Patanjali Yoga Sutras 2.6 Center of the Universe - by Joseph Le Page

I received this sutra interpretation by Joe LePage and thought I would share.  Great commentary.  I completed advanced yoga teacher certification with Integrative Yoga Therapy and highly recommend it if you are looking for a yoga therapy training with a medical framework.  Joe was a psychotherapist and brings a great background to his training.  www.integrativeyogatherapy.com

Patanjali Yoga Sutras 2.6 Center of the Universe

Interpretive Translation by Joseph Le Page

Asmita, egoism, is a distorted sense of individuality that mistakes the instruments of seeing, the body, mind and senses, to be the inner seer or true Self.

Commentary by Joseph Le Page – Center of the Universe

If you think you’re the center of the universe, take a closer look...

You float on life’s surface in a small boat called “me”,
unaware of the ocean that lies underneath,

And the world around you, the “reality” you see
is only a reflection of your colored beliefs

And your entire life story, written line by line
is not even a comma in the annals of time

And you daydream a fantasy of the life you desire
based on the dream-world of those you admire

And your whole world revolves around profit and loss,
while the price paid in stress is the actual cost,

And your precious planet, fountain of life
is littered with the leftovers of shopping and buying,

And the boat you call hope that carries your dreams
is adrift without the compass of life’s larger meaning,

And the fortress you build to keep life in control
is made of from the same stones that imprison your soul,

And you say you’re self made, that you did it all,
when you don’t even know what will be your next thought.

But when you finally wake and take the colored glasses off,
to see you’re not the center of life in the way you thought,

To discover that the sum of your desires will never equal peace, and your dislikes are only a reflection of your own negativity,

And you open your heart, your true inner being
to discover your life’s purpose and deeper meaning,

To discern that death is just life’s natural next step,
and return home to the Self that you never really left...

You find that you are the center of the universe.

Humming Can Ease Sinus Problems

Well - this seems to be proof that practicing primordial sounds - and OM - that vibrate the sinuses works!!!

Humming can ease sinus problems

Dealing with a cold is bad enough, but when it leads to a sinus infection, the misery can double. Some researchers have proposed a surprising remedy: channeling your inner Sinatra.
Sinus infections - which afflict more than 37 million Americans every year - generally occur when the lining of the sinuses becomes inflamed, trapping air and pus and other secretions, and leading to pain, headaches and congestion. Because the inflammation is often caused by upper-respiratory infections, people with asthma and allergies are more vulnerable than others to chronic sinusitis.
Keeping the sinuses healthy and infection-free requires ventilation - keeping air flowing smoothly between the sinus and nasal cavities. And what better way to keep air moving through the sinuses and nasal cavity than by humming a tune?
In a study in The American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, researchers examined this by comparing airflow in people when they hummed and when they quietly exhaled. Specifically, they looked to see if humming led to greater levels of exhaled nitric oxide, a gas produced in the sinuses. Ultimately, nitric oxides during humming rose 15-fold.
Another study a year later in The European Respiratory Journal found a similar effect: humming resulted in a large increase in nasal nitric oxide, "caused by a rapid gas exchange in the paranasal sinuses."
Since reduced airflow plays a major role in sinus infections, the researchers suggested that daily periods of humming might help people lower their risk of chronic problems. But further study is needed, they said.

NEW - Falmouth Location for Yoga Teacher Certification

Michelle Fleming will be offering a 200 hour Yoga Teacher Certification at the Blooming Lotus Yoga Studio in January 2011.  For more information or to register contact Michelle at sanctuary_info@
Blooming Lotus Yoga Studio
(located at Center for Vital Living)
704 Main Street
Falmouth, MA 02540
(508) 457-0440
http://www.falmouthyogastudio.com/home.html

BLYS Yoga at the Center For Vital LivingBlooming Lotus Yoga Studio or BLYS is a beautiful, light-filled space located at the Center for Vital Living. BLYS offers over 20 yoga classes per week to suit students of all ages and levels. Workshops as well as special class series are frequently offered. Group or individual meditation instruction is also available.

Gentle Yoga for Pain Relief

Class will resume on Thursday, Jan 6, 2011.

Gentle Yoga for Pain Relief At the end of the day allow your mind and body to relax… to be in the present moment…

Grace Furnari, RYT (Registered Yoga Teacher) has been a practitioner of Hatha Yoga since 2002. Her journey into Yoga started over 10 years ago when she was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. The fatigue and pain was so debilitating it affected her work and everyday life. A fibromyalgia specialist suggested she try yoga to ease her symptoms. So she started practicing yoga on a weekly basis. Within a few months, Grace saw her symptoms start to diminish. She decided she wanted to share her experience with others through teaching and became a certified yoga instructor in August of 2009.
This class will explore simple stretching and pranayama (breathing techniques) that can help with mental clarity and relaxation, as well as asanas (yoga postures) to help calm joint pain and release muscle tightness and tension. Grace concludes each class with a few minutes of calming meditation and relaxation. All levels welcome.
Thursdays at 7:30-8:45 p.m. Sign up for any 6 classes and pay $60.00.
Drop–ins welcome, $12.00  Class size is limited, to reserve a space contact:

Grace Furnari (781) 267-6109 or sss1030@aol.com.
Located at: The Healing Moon Wellness Center
One Walpole Street, ~ Norwood, MA
(Located Across from Conrad’s Restaurant)
781-769-1121
www.TheHealingMoon.com

Grace Furnari, RYT
781-267-6109 (c)
sss1030@aol.com
www.meetup.com/Yoga-with-Grace/

Do our bodies' bacteria play matchmaker?

I found this research fascinating and wondered if this could be why some yoga teachers while in training have relationship difficulties or breakups.  As you transform and move towards a healthier lifestyle and diet - if your partner does not follow along it could lead to the demise of the connection because of the bacteria colonizing the body from the types of food you eat!  Amazing - as you know - as an infection control nurse I love bugs!!  lol

ScienceDaily (2010-12-03) -- Could the bacteria that we carry in our bodies decide who we marry? According to a new study, the answer lies in the gut of a small fruit fly. Scientists recently demonstrated that the symbiotic bacteria inside a fruit fly greatly influence its choice of mates.http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/12/101202124211.htm

Conducting their experiments on the rapidly-reproducing fruit fly, the scientists were able to test this new theory. The first experiment repeated a study carried out two decades ago by a Yale University researcher, in which a fly population was divided in half and fed different diets -- malt sugar versus starch. A year later, when the flies were re-integrated as one group, those who had been fed starch preferred starch-fed mates, while the sugar-fed flies preferred mates of a similar nutritional background. The repeat experiment carried out by the Tel Aviv University researchers shows that this dietary influence takes effect within just a generation or two rather than over an entire year.

