Greetings to our Growing and Blossoming Maya Community!

Spring has fully sprung in Maya Land and we have been enjoying the gorgeous golden light that has filled the studios so many days in the past few weeks.

As we wind down the opening of the new studio in Renton, and get more firmly settled into the new situation, we are also getting a chance to take a big inhale of that fresh spring air and exhale with a giant sigh (and maybe fluttery lips, if we are in Eza’s class!) In all the busyness and tedium involved in opening a new studio- construction issues, scheduling, contracts, technology glitches, etc.- it has been challenging at times to keep sight of the forest through the trees.

As we take a step back now and get a broader angle on what it is we are creating, the beauty of it all comes rushing back to us. It is the community- the union- that supports the grand vision of an empowering haven in a hectic world. The raison d’etre of Maya Whole Health Studio!

The Maya community that has developed over the past 6 years at our Fremont studio has allowed for the vision to expand and grow to the other side of town. So many of you have made so many contributions, some obvious and visible and others more subtle, for which we are deeply grateful. Our hearts have been warmed by clients and staff, friends and family, who have supported the expansion effort, promoted the Maya vision and spread the word about the new studio , given us patience and faith, and reminded us daily of the positive impact our efforts have had on their lives, which has provided the fuel to keep us going, even when we have been exhausted and stretched way beyond comfort.

Now, as we shout out a ginormous NAMASTE!!!, we also humbly request your continued support of our vision… please spread the word widely and wildly about the joy and benefits of regular fitness practice in a beautiful environment that connects you with empowering health options to nourish your body and soul. Let’s grow the Maya community and do all that we can to support one another in seeking whole health and well-being in our lives.

Love For You,

The Maya Whole Health Studio Creators

Hello!

If you are a regular reader of this blog I just want to let you know that Amy hasn’t left us, she just so happens to be in the air right now on her way to India for a six week trip to India and Tibet. I am just lucky enough to be her stand in blogger while she is away. I believe she also plans on contributing to a travel blog once she gets to her destination, so as soon as I get the link to that I will be sure to post it so we can follow her adventures.

My name is Marissa Stein and I have had my blog Pumpkin & Pomegranate since July 15th of last year. If you want to read a little bit more of my story please feel free to check out the “about” section of my blog. My blog is more devoted to healthy food, and the particular diet that got me to lose a total of 150lbs than it is devoted to physical exercise, but a mention of Maya on my twitter account, and a blog posting was what brought Amy to me. My blog isn’t entirely about that four letter word DIET. I don’t believe in “diets” per se, I am much more a fan of changing lifestyles than going on one eating plan for a specific amount of time just to drop some weight. I also happen to be a bit of a gourmet and so I do try to doctor up recipes to make them fit into my eating style rather than to resign myself to steamed broccoli and lemon juice. It won’t be for everyone of course, but there is no “one size fits all” when it comes to diet or exercise. We must all find the path that works best for us. I just try to make my path delicious and healthy.

And in honor of Amy’s trip to India, I give you a couple of recipes I recently posted on my blog:  Channa Palak Masala with Buckwheat Paratha

I am not someone who enjoys going to the gym for the experience itself. I did the gym rat thing for a year and a half.  The best part of my workout was always the second I finished. Last Summer I gave up the gym and to pursue more natural movements for exercise. I have done some research into evolutionary fitness, and just decided that I am not meant to be on treadmills and ellipticals or to use machines to lift weights. I wanted to do more natural movements, and exercise that I actually enjoyed. I grew up with my mother walking daily, and also doing weekly yoga classes so this was not exactly unfamiliar territory for me. I will not say however that yoga comes easily to me. I am definitely a beginner, and if you happen to see me in class you will know it. I try not to take myself too seriously, and I also try to remember that this is a practice, a journey, and there is no reason to rush it. I chose to start doing yoga because I want to be able to move when I am in my eighties. I also want to enjoy my exercise, experience fitness that does not stress my body out (and even relaxes my mind), not to mention the strength that I will gain the more I do it. I have only been at Maya Whole Health since January, but I have definitely fallen in love with the studio and the instructors. I only hope that I can bring something to this group with my guest blogs for this time while Amy is away. I also hope that my blogging style, while different than Amy’s, isn’t too jarring. never fear, she will return!

