Child development and parenting expert Maureen Healy – who also has a background in Buddhist psychology – offers advice and real-life examples to help parents do just that in her new book “Growing Happy Kids: How to Foster Inner Confidence, Success and Happiness.”

Divided into three sections, the book explains the importance of feeling confidence within, rather than relying on outside influences, and how to raise your child in this manner. It explores both inner and outer confidence, and the stages of confidence as they relate to children; explains what the author calls “the five building blocks of confidence” and how to implement them; offers advice on what to do when confidence breaks; and gives real-life examples from both the author’s life and from working with clients.

“Arming your children with this type of inner confidence will enable them to pursue their happiest lives, make choices from a place of power, and create whatever their hearts desire,” says Healy in the book. “Every parent wants his or her child to be happy and to live the best life. As you’ll soon discover, this is only possible with inner confidence.”

First-time filmmaker Norm Hacker examines topics like food, stress, environmental toxicity and the power of the mind. The DVD features experts like Bernie Siegel, MD; Seventh Generation co-founder Jeffrey Hollender; best-selling author John Gray; cancer survivor Susan Ryan Jordan (mother of actress Meg Ryan); and more.

It’s available for viewing via an instant download, or you can order the DVD. There is also a meditation CD available.

Learn to take charge of your mind and body, and to heal yourself.

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 35 minutes

Servings: 8

INGREDIENTS

1/4 cup(s) of of vegetable oil
1 cup(s) of raw organic sugar
2 tsp. of vanilla
2 1/4 cup(s) of oat flour
1 tsp. of baking soda
1/2 tsp. of salt
1 cup(s) of dark chocolate chips
3/4 cup(s) of mashed overripe banana (≈1 large banana)

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine all ingredients in a medium sized bowl. On a non-stick cookie sheet (or line a cookie sheet with parchment paper), scoop batter with a medium sized ice cream scoop. Space cookies evenly on the baking sheet, and bake for 35 minutes. Be sure to rotate halfway through.

Cookies should have a slightly brown edge and come out clean when poked with a toothpick.

Whether its limiting fat, refined foods, salt and sugar; looking for detoxifying treatments and medical/nutritional counseling; or incorporating stress-relieving acts, such as meditation and yoga, these spas offer a variety for the mind, body and spirit.

UNITED STATES

Canyon Ranch Tucson
Set in the desert, guests can hike, partake in daily fitness options, and participate in wellness services, including medical testing and consultations with physicians. Also, The Life Enhancement Center (LEC) at the resort — a stand-alone facility for up to 40 guests — is an expertly-staffed spa within the spa that offers special programs including brain fitness and weight loss weeks, according to the Fox News report. Looking for an individualized detox program? The center’s Food Development Department will create customized menus depending on your needs!

Golden Door, Escondido, Calif.
With room for just 40 guests, this Japanese-style spa offers customized programs with a focus on fitness, relaxation, life transitions, empowerment, achieving goals, or being balanced in body, mind and spirit, Fox News reported. Also, Dr. Wendy Bazilian, the resident Nutrition Advisor, creates customized and safe detox programs, while the spa offers detoxifying herbal wraps.

Pritikin Longevity Center + Spa, Miami, Fla.
This spa offers health and weight loss programs focused on the return to eating clean and fresh foods, such as roasted lobster, grilled bison and penne pasta, Fox News reported. The facility offers 10 board-certified physicians offering consultations and medical assessments, as well as daily educational programs such as cooking and grocery shopping classes. There are also indoor and outdoor pools, fitness classes, golf and tennis to keep guest active and busy – and of course, spa services!

Red Mountain Resort, Ivins, Utah
Red Mountain Resort is located just a two hour drive from Las Vegas, and offers 28-day detox programs, such as “Body in Balance Detox” (starting at $300 per day, per person), and designed to rid the body of environmental toxins and inflammation, according to Fox News. It features gluten-free meals, a nutrition assessment, lymphatic drainage, acupuncture, Ultraclear smoothies, morning hikes and more, the report stated.

CANADA

Spa Eastman, Eastman (Quebec) Canada
Two hours east of Montreal guests can hike wooded trails, exercise, enjoy spa treatments, and eat healthy organic meals. Programs and packages include the seven-day immersion raw food cure and vacation; weight loss retreats; and meditation workshops, Fox News reported.

Broccoli with Sauted Carrots

Makes: 4 servings
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes

Ingredients

1 medium bunch broccoli
2 large carrots
2 tsp. olive oil
½ tsp fresh thyme
¼ tsp. onion powder
½ tsp sea salt
1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper
1 tsp. fresh parsley
¼ tsp. turmeric

Trim the broccoli into small pieces or florets. Peel and slice the carrot on a bias to form 1/4 inch oval thick pieces. Bring a small pot of water to a boil. Blanch the broccoli in the boiling water for 2-3 minutes.

In a sauté pan, add the olive oil and heat over medium to high heat. Saute the carrots in olive oil for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the blanched broccoli and all spices and herbs.

Saute for 2 more minutes or until the carrots are tender.

Tan worked with nine experts to put the course together and the class has three steps – attention training; self-knowledge and self-mastery; and the creation of useful mental habits, according to the NY Times report.

So far, more than 1,000 Google employees have taken the course, and there is a waiting list of 30 people for the next time its offered, the report stated. Each class takes 60 people, and it runs for seven weeks, four times per year.

“I’m definitely much more resilient as a leader,” Richard Fernandez, director of executive development and a psychologist by training told the newspaper about taking the course. “I listen more carefully and with less reactivity in high-stakes meetings. I work with a lot of senior executives who can be very demanding, but that doesn’t faze me anymore. It’s almost an emotional and mental bank account. I’ve now got much more of a buffer there.”

Additionally, in anonymous reviews, Tan told The New York Times that on average, participants rate the course approximately 4.75 out of a possible 5.

“Awareness is spread almost entirely by word-of-mouth by alumni, and that alone already created more demand than we can currently serve,” Tan told the newspaper.

Tan’s first book, “Search Inside Yourself: The Unexpected Path to Achieving Success and Happiness (and World Peace)”, is available now.

We always try to buy organic products when possible, and instead of white pasta, we choose Ancient Harvest Quinoa pasta!

Spinach Minestrone

8 servings
Prep Time:  20 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients

1 large onion, chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
4 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth (use vegetable broth if you don’t eat meat)
1 can (16-ounces) kidney beans rinsed and drained (we use Eden brand)
1 can (14 ½ ounces) no salt added diced tomatoes, undrained
2 medium carrots, sliced
½ cup uncooked elbow macaroni (we use Ancient Harvest Quinoa pasta)
¼ teaspoon dried oregano
1 package (10 ounces) frozen chopped spinach, thawed

Directions:

In a large saucepan coated with olive oil, sauté onion and garlic until tender. Add the broth, kidney beans, tomatoes, carrots, macaroni and oregano. Cook until vegetables and macaroni are tender, about 20 minutes.

Stir in spinach; bring to a boil. Remove it from heat, and let it stand for 5 to 10 minutes.

Enjoy!

“I have been practicing Transcendental Meditation (or “TM”) for nearly three years. About six months ago, I decided to offer the technique to everyone on my team at The Dr. Oz Show,” Oz said in a recent video statement. “I had seen the extensive research documenting its benefits—and have also seen so many people who I admire and respect incorporate Transcendental Meditation into their own lives and share it with the people that they care for.”

After the first 20 people on his staff learned to meditate, he said he began getting amazing feedback via email. “The first thing I noticed was a change in the tone and the texture of the dialogue—away from dwelling on problems towards a much more thoughtful, insightful, clever way of solving problems. Instead of highlighting the issues that were separating us, my team was deriving bliss and joy from finding solutions,” he said.

He also explained the scientific research behind the meditation method, which shows the technique can reduce blood pressure and cholesterol, and that “is the tip of the iceberg,” he said.

“You know as well as I do: Any business is what it is because of the people who work there. Why not take people who are working at 80 percent, 60 percent, 30 percent of their potential and take them all to 99 percent of their potential. I think that’s what true success feels like,” said Dr. Oz, explaining that is what TM can do for a company.

“It’s a powerful tool to turbo-charge the people in your organization and, I believe quite strongly, you would be very wise to give it a try.”

Researchers found both primary care practitioners and their patients believed care was improved after the training, and the findings are published online in the journal “Academic Medicine,” Psychcentral.com reported.

“Programs focused on personal awareness and self-development are only part of the solution,” the researchers said. “Our health care delivery systems must implement systematic change at the practice level to create an environment that supports mindful practice, encourages transparent and clear communication among clinicians, staff, patients, and families and reduces professional isolation.”

The researchers conducted in-depth interviews with 20 of the physicians who participated in the mindfulness-training program.

The findings in the new study include:

• Sixty percent reported learning mindfulness skills improved their capacity to listen more attentively and respond more effectively to others at work and home.
• More than half of the participants acknowledged having increased self-awareness and better ability to respond non-judgmentally during personal or professional conversations.
• Seventy percent placed a high value on the mindfulness course having an organized, structured and well-defined curriculum with time and space to pause and reflect.

The researchers developed and implemented required mindful practice curricula for medical students and residents at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, and are also studying the effects of an intensive, four-day residential course for physicians, according to the report.

“I make sure I do half an hour of yoga in the morning so that then I’m feeling good,” she said. “Health is really wealth I think.”

She also practices meditation to relieve stress throughout the day, also practiced by her husband, actor Orlando Bloom. “If I’m in the car on the way to work or if I’m on the plane on the way to a job I’ll do a meditation,” she said in the article.

Bloom and Kerr practice a form of Buddhism, and Kerr explained that inner peace and inner beauty are very important to her. “I don’t like to talk too much about it, but what I will say is that it is very grounding and really centering,” she said.

On a recent blog post at her Kora Organics Web site, she revealed that she follows Dr. John D’Adamo’s blood type diet (she is Type A) and eats a low glycemic index, high alkaline food diet. She also drinks filtered water and eats mostly fresh produce and very little meat.

She also shared a list of some of her favorite supplements, including Grant’s Liquid Chlorophyll, Tahitian Noni Juice, and Spirulina.

Vegetable Tofu Scramble

Makes: 4 servings
Prep time: 25 minutes
Cook time: 12 minutes

Ingredients

1 (14-ounce) package firm tofu
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 cup finely chopped shallots
1/2 cup diced red bell pepper (about 1/2 medium pepper)
1 cup roughly chopped shiitake mushrooms (about 6 medium mushrooms)
1/2 cup diced tomato
1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 teaspoons minced oregano
12 chives, snipped into small pieces

Directions:
Cut the tofu into 2 equal pieces. Slice each piece in half, horizontally, making a total of 4 slices. Press and drain the tofu by placing the slices in a single layer on a shallow dish or tray with paper towels underneath and on top of the tofu. Place another dish or tray on top the tofu and weight it down with several cans of food or a heavy skillet. Refrigerate for at least 15 to 20 minutes.

Cut the tofu into small cubes. Heat the extra-virgin olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add shallots and red pepper and cook, stirring for 3 minutes. Stir in the mushrooms, tomato, garlic, 1/2 teaspoon of the salt, and the pepper. Cook for 3 minutes. Increase the heat to medium-high and stir in the tofu, oregano, and remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt.

Cook for 4 to 5 minutes, until the tofu has browned. Transfer to a plate and sprinkle with the chives.

Elevated Existence recently heard best-selling author Gregg Braden speak during a teleseminar series called “Healing With the Masters,” where he discussed the changes occurring in our world today, the concepts in his newest book “Deep Truth: Igniting the Memory of Our Origin, History, Destiny and Fate,” and what we as individuals can do to navigate this new world emerging before our eyes.

“The best minds of our time are telling us in no uncertain terms that we are experiencing very unique times,” he said, explaining we see the changes in the economy, climate, jobs and more. “Experts are telling us we are facing the greatest number of crises in the past 5,000 years.”

However, Braden questions whether these changes are truly “crisis” or are actually transformation? It all comes down to perception and the way we think about the world, ourselves and our connection to one another.

“When we begin looking at why so many systems are collapsing and breaking, we realize the ones that are breaking are the ones no longer sustainable in the presence of the changing world,” he said in the teleseminar. More importantly, it is the way we have chosen to live our lives that has led to the collapsing of these systems, and much of it is based on beliefs and teachings we have been told – many of which science is now proving to be false, he explained.

“There are many false assumptions science has made about our relationship to the world that are deeply engrained into the way we live our lives,” he noted, explaining the basis for his book “Deep Truth” is to unearth these new scientific discoveries not yet making it into the mainstream. “When we embrace these new discoveries, it changes the way we view the world and how we relate to it.”

We need to understand that we are all deeply connected and enmeshed with the natural world – not separate from it – and we need to look to cooperation and natural aid, rather than war to solve our problems, said Braden.

“The best science of our time is telling us there is a field of energy that connects all living things on earth,” he said. “We are linked via this magnetic field.”

New Discoveries
One of the biggest new discoveries is Charles Darwin’s theory of survival of the fittest was wrong. Darwin based his observations on what he saw in only some parts of the world, and made the assumption that it was true everywhere, Braden explained.

“This one idea is so deeply rooted into the civilization and economic cycle and the way we do business today,” he said. “This thinking led to some of the greatest genocides of the 20^th century. Hitler paraphrased Darwin’s work and justified eliminating what he believed to be inferior members.”

This view of life breeds completion. More than 400 peer-reviewed studies in the 20^th century reviewed Darwin’s idea to discover what the optimum amount of competition was for any environment – whether a classroom, playing field of family – and the conclusion was zero.

“They discovered competition always hurts the individual and the community, and that nature is based on mutual aid and not competition. When we say competition, we are talking about violent competition, where one person, group or community benefits at the expense of another by exploiting the weaknesses of the other,” Braden explained.

He used the human body as an example, saying it is made up of 50 trillion communities of cells that work in cooperation. If they don’t work together, the body breaks down and becomes disease. “We don’t see every cell fighting for themselves,” he said.

Other false assumptions include:
- Civilization is only about 5,000 years old. Peer-reviewed scientific data shows civilization is actually twice as old in places like Peru, Turkey and Egypt. In Turkey, science discovered modern advanced civilization dates back 11,500 years. “The 5,000 years that we are taught is the history of the world forever is actually only the history of the last cycle,” Braden said.

- Consciousness is something separate from our physical world. Some of the best minds in science are telling us “nothing can be farther from the truth,” said Braden.

- The space between things is empty. “There is a lot of energy in the universe that doesn’t conform to what our equipment is looking for, and just because our machines and devices can’t detect it, doesn’t mean its not there,” he said.

Dealing With “Now”
After discovering life did exist beyond the 5,000 years we were taught in history books, these ancient civilizations have been studied. One of the main truths found in all of them was that there was no evidence of weapons or large-scale war. There was not even a need to protect cities with homes or walls, said Braden.

“Archeologist and anthropologists are suspecting now that what we were taught – that war is a natural part of human nature – is not who we are,” he noted. “War is not nature. The first examples of war begin when we believe civilization began – 5000 years ago.”

Before our time, it was known as “The Golden Age” and a time of peace, he said. Archeological evidence is now discovering that civilizations before us knew we would enter “a dark cycle and a cycle of war.” The question now is – do we perpetuate the 5,000-year cycle of war or do we “recognize the deep truths” and make changes?

“Those who are clinging to the ways of life in the past, and clinging to the systems, hoping the changes we see in the world today are just a speed bump in the way of life – those are the people having the most difficult time right now,” he said. “The world changed while we were looking, and nobody told us. The reality of the world we knew in the past no longer exists.”

However, the good news is there is a way of thinking that we can adapt to help us navigate and adapt to the new world. We can make a subtle shift that changes everything, said Braden.

“We have all been led to believe – through false assumptions – that life is a struggle, we live in a dog eat dog world, and we need to struggle for our piece of the pie. The question we always ask ourselves – consciously or unconsciously is ‘what can I get from the world that exists?’ But if we can make the subtle shift from asking ‘what can I get?’ to ‘what can I offer to this new world that is being birthed?’ – that can open the door to new answers, new jobs and new possibilities of abundance.”

What if as individuals, we began to look within to our inborn talents, and begin using them to give back and make a difference in some way rather than expecting the world to give back to us? ”It’s a subtle and very powerful shift,” said Braden.

I’ll admit, I was new to Carr’s work, but was intrigued by eating an anti-inflammatory diet. I have suffered from chronic sinus inflammation for more than 10 years, and was getting tired of the antihistamines. (I’m sure many of you can feel my pain!) Also, I had recently read “Ultra-Prevention: The Six-Week Plan That Will Make Your Healthy for Life,” by Mark Hyman, M.D. and Mark Liponis, M.D., which recommends a more plant-based diet for easing inflammation and better overall health.

