Class Title: Mindfulness  Tools for Entrepreneurs

Date: 2/25/2015

Location: General Assembly NYC

Presenters: Miriam Bekkouche of The Brain Spa

 
Note: These are just my notes from the course. This is in no way an exhaustive review of the class or even a complete reflection of the material covered. This simply reflects the things I found most interesting or novel. 
 
Happiness is a combination of love + pursuing passion
“Our life is what our thoughts make it.”
 
Yerkes-Dodson Curve – Stress curve
 
Stress Effects:
  • 2 stress systems
  • Both systems can become fatigued
 
Winning the Stress Game
5 Stress Modalities:
  1. EMG: Muscle tension, addressed with targeted muscle relaxation
  2. GSR: skin conductance
  3. Respiration: addressed with purposeful breathing in for 4 seconds, hold for 7 seconds, out for 8 seconds
  4. EEG
  5. Peripheral Temp.
 
Corticol vs Sub-corticol: EEG looks at voltage changes within the brain
Limbic = lizard brain, fight, flight, or freeze response
Eliminate chronic stress
It has no benefit to you
Long term health consequences
 
Targeted muscle release
  • Careful, intentional, focused tensing then holding then releasing of muscles.
 
Mindfulness
  • Awareness, presence, acceptance 
 
Meditation
  • Focus on breathing either by counting the breaths or thinking about the sensation of breathing (air moving in and out)
  • Thought are a movie screen, enjoy creating distance between you and the screen.