Are you feeling stressed out and anxious? Do you have trouble getting a good night’s sleep? Are you struggling with pain, a chronic condition, or a difficult diagnosis?
If physical and emotional roadblocks are preventing you from fully enjoying your life, it’s time to experience Perfect Health.
Perfect Health is one of the Chopra Center’s most popular signature programs – a 6- or 10-day mind-body immersion that blends the healing arts of the East with the best in modern Western medicine.
In the Chopra Center’s beautiful nurturing setting, you will feel your stress and tension melt away as our highly trained team of physicians, certified educators, and healing arts masters help you restore your balance and address your personal health concerns.
The Perfect Health program’s unique approach is based on the powerful principles of Ayurveda, India’s 5,000-year-old healing system. Ayurveda focuses on the whole person – the mind, body, and spirit – seeking to correct the imbalances that cause distress and disease. Health is not just the absence of illness or symptoms, but a state of expanded wellbeing, vitality, and joy.
Perfect Health is a 6- or 10-day healing immersion that combines a renowned medical staff, a time-tested detoxification and cleansing process known as panchakarma, and intimate, daily classes in meditation, Ayurveda, and yoga.
The Perfect Health program’s unique approach is based on the powerful principles of Ayurveda, India’s 5,000-year-old healing system. Ayurveda focuses on the whole person – the mind, body, and spirit – seeking to correct the imbalances that cause distress and, ultimately, disease. In contrast with conventional medicine, Ayurveda defines health not just as the absence of illness or symptoms, but as a state of higher consciousness that allow us to experience greater energy, creativity, wellbeing, and happiness in our daily lives.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Perfect Health is offered 2-3 times each month ever month here at The Chopra Center. For more information click here!
If November’s cold, windy days have unbalanced your Vata dosha and left you feeling scattered or anxious, imagine coming home to the warm, soothing aroma of fresh pumpkin pie. The sweet taste of pumpkin combined with the cinnamon, cloves, and maple syrup will nourish your senses and your spirit.
Serves 8
Crust 1¼ cups whole wheat pastry flour 1 pinch salt ½ cup cold butter, cut into ½-inch pieces 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar or white vinegar 4 to 6 tablespoons ice water
Filling 3 cups fresh organic pumpkin purée or canned pumpkin purée 1 cup low-fat vanilla soymilk, milk, or cream ½ cup turbinado sugar 2 tablespoons maple syrup 2 eggs, lightly whipped (or substitute ¼ cup applesauce or mango purée, plus ¼ cup vegetable oil) ½ teaspoon nutmeg 1 teaspoon cinnamon ½ teaspoon ground cloves 1 teaspoon ground ginger 1 pinch salt
To prepare the crust: Place flour and salt in a food processor and pulse to combine. With the machine running, slowly add butter, one piece at a time, until the flour looks like course meal. Add the vinegar. With the machine still running, begin to slowly add the ice water, 1 tablespoon at a time, waiting a moment or two before each addition, until the dough begins to form into a ball in the bowl of the processor.
Remove the dough and place on an oil-sprayed surface and roll out into a circle that is 1 inch larger around than the pie pan. Lightly oil the pie pan and place the dough in it, leaving a 1-inch edge around the perimeter of the pan. Create an attractive border around the pie pan, trimming off any excess dough.
Place the piecrust in the refrigerator while you make the pumpkin filling.
How to Cook a Pumpkin Choose an approximately 3-pound pumpkin. Don’t use large pumpkins intended for jack-o’-lanterns as the pulp is too watery and stringy. You can use small pumpkins or other varieties of winter squash, including kabocha squash.
Wash the pumpkin and cut in half. Remove the seeds and set aside for pumpkin seed snack. Place half the pumpkin, cut side down, into a shallow pan with ½ inch of water or apple juice. Put aluminum foil on top and bake at 400 degrees for one hour or until the pumpkin is soft. When the pumpkin is cool enough to handle, scrape out the pulp from the shell with a large spoon. Discard the shell. Let the pulp cool slightly.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees (F). In a blender or food processor, combine the pumpkin, milk, sugar, maple syrup, eggs, nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and salt. Mix well.
