Gabrielle Bernstein wants to talk about your soul.

Maybe even to save it.

She wears five-inch heels, an electric-blue, strapless silk dress and one priceless accessory: a glow so radiant it is almost incandescent.

On a rainy Vancouver night, several hundred young women — and one man — have turned up to hear the New York Times bestselling author of Spirit Junkie speak about her journey from hot mess to cool guru.

A glitz-addicted, coke-snorting Manhattan club promoter in thousand-dollar shoes whose holy grail was access to the VIP room, Bernstein was physically, emotionally and spiritually gutted by the time she hit 25.

She quit partying, and was reborn on a meditation pillow.

“Now I’m the happiest person I know,” she announces to the sold-out audience. Then she flashes a wicked grin. “I kept the shoes.”

The audience cheers.

Two things are clear: Bernstein is no ordinary spiritual teacher, and this is no ordinary Vancouver crowd.

There are more boots, bangles, blow-dries and important-looking belts in the auditorium than make it to most fashion shows, and the buzz in the room is more cocktail party than dharma talk.

Bernstein is rebranding spirituality, making it sexy and sellable to a younger generation of women. And they’re buying.

The new spirit junkies are as comfortable exchanging insights on forgiveness, prayer and divine alignment as they are talking marketing.

They might anoint themselves with essential oils and talk unabashedly about “internal shifts” but they don’t look like your horny-toed Birkenstock-wearing, crystal-toting aunties.

“My audience is trendsetting former cynics in hot shoes,” says Bernstein.

Call it a divine shift in the industry of the spirit. Suddenly, it’s cool to be conscious.Bernstein’s event was produced by a Vancouver duo, the Conscious Divas. Julia King and Kate Muker are local entrepreneurs whose chick-focused, web-based networking group taps into the new wave, conscious-cool living.

Their Diva Date Nights are popular monthly events where business suits — and demeanours — are cast aside for soulful self-exploration and a hefty dose of sisterly bonding.

“We wanted to change the paradigm of what a group of spiritual woman would look like,” said King.

They also wanted to create a business that worked. They intend to grow their consciousdivas.com site, connecting women around the globe.

The Divas are part of a larger trend: websites like L.A.-based Tribal-Truth.com and Bernstein’s Herfuture.com use social media to connect like-minded women who want to marry spiritual seeking with real-world achievement.

The ultimate goal is inner peace, but it doesn’t have to come at the expense of less virtuous desires: You can get to the mountaintop in that fabulous pair of heels, and when you get there, you just might get handed a million-dollar contract instead of a set of commandments carved in stone.

“You can be your authentic self, be beautiful, dynamic, out there, in style and be really connected,” says Bernstein in an interview the morning before her Vancouver event.

Although the sky is grey and clotted with clouds and rain blisters the windows, Bernstein wears pink chandelier earrings, bare legs and a Helmet Lang bandeau minidress. She peppers her sentences with swear words. It’s beyond refreshing.

“Being a spiritual person is being an authentic person,” she says. “This is who I am. Many spiritual teachers don’t know how to carry the message … I’m unapologetic about my marketing skills because I have a really important message to carry.”

Named one of Forbes’s top-20 best-branded women, Bernstein blends a quirky personality (her first book, Add more ~ing to Your Life: A Hip Guide to Happiness, features a barefoot Bernstein wearing angel wings, standing on a skateboard) with a thoughtful prescription for a life where spiritual practice is the cornerstone for happiness and success.

Bernstein is a student of Marianne Williamson, author of A Return To Love, and a student of A Course in Miracles, a text that uses traditional Christian terminology.

Bernstein understands that the g-word (God) puts some people off, in the same way the idea of the barefoot, bearded guru that looks like he’s been rolled in tofu is off-putting to others.

Bernstein is giving spirituality a makeover, and a new lexicon.

Forgiveness is rebranded as the “f-word,” and inner guidance is your “~ing.”

A miracle, she explains, is just a shift in perception. You may not be able to control your circumstances, but a change in perception can transform the way you “experience your experiences.”What Bernstein is teaching has little to so with the wishful-thinking style of pop self-help like The Secret.

