-Emily E, student

In April, the 9^th Annual Conference of The National Ayurvedic Medical Association (NAMA) took place close by in Bellevue, WA. For almost 15 years, NAMA has represented the Ayurvedic profession in the U.S. with a mission to preserve, improve and promote the science and practice of Ayurveda for the benefit of humanity.

Cause, Community and Commitment. This year’s weekend conference entitled, Ayurveda: Healing People, Healing Communities was held at the Hyatt Regency Bellevue, and explored the process of healing through the doshas, the subtle doshas and the gunas within the context of the seasons, time of life and work-life environment. “There was a deep and palpable sense of community, camaraderie, respect and wisdom,” says NAMA president Hilary Garivaltis. “I came away truly inspired and feeling reconnected with our vast and varied community. This connection is the juice that keeps me going.”

Maya student Emily Erdahl attended day two of the conference, participating in a morning meditation, several key presentations as well as AyurYoga and Ojas:  Sustaining Healthy Lives and Healthy Communities Through the Practice of Yoga. Presented by  New Mexico-based Chitra Giauque, certified breema bodyworker and therapeutic yoga instructor, this class is the conference highlight for Emily. “It was an incredible fluid movement, similar to interpretive dance, to nourish the lymph, plasma and bodily tissues,” she says. “I have never felt so cared for and relaxed. I’m desperate to experience it again. It was nothing like any yoga I’ve ever experienced.”

In Sanskrit, “ayur” means ”life” and “yoga” means “union.” As eloquently stated in the class description, “Yoga gathers the disparate aspects of ourselves into a unified whole. It allows us to engage the body’s natural intelligence. Practiced in the spirit of surrender and acceptance, we’re offered yet another way to nourish our essence and enhance our connection to life.”  

Ayur Yoga class at Maya? Emily says she’s making it her personal mission to hunt down a class just like it in our area. The best way to generate interest in a class like this at Maya is to make a written request in the Class Suggestion Notebook!

In the meantime, NAMA’s 10^th Annual Conference -Longevity Through Ayurveda: Years to Your Life, Life to Your Years- takes place April 18-21, 2013 in Albuquerque, NM.

• Do you like reading our blog? Why not sign up for an email subscription? Maya Currents publishes fresh posts on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

And the day before your scheduled time, we send you an “appointment reminder” by email. Now, confirming your appointment is even easier - by clicking the “Confirm Appointment” link included in within the email, you will confirm your appointment instantly, eliminating the need for an additional reminder phone call.

Take Control of Your Own Schedule. This new complimentary service can save you time –and make your experience at Maya all the more enjoyable. No worries, though -if you don’t click the confirm link, we’ll continue to give you a phone call as a reminder.

If you must change or cancel your appointment, you may do so up to 24 hours prior to your appointment time with no cancellation fee. Please call us at (425)-271-0200 rather than email us to cancel your appointment. If you cancel or change your appointment within 24 hours, you will be charged 50% of the cost of the appointment, based on the standard rate for the service. If you do not contact us to cancel prior to the appointment time, you will be charged the full amount of the standard service rate. These cancellation fees cover the lost opportunity for the studio and the time and effort of the practitioner to be available for you for that appointment. These fees must be charged in order to continue to provide the services that you enjoy. Thank you for your understanding.

• Do you like reading our blog? Why not sign up for an email subscription? Maya Currents publishes fresh posts on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Trance Dance with Alec Davis  - Friday, May 18 7:30pm – 9:30pm

“Participating in a Trance Dance gives the opportunity to connect more clearly with your heart,” says Alec Davis, facilitator of the Trance Dance events at Maya Whole Health. “All of us spend a great deal of time in our rational mind; this is the chance to really listen to our heart versus our head.”

In 2008, Alec first experienced this unique blend of body movement, healing sounds, dynamic percussive rhythms, transformational breathing techniques and the innovative use of a blindfold or bandana, stimulating a “trance” state that promotes spiritual awakenings, mental clarity, physical stamina and emotional well-being. “It had a profound effect on me, and I wanted to learn more about it.”

After helping to facilitate a Trance Dance weekend with Wilbert Alix, the owner of Trance Dance International, Alec traveled to Hawaii to complete Wilbert’s 10-day facilitator training program. He’s been leading Trance Dance events in Seattle and the surrounding area ever since.

Alec has facilitated three of the scheduled 10 Trance Dance events at Maya this year. “Most people who have attended have never done Trance Dance before,” he says. “It is very simple to learn. Trance Dance is really about each person who participates going on their own ‘inner journey.’ At the end of our time dancing, there is an integrating period followed by sitting in a circle, and if people want to talk about their experiences they can, be it is not required.”

Ritual trance journeys have been a vital part of shamanic and eastern dance cultures for thousands of years. Alec is also a Shamanic Practitioner who awakened to his own Shamanic calling in 2007.  He works with clients to teach them how to journey, as well as assisting them with their personal healing.  

His contemporary approach to Trance Dance at Maya brings together the richness of these ancient rituals with some startlingly effective modern techniques. 