So I attended the workshop (read all about it in our June 2012 issue out soon!) and became inspired. Carr is a wonderful, living example for what she teaches, and as someone living with what the doctor’s call an incurable cancer, I applaud her for taking healing into her own hands – and sharing what she has learned to help others! It’s been 10 years since was diagnosed, and her cancer has not progressed at all! BRAVO!

What inspired me was her complete self-care plan, which includes physical, emotional and spiritual health. Our June article will go into more depth, but I wanted to share the small changes I am making in my diet in hopes that I will inspire you to do the same!

One of the things I love about Carr is she is NOT an all or nothing girl! She is vegan, eating an 80 percent plant-based, gluten-free diet, but encourages people to “lean into” a healthier diet. For example, start by adopting a 50/50 plan – 50 percent of every plate of food is vegetables, and the other 50 percent is dedicated to a grains, meat, tofu, etc. (and the meat amount shouldn’t be bigger than a deck of cards if you choose that option). Also, incorporate what she calls “green juice” into your daily routine (more about that below!)

So far, here are the changes I have made:

-      Dairy is the first thing I decided to eliminate since I suffer from chronic sinus inflammation. Dairy contributes to this, as well as creating excess mucus in the body. I already drink almond milk, so it was really just cutting out cheese, butter, etc.

-      Since meat has always been part of my diet (I grew up in an Italian, meatball-loving family), I decided to start slow. I’m eliminating red meat, and only eating chicken, turkey or fish no more than once per day (eventually cutting down to a couple times per week.)

-      I’ve added a PB8 probiotic supplement to my daily routine. (I also take a multi-vitamin; vitamin D3; Omega 3; vitamin C; and Calcium Magnesium supplements daily. I’m a big fan of Andrew Lessman’s vitamins)

-      Incorporating more vegetables into every meal.

-      Significantly cut down on sugar and chocolate (thank goodness those Cadbury Crème Eggs are off the shelves!)

-      I bought a brand-new Breville juicer (thank you Bed, Bath & Beyond for your 20-percent-off coupons that never expire), and am drinking at least 8 ounces of green juice every morning. (Carr recommends 16 ounces per day, and I’m going to build up to that. But I’m starting slow!)

Now a quick word on the green juice — A basic recipe using a juicer (which is different than a blender) is a combination of the following: cucumber, celery, spinach, kale, romaine lettuce, green apple and lemon – and there are many variations on it. Carr advises in her book “Crazy Sexy Diet,” if your stomach tends to be sensitive, you can start with straight up cucumber juice, and then gradually add other ingredients that might be harder to digest. I started with cucumber one day, then added celery and green apple to that, and then I recently started adding a handful of spinach.

Well so far – I’ve cut down on antihistamines (about every other day from daily), and I’m feeling really good about doing something for myself and my body – or what Carr called the “God Pod.” And as of writing this blog, it’s only been one week!

I highly recommend her book “Crazy Sexy Diet” if this blog is at all interesting to you. She offers so many brand-name recommendations for replacing gluten, wheat and dairy products, as well as recipes and a wealth of information about the things we put into our body. She also offers detox tips, such as dry brushing the skin daily!

And be sure to check out her Web site, www.crazysexylife.com for more advice, recipes and tips!

Here’s to living a healthy, inflammation-free life! Thanks for the inspiration Kris!

Tammy Mastroberte
Founder, Publisher & Editorial Director
Elevated Existence Magazine
www.elevatedexistence.com

“Just as our dietary choices should be influenced by seasonal changes – more fruit in summer, for example, and more root vegetables in winter – so should our choices of dietary supplements and natural remedies,” said Dr. Weil.  ”Our unique Seasonal Therapeutics program makes it easy, providing patients with formulations tailored to the particular needs of their body in each season of the year.”

To launch this initiative, the company is offering a Seasonal Therapeutics seminar series for health care practitioners that use an evidence-based, nature-oriented, seasonal approach to wellness. This series will be presented by a pioneer in the field of integrative medicine, Dr. Tieraona Low Dog, Fellowship Director at the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine, and author of National Geographic’s “Life is Your Best Medicine.” The first seminar of this series, Autumn: Strategies for Optimal Health, will begin on Aug. 25, 2012 in Boston, Mass.

Seasonal Therapeutics focuses on achieving emotional wellness through lifestyle, behavioral and dietary changes based on an array of holistic and modern therapies and the time of year.

“We feel that there is a missing piece in health care, that it’s not just about what dietary changes or nutritional supplements to recommend, but also when to recommend them,” said Dr. Adam Killpatrick, newly appointed director of product development of Innate Response Formulas. “We are incredibly passionate about education and thrilled to be able to work with Dr. Weil and Dr. Low Dog to share this powerful message. Our aim is to empower practitioners with outstanding programs and products so they can better serve their patients and change lives.”

For more information on Innate Response Formulas/Weil events please visit www.seasonaltherapeutics.com.

“We want to offer another medium to attract more people to the Hay House message,” said Hay House CEO Reid Tracy. “The ways in which people learn has grown with technology, and Hay House is now growing to fit that need.”

The company is releasing its first four films on DVD May 1, 2012, and will also hold private screenings, and release apps and online streaming. The DVDs will be available for purchase exclusively via Hay House at www.hayhouse.com.

The four films are:

– Painting the Future is inspired by the writings of Louise L. Hay, and reveals how the thoughts we choose create the life we live. An unlikely friendship is formed between a bitter painter who has lost his sight, and a sweet Hispanic girl, his 9 year-old neighbor, who is determined to save up for her Quincinera dress. View the trailer now at: http://tinyurl.com/7o7fonm

– My Greatest Teacher is based on a true story by best-selling author Dr. Wayne Dyer, and is the story of one man’s life-long quest to find the father he never knew and resolve years of resentment he has held inside. The film is a drama that explores the transformational power of forgiveness. See video below to watch the trailer.

– Magic Hand of Chance is based on the common underlying theme of Louise Hay and Wayne Dyer writings. It’s filmed in Vienna against the backdrop of a travelling Russian circus, and is the true story of a clumsy magician whose life is turned around when two clowns trick him into thinking he has received the highest honor by a fictitious Magicians Society in America. Because he starts to believe he is great…he ultimately becomes great. View the trailer: http://tinyurl.com/7dlt8cw

– Entanglement is based on the writings of best-selling author and visionary Gregg Braden. It is an intense, sci-fi thriller about a science teacher confronted by a former student who believes he has a psychic connection with his twin brother. The film explores the possibility of quantum entanglement and our connection to “The Divine Matrix.” View the trailer now at: http://tinyurl.com/84tku2t

View the trailer for “My Greatest Teacher,” below:

1.      Lotus Bud Meditation Timer – Not only does it offer a timer, but it tracks all of your meditations sessions, lets you build more complex sessions and tracks your goals. $1.99

2.      Mind – Drag the slider to the number of minutes you want to meditate, and the last timer set becomes the default. Simple and FREE!

3.      Minimalist Timer – This features an autostart timer, a zero-touch timer, and can beep or vibrate. FREE!

4.      Serenity: A Meditation Timer – For the iPhone and iPad, users can choose from a meditation time in 5 minute increments up to 60 minutes. There are also five background meditation sounds including brown noise, pink noise, stream, surf or white noise, and also seven end of meditation sounds, including chime, Chinese guitar, deep gong, gong, harp, Tibetan bowl or tubular bell. $0.99

5.     Repeat Timer Pro – This offers three independent timers with custom labels, and 26 quality alerts, including 11 humorous sounds. $1.99

“I have taken the most important concept from “Wishes Fulfilled,” and created this children’s book,” said Dr. Dyer. “The concept is that God is not separate from us but is actually an energy living inside of us. Once we become aware of this energy, we can help it grow and expand, ad bring happiness to ourselves and others.”

The book uses rhyme and illustrations by Stacy Heller Budnick, as well as a special section at the end to teach the meaning of the words “I Am,” and how to use them to create love and happiness.

“I named this book “I AM” because of the incredibly powerful meaning of those two words,” said Dyer. “How we finish the sentence that begins with “I am” makes all the difference in the life we create for ourselves and how close or how far we are from the part of us that is God.”

Researchers from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University studied 65 elderly participants from Hong Kong, of which 29 were recruited from local tai chi clubs and practiced tai chi for 90 minutes a week over a period of three years, according to the report. Those who practiced the technique, which includes deep breathing combined with gentle movements, showed the following:

• significant improvement in knee muscle strength
• improvement in the expansion and contraction of the arteries (known as arterial compliance), which helps prevent cardiovascular disease
• seniors in the study who didn’t practice had a 44 percent higher risk of heart disease than those who did

“This is the first study to investigate the possible effects of tai chi on arterial compliance by comparing older tai chi practitioners with non-practitioners similar in age and activity level,” said researcher Dr. William Tsang in the NY Daily News report. “The improvement in arterial compliance could have resulted from a combination of aerobic training, stretching, mental concentration and calm meditation during tai chi movement.”

Well, we found one that offers a new twist – it also diffuses essential oils. Standing 8 to 10 inches tall, the lamp includes a bulb, cord assembly and the aroma oil reservoir.

It’s available from www.spiritualquest.com at $44.90.

The free version of the app transforms Ilchi’s words into an interactive multimedia experience, allowing users to make the spirit of Sedona part of their daily lives. It combines multimedia features and inspiration from the book offering a meditation guide full of images, music, videos, interviews and more.

The free version of The Call of Sedona app is available for download in both the iTunes App Store and Android Market. Some of the more predominant features of the app include: a Bell Rock audio guided meditation; 12 inspiring quotes taken from The Call of Sedona book; a video reading of a poem from the book; three Sedona scenery videos (including a Sedona night sky time lapse); and two video interviews with author Ilchi Lee.

“The reason that I spent 16 years working with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to achieve Medicare coverage for our program is that I knew that most insurance companies follow Medicare’s lead,” said Ornish in the report. “In other words, if Medicare covered our program, most other insurance companies would, as well. Reimbursement as well as science are primary determinants of medical practice. If it’s not reimbursable, it’s not sustainable.”

The Ornish program, which teaches a plant-based, meatless diet, meditation and regular exercise, is the only program scientifically proven to reverse heart disease currently offered in hospitals, clinics and physicians offices the Medicare and other private insurance companies are covering. Hospitals can now bill Medicare for their patient’s yoga and group discussion sessions, according to the report.

Additionally, overall adherence to the program has been 85 to 90 percent, after one year in hospitals and clinics that have offered it.

Helping patients make these lifestyle changes costs Medicare about $70 per hour, and patients can receive up to 72 one-hour sessions, according to the CNN.com report.

For more information on who qualifies for coverage, visit the Preventative Medicine Research Institute.

Well, we found the brand 100 Percent Pure, which offers cosmetics and skincare, and one of our most favorite mascaras in the world – especially for lengthening – is the 100 Percent Pure Black Tea Mascara.

There are no synthetic chemicals, artificial fragrances, petro chemicals, chemical preservatives, or any other toxins in any of the 100 Percent Pure products, and the mascara is pigmented with Black Tea or fruit pigments. It also includes ingredients like organic green tea and vitamin E.

The Black (our favorite) uses black tea; Blackberry is a shimmery black plum; Blueberry is a shimmery blue black; and Dark Chocolate is a shimmery black brown.

Right now, every order of $75 or more receives a Black Tea Mascara free! For more information, visit www.100percentpure.com.

“Yoga may serve a preventive role in adolescent mental health,” according to the new study, led by Jessica Noggle, PhD, of Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston.

Based on Kripalu yoga, the classes for the study consisted of physical yoga postures together with breathing exercises, relaxation and meditation. A total of 51 11th- and 12th-grade students registered for physical education (PE) at a Massachusetts high school and were randomly assigned to yoga or regular PE classes, with two-thirds assigned to yoga.

The students completed a battery of psychosocial tests, including tests of mood and tension/anxiety, before and after the 10-week yoga program. Both groups completed tests assessing the development of self-regulatory skills—such as resilience, control of anger expression, and mindfulness—thought to protect against the development of mental health problems.

Teens taking yoga classes had better scores on several of the psychological tests. Specifically, students in regular PE classes tended to have increased scores for mood problems and anxiety, compared to those taking yoga classes who stayed the same or showed improvement.

Furthermore, negative emotions also worsened in students taking regular PE, while improving in those taking yoga.

Also, for the first time ever, Omega plans to broadcast live from the Women & Happiness workshop, so people around the world can watch for free online as renowned author Brené Brown presents “The Anatomy of Joy.”

Omega NYC begins Friday evening at 8:00 p.m. with a keynote talk, “With An Open Heart,” by Elizabeth Lesser, author of “Broken Open” and co-founder of Omega, as well as a special performance by musician David Wilcox.

Participants at Omega NYC dive deeper on Saturday and Sunday, when they can choose from one of seven in-depth workshops:

- Women and Happiness: The Give & Take of Finding Joy: Elizabeth Lesser, Carla Goldstein, Geneen Roth, Brené Brown*, Loung Ung, Gretchen Steidle Wallace, and Leslie Salmon Jones

- Loving What Is: Byron Katie

- Touching the Unseen World: Discovering Your Spiritual Self: James Van Praagh

- Energy Medicine: A Hands-On Workshop: Donna Eden and David Feinstein

- Breaking Through the Shadow of Fear: Debbie Ford

- Crazy Sexy Life: Creating a Daily Self-Care Game Plan: Kris Carr and Nicolas Ortner

- Meditation Skills for Life: Sharon Salzberg

To sign up for the live online event, featuring Brené Brown’s “The Anatomy of Joy,” or to register for a workshop, visit www.eOmega.org/nyc.

“After doing yoga, I feel alive and awakened,” Simmons told WWD. “I want to give people that feeling or to teach people who want to learn more about yoga. I see yoga studios starting to grow and yoga classes getting more crowded. I see [yoga] brands continuing to grow. I’m doing this because of my passion for yoga not because I’m that kind of business guy.”

After its release in department stores, specialty stores, health clubs and spas this fall, Simmons plans to open Tantris stores, yoga studios, juice bars and even a vegan restaurant, the website reported.

The study, designed to create new techniques to reduce destructive emotions while improving social and emotional behavior, is published in the April issue of the journal “Emotion.”

“The findings suggest that increased awareness of mental processes can influence emotional behavior,” said lead author Margaret Kemeny, PhD, director of the Health Psychology Program in UCSF’s Department of Psychiatry in the ScienceDaily.com report. “The study is particularly important because opportunities for reflection and contemplation seem to be fading in our fast-paced, technology-driven culture.”

A total of 82 female schoolteachers between the ages of 25 and 60 participated in the project and were chosen because their work is stressful and the meditation skills they learned could be immediately useful to their daily lives, possibly trickling down to benefit their students, according to the report.

The study began after a meeting with USCF emeritus professor and world expert in emotions, Paul Ekman, PhD, met with the Dalai Lama at his home, along with other Buddhist scholars and behavioral scientists.

The Dalai Lama to posed the question: In the modern world, would a secular version of Buddhist contemplation reduce harmful emotions? Ekman and Buddhist scholar Alan Wallace then developed a 42-hour, eight-week training program, integrating secular meditation practices with techniques learned from the scientific study of emotion.

The program incorporated concentration practices involving sustained, focused attention on a specific mental or sensory experience; mindfulness practices involving the close examination of one’s body and feelings; and directive practices designed to promote empathy and compassion toward others, according to the report.

In the randomized, controlled trial, the schoolteachers learned to better understand the relationship between emotion and cognition, and to better recognize emotions in others, along with their own emotional patterns so they could better resolve difficult problems in their relationships, the report stated.

“We wanted to test whether the intervention affected both personal well-being as well as behavior that would affect the well-being of their intimate partners,” Kemeny said in the report.

The prize will be awarded at St Paul’s Cathedral in London on May 14.

“When I heard today your decision to give me this quite famous award, I really felt this is another sign of recognition about my little service to humanity, mainly, nonviolence and unity around different religious traditions,” the Dalai Lama said in a released statement. “Whenever we face a problem we have to find a nonviolent way to solve that problem.  Use violence, rely on force cannot solve the problem. That is my fundamental belief.”

For decades, the Dalai Lama – a lineage believed by followers to be the reincarnation of an ancient Buddhist leader who epitomized compassion – has vigorously focused on the connections between the investigative traditions of science and Buddhism as a way to better understand and advance what both disciplines might offer the world, the foundation reported.

Specifically, he encourages serious scientific investigative reviews of the power of compassion and its broad potential to address the world’s fundamental problems – a theme at the core of his teachings and a cornerstone of his immense popularity. Within that search, the “big questions” he raises – such as “Can compassion be trained or taught?” – reflect the deep interest of the founder of the Templeton Prize, the late Sir John Templeton, in seeking to bring scientific methods to the study of spiritual claims and thus foster the spiritual progress that the Prize has recognized for the past 40 years.

The Dalai Lama also won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989.

While he said he was both proud and happy to receive the Templeton Prize, he also said he is “a simple Buddhist monk,” and will remain that way even after receiving the award.

