October 6 Drop-In Session
Please note that the October Drop-In session will be
on THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6 FROM 7-9
PM at the Wright Tavern Center, 2
Lexington
Rd. Concord, MA. This is a week earlier than the
usual 2nd Thursday of month. We will resume our
usual schedule on November 10.
This month we will be focusing on forgiveness. We
will work with meditations of forgiveness, for
ourselves and others. We will also discuss ways in
which
forgiveness research has added to the field of stress
reduction. Weather permitting, we will also explore
some walking meditations with the labyrinth, so
please wear comfortable walking shoes.
No preregistration is necessary. Drop-in fee is
$15 Feel free to come late and leave early, if
necessary. This is a wonderful way to maintain or
jump start your meditation and self-care practice in a
very supportive envirornment.
Quick Links...
|
Greetings!
Welcome to the October edition of News
from
Stress
Resources.
As I write this month, autumn is in full splendor
....bright days, leaves beginning to change to gold
and crimson, crisp apples, and
cool nights....a season when it is difficult NOT to be
mindful and aware of the present moment!
October is also a month for introspection and
assessment of our life changes. You may have had a
child leave for college, or begin school for the first
time. Perhaps you are transitioning into retirement
from the workplace or transitioning into the
workplace after an absence. Some may be learning
to live with a chronic health condition or beginning
a "new normal" after a loss. Where ever
you may find yourself this month, key to your overall
health and wellness remains in your own self-care
tools and stress resiliency.
This month I am highlighting several upcoming
events which may help you help you focus on your
overall wellness and resiliency, ranging from a two-
hour workshop to a three day conference. I am
also including some information about a software
program which is now available to address overuse
injuries and chronic stress symptoms in the
workplace.
As always, I encourage and appreciate your
comments and suggestions for future programming
and newsletter topics. May October bring a sense of
mindful attention to your life and life changes.
Take Care,
Pam
|
2005 Labyrinth Conference
|
Labyrinths are an ancient tool of meditation and
reflection that are gaining new interest and
research in the fields of healthcare and business
for stress
reduction and executive function
tasks. If you have been a
student in
my 8-week classes in Concord, you have
experienced the use of the labyrinth in meditation.
For those of you who have not experienced walking a
labyrinth, using a lap or finger labyrinth,or for those
who are interested in expanding
their knowledge of the uses of labyrinths in health
and wellness, you may be interested in checking out
the website for The Labyrinth
Society.
The annual conference of The Labyrinth Society will
be held this year in Lenox, MA from October 20-23.
October is a spectacular time to visit the Berkshire
region of
Massachusetts and fall foliage should be at its peak.
A
myriad of workshops, practice, and
speakers are offered during the three-day
gathering. More information about the annual
conference, as well as a listing of public and private
labyrinths located throughout the United States and
Canada is available on The Labyrinth Society's
website.
|
Success With Stress Workshop
|
I will be offering my popular one-night workshop
entitled: Success with Stress
through Concord-Carlisle Adult and
Community Education on Wednesday, October 19
from 7-9 PM at Concord-Carlisle High School.
This two-hour workshop will introduce paricipants to
effective tools of stress management for the
workplace and the home. You will have the
opportunity to practice relaxation and stress
reduction exercises during the class, as well as
receive materials to encourage continued practice in
your personal and work life.
The workshop is designed to allow participants to
add several tools of relaxation to their self-care
toolbox within the span of an evening workshop.
Registration for this workshop is through the Concord-Carlisle
Adult and Community Education, at
978-318-1540. Cost of the workshop is $35 per
person.
|
Workplace Stress Reduction Software
|
Workplace stress is often exacerbated by long hours
spent in one position, often at our desks and
keyboards of our computers. Repetitive stain injuries
(RSI) are common in many industries, as are chronic
stress symptoms for employees working in settings
requiring focused, desk and computer tasks.
While making time for stretching, releasing muscle
tension, and taking a few moments every hour away
from the desk, have been proven to reduce the
incidence of
repetitive strain injuries, as well as help reduce
stress levels, frequently we simply forget to take the
time!
I am currently testing a new ergonomic software
program called RSIGuard to see if it works as
described; to remind me to stop and take a
break at set intervals and to guide me with relaxation
and stretching exercises on my computer screen. I
will let you know next month how it worked for me,
but if you are interested in trying this out for yourself,
you can download the software for a free trial at
www.rsiguard.com.
I would be interested in your
feedback and thoughts about its effectiveness in
your work environment. By the way, this is not an
endorsement of this product. I have no finanacial
interest in this company or product, but am curious
to try it out and report back to you with my
comments. Stay tuned!
|
Nurse Respite Weekend
|
Nurses...How does a relaxing
weekend retreat, filled
with pampering TLC treatments, holistic self-care
CEU workshops, great food and company, all at a
historic B&B on Cape Cod sound? Too good to be
true? No, it's for real and the next Nurse
Respite Weekend will be held
from Saturday, October 22 through Sunday,
October 23 at the Barnaby Inn in West Harwich,
MA. Find out
more information about this all inclusive weekend
retreat by visiting the Barnaby
Inn website. I will be
presenting two of my most requested continuing
education workshops during the weekend:
Stress Reduction and Relaxation for
Healthcare
Professionals, as well as Healing Arts
in Healthcare. I
would hope to see you there!
|
|
|