Hi Everyone,I wanted to let you all know that this Saturday there was a fire in the Lily room (behind the store). Thanks to Joe Swinski, Jess Metcalf, Beth Champagne and I-- a major disaster was averted.5 fire trucks appeared and the whole building was checked out and all is well now. The firemen think it was a frayed wire that sparked and caught the curtain on fire.Joe ran in and moved the curtain and I followed and was able to stomp the fire out. We are very lucky this happened while we were in the building.There were 40 or more folks in the class in health services and they all graciously waited for things to cool down and returned!I was amazed by how all of our clients and students were so gracious and just waited outside and came back or made adjustments with very little stress.It really speaks highly that we have so much support and that we were all healthy enough to stay calm in the storm.Classes will proceed as normal. I am waiting to hear from the insurance company before repairs begin.
Thanks,
Joan
Monday, October 06, 2008
Monday, September 01, 2008
The Store this month...
Prana’s new fall colors and styles, Enerchi new Capri lengths and fall colors and new All That Matters T’s in white long sleeve and brown tanks….All That Matters water bottles are in now too, as well as some of the newest gifts from the New York International Gift Show. Check out our “Liquid Cardboard” Designs, available in several sizes, and each one offers multiple shapes.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Welcome Dr. Layton!Dr. Layton a Naturopathic Physcian joins the All That Matters team.
Naturopathic medicine is a system of healing based on the wisdom that the body will heal itself if it is given the support it needs. Naturopaths are trained to recognize and treat all common medical conditions, but focus on prevention and use of alternative treatments. For any medical issue from menstrual pain to fatigue, naturopathic medicine seeks to find and treat the root cause of a person’s illness, in addition to alleviating symptoms. Therapies include detoxification, nutritional supplements, diet modifications, allergy elimination techniques (NAET), herbal medicine and homeopathy
Dr. Layton completed her undergraduate work in Neuroscience and Behavior at Mount Holyoke College in 1999. She earned her doctorate degree in 2006 from Bastyr University, one of only four nationally accredited 4-year schools of naturopathic medicine. After her training, she spent two years working in an integrated clinic in Atlanta, GA along with alternative and conventional doctors. Now back in her native RI, she enjoys working with people of all ages, designing treatments for health issues of all kinds that are based on current scientific evidence as well as ones that are rooted in years of tradition.
She will be seeing patients starting September 08 on Monday and Thursday by appointment.
She will be seeing patients starting September 08 on Monday and Thursday by appointment.
Mexico, Italy anyone?If you are looking to travel to Mexico or Italy consider traveling with Jeff and Sue. David and I went on the Mexico tour in 2008 and it was wonderful. For more info on traveling tours with Sue Baldassano founder, To Grandmothers House We Go Cooking Tours and instructor at The Natural Gourmet in NYC click here.
Monday, July 28, 2008
Did you see the Providence Journal Front Page Sunday, July 27, 2008?
Here is the article....
Yoga dogs!
Providence Journal Front PageSunday, July 27, 2008
By Bryan RourkeJournal Staff Writer
SOUTH KINGSTOWN — Jack did Downward Facing Dog. He did Cobra. But the pose the four-year-old mixed breed most preferred had no name. Call it Waiting for Belly Rub.
Yesterday, Jack did yoga; half a dozen dogs did. That’s doga, short for dog yoga.
“I was a little skeptical,” said Jennifer DeAngelis, a yoga instructor at the All That Matters studio in the village of Wakefield. “I didn’t really think it would work. No one was more shocked than I was.”
Perhaps the shock’s just settling in with you.
Go ahead. Roll over. Play dead. Bark disbelief if you like.
But doga does exist. And it’s now in Rhode Island. DeAngelis has taken the concept created six years ago in New York, and brought it here; fetched it, if you like.
And a fair number do like it. Last month, the Wakefield doga class drew eight (human/dog) pairs of participants. Yesterday, for the second class, five pairs participated with DeAngelis and her assistant, Little Dog, a seven-year-old mixed breed.
Doga is yoga for people who love dogs.
“It’s two of my favorite things together,” said Barb Tonzi, of Narragansett, who owns three dogs and has practiced yoga for decades. Yesterday, she brought Rocky, her 18-month-old miniature Pinscher, who at home has shown a high receptivity to yoga, just by watching her do it.
“He gets the benefit of my meditation. He turns into a noodle.”
