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Originally published in Human Shift Magazine, a bi-annual book where culture, sport and spirituality meet. You might take acid and go to work. In fact, you might take acid specifically because you are going to work. In Silicon Valley, because coffee only goes so far, the search for greater focus and productivity has led to a reboot of psychedelics: microdosing. To microdose is to take a small enough quantity of a drug to elicit no adverse side effects (i.e., no hugging of office plants), yet high enough to experience subtle physiological benefits. A…continue reading →

What’s possible when the body and mind are brought into balance? This was the subject of my recent interview with Ethan Nichtern, Buddhist teacher and author, on his podcast The Road Home. Nichtern is a keen cultural critic who has been interviewed about the relevance of Buddhism on CNN, NPR, and in The New York Times. Our conversation was wide ranging and explored: What are the cultural factors that cause us to become out of touch with our own bodies? And how does that carry over into meditation and our approach to spirituality? How does our desire…continue reading →

“Cure occasionally, relieve often, and console always.” Ambroise Paré, 16th-century physician   I love the spirit of Dr. Paré’s quote, acknowledging with humility that human health is larger than our comprehension and sophisticated beyond our tools. Well-being includes medicine to be sure, but it also includes appreciation, self-awareness, and community. There are only two days left in our special early registration discount for Unconditional Healing: A New Model of Health for Difficult Times. Register before April 20 and you save $75. I’ll co-teach the retreat with Jeff Rubin, a very special person who…continue reading →

  In this episode of Cultivating a Healing Mindset, I share a wonderfully helpful technique for moving past stuck places around difficult emotions and pain. RAIN, a four step process developed by Insight meditation teachers, helps us be less at war with ourselves during times of adversity or discomfort. With this gentle yet brilliant technique, you can explore what is holding you back from compassion or insight. It's meant to be applied either on the meditation cushion or on the spot. In this video, I'll guide you through the four steps and give…continue reading →

  "Be positive.” “Hang in there.” “Don’t worry.” In the pantheon of well-intentioned but lame advice, ill people have borne the brunt of it. Whether you’re suffering from chronic pain, stress, or just feeling out of sorts, the underlying message from others tends to be that you aren’t trying hard enough. If only you were more disciplined, rational, or grateful, life would be better. This can lead to an attitude that something is deeply wrong with us – perhaps that’s caused our predicament? The ancient teachings of Buddhism however point us towards a…continue reading →

We all face times where we struggle to find balance between our two important Rs — responsibility and relaxation. From meeting important deadlines to getting a healthy dinner on the table, completing our to-do list shouldn’t require that we sacrifice health and wellness. Prioritizing our physical health is an important aspect of self-care — not only will we be better able to succeed in caring for ourselves, but we’ll be better able to care for others. Find the balance between your two Rs with these tips for balancing your fitness routine with self-care.…continue reading →

A healing mindset is much more than just having a positive attitude. It's healing the rift between how we wish we were (or think we should be) and how we actually are from one moment to the next. It's about dropping the exhausting resistance we have to our own emotions. In this video, I'll explore 3 different components of a healing mindset: Presence, Openness, and being Actively Kind (to oneself and others). You'll learn a short practice for each of these different components.continue reading →

I just left a sweaty Catholic school gym where 400 members of the Park Slope Food Coop (disproportionately shod in Keen and Birkenstock sandals) voted overwhelmingly to endorse the New York Health Act, a Medicare for all plan that is one state senator away from passing here in New York. I don’t normally write about political issues, and I’m going to continue that tradition today since I believe that healthcare shouldn’t be a political issue. Watch Jimmy Kimmel tearfully explain in a mixture of disgust and gratefulness how, after seeing his newborn son’s…continue reading →

Emotional Wellness: How To Take Care Of Yourself Guest Post by Melissa Howard of stopsuicide.info In the light of two very publicized and tragic suicides, this post comes from Melissa Howard and the organization stopsuicide.info.   For many Americans, focusing on emotional wellness can be a double-edged sword. In one sense, it’s a good way to ensure that you’re feeling good every day, but it can also bring painful memories or emotions to the forefront, keeping a vicious cycle alive in your mind. Finding a good balance will allow you to take good…continue reading →