Do you forget things easily?

Do you get derailed from a task easily or distracted by sounds and noises?

What about your IQ?

When my now 24-year-old son was just 9, a doctor thought he had ADHD, and I came this close to putting him on a stimulant. Even though I declined the medicine, I used natural fish oils high in DHA. He turned out to be naturally brilliant without any of those prescribed stimulants.

I’m not trying to alarm you about medications, but you should be informed so you can choose the best option for your loved ones. DHA fish oils are known to support a healthy brain and attention span in all people, young and old.

Studies have involved children and teenagers who had low levels of DHA and they, not surprisingly, had poor reading scores as well as behavioral problems. Could these children benefit from omega 3 supplementation? Low DHA in children aged 7 through 9 were associated with reading and comprehension that was below average, as well as behavioral issues. Why aren’t physicians considering DHA supplementation as a first-line treatment? Probably because the pharmaceutical sales people aren’t hyping those up.

Some studies point to DHA supplementation as a method of increasing overall intelligence as you get older. Can you imagine?! They based this finding on kids between the ages of 3 and 5 years old who had received omega 3 fat supplements as infants. Those kids outscored children who were in the placebo group who did not get the omega fats. By “outscored” I mean they had better results across the board on bot vocabulary and intelligence tests.

Omega-3 fatty acids seem to boost and balance your brain function. Basically, I’m saying we’re all fatheads and need good fats for our brain which consists of lipophilic cells.

About 60 percent or slightly more brain material is comprised of fat. Of the total fat, DHA makes up approximately 20 percent of your brain’s cerebral cortex. That’s the part of your brain that helps you think, learn a language, correctly perceive things, reason and comprehend. It is involved in voluntary movement so when you think I need to pick up that pen, your arm automatically does that for you, compliments of your cerebral cortex.

DHA plays an undeniable role for your cerebral cortex and your nerves. It’s found in unusually high levels in your neurons (the cells of your brain and spinal cord). That’s why patients with a TBI (traumatic brain injury) are told to take omega 3 fatty acids that are high in DHA content.

When you combine DHA fish oil with vitamin D or the calming mineral magnesium, the result can be even more astonishing, especially if you have other signs of cognitive decline such as memory loss, senior moments and problems making decisions.

The post Build A Better Brain With DHA | Jersey Shore Online appeared first on Good News!.

RHINEBECK, NY – Omega Institute for Holistic Studies today received the GuideStar Exchange Gold participation level, a leading symbol of transparency and accountability provided by GuideStar USA, Inc., the premier source of nonprofit information. This level demonstrates Omega’s deep commitment to nonprofit transparency and accountability.

“We are thrilled to have been recognized by GuideStar as an organization that has achieved a high standard of transparency as we work toward fulfilling our mission,” said Carla Goldstein, chief external affairs officer at Omega.

For more information about Omega, visit eOmega.org and follow Omega on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Google+.

About the GuideStar Exchange

The GuideStar Exchange is an initiative designed to connect nonprofits with current and potential supporters. With millions of people coming to GuideStar to learn more about nonprofit organizations, the GuideStar Exchange allows nonprofits to share a wealth of up-to-date information with GuideStar’s many audiences. Becoming a GuideStar Exchange participant is free of charge. To join, organizations need to update their report pages, completing all required fields for participation. The GuideStar Exchange level logos, acknowledged as symbols of transparency in the nonprofit sector, are displayed on all Exchange participants’ nonprofit reports.

About Omega Institute for Holistic Studies

Founded in 1977, Omega Institute for Holistic Studies is the nation’s most trusted source for wellness and personal growth. As a nonprofit organization, Omega offers diverse and innovative educational experiences that inspire an integrated approach to personal and social change. Located on more than 250 acres in the beautiful Hudson Valley, Omega welcomes more than 23,000 people to its workshops, conferences, and retreats in Rhinebeck, New York, and at exceptional locations around the world. eOmega.org

The post Omega Has Reached the GuideStar Exchange Gold Participation Level appeared first on Good News!.

The post Omega, Chrissa Pullicino appeared first on Good News!.

Omega to Offer Mindfulness & Education Conference and More in 2014

Is mindfulness practice the next revolution? According to Time magazine, it may be. From stress reduction to work performance, from the classroom to the boardroom, from relationships to the dinner table—the benefits of mindfulness are now widely recognized. Omega, a leader in the field for more than 35 years, today announced it will hold an important conference and several workshops on this topic in 2014.

