Integrative Medicine

In the past 20 years, an emerging field of research has demonstrated how dysfunctional circadian rhythms underlie a host of chronic physical and mental disorders, including inflammation and neurodegeneration.

Every cell in our body has its own innate circadian clock, organized by the master circadian pacemaker housed in the suprachiasmatic nuclei in the brain. When synchronized, the organism functions effectively at the cellular, tissue, and systemic levels in its ability to adapt to change. Cellular metabolism, epigenetic modification, gut microbiome function, immune response, and cognition all depend on our connection to the rhythm of day and night.

For over 2,000 years, East Asian Medicine has based its understanding of health on our deep connection to the dynamic processes of circadian and seasonal cycles described as Yin and Yang. Light and dark function as fundamental mediators of organ function that promote immune resilience, mental health, and longevity.

In this presentation, Z’ev Rosenberg, LAc, and Stephen Cowan, MD, co-authors of A Ring without End, will discuss an ecological medical approach to improving circadian rhythm regulation. Through case discussions and clinical examples, they will explore the implications of circadian health in the treatment of hospitalized patients.

Agenda

9:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Presentation and case discussion

12:15 – 1:30 PM
Q&A, book signing and lunch break

1:30 – 2:30 PM
Optional clinical session

This training brings together MBSR/MBCT teachers to contemplate and engage in practice around their wishes for wellbeing and healing for our planet Earth.

The six sessions of the training cover all 10 MBSR/MBCT class sessions. The sessions are divided approximately in half: the first half is dedicated to Earth Awareness practice and time for sharing personal reflections and experiences; the second half allows time for considering and sharing ways of inviting Earth Awareness into the curriculum and MBSR/MBCT classroom. Teachers can share both their established ways and their discoveries around new possibilities for bringing Earth Awareness into their teaching. Together, we can engage in the challenge and the benefit of holding the Earth as a fully worthy recipient in the circle of MBSR/MBCT care, compassion and embodied action.

Teachers prepare for each meeting by engaging with practice and self-reflection prompts, reviewing selected materials, and reviewing the MBSR/MBCT curriculum for the sessions to be discussed. Teachers are encouraged to write and share between meetings and contribute to a collection of resources to support Earth Awareness. Each teacher will leave this training with a range of materials for continued inspiration.

Sessions include community building, Earth-based practice, reflection and sharing, curriculum review, and exploration of ways to bring Earth Awareness into MBSR/MBCT teaching.

This teacher development training is for MBSR and MBCT teachers. Some teaching experience is recommended.

If you are interested in this program, please fill out this form to be added to the interest list. We will contact you once this program is scheduled.

Embark on a transformative journey with our unique course, seamlessly blending mindfulness training and education on the science of psychedelics. Discover the power of mindfulness as a foundation for navigating professionally led psychedelic experiences--learning to approach your experience with clarity, presence, and intention. Explore the depths of consciousness, guided by ancient mindfulness practices and modern insights.

Mindful Preparation and Integration for Psychedelic Interventions course offers a comprehensive understanding of both mindfulness and psychedelic science, providing tools for stress reduction, inner exploration, and personal growth. Gain practical skills to prepare for and integrate profound psychedelic experiences, harnessing their potential for healing and self-discovery.

Join a supportive community and expert-led sessions, unlocking a holistic approach to well-being that combines mindfulness practices and the transformative potential of psychedelics. Begin your journey toward inner harmony and expanded consciousness.

Legal Statement: Please note that our course strictly adheres to all relevant local, national, and international laws regarding the use, possession, and distribution of controlled substances. We do not condone, facilitate, or engage in the use or procurement of illegal substances. The educational content provided about substances such as psilocybin is for informational and academic purposes only and does not constitute encouragement or promotion of their use in any form that would contravene existing laws.

Ethical Statement: We uphold a strong commitment to ethical practices and responsible education. Our curriculum aims to provide factual, evidence-based information regarding substances like psilocybin, focusing on their historical, cultural, psychological, and therapeutic aspects. We prioritize the safety, well-being, and legal compliance of our students and do not endorse or advocate the use of any illegal substances. Our intention is to foster informed discussions, critical thinking, and ethical decision-making in the realm of psychedelics and related topics.

Outcomes

Short-Term:

• Improved Integration: Participants will demonstrate an increased ability to integrate psychedelic experiences, making meaning from insights, and applying them to personal growth and positive life changes.
• Emotional Well-being: Participants will report improved emotional regulation, resilience, and the ability to navigate difficult emotions both during psychedelic experiences and in daily life.
• Ethical Engagement: Participants will show an increased understanding of ethical considerations, harm reduction practices, and responsible use of psychedelics, promoting safety and integrity in their engagement with plant medicine.

Long-Term:

• Personal Transformation: Participants experience profound personal growth, healing, and positive life changes resulting from the integration of contemplative practices and psychedelic experiences.
• Community Impact: Graduates of the course become advocates for the synergistic application of mindfulness-based interventions with the safe and intentional use of psychedelics, actively supporting others in their integration journeys and contributing to the destigmatization and responsible use of psychedelics.
• Cultural Shift: The course contributes to a broader cultural shift towards recognizing and valuing the transformative potential of classical psychedelics and contemplative practices, leading to increased acceptance, research, and accessibility to psychedelic therapies.

Target Audience

• People interested in mindfulness-based interventions and their synergistic relationship with classic psychedelic plant medicine.
• People contemplating psychedelic assisted therapy and looking for skills to manage perceptions and emotions associated with the process.
• People wanting to sustain the impact of psychedelic-assisted therapies—further integrating these transformational experiences into their daily lives.

Objectives

• Increased Knowledge: Participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of classical psychedelics/plant medicines, contemplative practices, integration techniques, the benefits and risks of psychedelic use, as well as the legal and ethical guidelines associated with psychedelic use.
• Enhanced Skills: Participants will acquire practical skills for self-reflection, emotional regulation, mindfulness, and integration of their psychedelic experiences -- enabling them to safely and effectively navigate, integrate, and benefit from the transformational potential of these practices.
• Increased Self-Awareness: Participants will learn evidenced-based mindfulness practices for deepening self-awareness, gaining deeper insight into their conditioned emotions, beliefs, and behavior patterns, and develop a greater understanding of the impact their psychedelic experiences may have on their psychological, emotional, and behavioral health. Participants will also develop an understanding of their choice to take plant medicine and how it is determined by many factors: including, but not limited to, culture, society, gender, race, experiences of personal and generational trauma, spirituality, and many more.
• Supportive Community: Participants will be given the opportunity to develop and foster a sense of community and connection with others on a similar--a safe and non-judgmental space for sharing, learning and compassionate support.