Transformation American MEDITATION Institute
OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2017
americanmeditation.org
AVERILL PARK, NEW YORK
Yoga Science for Modern Life 9th Annual 30 CME Conference
October 24-28, 2017 Cranwell Resort & Spa • Lenox, MA americanmeditation.org/cme
DEAR PHYSICIAN Heal Thyself! (And everyone else with a mind and body)
Photo: 123RF.com
Rediscover your love of medicine (and life) “Change your perspective––change your experience. AMI’s 9th annual Heart and Science of Yoga® physicians’ conference offers a refreshingly new, clearer and kinder perspective on yourself and every responsibility you face. Through engaging lectures by an accomplished faculty, instructive practicums and ongoing Q&A, you’ll return home
with a set of practical tools that can empower you to make discriminating and reliable choices, and to realize that you are the architect of your life. Regardless of how challenged or burned out you might feel today, Yoga Science can help enrich your work-life balance.” Leonard Perlmutter, AMI Founder –– See inside.
AMI Classes for October - December 2017
The Heart and Science of Yoga
®
Empowering Self-Care Program
Reduce Stress & Burnout • Relieve Pain • Optimize Health with Leonard Perlmutter (Ram Lev), AMI Founder A modern link to the world’s oldest continuous spiritual tradition
Introduction to Self-Care Now, in your present situation, you need to successfully balance all your many personal, professional and family responsibilities. AMI’s time-tested Heart and Science of Yoga ® Complete Self-Care Program will help you transform your stresses into strength, sharpen your decision-making skills, and meet every one of your challenges creatively.
What is Self-Care? Self-care is an essential survival skill. SelfCare refers to easy-to-learn daily practices that can reduce stress and maintain and enhance your short and long term health and well-being. By maintaining AMI’s Self-Care Program you’ll be able to fulfill all your personal and professional commitments effectively and rewardingly.
Purposes of Self-Care Self-Care is not simply about limiting or eliminating stressors. It is also about enhancing your overall health and wellbeing. The purposes of Self-Care include: • Strengthening physical and psychological health • Managing, reducing and transforming stress • Honoring emotional and spiritual needs • Fostering and sustaining relationships
“A problem cannot be solved on the level at which it appears. It must be solved on a higher level.” ALBERT EINSTEIN AMI’s Heart and Science of Yoga® Complete Self-Care Program teaches you how to reliably access your own inner, intuitive wisdom from the superconscious portion of the mind. By accessing this “higher level” of knowledge you will know (and know that you know) how to make positive, stress reducing and health affirming lifestyle choices.
Self-Care is essential to your OPTIMAL HEALTH Herbert Benson, MD of the Harvard Medical School, says the maintenance of optimal health is analogous to a three-legged stool that must be supported by SELF-CARE. Such as AMI’s
Heart and Science of Yoga ® Complete Self-Care Program
Optimal
HEALTH
Self-Care Pharmaceuticals
Surgery
Leonard Perlmutter Leonard is a noted educator and founder of The American Meditation Institute. He is the author of The Heart and Science of Yoga® and the mind/body medicine journal, Transformation. He has presented self-care courses at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Albany Medical College, The New York Times Yoga Forum with Dean Ornish MD and the U. S. Military Academy at West Point.
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americanmeditation.org • Tel. (518) 674-8714
What A MI’s Self-Care Program Can Do for YOU In 2007, AMI conducted a retrospective case study of participants who completed Leonard Perlmutter’s Heart and Science of Yoga ® Self-Care Program. The findings included these positive, reproducible, long-term health-promoting changes: • Reduced cholesterol levels • Significant reductions in stress and fear • Improved energy levels • Diminished or extinguished • Increased creative capacity • Decreased anxiety and depression acute and chronic pain • Diminishment of migraine headaches • Lowered blood pressure • Weight loss • Heals irritable bowel syndrome • Lowered heart rate • Increased breathing capacity • Enhanced happiness and optimism • Improved restorative sleep
The Heart and Science of Yoga ® Self-Care Program Curriculum AMI Meditation • Mantra Science • Diaphragmatic Breathing • Yoga Psychology Mind Function Optimization • Easy-Gentle Yoga • Lymph System Detox • Nutrition • Ayurveda YOGA SCIENCE How to use the mind for the best choices How to create new, healthier habits Understanding pain as an agent for healing Increasing energy, will power & creativity Antidotes for worry, stress and depression AMI MEDITATION Systematic procedure for AMI Meditation Diminishing distractions with mantra science Learning the one-minute meditation Building focus, fearlessness, and strength BREATHING TECHNIqUES Breath as Medicine How breathing irregularities foster dis-ease Complete (three-part) yogic breath
YOGA PSYCHOlOGY & AYURvEDA How the mind supports optimal health The power of the present moment Building and healing relationships Introduction to Ayurveda EASY-GENTlE YOGA ExERCISES Yoga stretches to benefit: muscles, joints, glands and internal organs Physiological benefits of yoga postures MIND /BODY CARE PlAN The healing power of prayer The practical benefit of contemplation Creating a therapeutic care plan for yourself Learning to budget your time Integrating spiritual beliefs into daily life
HEALTH INSURANCE CovERAgE Call us to discuss how your Health Insurance plan might cover this program. SATuRDAY MORNINgS: SEP 9 – OCT 14; NOV 4 – DEC 9; JAN 6 – FEB 10 9:00 - 11:30AM, $575. (6 WKS) Physicians $875; PAs, NPs, Psychologists: $775; RNs: $675
PHYSICIAN ACCREDITATION (15 CMEs) This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas and Policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education through the joint providership of Albany Medical College and The American Meditation Institute. Albany Medical College is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians. The Albany Medical College designates this Live activity for a maximum of 15 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits TM. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Required Texts: The Heart and Science of Yoga ® The Art of Joyful Living. Registration Includes: Lifelong support for your meditation practice, a 22 minute Guided Meditation CD, a copy of The Physiology of Easy-Gentle Yoga, and a complementary subscription to AMI’s quarterly publication, Transformation, the journal of meditation as mind/body medicine. NURSING CONTINUING EDUCATION (15 contact hours) This continuing nursing education activity was approved by the American Nurses Association Massachusetts (ANA MASS), an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.
The Heart and Science of Yoga ® Self-Care Program is Endorsed by Dr. Oz (Mehmet Oz MD), Dean Ornish MD, Bernie Siegel MD, Larry Dossey MD 3
americanmeditation.org • Tel. (518) 674-8714 9th Annual
PHYSICIANS’ 30 CME CONfERENCE October 24-28, 2017 Cranwell Resort & Spa • Lenox, MA
BEGINNER’S MEDITATION The Basics for getting Started Mary Holloway, Doreen Howe, André Tremblay, Beth Netter MD, Sandy Vo, Bob Iwaniec DC
LEvEL I: Have you thought about trying meditation, but wanted to learn and experience a little before you register for AMI’s 6 week Heart and Science of Yoga® Complete SelfCare Program? This two session course will provide you step-by-step guidance on how to start—and stick with—a daily meditation practice. It’s easier than you think to learn the basics! This class also includes a free “guided meditation” CD.
