Institute for Spirituality and Health

09/21/2024

Happy International Day of Peace ✌️

Today, let's celebrate the beauty of cultural diversity, the power of coming together in harmony, and the hope for a peaceful world. Let's spread love and kindness to all corners of the globe. 🕊️🌍

09/19/2024

Join Our Journey to Wellness!

Are you ready to transform your life with holistic wellness practices? Our "Pathways to Healing: A Journey of Mind-Body Wellness" program, hosted by the Greater Houston Healing Collaborative (GHHC), is here to guide you! We began our journey last Tuesday, but it is not too late to sign up! Over the next five weeks, dive into the powerful realms of meditation, breath work, sound healing, essential oils, herbs, and EFT/Tapping.

Each session is crafted to help you reduce stress, find inner peace, and enhance your overall well-being. Connect with expert practitioners and a supportive community as you explore these breathing techniques. Whether you're new to these practices or looking to deepen your knowledge, this program offers something for everyone.

📅 Upcoming dates: September 24, October 1, 8, 15, and 22
📍 Location: Virtual via Zoom

🔗 Register now and embark on your journey to wellness! Visit https://www.spiritualityandhealth.org/events/pathways

Don’t miss this opportunity to unlock your potential for a balanced and vibrant life. Share with friends and family who might be interested!

09/18/2024

Are you ready to embrace a day of healing and renewal? We are thrilled to invite you to our upcoming Heroic Self-Care Retreat, specifically designed to support veterans like you in finding peace, resilience, and empowerment.

On Saturday, September 28, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., join us at the Institute for a transformative experience. You will explore mind-body techniques, connect with fellow veterans, and discover new ways to enhance your well-being.

Take Action Today!

Secure Your Spot: Register today to reserve your place and ensure you don't miss out on this opportunity for personal growth and relaxation. Visit www.spiritualityandhealth.org/events

Spread the Word: Do you know a fellow veteran or caregiver who could benefit from this retreat? Forward this invitation to them, and help us reach those who need this support.

Reconnect with Us: If you've attended before, we invite you to join us again and experience the evolving curriculum and new techniques designed to better meet your needs. Your well-being is our priority, and we look forward to welcoming you to a day dedicated to your healing journey.

We look forward to seeing you there!

09/16/2024

Registration is open for the upcoming Faith and Diabetes Facilitator Training program, which will take place on seven consecutive Tuesdays starting October 15th!

We encourage you to participate in this training with a partner or as a group, although this is not mandatory—individual participants are also welcome. You can also find a partner within the training cohort and go through the program together to facilitate collaboration and connection.

**Register at www.spiritualityandhealth.org/events

If you are interested in bringing Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support programs to your faith community, let us know by visiting www.spiritualityandhealth.org/faithanddiabetes

09/11/2024

Don't miss out on the opportunity to showcase your work at the 2025 Conference on Medicine and Religion. The Call for Abstracts is now open, but the deadline is approaching fast! Submit your panel, paper, poster, or workshop presentation before midnight on November 1 (EST).

Visit www.medicineandreligion.com for more information.

Nurturing Hope: Expanding Holistic Care at the Margins Sunday, April 6, 2025, 2:00 p.m. - Tuesday, April 8, 2025 at 4:00 p.m. The Westin South Coast Plaza, Costa Mesa Orange County, California (The...

09/04/2024

This Saturday, come and experience a holistic worship session at YogaMass as you connect with your entire being on the yoga mat. Join Reverends Gena Davis and Dr. John K. Graham for a transformative and rejuvenating experience.

Saturday, September 7, from 5:00 - 6:15 PM CT

Register at bit.ly/YogaMass9724

A worship experience & blend of yoga, breathwork and Christian spirituality.

08/14/2024

Join us for our next Heroic Self-Care Retreat on Saturday, September 28th, for a wonderful day of self-care. You'll be introduced to mind-body skills that can help with stress reduction and trauma relief. As a participant, you'll learn some amazing techniques like breathing, movement, and guided imagery to relax and promote well-being. These skills have been shown to reduce PTSD by 80-90% and can also help with managing stress and improving relationships. This retreat is a fantastic chance for your own personal growth and renewal and to learn some great skills that you can bring into your life and work. Register today!

