World Mom, Dee Harlow, is on @BabyCenter!

World Mom, Dee Harlow, is on @BabyCenter!

WMN Dee Harlow BC Feature Image

As part of World Moms Network’s collaboration with BabyCenter’s Mission Motherhood®, our World Moms are writing posts on maternal health around the world. In our most recent post, Dee Harlow shared some surprising facts about HIV in Lesotho and the work of m2m in the country.

“Last week I attended, the 21st International AIDS Conference (#AIDS2016) in Durban, South Africa. Learning more about the HIV epidemic is important to me because where I live, in the mountainous Kingdom of Lesotho in southern Africa, one quarter of the near 2 million people are living with HIV.  The knowledge I gained at the conference will allow me to apply the latest research and methodologies to my work on pediatric HIV and prevention of mother-to-child-transmission of HIV (PMTCT) in Lesotho. Check out these 7 facts I put together on the topic – they may surprise you!”…

Read the full post, “7 Facts that may surprise you about HIV in Lesotho“, over at BabyCenter’s Mission Motherhood®!

World Moms Blog

World Moms Blog is an award winning website which writes from over 30 countries on the topics of motherhood, culture, human rights and social good. Over 70 international contributors share their stories from around the globe, bonded by the common thread of motherhood and wanting a better world for their children. World Moms Blog was listed by Forbes Woman as one of the "Best 100 Websites for Women 2012 & 2013" and also called a "must read" by the NY Times Motherlode in 2013. Our Senior Editor in India, Purnima Ramakrishnan, was awarded the BlogHer International Activist Award in 2013.

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A Report of the #Heartfulness Conference from NJPAC, New Jersey

A Report of the #Heartfulness Conference from NJPAC, New Jersey

This summer, our #WorldMom Hannah Ashton reports about the Heartfulness Conference which was held at NJPAC, New Jersey.

The best way to teach children to meditate is to be an example. - Kamlesh D. patel

The best way to teach children to meditate is to be an example. – Kamlesh D. Patel

I recently started Heartfulness meditation. When a group of World Moms started to meditate together, I decided to join in. I had never meditated before but life was stressful with two young children and a house move and I was looking to add a little more balance to my life. I wanted to be a more chilled-out parent and be calmer in stressful, time sensitive situations such as getting both children to school on time.

The first time I participated in Heartfulness meditation, I was surprised at how quickly I was able to go into meditation. Firstly, the world moms chatted about our days through a video conference tool which in itself was relaxing. Then our Heartfulness trainer (another world mom) talked us through a relaxation exercise which I found extremely helpful in moving me to a meditative state and we meditated together for fifteen minutes, being instructed to focus on the light in our heart and gently guide our attention back to our heart when we felt our minds begin to wander.

The second and third times we meditated together, the fifteen minutes felt like five. I find it easier to meditate with others, rather than alone, mainly because I like to be led in the relaxation exercise and I appreciate the comfort of others around me. I really enjoy getting to know other mothers around the world.

This past weekend I attended The Heartfulness Institute’s seminar in New Jersey, USA. Dr. Partha Nandi, M.D. did a wonderful job as the Master of ceremonies. In his opening he praised the benefits of meditation and reminded us to be our own health heroes; to eat less and to move with purpose.  Looking after our bodies and our health is vital.

I was excited to see Gabrielle Bernstein speak, having watched her on Oprah. Gabby is a New York Times bestselling author and speaker.  She explained that meditation had been a radical turning point in her life.  As a child she had watched her yogi mother practice daily meditation. Frazzled by the challenges of daily life, Gabby’s mother would go into her bedroom, close the door and meditate.  She would reappear noticeably calmer and revived.

When Gabby had existential crises as a teenager and in her early twenties, her mother advised that there was only one way – to turn inward.

Gabby has been meditating daily for eleven years.

Kamlesh D. Patel is the spiritual guide of the Sahaj Marg system of raja yoga meditation and president of Shri Ram Chandra Mission.

Kamlesh describes the process of meditation as ‘cool rain in hot summer which quenches your thirst’.

He said that the deeper into yourself you go, the less selfish you become. He praised technology which allows remote meditation sessions and provides much easier access to Heartfulness meditation sessions for those that want them.  I’d like to point out that these sessions are completely free.

Kamlesh said that it was very important to teach children to chill and how to cope. However, he would not recommend teaching meditation to children under 16; the best way to teach children is to be an example. Gabby concurred; her mother’s example had led her to turn to meditation as she got older in challenging times. During this talk of children Dr. Partha said how helpful meditation is to his role as a parent. He said that when one of his children is crying incessantly, his training brings him back to how he should conduct himself.

Focusing back on my own personal meditation experience, I have to agree.

When I take the time to meditate, activities such as the school run do seem to run more smoothly. I have more patience; I am kinder and calmer.

From my experience, I would recommend giving Heartfulness meditation a chance.

MEDITATE WITH A TRAINER – Heartspots.heartfulness.org

 This is an original post for World Moms Network written by Hannah Ashton.

World Moms Blog

World Moms Blog is an award winning website which writes from over 30 countries on the topics of motherhood, culture, human rights and social good. Over 70 international contributors share their stories from around the globe, bonded by the common thread of motherhood and wanting a better world for their children. World Moms Blog was listed by Forbes Woman as one of the "Best 100 Websites for Women 2012 & 2013" and also called a "must read" by the NY Times Motherlode in 2013. Our Senior Editor in India, Purnima Ramakrishnan, was awarded the BlogHer International Activist Award in 2013.

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