Mark Robert Waldman - Research, Consulting, Coaching, and Performance Tools

with Dr. Neil Schuitevoerder and Mark Waldman  

Mark Waldman is Adjunct Faculty, Executive MBA Program, at Loyola Marymount University, and an Associate Fellow at the Center for Spirituality and the Mind, University of Pennsylvania. He and Andrew Newberg are considered the world’s leading experts on spirituality and the brain. Mark’s research has been featured in Time, Newsweek, theWashington Post, Oprah Radio and Magazine, NPR radio, and PBS television. He is the author of twelve books, including How God Changes Your Brain and the forthcoming book, Winning Conversations. 

Dr. Neil Schuitevoerder, Phd, MFT, is one of the co-developers of Compassionate Communication and it’s clinical application to psychotherapy. He practices clinical, organizational, and forensic psychology and supervises interns and psychological assistants. He has served as a consultant to many corporations. 

The neuropsychological evidence is definitive: the verbal or nonverbal expression of any form of negativity is damaging to any form of relational communication—at home or in the workplace. It creates interpersonal stress, neural dissonance, and is ultimately damaging to the brain. Derived from their neuroscientific research on spirituality and language processing, Mark Waldman, Neil Schuitevoerder, Andrew Newberg, and Chris Manning have developed a communication strategy and training module called Compassionate Communication. It integrates mindfulness, relaxation, and an “inner values” meditation, along with exercises for generating a trustworthy facial expression, and then speaking slowly and warmly, for thirty seconds or less. 

The 12 components of this strategy undermine neural patterns of defensive communication. Compassionate Communication interrupts the inner speech that governs everyday consciousness, and it promotes a spontaneous dialogue that generates neurological empathy. The process restricts the expression of negative thoughts and feelings. This strategy contradicts the common belief that negative emotions need to be expressed in order to work through them. But the neuroscientific evidence disagrees. Instead, they need to be mindfully observed, without judgment, but not spoken. The leaders will explain how even brief expressions of anger are neurologically damaging to both the speaker and listener and why this program is now taught in business schools. This workshop is divided among experiential practices, lectures, and group discussion. Participants will be guided through the twenty-minute Compassionate Communication training module and several basic mindfulness exercises. Discussions include how to use this process with children, conflicted couples, and business teamwork dynamics. Downloadable mp3s and documented references will be distributed during the workshop. Additionally, Newberg and Waldman’s brainscan research on spirituality and meditation will be presented Saturday evening.

The material in this class will be featured in Newberg and Waldman’s new book, Winning Conversations, to be released in June 2012.   Cost for this workshop can be found at http://www.esalen.org/

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

CEUs available for nurses.

CEUs available for psychologists.

CEUs available for MFTs and LCSWs.

A workshop retreat at the beautiful and inspiring unique grounds of the Ojai Foundation, Ojai, CA

with Yuval Ron
Award-Winning Musician, Composer, Lecturer, and Peace Activist
and Mark Waldman
Adjunct Faculty, Executive MBA Program, Loyola Marymount University
Associate Fellow, Center for Spirituality and the Mind, University of Pennsylvania

Join us for a unique experiential weekend, choreographed to take you deeply into the sacred music, movement, and spiritual practices of four ancient paths: Kabbalistic Judaism, Sufism, mystical Christianity, and mindfulness practices of Buddhism and Hinduism. Experience the sacred poetry and story telling from these mystical paths as we guide you through meditations and chants that have been shown to alter the structure and function of your brain in ways that enhance memory, social awareness, and cognition. These practices will also suppress the neural mechanisms that generate stress, anxiety, depression, and anger. Each of the five sessions will focus on a different tradition, and they will demonstrate the deep commonality and love for life reflected in these spiritual traditions. The program includes a video presentation of the effects of meditation and prayer on the brain, and live music of the three Abrahamic faiths by Yuval Ron.

Address: The Ojai Foundation, 9739 Ojai Santa Paula Road, Ojai CA 93023

Cost:  Seminar, accommodation and 5 meals: $389, for those of choose to stay off-site and attend sessions only: $309

Space is Limited and may sell out! - please reserve early!

RSVP and More Info: Tel: 805-646-8343, or contact@ojaifoundation.org

with Chris Manning, PhD
Professor of Finance and Real Estate at Loyola Marymount University
and Mark Robert Waldman
Adjunct Faculty, Executive MBA Program, Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles 
Associate Fellow, Center for Spirituality and the Mind, University of Pennsylvania

Effective communication is essential in virtually all aspects of life; but the latest neuroscientific evidence shows that the expression of any form of negativity is damaging to both the speaker’s and listener’s brains. Whether at home or in the workplace, negative speech creates interpersonal stress, neural dissonance, and work-related burnout.  Under the direction of Mark Waldman, Andrew Newberg, and Chris Manning, a new communication strategy has been developed that is now part of a multi-university education and training program.  Compassionate Communication integrates mindfulness, relaxation, and various “inner values” meditations. By staying deeply relaxed and in the present moment, you can use your tone of voice and facial expressions to generate neurological trust and cooperation in the listener’s brain.