The idea of doga isn’t simply dogs doing yoga, but people performing it with their dogs, and near their dogs. For some people that’s an enticement.
“I never had any interest in yoga,” said Kate Fantoli, of Coventry, who took the doga class with her dog, Jack. “I thought my dog would make it more interesting for me. I thought yoga was too slow.”
Fantoli thought yoga would be beneficial, the breathing, stretching and relaxing. And she thought it would help her dog, too.
“If he does some great poses, that’s great. But it’s about the experience of being with other dogs and having an experience with me.”
The doga dogs walk together. They receive massages from their owners. And they watch their owners do yoga.
Then the people put their dogs in yoga poses.
“I don’t think people will be surprised by doga,” said Lisa Natanson, of South Kingstown, who brought her nine-year-old beagle Daisy. “I think people are so accustomed to fringe things people do with their dogs.”
There are dog wardrobes and dog birthday parties, and all-day doggie events, one of which Natanson attended last summer in Auburn, Mass., for BONES (Beagles Of New England States). Natanson, who is friends with DeAngelis, had given her a gift, a book about doga. DeAngelis, who not only teaches yoga but works as a certified veterinary technician, was intrigued, then invited by Natanson to give a doga class at the annual BONES Beagle Bash.
“I was really amazed how much these dogs settled down as soon as we started the breathing work.”
DeAngelis is no longer amazed.
“We all know that animals can sense our moods. They can sense our anxiety, but they can also sense when we are relaxed, and they feed off that.”
The feeding can go the other way too, according to DeAngelis. People can learn from their dogs, which have a natural disposition for yoga.
“No one lives in the moment more than your dog. There is no past or future. There is only this minute.”
Doga is the creation of Suzi Teitelman, a yoga instructor who formerly lived in New York and now lives and works in Jacksonville, Fla. She developed doga in 2002 a few months after getting a dog, Coali, a cocker spaniel, who she noticed wanted to be close to her every time she did her yoga. So Teitelman started doing yoga with her dog, which came to be called doga, which she estimated is now offered in about 100 locations around the country, and in Europe, too.
“People who did yoga were pretty accepting. People who didn’t do yoga laughed a little bit and weren’t sure why you would involve your dog in yoga.”
The simple answer is the dog doesn’t know it’s yoga. It’s just attention and affection.
“You’re together with your posture and breathing. You have this deep connection because you’re stretching together.”
The stretching involving the dog is limited, and dictated by the dog, whose body language the owners monitor.
“I say, ‘Go slow. Repeat, and go slower,’ ” DeAngelis said. “It’s like teaching them to sit or stay. They don’t get it the first time.”
But dogs are eager to try many times, according to DeAngelis, as long as you’re with them.
“They think you’re playing. I’d be laying out and getting ready to do a pose and get my face licked.”
A dog’s life isn’t always what it’s cracked up to be, according to Karen D’Abrosca, of North Kingstown. So she brought Maggie, her eight-year-old golden retriever to the 90-minute doga class.
“Normally, she stays home. She sleeps. She barks at people who go by the street. Dogs should do cool things, too.”
Naturally this raises the idea of allowing other pets the opportunity to do cool things, too.
“I think there are benefits of yoga, meditation and breath work no matter what species we’re talking about,” DeAngelis says.
So, could there be coga? Cat yoga?
“Cats are something all their own. They don’t like to follow rules. I’m not saying it’s impossible. But I’m saying it would be a challenge.”
Doga will be offered again at 9 a.m. the last Saturday in August and September. Each session is $18. For more information, visit http://www.allthatmatters.com/ or call (401) 782-2126.
brourke@projo.com
Providence Journal Front PageSunday, July 27, 2008
By Bryan RourkeJournal Staff Writer
SOUTH KINGSTOWN — Jack did Downward Facing Dog. He did Cobra. But the pose the four-year-old mixed breed most preferred had no name. Call it Waiting for Belly Rub.
Yesterday, Jack did yoga; half a dozen dogs did. That’s doga, short for dog yoga.
“I was a little skeptical,” said Jennifer DeAngelis, a yoga instructor at the All That Matters studio in the village of Wakefield. “I didn’t really think it would work. No one was more shocked than I was.”
Perhaps the shock’s just settling in with you.
Go ahead. Roll over. Play dead. Bark disbelief if you like.