“For years we have seen people from all walks of life reap huge benefits from learning how to bring mindfulness practices into their lives, at home, at work, in schools, and in the public arena,” said Carla Goldstein, chief external affairs officer at Omega. “The promise of mindfulness is that we can be more reflective, resilient, and compassionate toward each other as individuals and as a human family,” concluded Goldstein.

The practices of contemplative education, Social and Emotional Learning, and mindfulness are being widely explored in schools throughout the United States. Research continues to show that mindfulness practice decreases stress, attention deficit issues, depression, anxiety, and hostility in children, while also benefiting their health, well-being, social relations, and academic performance.

The Mindfulness & Education Conference, July 25–27, brings together influential leaders in the fields of mindfulness and Social and Emotional Learning (SEL), including psychologists, educators, administrators, and teachers, to explore practical ways to teach mindfulness techniques to children grades K through 12. Internationally renowned speakers will address topics such as implementing mindfulness programs in schools, ways to support Social and Emotional Learning, cultivation of resilience, at-risk youth, and practices that support utilizing the methods of interpersonal neurobiology. Tiered Pricing and continuing education credits are available. Omega awarded 39 full and partial scholarships to the conference, thanks to funding supported in part by the 1440 Foundation, an advised fund of the Silicon Valley Community Foundation.

Additional upcoming programs in the field of mindfulness include:

Urban Youth Yoga & Mindfulness, July 20–26, with the founders of the Holistic Life Foundation—Ali Smith, Atman Smith, and Andres Gonzalez, along with guest teacher Sharon Salzberg. This workshop shows you how to teach yoga and mindfulness to high-risk and hard-to-reach urban youth. Tiered Pricing and continuing education credits are available for this professional training.

Mindfulness in Education Teacher Training, July 20–26, with Daniel Rechtschaffen, author of The Way of Mindful Education. This 5-day workshop helps you gain the skills and confidence you need to bring the many benefits of mindfulness to children in grades K–12. Continuing education credits are available for this professional training.

Mindful Self-Compassion: 5-day Intensive, July 27–August 1, with Steven Hickman and Michelle Becker. Self-compassion is a skill that can be learned by anyone. It’s the heart of mindfulness. This workshop is particularly valuable for health-care professionals and nonprofessionals who want an in-depth experience of mindful self-compassion. Continuing education credits are available for this intensive.

Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT): A 5-Day Professional Training for the Prevention of Depression Relapse, August 10–15, with Zindel Segal and Susan Woods. This is an innovative group program designed to prevent relapse in people who have recovered from unipolar depression. Based on the research of Drs. Zindel Segal, John Teasdale, and Mark Williams, and documented in their book Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression, this professional training combines the practice and clinical application of mindfulness meditation with the tools of cognitive therapy. Continuing education credits are available for this professional training.

Mindful Communication: The Path of Wise Speech, August 17–22, with Oren J. Sofer. Mindfulness and loving-kindness meditation, the Buddha’s teachings on wise speech, and the contemporary discipline of Nonviolent Communication (NVC) collectively form a powerful foundation for cultivating awareness and empathy, strengthening our ability to be skillful in challenging situations, and developing our capacity to listen and speak from the heart. Tiered Pricing and continuing education credits are available.

Contemplative Practice in Higher Education, August 22–24, with Daniel P. Barbezat, Mirabai Bush, and more. Under the leadership of the Center for Contemplative Mind in Society, colleges and universities nationwide have integrated contemplative practices into a variety of their courses. In this professional training, four leading experts in the field introduce contemplative practices, review the related neuroscience research on meditation and learning, give examples of successful courses, and engage you in thinking about the role of contemplation in your own work.

To learn more visit eOmega.org, or call 800.944.1001. A limited number of media passes are available. To apply for a media pass, visit eOmega.org/press.

Follow Omega on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn and Instagram.

