Yoga Tree March/April 2010

March - April, 2010

Kamloops’ Free eY Yoga oga and and Wellness Wellness Magazine

www.yogatreebc.com

HEART Resonance Shamanism and the Sacred Directions the

Impossible Journey KAMLOOPS Canadian & International FILM FESTIVAL

Know

the pHacts!

Creativity & Yoga: Stretching Your Imagination

Workplace Yoga Aromatherapy Body Management PHOTO: JENNIFER POOHACHOFF

(250) 374-7426

NOW OPEN

Introductory offer: $20 fo r unlimited hot yoga for 7 consecutiv e days!

& Kid’s Yoga – done in room temperature

90 minute Hot Yoga Classes 7 days a week

kamloopshotyoga.com

954-C Laval Crescent (Right beside Cliffside Climbing Gym)

Ordinary Miracle

On the Cover:

A Sunday Service for ALL

We welcome you to come and share your Spirit with us in a service of celebration! Join us for singing, readings from A Course in Miracles and heartfelt sharing of spiritual insights delivered by speakers from all walks of life. Give yourself this time for introspection through prayer and meditation.

March - April, 2010

Kamlo

ine Wellness Magaz and Wellne Yoga and e Yoga ops’ Free

m

HEART Resonance Shamanism and the Sacred Directions the

Impossible Journey KAMLOOPS

Photo taken in Jodhpur (the blue city) in India last fall.

FILM FESTIVAL

KnowpHacts! the

: Creativity & Yoga Your

Stretching Imagination

March 7th, 21st, April 4th & 18th 250-554-6707

Photograph and design of cover by local graphic designer, Jennifer Poohachoff.

tional Canadian & Interna

10:00 am # 204 - 535 Tranquille Road

www.yogatreebc.co

Workplace Yoga Aromatherapy Body Management PHOTO: JENNIFER

POOHACHOFF

www.bluezoo.ca

Issue #14

Heart Resonance Therapy

Lead From Your Heart

By Jacqueline A. Kania

Heart Resonance is a simple solution to relieve the stresses of daily life.

The intention of Heart Resonance Therapy is to provide Divine Love Healing. This will allow you to create your life in the powerful, positive environment of love and to assist you in raising your positive vibrational level so that you can transition smoothly and easily with our planet as it moves into the next cycle of its transit.

Heart Resonance is a practical and simple approach that works through a powerful transmission process that connects you to “Divine Love Energy”. This heart-based energy is a compelling and positive force, calling you to balance and heal. The beauty of Heart Resonance is in its simplicity. It is easy to learn and effective to use. Once connected to this energy source you will be taught to use your breath to amplify and expand this energy. You will be able to use it to heal yourself, others and the planet. As a matter of fact, if you can breathe you can become proficient with Heart Resonance Energy and you will regain the peacefulness that is your divine birthright.

Energy fields surround our bodies and while we are not always aware of these fields, they are present and we are sensitive to them and their effects on us. You may experience a feeling of joy and enthusiasm when you are in the presence of another person who is enthusiastic and joyful. You may have also experienced being in the presence of someone who left you feeling uncomfortable, upset or tired because of their negative demeanour, anger or low energy level. You might say the difference between these two interactions would be the attitude or the manner of these people and you would be correct. On a

deeper level there was an energy exchange, which is described in Heart Resonance Therapy as entrainment. Entrainment means being pulled into alignment with the most powerful energy field, negative or positive. Heart Resonance Energy strengthens your energy field, bringing it to a higher positive frequency making yours the most powerful energy, thereby entraining all others to this higher frequency.

You can learn how to strengthen your energy field through the practical techniques taught in the Level One and Level Two Heart Resonance Workshops. You will experience a sense of joy and contentment in all areas of your life and you will develop an ability to manifest quickly and easily. Heart Resonance Energy nourishes your spirit, re-energizes your physical body and dissolves disharmony to enhance your life with love. Working within the energy systems of your body it effectively clears negative emotions, residual feelings, and old beliefs, leaving a tranquillity that allows for resourcefulness and healing on all levels.

Jacqueline A. Kania CHt, HRT Trilogic Hypnosis www.trilogichypnosis.com Jacqueline is a Certified Level 3 Heart Resonance Practitioner, Certified Level 2 Reiki Practitioner, Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist & a Certified NLP Practitioner.

For more information about Heart Resonance Therapy and Heart Resonance Workshops contact Jacqueline A. Kania at 604-534-2990 or info@www.trilogichypnosis.com or go to the website www.trilogichypnosis.com Jacqueline will be in Kamloops facilitating Level One and Level Two Workshops at KSOC-Kamloops Sport & Orthopedic Clinic on March 27 & 28, 2010.

See ad below.

Heart Resonance Therapy Workshop March 27 & 28 2010

Lead Your Life From Your Heart - Heart Resonance Energy: Yours To Discover!

An Evening Introduction to Heart Resonance Therapy March 26, 2010 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM Level One and Level Two Workshops March 27 & 28, 2010 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM Jacqueline A. Kania 604-534-2990 info@trilogichypnosis.com www.trilogichypnosis.com

LOCATION: Kamloops Sport & Orthopedic Clinic #200 1201 Summit Dr. Kamloops, BC (250) 377-3367 www.yogatreebc.com

1

March - April, 2010

My Own Yogathon The first few times I sat in yoga classes and listened to the teacher tell me how to breathe, I thought, “This is ridiculous! I already know how to breathe; why did my mom suggest this? What a waste of money!” Then I realized that I didn't know how to breathe, or at least I had mostly forgotten.

After those first classes with Tyson Bartel, I became an addict.

Soon one class was not enough; I had my mellow class with Tyson on Tuesday nights (right before the best sleep of the week), and also started attending a “wake your self up” kind of yoga class on Saturday mornings with Juergen and sometimes Martina his partner. I must confess that my regular attendance did slide to some degree after about a year. If I recall, it was a busy farming summer that cut me off from yoga.

I have since taken classes with Margaret, Elizabeth, Katrina, Dan, Stephen and Anita, Christine, Caroline, and most recently, Samantha. The different teaching styles and types of yoga (and other body awareness methods) have all influenced my personal health and given me a general sense of my body that I never received during my many years of rugby. In fact, the yoga I have been practising has exposed injuries from mountain biking that I never even knew I had. And of course there are a lot of mental benefits!

You can experience the benefit of all these teachings too! Join me at the Green Yogathon, a fundraiser for the Green Party. April 17 at Let’s Move Studio www.yogatreebc.com for more info! See schedule below Donovan Cavers, 250-852-2264 transitional GPC candidate, owner Conscientious Catering

Green Yogathon Great exercise for the mind and body

925 McGill Place @ Sunmore Spa Style

Instructor

9 am 10 am 11 am 12 pm 1 pm 2 pm 3 pm

Yoga Easy Bikram Hatha Tree Hatha Aware

Christine Tyson Anita Margaret Olga with Donovan Sam or Elizabeth Colleen

By Trina Redman

The health statistics regarding our children today are alarming. As they lead increasingly sedentary lives the rates of hypertension, diabetes and health issues related to obesity are rising. According to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, rates of obesity and overweight among children and youth aged 2-17 are increasing. Of equal concern is the impact of multiple life stressors on children and youth resulting in diagnoses of ADD, ADHD, ODD, anxiety disorders, depression, insomnia and so on, often resulting in our children being provided with prescriptions to address the particular concern. Some health experts predict that for the first time ever, the life expectancy of our children may be less than our own.

Practitioners of yoga have known for centuries the restorative and healing benefits of yoga, not only physically but mentally and spiritually. A social worker in the child welfare field for 15 years, I started practicing hot yoga five years ago to deal with the stressors inherent in such an emotionally demanding job. I began to see the benefits in my own life: decreased anxiety, decreased blood pressure, improved mood, increased energy, weight loss – the benefits were endless. I started to consider the children that I worked with who were under significant stressors – family crisis, violence, abuse, frequent foster placement changes, numerous losses and wondered what the benefits of yoga might be for the children facing these traumatic events.

The first YogaKid’s classes started in Kamloops on Valentine’s Day week-end with a resounding success. Twenty children ages 3 – 11 were the first group of YogaKids. This initial turn-out far exceeded my expectations! The first session (of 8 classes) has now begun - the fantastic turnout and participation has continued. If you wonder about kids in savasana – today when we got to the end of class for savasana a five year old girl said out loud “finally, that’s what I was waiting for”. The benefits of yoga for kids are numerous: increased joint mobility, sleep, immunity, strength, flexibility, hand-eye coordination, improvements in mood, sense of well-being and self-acceptance to name just a few.

BY DONATION yogatreebc.com for updates & more info 2

KIDS

As a result, I researched different yoga programs for kids and discovered theYogaKid’s program which was created by Marsha Wenig.

This approach to yoga focuses on learning. Wenig combined the ideas of Howard Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences Theory and created 14 elements that make up the foundation of YogaKids. The training for this approach provides the teaching foundation for all children and further specializes on children presenting with different needs. I have completed the Foundations training and am working to become fully certified.

Saturday, April 17th 9am - 4pm Let’s Move Studio Time

Yoga for

For more information on Kamloops YogaKids please check out my website at: www.kamloopshotyoga.com; for further information on YogaKids click on the link to their website.

www.yogatreebc.com

Issue #14

Body Management

Touch for Health is a wonderful non-invasive way for people to heal themselves. It is true that the human body wants to be well, but circumstances sometimes prevent that.

In many cases, poor health is caused by a loss of energy due to a blockage in the flow of electricity through the body’s system of meridians. The healing process usually begins when the body is able to correct its problems. We can help it do this by restoring the current that normally flows through the body’s 26 meridians. These meridians were discovered and have been used by the Chinese in acupuncture for centuries, and have since been confirmed by more modern methods.

lapsed (sagging) it usually lies on top of the uterus in women, pushing it over to the left, compressing the ovaries causing menstrual difficulties, pain, and infertility. In men the colon hangs on the prostate, adversely affecting its function.

In both sexes, the

By George Cheyne bladder is also compressed and the kidneys can become compromised. The stomach hangs down in a "J" shape causing pooling of stomach acid, esophageal regurgitation, and may also cause a hiatus hernia, which if left unattended, can mimic a heart attack. The fundus of the stomach (the part that holds gas) swings up to the left and impairs the function of the diaphragm, the left lung, kidney, and spleen, causing problems in those organs as well. A prolapsed, sagging colon makes In Touch for Health, we can determine if energy flows are adequate transfer of vital nutrients to the liver more difficult. by testing the strength of various indicator muscles in the body. By proper positioning of these muscles, we can isolate them and test to Using several simple and painless Body Management techniques, we see if a meridian is weak or not. If the muscle tests weak we know re-energize the colon, stomach, and other organs allowing us to easily that the meridian, and possibly its associated organ, is not functioning and painlessly move them back ‘home’. Muscle testing ensures that properly. We know that when one meridian is weak, energy flow the corrections we did were successful! This total procedure is called through all of the meridians is reduced by as much as 40% thus com- a Balance, and when complete, will allow recommended herbal promising all organs in the body. There are several ways of strength- cleanses and remedies to be far more effective. We may also do effiening a weak muscle/meridian/organ and we can use any or all of cacy testing after a balance to determine which herbal remedies will them to perform the correction. Once we do the appropriate proce- be most effective in a person’s body, since substances that are not dure, the muscle/meridian/organ will test strong, and the person will right for an individual will adversely affect energy levels and make be on the road to recovery! muscles test weak.