But doga does exist. And it’s now in Rhode Island. DeAngelis has taken the concept created six years ago in New York, and brought it here; fetched it, if you like.
And a fair number do like it. Last month, the Wakefield doga class drew eight (human/dog) pairs of participants. Yesterday, for the second class, five pairs participated with DeAngelis and her assistant, Little Dog, a seven-year-old mixed breed.
Doga is yoga for people who love dogs.
“It’s two of my favorite things together,” said Barb Tonzi, of Narragansett, who owns three dogs and has practiced yoga for decades. Yesterday, she brought Rocky, her 18-month-old miniature Pinscher, who at home has shown a high receptivity to yoga, just by watching her do it.
“He gets the benefit of my meditation. He turns into a noodle.”
The idea of doga isn’t simply dogs doing yoga, but people performing it with their dogs, and near their dogs. For some people that’s an enticement.
“I never had any interest in yoga,” said Kate Fantoli, of Coventry, who took the doga class with her dog, Jack. “I thought my dog would make it more interesting for me. I thought yoga was too slow.”
Fantoli thought yoga would be beneficial, the breathing, stretching and relaxing. And she thought it would help her dog, too.
“If he does some great poses, that’s great. But it’s about the experience of being with other dogs and having an experience with me.”
The doga dogs walk together. They receive massages from their owners. And they watch their owners do yoga.
Then the people put their dogs in yoga poses.
“I don’t think people will be surprised by doga,” said Lisa Natanson, of South Kingstown, who brought her nine-year-old beagle Daisy. “I think people are so accustomed to fringe things people do with their dogs.”
There are dog wardrobes and dog birthday parties, and all-day doggie events, one of which Natanson attended last summer in Auburn, Mass., for BONES (Beagles Of New England States). Natanson, who is friends with DeAngelis, had given her a gift, a book about doga. DeAngelis, who not only teaches yoga but works as a certified veterinary technician, was intrigued, then invited by Natanson to give a doga class at the annual BONES Beagle Bash.
“I was really amazed how much these dogs settled down as soon as we started the breathing work.”
DeAngelis is no longer amazed.
“We all know that animals can sense our moods. They can sense our anxiety, but they can also sense when we are relaxed, and they feed off that.”
The feeding can go the other way too, according to DeAngelis. People can learn from their dogs, which have a natural disposition for yoga.
“No one lives in the moment more than your dog. There is no past or future. There is only this minute.”
Doga is the creation of Suzi Teitelman, a yoga instructor who formerly lived in New York and now lives and works in Jacksonville, Fla. She developed doga in 2002 a few months after getting a dog, Coali, a cocker spaniel, who she noticed wanted to be close to her every time she did her yoga. So Teitelman started doing yoga with her dog, which came to be called doga, which she estimated is now offered in about 100 locations around the country, and in Europe, too.
“People who did yoga were pretty accepting. People who didn’t do yoga laughed a little bit and weren’t sure why you would involve your dog in yoga.”
The simple answer is the dog doesn’t know it’s yoga. It’s just attention and affection.
“You’re together with your posture and breathing. You have this deep connection because you’re stretching together.”
The stretching involving the dog is limited, and dictated by the dog, whose body language the owners monitor.
“I say, ‘Go slow. Repeat, and go slower,’ ” DeAngelis said. “It’s like teaching them to sit or stay. They don’t get it the first time.”
But dogs are eager to try many times, according to DeAngelis, as long as you’re with them.
“They think you’re playing. I’d be laying out and getting ready to do a pose and get my face licked.”
A dog’s life isn’t always what it’s cracked up to be, according to Karen D’Abrosca, of North Kingstown. So she brought Maggie, her eight-year-old golden retriever to the 90-minute doga class.
“Normally, she stays home. She sleeps. She barks at people who go by the street. Dogs should do cool things, too.”
Naturally this raises the idea of allowing other pets the opportunity to do cool things, too.
“I think there are benefits of yoga, meditation and breath work no matter what species we’re talking about,” DeAngelis says.
So, could there be coga? Cat yoga?
“Cats are something all their own. They don’t like to follow rules. I’m not saying it’s impossible. But I’m saying it would be a challenge.”
Doga will be offered again at 9 a.m. the last Saturday in August and September. Each session is $18. For more information, visit http://www.allthatmatters.com/ or call (401) 782-2126.
brourke@projo.com
to connec to the article click here
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
In honor of George Carlin.