Remove the piecrust from the refrigerator; pour the batter up to the rim of the dough. Bake for approximately 45 minutes; if the pie starts to brown too quickly, place some foil over it. Bake until an inserted toothpick comes clean. The pie should be golden brown.
Panchakarma is the ultimate mind-body healing experience for detoxifying the body, strengthening the immune system, and restoring balance and well-being. Developed thousands of years ago in India, panchakarma is the cornerstone of the Chopra Center's Perfect Health program. It is recommended on a seasonal basis, as well as when an individual feels out of balance or is experiencing illness.
Panchakarma Detoxifies the Body and Mind According to ayurveda, good health depends upon our capability to fully metabolize all aspects of life, assimilating that which nourishes and eliminating the rest. When we can’t completely digest our food, experiences, and emotions, toxins accumulate in our bodily tissues, creating imbalance and – ultimately – disease. Panchakarma is an elegant cleansing process that releases stored toxins and restores the body’s innate healing ability.
When our digestive energies, known as agni (fire), are robust, we create healthy tissues, eliminate waste products efficiently, and produce a subtle essence called ojas. ojas, which may be envisioned as the innermost sap of our psychophysiology, is the basis for clarity of perception, physical strength, and immunity. On the other hand, if our agni is weakened, digestion is incomplete and creates toxins that get stored in the body. This toxic residue is known as ama.
The Foundation for Health and Well-being When ama accumulates in the body, it blocks the flow of energy, information, and nourishment throughout the system. Ayurveda considers this build-up of toxins the underlying cause of all disease. A common example of this is the accumulation of saturated fat and cholesterol that is beyond the body’s capacity to metabolize. Over time, this leads to the blockage of the blood vessels and arteries and, ultimately, to heart attacks.
While it’s easy to understand agni and ama in terms of food, it’s important to remember that your mind and heart are continually digesting energy and information as well. Right now your mental digestive powers are working right now to break down these ideas into components that your intellect can assimilate. Similarly, your emotional agni is responsible for processing your experiences and feelings, including the smile of a loved one, unexpected criticism at work, or the excitement of a new relationship.
Restoring the Body's Natural Balance If your emotional agni is strong, you are able to extract whatever is nourishing and eliminate the rest. The inability to metabolize emotions, however, produces just as much toxic residue as undigested food. In fact, pent-up anger, long-held sadness, and lingering guilt are more debilitating for most people than problems with physical digestion.
If we want to experience optimal health, it is crucial to maintain a strong digestive fire and eliminate toxins from the body. Panchakarma is a time-proven natural therapy that detoxifies and restores the body's inner balance and vitality.
At the Chopra Center's Perfect Health program, you can experience the healing power of panchakarma in our safe, nurturing setting.
Dr. Sheila Patel, M.D., is a board-certified family physician who earned her M.D. at the University of Wisconsin Medical School and completed her residency in family medicine at the Ventura County Medical Center in Southern California. For more than a decade, she has been practicing full-spectrum family medicine (from prenatal care and deliveries, to ER coverage, and inpatient and outpatient primary care for all ages) in a variety of settings.
Dr. Patel’s integrative healing approach combines the best in conventional Western medicine with the wisdom of ancient healing traditions. “I believe in a holistic individualized approach to patient care that incorporates a wide variety of healing modalities. Every person is unique, so what works for one person may not be effective for someone else. I work with patients to develop individual treatments plans that address body, mind, and spirit," states Dr. Patel.
“Before coming to the Chopra Center, I chose to practice in small communities for the last twelve years – initially in southeast Alaska, and then in rural Wisconsin, where I was able to develop close relationships with patients and their families and provide patient-centered care in a supportive environment.
"I was drawn to serve as a physician at the Chopra Center because I could continue to offer individualized medical care in a loving, nurturing setting where patients feel empowered and supported on their healing path."
Dr. Patel's special interests include preventive medicine and mind-body medicine with an emphasis on Ayurveda. She has also taken additional continuing medical education courses in integrative medicine and has received further training in mindfulness-based stress reduction.
“My practice has always focused on preventive medicine for all ages, as well as management of a wide variety of chronic and acute health conditions. I believe that the best way to achieve wellness is to integrate all of the knowledge available to us from modern conventional medicine as well as from traditional healing systems. I have particular interests in meditation and yoga, which I have practiced for many years," she said.
