As we approach hurricane season I can’t help but to think of the Hindu God Hanuman and what he represents. Being the lord of the winds, strong and clever, Hanuman also
encompasses loyalty, faithfulness and friendship. I like to encompass all these qualities into my daily practice, meditation and life. Let us help integrate these principles into your life and help you find and feel the positive forces that will follow.

~ Wherever there is a grain of loyalty there is a glimpse of freedom. ~

Does discomfort get in the way of your practice? Keep faithful and keep comfortable with Barefoot Yoga Meditation Cushions. These cushions have an aesthetically pleasing design with a tushie pleasing comfort! They come filled with buckwheat hulls and a zipper to adjust the size. Make friends with aaaauuummm.

Have you seen our Bali Malas?!
Each one is handcrafted and
incorporates the rudraksha bead. Rudraksha beads are cooling, help quiet the mind and increase energy. Malas are used to help with concentatrion so you can stay loyal to your meditation practice.
With beautiful designs and powerful gems, Bali Malas are the result of divine jewelry. Try one for yourself or share with a friend!

WOOHOOO for two years in a row, we have received the

Rhode Island Monthly Readers Award for

"BEST Yoga Studio in South County."
We want to thank you all for helping to make this happen!

It is such a pleasure to get to work with all our teachers, staff and students to make this happen.

We'll keep up the good work and keep this good vibe going until next year..

Thanks again!

Congratulations to Joan!!

South Kingstown Chamber of Commerce Announces New Board Members

The South Kingstown Chamber of Commerce unanimously appointed Ms. Darlene LePore, Community Sales Director, of Brightview Commons Senior Living, located at 57 Grande Ville Court in South County Commons and Ms. Joan Dwyer, Owner, of All That Matters Yoga & Holistic Health Center, 315 Main Street, to their Board effective this month.

“ Our Board recognized their proven leadership skills, board management experience , and knowledge of our Business community of our new Board Members and we are excited that they will join our 21 Member Board for the largest Chamber here in South County,” stated Mr. Joe Viele, Current Board Chairman.

The Chamber of Commerce of South Kingstown is a voluntary, multifaceted organization composed of over 585 business firms and public-spirited citizens.The Chamber’s primary concerns are publicizing and developing commercial and industrial opportunities, seeing to the needs of its membership and promoting the Greater South Kingstown area. The Chamber Board and Staff continue to work to enhance the business climate of South Kingstown and provide services to the businesses in the community. The Chamber has been fortunate to have a dedicated, hard-working volunteer Board of Directors that has brought the Chamber forward in these trying economic times.

Thanks to all who came out for the magical and wonderful teachings of Shiva Rea!

On July 8th, we had over 200 yogi and yogini's come out to Goat Island in Newport, RI. They Hyatt Regency was nice enough to let us practice outside, under the pavillion, with a beautiful view overlooking the bay and Newport Bridge. The event was an overall success, between the fabulous floral arrangements, artfully crafted store displayed, and the energy of all the voluneteers and crowd alike.

Please take a minute to view some of the many photos from the event on our facebook webpage.

http://www.facebook.com/AllThatMatters

Until next time...

Namaste

~All That Matters Staff

Greetings fellow yogi and yoginis!

Thank you all so much for supporting us here at All That Matters. We hope our classes, workshops and facility have helped you to grow in many ways.

Being our 15 year anniversary we would love to hear back from you! Through our facebook page we are starting a discussion about sharing great stories and testimonials about All That Matters. It could be anything you are willing to share, from a memorable experience to a funny story.

The top testimonial will be featured in our winter catalog and the winner will also receive a $20 gift card to All That Matters.

So share away!

(If you are not a fan of ours already through facebook consider joining today!)

Celebrate your Independence! Be Free!
July 4th shouldn’t be the only time to really honor freedom, independence and history. Use this whole month to reflect on how you can release yourself from bad habits, negative emotions and stressful situations. Living a holistic lifestyle is always there to assist you,
but here are a few other suggestions to help you feel fresh and liberated!
“Always be a first rate version of yourself, rather than a second rate version of
someone else” - Judy Garland

The lotus symbol is a pretty prominent symbol you may see within the yoga world, and there is good reason why. The lotus symbol embodies infinite potential,
symbolizes renewal - transformation and new beginnings. So if you want to be surrounded by these good vibes, stop in and check out our multiple selection of jewelry inspired by the lotus flower! Featured here are Satya’s sterling silver
Lotus earrings. Free yourself from guilt and splurge a little here and there.. ;)

Try taking some advice from world renown author Pema Chodron. In one of her newest books, Taking the Leap: Freeing ourselves from Old
Habits and Fears, Pema shares insights and practices we can immediately put to use in our lives to awaken our essential qualities. “Pema’s writings have been helpful to countless numbers of people trying to find some ground for their being in this chaotic world” -Bill Moyers. Come check out this book, other Pema Chodron books, or any of the countless guidance books we carry to help you feel wonderful and free!