She’s the first to concede that changing your mindset, and your life, is damned hard.

“I work my ass off,” said Bernstein.

She doesn’t just mean marketing, writing books, public speaking, coaching in person and online, vlogging on GabbyTV.com and running Herfuture.com.

When she says: “I work it like a full-time job,” she also means applying the principals that keep her sane, and happy: praying — (“God, Show me what you got” is one of the ways she checks in), stilling her mind with daily meditation (“taking a fiver” means “stop, drop and meditate”), taking responsibility for her own thoughts and actions through exercises, affirmations and more prayer.

“It’s really when we change the internal condition that the outside experience follows, too,” Bernstein says.

Conscious Divas co-founder Julia King agrees: “For me, being spiritual is all about being in flow,” she says.

A corporate accountant in her “former life,” King’s “journey” began some 15 years ago when she was struggling with infertility. Traditional medicine had failed to resolve the problem, so her doctor referred her to a naturopath. The move would change her life in more ways than one: two children later, she became a student of Reiki energy healing and a life coach.

Muker grew up in East Vancouver, in what she describes as a “pretty hostile urban environment.” Unhappiness led her first to a psychologist, and then to meditation.

“Meditation really provided me with a space of quiet, to separate that I am not my mind, I am not all those thoughts that are continually spinning around like a Rolodex.”

When Muker and King met, they started talking about how they could share what had worked with them, monetize the experience, “and make the world a better place.”

The name, Conscious Divas, appeared to King in a dream.At a recent Diva Date night, hosted at Obasan in Kitsilano, the scent of oil of geranium floats in the air.

Some 50 women chatter and exchange business cards before melting on to organic mattresses and closing their eyes while King leads them in a meditation.

“Imagine a ball of golden light above your head,” she intones softly.

Susan Washington, a Vancouver success coach, the evening’s featured speaker, sits in half-lotus. That same morning she had been the featured facilitator of a more traditional group of business people at the Vancouver Club. Shortening the distance between what appear to be different worlds, and being fluent in different communication styles, is part of the goal.

Success, and spirituality are not mutually exclusive.

“You don’t have to be some weird, inaccessible guru on a hill to have a spiritual practice,” said Washington in an interview before the event.

“Applying the principles of a spiritual practice is about figuring out “what we are here for — and then taking action.”

Whether those principals come from Buddha, Bernstein or a book that fell off the shelf at your local bookstore, the process is the same, says Washington. “A commitment to inquiry, finding out what’s getting in your way internally, and making change.

“There is nothing flaky about taking charge of your own life and doing your best, so let’s get serious about bringing those gifts into the world and getting happy. That’s my religion. Let’s use our potential, not sit on the sidelines and stall.”Creating a life, and a work life, connected to values is a core spirit junkie principal, and it’s not just women getting in on the action.

Will Blunderfield, a Vancouver singer and yoga teacher, wears black eyeliner, nail polish and the same kind of exuberant glow as Bernstein.

His “Glee Yoga” draws jammed classrooms at Yyoga and West Coast Hot Yoga, and his new CD Hallelujah (Nettwerk/Nutone) just shot up to No. 1 on iTunes World Music.

Blunderfield has happily embraced his role as student, and teacher, in the new spirit brigade while pursuing a career in pop music — infused with and influenced by devotional Kirtan chant.

Blunderfield studied musical theatre in New York and tried the pop route, making top 75 on Canadian Idol, and found success when he found a purpose.

He is as fluent in the text of the Bhagavad Gita as he is pouring forth pop, rock, devotional Kirtan and his own compositions: “It’s cool to be conscious, it’s cool to tap into strong reasons for whatever you’re doing, whether you’re raising a business or raising kids or writing a book.”

Before Blunderfield takes off on a U.S. tour, he’ll be featured on Life and Style with Zara, a new Vancouver lifestyle show created by Zara Durrani that explores spiritual experience in contemporary life.

Durrani, 29, is a Vancouver model and actress from Pakistan. The devout Muslim is not going to hide her body, or her spirituality.