Now at Two locations: For Details: (518) 674-8714
americanmeditation.org/cme Delicious Gourmet Vegetarian Cuisine
Averill Park: AMI Home Center, 60 Garner Rd. 674-8714 Clifton Park: AMI North, 108 Old Coach Rd. 383-0994 SATuRDAY MORNINgS, 9:30 - 11:00AM, $95. (2 WKS) SEP 23 & 30; OCT 14 & 21; NOV 11 & 18 CLIFTON PARK
WEDNESDAY NIgHTS, 6:30 - 8:00PM, $95. (2 WKS) SEP 6 &13; OCT 11&18; NOV 8&15;DEC 6 &13 AVERILL PARK
From Recent Attendees 1. “This course was excellent and life changing by introducing me to a practice and philosophy so fundamentally different from the way allopathic medicine views the mind and body. I am so grateful for this experience, knowledge, expertise and compassion given by all the faculty and staff.” S.L. MD, NYC 2. “Life changing! Everyone in every facet of life should experience this. I’m so grateful for you and your institution and all involved for bringing truth to doctors with love and compassion. This is a light the world needs to see.” P.S. MD, RI 3. “This course has been the best CME course I have ever attended. It has given me a strong foundation, where I can help patients improve their lives with mindfulness. For myself, I have learned a skill that is lifelong and so powerful. I’m excited to use these skills for my greater good.” V.Q. MD, NYC 4. “A fantastic course! Very informative. It had a great mix of theory, science and practical use/practice. The spectrum of content was also balanced. Some of the more scientific/study presentations gave me the opportunity to see how I can incorporate this information within my practice.” R.G. MD, NY The AMI Core Curriculum is also endorsed by:
Dean Ornish MD, Dr. Oz (Mehmet Oz MD) Bernie Siegel MD, Larry Dossey MD
Directions to A MI • 60 Garner Road I-90 Exit #8 (Rt. 43 E). Take Rt. 43 for 4 1/2 miles. In W. Sand Lake, take a right turn at the lighted intersection onto Rt. 150. Go 1 mile on Rt. 150. Take a left turn on Cnty Rd #52/Sheer Rd (at stone wall). Go 1 mile on Sheer Rd and bear left at fork onto Garner Rd. AMI is the 3rd house on the right.
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MORNING YOGA FOR FIFTY PLUS Melanie (uma) gloeckner RYT Level I: Yoga for healthy aging focuses on developing increased flexibility and strength, improved balance, endurance and breath, reduced stress, relaxation and greater energy. WEDNESDAY MORNINgS, 9:45 - 11:00AM $60. (6 WKS) Aug 16 - SEP 20; SEP 27 - NOV 1; NOV 8 - DEC 13; DEC 20 - JAN 24 No experience necessary. Drop-Ins $15.
FREE SUNDAY MEDITATION Leonard (Ram Lev) and Jenness Perlmutter LEvEL I: Join AMI’s FREE 20-minute guided meditation and satsang teaching. Participants may sit on comfortable chairs or on the floor. SuNDAYS, 9:30 - 11:00AM, FREE
NOw AvAIlABlE AMI Bookstore Barnes & Noble Amazon.com All fine Booksellers
AMI Classes for October - December 2017
MAKING THE BEST CHOICES
*
10 Indispensable Keys for Inspired Decision-Making
Leonard (Ram Lev) and Jenness Perlmutter
*
Available by CDL (Computer Distance Learning) Now available online. Call 518.674.8714 for details.
Level II : This course offers 10 practical guidelines for better decision-making. Known as the Yamas and Niyamas, these tools will help you reliably access your own intuitive wisdom to resolve every issue skillfully. These time-honored guidelines will teach you how to transform the contractive power of unhelpful, stress-provoking, negative emotions and habits into an expansive, creative and dynamic force. Real-life issues will be examined, including home, family, friends, work, recreation and death. THuRSSDAY NIgHTS, 6:30 - 8:30PM, $125 (3 WKS) OCT 5 - 19
ADvANCED TANTRIC HEALING “Yoga Nidra” Practices To Benefit Mind and Body Leonard Perlmutter (Ram Lev) –– AMI Founder
LEvEL II: This advanced two-week course provides important instruction on employing the subtle energy healing of Tantra, a system of powerfully effective tools for self-care and stress management. Each week you will be taught new skills that reduce the effects of stress, illness and physical exhaustion by purifying the mind and body. These deeply therapeutic practices minimize tension, facilitate energy flow, calm and train the mind, awaken creativity, enhance memory and retard the aging and disease processes by boosting the body’s innate healing wisdom. This course will provide complete instruction in the practices of yoga nidra, shitali karana, shavayatra, trataka and tantric visualization. THuRSDAY NIgHTS, 6:30 - 8:30PM, $125 (2 WKS) DEC 7 & 14 This class is open to the general public and recommended for physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals.
*
YOGA PSYCHOLOGY BHAGAvAD GITA STUDY
Leonard (Ram Lev) and Jenness Perlmutter
*
Available by CDL (Computer Distance Learning) Attend this in-depth course from your own home or anywhere in the world. Call 518.674.8714 for details.