In their second experiment, the Tel Aviv University team repeated the first, but with the addition of an antibiotic, which killed the bacteria and eliminated the specific mate preference. The mating process became random, with no dietary influence.
In subsequent experiments, the researchers successfully isolated the bacterial species responsible for reproductive isolation in flies with diet-related mating preferences, and found the bacteria Lactobacillus plantarum to be present in greater numbers in starch-fed fruit flies than in sugar-fed flies. When L. plantarum was reintroduced into the antibiotic-treated flies, the preferential mating behavior resumed -- proving that this bacterial species is at least partly responsible for the mating preference.

SAVE THE DATE! - January 8, 2011 - Recognition Award Ceremony

Candita Mamet
Editor, Publisher & Radio Host

January 8th, Saturday
Recognition Award Ceremony
Guest host Rita Berkowitz

Location:
The Lantana in Randolph
Tickets $25 Call 781 834.2728

Register on line http://www.myhealthylivingmag.com/

Balancepoint Studios - Pembroke - 8 Week Yoga Session - Beginners Welcome

If you have never done Yoga or Pilates, or if you are more experienced I invite you to join us! Beginners are welcome~ you have to start somewhere! Each class is always a new starting point in your practice, regardless of your ability.


The combination of both Yoga and Pilates will help you to achieve all over fitness, strength, flexibility, a flat tummy by focusing on your core/abdominals, and a longer, leaner body. We will use props (all provided for you) such as circles, blocks and hand weights to challenge yourself ~if you choose.

Give yourself this one hour a week for YOU! You will leave feeling relaxed, refreshed and rejuvenated. It is like putting yourself in a time out for an hour so you can collect your thoughts, balance your emotions and calm your mind- much needed during the holidays!

Please join me Wednesdays at 7pm 8 week session beginning Dec. 1st
Thursdays at 9:30am 8 wk session beginning Dec. 9th
Pre-registration required (to reserve a space for you~ classes fill quickly) $100 for the 8 week session
Drop In $15/class
Balancepoint Studios 31 Schoosett St.
Rt 139 Pembroke (above Sean Michaels hair salon) www.balancepointstudios.com
any questions, please call me 781-799-4384 or shannonenos@msn.com
Hope to see you all soon!

Namaste,
Shannon Enos, CYT

Tortola, British Virgin Islands



April 6-10, 2011- Now Booking

$820pp (Triple Occupancy)
$952pp (Double Occupancy)
$780pp (Double Occupancy) w/o yoga
Airfare not Included
Please consider flying into St. Thomas and taking the ferry to Tortola.

Fort Recovery Tortola   http://fortrecoverytortola.com/
Includes:
*Five Days & Four Nights Accommodations in a Luxury Ocean Front Retreat Center. Huge Rooms with Private Oversized Bath
*$50 Spa Credit
*One Dinner Social- Includes: Homemade Vegetarian Soup, Choice of Entrée & Dessert
*One Spa Breakfast & 3 Continental Breakfasts (coffee, tea, juice & homemade bread)
*Light Afternoon Tea
*Retreat Guest Gifts
*9 Yoga Classes in Our Private Yoga Studio and Outside Dock
*Private Gym for Retreat Guests
*Fully Equipped Kitchen
*Housekeeping Services Daily
*Unlimited Peace and Relaxation
All Levels Welcome!
For additional information please contact:
Tricia- Namaste Yoga Retreats- namasteyoga77@yahoo.com ph. 617-947-2983
Pamelah- Fort Recovery Resorts- Toll Free (800) 367-8455 (please wait for the ring)
Early Booking Bonus- First 4 rooms to book will receive beach front accommodations. Book by December 15th and take $25 off pp.
Referral Bonus- Returning guests- Introduce a new guest to Namaste Yoga Retreats and Take an additional $25 off of your stay.

500 hr Transformational Yoga Teacher Certification

These are upcoming workshops at the Sanctuary of Plymouth, 47 Main Street, Plymouth, MA

They are part of the Transformational Yoga 500 hr curriculum and can be attended and hours accrued for certification.

Contact Michelle Fleming for more information at sanctuarystudios_info@yahoo.com

Nov. 20 & 21: Structural Anatomy & Physiology w/Michelle Fleming (4 AP L1 S) great intro for those interested in teacher training

Dec. 4 & 5: Thai Yoga Bodywork w/Carolyn Cohen
                    Saturday 4th: Thai Massage Techniques for skillful Yoga Assists
                    Sunday 5th: Intro to Thai BodyWork
Jan 7-30:     Structural Transformation-Yoga & Bodywork Intensive w/Michelle Fleming:
                    3 evenings/afternoons / week (4 AP L1-2, 3 HO, 2 AP L1 E)
Feb 5:          Acro Yoga w/Justicia & Shawn (2 HO) - Acrobatic & Flying Intensive
Feb 6:          Anusara Therapeutics w/Justicia ( 2 HO-2)
                    Upper Body (shoulders, wrists, upper back, neck) 10 am-1pm
                    Lower Body (lower back, hips, knees ankles, feet) 2-5 pm
Feb. 19-23: Thai Bodywork Training Intensive w/Carolyn Cohen (2 HO/day)
Feb. 26:       Awakening of the energy body w/Coral Brown (1 Philo L1, 1 HO)
Feb. 27:       Chakra Therapy, interpreting the energy body (1 Philo L2, 1 HO)
March 12 & 13: Yoga & Shamanism w/Ray Crist
                     Saturday 12th: Yoga & The Luminous Body (1Philo L1, 1 HO)
                     Sunday 13th: Shamanic Healing: Intro to the Jaguar Path featuring Soul Retrieval (2
                     Philo L2)
March 26: am Kirtan & Ancient use of Mantra & Chanting w/Jill Jardine
March 26: pm Vipasana Meditation and Yin Yoga w/ Chip Hartranft
March 27:      Yin Yoga as Therapy, Part 1: the Spine w/Chip Hartranft
April 3:          Yin Yoga as Therapy, Part 2: The Hips and Extremities w/Chip Hartranft
April 9:          Philosophy of the Yoga Sutras w/John Featherstone
April 30 - May 1: The Yoga of Intimacy w/Ray Crist, a Shiva/Shakti Energy Intensive
May 7:            Structural Anatomy and Physiology (w/Hands on Assists) Level 1 Part 2 w/Michelle
                        Fleming
May 21:          A day w/Daniel Orlanski. am: INtro to Kundalini Yoga. pm: Intro to Meridian Yoga
June 3-5:        ANATOMY TRAINS Workshop: w/certified Structural Integrationist MIcheal Jansson. 
                       This is an official Anatomy Trains workshop through Tom Myers.
June 18:          Detox & Cleanse, The Yoga of Diet and Wellness w/Michelle Fleming

Yoga with the Didgeridoo - a Sound Healing Experience
Saturday, November 13th

11:00 am - 12:30 pm
Where:
Yoga at the Ashram
368 Village Street
Millis, MA 02054
Please Pre-register:
(508) 376-4525
Holly@YogaAtTheAshram.org


Experience Yoga and the Healing Sounds of Didgeridoo with Yoga at the Ashram’s instructor Victoria Haffer and Joseph Carringer from Ancient Voices Harmonic Therapy in Portsmouth, NH on the Didgeridoos.  You will be guided through a flowing sequence of yoga postures and movements as Joseph will play the didgeridoo throughout the room and directly around you. The dynamic, organic progression of this class has a powerful yet meditative quality, which inspires you to explore more deeply your own experience in the moment.

