In January 2012, as part of the INCCP Cohort 2, I completed the INCA Certificate Program. This was our 3rd and last group meeting in NYC. Four intense days of learning, re-learning, digesting, un-doing, transforming, collaborating, etc. Finishing, exhausted, but very happy.
Ok, now what? How do I start to do this work?
Returning back into the world with life as it is. Ok, now what? How do I start to do this work?
Fortunately, I was able to attend the Integrative Health Symposium in NYC a few weeks later. I had the pleasure of meeting other Cohorts and working together at the INC booth during the conference. Still processing all this new learning and being. Four more intense days…exhausted and this time, sick with a fever, but very happy. Back to home and life again. I now have more connections, understanding and peer support. Ok, now what? How do I start to do this work?
Six months ago, I made plans for a trip to India as part of my personal journey. I was inspired by years of studying Hindu philosophy with a scholar in my New England yoga community. So, again, a few weeks later, I was on a plane to India to a city called Vrindavan in Mathura.
Little did I know
Little did I know how significant this would be to my coaching journey. I stayed at the Jiva Institute of Vedic Studies for one month. One of the opportunities for study there was Ayruveda – the world’s oldest known medical science. I took a beginning course. At the very first lecture, I realized, this was Integrative Nurse Coaching in the form of an ancient medical discipline. The science of life – “Ayus” meaning “life” and “Veda” meaning “knowledge.”
Healthy lifestyle as the prevention and treatment of disease
Ayurveda promotes healthy lifestyle as the prevention and treatment of disease. As a holistic philosophy of life, we ingest and digest everything in our lives. What we put into and onto our bodies, food, air, water, light, what we see, hear and touch, our thoughts, feelings, words and actions, the past-present-future, our relationships, work, play and physical activity. Everything and everyone that we associate with.
We can create a natural balance in the body, mind and senses
So, if we learn the function of our relation to the world around us, we can create a natural balance in the body, mind and senses. As nurse coaches, we can take this knowledge into self-care, lifestyle change, and compassionate health and life coaching. All of this comes from within us, not outside of us. We all have everything we need. Our work in coaching is to support everyone’s natural order and balance. Ayurveda is also used on oneself, self-care. As a practitioner or coach, then one can assist and guide others in this knowledge of Ayurveda or Integrative self-care.
Self-Care = World Care
My whole India experience, especially the Ayurvedic knowledge, was a validation of our INC training, hopeful, a vision of the future, one step at a time. Self-Care = World Care. There is no quick fix or express train on this journey. It is an on-going, unfolding of ourselves, with a new vision of ‘self’ and this world. We, as INC, are stepping into Uncharted Territory within this modern world. Yet, we are rooted in an ancient Eternal knowledge, a story of Hope.
My Journey Home
Within our personal journeys, each of us are creating a unique way to bring this into the world. Our personal journey merges with our coaching journey.
My Journey Home
Home is trust
just show up
let it unfold.
What keeps us from
the process is fear,
trust
be home.
We want security
we want to know that
we will be successful.
But trust is wide open.
Walking the tight rope
over a deep gorge
to the other side
with fear
we will fall
or never even try.
We are just trying to survive.
With trust
we will get there
home, just show up
light footed, with a feeling
of flying to the other side.
It is wide open
many possibilities
doors to new life.
Stand on the edge
don’t be afraid
you can’t go back anymore.
One step takes you there.
Learn more about the Integrative Nurse Coach® Certificate Program
