Category: Coaching: Life/Personal

Active Days of Summer

·

Busy, indeed — and we’ve much news to share with you.

Our director Dr Anne has completed her “5 continents in 5 months” introduction of EWP across the globe, expanding our network of business colleagues and listening to the needs of busy professionals everywhere. Along the way, she participated in the BPW Leadership Summit (New York), UN Commission on the Status of Women, Cross-Cultural Understanding Conference (Cairo), Cairo Women’s Empowerment Summit, Global Summit of Women (Sao Paulo), and B2B Milan Expo BPW event.

In Hong Kong earlier this month, the new chapter of BPW Hong Kong held its formative meeting and is now well on the way to official establishment, anticipated in September. Dr Anne was elected as its President (pro tem), complemented by a full 9-member ExCo.

This week Dr Anne is on Jeju Island, supporting a Hong Kong colleague by providing a round of local introductions, for the purpose of building a retreat center on Jeju! At the same time, she supports a colleague from Canada who is designing her own 3-month research project of Jeju, a Denmark-Korean adoptee seeking her shamanic roots, and a US composer studying traditional music of Korea.

Next week, Dr Anne will join two colleagues to attend the NGO UNESCO “Rapprochement of Cultures” forum in Beijing, where – as a member of BPW International – she will co-facilitate a workshop on peace & intercultural understanding, and – as Honorary Ambassador of Jeju Island – will provide UNESCO officials and affiliate NGO representatives with her books on Jeju ‘s indigenous free-diving women.

Amid all this activity, Dr Anne continues to write and publish; currently, she is developing an article for none other than NatGeo Traveller Australia/New Zealand, on the mystical indigenous women’s culture of Jeju Island — free-divers, shamans, goddesses, and more! Jeju Government has also recently invited Dr Anne to remain as Honorary Ambassador for a second consecutive 2-year term, extended through 2018.

August is lining up to be a transitional month, as Dr Anne wraps up her current research on Jeju Island and returns to Hong Kong to take up full-time residence once more. Beginning in September, she will affiliate with the interdisciplinary practice of Dr Susan Jamieson & Associates (Central), where she will maintain a part-time practice in integrative psychology.

As always, for more information, please contact us!

Stress-busters

·

Got stress? How do YOU keep yourself healthy – physically and mentally?

In this modern world, one factor common to all humans is our encounter with stress. Our response, however, differs greatly from one individual to the next.

We all know the classics: meditation, exercise, nutrition, sleep, time with loved ones. But what if TIME – that is, ‘lack’ of it, in our increasing ‘busyness’ – is the greatest stressor of all?

We know the right things to do. We just can’t fit them in.

So, here are a few innovative methods for a healthy stress response:

1) In just 20 minutes at the beginning of each day – BEFORE reaching for the computer or smartphone – put on soft music of your choosing and conduct this series of stretches designed to open the ‘meridians’ according to Traditional East Asian Medicine, along with deep and rhythmic breathing and a meditative mind. In 20 minutes, you have integrated the benefits of physical exercise, Asian medicine, breathwork, meditation, and music – and while these may all seem soothing (i.e., reducing stress response), you will feel energized and ready for your day.

2) Never – ever – skip breakfast. Following the routine above, have the healthiest breakfast you can imagine. Every day, without fail — your brain and body’s fuel for the day. Setting out the ingredients, or even making what you can, the night before will reduce the requirement on your morning routine. Skipping breakfast is a sabotage of your health, both physical and mental.

3) Take 5-minute ‘mental holidays’ throughout your workday. Whenever possible, at least once every two hours, leave your desk (this also gets your blood flowing and reduces excessive sitting), find a quiet place of solitude – WITHOUT looking at your smartphone, close your eyes, focus on deep breathing, and envision the best getaway imaginable. In the course of a single day, you may have ‘traveled’ to a tropical beach, a quiet forest, the peak of a mountain (no climbing required), a symphony hall, and the arms of your loved one – each time boosting your brain and heart, and releasing stress response before it accumulates.

There are many more tips for achieving relaxation in the face of stress. These, requiring very little time or effort, will go a long way toward optimal wellness.

#eastwestpsyche