Didgeridoo harmonics produce sound waves that affect the "whole" body, including your ethereal being. Coupled with Yoga, the Didgeridoo brings your body and mind to a state of deep relaxation, self-healing and personal consciousness. Joseph Carringer has been playing an Australian Aboriginal didgeridoo for over a decade and a half, using it as a deep meditative tool in his personal shamanic journey as well as a therapeutic instrument for his clients. Joseph also incorporates a unique combination of Traditional Chinese Medicine philosophy, Ayurvedic Chakra philosophy and Traditional Shamanic Healing techniques into his sound therapy practice. It is Joseph's goal to help people realign their bodies' natural rhythms on a cellular level through harmonic therapy. Since the fall of 2005, Joseph has offered yearly classes for the Maine Medical CAM programs and the University of Southern Maine CAM programs and he continues to present at the University of New Hampshire and New England College. http://www.didgetherapy.com/

Cost: $25.00 or $20.00 if you also attend the Journeying Through the Chakras at 2:30 pm

 
Victoria Haffer holds a Masters Degree in Exercise Physiology with over 25 years of experience in the Wellness industry. As an International Wellness Presenter, she has certified many Fitness Professionals and Yoga Teachers. She is also a Reiki Master, Holistic Nutritionist, Clinical Hypnotherapist, Certified Pilates Instructor through Physical Mind Institute and Certified Yoga Teacher, ERYT 500 hours. Victoria has trained with many great Yoga teachers such as Gurmuch, Shiva Rea, Paul Grilley, Gary Kraftsow, Eric Shiffman and many more. Victoria currently focuses her energy as the Director of Yoga at the Ashram in Millis, Ma where she combines her many skills to facilitate healing and empowerment with clients and students.

Basic Level Yoga Teacher Certification Affiliate Locations

Finding Inner Peace School - Affiliate Locations for Basic and  Advanced Yoga Teacher Certification

http://www.certificationinyoga.com/

http://www.yogaschoolkit.com/

Finding Inner Peace , LLC is a yoga school dedicated to providing quality education for yoga teachers, energy healers and sound healers. We have been in business since 1995 and have trained thousands of students in yoga. Affiliate locations provide yoga teacher certification courses using the curriculum manual and format approved by the National Yoga Alliance. Each location has faculty who were trained by Maureen Spencer, RN, M.Ed., Founder and Director who started certifying yoga teachers in 1996. The affiliate locations are Registered Yoga Schools with the National Yoga Alliance and have superb faculty with years of experience in yoga and the healing arts.

Affiliate Locations:

BYoga Center, 537 Main Street, Melrose, MA

Charlestown Yoga Studio, 191 Main Street

The Yoga Studio of Millis, 840 Main Street, Millis

Sanctuary of Plymouth, 47 Main Street, Plymouth, MA

Shanti Shala Yoga Studio, 55 Pleasant Street, Plympton, MA

A New Day Yoga Studio, 2374 Diamond Hill Road, Cumberland, RI

Heaven on Earth Center, 270 Washington Street, Pembroke, MA

Franklin Yoga and Wellness Center,1256 West Central Street, Route 140, Franklin, MA 02038
The Baba Siri Chand Yoga and Retreat Center, 368 Village Street, Millis, MA

START DATES FOR NEXT SEMESTER

BYoga Center, Melrose January 4, 2010 to June 26, 2011 Tuesday nights 7:15pm-10:15pm and every Sunday afternoon from 1-4pm Contact: Krista Basis info@byogacenter.com

Charlestown Yoga, Charlestown January 6, 2010 - June 28, 2010 Thursday nights 7:15pm - 10:15pm and every Sunday afternoon from 1-4pm Contact: sue@charlestownyoga.com
Fitness4Your Soul, Pembroke December 1, 2010 - August 2011 (39 week program and 6 Saturdays) Wednesday nights 6:30-9:30pm at Heaven on Earth Studio, Route 53, Pembroke Contact: fitness4yoursoul@yahoo.com
The Yoga Studio, Millis, MA November 4, 2010 - May 2011 and 6 weekend intensives Thursday nights 6:30-9:30pm Contact: Cathy Mann theyogastudio@mail.com

A New Day Yoga Studio, Cumberland, Rhode Island January 2011 and 6 weekend intensives Night TBD Contact: Marillyn Scallon marilyn@anewdayyoga.com
The Sanctuary of Plymouth January 13, 2010 - July 2011 Thursday nights 6:30-9:30pm and 6 weekend intensives Contact: Michelle Fleming sanctuarystudios_info@yahoo.com

Falmouth Location January 11, 2010 - July 2011 Tuesday nights 6:30-9:30pm and 6 weekend intensives Contact: Michelle Fleming sanctuarystudios_info@yahoo.com

Shanti Shala Yoga Studio, Plympton -Jsnuary 2011 - Contact: Darnell Nestor namaste143@mac.com
Franklin Yoga and Wellness Center, Franklin, MA wiht Kaye and Guruatma Khalsa, January 2011

contact Kaye@Franklinyoga.com

The Baba Siri Chand Yoga and Wellness Center, Millis, MA with Victoria Haffer, E-RYT

 info@yogaattheashram.org

For more information, contact Maureen Spencer, RN, M.Ed. at 781 864-2130 or by email - maureen@findinginnerpeace.com

Upon graduation - you are a Certified Yoga Teacher (CYT) and qualified to become a Registered Yoga Teacher (R.Y.T.) with the National Yoga Alliance. This is an approved yoga school with the National Yoga Alliance.

Format: Basic Yoga Teacher Certification - 200 hours Weekly classes for 6 1/2 months and six (6) 15 hour weekend intensives to be held convenient locations.

To become an affiliate location and learn more about this great standardized turn-key approach to offering quality teacher education, visit:  http://www.yogaschoolkit.com/

Healthy Living Film Festival - November 13, 2010

healthylivingvideo.com
SAVE THE DATES!

