Tending to the Whole Self

The seeds for the event, Tending to the Whole Self, were planted when I was a Pharmacy student at UCSF. I helped coordinate the Integrative Medicine conference at UCSF which was inclusive of medicine, pharmacy, nursing, dentistry, and physical therapy. Dean Ornish was the keynote speaker. Looking back on it, I definitely did not understand the greatness I was surrounded by and the frontier that was being forged by bringing lifestyle medicine and a dash of spirituality to the number one research medical center on the West coast. My mentor, Igor Mitrovich, knew before I knew that I was a spiritual scientist.

The seeds took root when I studied Mindfulness Meditation and took vows to the precepts with Michael Stone in Toronto in May 2017. It was clear to me that there was a need for a creative path for dharma - one outside formal and informal practices. I (we) need imaginative and different ways to wake up our mind, body and spirit together. While my mindfulness practice deepened after studying with Michael, my asana practice took a back seat. I started exploring dance and creating the conditions for more hiking. To be honest, I experienced a rather emotionally dark phase after Michael’s passing in June 2017. I returned to therapy and resumed taking antidepressants. These helped quell the mental and emotional turmoil enough that I was able to establish a ground beneath me.

As that ground became ease-fully sustainable, I started seeking out nontraditional forms of healing and often not evidence based (yet). Tending to the Whole Self is an opportunity for the community to sample these experiential practices which call as back to wholeness - allow us to remember our wholeness. I am an advocate for wellness through wholeness. I am thrilled that these amazing women said YES to the invitation to collaborate, to share their gifts and to stretch themselves. We need “both AND” - medication, therapy, movement, sound healing, creative expression and more in community.

I will be facilitating a three part series on Tending to the Whole Self, which begins with the opening night. Saturday is an opportunity to wake up our creative potential and Sunday we will weave these vital ways of being. There are a total of three courses (Friday, Saturday and Sunday) with seven samplings. The event is welcome to all at a suggested donation of $18 per sampling.

To pre-register visit this site.