Across time and culture dance has been revered for its power to heal and transform body, mind, and spirit.  Ecstatic Dance follows in this tradition by providing an environment in which music and dance are used as ways to transcend ordinary states of consciousness.  By allowing the body to move in self-directed ways, we travel deep within ourselves remembering and reactivating our inherent wisdom, and a conscious awareness of our interconnectedness to all things.  The dance becomes a source of revelation and renewal, where the movement both invokes and becomes the medicine.
 
Ecstatic Dance offers a haven where you can be fully present with body, mind and spirit, and allow your dance to be solely guided from within.  The musical wave, your intention, and your inner wisdom will be the only things guiding you.  We will start promptly at 8pm with a brief unstructured warm-up, followed by an opening circle at about 8:15 to set our intentions and connect the energy of the group. The remainder of the evening is yours to move in anyway that feels good to you. 
 
Wear loose, comfortable, clothing, be prepared to sweat, and bring plenty of water to drink.
No prior dance experience is required.  All that is needed is a desire to move, and be moved.
 
Amy Lodge has been dancing her whole life, and continues to love the joy and  transformative qualities it brings.  She is very excited to once again co-create a space for sacred self-expression thru dance.

The per session tuition is $20.00, cash only, at the door.

First Friday of each month

Fridays in Bethesda, MD  8:00 PM
Dec 3rd 2010, Jan 7th 2011, Feb 4th, Mar 4th

This entry was posted on October 20, 2009 at 4:55 PM and has received 1446 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

Journey Dance is a playful and intuitive method of discovering and celebrating our inner strengths and soulfully expressing them through dance.  Propelled by world beats and using elements of free exploration, visualization, vocalization, guided sequences and improvisational movement, Journey Dance allows us to trust and affirm our heart's deepest knowing, and to reconnect with an innate state of joyous well-being.  At journey's end, we feel  embodied and whole, energized and tuned in.
 
For those of you who may be wondering how Journey Dance differs from 5 Rhythms, Nina Gallant, a certified Journey Dance teacher says, "Like 5 Rhythms, Journey Dance is about tuning in to body awareness and emotional presence at the most basic and profound levels, and then committing to and honoring the personal expression of those states.  The containers for and elements of the dance are a bit different, however - I would say Journey Dance might include more guided visualization and "ritual" during the dance, and has more parts - expansion, funky connection, shamanic, heart, and prayer dance are some of them.  All of the Journey Dance flow supports, sustains and enriches our personal and communal power, and offers confidence, joy, creativity, authenticity, among other wonderful benefits, through the dance."

More information on Journey Dance can be found at www.journeydance.com.
 
Nina Gallant first Journey Danced with its originator, Toni Bergins, many years ago at an Omega Institute drumming circle.  The energy and joy resulting from the dance inspired Nina to further explore the benefits of this discipline, as well as to develop her own program, Bardo Dance.  Dance in its many forms offers Nina an opportunity for personal expression and growth, and she in turn enjoys offering these benefits and joys to the greater community through her dance facilitation.  She has taught at numerous spiritual and recovery retreats, as well as academic and corporate venues.

Journey Dance will continue monthly for 2009 on Saturday, November 7th and Friday, December 4th.
2010 dates will all be on the first Friday of the month:

Toni Bergins, Creator of JourneyDance  - 2010 Spring Workshops
Saturday, March 6th, 6:30 - 8:30 PM Introduction & Sunday, March 7th, Noon - 4:00 PM Intensive
Fridays in Bethesda, MD (except Saturday, November 7th, 2009)  8:00 PM
2009:  Dec 4th.        2010:  Jan 1st, Feb 5th, Apr 2nd, May 7th, Jun 4th, etc.

The per session tuition is $20.00, cash only, at the door. 

Carderock Springs Swim and Tennis Club

6.  Go half way around the tiny circle and continue into the parking lot of the club.

If you can't access the Bethesda venue by car, we can usually arrange a ride from a Metro station.
Call: (202) 627-9003.

This entry was posted on October 20, 2009 at 4:52 PM and has received 1672 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

I was listening to a recent Immortality Expressions CD and Jim talked about how being
immortal has affected his health. How are you treating your health? Do you treat your
body with care so it can support your live on this planet for ever? Or do you treat it as
a disposable object that can be abused because you won't be needing it after a few
years?

Being immortal may seem like a choice that only affects us in the distant future, but
really it is something that affects my choices in the now.