November 13th, Saturday
Film Festival
Duxbury Performing Arts Center
Tickets $20 Call 781 834.2728
Register on line http://www.myhealthylivingmag.com/
 January 8th, Saturday




Recognition Award Ceremony
The Lantana in Randolph, MA
Tickets $25.00
Call 781 834.2728
Candita Mamet
Editor, Publisher & Radio Host
Healthy Living Magazine & Radiowww.TheHealthyLivingGuide.com

Develop Your Intuitive Self: Mediumship Circle Training - October 24th

Mediumship Circle With Ronnie Shaffer

Heaven On Earth
270 Washington Street
Pembroke, MA

Dates: Sunday, October 24th
from 10a.m. – 5p.m.
Cost: $110 Deposit of $50 required

Registration with Karen thru Paypal or 781-857-2353


Comments from Participants:
My mother only called me Maragret so I knew the message I recieved was authentic.....Thank you for your insight. Peggy
This class opened my 3rd eye and I was finally able to see images! Thanks for attuning me to my soul’s wisdom. jm halloway
The miracle I experienced was feeling my Dad's presence and knowing he was fine !! ma shank

* Attune to the Healing Power that is available to all.
* Learn to use this Healing Power for the benefit of all.
* Learn to govern the sensitivity which comes with altered states of awareness.
* Develop the ability to open and close your awareness at will.
* Learn the Attunement needed for Spirit contact
* Discover the inner power available as you invite the Divine Guest within to manifest in your life.

Ronnie Shaffer teaches the popular Your Intuitive Self course throughout the New England area. She is a Reiki teacher, Polarity practitioner and graduated from Touching Spirit, a three year healing program with renowned Elizabeth Stratton. Ronnie taught yoga and meditation to women in prison for five years and taught creative writing to men in prison. She is the author of I Hear Your Cry: Women in Prison a non-fiction memoir. . For more information visit http://www.veronicashaffer.com/
 or e-mail vas4@comcast.net .

FIRST PEACE: CHANGING THE WORLD BY CHANGING THE SELF

WindEagle and RainbowHawk of the World Foundation for the Discipline of Peace bring Universal Teachings of First Peace to the East Coast
"First Peace is the first step of living peace in the self, the Heart of the Worldwide People's Movement"

A time for awakening is calling us. Come to experience First Peace, based on 8 Universal Principles and Practices of Peace, calling for the coming together of many traditions, cultures and ages, intending to celebrate our unique ways of creating peace in the self.
*Thursday the 11th of Nov ~ The Peace Abbey ~ Sherborn ~ MA ~ 10:00am to 6:00pm
*Friday the 12th of Nov ~ META Center ~ New York ~ 6:30pm to 9:30pm
*Saturday the 13th of Nov ~ Source of Light Center ~ New York ~ 9:00am to 5:30pm
*Sunday the 14th of Nov ~ Alumni House ~ SUNY Albany ~ 2:00pm to 6:00pm
*Monday the 15th of Nov ~ Unitarian Universalist Congregation ~ Saratoga ~ 5:30p to 9:30pm

WindEagle and RainbowHawk will present a 'SeedPlanting' of the Universal Principles and Practices of First Peace. These events will be practical and experiential in nature. They will reveal the harmonious ways of inner peace in the self that is compatible with all traditions and cultures.


*Tuesday Evening on the 16th to Sunday Afternoon the 21st ~ A 5 Day SeedPlanter Training
Following these SeedPlantings, WindEagle and RainbowHawk will lead a 5 day SeedPlanter Training Program for those interested in becoming authorized SeedPlanters. Individuals who qualify will become a part of the cadre of SeedPlanters in the United States, Europe and Asia that are bringing this message of First Peace into communities around the world. SeedPlanters provide evening, daylong and weekend introductions to groups that provide the SeedPlanters with additional income.

SeedPlanter Training Program
* Tuesday, Nov 16th thru Sunday 21st ~Tuition $750 ~ Limit 20 participants ~ Meals/Accommodation ~ $75/day. Those attending one of the SeedPlanting Days or afternoons will receive a discount of the tuition they paid for previous event. Payment options available.
For information, location, reservation & registration email institute@ehama.org
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Thursday, Nov 11 - Sherborn MA SeedPlanting Day - 10am to 6 pm - Tuition $85 - Limit 50
* Friday, Nov 12 - New York Evening Talk - 6:30p to 9:30p - Tuition - $40 - Limit 50
* Saturday, Nov 13 - New York SeedPlanting Day - 10am to 6pm - Tuition $85 - Limit 50
* Sunday, Nov 14 - Albany SeedPlanting - 2pm to 6pm - Tuition $45 - Limit 50
* Monday, Nov 15 - Saratoga SeedPlanting - 6:30p to 9:30p - Tuition $45 - Limit 100

About the Teachers:

WindEagle and RainbowHawk, twin Keepers of the Origin Teachings of the Delicate Lodge, carry an ancient body of wisdom, ways of balance and wholeness which come from a long oral tradition rooted in the Mayan and pre-Mayan cultures of the Americas. As Métis teachers, they have journeyed together since 1987 and continue to travel the world sharing the message of First Peace-living peace in the self.
In 1995, WindEagle and RainbowHawk founded the Ehama Institute-a not-for-profit teaching center located in Abiquiu, New Mexico, USA. They have worked with individuals, training groups, organizations and communities throughout the world for over two decades. www.ehama.org
In 2003, they published their first book, Heart Seeds, a Message from the Ancestors, in which WindEagle and RainbowHawk recount the ancient oral stories of remembrance and share the relevance of these "heart seeds" for both the present time and our collective future. www.ehama.org
In 2007, the World Foundation for the Discipline of Peace, a Global Expression of Ehama Institute was formed to create a world-wise People's Movement of the First Peace. This People's Movement is based on Eight Universal Principles and Practices of Peace, which calls for the coming together of many traditions, cultures and ages with the intent of celebrating our unique ways of creating peace in the self. www.disciplineofpeace.org
In 2008, WindEagle and RainbowHawk published The First Peace Circle Handbook: A Guide to Creating a First Peace Circle to support those people who gather others to form peace circles around the world. It is now being translated into many languages.
In 2009, the People's Movement of the First Peace was launched with people attending from eleven nations. Representatives from Baha'i, Buddhist, Christian, Jewish, Navajo and Sikh traditions-a confluence of many wisdom rivers-shared their respective practices of peace awakening our collective capacity to live peace in our selves as a daily practice.

Why Attend?

We are all aware that this is one of the most important times in the history of humanity. There is a profound shift in the consciousness on our planet and it is vital that we each have the opportunity to play our part in this critical time.
Discipline of Peace is one way to remember Universal Principles and Practices that give us the tools to live in peace in our families, communities and places of work.

In this once in a lifetime experience, you will learn:
§ insightful tools to deepen your natural intelligence
§ how to no longer be limited by old emotional reactions
§ practices of consciousness that open you to your full potential
§ how to release stress and pressure
§ how to grow richer and fuller relationships
§ how to fulfill the deepest yearnings of your heart
§ how to empower your own unique gifts
§ how to make a contribution to make the world a better place
§ how to increase your happiness and well being
Join us and become a part of a large family of humans involved in the People's Movement of First Peace around the world.
There are several ways to be engaged.
§ Attend the SeedPlanting Talks and Introductions and learn some profound tools for your own practice.
§ Consider starting a Circle in your neighborhood or community and practice the tools using the year-long curriculum.
§ Attend the SeedPlanter Training and carry the message of First Peace, living peace in the self.
This is a way to change the world by changing ourselves. We welcome your participation.