“Of course more people may pay some attention about my talks, my thoughts, so in that sense, I think, very, very helpful.  You are helping my effort.  Thank you very much,” he concluded.

See the Dalai Lama’s video message about the prize below:

“The secret is that the level of the problem is never the level of the solution,” said Chopra in the book.

Whether looking to lead a more fulfilling life; finding time for meditation; or wanting to jumpstart a stagnant career, this new book offers tools and strategies to help meet life’s challenges from within.

“There is no greater power for success and personal growth than your own awareness,” said Chopra.

1. Goji Berries – Rich in antioxidants and vitamin A, studies have suggested this berry can help fend off Alzheimers. Gojis contain 18 amino acids and more than 20 trace minerals and vitamins, such as zinc, iron, phosphorus, riboflavin (B12), vitamin E and carotenoids, and per ounce they offer more vitamin C than an orange and more beta-carotene than carrots!
2. Quinoa – Quinoa is a gluten-free grain that is a vegan source of complete protein. It’s a great alternative to rice, and can also be added to salads.
3. Amaranth – Another grain high in protein, folate and B6, as well as fiber. It also contains vitamin C, and has been shown to reduce cholesterol.
4. Sweet Potatoes – High in B6 and magnesium, sweet potatoes also offer vitamins C and D, potassium, iron and beta-carotene.
5. Pomegranate – This fruit is high in vitamin C, B5 and phytochemicals, and Dr. Oz has said the juice in the seeds contains ellagic acid and punic alagin, which fight damage from free radicals and preserve the collagen in the skin.
6. Mangosteen – Another fruit recommended by Dr. Oz, who says the white inside the fruits purple skin it is rich in vitamins A and C, as well as cancer-fighting antioxidants. Fruit and tea from this fruit are also available.
7. Mustard Greens – Mustard greens are high in vitamin K.
8. Swiss Chard – Also high in vitamin K, as well as vitamins A and C, and iron.
9. Tumeric – This yellow spice, often found in Indian cooking, is considered to be both an antibiotic and anti-inflammatory. Studies have also shown it can help fight cancer and Alzheimer’s.
10. Kiwi – One large kiwi can supply a person with their daily requirement of vitamin C, and is also a good source or potassium, fiber and vitamins A and E. Additionally, they offer phytonutrients, folic acid, calcium, chromium, copper, iron, magnesium and zinc.
11. Mushrooms – These are a good source of conjugated linoleic acid, which has been shown to block aromatase, a protein that causes estrogen development in women. They are also high in fiber and protein, along with B vitamins to help maintain a healthy metabolism.
12. Chia Seeds – Chia seeds are rich in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, as well as protein, vitamin B complex, biotin calcium, potassium and fiber.
13. Flax seeds – These are high in fiber, omega-3s and lignans, and studies suggest they can help fight cancer by inhibiting tumor growth and reducing hormone metabolism.
14. Dark Chocolate – Packed with antioxidants, including polyphenols and flavonols, believe it or not, dark chocolate is actually good for the heart!
15. Cacao – The fruit and bean from which chocolate is made may not be as sweet, but it is high in antioxidants, dietary fiber, iron and magnesium. It can be used in baking, or sprinkled on cereal or granola.

I recently had an “aha moment” when listening to Marianne Williamson speak at an event on love relationships, and wanted to share it with our readers. She spoke about using the tools of prayer and meditation to help us build the spiritual muscles we need to tackle our days, including the intimate relationships we have in our life.

“The first thing you do when you wake up in the morning is meditate because that is when the mind is most open to new impressions,” she said. “Just like you wash your body because you don’t want to carry yesterdays dirt with you into today, you meditate because you don’t want to carry yesterdays stress with you into today.”

And the light bulb went off! Wow, that just makes so much sense! We all find the time to shower each day because who wants to walk around dirty, but what about cleaning our minds? Why is O.K. to walk around with yesterday’s stress and dirt in our heads when we don’t do that to our body?

Whether it’s a matter of waking up 10 minutes earlier, or skipping that stop for a latte in the morning, if we can change our perception about morning meditation, and make it as big of a priority as cleaning our body (and getting that coffee!), we will be much more likely to sit and be still before starting our day.

It’s time to start giving the same time and attention to our mind as we do our body. It’s the only way to center and balance our spirit.

Blessings and love to you all!

Tammy Mastroberte
Founder, Publisher & Editorial Director
Elevated Existence Magazine
www.elevatedexistence.com

“Our study was small, looking at a handful of patients who were not benefiting that well from standard treatment,” said study author Dr. Jeffrey Suh, an assistant professor of rhinology and skull base surgery in the department of head and neck surgery at the University of California in Los Angeles. “And my take on alternative treatments is that Western medicine is effective for the majority of patients, but for those who don’t get complete relief, adding in a more holistic Eastern approach that includes exercise, improved sleep, a better diet, and acupuncture and self-administered acupressure seems to provide an alternative that can have great benefit.”

Suh and his colleagues report their findings in the March issue of the Archives of Otolaryngology, pointing out that chronic rhinosinusitis is a very prevalent condition in the U.S., with nearly 30 million American adults diagnosed with the disease in 2010 alone, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

While the acute version of the disease is typically due to infection, the chronic form (namely, cases enduring past 12 weeks) is thought to stem from a variety of environmental and anatomical causes (such as the presence of polyps or a deviated nasal septum), thereby complicating treatment efforts, the HealthDay News report stated.

Often the treatment is the use of nasal corticosteroid sprays and nasal irrigation, while in some instances surgical intervention is required. However, despite such efforts, some patients remain debilitated.

Suh and his team focused on 11 such individuals (eight men and three women), between the ages of 32 and 70. Many had struggled with the condition for years. None had any kind of surgery in the three months before the study started. Similarly, no one had undergone acupuncture or acupressure intervention in the two months beforehand.

During the study, all previous treatments were continued. However, patients were offered eight weekly 20-minute sessions of therapeutic acupuncture and acupressure massage, performed by licensed therapists. Counseling was also offered to teach patients how to self-administer acupressure at home.

Additionally, a dietary analysis was a conducted, and patients were given nutritional guidance that tracked traditional Chinese approaches towards food consumption. Stress management was also discussed, as were the benefits of regular exercise.

The result: The team found that when applied alongside modern medicine, the use of such so-called “staples of Eastern medicine” appeared to be both safe and effective, and after two months, the patients showed statistically significant gain in terms of quality of life, and a drop in feelings of frustration and restlessness. They also saw a boost in their ability to concentrate.

Physically, patients were found to have less of a problem with runny noses, reduced sneezing and a subsequent reduced need to blow their noses. Facial pain and pressure also appeared to drop off somewhat, according to the report.

“These were the worst of the worst patients,” Suh stressed. “And during treatment they got better … those who kept it up continued to see a benefit. So this offers some hope, and leads us to consider the next question, which is what might be possible with Eastern therapy alone?”

Vata (Relaxing) uses grounding essential oils of Patchouli, Vetiver, and Basil to help quiet the mind, relieve stress and balance the Vata mind-body type.

Kapha (Invigorating) offers a mix of stimulating essential oils, including rosemary, frankincense and peppermint to help inspire natural enthusiasm, enliven vital energy and balance a Kapha mind-body type.

Pitta (Soothing) is a fragrant mix of cooling essential oils, such as ylang-ylang, lavender, lemon and other natural botanicals to help take the edge off irritability, relieve tension and balance a Pitta mind-body type.

Each bottle is 8 ounces for $24 at Chopra.com.

Add a shine boost, restore the natural gloss to your hair and moisturize it at the same time with these inexpensive and scalp-friendly remedies from BecomeGorgeous.com. And the best part is the ingredients can be found right at your local supermarket!

– 5 Oil Hair Serum – Mix 2 tbsp of avocado oil with 1 tbsp of coconut oil, 1 tsp of jojoba oil and 1 tbsp of almond oil in a bowl. Pour it into a tiny bottle, shake it and apply to wet hair.

– Castor Oil Hair Serum – Apply a few drops of castor to your fingers and massage into hair to tame frizzy pieces and condition.

– Grapeseed Oil and Lavender Hair Serum – Mix 4 ounces of grapeseed oil with 7 drops of lavender oil. You can also cut open a vitamin E caplet and add to the mix. Pour it into a container and use it when your hair needs a boost.

– Jojoba Oil and Peppermint Hair Serum – This is a great one for heat-damaged hair, according to the article. Mix 4 ounces of jojoba oil with 6 drops of peppermint oil. Pour into a small bottle and shake. Massage a few drops into damp hair.

– Coconut Oil Hair Serum – In a bowl mix 4 ounces of coconut oil with 8 drops of rose oil. Pour into a container and shake the bottle. Apply a few drops to wet hair and let hair dry naturally. Repeat the treatment once a day for two weeks.

Dyer explains the book, and where its inspiration came from below.

EE: Tell us about your new book “Wishes Fulfilled.” What is it about?

Dyer: “Wishes Fulfilled” is really based upon the teachings of three people – Neville Goddard, who passed away in 1972 and lectured back in the ‘40s, ‘50s and ‘60s; U.S. Andersen, who wrote “Three Magic Words;” and the teachings of the “I Am Discourses” of St. Germaine. It’s really a combination of all of those, and it’s the recognition that everything that now exists was once imagined. If you look around at everything you see, it was once imagined. It was once a thought in somebody’s mind and then it hardened into a fact.

The No. 1 principle is that if you would like to be able to create something, you must first be able to imagine it, because everything that is created is first imagined. But that’s just the intellectual part of it. To understand something intellectually, you intellectualize about it, concentrate on it, come up with formulas about it, read books about it, hear other people’s opinions, and deduce things. You apply deductive reasoning, and then you come to a conclusion intellectually. But to understand something spiritually, you must experience it, and the only way you can experience it is to become it.

So the practice of “I am” is to be able to assume the feeling of the wish already fulfilled. You do this with whatever it is you would like to attract into your life, whatever kind of person you would like to be or whatever you would like to manifest, as long as it’s aligned with source energy or God, and doesn’t interfere with anybody else’s right to do the same. You must be able to not only live from that place, but also be able to feel it, and that means feel it in your body and literally experience it.

Somewhere in the Bible, it says, “He called things that do not exist, exist they did,” speaking about God and speaking about the highest place within ourselves. You have to be able to look at the world, ignore what your five senses tell you, and realize that the great truths are in the mysterious and the invisible. And also be able to place it into your imagination.

In the Old Testament, in the Book of Joel, it says, “The weak say I am strong.” You must be able to say I am strong, and to feel that, and assume the feeling of that wish fulfilled, and never allow anything to take your attention away from what it is you would like to attract into your life, like someone telling you it can’t happen, or it’s not possible, or even what your senses tell you. Don’t slip into, “It’s not happening fast enough. I want it to come now,” and so on. You just have to be willing to ignore all of that and know that what you are imagining is your reality, and it will harden into a fact within divine time, as long as you don’t allow yourself to say, “Oh this isn’t going to work” or to put doubt into it.

That is where almost everybody falls down. They say, “I am strong,” and then they look at themselves and say, “I am sick.” You have to be able to say, “I am well,” regardless of what the monitor says, and what your doctor tells you, and even what your senses tell you.

You have to live from that place. You cannot harden it into a fact until you’re able to live from that inner place.

“This time of the year, just as allergies are beginning – and during winter allergies are oftentimes worse because of the dry heat – we see sinus issues, congestion problems,” said Gregg who practices natural health care.

She shared the following remedies:

– Slippery elm bark helps get rid of mucus. Gregg suggests putting one tablespoon of slippery elm bark in one pint of water, bringing it to boil, letting it sit an hour and then bringing it back to boil, according to the Wilx.com report. When it is cool, take two tablespoons every hour. “It’s good for congestion because it helps pull that mucus out of the lungs,” she said. “Also, it’s beneficial if you’re having problems keeping food down.”

– Use a Neti pot to irrigate sinuses with either a saline solution or salt water.

– Gargle warm salt water to help pull infection from the tissues in the throat.”So that not only does make you feel better and soothing, it actually does something,” Dr. Gregg said. “It really helps pull that mucus out.” Take four or five teaspoons of buckwheat honey a day to strengthen the immune system. Gregg said it is rich in antioxidants, and can give relief for coughs, especially for kids. “It’s gaining popularity because of how effective it is for children and their coughing at night and their ability to sleep better,” she explained.

See the video of the segment.

Eileen Luders, an assistant professor at the UCLA Laboratory of Neuro Imaging, and colleagues, have found that long-term meditators have larger amounts of gyrification (“folding” of the cortex, which may allow the brain to process information faster) than people who do not meditate. Also, a direct correlation was found between the amount of gyrification and the number of meditation years, possibly providing further proof of the brain’s neuroplasticity, or ability to adapt to environmental changes.

“Rather than just comparing meditators and non-meditators, we wanted to see if there is a link between the amount of meditation practice and the extent of brain alteration,” said Luders. “That is, correlating the number of years of meditation with the degree of folding.”

Of the 49 recruited subjects, the researchers took MRI scans of 23 meditators and compared them to 16 control subjects matched for age, handedness and sex. The meditators had practiced their craft on average for 20 years using a variety of meditation types — Samatha, Vipassana, Zen and more. The researchers found pronounced group differences (heightened levels of gyrification in active meditation practitioners) and a positive correlation between the number of meditation years and the amount of insular gyrification.

“The insula has been suggested to function as a hub for autonomic, affective and cognitive integration,” said Luders. “Meditators are known to be masters in introspection and awareness as well as emotional control and self-regulation, so the findings make sense that the longer someone has meditated, the higher the degree of folding in the insula. The positive correlation between gyrification and the number of practice years supports the idea that meditation enhances regional gyrification.”

The study involved 49 caregivers ranging in age from 45 to 91 and participants were randomly assigned to two programs: Kundalini yoga Kirtan Kriya meditation or passive relaxation with instrumental music, the LA Times reported. The Kundalini program included breathing, chanting and repetitive finger movements, call mudras, and both programs were done for 12 minutes a day for eight weeks.

“We know that chronic stress places caregivers at a higher risk for developing depression,” said lead study author and professor of psychiatry at the UCLA Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, Dr. Helen Lavretsky, in a news release. “On average, the incidence and prevalence of clinical depression in family dementia caregivers approaches 50 percent. Caregivers are also twice as likely to report high levels of emotional distress.”

The Kundalini group reported 65 percent had a 50 percent improvement on a depression rating scale, and 52 percent showed a 50 percent improvement on a mental health scale, according to the LA Times report. Those who did passive relaxation showed a 31.2 percent improvement in depression and a 19 percent improvement for mental health.

But the bigger difference was seen on the cellular level, where the Kundalini group had a 43.3 percent improvement in telomerase activity, compared to the relaxation group with only a 3.7 percent boost.  Telomeres, according to the study, are repetitions of DNA sequences at the end of a chromosome that protect it from damage that can lead to health problems. Higher telomerase activity can help improve the durability of immune cells, the report stated.

“I believe this could be an effective treatment,” said Dr. Oz. “Why is every psychiatrist in the country not thinking about this for their patients?”

TMS is available in the Los Angeles area at The West Coast TMS Institute, founded and directed by psychiatrist Kira Stein, who uses the NeuroStar Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) Therapy system, demonstrated on “The Dr. Oz Show,” to treat depression. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved NeuroStar TMS in 2008 for the treatment of major depressive disorder in adult patients who have failed to achieve satisfactory improvement from one prior antidepressant medication.

Several medical societies, including the American Psychiatric Association and the Canadian Network for Mood and Anxiety Treatment have listed TMS therapy in their guidelines for the management of clinical depression that is unresponsive to other treatment.

“Depression, the most common mental disorder in the United States, is a debilitating disease that affects a rapidly-growing number of people. Unfortunately, many people do not achieve sufficient relief with antidepressant medications or suffer systemic side-effects from them,” said Dr. Stein. “Transcranial magnetic stimulation is a breakthrough technology that offers a safe, effective and proven alternative treatment to those who suffer from depression. Due to our individualized approach to TMS, about 80% of our patients respond positively, which is a better success rate than that of patients treated with medications alone.”

Watch the two-part demonstration on the Dr. Oz Show.

“Making movies and life have a lot in common,” Bridges said in a release from the publisher, Blue Rider Press, an imprint at Penguin. “When you’re making a movie you’ve got a finite amount of time to do what you’re going to do. It’s a communal art form, collaborative. You work together with other artists to come up with something groovy, something beautiful. Life’s like that, too.”

The book will provide wisdom on how to live a happy and fulfilling life, and leave a positive mark on the world

“On a movie set I do my best to keep my head and heart open,” said Bridges. “My favorite part of the whole deal is jamming with the other artists, getting to know them, sharing the excitement of what we’re up to, and inspiring each other. That means intimacy. I look for that in life as well. That’s why I hooked up with Bernie, to make the most of this wonderful experience called Life.”