About Omega Institute for Holistic Studies

Founded in 1977, Omega Institute for Holistic Studies is the nation’s most trusted source for wellness and personal growth. As a nonprofit organization, Omega offers diverse and innovative educational experiences that inspire an integrated approach to personal and social change. Located on 200 acres in the beautiful Hudson Valley, Omega welcomes more than 23,000 people to its workshops, conferences, and retreats in Rhinebeck, New York, and at exceptional locations around the world. eOmega.org

The post Mindfulness Practice Growing Mainstream appeared first on Good News!.

Omega’s Theme Weeks Deliver Something for Everyone

A growing trend in travel, learning vacations pair fun getaways with educational opportunities that appeal to those who want more than just downtime. Omega Institute, a hub for lifelong learning in New York’s Hudson Valley, offers more than 325 varied opportunities, including three distinct theme weeks on its 200-acre Rhinebeck campus. Omega Arts Week, Retreat Week, and Family Week are three of the most popular programs and include a wide range of classes to choose from.

“By dedicating specific weeks on the campus to each of these areas, Omega creates a unique environment where people not only relax and have fun, but also meet others who are also interested in exploring new things,” said Carla Goldstein, chief external affairs officer at Omega.

Omega Arts Week, July, 6–11: During Omega Arts Week, a popular program for the past 20 years, the campus comes alive with music, dance, visual and written arts, and trapeze. Accomplished and budding artists, and creative spirits immerse themselves in their art, communing at meal times and showcasing their work at evening gatherings. Participants choose from more than 10 workshops spanning the arts, including photography, painting, trapeze, drumming and dance, screenwriting, rustic furniture making, and more. This year’s Arts Week also offers a special tribute to Babatunde Olatunji, a world-renowned Nigerian drummer who brought African drumming and dance to the United States. Olatunji was a perennial favorite at Omega, and his legacy has endured.

Omega Retreat Week, July 13–18: Omega Retreat Week brings together a group of extraordinary teachers from many traditions to add breadth and depth to the spiritual path. Retreats range from inward contemplation to outward celebration, all equally sacred. Participants choose from nine workshops, such as Relax & Write® with Maia Danziger, Awakening Your Authentic Soul Signature with Panache Desai, Qigong Empowerments with Robert Peng, A Yoga and Meditation Retreat with James Higgins, and more.

Omega Family Week, August 3–8: Omega Family Week offers parents and kids a unique balance of time together and time spent apart in age-appropriate workshops. Adults choose from workshops like The Story You Have to Tell with Cheryl Strayed, Tennis Inside the Zone with Rob Polishook, Afro Flow Yoga with Leslie Salmon Jones and Jeff W. Jones, and more. Workshops for kids include Super Soccer Stars Camp, Beyond Rock, RoboFun Stop-Motion Animation, and more.

To learn more or to register, please visit eOmega.org, or call 800.944.1001. A limited number of media passes are available. To apply for a media pass, visit eOmega.org/press. Follow Omega on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn and Instagram.

About Omega Institute for Holistic Studies

Founded in 1977, Omega Institute for Holistic Studies is the nation’s most trusted source for wellness and personal growth. As a nonprofit organization, Omega offers diverse and innovative educational experiences that inspire an integrated approach to personal and social change. Located on 200 acres in the beautiful Hudson Valley, Omega welcomes more than 23,000 people to its workshops, conferences, and retreats in Rhinebeck, New York, and at exceptional locations around the world. eOmega.org

The post Learning Vacations Offer More Than Just an Escape appeared first on Good News!.

The post Complimentary Yoga Class and Deepak Chopra Omega appeared first on Good News!.

The Emmy^® Award-winning Series Featuring “Oprah & Bestselling Author Elizabeth Lesser: The Healing Power of Love” Airs Sunday, April 27, at 11:00 a.m. ET/PT on OWN

Omega Institute, cofounder and New York Times best-selling author, Elizabeth Lesser, sits down with Oprah Winfrey on the Emmy^® Award-winning series “Super Soul Sunday” April 27, 2014, at 11:00 a.m. ET/PT on OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network. In this heartfelt episode, “The Healing Power of Love,” Oprah speaks with Elizabeth, who describes her sister’s battle with cancer and how becoming her bone marrow donor transformed their relationship.

Said Elizabeth Lesser, “All of us have conversations waiting to be had with the people in our lives—conversations about love and forgiveness, about what we need from each other and what we mean to each other. We don’t have to wait for a life-or-death situation to reveal what is in our hearts. That’s what I learned through this experience with my sister—that the greatest gift we can give is our most authentic self. That’s as life-giving as a bone marrow transplant.”

