Stress Management /Psychologists Run Contemplative Arts Intensive for Healthcare Practitioners

More news today from our CCAHTE Journal subscribers...

We recently heard from Dr. Kim van Walsum a Psychologist with the Peterborough Regional Health Centre about an upcoming intensive.

CAReS - Contemplative Arts for the Reduction of Stress
For healthcare practitioners interested in contemplative arts and mindfulness-based stress reduction practices, The Red Deer College Summer Series for the Arts will be offering a week long intensive workshop led by psychologists, MBSR practitioners, and CAReS co-developers Dr. Christine Korol (Tom Baker Cancer Centre) and Dr. Kim van Walsum (Peterborough Regional Health Centre) July 28 - August l, 2008.

For registration and more information check out The Red Deer Summer Series for the Arts;

Telephone registration for all workshops opens January 16.

8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. By calling 403-357-3663 or 1-888-886-2787

http://www.rdc.ab.ca/continuingeducation/visual_arts/series/index.html

Choral Singing Beneficial for Body and Soul

Cheryl McLean


It's been reported in research that choral singing is beneficial for both body and soul.

In one study, a health educator and music professor teamed up for a study published in England’s Journal of the Royal Society for the Promotion of Health, in which they reported choral singing promoted not just physical health, but offered emotional and spiritual benefits as well. Using their own choir as a basis for their study, Dr. Stephen Clift and Grenville Hancox developed questionnaires to document physical and emotional feelings while singing. Singers reported improved lung capacity, high energy, relieved asthma, better posture, and enhanced feelings of relaxation, mood, and confidence. In a follow-up questionnaire, 89 percent of the singers reported intense happiness while singing, 79 percent felt less stressed, and 75 percent experienced heightened adrenaline and wakefulness.

From Chorus America http://chorusamerica.org/vox_article_singinghealth.cfm

Music today is playing an increasingly important role in many professional education programs. Dalhousie University Medical School, for example, has several performing choirs and choral groups.

Excerpt below from the website at http://www.musicinmedicine.com/WhoWeAre.htm

"medical students, physicians, professors, alumni and friends of the medical school are united by a common love of music and a desire to make our medical lives a little more rewarding, our grand adventure in life-long learning a little lighter, and the community in which we live, work and study a little better for our efforts. ....up to 25% of medical students in the first three years of their undergraduate medical training are registered in one of these performance groups. In addition, we have members who work in the fields of medical education, endocrinology, general surgery, paediatrics, orthopaedics, obstetrics and gynaecology, emergency medicine, biochemistry, ENT, pathology, family medicine, and laboratory sciences."

It's not surprising that more medical schools and schools of business are incorporating music into their professional programs. Choral singing is a highly disciplined and creative team activity. Harmonizing with others in community fills the heart with a renewed sense of promise and optimism. In the rehearsal hall every voice offers something invaluable to the whole. Simply put, singing is good for the soul.

P.S. I know of what I speak. It had been a very busy year at the office here and we had experienced a major move. With deadlines looming and changes underway I was feeling I needed a positive outlet for my "nervous" energy. I joined The Canadian Celtic Choir this September.

CM

"If I cannot fly,
Let me sing. "

STEPHEN SONDHEIM from "Sweeney Todd"

Other related posts: "Jazz Brings Creativity to Business"

http://ccahtecrossingborders.blogspot.com/2007/12/jazz-brings-creativity-to-business.html

Music, Medicine and Arts/video

Front row seats at Youtube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMoyt35_wkk

Integrating the Creative Arts in Healthcare, Drama, Narrative, Collage and Performance Methodologies in Health

CCAHTE Sponsors Day Training Intensive

Saturday, October 20, 2007

Windermere Manor, London, Ontario

Ideally located adjacent to The University of Western Ontario, London Health Sciences Centre University Campus, and only minutes from St. Joseph's Health Care, London

Integrating the Creative Arts in Healthcare

Drama, Narrative, Collage and Performance Methodologies in Health

For educators, health professionals, nurses, physicians,

mental health professionals, counsellors,

those working in aging and health, social services

and others interested in the creative arts in health, training and education

The successful day training intensive series "Integrating the Creative Arts in Healthcare" Drama, Narrative, Collage and Performance Methodologies in Health" (Introductory) sponsored by CCAHTE, Canadian Creative Arts in Health, Training and Education, will be held again at The Windermere Manor, London, Ontario on Saturday October 20. Using drama and expressive methods as well as writing, collage and narrative approaches professionals have an opportunity to participate in an experiential group process while communicating stories through therapeutic drama, collage, narrative and group performances.

The day training session introduces expressive methods which can be effectively integrated into the healthcare setting as well as being helpful in field study ("Performing the Field") while also offering professionals a deeply creative opportunity for group self expression and regeneration.

Facilitator: Cheryl McLean M.A., Educator, Therapist, Dramatist,

Publisher, Editor CCAHTE Journal

Pre-registration is currently underway until Sept. l.

Pre-registration fee $120, after Sept. l $135

Register: http://www.cmclean.com/images/CCAHTE-workshop-form.pdf

For Information about Windermere Manor, London http://www.windermeremanor.com/index.htm


email: ccahte@cmclean.com
website: http://www.cmclean.com/