Rodney leads the A.M. practice, guiding viewers through a series of energizing poses to help wake up the body and focus the mind, while his wife, Colleen Saidman, leads the P.M. practice designed to help users wind down at the end of a busy day. The DVD also provides meditation practices for both the morning and evening to enhance each practice.

“I teamed up with Gaiam to create this new DVD for two main reasons,” said Yee. “First, to provide an updated practice for all the fans of the original A.M. & P.M. Yoga DVD, and secondly, to introduce yoga to a new audience looking for both a beginner program and a complete experience from movement to meditation.”

A.M. & P.M. Yoga for Beginners features the following two workouts, plus 2 downloadable meditation practices:

• A.M. Energize (25 minutes) Wake up with the gentle waves of the ocean and follow along with Rodney Yee as he presents an A.M. practice to center and balance the body while providing focus and energy.
• P.M. Unwind (25 minutes) Shake off the burdens of the day and release tension with Colleen’s evening practice. This restorative P.M. practice will help transition from the business of the day to a peaceful, restful evening.
• Bonus Download: Mindful Meditations (10 minutes) Experience two very different meditations, one for the morning and one for the evening. Learn to breathe, relax and take control of your life.

Rodney Yee’s A.M. and P.M. Yoga for Beginners has an approximate runtime of 50 minutes and a suggested retail price of $14.98. The DVD is now available online and in stores.

It also features a list of the best supplements for healing (and how to design a program specifically for you); the latest alternative healing therapies available, including energy healing and massage therapy – and that’s just Part 1!

Mancini also explains the power of thoughts and emotions in the healing process, and the importance of belief in a higher power, as well as the practices of forgiveness, gratitude and love.

“All of us have different experiences in our lives, but the circumstances in our life are not what define us. The way we respond to them is what determines the outcome,” Mancini told the New York audience at last year’s Hay House “I Can Do It NYC” conference.

This is a great book and resource to add to the library!

Between the sugar scrub and the all-natural oils, your skin will feel smooth and silky – and smell great!

For more information, visit www.lalicious.com.

“Transcendence is the key to taking off the filters that separate and blind us, so that we can see things as they actually exist,” said Zapolin. “There are many techniques people use to transcend—meditation, prayer, dance, music, even psychedelics—and for this film we set out to explore the effectiveness of these different techniques.”

Highly controversial in nature, “The Reality of Truth” introduces audiences to the modalities people have used throughout history to transcend into an alternate reality, and suggests these techniques may be the breakthrough humankind needs to move into the future.

Conversations include a panel discussion with Dr. John Hagelin, PhD and Fred Travis, faculty members of the Maharishi University of Management, and Dr. Norman Rosenthal, author of New York Times Bestseller “Transcendence.” The panel was held in Fairfield, Iowa, where thousands of people in the transcendental meditation community meditate together each day. The team also traveled to Maui to speak with legendary spiritual leader Ram Dass, who was with Timothy Leary during his infamous Harvard experiments.

“The Judeo-Christian religions, Vedic traditions, and Shamanistic rituals all incorporate techniques for transcending,” said Zapolin. “In the history of mankind, we have tenaciously sought out gateways to spirituality and found them in meditation, prayer and the consumption of natural substances.”

Some of the plants that have documented transcending capabilities, according to the film, are: ayahuasca, a giant vine native to South America, noted for its psychotropic properties; ibogaine, a hallucinogenic compound derived from the roots of a West African shrub, sometimes used as a treatment for heroin, methamphetamine and cocaine addiction; the psychoactive compounds psilocybin and psilocin found in certain mushrooms, especially liberty caps (aka magic mushrooms); and marijuana.

“One of the more provocative scenes of the film documents me with actress Michelle Rodriguez and MacMillan Publishing’s Dan MacMillan participating in a life-changing ayahuasca ceremony with a shaman. It was a mind-blowing experience that I think audiences will truly appreciate,” said Zapolin.

“The Reality of Truth” is being produced by Kurt Engfehr, who co-produced “Bowling for Columbine” and “Fahrenheit 911.” The film includes interviews with Marianne Williamson; Ram Dass; John Hagelin, PhD; Bruce H Lipton, PhD; Foster Gamble (who recently released the documentary “Thrive”); Charles Grob, MD; Peter Coyote; Lior Suchard; and Ravi Zacharai. Executive producer is Wall Street icon and just capitalist Peter Janssen.

For more information about The Reality of Truth, visit http://therealityoftruth.com/, and view the trailer in the video below.

Yoga Rave offers alcohol, drug and smoke-free entertainment where party goers and yogis can experience a unique blend of chants, beats, yoga, meditation and dancing. The four-hour event will take attendees on a journey of relaxation from movement and meditation to an all out celebration. The hi-decibel performance will be led by Nicolás Pucci and Rodrigo Bustos featuring their popular music from the So What Project!

“Teenagers and young adults today are stressed out and looking for ways to let go. Often, they use drugs and alcohol to release the stress but eventually these substances leave them more disconnected and depleted of energy,” said Elan Gepner, US Yoga Rave Director.

The proceeds from the Yoga Rave concerts will go towards bringing Youth Empowerment Seminar (YES!) to the local youth across these seven cities. Yoga Rave is working in partnership with the International Association for Human Values (IAHV) and its dynamic volunteer base. They are focused on improving the mental and emotional health of the students by teaching practical yoga and meditation techniques so that the youth can deal with stress in their daily life in a positive manner. In the 2010-2011 school year, YES! For Schools reached over 12,000 students in 36 schools nationwide.

The seven city Yoga Rave entertainment events are at:

3/29, Club Pacha, New York, NY, 7-11 p.m.

3/30, 2424 Studios, Philadelphia, PA, 8-12 p.m.

3/31, Plumbers Hall, Chicago, IL, 7.30-11.30 p.m.

4/1, Tom W. Davis Gym, RPAC, Columbus, OH, 8-12.00 p.m.

4/5, The Fox Theatre Egyptian Ballroom, Atlanta, GA, 8-12 p.m.

4/6, Stereo Live, Houston, TX, 8-12 p.m.

4/7, Seattle, WA

For more information visit http://yogarave.org/us/ and see the video below.

These books will allow readers to explore HarperOne titles in healthy living, spirituality, parenting and more. Titles include “Mindful Eating” by Thich Nhat Hanh; “Eating with Peace and Moderation” by Mariel Hemingway; “The Practice of Saying No” by Barbara Brown Taylor and “Zap Proof Your Home” by Ann Louise Gittleman.

“We are always looking for fresh ways to bring our authors’ expertise to the reader,” said Mark Tauber, senior vice president and publisher of HarperOne. “In this short form, readers can access a selection of our vast wealth of titles at an unprecedented low price.”

The ten initial titles released as HarperOne Selects are:

“How Adults are Hijacking Childhood” by Carl Honore

“The Beauty of Slowing Down” by Carl Honore

“Breaking Free from Sloth” by Donna Farhi

“Preventing Damage to Children During Divorce” by Michele Lowrance

“The Art of Mindfulness” by Thich Nhat Hanh

“Mindful Eating” by Thich Nhat Hanh and Lilian Cheung

“Eating with Peace and Moderation” by Mariel Hemingway

“The Practice of Saying No” by Barbara Brown Taylor

“Zap Proof Your Home” by Ann Louise Gittleman

“Skinny Bitch Try Me Vegan Weekend” by Kim Barnouin

What do you think? Are you interested in seeing this viewpoint? Take a look at the trailer video below.

Available in a variety of colors and styles, options include a series of inspirational words and phrases, such as forgive, strength, be aware, give back and make a difference, as well as bible passages and single word options, including “believe,” “love” and “faith.”

For more information, visit www.goodworksmakeadifference.com.

For each event that takes place, someone tells the girl she was either lucky or unlucky, but no matter what the situation, she always answers “Maybe.” She doesn’t judge anything good or bad, negative or positive, and she doesn’t get emotional or caught up in the drama around her. Instead she stays centered, and helps to teach children to do the same.

And if we adults are honest with ourselves … it teaches us too!!

“It’s so mysterious and far away to understand how the Mayans saw this eternal turning of time, but to whatever extent there is something to learn from it,” he explains. “We are in 2012. It’s not something coming at the end of the year. There are grave economic problems, continuing injustice, warfare, racism, and division of the world. There is also grave ecological problems and climate change. So we are in it.”

One of the most important things we need to understand is that the solution to our problems is more than just technology and science, he says. We also need to change the human heart, which is the source of racism, warfare, greed and hatred.

“Just as we develop changing technologies, these must be married by a change in consciousness,” he notes. “We can’t feel ourselves as separate tribes and individuals, as if we didn’t interbreed with the rainforest, as if the salt water of the ocean didn’t flow through our blood, as if we didn’t all have one ancestor in Africa, or as if the universe hadn’t given birth to us out of what in Buddhist psychology is called this web of interdependence.”

While there is tremendous suffering in the world, Kornfield also sees a tremendous call for the transformation of consciousness. “Whenever things are truly difficult, people have to rely on their spirit to get them through. It’s not just this time, but I think back to my mother and my grandparent’s generation, living through the depression and war. They too had to find the strength of spirit.”

However, now with the global interconnection of the Internet and so much more, he believes we are being called to make an even bigger change – to shift from beliefs of separation and fear to the truth of our interwoven lives, he notes. “It’s really necessary now, and I’m very hopeful.”

He also believes, as Ghandi did, that it’s a false division to separate the transformation of spirit with the transformation of the world and politics, and he explains a story Thich Nhat Hanh told about those who were crowded on the Vietnamese refugee boats.

“If everyone panicked all would be lost. But if even one person on the boat remained calm and centered, it was enough to show the way for everyone to survive,” he says. “So someone on the lifeboat of the world has to be that beacon of steadiness and compassion, and be mindful and free of heart. As you do that, it changes all you touch.”

We can each have an impact on the world in this way, as everyone has a gift to contribute. His advice? “The say in Zen there are only two things – you sit and you sweep the garden. And it doesn’t matter how big the garden is,” he notes. “Find ways to establish mindfulness of breath and body, and be mindful of your own humanity. Develop loving-kindness, and then take the sitting part of the practice out and tend to the garden of the world.”

For the full interview with Jack Kornfield, see the March 2012 issue of Elevated Existence Magazine.

“The Kama Sutra is many things: a manual for lovemaking, a venerable ancient text of India, a marital aid sneaked furtively into many a bedroom, and to prudes throughout the ages, a scandal,” said Chopra. “Can it also be described as an inspiring spiritual text? I strongly believe it can.”

Two thousand years after the Kama Sutra was written, this new interpretation links sexuality and spirituality and their role in connecting lovers emotionally, physically and spiritually. The book is fully illustrated with paintings created by a group of Indian artists hand selected by Chopra, and the text also includes The Seven Spiritual Laws of Love, Chopra’s intensive meditation and affirmation of simple, practical applications that partners can bring to their relationship to enhance and entice their intimacy.

The digital book is available through numerous E-Reader and App platforms including Graphicly, Nook, Android, Sony E-Reader and Amazon. A Facebook version of the book, powered by Graphicly, can be purchased and downloaded at http://tinyurl.com/ChopraKamaSutra.

Additionally, the site offers products that compliment Haylo Health & Beauty mission, including customized vitamin and supplement programs, developed by a clinical MD and PhD at UCLA’s School of Medicine, as well as new skin care products featuring the benefits of the Omega Fatty Acid complex, not from fish oil, but from earth and sea plant extracts.

For more information, visit www.haylohealth.com.

He spoke of the benefits of including more fiber in the diet, as well as following a supplement regimen with vitamins A, C and E, selenium, CoQ10 and niacin.

After shooting the episode, Dr. Weil went back stage and answered a few more health questions, Dietsinreview.com reported.

To achieve weight loss naturally, Weil explained people need to continue to “modify [our] diet and make sure [we're] getting enough physical activity.” He also recommended people follow an anti-inflammatory diet like he describes in his book and on his Web site, the article stated.

Additionally, he advised that the best time to take supplements is “on a full stomach after you’ve had an ample meal,” because some supplements need fat for absorption, the article stated. In doing so, people can avoid stomach irritation and vitamin-tasting burps.

While on the show, Weil shared a “cancer-fighting super meal,” known as Pasta Puttanesca with Tuna.

Here is the recipe he shared:

PASTA PUTTANESCA WITH TUNA

Ingredients

2 (28 oz) cans Italian tomatoes, drained and crushed
4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 tsp dried hot red pepper flakes
2 tbsp capers
1/2 cup black olives, pitted and chopped
3 mashed garlic cloves
2 tbsp fresh basil leaves, minced
1 lb dried pasta
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
1 package/can of healthy pouch/canned tuna (low-mercury type)

Directions
In a large bowl, combine the tomatoes, olive oil, red pepper flakes, capers, olives, garlic and basil. Let it stand at room temperature for 1 hour. Add the tuna to the mix. Cook the pasta in rapidly boiling water until al dente. Drain well. Toss the hot pasta with the tomato mixture. Add the grated Parmesan cheese and serve immediately.

The event is free and everyone is welcome to attend. Guests are asked to RSVP through the Chopra Center’s online registration page here.

The memorial will also be broadcast via live streaming on www.chopra.com so those who live far away can be part of the celebration of David’s life and gifts to the world, according to the Chopra Center.

Guest speakers will include members of David’s family, as well as Deepak Chopra, Wayne Dyer and other friends and colleagues. The public memorial will also include a live musical tribute by Emmy-award winning singer and songwriter Beth Nielsen Chapman.

Since the announcement of David Simon’s passing, there has been an outpouring of love and gratitude, as thousands of people from throughout the world have posted their memories of David on a special chopra.com blog page, Remembering David.

For more information about the event, visit the online registration page.

One of the newest card decks form best-selling author and angel expert is The Romance Angels, which can help you contact the group of cherubic angels who focus on love! If you are looking for love, asking about a current relationship or trying to heal from a past relationship, these cards can help you ask the angels about your romantic life – and do readings for friends or clients.

Green tea contains certain antioxidant chemicals, particularly a compound known as EGCG, that may help ward off the body-cell damage that can lead to disease, and researchers have been studying green tea’s effects on everything from cholesterol to the risk of certain cancers.

For the newest study, Japanese researchers looked at a different question: Do green-tea drinkers have any lower risk of frailty and disability as they grow old?

Following nearly 14,000 adults age 65 and older, they found that people who drank the most green tea were the least likely to develop “functional disability” over the next three years – meaning problems with daily activities such as going to the store, housework, or basic needs like dressing and bathing.

Specifically, almost 13 percent of adults who drank less than a cup of green tea per day became functionally disabled, compared with just over 7 percent of people who drank at least five cups per day.

Also, green tea itself was tied to a lower disability risk, according to the researchers, led by Yasutake Tomata of Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine. People who drank at least five cups a day were one-third less likely to develop disabilities than those who had less than a cup a day. And people who averaged three or four cups a day had a 25 percent lower risk.

While all of these findings show green tea is beneficial with aging, Tomata’s team writes, definitive proof can come only from clinical trials testing the effects of green tea, or green tea extracts, on disability risk.

Yoga Breaks: Alicante, Spain – The Costa Blanca region of Spain has been named by the World Health Organization as having one of the healthiest climates on Earth, according to the Fox article. Yoga Breaks offers luxury near the ocean with twice daily yoga for beginners and intermediate yogis. It also offers Ayurvedic-inspired meals nourish, meditation and pranayama (breathing) workshops.

Big EZ Lodge: Bozeman, Montana – The lodge was built with native timber and natural river rock throughout, and there are 13 guestrooms and common areas, the article reported. Ashtanga, restorative and Vinyasa Flow yoga is offered, along with nature hikes and other outdoor activities. Mountain-themed cuisine is offered, and there is a game room and workout room on site. The best part? A large hot tub with a waterfall!

Domaine de la Grausse: Clermont La Grausse, France – Study with the highly experienced resident yoga teacher Dagmar (who is influenced by Jyengar, Viniyoga and Sivananda) at this getaway in the French Pyrenées, the article stated. The estate features an eighteenth-century château with extensive grounds, two large yoga studios and accommodation in two newly renovated traditional stone barns that are fully-equipped for self-catering, according to the article. Yoga classes are available for all levels.

Sivananda Ashram: Paradise Island, Nassau, Bahamas – Nassau’s Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat will have you rising at 6 a.m. and meditating till dawn – followed by chanting until tea time and two hours of Hatha yoga – all before your 10:00 a.m. vegetarian meal. The afternoon will offer a class in Karma yoga, where guests help with ashram duties, the article stated.

Jatoba Terra Prana Lar yoga: Sao Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil – This retreat offers a variety of yoga styles, including Kundalini yoga, Yin yoga, Hatha yoga, partner yoga, Karma yoga and Mandala yoga. It also offers meditation, mantras, silent walks, sacred dances, fire rituals and Zen Shiatus, according to Fox. Also offered is a sweat lodge, fresh water pool, meditation deck on the lake and vegetarian meals.