Namaste

~Marissa

Greetings, Fellow Mayans!

From time to time, Mayans will approach me with questions about how to best heal their skin. This got me thinking that there are probably others out there with similar questions. Are you interested in understanding more about the growing field of holistic skin health?

Each month, I will offer healthy holistic skin care tips. More specifically, I will provide tips on how to achieve healthy skin from the inside out and outside in!

These skin care tips will:
* cut straight to the facts
* help you become a well-informed consumer
* honor the organic healing processes of your body
* help you read product labels and know what to look for
* help you understand the healing benefits of holistic skin care

As your Naturopathic Aesthetician at Maya Whole Health Studio, Leaf and Water is here to serve your holistic skin care needs.  I look forward to meeting you and guiding you toward your holistic skin health.  You are welcome to email me your skin care questions, which will be answered in future newsletters.  Please send your questions to: holly@leafandwaterspa.com

Warmly,

Holly Luedke
Licensed Naturopathic Aesthetician
Owner, Leaf and Water Holistic Skin Care

“Guiding clients toward holistic skin health”

For more information about holistic skin care treatments for women, men & teens, or to book an appointment, visit our website or call 206.694.9026

Follow us on Twitter!

Hello, Maya Community!

My name is Melissa Rosenberger and I am the new acupuncturist and energy worker at Maya.  I would like to introduce myself and answer some commonly asked questions about acupuncture. I also do other forms of energy work, so for those concerned about acupuncture there are needle-free treatment options that I will address those more in-depth in future newsletters.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions, I look forward to working with the Maya community!

Melissa

info@melissarosenberger.com
www.melissarosenberger.com

My Background

I received a B.A. in Neuroscience from Oberlin College and a M.S. in Neurobiology and Behavior from the University of Washington.  I graduated in 2005 with a M.Ac.O.M. (Masters of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine) from the Seattle Institute of Oriental Medicine where I was educated in the use of Chinese herbs, Japanese meridian therapy, moxabustion, tui na (Chinese therapeutic massage), and “Chinese-style” acupuncture.  I have completed several years of shamanic apprenticeship and can do journey work, energy extraction, soul retrieval, house and business blessings, and energy readings.

My Practice at Maya

I practice general medicine.  Acupuncture and Chinese herbs can be used to treat many health issues such as:

* musculoskeletal pain and tension
* headaches
* allergies and other respiratory issues
* menstrual disorders
* infertility
* depression
* anxiety
* stress
* digestive disorders
* insomnia
* fatigue
* genito-urinary dysfunction
* high blood pressure

It is also a great form of preventative care, as it helps the body maintain physiological balance and reduce stress – a major exacerbating factor for many health issues.

In addition to acupuncture I often include energy clearing and chakra balancing in my treatments.  For those who would like to avoid needles I can do energy work without them.

I am currently seeing clients on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  If there’s sufficient demand I’ll add Saturday appointment times.  See my website for schedule updates and details.

COST: My rate is $85/hour for a treatment that includes acupuncture and basic energy work.  For more in-depth processing through shamanic techniques I do a sliding scale, $85-$125.  Payment is in cash or check or via PayPal for credit card use.  I do not take insurance as the scope of my practice exceeds what is covered by insurance.  I can provide receipts for treatment for those who wish to submit directly to their insurance providers.

Special Offer for March 2010

I am offering a reduced rate for clients who would like to purchase a package of four treatments in advance for $280 ($15-off each treatment).  Payments taken in cash or check at time of first visit or via PayPal on my website.

