Just Off The Presses ... Recent News, New
Opportunities
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| Upcoming Events for May & June
2009 |
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In March, I had
the opportunity to attend SYTAR, an international yoga
therapy conference, where medical doctors, yoga
therapists, yoga teachers, and researchers convened to
share perspectives and advances in this cutting-edge
field with ancient roots. Three famous Yoga Therapists,
each from a different school of yoga therapy,
demonstrated how they work with a new client with health
issues ranging from multiple sclerosis to diabetes to
chronic lower back pain. What stood out for me is that
each Yoga Therapist listened to all of the concerns
expressed by the client, like sleeplessness,
frustration, helplessness, and chose to address these
first. With the awareness that chronic health conditions
cannot be addressed overnight, simple and yet powerful
exercises were taught that would address what was most
prevalent for that client right now. These exercises
ranged from classic yoga stretches to simple breath and
meditation techniques done in a chair. Clients shared
that they experienced positive changes within as little
as two weeks. The caring, connection and trust that was
evident in these relationships was powerful to
behold.
We were
graced with the presence of medical pioneers, such as
Dean Ornish MD, founder/president of the Preventive
Medicine Research Institute and author of The
Spectrum, and Timothy McCall
MD, the
medical editor of Yoga
Journal. But my experience with Lilias
Folan, who has taught yoga on TV since 1972, is what
I will remember forever. She started her workshop
sharing her perspective that "joy, ease and flow are our
natural state", which is a perspective I share, teach
and encourage you to experience through my services.
Most everything she said validated something that I had
come to believe through my own yoga therapy journey. And then she did the
same Mind-Body Link demonstration that I do. I am pretty
sure that my jaw was on the floor - I am grateful for
the power outage and candles, so that no one else could
see! I share this experience because I
often feel like a rebel in my field ... paving my own
way outside of the yoga studios, by focusing on
one-on-one yoga therapy sessions instead of teaching
group yoga classes, by blending Yoga Therapy and
Mindfulness Meditation into a new modality that I call
Mpowerment Meditations. On those occasions when I find
myself beating my head against a wall, I will confess to
wondering whether I should simply throw in the towel and
pursue "conventional" marketing channels. What stops me
is this realization: But then I would not have met
most of you. Having a respected leader in my
field speak my language made me confident that I am on
the right path ... one that allows me to teach in the
way I want to teach ... to offer the programs that I
want to offer ... to reach out to people who are seeking
my services and who may not join a yoga
studio. The conference ended with a video "Yoga Is My
Health Insurance". Given the state of our health
care system, and after hearing all of the personal
stories and research demonstrating how yoga has helped
people manage and even recover from serious health
conditions, this was a powerful video to view. It was
powerful too to fully accept that I am an integral part
of this new revolution. Lots of news and
May events to share ... a new
certification and a new location ... a grand opening invitation ...
sustainable paradigm shifts
through yoga therapy ... my
ideal yoga therapy client ... new
yoga therapy package ... my most
recently published articles ... a
Time magazine article that talks about Phoenix
Rising Yoga Therapy ... and oh yeah ... a national ad campaign that features
photos of me! If May is busy
for you, plan ahead for June. I will start another
Mpowerment
Meditation for Busy Minds Series. The big news is
the opportunity to join my inaugural Mpowerment Meditation: Slow Down, Go
Deeper Series, developed specifically for those
students who have completed the Busy Mind Series and are
looking to learn new techniques. Please note that the
Busy Mind Series is a prerequisite as we'll build on the
basics taught in that series, and I want to offer you
the opportunity to go deeper with students who have a
personal commitment to meditation. My other news is that
I have been accepted as a mentor into the Phoenix Rising
Yoga Therapy program and will be away for 1 week in mid
June ... I mention this as an added incentive to sign up
for either series as I fully expect that the intensive
practice that I'll experience mentoring will flow
directly into my teaching in a new and exciting way.
Lastly, for those of you in committed relationships,
seeking to expand meditation into that aspect of your
life, check out Flesh & Spirit, a
powerful workshop offered by my office mate, dear friend
and partner in spiritual growth, Kelila Heller.