This article was given to me once and credited to George Carlin.
Since he passed this week I thought I would share it.
The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less. We buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness. We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom. We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often. We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things. We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less. These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips,disposable diapers, throwaway morality, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete. Remember, spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever. Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side. Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent. Remember, to say, "I love you" to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.. Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again. Give time to love, give time to speak and give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind."
This article was given to me once and credited to George Carlin.
Since he passed this week I thought I would share it.
The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less. We buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness. We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom. We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often. We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things. We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less. These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips,disposable diapers, throwaway morality, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete. Remember, spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever. Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side. Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent. Remember, to say, "I love you" to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.. Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again. Give time to love, give time to speak and give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind."
Thursday, June 05, 2008
There is a new website whyilovesouthcounty.com
They have included a few videos of local business owners and one is of me (Joan)-- to see it click here and go to featured businesses.
They have included a few videos of local business owners and one is of me (Joan)-- to see it click here and go to featured businesses.
Tuesday, June 03, 2008
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Congrats to Cathy Cesario
and the 2008 Graduates of Spirit Tree Yoga Teacher Training.
It was an honor to have you all hereIf you would like to see a s very sweet video that Effrem created of the graduation party. Click here.
It was a great group!
:
It was a great group!
:
Raindrop Therapy
Are you prone to colds and and sinus infections? Do you get headaches on a regular basis? Do you suffer from emotional tension and stress? Are you living with the daily challenges of arthritis? Do you experience chronic neck and back pain? Are you looking to improve your health? Consider investing in a Raindrop Therapy Treatment!
Raindrop Therapy is a powerful technique that boosts your immune system and melts away stress. It incorporates modalities such as Aromatherapy, Vita Flex Reflexology, Traditional Massage, and Hot Stone Massage. This blissful-smelling treatment centers around the relaxing application of high quality Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils to areas of the body, especially along the spine, with the goal of clearing energy centers and bringing back structural and electrical alignment. These essential oils are well known for their anti-septic, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-microbial, anti-parasitic, anti-viral, and antioxidant qualities. They enter into the body's cells within 20 minutes of application and remain there, providing benefits, for up to 10 days. Raindrop Therapy is the perfect solution to seasonal illness and is fantastic when used as a companion therapy to cleansing routines! Make an appointment with Kelly -- your body will thank you!
Friday, April 25, 2008
Thursday, March 13, 2008
this article can be found in the latest RI Monthly
Q+A with Joy Bennett, All That Matters Yoga Instructor
Joy Bennett struggled with depression for years until a regular yoga practice helped her recover. Today, as a LifeForce Yoga instructor, she visits studios from Lincoln to Wakefield to share a yoga style designed specifically to manage mood.
How did you discover yoga?
Quite by accident, actually. A number of years ago, I was in the throes of a deep depression and started attending a gentle yoga class on Thursday mornings, mainly because I was sick of being alone all day. After a few classes, I noticed that Thursday became the one day of the week that I did not cry. So I kept practicing yoga, and I kept getting better. I realized that going to class was not about accomplishing the perfect posture but learning to build a new relationship with my body and spirit. It made such a difference in my life that I eventually decided to reach out to others who are suffering—first becoming a yoga teacher and then studying further with LifeForce Yoga Healing Institute founding director Amy Weintraub.
What is it about this type of yoga that helps relieve anxiety and depression?
The breathing techniques work to bring prana (life force) into the body. Depression is an absence of prana. Working through the postures and the breathing, the person is able to let go of obstructions and drop some of the loss or grief stored in the body. Yoga can also balance the biochemistry of the brain and stimulate the endocrine system to create a state of healing relaxation. There are aspects of the class you might find in others, but Amy took the things that are most powerful for balancing the mood and packaged them into a greatest hits line-up.
Doesn’t all yoga help mood to some extent?
Not necessarily. Some styles are very vigorous and practiced in a heated room, which can actually exacerbate an anxiety attack. For someone who is depressed, I think there are two speeds of yoga: slow and slower. A relaxing style is going to do more for them than a vigorous class with demanding postures, which could set them up for failure and bring them over the edge.
If someone’s in the depths of depression or on the verge of a panic attack, what is something simple and effective they can do that might provide some relief? First, I’d tell them not to forget to breathe. At this point they might not be ready to do a more complicated posture, but here’s a helpful pranayama technique: Count the beats of your breath with a pause at the top of the inhalation and the bottom of the exhalation. So, you might inhale for four counts, hold for another four, exhale for six counts and hold it out for two. You can tailor the counts to what feels best.