• What shall I eat?
• What to drink?
• Shall I take drugs (including alcohol and tobacco)?
• When to go to bed?
• When to workout?
• How shall I drive?
• Who and how shall I have sex with?
• What thoughts shall I allow in my mind?

Let me know what your thoughts are on this topic and what works for you in staying healthy.

This entry was posted on October 20, 2009 at 4:43 PM and has received 1649 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

This tasty and health raw lentil spouted salad is easy to make using a Easyspout container.

• Soak a cup of raw, organic, whole lentils in warm water for 8-12 hours (overnight) in the easyspouter.
• Drain water and prop the draining inner contain inside the water proof out container by rotating it.
• Leave on counter for 16-36 hours - the lentils will spout little roots!
• Optional - store in fridge for several days until needed
• Add chopped chives or green onions, lemon juice and olive oil
• Voula - a delicious and healthy salad!

Notes:

• For healthy eatting make sure your seeds are organic otherwise you will be just concentrating pesticides in your spouts. Seeds for planting in the garden are not good - they are often coated in pesticides to protected them in the soil from bugs.
• If the seeds or nuts are not raw (ie alive) they won't grow (many nutes are roasted or boiled)
• Your local organic market (eg MOM or Coop) has bulk seeds and nuts or you can buy online.

The EasySpouter costs about $12 each and lasts for years - can spout any seeds or nuts. The thing I really like about this model is that unlike other spouting methods it does not require daily rinsing! You just "set and forget" it until the spouts are ready to eat.

This entry was posted on October 19, 2009 at 1:06 PM and has received 1307 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

This Wednesday Sandbox gathering we learn about erotic kissing, nibbling and biting. What turns you on, how to do it and safety tips. There’s nothing quite like a great kiss, but add some spice to your liplock with a little sensual biting and it becomes much more than a kiss; it becomes a tantalizing and irresistible weapon of master seduction. Great lovers know the secrets of sensual biting, and now you can know them too. Adhere to the simple directions and tips below and have your lover aching for you tonight!

Some ideas on where to nibble and bite:

• The nipples of course, are number one when it comes to sensual nibbling. Mixed in with plenty of kissing and licking, sensual biting is incredibly arousing.
• The neck, in front, on the side and the back is probably one of the most sensual places for biting on both men and women’s bodies.
• The inside of one’s thighs is a favorite as a place for sensual biting.
• In the peak of a heated moment, being bitten on the shoulder can be highly erotic, but it is better reserved for gentle kisses until things get really hot. Try this from behind for a super sexy sensation.
• The inside of the elbow and wrist are rarely paid attention to sensually, but they are extremely sensitive and sexy places for a nibble.
• The hip is an extremely erogenous zone, and it's great for kissing, touching, and also sensual biting. Near the hip bone and down toward the crease where your lover’s leg begins are the places where you should concentrate your efforts.
• The back and inside of the knees are another great place for sensual nibbling.

(From article Sensual Biting by Brettani Shannon on Lovingyou.com)

The playshop begins after dinner at 8pm.  I invite you to join us, though as always what ever choice you make you will be honored in.

Kissing tips from the Lifestyle Louge of India here. And more on kissing from Leonore at The Kinsey Institute  here

This entry was posted on October 2, 2009 at 8:27 PM and has received 1387 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

This Wednesday Sandbox gathering we learn about the Hawiian healing method of Ho'oponopono. I have been using Ho'oponopono for the last 6 months and found it to be healing both of me and external world.

The basic idea is that each of us create all of our reality. The problem isn't with our external reality, it is with ourselves. To change our reality, we have to change ourselves. So if a person or situation is irritating us we can heal that part of ourselves and the "external" world will shift. The basic healing method is to see that person/situation as a representation of the divine and repeat (silently inside myself) the mantra “I love you. Please forgive me. I'm sorry. Thank you.”. Or just repeat "I love you" if you want it simpler. I have used it during client meetings if the client was being a pain in my butt and the meeting went better. I have also used it to bring in new clients to my business and to clear old clutter from my business. I use it on my body parts, especially if I have any dis-ease in any of them.

Look at it this way, even if you don't believe the external stuff works the mantra makes the "internal" feel better in "bad" situations. Any changes in the "external" are a bonus! :-)
M/M

You can learn more at at the articles at
http://www.self-i-dentity-through-hooponopono.com/articles.htm or read the books "Zero Limits" by Joe Vitale or "The Easiest Way: Solve your problems and take the road to love, happiness, wealth and the life of your dreams" by Mabel Katz

The workshop begins after dinner at 8pm.  I invite you to join us, though as always what ever choice you make you will be honored in.

