Meditation & Medicine: Exploring the Vital Role of Contemplative Disciplines in Mind-Body/Integral Medicine & Healing Arts with Joel & Michelle Levey, and Bastyr Faculty

This seminar serves as an introduction to the use of contemplative practices in clinical practice and in the self-development of the practitioner. It is a prerequisite for further training in clinical applications of contemplative practices at Bastyr.

We begin with an introduction to five main categories of contemplative practice theory and execution. Discussion on current neurobiology regarding human neural development will address neuroplasticity throughout the life span, correlation of mindfulness practices with immune status and mental health, and the neurobiology of ordinary and extraordinary health. Presentation of current research on the effect of meditation and somatic practices on measurable health outcomes is also included. Implications and discussion of practical clinical applications will follow.

This highly experiential course will include presentations, small group work, dialogue and deep reflection, mindfulness exercises and other contemplative practices.

Instructor:

Joel Levey, PhD, and Michelle Levey, MA, have devoted their lives to the intensive study, practice, and teaching of many of the world's great wisdom traditions. They draw inspiration from decades of research and practice in both ancient and contemporary disciplines of mind-science, contemplative neuroscience, and integrative medicine.
The Leveys are founders of the International Institute for Mindfulness, Meditation and Medicine, and the International Center for Contemplative Inquiry, Education and Dialogue. They are also co-founders of The International Center for Corporate Culture and Organizational Health at InnerWork Technologies, Inc, a Seattle-based firm dedicated to developing and renewing organizational cultures and communities.

In addition, the Leveys are clinical faculty at the University of Minnesota Medical School’s Center for Spirituality and Health, adjunct faculty at the Institute for Religion & Health at the University of Texas Medical Center and graduate faculty in the Contemplative Education and Transformational Learning Program at Mahidol University in Thailand. They are core faculty for Bastyr University’s Center for Spirituality, Science and Medicine. They have also served as faculty at Antioch University; LIOS; Indian Institute of Management (Ahmedabad, India); International Center for Organization Design; The World Business Academy; and Bainbridge Graduate Institute guest faculty in-residence for personal sustainability and resiliency studies.

The Dalai Lama, an advisor and supporter on a number of the Leveys' projects, encouraged them in their work, writing: "You are presently engaged in work that has great prospects for bringing the inner sciences and technologies of human development and transformation to a very wide section of people who may not under ordinary circumstances come into contact with these teachings." Their work has also been praised by Andrew Weil, MD, Jon Kabat-Zinn, Daniel Goleman, Margaret Wheatley, Larry Dossey, MD, Joan Borysenko and Willis Harman.