Dr. David Simon – Chopra Center

The Chopra Center is located at the La Costa Resort and Spa in Carlsbad, California. Surrounded by beautiful scenery and serenity, you can feel the energy from the moment you enter the Chopra Center’s doors. Tucked away at the back of the resort, this incredible oasis is all that you think it is and more.

Asha – Dr. David Simon’s Executive Assistant – took us (Randy and I) on a tour of the Chopra Center and then we sat down with Dr. David Simon, the Co-Founder, Chief Executive Officer and Medical Director of the Chopra Center to find out more about his philosophy on healing.

Naturally Savvy Question (Andrea and Randy): Can you tell us why someone would want to come to the Chopra Center?

David Simon: The Chopra Center serves to help people who are facing challenges in their lives. We have a deeply caring enlightened health care team which includes physicians, meditation teachers, yoga instructors, and body workers. We also have a network of Oncologists, Rheumatologists, Cardiologists and Neurologists ensuring that our guests receive the best of conventional and holistic approaches.

Naturally Savvy Question (Andrea and Randy): Can someone come here even if they aren’t challenged with a health issue?

David Simon: Anyone who senses they are not experiencing their optimal level of emotional, psychological, or physical wellbeing will benefit from time with us. It is our core belief that people deserve to be happy and healthy; they deserve to have loving, nurturing relationships, and they deserve to express themselves in the world with passion and enthusiasm. It is the goal of the Chopra Center to help people realize their full potential.

Naturally Savvy Question (Andrea and Randy): When did you first make the connection between conventional medicine and Mind, Body & Spirit?

David Simon: I was 10 years old when I first made the Mind-Body-Spirit connection. My parents sent me to sleep-away camp and I didn’t like it so one day I decided to pretend being sick. The next day I woke up with a 103 degree fever and swollen tonsils. Despite my misery, I thought it was fascinating that I was able to make myself sick.

Naturally Savvy Question (Andrea and Randy): As a Neurologist (M.D.) who believes in integrating both conventional and holistic healing modalities, what obstacles did you face along the way?

David Simon: Physicians are masters at regurgitation, and looking outside the box is generally not part of the mindset of a modern scientifically trained doctor. But still, as more people embrace holistic approaches, physicians are recognizing the role of mind, emotions, and lifestyle on healing.

Naturally Savvy Question (Andrea and Randy): Do you think the medical world and the alternative world will ever co-exist and support each other?

David Simon: There is a growing recognition that keeping people healthy is as important as fixing people when they’ve become ill. If someone gets pneumonia they should receive antibiotics; on the other hand, if their smoking habit that predisposed them to an infection is not addressed, we haven’t fulfilled our role as healers. The Chopra Center is dedicated to integrating the best of both worlds. Conscious healers of the future have a wide repertoire of healing tools to help people maximize their health.

Naturally Savvy Question (Andrea and Randy): What tips would you recommend to our visitors in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle?

David Simon:

Take time everyday to quiet your mind and go inside -- meditate. Step out of your life for 20 to 30 minutes to you cultivate ‘witnessing awareness’.

Get some form of exercise every day. Stress creates tension which we can release through physical activity. There are three forms of exercise that create a complete fitness program:

• Flexibility (yoga)

• Strength (yoga, weight training)

• Cardio (take 8,000 steps a day: brisk walk, treadmill, take the stairs, park far away)

Eat a balanced diet which includes organic and predominantly vegetarian foods.

Listen to your body. Stop eating when you’re full; go to bed when you are tired; wake up when you’ve had enough sleep.

And most importantly: Create loving, nurturing relationships. In my experience, most illness stems from emotional toxicity. Heal and transform your relationships

Naturally Savvy Question (Andrea and Randy): Let’s talk about stress. How would you define it?

David Simon: Stress is anything that gets in the way of the instantaneous fulfillment of one’s desire. In the jungle when an animal is under stress, it flees to safety (the basis of ‘fight or flight’). When humans are under stress we may sit and worry. In this day and age, many people are in a chronic state of fight or flight but aren’t doing anything about it. Over time, stress leads to illness.

Naturally Savvy Question (Andrea and Randy): We LOVE that definition. What are some ways we can manage stress?

David Simon:

• We need to not take everything so personally. If we’re waiting for the world to be peaceful, we will be waiting a long time. We need to start with the immediate world around us. Don’t feel like you have to carry the weight of the world on your shoulders. Lighten up. Have fun.

• We need to exercise more to release stress. Go for a walk with a friend, play tag with the kids.

• Eat a healthy diet.

• Explore natural and herbal medicines. They can neutralize the harmful effects on our bodies.

• Create healthy relationships, get support, and/or express yourself to a loved one.

Naturally Savvy Question (Andrea and Randy): When and what inspired you and Deepak Chopra to come together to create the Chopra Center?

David Simon: We wanted to create a mind-body-spirit intensive care unit, where we could help people awaken their inner healing power. The first “incarnation” of our collaboration was on the campus of a major medical center in San Diego in the early 1990’s. The first Chopra Center opened its doors in 2006.

Naturally Savvy Question (Andrea and Randy): Thank you Dr. Simon.

To read Dr. Simon’s newest book click here: Free to Love, Free to Heal.