Paradise Found Yoga: Salt Spring Island, British Columbia, Canada – Specializing in Kundalini yoga, Paradise Found Yoga offers scheduled and private retreats with two daily yoga classes, meditation, art therapy and spa sessions. There are also hiking excursions on the shorelines of Cusheon Lake on Salt Spring Island, an outdoor hot tub and vegetarian meals.

Shreyas Yoga Retreat: Bangalore, Karnataka, India – A member of the exclusive Relais & Chateaux group, this retreat is devoted to promoting the authentic spiritual tradition of yoga in a luxurious environment. It offers more than 25 acres of landscaped gardens, and utilizes natural resources such as rain water harvesting; solar heating; ayurvedic and medicinal herb plantations; organic farming and organic waste disposal on site, according to the Fox report. Treat yourself to Ashtanga and Hatha yoga, chanting classes, silent retreats, meditation, massages, ayurvedic treatments such as abhyanga and shirodhara, and vegetarian meals made from organically grown ingredients freshly handpicked from the retreat’s fields.

Clare Island Yoga Retreat Centre: County Mayo, Ireland – On 240 acres of land off the West Coast of Ireland, the Clare Island Yoga Retreat offers yoga and meditation, organic meals and hillside hiking, the report stated. Accommodations include a refurbished traditional island cottage complete with solar panels for heating water and wood-burning stoves for space heating.

Maya Tulum: Quintana Roo, Mexico – Only 90 minutes from Cancún, this seaside wellness retreat and spa offers more than 50 yoga retreats every year. There are five or seven night Mind, Body, Spirit programs (MBS), complete with vegetarian meals (with the option of ordering fish), massages, day trips and spa treatments, the report stated. There is even a traditional sweat lodge run by a shaman.

Anahata Yoga Retreat: Golden Bay, South Island, New Zealand – This integral residential yoga retreat is located on top of a mountain 640 meters above sea level in Golden Bay. Retreats, personal sessions and daily activities are offered year-round, with the focus on Satyananda yoga, which draws on a number of traditional systems of yoga, including Hatha, Raja, Karma, Jnana, Mantra and Bhakti yoga, the report stated. A range of lodging options are available from shared rooms to a private straw bale round house. Tent sites and camping are also available.

Best-selling author, Marianne Williamson, will present “The Enchanted Love Workshop: Building the Inner Temple of the Sacred and the Romantic,” on February 17 to 19 in Los Angeles. Not in the area? You can still participate via live streaming.

Participants will learn the spiritual tools of fostering powerful, joyous and intimate relationships. Valuable for both women and men seeking to either to attract a partner or deepen an existing relationship, the weekend will provide guests with valuable spiritual, psychological and emotional insight into the nature and practice of true love.

During the “Enchanted Love Workshop,” spiritual inquiry will include:

• How do we inwardly prepare ourselves for love?
• What deeper forces foster a powerful romantic relationship?
• What part does the masculine/feminine dynamic play in navigating romantic relationships?
• What is true intimacy, from a spiritual perspective, and how is it achieved?
• How can a romantic relationship become a portal to spiritual growth? And how can spiritual growth become a portal to more powerful romance?

“If I think that you’re the source of my happiness, I am tempted, at least subconsciously, to try to manipulate and control you,” Williamson said.  “And that won’t attract you; it will repel you. Once I make it my spiritual work to realize my own completion, then I approach you not with a need to steal your energy, but with a desire to play and create with you. Obviously, the latter is far more attractive.”

Williamson teaches that from a spiritual perspective, relationships are assignments: couples are brought together by a Divine Intelligence for as long a period of time as serves the mutual soul growth of both partners. When physical proximity no longer serves that growth and the relationship ends, this doesn’t necessarily denote failure. Relationships are of the spirit and not of the body, and therefore last forever on the level of mind.

“We are brought together for the purpose of healing. All of us have rough edges to be smoothed out, and one of the ways that happens is when our rough edges rub up against someone else’s,” said Williamson. “To the ego, that kind of rough experience is a reason to leave the relationship. To the Spirit, the opportunity here is to choose the mercy and compassion that smoothes out all things.”

Williamson gives the examples of a woman whose father emotionally abandoned her, meeting up with a man whose mother emotionally smothered him. Because of their childhood experiences, she might tend to be needy, while he might tend to be commitment phobic.

“The rough path is where she subconsciously tries to control him, and he subconsciously seeks to keep her at a distance,” Williamson said. “The transcendent path is where she takes responsibility for her wound, refuses to project her father’s behavior in the past onto the man standing in front of her, and prays to Spirit to heal her by helping her forgive her father and enter into the present moment not carrying her past with her. As she develops the emotional skill set to show deep appreciation for the man standing in front of her, the light of that moment casts out the neurotic thought forms carried over from the past. His work takes different form, but is essentially the same.”

According to Williamson, an authentic spiritual bond can’t be based on personality or physicality alone, because on the material level none of us are perfect. It’s when we develop the skill to see beyond the physical to the spiritual truth of who we are — and most importantly, the ability to stay with that truth even when appearances show us something different — that we transcend the ego forces which would otherwise tear us apart.

This workshop addresses the fear of love that we all feel, as well as the spiritual keys to unlocking the authenticity and true skill that allows us to connect with a beloved. “It takes conscious work to create the psychological and emotional freedom to disclose our deepest feelings to each other. The risk, the vulnerability …  such things can be emotionally perilous outside a spiritual context.” Williamson focuses on the deep practice of forgiveness, prayer and meditation as steps to the cultivation of sacred space within and between us.

“We might be tempted to think that spirituality and intimacy are very different categories. In fact, spirituality is key to our success at everything because it’s the key to our capacity to love.”

To sign up for the in-person or live streaming, visit http://www.marianne.com.

Listen to Marianne explain the seminar in the below video:

This challenge is brand-new and called the “Mind-Body Odyssey.” In the past two years, more than 150,000 people have embraced the free online meditation program.

“We are dedicating this Meditation Challenge to David Simon, who has been my friend, partner, and teacher for more than twenty years,” said best-selling author and spiritual mentor Deepak Chopra, M.D., who co-founded the Chopra Center with David in 1996. “From our personal experience as meditators, and in working with patients, David and I both knew first-hand the power of meditation to balance the body, heal the mind, and transform the spirit. I know David was happy that the Meditation Challenge was opening the doors to many people who previously believed that meditation was too ‘hard’ or ‘mysterious.’

Each day, participants will receive a guided audio meditation and guidance for creating a regular meditation practice. A Meditation Challenge Facebook community is also open to participants who want to share their experiences, ask questions, and connect with other like-minded meditators.

“The upcoming Mind-Body Odyssey is ideal for anyone who is seeking more peace and balance and a lot less stress and ‘dis-ease’ in their lives,” said Chopra, who will lead the meditations, along with the Chopra Center’s lead meditation teacher, davidji, and other master Chopra Center instructors.

Registration and participation is free.

In her new book, “Breakthrough: The 5 Living Principles to Defeat Stress, Look Great, and Find Total Well-Being,” Vaughn speaks to women, especially those over 45, offering clear direction for lifestyle and exercise practices that blend both Eastern and Western methods. She speaks candidly about her own life lessons, shares exercises routines (with easy-to-follow illustrations), meditation advice, recipes and more.

“The process of self-discovery and find­ing well-being is very personal, and the road traveled is different for each of us,” Vaughn says in the book’s introduction. “In this book I share my journey, but what I hope will be of great­est benefit to the reader are the powerful tools I have found that work for me and the oth­ers who have embraced them.”

Vaughn is the founder of SheaNetics, which blends both Eastern and Western values and movements to “unite the mind and body as one.” She is also trained in ballet, Tai-Chi, martial arts, ZUMBA, yoga, pilates and more. In order to create a state of personal well-being, Vaughn created five principles, which make up the “grounding philosophy” of SheaNetics.

“The Five Living Principles of Well-Being: Commitment, Perseverance, Self-Control, Integrity, and Love, are an inspirational force in helping me create a positive lifestyle with a healthy body and the supportive mental and emotional paradigm to deal with changing and demanding times,” Vaughn said. “One encourages the other and together they help you find balance, self-confidence and a personal state of well-being.”

For more information, visit www.shenetics.com.

For part 1 of the article, see “Remembering Dr. David Simon: An Interview Part 1.”

Alleviating Anxiety and Depression

When dealing with many mental or psychiatric disorders, medication is extremely important.

Illnesses such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder — often based on a deeper genetic, biochemical imbalance — require medication, Simon says. But for issues with anxiety, depression and insomnia, a mind/body approach can have amazing effects.

And when used in conjunction, can get people off medication sooner. “Medication for these things can be such an easy shortcut, and we need to raise the threshold of how readily doctors are giving them out,” he explains, noting often people will feel better from the medicine and the underlying issue will never be addressed. “When someone dies, suddenly a person is put on an antidepressant, and they are not even allowed to grieve.”

Ideally, Simon believes medication should be used for a short period of time while helping people work through their issues, along with teaching them alternative lifestyle changes, such as meditation and yoga.“People often just want relief, and if doctors offered them relief without going on a psychotropic medication, most people would opt for that, but so many just give the pill,” he says.

While a psychiatrist might know that if a person started meditation on a regular basis and reduced the amount of caffeine they take in during the day, it might help with their anxiety, many assume the patient won’t do these things, and so they just offer a pill, Simon explains. But in essence, people are “outsourcing their biochemistry.”

“I work with people trying to get off medication all the time, and I tell them, ‘If you had a manufacturing plant in the United States and you learned you could do the work overseas for much less, you would fire everyone and move. But then, if all of the sudden you decide you want to start back in the United States, you can’t just open up the same day — it takes time.’”

Simon says the same is true with the human brain. Once you start giving it serotonin from the outside, it realizes it doesn’t have to make it from the inside anymore. So getting off of medication can take four to six weeks, “until the brain says, ‘Oh, you’re serious. You really are going to make me manufacture this myself,’” he explains.

By looking at diet, exercise and sleep habits, shifts can be made to produce the same chemicals from within, rather than depending on an outside source. Getting to bed by 10 p.m., eating healthy foods, walking in beautiful, natural settings and more can help create a feeling of peace and keep a person centered.

“The practice of meditation is key because it gives people a glimpse of how they can generate peace inside their own body,” Simon says. “Good, healthy food; good smells; nourishing sounds; and good relationships — if everyone had these things we would all be healthy and happy. At The Chopra Center, we recreate the memory of wholeness, and teach skills to allow people to stay connected to their center.”

Particularly when it comes to anxiety, Simon believes by putting time into it and learning these new skills, people can learn to live without anxiety in a natural way. “Living without anxiety is a skill set that we have to be taught, and then the need for medication will go away,” he explains.

Making Changes

(EDITOR’S NOTE: This article was originally published in December 2009. The seminars mentioned below have changed. See www.chopra.com/healingtheheart for more information.)

The Chopra Center offers emotional healing seminars, which Simon says he has been developing for years. The first of the two-part series dedicated to emotional healing is called “Free to Love,” which takes place over three days and is about identifying, mobilizing and releasing emotional toxicity getting in the way of good health. The second part is “Free to Heal,” which dedicates five days focused on rejuvenation for the body.

“Fee to Love is intensely healing, but we are finding people are pretty raw afterward, and so we encourage them to learn how to take better care of themselves in a compassionate and loving way through the second course, “Free to Heal,” explains Simon. “With both, they have the deep insights to release the pain, and also have the tools to move forward, treat themselves lovingly and have healthy relationships.”

In his book, which is based on these courses, Simon reveals a variety of methods for emotional clearing, including heart-opening yoga poses, breathing exercises and specific “intuitive self-reflection” exercises that take the reader through a series of questions to both reflect upon and journal about. “Breath and thought work closely together, so we find that by consciously using the breath, we can access information we previously suppressed,” he says.

Also, the yoga poses were developed over the years to make it easier for people to bring awareness into the places of the body associated with emotions, and stretching, moving and breathing helps the release of toxic emotions from the body. “If people are tuned in, they feel emotions in the heart, gut and occasionally the sexual organs,” Simon explains. “The yoga poses are designed to open up the core emotional center and release the energy trapped inside.”

And while many who go through the program or do it themselves at home may be tempted not to do the journaling element, Simon says it is a very important piece. Rather than going through the steps in the mind, writing them down is necessary — not only to remember the insights revealed, but to get them out of our minds and onto the paper.

“We carry all this stuff around on our internal hard drive, and when we write it down, it’s like downloading it to a flash drive and creating space,” Simon says. “We need to quiet down the usual conversation of our mind and start asking questions from a deeper place. We may not think we know what we need, but we do know it somewhere, and intuitive self-reflection is a way of hearing the truth and bringing into awareness.”

The key to emotional health, and in turn physical health, is learning how to stay centered, no matter what life throws at us. It’s about learning to make better choices, and knowing we all deserve to be happy and healthy, have nurturing relationships and have a meaningful life by expressing our unique purpose. By ridding ourselves of toxic emotions — some we may have been carrying around for a lifetime — and learning a new, healthy way to live and love, we can find our center and know how to return to it when we fall off.

“If we have an inner state of wellbeing, where the mind is relatively quiet and the body is in comfort, we can evaluate, and listen to our bodies and minds to get information from a deeper place,” Simons says. When evaluating a decision in life, our mind and body will often generate signals, letting us know when something doesn’t feel right. The more centered we are, the more likely we will be able to recognize the signals, he notes.

“The more your baseline is centered, balanced and comfortable, the more sensitive you will be to going out of your center. But if your baseline is one of chaos, you won’t even notice you are out of balance.”

To leave a note in remembrance of Dr. Simon, visit the Remembering David Web site.

At the time, Simon had recently published the book “Free to Love, Free to Heal: Heal Your Body by Healing Your Emotions,” and launched an emotional freedom course at the Chopra Center based on the book.

Dr. Simon recently passed away, and in remembrance of him, we present the article in full – broken into two parts. Interviewed by Elevated Existence founder, publisher and editorial director, Tammy Mastroberte, Dr. Simon shares valuable information on the connection between our emotions and the creation of disease in the body. 

Beyond the Symptoms

The Chopra Center’s Dr. David Simon explains the connection between emotions and disease, and the holistic way to find wholeness and health.

By Tammy Mastroberte

When our head starts pounding, our stomach starts churning or our chest is on fire from heartburn, the first place we usually run to is the medicine cabinet. And when we can’t find relief on our own, the next step is the doctor’s office, where the physician often turns to his or her prescription pad to alleviate our symptoms.

This has been the routine for many of us, who learned over the years that when we feel bad — physically or mentally — a pill is the answer. And in some cases, this is absolutely true. But what if there was an alternative to medication that would soothe anxiety or depression? What if our stomach cramps or acid indigestion is really the body’s way of letting us know our emotions need tending to?

These questions are the reason Dr. David Simon wrote his newest book, “Free to Love, Free to Heal: Heal Your Body by Healing Your Emotions,” and created an emotional freedom course at The Chopra Center, both of which are based on his experience as a physician who has looked at life and health holistically for more than three decades.

“If you give people the safety needed, you will find everyone has a story underlying their symptoms or illness, and if we can bring that from the subconscious to the conscious, there are opportunities for healing,” he tells Elevated Existence. “It’s about revealing the underlying story and writing a more empowering chapter. This can often help people get off or reduce their medication needs for a variety of things.”

Of course, there are some cases where medication is required, such as an auto accident, sudden heart attack or a urinary tract infection, Simon says. In these cases, medication can be lifesaving. But there are many instances where modifying a person’s lifestyle and looking at emotional factors can help alleviate ailments just as effectively as a pill.

“Traditionally, the physician’s job is to find the biochemical to relieve someone’s suffering. They don’t think of stress when someone has high blood pressure, it’s more about giving them a medication that can bring it down,” he explains. “If someone is depressed, a doctor often doesn’t look at what’s happening in the person’s relationships, how they might not be nourishing themselves, or even if a person has found meaning or purpose in life. It’s more about a deficiency in serotonin. That is the conventional model.”

Simon approached medical school from a different perspective, majoring in anthropology and studying medicine in non-Western cultures. He did his thesis in Shamanism, and in between his graduate studies and medical school, became a meditation and yoga instructor.

“I learned health was about love, but in medical school they teach that people are molecular machines, and when the machine isn’t twirling properly, to introduce a new molecule. We are taught to treat symptoms rather than look at the root of illness,” Simon says.

He believes there is an emotional component to all illness, and a mind/body approach works well, especially for psychosomatic illnesses such as functional bowel disorders, chronic pain, migraines and fibromyalgia. Even heart disease has some emotional component, he explains, although genetics, diet and exercise do play a role.

“At any one time, 20 percent to 25 percent of the population is struggling with digestion, whether its heartburn or irritable bowel, and these have a strong emotional component,” Simon notes. Many autoimmune diseases, including multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis, also have a direct correlation to emotions.