Viewers can join the conversation online via Oprah.com, Facebook, and Twitter using #SuperSoulSunday, @ElizabethLesser, @omega_institute. To find what channel OWN is on in your area, visit www.oprah.com/findown

Omega is also pleased to announce Elizabeth Lesser will be a featured presenter at two of its upcoming conferences, Women & Power: Women/Men: The Next Conversation, September 19–21, and Where We Go From Here: Building the Collaborative Commons, October 23–26, 2014 on its Rhinebeck, New York campus.

About Elizabeth Lesser

Elizabeth Lesser is cofounder of Omega and a senior advisor. She is the New York Times best-selling author of The Seeker’s Guide and Broken Open. For more than 30 years, she has studied and worked with leading figures in the fields of emotional intelligence and healing—healing self and healing society. For much of that time, Lesser was a driving force at Omega, helping to lead the organization, create the curriculum, and spearhead many of its programs, including the Women & Power conferences, which offer a dialogue between women in leadership positions in a variety of areas—government, religion, media, the arts, and more. Lesser helped Oprah Winfrey create the 10-week webinar for Eckhart Tolle’s book, A New Earth. Since then, she has appeared several times on the Oprah Winfrey Show and Oprah.com webcasts, and is a frequent host on the Oprah Radio channel on Sirius/XM.

About Super Soul Sunday

“Super Soul Sunday” is the multi-award winning daytime series that delivers a timely thought-provoking, eye-opening and inspiring block of programming designed to help viewers awaken to their best selves and discover a deeper connection to the world around them. Recognized by the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences with a Daytime Emmy^® award, the Alliance of Women in Media Foundation with a Gracie award and the Religion Communicators Council with a Wilbur award, “Super Soul Sunday” features all-new conversations between Oprah Winfrey and top thinkers, authors, visionaries and spiritual leaders. Exploring themes and issues including happiness, personal fulfillment, spirituality and conscious living, guests who have appeared include Nobel laureate Elie Wiesel, Dr. Maya Angelou, Gary Zukav, Marianne Williamson, Ram Dass, Eckhart Tolle, indie.arie, Coach Phil Jackson, don Miguel Ruiz, and Thich Nhat Hanh. Home to Oprah’s Book Club 2.0, the series has helped surge book sales of bestselling author Cheryl Strayed, debut novelist Ayana Mathis and bestselling author Sue Monk Kidd. A truly unique television experience, this groundbreaking series has attracted one of the most loyal, active and engaged social communities in television. Every episode has ranked in the top ten most social shows in broadcast television and cable, frequently spiking to number one (source: Bluefin Data). Produced by Harpo Studios, “Super Soul Sunday” presents an array of perspectives on what it means to be alive in today’s world.

About Omega Institute for Holistic Studies 

Founded in 1977, Omega Institute for Holistic Studies is the nation’s most trusted source for wellness and personal growth. As a nonprofit organization, Omega offers diverse and innovative educational experiences that inspire an integrated approach to personal and social change. Located on 200 acres in the beautiful Hudson Valley, Omega welcomes more than 23,000 people to its workshops, conferences, and retreats in Rhinebeck, New York, and at exceptional locations around the world. eOmega.org

The post OMEGA COFOUNDER ELIZABETH LESSER TO APPEAR ON OWN: OPRAH WINFREY NETWORK’S “SUPER SOUL SUNDAY” appeared first on Good News!.

Jack Kornfield, PhD, and Dan Siegel, MD, to Present Leading Edge Research Along With Experiential Trainings in Mindfulness Practice  

The leading edge of neuroscience is revealing what meditation practitioners have known for years—mindfulness practice can transform lives. Omega Institute, the nation’s most trust source for wellness and personal growth, today announced it will bring two renowned leaders, adept at bridging ancient practices with modern psychology, together for an exclusive 2-day training at the New York Society for Ethical Culture, November 15–16, 2013. Jack Kornfield, PhD, one of the world’s leading Buddhist teachers, and Dan Siegel, MD, a pioneer in the field of interpersonal neurobiology, will give a dynamic presentation of the skills, science, and art of well-being, mindfulness, and love.