Should people practice LifeForce Yoga on its own or in conjunction with other treatment methods? LifeForce Yoga can be an important component of mental health, but I encourage my students to explore all the resources available, which also include medication and talk therapy. My husband is actually a psychiatrist, and I help out in his office, so I’ve seen the positive affects of medication, too. Some people who try this type of yoga think it will help them get off of their medication, but I think it can all work together.
—Jenna Pelletier
for another glimpse of joy click hereThursday, March 06, 2008
Friday, February 29, 2008
We now offer NIA and Pilates Classes
NIA New Series will Begin March 4.
Celebrate the mind, body, spirit connection with The Nia Technique. Choreographed to great music, routines combine martial arts, healing arts & dance arts to create a unique form of fusion fitness. Whether you're looking for an energized workout, to round out your yoga practice, cross train for any sport or just like the feeling of moving to music, Nia will teach you how to experience the "Joy of Movement" and the benefits of moving "Your Own Body's Way."
Suitable for men & women of all ages and ability levels. Wear comfortable clothing & bring water.No shoes required. For more information about Nia see: Nianow.com
The only way to see what it's all about is to try a class!
Celebrate the mind, body, spirit connection with The Nia Technique. Choreographed to great music, routines combine martial arts, healing arts & dance arts to create a unique form of fusion fitness. Whether you're looking for an energized workout, to round out your yoga practice, cross train for any sport or just like the feeling of moving to music, Nia will teach you how to experience the "Joy of Movement" and the benefits of moving "Your Own Body's Way."
Suitable for men & women of all ages and ability levels. Wear comfortable clothing & bring water.No shoes required. For more information about Nia see: Nianow.com
The only way to see what it's all about is to try a class!
Pilates Mat Classes
A fun and invigorating workout focusing on your core.
Teaches the basic principles of Pilates
Enhance your strength, flexibility, control, balance, and posture.
Create long lean muscles.
Strengthen your body and your mind.
Improve the way you look and feel!
Pricing: $10/ $12/$14 series/ open pass / drop-in
A fun and invigorating workout focusing on your core.
Teaches the basic principles of Pilates
Enhance your strength, flexibility, control, balance, and posture.
Create long lean muscles.
Strengthen your body and your mind.
Improve the way you look and feel!
Pricing: $10/ $12/$14 series/ open pass / drop-in
Tuesdays 4:45pm & 5:45pm
ALL LEVELS WELCOME. Offered by:
Tracie Kedzierski Certified Pilates Mat Instructor
ALL LEVELS WELCOME. Offered by:
Tracie Kedzierski Certified Pilates Mat Instructor
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
This article was in SORI magazine in Feb 2008
Say “Namaste” to Yoga
The atmosphere at Wakefield’s holistic Mecca All That Matters is simply divine, the aura as soothing as soft South County sand on bare feet. But one of the first things yoga instructor Coral Brown tells me is that “anyone that can breathe can do yoga.”
Having just put out a cigarette, this may not be true. Yet despite the whole breathing thing – Brown’s soft, calming voice, the wafting incense, mellow music and candlelit ambience in the practice room – have put me at ease, and I am ready to say “Namaste,” a traditional greeting, to yoga.
The class consists of men and women of all different ages. We bow hands at heart to begin and I soon find myself moving on the mat, my legs, arms, back and body transforming in and out of poses like the appropriately named downward-facing dog to the Power Ranger-like Warrior II. The tingling inhales and the relaxing exhales of my breath ebb and flow as I work my way, somewhat awkwardly, from pose to pose. I stumble. I get up. I balance. I contort. I sweat. I adjust. I breathe. I am relaxed, yet I am working out.
Yoga, it turns out, is quite individualistic. There is no rush to keep up with the group, no sense that my inexperience is a hindrance. My workout is what I make it; I define my own pace. At the end, the class is given ample time to explore poses on their own. Some stand on their heads, others practice stretching in ways I could only achieve by accident and with great personal injury resulting. I enter into Savasana, the corpse pose, which allows you to lay still, eyes closed, your body in total relaxation. Now this is a pose I can master.