Durrani is a new brand of practising Muslim. She might be doing a bikini shoot one day, and studying religious text the next. She enjoys a glass of wine, and is just as likely to post heart-shaped stickers with inspirational affirmations on her mirror in the morning as she is to turn to the ancient wisdom of the Koran.

Durrani said the deeper she delves, the more universal the messages about faith, forgiveness and love become, whether they are from the Koran or from a personal growth text like The Four Agreements.

“Who is to say what is spiritual and what is not?” asks Durrani. “Spirituality, for me, is about finding grounding. I felt like there was a need in me to be a seeker, to connect with something larger.”Newly minted Vancouver spirit junkie April Teosico Bellia, creator of Granola Girl granola (available at Whole Foods), stumbled into a whole new life after a personal trainer introduced mini meditations into their sessions.

She soon ditched her successful wedding cake business to design a super-food granola, and started her own conscious networking group, the Serendipity Tea Parties.

“Being conscious means being aware of myself and my immediate surroundings and my community, so that everything I do is for a greater good,” said Teosico Bellia.

Connecting with something larger may be the yearning of a spiritual seeker, but the look has changed. Or, as Gabby Bernstein puts it, “the container is different.”

For the record, Bernstein isn’t really all about the Laboutins, but “it’s a fun part of the gig,” she says.

“It’s a very fun time to be a teacher. People are open … and they are eating this stuff up. They are changemakers, and their voices are heard throughout the blogosphere, the twittersphere, they are awakened to this entrepreneurial spirit, if you can awaken this person, and she has a voice, and is ready to teach and to carry the message then you can awaken the world.”

If she — and the rest of the spirit junkies — have their way, we’ll all soon be conscious: we’ll “choose love” more often than fear, we’ll make positive changes and reach others through our successful arts and business ventures and, of course, we’ll still have the shoes.

Now that’s a reason to meditate.

dryan@vancouversun.com

Goals work when you follow proven techniques and stick with them. Establishing a good plan takes work at the front end, but the hard way is the easy way long term. Here are my secrets:

1. Focus
Change requires time, energy and attention. Focus on what you want, not on what you don’t want. Stay positive. What you focus on grows.

2. Get Clear
How will you get where you’re headed if you’re not sure where you’re going? Get clear first. Clarity leads to achievable goals.

3. Take Action but don’t be a Perfectionist
When you wait for things to be perfect nothing happens. Don’t stall. Get clear and act. We stall because of fear. Stop over-thinking and get going. You can always change your mind!

4. Measure Goals
Make your goals measurable and time sensitive. Identify:

a) by when,
b) how often, and
c) how much you’re committed to doing.

You want to stretch but be realistic.

For example: I will earn $ _______ by Jan/12 by (action required).

5. Structure
Stop rushing around. Set aside time daily to deliberately focus on your priorities and goals. Good daily habits = a solid foundation.

6. Big Picture
Know your WHY. What strong reasons inspire your goals? Is it to have time to enjoy your family? More freedom?

Goals without strong reasons are too mundane to stick.

Follow these steps and be patient. You are on your way! One step at a time.

Susan Washington. B.Ed., M.Ed., CPCC, has 25 years of experience in the field of training and development. She is a teacher, writer, speaker and Master Success Coach based in Vancouver, BC. Susan loves to train, teach and coach leaders (and organizations) to lead with clarity, strength and full expression.

Original Article posted at www.womensenterprise.ca

During this Date Night, you will learn more about where you stop yourself and learn solid solutions to common mental obstacles. More inner peace means more energy and better relationships, results and overall quality of life.

Learn how to take unsupportive thoughts and mental habits and replace them with supportive ones.

Master Success Coach Susan Washington has a decade of hands on experience coaching people like you to get the results they want. People work with Susan to get clear, stop stalling, maximize potential and get into action. Move forward with less forcing and more trust.

Susan is passionate about creating more consciousness in our communities. Watch for Susan on WTV and around Vancouver where turns complicated situations into strategic solutions. Her coaching and training expertise make it easy to learn more about yourself and the highest vision of who you really are.