Hope our
paths cross again soon, Sincerely,  | | |
 In
the News ... New Certification, New
Location |
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New
Location
Integrative
InSight
The Courtyard
at Westlake
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Celebrate with me ... in
January, I completed my Intermediate certification in
Thai Yoga Therapy ... in February, I was accepted as a
mentor into the Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy program, an
8 month process that will commence in June ... in March,
Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy
unveiled their new ad campaign which features a photo of
me and my husband. All of these coincided with my
continuing internal dialogue around yoga therapy ... do
I focus my efforts on developing a client base for the
yoga therapy sessions or for my meditation courses? What
became clear to me is that I want to continue to offer
both, I want to bring yoga therapy to a wider audience
and I want this expansion to occur within a wellness
center. Enter Oasis Wellness Center
in March ... just a few doors down from my Westlake
location ... when you step
inside, you experience an immediate relaxation response
at the warm welcome and soothing atmosphere ...
whose owners believe that since illness is frequently
caused by many different factors, wellness is a path
that benefits 
from many different perspectives. Moving to this new
office was also an opportunity to partner with my close
friend, Kelila Heller, who introduced me to both Theta
Healing (an energy technique for releasing
subconscious beliefs) and Flesh &
Spirit (read below for more on my personal
experience), which along with Nonviolent
Communication and Yoga
Therapy, are the four tools for personal
transformation that diligently practice. Needless to
say, I leapt at the chance to make this
change! At the beginning of April, I
officially opened my office in Oasis. I am there on
Mondays and Tuesdays. Kelila is there on Wednesdays and
Thursdays. We are making the most of Fridays to connect
with business owners in the complex. Oasis is open
Monday through Thursday 10-7, and Friday and Saturday
from 10-5. They are offering a free 40 minute session on
a therapeutic massage bed, so stop by and let them know
that I sent
you. | |
Grand
Opening Celebration
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The
Courtyard At Westlake
Complex
3625
E TO Blvd
Westlake Village,
CA
2nd floor
overlooking the courtyard
Friday, May 15,
2009
5:00-7:00pm
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Mark Your Calendars!
Join me for a party on May 15 from
5:00-7:00 pm! Oasis Wellness Center is holding its
Grand Opening
Celebration in conjunction with two other
women-owned, beauty/wellness based businesses.
Plans are in the works for yummy food at all 3
locations and an opportunity to tour the unique spaces
created by these owners. Each has its own feel, from
serene to elegant to artistic.
Come support
women business owners with a passion for inner and outer
beauty.
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An
Ancient Tool For Modern Transformation - Yoga
Therapy
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Marcel
Proust
"The real journey of
discovery is not in seeking new landscapes, but in
seeing with new
eyes." | | |
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Mpowering Sustainable Change ... One Person at
a Time
Recently, under the stress of deadline,
I found myself agonizing, "Why would someone pay for a
session with me, when they can pay less to get unlimited
sessions on the massage bed?" It helped to have a client
chide me, "Please tell me I didn't hear you compare
yourself to a massage bed! Because you offer so much
more!" to take a step back and realize how ridiculous my
train of thought had been. I've done a disservice to
myself and Yoga Therapy by promoting it as a form of
relaxation. Yes, people experience a deep relaxation ...
but they experience so much more. And it is the so much
more that has huge value in this time of chaotic
change.
Since ancient times, yoga has been
a system for personal transformation. It is my own
personal transformation ... from a state of overwhelmed
and constantly stressed towards one of calm focus
(believe me, I have a way to go) ... through Phoenix
Rising Yoga Therapy and Thai Yoga Therapy and meditation
that spurs me to bring them to a wider audience. I see
how I have changed, both consciously and subconsciously,
and your feedback confirms that my services empower
others seeking similar change.
These modalities
inherently accept what modern science is only now coming
to recognize - when your environment, your thoughts,
your body and your actions all support a certain way of
being, sustainable change is extremely difficult to make
on your own. By learning to focus your mind to observe
your thoughts (meditation), and engage and listen to
your body's unique communication (yoga therapy) about
your habitual patterns, self-awareness emerges.
Awareness is the foundation to transform your thoughts
and actions in a sustained way. In my experience, given
that we return to environments and schedules that foster
our old way of being, deepening self-awareness requires
on-going support for an initial period and then
occasional intense work in order to shift into higher
gears.