“Research has shown that when mindfulness-based practices are integrated with modern psychology our potential for wellness and resilience is optimized. We are thrilled to be providing tools for health-care professionals, educators, and others interested in applying mindful awareness skills in their professional and personal lives,” said Carla Goldstein, chief external affairs officer at Omega.

This 2-day program will examine case studies and present the latest research, along with a variety of meditations and experiential trainings in mindful awareness. Attendees will learn to foster personal practice and well-being, develop more compassionate and integrated relationships, and enhance evidence-based clinical, educational, and professional skills. By weaving leading-edge science with powerful meditation tools, traditional teachings, clinical cases, and creative dialogue, the presenters will provide skills to transform neural patterns and foster healing.

Through meditation practices, lectures, case studies, stories of transformation, and discussion, professionals and contemplative practitioners will be better able to:

• Understand the widespread neuroscience research that supports inner training, neuroplasticity, and the remarkable capacity for human transformation
• Describe and utilize the tools of interpersonal neuroscience to promote three dimensions of neural integration and well-being
• Use mindfulness to activate the resonance circuit, enhance inner and interpersonal attunement, and deepen the capacity for empathy, lovingkindness, and compassion
• Explain and employ the principles of secure attachment, mindfulness, and the skillful healing of trauma
• Deepen and sustain the positive skills of meditative well-being, forgiveness, and inner balance
• Aid in the release of sufferings such as anxiety, depression, and trauma through enhanced cognitive and intentional skills, emotional wisdom, and the fostering of resilience

The workshop begins Friday morning at 9:00 a.m. and ends Saturday at 4:30 p.m. Continuing education credits are available.

Jack Kornfield, PhD, was trained as a Buddhist monk in Thailand, Burma, and India. He is a clinical psychologist, cofounder of the Insight Meditation Society in Massachusetts, and founder of Spirit Rock Center in California. His books include Bringing Home the Dharma; The Wise Heart; A Path With Heart; A Lamp in the Darkness; and After the Ecstasy, the Laundry.

Dan Siegel, MD, is clinical professor of psychiatry at the UCLA School of Medicine, codirector of the Mindful Awareness Research Center, and executive director of the Mindsight Institute. He has been invited to lecture for the King of Thailand, Pope John Paul II, and the Dalai Lama. His books include Mindsight and The Developing Mind.

For more information visit eOmega.org/nyc or call 800.944.1001. A limited number of media passes are available. Photography restrictions may apply. To apply for a media pass, email chrissap@eomega.org.

About Omega Institute for Holistic Studies

Founded in 1977, Omega Institute for Holistic Studies is the nation’s most trusted source for wellness and personal growth. As a nonprofit organization, Omega offers diverse and innovative educational experiences that inspire an integrated approach to personal and social change. Located on 200 acres in the beautiful Hudson Valley, Omega welcomes more than 23,000 people to its workshops, conferences, and retreats in Rhinebeck, New York, and at exceptional locations around the world. eOmega.org

The post Omega to Host Exclusive 2-Day Training in New York City on the Neuroscience of Well-Being, Mindfulness & Love appeared first on Good News!.

Singers of all levels are invited to join Grammy Award winner Bobby McFerrinand his team of inspiring teachers for an experiential workshop in Circlesongs at Omega Institute in New York’s beautiful Hudson Valley.

Circlesongs—Bobby McFerrin’s improvisational singing technique—invites singers and instrumentalists to embrace the freedom to play, sing, and invent their own music. This program cultivates skills required for ensemble singing as well as building the fundamentals of musicianship.

Organized progressively into three modules, you can come for the full 7-day program, or take one or more modules individually.

For more info, go to http://www.eomega.org/?source=FePromo.JAZZ.ws

Welcome to the Omega Institute
The Omega Institute offers a variety of workshops, conferences, retreats, and professional trainings in wellness and personal growth. Experience the beauty of nature on our campus in the hills of Rhinebeck, New York, just 90 miles north of New York City. Enjoy delicious fresh food, connect with others from all walks of life, and explore the extraordinary potential that exists in you and all of us together as a human family.

For more info, go to http://www.eomega.org/workshops/circlesongs?source=FePromo.JAZZ.ws#-workshop-description-block

The post CircleSongs – Bobby McFerrin appeared first on Good News!.