DrJoyCoaching Newsletter, vol. 9

July 2021 

Hi Friends, 

I hope you are enjoying this holiday weekend and are taking some time to relax and take care of yourself. And I hope you will take some time to watch the videos I am sending you in this email. 

I had the pleasure of interviewing Sheva Carr, co-director of HeartMath Healthcare, recently. She is an amazing person, who is dedicated to helping physicians and other healthcare workers learn the techniques of HeartMath to improve their personal resilience and long-term health, as well as reduce their risk for burnout.

You can hear her own story in the first video-- she lived in a war zone in Nicaragua as a young aid- worker, while feeling powerless to help the children there, and believing that they had all perished. Her PTSD from this experience was crippling to her, causing multiple somatic issues, and contributing to her failure to complete her first year of medical school. That is, until she found some techniques to calm the sympathetic storm in her body.  HeartMath was one of these healing modalities. 

HeartMath for Resilience with Sheva Carr

In the second video, she follows up on her experience of learning HeartMath, and walks us through a quick lesson on Quick Coherence. This easy technique can be done eyes-open, in-the-moment,  and takes just a few minutes to calm your mind and body. Use it at the scrub sink, between patients, before a presentation or a stressful event, or a transition (like before you walk into the house after work.) She likens it to putting on your "Inner PPE."

 She  also cites some research about HeartMath:

1. HeartMath can lower health risks- by lowering blood pressure and improving immune function. 

2. Hospital patients who use HeartMath push the call button less.

3. Healthcare workers using HeartMath tools have less burnout.

4. Healthcare systems that teach HeartMath see lower rates of turnover. 

Watch the second video here:  Quick Coherence with Sheva Carr 

I have seen profound changes in my own reactivity using HeartMath techniques. This technique can be easily taught to your patients too. As Sheva says, "You don't have to be a mechanic to drive a car." They can derive benefit without knowing the physiology of how it works.

If you are interested in learning more about HeartMath for yourself or your patients, please reach out. 

Be well, and don't forget to breathe... 

~Bev 

P. S. Please feel free to check out my website www.DrJoyCoaching.net, and follow me on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram (@DrJoyCoaching). And if you are interested in discussing your particular situation to see if coaching is right for you, please let me know by replying to this email, or use my calendar link..