The Mind-Body Connection

Only a few decades ago, medical students were taught to view the body as a machine whose parts would inevitably break down until it could no longer be repaired. Today science is arriving at a radically different understanding: While the body appears to be material, it is really a field of energy and intelligence that is inextricably connected to the mind. All of the thoughts, perceptions, memories, emotions, and feelings in our mind influence every cell of our body. When we have a loving thought or focus on a happy memory or feeling, our brain triggers a cascade of molecules that promote wellbeing in our physiology. On the other hand, when we hold onto emotions such as anger, fear, and doubt, this creates stress and damage in the body. 

Through meditation, we can reverse the effects of accumulated stress and toxicity.  Meditation takes us into inner silence, allowing the body to restore balance and repair itself. In today’s meditation we will practice a simple yet effective breathing practice that will help you experience the silence and peace within.
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Today’s meditation is led by Deepak Chopra, M.D., the co-founder of the Chopra Center for Wellbeing in Carlsbad, California.

 

 

"The human experience is a cosmic game of hide-and-seek. A wave of individuality rises from the unbounded ocean, and for a time, forgets that it is the ocean in disguise. When the wave begins looking inside, the memory of wholeness is rekindled, and the wave again knows itself as unbounded, infinite, and eternal." ~ David Simon

Welcome to Day 2: Health Consciousness A vital aspect of health consciousness is our relationship with our ego, which is the self-image or identity we’ve crafted over the years. The ego is that aspect of our self that doesn’t realize that at the deepest level, there is no separation . . . and that it is part of an infinite source of love and abundance. The ego’s sense of separateness is what causes it to seek security through its attempts to control, win approval, and accumulate material goods and possessions. In today’s meditation we will focus on cultivating acceptance of the ego. Instead of letting its fears drive us or trying to squelch its impulses, we will approach it as we would a scared child – with love and kindness. And as we quiet our mind and accept our ego, our sense of self will unfold more innocently. Then we will discover a new clarity about all aspects of our being – physical, emotional, spiritual – and be able to make more conscious choices for our health and wellbeing. Our meditation guide today is davidji, the Chopra Center’s lead meditation teacher, host of Live from the Chopra Center radio show, and Dean of Chopra Center University. In apprenticeship to Deepak Chopra and David Simon since 2003, davidji travels the world sharing timeless wisdom on stress management, deeper life fulfillment, emotional healing, balancing business and wellness, getting unstuck, and taking your life to the next level.     Welcome to Day 3: Making Peace with Stress Someone once said that there are only two times when we feel stress – daytime and nighttime. Let’s face it. Stress is part of our everyday life. We experience some level of stress every time our needs are not met. In today’s meditation, we are going to transform our relationship with stress, learning to let it go and cultivate more peace, joy, and calm in its place. What Is Stress? Stress has been part of human life since our earliest days on the planet. Although we no longer experience the stress of living in cold, dark caves and fighting off sabertooth cats, we do experience emotional turmoil in our relationships, challenges balancing our daily lives, and a multitude of physical health concerns. When we encounter situations that we interpret as stressful, our body has the same reactions our ancestors had tens of thousands of years ago. Our blood pressure rises, we begin to perspire, our breath becomes shallow, and our blood platelets become sticky. Our body activates its fight-or-flight response, and it takes at least twenty-four hours for the body to recover its equilibrium. Many people live in a state of chronic stress and imbalance, which contributes to emotional and physical dis-ease. Through the practice of meditation, we can activate a different response, one of restful awareness, intuitiveness, and creativity. Meditation takes our body and our mind from a place of hyperactivity, fear, unrest, and uneasiness to a state of inner calm, peace, and silence. In meditation, as we cultivate the ability to witness the activity of the mind, we spontaneously make more conscious choices. We’re able to access the response that best supports our own health and wellbeing. Stress then becomes something that we can observe and release. So let’s get comfortable and enjoy our meditation! Today’s meditation is led by Sara Harvey, who serves as Chief Operating Officer of the Chopra Center for Wellbeing. Sara is a certified instructor of Primordial Sound Meditation and Perfect Health/Ayurveda. She is also the mother of two beautiful children.     "Only the human heart can live in present moment awareness. The human mind cannot, because its essential nature is to ponder the past and plan the future. This is why all wise beings encourage us to go beyond the mind into the timeless, boundless transcendence of heart-centered awareness." ~ David Simon Welcome to Day 4: Relieving Stress and Anxiety with Present Moment Awareness In today’s meditation we will tap into the power of present moment awareness and experience all the gifts available to us when we intentionally shift our awareness to what is happening right now, in this very moment. By getting grounded and putting our attention on “the now,” we naturally release the scary thoughts, stories, scenarios, and interpretations that give rise to stress and anxiety. Meditation is one of the most powerful tools we have for going beyond the continuous thought-loop in our mind . . . into the peace of present moment awareness. As we meditate regularly, we cultivate what is known as witnessing awareness. It becomes much easier to see when we’re getting embroiled in stress-provoking thoughts – and to gently release them and return to the present moment. And the present is the only place where we can experience happiness, healing, and love. Join me in this process of allowing our breath to be our guide and our true nature to be our destination. Today our meditation guide is Amanda Ringnalda, a Vedic Master certified as an instructor of Primordial Sound Meditation, Seven Spiritual Laws of Yoga, and Perfect Health/Ayurveda. As Director of Operations and Events for the Chopra Center, Amanda has served as a facilitator and educator since 2006, sharing Chopra Center teachings with thousands of people throughout the world.     "We are all doing our best, given our current awareness of our needs and our means to meet them. When we expand our awareness and core beliefs about what we deserve, we’re able to let go of non- nurturing behaviors and make choices that bring us greater joy, peace, and love." ~ David Simon Welcome to Day 5: Releasing Negative Patterns and Addictions As Co-founder of the Chopra Center Dr. David Simon observed, we all are addicted to something. While you may not have a destructive relationship with alcohol, nicotine, or gambling, if you closely observe your thoughts, emotions, and behavior, you may notice that you have more subtle addictions, such as an addiction to approval, perfection, or control – or a compulsive need to be right. At the root of every non-nourishing behavior is a desire to fill unmet needs for security, comfort, self-esteem, and love. Yet acting out a pattern of addiction or compulsion will never fulfill our deepest needs. As the Sufi poet Hafiz advised, "Learn to recognize the counterfeit coins that may buy you just a moment of pleasure, But then drag you for days like a broken man behind a farting camel." One of the greatest gifts of meditation is the clarity and peace it opens in our lives, allowing us not only to recognize the counterfeit coins, but to no longer feel compelled by them. Meditation helps us realize that all our happiness, love, and wellbeing reside within. In meditation, we tap into our own, inexhaustible source of good as we release the need to seek it outside of ourselves. This doesn’t mean that we don’t enjoy our possessions, relationships, and activities – only that we know we aren’t dependent on them for our happiness. In today’s meditation, we will experience the gifts within and begin to release any negative patterns in our lives. Today our meditation is led by Nirmala Raniga, the founder of the Paradise Valley Wellness Centre in Squamish Valley, B.C., Canada. In partnership with the Chopra Center, Paradise Valley offers holistic residential recovery programs based on the groundbreaking Freedom from Addiction approach developed by Deepak Chopra, M.D. and David Simon, M.D.     "Meditation is not the goal; the goal is transcendence. But the technologies of meditation, such as mantras and affirmation, remind us that we can go beyond emotional turbulence and stress into quieter levels of awareness . . . where our sense of individuality becomes less predominant and we experience our connection the deeper, infinite aspects of life." ~ David Simon Welcome to Day 6: Creating Wellbeing though Mantras and Affirmations Today we will put our attention on the transformational power of mantras and positive affirmations. The Sanskrit word mantra literally translates as "mind tool" or "vehicle of the mind." Traditionally, a mantra is a sound, syllable, word, or group of words that is thought of as being capable of creating transformation, from the inside out, through the power of our thoughts. As Gautama Buddha, the founder of Buddhism, famously said, "All that we are is the result of what we have thought. The mind is everything. What we think, we become." If we take this concept to the root of our lives, we begin to cultivate an awareness of our inner dialogue and can see how it affects our experience of the world. In our daily lives, simply by infusing mantras and positive affirmations into our thinking and routine, we will become powerful co-creators of our experiences. In our meditation today, we will focus on positive affirmations, including the beautiful Sanskrit mantra sat chit ananda (pronounced saht chit ah-NAN-dah). As Deepak Chopra discusses in his book The Spontaneous Fulfillment of Desire, the three words that make up this ancient mantra mean truth, knowledge, and bliss. The mantra sat chit ananda reminds us that by mastering our inner dialogue, we can transform our reality. Today’s meditation is led by Gabrielle Forleo, who is a Vedic master at the Chopra Center for Wellbeing, certified as an instructor of Primordial Sound Meditation, Perfect Health/Ayurveda, and the Seven Spiritual Laws of Yoga. Gabrielle has been with the Chopra Center since 2006, serving as a program consultant and teaching at the Chopra Center’s many programs, workshops, and retreats.     