Thanks to my new friend and new instructor, Jessey Bernstein for writing an article this month on slowing down. Check it out, I love it.

Click here to read Slow Praise

Jessey Bernstein is a native Montrealer with a PhD in Clinical Psychology, and will soon be starting a private psychotherapy practice here. Jessey is also a certified group fitness instructor and currently teaches at the Westmount YMCA. She is passionate about mind and body health, as well as the importance of a work-life balance. You can contact her by email at DrBernstein@gmail.com

A short while ago, over a latte, Jessey introduced me to a philosophy and movement that is encouraging all of us to "slow down". She told me about a book that pretty well chronicles a movement of people all over the World who are choosing to slow down and take a step away from our faster and faster paced existence. For example, when you slow down, you will pick recipes that take a long time to prepare and cook and use ingredients that are native to your region, you may walk instead of taking your car, work less hours (and there are so many more possibilities). Don't worry, this doesn't mean that you have to take a turtle's pace to do everything (we would all lose our jobs, wouldn't we?), it simply suggests that we should slow down when it is appropriate. I embrace this idea and encourage all of you to think about our fast paced lives and ultimately what it is doing to our physical, emotional and mental health as well as all to all our relationships. The book is called "In praise of slow" by Carl Honore (a Scot who was raised in Canada). If you have the time to read it (no joke intended), please do. It has changed the way I see my life. I believe you can find it easily in any bookstore. Let me know what you think...