“I have been interested in Ayurveda since I began my medical training at the University of Wisconsin, and was influenced early on by Dr. Deepak Chopra’s writings. Working at the Chopra Center allows me to blend the Vedic spiritual tradition of my childhood with the practice of medicine, which is both personally and professionally fulfilling."
Dr. Patel is a compassionate, caring doctor whose areas of expertise include:
• High cholesterol • Diabetes • Hypertension (high blood pressure) • Heart disease • Chronic pain/fibromyalgia • Back and joint pain • Depression and anxiety • Irritable bowel syndrome • Cancer screening • Symptoms related to menopause • Stress reduction • Allergies and asthma
Davidji has been in apprenticeship to Deepak Chopra and David Simon for the past seven years and is the dean of Chopra Center University. As the Chopra Center’s lead meditation teacher and a certified Perfect Health instructor, davidji is a guiding force who has taught thousands the timeless tools of meditation and ayurveda.
Where did you grow up? I was born in New York City and grew up in Queens.
What drew you to the Chopra Center? Shortly after 9/11 I attended the Seduction of Spirit meditation retreat in Oxford, England. When it ended, I headed off to India on a journey of self-discovery. Two years later, on Bastille Day – July 14 – I found myself attending Journey into Healing, the Chopra Center’s signature mind-body workshop. Having completed the two prerequisites for becoming a certified meditation teacher, attending the teacher training was the logical next step.
After Journey into Healing ended, I never left the Center. I volunteered for a while and ultimately found my sweet spot here helping to translate the visions of Drs. Simon and Chopra into the daily workings of our organization.
What do you love about working here? I’ve been teaching meditation every week to guests at Perfect Health, Seduction of Spirit, and SynchroDestiny for the past four years. It has connected me to thousands of people around the world and is the greatest gift I’ve received.
My job in the Chopra Center universe satisfies my three requirements for any work I do. First, I have to like and approve of the work being done and the values being promoted. I completely support the vision Drs. Simon and Chopra have created for the Center and find my bliss in helping to translate that vision into the daily workings of our organization.
Like most people, I also want to work with individuals I like and care about. I cherish my family here at the Chopra Center and commit myself each day to helping them fulfill their dharma. Finally, I respect and love the individuals who touch our world – who come to the Center in search of greater health or a richer, more fulfilling life. I get to see the tangible results of people moving from states of pain to deep healing. What could be better than that?! On top of all of these rewards, every day in this world is a new day. There’s nothing routine about working here, and every day offers infinite potential for creativity and growth.
What’s your dosha? My prakruti is Pitta. Focus, intention, and passion.
What’s your favorite food? Any 70 percent (or higher!) cacao dark chocolate . . . and blueberries – both are Pitta pacifying.
How do you keep your doshas in balance? I learned how to balance my doshas when I attended the Perfect Health program. My daily routine has become a sweet ritual. It includes a regular meditation practice; a self-abhy massage every morning, and I often surround myself with Pitta- and Vata-balancing colors – soothing blues, greens, and earth tones.
I adhere to a Pitta-balancing diet (except when I’m eating spicy Thai, Chinese, or Indian food) and I visit the ocean at least once a week. I also share an office with someone who absorbs my excess Pitta and gives me some sweet grounding Kapha in exchange!
What’s your favorite quotation? “If you’re going through hell, keep going” – by Winston Churchill. It reminds me to breathe deep, stay centered, be self referred, and move forward when it seems dark out there. There’s always light at the end of the tunnel and most likely it’s streaming out of your own soul. I also have been known to say, “Deepak Chopra swirls the heavens and David Simon brings heaven to earth.”
What are your archetypes? I have a bunch – the more the merrier. Infinite possibilities, right? My short list starts with Lord Rama, who for me represents integrity of word, thought and deed. I’m also guided by the remover of obstacles - Ganesha, the little boy with an elephant’s head, who liberates me on a daily basis. And each day I get to work with two of the most brilliant, insightful, and compassionate healers on the planet. They are my greatest teachers.