Having never stepped barefoot into a yoga class before, I am told I fared pretty well. And despite some loudly creaking bones, a pound or two of sweat and the occasional stumble, my body, Brown tells me, is actually quite balanced. “Yoga is the union of opposites,” Brown explains. “The body wants to be in balanced. Yoga brings us back to balance.”
And it is the balance that Brown says keeps all types of people coming back to yoga – the liberating union of physical health and the mental state of realizing that all that usually matters – if only for a brief and fading hour – does not.
The atmosphere at Wakefield’s holistic Mecca All That Matters is simply divine, the aura as soothing as soft South County sand on bare feet. But one of the first things yoga instructor Coral Brown tells me is that “anyone that can breathe can do yoga.”
Having just put out a cigarette, this may not be true. Yet despite the whole breathing thing – Brown’s soft, calming voice, the wafting incense, mellow music and candlelit ambience in the practice room – have put me at ease, and I am ready to say “Namaste,” a traditional greeting, to yoga.
The class consists of men and women of all different ages. We bow hands at heart to begin and I soon find myself moving on the mat, my legs, arms, back and body transforming in and out of poses like the appropriately named downward-facing dog to the Power Ranger-like Warrior II. The tingling inhales and the relaxing exhales of my breath ebb and flow as I work my way, somewhat awkwardly, from pose to pose. I stumble. I get up. I balance. I contort. I sweat. I adjust. I breathe. I am relaxed, yet I am working out.
Yoga, it turns out, is quite individualistic. There is no rush to keep up with the group, no sense that my inexperience is a hindrance. My workout is what I make it; I define my own pace. At the end, the class is given ample time to explore poses on their own. Some stand on their heads, others practice stretching in ways I could only achieve by accident and with great personal injury resulting. I enter into Savasana, the corpse pose, which allows you to lay still, eyes closed, your body in total relaxation. Now this is a pose I can master.
Having never stepped barefoot into a yoga class before, I am told I fared pretty well. And despite some loudly creaking bones, a pound or two of sweat and the occasional stumble, my body, Brown tells me, is actually quite balanced. “Yoga is the union of opposites,” Brown explains. “The body wants to be in balanced. Yoga brings us back to balance.”
And it is the balance that Brown says keeps all types of people coming back to yoga – the liberating union of physical health and the mental state of realizing that all that usually matters – if only for a brief and fading hour – does not.
I was the guest editor for the Feb issue of SORI- if you did not get to read the write up- here it is. Joan
As resolution time has come and passed, now’s a good time to ask, “How is your health? Your time management? Your daily energy? How are you enjoying life?”
If after a bit of soul searching you come up with a resounding “Great!” my guess is that you are investing in some form of preventive or holistic health practices. If you come up with a so-so rating, some of the articles in this issue might inspire you to begin to explore.
Preventive health cannot just be penciled in for January 1 -- it is a lifestyle that more and more folks are adopting. And not just because they want to be free of disease, but also because they want to be excited by life, feel their vitality and do great things.
Each person’s food, rest, community and exercise requirements are different. Getting to know your body’s needs is the first step to being well. Feeling better does not come from adhering to one doctrine, set of beliefs or teacher. It is an individual path nurtured through turning inward and listening to your own inner wisdom.
“Easier said than done,” you might say. That is true. In this fast paced world we live in, the emphases is on doing and producing, not on breathing and being. So it takes a bit of courage, curiosity and determination to etch out the time to learn and invest in daily practices that support your health. But I can guarantee that it is worth every bit of courage you can muster up.
We keep hearing about these “new” or “alternative” treatments, but there is nothing new about holistic health. It synthesizes ancient wisdom, proven practices, health discoveries and fresh insights for world traditions. Meditation, yoga, acupuncture, chiropractic, massage, and herbal remedies have all been around for centuries. They are tried and true practices.
So even though resolution time has come and gone, find the time to really invest in yourself. Whether it be a massage that brings you to a deeper place of relaxation, a yoga class that opens new doors of awareness, or a book that jumped off the shelf, the process of self-discovery and healing is activated. Just remember, nurturing yourself is not a luxury; it is a necessity.
Joan Dwyer is the owner of All That Matters in Wakefield.
If after a bit of soul searching you come up with a resounding “Great!” my guess is that you are investing in some form of preventive or holistic health practices. If you come up with a so-so rating, some of the articles in this issue might inspire you to begin to explore.