Real Life Yoga
Brand new location - Brand new studio
101 Adams St. , Quincy
walking distance from Quincy Center T

Located in Holbrook Too!
239 Franklin st. (37) on Braintree line

Check out our low prices
Drop-in ----$12.00
6 classes ---$65.00
8 classes---$80.00
10 classes--$100.00

Feng-Shui - with Lu Ann Radcliff
Saturday Oct.9th 2:00-3:30pm
create harmony-health-prosperity-using Feng-Shui principles
$25.00 pre-registration - $30.00 day of

More DOGA!  - with Alexis and Dee
Monday October 11, 12:00-12:45pm
Yoga 4 You and your Dog - A great way to connect with your companion. In our lovely fenced in play area, enjoy a playful, calming & rewarding experience. Water and healthy treats will be providedplease bring your pets favorite blanket. A phone interview is necessary for all participants still time to sign up

Kundalini Yoga - Guruatma Kaur Khalsa, IKYTA
October 17th 6:30-7:45PM
with the use of the ancient sound of the gong be taken to the deepest chamber of your heart breath of fire and Kudalini poses to strengthen your whole being from the inside out.an experience you don't want to miss
beginners to novice.
$20.00 pre-register $25.00 day of   space is limited , preregister recommended

Restorative Yoga Class
Sunday Oct. 24th 6:30-8:00pm
with Reiki Masters -Mary O'Toole & Dee Lyon
We call this the pillow yoga class with the use of props for soothing -healing & transforming yoga poses -beginners to the novice relax and breath in a supported atmosphere that will help create a stress free calm mind.  only $20.00

Children Yoga Teacher Certification (through Finding Inner Peace Yoga School)http://www.certifcationinyoga.com/)
Oct. 16th-17th
11am-6:00pm

Senior Yoga Teacher Certification
Oct. 23rd-24th
11am-6:00pm

Pre-natal Yoga Teacher Certification
Nov. 6th &7th
11am - 6pm
Drumming Meditation Class
November 11th - 7:30pm
$15.00 before Nov. 7th $20.00 after
cerification class for drumming and Reiki coming too!



Southern Baptist leader on yoga: Not Christianity

AVIDYA!!!!   Wow what a threat we "yogis and yoginis" are to organized religious fanatics - Maureen

By DYLAN LOVAN, Associated Press Writer Dylan Lovan, Associated Press Writer – Thu Oct 7, 5:32

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – A Southern Baptist leader who is calling for Christians to avoid yoga and its spiritual attachments is getting plenty of pushback from enthusiasts who defend the ancient practice.

Southern Baptist Seminary President Albert Mohler says the stretching and meditative discipline derived from Eastern religions is not a Christian pathway to God.

Mohler said he objects to "the idea that the body is a vehicle for reaching consciousness with the divine."
"That's just not Christianity," Mohler told The Associated Press.
Mohler said feedback has come through e-mail and comments on blogs and other websites since he wrote an essay to address questions about yoga he has heard for years.
"I'm really surprised by the depth of the commitment to yoga found on the part of many who identify as Christians," Mohler said.
Yoga fans say their numbers have been growing in the U.S. A 2008 study by the Yoga Journal put the number at 15.8 million, or nearly 7 percent of adults. About 6.7 percent of American adults are Southern Baptists, according to a 2007 survey by the Pew Research Center Forum on Religion & Public Life.
Mohler argued in his online essay last month that Christians who practice yoga "must either deny the reality of what yoga represents or fail to see the contradictions between their Christian commitments and their embrace of yoga."
He said his view is "not an eccentric Christian position."

Other Christian leaders have said practicing yoga is incompatible with the teachings of Jesus. Pat Robertson has called the chanting and other spiritual components that go along with yoga "really spooky." California megachurch pastor John MacArthur called yoga a "false religion." Muslim clerics have banned Muslims from practicing yoga in Egypt, Malaysia and Indonesia, citing similar concerns.

Yoga proponents say the wide-ranging discipline, which originated in India, offers physical and mental healing through stretching poses and concentration.

"Lots of people come to yoga because they are often in chronic pain. Others come because they think it's a nice workout," said Allison Terracio, who runs the Infinite Bliss studio in Louisville.

And some yoga studios have made the techniques more palatable for Christians by removing the chanting and associations to eastern religions, namely Hinduism and its multiple deities.

Stephanie Dillon, who has injected Christian themes into her studio in Louisville, said yoga brought her closer to her Christian faith, which had faded after college and service in the Army.

"What I found is that it opened my spirit, it renewed my spirituality," Dillon said. "That happened first and then I went back to church." Dillon attends Southeast Christian Church in Louisville and says many evangelical Christians from the church attend her yoga classes.

She said she prayed on the question of whether to mix yoga and Christianity before opening her studio, PM Yoga, where she discusses her relationship with Jesus during classes.

"My objection (to Mohler's view) personally is that I feel that yoga enhances a person's spirituality," Dillon said. "I don't like to look at religion from a law standpoint but a relationship standpoint, a relationship with Jesus Christ specifically."

Mohler wrote the essay after reading "The Subtle Body," where author Stefanie Syman traces the history of yoga in America. Syman noted the growing popularity of yoga in the U.S. by pointing out that first lady Michelle Obama has added it to the festivities at the annual White House Easter Egg Roll on the front lawn.

Mohler said many people have written him to say they're simply doing exercises and forgoing yoga's eastern mysticism and meditation. "My response to that would be simple and straightforward: You're just not doing yoga," Mohler said

Glucosamine and Chondroitin - No Clinical Relevant Effect on Joint Pain

Researchers analyzed the results of 10 published trials involving 3,803 patients with knee or hip osteoarthritis. They assessed changes in levels of pain after patients took glucosamine, chondroitin, or their combination with placebo or head to head. They found no clinically relevant effect of chondroitin, glucosamine, or their combination on perceived joint pain or on joint space narrowing.
Despite this finding, some patients are convinced that these preparations are beneficial, say the authors. They suggest this might be because of the natural course of osteoarthritis or the placebo effect.
Compared with placebo, glucosamine, chondroitin, and their combination do not reduce joint pain or have an impact on narrowing of joint space.

Source: Simon Wandel, Peter Jüni, Britta Tendal, Eveline Nüesch, Peter M Villiger, Nicky J Welton, Stephan Reichenbach, Sven Trelle. Effects of glucosamine, chondroitin, or placebo in patients with osteoarthritis of the hip or knee: network meta-analysis. British Medical Journal, 2010

Lotus Palm Thai Massage Intensive Level 1

Lotus Palm Thai Massage Intensive Level 1


December 1st-5th, 2010
B Yoga Center - just minutes away from downtown Boston and close to public transportation!
Early Bird Special if Registered by Oct. 15th (10% discount)
After October 15th: $580.00

Instructor: Shai Plonski.

