EP9: The Power of Meditation and Religion on Your Brain Health with Cathy Bristrow

In this episode,  Dr. Philippe Douyon speaks with Reverend Cathy Bristow, an ordained Interfaith Minister and the founder and principal of Bridges - a consulting firm whose mission is to re-language and discuss race, gender, and diversity.  Join Cathy as she looks back on the stories of Black Women and brings us along the journey of their transformation for the better, including her own. Listen in and see why her personal stories of turning pain into power and spiritual contemplative practices now serve as a medium to help others in her communities. So, tune in to this episode, and find out how meditation, religion, and other spiritual practices intersect with our brain’s overall function in this episode with Dr. Douyon and Rev. Bistrow today!   KEY POINTS: Visualization as a powerful tool and how it activates the brain’s occipital lobe  The intersection between meditation and religion  Black Women’s stories of racialized misogyny and how we can end it  The importance of deep breathing and praying  The power of connecting with people and how it impacts your brain  What’s the difference between silence and stillness? Various forms of contemplative practices and their effects on your well being Understanding the concept of the healing vortex to humanity Dealing with pain, and finding physical signs of healing What is Metacognition and how does it influence your life?   QUOTABLES: “I believe that my going to seminary was that search for the oneness that exists in our humanity. The quest to be one, to be loved, to be cared for — and then we can give it so powerful and so easy.” - Cathy Bistrow “As doctors, we may set bones, we may take out something that we feel doesn't belong there. But, it's the body that does the healing. And the thought processes that you have are incredibly important for that because you're making a decision to call all the healing that you have around you.”  –  Philippe Douyon   GUEST INFORMATION: Rev. Cathy Bistrow Website | http://iamcathybristow.com/    RESOURCES: Like what you’re hearing? Leave a review and share this podcast!   Website | https://www.inlebrainfitinstitute.com/take-charge  IG | @philippe.md  LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-philippe-douyon-85a24449/  FB | https://www.facebook.com/PhilippeDouyonMD/   Surviving Your Brain is produced by EPYC Media Network (visit at https://www.epyc.co/)