Preventive health cannot just be penciled in for January 1 -- it is a lifestyle that more and more folks are adopting. And not just because they want to be free of disease, but also because they want to be excited by life, feel their vitality and do great things.
Each person’s food, rest, community and exercise requirements are different. Getting to know your body’s needs is the first step to being well. Feeling better does not come from adhering to one doctrine, set of beliefs or teacher. It is an individual path nurtured through turning inward and listening to your own inner wisdom.
“Easier said than done,” you might say. That is true. In this fast paced world we live in, the emphases is on doing and producing, not on breathing and being. So it takes a bit of courage, curiosity and determination to etch out the time to learn and invest in daily practices that support your health. But I can guarantee that it is worth every bit of courage you can muster up.
We keep hearing about these “new” or “alternative” treatments, but there is nothing new about holistic health. It synthesizes ancient wisdom, proven practices, health discoveries and fresh insights for world traditions. Meditation, yoga, acupuncture, chiropractic, massage, and herbal remedies have all been around for centuries. They are tried and true practices.
So even though resolution time has come and gone, find the time to really invest in yourself. Whether it be a massage that brings you to a deeper place of relaxation, a yoga class that opens new doors of awareness, or a book that jumped off the shelf, the process of self-discovery and healing is activated. Just remember, nurturing yourself is not a luxury; it is a necessity.
Joan Dwyer is the owner of All That Matters in Wakefield.
Friday, January 25, 2008
What is Sound Healing?
Sound Healing, as the name implies, is the use of sound to create balance and alignment in the physical body, the energy centers called "chakras", and/or the etheric fields. The sound may be applied by an instrument or by the human voice.
The use of sound as a healing modality dates back to the earliest cultures, when the shaman chanted and drummed to heal people. In the ancient mystery schools of Egypt, Greece, India, and other centers of knowledge, the use of sound and music for healing was a highly developed sacred science. Today sound healing is in the forefront of alternative therapies. More and more people are finding relief from sound therapy from stress, anxiety, pain, depression and much more.
This weekend at All That Matters we have 2 exciting workshops to experience the powerful benefits of sound to balance and open the chakras. Read below for details.
In addition, once a month we offer Sunday Chanting Meditation and the popular Gong Bath Meditation Circles on the third Friday.
Remember that you carry with you at all times your own sound healing tool- your voice. So shift your vibration with a good belly laugh or whistle a happy tune, sing in the shower or car and most of all remember to take time to BREATHE!
Sound Healing, as the name implies, is the use of sound to create balance and alignment in the physical body, the energy centers called "chakras", and/or the etheric fields. The sound may be applied by an instrument or by the human voice.
The use of sound as a healing modality dates back to the earliest cultures, when the shaman chanted and drummed to heal people. In the ancient mystery schools of Egypt, Greece, India, and other centers of knowledge, the use of sound and music for healing was a highly developed sacred science. Today sound healing is in the forefront of alternative therapies. More and more people are finding relief from sound therapy from stress, anxiety, pain, depression and much more.
This weekend at All That Matters we have 2 exciting workshops to experience the powerful benefits of sound to balance and open the chakras. Read below for details.
In addition, once a month we offer Sunday Chanting Meditation and the popular Gong Bath Meditation Circles on the third Friday.
Remember that you carry with you at all times your own sound healing tool- your voice. So shift your vibration with a good belly laugh or whistle a happy tune, sing in the shower or car and most of all remember to take time to BREATHE!
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Here are our 7 January Health Tips!
Beginning a new year always has us reflecting about the improvements we want to make for our selves in the coming year. Choosing a healthier lifestyle is always one of the biggest improvements people chose to make because the benefits are so far reaching in every aspect of our lives. Often this idea can be a bit daunting...how and where do I begin? Do I need to look at a wellness retreat in the mountains or a spa vacation in the tropics to get me started? These are some wonderful considerations AND what if we told you it is easy than that and you can start right now?
At All That Matters we are all about living a health lifestyle and offer many options to meet you right where you want to begin or continue.
Here are 7 Tips and Options for Support that can get you started right now and establish the behavior to keep you on track:
TIP #1.
Choose foods that are fresh and free of additives and preservatives . When shopping at the grocery store- read the labels- if you don't know the source of an ingredient or better yet can't pronounce it- make another choice.
OPTIONS FOR SUPPORT:
Making Good Food Choices
At All That Matters we are all about living a health lifestyle and offer many options to meet you right where you want to begin or continue.