Saturday, September 28 | 8:30 am - 4:00 pm
In-person at the Institute

Register at www.spiritualityandhealth.org/events

07/29/2024

Last week, Apro Choudhury, the Director of the Great Houston Healing Collaborative, participated in the grand rounds session at Baylor College of Medicine Department of Anesthesiology. During the session, he delivered a presentation on the mind-body medicine model and discussed various approaches to providing ongoing support to the department's doctors.

To learn more about the Greater Houston Healing Collaborative, visit www.houstonhealing.org

07/23/2024

We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to Doug Pike Show on Sports Talk 790 for having our Director of the Greater Houston Healing Collaborative, Apro Choudhury, on his AM 950 show on iHeartRadio! Listen to the recording here: https://www.spiritualityandhealth.org/news

We discussed the vital support that the Institute for Spirituality and Health and the provide to the Houston community in the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl. Our mind-body skills techniques are evidence-based tools designed to help with recovery from mental and emotional stress. These FREE virtual and in-person groups and workshops, led by trained facilitators, are tailored to address the urgent needs of our community.

The importance and vitality of coming together as a community during these challenging times cannot be overstated. We are hosting a FREE virtual event titled “Breathing After Beryl: A Community Care Gathering” on Wednesday, July 24, at noon. Open to all, this is an opportunity for our community to come together, learn essential mind-body skills, and support each other.

To join us, please register here: https://www.spiritualityandhealth.org/events/breathingafterberyl

Thank you again to the Doug Pike Show on Sports Talk 790! Tune in here: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/139-the-doug-pike-show-27731921/

07/19/2024

In the wake of Hurricane Beryl, the Institute and the Greater Houston Healing Collaborative have partnered to offer supportive gatherings for individuals in need. Whether you're seeking virtual or in-person support, we invite you to complete the form on our website to join our compassionate community.

To learn more, visit www.spiritualityandhealth.org/ghhc

07/18/2024

Join us and our partnering organizations in the GHHC next week for an online gathering to reflect on Hurricane Beryl's impacts. We'll focus on practicing Mind-Body Skills to connect, decompress, and discuss future opportunities for self-care. Let's come together and support our community during this time.

Wednesday, July 14 | 12 - 1 PM CT
Virtual via Zoom

Register at www.spiritualityandhealth.org/events/breathingafterberyl

07/02/2024

Join us this month for the Houston IANDS July Meeting!

6 Life-Changing Lessons from the Life Review: The Most Powerful Aspect of the Near-Death-Experience

Author Jeff Janssen will be our guest speaker on Saturday, July 16th. He will share amazing insights about the Life Review, a powerful aspect of Near-Death Experiences (NDEs). Jeff is a respected researcher who has studied over 5,000 NDEs and is the author of the book, "Your Life’s Ripple Effect". During the event, he will discuss how and why the Life Review can profoundly and permanently change the lives of NDErs—and those who learn about them!

Tuesday, July 16, 2024 | 6:30-8:00 PM CT
Held online via Zoom
Free of Charge | Donations Appreciated

Learn more and register at www.spiritualityandhealth.org/events/janssen

05/28/2024

Join us this Saturday for YogaMass Online, a donation-based Christian yoga session led by The Reverend Gena Davis, The Reverend Dr. John K. Graham, and the YogaMass team.

Saturday, June 1 | 5:00 - 6:15 PM CT
Online via Zoom

Learn more and register:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/872762826107?aff=oddtdtcreator

05/06/2024

Join us tonight on the Windsor Village Church Family Facebook Live to hear from our President and CEO, Stuart Nelson, as well as representatives from the African Methodist Episcopal Church Official, HOPE Clinic, and the Harris Health System. They will discuss healthcare solutions and addressing healthcare disparities affecting our families and communities.

TONIGHT Monday, May 6, 2024 at 6:30 PM CT
Facebook Live via

May is the final month for Voices for Healthcare Transformation with the T3 Wellness Ministry. Let's move from "WHAT IF" to healing! Tune in TONIGHT AT 6:45 PM CST on FB LIVE as Taft Mohair interviews Stuart Nelson via WVCF's page!

05/06/2024

As we kick off , we would like to take a moment to express our heartfelt gratitude and immense admiration for the selfless and unwavering service that our nurses provide. They are the foundation of our healthcare system and work tirelessly every day to improve the health and well-being of patients across the nation. Thank you !

05/01/2024

The Rice Intern project is currently carrying out a comprehensive nationwide survey of medical schools across the United States. The primary aim of this survey is to determine the specific locations within medical humanities education where spirituality is taught. The survey is expected to reveal valuable insights into the extent to which spirituality is integrated into medical education, as well as the different approaches that various medical schools take in teaching this crucial aspect of human wellness.

05/01/2024

Our midweek meditation, led by Apro Chodhury last week in the ISH yoga studio, welcomed many grateful participants, in person and online! From med center executives and ISH staff to medical humanities students and everyone in between.

Join our FB live from anywhere for a collective 30-minute breather on Wednesdays at noon CT.

Click here to join:
www.spiritualityandhealth.org/midweek-meditation

04/25/2024

As part of Volunteer Appreciation Week, we would like to express our profound gratitude to all the volunteers of the Interfaith Spiritual Care Organization (ISCC) who have been providing care to those in need in the greater Houston area. Since its launch in 2022, ISCC has assigned spiritual care volunteers to 16 facilities, and more volunteers will be placed as additional training sessions are completed and interest grows. To date, ISCC volunteers have made over 1,800 one-on-one contacts, and many wonderful relationships have been established.

Happy Volunteer Appreciation Week!

04/24/2024

The FaithHealth Vaccine Initiative is now in its fourth year! Learn more about how we can serve your community at https://www.faithandvaccines.org/

03/21/2024

Are you curious about how your organization can partner with Cities Changing Diabetes?

Meet Dr. Maricela Caceres and Klaus Madsen at the Hispanic Health Coalition Latino Health Summit in Skyline 223 to explore new opportunities for diabetes prevention in your community. We always seek new collaborators, including houses of faith and CBOs.

Learn more at https://hispanic-health.org/latino-health-summit/

03/12/2024

Join us Saturday, April 6th, for a day of self-care introducing you to Mind-Body Skills to assist in stress reduction and trauma relief, in partnership with Impact A Hero.

As a participant, you will learn and experience valuable ways and techniques to enrich your life, while enjoying a time of relaxation and healing. The skills we will learn include breathing, movement, guided imagery, and biofeedback to help you regulate your nervous system and generate your own relaxation.

This retreat will be unique from our past two Heroic Self Care offerings. You do not have to have attended a prior retreat, to register for this one!

Learn more and register at:
www.spiritualityandhealth.org/events/heroicspring24

03/08/2024

Join us TOMORROW for a YogaMass online event for this Lenten season! The Reverend Gena Davis, the Reverend Dr. John K. Graham, and the YogaMass team will lead the event.

Register online to receive a recorded Zoom link:
https://bit.ly/yogamassmarch24

YogaMass is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization; donations are tax-deductible.

02/05/2024

This unique online course, created collaboratively by the Institute and the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, aims to shed light on the pivotal aspects of the Palliative Care Team in alleviating distress and enhancing the quality of life for patients battling life-threatening illnesses.

We will explore the team's integral role in addressing patients' physical, psychological, and spiritual struggles. Whether you're a healthcare professional or simply interested in the subject, your participation and thoughts will significantly contribute to the conversation on how we can continually improve patient care.

Enrich your understanding, elevate your practice, and join our collective journey towards better patient health. Register now!

March 1 & 2, 2024 | Held Virtually

Learn more and register at www.spiritualityandhealth.org/events/collectivesoul2024

Founded in 1955, the Institute for Spirituality and Health is an independent, interfaith organization

02/03/2024

Our Cities Changing Diabetes flagship program, Faith & Diabetes, was once again highlighted out of 45+ cities in the Novo Nordisk annual report! Our facilitators' work in the Houston community is vital and life-changing. Read below to learn more about this initiative.

We are working with city governments and international organisations to prevent serious chronic diseases, like type 2 diabetes and obesity, and improve the health and well-being of those living with them.