Body Management has been called ‘Beyond Touch for Health’! Practitioners assist the skeletal system to realign itself, by relaxing the various muscles that hold the bones and joints in place. We can then help the body to more easily correct misalignments in the lower and upper back, neck and any other sore joints in the body. Once the skeletal system is properly aligned, we move on to corrections of other organ systems in the body. Stress or physical injuries turn off electrical energy in the body, initially causing a prolapsed “transverse” colon leading to fecal impactions, infestation by candida and parasites and other unwelcome micro-organisms. A toxic colon can be verified using Dry Blood Analysis and a prolapsed colon can also be detected using Touch for Health muscle testing techniques.

There is a domino effect in the abdomen that starts with a prolapsed transverse colon! When the transverse colon, (large intestine) is pro-

At Cheyne Health we teach Body Management and Muscle Testing. Our next course will be held on May 15th and 16th, and May 29th and 30th. Call 250-804-4776 for more information and a registration package will be sent to you.

Live Love Laugh Wellness Clinic

Infrared Sauna - Nutritional Counselling - Life Coaching Bionetic Practitioner, Health Educator, Homeopathic Medicine, Australian Bush Flowers for Emotional Healing, Essential oils and Acupuncture/Aroma Therapy, Infrared Sauna Sales and Therapy

Mary Dunsdon

425 Dairy Road Kamloops B.C. 250-579-8011 mary@livelovelaughwellness.com

Blood Analysis

www.yogatreebc.com

3

March - April, 2010

A Map for the Yoga Journey felt magical that the simple combination of those elements left me feeling SO good. How I felt after that class was the impetus to begin what has become a lifelong journey of learning and exploring. I really had no idea where Yoga would take me, or what it meant, but I instinctively knew I could trust it. Although I've stepped out of, and back into this journey over the past two decades, it is/was all Yoga, and the point is, I kept coming back.

By Margaret Huff

Enlightenment, joy, and peace can never be given to you by another. The well is inside you.

Thich Nhat Hahn

After leaving my first yoga class twenty-three years ago, my world felt rocked. I was amazed how I felt: tingling, energetic and more alive than I remembered ever feeling. I had been intrigued during the class by the attention to body, breath and movement, and yet it still

r sh you Unlea iva!

D Inner

Divalicious

The Art of Burlesque Saturdays, 6-8pm March 13th & April 17th Slip into your sexy side & feel the empowerment of Divalicious!

Learn sensual movement choreography to create a ‘Diva Driven’ approach to a Burlesque style routine.

Please reserve your spot with Lill 250-320-8768 lill1@telus.net

The ultimate purpose of Yoga is expressed in different ways. For example, the goal of Yoga is to improve health; to still the thought waves of the mind; to realize our true nature as human beings; to experience the "union" of our various aspects into a whole which has integrity, power, and effectiveness. Yoga is an art and a science, and years of study have constantly revealed, new information about how I function, learn, and let go of dysfunction. For me it is an increasingly subtle journey revealing what feels like increasingly profound learnings, a gentle path that leads to an inner softening, or yielding, of places in me that tend towards hardening, or tensing, or resisting new levels of ease and absence of conflict in my mind and body. Paradoxically, the process requires some steadiness and stability to maintain, which is the discipline that makes it a conscious practice.

For a practitioner, the process can sometimes feel quite overwhelming. Most of us need some guidance about where to focus and attend so that the mind stays present and engaged in the study. In the fivethousand-year tradition of Yoga, practitioners have developed models of teaching and practice that have been passed down to the present, and still prove to be fresh and clear guides for seekers on the path.

One Yogic model, formulated several thousand years ago, that helps me to work and play in the field of awareness and sensation in my Yoga practice is that of the Koshas. Kosha translates as “veil” or "sheath", and in this model, five of these sheaths comprise a human being. The sheaths are like layers of the self and are said to house the true Self -- our deepest essence, which is said to be the most subtle and also the most powerful level of our humanity. Each sheath is part of the whole, and when we do the work of awareness and integration of the various facets of our being, we experience and understand our unified wholeness, our inter-connectedness with other

$25 Each

hop works

Let's Mov e Studio 910 McGill Place ( Sunmore Spa) 4

www.yogatreebc.com

Issue #14

beings, the planet and the universe.

The physical body is the outer and least subtle sheath, and is called the annamaya kosha. This is comprised of our anatomy, and the flesh, blood, muscle, bone and organs that we are made of. An individual body is a vast, intricate, harmonious, intelligent, self-adapting, complex, cooperative community, with billions of years of evolutionary history built into its very cells, tissues and system. In Yoga, the body is fundamentally honored as the temple of our souls, and we learn to pay attention to the body and its messages, so that we are able to respond to it with respect. In our cultural histories, the body hasn't always been viewed positively, and so as we learn about and listen to ourselves at the physical level, we often have some unlearning and releasing to embrace.

The vital air sheath, the pranamaya kosha, is more subtle, and is made up of the breath and bio-energy or prana: life force. Without this sheath of existence, there would be no life. Like the body, the breath/energy sheath is honoured and studied in Yoga. In Hatha Yoga practice there is great emphasis on the smooth, clear flow of breath and life force in the body and the mind. Practicing Yoga attunes our awareness to ourselves as energetic beings, infused with life, and we can often learn to sense imbalances before they manifest into larger health issues. Learning about and integrating this sheath requires practice and is a huge area of study in itself. The rewards can be profound and lead us into deeper levels of awareness and discovery. Discovery at this level helps us to become more sensitive to life force in our food, in our fellow humans, and in nature.

The third, and next more subtle kosha is called manomaya kosha, and is what we typically think of as our minds -- the everyday, emotional mind, sometimes referred to as "monkey mind". As Westerners, we are often strongly identified with this aspect of our humanity and survival, and many of us consider this as our "self". From an Eastern perspective, several categories of mind are seen to exist, and this aspect is referred to as the "lower" mind. The manomaya kosha can be the source of suffering and instability if we invest in it heavily as our "selves" and don't reach the deeper levels of ourselves. However, growing in our awareness of it as one aspect, and not the totality of who we are, can be a doorway to contacting deeper aspects of our minds and of the Self.

The fourth kosha, called the vijnyanamaya kosha, is a more subtle aspect of the mind, and is described as the wisdom mind, the witness, the inner observer, and the place of the non-judgmental awareness of all aspects of mind, emotion and body. From this aspect of the mind, which is characterized by open, loving, calm, curious observation, we

can begin to discover patterns of tension, thought, emotion and behaviour, and we start to understand that these experiences are not all that we are. As we cultivate strength in the "higher mind" and observe our thoughts, attitudes and emotions from this perspective, we get some distance and some relief from the machinations of our busy "monkey" mind, and the mind itself becomes more stable, calm and quiet. We begin to realize that we are much more than our thinking, opinions and emotions. This level of the self is the gateway to the less physical, more spiritual facets of our humanity.

And so, we can begin to attune to the fifth Kosha, the Anandamaya Kosha, the body of bliss. It has been described as the inner experience of peace, radiance, joy, rapture, tenderness, and is considered closest to the center of our being, and the fulfillment of our deepest desire as human beings. The actual time experiencing this level of ourselves may be limited to moments for many years, but those moments can be life-changing.

Life is change, regardless of what we do. A conscious exercise of will is required to get out our mats and cushions, and engage in exploring ourselves in a Yogic fashion, but as many readers may well already understand, the fruits of the practice are so valuable and keep prodding us back for more. We recognize that we have input into the direction of some of the constant, ever-unfolding change that is the nature of life and this amazing universe of which we are so incredibly blessed to be a part.

Margaret Huff instructs Yoga at the Mind-Body Connection, 253 Victoria St. on Mon, Tues, Wed, Fri and Sat. (250) 374-2748 or yogamindfully@hotmail.com.

Extraordinary Events, Let's Move Studio and Yoga Tree Magazine Present...

Extraordinary

WELLNESS FESTIVAL 2010 JUNE 4 - 6 at Let’s Move Studio

Classes, workshops, healing garden, entertainment, info tables, demonstrations, marketplace, healthy food, Saturday night dance and more!

Currently accepting applications for wellness practitioners, workshop leaders/speakers, vendors and artists! Contact us to apply!

www.yogatreebc.com 250-371-1938

100% Raw www.yogatreebc.com

5

March - April, 2010

Let’s Move

Yoga & Dance Studio

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Check our website for updates!

9:00 – 10:30 Yoga All Levels Elizabeth

10:00 – 11:30 Akhanda Yoga Angie

9:00 – 10:30 Yoga All Levels Elizabeth

9:00 – 10:30 Yoga All Levels Marcia

letsmovestudio.com

Saturday

925 McGill Place Just past TRU

250-372-9642

12:00 –1:00 Absolute Beginners Yoga

Angie Check our website for workshops! letsmovestudio.com

Bob Clark rdcphotographer.ca

All classes are open for drop-in ANYTIME! 4:55 – 5:55 American Tribal Bellydance Beginners Lucille

5:00 – 6:00 Yoga All Levels Elizabeth

6:00 – 7:00 Bollywood Dance All Levels Bonnie

5:00 – 6:30

5:00 – 6:30

Bellydance Beginners Rosi

Belly Dance Advanced Rosi

6:45 – 8:15

6:45 – 7:45

6:45 – 7:45

Yoga

Belly Core & More

Flow Yoga All Levels Natalie

All Levels Angie

Tina

Let’s Move Studio space available!

Classes, workshops, seminars and events, hourly and daily

Claire

$15 $65 $120 $72 $135

1hr Class $10 $45 $85 $96

Workshops

Divalicious, The Burlesque Workshop Saturdays from 6 to 8pm. March 13th & April 17th.

Bring long gloves and heels!

8:00 – 9:30 Tribal Fusion Bellydance

Class Fees Drop in Punch card 5x Punch card 10x Session: 6 weeks Session: 12 weeks

Check our website for a map to the studio, updates and more!

Invoking the Teacher Within Anusara Yoga with Elissa Gumushel April 9-11 see page 11 for info!

www.letsmovestudio.com

6

www.yogatreebc.com

Issue #14

The

Impossible

Journey

By Therese Dorer

Spring! I love this time of year because it spurs me into action to hike a mountain, plant my garden, take time to breathe deeply and explore the wonders of Mother Earth as she unveils her beauty. I often think of the hummingbird in spring and wait patiently for the first sight of this brave little bird to come to my garden.

directly from the sweet nectar of life as seamlessly and easily as the hummingbird drinks from the nectar of the flowers, needing no intermediary. Teaching us that we can connect directly to our purpose, strength and wisdom, we do not need someone else to explain our connection to the divine.