Here are 7 Tips and Options for Support that can get you started right now and establish the behavior to keep you on track:
TIP #1.
Choose foods that are fresh and free of additives and preservatives . When shopping at the grocery store- read the labels- if you don't know the source of an ingredient or better yet can't pronounce it- make another choice.
OPTIONS FOR SUPPORT:
Making Good Food Choices
TIP #2
Plan your meals ahead, this helps to cut back on eating out and binge or empty calorie eating. Don't under estimate the value of good home cooked meals. Take the time to sit down and chew (30% of digestion goes on in your mouth) be mindful around what,when and how you are eating.
OPTIONS FOR SUPPORT:
Whole Foods Cooking Classes
Finding Your Natural Body Weight
Every Bite is Divine
TIP # 3
Keep Your Body Moving.Walk, dance, practice yoga and tai chi, take up a sport. Whatever exercise you chose, it will keep the body and mind limber and flexible and support your vitality.
OPTIONS FOR SUPPORT:
40 Yoga Classes to choose from each week along with specialty workshops
Tai Chi classes
Belly Dance classes
OPTIONS FOR SUPPORT:
40 Yoga Classes to choose from each week along with specialty workshops
Tai Chi classes
Belly Dance classes
TIP #4
Quiet Your Mind. Stop and take a breath, sit down with a good book, learn to meditate, take a yoga class. In this fast paced world we live in, the emphases is on doing and producing, not on breathing and being. Choose to start somewhere- the benefits are worth it!
OPTIONS FOR SUPPORT:
Monthly Gong Bath Meditation
Monthly Book Group
Monthly Zen Meditation Circle
Foundations of Meditation
Establishing A Home Yoga and Meditation Practice
Quiet Your Mind. Stop and take a breath, sit down with a good book, learn to meditate, take a yoga class. In this fast paced world we live in, the emphases is on doing and producing, not on breathing and being. Choose to start somewhere- the benefits are worth it!
OPTIONS FOR SUPPORT:
Monthly Gong Bath Meditation
Monthly Book Group
Monthly Zen Meditation Circle
Foundations of Meditation
Establishing A Home Yoga and Meditation Practice
TIP #5
Express Yourself through dance, song, writing, painting, drumming, and joining in community with like minded folks. Nourishing your creative side and having outlets for expression is crucial in rejuvenating the spirit. How do you express yourself?
OPTIONS FOR SUPPORT:
The Artist's Way
Writing from the Heart
Belly Dance or Tai Chi
Community Yoga
TIP # 6
Support your health and healing. Explore the many benefits of acupuncture, chiropractic, homeopathy, therapeutic massage, reflexology and many other complimentary health services to maintain your wellness or speed your recovery from illness.
OPTIONS FOR SUPPORT:
Schedule a Health Service Appointment
Exploring a Homeopathic Approach Wellness Series
Saving Your Sight
Juice Cleanse for Health and Vitality
Free Wellness Talks
Express Yourself through dance, song, writing, painting, drumming, and joining in community with like minded folks. Nourishing your creative side and having outlets for expression is crucial in rejuvenating the spirit. How do you express yourself?
OPTIONS FOR SUPPORT:
The Artist's Way
Writing from the Heart
Belly Dance or Tai Chi
Community Yoga
TIP # 6
Support your health and healing. Explore the many benefits of acupuncture, chiropractic, homeopathy, therapeutic massage, reflexology and many other complimentary health services to maintain your wellness or speed your recovery from illness.
OPTIONS FOR SUPPORT:
Schedule a Health Service Appointment
Exploring a Homeopathic Approach Wellness Series
Saving Your Sight
Juice Cleanse for Health and Vitality
Free Wellness Talks
TIP # 7
Explore something new or learn a new skill. Whether you are looking to increase your skill sets or experience life from a new perspective, inspiration and motivation enlivens the mind, body and spirit, reduces stress and creates more fulfillment in life. The resulting benefits are many.
OPTIONS FOR SUPPORT:
Certification Programs
Self Discovery Workshops
Explore something new or learn a new skill. Whether you are looking to increase your skill sets or experience life from a new perspective, inspiration and motivation enlivens the mind, body and spirit, reduces stress and creates more fulfillment in life. The resulting benefits are many.
OPTIONS FOR SUPPORT:
Certification Programs
Self Discovery Workshops
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