LEvEL II: In continuous six week installments this course presents the profound teachings of the Bhagavad Gita as a handbook on the science of life and the art of living. If you are seeking a manual or guide for the challenging task of living well in the world today, this ongoing study will provide you practical wisdom, meaning and purpose for your life. Each week Leonard and Jenness will teach you how to reduce stress and confidently enhance your health and creative abilities, while providing you a fresh, positive perspective on all your family and business relationships. MONDAY NIgHTS, 6:30 - 8:30 PM, $150. (6 WKS) OCT 2 - NOV 20 (ExCEPT OCT 23 & 30) NOV 27 - JAN 15 (ExCEPT DEC 25 & JAN 1)
Vyasa Revisiting The Scene of the Crime We can’t unsee What has already been seen We can’t unfeel What has already been felt Unless, of course, We revisit the scene And find love In the cards We’ve been dealt
Robert j Iwaniec 5
CAlENDAR fREE: SUNDAY GUIDED MEDITATION & SATSANG Sundays 9:30-11:00 AM with Leonard (Ram Lev) and Jenness
SEP TEMBER 2017 SEP 6 & 13: BEGINNER’S MEDITATION
see p. 4
Wed. Nights, 6:30 - 8:00 PM (2 wks, Averill Park)
SEP 9- OCT 14: THE HEART & SCIENCE Of YOGA see p. 2-3 Sat. Mornings, 9:00-11:30 AM (6 wks) Complete Self-Care Program
SEP 23 & 30: BEGINNER’S MEDITATION
see p. 4
Sat. Mornings, 9:30 - 11:00 AM (2 wks, Clifton Park)
SEP 27- NOv 1: MORNING YOGA fOR 50 PlUS see p. 4 Wed. Mornings, 9:45 - 11:00 AM (6 weeks)
OCTOBER 2017
15% OFF All ITEMS A MI BOOKSTORE October - December
BOOKS CDs • MugS • MASSAgE OILS STATuARY • YOgA MATS HOMEOPATHIC MEDICINE • NETI POTS
ONLINE MEDITATION COuRSE g.I. SuSTAIN • INCENSE • JEWELRY
OCT 2- NOv 20: GITA/YOGA PSYCHOlOGY see p.5 Mon. Nights, 6:30 - 8:30 PM (6 wks, except Oct 23 & 30)
OCT 5 - 19: BEST CHOICES
see p. 5
Thurs. Nights, 6:30 - 8:30 PM (3 wks)
OCT 11 & 18: BEGINNER’S MEDITATION
see p. 4
Wed. Nights, 6:30 - 8:00 PM (2 wks, Averill Park)
OCT 14 & 21: BEGINNER’S MEDITATION
see p. 4
Sat. Mornings, 9:30 - 11:00 AM (2 wks, Clifton Park)
NOVEMBER 2017 NOv 4- DEC 9: THE HEART & SCIENCE Of YOGA see p. 2-3 Sat. Mornings, 9:00-11:30 AM (6 wks) Complete Self-Care Program
NOv 8- DEC 13: MORNING YOGA fOR 50 PlUS see p. 4 Wed. Mornings, 9:45 - 11:00 AM (6 wks)
NOv 8 & 15: BEGINNER’S MEDITATION
see p. 4
Wed. Nights, 6:30 - 8:00 PM (2 wks, Averill Park)
NOv 11 & 18: BEGINNER’S MEDITATION
see p. 4
Sat. Mornings, 9:30 - 11:00 AM (2 wks, Clifton Park)
NOv 17: THANKS-GIvING DINNER/CONCERT see p.13 Fri. Night, 6:00 - 10:00 PM (RSVP by Nov 15)
At AMI’s Bookstore, Averill Park
americanmeditation.org/ami-shop
NOv 27- JAN 15: GITA/YOGA PSYCHOlOGY see p.5 Mon. Nights, 6:30 - 8:30 PM (6 wks, except Dec 25 & Jan 1)
DECEMBER 2017 DEC 6 & 13: BEGINNER’S MEDITATION
see p. 4
Wed. Nights, 6:30 - 8:00 PM (2 wks, Averill Park)
DEC 7 & 14: ADvANCED TANTRIC HEAlING American MEDITATION Institute
Yoga Science for Modern Life October - December, 2017 • Vol. XXI No. 1 ©2017 60 Garner Road, Averill Park, NY 12018
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see p. 5
Thurs. Nights, 6:30 - 8:30 PM (2 wks)
DEC 20- JAN 24: MORNING YOGA fOR 50 PlUS see p. 4 Wed. Mornings, 9:45 - 11:00 AM (6 wks)
DEC 31: NEw YEAR’S EvE see p. 14
americanmeditation.org \ Tel. (518) 674-8714 ami@americanmeditation.org
Sun. Night, 6:30 - 10:00 PM (RSVP by Dec 28)
AMI is a tax exempt, non-profit 501(c)3 educational organization. Donations are fully tax deductible.
JAN 6- fEB 10: THE HEART & SCIENCE Of YOGA see p. 2-3
JANUARY 2018 Sat. Mornings, 9:00-11:30 AM (6 wks) Complete Self-Care Program
American Meditation Institute’s Yoga of Medicine Program Presents
9th Annual Conference for Physicians RNs • NPs • PAs • Psychologists Comprehensive Training in Yoga Science as
Holistic Mind/Body Medicine A unique Curriculum Developed for Clinical Application • Personal Health • Relieving Physician Burnout and Building Resilience
30 CMEs
The Heart and Science of Yoga
®
AMI Meditation • Mantra Science • Diaphragmatic Breathing • Yoga Psychology Mind Function Optimization • Chakra System • Easy-Gentle Yoga • Lymph System Detox Yoga Nidra • Functional Medicine • Ayurvedic Medicine • Food as Medicine Epigenomics • Trauma • PTSD • Resilience • Neuroplasticity AMI MEDITATION PRACTICES TO RElIEvE PHYSICIAN BURNOUT
OCTOBER 24-28, 2017
Self-Care For Healthy Living
Albany Medical College
5 1/2
Space is LIMITED
Hour Online Video Course & Book
Lenox, Massachusetts
The only 4-Diamond Resort in the Berkshires
FREE!
Mark Pettus MD
Leonard Perlmutter
Susan Lord MD
Please Register EARLY!
Beth Netter MD
Sara Lazar PhD
REgISTER ONLINE:
Jyothi Bhatt BAMS
Tony Santilli MD PrashantKaushikMD G. Grodnitzky PhD Jenness Perlmutter
Jesse Ritvo MD
americanmeditation.org/cme • Tel. (518) 674-8714
Core Curriculum Endorsed by: Dean Ornish MD, Mehmet Oz MD, larry Dossey MD and Bernie Siegel MD 7
AM I fA CUlT Y SP EAKERS Leonard Perlmutter, AMI Founder Yoga Science Core Curriculum Leonard is the author of both the award-winning The Heart and Science of Yoga ® and the Transformation journal. Leonard has served on the faculties of the New England Institute of Ayurvedic Medicine, the Himalayan Yoga Teachers Association and the College of Saint Rose. Leonard has presented courses at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, the U. S. Military Academy at West Point and The New York Times Yoga Forum with Dean Ornish MD.
Susan Lord, MD East Meets West and Food as Medicine Susan graduated from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and is in private practice in Great Barrington, MA focusing on prevention and treatment through mindful living and lifestyle changes. She served as Course Director for the Food as Medicine program at the Center for Mind/Body Medicine from 1996-2007.
Beth Netter, MD, MT Breath as Medicine and Relieving Physician Burnout Beth is an holistic physician and acupuncturist in Albany, NY. A graduate of the University at Buffalo’s School of Biomedical Sciences, she completed her residency in anesthesiology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. Beth serves as Chair of AMI’s Department of Medical Education.
Mark Pettus, MD Epigenomics/Inflammation/Allostatic Load Mark is a board-certified internist and nephrologist currently serving as Director of Medical Education and Population Health at Berkshire Health Systems, and Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine at UMass Medical School. Mark is the author of The Savvy Patient and It’s All in Your Head.
Prashant Kaushik, MD Relieving Physician Burnout Prashant is a graduate of the All India Institute of Medical Services, New Delhi. A board-certified Rheumatologist, Prashant serves as Lead Rheumatologist at the Albany VA Medical Center, Associate Professor, Dept. of Internal Medicine, Albany Medical College, and is a member of AMI’s Department of Medical Education.
