The
recent earthquake in Kashmir, like all such disasters, has an untold story:
that disaster relief workers themselves are exposed to hazardous psychological
conditions – called “secondary trauma”. There are emotional
costs of caring and doing relief work, and in addition to damaging our most
altruistic brothers and sisters, this trauma can cause the quality of their
necessary work to suffer. Moreover, as you know, relief workers work in
a culture that asks them to be stoic and strong for others.
Whenever possible, I take time off from my private practice in mind-body
behavioral medicine to provide assistance to non-profits and relief workers
coping with their work strain and its psychological fallout. Unless support
and training are provided, research shows that our frontline workers burn
out and will not be available for a future crisis. In 2002, I was asked
by four humanitarian groups in Ahmedabad, India to provide psychological
‘first aid’ after the shameful violence there. After the Tsunami
of last year, I did similar work with disaster relief personnel in Tamil
Nadu. In both cases it burnout prevention was identified as an indispensable
part of disaster relief. It allows crucial work to continue by helping to
ensure the emotional and physical health of the relief workers themselves.
As part of ensuring
both the quality and continuity of care in relief work in the current disaster,
I request the following from those who are in a position to help:
1) Help in identifying
organizations that are working on the front lines in India or Pakistan who
need this most – namely, small groups that do not have the funding
or the infrastructure to provide this wellness service to their volunteers
& staff. Large organizations tend to provide psychological resources,
but smaller groups without immense funding can fall through the cracks.
2) If you know
individuals who would like to fund a qualified practitioner to do a small,
but crucial project like this, please connect us. I will document the work
and demonstrate the benefits of their contribution.
3) Start-up funds
of about $2000-$3000 and an opportunity to develop further contacts and
funding sources. Having visited and supported groups in both Pakistan and
India, I know there are many vulnerable organizations. I can apply my unique
skills set and offer trainings in Urdu, Hindi and English.
Please contact
me at (917) 405-3316 or info@siddharthshah.com
In solidarity,
Siddharth
PAST COURSES:
I.
Medical Physiology for Mind-Body Practitioners
II. Hindu Shadows along with the Light
III. Process Group for YOGA TEACHERS
MINI-COURSES:
WORKSHOPS:
“Dhrupad as Nad
Yoga: Workshop on Indian Sacred Music”
Workshop given Saturday, July 17 12:30 - 3:30
Yoga Mandali’s Lifestyle Summer Series 2004
Given the growing popularity of kirtan call & response, dhrupad provides a necessary counterpoint in the world of Nad Yoga. The earliest existing Indian treatises on music, dating back over two and a half thousand years focus on the belief that the musician is able to evoke feelings and thoughts that lie beyond our rational abilities. Over centuries many forms of devotional music have developed out of the Vedic desire to create harmony through music and the perception of subtle vibrations.
Dhrupad is recognized as one of the most perfect uses of Pranayama, and aligning
oneself to it induces a state of Yoga Nidra. It originated with the chanting
of the Sama Veda and, therefore, pre-dates the more popular form of Indian
classical music. Complementing kirtan in every way, dhrupad promises to challenge
anyone who thinks listening to music is far too passive. Dhrupad provides
an esoteric exposition of the sacred syllable ‘Om’ which is thought
to have a physically and spiritually purifying effect on the person chanting
and receiving it.
Join Siddharth Shah as he introduces this highly contemplative form of music through didactic presentation, experiential exercises, audio sampling, pranayama and Nad meditation. Grounded in both western allopathic and eastern ayurvedic methods, Dr. Shah’s medical forte is finding emotionally based remedies for chronic problems. Students will be guided through this exploration from Dr. Shah’s unique, therapeutic perspective and will leave with a heightened understanding of how music, sounds and subtle vibrations affect every sector of our being.
Siddharth Shah is board certified in Preventive Medicine, sits on the faculty
of Mt. Sinai Hospital, maintains a mind-body psychotherapy practice in Manhattan,
and travels extensively to speak on non-pharmacologic alternatives for health
care.
Websites dedicated to dhrupad:
SHORT INTRO:
http://www.dagar.org/history.htm
OVERVIEW:
http://www.dhrupad.org/dhrupad.htm
SCHOLARLY:
http://www.raga.com/text/221dhrupad_text.html
DETAILED ONTOLOGY:
http://makar-records.com/siteus/framegenre.html
An ancient, mystical form of Indian classical music
Rarely heard in this country