In the shamanic teachings, the hummingbird is the archetype of the North. She makes the seemingly impossible journey from South America to North America. This is a daunting task for one so small, and I was curious about the details of this journey. In my research I found these questions and answers about hummingbirds.

Besides watching for hummingbirds, spring is a time for planting seeds in our gardens. One of the shamanic sayings is, “does that grow corn for you?”. This is another way of saying “is your life working for you?”. This spring you may want to consider what seeds of intention you would like to plant for your life. Notice what is growing corn for you right now.

Q. What are some of the hazards that hummingbirds face on their long migrations?

A. Lack of food, windows, unexpected predators (hummingbirds nesting in far northern forests may never have seen a snake in a tree before they reach the South), getting caught in storms without shelter.

Q. Do hummingbirds migrate by day or night?

A. By day, except in one situation: when ruby-throated hummingbirds light out over the Gulf of Mexico, they are over water when night falls and must keep on going until they reach the other side.

The vision of the little bird no bigger than the average thumb flying through the night over the Gulf of Mexico going only by instinct and trust, or being caught in a storm gives me all the more reason to applaud this little warrior.

There are times when I am sure it feels like we are making our own personal impossible journey upon the Mother Earth, and it gives me comfort to attune to this divine creation and consider if this little one can make the journey of life so can I. Shamans are observers of energy and are aware that we can learn from all that inhabit our world. Through the eyes of a shaman we can ask the hummingbird to teach us its ways, so that we can drink Conversations With Spirit With Therese Dorer www.crystalclearinsights.ca Connecting with Spirit, Therese will lead these powerful Shamanic Journeys where you will be guided to access your Spirit Helpers and hear the wisdom of Spirit. Come prepared to relax, and go into the stillness and receive the wisdom that awaits you.

Shamanic Journeys are a powerful way to still the mind body and soul and allow personal transformations to take place.

The seeds you are planting may be your yoga practice, taking time to meditate, being aware of the food you eat. These are all seeds of intention for your well being. As gardeners we would not plant seeds in a gravel pit, and expect the flowers and corn to grow. So this spring as we plant the seeds for our well being it would serve us well to provide a fertile soil for these intentions. These can be as simple as having some affirmations that will support you and your dreams.

One suggestion of support is to do affirmations each morning before you engage in your day. Close your eyes and take a big breath in and then slowly exhale any of the worries or doubts that may cloud your energy field. Then breathe in with intention the sweet nectar of the statement “I trust myself”, and feel this flow through your body. Then say “I love myself”, allowing this energy to come directly to your heart. Finally breathing in the words “I honor myself”, allowing this to settle the critical voice that can be so pervasive. I wish you joy for the days of spring and when you see your first hummingbird remember the support this little one can bring for our impossible journeys.

Therese Dorer leads meditation groups and Shamanic Journeys in Kamloops.

250-578-8437 www.crystalclearinsights.ca

Tuesday Morning Meditation: 357 Chilco Ave Rayleigh 10:00am ~12:00 noon March 30 & April 20 Sunday Meditation: The Art We Are #201-322 Victoria St 11:00am~ 1:00pm March 21, April 18 Investment: $15.00 Space is limited: Therese Dorer tdorer@shaw.ca 250-578-8437 www.yogatreebc.com

7

March - April, 2010

Know

the

pHacts One of the principles of Naturopathic medicine is to identify the root cause of a person’s condition or disease in order to achieve full and complete healing. To do this, Naturopathic physicians work with the patient to gather information on their symptoms, lifestyle habits, stress levels and environmental factors. One of the most important pieces of the puzzle, and one that some people are completely unaware of, is the role that pH plays in our overall health.

What is pH? pH (potential of Hydrogen) is a measure of the acidity or alkalinity of a solution and its hydrogen-ion concentration. Using a scale of 0-14, 7.0 is considered neutral, any value greater than 7.0 are considered alkaline, and values less than 7.0 are considered acidic. Pure water, has a neutral pH of 7.0.

Acid

Neutral

Alkaline

What is a healthy pH? Your pH can be tested through blood, urine and saliva, with saliva being the most convenient and blood/urine sometimes being the most accurate. A normal urine pH averages about 6.0, while saliva should have a pH between 6.0 and 7.4. When the pH falls below this range, the body tries to buffer (alkalinize) the acids in an attempt to keep the pH stable. When this balance is compromised, the body is susceptible to disease.

By Dr. Melissa Bradwell, ND

How do we become acidic?

One of the main reasons we become acidic, or develop acidosis, is due to our typical Western diet, which tends to be high in acid-producing animal products and low in alkaline-producing fruits and vegetables. Coffee and soft drinks, refined flours and sugars, artificial sweeteners, and some medications can also lead to acidosis. Aside from an acidic diet, emotional stress, toxic overload, immune reactions or any process that deprives the cells of oxygen and other nutrients, can also result in an acidic pH. Why is a healthy pH important?

Unless the body’s pH level is slightly alkaline, the body cannot heal itself. Acids build up in the connective tissue, and in order to buffer the pH, the body will ‘borrow’ alkalinizing minerals such as calcium from bone and vital organs to achieve balance. This can result in osteoporosis, as well as other conditions including, but not limited to, digestive problems, allergies, insomnia, migraines, vitamin/mineral malabsorption, rheumatoid arthritis and cancer.

Getting to the root cause of a condition will address any imbalances hindering one’s optimal health. Know your pH and implement appropriate dietary and lifestyle changes to optimize its levels to help create an internal environment that promotes both cellular and total heath.

References: 1. http://www.naturalhealthschool.com/pH-balance.html 2. http://www.phbalancepascoe.com Dr. Melissa Bradwell studied at the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine. She offers a variety of services and treatment options for her patients, including IV therapy, acupuncture, botanical medicine & nutrition. Contact Dr. Bradwell at: Kamloops Naturopathic Clinic 250-377-3077

KODire LKct Fro AT m A

CE

KAMLOOPS, BC

RT IF IE D

““The The Original Orig igin inal Hot Hot Yoga Yoga in Yo in Kamloops” Kamlo loops” w www.bikramkamloops.com ww.bikramkamloops.com 340 Victoria St, Downstairs from Boston Pizza 250-314-3636 8

www.yogatreebc.com

BI

KR

AM

ST UD IO

WHAT is

Issue #14

Nia?

By Natasha Lyndon

Nia is like chocolate...you just have to taste it !

Nia arrived in Kamloops in January 2006, with the introduction of community classes by Natasha Lyndon, the first local teacher who trained as a certified licensed Nia Instructor. Since then Kamloopsians have had the opportunity to savour the Joy of Movement on various Nia dance floors! But for the uninitiated – what exactly IS Nia ?

It’s not that it is so very difficult to describe, it’s that Nia is best understood and appreciated when it is experienced! In its essence, Nia is a JOYFUL exhilarating conditioning and cardio body/mind/spirit fitness practice in which participants experience the expressive of dance, the power of martial arts, and the wisdom of healing arts.

Done to uplifting music that stimulates creativity, Nia uses a variety of structured and freestyle patterns to develop maximum movement and fitness potential. Nia has the powerful and graceful capacity to strengthen, tone, stretch, open, align, balance, invigorate, relax and de-stress those who practice it. And the best part is that it is suitable for EveryBody of all fitness or health levels, regardless of age or physical condition. Nia movements can be adapted to accommodate injury rehabilitation or chronic illness, so that those who have not been able to participate in other fitness techniques can access the healing properties of Nia. And even better, no dance or martial arts experience is necessary to participate and get the benefits.

Nia was developed and created 25 years ago by Carlos and Debbie Rosas in California, and today their Nia studio is in Portland, Oregon.

Debbie and Carlos’ philosophy of Nia is based on the concept that Through Movement We Find Health, and they have designed Nia based on the science of the body, which they refer to as The Body’s Way. In their words, “the body itself reveals the body’s way. We cultivate health, fitness, and well-being by choosing pleasure over pain.

We achieve mastery by listening to the Voice of the Body and to sensation, and by utilizing the gift of sensory intelligence as the way to live and be in the body.”

Here are some of the reasons Nia students love Nia: it is FUN; it makes you feel like a kid again; it melts your stress away; it conditions your body; it is creative and expressive; it helps you sleep better; it lifts your spirit; it balances your mood; it brings a glow of happiness...and many more!

Licensed Nia teachers and trainers offer classes, workshops, trainings and events in over 40 countries worldwide. Currently there are 4 licensed Nia teachers offering classes in Kamloops. Nia provides training for personal and professional goals – for both personal development and to train to become a Nia teacher. The Nia 5-belt intensive training system includes the study of music, movement, methodology, philosophy, and anatomy. Additional certification programs include Nia 5 Stages of Healing, Nia 52 Moves, Nia FloorPlay, Nia FreeDance, and Nia Special Applications for diverse demographics and conditions. As well, there are Nia products designed to captivate your senses and get you moving, such as books, CDs, DVDs, and fun clothing to wear on and off the Nia dance floor!

Natasha Lyndon is a licensed Blue Belt Nia teacher in Kamloops. For more info on Nia, visit www.NiaNow.com

Tuesdays @ 5:30 pm at St. Paul’s Church Hall 360 Nicola St. $10 drop-in

Fridays @ 10:30 am at YM/YWCA 400 Battle St. $10.50 drop-in

Saturdays @ 11:00 am at the YM/YWCA 400 Battle St. drop-in $10.50

*No classes March 29th - April 5th*

Licensed childcare available at the Friday & Saturday classes $3/child

call or email Natasha

250-374-5644 nlyndon@shaw.ca

www.NiaNow.com

www.yogatreebc.com

9

March - April, 2010

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The Kamloops Canadian and International Film Festival

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Film Reviews

The Unmistaken Child

ity A “Reel” Community

Most of us take our whole lives to discover our life’s meaning; Tenzin Zopa has no such problems. The Unmistaken Child is a film that captures the highs and lows of the 28-year-old Tibetan Monk as he quests to fulfill his life’s most important task: to find his master. But his master isn’t missing. Rather, he has been reincarnated in a child. Assisted by astrology, signs in dreams and the whispers of villagers, Tenzin travels by helicopter, mule, and foot, and when he does come upon an apparent contender, we join Tenzin and his young charge through the mysterious procedures that will—or will not—confirm the reincarnation. This magical documentary captures a profoundly mysterious aspect of Tibetan Buddhism, but does not attempt to justify or “westernize” it. Instead, we catch glimpses of its significance in Tenzin’s character.

The Unmistaken Child shows at 1 PM on Saturday, March 6.