Anthony Santilli, MD Relieving Physician Burnout Tony received his medical degree from the University at Buffalo, following his fellowship at Weill Cornell University and post graduate training at Brown University. Board-certified in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, he practices in Schenectady and Amsterdam NY, and is a member of AMI’s Department of Medical Education.
Jyothi Bhatt, BAMS Ayurveda: The Science of Life Jyothi holds a Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine & Surgery (BAMS) from the Shri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwar College of Ayurveda in Kuthpady, Karnataka, India. She is currently a Physician’s Assistant at the NewYorkPresbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center and a faculty member of the Kripalu School of Ayurveda.
Sara Lazar, PhD Neuroplasticity: The Effect of Meditation Sara is an instructor in the Department of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, and an Associate Researcher in the Psychiatry Department at Mass. General Hospital. As a leading neuroscientist in the field, her team was the first to show how meditation and yoga postures influence both brain structure and human behavior.
Jesse Ritvo, MD Alleviating Trauma /PTSD while Building Resilience Jesse graduated from Harvard College and received his medical degree from the Brown-Dartmouth Medical Program. Jesse is currently the assistant medical director of inpatient psychiatry at the University of Vermont Health Center-Central Vermont Medical Center, as well as an assistant professor of medicine at UVM.
Jenness Cortez Perlmutter Psychology of the Chakra System Jenness has studied Yoga Science and practiced AMI Meditation since 1977. She is the co-founder and faculty member of AMI, and a direct disciple of Swami Rama of the Himalayas. She graduated from the Herron School of Art, and is a world-renowned artist.
Gustavo Grodnitzky PhD Meditation in Action (panel discussion) Gustavo is a speaker, author, consultant and psychologist. After obtaining his Ph.D. in clinical and school psychology from Hofstra University, he completed post-doctorate degrees in both cognitive therapy and forensic psychology. He serves as Chair of The American Meditation Institute's Psychological Education Department.
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SELF-CARE
is essential to YOUR WELLNESS Herbert Benson, MD, Harvard Medical School, claims that maintaining good health is analogous to this three-legged stool.
Individual Self-Care
Optimal
HEALTH
Such as
AMI’s Heart and Science of Yoga ® Mind/Body Medicine program
Pharmaceuticals
Surgery
An Effective Plan for YOU and your PATIENTS In 2007, AMI conducted a retrospective case study of participants who completed Leonard Perlmutter’s Heart and Science of Yoga® course. The findings included these positive, reproducible, long-term health-promoting changes:
• Significant reductions in stress and fear • Decreased anxiety and depression • Lowered blood pressure • Lowered heart rate • Improved restorative sleep
• Improved energy levels • Increased creative capacity • Diminishment of migraine headaches • Elimination of irritable bowel syndrome • Enhanced happiness and optimism
• Reduced cholesterol levels • Diminished or extinguished acute and chronic pain • Weight loss • Increased breathing capacity
COURSE SCHEDULE (30 CMEs) Including Evidence-Based Case Studies Friday, Oct 27 7:00am-7:30am 7:30am-8:30am 9:00am-9:30am 9:30am-10:30am 10:30am-10:45am 10:45am-11:45am
Tuesday, Oct 24 10:00am-12:00pm 12:00pm-1:30pm 2:00pm-3:00pm 3:00pm-3:30pm 3:30pm-4:30pm 4:30pm-4:45pm 4:45pm-5:45pm 6:00pm-7:00pm
Registration Olmsted Lobby LUNCH – Music Room, Mansion East Meets West, Susan Lord, MD Exercise/BREAK Overview: Yoga Science, Leonard Perlmutter Exercise/BREAK Who Am I? Leonard Perlmutter DINNER – Music Room, Mansion
Wednesday, Oct 25 8:00am-9:00am 9:30am-10:30am 10:30am-11:00am 11:00am-12:00pm 12:15pm-1:30pm 2:00pm-2:30pm 2:30pm-3:30pm 3:30pm-3:45pm 3:45pm-4:45pm 5:00pm-6:00pm 6:00pm-6:30pm 6:30pm-7:30pm
BREAKFAST – Music Room, Mansion Introduction to AMI Meditation, Leonard Perlmutter Yoga Exercises/BREAK AMI Meditation Practice, Leonard Perlmutter LUNCH - Music Room, Mansion Guided AMI Meditation, Leonard Perlmutter Breath as Medicine, Beth Netter, MD Mantra (Japa) Practice/BREAK Breathing Practices, Leonard Perlmutter Yoga Nidra, Leonard Perlmutter Nadi Shodhana and Guided AMI Meditation Leonard Perlmutter DINNER – Music Room, Mansion
Thursday, Oct 26 7:00am-8:00am 8:30am-9:00am 9:00am-10:30am 10:30am-11:00am 11:00am-12:00pm 12:15pm-1:15pm 1:45pm-2:00pm 2:00pm-3:00pm 3:15pm-5:15pm 5:15 pm-5:45pm 5:45pm-6:45pm 7:00pm-9:30pm
BREAKFAST – Music Room, Mansion Guided AMI Meditation, Leonard Perlmutter Yoga Psychology, Leonard Perlmutter Guided Nadi Shodhana Practice/BREAK Trauma / PTSD and Resilience, Jesse Ritvo, MD LUNCH – Music Room, Mansion Guided Breath Meditation/Mantra Practice Neuroplasticity: The Effect of Meditation, Sara Lazar, PhD Easy-Gentle Yoga I and II, Leonard Perlmutter Guided AMI Meditation, Leonard Perlmutter DINNER, Music Room, Mansion Bonus: Movie & Discussion: Peaceful Warrior
12:00pm-1:00pm 1:30pm-2:30pm 2:30pm-2:45pm 2:45pm-3:45pm 3:45pm-4:00pm 4:00pm-5:30pm FREE EVENING Saturday, Oct 28 6:30am-7:00am 7:00am-8:00am 8:30am-9:00am 9:00am-10:30am 10:30am-11:00am 11:00am-12:30pm 12:30pm-1:30pm 1:30pm-2:00pm 2:00pm
Easy-Gentle Yoga I Review, Mary Holloway BREAKFAST Guided AMI Meditation, Leonard Perlmutter Food as Medicine, Susan Lord, MD Yoga Exercises/BREAK Meditation in Action, Tony Santilli, MD with panelists B.Netter MD, P. Kaushik MD, L.Perlmutter,G.Grodnitzky PhD LUNCH – Music Room, Mansion Ayurveda: The Science of Life I, Jyothi Bhatt,BAMS Japa Practice/BREAK Ayurveda:The Science of Life II, Jyothi Bhatt,BAMS Guided Breath Meditation Epigenomics/Inflammation, Mark Pettus, MD
Easy-Gentle Yoga II Review, Mary Holloway BREAKFAST – Music Room, Mansion Guided AMI Meditation, Leonard Perlmutter Chakra Psychology, Leonard/Jenness Perlmutter BREAK/Paperwork/Hotel Checkout Contemplation and Prayer, Leonard Perlmutter Relieving Physician Burnout with Yoga Science, P. Kaushik MD, B. Netter MD Closing Guided AMI Meditation BOX LUNCHES TO GO
ATTIRE: WEAR COMFORTABLE CLOTHING. YOGA MATS ARE NOT NECESSARY. course was an absolutely excellent experience––the very best “ This conference I’ve ever attended. ” This was my second time attending. This conference has been the “ most influential factor in transforming my life and medical practice. It should be a medical school requirement. ” J.N. MD – Towson, Maryland
J.P. MD – Wellesley, MA
Relieving Physician Burnout!
problem “ Acannot be solved on the level at which it appears. It must be solved on a higher level.
