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 »
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 »
Burnout is no longer just a workplace buzzword. It’s a full-blown public health crisis. Whether you’re a professional, caregiver or volunteer, the emotional toll of constant responsibility can quietly erode your energy, empathy and sense of purpose. Originally coined in the 1940s to describe engine failure, “burnout” now captures the human experience of emotional and… Read more »
When we talk about “getting back to our roots,” we often think of visiting the places we grew up, cooking a family recipe or reconnecting with people from our past. But roots are more than memories. They are the living threads—people, places, foods and rituals—that continue to nourish us and give our lives meaning. Like… Read more »
As the pace of life quickens and the noise grows louder, more of us are being called to find something deeper, more grounding, more real. But what is that? For some, that’s prayer. For others, it’s meditation. But what’s the difference between the two? And why do they both matter? As a child I was… Read more »
Remember when carefree summer days were all about living in the moment? No school, no work, no worries. Waking up to sunshine, a smile and the excitement of what the day would bring! Then adulthood set in. We hope our summer edition helps lighten the load and bring you back to those days by adding… Read more »
A retreat is an intentional pause from the busyness and noise of everyday life—a sacred stepping away to reconnect with yourself on a deeper level. It’s a space where you can rest, reflect, and realign with what matters most. Whether nestled in nature or created at home, a retreat offers the opportunity to quiet the… Read more »
Welcome to our best time of year! Our clear desert skies are blue, the mountains shine in copper and gold and the crisp air brings calm with every deep breath. It’s a welcome sight in what has already felt like an overwhelming year. Have you found yourself dwelling on negative thoughts? With this year’s many… Read more »