March 2009: Are You Ready To Take Your First Step?

When we are about to step forward in a new direction, it’s natural for the ego mind to feel threatened. Keep Reading

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Where's Deepak

Mar 8-14 New Orleans, LA
Apr 17th Westminster, CO
Apr 26th Winnipeg, Canada
Apr 27th Toronto, Ontario

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What We Are Eating

The Chopra Center’s Cajun Beans and Tempeh
Our recipe can be found here

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New Feature

Nominate an Enlightened Being. The winner will receive an all-expense-paid Chopra Center experience. Make your nomination here.

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What We Are Reading

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Living Perfect Health

Hundreds of studies over the past decade have found that the level of stress or comfort we feel in our lives influences our immune cells. Keep Reading

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Words of Wisdom

“Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore.” ~ Andre Gide

“The vision must be followed by the venture. It is not enough to stare up the steps - we must step up the stairs.” ~ Vance Havner

“Even if you are on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there.” ~ Will Rogers

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Meditation Q&A

Q: I just learned to meditate and I love it. My anxiety is reduced, my stress seems to have drifted away, and I find myself enjoying life more. I really want my husband to learn too. He says that it's boring. How should I respond? Read the answer here

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Balancing Your Doshas

Long before the U.S. FDA issued recommended daily allowances for fats, carbohydrates, and proteins, we listened to our taste buds to determine which substances were edible, how much of each to consume, and how to create balance in our body and mind. Keep Reading

What's in Store

Take the first step toward Wellness with Chopra Center Wellness Products

Enter Code: WELLNESS at checkout to receive 15% off all Wellness products. Offer expires 3/13/2009 Click here to begin shopping.

In every moment, we are choosing. In the morning we wake and decide whether we will meditate, turn on the news, or take a walk. We choose what to wear, what to eat, and where to go. By the time we get to work or take our children to school, we’ve already made hundreds of decisions – both consciously and unconsciously.

Sometimes we feel pulled in a million directions and wonder if we are making the right move. Or we may feel paralyzed by doubt and indecision, spending endless hours weighing the pros and cons. In a universe of infinite possibilities, how do we decide which path will lead to greater fulfillment, meaning, and happiness in our lives?

This issue of Namasté celebrates the gift of choice and taking your first step on your path to health, to love, and to peace of mind. Every choice is guided by our level of awareness, and so is every step of growth. For many, attending Healing the Heart has been the most powerful first step towards emotional freedom and self-transformation. Watch the video below to hear the inspiring words of our most recent Healing the Heart guests.

As a Namasté reader, you have probably already identified a strong inner desire to release constriction in your life and tap into your hidden potential. Perhaps you have a meditation practice and have discovered its value. If you’ve tried a bunch of times but haven’t found the ease to meditate twice a day, every day, it’s probably because you haven’t been instructed on how to make it a daily ritual – like brushing your teeth. You do that each day without thinking – it has become a ritual.

Taking a step towards meditating can be the most powerful gift you’ve ever experienced.

If you want to finally learn how to meditate and create balance in your life, we are offering Namasté readers who have never attended a Chopra Center event a special invitation to attend Renewal Weekend Workshop. This gateway experience is a rare opportunity to learn directly from Chopra Center co-founders, Deepak Chopra and David Simon, and lead educator, davidji. Renewal Weekend is also a powerful first step in developing a daily meditation practice, an Ayurvedic daily routine, and a practice of conscious communication.

In addition, here are 7 empowering steps you can take in your life right now:

1. Develop a meditation practice today. Start with one of our guided meditations or find a PSM teacher in your town. Or you can learn to meditate at a Chopra Center workshop or retreat.
2. Take the dosha quiz and understand your mind-body constitution to bring balance into your life.
3. Experience nature – touch a natural body of water, walk on grass, sit under a tree, stand in the rain.
4. Write a poem about how great you are.
5. Commit one act of love today – make amends to someone you’ve hurt; forgive someone who hurt you (in person, on the phone, or in writing).
6. Take a step toward clarity by making one powerful decision right now – it can be a baby step . . . throw something out that no longer serves you, wash your car, get rid of paper congestion, clean a closet, a room, or even a drawer. Give away an item of clothing.
7. Perform a vital physical practice – go to a yoga class, learn pilates, go for a vigorous walk, practice deep breathing for 15 minutes, nourish yourself with a massage treatment.

These are among the infinite steps each one of us can take in 2009 to bring us closer to our unconditioned selves, to commit our bodies and minds to nourishing choices, and to tap into the divine spirit that rests within. We invite you to come journey with us and explore many more possibilities on the path to balance, healing, and transformation.

In gratitude,
The Chopra Center Staff

P.S. As always, we encourage you to share your insights, comments, and ideas at feedback@chopra.com.

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Experience a Virtual Massage

Learn about our massage treatments here

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How We Are Stretching

This Month's Pose: Mountain Raises from the Sea. Read More Here

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Teacher Feature

Diane Evelyn McIntosh,
Kaua'i, Hawaii
Primordial Sound Meditation Instructor
Read about Diane here

Find a teacher in your hometown

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Namasté Reader Spotlight

Jana Fleming, Santa Fe, New Mexico
Read about Jana here

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August 23-29, Whistler, B.C.
90-day special ends May 23

SynchroDestiny
April 29–May 3, Sedona, AZ
30-day special ends Mar 29

Journey into Healing
May 27–31, Chicago, IL
60-day special ends Mar 27

Our Six-Day Wellness Program
Perfect Health

April 13-22, Carlsbad, CA
30-day special ends Mar 13

April 23–28, Carlsbad, CA
30-day special ends Mar 23
*Special Emotional Healing Program

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The Newest Member of the Chopra Center Family!

Sanai Nur Shereef
Born 12.5.08 at 6:02 am. Read more here

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Words of Wisdom

“I must learn to love the fool in me the one who feels too much, talks too much, takes too many chances, wins sometimes and loses often, lacks self-control, loves and hates, hurts and gets hurt, promises and breaks promises, laughs, and cries.” ~ Theodore Isaac Rubin

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Contest Winners

At February's Journey into Healing workshop, we selected two attendees to take the next step as a guest of the Chopra Center. Read More Here

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