Sita Sings the Blues

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Sita Sings the Blues is a brilliant blend of Hindu myth, yellow-submarine style trippy animation, Bollywood musical and an intimate tale of personal loss. Accompanied by the vocal styling of 1920’s chanteuse Annette Hanshaw, Sita acts as a stand-in for filmmaker Nina Paley, whose painful breakup drove her to find solace in the epic tale “Ramayana”. But unlike the myth’s focus on the heroic trials of Ranma, Paley’s interest is in the longsuffering faithfulness of the hero’s wife, Sita. Sita’s devotion to her husband is rewarded in the form of a series of humiliating “tests” and finally an unjust and capricious banishment. But Sita Sings the Blues is not a morose film wallowing in despair. Rather, Sita finds in her heartbreak the fuel for inventiveness, whimsy, and creativity. With its amazing blend of myth, jazz, and handmade animation, Sita Sings the Blues manages to be both an intimate tale of loss and an epic adventure of a powerful woman overcoming adversity.

Sita shows at 9 PM on March 5th

Part Time Sublease Available

Focus on Health Physiotherapy Inspiring Transformation Transformation to Health Change limiting subconscious beliefs Rehabilitation Pain Management Erna Stassen BSc. PT Improve fitness and mobility Weight W eight management Registered Physiotherapist Balance training and more....

Train rain muscle bone and brain T PSYCH-K™ facilitator www.focusonhealthbc.com www .focusonhealthbc.com Home visits and Pool therapy available Cell: 250-682-4477 10

www.yogatreebc.com

Attractive, bright downtown space, ideal for any kind of counselling, bodywork, small yoga groups, Feldenkrais, massage therapy etc.

For more information and to view, please contact: halla@telus.net 250-376-4224

Liquid Assets

Issue #14

Anusara® Yoga Offerings

April 9-11, 2010

Invoking the Teacher Within A workshop with Elissa Gumushel:

By Audrey Muese

Watsu is a form of touch therapy that is done in a pool of water at body temperature. The Watsu practitioner’s open heart without any set intention about a certain outcome, allows the client to access the deepest foundations of their own self-healing. The practitioner can cradle, hold and move the client’s relatively weightless body in the water, and lead the client into positions reminiscent of prenatal and infant states mixed with moves of ultimate freedom. Instead of interpreting the client to him/her-selves, the practitioner remains silent, allowing insights and feelings to come and go in the flow.

In Watsu, in addition to feeling the listening touch from the practitioner, the client also experiences the “touch” and support of the water.

Watsu, because of the warm water and the cradling touch, is very much centered on providing resources that nurture restoration. Flotation in warm water has shown increased sleep quality, optimism and oxytocin levels, as well as decreased pain, stress, anxiety and depression.

Not only does the water allow trauma patterns to unwind, but it is also an excellent medium for the re-patterning of a healthy sense of self.

In this gravity-free environment, the subtlest neuromuscular impulse can be supported, followed, and sequenced through the body.

Join upcoming workshop in Kamloops! Healing Dance 100 Workshop

16 hr Intro to HD April 9 - 11 $300. dep $100 by Mar 15 50 hr of HD 100 April 12 - 18 $850. dep $300 by Mar 15 For those who love water and stretching and who wish to experience beauty, grace and surrender to the power of movement. Registration is limited. Please contact Centennial Building Wellness Centre 250 374 7383 Aquatic Miracles TESTIMONIAL Alice Charbonneau, Age 67. Frequency: Two months, daily. Issue: Neuro-muscular disease, post surgery recovery What a wonderful way to a new beginning! From near immobility due to painful neuro-muscular disease plus full foot reconstruction surgery, I look forward each day to rediscovering limb movement through ai chi stretches and deep breathing techniques in a warm, salt-water pool. In just two months I have made progress in flexibility, strength, and stamina and have decreased painful muscle spasms at night.

The gentle supportive attitude of Audrey and Alex toward all their clients is indeed an adjunct to encouraging wellness at the Centennial Building Wellness Centre Kamloops. Here like-minded individuals, each working on their own issues, greet each other with contagious smiles as they float by. It's easy to see wellness is a mandate, not a chore!

BC’s only certified Anusara® Yoga teacher Friday, April 9th: 6 – 8pm Om Namah Shivaya – Grace-filled Vinyasa & Standing Postures Summon your inner teacher and expand the possibilities of your practice with this dynamic workshop featuring Surya Namaskar, standing, and balancing postures.

Saturday, April 10th 10am – 12pm Saccidananda - Divine Play in Balancing Postures & Inversions This workshop will reveal the highest purposes of our practice through the exploration of balancing postures and inversions.

Saturday, April 10th 2 – 4pm Nisprapancaya: Revealing & Concealing: Forward Bends, Hip Openers and Twists In this workshop featuring forward bends, hip openers and twists, we will examine the introspective nature of authentic expression and celebrate the process of concealment and revelation.

Sunday, April 11th 10am – 12pm Tejas – Blissful Backbends Using Anusara's Universal Principles of Alignment, Elissa will safely guide you toward creating deeper and more effective backbends.

Sunday, April 11th 2 – 4pm Review: Potpourri Practice & Meditation

Pre-registration recommended.

This class will review key concepts and give students an opportunity to reflect on the teachings of the weekend through meditation and journaling.

Freeing the Body in Water

Let’s Move Studio

Watsu - Ai Chi - Woga Aquatic Breath Integration Far Infrared Sauna Detoxification Friday Evening Wellness Programs

925 McGill Place @ Sunmore Spa

250-374-7383 Stroke and Arthritis programs with Physiotherapist

$40 per session or $150 for all 5!

Centennial Building Wellness Centre Reception 9:30 - 12:30 M-F # 103-153 Seymour St.

Registration: contact Marcia Wilson at lilayoga108@gmail.com or 250-314-9550 To learn more about this workshop and to check out Marcia’s teaching schedule go to

www.cbwellnesscentre.com www.yogatreebc.com

lilayogaworld.com

11

March - April, 2010

YOGA, DANCE & FITNESS CLASSES KAMLOOPS

MONDAY

Ai Chi: Water movement & relaxation creating improved range of motion, balance & mobility.

Beginners start - Tues and Thurs at 1:00 pm Advanced levels - Mon. Wed. & Fri. 11:00 am $150. for 6 weeks call 250 374 7383 www.cbwellnesscentre.com #103 153 Seymour St.

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

9:00 - 10:30 am Yoga: All Levels Elizabeth @ Let’s Move Studio

10:00 - 11:30 am Akhanda Yoga: All Levels Angie @ Let’s Move Studio 10:30 am - 12:00 pm Prenatal Yoga Samantha @ The Mind-Body Connection

12:05 - 12:55 pm Lunch Hour Yoga Christine S. @ The Mind Body Connection 4:15-5:15 pm Pilates: Beginners Mat Class Christine W. @ Body Control Pilates

4:55 - 5:55 pm American Tribal Style Bellydance: All levels

Lucille @ Let’s Move Studio

5:00 - 6:30 pm Belly Dance: Beginners Rosi @ Let’s Move Studio

5:00 - 6:30 pm Yoga: All Levels Christine S. @ The Mind Body Connection

6:45 - 7:45 pm Belly, Core & More: All levels Tina @ Let’s Move Studio

5:30 - 6:30 pm

5:30 – 6:40 pm Power Yoga Amber @ St. Andrews on the Square

Feldenkrais: Awareness Through Movement

Susinn @ Nuance Studio

7:00 – 8:10 pm Power Yoga Amber @ St. Andrews on the Square

6:00 – 7:00 pm Bollywood Dance : All Levels Bonnie @ Let’s Move Studio

5:30 - 6:30 pm Nia Natasha @ St. Paul’s Hall

7:00 - 8:30pm Hatha Yoga: Mixed-Level Samantha @ The Mind-Body Connection

7:00 - 8:30 pm Ashtanga Yoga: All Levels Colleen @ St. Paul’s Hall

6:45 - 8:15 pm Yoga: All levels Angie @ Let’s Move Studio

Feldenkrais: Awareness Through Movement

7:00 – 9:00 pm Yoga: BY DONATION Marcia @ Drake Medox

Feldenkrais: Awareness Through Movement

Body Control Pilates Studio #202-142 Victoria St. 250-320-BODY (2639) www.pilateskamloops.com Centennial Building Wellness Centre 250-374-7383 #103 - 153 Seymour St. www.cbwellnesscentre.com 12

5:00 - 6:00 pm Yoga: All Levels Elizabeth @ Let’s Move Studio

7:00 - 8:00 pm Colleen @ St. Paul’s Hall

7:00 - 8:00 pm Susinn @ Nuance Studio Drake Medox Health Solutions 164 Oriole Road KSOC: Kamloops Sport & Orthopedic Clinic 200 -1201 Summit Dr Let’s Move Studio 925 McGill Place 250-372-9642 www.letsmovestudio.com

Nuance Dance Studio 253 Victoria St. 2nd Floor

The Mind Body Connection

St. Andrews on the Square 159 Seymour St.

Tournament Capital Centre (TCC) 910 McGill Road 250-828-3500

www.yogawithamber.com

St. Paul’s Church Hall 360 Nicola St.

www.yogatreebc.com

253 Victoria Street 250-374-2748 or 250 374-5421

YM/YWCA: Downtown 400 Battle St. 250-372-7725

Issue #14

YOGA, DANCE & FITNESS CLASSES KAMLOOPS

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

9:00 - 10:00 am Meditation: by donation Christine S. @ The Mind Body Connection

9:00 - 10:30 am Yoga: All Levels Marcia @ Let’s Move Studio

SATURDAY

9:00 - 10:00 am

11:00 am - 12 noon Nia Natasha @ The YM/YWCA

Feldenkrais: Awareness Through Movement

Colleen @ St. Paul’s Hall 9:00 - 10:30 am Yoga: All Levels Elizabeth @ Let’s Move Studio

10:30 - 11:30 am Nia Natasha @ The YM/YWCA

11:30 am - 12:30 pm Intro to Pilates Christine W @ Body Control Pilates

12:00 - 1:00 pm Yoga: Absolute Beginners Angie @ Let’s Move Studio Yoga/Feldenkrais with Tyson April 17 * 1-3pm and/or 3-5pm

By Donation * St Paul's Hall

12:00 - 1:30 pm Yoga 50+ Christine S. @ The Mind Body Connection

Yoga/Feldenkrais with Tyson March 20 * 1-3pm and/or 3-5pm

By Donation * St Paul's Hall 5:00 - 6:00 pm Yoga: All Levels Elizabeth @ KSOC 5:00 - 6:30 pm Yoga: All Levels Christine S. @ The Mind Body Connection 5:00 - 6:30 pm Belly Dance: Advanced Rosi @ Let’s Move Studio

Transformational Exercises Breath, Horizons, Beliefs, Awakening, Energy sliding scale - $30. Fridays 7 - 9 pm Pre registration 250 374 7383 www.cbwellnesscentre.com

6:45 – 7:45 pm Flow Yoga: All Levels Natalie @ Let’s Move Studio

Amber Audrey/Alex Christine S. Christine W. Claire Colleen Elizabeth

250-318-5370 250-374-7383 250-374-5421 250-320-2639 250-372-9642 250-377-7203 250-371-1938

amber@yogawithamber.com www.cbwellnesscentre.com c.yoga57@gmail.com info@pilateskamloops.com cbear_7@hotmail.com colleenmadonnatobin@yahoo.com yogakamloops@gmail.com

Lucille Lill

250 573 4766 250-320-8768

kebehut@hotmail.com lill1@telus.net

Marcia Margaret Natalie Natasha Rosi Samantha Susinn Tina Tyson

www.yogatreebc.com

Divalicious, The Burlesque Workshop Saturdays March 13th and April 17th.

