Lena Dunham & More Set for Paley Center's 'Women. Meditation. Stress' Panel

The David Lynch Foundation will host two hundred women professionals, including leaders in finance, publishing and the arts, at a luncheon and panel discussion at the Paley Center for Media in New York City on Tuesday, October 8 from 12 PM to 3 PM. The panel discussion will focus on meditation as a simple, evidence-based tool for managing stress in the workplace.

According to a growing number of scientific studies by prestigious institutions such as the Harvard School of Medicine, the American Heart Association and the National Institutes of Health, Transcendental Meditation (TM) lowers stress and blood pressure, increases focus and concentration, reduces anxiety, depression and insomnia and builds overall resilience.

"Women. Meditation. Stress" will discuss these outcomes and the experiences of women in the workplace who meditate. The event is co-sponsored by the David Lynch Foundation's Women's Initiative, the New York City Mayor's Office to Combat Domestic Violence, the Avon Foundation for Women and More magazine.

"Doing TM for 40 minutes each day gives us the calm and focus we need to deal with our crazy, busy, hectic lives," says Lesley Jane Seymour, editor-in-chief of More magazine. "TM has changed the pace of my life and given me incredible focus and a sense of well-being."

"Meditation has empowered me in all aspects of my life from my career to personal relationships," says Guggenheim Investments CAO Rehanna Farrell. "I make more conscious decisions with a deeper perspective and more balanced approach. It has enhanced my natural strengths and improved areas of weakness."

The David Lynch Foundation will announce plans at the event to teach TM to 10,000 women survivors of domestic violence across the country. All proceeds from the event will support the initiative to teach meditation to victims in New York City.

"There is a tumultuous and ongoing storm of pain and anguish that rages in the minds of women who have suffered any kind of abuse, especially domestic violence," says internationally renowned physician and scientist Dr. Pamela Peeke. "Healing this suffering requires calm and inner enlightenment. This transcendence is found in the bliss and peace of TM's transcendence."

Panelists and speakers at the event include:

Mary Schmidt Campbell, Dean, Tisch School of the Arts at New York University
Candy Crowley, news anchor, CNN's State of the Union with Candy Crowley
Lena Dunham, filmmaker and actress (introducing the panel and offering opening remarks)
Rehanna Farrell, CAO, Guggenheim Investments
Yolanda Jimenez, Commissioner, Mayor's Office to Combat Domestic Violence
Carol Kurzig, President, Avon Foundation for Women
Dr. Pamela Peeke, MD, MPH, FACP, Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of Maryland and chief lifestyle expert for WebMD
Lesley Jane Seymour, editor-in-chief, More magazine

According to the Center for Disease Control, heart disease is the leading cause of death in women. Women whose work is highly stressful have a 40% increased risk of heart disease when compared to their colleagues with less stressful careers, according to Harvard Medical School. The Penn State College of Medicine conducted a study in 2012 that revealed stress is more harmful to women than to men, putting them at greater risk for a potential heart attack or stroke. Meditation is a field-tested, evidence-based technique that reduces stress and decreases risk for heart disease and death.
Event Date: Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Time: 12 PM - 3 PM

Location: Paley Center for Media
25 W 52nd St.
New York, NY 10019

About the David Lynch Foundation
The David Lynch Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization, was established in 2005 to fund the implementation of scientifically proven stress-reducing modalities including Transcendental Meditation, for at-risk populations such as underserved inner-city students; veterans with PTSD and their families; women and girls who have been victims of violence, rape, and abuse, American Indians suffering from diabetes and high suicide rates; homeless adults and teens participating in reentry programs; and incarcerated adults and juveniles. For more information, visit www.davidlynchfoundation.org.

To post a comment, you must register and login.