She will workshop the topic of mindfulness training as our special Diva Date Night Presenter with humor, collective understanding and connection. Yes we can all be prone to self sabotage, perfectionism and critical thinking. No problem. There is so much to learn and improve on. Attend this evening because you CAN feel more relaxed and less stressed right now. You will have fun “work shopping” some ‘good ideas’ that will apply to your real life right away.

****A free gift certificate for an initial session to be given away to one lucky lady****

What People Are Saying About Diva Date Night!

Registration is required as space is limited.Additional details will be sent via email after registration is complete.

West Vancouver Diva Date Night:

Date: Tuesday October 11th, 2011
Time: 7:30pm – 9:30pm
Location: TBA
Rate: $40.00 ($30.00 Before September 30th)

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Vancouver Diva Date Night:

Date: Thursday October 13th, 2011
Time: 7:30pm – 9:30pm
Location: 2005 West 4th Avenue (at Maple), Vancouver, BC
Rate: $40.00 ($30.00 Before September 30th)
LOCATION SPONSOR: Obasan Boutique Vancouver

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

–

10 minutes a day of inner peace = an hour a week of calm

1. Sit somewhere quiet with phones and distractions ‘off’.    
2. Set a timer for ten or 15 minutes.   
3. Breathe. Relax. Drop all judgements of whether you are meditating ’right’ or not. Inner calm is transformational.
4. Release thoughts that come and go. No problem. Relax.
5. Connect to something bigger & more meaningful.
6. Do a little bit regularly

1) What were the high points of your 2010? Make a list. Research shows that revisiting ‘peak experiences’ cultivates optimism and enhances happiness!

2) What were your challenges or losses? Make a list, learn, and know that some grieving takes time. Otherwise, take steps to get what you need and move forward.

3) What did you do to plan for your financial future in 2010?

4) Out of ten how well did you take care of your health and wellness?

5) What people inspired you in 2010?

6) What dominated your attention in 2010?

7) What would you like to celebrate about 2010?

If you want to be further aligned with your dreams and values at this point next year, become clear on what you need to change and improve.

Use any perceived shortcomings to recalibrate, not criticize. We are here to do our best not to be ‘perfect’. Realize that you did the best you could for where you were at the time.   If you want a strong strategy for 2011 begin with a good set of intentions and to ensure you stay accountable, ask me how.

Let your feelings guide you.  Ask Yourself:

• Am I over extended? Doing too much?
• Do I need some time alone? With friends?
• Do I need some fresh air, some fun, a nap?
• Do I need some support? Exercise?
• How is my sugar, alcohol, caffeine intake?

Awareness is the first step to change. Knowing yourself makes Yes and No easy.

When you notice you are rushing around in a frenzy – no worries. Just stop, shake it off, and choose a calmer state of mind. Become aware of How you are moving through your day.

If you usually say yes without thinking about it, pre-think right now if that’s working for you. What would you prefer?

Try this if you can’t say NO:

1. Slow down
2. Say: I need to check my calendar and get back to you.
3. Review what’s right for you when you have a moment to contemplate.
4. Then make a decision.

Simplify your life. Your inner Yes or No will guide you.

About the Show

Think running a chain of cupcake stores is a piece of cake? Best friends, Heather White and Lori Joyce find out the recipe for building a cupcake empire doesn’t come easy – especially when the ingredients include 50 young and unpredictable female employees, Heather’s hilarious and stubborn father Brian and her mom Kathie, a retired nurse and den mother who scrambles to keep them all in line. Stir in Lori’s ongoing fertility treatments and Heather’s recovering alcoholism cum fitness obsession and you’ve got the sometimes sweet and often crazy world of the cupcake girls

Watch Episodes

How much control do you have over how you will age?

Many people would laugh at the idea that people could influence the state of their health in old age by positive thinking. A way of mitigating ageing is a holy grail for the pharmaceutical and cosmetics industry, but an experiment by Harvard psychologist Ellen Langer three decades ago could hold significant clues.