The 5-Day Intensive is the first half of the complete certification program in this healing art. This is a unique opportunity to study with Lotus Palm in the Boston area!

You will learn:
• A complete, full-body, one-and-a-half-hour massage
• The training and knowledge to give clients a Thai Yoga Massage
• The fundamentals of effortless, flowing transitions between postures
• The history and philosophy of Thai Yoga Massage
• Energy balance through acupressure and Thai energy line

Lotus Palm Thai Yoga Massage School is the foremost institution in North America specializing in traditional Thai massage. They have trained thousands of students world-wide and are approved by the some of the most highly recognized massage associations, yoga centers and hotels, a few of which are listed below.
http://www.lotuspalm.com/
For more information, or to register by phone, call 781-475-2520 or email Renee@byogacenter.com

B Yoga Center
537 Main St.
Melrose, MA 02176
781-475-2520
http://www.byogacenter.com/

Yoga Specialty Teacher Certifications - Certification in Yoga

Yoga Specialty Teacher Certifications - Certification in Yoga

Sign up for the fall specialty yoga teacher certifications online through paypal! Easy and convenient - hope you can join us this fall for these excellent workshops! All are being held at Real Life Yoga Studio, 101 Adams Street, Quincy, MA. 02169

Brain Disorders and Yoga Workshop - October 23-24, 2010

OCTOBER 23, 2010
Workshop Day 1
10:00 am -5:00pm


OCTOBER 24, 2010
Workshop Day 2
10:00 am -5:00pm


Faculty Teachers:

• Michelle Fleming, E-RYT                                                              
• Muhammad Absar, MD Diplomate, American Board of Psychiatry & Neurology
• Sara Gutekunst, Certified Brain Gym Therapist.

WORKSHOP DAY 1
10:00 am — 5:00 pm
Neuro-Anatomy Session: Basic structure of the central nervous system; Parts of the brain, cortex and subcortex; Simplified outline of the Neural circuitry & the effects of Yoga and exercise on neural pathways and  Neurotransmitters.  Neuro-Chemistry Session: Chemistry of neuro- transmitter system; Dopamine, Serotonin, Norepinephrine,  Acetyl Choline, GABA & Glutamate system. Pathways of pain, pleasure, rewards, emotion, memory, movement and perception.
Feeling Good Session: Neuro-biology of LOVE; Neural  pathways of pleasure; neuro-anatomy & neurochemistry of love, drugs, gambling & sexual addiction.
Practice of yoga as therapy in neurological disorders.

Workshop Day 2
10:00 am — 5:00 pm
Practical Aspects of Yoga as a Therapy in Brain Disorders. Combined session on overview of neurological diseases and yoga as a therapeutic modality.
Brain Gym and neurological disorders, Autism, head injury.
Brain Gym’s future in Alzheimer's disease treatment.

Target Audience:

Yoga  teachers/yoga therapist
Body worker/massage therapist/
Health care worker
Physical Therapist (PT)
Occupational Therapist (OT)
Social Worker
Nursing & Medical Professional
Patient, Family & Caregivers with Brain Disorders

Cost is only $225 for the weekend!


To Register - contact:
Sanctuary Studios

47 Main Street (Downtown Plymouth) MA
774-454-7290
http://www/.FindSanctuary.com

Chakra Yoga Workshop - Let It Flow to Glow! with Krista Basis October 2nd

Date: Sat 10/2/2010
Time: 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM

A brief 1-hour exploration of the the 7 major Chakras (energy centers) of the body - how they effect our yoga practice and every day life experience. Chakra is the sanskrit word meaning wheel or vortex. They are mentioned in the ancient Hindu texts, the Vedas, dating back to 300BC. There are seven major Chakras in the body. They run along the spine and correlate with certain body parts, emotions and senses. These centers help regulate our emotional and physical self. Blockages in the Chakras can cause confusion, illness and emotional upset. A Chakra will react by either opening up too wide to get what it needs, thereby filling up and becoming blocked or the Chakra will close down to protect itself and not allow energy in. By learning how our energy centers affect us and how to clear them we can enhance our lives. After our discussion, we will go through the "5 Tibetans" postures to get our Chakras flowing and end with a juicy 1 hour Yoga Flow class through each Chakra with a 15-minute guided savasana to balance and sooth the soul. Handouts about Chakras & 5 Tibetans to take away. You'll be glowing after this workshop from the inside out! 3 hour workshop is only a $25 investment in your health & well-being!

TO REGISTER:
 
http://clients.mindbodyonline.com/ws.asp?studioid=7500&stype=-8&sTG=23&sVT=32&sView=day

A Study of Intecessory Prayer and Healing

I see Reiki as a form of prayer - as we place our hands on another person's body - we concentrate (in yoga called "Dharana") - we sustain a one pointed mind in meditation (in yoga called "Dhyana") and we transcend space and time beyond the limiting energy of ego and third dimension - and merging and blending with the other person (called "Samadhi" in yoga) - and both of us experiencing an amazing sense of peace, trust and serenity. In essence - the state of prayer.  More and more research is being done - to "prove" to the medical establishment that people can heal some diseases and conditions faster and better with assistance from others - whether with a practice such as Reiki - or a group of people focusing their energy (intercessory) directly to them in a state of prayer.  This is an interesting study just published on this topic.


Click here: Prayer can help bring healing, say researchers

Published in the Southern Medical Journal, the study is part of a larger research project investigating the power of spiritual healing practices to heal disease. For this particular study, Brown and her team investigated two charismatic Christian groups known for their healing prayer activities, one from Africa and one from South America.  The team measured the hearing and vision capabilities of impaired people both before and after they received proximal intercessory prayer, and discovered a "statistically significant" improvement in many of them after they had received prayer.
Two people with impaired hearing reduced the threshold at which they were able to detect sound by 50 decibels. Three people with vision impairment at 20/400 or worse improved to 20/80 or better after receiving prayer. One woman who was virtually blind before receiving prayer was able to not only see a person's hand afterward, but was able to count the person's fingers and read the 20/125 line on a vision chart. Brown explained that Christian subgroups that practice proximal intercessory prayer are among the fastest growing groups worldwide because of this phenomenon.
"If [people] feel that a particular religious or spiritual practice healed them, they are much more likely to become an adherent. This phenomenon, more than any other, accounts for the growth of these Christian subgroups globally," she explained.
"Study of the Therapeutic Effects of Proximal Intercessory Prayer (STEPP) on Auditory and Visual Impairments in Rural Mozambique." Southern Medical Journal, September 2010, Volume 103, Issue 9
To speak to the author, Candy Gunther Brown, an associate professor in the Department of Religious Studies at IU and author of the study contact Steve Hinnefeld at the IU Office of University Communications, 812-856-3488 or slhinnef@indiana.edu.