”
ALBERT EINSTEIN
You became a doctor because you care about people. You work hard and truly want to serve your patients and profession. But as a physician, you are subject to many stressors: overwork, cumbersome regulation, EMR and coding requirements, medical liability, on-call issues, lack of sleep, politics, and frustrations with the reimbursement structure. By practicing Yoga Science as mind/body medicine, you can transform stress into strength––improving your job satisfaction and work/life balance, while reducing burnout symptoms of anger, depression, anxiety and exhaustion. 9
REDISCOvER ING YOUR lOvE Of MEDICINE ( AND lIfE) When you change your perspective, you change your experience. AMI’s Heart and Science of Yoga ® program is uniquely designed to offer you a refreshingly new, clearer and kinder perspective on yourself and every personal and professional responsibility you face. Through engaging lectures by an accomplished faculty, instructive practicums and Q&A, you’ll gain experiential knowledge that
will integrate Yoga Science into a dynamic selfcare program. As a result of attending this conference, you’ll return home with a set of practical tools that can empower you to make conscious, discriminating and reliable choices to enhance your creativity, well-being, happiness and success. Regardless of how challenging your circumstances might feel today, Yoga Science can help.
Course Components Include: YOGA SCIENCE
BREATHING
An educational body of knowledge for health and healing History, philosophy and benefits of meditation How to use the mind to make healthier choices How to access the “super-conscious” mind Understanding pain as an agent for healing The transformative power of sacrifice Increasing energy, will power and creativity The power of desire and attention Creative actions rather than reactionary responses Antidotes for worry, stress and depression
The meaning of prana (life force) How breathing irregularities foster dis-ease Diaphragmatic breathing for pulmonary health Complete (three-part) yogic breath Yoga postures for healthy breathing Alternate nostril breathing for energy/psychological balance
YOGA PSYCHOLOGY Understanding the anatomy of your real being How to help the mind function for optimal health Managing thoughts, desires and emotions How to experience freedom from fear Optimizing the power of the present moment Channeling the four primitive urges: Food, Sex, Sleep, Self-preservation Yoga Nidra (conscious sleep): Advanced mind/body healing Psychology of the Chakra System as a diagnostic tool
AMI MEDITATION Systematic procedure for meditation How to diminish distractions Training one-pointed attention for creativity The one-minute meditation Using meditation skills throughout the day Mantra Science: What are the world’s great mantras? How to use thoughts and mantra in the healing process How the vibration of the mantra promotes health
Alleviating burnout, trauma/PTSD and building resilience Tools for building and healing relationships
MIND/BODY SELF-CARE PLAN How to reduce burnout and achieve work/life balance Understanding Ayurveda as a science and as a diagnostic tool Applying Epigenomics and lifestyle choices for health & wellness How to keep a meditation practice going & working for you How to introduce these practices to your patients Food as Medicine (Diet, Nutrition, Functional Medicine)
Neuroplasticity as an effect of meditation
EASY-GENTLE YOGA Two sets of Easy-Gentle Yoga stretches and exercises Understanding the physiology/anatomy of Easy-Gentle Yoga
Course Objectives:
AFTER THIS COURSE, PARTICIPANTS WILL BE ABLE TO:
• Demonstrate knowledge of how Yoga Science as mind/body medicine can help heal disease, manage addictive habits, alleviate stress, inflammation and physician burnout • Develop equanimity, discrimination, will power, creativity and energy through a daily practice of AMI Meditation and diaphragmatic breathing • Incorporate long-term strategies for healthy lifestyle choices using Yoga Psychology • Demonstrate knowledge of the principles of both Ayurveda and Epigenomics • Identify yogic practices to transform trauma and increase resilience 10
• Recognize the physiological benefits of Easy-Gentle Yoga (exercises for lymph system detox, joints, glands, muscles and internal organs) • Help themselves and their patients reduce conditioned habits of negative thinking and other symptoms of burnout through the healing powers of AMI Meditation and mantra science • Utilize food as Medicine (Diet, Nutrition, functional Medicine) to maximize personal well being • Use Chakra Psychology (subtle emotional/mental causes of stress) to diagnose and treat dis-ease • Recognize how AMI Meditation and meditation-in-action change the neural pathways in the brain
R EGISTR ATION INfORM ATION Payment may be made by check or credit card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express or Discover). The registration fee includes all meals, a paperback and eBook copy of Leonard Perlmutter’s The Heart and Science of Yoga ®, The Physiology of Yoga with Clinical Studies, a guided meditation CD, and a FREE copy of Leonard’s 5 1/2 hour online video course, Comprehensive Meditation & Easy-gentle Yoga.
ONLINE:
americanmeditation.org/cme (with credit card).
PHONE: (518) 674-8714 –– Please have a credit card available MAIL: American Meditation Institute, 60 Garner Road, Averill Park, NY 12018 FAX: Fax the registration form with credit card information to (518) 674-8714
TuITION: Physicians –––––––––––––––––––––– $1,995 On or before October 2, 2017 $2,195 After October 2, 2017 Residents/Fellows/PAs/NPs–––––––– $1,795 On or before October 2, 2017 $1,995 After October 2, 2017 guests of Registered Attendees** ––– $1,295 On or before October 2, 2017 Registered Nurses, Psychologists and $1,495 After October 2, 2017
**Including employees, spouse or partner REFUND POLICY No refund will be granted unless a written cancellation notice is received by Friday, October 13, 2017. No refunds will be given after this date. A $100 administrative fee will be deducted from all refunds. ACCOMMODATIONS/DIRECTIONS Room reservations must be made by contacting the Cranwell Resort at (800) 272-6935. When making your reservation, please mention the American Meditation Institute to receive a reduced room rate of $175 per night (this price rate is guaranteed until October 8, 2017). Directions to the Cranwell Resort (55 Lee Road, Lenox, MA) are available on the Cranwell website: www.cranwell.com. GOURMET VEGETARIAN CUISINE During the conference attendees will be served delicious gourmet vegetarian meals thoughtfully prepared by the Cranwell’s 4-Diamond rated chefs. If you have special needs or dietary restrictions, please contact AMI at (518) 674-8714 by October 9, 2017.
CAN’T ATTEND THIS YEAR? JOIN OUR MAIlING lIST. americanmeditation.org/CME-INfO U.S. PHYSICIAN ACCREDITATION (30 CMEs) This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas and Policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education through the joint providership of Albany Medical College and The American Meditation Institute. Albany Medical College is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians. The Albany Medical College designates this Live activity for a maximum of 30 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
CANADIAN PHYSICIAN ACCREDITATION (30 CMEs) The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada recognizes conferences and workshops held outside of Canada that are developed by a university, academy, hospital, specialty society or college as accredited group learning activities. Through an agreement between the American Medical Association and the European Union of Medical Specialists, physicians may convert AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ to an equivalent number of European CME Credits© (ECMECs©). Information on the process of converting AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ to ECMECs© can be found at: www.eaccme.eu.
NURSING CONTINUING EDUCATION (30 Contact Hours) This continuing nursing education activity was approved by the American Nurses Association Massachusetts (ANA MASS), an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.
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RE GISTRA TION fORM PLEASE ENROLL ME: The Heart and Science of Yoga® (OCT. 24-28, 2017) MAIL TO: American Meditation Institute, 60 Garner Road, Averill Park, NY 12018
Tel. and Fax (518) 674-8714 • www.americanmeditation.org • ami@americanmeditation.org Checks and money orders are payable to American Meditation Institute (or AMI). A receipt will be mailed to you.
REgISTER ONLINE:
americanmeditation.org/cme Use this brochure code: CME Online
NAME CHECK ONE ❑ Physician ❑ Resident ❑ Fellow ❑ PA ❑ NP ❑ RN ❑ Psychologist ❑ Guest of attendee CME TRACKING NuMBER
ADDRESS CITY E-MAIL
month of birth - day of birth - first four letters of your first name
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PLEASE CHECK ONE
❑ Check ❑ Visa ❑ MasterCard ❑ American Express ❑ Discover CARD NO. EXP. DATE SIGNATuRE VER. CODE TEL. (Work) TEL. (Home) CELL PHONE
SPECIAL NEEDS: Delicious gourmet vegetarian meals will be served. If you have special needs/dietary restrictions, contact AMI at (518) 674-8714 by October 9, 2017.
FREE TO ATTENDEES: 5 1/2 Hour Online Video Course Leonard Perlmutter’s same core curriculum presented at AMI’s 2017 CME conference. You’ll also receive a paperback and eBook copies of The Heart and Science of Yoga,® The Physiology of Yoga (with Clinical Studies), and a 22 minute guided meditation CD. A $341. value.
PHYSICIAN ATTENDEES 2014-2016 1. “This course was excellent and life changing. The knowledge, expertise and compassion of the faculty introduced to me a practice and philosophy fundamentally different from the way allopathic medicine views the mind and body.” S.L. MD, NYC 2. “Life changing! Everyone in every facet of life should experience this. I’m so grateful for you and your institution and all involved for bringing truth to doctors with love and compassion. This is a light the world needs to see.” P.S. MD, RI 3. “This course has been the best CME course I have ever attended. It gave me a strong foundation to help patients mindfully improve their lives. I learned powerful, practical lifelong skills to use for my greater good.” V.Q. MD, NYC 4. “This was a fantastic, informative course! It was a great balance of theory and science for practical use. It gave me the opportunity to see how I can incorporate what I learned in my own life and with my patients.” R.G. MD, NY 5. “This is the only CME course I’ve ever attended that reminds me that in order to be a better doctor I need to take care of myself.” K.L. MD, DC 100% of last year’s attendees ranked this course as "Above Average" or "Superior" to other CME courses.
TARGET AUDIENCE: Health professionals who provide direct patient care or patient education in areas of self-care, lifestyle choices, and mind/body medicine are encouraged to attend. 12
Conference Speakers Mark Pettus, MD Director, Medical Information and Population Health Berkshire Health Systems
americanmeditation.org/cme/#video I interact with a lot of physicians who I think confront unprecedented levels of stress in their lives for many reasons. It’s easy for me to understand how challenging it is to be a physician navigating this landscape; trying to do the best you can with things beyond your control––health care reform, various regulatory issues are always coming down on providers. Any physician who is confronting challenge around joy and the capacity to thrive definitely needs to be aware of the AMI’s work. In my experience, the AMI program is unique. I’ve never seen anyone translate the philosophy and science of Yoga the way Leonard Perlmutter does with his beautiful integration of meditation in the context of Yoga Science. Leonard is always pushing the edges bringing in new speakers that represent expertise and state-of-the-art
science. Really, from beginning to end, it’s news to use. This is a very experiential program, so while a lot of physicians might look at programs that are more skewed toward didactics, lectures and powerpoints, experience is really the heart of the AMI’s program. I think this is a program that’s at the tipping point of meeting the needs of a tremendous number of caregivers who are doing amazing work but struggling to continue to maintain that edge. My appeal to any caregiver would be to love yourself. Express the same compassion to who you are as you would for those you care for. And look in the mirror and ask yourself, ‘Are you happy? Are you thriving?’ And if not, why is that? Many of the AMI tools that you learn through this program are the antidotes to so many of physicians’ day-to-day challenges.
THANKS-gIVINg Dinner –– Fundraiser Chamber Music Concert
Celebrate AMI’s 21st Anniversary
Friday, November 17th 6:00 -10:00 PM Performed by Capitol Chamber Artists Donation: $75 • RSVP by Nov. 15 13
Conference Speakers
Susan Lord, MD Integrative Medicine AMI Faculty: Mind/Body Medicine great Barrington, MA
americanmeditation.org/cme/#video I really think that what AMI has created in this program is the future of medicine. AMI is interested in bringing the wisdom of the East into mainstream medicine. We feel it’s complementary because it empowers people to take care of themselves and keep themselves healthy. We know that deep relaxation actually ignites a healing process in people. The meditation and the mindfulness will actually make the medicine much more powerful. AMI is really trying to address the crisis we see in health care both for physicians who are trying to practice in the system, and for patients who are not getting the answers that they need to get well. Here we are very patient-centered. The focus of this training is on achieving wonderful health for yourself,
being happy, healthy and fulfilled in your life––mind, body and spirit. Once a physician integrates this way of being in the world––being more relaxed in the world, more thoughtful, less stressed out––they will pass that on to their patients. This is really a profound movement. These ancient practices bring so much to the table that we don’t have right now. When you start living this way everything begins to change. Basically, this is a path of transformation. It’s an amazing journey, and for a culture that has been focused so much on materialism and on being busy and accomplishing things and making money, it’s a wonderful counter balance. It’s about living the good life; living a life free of suffering as much as possible.