Prof Langer has spent her entire career investigating the power our mind has over our health. Conventional medicine is frequently accused of treating them as separate entities.

“Everybody knows in some way that our minds affect our physical being, but I don’t think people are aware of just how profound the effect actually is,” she says.

In 1979, Prof Langer conducted a ground-breaking experiment – the results of which are only now being fully revealed.

Prof Langer recruited a group of elderly men all in their late 70s or 80s for what she described as a “week of reminiscence”. They were not told they were taking part in a study into ageing, an experiment that would transport them 20 years back in time.

The psychologist wanted to know if she could put the mind back 20 years would the body show any changes.

The men were split into two groups. They would both be spending a week at a retreat outside of Boston.

Ellen Langer in 1979 and today

But while the first group, the control, really would be reminiscing about life in the 50s, the other half would be in a timewarp. Surrounded by props from the 50s the experimental group would be asked to act as if it was actually 1959.

They watched films, listened to music from the time and had discussions about Castro marching on Havana and the latest Nasa satellite launch – all in the present tense.

Dr Langer believed she could reconnect their minds with their younger and more vigorous selves by placing them in an environment connected with their own past lives.

And she was determined to remove any prompt for them to behave as anything but healthy individuals. The retreat was not equipped with rails or any gadgets that would help older people. Right from the off she was determined to ensure they looked after themselves.

When they got off the bus at the retreat, Prof Langer did not help the men carry their suitcases in. “I told them they could move them an inch at a time, they could unpack them right at the bus and take up a shirt at a time.”

The men were entirely immersed in an era when they were 20 years younger.

Understandably, Prof Langer herself had doubts. “You have to understand, when these people came to see if they could be in the study and they were walking down the hall to get to my office, they looked like they were on their last legs, so much so that I said to my students ‘why are we doing this? It’s too risky’.”

But soon the men were making their own meals. They were making their own choices. They weren’t being treated as incompetent or sick.

Pretty soon she could see a difference. Over the days, Prof Langer began to notice that they were walking faster and their confidence had improved. By the final morning one man had even decided he could do without his walking stick.

As they waited for the bus to return them to Boston, Prof Langer asked one of the men if he would like to play a game of catch, within a few minutes it had turned into an impromptu game of “touch” American football.

Obviously this kind of anecdotal evidence does not count for much in a study.

But Prof Langer took physiological measurements both before and after the week and found the men improved across the board. Their gait, dexterity, arthritis, speed of movement, cognitive abilities and their memory was all measurably improved.

Their blood pressure dropped and, even more surprisingly, their eyesight and hearing got better. Both groups showed improvements, but the experimental group improved the most.

Prof Langer believes that by encouraging the men’s minds to think younger their bodies followed and actually became “younger”.

She first published the scientific data in 1981 but she left out many of the more colourful stories. As a young academic, she feared this might taint the experiment and affect the acceptance of the results.

Now after over 30 years of research into the connection between the mind and the body and with the confidence and conviction of a Harvard professor, she feels she has a fuller story to tell.

“My own view of ageing is that one can, not the rare person but the average person, live a very full life, without infirmity, without loss of memory that is debilitating, without many of the things we fear.”

Richard Wiseman, professor of public understanding of psychology at the University of Hertfordshire, thinks the results of Prof Langer’s experiments are fascinating but the big question is what’s causing them. “I think there could be multiple things going on here and the question is which explanations really hold water.

“Part of it could be self perception, for example if you get people to smile they feel happier. The same could be going on here, by getting people to act younger they feel younger.”

Prof Weisman believes another factor could be motivational, the men are simply trying harder by the end of the week, or it could be similar to hypnotism, where people do better on memory tests because they are told they have a better memory.

Whatever the cause he believes there is a place for the type of positive thinking shown in the study.

“If you take something like heart disease positive thinking can have a role, because while it won’t heal your heart on its own, positive thinking will feed into positive actions like healthy eating or exercise which will help.”

In any event there is likely to be more interest in the 1979 experiment. The retelling of the study has been snapped up by Jennifer Aniston’s new production company, with Aniston tipped to play Prof Langer.