Bring long gloves and heels!

Unleash Your Inner Diva 6:00 -8:00 pm Lill @ Let’s Move Studio

250-314-9550 250-374-2748 250-574-3477 250-374-5644 250-372-9642 250-318-2223 250-572-1887 250-819-7714 1-250-265-3827

lilayoga108@gmail.com yogamindfully@hotmail.com nat_saari@hotmail.com nlyndon@shaw.ca rose_marie_54@hotmail.com yogawithsamantha@hotmail.com susinn@gmail.com jeras_art7@hotmail.com thaitouch@yahoo.com 13

March - April, 2010

Aromatherapy Rosemary Profile

Botanical Name: Rosmarinus officinalis Common Method of Extraction: Steam Distilled Colour: Clear Consistency: Thin Perfumery Note: Middle Strength of Initial Aroma: Medium - Strong Aromatic Description: Fresh, herbaceous, sweet, slightly medicinal.

Properties and Indications: General stimulant Rejuvenating Antiseptic Muscle fatigue Emmenagogu Asthma, chronic bronchitis, whooping cough, influenza Stimulates the adrenal cortex Carminative Contra-indications: Avoid during pregnancy. Not to be used by people with high blood pressure or epilepsy

By Ellen Huggett

Recipes

Scented Hair Oil: 2 drops of Rosemary, Lavender or Sandalwood Apply 2 drops of your chosen essential oil to the bristles of your hairbrush and brush your hair well. The oils will leave your hair with a wonderful aroma.

The following blends can help enhance memory recollections, memory retention, and concentration. When selecting and using oils, be sure to follow all safety precautions and remember that aromatherapy should not be used as a substitute for proper medical treatment.

Diffuser Blend: Multiply your blend by 10 to obtain a total of 50 drops of your chosen blend. Add your oils to a 5ml dark colored glass bottle and mix well.

Add the appropriate number of drops (approx. 10-15) from your created blend to your diffuser, atomizer or mister bottle.

Rosemarinus officilalis is an evergreen shrub native to the Mediterranean coast but now cultivated worldwide for ornamental, culinary, medicinal and perfumery purposes. The plant can still be found growing wild in vast masses on the uncultivated hills of Provence. Rosemary is considered to be the herb of fidelity. If you sprinkle some around the house it is said to bring good luck and protection.

Blend #1 3 drops Rosemary 2 drops Lemon Blend #2 1 drop Basil 2 drops Rosemary 2 drops Cypress

Rosemary has impressive healing properties and is also an excellent nerve tonic. A few drops of the essential oil in a blend restores flagging energy levels after a period of prolonged stress. It can also be used in a burner to help concentration or clear the mind.

Since the beginning of civilization, rosemary has been associated with the mind and improving the memory. Garlands of rosemary were worn by ancient Greek and Roman students taking exams.

The modern equivalent is to dab essential oil onto wristbands or a hairband to boost mental power.

Massage Oil for Muscle Pain: 2 drops Lavender 2 drops Rosemary Add 2 drops Lavender and 2 drops Rosemary oil to 4 teaspoons of Carrier oil (sweet almond, apricot or soy). Use for a gentle body massage.

Pre-Sports Rub: 2 drops Rosemary 1 drop Lavender 1 drop Eucalyptus Blend all the essential oils together, and then add to 4 teaspoons of Carrier oil (sweet almond, apricot or soy). Stir gently to mix and apply to the body prior to exercise.

d

This information is not intended to be used to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease without consulting with a qualified medical practitioner. Less IS More. When using essential oils, use the smallest amount of essential oils that will get the job done. If one drop will work, for example, don't use two drops. To respect the oils, keep them out of reach of children and keep away from heat and sunlight. Any questions consult a certified aromatherapist. References:The Complete Book of Essential Oils by Valerie Ann Worwood www.aromaweb.com Contact Ellen Hugget ellen@globalgoddess.ca www.globalgoddess.ca 14

www.yogatreebc.com

Issue #14

ShamaniSM

By Katina O’Neil

AN D T h e

S AC RE D D I RE C TI O NS In the Shaman’s cosmology or world view, the Shaman sees him/her self positioned in a multidimensional universe that can be understood and described in concepts that we will call Sacred Directions. The two directionally-described dimensions that we use most frequently to understand ourselves and our life are Space and Time.

SPACE AND DIRECTION The position of the Shaman as s/he considers and engages in action starts at an intersection that looks like a cross. There is a vertical flow of energy and information and a horizontal flow of energy and information. Verticality describes the ascending and descending flow of consciousness and evolution. Horizontal movement is the Self-generated outflow Consequential inflow of energy within Time and Space and Attached consequential inflow. to time and space

direction of action. Let us look at a few of the many horizontal paths that define our interactions in form. As you consider your own self as you are reading this, you are positioned somewhere within a geographical context as defined by the compass. Let us say that North is in front of you. South is then behind you. East is to your right and West is to your left. In the article on the Earth and Gaia Theory (Yoga Tree – Nov/Dec 2009), I discussed how we are consciously or unconsciously in relationship with the Earth and all the Form components of the Earth. From a shamanic perAscending into spective you are always in a spatial relationship Consciousness & Evolution with the Earth. For example, whether you are in the North or the South or traveling North or South or facing North or South, the direction involved influences you. If you understand the cosmology built into Self-generated outflow of those directions, you will be able to acenergy cess that power to achieve your destiny whether immediate or future.

Without the vertical axis we would not exist in physical form. This vertical axis Let’s recap the Sacred Directions so far. describes the downward path of consciousWe have infinite possibility or consciousness descending into form and our evolutionness descending vertically into form while Downward ary upward path of ascension into higher forms form is evolving in consciousness by ascending Path of of consciousness. In the downward flow, a path is this axis. Now we have ourselves in form conConsciousness into Form taken out of infinite possibility. A thought is conceived sciously connecting in relationships horizontally and through decreasing vibrational frequency it becomes a within the Earth/Gaia system. How we connect at the horiconcept and finally may materialize as form. This is the path of inzontal axis depends on the level of consciousness that is our interspiration. Also within science, spirituality and religion this describes section point on the vertical axis. More to come in future Yoga Tree how we incarnate from pure consciousness or soul into issues on the subject of Time and Direction! form/matter/humanity.

On the ascending path of this vertical axis is our expanding awareness; our evolving consciousness; our connection to the infinite. This is the path taken in prayer, ecstasy, meditation and shamanic journeying. This is the upward reaching, out-of-the-box striving, which fuels and propels us towards our destiny, our understanding of and union with our divine nature. On this axis then, we have the devolution of the infinite into form and the evolution of form into the infinite. Our positional point of understanding/awareness/consciousness on this axis is not stationary. As we evolve consciously we live from a clearer access to infinite possibility and become less immersed in the trappings of density and form. Our position on this vertical axis determines the quality of energy that we send out through the horizontal axis.

Katina O’Neil has a degree in Anthropology from the University of British Columbia, and training with North American medicine people and shamans in Peru. A Reiki Master and Shamanic Healer, she teaches courses on Shamanism and Meditation in Canada and the US. You can contact her at ksmo@telus.net or 250-314-1413.

So here we are. We have descended into human form. We have bodies, minds and hearts. We are capable of action and perceiving the www.yogatreebc.com

15

March - April, 2010

Healing & Wellness Directory

HEALING & BODYWORK

ACUPUNCTURE Vital Point Acupuncture

One-On-One Fitness and Massage Christine Karl: Personal Trainer Ortho-Bionomy, Shiatsu, Reiki Master.

250-320-9960

Jennifer Larsen, R.Ac. #102-1120 8th Street 250-376-3070 www.vitalpoint.ca

CHIROPRACTIC

Trilogic Hypnosis: Jacqueline A. Kania Hypnotherapy, Reiki, Heart Resonance Therapy & Heart Resonance Training.

2465 Wayburne Crescent, Langley

Dr. Laura McCall Aberdeen Chiropractic Clinic acckamloops@gmail.com 250-372-2002

604-534-2990 jaclan@shaw.ca

Thai Massage, Feldenkrais & Yoga with Tyson Relax - Release Stress - Reduce Pain - Receive Pleasure Fully-clothed acupressure massage 'Yoga for Lazy People'

COUNSELLING

Kamloops Sessions By Donation thaitouch@yahoo.com 1-250-265-3827

Namaste Counselling: Jodi Wium Registered Clinical Counsellor An East Meets West Approach to Health

For rent: Sunny treatment room in alternative health clinic, suitable for counsellor, DTCM/RAc, ND, RMT or PT. Relaxed, quiet, professional, cheerful atmosphere with 2 p/t RMT's in downtown medical-professional building. Contact Wendy @ 778-220-2225

24 hr contact: cell: 250-319-4791 or 250-372-5634 jodiwium@gmail.com namastecounselling.com

HEALING & BODYWORK Angela Clark Metaphysical Practitioner/ Workshop/Group Facilitator, Customized Program Development, Legal Wedding Ceremonies 250-318-2930

LIFE COACHING Beyond The Box Coaching Store Tours - Nutritional Anaysis -Coaching Brenda Falk 250-852-1012 beyondthebox@live.ca

Private or Groups

Centennial Building Wellness Centre Watsu - Woga - Ai Chi, Body, Breath and Energy

#103-153 Seymour St. 250-374-7383 www.cbwellnesscentre.com

Cara Beckett/Carajaz Coaching What's been holding you back from the greater success you deserve and desire?

250-554-7902 carajaz.coaching@gmail.com

Dimensional Health Consulting: Skills for Life Lynn Aylward 250-319-7364 Breath Integration, Counselling, Bodywork integratedhealthyliving@shaw.ca HEALTH BY DESIGN Certified Nutritionist Melanie Pouliot, CNC 250-571-1932

16

Emotional Life Coaching: Vera Stark Release negative emotional responses, behaviors and limiting beliefs and discover a sense of well being, peace and harmony in your life. Call for your Free 1 Hour Consultation. 250-375-2307 vslifecoach@gmail.com www.emotionallifecoaching.com

Certified PSYCH-K® Facilitator.