Helping you live a lifestyle of Health and Wellness

Meet Barbara Holtzman:

Barbara L. Holtzman, MSW, LICSW, is a psychotherapist, hypnotherapist and lifestyle coach in Providence and Wakefield RI. A graduate of Smith College School for Social Work (1981) and a 2-year hypnotherapy course, she has had extensive training in the mind/body connection and has a personal mindfulness meditation practice. Barbara is a nationally acclaimed speaker and leads workshops at colleges, hospitals, women's expos, wellness centers and professional conferences.

Barbara has a workshop here at All That Matters on July 19 from 6-9pm.
Her workshop is:

Making Peace with Food
& Your Body

here, Barbara shares with us an article found in Oprah Magazine and some insights..

The Non-Diet Approach
Endorsed by Oprah

Barbara: This is an interview with Geneen Roth in the April 2010 Oprah Magazine and her new book, "Women, Food and God" that I think will resonate for you. I share them with you because it helps to hear the information many times and sometimes a different voice will help us "get it." If you are tired of dieting, bingeing, or losing and gaining the same 15 or 50 lbs, Geneen's experience and words of wisdom may help strengthen your intention to finally make peace with food and your body.

"Conquering issues with weight starts with learning to love yourself", Geneen says. 'How would you treat a child who needed your love? Would you just whack them around and just say: 'Wrong! Bad. Look at your thighs, look at your legs'? No. Kindness. Only kindness makes sense. Only kindness ever makes sense."

Note from Barbara: We think we can shame ourselves into taking better care of ourselves, but it doesn't work, does it? We think we have to be perfect to be loved. But don't you love your children, your pets and your friends, even though they're not perfect? Why do you deserve anything less?


"Having issues with weight is always about more than the food." "Your beliefs show up in your relationship with food. So if I'm eating when I'm not hungry, I'm basically saying 'I can't feel these feelings. Life is too much for me."

Barbara: In my newsletters on emotional eating, I've mentioned some practices for coping with feelings without using food (which is also the name of one of the tracks on my CD). We can't give up using food as our main source of pleasure and comfort unless we have others. And, by the way, I have recently added another approach that has been deliciously satisfying - Martha Beck's "Joy Diet." I will share some of her ideas in the next newsletter.

In the article in Oprah's magazine, one of Geneen's students talks about how Geneen's teachings changed her.

" What mostly clicked was recognizing that going to the food wasn't working and that what I was looking for wasn't in the food. So what I was trying to get rid of and what I was trying to not feel, it didn't help to be eating over it... The other thing that clicked was that there was a whole lot of pain there to look at. I needed to look at some of the layers, recognizing some of the beliefs that were keeping me at the weight where I was." 'Those beliefs, she says, were that she wasn't good enough, that nobody liked her and that nobody would accept her the way she was'.


Geneen shares a gem of a recommendation that I think all recovering emotional eaters should write down and keep handy: 'To eat what you want when you're hungry and to feel what you feel when you're not.'

Barbara: Please remember that you developed these belief systems and habits as the best coping strategies you had at the time you started using them. Since you've practiced them for many years, insight alone will not change them. But by having a clear intention, a plan, and compassion for yourself, your new behaviors will eventually become your new 'default setting.' And when you inevitably experience an emotional eating experience, you will get the learning (of what precipitated it and what you needed), forgive yourself and let it go.

In case you've missed it, check out some of our wonderful new additions to our weekly yoga schedule!

Monday – 6pm Restorative Vinyasa Flow with Cathy Cesario

Wednesday – 11:30am Tai Chi with Mark
5:45pm Open yoga with Anni
6pm Heated Vinyasa with Coral Friday – 9:30am Basic with Elsie
Sunday – 5:30pm Mystery Yoga

Full Moon Yoga on Jun 26 * Jul 25 * Aug 24 at 7:45pm /South Kingstown Beach

And remember – Yoga on the Beach begins in July on Wed, Sat and Sun!

Thank You! Hope to see you all!

We did it.. the local businesses pooled their resources and this summer SK has a free trolley. Go Green!

This free trolley service runs 7 days a week
from 8:00 am- 10:00 pm.
The Trolley will start at The Holiday Inn on Rt. 1 then to The South County Commons, The Hampton Inn, The Wakefield Mall, Purple Cow, Downtown Main Street, The Mews Tavern, Mariner Square, Port Of Galilee, Roger Wheeler Beach, Scarborough Beach, Turtle Soup, Pier Marketplace, Narragansett Beach, Narrow River Kayaks and finally back to The Holiday Inn.

