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Vision Cafe
BODY MIND SPIRIT EXPO
Seeing Beyond in the New Year
Now in its 22nd year, Body Mind & Spirit Expo has become the largest health and wellness expo in the United States. With events in 20 states and expanding, BMSE offers the latest products, speakers, and trends in the holistic movement, maintaining an equal emphasis on natural health, personal growth, and metaphysics.
BMSE opens doors that may not be readily accessible in many cities around the country. Expo founder Steve Strickland hopes that by providing these venues, people will take charge of their health and wellbeing.
“We believe that the open exchange of holistic ideas enriches everyone involved,” says Strickland. “We work to develop the local exhibitors and sponsors who can enliven their local communities during and after the expo.”
Originating in Ashland, Oregon in 1987, BMSE has always maintained an equal emphasis between national holistic speakers and local presenters. As the company evolved into what it is now, awareness grew, leading to expos throughout the west, east, and mid-western states. In the coming year, BMSE will expand yet again to include over 65 expos scheduled in 20 states, coast to coast.
Coming to San Diego for the ninth year on February 21 and February 22 at the Scottish Rite Center, BMSE will create a positive, healing environment for all who attend. Here they have gathered the best from the local community and joined them with others from throughout the country to provide the essential tools for discovering overall health and wellbeing.
BMSE exhibitors introduce the tools necessary for achieving full body wellness. Retail exhibitors will offer everything from natural and holistic health products, to spiritual books and enlightened art and music. Healers at the expo provide treatments ranging from massage and yoga techniques, to intuitive readings and advice for those seeking enlightenment.
Along with 75 exhibitors, the two days of the expo will feature 40 free lectures, including topics on prosperity, meditation, astrology, and psychic development. Speakers for the San Diego show will bring knowledge and insight that is life transforming. Weekend admission of $12 includes a free aura photo, all lectures and demos, as well as admission to the exhibit hall. Come rejuvenate! Get a massage, sample the latest health foods, and open yourself to new ideas. The expo offers a safe environment for growth and exploration, so mark your calendars for February 21 and 22.
For more information, visit www.bmse.net or call 541.482.3722. The Scottish Rite Center is located at 1895 Camino del Rio S., San Diego, CA. Parking is free.
Anatomy of a Heart
by Mitch Wallis
Nestled between our lungs, slightly left of the breastbone, lies a muscle about the size of a fist. Every day, the average heart beats 100,000 times, pumping 2,000 gallons of blood through an elaborate tree-like array of arteries and capillaries, bringing oxygen rich blood to our organs and every part of our bodies.
But the heart does far more than simply move blood around. In fact, the heart plays a key role in regulating the autonomic nervous system and in affecting our entire emotional experience.
Throughout history, many cultures have shared a spiritual belief that the heart is the source of wisdom and positive emotions. Recent scientific discoveries suggest that these age-old beliefs may not just be metaphysical.
Psychologists once believed that emotions were purely mental expressions generated by the brain. However, research conducted during the past decade shows that the body, particularly the heart, influences higher brain centers and emotional processing. The heart sends neurological and hormonal signals to the brain in a rhythmic pattern. It is this rhythmic pattern, rather than simply the length and strength of the transmissions, which is now believed to be the primary influence on emotions.
It is now known that the heart has its own intrinsic neurological circuitry, enabling it to remember, learn, and make functional decisions independent of the cranial brain. This is referred to as the “heart-brain.”
Contrary to popular belief, the rhythmic beat of the heart is not regular, but dynamically varies from moment to moment. These fluctuations in heart rate, or heart rhythms, are highly responsive to changes in emotional state.
Specifically, when we are angry or under stress, our heart rhythm becomes erratic. When we feel appreciation, love, and compassion, our heartbeat becomes smooth and regular. These changes in heart rhythm consequently affect the brain. When we’re under emotional stress, it becomes difficult to think clearly. But when we are calm and peaceful, we have a much greater ability to focus, comprehend, and create.
By deliberately focusing on the heart and creating a positive sense of love and gratitude, we are able to smooth out our heart rate. In doing so, we send a different pattern of neurological signals to the brain, sharpening our mental abilities to enable us to solve problems and make better decisions.
Mitch Wallis is a holistic lawyer and co-founder of Nature’s Express, a vegan restaurant and community center located at 2949 Fifth Ave in San Diego, CA. For more information, call 619.550.1818 or visit www.natures-express.com. Enjoy the heart-healthy pancake brunch on Valentine’s Day or reserve seating for the aphrodisiac five-course dinner featuring organic wine pairings and a private concert by Annie Bethancourt, San Diego’s sweetheart.