Safe & effective way to change self limiting beliefs healthbydesign@telus.net www. nutritionmel.com

Let me help you find your solution Susan Chambers: Certified Life Coach Practitioner 250-392-3850 create--success@hotmail.com

Live Love Laugh Wellness Clinic

Musings and Mud Coaching Studio

Infrared sauna, nutritional counselling, life coach

Mary Dunsdon 250-579-8011 mary@livelovelaughwellness.com

Life coaching with a creative twist Janet L. Whitehead 250 376-8402 janet@musingsandmud.com

Michele’s Intuitive Healing and Massage Workshops, Meditation, Healing bath salts & essential oils #2 - 231 Victoria Street Michele Gieselman 250-851-0966

Advertise Here: Yoga Tree Magazine Kamloops’ favourite resource for wellness!

250-371-1938 www.yogatreebc.com

www.musingsandmud.com

www.yogatreebc.com

Issue #14

SUNDAY SERVICE

MIDWIVES

Centre for Spiritual Living Change Your Thinking...Change Your Life

Mighty Oak Midwifery Care Personal, professional, woman-centered maternity care.

250-377-8611 www.mightyoakmidwifery.ca

Sundays: Meditation 10:00 am Celebration 10:30 am

540 Seymour Street 250-314-2028 www.cslkamloops.org

Sharing tools to transform your personal life and make a difference in the world.

HEALTH FOOD STORES

!

Nature’s Fare Markets Live Well. Live Organic. #5 - 1350 Summit Drive 250-314-9560

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WORKSHOPS & TRAINING

BODY:MASSAGE HEALTHY THERAPY: REGISTERED

Sounder Sleep Workshop Classes Cost: $20/session Thursday evenings 7-8:30, March 18, 25, and April 1

REGISTERED MASSAGE THERAPY

BODY: HEALTHY Registered Massage Therapy Wendy McLean, RMT 778-220-2225 #260 - 546 St. Paul Street, Kamloops BC

Take one or all three. Cure insomnia naturally. Workshops & classes Nuance Dance Studio: 253 Victoria St. 2nd Floor www.soundersleep.com/susinnshaler Register: Susinn 250-572-1887

WENDY McLEAN B.A., R.M.T.

NATUROPATHIC DOCTORS

In the kamloops naturopathic clinic 100 - 1315 Summit dr., KAMLOOPS, BC V2C 5R9

778-220-2225

$

Ordinary Miracle: A Sunday Service for All am March 7th & 21st, April 4th & 18th 10:00 ) # 204 - 535 Tranquille Road 250-554-6707

"

Dr. Melissa Bradwell, ND Kamloops Naturopathic Clinic 250-377-3077 Full Naturopathic services Acupuncture and IV Therapy.

ORGANICS Detox Your World with Certified Organic Products Organic Nudges - Miessence Independent Rep. Products delivered to your door.

Order Online Today

www.organicnudges.mionegroup.com

Yoga/Feldenkrais with Tyson March 20 * April 17 * 1-3pm and/or 3-5pm

By Donation * St Paul's Hall 360 Nicola St.Tyson 1-250-265-3827 thaitouch@yahoo.com Healing Dance Workshop:1st time in Canada!

16 hr Intro to HD April 9 - 11 $300. dep $100 by Mar 15 50 hr of HD 100 April 12 - 18 $850. dep $300 by Mar 15 Dance, water, movement & exploration. www.healingdance.org CB Wellness Centre 250-374-7383

PSYCH-K™ Basic Workshop. April 10 - 11, 2010 Learn simple processes to change limiting subconscious beliefs. Location tba. www.psych-k.com Erna Stassen 250-682-4477

PHYSIOTHERAPY Focus on Health Physiotherapy Erna Stassen BSc. PT Registered Physiotherapist www.focusonhealthbc.com 250-682-4477 Physical training: Heal Mind, Body & Emotion.

Change limiting subconscious beliefs. Safe & Easy

www.artofliving.ca

ART OF LIVING March 30th-April 4th, 2010 Contact: Manjit Judge 250-574-7067 mjudge@telus.net

YOGA

REAL ESTATE Helping You Make Healthy Moves Theresa Takacs - Century 21 Riverside Realty 867 Victoria St. Kamloops BC 250-682-3232 theresa.takacs@century21.ca www.theresatakacs.com

ROLFING

Bikram Yoga The Hottest Yoga in Kamloops!

250.819.yoga(9642) 340 Victoria St. www.bikramkamloops.com Kamloops Hot Yoga Yoga for your Whole Family 954 C Laval Crescent (beside Cliffside Climbing Gym)

www.kamloopshotyoga.com 250-374-7426

Lynne Kraushar, Certified Rolfer #6-231 Victoria St. 250-851-8675 www.rolf.org

Let’s Move Yoga and Dance Studio 250-372-YOGA www.letsmovestudio.com

STRUCTURAL INTEGRATION

Psoma Yoga Therapy: Donna Martin 635 Victoria St. 250-374-2514 hakomiway@gmail.com

Tamara Duncan Rolf Method of Structural Integration 250-819-9300 www.rolfguild.org www.yogatreebc.com

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March - April, 2010

Creativity and Yoga Stretching Your Imagination

In a small cabin in the forests of Washington, two women - each advocates for the creative soul - met to explore their kindred passion for smoked oysters, humor, creative play and especially their passion for helping others playfully and powerfully access their creative, intuitive and magical spirit.

Jill on How is Creativity Like Yoga...

Like yoga, creativity involves stretch. When we think creatively we stretch ourselves: • out of patterns of thinking that keep us stuck in ruts • into new realms of possibility • past one right answer to several right answers • out of fear and hesitation into courage and expression • into resourcefulness and out of rigidity, negativity, and helplessness.

Yoga is the union of mind and body and so is creativity. When creative intuition is developed, essentially we are using our body to help guide our mind into making decision that are harmonious with our authenticity.

Imagination resides in various part of our body, and our subconscious responds to images - so when our body and our mind work together our imagination can heal us, open us to new possibilities and direct us by listening to what thought energizes our body.

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Both creativity and yoga involve listening in the present moment to the needs of our spirit. Both twist us into new places and require us to direct our mind to what feels good in the moment, not just to what is awkward or getting in the way. In both we need to let go of the struggle and move into a posture that exalts our existence.

Creativity Posture to practice: To stretch your mind into a place of creative wonder, begin to ask questions that don't require an immediate answer...stretch just a little at a time. What little thought can I think that is a little more creative today? Where will I find inspiration today? What works for me creatively?

Janet on Stretching Our Imagination...

Standing on a mountain top on a starry night, using breath and posture to connect to the earth and the stars takes one to a new level of awareness. The same is true for creative thinking, being and doing. Experiencing the yoga connection involves imagining visualizing and feeling our energy rooted to the earth and extending out to the stars. The creative process encourages us to stretch our imagination in many ways and many directions to open ourselves to discoveries, awareness and abilities that take us to new heights in our energy and in our life.

Each of us has the ability to make discoveries that once were thought only available to the 'gifted', simply by stepping gently into the realm of our creative being. The greatest minds ever known took a first step by imagining the impossible. And there isn't a great

www.yogatreebc.com

By Janet Whitehead & Jill Badonsky

mind among them who hasn't acknowledged spirit entering the picture to turn those impossibilities into reality.

Creative Stretch to practice: 1. Notice when you think: "It's just my imagination" and give yourself permission to let that phrase go.

2. Open the door to imagination playfully.

Write a short letter to your imagination. Feel free to be funny, curious, or even cynical.

See what emerges. Then, have your imagination write you a letter in return.

Who are these wild women?

Jill Badonsky, San Diego, CA (aka the Muse Lady) www.themuseisin.com Jill is both a certified yoga instructor and a creativity coach trainer; training coaches based on a model she designed called Kaizen-Muse Creativity Coaching. Jill has written two books about creativity: “The Nine Modern Day Muses” (and a Bodyguard): 10 Guides to Creative Inspiration for Artists, Poets, Lovers and Other Mortals Wanting to Live a Dazzling Existence, and The “Awe-manac: A Daily Dose of Wonder”. Jill has been a creativity junkie since age 15.

Janet Whitehead, Kamloops BC (aka the Faerie Lady) www.musingsandmud.com anet is a certified life coach with expertise in both coaching creative 'right brain' people, and in using creative tools to help ‘left brain thinkers’ also access their creative mind to find answers.

Janet has authored an inspirational storybook "The Demise of Noshud Hafta;" a variety of selfdiscovery workbooks; and is currently completing her novel that tells the story of how faeries and other such beings inspired her connection to soul and spirit. Janet has been an advocate for creative and adventurous beings since well…forever, she supposes!

Issue #14

GET A LIFE! Do you feel like a bystander to your life?

Are you experiencing the fulfillment that you desire? You may have heard the saying “Change your thinking – change your life”.

If you want to know what you are thinking – or what your consciousness is - have a look at what is going on in your own life. If you love it – keep doing it. But if you don’t, you need to change your thinking, which will change your consciousness. At the Centre for Spiritual Living, we believe that everything begins with thought, which is moved upon by the Universal Law of Cause and Effect to produce the conditions of our lives. This means that no one is exempt from it. It is in the midst of us and we are co-created with it. And it is for our Good. It is Good. It is a Unity, not a duality, which means that it only stands for Good. There is nothing that can be against it. It is in our misuse of it that brings evil or bad into being.

At the Centre for Spiritual Living we provide Universal tools that we can learn how to use to become conscious and awake in our lives. The truth is that these laws are working all the time either consciously or unconsciously: in us, through us and as us.

If we have arrived at a place in our lives where we wonder how we got there – we got there by being unconscious. The laws are working perfectly – that is the good news.

We are all powerful creators: look at how we create chaos! What we are often not so good at is being aware and awake and using the laws consciously. We are constantly setting in motion things that we don’t intend. So, it is about getting conscious, waking up and using these tools to live a life that we would love to live. How do we take these great

By Rev. Connie Phelps, Centre for Spiritual Living Kamloops

ideas and apply them to our lives? How do we take the idea that there is something unseen that we can draw from that wants to bubble up into manifestation and use us as a vehicle? How do we take that and move it into application in our own lives?

bility of overcoming the obstacle. We need to become the place where possibility is always popping up. When we focus on the obstacle we stop the possibility. Are you a source for possibility? Or a source for obstacles?

What this means to me, and what excites me, is that I don’t have to make my intentions manifest. In fact it is better if I don’t.

What I have to do is make them welcome by making a place for them. I don’t have to fix anything or make anything happen, because the Universe is going to happen anyway. It is not something that happened, it is forever happening. There are three things that make up a conscious life. And as I share them with you, ask yourself if you can create the space within yourself to allow something new to emerge. It is not that you need to do anything - you only need to create the space for something new to happen. That is really the highest working Law. There is nothing we need to do, which is really hard for many of us.

Second, not only do you need to be the source for possibility, but you must have the energy to feed that possibility. Life needs energy to grow. So, you need to ask yourself, “where is my energy flowing?”. Are you focused on the past, or on blame and shame?

