Insurance News Net Article on Yoga and Meditation's Positive Effect of Healthcare

Beyond honored to be included in the recent edition of @InsNewsNet discussing the positive effects of #meditation and #yoga on our #healthcare system. Thank you, Susan Rupe (@INNsusan), for allowing me to share my life's passion with the insurance community! Check out the article by clicking here https://bit.ly/2RdFAqH or reading the article below:

On many occasions, I’ve watched myself and others delivering a broken health care system. It is incredibly frustrating to have only this terribly fractured health care system to offer my clients today.

I’ve watched our health care system closely and with an extremely judgmental eye as I deliver health insurance benefits across all markets.

I aspire to stay positive about the health care system, but it is ever challenging. Throughout my own personal journey of 30 years in the health care industry, I can admit that this road has been a long one for me, although I always try to keep an open mind. I remind myself to learn from every person I meet, from every event I attend, and every conversation I have in every aspect of my life.

A dark moment 20 years ago led me to listen to the advice of a friend, which resulted in my taking my first yoga class. Although I was unaware of it, my journey had just begun.

Over time, I discovered that we are all on our own individual journeys. Each of us has a different path that brings us to our ultimate destinations. But the destination is the least important element. The journey is what counts and our own internal transformation is the main objective.

Most people are taught growing up that the outside world is what matters in life, but that is simply misleading. I discovered that our inner life, what happens inside of us — our thoughts, our hopes, our dreams — is what guides the soul and brings me joy and good health.

As I went deeper into the practice of yoga and meditation, I discovered that not only was I healing myself, but that through my exploration, I was also healing my family, my friends, my clients and the community around me. Everyone noticed the change within me, and wanted to understand what was going on.

I was faced with juggling my home life, my two children, my blossoming career and endless social responsibilities on top of delivering the complexities of the Affordable Care Act since 2014. I was exhausted and barely had time to take care of myself. I tried everything I could find to try to ease the stress of this journey, but it was a constant struggle.

When dealing with a crisis, we can either choose hopelessness and despair or we can persevere and remain hopeful. I have always chosen to stay optimistic. For me, the only genuine moments of authentic healing I experienced was during the time I spent in daily meditation and yoga. I began to feel happy, alive, along with more connection and ease with my daily obstacles.

As a result of my personal success with meditation and yoga, my clients, family and friends began approaching me to help them find new ways to enhance their lives and personal health.

I always encourage my community to take actions toward their own healing and to spend some time in a quiet space. This quiet space can create miracles. Scientific studies from Mount Sinai Hospital and the University of California-San Diego now prove that daily meditation results in the same effects as taking a vacation. The benefits of meditation and yoga are undeniable. It was an epiphany for me to finally understand why I had stuck around in the health care industry for so long. I finally understood that it is my mission to help people heal themselves. I lived it and breathed it until I finally understood it.

It is now my life’s mission to incorporate yoga and meditation practices into our health care system. Our insurance industry will experience the benefits, which will immediately lower costs. We will have happier, healthier human beings all around and the world will be a more peaceful place.

We must heal ourselves before we can heal others. We are the leaders in health care — the people who write policies, who inform politicians and lawmakers, and who influence and write the history of health care. Our obligation is to begin with ourselves and make sure that each and every one of us is open to the practice of yoga and meditation.

The practice will be different for us all. There is no “right” way to practice. Once we understand the benefits and the values of the practice, we will be able to influence our families, communities and clients, as well as the insurance carriers that employ us all.

As the people delivering a system called care, we are obligated to support our clients on their journey of healing and self-care. We can be the agents of change, the agents who bring and share love and compassion as part of global healing.

Yoga is the word for union: uniting mind, body and spirit. This is on a physical, emotional and spiritual level. Yoga enables you to witness your own healing immediately, from the very first experience. It is a blessing in my life, which is why I recommend it to all my friends, family, clients and colleagues.

These experiences led me to create cutting-edge continuing education classes in the insurance industry: “Reducing Health Care Costs With Yoga And Meditation” and “Meditation As A New Way To Wellness.” These classes were first approved in California and Florida, and now many other states are in the process of incorporating them into their health care programs.

The bottom line is that if agents and brokers incorporate these beneficial practices into their own daily lives, they will be more likely to share their positive experiences with others. This will truly make a difference to our clients. We are a huge influence on so many people. We should practice what we preach and lead by example. 

I am honored to be able to share the wisdom of this ancient method of healing. Although Western medicine is remarkable, we must remind ourselves that Eastern medicine can work side-by-side with the generally more accepted Western medicine in order to enhance curative properties.

Good luck on this journey and remember, we are what we eat and think, and we must always take some time to spend in a quiet space. Healing is possible when we go within and connect to our own heart and soul. Simply taking an extra breath every day can make a difference.