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The Miracle of Transcendence and the Human Brain

The human brain is an unfathomable mystery. The American astrophysicist and author Neil deGrasse Tyson described it perfectly when he wrote, “Everything we do, every thought we’ve ever had, is produced by the human brain. But exactly how it operates remains one of the biggest unsolved mysteries, and it seems the more we probe its secrets, the more surprises we find.”

Transcendental Meditation and Psychotherapy: Interview with Dr. Samantha Stein

Do you think that being in therapy rules out the reasons for learning to meditate? It might surprise you to know that many psychologists not only recommend that their clients learn the Transcendental Meditation technique, but also have learned TM for their own benefit. I asked for clarification from Dr. Samantha Stein, a psychologist who learned TM 5 years ago and continues to meditate regularly.

Samantha Stein, Psy.D., is a…

Tracy McCormick: Learning to Stand in Your Own Light

For Tracy McCormick, learning to practice the Transcendental Meditation technique was part of a spiritual journey that started when she was a child.

“I come from a long line of strong, spiritual women,” she says. For example, her grandmother Mary J. McCormick was pregnant with her seventh child when her beloved husband suddenly died of a heart attack…

At Last! Good News for Menopausal Women

A paper published in PubMed and in the Annals of the NY Academy of Sciences a decade ago could have saved post-menopausal women from years of vulnerability to heart disease—had they only know about it.

February is “heart health month”—shouldn’t every month be? So as a nurse specializing in cardiovascular health, and as….

A Natural Antidote to Anxiety

Susan Kane described herself as a worrier by nature. “I’d always find something to worry about,” she says. When the anxiety started to impact her digestion, she found herself debilitated by stomach pain.

Catching Enough Zzzs

Studies show that Americans are the most sleep deprived people in the world. Around the USA, high numbers of both adults and youngsters are reporting that they have sleep problems. However, a recent survey by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that single moms…

Let’s Dance in the New Year (Part I)

I have mixed feelings about New Year’s resolutions. On the one hand, they’re a good excuse to set goals and get my life back on track. My resolutions tend to center on health, mainly because that’s a big focus in my life. But I can’t help but notice they’re all about changing things that…

The Neurophysiology and Biochemistry of the Golden Rule

The “Golden Rule”—you’ve probably heard it many times and from many sources. This practical, yet sage, advice is found in most ethical traditions and religions: if you want to do the right thing in relationships, then behave toward others as you’d have others behave toward you.

Aging: Who is that in the mirror?

When I was in my early 30s and my grandmother was in her 90s, we stood together gazing into a mirror, admiring her new pink winter coat. Suddenly her face betrayed confusion and despair. “Who is this?” she murmured, “I’m only 18 years old!

How Women Can Save Our Nation from Violence

I recently read a headline that made me pause: “Why America needs more female cops” in the Nov. 5, 2015 issue of Time magazine.

This was not an article about equality in the workplace, I soon found out. It was about the unique contribution women make in a profession currently shrouded with problems of violence and tragic misconduct.