A new course from HeartMath is uniquely effective in improving stress management and improving resilience in corporate environments, writes Craig Donaldson
Course review: Add Heart Facilitator
Format: online with six self-paced modules and supplementary guidebook, e-book, “Inner Balance” Bluetooth sensor and Inner Balance App
Cost: US$299
Stress is a growing problem for organisations and individuals around the world. There is a wide range of factors converging on employees within these organisations, which are leading to a widespread feeling of being overwhelmed and increased stress levels.
However, stress is simply a reaction to a particular stimuli, and for lasting stress reduction to occur, it is these reactions which need to be examined and minimised. Most stress reduction courses do understand this and try and help participants become more aware of what causes stress in the first place, with a view to improving stress management, emotional stability and resilience.
One of the more uniquely effective approaches on the market to reducing stress and improving this resilience is a course from HeartMath, which provides science-based programs and technologies to improve health and wellbeing, while reducing stress and boosting performance and productivity. The HeartMath system is based on more than 25 years of research and more than 250 independent peer-reviewed studies, and organisations such as Cisco Systems, Lockheed, McKinsey, Stanford Graduate School of Business, Unilever and the US Military Academy at West Point are among HeartMath’s client list.
“Stress is simply a reaction to a particular stimuli, and for lasting stress reduction to occur, it is these reactions which need to be examined and minimised”
The HeartMath system is uniquely effective when it comes to stress management and improving resilience in a corporate environment. HeartMath recently released a new online course called the Add Heart Facilitator, which is a self-paced, multi-module course designed to help participants release stress, increase emotional resilience and realise lasting change using a scientifically-validated process.
The course teaches one of HeartMath’s core techniques, which provides a way for individuals to rise above the emotional “noise” of everyday life, quiet an overactive mind, shift out of stress-producing emotional states and connect with the emotional and intuitive qualities of their hearts.
The program includes six modules (20-30 minutes each), an Add Heart Facilitator guidebook, The Science of the Heart e-book and a certificate of completion. Once the course is completed participants are accredited as approved Add Heart Facilitators.
The online program also includes an “Inner Balance” Bluetooth Sensor, which works with an Inner Balance App for Android and iOS devices. This device gives another dimension to the course as participants also experience a real-time window into their emotional state and helps them with measuring and training them in realising and maintaining “heart coherence” – a state in which individuals are naturally more in sync with positive emotions.
“The unique content and approach of the course are what make it extraordinarily effective in improving stress management and producing lasting and positive change”
Overall the course is well structured and paced, and gives participants ample time to become comfortable with and practise the unique techniques provided. It is remarkably effective in not only improving stress management and emotional resilience, but building soft skills such as rapport, empathy and self-awareness – which are critical to good people leadership more generally. It is these factors that help reinforce the “psychological contracts” with individuals, with a view to increasing job satisfaction, employee engagement, discretionary effort and retention.
The course is definitely different in its approach to improving stress management compared to more orthodox courses, but the unique content and approach of the course are what make it extraordinarily effective in improving stress management and producing lasting and positive change. HeartMath says the course has resulted in sustainable behaviour changes for many participants, and also provides participants with a unique skill they can use to help someone else that may be having a tough time.
The Add Heart Facilitator program costs US$299 and is ideal for any HR or other business professionals looking to reduce and better manage stress, improve resilience and effectiveness and adopt a happier and more optimistic approach to life.
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