UZ Day at Yoga Journal Conference, “Caring for the Caregiver,” brought together over 150 guests who gathered to hear Urban Zen Integrative Therapist faculty members, Rodney Yee, Colleen Saidman Yee, Jamie Naughright, Reiki Master Pamela Miles and Young Living Essential Oils aromatherapist Tracey Griffith. In keeping with the day’s theme of caregivers caring for themselves, UZIT students provided yoga therapy, Reiki and aromatherapy on other attendees, demonstrating integrative therapy skills to assist caregivers in dealing with the physical, emotional and spiritual needs they face in caring for loved ones.  Dr. Christiane Northrup and Professor Robert Thurman were special guests who shared their expertise in caring for oneself.

The Urban Zen Center hosted Cookie Magazine’s first annual Kidsfest for FreeArts NYC, hosted by Kim Raver and Mary Alice Stephenson. Children and their families were able to join top NYC artists for hands-on activities, from from Sculpting with Will Ryman, Collage with Donald Baechler, Cookie Decorating with Katie Brown, Graffiti Art with Andre Charles, Painting with Michael De Feo, Building Lego City with SOM and Child/Family Portraits with Nigel Barker and Patrick McMullan.

It was an incredible success, and drew more then 500 people. All proceeds went to support FreeArts NYC. Cookie magazine donated the remaining supplies and furniture to the Free Arts NYC children who need it most.

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Free Arts NYC | www.freeartsnyc.org

Ninety nurses from fifteen different states from across the country participated in a weekend of healing and self-care for themselves. It is so often in our medical system that the caregivers do not take care of themselves. Urban Zen was excited to host this magical weekend along with the Nightingale Initiative for Global Health and the EarthRose Institute.

The nurses learned how to focus on their intention, how to develop a self-care plan from a integral and holistic model of nursing, how to use nutritional healing with their patients, how to create optimum healing environments, and how to use aromatherapy with their patients. Threaded into the weekend were yoga, breathing, qigong and imagery exercises.

The heartfelt thanks Urban Zen has received since the weekend has made our vision clearer that we are on the right path in helping nurses get back in touch with their dreams of helping others.

What do you fear most--- the Swine Flu, or the vaccine? Airport terrorists, or airport security searches? Growing old, or the alternative? If you answered "all of the above," you'll guess why I went to a weekend retreat on fear with Pema Chodron, the noted Buddhist teacher and author. Pema immediately dispelled common misunderstandings about fear:Myth # 1: The way to overcome fear is by acting fearless Assuming a brave stance, "vaccinating" ourselves with affirmations, seeking out the psychic police for protection, or even pole-vaulting headlong into fear like would-be Olympians are the strategies many use to overcome terror. But these strategies bypass fear's true opportunity to teach us authentic courage.

On Friday night, a group of Urban Zen friends got a first hand taste of the Urban Zen Integrative Therapist (UZIT) experience with soon to graduate UZITs on hand in the Stephan Weiss Studio to give people the caring, healing, and supportive treatments, blending yoga, Reiki, and aromatherapy. This is the same caring approach that patients at New York's Beth Israel hospital, receive through participation in the UZIT pilot program, currently under study to determine its effectiveness and potential cost reduction. Dr. Woodson Merrell, who serves as the medical champion of the program, crafted by Rodney Yee and Colleen Saidman Yee, reported that study results are expected by the end of this year.

Chatting with the renewed and refreshed participants, Donna Karan shared her hopes of seeing this program in every hospital in America. "Everyone has to come together to care for the patient," she said.

This Monday, November 9, the Stephan Weiss Studio is hosting a teleseminar on Radiance led by Deirdre Hale,  that is open to the public. For more information, click here.

In this week's Health Outlook, sign up to learn more about hormone's in beef.

Urban Zen Foundation

"Where do healthcare and medicine collide with brilliant minds and uninhabited imagination?"  TEDMED 2009

It's been a week since TEDMED 2009 wrapped, and the challenge and the excitement is taking all the ideas learned and generated during the conference and moving forward. Donna Karan, who spoke at TEDMED, and Sonja Nuttall, the creative director of Urban Zen, return from the conference completely inspired to share what they've learned. "TEDMED is the future of

changing medicine and healthcare," says Sonja. Watch this space for follow up stories.

At TEDMED, Donna shared her story about her husband, Stephan Weiss, and one of her best friends, Lynn Kohlman. Their battle with cancer led Donna on a journey of heartbreak and loss. She emerged from that journey an advocate of the healing power of integrating eastern healing modalities into western medical settings. Her vision of healing and caring - for

patients, loved ones, and caregivers - led to the creation of the URBAN ZEN INTEGRATIVE THERAPY PROGRAM.

The speakers at TEDMED all shared a little about themselves. Some of the stories were about moments of vulnerability, some about technical advances, but all were looking forward, and simultaneously remembering our humanity. Highlights from the forum include:

- Jack Lord, president of NAVIGENIC who is seeking to connect the healthcare dialogue and the power of science.

- Goldie Hawn, founder of the HAWN FOUNDATION, who spoke on understanding the scientific mind of the child and keeping them in touch with their emotion so they can go to school with joy, happiness.

- Vic Strecher, founder of HEALTHMEDIA - who spoke on the motivation of change.  "I would call him the Good Coach," says Sonja. Dr. Strecher explores the role of interactive communications technologies on health behavior change and decision making.

-And who could forget David Blain, a magician who has set records for high-profile feats of endurance and attributes it to being able to enter meditative states. To watch a clip of his talk, CLICK HERE

-Alexander Tsiaras demonstrated THEVISUALMD, an interactive site that offers 3D imagery to tell compelling stories about health, and replace what Alexander calls existing "boring" content. To see an interview on ABC, CLICK HERE

-Jesse Dylan, founder of LYBBA, shared his vision to use SMO to form a community of healthcare practitioners.

-And of course Richard Saul Wurman and Marc Hodash, founders of TEDMED.

Read more about Urban Zen in the press, CLICK HERE.

ALISON ROSE LEVY

I'm down in D.C for a great event --- with Donna Karan, Larry Dossey, Mark Hyman, James Gordon, Woodson Merrell, Dean Ornish, Joanne Heyman, and a host of other leaders in the transformation of health care. Last night, on November 4th, the Bravewell Collaborative, under the inspired leadership of Christy Mack celebrated the release of the long awaited Institute of Medicine report on the future of integrative medicine in health care with a bash down in Washington, DC-- with Mehmet Oz, MD as Master of Ceremonies.

Can't wait to read the report and will report on its contents in a later blog-- but for now just want to report that it was great to spend time with a community of people who are so caring, dedicated, and focused on caring for the patient and solving our health care problems.

As Donna, just back from TEDMed told me, "We all have to join together to make the change happen."

When Margaret Mead said that a small group can change the world, she no doubt had in mind a community just like the one we are so fortunate to have around UZ, Bravewell, and all our many allies.

To read the report CLICK HERE.

For health information, science and news, get the free health outlook, CLICK HERE.