Thanks to The Trolley Steering Committee for a job well done and to all of The Chamber Business Partners that supported this exciting new service!

Looking out for your health, so you can enjoy every moment of these long summer days:)

Besides Yoga, these snacks boost energy...

Super Snacks: 5 Best Snacks for Energy
Find out which snacks to reach for next time you need a burst of energy.

Almond

Almonds are packed with a potent combination of energy-enriching nutrients, including manganese, vitamin E, magnesium, tryptophan, copper, vitamin B2 (riboflavin), and phosphorus. Magnesium has been called a miracle mineral because of its multifunctional capabilities: In addition to being an essential part of more than 300 biological processes, magnesium aids in the production of energy, supports the immune system, improves sleep patterns, relaxes muscles, relieves stress and anxiety, and boosts mood.

Yogurt
Yogurt is full of calcium, phosphorus, protein, tryptophan, molybdenum, and zinc. It's also a great source of vitamins B2 (riboflavin), B5 (pantothenic acid), and B12 (cobalamin). Thanks to its liquid-like state, the nutrients in yogurt are assimilated quickly and easily during digestion, which means you get an immediate boost of energy. Yogurt's high protein content means that energy also has staying power.

Pineapple
Pineapple is one of summer's most popular fruits simply because it's so delicious. But if you want more reasons, look no further: A rich source of manganese, vitamin C, vitamin B1 (thiamin), copper, fiber, and vitamin B6, this juicy fruit is a super snack for fueling energy.

Whole wheat snacks
Whole grains—especially whole wheat—are full of essential nutrients that energize both body and brain, including fiber; manganese; magnesium; iron; protein; carbohydrates; and vitamins B1, B2, and B3. Whole wheat is loaded with energizing B vitamins, which fight fatigue, maintain energy levels, stabilize blood sugar, improve sleep patterns, coordinate nerve and muscle activity, and boost mood.

Edamame
Edamame, or boiled soybeans, are a great pick-me-up because they're easy to make, easy to transport, and fun to eat right out of the shell. Soybeans are full of nutrients that contribute directly to a boost in energy as well as mood.

Have you seen our new Video: Mastering the Basics with Coral Brown?! Learn proper alignment techniques and postures to create a smooth and powerful practice.

Just saw and loved this rug...

Yes it is true. Shiva Rea is coming to RI. Thanks to Coral Brown. She will be here July 8th and we have already sold 75% of the available spaces...please register soon to have mat space. And do bring your mat and if possible car pool...it will be at the Jamestown Rec. Click here to register.

“May the sun lay like a friendly arm across your shoulder”

Soak up the sun, soak in the vitamin D.
Here at ATM we are always promoting health and wellness, and how holistic healing can be consider preventative medicine. Vitamin D promotes the absorption of calcium from food and is essential in the formation of bones. Research also suggests that Vitamin D can help reduce the risks of colon, breast and prostate cancer. So consider taking your next practice outside, but be mindful how much sun you may be soaking in, we don’t want you to look lobsterish…:)

Check out Shiva Rea’s Daily Energy DVD! Restore energy, strength, and balance every day. Offering seven 20-minute practices, this program will help you fit yoga into your busy life every day without having to repeat a workout.

For the ultimate outdoor, frolicking, soaking up sun look—try on one of our new Mata Traders Dresses!
Mata Traders is all fair trade clothing and accessories hand-made in India by women's cooperatives and artisan groups. Livable wages, good working conditions, no assembly line factory production -- that's what you're getting when you buy Mata Traders.

Prana Spring Collection is here at The Store @ All That Matters!

If you haven't browsed through already, be sure to stop in for these fantastic finds..

The Prana Brand ~ PrAna is an ancient Sanskrit word for breath, life and vitality of the spirit. Prana is honored to borrow this name to lift our aspirations and guides us towards a positive vision for the future.

Published online April 5 on Providence Business News . com

Five Questions With: Dr. Lisa S. Rameaka
By Marion Davis Contributing Writer

"I THINK these therapies work best in conjunction with conventional medicine with the focus always being on the individual patient and her goals," said Lisa Rameaka, South County Hospital’s chief of ob/gyn.

For a long time, doctors frowned on “alternative” medicine, dismissing it as unscientific, unhelpful and even dangerous. But now, with many Americans embracing holistic nutrition, massage therapy, yoga and more, doctors are learning to connect the two worlds.
At South County Hospital, that connection is even closer now: All That Matters, the well-known yoga and holistic education center in Wakefield, is now offering its services within the hospital’s Medical Office Building, and founder Joan Dwyer is giving monthly talks.
Dr. Lisa S. Rameaka, chief of obstetrics and gynecology at the hospital, explained why “integrative” medicine is valuable for patients.