FREE: New Year’s Eve Pitch-In Vegetarian Dinner • Movie • Fire Ceremony The Film
SAMADHI “Maya: the Illusion of the Self”
RSVP by December 29th
Sunday, December 31st 6:00 -10:00 PM 14
Tony Santilli, MD Pulmonary Critical Care Specialist Schenectady NY
americanmeditation.org/cme/#video I think what distinguishes the AMI conference from other conferences is that it teaches people how to rely on themselves rather than just giving them information to pass along to other people. It teaches people how to do what they already know how to do in a confident and secure fashion, and I think it’s desperately needed in medicine and society in general. I go to most conferences to gain knowledge to try to help patients. At this conference I gained knowledge to help myself––which in turn dramatically helped my patients as well as myself. I felt like this was almost a therapy that I learned rather than just trying to acquire information. When I left the AMI conference I felt empowered, and feeling empowered is important in the practice of my life. Four years ago I was ready to leave medicine. It was through the tools I learned at this conference––through
the American Meditation Institute––that allowed me to again think it’s the best job in the world. I think the conference is important for health care providers in the future of health care. The health care profession is under a lot of scrutiny that we, as medical professionals, are not trained to deal with. I think a conference like this helped me to deal with things that at times were very scary. Life can be challenging and we don’t receive a lot of education in life on how to navigate it. We’re not really taught how to deal with all the complex interactions that occur. I think the classes in this conference teaches that. I would recommend the AMI conference and the classes taught at the American Meditation Institute to everybody. I think it can be beneficial and probably should be required for everyone so that they can live happier, more joyous lives.
The Ultimate Manual for
A Happy, Healthy, Joyful Life 2nd Edition––Revised and Expanded Now at Barnes & Noble and Amazon
americanmeditation.org/book 15
Beth Netter, MD Chair, AMI Department of Medical Education Holistic Physician, Albany NY
americanmeditation.org/cme/#video Normally when one does a CME accreditation process, you need to prove that there’s an education gap. What did the physicians not know that you can teach them? Physicians are caring for so many people: patients, staff, family, friends, pets, plants, homes. Where are they caring for themselves? We’re taught you need to care for yourself in order to care for other people, but there’s no real education in that. The education gaps are not only with the patient community, but primarily with the physicians who don’t do this for themselves. We weren’t taught this in medical school! What really brought us to this is that the physician community and people in healthcare needed to have a means for learning how to do this: what is called Yoga Science, a five-thousandyear-old educational body of knowledge brought into modern-day in a way that’s user-friendly, practical and doable. To me the
future of medicine benefits at a deep level from clinicians, from people who are in medicine, for physicians learning this––having a confidence in it, as medicine, and then bringing it to their patients. Many of these tools can be taught in minutes. So it’s not like the physician has to create a whole program. When we were designing this CME accredited conference for physicians we wanted them to enjoy the setting and the food (at the Cranwell Resort in Lenox, MA). They deserve to be pampered and treated well. It’s fun. It’s interesting. It’s engaging. It’s creative. They can ask questions. There’s no judgment. They can return home understanding there’s no reason for guilt. This conference does prepare dedicated physicians to return to the core Self they always wanted to be, and to be able to re-engage their life, their family and their work with a new confidence and an alignment with who they really are.
The AMI Core Curriculum from
THE HEART AND SCIENCE OF YOGA
®
is endorsed by medical pioneers:
Dean Ornish MD, Dr. Oz (Mehmet Oz MD) Bernie Siegel MD and Larry Dossey MD 16
Candle in the Wind Two Letters from Bernie Siegel, MD To the Deans at Cornell University Medical College March 1, 1977 Dear Dr. Meikle, As I progress in the practice of medicine, I realize that the aspect I was least trained for is how to care for people and to establish a relationship with patients. We see more and more literature telling us how poorly we function and indeed, I must agree with much of it. I am writing this letter in the hopes of having my thoughts be meaningful in the future development of physicians. Having graduated from Cornell and working with the Yale Medical School, I felt I would direct the letter to you. I would hope that somewhere in the curriculum for the future, sociologists, humanitarians, psychiatrists, and other practicing physicians can be involved in the development of the student's personality and their future dealings with human beings. I thought that in many areas my training was quite deficient and never really gave me a chance, aside from the obvious direct contact on wards, with the various problems and needs of the patients themselves. I have found that after being in practice I spent more time reading about patient oriented problems than about the technical aspects of my trade. Yet, it is far easier to develop technical proficiency than proficiency in interpersonal relationships. Having had the experience of being a patient shortly after entering practice, I would suggest, for whatever it is worth, to have all future physicians spend a week in the hospital––perhaps with an IV taped to their arm and limited to the assistance of those who appear when a call button is pushed. A week in this position would help give them some realization of the complicated and stressful position patients are in and the multiple needs that they have. I hope this letter makes some sense to you since I have a deep desire to see us move forward in the area of physician training and teaching. l am very distressed with the current condition I see existing in some of our best hospitals, and find it difficult to sleep without making some effort to improve the situation. Sincerely, Bernard S. Siegel, MD
April 7, 2007 Dear Dean Gotto, I am enclosing a copy of a letter I sent one of your predecessors thirty years ago. I received absolutely no response to my letter. Forgive the scribbles as I have used it in my lectures over the years and written notes to myself on it. I am writing to commend you on what you are doing to humanize medical care and education and help the students deal with their feelings too. I cannot get the American College of Surgeons to change their pledge from “I will deal with my patients as I would wish, to be dealt with” to “I will care for my patients as I would wish to be cared for.” I have written several books, the most well known being Love, Medicine & Miracles, and spoken at Cornell Medical School graduations in the past. My career was changed by my patient's request to help her to live between office visits. I also was criticized openly by many physicians and oncologists from Sloan and elsewhere about mind/body relationships and so I was thrilled to see Mitch Gaynor’s quote in the alumni news, “We really are what we think.” One other technique I use is to ask medical students to draw themselves working as a doctor. Some drawings have no human beings in them, just instruments, books and computers. Most reveal desks and diplomas with a doctor behind the desk. A rare picture shows true doctoring, handing a patient a tissue, and touching them with your hand and not a stethoscope. And I have yet to meet a medical student who has been told, while in school, that Carl Jung interpreted a dream and made a correct physical diagnosis. Last but not least, I believe enlightening the students about their true reasons for becoming physicians and analyzing those reasons can help them to live a happier life when incurable problems and people show up as their patients; versus what they put on their applications to impress you. Most physicians suffer from PTSD and know how to think but not feel. Many famous paintings show doctors, chin in hand, thinking about a dying patient but never touching the patient. So again thank you and if I can ever be of help in the humanizing process please call upon me. Sincerely, Bernard S. Siegel, MD ‘57
EDITOR’S NOTE: Although Bernie Siegel never received a response to either of his letters, medical schools today are beginning to offer students the kind of support Bernie recommended decades ago. In addition, this is the ninth year the American Medical Association and American Nurses Association are certifying AMI’s “Heart and Science of Yoga®” physicians’ conference to help reduce and prevent burnout.