Awaken, even if for a moment, to the splendor of the Infinite and Eternal disguising itself as Form and Phenomena." ~ David Simon Welcome to Day 7: The Mind-Body Connection: Putting It All Together As we explore the mind-body connection, today we will focus on letting go of constriction and opening to our essential unbounded nature. We are not our limited ego mind and we are not our body; we are an inextricable part of the infinite field of pure potentiality. Our true self is expressed in the ancient Sanskrit sutra aham brahmasmi (pronounced ah-HUM brah-MAHS-mee), which means "I am the universe." When we can accept that we are the universe, we can transcend any limiting belief and any emotional turbulence. When you feel grief, fear, anxiety or stress, pay attention, for your feelings are the universe speaking to you through your body and your mind. And the lesson or message that it gives is the one to follow. Trust, believe, and surrender as you let go of blame and criticism. Own your gifts and celebrate your impact. Our meditation guide today is davidji, the Chopra Center’s lead meditation teacher, host of Live from the Chopra Center radio show, and Dean of Chopra Center University. In apprenticeship to Deepak Chopra and David Simon since 2003, davidji travels the world sharing timeless wisdom on stress management, deeper life fulfillment, emotional healing, balancing business and wellness, getting unstuck, and taking your life to the next level.     "I encourage you from the depths of my heart and being to know that you have the full capacity and the right to make changes that will enliven your awareness, raise the succulent joy in your heart and experience the vitality that comes from living in balance" ~ David Simon Welcome to Day 8: The Body-Mind Connection Nothing holds more power over the body than the beliefs of the mind. This is the quantum worldview, which teaches that we are all part of an infinite field of intelligence, which is the source of our thoughts, mind, body, and everything else in the cosmos. In every moment, our cells are eavesdropping on our thoughts, feelings, and perceptions and being changed by them. This gives us an immense opportunity to use our mind and intentions to transform our biology. In today’s meditation, we will enter a space of inner quiet and put our attention on divine qualities, including love, gratitude, compassion, joy, ecstasy, peace, and equanimity. When we evoke these qualities, ego steps out of the way and we feel our connection to spirit. In this expanded state, the immune system is strengthened as the body repairs the damage caused by toxic experiences, relationships, environments, and substances. We come fully into the present moment, which is the only place in which we can experience our innate wholeness and wellbeing. Today’s meditation is led by Deepak Chopra, M.D., the co-founder of the Chopra Center for Wellbeing in Carlsbad, California. As a global leader and pioneer in the field of mind-body medicine, Deepak Chopra is transforming the way the world views physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, and social wellness. He is also the prolific author of more than sixty-four books, including nineteen New York Times bestsellers     "Now is an ideal time to reflect and fill your heart with gratitude for the people, things, and experiences in your life. Notice a shift in the quality of your thoughts and the sensations in your body. Imagine a world where fullness, rather than deprivation predominates. Tap into your inner light and allow it to dispel the darkness. This gift replenishes itself the more you circulate its bounty." ~ David Simon Welcome to Day 9: Healing the Heart The four needs of the heart are attention, affection, appreciation, and acceptance. The heart is a perfect tool that lets you know how you are feeling and if its needs are being met. In today’s meditation, rather than sorting out all the ways in which our needs are not being met, let’s drift our awareness to our connection to source, spirit, the universe, divine awareness, God . . . or whatever term you prefer for the infinite realm of creation. Let’s bring some attention to all the needs that are being met in our life. From there, we will have a strong foundation for gratitude and healing to unfold. Our meditation guide today is davidji, the Chopra Center’s lead meditation teacher, host of Live from the Chopra Center radio show, and Dean of Chopra Center University. In apprenticeship to Deepak Chopra and David Simon since 2003, davidji travels the world sharing timeless wisdom on stress management, deeper life fulfillment, emotional healing, balancing business and wellness, getting unstuck, and taking your life to the next level.     "The most important concept in Ayurveda is agni, the elemental force of transformation. Represented by the metaphor of fire, a powerful agni metabolizes our food, sensory impressions, and experiences, absorbing that which is nourishing and eliminating the rest. A radiant inner fire transforms the energy and information we ingest into love, wisdom, and bliss." ~ David Simon   Welcome to Day 10: Digesting Our World Most of us think of digestion as simply the process of breaking down food within our bodies. Ayurveda takes this a step further and says that we not only assimilate food, but also our experiences, feelings, sights, sounds, and other sensations . . . basically whatever is in our environment. This is in congruence with the Ayurvedic philosophy that we are inextricably connected to our environment. With this in mind, it’s important to begin cultivating a more conscious awareness of what it is you are taking in on a daily basis. It will also become important to begin noticing how you are metabolizing the energy and information you are ingesting from the world around you. Ideally, you want to extract only the most nourishing aspects and eliminate that which takes you away from a life of joy, vitality, and love. In our meditation today, we will explore how we can make the most life-affirming choices to nurture our body, mind, and soul. Today’s meditation is led by Rachelle Williams, a Vedic Master certified as an instructor of Primordial Sound Meditation, Perfect Health/Ayurveda, and the Seven Spiritual Laws of Yoga. Rachelle loves to share the timeless Ayurvedic principles that have helped and guided her throughout the past four years she has worked at the Chopra Center for Wellbeing.     "The same creative force that generated the universe created your body. It is vibrating with intelligence and spirit. It is ultimately sacred and worthy of your love, respect and intention. Take good care of it and nourish it with the most healing, life-sustaining foods experiences, and sensory impressions." ~ David Simon Welcome to Day 11: Tapping into the Energy of Food In today’s meditation, we will focus on the gift of nourishment that is provided to us through our food. By making conscious choices, we can tap into the healing energy and information of our food. Our cells depend on the vibrant energy and information that healthy food provides. Our bodies are simply comprised of molecules that temporarily make up our cells, tissues, and organs. We are constantly transforming these cells, tissues, and organs by exchanging energy and information with our food. In fact, our food is the most intimate connection that we have with our environment. When we begin to appreciate this constant exchange, we can become more mindful of the choices we are making. Today’s meditation is led by Sheila Patel, M.D., a staff physician and Director of Health Programming at the Chopra Center for Wellbeing. Dr. Patel is a board-certified family physician and is also a certified instructor of Primordial Sound Meditation and Perfect Health/Ayurveda. She enjoys helping patients find balance in their lives through the integration of modern medical therapies and ancient healing wisdom     "In every aspect of life there are cycles of rest and activity, stillness and movement, creative dormancy and manifestation. When we honor these natural rhythms, we nurture our balance and wellbeing " ~ David Simon Welcome to Day 12: Daily Rituals for Wellbeing In today’s meditation we will explore rituals that enrich our daily lives. These rituals are important daily practices that allow us to connect with body, mind, and spirit. Many of our rituals are automatic, such as brushing our teeth or eating breakfast. So often we go along without really stopping to think of what actions we can take on a daily basis that will add greater health, success, joy, and peace of mind to our lives. This meditation focuses on consciously creating rituals that will serve our body, mind, and spirit. Today’s meditation is led by Erin Saimre a certified Perfect Health and Primordial Sound Meditation instructor who teaches at the Chopra Center for Wellbeing. Erin is currently a graduate student in the School of Social Work at the University of Southern California. Her daily rituals include meditation, yoga sun salutations, and spending time in nature.     "Laughter is a symptom of spirituality. Laughter is the flow of love coursing through your body. Laughter is the nectar of present moment awareness. Invite more laughter into your life and relish the magic in every moment." ~ David Simon Welcome to Day 13: Laughter Laughter is a natural part of our being. During the first few months of life, a newborn will smile and laugh. As children we laugh freely, without judgment. As adults, however, we take ourselves more seriously and often lose that childlike ability to laugh heartily, even though we know it feels good. Research has shown that laughter (both real and "fake") can lower blood pressure, decrease stress hormones, and strengthen our immune system. These benefits complement our daily meditation practice and remain with us for twenty-four hours after just twenty minutes of sustained laughter. In today’s meditation we will experience the bliss of laughter and release endor-phins into our system, which will bring joy to our mind, body, and spirit. Today our meditation guide is Janis Steiner, a certified instructor of Primordial Sound Meditation and Seven Spiritual Laws of Yoga. She is also a Senior Event Planner at the Chopra Center for Wellbeing and leads weekly group meditations.     "The greatest contribution we can make to the wellbeing of those in our lives is to have peace in our own hearts. When our hearts are filled with gratitude and our minds are brimming with enthusiasm, every- one we encounter leaves our space feeling a little bit lighter than when they entered it." ~ David Simon   Welcome to Day 14: How Light Can You Get? Today’s meditation is all finding the bliss , comfort, and lightness of being that awaits us when we let go of everything that’s weighing us down. If we can allow our physical body to get a bit lighter, we will breathe easier. Our life will feel more fulfilling and we will experience greater happiness when we are willing to surrender and let go of some of the weight that burdens our body and our mind. We can do that every day through meditation! We could all probably benefit from letting go a little bit more, so let’s get started! Our meditation guide today is davidji, the Chopra Center’s lead meditation teacher, host of Live from the Chopra Center radio show, and Dean of Chopra Center University. In apprenticeship to Deepak Chopra and David Simon since 2003, davidji travels the world sharing timeless wisdom on stress management, deeper life fulfillment, emotional healing, balancing business and wellness, getting unstuck, and taking your life to the next level.     "Healing is the process of reestablishing the integration between body, mind and spirit, creating opportunities for the return of the memory of wholeness." ~ David Simon Welcome to Day 15: The Mind-Body-Spirit Connection The body is a self-repairing aspect of the field of intelligence. Its original state is perfect balance and order . . . it is pure consciousness, pure light, and pure energy. It is part of the extended body of the universe. In today’s meditation, we will experience our light body and the extended body of the cosmos. Today’s meditation is led by Deepak Chopra, M.D., the co-founder of the Chopra Center for Wellbeing in Carlsbad, California. As a global leader and pioneer in the field of mind-body medicine, Deepak Chopra is transforming the way the world views physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, and social wellness. He is also the prolific author of more than sixty-four books, including nineteen New York Times bestsellers.     "Present moment awareness is living in the tender field of acceptance for what is unfolding. Witnessing awareness is enlivened, while the discriminating mind is quiet. The essence of embracing the present is simply to be here now with the sounds, sensations, sights, tastes smells, and emptiness that surround us." ~ David Simon   Welcome to Day 16: Quantum Healing Quantum healing involves healing one mode of consciousness – our mind – returning to the memory of wholeness in order to bring about healing in another aspect of consciousness – our body. When we realize our true source, we see that we are not our thoughts and we are not our body; we are pure, unbounded consciousness. First, let’s accept this moment exactly as it is. Once we accept, we can heal. The key is giving ourselves permission to accept our constrictions. Our meditation guide today is davidji, the Chopra Center’s lead meditation teacher, host of Live from the Chopra Center radio show, and Dean of Chopra Center University. In apprenticeship to Deepak Chopra and David Simon since 2003, davidji travels the world sharing timeless wisdom on stress management, deeper life fulfillment, emotional healing, balancing business and wellness, getting unstuck, and taking your life to the next level.     During today’s meditation, we will be exploring the healing powers of our seven main energy centers known as the chakras. “Everything in the universe is within you. Ask all from yourself.” ~Rumi   "Using the power of your attention and intention, you can dissolve the impurities that limit the fullest expression of your life force, allowing you to remember your true nature as a divine being masquerading as a human." ~ David Simon    Welcome to Day 17: Chakra Energy Centers and Healing Chakra is a Sanskrit word that means energy wheel or center. It is a junction point that exists between consciousness and physiology. Each energy center is associated with a core human need, and when a center is open, the energy that flows through it allows us to better meet those needs. We activate and open our energy centers by placing our attention on the center’s location, human need, and corresponding color. When our energy is open and free from blockages, our mind-body-spirit lives a life of vitality, security, creativity, loving expression and universal connectivity. Today our meditation guide is Tiffany Murray, a Vedic Master certified as an instructor of Primordial Sound Meditation, Seven Spiritual Laws of Yoga, and Perfect Health/Ayurveda. She teaches at the Cho-pra Center for Wellbeing.     Emotional Freedom through Forgiveness In today’s meditation we will center our attention on the emotional freedom we experience through the act of forgiveness. “The miracle of real forgiveness is discovering the freedom that comes with accepting that part of your Self you had previously condemned.”   ~ Tom Carpenter   David Au Emotional Freedom through Forgiveness In today’s meditation we will center our attention on the emotional freedom we experience through the act of forgiveness. For many of us, the act of forgiveness wields a heavy hand. The toxic residue left over after we experience loss, heartache, disappointment, or abuse on any level leaves a deep scar – an imprint – in our heart, our psyche, and our physical body.  