Week of August 22-27, 2010

Music, Spirituality and Your Brain

Join Mark Waldman and Yuval Ron for a unique experiential week that is choreographed to take you deeply into the sacred music and spiritual practices of the world. Discover meditations and melodies that have been shown to alter the structure and function of your brain in ways that enhance memory, cognition, and social awareness while simultaneously suppressing the neural mechanisms that generate stress, anxiety, depression, and anger. Each day we'll focus on a different tradition—Judaism, Islamic Sufism, mystical Christianity, Buddhist, and Hindu spirituality—and the group will experience ancient and modern meditations and sacred songs. During these sessions, Yuval will play the Oud, a precursor of the lute. These practices demonstrate the deep commonality and love for life reflected in the religious traditions of the world.

The program includes a video presentation of contemporary neuroscience research on the effects of meditation and prayer and an original theatrical performance integrating sacred poetry and live music that was composed between 200 BC and 1600 AD from the Abrahamic traditions of the Middle East. Unique mindful eating meditations will be used during meals. Other workshop activities include: movement meditations, Echad and Nigun meditation, sound meditation, dialogue meditation, and inner values meditation.

Recommended reading: Newberg and Waldman, How God Changes Your Brain and Born to Believe.

Reservations Information (Accommodations & Pricing)