“Most people with an autoimmune disease say their illness gets aggravated when they are stressed, and when they are not, the symptoms get quiet for a while,” he says, citing a study done with people suffering from an autoimmune disease who were admitted into a hospital. Patients were asked about physical, emotional, sexual or drug abuse in the family as a child, and the study showed an increased risk of an autoimmune disease as an adult when one or more of these factors are present.

Additionally, issues about food — whether eating too much or too little — all have underlying emotional components. The answer is to help people fill their needs directly rather than going through food, Simon says, explaining whether it’s food, drugs or alcohol, addictive behaviors are a person’s attempt to self-medicate.

But whether it’s self-medicating or turning to a doctor’s prescription, when the underlying emotional components are not addressed, new symptoms will often crop up over time, he explains. The body will continue to create disease until the emotional causes are uncovered and resolved.

“The body is trying to get our attention because it is carrying some pain — often emotional — that needs some direct attention,” he explains. “Whether it’s a headache, backache or irritable bowel, the body is asking ‘Can someone please pay attention?’ But rather than doing that, we just suppress the symptom with some type of medication, and then it often finds another way to get our attention.”

For example, a patient will often go to the doctor because of a migraine headache, and the doctor will prescribe a medication. Then the patient comes back into the office saying his or her headache is better, but now they have a side effect, or a new symptom. The doctor will then prescribe a new medication for the new symptoms or side effect, and that is why people often wind up on five or six medications, Simon says.

“You have to look back to the beginning and see what triggered the escapade. When I see people like this, it often goes back to one thing — such as being emotionally or physically abused as a child — and they often need someone to hear their story and help them heal that story. Once it’s resolved, the symptoms often go away.”

Read Part 2 of the interview “Remembering David Simon.”

To leave a note in remembrance of Dr. Simon, visit the Remembering David Web site.

The expressions “I had to pinch myself” or “I can’t believe my luck,” are examples of how most of us feel shocked when something wonderful happens for us. And then these initial thoughts of shock usually turn to worry about the good being taken away, or being followed by something bad.

More than 12 years ago, my sister and I took a road trip to Long Island for an appointment with the medium, George Anderson, 10 months after our mother unexcpected passing only three days after Christmas in 1999. It was an emotional hour, but something Anderson conveyed to us from our mother during that session always stayed with me. She said “learn to partake in the joys that come to you, because if they come to you, then you deserve them.”

This is something she admitted to struggling with in her life, and during what she called her “life review” after passing she realized she didn’t accept joy as well as she could have while in the physical world. She said, “We are always waiting for the other shoe to drop.”

Unfortunately many of us have been conditioned to expect the negative, even when something positive comes our way, and in doing so, we forget to bask in the beauty life has to offer. Instead of moving quickly on to the next worry, issue, problem or fear, when something good comes to us – be it a new relationship, more money or a successful venture – we should savor it, celebrate it and live in the gratitude of it.

Instead of expecting the bad … what about expecting the good? If you understand the law of attraction, then you know expecting the good will only attract more good to you. More importantly, as my mother so eloquently conveyed through George Anderson, if good things comes to you … then know it’s because you deserve it!

Tammy Mastroberte
Founder, Publisher & Editorial Director
Elevated Existence Magazine
www.elevatedexistence.com

By Dr. Craig Martin

Let’s start this off by saying there is nothing wrong with wanting to look and act your best on a date. For all intents and purposes, there also should be nothing wrong with wanting to look and act your best with your spouse of 15 years. But this isn’t going to be about that.

Dating inevitably is very stressful. We all want to be liked, to be accepted, and to be loved. For single people, the dating process is the way in which we find someone to fulfill those needs. And for anyone who is out there dating – we soon discover this is not easy.

There are all kinds of reasons for that. People are odd, and finding just the right kind of odd that meshes nicely with you is a complex task. Often, on dates we find that people seem strange to us, and we can’t make a connection that feels like we want it to.

The truth is, by the time you find someone who is great for you, that person has been passed up by other people who thought they were strange. And so the dating scene is really about finding the right person – the one who makes you feel at home with them. It’s about finding the person whose strangeness isn’t really strange to you at all.

One thing that prevents this exploration from happening in a natural, and often amazing, way is that we put on a face designed to impress someone else. The problem with this is the face we put on isn’t really who we are. We don’t just show up looking and acting our best for a date, we show up looking and acting like someone we aren’t. This creates a problem.

If we go into the dating scene believing that “men want women who make them laugh,” or “women want men who are strong and unflappable,” then we make every attempt to mold ourselves into that kind of person. The issue that gets created is narrowness. Not all men or women are looking for the same things. And by the same token, not all men or women fit the stereotypes of specific kinds of behavior.

The more we try to behave in the particular way that we think will gain our acceptance, the further away we drift from our true selves. We often then learn to dislike who we are, thinking that if we are not a picture of the perfect date, then we are not desirable or attractive to anyone. This is not true.

The only person you ever need to impress is yourself. Once you’ve learned to do that, then the right person comes along. You don’t need to look outside yourself to find the validation and acceptance that’s been with you all along. It’s right there – in the mirror, in your actions, in your thoughts and in your deeds.

When you fully embrace the beauty that is you, then there is no other person who has the power to decide that for you. You’ve decided it for yourself and then someone comes along who sees it too! What a remarkable new way to date. Show up to impress yourself, and anyone who is not impressed by you is clearly not the right person. A number of wonderful things happen. You don’t have to waste too much time on people who don’t see you. And you, because you know better what to look for, don’t have to kiss quite so many frogs.

ABOUT DR. CRAIG MARTIN

Dr. Craig Martin is an astrologer, interfaith minister and spiritual counselor. Working with both individuals and couples, he resides in Los Angeles, and practices in both New York City and California. He is the author of “Elemental Love Styles: Find Compatibility and Create a Lasting Relationship,” and can be reached through his Web site at www.doctorcraig.com.

Best-selling author, Arielle Ford, shared her secrets for using the law of attraction to find the love of her life in the book, “The Soulmate Secret: Manifest the Love of Your Life with the Law of Attraction,” and now she is sharing the secrets to making a relationship last once you find that perfect partner in her newest book, “Wabi Sabi Love: The Ancient Art of Finding Perfect Love in Imperfect Relationships.”

Elevated Existence interviewed Ford so she could share some tips for those who are still searching for love, as well as those who are searching for ways to make it last.

Elevated Existence (EE):  So many people who are single struggle through Valentines’s Day. What is something they can do different this year to start attracting their soulmate?

Arielle Ford: I believe a soulmate is someone with whom we can completely be ourselves. Someone with whom we share unconditional love and when we look into their eyes we have the experience of being home. With this definition you can quickly see that you ALREADY have many soulmates in your life … it could be your best friend, kids, siblings, co-workers, pets, etc. This Valentine’s Day celebrate the soulmates in your life, do something special for them.  By putting your focus and attention on the LOVE YOU ALREADY HAVE you become a magnet for even more love, especially the romantic love you are seeking.

EE: What is Wabi Sabi?

Ford: It is an ancient Japanese art form that honors all things old weathered, worn, imperfect and impermanent by finding the beauty in the imperfections. For instance, if you had a large vase with a big crack down the middle of it, a Japanese art museum would put the vase on a pedestal and shine a light on the crack, or they might fill the crack with 24k gold!

“Wabi Sabi Love” is devoted to exploring the simple, fun and effective ways to apply this concept to our love relationships through stories and exercises that demonstrate how to attain groundbreaking shifts in perception so that you can embrace and find the beauty and perfection in each other’s imperfections. I call this “going from annoyed to enjoyed.”

EE: In “Wabi Sabi Love,” you explain that learning to love, or at least accept, what your partner loves or is passionate about can lead to a better relationship. What is the first step of making this change?

Ford: Make a decision to find a creative way that you can share their passion. For instance, Suzanne’s husband Bill loves to fly small airplanes … nearly every weekend. She often found this boring … until she decided to be in charge of the itinerary. Bill didn’t care where he was flying to, he just wanted to be in the air. So, Suzanne would research interesting destinations to fly to, for a meal or an entire weekend. Places where they could explore historical sites and art museums, two of her passions. It became a win/win for both of them.

EE: You believe couples should wear “rose-colored glasses” when it comes to seeing each other. Why?

Ford: Research by Sandra Murray a psychologist at the University of Buffalo, reveals that putting on “rose-colored glasses” and idealizing our partner actually leads to more happiness and satisfaction in relationship. In fact, the happiest couples focus on what’s right and not on what’s wrong. This is also known as the Pygmalion effect, the phenomenon in which the greater the expectation placed upon people, the better they perform. It’s a form of self-fulfilling prophecy. As mature adults, we get to choose our thoughts and beliefs; so why not intend and expect the best out of ourselves and our partners?

One disclaimer here – this is not an invitation to go into denial or accept bad behavior or harmful situations. In the event you find yourself in an abusive relationship, you are advised to seek professional counsel immediately.

EE: How can gratitude move a person from annoyed to a more accepting state in a partnership?

Ford: Gratitude comes from the heart not the head. When we drop into our heart and allow ourselves to feel the warm, positive emotions of gratitude, we can begin to release the more negative emotions of annoyance and frustration. Your partner does not wake up in the morning thinking of ways to drive you crazy. They, like you, want to be loved and accepted for who they are. Taking time to be grateful that you have a loving partner (in spite of their quirks) will enrich your relationship.

EE: How do you “go from annoyed to enjoyed” when your partner does something that truly makes you crazy?

Ford: First, you must be willing to make a shift in your perception and see your mate’s behavior through a new, gentler and kinder lens. Chances are, you see their behavior as “wrong or bad,” but imagine for a moment that this behavior exists solely to teach you how to become a more loving, compassionate person. Can you find the gift of that behavior?

One of my favorite stories in the book is about a couple named Ed and Deb. Ed loves to meet new people and tell silly jokes. Deb has heard all of these silly jokes a million times and is often annoyed because when they are out and about running errands she always ends up waiting for him while he is busy entertaining strangers. One day, after Deb found herself waiting for Ed befriending a lonely little boy sitting on the curb waiting for his mother. She heard Ed say to the boy, “How does a camel hid in the desert?” The boy gave him a quizzical look, and then Ed delivered the punch-line: “Camelflage.” With that , the boy burst into laughter just as his mother approached, giving Ed a big smile.

It was at that moment that Deb, after a decade of marriage, finally got Ed’s true nature. He wasn’t trying to make her crazy at all. He just wanted to make people happy. And on that day, Deb found the beauty and perfection in what once made her nearly insane!

For more on “The Soulmate Secret,” visit www.soulmatesecret.com. For more on Wabi Sabi Love, including exercises, visit www.wabisabilove.com.

The event will address some of the most urgent questions facing our future evolution, including:

• Are we in the midst of a major paradigm shift in science?
• Is there an ultimate reality?
• Does consciousness conceive, govern, construct and become the physical universe?
• Is the universe becoming self aware in the human nervous system?
• Is the next stage of human development conscious evolution?
• Do we have the ability to influence the future evolution of the cosmos?
• How does our understanding of consciousness as pure potentiality enhance our capacity for intuition, creativity, conscious choice making, healing, and the awakening of dormant potentials such as non-local communication and non-local sensory experience?
• How does our understanding of consciousness also enhance our capacity for total well being—physical, emotional, spiritual, social, community, financial and ecological)?

“If you find the above questions intriguing, you are most welcome to join me and my colleagues in deep dialogue about our emerging future,” said Deepak Chopra, founder of the Chopra Foundation. “Everything will be examined from the perspectives of both sages and scientists with the shared goal of finding common ground. At the end of the symposium, we will summarize the current understanding of the issues that deeply affect all of us at the core of our being. We aim to propel scientific investigation and research in the areas of consciousness.”

The distinguished speakers list includes some of the top minds in science and spirituality, such as President Vicente Fox; Nancy Abrams, J.D.; Renata Black; Rinaldo Brutoco, J.D.; Deepak Chopra, MD; Gotham Chopra; Mallika Chopra; Richard J. Davidson, Ph.D; Carlos Dominguez; Kamran Elahian; Elissa Epel, PhD; Stuart Hameroff, MD; J. Ivy; and Menas Kafatos, Ph.D.

The Chopra Foundation is requesting a donation of $1,995 – $1,000 of which is tax deductible – for general participation, after which registration will be complimentary. Contributions to the Symposium will be used to support collaborative research on the realization of consciousness, carry on the Foundation’s other charitable work, and pay expenses for the program.

For more information, visit www.choprafoundation.org.

Watch the interview below:

Known for his pioneering work in the field of mind-body medicine, David Simon, M.D. played a key role in bringing the healing practices of meditation, yoga and Ayurveda into the mainstream medical world and to countless people throughout the globe.

The Chopra Center staff and friends throughout the world expressed their sorrow at the news, responding with an outpouring of love on a special Web site,  created for the community to share  their stories and celebrate the life of a man who touched so many lives.

“David has been my friend, partner, teacher, trusted colleague,
and younger brother for more than twenty years,” said Deepak Chopra, a longtime medical colleague and friend who co-founded the Chopra Center for Wellbeing with Simon in 1996. “He has touched my heart, influenced the way I think, and expanded my spirit. David approached life from a place of pure potentiality and unlimited possibilities. His wisdom, courage and love will continue to inspire all of us for decades to come.”

Dr. Simon is the author of many best-selling books on health and well-being, including “Free to Love, Free to Heal: Heal Your Body by Healing Your Emotions,” “The Seven Spiritual Laws of Yoga Guidebook,” “Return to Wholeness: Embracing Body, Mind, and Spirit in the Face of Cancer,” “The Wisdom of Healing; Vital Energy,” and “The Ten Commitments: Translating Good Intentions into Great Choices.”

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, a contribution can be made to support Glioblastoma Cancer Research at U.C. San Diego.

Please visit the Remembering David Web site for the mailing
address or to make an online donation.

The magazine asked Dr. Allan Izikson, a dermatologist with the New York Dermatology Group in Manhattan about the use of grapeseed oil, and he agreed it can be very effective.

“Grapeseed oil is a good natural emollient,” Dr. Izikson said in the article. “It helps to moisturize skin while protecting and healing from UV exposure and other daily stressors.” He also explained it could be a good choice for people with skin sensitive to allergies because it has no chemicals, dyes or fragrances, and is full of antioxidants, which can slow down the aging process and help skin look younger.

It also has anti-inflammatory properties, so it can help with acne-prone skin!

The four-day retreat will offer attendees the chance to “come together to open individually and collectively to the silence of joy and being, and surrender to the depth and beauty of the present moment,” according to Omega.

Each day, Tolle will hold teaching sessions, but there will also be a time for personal reflection to explore the Omega campus.

For more information or to register, visit www.eomega.org.

Here are some of the tips she shared for creating a Feng Shui bathroom:

1. Keep the bathroom spotlessly clean and clutter-free. “Here is one place in your home where you definitely don’t want your Chi energy to get stuck,” Gallops said. This includes the closet and medicine cabinet. She recommends clearing everything out and only keeping things you use and love. Also, be sure to clean the bathroom thoroughly once a week, and always use clean towels and washcloths.

2. Be sure to balance the five elements. Bathrooms are associated with Feng Shui’s ‘water’ element, symbolizing spirituality, truth and reflection. “Water’s movement is downward and in fact your bathroom contains the most powerful drains in your home in the bathtub, sink and toilet,” she said. “To counteract this downward flow, balance water with wood, the element of upward movement and growth.” This can be accomplished with a healthy live or silk plant; items in the color green; or wood accessories, such as a wood toilet seat. Also, artwork with trees and tall buildings help as well.

3. Activate the right energy. Depending on which area of the house the bathroom is located, you can activate the energy there. Using a Bagua Map can help you figure the location out. If your bathroom is located in the Relationship area of the house, you can place candlesticks on the back of the toilet, Gallops noted, explaining one of her clients did this and reported “the glow of a wonderful relationship shortly thereafter.” If it’s in the Wealth area, add luxurious artwork to “evoke a feeling of abundance and remind you of the blessings in your life,” she said.

Set for September 4-8, 2012, at Asilomar Retreat Center in Monterey Bay, Calif., “Silent Awakenings” offers participants the chance to go beyond their regular meditation practice and extend the experience of silence and contemplation to help them “dive deeper and in turn be more present” in their lives, according to The Chopra Center.

“In our dynamic, goal-oriented world, we don’t usually spend much time or attention cultivating silence, but it has been my experience that learning to surrender to this quality of awareness nurtures all aspects of life – including our environment, our body, our relationships, our creative expression, our heart and soul,” said Simon.

The new retreat will be hosted by Dr. Deepak Chopra, Brent BecVar and Amanda Ringnalda. Each day, participants will be guided in Primordial Sound Meditation, yoga, walking meditations and journaling.

Pricing includes 5 days, 6 nights accommodations at Asilomar; three meals each day; guided Primordial Sound Meditation; daily yoga; journaling and guided nature walks; and evening meditation and community gatherings known as satsangs.

