1:00 – 1:15 pm
Welcome and Introduction

1:15 – 2:00 pm
Marshall Hagins, PhD, PT, OCS: YOGA AND SCIENCE: THE BASICS
How a human being changes through the practice of yoga and meditation is a truly complex phenomenon. Even the best science can only reveal some of the truth about yoga. This talk will describe foundational concepts related to the scientific study of yoga. In particular, how the questions and methods which scientists use influence and limit the interpretation of the results. Despite the inherent limitations of Western science, a case will be made that a factual scientific consensus of what yoga can and cannot do will generally expand the use of yoga in society and help us personalize and target our practice to ourselves, our clients and patients more specifically.

2:00 – 2:45 pm
KEYNOTE: Larry Scherwitz, PhD, C-IHYT: THE HEALING POWER OF THE YOGIC LIFESTYLE
The author will present his 20+ year journey as a research director with Dr. Dean Ornish into discovering how a 4-component yoga-based lifestyle change program can reverse a host of related chronic diseases including coronary artery disease, diabetes, and prostate cancer. While the results of several studies will be reviewed the focus will be upon the effects of yoga practice, exercise, social support, and a plant-based diet on angiographic measured changes in the blockages of coronary arteries. The author will present unpublished new results on how important each of the 4 components is to disease reversal, how much change is necessary to reverse the disease, and what specific foods were eaten by those whose disease progressed and reversed. Also, presented will be surprising findings on which of the 30 different types of fat intake are most related to disease progression. And a multiple regression analysis will show the strength of yoga practice when compared with dietary cholesterol and fat in predicting 5-year coronary artery disease reversal. The presentation will end by discussing possible mechanisms by which a yogic lifestyle has its healing powers including studies showing the benefits of this 4-component lifestyle changes program on oncogene expression and telomere lengthening.

2:45 – 3:30 pm
Kristin Neff, PhD: SELF-COMPASSION: A HEALTHIER WAY OF RELATING TO YOURSELF AND YOUR BODY
This talk will discuss the role of self-compassion in creating a kinder and more connected way of inhabiting our minds and our bodies. It will discuss research on the health benefits of self-compassion, including yoga as a way to enhance self-compassion. It will also compare self-compassion to self-esteem, arguing that self-compassion provides a more stable and less contingent sense of self-worth. Finally, a brief self-compassion practice will be taught for use in daily life.

3:30 – 3:45 pm
BREAK

3:45 – 4:30 pm
David Ring, MD, PhD: RECOVERING FROM INJURY AND SURGERY: HOW THE STORIES WE TELL OURSELVES CAN ENHANCE OR HINDER OUR ABILITY TO HEAL
The story we tell ourselves about our experience of pain can either strengthen or weaken our recovery. There are effective strategies that we can use to create healthier narratives for optimal recovery. This in part involves understanding the difference between tissue damage and our experience of it, which can include unpleasant thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. In this presentation we will discuss and define nociception, which is the physiology of actual or potential tissue damage in contrast to the narrative that often accompanies injury and pain, and management strategies that we can incorporate to facilitate recovery.

4:30 – 5:15 pm
Deborah Kesten, MPH: ANCIENT YOGIC NUTRITION MEETS MODERN NUTRITIONAL SCIENCE
Yogis turn all eating into a potentially sacred activity, each encounter with food into an opportunity to meet the Higher Self. This presentation is steeped in Anna Yoga, India’s ancient dietary wisdom. Discover the what-and-how-to-eat guidelines of yogic nutrition, and the science behind its ability to nourish the “whole person”—physically, emotionally, spiritually, and socially.

5:15 – 5:30 pm
Eddie Stern: BREATHING EXERCISE

5:30 – 6:00 pm
Q&A with all speakers moderated by Eddie Stern

Larry Scherwitz, Ph.D., C-IHYT, is an international research scientist with a Ph.D. in Social Psychology. He trained in psychophysiology (mind-body medicine) at Harvard Medical School and in behavioral medicine at the University of Wisconsin. A certified yoga instructor, Larry’s research career includes Director of Research and Co-Principal Investigator with Dean Ornish, M.D. on his heart-disease reversal research—which is based on the yoga lifestyle—plus research on seven comprehensive Lifestyle Medicine programs with heart patients and their families: four in the United States, three in Europe. Larry has presented his research to His Holiness the Dalai Lama at Mount Sinai Beth Israel Medical Center in New York City, and at a multitude of scientific conferences throughout the United States, Europe, and India. www.IntegrativeEating.com

Kristin Neff, Ph.D. is currently an Associate Professor of Educational Psychology at the University of Texas at Austin. She is a pioneer in the field of self-compassion research, conducting the first empirical studies on self-compassion over fifteen years ago. In addition to writing numerous academic articles and book chapters on the topic, she is author of the book “Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself,” released by William Morrow.  In conjunction with her colleague Dr. Chris Germer, she has developed an empirically supported training program called Mindful Self-Compassion, which is taught by thousands of teachers worldwide. The Mindful Self-Compassion Workbook is now available by Guilford, as well as Teaching the Mindful Self-Compassion Program: A Guide for Professionals. For more information on self-compassion, including a self-compassion test, research articles, practices, and Dr. Neff’s teaching schedule, go to www.self-compassion.org.

David Ring, MD, Ph.D. is Associate Dean for Comprehensive Care and Professor of Surgery and Psychiatry at Dell Medical School.  Trained as a hand and orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Ring’s extensive research, patient care, and quality and patient safety leadership contributed to an understanding of and a passion for the ways that mindset and circumstances affect human illness.  Getting people interested in innovative ways to get and stay healthy depends on effective communication strategies that establish trust and make healthy habits appealing.  Dr. Ring’s current work focuses on ways to use existing knowledge, diverse expertise, and innovative applications of technology to help people choose healthy options consistent with their values.    

Deborah Kesten, M.P.H., is an international nutrition researcher, specializing in preventing and reversing obesity, heart disease, and other diet-related chronic conditions. She was Nutritionist on Dean Ornish, M.D.’s first clinical trial for reversing heart disease and Director of Nutrition on similar heart-disease reversal research at cardiovascular clinics in Europe. Deborah has researched and written about ancient food wisdom, including yogic nutrition (anna yoga), in her award-winning book Feeding the Body, Nourishing the Soul, and for Yoga Journal and Spirituality & Health magazines. She is the founder of the evidence-based Whole Person Integrative Eating (WPIE)^TM dietary lifestyle, based on an integration of ancient food wisdom and modern nutritional science. Her most recent book is Whole Person Integrative Eating. www.IntegrativeEating.com

Marshall Hagins, Ph.D., was a dancer on Broadway before obtaining his BS in physical therapy, and a PhD in Biomechanics and Ergonomics from New York University and a second doctorate from the University of St. Augustine in manual physical therapy. Dr. Hagins is Emeritus Professor at Long Island University, a Senior Clinical Research Associate at Harkness Center for Dance Injuries in Manhattan and a Board Certified Clinical Specialist in Orthopedics (OCS). Dr. Hagins has received funding from the National Institute of Health to study the effects of yoga on hypertension and has published over 40 papers in peer reviewed journals in the areas of Dance Medicine, Sports Injuries, Ergonomics, and Alternative Medicine (yoga).

Eddie Stern is a yoga teacher, author, and lecturer from New York City. He is known for his multi-disciplinary approach to furthering education and access to yoga, as well as his teaching expertise in Ashtanga Yoga. He most recently created The Breathing App, which guides the user in a paced breathing exercise that balances the nervous system, helping to improve sleep, and reduce stress and anxiety. One Simple Thing: A New Look at the Science of Yoga is his first solo book.