‘CPAP Chat’ (www.CPAPchat.org) is the country’s only town-hall-style forum of its kind. The monthly session attracts sleep apnea patients from a dozen states, health care professionals, and anyone else interested in the subject of sleep. Sessions are hosted by engineer/inventor Eric Cohen, co-founder of National Sleep Therapy (www.nstherapy.com)
Session guest Marasca is a Reiki practitioner and a Shamballa Energies Master Teacher/Healer who has studied the art and practice of Mindfulness and Meditation. With a Master’s degree in Counseling from the University of New Hampshire and a Graduate Certificate in alternative modalities of healing from Plymouth State University, she has helped people to incorporate spirituality and wellness into their everyday lives: “I am passionate about helping others to experience a deeper sense of living, a deeper sense of peace, joy and purpose.”
Eric Cohen says a key focus of CPAP Chat is to help people suffering from sleep apnea to get the best night’s sleep possible. “In addition to using their prescribed CPAP therapy, we provide patients with a wide range of tips that may involve lifestyle changes and meditation.” Also participating in the June 3 session will be one of Marasca’s students, Melissa MacLennan of Concord, NH, Billing Supervisor at National Sleep Therapy.
Of special interest, a study published in the respected JAMA Internal Medicine journal reported results of a study performed on two groups with sleep issues: One group learned behaviors that could help them develop good sleep hygiene, like establishing a regular bedtime routine and avoiding caffeine and alcohol before bed. The other group underwent a six-week program on mindfulness meditation —awareness of the thoughts and feelings drifting through one’s mind — led by a certified teacher. At the end of the yearlong study, the people who learned the mindfulness approach had greater improvements in sleep quality and fewer symptoms of insomnia, depression and fatigue than those who received standard care. Maureen Marasca agrees with the study findings that “mindfulness meditation appears to be a safe and sensible practice to improve sleep quality.”
Other topics that will be addressed during the June 3 ‘CPAP Chat’ session include: a disposable, micro-CPAP that weighs less than an ounce; alternative therapies for sleep apnea; and a new ApneaApp that detects sleep apnea via Smart Phone with 95% accuracy
CPAP Chat is free, anonymous and open to all. To join the chat: Just prior to the session on Wednesday, June 3 at 7 pm (ET),, call 1-800.204.6655, enter access code 342-2187#.)
By Stanley Hurwitz / stanhurwitz@gmail.com
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