. We are more similar than we know to the soft, tender, vulnerable mollusk. We are also made up of a multitude… Read more »
Attending a retreat has always intrigued me. The mystique of their locations in remote jungles or foreign coastal towns was the greatest attraction, as was the thought of escaping to a faraway land alone. But then reality always set in, and the thought of spending time and money in an exotic destination without my significant… Read more »