Some Facts about Acupuncture

Acupuncture uses very fine sterile needles.  Most of the time insertion is not felt at all. During the treatment, acupuncture causes what has been called an “induced meditative state” as the energy of the body goes inward in response to the input received from the treatment.  After a session it is typical to feel relaxed and more balanced, and it’s a good time for a nap or some quiet time to allow the body to integrate the effects of the treatment.

How many sessions a client needs depends on the nature of the condition: Is it chronic or acute? What is the root cause? What are exacerbating factors (such as lifestyle) that may counteract treatment goals?  What is your constitution and general health? All of this can be assessed on our first visit.

Chinese Herbs

I am planning on eventually having a small granular herb pharmacy available at Maya.  Until then I can call in prescriptions to the Bastyr pharmacy not far from Maya on Stone Way N. in Wallingford.

Taking Chinese herbs is not like taking supplements. They are usually given in the form of a formula of several herbs that is customized for the client at the time of visit.  Formulas are designed to take into account the client’s constitution and mitigate or eliminate any side-effects.  The Chinese herbal system is brilliant and highly effective.  Taking herbs is a great way to address long-term or constitutional issues that would benefit from daily medicinal input.  It’s a way to get on-going treatment at home.

Colds and Flu

Acupuncture can help reduce the time course and severity of a cold or flu, or prevent it from taking hold if treatment is received in the beginning stages of the illness. For maximum benefit I recommend coming in for a treatment as soon as symptoms start.

Seasonal Allergies

Now is a good time to start getting treatments for those of you who experience allergies in the spring.  Getting a two-or three-month head start can strengthen the body’s immune system and regulate any imbalances that may contribute to the allergic reaction.

with Jim Weber at Maya Fremont

Sundays

9:30-10:45 a.m.

Restorative Yoga:

What it is, How it works, and Why we Need it

By James K. Weber, M.D.

Like the word ‘calories,’ ‘stress’ has developed an undeservedly bad reputation in Western society. Calories are essential to life, they are the building blocks of the energy we need to perform our daily tasks, such as digestion, ambulation, and even cognition. The stress response is likewise essential; it is what enabled ancient man to escape from the saber-tooth tiger and modern man from a truck running a red light. However, just as too many calories are a bad thing, so too is unrelenting stress.

Yoga teaches us to slow down, to quiet the mind, to turn inward. All this and more help us to deal with stress. We learn to activate our parasympathetic nervous system, engaging the “rest, digest, and relax” response, rather than the sympathetic “fright, fight, or flight” response.

While any of a number of methods of yoga will help in this regard, gentle, restorative, and yin yoga are the most effective, and “power” yoga would, not surprisingly, be least effective at stress reduction. A well-balanced Hatha style would fall somewhere in between.

Restorative and yin yoga utilize fewer and less challenging poses than are called for in other yoga styles, and the poses are held longer, generally for two to five minutes. This allows for sufficient time for tense muscles and taut tendons and ligaments to release. More of the poses involve forward bends and twists, which tend to be relaxing, rather than back bends, which tend to energize. The back bends which are used, in part to counterpose the forward bends, are usually supported with props such as bolsters, straps, and blocks, in order to lessen the energy requirement.

Yin yoga derives from Taoist Buddhist yoga traditions, where yin is the feminine, more contemplative, slower form of activity, opposite from yang (think “power yoga”). Most of the poses are based upon classic yogasana; however, rounding of the spine and bending of the knees are encouraged in yin yoga. Essentially the student folds into a position with sufficient modifications to suit his needs. Western yin teachers have adopted a whole new series of names-such as “dragon” and “butterfly”– for their modified poses, rather than using standard nomenclature.

The ultimate goals of restorative and yin yoga are the same: to create mental and physical serenity and healing where indicated through the use of a limited number of relatively undemanding poses.

In my work as a certified yoga teacher and therapist and an Ayurvedic Wellness Counselor, I employ a great deal of restorative techniques, even in my flow classes (at the beginning and the end of each session).

To sign up, click here.