Musical Reflections

I recently spoke and played the harp at the Holistic Health and Healing Summer Institute hosted by Woodwinds Health Campus in Woodbury, MN. I always love my time with this group!

The speaker after me was Dr. Henry Emmons. I’ve heard him speak a number of times and in this presentation, I learned something new! He talked about multi-tasking and the brain, and what he said was fascinating!!

Dr. Emmons basically said multi-tasking is NOT possible! He continued … the brain, in both men and women, can only focus on one thing at time. Even if you think you’re doing two (or three or four!) things at once, you are really doing several things in a distracted manner all at once. Our brains can’t process in a multi-tasking way. He suggested all that we can do is be in the present moment, focused on only ONE thing at a time. Definitely food for thought …

In May, I celebrated 13 years of doing this work and it is possible because of your continued support. I am deeply appreciative of your on-going connection. I am grateful for these organizations who’ve said, “Yes…let’s do a gig!”

• Woodwinds Hospital; Woodbury, MN
• Wellness Ministries; Lake City, MN
• Mom’s Group; Indianapolis, IN
• Caregiver’s Respite; Omaha, NE
• South Dakota Parkinson’s; Sioux Falls, SD
• Healing Touch International; Denver, CO

There’s many more … but this gives you an idea!

Previously on this blog, I mentioned doing a self-care session for my Harp Therapy peers. Self-care is a topic I’m very passionate about!

Before the holidays, my dear friend, Barb Schommer (Healing Touch Instructor and retired public health nurse) and I were having lunch. She is one of the 31 women in the “Women as Healers” book and we co-created a CD called “Reflections: A Guided Meditation.” Barb and I also love to present together…there’s a synergy with the two of us together that is unmatched!!  

At our pre-holiday lunch, we started talking about “What’s Next?!” We had been thinking about doing something for self-care for a long time … we decided it was time to take action!  Hence, the “Self-Care Salon” was born.

Description:  In this session, we explore self-care as a daily practice and how to give ourselves loving self-care. As we focus on our own self-care, it sets a beautiful tone for our daily lives and helps us have greater compassion for others. We can also model this self-love to those we serve.

Participants exchange ideas about self-care using a creative and fun approach called World Café. Those attending experience an oasis of relaxation, reflection and rejuvenation! This unique session nurtures their spirits, moving from busy-ness to calm and deep relaxation. They leave the session in a mellow state. . . guaranteed!

Objectives:  Participants will–

• Experience calming harp music and guided meditation allowing you to unwind.
• Create a self-care collage in community.
• Commit to one new self-care practice.

Testimonials:

We conducted our first session at Woodwinds Health campus in late January. This doodle is from one of the participants — yes! the pot of gold really is at the end of the rainbow!!

• “Just what I needed!”
• “For some time, I have been on a path of daily prayer/meditation, yoga/exercise, healthy eating and basic connection with myself. This reminded me to stick with my program.”

It was a joy for Barb and I to be present … if you are interested in manifesting your self-care intentions using the “Self-Care Salon” format, contact Tami.

I was introduced to Dr. Jean Watson’s work several years ago. She is a nurse researcher with a focused interest on caring. Dr. Watson is a national speaker and has conducted numerous research studies on this topic of caring in the healthcare environment.

In honor of Nurses Week, Dr. Watson will be speaking at Woodwinds Hospital/HealthEast Care System. I will have an opportunity to play at an opening reception for her on May 24, as well as do a one-hour presentation on May 25 during her visit to Woodbury, MN.  What an honor to be a part of this special time with a woman I admire so much!

Earlier this week, I featured my newest book, “Women as Healers.” I have also created a presentation based on this new book … it is all about empowering, encouraging, uplifting and motivating women.

An upcoming presentation includes:

•    Women as Healers: Voices of Vibrancy at Woodwinds Hospital in Woodbury, MN on January 29, 2011 at 8:30 a.m. Contact Gail Antonson at 651-326-0025 for more information.

Come join us! Or if you are interested in having me conduct a presentation at your location, I welcome these opportunities and look forward to hearing from you!