What’s your funniest meditation story? I’ve been teaching meditation every week to guests at Perfect Health, Seduction of Spirit, and SynchroDestiny for the past four years. Teaching has connected me to thousands of people around the world and is the greatest gift I’ve received. One week, after teaching 15 people in a row their Primordial Sound mantra, I was feeling pretty blissed out. During the ritual of teaching the mantra, instructors ask the new meditator to repeat his or her Primordial Sound silently for a few moments while we join them in silence with our eyes closed. On this occasion, when I opened my eyes I realized a half hour had passed! I’d gone so deeply into meditation that time had stopped for me. My student was sitting there looking quietly bewildered. Then we both started laughing hysterically. Neither of us have ever forgotten that moment . . . er . . . half hour. Teaching others present moment awareness remains the greatest gift I could ever receive.
Are there any causes that you support? Speaking on my own behalf rather than for the Center, I believe we have an obligation to protect and nurture all the sentient beings on the planet. Humanity has been given dominion over the animals in the world, and it’s our duty to offer them our compassion and care. I support the Humane Society and groups that protect animals from cruelty and needless suffering. There are hundreds of thousands of pets in shelters and pounds around the world who are looking for a home and could use your love. Just in Florida alone, about 50,000 animals have to be euthanized every week because there’s no one to take care of them. I believe we also have an obligation to treat the animals that provide us with sustenance with as much dignity and care as we can. This means working to end the inhumane practices of factory farming and animal experimentation.
Do you have any pets? Yes, two amazing dogs. A 7-pound, 10-year-old silver toy poodle named Pearl. We rescued her from a Nashville, Tennessee animal shelter. And recently, I adopted Peaches – the Buddha Princess from a shelter up in L.A. She’s a 2-year old maltese yorkie mix. There are hundreds of thousands of pets in shelters and pounds around the world who are looking for a home and could use your love. We have an obligation to protect and nurture all the sentient beings on the planet.
What was your most transcendent moment? I was traveling in Jaipur, India, wandering along the streets, when an Indian man came up to me, hugged me and said, “Mr. David, I’m so glad you’ve come here. We’ve been waiting for you.” I’d never met this man in my life. I suddenly felt timeless and I merged into everything . . . the sky, the clouds, the earth, the man, my soul. It was indescribably profound and lasted for what seemed like eternity. Every time I meditate I drift into some form of that experience and it occasionally weaves itself back into my waking state consciousness.
What are your favorite books?
I’m a voracious reader. But I would say some of my favorites are Dominion, by Matthew Sculley; Awakening the Buddha Within, by Lama Surya Das; Absolute Tao, by Osho; The Ten Commitments, by David Simon;The Spontaneous Fulfillment of Desire, by Deepak Chopra; and The Razor’s Edge, by Somerset Maugham. I also love the irreverence of Vonnegut, Sartre, Molière, and Bukowski.
What’s your favorite Chopra Center product? David Simon’s newest book – his 13th – Free to Love, Free to Heal.
What’s your favorite city? In addition to New York – the center of the universe; and Carlsbad – the sweet spot of the universe, my favorite place would be Boracay in the Philippines. It’s a powder-white-sand island filled with loving people. It has great diving and a temperature of 98 degrees, 365 days a year.
Who would you most like to invite to a dinner party? It would be a big list but I would definitely invite His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Oprah, Martha Stewart, my Dad, Andy Warhol, Gwen Stefani, Jimmy Page, Osho, James Hetfield, Henry David Thoreau, Bill O’Reilly, Grace Kelly, Bill Clinton, Moses, Ammachi, Karl Marx, Emmylou Harris, Richard Branson, Patti Smith, King Tutankhamun, Jimi Hendrix, and Thomas Edison. I’d also want to make sure that the loving staff of the Chopra Center would be there to shine their magnificent light.
Any closing words? Thanks. Peace . . . and keep meditating.
We are so excited to be bringing Journey Into Healing to The Chopra Center next week! From September 9th through the 13th, we will be hosting guests from around the world to experience the most profound and informative Ayurvedic event on the planet. Deepak Chopra, Dr. David Simon, Valencia Porter are just a few of the speakers at this special event.
For more information on how to join this event please email me at nicolemarie@chopra.com