Register Today. Pre-registration $12, At the door $16, Annual Members and Maya Staff $10. Contact Alec Davis directly with inquires or credit card purchases at alecjohn_davis@hotmail.com or 206.499.8956.

Image: Dancing Prayer by Francene Hart

Namaste

 ”One of the Top 12 Wellness Vacations in the world.”

-Travel To Wellness Newsletter

May 25-28, 2012. This four-day event, which takes place in the majestic mountains of Idaho, has renewed the mind, body and spirit of people the world over. With a mission to “inspire positive change,” the Sun Valley Wellness Institute presents a full schedule of workshops, classes, speakers, a wellness expo and more to educate and enrich people’s lives. The Festival’s Movement Studio alone offers classes in yoga, meditation, Kundalini, Yin/Yang, Yoga Nidra … the list is wonderfully long.

15th Anniversary Celebration. “As we look to increase the body of science-based knowledge presented at the conference,” festival organizers say, “we will continue to present speakers that nurture the mind and spirit as well. This focus will serve to balance our lives with a broad range of information so that we may all enjoy our individual gifts to their greatest potential.”

The 2012 Keynote Speaker is none other than Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor, neuroanatomist and author of My Stroke Of Insight; A Brain Scientist’s Personal Journey, her bestselling memoir chronicling her recovery from a stroke. Featured at the 2008 TED Conference, Dr. Taylor is a fantastic speaker –I had the pleasure of editing one of her speeches given to Neuro Emotional Technique (NET) practitioners several years ago – and her insight into the power of mind-body medicine is pretty awesome.

Featured speaker Saul David Raye, known for his empowering and transformational approach to yoga, healing and spirituality, and cofounder of the original Sacred Movement Center in Los Angeles, CA, is facilitating a soulful evening of sacred chant, meditation, movement and prayer.

The Sun Valley Wellness Festival – a road trip to wellness for the whole family.

Namaste

Letters With Flair by Andrea. New to The Boutique are stylish greeting cards and stationery that’s hand drawn and lettered by Andrea. The whimsical designs include watercolor, letterpress, bright colors and fancy lettering. Andrea also creates custom stationery, too.

Positively Green Cards. This line of heart-warming cards have beautiful illustrations, vibrant colors, inspiring quotations and an easy-to-do environmental tip on the back.

Winner of the 2009 International Greeting Card Association’s “Card of the Year” LOUIE Award

Eco-friendly and green-manufactured, 10% of profits are donated to organizations that protect our environment and fight global warming.

In addition, browse the beautiful jewelry or better yet  –why not give your mom a Maya Whole Health Gift Certificate? Ask for one at the Reception Desk.

Happy Mother’s Day to All! Namaste

Namaste

]]> http://www.mayawholehealth.com/2012/05/thought-for-may-4/feed/ 0 http://www.mayawholehealth.com/2012/05/kale-yoga-practice-farmers-markets/ http://www.mayawholehealth.com/2012/05/kale-yoga-practice-farmers-markets/#comments Wed, 02 May 2012 17:30:44 +0000 Janet Muniz http://www.mayawholehealth.com/?p=680 If you follow Maya Whole Health on Facebook, you may already know that one of Maya instructor Marilee Veniegas’ favorite vegetables is kale. “Part of having a mindful yoga practice is treating your Anamaya Kosha -our physical sheath/”food body”- … Read the rest

If you follow Maya Whole Health on Facebook, you may already know that one of Maya instructor Marilee Veniegas’ favorite vegetables is kale. “Part of having a mindful yoga practice is treating your Anamaya Kosha -our physical sheath/”food body”- well,” Marilee posts recently. “I love kale, there are some great benefits to adding it to your diet.”

Marilee is not alone in highlighting the healthy benefits of eating kale. Vegetarian Times includes kale in its Top 10 Healing Foods, WebMD calls it a “Nutritional Powerhouse” and the ancient Greeks and Romans loved it for its anti-oxidant properties.

Kale is a low calorie, high fiber green leafy vegetable that can be eaten raw or cooked. High in iron, Vitamin A and Vitamin C (the list goes on and on) it’s also a great source of  Vitamin K, known to help protect against various cancers and Alzheimer’s disease.

Here’s foodie mag Bon Appetit‘s recipe-of-the-moment for Kale Chips:

Preheat an oven to 250°F. Toss 12 large Tuscan kale leaves, rinsed, dried, cut lengthwise in half, center ribs and stems removed with 1 tablespoon of olive oil in large bowl. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Arrange leaves in single layer on 2 large baking sheets. Bake until crisp, about 30 minutes for flat leaves and up to 33 minutes for wrinkled leaves. Transfer leaves to rack to cool.

