Dean Ornish

 

Ornish was living at home in January 1973 when his life took an unexpected turn. His parents invited Swami Satchidananda, the Indian-born spiritual teacher and yoga master, to their home to thank him for helping their daughter Laurel, then 22, find relief through yoga for her migraine headaches. Ornish was captivated. "There's an old saying, 'When the student is ready, the teacher appears,' " Ornish says. "I was very ready. I was miserable, and he was glowing." After their meeting, Ornish began visiting Satchidananda at his Buckingham, Va., center and practicing his teachings. "His philosophy is that peace and self-worth are there only if we can quiet the mind and body enough to experience them," says Ornish, who began daily meditation and a strict vegetarian diet.