Tag Archives: katonah study group
Living at Peace in Our Bodies – A Mindful Alternative to Diet Culture
With Anne L. Wennerstrand, MS, MSW, LCSW-R
In today’s culture, it is virtually impossible to live at peace in one’s body, no matter what one’s size or weight.
In this workshop, Anne Wennerstrand will discuss how and why we get the message to experience our bodies as “projects” vs. a secure home to live within. The awareness of the body as “home” helps us reclaim self-acceptance and self-compassion leading to a relationship with food and exercise as self-care.
Many people, especially girls and women, have been taught to ignore hunger and satiety signals, leading to distrust of the body. As an alternative to this approach, Anne teaches a way to access the body’s internal regulatory, intuitive system and respond to your natural cues for hunger and satiety. And, we will discuss what this method means from a spiritual and psychological perspective.
The workshop will also explore different paradigms for finding joyful, satisfying ways of moving the body for a lifetime as an alternative to the feeling that one “should” be exercising solely to stave off weight gain. We will spend time learning the Health At Every Size Approach ™ to wellness and learn to identify and question the stressful beliefs and assumptions we have developed about eating, food and our bodies.
Anne L. Wennerstrand, MS, MSW, LCSW-R:
Anne is a psychotherapist in private practice in Katonah, NY. She has over 20 years of experience working with adolescents and adults struggling with issues including body image dissatisfaction, eating problems, anxiety and depression. Anne is on the governing Board of Directors of The Women’s Therapy Centre Institute in New York City and the co-founder of the two-year, post-graduate training program entitled Minding the Body: Culture, Gender, Creativity and Subversion. Anne’s writing has been published in Dance Magazine, the Dance Insider, the Journal of the American Dance Therapy Association, Eating Disorders: Journal of Treatment & Prevention and the Encyclopedia of Mind-Body Disciplines among others. She is a body positive activist and supporter of the Health At Every Size ™ approach honoring diversity in size, age, race, ethnicity, gender, dis/ability, sexualities, spiritualities, class and all the attributes that make us human.
What is Ayurveda – and what can it do for you? Dr Somesh Kaushik, Ayurvedic ND
Ayurveda is a comprehensive system of healthcare that has been practiced in India for over five thousand years. It is thought to be the world’s oldest healing system and is commonly referred to as “mother of all sciences.” Ayurveda, in Sanskrit, means “science of life” (ayu means life, and veda means knowledge of). Rooted in ancient books of wisdom, the Vedas, Ayurveda epitomizes a true body-mind approach to health and wellness.
Ayurveda defines health as a balance of body, mind, and spirit. When imbalance occurs, ones outlook and approach to life suffers. And, illness can result. When back in balance, and with health restored, ones outlook is in sync with life, the environment, and the well-ordered universe.
To determine whether a balance or imbalance is present, Ayurveda uses the patient’s body-type or constitution (dosha) to make an assessment. In Ayurveda our dosha is made up of a combination of the five universal elements – space, air, water, fire, earth. Should one’s dosha become excessive or depleted a plan is formulated to correct the imbalance.
Ayurveda takes a holistic approach to healing: a regimen might include specific lifestyle and nutritional guidelines, vitamin and mineral supplements, herbs and homeopathy, and a detox or cleansing program for toxins. Breathing techniques, yoga exercises, meditation and mantras might also be part of the plan.
Ayurveda is a healing regimen as well as a health maintenance program. And, since imbalances can be detected before the manifestation of illness, Ayurveda is an effective prevention program as well. Prevention is a main focus of Ayurveda. Overall, Ayurveda is a way of life – a path to fulfillment, health, happiness, harmony, and bliss.
Ayurveda can be used integratively with western modalities. Dr. Kaushik combines the art of Ayurveda with the science of Naturopathy to create a unique approach for each individual.
SOMESH N. KAUSHIK, ND, BAMS, MPH, MPA, E-RYT 500
After completing the 6 ½ years of schooling for his Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (BAMS) from Kurukshetra University, India, in 1983, Dr. Kaushik worked as an Ayurvedic Medical Officer for two years.
Upon moving to the United States in 1985, Dr. Kaushik received his Masters of Public Health (MPH) and Masters of Public Administration (MPA) from the University of Alabama in 1988. He then worked as an Epidemiologist and Director of HIV/AIDS Sero-surveillance Program with the Alabama Department of Public Health in Birmingham while maintaining an Ayurvedic practice.