See below for a video of Asilomar, and for more information on the retreat, visit http://www.chopra.com/awakenings.

For more on Dr. Dyer, including the concept behind his newest book, check out our December 2011 issue cover story interview with him, or read the questions and answers that didn’t make the magazine.

Enjoy the preview!

First a Breath Awareness Guided Meditation offers a five-minute session to help center and relax the listener – ideal for when time is short! Next is the Deep Rest Guided Meditation, which is 13 minutes long and allows the listener to fall into a deep restful state – ideal for before bedtime. Last is the Whole Body Guided Relaxation, which is 24 minutes long and helps to locate tension in the body and let it go.

Version 5 is optimized for iPhone OS5, offers improved nature sounds with seamless looping, and a gradual fadeout of music and nature sounds at the end of the tracks.

Also available from Meditation Oasis is the “Simply Being” app, which offers voice-guided meditations; the “At Ease: Anxiety and Worry Relief” app; and the “Take a Break: Guided Meditations for Stress Relief” app.

“We’re excited to bring Chopra Yoga to Vancouver, a city that is emerging as a world class center for yoga,” said Chopra. “In our beautiful new studios, both beginners and advanced yogis will have an opportunity to explore the deepest principles of yoga and conscious living.”

The Chopra Yoga Center offers a wide variety of classes that range from meditation, hot hatha and power vinyasa to Cho fit, Yoga Barre and Pilates.

Additionally, the center offers classes that focus specifically on the Seven Spiritual Laws of Yoga – a practice developed by Chopra and Simon. In fact, the studio’s philosophy is inspired by the principles in Chopra’s best-selling book, “The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success,” as well as an emphasis on the benefits of yoga for physical health, spiritual awakening, and inner calm and balance.

“In our modern electronic culture, so many people feel fragmented and overwhelmed with stress,” Simon said. “Our intention with Chopra Yoga is to help as many people as possible experience the balance, calm, and vitality that yoga naturally cultivates.”

The Chopra Yoga Center is located at 451 Granville Street, in Vancouver B.C., and is now accepting new members. The programs are designed for both new and experienced yoga practitioners, and in recognition of the importance of community, five percent of all profits will be donated to local charities.

For more information, visit www.choprayoga.com.

The comforters will be delivered through Family Promise, a non-profit company committed to helping homeless and low-income families achieve lasting independence, and their affiliates throughout the United States.

“The Company Store’s loyal customers can participate with us in an act of kindness and generosity every time they purchase a comforter,” said Karen Feldman, director at The Company Store. “There are a significant number of homeless children in this country who are living without a warm bed, and The Company Store is committed to bringing some comfort and warmth to children in need throughout the year, not just during the holiday season.”

Last year, the company donated “tens of thousands of comforters” and plans to increase the amount this year, Feldman said.

“A comforter is something many of us may take for granted, but it makes a big impact on the lives of the children we work with daily — not only by keeping them warm at night, but by providing them in some small way with the comfort of home at a very difficult time,” said Karen Olson, president of Family Promise.

To purchase a comforter during the “Buy One, Give One promotion,” visit www.thecompanystore.com.

“Mindfulness is often spoken of as the heart of Buddhist meditation,” Kabat-Zinn said in the article. “It’s not about Buddhism, but about paying attention. That’s what all meditation is, no matter what tradition or particular technique is used.”

He spoke about Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and bringing the technique to medical patients in the form of an eight-week course.

“Recent studies from Massachusetts General Hospital have shown that eight weeks of MBSR can actually produce thickening in particular regions of the brain important for learning, memory, executive decision-making and perspective-taking: all important functions to have at optimal levels when you are under stress or experiencing pain,” Kabat-Zinn said in the article. “Also, certain regions get thinner like the amygdala, which involves threat and fear circuitry. If the amygdala is getting thinner after you’ve been practicing mindfulness for only eight weeks, I find that pretty amazing.”

For the full interview, visit Time Magazine.

In a recent issue of Prevention Magazine, we came across this recipe, which packs a ton of nutrients into one dish!

Quinoa contains eight essential amino acids and offers protein, fiber and calcium, while walnuts rank higher than all other nuts in alpha-linolenic acid – a form of Omega-3. Combined with the Omega-3 fatty acids found in cod, and this meal is a powerhouse!

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 30 Minutes
Servings: 4

INGREDIENTS
1 cup black or regular quinoa
1 tbsp olive oil
1 shallot, finely chopped (about ¼ cup)
1/3 cup ground walnuts plus ¼ cup broken halves
3 garlic cloves, minced
1/3 cup dry red wine
¼ cup reduced-sodium chicken broth
1 ½ tbsp pomegranate molasses or frozen cranberry juice concentrate
1 tbsp honey
4 cod fillets (6 oz each)
¼ cup chopped fresh parsley

DIRECTIONS:
Prepare quinoa per package directions.

Heat oil in medium non-stick skillet over medium heat while quinoa cooks. Add shallot and cook, stirring until softened – 2 minutes. Add ground walnuts and garlic, and cook until walnuts are golden brown, about 4 minutes longer. Remove from heat and add wine, broth, molasses and honey. Simmer, stirring occasionally until thickened, about 4 minutes. (Makes about ¾ cup). Transfer sauce to gravy boat.

Heat broiler. Season fish with salt and pepper, and arrange in a single layer on a sheet pan lined with nonstick foil. Broil until cooked through, about 6 minutes.

Toss quinoa with parsley and broken walnuts. Spoon onto 4 plates and top with fish and sauce.

Yoga works to increase metabolism by building muscle – without the need for weights or resistance bands!

Here are the poses shared in the article:

Twisted Chair Pose – This aids in increasing circulation, works all the muscles in the body and awakens internal organs, the article stated. It also improved digestion!

Locust Pose – This back bend builds muscles in the lower back and legs, while increasing energy.

Bow Pose – Another back bend that can help with anxiety, fatigue and minor back pain, according to Yahoo.

Eagle Pose – This pose builds lean muscle in the legs, and also helps with digestion and increased concentration.

Crescent Lunge Pose – With this pose, you will increases the heart rate, tone the legs and stretch the hips.

Bridge Pose – This pose massages the thyroid gland because the chest is moved up toward the chin, the article explained. The thyroid creates the hormones that control metabolism, so this can help the body burn more calories.

Plow Pose – As an inversion pose, this raises circulation in the adrenal, thyroid and pituitary glands.

Shoulder Stand – Another inversion and similar to the Plow Pose, with similar benefits as well, the report stated.

Fish Pose – This pose relaxes the body by opening the neck – where many people carry stress.

Researchers evaluated 67 patients (ages 20 to 70) with rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis or psoriatic arthritis for at least 12 months, and patients were randomly assigned to participate in either 10 group sessions of mindfulness exercises over 15 weeks, plus a booster session 6 months after the end of the course, or to standard care plus a CD containing similar mindfulness exercises for home use, an emaxhealth report explained.

During the mindfulness sessions, patients were led by trained professionals and encouraged to deal with their limitations and emotions, and to practice awareness. Creative exercises including music, drawing and guided imagery were also part of the sessions, the report stated.

The results showed people who attended the sessions showed less stress and fatigue – specifically 11 of the 13 patients who had had high stress scores before attending the sessions subsequently scored lower at the 12-month follow-up.

Fatigue levels also were significantly reduced at 12 months among the patients who participated in mindfulness compared with the control group, who reported no change.

According to the authors of the rheumatoid arthritis study, their findings “indicate that the participants may have incorporated some mindfulness strategies into their daily lives and that these strategies have strengthened their ability to respond to their stressful experience in a more flexible way,” the report stated.

“I also meditate. I took classes and have gotten pretty good at it,” she said in the report. “I can stay under and focus for 30 minutes. I put lavender on my forehead.”

Fox also mixes lavender oil with vanilla oil for a fragrance, “as they smell really good together,” she said.

The results of a study done by researchers, Yaowarat Matchim, a former nursing doctoral student, Jane Armer, professor of nursing, and Bob Stewart, professor emeritus of education and adjunct faculty in nursing, called “Effects of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) on Health Among Breast Cancer Survivors,” was published in the Western Journal of Nursing Research.

Researches found that breast cancer survivors’ health improved after they learned Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), which incorporates meditation, yoga, and physical awareness, the report stated.

“Post diagnosis, breast cancer patients often feel like they have no control over their lives,” Armer said in the report. “Knowing that they can control something — such as meditation — and that it will improve their health gives them hope that life will be normal again.”

The university’s MBSR program consists of group sessions over eight to 10 weeks, where participants practice meditation skills, discuss how their bodies respond to stress, and learn coping techniques.

Researchers found survivors who learned MBSR lowered their blood pressure, heart rate and respiratory rate, and their moods improved. Also, their level of mindfulness increased after taking the class, Armer said.

“Mindfulness-based meditation, ideally, should be practiced every day or at least on a routine schedule,” she said in the report, explaining the approach works best as a compliment to other treatment options such as chemotherapy, radiation and surgery.

This year, instead of making your usual resolutions, try a few that will connect you with your higher self, and with the Divine source inside us all. If you start here, the other stuff will fall into place.

Here are five spiritual resolutions worth making and keeping this year:

1. Spend time quieting your mind every day. Meditation, whether using a mantra or simply concentrating on your breath, can help you connect to the truth and strength within. It will raise your vibration, lower your blood pressure and improve your life in countless ways.

2. Every morning when you wake up and every evening when you go to sleep, check in with your angels and spirit guides. Thank them for their guidance and ask them to open your eyes, ears and heart to the messages and signs they send you throughout the day — then pay attention to them when they come your way!

3. Create a gratitude journal and write down five things you are grateful for each day. Then write down five things you want to attract in your life as if you have already received them, and thank the Divine for sending them into your life.

4. Come up with at least five ways to give back – to your friends, family, community or the world. Whether you volunteer at a local community center, nursing home or hospital; create a family game night where once a month you come together with family to laugh, love and have fun; or donate to a charity such as Habitat for Humanity, or your local PBS Television station, do something to give back without expecting anything in return.

5. Make a list of affirmations to say to yourself as you are getting ready for the day, or getting ready for bed. Concentrate on topics where you are trying to manifest something, or an area of your life you want to improve. For example, for abundance and money, “Signs of abundance are all around me, and money flows to me easily and often.” For health and healing, “My body is healthy, whole and complete. I feel better with each passing day. All is well.”

Happy New Year from Elevated Existence! May this year be filled with blessings and love for us all!

Tammy Mastroberte
Founder, Publisher & Editorial Director
Elevated Existence Magazine
www.elevatedexistence.com

“Naturally the way it works is: Spirituality, so if I’m centered spiritually and really in tune with more than myself – a higher power so to speak. Then my sobriety: I can’ stay sober if I don’t have some kind of spirituality. Then after that comes relationships, etc. But really those top three are the most important,” he said in the article.

Sixx also spoke about writing, explaining that he journals as a way to stay centered. “For me, writing is a way to vent and work stuff out,” he said. “I’ve always believed that journal writing and diary writing is important to being centered as a person. I still write a journal. I’ve got to work it out on paper sometimes before I work it out in my mind. I work it out, and I’m always solving problems.”

For more on the role spirituality plays in recovery from addiction, read our award-winning article “Searching for Spirit.”

Known for his daily practice of both yoga and Transcendental Meditation, Simmons is a devoted vegan who only eats plant-based products, and has done so for at least 10 years, according to an article on GlobalGrind.com.

“The horrible abuse of animals is the worst karmic disaster in the history of human kind,” Simmons said as he accepted the award. “The work that PETA does to combat this catastrophe is amazing. I’m truly humbled to be chosen as this year’s Person of the Year, but the praise should go to the hundreds of thousands of volunteers that are on the ground doing the work. I accept this honor on their behalf.”

Simmons will also be featured in PETA’s limited-edition sheet of U.S. postage PhotoStamps showing vegetarians throughout history, according to Global Grind.

Congratulations Russell Simmons!! For more information, visit www.peta.org.

To preview the past issues of Elevated Existence featuring Russell Simmons, visit our Archives section.

“Aromatherapy has long been used to treat everything from congestion to anxiety,” said Alex Keyan, CEO of Cleopatra’s Choice. “Our customers are serious about using natural ways of improving their lives and the essential oil line fits that perfectly. The difference this time is the pampering is a mind-body experience.”

The new line includes a variety of products such as Lavender oil (known to calm the body and mind; Tee Tree oil, often used an antibacterial and antifungal treatment; and Peppermint oil, an energizing fragrance that can  help with congestion or sore muscles.

For more on the essential oils and other products from Cleopatra’s Choice, visit  www.cleopatraschoice.com.

Flavors include summer fruit, lemon drop (with an SPF 15), strawberry sorbet, honeysuckle honeydew, medicated tangerine and sweet mint – and the sweet mint makes your lips tingle!

We recently picked up the Holiday 3-pack to test it out in the office, and we all agree it’s ideal for a nighttime treatment because it really lasts!

The company also makes the lip balm in a stick, and recently added hand cream and body lotion to its line-up. Check out more at www.evolutionofsmooth.com.

For example, using a salt inhaler can help with sinus allergies and asthma, as well as treating a cold or flu. And for people suffering from dry skin or even psoriasis, Dr. Oz recommended a salt bath. By adding a half cup of sea salts and a half cup of colloidal oatmeal to a bath, it can both hydrate the skin and decrease inflammation.

Thanks Dr. Oz!

The article explains how to make a homemade sugar scrub – which is much less abrasive than a salt variety. The best part is there are only two main ingredients – sugar and oil! Brown sugar is suggested for those with sensitive skin because it is much softer than granulated, and for those who prefer a coarser texture, raw sugar is the best choice.

When it comes to the oil, it’s up to you! Almond oil, coconut oil, baby oil, avocado oil and even olive oil can be used. To add a scent, drop in some essential oils, and for extra skin benefits, add in a teaspoon of honey.

So what’s the recipe? It comes down to one part oil and two parts sugar, according to the article.

1. Place the sugar in a glass bowl and slowly stir in the oil with a wooden stick. The mixture will look lumpy and a dry, but it should, so don’t add more oil!  Here is where you can add a few drops of essential oil, or lemon zest, according to the report.
2. Fill a glass jar with the scrub and screw the lid on tightly.

That’s it! And it’s a great gift idea too!

Native to the mountains of the Mediterranean basin, lavender is cultivated widely throughout Europe, the U.S. and Australia, and was used widely as an antiseptic in Greek, Roman and Arabian medicines, the Fox News report stated. The name lavender is actually derived from the Latin “lavar,” which means to wash, and early Romans used lavender to scent baths and on floors to fragrance a room, while King Charles VI of France actually required a lavender pillow wherever he slept.

Dr. James Duke, in his best-selling book “The Green Pharmacy,” recommends regarding lavender in cases of amenorrhea (loss of menstruation), burns, carpal tunnel syndrome, insomnia, pain, psoriasis and vaginitis, the report stated. Also, in Germany, the Commission E, which regulates herbal remedies, supports its use for restlessness, insomnia, and nervous stomach and intestinal complaints, according to Fox News.

Some other common uses for lavender oil include:

- Soaking in a bath with Epsom salts and lavender oil to sooth sore muscles and pain.
- Add a few drops to face cream to help kill bacteria that causes acne.
- After running cold water on a minor burn, apply lavender oil for the pain and to eliminate scarring.
- Add two drops (along with two drops of thyme oil to bowl of near-steaming water an inhale slowly for help with sinusitis.
- Spray a lavender mist to help calm stress and anxiety.
- Spraying pure lavender mist onto sunburn can help with the pain and stinging.
- Pour boiling water over ne teaspoon of fresh or dried lavender flowers to make a tea that will calm the nerves, settle a nervous stomach or induce sleep.

Mercree guides readers on the path she refers to as “spiritual dating,” which includes healing the past, opening the heart and utilizing spiritual tools, including intuition, to find the right partner. The book is filled with exercises, including a post-date compatibility exercise, real-life examples, and clear direction for spiritual people seeking love. And it’s not just for the girls – men can learn a lot from the book too!

The book comes out on Jan. 15, but you can pre-order your copy now! Start the New Year off right, and find love in 2012!

The event, called iOM Online will run on a similar platform to the company’s regular software, but it’s been created to run within Facebook for a multi-player environment.

“iOM Online takes meditation to whole new, global level,” said Kyle Widner, president and CEO of Wild Divine. “Imagine a world where you can connect with people you know and people you want to know in a revolutionary new way that no one has been able to bring to you before. You’ll actually be able to see into the mind and heart of the people you meditate with…even if you’re thousands of miles apart and from different cultures, with iOM Online on Facebook, you can make a never before experienced connection.”

By using the Wild Divine Software Platform and the iOM interface, a person will get immediate “active feedback,” because the system picks up physiological energy from the body and translates it into “psychic” energy through the iOM, an interface that passively attaches to three fingers, according to the company.