It makes perfect sense that our basic survival instincts would lead us to build protective barriers to keep certain experiences out while carefully shielding our most vulnerable aspects within. We learn early on that, as an added measure of protection, we can consciously choose to withhold forgiveness from those who have violated our physical and emotional boundaries. We may believe that not forgiving others holds them in a perpetual state of suffering for what they have done.  What we don’t realize, however, is that withholding forgiveness binds us to the un-integrated emotional charge for weeks, months, years – and even lifetimes. Forgiveness is about lightening our hearts. At some point in our lives, we all make choices that cause pain for another person.  When we move into understanding that we are all doing our best from our level of awareness at the time, the fostering of forgiveness begins to unfold. ______________________________________________________________________________________ Trista Thorp is a Vedic Master, certified as an instructor of Primordial Sound Meditation, Seven Spiritual Laws of Yoga, and Perfect Health/Ayurveda. In addition to teaching weekly classes at the Chopra Center for Wellbeing, Trista facilitates Healing the Heart, the Chopra Center’s emotional healing workshop, and is also the Certification Program Coordinator within Chopra Center University.     "Compassion is the divine expression of love. Even as the uniqueness of individuality is honored and appreciated, a compassionate heart sees through the distinctions, embracing the unity." ~ David Simon Welcome to Day 19: The Medicine of Love In today’s meditation we will explore how love can be used as a powerful medicine to heal our bodies, thoughts, feelings, and even relationships. We will embark on an inner journey to the depths of our being to reclaim our birthright of love. As we slip into meditation, our barriers begin to disintegrate gently and effortlessly. We can then more easily embark on an expedition to parts of our being that we are unaware of. Today we will give ourselves permission to navigate our internal world and fully experience the magnificent healing power of love. Today our meditation guide is Amanda Ringnalda, a Vedic Master certified as an instructor of Primordial Sound Meditation, Seven Spiritual Laws of Yoga, and Perfect Health/Ayurveda. As Director of Operations and Events for the Chopra Center, Amanda has served as a facilitator and educator since 2006, sharing Chopra Center teachings with thousands of people throughout the world.     "The most powerful means to empower our intentions is through the regular practice of meditation. Like an archer poised with an arrow pulling back on a bow, taking time to quiet the mind enables us to become focused on our targets and to provide the energy to manifest our desires." ~ David Simon Welcome to Day 20: Realizing Wellness Through Visualization It’s Day 20 and in today’s meditation we will recapitulate our last nineteen days to-gether and integrate the experience into our minds and bodies. Through a process of visualization and witnessing, you have the opportunity to expand your aware-ness, appreciation, and connection to all aspects of yourself. Feeling fully integrated with a sense of wholeness, you will then be able to move into the future, planting seeds of intention for mind-body wellness. Today our meditation guide is Libby Carstensen, a Chopra Center Vedic Master and certified in Primordi-al Sound Meditation, Seven Spiritual Laws of Yoga, and Perfect Health/Ayurveda. In addition to teaching each week at the Chopra Center for Wellbeing, Libby is also a program and teacher training consultant and guides individuals into Chopra Center programs, workshops, and teacher trainings. Libby describes herself as a "dharma enabler" and finds that when we shift from, "What’s in it for me?" to "How can I serve" the whole world opens up.     "To enter a deep state of stillness and silence, we have to go beyond the mind’s constant stream of thoughts into the field of pure awareness. In our dynamic, goal-oriented world, we don’t usually spend much time or attention cultivating this quality of awareness, but it has been my experience that learning to surrender to silence nurtures all aspects of life – including our environment, our body, our relationships, our heart-centered awareness." ~ David Simon Welcome to Day 21: The Mind-Body-Spirit Connection Congratulations on reaching Day 21! Meditation is now a ritual in your life. Take some time to celebrate your body, mind, heart, and soul. You have cultivated a beautiful practice. And now that you have learned so many different ways to access the stillness within you, it’s time to use your newly developed behavior as a powerful tool for cultivating present moment awareness. Our meditation guide today is davidji, the Chopra Center’s lead meditation teacher, host of Live from the Chopra Center radio show, and Dean of Chopra Center University. In apprenticeship to Deepak Chopra and David Simon since 2003, davidji travels the world sharing timeless wisdom on stress management, deeper life fulfillment, emotional healing, balancing business and wellness, getting unstuck, and taking your life to the next level.