In 1999 he moved to Connecticut and received his Doctor of Naturopathy (ND) from the University of Bridgeport, CT in 2003. He taught Ayurvedic Medicine and Public Health at the College of Naturopathic Medicine, University of Bridgeport, as well as serving as the Director of Admissions there. He has been a faculty member with the University of Bridgeport, Division of Health Sciences since 2001. Dr. Kaushik co-founded the Institute for Ayurvedic and Naturopathic Therapies in Fairfield, CT in 2006.
Dr. Kaushik lectures on Ayurvedic Medicine at the National College of Naturopathic Medicine, Portland, OR, as well as at various national and international symposiums and events. He also offers courses, workshops, lectures, and training in Ayurvedic medicine locally. Dr. Kaushik is an approved continuing education provider for Yoga teachers through the YACEP (Yoga Alliance for Continuing Education Providers) and has achieved the highest Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher certificate having completed 500 hours of training (E-RYT 500). He includes therapeutic Yoga in his practice.
Every December, Dr. Kaushik and his family travel to India to set up camps offering free medical care for underserved populations. He’d like to expand this service to other countries as well.
Dr. Kaushik brings his unique background as an Ayurvedic and Naturopathic practitioner with experience in public health and health education to this locality. He welcomes you into his wellness community.
For information contact:
Dr. Somesh N. Kaushik
914-875-9088 clinic M, T, W; 646-670-6725 cell;
drkaushik@drkaushik.com; www.drkaushik.com
The Healing Power of Nature: Preventive, Restorative and Therapeutic Benefits of Contact with the Natural World.
Kurt Beil, ND, LAc, MPH presents: The Healing Power of Nature: Preventive, Restorative and Therapeutic Benefits of Contact with the Natural World.
Time in nature is more than just a walk in the park. A variety of research fields, including clinical medicine, epidemiology, psychoneuroendocrinology, and environmental psychology, are demonstrating that contact with natural environments has preventive, restorative and therapeutic potential for addressing diseases such as depression, ADHD, and cardiovascular disease. This session will explore the evidence and practice of nature-based “ecotherapy” through paradigms of stress-reduction, attention-restoration, and salutogenesis (i.e. holistic health promotion). Case studies and clinical techniques will be shared. The session will conclude with a description of clinical programs and health policy initiatives that are incorporating this approach.
Learning objectives:
- Become familiar with relevant terms, including biophilia, shinrinyoku, ecopsychology, etc…
- Know the pathological conditions for which an ecotherapeutic approach may be beneficial
- Acquire clinical knowledge & skills for utilizing ecotherapeutic techniques with patients
- Recognize the current programs and policies that are incorporating these techniques
- Understand the potential for wider inclusion of this approach within the medical professions
Dr. Kurt Beil is a clinician and researcher who has lectured and published widely on the topic of “health in nature”. He is adjunct research faculty at NCNM (his alma mater) where he has taught classes on Environmental Medicine & Health, Microbiology and Public Health, and Stress Management. His Masters of Public Health degree focused on urban green space as a sustainable integrative-medicine health-promotion strategy. Dr. Beil maintains a clinical practice in Westchester County, and “walks his talk” by hiking and camping in his native Hudson Valley as often as he possibly can.
Kurt Beil, ND, LAc, MPH
Hudson Valley Natural Health
The Center for Health and Healing
4 Smith Ave, 2nd Floor Mount Kisco, NY 10549
www.hudsonvalleynaturalhealth.com
www.center4healing.net
drkurt@earthlink.net
(914) 362-8315
Gene Ang – What does spoonbending have to do with healing?
Learn to bend spoons using 6 different techniques based on quantum mechanics and torsion field physics. So why hold a spoon bending class? It is not only about bending spoons! The change in material reality demonstrated by the bent utensil is a model for change. The mechanisms used are all known healing techniques. Experience how to use these techniques in your own life for personal growth and transformation.
watch this quick video on the program
Gene Ang, Ph.D. has a healing practice based in Thousand Oaks, CA and sees clients for a number of energy healing practices. In addition, he teaches seminars 
that focus on the integration of science, spirituality, and healing. Gene travels both in the United States and internationally facilitating healing sessions and workshops. Gene received his BA from Stanford in Human Biology and Philosophy/ Religious Studies, and Ph.D from Yale University in Neurobiology. His work centers around the use of subtle energy to restore balance and harmony to the body and mind.