Meditation focus of center's next event on healthy living

LivingWell Cancer Resource Center, 1803 W. State St. in Geneva, has begun a special health series titled "Revitalize Your Mind & Body." "Meditation: Learn to Lessen Physical and Emotional Pain" will be held from 6 to 7 p.m. Thursday, March 5. This program will be presented by Om Johari, PhD. This special event is free, however, registration is required by calling (630) 262-1111.

It is both an educational and inspirational series of lectures and events that will focus on how to live a healthier lifestyle. Each week, presenters discuss topics that are pertinent to the cancer experience. Topics range from exercise and nutrition, care giving and healing, to mind exercises like Sudoku and laughter yoga.

Recent studies have shown that meditation for pain relief is a very powerful way to help relieve pain with many positive side effects, including pain related to cancer. Join Johari as he teaches how to diminish the physical pain associated with cancer as well as emotional pain and anxiety, while breaking the cycle of pain using meditation. Invest an hour in your health by learning these techniques sure to make a difference. According to Johari, "Happiness or freedom from pain cannot be found in the past or the future. I will share techniques that help each person to focus on awareness of the present moment. The by-product of this practice is a lessening of physical and emotional pain."

Johari believes, "The mind creates a great deal of the pain that we experience through thoughts. When we learn to not let our thoughts control us, we can release much of the pain in our experience." It is Johari's hope that participants will learn simple techniques to bring greater awareness into their lives. And despite the paradox, the awareness lessens pain and increases the capacity for happiness.

Johari earned his degree from the University of California. He has taught at several universities, including Drexel in Philadelphia and ran an Electron Microscopy Lab at IIT Research Institute in Chicago. He has also administered a nonprofit organization which sponsored scientific conferences that he directed, and has edited and published scientific journals.

Currently, he is a volunteer for the AARP Driver Safety Program and shares meditation, laughter and Sudoku Solving Strategies at many local senior centers, libraries and park districts. Om also gives talks on these topics as well as "An Attitude of Gratitude" and "Why and How to Become a Better Listener?"

All services provided at LivingWell Cancer Resource Center are free of charge. LivingWell, www.livingwellcrc.org, is an affiliate of Delnor Health System.