PBN: What is integrative medicine, and how interested are your patients in it?
RAMEAKA: Integrative medicine is the combination of conventional medical therapies with selective complementary alternative medicine therapies for which there is scientific evidence of safety and effectiveness. Patients are very interested once they understand its role. … Integrative medicine is a philosophy of care that involves the mind, body and spirit. It is patient-centered care where the patient is educated and empowered to be responsible for improving her health. It is very individualized.
Integrative therapy has been an interest for South County Hospital for years. We have medical staff members who practice acupuncture, and there is an integrative therapy committee. This dedicated interest, along with the providers seeing it in their vision for The Center for Women’s Health, and a partnership with All That Matters, allowed for the motivation and formation of the current program.

PBN: How helpful can these therapies be, at their best?
RAMEAKA: I have seen patients who have benefited from integrative therapies. I think these therapies work best in conjunction with conventional medicine with the focus always being on the individual patient and her goals.
People who might benefit from integrative therapies include healthy individuals who want to optimize their health, maybe looking at stress reduction; people dealing with a chronic condition (for example, using yoga to treat back pain); and people with an acute diagnosis (for example, using acupuncture to help ease the nausea associated with chemotherapy).

PBN: How much have doctors’ attitudes toward complementary therapies changed?
RAMEAKA: I think the culture has changed, and with good reason. An estimated 83 million Americans seek out integrative therapies, including massage, acupuncture, and yoga, to name a few. An estimated $34 billion dollars a year is spent on alternative therapies.
The National Institutes of Health established the National Center for Complimentary and Alternative Medicine over a decade ago, and there is a large body of research showing that it works. It has funded over 1,200 research projects regarding integrative therapies.
More than 78 percent of medical colleges are now requiring students to take an integrative therapy course. Top medical centers have integrative medicine centers, and 18 percent of hospitals overall offer integrative therapies, up from 8 percent in 1998.
I think what makes our program unique is that South County has a dedicated core group of community members, physicians, nursing staff and senior leadership members promoting integrative medicine. We also have a health coach to assist us and work with patients.

PBN: Do you differentiate between various therapies and practices, encouraging some and discouraging others?
RAMEAKA: I make sure the patient realizes that integrative therapies are available to help complement conventional medicine to get the best results. This is where we are fortunate to have a health coach, so that the coach, provider and patient can work as a team to create goals and develop options for treatment.

PBN: What does All That Matters bring to the equation?
RAMEAKA: All That Matters is such a vital part of our program. Joan Dwyer started ATM in 1995 and created a very successful center that provides alternative therapies including yoga, acupuncture, chiropractic and massage services. Joan brought her expertise to the table, and together we created an integrative therapy program. By having some of these services within our center, it makes accessing these services easier for our patients.
To learn more about integrative therapies at South County Hospital, go to

http://www.schospital.com/news.cfm?id=481

Blossom, bloom, flower, thrive… no matter how you say it, there is no better time than the spring to renew and refresh your mind, body and soul.
Every day, every moment, every breath is your time to shine.

“Springtime is the land of awakening.
The March winds are the morning yawn”~ Lewis Grizzard

Beeswax candles have been the choice of candle connoisseurs throughout the ages. They are a gift from nature that embodies a simple and healthy state of being. Beeswax is 100% natural and a renewable resource that actually cleans the air by emitting purifying negative ions. Clear your space and make room for the new, with these adorable song bird molded beeswax candles, to inspire and entice anyone into the spring season!

Spring into action and help save the environment with Envirosax new origami inspired line of reusable bags! They fold up small and easily and can hold up to 40lbs! According to The Wall Street Journal, the U.S. goes through 100 billion plastic shopping bags annually. An estimated 12 million barrels of oil is required to make that many plastic bags. Each high quality reusable bag you use has the potential to eliminate an average of 1,000 plastic bags over its lifetime. What better time to start than now!

Meet Colette Fortenberry our featured student of the month!
Colette is a sweet and friendly yogini that represents All That Matters well!

Age 6 - Kindergartener (see anyone of any age can do yoga!)

When did you start yoga and what attracted you to the practice: My Mom and Dad gave me a yoga pass for my Christmas present last year.
What is your favorite style of yoga: I really like Belle’s class because we get to do a new pose each class, and we get to color and sing songs.
What other activities do you enjoy: Playing with my dog Biscuit and swimming and riding my 2 wheel scooter.
Favorite sound: The birds outside
Least favorite sound: People yelling and screaming
Favorite meal: Pasta!!
Great Movie or book to recommend?: Cinderella (a classic)
What keeps you doing yoga: Because yoga is fun and it makes me feel happy :)
Advice to beginners: To listen to your teacher
What do you like most about All That Matters: I like picking out presents for my mom and dad in the store because of all the pretty things in the store...and because Yoga is fun!

Congratulations to Karla (who works in our store) and Ben!