Deepak Chopra is a leading figure in alternative, integrative medicine. Born in New Delhi, India, he moved to the United States in the 1970s and completed his medical studies there. Chopra believes that health is the union of the mind, body and soul. His revolutionary method claims to merge Ayurveda, ancient traditional Indian medicine, with quantum physics in order to heal people. In the 1980s, he founded the American Association of Ayurvedic Medicine, where celebrities such as Elizabeth Taylor and Michael Jackson received treatment.
AUTHOR AND TEACHER
Chopra has written some ninety books, most of them bestsellers. An international media guru, he has more than three million followers on Twitter. He teaches at retreats and shares his wisdom in seminars and lectures where attendees learn about the positive impact of meditation on health and spirit.
CHOPRA AND OPRAH
In recent years, Deepak Chopra joined forces with his friend Oprah Winfrey with the aim of helping people find inner balance through meditation. The two celebrities created a free online programme in which they shared tips on how to live a more peaceful life through food, sleep and exercise. This twenty-one-day experience reached millions of people around the world. Chopra’s voice accompanied listeners in their daily meditation practice and suggested a written assignment to complete throughout the day. He also introduced Sanskrit mantras, which provided a theme for the day.
CRITICISM
At the age of seventy-three, Chopra prides himself on his excellent health. However, while he appears to be immune to illness, he is not exempt from criticism. He has been accused of making false claims regarding the health benefits of meditation when it comes to serious diseases, such as cancer. Many in the medical community consider his teachings ‘pseudoscience’. But according to Chopra, the body can be repaired by experiencing a shift in awareness, since mind and body are the same thing. While the mind is the subjective experience of consciousness, he says, the body is the objective experience of consciousness.
HOW TO MEDITATE
In this stressful time it is difficult to stay focused and balanced, that’s why so many people are trying different techniques and alternative disciplines. Meditation has proved to be useful to fight stress and anxiety, to still our mind and be present.
Although it seems to be an easy thing to do – you just have to sit quiet and close your eyes – meditation takes practice, commitment, and focus.
Here are a few Chopra’s tips for those who want to try meditation:
Be patient: Exercise self-compassion and know that trying to force it never helps.
Set a timer: Setting a timer releases you from having to think about when your session is over.
Be consistent: Meditating at the same time each day and in the same spot helps solidify your practice as habit.
Breathe: Use your breath as a tool to regulate the nervous system and cultivate calm.
Find a friend: Sharing this practise can be useful to do it regularly.