Yoga School Kit - Turn Key Approach to Yoga Teacher Certification

http://www.yogaschoolkit.com
The Finding Inner Peace Yoga School started training teachers in 1996.  The first class included 4 students and grew to over 100 graduates a year.  Since it's inception over 500 student have graduated from the program.
Maureen Spencer, RN has been the Executive Director and trained many of the graduates in her studio in Abington from 1997 - 2003.  After closing the studio in December 2003 she rented space from Open Doors in Braintree and then facilitated the transition of the program into other convenient locations that included:  Centerville Yoga, Charlestown Yoga, Breath Joy Yoga in Sharon, Open Heart Yoga in Dartmouth, Yoga Studio of Millis, BYoga Center of Melrose, Angel Center in Norwell, Duval Center of Norwell, Real Life Yoga in Weymouth, and the Sanctuary of Kingston and Plymouth. 

Now Maureen is transitioning out of the role of Program Director and into a content provider and sharing her wealth of knowledge of how to run a yoga teacher certification program with the introduction of the new Yoga School Kit - a turn key business approach to setting up a program at your location.  The kit contains an instructional CD with all the necessary forms and applications to become a Registered Yoga School with the Yoga Alliance, a curriculum guide with easy to follow lesson plans, three DVDs with 6 modules of yoga methodology, and a copy of Yoga in America and Patanjali's Sutras.  Purchasers of the kits can then obtain curriculums and DVDs at wholesale prices to use immediately with their student enrollees.

Other educational handouts are now available on the Finding Inner Peace website.  http://www.findinginnerpeace.com/

http://www.maureenspencer.com/

Prenatal Yoga Teacher Certification - Plymouth - Graduates July 10-11 2010

On July 11th - 7 students graduated from the Finding Inner Peace Prenatal Yoga Teacher Certification course - hosted by Michelle Fleming at the Sanctuary of Plymouth.  Congratulations to these new specialty yoga teachers!

Educational Tools for Yoga Teachers: Partner, Restorative, Chair, Sun Salute, Lecture Slides, etc

www.findinginnerpeace.com/products.php

Finding Inner Peace Educational Tools:
Partner Yoga
Restorative Yoga
Yoga with Weights
Seated Yoga in a Chair
Chair Standing Poses
Beginners Sequence of Poses
Structural Alignment and Yoga Props
Sun and Moon Salutation and Modifications

Lecture Slide Sets:
Yoga for Fibromyalgia
Yoga for Diabetes and Obesity
Yoga, Meditation, Mudra, Bandhas and Pranayama
Yoga Anatomy
Yoga for Cancer
Yoga for Cardiac Conditions
Stress Recess for the Caregiver

DVDs:
Partner Yoga
Restorative Yoga
Yoga with a Chair
Yogassage
Reiki Hand Positions
Yoga with Weights

Childrens Yoga Teacher Certification August 7-8, 2010

August 7-8, 2010   Saturday-Sunday

Faculty: Suzanne O'Daly,RYT, Special Education Teacher, Color Me Yoga Certified Teacher – teaching yoga to autistic children
Michelle Fleming, RYT, Owner, Sanctuary of Plymouth Yoga Studio
Kristin Collins-Dooner, RYT Childrens Yoga Teacher

Location: The Sanctuary of Plymouth
47 Main Street – 2nd Floor
Plymouth, Ma 02360
http://www.findsanctuary.com/
Times: Sat 10:00am – 5:00pm
Sun 10:00pm – 5:00pm
Fee: $195.00 includes course materials and certificate
Yoga helps fine tune motor coordination and can help a child gain more control over a developing body. Many yoga poses massage organs and glands and help them to stay healthy and active. The best part of all is that yoga classes for children are fun! We will teach you how to incorporate games and music to help keep the children engaged. Children who do yoga have an advantage. For example, yoga helps children become
more self-confident and self-aware, as well as more physically fit. And that's just for starters. Yoga has been known to help with many medical conditions, such as asthma, insomnia, digestive problems, ADD and learning disabilities, to name a few. Email Maureen Spencer, RN for a registration form:  yogareikisound@yahoo.com

Prenatal Yoga Teacher Certification - Plymouth

JULY 10-11, 2010
SANCTUARY OF PLYMOUTH
http://www.findsanctuary.com/

Faculty: Michelle Fleming, RYT,

Kristin Collins-Dooner, RYT and other faculty teachers
Location: The Sanctuary of Plymouth, 47 Main Street, Plymouth, MA
Yoga practice during pregnancy may enhance the pregnancy experience and contribute to a shorter, more physicologic labor and a decreased likelihood of operative intervention, including cesarean section and operative vaginal delivery (forceps and vacuum). Because of the physiologic changes during pregnancy and the alteration of the normal anatomy, care must be exercised when teaching yoga to pregnant patients. In this course we will review basic physiologic and anatomical changes in pregnancy that mandate an alternative approach to the usual yoga practice. Participants will learn which postures to avoid in each of the three trimesters and will become aware of the usual postures which need to be modified because of the changes that occur as pregnancy progresses. Postures that enhance the opportunity of normal vaginal delivery will be emphasized and a routine yoga practice for pregnant patients will be emphasized. Teachers of yoga will become more comfortable with instructing pregnant patients to enjoy yoga during this wonderful time of their lives.
15 contact hours for nurses.

TO REGISTER - CONTACT MAUREEN SPENCER, RN FOR A REGISTRATION FORM
email: yogareikisound@yahoo.com

Evening Stretch & Relaxation - Grace Furnari @ HealingMoon Wellness Center

At the end of the day, allow your mind and body to relax… to be in the present moment…


The stresses of everyday life can take its toll and at the end of the day the body needs a chance to stretch, replenish and restore.
Join Grace Furnari, RYT for this class that will explore simple stretching and breathing techniques that can help with mental clarity and relaxation, as well as postures to help release muscle tightness and tension. Grace was diagnosed with fibromyalgia 10 years ago and found that this style of gentle yoga helped her symptoms diminish dramatically.No yoga experience required.

NEW DAY & TIME starting July 1
Thursdays at 6:00 - 7:00 p.m.    -    Special Summer Drop in rate - $12.00 per class.  Please register in advance. To reserve a space contact:
Grace Furnari (781) 267-6109 or sss1030@aol.com.
www.meetup.com/Yoga-with-Grace/

Located at:
The Healing Moon Wellness Center
One Walpole Street, ~ Norwood, MA
(Located Across from Conrad’s Restaurant)
781-769-1121 www.TheHealingMoon.com

Events with Spirit Messenger - Anne Barnes

Events with Spirit Messenger - Anne Barnes

Energy Awareness & Reiki I For Kids
Saturday, June 26th 1:30-6:00 $75. including reiki attunement, manual, and certificate.
The Healing Moon in Norwood.