I value working closely with
clients who understand this
because they challenge me to grow as a yoga
therapist. I've always known that Yoga Therapy is
not for everyone: the difference between my courses and
sessions has always been the one-on-one support to delve
deeply. With the realization that my previous prices
were misaligned with this, I have changed my Yoga Therapy pricing structure to
support those people who recognize that this is a
process and a developing relationship ... with your yoga
therapist and with your
Self.
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My
Ideal Clients
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Henri
Bergson
"To exist is to change,
to change is to mature, to mature is to go on
creating oneself endlessly."
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So much more than meets the eye
...
I've always known that Yoga Therapy is
not for everyone. But fear of not having any clients has
held me back from defining who it is
for. If you've been with me for a while, you know that
my antidote to fear is, first and foremost, awareness.
Then I acknowledge how that particular fear has
supported me. If, in the light of awareness, the fear
seems trivial, I will choose to step forward despite the
fear. So here I go ...
My ideal clients
typically share these characteristics, so if these fit
you, I would love to hear from you.
- They accept that change is a fundamental constant
in life - therefore just because they are a certain
way now, does not mean that they will continue to be
that way.
- They are seeking sustainable change, whether from
chronic pain or sleeplessness or anxiety or other
ailments or from feeling stuck and unable to see what
options exist.
- They value a solution customized to their unique
needs.
- They are seeking more than a band-aid, and want to
be active participants in long-term solutions.
- They are open-minded and willing to explore the
mysteriousness of their Body-Mind Connection;
- They accept adage "Practice makes perfect" -- that
physiological, psychological, and physical forces in
daily life support their current state of being -- so
they understand the value of scheduling sessions
regularly to counteract those forces;
- They are willing to invest in their self-care and
understand the frequency of sessions is a direct
correlation to the amount of change they seek and the
speed in which they seek it;
- They value the importance of taking time for
themselves because they acknowledge that their state
of mind has ripple effects on those around them
- They want to make a difference, and contribute to
the people around them by embodying and embracing the
change they experience
- They appreciatively pay me for my services.
- They recommend me to their friends and associates,
so they too can experience meaningful, sustainable
transformation.
- They understand that everything happens for a
reason, and while they may never discover that reason,
they are innately aware that there is something to
learn in order to
heal.
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| New
Yoga Therapy Pricing Package |
Client
Feedback
"I'm improving,
growing, morphing into my authentic adult self;
into the person I want to be. In this
endeavor, you support me by acknowledging the
changes in my way of being, while still showing
complete acceptance for who I am now. You inspire
me to learn more, live more, and be
more."
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Supporting Sustainable Paradigm Shifts ...
Changes can either happen in baby steps or in a
wave. Studies show that we only use our conscious mind
5-10% of the time; which means that the subconscious is
what rules us the majority of the time. Yoga Therapy
recognizes that subconscious habits are developed with
years of practice. While releasing those habits
does not require the same length of time, one session is
rarely sufficient for significant, sustainable
change. If you are like me, you have the best of
intentions to maintain your commitment to
self-care. And yet, habits and life get in the
way. Unless it is on my schedule, or I have pre-paid for
a package, I'll leave a massage with the intention to
call and schedule my next appointment and promptly
forget to do so. With this awareness, I want to support
people who understand the value of receiving regular
Yoga Therapy sessions to support sustainable
change. Single 90
minute session = $180 3 90
minute sessions (retail value $540) =
$465(sessions
must be completed within 3 months)Included
in the package is your choice of the following bonuses
(valid for 1st time clients at these businesses):
- Oasis Wellness Center - your choice of
- 3 40 minute therapeutic massage bed sessions
(retail value $45)
- 2 40 minute infrared sauna sessions (retail
value $40)
- Kelila's Inner Gardens of Healing
I am working with other
local business owners, whose services complement mine,
to offer you additional bonuses. Each time you purchase
a package through me, you can have the choice of
services from businesses whose services you have not yet
tried. If you choose to purchase your package
via PayPal, contact me at 805-504-6640 so that I can
give you a coupon for your bonus of choice.