Step-by-step interactive instructions will be provided, and as a participant in Wild Divine’s group cyber meditation, people will get feedback on how much progress they have made by reading their vital functions – and will also see how the group is progressing.

And what makes it even better is every time the group completes a series of group goals together, five charitable causes will receive a donation.

To participate a person needs to be a Wild Divine Facebook fan (http://www.facebook.com/wild.divine.fans) and have an iOM installed on his or her computer.

For more information, visit www.wilddivine.com.

Well, welcome to Zoya Nail Polish! Not only is it free of toluene, formaldehyde, DBP and Camphor, but it’s also Vegan- friendly, and has been voted the longest wearing natural nail polish by an independent panel in Women’s Health Magazine.

And to keep up with the trends, the brand offers Seasonal Nail Polish collections with the latest nail polish and cosmetic colors each year. The company also releases limited editions throughout the year. One of the newest collections is the 2011 Feel Winter Neutrals Collection. Check out these new winter neutrals in the video below!

So what does Oprah miss most about doing her show? “I miss the audience, I miss the people…what I miss the most is talking to people,” Oprah said, as reported by EmaxHealth.

Her new show takes her out of the studio and on the road, which will allow her to connect with people once again. “The most important thing for me was to be able to make the transformation to something really different, so I wanted to get out of ‘the chair,’” she said. “I think that for 25 years I’ve felt like, ‘I’m in the chair, I’m in the chair.’ And so, I’ve been out of the chair and out into the world just talking to people who I thought were interesting.”

Some of these include talking to George Lucas and Cuba Gooding Jr. about a movie that tells the story of the Tuskegee Airmen; eating a meal with members of a Jewish Hasidic family who had never heard of Oprah before; fishing with Paula Deen at her home in Savannah, Georgia; discussing drug use with Steven Tyler in his home; and, fire-walking over hot coals with Tony Robbins. She also plans to visit India with Deepak Chopra and Haiti with Sean Penn.

“I believe that there are multiple ways of reaching people…and I believe that my calling—and everybody in here has a calling—has been since I was three years old and speaking in a church in Mississippi, was to be a sweet inspiration where I could. And to literally allow people to see for themselves how your life can be better—and I can do that through telling stories,” Oprah said on the Dr. Oz Show. “The purpose of the network is to create a space where people can come and get little pieces of light, little pieces of inspiration that will lift them up. I always wanted to have a platform where people could come in and see the best of themselves.”

“How do you know when you are ready for transformation?” Dr. Oz asked Oprah. She explained that we all go through patterns of change and growth and we reach a point where we have gone as far as we can emotionally and spiritually, and we need to move on toward another level to begin growing again. This is the point she reached with “The Oprah Winfrey Show.”

Dr. Oz also asked Oprah how she manages to stay true to herself and what she believes in when she has so many people with differing expectations of her.

“It’s about knowing steadfastly who you are and knowing what your vision is for your life and holding onto that… I have a vision for the future and I am steadfast in pursuing that until at some point I recognize that I should be pursuing something else,” she said. “You are not defined by what other people say about you. You are not defined even by what you do. But you are defined at this moment, by the hope and the light that you bring to this moment.”

Oprah also shared that she and her staff have begun meditating daily after visiting a town in Iowa where one third of the entire town is focused on transcendental meditation. “You cannot imagine what’s happened in my company,” as a result of meditation, Oprah explained. “People who used to have migraines—don’t. People are sleeping better. People have better relationships. The one thing I want to continue to do is to center myself every day and make that a practice for myself because I am 1000 percent better when I do that—when I take myself back to something bigger than myself.”

With natural food remedies, there is not down side, Bauer explained in the MSNBC report. “You may as well try them. You can alleviate lousy symptoms you may be having,” she said.

1. Lower Blood Sugar – Vinegar, particularly for people with type 2 diabetes, can “blunt the rise in blood sugar,” if a person takes two to four teaspoons with or before a meal, Bauer said. The easiest way to do this is to mix it with olive oil and use it as a salad dressing or on a meal.

2. Control a Cough – Honey can help a child fall asleep when battling a cough, as it helps to coat and soothe the throat, and loosen mucus. For kids ages 1 to 6 (not recommended for children under 1) a half teaspoon 30 minutes before bedtime can help, Bauer noted. If a child is over 6, one or two teaspoons will help – and the same is true for adults.

3. Ease Menstrual Cramps – Bauer suggested chamomile tea to help women with menstrual cramps because “it elevates glycine in the body, which is an amino acid that squashes muscle spasms,” she said. “One to three cups a day during the menstrual cycle, and it’s caffeine-free so you don’t have to worry about it interrupting sleep.”

4. Irritable Bowl – Peppermint oil relaxes the muscles in the lining of the intestines, and taking peppermint capsules – one three times each day, 30 minutes before a meal – can make a difference, Bauer said.

See the video below for more information.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

“The energy of our thoughts and feelings goes into the world and people pick it up,” Richardson said. “The thoughts we think and the words we say create feelings, and our feelings are the currency in which we purchase our life experience. We want more money or a better relationship because we think it will make us feel better, but if we could just feel better then everything will fall into place.”

The first step to an exceptional life is starting your day on a positive note, and Hay told the audience how every day she wakes up and thanks her bed for a good night’s sleep. “Today will be an effortless and joyful day, and everything will be wonderful,” is one of the affirmations she shared from her morning routine.

By doing this you program yourself and your day, Richardson noted, explaining Hay also keeps a mirror at her desk so she can say loving things to herself during the day.

“One of the best things you can do for yourself is look in the mirror and say, ‘I love you. I really, really love you.’ I’m into simple things because I’ve realized that simple things work. Force yourself to look in the mirror and say beautiful things to yourself,” Hay told the audience, explaining each of us need to be our own cheerleaders. We should never put ourselves down, nor should we allow others to do so.

“If you can just do positive affirmations until you get yourself to the kitchen table then you are setting yourself up for an exceptional day – which will set you up for an exceptional life,” Hay said. “What you really are aiming at is how you can feel good all day long.”

The authors asked the audience what they thought about when walking out the door in the morning or getting into the car. Hay often blesses all the drivers on the road and thanks the car for a safe trip.

“Think about where you want to be and then create an affirmation around it,” Richardson said.

Below is a list of some affirmations shared at the conference:

-Everything I do brings me joy.
-Abundance flows into my life in surprising and miraculous ways.
-I bless and prosper everyone in my world and every one in my world blesses and prospers me.
-I only attract loving people into my world for they are a mirror of what I am.
-I love myself, therefore I forgive and totally release the past and all past experiences, and I am free.

For more coverage of the “I Can Do It NY” conference, read our free preview article “Choosing Change,” featuring Marianne Williamson, Dr. Fabrizio Mancini and Iyanla Vanzant.

The team created the Street King energy shot and for every shot sold, a meal is provided to a hungry child, according to the product’s Web site, www.streetking.com. The group is working with the United Nations World Food Programme, and to date has funded 3.5 million meals through sales of the energy shot.

In the new commercial, Deepak Chopra is seen guiding 50 Cent through a meditation, when a strange energy enters the room and blows out the candles. Enter Street King energy shot!

See the video of the commercial below!

Below is part of the interview not featured in the new issue. For the full 10-page cover story, check out our current issue!

Elevated Existence: When did you first become interested in self-improvement or self-help topics?

Dr. Wayne Dyer: What always intrigued me, even as a young boy, was people with super powers, like Captain Marvel, Superman, Batman and other comic characters that had extraordinary powers. I always felt we all had extraordinary powers. Magicians always interested me and people who could perform magic. I even wrote a book called, “Real Magic,” because I think there is real magic in the world.

I was also always intrigued by what I read from Abraham Maslow when he talked about self-actualizing people and how they are different from ordinary people. I think my conclusion at this time in my life, and for most of my life, is that most of us are born and raised to be ordinary, which isn’t bad, but it just wasn’t for me. To be ordinary meant to fit in, to be good at and do well in school, to have a family, to pay your bills, to stay out of trouble, to be an average person and just to fit in. I think we are conditioned and trained from the time we were very young to be ordinary, and I’ve always been intrigued by extraordinary.

Great spiritual masters were always very intriguing to me as well. The stories of Jesus, and the healings, raising the dead and converting stone into bread and water into wine. Also, having him say, “Even the least among you can do all that I have done and even greater things,” – I took that literally. I just really believed we are all internally in possession of divine guidance and divine intelligence. That inside each and every one of us is God. And it’s just a spark in most people. For me, it’s always trying to raise it from a spark to maybe a piece and then to a chunk, and a larger piece, and ultimately beginning to realize that our total essence is really God. That is what has always intrigued me.

It wasn’t so much about self-improvement, but about getting people to see they are magnificent, that they have so much ability, talent and guidance available to them, and that they can do extraordinary things. The idea of being able to levitate, and to have miraculous things happen in meditation and have miraculous healings take place – all of that stuff really resonated with me. It still does.

EE: So many people get caught up in what they have to do to manifest what they desire. Is this something we have to sit down and do on a daily basis?

Dyer: It’s something that you have to be, and you have to be it all the time. We are not human doings, we are human beings, and this is not about something to do. This is about a new awareness. In order to attract something into your life, or in order to change something in your life, you must first be willing to change your concept of yourself, and your concept of yourself is everything you’ve come to believe as true. And everything you’ve come to believe as true is mostly based upon what you’ve been taught, which is that you are ordinary, and there are limited things that you can do.

In order to change, in order to elevate your consciousness, which your magazine talks about, you have to change things that you’ve come to believe are true, and really understand that the highest place within yourself is God. That’s who you are. And that’s not blasphemy. That’s not God in the sense of the God that we created with our egos – the one that is angry at people, and the God who is better than everybody else, and is floating above and making all the decisions. The God that Jesus spoke about when he said, “God is love, pure love, and he that dwelleth in love, dwelleth in me.”

You have to be pure love, and you have to live your magnificence and recognize that’s all you have to give away. Then that is how you treat everyone and everything in the universe, and you begin to see what Carlos Castaneda talked about. Trees don’t look like trees anymore, and the ocean doesn’t look like the ocean anymore. Everything looks like a miracle. You have to go through life and be astonished and be blissful. Rumi said, “Sell your cleverness and purchase bewilderment.” You have to be bewildered and just in awe of it all, and know that whatever you place into your imagination and live from and feel within your body will harden into a fact because that’s how creation takes place.

People get tripped up in the belief that if they get a new Rolex or a new BMW or a new house or something like that, then that’s going to bring them fulfillment and happiness, and I’ve always believed you don’t attract what you want, you attract what you are.

If you are pure love, then you are aligned with the universal subconscious mind in such a way that it will offer you up experiences that match up to how you are thinking and how you are processing your world. If you’re coming from love, love will show up in your heart. If you’re coming from frustration, anger, worry, hatred, bitterness, tension, stress – if you’re coming from those places, which most people are, then you will attract more of that because your subconscious mind cannot make a distinction between what it is you are experiencing every day in your reality and what you are thinking.

So if you change the way you think, if you literally change the way you process the world to be love, your subconscious mind will begin to align with the one subconscious mind that we are all connected to, and you’ll start seeing those things show up for you. It has to work that way.

I think a lot of people get caught up with having money show up, and greed and so on, and it’s not about any of that. It’s about love. Pure love.

Want to hear more from Dr. Dyer? Subscribe, purchase a digital copy of the issue or have it mailed to you! Find details on our current issue page!

Many rush to get gift shopping done because they feel overwhelmed by the number of people on their list – or fight to get the best sales and end up pepper-sprayed (one woman’s weapon of choice on this year’s Black Friday). Or they vow not to fight with family members, but then hot buttons get pushed and emotions erupt at the holiday table.

This time of year also causes us to remember those loved ones who have passed to “the other side,” and that not only adds stress, but often pain and grief. My mother left this physical world three days after Christmas in 1999 from a sudden brain aneurysm when I was only 22 years old, and although I know she is with us in spirit (and always sends signs, like the dining room lights going out during Chirstmas dinner when the only way to do that is to physically turn the dimmer switch!), there is still a hole in my heart and a seat missing at the table each year.

What if we could break that pattern of panic, stress and craziness that often consumes our holiday season, and replace it with peace, serenity and enjoyment? This in my plan this year, and I would love for you to join me!

Try some of these tips to keep you centered and calm this season – (instead of praying for New Year’s Day to come so it will all be over!)

1. Make a Vow to Get Quiet Twice Each Day. Even if it’s for only 10 minutes, five in the morning and five before you go to bed, make the time to center yourself, focus on your breath (or repeat a mantra if that’s your practice). You will find you can handle the excitement and unexpected happenings throughout the day (and holiday season) much better this way!

2. Make a list and check it twice! Combat the chaos in your mind by putting it down onto paper! Grab a pen and make a list of what you need to accomplish, whether it’s buying gifts, wrapping them, or baking cookies for this year’s swap. Also, print out a calendar of the month and mark off days for the different tasks ahead of time. As you check each item off, the feeling of accomplishment, and knowing you are closer to the end goal will keep you on track!

3. Stick to a Budget. Create a budget you can afford to spend on gifts, food, etc. this year, and stick to it. This way, when the season is over, so are the bills! (Check out some of our affordable gift picks this year, and enter to win one).

4. Don’t Forget to Give. No matter what holiday you celebrate, giving is the most important part. And it’s not the amount of money you spend, or how many presents you buy – it’s about giving of yourself. Sign up to serve food at your local shelter, donate to the local food pantry, or wrap a few gifts for children in need this year. If you have children, ask them to donate some of their toys to children who don’t have many of their own, or add a toy to the gift list for Toys for Tots this year. (Elevated Existence staff will be working to wrap presents where the proceeds go to the local women’s shelter). These are the gifts that come from the soul and not the ego.

5. Follow Don Miguel Ruiz. This holiday season, when it comes to spending time with difficult family members or friends, remember the Four Agreements: “Be impeccable with your word” because you only have control over what you say, and not what others say to you. Let your words come from love. “Don’t take anything personally” because nothing anyone says or does has anything to do with you – it’s about them! “Don’t make assumptions.” This alone can help avoid misunderstandings and drama. And “Always do your best.” All you can do is strive to do your best each moment!

This year, don’t get caught up in the drama of it all! Set your intention to enjoy the holidays, and know in your heart that you will achieve that goal!

Blessings and love!

Tammy Mastroberte
Founder, Publisher & Editorial Director
Elevated Existence Magazine
www.elevatedexistence.com

Demonstrations included breathing exercises and mindful walking in a small circle to help the teen free themselves of anger and frustration, preventing conflict, the report stated.

“This is a way of regaining your freedom in a space that doesn’t feel very free or spacious for you,” Sister True Vow said in the report, explaining how walking in a small circle can be liberating, which is an ideal exercise for the teenagers who are confined to a small detention space.

“It can be calming, even when we’re angry,” she said. “At least I’m walking. At least I’m walking.”

The teaching group was brought in by The Lineage Project, which teaches yoga and meditation to approximately 500 young people in NYC detention centers each year, and the services are free.

“I’m one of the people who gets frustrated a lot,” a 17-year-old girl in the detention center told NBC New York. “I’m one of the people who will usually bang on things. Now they taught me to walk around in circles and calm down. If I don’t realize what I’m doing, I’m always gonna end up in a place like this.”

Additionally, a 15-year-old boy explained many of his bad decisions were driven by greed. He told NBC if he had known some of the practices being taught, he might not have ended up in the detention center.

“You gotta be mindful of your movements,” he said. “Think before you act.”

See more in the the video below:

View more videos at: http://nbcnewyork.com.

As the ex-CEO of Baby Phat clothing line and ex-wife of Russell Simmons, Kimora manages a full line of clothing and accessories as CEO of her new company, KLS Enterprises and president of JustFabulous, an online style-of-the-month club, according to a report by Insider Entertainment.

She admits her reality show isn’t filled with the drama seen in other shows, proving that reality can still be entertaining without “crazy stuff.”

“There are 500 shows in America where they are always fighting and cursing, but my show is not like that; I think that’s garbage,” Simmons said in the report. “I really feel that the state of reality TV is going down. I’m not proud of that. I’m not proud of how women are depicted when you are fighting and scratching and cursing your mom, and you are naked. My show [though it’s become a hit] has none of that.”

“Life in the Fab Lane,” shows her as a businesswoman who remains devoted to her family. “I got a TV show because of my work and credibility in the fashion business, not because of hilarious things I do or crazy stuff…,” she said.“Yes it has a bit of my husband, my children, but when it turns just a little exploitative, I back off.”

In addition to practicing meditation every day, she also makes time to bond with her children, which is when she finds herself most happy, the report stated. “I practice Transcendental Meditation. I do it for like 10 minutes in the morning and again in the evening,” she said in the report.

She also revealed plans to release a sequel to her book “Fabulosity” next year. “Fabulosity today is not the same as it was years ago, but the idea of beauty and power coming from the inside has not changed,” she said.