Words by Sarmistha Mitra, Holistic Health Expert and Founder & CEO of The Wellbeing Sanctuary Training LLC
In an illuminating Q&A, Sarmistha Mitra, Holistic Health Expert and Founder & CEO of The Wellbeing Sanctuary Training LLC, shares her insights on adult mental fitness and its profound impact on overall well-being. With 12 years of experience exploring the human mind, Mitra has developed the innovative DecodeYou® model, a comprehensive approach to enhancing cognitive, emotional, and psychological health.
This interview delves into the inspiration behind The Wellbeing Sanctuary’s focus on adult mental fitness, the concept of neuroplasticity, and how mental fitness can slow down the aging process. Mitra explains the five cycles of the DecodeYou® model and how it integrates various holistic disciplines like hypnosis, CBT, and NLP. She also discusses the choice of Dubai as the sanctuary’s location, methods for tracking client progress, and the role of dream analysis and chakra attunement in holistic well-being. Additionally, Mitra provides information on upcoming training classes and workshops, offering readers a glimpse into the transformative world of mental fitness.
Interview by : Fatiha Idrissi
- What inspired you to focus specifically on adult mental fitness training at The Wellbeing Sanctuary?
My 12 years of exploration into the human mind revealed that no adult can reach psychological maturity on their own. A lack of psychological maturity makes us mentally unfit. When a mentally unfit adult faces challenging situations, like workplace stress, relationship conflicts, financial problems or health issues, the consequences can be multifaceted and significantly impact their personal, professional, and social lives. Mental unfitness typically involves a lack of emotional regulation, poor coping mechanisms, and cognitive limitations. These unresolved patterns are often passed on to the children, creating another generation of dysfunctional adults.
Mental fitness training is a comprehensive approach to enhancing an individual’s cognitive, emotional, and psychological well-being. It involves a set of practices and exercises designed to strengthen the mind, much like physical fitness routines strengthen the body. Addressing mental fitness through proactive training and support can help individuals develop the necessary skills to cope with challenges, improving their overall quality of life and well-being. My dream is to empower adults to decode and recalibrate their subconscious patterns, to facilitate profound transformations in our society, which will impact generations to come.
- Can you elaborate on how mental fitness can slow down the ageing process?
Stress accelerates ageing by causing inflammation and damaging cellular structures. Mental fitness can slow down the ageing process by reducing stress and promoting cognitive resilience. Mental fitness practices such as mindfulness, meditation, and cognitive training help manage stress, improve emotional regulation, and enhance neuroplasticity. This results in a healthier brain, better memory, and slower cognitive decline, which collectively contributes to a more youthful and vibrant life.
- Could you explain the concept of neuroplasticity and how DecodeYou® utilises it?
Neuroplasticity is the brain’s ability to reorganise itself by forming new neural connections throughout life. This remarkable capability allows the brain to adapt, learn, and recover from injuries. The DecodeYou® model leverages neuroplasticity by implementing techniques that actively engage and reshape neural pathways. Neuroplasticity happens through unlearning old dysfunctional beliefs, coping and defence mechanisms and learning new functional ways of thinking, processing and decision-making. Practices such as depth psychology, mindfulness, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), and neurolinguistic programming (NLP) help individuals identify and modify negative thought patterns, thus fostering positive behavioural changes and enhancing mental resilience.
- What are the five cycles in the DecodeYou® model, and how do they work together?
DecodeYou® gives us the formula to decode different layers of our unconscious through five cycles and bring ourselves to a state of awareness which is befitting for a psychologically mature adult.
The DecodeYou® model comprises of five essential cycles:
Cycle 1- Principles of DecodeYou®, rewiring coping strategies and defence mechanisms.
Cycle 2 – Decoding duality and finding balance, breaking the karmic cycle.
Cycle 3- Decoding parental and ancestral programs, shadow-work and finding peace.
Cycle 4 – Decoding inner child (rejecting love, rejecting feelings, shame, guilt and regret)
Cycle 5 – Decoding pain, trauma, diseases and recalibrating self awareness, as well as recognising and understanding subconscious patterns and their impact on daily life.
Through each cycle, individuals go through an assessment to evaluate the root causes and triggers of these patterns. Techniques, like CBT, NLP, and hypnosis are then implemented to rewire negative patterns. Patients then look to incorporate new, positive behaviours and thoughts into their daily routines. The focus is then on sustaining these changes through regular practice and continuous self-reflection.
These cycles work synergistically to facilitate deep and lasting transformation. By progressing through each cycle, individuals systematically overwrite dysfunctions, leading to holistic well-being.
- How do you integrate the holistic disciplines (Hypnosis, CBT, NLP, etc.) in the DecodeYou® program?
In my practice, I have realised how limiting each of the modalities alone can be. Although each of them addresses a particular part of well-being, alone, they cannot resolve the complexities of the human mind. It is like one key opening only one door; I found a way to integrate all these keys and create a master key to the mind. The DecodeYou® program exemplifies a holistic and integrated approach to mental fitness. By combining the strengths of hypnosis, CBT, NLP, Tasso, trauma therapy, dream therapy, shadow work, and advanced mindfulness, we create a master key to unlocking the complexities of the human mind.
In terms of the DecodeYou® program, each modality brings a unique strength that, when combined, provides a more effective and holistic treatment. Hypnosis opens the door to the subconscious, CBT provides the tools to reshape thoughts, and NLP ensures these changes are embedded into daily behaviour. Trauma therapy and Tasso address deep emotional wounds and spiritual insights, while dream therapy and shadow work integrate subconscious and unconscious aspects. Advanced mindfulness grounds the individual in the present moment.