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National
Advertising Campaign Features Local Yoga
Therapist
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And of course, my model ... my loving
husband
In the midst of the SYTAR conference, I
was exploring the exhibit hall, and turned the corner to
find a life-sized photo of me and my husband! I
knew that my photos had been chosen for the new Phoenix
Rising Yoga Therapy advertising campaign, but I did not
know which ones they had picked. Some of you may notice
that the photo chosen by Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy is
not one of the photos prominently featured on my
site. When I picked photos, I was focused on ones
that imbued deep, relaxing stretches that would depict
how yoga therapy is different from yoga in the
studios. My first impression of the photo they
chose was that "it doesn't look like I am doing
much". And yet they saw something that I didn't
see ... the focus, the compassion, and the support that
I embody ... which is what results in the safety to
relax deeply. As always, Karen and Elissa at
Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy see in me, as they see in
everyone, possibilities that you do not yet see for
yourself.
So you may wonder "what
was your reaction to all of this?" I found myself
observing two voices within me: one feeling smug "People
are going to recognize you!"; and the other asking "Do
you want to be known for a photo or because of your
skill?" Good, bad or indifferent, most people at
the conference did not recognize me from the
photo. Truth be told, I am relieved. I want people
to do Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy because of how they
believe the session will support them, not to encounter
a minor celebrity.
That being said, don't
be surprised if you see me in Yoga Journal or in
LA Yoga or the
International Journal
of Yoga Therapy. Let it be a reminder to you to
look past the surface to what lies underneath.
Come in for a session and experience for yourself what
that means.
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Mpowerment
Meditation 6-Week Series - Slow Down, Go
Deeper
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By Popular Demand ...
It has been two years since I first
offered the meditation class that evolved into the
Mpowerment Meditation for Busy Minds/People On The Go
Series. I have learned so much as a teacher since then
... such as what meditations resonate with new students,
the need to have a closed series to avoid disruption by
drop ins, and the critical need for minimum enrollment
to support the flow of the class.
I have
been exposed to so many new techniques in the past few
months that I have personally found effective. As
usual, when I find new things that work, I just have to
share! Thus evolved
the new intermediate series, "Slow Down, Go Deeper".
This series follows a similar format as the original,
building upon the same weekly themes, introducing new
meditation techniques.
These two series will be
offered in parallel at the Camarillo Health Care
District starting June 9. As usual, bring a yoga mat or
something comfortable to lie down on. Please
register through the Health Care District by calling
805-388-1952 ext 117.
Price: $75 for series / $68
for Camarillo & Somis
residents
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Bringing
Conscious Communication to Committed
Relationships
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Flesh &
Spirit
Contact
Kelila at 805-551-1740 for details and
pricing.
May 23-25, Thousand Oaks
(nonresidential, lunch and dinner included) -
Register through Kelila by email or call
805-551-1740
June 26-28, Ojai,
(residential, all meals and lodging included) -
Register on-line through the Ojai
Foundation
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Active meditation for conscious couples
...
Two years ago, my husband and I wanted
to celebrate our anniversary with a retreat where we
would learn something together, get to be in nature, and
experience rejuvenation. Four close friends, couples who
strive to bring authenticity, love, and joy into their
partnerships, urged us to do Flesh & Spirit, so we
found ourselves at the Ojai Foundation for a profound
experience.
Last year, those same friends, the
Hellers and the Wheelers, became certification leaders
of Flesh &
Spirit and we promised them that we would be at
their first retreat. So Kris and I re-did the retreat in
January and were blown away. Not only were our friends
amazing, compassionate leaders, but we reconnected with
a paradigm-shifting tool that we now eagerly use weekly
to keep our 23 year relationship alive, fresh and
authentic.
At its most basic, Flesh &
Spirit is a forum for conflict resolution. In its
fullest expression, Flesh & Spirit is a safe
self-created space where committed couples consciously
tune into their relationship. This is meditation at its
most active ... conscious shifts from noticing your own
needs, to listening deeply to your partner, to tuning
into the perspective of the relationship.
There
are two upcoming opportunities to take Flesh &
Spirit with the Hellers and the Wheelers. Words don't do
this retreat or these leaders justice - they simply must
be experienced.
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| Just
For You ... At Your Convenience |
At your
convenience
When your
schedule permits ... just a mouse click
away
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Integrative
InSight
PO Box
3064
Camarillo, California
93011-3064
805-504-6640 | |
Integrative
InSight facilitates appreciation and personal growth
through Mpowerment Meditations ...
opportunities
to focus, contemplate, and grow.
http:www.integrative-insight.com
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