Welcome to The Chopra Center For Wellbeing

                                                            By Jennifer Chapis

Complete Integration of Mind, Body, & Spirit

Have you ever planned a much-needed, tranquil retreat only to return home a week later more run-ragged than before you left?  If you’re like most Americans, the regrettable answer is, Yes!  

At the Chopra Center for Wellbeing, a San Diego favorite for rejuvenation and awakening, guests experience a true “get-away” in the best sense of the word. Want to nourish your mind and body and renew your spirit this spring season?  The Chopra Center is quite simply one of southern California's most desirable destinations. You will enjoy enriching workshops and programs based on the teachings of world-famous spiritual author and speaker Deepak Chopra, MD and prominent health pioneer David Simon, MD, as well as a menu of blissful Ayurvedic spa treatments fit for royalty and designed just for you. 

The secret to enlightenment is not a secret. You can find it at a holy ashram in India, or you can find it 30 miles north of San Diego and 90 minutes south of Los Angeles. Considering all the beautiful places in the world, it's no wonder Drs. Chopra and Simon chose the campus of the La Costa Resort as the primary residence for this world-renown haven. Just three miles from the Pacific, what could be a more idyllic setting to open your awareness to the potential for lasting health and happiness?  Enjoy first-class accommodations, outdoor amenities such as golf and tennis, several dining options including a chic affordable bistro serving up delicious Ayurvedic-style cuisine (to restore inner and outer vitality), plus services for every member of the family. Best yet, the Chopra Center prepares guests to walk away with the tools necessary to jumpstart their ideal life.

Think it’s not possible to spend your life accomplishing your greatest goals and feeling rested?  Perhaps it’s time to stop thinking so much.

The simplest and most effective passageway to success is meditation. Ours is a fast-paced world (not scheduled to slow down any time soon) where it’s becoming increasingly necessary to claim our individual calm amidst the chaos. “The more you meditate,” says Michael McShane, Chopra Center Program Consultant, “the more you gain a sense of your true self, as you rest in the comfort of the present moment.”  How many times have you eaten a meal without relaxing long enough to taste it, or found yourself arriving at a destination, wondering, How did I get here?  Meditation allows us to expand mindfulness, break free of unconscious conditioning, and access the perfection that was inside us all along.

A cardinal sings without even trying.  So, too, can you effortlessly surrender to your highest self. Meditation is simple. Anyone can do it.

The Center teaches a technique adapted from ancient tradition called Primordial Sound Meditation. “PSM takes you beyond mind, intellect, and ego,” says Christie Lees, Program Manager. “Transformation happens in the space between your thoughts.” By cultivating peace and relaxation within a daily meditation practice, we are better able to remain centered and less reactive in the face of stress. We are open (even magnetized) to fulfilling our potential, naturally and without exerting conscious effort.

Another great way to stop the stress hormones from surging is to indulge in one or more of the 13 Ayurvedic treatments available through the Chopra Spa.  For a sampling, try an Odyssey Treatment, which includes three different kinds of massage: Abhyanga (friction and exfoliation), Vishesh (deep tension relief and detoxification), and Marma (energy clearing and stimulation).  No shortage of warm, nourishing oils here….  Feel the tension melt away as a trained therapist (or two, if you prefer) soothes tight muscles and revitalizes your energy points. Even the locker room is a heavenly experience complete with signature bath products, robe, slippers, and a relaxation lounge with fireplace.  Just don’t forget to bring your swimsuit.  Use of the pool, hot tub, steam room, and sauna are included. 

Don’t have the time or money to book an extended stay? The Chopra Center also offers informative spiritual workshops for around $20, Hatha yoga classes at a package rate, free 30-minute group meditations twice daily Monday thru Friday at 8:30am and 6pm, and a complimentary intro class Fridays at 2pm whereby certified instructors guide a small group meditation in a quiet room with floppy pillows. Plus free daytime resort parking. “Practicing meditation is the most important thing we can do,” says McShane. “To access what is within. That’s all there is.”

Call toll-free 888.424.6772. Or visit www.chopra.com to stumble upon a wellspring of information, including an introduction to Ayurveda. (Hint: Take the Dosha Quiz online to gain insight into your current mind-body state!)

________________________________________________________________________

“Know that deep inside you, in the innermost recesses of your heart, are the gods and goddesses of knowledge, love, compassion and abundance. These gods and goddesses have only one desire: to be born.” ~Deepak Chopra

________________________________________________________________________

Author Bio:

Jennifer Chapis is an award-winning writer and editor with over 80 publications in magazines and anthologies. Author of the poetry chapbook, The Beekeeper's Departure, her writing is known for opening hearts and minds. More information, please visit: www.jenniferchapis.com.