Each client receives a tailored treatment plan that incorporates elements of hypnosis, CBT, NLP, Tasso, trauma therapy, dream therapy, shadow work, and advanced mindfulness based on their specific needs and challenges. This ensures a more personalised and effective therapeutic experience.
The integration of these disciplines ensures that we address not just the symptoms but also the underlying causes of mental health issues, leading to deeper and more sustainable healing.
- What led you to choose Dubai as the location for The Wellbeing Sanctuary?
Dubai was chosen as the location for The Wellbeing Sanctuary due to its diverse and dynamic population, which is open to innovative approaches to health and wellness. The city’s strategic position as a global hub attracts people from various cultures, making it an ideal place to introduce holistic mental fitness programs. Additionally, Dubai’s commitment to becoming a leading wellness destination aligns perfectly with our mission to promote mental and holistic health.
- How do you measure and track improvements in clients’ health and well-being?
Improvements in clients’ health and well-being are measured and tracked using a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods. This comprehensive approach ensures that we capture a holistic view of their progress and provide the most effective support. Our methods include Self-Report Questionnaires, Behavioural Observations, Blood Test Reports and Feedback Sessions.
Clients participate in regular one-on-one feedback sessions with their therapist to discuss their experiences, challenges, and improvements. Based on this feedback, therapists can adjust treatment plans to better meet clients’ needs.
- What specific health indicators have shown improvement in clients after six months of mental fitness training?
For individuals who want to recover from chronic stress-related health disorders, such as diabetes, thyroid gland-related issues, cholesterol, or high blood pressure, we request them to join the program during the early stages of the disorder and before medicine dependency. This way, they can see changes in their blood reports after six months of mental fitness training. Clients typically show improvements in various health indicators, including reduced levels of stress and anxiety, enhanced emotional regulation and resilience, improved cognitive functions, better sleep quality, increased overall sense of well-being and life satisfaction, improved communication skills and fulfilling relationships. These improvements reflect the effectiveness of our holistic approach to promoting mental and physical health.
- What role does Dream Analysis and Interpretation play in overall mental fitness?
Dream Analysis and Interpretation are pivotal in enhancing overall mental fitness by unlocking the rich, often untapped resources of the subconscious mind. Through understanding and resolving the content of dreams, clients can achieve improved mental clarity, emotional balance, and self-awareness. The foundational idea in dream analysis is that every character and object in the dream world is a part of the dreamer’s psyche. DecodeYou® leverages this concept by not only interpreting dreams but also inverting these insights into waking life, allowing for a comprehensive understanding of the subconscious. This holistic approach, as employed in the DecodeYou® program, ensures that clients not only understand their inner world better but also apply these insights to lead more balanced and fulfilling lives.
- How does Chakra Diagnosis and Attunement contribute to holistic well-being?
Chakra Diagnosis and Attunement contribute to holistic well-being by balancing the body’s energy centres. Our thoughts are electrical impulses sending signals of threat and safety to the brain, which decodes these impulses and acts accordingly. When negative thoughts dominate, they drain the body’s energy, leading to imbalances in the chakras. By diagnosing and attuning these energy centres, we can restore harmony and vitality, promoting physical, emotional, and spiritual health. By addressing the root causes of energy imbalances, this method helps activate the body’s natural healing mechanisms, leading to a harmonious and fulfilling life.
- Can you tell us more about the upcoming Adult Mindset Training Classes?
The upcoming Adult Mindset Training Classes are designed to equip participants with practical tools and techniques to enhance their mental fitness. These classes will cover topics such as stress management, emotional regulation, and cognitive enhancement. Participants can expect a combination of theoretical knowledge and experiential learning, enabling them to apply the concepts in their daily lives and achieve lasting positive changes. Classes are scheduled at 6:30 PM the second Wednesday of every month and costs AED 300 per class, with discounts available on packages.
- What can participants expect from the Ancestral Constellation workshop?
We are all the vessels of epigenetic trauma, carrying wounds from our lineages within us. Most of these can stay dormant in our lifetime, except when certain experiences, creating a certain resonating frequency may reactivate that trauma.
Through this modality, you not only heal your own wounds but clear the cellular memory that causes the emotional and spiritual irritation between you and your family members. The ancients would say you even clear the trauma of seven generations before you and prevent the imprint of the same traumatic memory from being passed on to the next generations.
Participants in the Ancestral Constellation workshop can expect to explore and resolve inherited family patterns that influence their current behaviours and beliefs. This workshop uses a systemic approach to uncover and heal ancestral traumas and dynamics. By understanding and addressing these influences, participants can break free from limiting patterns, fostering personal growth and improving their overall well-being. It is particularly helpful for individuals who find themselves stuck in ancestral patterns, for example, in their relationship with money, health issues, marriage or an inability to conceive.
- What membership options do you offer, and how do they cater to different needs?
We offer various membership options to cater to different needs, with group sessions starting from AED 150 and hourly one on one sessions beginning from AED 500. We offer various discounts on packages of three, five and ten sessions. We also offer an annual membership at AED 1,200, which includes special privileges, discounts and free sessions. These options ensure that individuals at different stages of their mental fitness journey receive the appropriate level of support and resources.
For more information, visit www.yourwellbeingsanctuary.com or follow @yourwellbeingsanctuary