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Sara Lazar, PhD Associate Research Specialist Massachusetts General Hospital Associate Professor, Harvard Medical School
americanmeditation.org/cme/#video As soon as I began to meditate, it had a positive impact on my mood, how I was seeing things and experiencing people. I felt it had changed my brain, and I wanted to understand the process. Our initial work mostly focused on long-term practitioners of meditation. We compared them to people who never practiced before. I put them through an eight-week program to see how their brain changes with practice. Our primary finding is that after eight weeks of practice there are increases in grey matter density in several brain regions in the meditators, compared to the controls. One of our findings was that the amygdala becomes less dense and the change in the amygdala density correlated with change in stress. It’s well known that the amygdala is the primary fight or flight part of the brain, and that activity in the amygdala is related to cortisol levels. This change in the amygdala is highly consistent with the selfreported decreases in stress. More recently we have some new data showing that there are also increases in the hippocampus which is one of the main learning centers of the brain. This data found that the change in the hippocampus is correlated with a measure of
being able to effectively disengage and engage in tasks. I realize that there are a lot of health care providers who don’t know much about meditation. Most people who hear of meditation think of incense and chanting, and don’t have much regard for it. Our research is helping us to understand how these practices work and there has been a lot of data now to demonstrate that they’re effective. But there's always the question: is it really effective or is it just the placebo effect? The brain data helps explain how and why meditation works, and so I think for skeptics this is really important, because now they know that people are not just saying, “I feel less stressed, less anxious, less depressed.” We can actually show that the changes in brain structure and function are correlating with standard Western measures of anxiety, stress and depression. With the research we now understand how and why these practices lead to decreases in medical symptoms. I think it’s useful for the medical community to see this data. Now by understanding how and why meditation practices work, physicians feel more confident prescribing these practices to their patients.
smile.amazon and AMI AmazonSmile is a simple way for you to support The American Meditation Institute. When you make a purchase at smile.amazon.com, AMI will receive .5% of the purchase price. On your first visit to AmazonSmile, you’ll just need to choose AMI to receive donations before you begin shopping. 18
Renee Rodriguez-goodemote, MD Family Medicine, Primary Care Medical Director, Saratoga Community Health Center Saratoga Springs NY
americanmeditation.org/cme/#video I first learned about meditation by coming to the CME conference sponsored by the American Meditation Institute two years ago. It was initially personal interest that motivated me, but then I found that meditation was really interesting, tremendously effective and has a lot of science behind it. So I started practicing it myself. As a result, it helped me gain better clarity within the office, when I’m in a room with the patient I’m more observational, but also certainly more calm and clear. Then as I started infusing the philosophy into my conversations with patients, it’s been really effective. We’ve also infused it within some of the programs and group visits that we do in health centers. The American Meditation Institute conference is great because it really has a very clear scientific approach that’s very practical. Many conferences are information-heavy. Instead of leaving a conference refreshed, you actually need a vacation afterward. What’s nice about this conference is that it lends itself to conversation. This conference is important for the
future of healthcare because we, as providers, are moving toward population-based care. This conference allows you to turn inward to understand how creative we can be when we just allow the mind to rest and meet its capacity. The American Meditation Institute wouldn’t be the Institute without Leonard and Jenness. They are both powerful teachers. It’s guided learning, and I think it provides a stronger, richer understanding of the materials covered. If another physician or health provider is interested in the materials that AMI has to offer, I would suggest it’s invaluable. I think it’s something that should be a part of all medical education. It can help you move through the stresses of patient care on a day-to-day basis. A lot of medical education is based around conferences and continuing medical education credits, and of course we all need that, but we also need to develop ourselves as physicians. There’s internal development within the individual that has to occur in order for any physician to continue to remain effective.
Save this Date
18th Annual “Heart and Science of Yoga” AMI SUMMER RETREAT with leonard Perlmutter ®
View retreat video: americanmeditation.org/summer-retreat
July 19-22, 2018 • 18 CME Credits 19
Bringing Yoga Science into Modern-Day Medicine This article is reprinted from the summer 2017 This article is reprinted from the summer 2017 Saratoga Hospital “Access” magazine. In part, it Saratoga Hospital “Access” magazine. In part, it provides insight into how Dr. Rodriguez-goodemote provides insight into how Dr. Rodriguez-goodemote applied the knowledge she learned at AMI’s annual applied the knowledge she learned at AMI’s annual physician conference on Yoga Science as holistic physician conference on Yoga Science as holistic mind/body medicine. mind/body medicine.
Chronic pain can take an enormous toll on physical and emotional health, relationships with family and friends, and the ability to perform daily tasks at home and work. To help relieve patients’ pain and improve their quality of life, Saratoga Hospital offers a comprehensive pain management program at its Community Health Center. The eight-week course helps patients understand their pain experience and why pain management is so complex. The program also provides the tools to help patients change the way they live with pain. “By the end of the course, patients are taught a foundation of skills powerful enough to change their pain––without bothersome side effects,” says Dr. Renee Rodriguez-Goodemote, Medical Director of the Saratoga Hospital Community Health Center. Changing the Brain's Response to Pain The program is evidence-based and rooted in Yoga Science, which is one of the oldest, most effective ways to strengthen the mind/body connection. Through the Yoga practices of meditation, mindfulness, and gratitude, patients can “reset” the brain and change the way they experience pain. Here’s why the program works: Chronic pain can change the brain’s circuitry, creating an involuntary and unwelcome connection between the emotional and pain-related centers of the brain. Research shows that this connection can be interrupted. Over time, Yoga Science practices can actually reprogram the brain to respond differently to pain. Throughout the pain management program, patients are encouraged to experiment 20
with techniques to replace stress and tension with a sense of calm and relaxation. Patients learn one-pointed attention, the art of focusing on one thing, typically a mantra, to interfere with pain signals and lessen their impact on the brain. Coping with Negative Experiences “The recitation of a mantra creates the rock on which the mind can rest,” Dr. RodriguezGoodemote explains. “Other thoughts can get through, but they do not have the same strength or hold as the mantra. Therefore, they can more easily be surrendered.” Other yogic practices help patients release endorphins, the body’s natural “feelgood” chemicals; reduce judgmental thoughts; and use mindfulness to cope with negative experiences and make life more enjoyable. For many patients, this approach to pain management will require a new way of thinking and living. Even so, Dr. RodriguezGoodemote urges them “to give it a try. You will have an opportunity to practice and experience a difference,” she says. “When practiced regularly, these techniques can change your life.” That’s the case for Heidi Morehouse, who has been struggling with constant pain from injuries and fibromyalgia for years. The pain was so severe that she could no longer work or attend class. Now, she volunteers for the Community Hospice of Saratoga and works one day a week as a caregiver for an elderly gentleman. The program has enabled Morehouse to significantly reduce her reliance on pain medication. “I’ve gone from being on so many meds to almost nothing,” she says. “I feel at least 75 percent better. A lot of that is attitude because now I have the coping skills to deal with the pain better.” Morehouse then adds, “Even on the bad days, I know that this, too, shall break.”
American Meditation Institute Yoga Science for Modern Life Tel. 518.674.8714 • 60 Garner Road, Averill Park, NY 12018
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