Farmers Market Fave. You can buy kale in your local supermarket … but why not make a trip to your favorite local farmers market, since the season is upon us? The Issaquah Farmers Market is running on Saturday mornings from 9:00 to 2:00 pm, and here’s a list of start dates for other farmers markets in our area:

• Renton Farmers Market at the Piazza – Tuesday, June 5 from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm.
• Farmers Market at Valley Medical Center – Sunday, June 10 from noon to 4 pm
• Kent Farmers Market – Saturday, June 2 from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm
• Bellevue Farmers Markets – Thursday’s market opens May 10 at 3:00 pm; Saturday’s market opens June 2 at 10:00 am

Check links for more details

Namaste

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We’ve got your covered. The Boutique at Maya Whole Health offers a great variety of all-natural drinks and snacks –including coconut water, the fat-free, cholesterol-free, low-calorie, super-hydrating drink that’s a true health rage right now, as well as a new “it” ingredient celebrity chefs are experimenting with, too.

If you’ve ever cracked open a coconut, you’ve seen the clear, nut-favored coconut water stream out. Bottled coconut water was introduced in the U.S. about five years ago, claiming health benefits such as being naturally rich in electrolytes and potassium and low in sodium. Perfect for a moderate workout, coconut water helps regulate blood pressure, because the potassium counteracts the stimulating effects of sodium (according to the Huffington Post).

If coconut water is not your thing, you can always choose bottled water, Honest Tea, Izze juices or another drink in the media these days: Kombucha Wonder Drink. Founder Steve Lee –who is also behind such tea brands as Stash Tea and Tazo- developed his product in 2001, from a Russian woman’s culture started by her family in Siberia 50 years earlier. Pronounced [kom-boo'-cha], this energizing beverage is a sparkling fermented tea that tastes slightly tart, slightly sweet – something our human bodies may use to help aid digestion and build the immune system. Kombucha just may be the secret to longevity and vitality.

Hungry for more? The Boutique at Maya Whole Health also carries healthy snacks to curb those after-Pilates cravings, such as Larabars – seen on “The Biggest Loser”, Seattle, WA-based Theo Chocolate, YogaVive Apple Chips and –instructor Kristina Balcom’s favorite- Papa Giki Health Cookies. Baked in Tacoma, WA, these cookies are a “grab and go meal” that’s healthy and decadent. Made with ground organic flax seed plus eight more whole grains, fiber and soy protein, as well as semi-sweet dark chocolate, toasted almonds, golden raisin and coconut and sweetened with organic evaporated cane sugar known for its low glycemic index, Papa Giki Health Cookies are also dairy-free and delicious. “Start your day with Papa Giki and a glass of skim milk,” the company says, “and your will get 1000 mg of Omega 3, five grams offiber and 16 grams of protein.”

The next time you need refreshment before or after a class, remember: you’ve got some really healthy and delicious options right within your grasp at The Boutique.

Namaste

Maya Annual Members receive a 30% discount! Ask in studio for details.

Intro to Yoga Series with Alex Baker

4-WEEK SERIES Tuesdays, May 1- May 22 7:15 pm – 8:30 pm

Beginning yoga students get a solid foundation for a lifetime of yoga practice. Alex gives instruction in the fundamentals of alignment, basic poses, stretching and strengthening exercises, breathing, and relaxation techniques. Cost: $60

Pilates Essentials Intro Series with Kristina Balcom

4-WEEK SERIES Mondays May 7 – May 28 6:15 pm – 7:15 pm.

Learn the fundamental principles of Pilates, a super efficient, full body conditioning practice for building core strength. Pilates offers an appropriate and challenging workout for everyone, regardless of physical condition or body type, and can result in profound improvements to health and well-being. Kristina builds this powerful curriculum on itself week after week, resulting in a solid foundation needed to get full benefit of Pilates Mat classes and continuing personal Pilates practice, whether in the studio, at home, or in the gym. Cost: $60

Please note: This series may be cancelled 48 hours before it is scheduled to begin, if minimum registration is not met.

Intro to Pilates Equipment Circuit :: Beginner with Nancy Ayala

5-WEEK SERIES Mondays, May 21 – June 25 11:00 am – 12:00 pm & Thursdays, May 31 – June 28 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm

A unique training opportunity to build a solid core foundation quickly and safely. Our limit of four participants ensures personal modifications and adjustments according to your own unique needs at a fraction of the cost of one-on-one training. Nancy provides a fundamental and progressive Pilates- and yoga-based workout, infused with cardio and strength training. Incorporating the Reformer, Cadillac, Wunda Chair, and Small Apparatus, Pilates equipment uses straps and spring pulleys to offer variable resistance, helping to guide your body’s movement with controlled precision, maintaining proper alignment during exercise. This series prepares you for more intermediate Pilates, yoga, or circuit training classes, and a solid workout for the more experienced student.

Completion of this intro circuit series or teacher approval is required in order to sign up for regular circuit sessions. Cost $165

Please note: This circuit series may be cancelled the week before it is scheduled to begin if minimum registration is not met. There are no cash refunds or make-ups for missed classes. 

Hypnotizing my mind

-written by mmobius

Saṃsāra or Saṅsāra is a Sanskrit word meaning “continuous flow,” referring to the eternal cycle of life. This August, the movie Samsara comes to U.S. theatres. Take a look: