April 24th Guest: Suvir Saran, Top Chef Masters

Viewing the kitchen as both a culinary and spiritual haven, New Delhi-born chef Suvir Saran has nurtured a lifelong passion for the traditional flavors of Indian cooking, which has lead him to become an accomplished chef, cookbook author, educator, and organic farmer.

Saran shares the authentic flavors of Indian home cooking as the Executive Chef at Devi in New York City, earning three stars fromNew York magazine, two stars from The New York Times, and is the only U.S. Indian restaurant to have earned a Michelin star.

A respected culinary authority, Saran is Chairman of Asian Culinary Studies for The Culinary Institute of America, was a speaker for the CIA and Harvard Medical School Osher Institute’s “Healthy Kitchens, Healthy Lives” conference and has participated in culinary festivals around the world.

Renowned for his accessible approach to Indian flavors and techniques, Saran’s cookbooks include “Indian Home Cooking: A Fresh Introduction to Indian Food, with More Than 150 Recipes” (Clarkson Potter, 2004) and “American Masala: 125 New Classics From My Home Kitchen” (Clarkson Potter, 2007). In November 2010, Saran was the only U.S.-based contributor to the largest Indian cookbook ever published, “India Cookbook,” (Phaidon Press, 2010).

In spring 2011, Suvir will be a contestant on Bravo’s Top Chef Masters, competing to raise money for the Agricultural Stewardship Association.

When not on the road, Saran and partner Charlie Burd live and care for American Masala Farm, a nineteenth century farm in upstate New York, with their heritage breed animals and pets.

http://www.suvir.com/

For more information about Suvir Saran or Devi please contact Chloe Mata Crane (cmcrane@baltzco.com) or Rachel Wormser (rwormser@baltzco.com) at Baltz & Company, 212.982.8300

4/17-Dr David Maxfield

April is Stress Awareness Month

For the 19th consecutive year, April 2011 has been designated StressAwareness Month. During this thirty day period, health care professionals and health promotion experts across the country will join forces to increase public awareness about both the causes and cures for our modern stress epidemic.

Dr. David Maxfield - Change Anything: The New Science of Personal Success

A stunning new approach to how individuals can not only change their lives for the better in the workplace, but also their lives away from the office, including (but not limited to) finding ways to improve one's working relationship with others, one's overall health, outlook on life, and so on.

For example, why is it that 95% of all diet attempts fail? Why do New Year's Resolutions last no more than a few days? Why can't people with good intentions seem to make consistent and positive strides in the way they want to improve their careers, financial fitness, physical fitness, and so on?

Based upon the latest research in a number of psychological and medical fields, the authors of CHANGE ANYTHING will show that traditional will-power is not necessarily the answer to these strivings, that people are affected in their behaviors by far more subtle influences. CHANGE ANYTHING shows how individuals can come to understand these powerful and influential forces, and how to put these forces to work in a positive manner that brings real and meaningful results.

10 simple ways you can practice mindfulness each day: Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital

1. As you awaken in the morning, bring your attention to your breathing. Instead of letting your mind spin off into yesterday or today, take mindful breaths. Focus on your breathing, and sense the effects of breathing throughout your body.

2. Instead of hurrying to your usual routine, slow down and enjoy something special about the morning: a flower that bloomed, the sound of birds, the wind in the trees.

3. On your way to work or school, pay attention to how you walk or drive or ride the transit. Take some deep breaths, relaxing throughout your body.

4. When stopped at a red light, pay attention to your breathing and enjoy the landscape around you.

5. When you arrive at your destination, take a few moments to orient yourself; breathe consciously and calmly, relax your body, then begin.

6. When sitting at your desk or keyboard, become aware of the subtle signs of physical tension and take a break to stretch or walk around.

7. Use the repetitive events of the day - the ringing telephone, a knock on the door, walking down the hall - as cues for a mini-relaxation.

8. Walk mindfully to your car or bus. Can you see and appreciate something new in the environment? Can you enjoy walking without rushing?

9. As you return home, consciously make the transition into your home environment. If possible, after greeting your family or housemates, give yourself a few minutes alone to ease the transition.

10. As you go to sleep, let go of today and tomorrow, and take some slow, mindful breaths.

By following the main elements of mindfulness - combining awareness of your breath with focusing on the activity at hand - you will be able to experience every moment as fully as possible.

Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital (http://www.mbmi.org/basics/mstress_M.asp)

4/3 Dr. Scott Interviews Dr. Richard O'Connor!

Dr. Richard O’Connor, MSW, Ph.D., is a psychotherapist in private practice in Connecticut and Manhattan, and formerly the director of a large nonprofit community mental health center. He received his MSW and Ph.D. from the University of Chicago, and extended his education through the Chicago Institute for Psychoanalysis and the Family Institute of Chicago. He is the author of four books: Undoing Depression (1997; revised edition 2010) has become a classic in self-help, and Active Treatment of Depression (2001) was reviewed as “one of the decade’s great psychotherapy texts on depression.” Undoing Perpetual Stress (2005), won the Books for a Better Life award as the best self-help book of the year. His most recent book, Happy at Last, is a thorough review of “happiness science,” with a healthy perspective from behavioral economics and social psychology, speaking directly to the reader who wants to live a more joyful, satisfying life, with the least unnecessary misery possible.

In 2010, Little, Brown released an extensively revised and updated edition of Undoing Depression, a book that has sold more than 100,000 copies since its first release, despite its serious subject matter. It was thought that a new edition was necessary to cover recent developments in both the medical and psychological treatment of depression. This second edition has been exceptionally well received, with kudos from Andrew Solomon, Thomas Moore, and Maggie Scarf, among others.

O’Connor speaks often to professional and consumer groups, and is an occasional contributor to NPR’s “Marketplace.” His openness about his own experience has enabled many readers and listeners to feel he speaks with unusual candor and integrity. He has been invited to present at the Psychotherapy Networker Symposium and the National Institute for Clinical Application of Behavioral Medicine (both twice), as well as the New England Educational Institute’s Cape Cod Seminars. He’s on the advisory board of several different organizations, including Lawyers with Depression (lawyerswithdepression.com). He speaks annually at the New York Mood Disorders Support Group, the largest depression self-help group in the country. He has spoken to professional, business, and self-help groups all across the United States.

About Dr. Scott

The Stress Relief Coach

Dr. Scott is THE Stress Relief Coach! She is an Emergency Physician & Health Educator trained at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore. She is an expert on the connections between stress & health and the developer of the BestStress Zone concept. A highly sought after speaker and one‐on‐one StressRelief Coach she enables participants & clients to gain knowledge, practical solutions. specific strategies & motivation to live with less stress and improved health. As a speaker she has been acclaimed for a unique ability to blend expertise in medicine with an authentic inspiring style. She has been cited or featured in the Wall Street Journal, Fast Company magazine, WorkSpan, and The Washington Post. She takes her life saving messages from the Emergency Room to Boardrooms across the country.

Carol is also an experienced radio personality. Her guest appearances include: Doug Stephan’s Good Day Show, Joe Bartlett Morning Show WOR 710, WGHB Boston Public Radio, The Libby Gill Radio Show, The Lisa Birnbaum Show, VoiceAmerica Business Radio, the Lisa Whaley Radio Show, Carole Copeland Thomas Radio Show, Bev Smith Urban Radio Network and Martha Stewart Living Sirius Radio.

3/27 Stress and College, Jobs, Work/Life Balance and How to be Supportive!

About Dr. Scott

The Stress Relief Coach

Dr. Scott is THE Stress Relief Coach! She is an Emergency Physician & Health Educator trained at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore. She is an expert on the connections between stress & health and the developer of the BestStress Zone concept. A highly sought after speaker and one‐on‐one StressRelief Coach she enables participants & clients to gain knowledge, practical solutions. specific strategies & motivation to live with less stress and improved health. As a speaker she has been acclaimed for a unique ability to blend expertise in medicine with an authentic inspiring style. She has been cited or featured in the Wall Street Journal, Fast Company magazine, WorkSpan, and The Washington Post. She takes her life saving messages from the Emergency Room to Boardrooms across the country.

Carol is also an experienced radio personality. Her guest appearances include: Doug Stephan’s Good Day Show, Joe Bartlett Morning Show WOR 710, WGHB Boston Public Radio, The Libby Gill Radio Show, The Lisa Birnbaum Show, VoiceAmerica Business Radio, the Lisa Whaley Radio Show, Carole Copeland Thomas Radio Show, Bev Smith Urban Radio Network and Martha Stewart Living Sirius Radio.