E096 Spencer Delisle Power of Breath and Meditation
Let’s Be Well Together Podcast - Episode 96
Date: November 28, 2023
Participants: Elise Seifert, Sheila Webster, John Webster and Cameron Earnshaw
Guest: Spencer Delisle
Start Times and Segments:
[0:00:35] What’s On Your Mind: On the first segment (What’s On Your Mind), it’s the last of Elise’s India travel series. They travelled in the Northwest and worked their way south. She saw architecture in Jaipur, museums in Mumbai and ended with the relaxing vibe of Kochi.
[0:11:49] Expanding Minds Interview: [Physical and Mental Wellness] We interview Spencer Delisle in the areas of Physical and Mental Wellness. The discussion starts with how breath work and meditation can be transformative, which helps especially in a VUCA world – volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous. The breath is the connection between the outer world of dynamism and activity, and the inner world of silence. It’s connected to your thoughts and emotions. You breathe differently when your angry, happy, sad, etc. We think a certain way or we feel a certain way and we breathe a certain way. We use certain very specific rhythms in the breath to help us release deeper seeded emotions and traumas stuck in the past, and bring the mind back to the present moment. The foundational technique is called Sky Breath Mediation. Some of the benefits from the technique are increased level of energy, decreased level of stress and at same time you get into a very relaxed state and a high level of focus and awareness. The founder of the Art of Living, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. He’s a yogi from India and a global mediation master. He’s an international ambassador of peace. The organization’s goal is to create a stress free and violence free world.
[0:32:34] Adventures of the Starving Artist: Cameron’s has daydream venues to perform at. They’ve been different as he’s lived in different places. He took a shot as performing at the Chateau Laurier in Ottawa. He scored. He performed there on November 27!
[0:37:47] Move That Body: Adding a destination is fun and helps motivate us to move that body. We took a long bike ride from Collingwood to Thornbury for lunch. It took us on a 40-kilometre fall ride through the trail system. It was lots of fun.
[0:44:14] Running Popup: John’s favourite temperature to run is in the 3-10° Celsius range. He’s enjoying his fall runs.
[0:45:36] Flipside of the Coin: We experienced our first very busy movie theatre since Covid began. We felt a bit anxious at first, because we’re not accustomed to being with so many people. We came to enjoy it. It was a fun social experience and we liked the movie.
Quotes and Take-Aways:
Spencer – We live in a very crazy world. They even have a term for it. They call it this VUCA world – volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous. We’re constantly being pulled in different directions.
Spencer – There’s a very powerful way that allows us to address today’s concerns and challenges and goals. It’s through the breath. When we’re stressed and overwhelmed, our mind tends to vacillate between anxieties about the future and regrets about the past. Life is lived in the present moment. Most of us are not able to live there too often. How do I manage my mind and bring it back to the present moment? How do I release negative impressions and ways of thinking, or from an argument you just had with someone?
Spencer – The approach and courses I’m discussing - all of or general public programs are through the art of living. We have a corporate arm called TLEX Institute for corporate programs. All of our programs we do institutionally (e.g., police services, other first responders, veterans, prison personnel, etc.) is through the International Association for Human Values.
Spencer – You often cannot solve the problems of the mind at the level of the mind. For example if you cannot sleep, you cannot convince yourself to go to sleep. We need a tool that is both subtle enough to address the mind and tangible enough to use it. That is where the breath comes in.
Spencer – The breath is the connection between the outer world of dynamism and activity, and the inner world of silence.
Spencer – Your breath is connected to your thoughts and emotions. You breathe differently when your angry, happy, sad, etc. Our breath can reflect our emotions. We think a certain way or we feel a certain way and we breathe a certain way. With our breathing techniques, we make it into a two-way street. We use certain very specific rhythms in the breath to help us release deeper seeded emotions and traumas stuck in the past, and bring the mind back to the present moment.
Spencer – The foundational technique is called Sky Breath Mediation. When you finish this technique it’s instantly energizing. Some of the benefits from the technique are increased level of energy, decreased level of stress and at same time you get into a very relaxed state and a high level of focus and awareness.
Spencer – Our breathing technique de-links the connection between the traumatic memory and visceral emotion that chains us to the past. The memory stays, but you become free from it. You can learn from what happened in the past, let go and be fully present and ready to take on whatever you need to take on in that moment with joy and enthusiasm.
Spencer – I’d like to acknowledge my teacher and the founder of the Art of Living, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. He’s a yogi from India. He’s a global mediation master. He’s an international ambassador of peace. He established the Art of Living, which is an organization that’s in about 180 countries around the world. The goal that he set for the foundation is to create a stress free and violence free world. It’s a beautiful goal.
Bulletin Board Quote brought to you by Spencer: We live in a vuca world
Guest Information: Spencer Delisle is a Director and Facilitator with The Art of Living Foundation, MC/Spokesperson for World Culture Festival 2023, he’s Vice President, Faculty, and Board Member with TLEX Institute and Vice President of the International Association for Human Values. He’s been the lead instructor on multiple research studies examining the effects of Meditation and Breathing Technique on Stress and Trauma. He was born in Montreal and has lived in many different places in Canada, enjoying varying landscapes and coastlines.
Links - The Art of Living – SKY Breath Meditation
TLEX Institute – International corporate training to unlock people’s full potential by harnessing the power of the mind.
The International Association for Human Values – Programs for First Responders, Physicians, Military, Prisons, Schools and Service providers to reduce Stress, and develop leaders so human values can flourish in people and communities.
The Art of Living World Culture Festival – A festival series that has brought together millions of people from over 180 countries to enjoy international cuisine, sing, dance, meditate, celebrate diversity, and experience that we are a one world family.
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Thanks for joining us,
(-(-_(-_-)_-)-) Your wellness check-in team
John, Sammy, Cameron, Sheila, Elise, Isabelle and Julie