Or is gossip going on? If you are really serious about your intentions showing up now, then you need to focus your mind on that and allow Spiritual Energy to flow through you.

First, are you a source of possibility? Really, if we are made from that implicit order, that unseen substance, then we are made of the same stuff that everything else is made of, and if anything ever showed up as a possibility, then we can show up as a possibility and a possibility can show up through us. It is really very practical, and the practical part is that we have to believe that if a possibility shows up and on its heels comes an obstacle, then we can choose. The obstacle could just be “I don’t have enough time”. It doesn’t matter how big or small it is. We can choose to believe that if an intention or possibility shows up, that in that intention is the possi-

Lastly, we have to be a safe place for possibilities to unfold. We have to be the source of the possibility, we have to feed energy to that possibility, then we have to be a safe place for that possibility. Ideas, inventions and concepts can come fully formed to us, but are we healthy enough for them to unfold through us? Have we cleaned up our minds and our lives so that we are ready?

I believe you are reading these words right now because you are ready to hear something new, to know something new and to be something new. Right now. The time has come to live from that place of pure possibility, unconditioned Spirit. Perfect, whole and complete. Make this year your best year yet. If not now, when?

Rev. Connie Phelps is an enthusiastic and principled minister with seventeen years experience in the Science of Mind teaching. 250-314-2028 See below for details

Craving mor Craving more p peace eace and and less str stress? ess?

Life coaching solutions SStress tress m management anagement Work/life balance

tel: 250.434.5132 admin@clareconsulting.com www.clareconsulting.com

Gerrianne Clare BScN MN www.yogatreebc.com

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March - April, 2010

Mystic Dreams 419 Tranquille near Cowboy Coffee 250-554-8770

Drop by the store or check the website for a new calendar of events every month! www.mysticdreams.ca

Workshop Schedule Please Pre-register for all workshops. A minimum donation of $5 is required unless otherwise stated. Thank You.

Mondays: Emotional Freedom Technique with Cara 11am-4pm $20 - 20 mins Tuesdays: Muscle Testings & Iridology with Angelia 12-4pm $20 - 20 mins Wednesdays Kamloops Gift Smith 11am-2pm Wednesday March 10: Zytocompass Nutritional Analysis with Brenda 124pm $20 Wednesday March 17: Crystal Bowl Past Life Regression Warren 7-9pm $20 Wednesday March 31: Tarot workshop with Heidi 6-8pm $20 Thursdays: Touch for Healing with Lee 11-4 pm by donation

Fridays: Tarot with Miles 11am-4pm $20 - 20 mins Friday March 12: Resonance Repatterning with Suki 11-4pm by donation Saturdays: Massage with Sara: 12-5pm 30mins/$30 45mins/$45 60mins/$50 Saturday March 13: Resonance Repatterning With Suki 11-4pm by donation Saturdays March 6 & 13: REIKI Level 1 With Warren (Off site) Sunday March 14: Resonance Repatterning with Suki 12-4pm by donation

Potluck and movie night 6 - 9:00 pm first Saturday of every month!

Arwen’s Apparel now available at Mystic Dreams Dancer Belts, Pixie Coats and Vests!

W el

co m Om! e

Chiropractic Care

By Dr. Laura McCall

If someone mentions the word “chiropractor”, your first thought might be a person who treats neck or back pain. The practice of chiropractic is actually much more diverse! Chiropractors are capable of treating all the joints of your body, including shoulders, wrists, feet, knees and the jaw. Chiropractors are trained to treat any ache or pain you may experience that comes from a joint or muscle.

Chiropractors go to school for 7-8 years and receive extensive training in the anatomy and physiology of the human body. They are given the title of doctor because they have the ability to diagnose your problem. What this means for you as the patient, is that the chiropractor will be able to diagnose your aches and pains and either effectively manage it themselves or refer you to the appropriate professional.

Often times your chiropractor will co-manage your case with a massage therapist, medical doctor, naturopath, acupuncturist or physiotherapist. Communication between your healthcare providers will ensure you are getting the best and most efficient possible care.

A typical visit to your local chiropractor may vary depending on where your chiropractor was trained or what type of technique they utilize. In general, your first visit will entail a complete history, a physical exam and a diagnosis, at which time your doctor will convey to you a plan of management for your specific condition. There is a wide range of different techniques that are taught to chiropractors.

Some techniqes focus on one area of the spine, some have protocols for the whole body, some incorporate muscle or soft tissue treatment.

Before you make an appointment you may want to ask what technique(s) they practice and whether they collaborate with other healthcare professionals.

As research in the area of spinal pain has progressed, a lot of chiropractors are recognizing the importance of the ACTIVE component of care. For this reason, you may have noticed your chiropractor is starting to give you more stretches and exercises to do at home. It is in this way that you, the patient, can take part in your recovery and maintain a healthy state beyond your next treatment! The chiropractic profession is a safe, conservative and effective way to manage your muscle and joint pain. So next time you have an injury that just doesn’t seem to be going away, whether it’s a new pain or an old injury that is acting up again, consider chiropractic!

Dr. Laura McCall acckamloops@gmail.com 250-372-2002 Focusing on active care, Dr. McCall prescribes a program of stretches and exercises in conjuction with using diversified adjusting technique and soft tissue therapies.

Dr. McCall grew up in Kamloops and has an interest in treating various kinds of injuries as well as helping patients maintain a healthy lifestyle.

ys S unda n e p Now O 2-4 1 www.mysticdreams.ca 20

www.yogatreebc.com

Issue #14

Community Calendar MEDITATION IN DAILY LIFE Mornings with Ajahn Sona

Contact us to place your listing! www.yogatreebc.com 250-371-1938

Meditation Crystal Bowl Meditation Friday evenings closest to the Full and New Moon 125 Bestwick Contact Terez for info 778-471-5598

Music A NIGHT OF MUSIC Saturday March 13th, 7:30pm.

Shambhala Meditation Group of Kamloops invites you to our second annual music, dance and candlelight event.

Featuring BILLY JEALOUSY, NEVER 2 LATE, DUO # 2 St. Andrews on the Square 159 Seymour Street Kamloops Tickets: FunStuff Bike Shop, 729 Victoria St. $10 at the door For info www.kamloops.shambhala.org or 250-374-8400.

MAR 28, APR 25, MAY 30 LET’S MOVE STUDIO - 925 McGill Place The 2.5-hour session will consist of three parts: 9:30-10:15 am- meditation for those interested in deepening their practice of Buddhist meditation.

Blankets, bolsters and chairs will be available.

10:15 am -Ajahn will offer a Dhamma talk, followed by Q & A 11 am- Casual pot-luck meal followed by an opportunity to chat with Ajahn Sona about Buddhist practice and “life in general”.

Community Ordinary Miracle: A Sunday service for all March 7th, 21st, April 4th & 18th 10:00 am 250-554-6707 #204-535 Tranquille Centre for Spiritual Living Sharing tools that transform lives and make the world a better place. Sundays: Healing Meditation 10am Celebration of Life 10:30am Wednesdays: Meditative Experience @ 7pm

Participants are welcome to come and go between sessions. For the potluck please bring an ample dish for 6+, as we have the honor of sharing the food with the monastics. Please bring your own plates, bowls and utensils. Buns, butter, and beverages will be provided.

Earthcare Kamloops Vegetarian Potluck. Last Sunday of the month. March 28, April 25, May 30th Doors: 5:30pm dinner: 6pm. 520D Seymour St, Interior Community Services, beside Moviemart. (location TBA for May only) Please bring: A Vegetarian/Vegan dish for 8, eggs and dairy ok; Recipe/ list of ingredients is mandatory; Your own dishes; nametag & Suggested $2 donation. earthcarekamloops@yahoo.ca Femsport March Madness is coming to the Tournament Capital Centre March 27, 2010. Doors open 11am, spectator admittance is free. Check out www.femsport.tv for info

PSYCH-K™

SUNDAYS 9:30 am – noon

The morning is sponsored by Birken Forest Monastery; there is no charge. In the time-honoured spirit of Buddhist monasticism, “DANA” (donations freely offered) will be gratefully accepted. Cheques should be made to “Birken”.

For more info: globalheartwarming@telus.net or 250-314-9550 Ajahn Sona & the Birken Forest Monastery

Ajahn Sona is the abbot of Birken Forest Monastery. He trained under Bhante Gunaratana in West Virginia and in remote Thai monasteries associated with the renowned Ajahn Chah. He has been a Theravada Buddhist monk for 20 years and has given numerous talks and retreats in Canada and abroad. Birken Forest Monastery, located south of Kamloops, is open for retreats and day- visits for most of the year. www.birken.ca meditate@birken.ca

Basic Workshop April 10th and 11th

YOU can BENEFIT from this workshop Health-Body, Prosperity, Relationships, Personal power, Self esteem, Grief & loss, Spirituality Learn simple processes to change limiting subconscious beliefs & change the outcome of your LIFE and of those around you.

Visit www.psych-k.com or contact Erna Stassen 250-682-4477 for more information or to register www.yogatreebc.com

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March - April, 2010

Successful people are not born successful. Believe or not, there was once a time when Oprah Winfrey couldn’t speak, and Einstein didn’t know his numbers from 1 to10. Being successful is by no means a one-time event. It is a consistent choice, and more importantly, it is a life style. If you, like me, have at some point affirmed to yourself “I want to be successful”, it is time that you realize that being successful involves shifting your entire life, living a new paradigm, and aligning who you are with the path of success. It means making a choice every day to be excellent and to never settle for anything less.

It means always finding yourself saying “I want this, or something better”, because anything less than that is not good enough for you.

First and foremost, you must realize that you are your habits. So let me ask you this, what kind of habits are you living right now, and are they really serving you? This is an on-going-work-in-progress for me, as I find that I regularly pick up habits, some great (rising early) and some not so wonderful (procrastination). In the end, it is all about being selective about the best of the best, and disregarding the rest. As soon as you start doing this, you will see that your life is in constant motion, in constant change, as it is a constant choice that you are making. You will start taking responsibility for this, and with responsibility comes the ability to live in the moment and flow through life.

You see, when you start following your dreams, chasing your passions, focusing outward rather than inward, when you start thinking about what you can do for other people and the world you live in, amazing things start to happen. Have you ever looked at someone’s life and noticed all these little miraculous synchronicities and wondered to yourself “why is it that things just seem to work out for him/her? Why is that when they want something, within days, weeks or months, opportunities that are perfect for them present themselves in a notable fashion? How are they experiencing remarkable things in their life, when nothing really that remarkable ever happens in mine?”.

Sound familiar? It does to me.

Those were in fact my exact thoughts a little over 2 years ago. I would look at happy, successful, and spiritual people and I imagined them different from me. I believed they possessed some unique, intangible, but wonderful ability that I did not or could never have. I believed that perhaps they must have just been “born that way”, and for the less fortunate like me, there was no hope.