The 12 components of this strategy undermine neural patterns of defensive communication. Compassionate Communication interrupts the inner speech that governs everyday consciousness, and it promotes a spontaneous dialogue that generates neurological empathy. The process restricts the expression of negative thoughts and feelings. The leaders will explain how even brief expressions of anger are neurologically damaging to both the speaker and listener and why this program is now taught in business schools. This workshop is divided among experiential practices, lectures, and group discussion. Participants will be guided through the 20-minute Compassionate Communication training module and several basic mindfulness exercises. Discussions include how to use this process with children and conflicted couples, and Dr. Manning will explain how to bring these strategies into all aspects of business, negotiation, management, and sales.  Downloadable mp3s and documented references will be distributed during the workshop. On Saturday evening, a special presentation of Newberg and Waldman’s brainscan research on spirituality and meditation will be given.

The material in this class will be featured in Newberg and Waldman’s new book, Words Can Change Your Brain.  Additional Recommended reading: Newberg and Waldman, How God Changes Your Brain. 
 
Mark Waldman  is Adjunct Faculty, Executive MBA Program, at Loyola Marymount University, where he teaches stress reduction and communication strategies that have grown out of his brainscan research with Andrew Newberg, MD, at the University of Pennsylvania and Jefferson University. Mark is considered one of the world’s leading experts on spirituality and the brain. His research has been featured in Time, The New York Times, the Washington Post, Oprah Radio and Magazine, NPR radio, and PBS television. He is the author of Words Can Change Your Brain and 12 other books, including the bestselling How God Changes Your Brain.

Dr. Chris Manning, PhD, is Professor of Finance and Real Estate at Loyola Marymount University. He is on the editorial board for the Journal of Real Estate Research and is a former president of the American Real Estate Society.  He has authored dozens of articles relating to management, sales, and negotiation in both the business and educational communities. 



CEUs available:  go to http://www.esalen.org/

with Yuval Ron 
and Mark Robert Waldman

During each day of this unique experiential workshop, Yuval Ron and Mark Waldman will take you deeply into the sacred music, movement, dances, rituals, and spiritual practices of a different ancient religion: Kabbalistic Judaism, Sufism, mystical Christianity, and the mindfulness practices of Buddhism and Hinduism. Experience the sacred poetry and story telling from these mystical paths as we guide you through meditations and chants that have been shown to alter the structure and function of your brain in ways that enhance memory, social awareness, and cognition while simultaneously reducing stress, anxiety, depression, and anger.

The program includes live music performed by Yuval Ron on the Oud, an ancient Middle Eastern lute used to accompany poetry and biblical prophetic recitations Echad and Nigun meditations; movement exercises from the Zen tradition of Butoh; ecstatic dance and music; and an orchestrated video presentation of the effects of meditation and prayer on the brain.  Participants will come away with a deep understanding of the commonality of spiritual practices and the love for life that is reflected in these mystical paths.

YUVAL RON is an Award winning musician, composer, and producer for film, television, dance and theater. He has performed for the Dalai Lama, Desmond Tutu and Pir Zia Iniyat Khan; taught at Yale, John Hopkins, and UCLA; and has been featured on CNN and National Geographic. For more info see: www.yuvalronmusic.com

 
Hollyhock Retreat Center 
(on a gorgeous island just north of Vancouver, Canada)

Presented by: Mark Robert Waldman

Reality. Consciousness. Religion. Love. Money. Leadership. Happiness. And health. What do these words have in common with each other? Everything, because they’re all controlled by our brain.

Change your brain, change your world. Discover proven neuroscientific strategies for reduced stress, enhanced cognition, and improved communication. Explore how ancient spiritual practices positively affect neuroplasticity for better relationships, health, and emotional well being.

You can consciously change your brain in ways that enhance personal health, life satisfaction, and financial stability. Investigate how neuroplasticity really works: how the brain builds illusionary maps of reality, how spiritual concepts alter the brain, and how negative thoughts and feelings damage it. Learn 12 neuroscientific strategies that will generate trust, empathy, and cooperation with nearly anyone in seven seconds or less. Experience how ancient spiritual practices can lower stress, anxiety, and doubt, and how mindfulness in the workplace generates greater productivity, creativity, teamwork, and leadership.

“These evidence-based strategies are particularly applicable in business and for individuals who want to deepen their personal development and life satisfaction.” Chris Manning, PhD, Professor of Finance, Loyola Marymount University.

TUITION: $545 CDN (meals & accommodation extra) / 5 nights

Hollyhock is the "Esalen" of Canada, an internationally-renowned center for learning, well being, and transformation. It's located on Cortes Island. For more information:  http://www.hollyhock.ca/CMS/index.cfm?Group_ID=4925  or www.hollyhock.ca.