Holistic healing conference at Stanley United Methodist

Dr. Sitesh Roy

Brenda McAdams

Erika Hughes

Stress is at the root of several illnesses like high blood pressure, obesity and autoimmune diseases, says Dr. Sitesh Roy, a U.S. board-certified allergist/immunologist.

And if people understood how to relax, they could avoid the stress that allows some diseases to manifest in their bodies, he says.

"As a physician and as a spiritual seeker, it is something of great interest to me to find ways by which people can get relaxation, calmness and peace in their life because as much as we live a happier life, we also have a healthier life," says Roy.

He will lead a meditation and healing conference next week at Stanley United Methodist Church to share information about the connection between people's minds and bodies. He will also lead those attending in different meditation and relaxation techniques.

Yogic relaxation, power relaxation, a music-based relaxation technique, and yognidra, which means deep yoga sleep, are among the techniques he plans to use during the conference.

The conference, scheduled 6-9 p.m. Wednesday and 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Friday, will offer the same information both days. The cost is $50 per person, but Stanley UMC received a grant from the Holston Conference of the United Methodist Church allowing up to 50 people to attend at no charge. Fifteen scholarships remain available.

The seminar is nondenominational and not based in religion, says Roy.

"It's something that everyone can accept and apply in their life," he says.

Roy says he mixes modern medicine with ancient Indian modalities to offer a more holistic healing than that received with only a prescription.

Indian modalities include cosmic healing, mindfulness and prana healing. Prana means universal life force energy.

Friends Brenda McAdams, outreach minister at Stanley United Methodist, and Erika Hughes, a social worker who holds a black belt in karate, wanted to bring the holistic healing conference to the church to address a disproportionate number of residents who live near the area and have diseases like obesity and high blood pressure.

"Our church is in the East Chattanooga community known as Churchville, and it's one of the hardest hit when it comes to the stresses of daily life. Poverty, gang violence, truancy, a lot of that occurs in this community," she says. "What we're trying to do is create a ministry to help people learn how to deal with the stresses of daily living and help them look beyond their circumstances and realize that even in those situations you've got to take care of yourself."

Hughes, also founder of Live in Love ministry, attended one of Roy's conferences and says she has firsthand knowledge of the benefit. She believes he can help others.

"The seminar gives you deep relaxation techniques to help your whole being," says Hughes. "And hopefully it will establish a greater holistic awareness in the community and have an ongoing program."

Contact Yolanda Putman at yputman@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6431.