Angel Card Readings
Wednesdays and Fridays 10:00-2:00 beginning July 7th 15min/$25, 30min/$40, 60min/$80 Call to schedule. Drop-ins welcome! AND Thursday evenings 5:30-9:00 by appointment only.
The Healing Moon in Norwood.
Lunchtime Guide Meditations
every Thursday 12:00-12:45 beginning July 8th. $10.00 drop-in/series of 4 weeks $30. The Healing Moon in Norwood.
Team Angel Readings
 with Kristyn Mazzini & Anna Barnes
Thursday, July 8th 6:00-9:00 $75. for 30 minute reading, including tape recording of session. Please call to book appointment. The Healing Moon in Norwood.
Table Tipping: Connecting with Spirit Workshop
Friday, July 9th 6:30-9:30 $40. In this workshop you will learn all about the physical phenomenon of communicating with spirit through table tipping. Hands-on experience! Bellas Bodyworks in Weymouth.
Chakra & Angel Card Readings
Saturday, July 10th 10:00-2:00. 15min/$25, 30min/$40, 60min/$80 Call to schedule. Drop-ins welcome! The Healing Moon in Norwood.
Journey with the Ascended Master Class Focus: Merlin the Wizard & Buddha
Monday, July 12th 7:00-9:00 $22./class or Wednesday, July 14th 12:30-2:30 $18. The Healing Moon in Norwood
Table Tipping: Connecting with Spirit Workshop
Thursday, July 15th 6:30-9:30 $40. (see description above.)
Heaven on Earth in Pembroke. With Teresa Lally.
Dowsing for Newbies Class
Using the Pendulum & Dowsing Rods. Friday, July 16th 7:00-8:30 $15.
The Healing Moon in Norwood
Table Tipping: Connecting with Spirit Workshop
Friday, July 23rd 6:30-9:30 $40. (see description above.)
The Healing Moon in Norwood.
Psychic Kids Camp
Tuesdays, July 27th, August 3rd, August 10th 6:30-8:00 Topics will include using crystals and pendulums, working with Angels & guides, and chakras & energy. $20. per class
781-974-5130

annabarnes80@yahoo.com

Spending Time in Nature Makes People Feel More Alive, Study Shows

ScienceDaily (2010-06-04) -- Being outside in nature makes people feel more alive, finds a series of studies. And that sense of increased vitality exists above and beyond the energizing effects of physical activity and social interaction that are often associated with our forays into the natural world. ... "Nature is fuel for the soul, " says Richard Ryan, lead author and a professor of psychology at the University of Rochester. "Often when we feel depleted we reach for a cup of coffee, but research suggests a better way to get energized is to connect with nature," he says.

The findings, adds Ryan, are important for both mental and physical health. "Research has shown that people with a greater sense of vitality don't just have more energy for things they want to do, they are also more resilient to physical illnesses. One of the pathways to health may be to spend more time in natural settings," says Ryan. In recent years, numerous experimental psychology studies have linked exposure to nature with increased energy and heightened sense of well-being. For example, research has shown that people on wilderness excursions report feeling more alive and that just recalling outdoor experiences increases feelings of happiness and health. Other studies suggest that the very presence of nature helps to ward off feelings of exhaustion and that 90 percent of people report increased energy when placed in outdoor activities.
What is novel about this research, write the authors, is that it carefully tests whether this increased vitality associated with the outdoors is simply the feel-good spillover from physical activity and people-mixing often present in these situations. To tease out the effects of nature alone, the authors conducted five separate experiments, involving 537 college students in actual and imagined contexts. In one experiment, participants were led on a 15-minute walk through indoor hallways or along a tree-lined river path. In another, the undergraduates viewed photographic scenes of buildings or landscapes. A third experiment required students to imagine themselves in a variety of situations both active and sedentary, inside and out, and with and without others.
Two final experiments tracked participants' moods and energy levels throughout the day using diary entries. Over either four days or two weeks, students recorded their exercise, social interactions, time spent outside, and exposure to natural environments, including plants and windows.
Across all methodologies, individuals consistently felt more energetic when they spent time in natural settings or imagined themselves in such situations. The findings were particularly robust, notes Ryan; being outside in nature for just 20 minutes in a day was enough to significantly boost vitality levels. Interestingly, in the last study, the presence of nature had an independent energizing effect above that of being outdoors. In other words, conclude the authors, being outdoors was vitalizing in large part because of the presence of nature.
The paper builds on earlier research by Ryan, Netta Weinstein, a psychologist at the University of Hamburg, Germany, and others showing that people are more caring and generous when exposed to nature. "We have a natural connection with living things," says Ryan. "Nature is something within which we flourish, so having it be more a part of our lives is critical, especially when we live and work in built environments." These studies, concludes Ryan, underscore the importance of having access to parks and natural surroundings and of incorporating natural elements into our buildings through windows and indoor plants.


http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/06/100603172219.htm

Anatomy for Yoga for Teachers & Serious Students

Anatomy for Yoga  for Teachers & Serious Students
Three Classes in Anatomy
Taught by Arthur Kilmurray

June 27, July 18, & Aug 22
3:00 to 6:00pm

Location: Charlestown Yoga, 191 Main Street, Charlestown, MA
Cost: $100 for series
$40 per session

Week 1: Feet and legs, Hands, arms and shoulders
Week 2: Spine including ribs, pelvis and skull
Week 3: Major organs

Classes will include:
 Hands on work with skeleton
 Observation of anatomy in relevant yoga poses
 Practice of specific poses to highlight material
 Questions
*These classes will focus mostly on bones, except for the illio-psoas, a key muscle of integration. The last class, on organs, will look at the interior of the trunk and how the organs sit in relationship to each other.

Arthur Kilmurray is one of the leading yoga instructors in the United States . He is currently studying Advaita Vedanta under the guidance of Swami Dayananda, the Non-Dual teachings of Eckhart Tolle, and Dzogchen, and integrating these enquiries into his yoga classes. His asana (yoga postures) instruction is informed by over 29 years of study in the system devised by Yogacharya B.K.S. Iyengar and his annual studies with his primary teacher, Ramanand Patel. Mukesh Desai, master artist and teacher of classical Indian vocal music and Ramanand's partner in "Yoga and Sound" has for 14 years provided Arthur an in depth immersion in the nature of sound and breath. The influence of movement pioneers Emilie Conrad, Bonnie Bainbridge Cohen and Caryn McHose have greatly broadened his perspective on the classical poses and the relationship between form and flow in them. Thomas Berry, Brian Swimme and Ken Wilber provide a cosmic perspective for understanding the historical moment and the unfolding of human consciousness. Arthur sees the yoga poses as vehicles to embody the spiritual connectedness of our own physical existence with Mother Earth and the Living Kosmos and as an entry point into the Great Awakening.  Arthur is co-founder and co-director of Mystic River Yoga.