December Guest Speaker:

Owning Your Death: Empowerment in Planning with Melissa Greer

Wednesday, December 13th

4:00 pm to 5:15 pm PT / 7:00 pm to 8:15 pm ET

We have all entered a contract upon birth that someday we must die. If we are lucky we get a long life, and time to ponder what our "going home" event may look like. This inescapable truth is uncomfortable for most - and human nature is to avoid that which causes suffering. 

Thich Nhat Hanh said, “Anxiety, the illness of our time, comes primarily from our inability to dwell in the present moment.”

You have the power to live presently while planning for your death. Reclaiming your right to a "good death" and spelling out your wishes for your body is a gift. 

On December 13th, Melissa Greer - a Death Doula and the co-founder of Mourning Feather Doulas, an end of life and grief support organization - will share the power behind planning for our deaths and the current United States options for body disposition. Her presentation entitled "Owning Your Death: Empowerment in Planning" will get us thinking about how treating death like the life milestone it is can transform how we enjoy the rest of our days like the miracle they are.

Previous Guest Speakers:

The Unseen Opportunities in Aging with Dr. Carrie Demers

Wednesday, October 11th

4:00 pm to 5:15 pm PT / 7:00 pm to 8:15 pm ET

In our upcoming presentation, The Unseen Opportunities in Aging, Carrie Demers, MD will engage with the Sangha about the way in which aging is viewed in the ancient medical science of Ayurveda.

One significant Ayurvedic concept is that we are all composed of a combination of elements: earth, air, fire, water, and ether/space. How these elements combine in each of us determines our tendencies toward both health and disease.

Ayurveda also views the stages of life through these elemental tendencies. The last stage of life is one of greater air, wind, and space. How does that affect you?

There are inherent gifts in this last stage of life. We will look at these gifts and explore opportunities to deepen these gifts. We will also look at some challenges in this last stage and discuss the Ayurvedic approach to ameliorating them. Topics will range from relaxation, breathwork, and movement, to diet and sleep and meditation.

Board-certified in both internal medicine and integrative medicine, Carrie Demers, MD, is a holistic physician who blends modern medicine with traditional approaches to health. After receiving her medical degree from the University of Cincinnati, Dr. Demers went on to study massage, homeopathy, nutrition, herbal medicine, yoga, and ayurveda. She has been the medical director of the Himalayan Institute PureRejuv Wellness Center (formerly Total Health Center) for the last 20 years. Widely recognized for her expertise, Dr. Demers has been interviewed by numerous magazines and newspapers, and lectures nationally on holistic health and ayurveda. She is a frequent contributor to yogainternational.com and the Himalayan Institute online Wisdom Library.

You can find out more about Carrie here: https://himalayaninstitute.org/presenter/carrie-demers/