02/02/2024

A very special thank you to our wonderful friends at Houston Style Magazine for highlighting one of our most compassion-driven initiatives at the Institute. Since its inception in 2022, we've witnessed the profound impact of the compassionate presence of our ISCC volunteers. Our devoted spiritual care volunteers have touched lives across Houston, making over 1,800 individual contacts in 16 different facilities!

Follow the link below to read more about the Interfaith Spiritual Care Coalition. If you are interested in joining our next training, visit www.SpiritualityandHealth.org/iscc

https://stylemagazine.com/news/2024/jan/31/institute-spirituality-and-health-gears-interfaith/

The Institute for Spirituality and Health is organizing an impactful Interfaith Spiritual Care Coalition Training, set to equip certified volunteers with skills applicable to all faith traditions

02/01/2024

Our FaithHealth Project Coordinator, Moji Delano, was recently interviewed by , a public health nonprofit specializing in health communications, about how community health workers can adapt their efforts to respond to COVID-19 variants, changing government guidance, and pandemic fatigue.

Read the full interview at http://bit.ly/49j1OuS

The Institute for Spirituality and Health explains how community health workers can adapt to COVID-19 variants, changing government guidelines, and pandemic fatigue.

01/30/2024

The Post-Doctoral Fellow position, jointly offered by the Institute and the McGovern Center for Humanities and Ethics at McGovern Medical School, will bolster the Institute’s ability to advance its mission by providing an opportunity for leadership and innovation in the area of medical education. As the fellow will be primarily working with staff and practicum students to envision, build, and launch a comprehensive curriculum in spirituality and health for healthcare students and professionals, many will benefit from this work, including patients and their families. We are very excited and honored to partner with the McGovern Center in this way, as our missions and passion for this work are aligned.

To learn more and apply, visit www.spiritualityandhealth.org/careers

01/29/2024

Registration is open for the annual Conference on Medicine and Religion! With keynote speakers, peer-reviewed sessions, panel discussions, workshops, and poster presentations, extensive intellectual exchange across disciplines promises to be one of the hallmarks of this event. Here, clinical accounts meet empirical research and scholarship in the humanities, creating an enriching dialogue. Don't miss this incredible opportunity to broaden your perspectives!

April 14 - 16, 2024, at the ​Marriott Downtown in Indianapolis, IN

Learn more and register at www.MedicineandReligion.com

01/23/2024

Join our upcoming Faith and Diabetes facilitator's training!

Thursdays starting February 1, 2024

Sessions will be three hours each, lasting from 5:30 pm-8:30 pm.

Language: English

Register at https://forms.gle/mRFG8TMGgcPqW4Rq9

The first session on February 1st will be in person at the Institute for Spirituality and Health. The last session, also in person on March 14th will be an activities training as well as a graduation ceremony!

The intermediate classes, February, 8th, 15th, 22nd, 29th, & March 7th will be delivered via Zoom.

We kindly encourage teams of at least two people to register from each congregation, so please find a partner who is willing to go through this process with you.
*THIS IS RECOMMENDED BUT NOT REQUIRED*

For more information, please visit https://www.faithanddiabetes.org/houston

OR the Cities Changing Diabetes website: https://mydiabeteshq.org/our-programs/faith-and-diabetes/

You are also welcome to contact Mojisola Delano, our FaithHealth Project Coordinator, with the Institute for Spirituality and Health at the Texas Medical Center: [email protected] or (713)797-0600 x5.

By better understanding and addressing diabetes awareness, prevention, and management with special attention to religious belief, practice, and community life, we believe that faith and health are inextricably linked, and that communities of faith have a key role in terms of making Houston a healthi...

01/18/2024

In these challenging times, we recognize that spiritual support is as essential as physical care. Unfortunately, many individuals, especially those who are homebound or in nursing home settings, lack access to formal spiritual care services. This is where the heart of the ISCC beats the strongest.

As a coalition, we're coming together from all walks of faith, embracing our differences, and using them to uplift and support one another. Healing knows no boundaries, and neither does our commitment to those in need.

Join us for our next training:

Saturday, February 3, 2024 | 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM CST
In person at the Institute

Learn more and register at:
www.spiritualityandhealth.org/iscc