Eventually I came to the liberating conclusion that I could change my life by changing the way I think. I realized that all successful people were once beginners, and there was

By Malavika Suresh once a time that they too thought those same thoughts about someone else’s life. The only difference, however, is that they did something to change it.

They affirmatively concluded that they could not settle for that.

The first thing that you can all do is stay away form the people who belittle your ambitions. Don’t waste your time with people who waste your time. Secondly, you must start to change your belief system, and believe that you can do amazing things no matter what. No matter where you came from, or what you’re doing now, or who you are, or the colour of your skin, or your stature, or your intellect, or your fears.

So in conclusion, yes, there is a difference between those who just “get by” in life and those who do extraordinary things with theirs.

The difference is small, yet significant. It is just that little bit “extra” that separates the two. Extraordinary people make a series of choices to raise their self-standards, and to gradually shape their character, their skills, and experiences.

Remember that your life is a gift and it is a choice. Your dreams and ambitions say “Jump!” and you ask “How high?”. You set the standards because you are in the driver’s seat. So, make it a priority to make excellence the strongest habit you acquire, and make your life extraordinary today.

Malavika leads workshops in Kamloops! malavikasuresh@live.com For subscriptions, comments, advertising opportunities, information or to contribute articles contact us!

Kamloops’ FREE Yoga & Wellness Magazine

Elizabeth Beeds, Page Surfer 250-371-1938 yogakamloops@gmail.com Design Gavin Murgatroyd, Swirl Dealer www.gavin3d.com

www.yogatreebc.com 22

Copy Editing Leanne Fisher, Comma Hunter Natasha Lyndon, Grammar Gatherer www.yogatreebc.com

Issue #14

in personal development and social justice. His career has taken him to several continents as a speaker and workshop facilitator.

BOOK

I appreciate Pradervand taking the word “blessing” out of the more familiar realm of religious practice. Although he quotes Biblical passages, he also speaks of Taoism, Buddhism, Judaism and others. His references to Eckhart Tolle, Gerald Jampolski, Deepak Chopra, to name just a few of his respected writers, indicate his sincere respect for others in the field of spirituality and personal evolution.

REVIEW

By Arlene Soloman

The Gentle Art of Blessing A Simple Practice That Will Transform You and Your World

By Pierre Pradervand With only fifteen minutes to “cruise” my favourite bookstore in Kitsilano, Pierre Pradervand’s book seemed to leap into my hands. I was drawn to its engaging cover – another impulse buy!

“The Gentle Art of Blessing” has since become one of my treasured volumes.

The Gentle Art of Blessing was first published in French in 1998 and was so well received that an English version was subsequently issued in 2003. This 2009 edition takes the concept of gratitude to the next level. This active spiritual practice can become a powerful tool for healing in these challenging times.

Pradervand suggests that we each inherently carry a power, a spirit within us, and when projected out as love or blessing, we become the smile of God, the smile of Universal Life and we quietly make a difference in supporting the influences of peace in the world. He uses the word “Blessing” to mean more than an attitude of deep reverence, and defines it as an authentic and profound aspiration of the heart.

Pradervand’s impressive background includes decades of work

Pradervand’s experiences and observations while in Africa give testimony to the silent power of love in unthinkable circumstances. He cites many extraordinary examples of the small miracles that occur when the heart is still and emanating the higher frequency of love.

Each chapter of this book begins with a lovely quote or comment on blessing.

Chapter 9 is prefaced with comments regarding the deeper meaning of the art of blessing: “To bless means to wish, unconditionally and from the deepest chamber of your heart, unrestricted good for others and events; it means to hallow, to hold in reverence, to behold with awe that which is always a gift from the Creator. He who is hallowed by your blessing is set aside, consecrated, holy, whole.

To bless is to invoke divine care upon, to speak or think gratefully for, to confer happiness upon, although we ourselves are never the bestower but simply the joyful witnesses of life’s abundance.”

“The Gentle Art of Blessing” will soon join several most treasured volumes on the top shelf of my bookcase and will serve as a continued reminder of my true path.

Workshops with Michele Gieselman Meditation Nights Wednesdays 6:00 - 7:30 pm Drop in $15 #204 - 535 Tranquille Rd

Michele’s Intuitive Healing & Massage

# 2-231 Victoria Street 250-851-0966

Bookclub for the Soul Tuesday mornings 9:30 - 11:30 am Or Thursday evenings 6:00 - 8:00 pm April 6th to April 29th $80.00 for 4 sessions

Understanding and Trusting Intuition March 20th 9:30 to 4:00 pm Cost $100.00

intuitivehealing@telus.net www.yogatreebc.com

www.intuitivehealer.ca

Healing Bath Salts

&

Essential Now available at the Available for Christmas office & at all Gift Giving! workshops

23

March - April, 2010

Workplace Yoga

By Lynn Roberts

Sit up Straight! Just like Mom said . . .

How important is it to sit up straight at your desk? Is slouching really that bad for you? YES. It really is. When we slouch or don’t sit with proper alignment all day at our desks, we move out of balance: muscles tighten unnecessarily, other muscles become weak (typically the abdominal muscles), and we generally start to develop health problems, such as back pain, tension, carpal tunnel syndrome, etc. We go to see the chiropractor, acupuncturist, etc., or we just complain to whoever will listen. It doesn’t have to be that way! Here are the most important 5 steps to proper posture at your workplace:

Seated Neck Stretch Healthy Workplace Pose BENEFITS Stretches neck and shoulders, reduces tension and relieves tired muscles, promotes better posture, increases circulation to brain and facial muscles, increases energy, reduces overall stress and promotes a deep feeling of relaxation.

INSTRUCTIONS Step 1: Sit in your chair, feet flat on the floor, legs at a 90 degree angle. Contract your abdominal muscles just slightly, lift up through your chest and lengthen your spine. Drop your shoulders down your back.

Step 2: Place your hands on your thighs. As you inhale, lengthen through the crown of your head a little more, and as you exhale, gently lower your right ear toward your right shoulder. Relax your right shoulder and drop it down away from your right ear.

Step 3: (Not Shown) Optional: To move deeper, release your left hand to the underside of your chair and gently hold on as you stretch deeper, maybe even leaning slightly to the right.

Step 4: Stay here, breathing in and out, for at least 30 seconds.

Step 5: Inhale and lift your head and body back to center.

As you exhale, lower your left ear toward your left shoulder. Repeat steps 3 and 4 on this side.

Step 6: To come out, inhale your head and body back to center. Give your shoulders a shake, and repeat again on both sides if you have time.

Innergy Corporate Yoga Inc. Phone/Fax (Toll-Free): 1.888.457.3543 Phone (Kamloops): 250.572.4162 info@innergycorporateyoga.com www.innergycorporateyoga.com 24

(1) PROPER WORK STATION - Make sure your desk, chair, and computer are working for you. When you sit down, your legs should bend at a 90 degree angle, and your feet should touch the floor, not dangle. If your knees are too high, you need to adjust your chair to a higher height, or replace it with a taller one. Your desk should not be too high and you should be able to easily reach your computer keyboard, ensuring it’s neither too high nor too low. Your monitor should be directly in front of your eyes, so you’re not straining your neck or eyes to look up or down.

(2) PROPER BODY ALIGNMENT – Your knees should bend at a 90 degree angle, your feet should be flat on the floor and directly under your knees, your spine should be tall with your chest lifted, shoulders back and down, belly in slightly, tailbone slightly tucked (not too much – just to take any excessive arch out of your back) and your head should be directly on top of your neck with chin very slightly tucked. Be careful not to jut your head forward! Many of us do this without realizing it.

(3) STRONG ABDOMINAL MUSCLES – The ONLY reason we get back pain is from having weak abdominal muscles. When our abdominals are weak, our back muscles need to compensate to hold us up, which is not what they are designed for. The abdominals are the only muscles in the body that can get away with “being lazy” and not working. Strengthen your abdominals by doing abdominal work. The best way to do this is through yoga or pilates. When sitting at your desk, engage your abdominal muscles slightly at ALL times.

(4) BREATHE PROPERLY - Most of the time our breathing is too shallow. Focus on your breath throughout the day. As you inhale, let your belly expand, and as you exhale, let your belly pull slightly back in. (Most of us do this backwards.) Try to count to 4 on each breath, either in or out. Better breathing will make you sit taller and will release tension in the body, especially in the back, neck and shoulders.

(5) DO YOGA OR PILATES – These class types promote better posture. You will naturally stand and sit taller, and you will experience less pain and tension. No time for a full class outside of work?

Consider starting up an on-site Corporate Yoga or Pilates class – classes can usually be as short as 45 minutes long and can be done on your lunch break. If even that is too much for you, take several 3-5 minute stretch breaks throughout the day.

Practice these 5 steps every day while you’re at work, and enjoy your newfound INNERGY! Lynn Roberts teaches Corporate Yoga in Kamloops info@innergycorporateyoga.com

www.yogatreebc.com

s Get in

hape!

Yoga

Classes with Elizabeth

Tuesdays: 9 - 10:30 am 5 - 6:00 pm

Wednesdays 5 - 6:30 pm Beginners Thursdays 5 - 6:30 pm Advanced

Thursdays: 9 - 10:30 am Let’s Move Studio

925 McGill Place @ Sunmore Spa

Have fun!

www.letsmovestudio.com

Thursdays: 5 - 6:00 pm Kamloops Sport & Orthopedic Clinic 200 -1201 Summit Dr Yoga & Dance Studio

250-371-1938

cell 250-318-5445

yogakamloops@gmail.com

www.yogatreebc.com

FELDENKRAIS WITH SUSINN PURE AND SIMPLE: MINDFUL MOVEMENT FOR BODY, MIND AND SOUL

SOUNDER SLEEP WORKSHOP CLASSES Thursday evenings 7 - 8:30 March 18, 25, and April 1 TAKE ONE OR ALL THREE Cost: $20 each session To Register Contact

Susinn Shaler

Awareness Through Movement (ATM) CLASSES

INDIVIDUAL LESSONS OR FUNCTIONAL INTEGRATION 1 hr $65/session 4 for $200

Guild Certified Feldenkrais Practitioner

250-572-1887 susinn@gmail.com

kamloopsfeldenkrais.com

Tuesdays 5:30 - 6:30 pm March 16 - April 20 (6 weeks) drop-ins welcome $12 Tuesdays 7 - 8:00 pm March 23 - April 20 (5 weeks) (includes one individual session) drop-ins welcome $12

Nuance Dance Studio 253 Victoria St. 2nd Floor

Green Yogathon Great exercise for the mind and body Have fun with a variety of Yoga and movement styles

Saturday, April 17th 9am - 4pm Let’s Move Studio 925 McGill Place @ Sunmore Spa Time

Style

Instructor

9 am 10 am 11 am 12 pm 1 pm 2 pm 3 pm

Yoga Easy Bikram Hatha Tree Hatha Aware

Christine Tyson Anita Margaret Olga with Donovan Sam or Elizabeth Colleen

BY DONATION

yogatreebc.com for updates & more info