This entry was posted on October 2, 2009 at 8:18 PM and has received 879 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

This Wednesday Sandbox gathering we will learn about Ayurveda Healing and Cooking from Ayurvedic expert Francis Warner who worked for 10 years at the for Chopra Center Wellbeing in California. I have Vata main type and I have found that eating Vata spices and tea has helped me be more balanced and healthy over the last year. Here is what the Chopra Center says about Ayurveda:

Ayurveda is a 5,000-year-old system of natural healing that has its origins in the Vedic culture of India and has been enjoying a major resurgence in recent years. Early Greek, Tibetan medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine all have their roots in ayurveda. More than a mere system of treating illness, ayurveda is a science of life (Ayur = life, Veda = science or knowledge). It offers a body of wisdom designed to help people stay vital while realizing their full human potential. Providing guidelines on ideal daily and seasonal routines, diet, behavior and the proper use of our senses, ayurveda reminds us that health is the balanced and dynamic integration between our environment, body, mind, and spirit.

Recognizing that human beings are part of nature, ayurveda describes three fundamental energies that govern our inner and outer environments: movement, transformation, and structure. Known in Sanskrit as Vata (Wind), Pitta (Fire), and Kapha (Earth), these primary forces are responsible for the characteristics of our mind and body. Each of us has a unique proportion of these three forces that shapes our nature. If Vata is dominant in our system, we tend to be thin, light, enthusiastic, energetic, and changeable. If Pitta predominates in our nature, we tend to be intense, intelligent, and goal-oriented and we have a strong appetite for life. When Kapha prevails, we tend to be easy-going, methodical, and nurturing. Although each of us has all three forces, most people have one or two elements that predominate.

For each element, there is a balanced and imbalance expression. When Vata is balanced, a person is lively and creative, but when there is too much movement in the system, a person tends to experience anxiety, insomnia, dry skin, constipation, and difficulty focusing. When Pitta is functioning in a balanced manner, a person is warm, friendly, disciplined, a good leader, and a good speaker. When Pitta is out of balance, a person tends to be compulsive and irritable and may suffer from indigestion or an inflammatory condition. When Kapha is balanced, a person is sweet, supportive, and stable but when Kapha is out of balance, a person may experience sluggishness, weight gain, and sinus congestion.

 

An important goal of ayurveda is to identify a person’s ideal state of balance, determine where they are out of balance, and offer interventions using diet, herbs, aromatherapy, massage treatments, music, and meditation to reestablish balance.

Francis will show us how to prepare an Ayurvedic meal : Channa Dhal: A soup made with high protein Chic-pea and Mung beans cooked with herbs and spices for maximum digestibility. Coconut Potato-Squash Curry: Butternut squash and Potatoes cooked in Coconut milk curry. During the meal preparation he will teach how to combine herbs, spices and vegetables to give dishes unique flavor and healing properties.

He will also show us how to prepare of Ayurvedic Churnnas (Mixture of spices for specific Mind/Body types). These Churnnas can be added to any dish as a condiment to maintain balance.

In discussion part of the evening he will give an introduction to Ayurveda and the three Mind/Body constitutional types (Doshas). We will also do a simple test to get a rough determination of individual constitutional type. Then we will discuss the Ayurvedic approach to Food, Cooking and Eating.

The workshop begins after dinner at 8pm.  I invite you to join us, though as always what ever choice you make you will be honored in.

 PS I found an interesting article on using Ayurveda for weight loss here:
http://www.personalgrowthplanet.com/dieting/maharishiayurvedaapproachtoweightloss.htm

"Health is won or lost in how we live day-to-day life. I encourage everyone with weight management issues to take initiative and get on an upward spiral of healthy activity. Your quick reward will be greater freshness, happiness and a lighter, healthier body."

For those with sleep problems here are some tips on using Ayurveda to help:
http://www.yogajournal.com/health/2542
(On Wednesday Francis will help you find your type: Vata, Pitta or Kapha)

And if you want more energy check this article out
http://www.experiencefestival.com/a/Ayurveda/id/1172
"If you are feeling dull, sluggish, and drained of energy every day, it probably means that your diet contains too many energy-draining foods, which have clogged your micro channels with toxins. This mean that you need to overhaul your diet to include foods that create ojas and energy. The important thing is to eat food every day that boost your energy, rather then relying on a artificial boosters when you feel your energy sag, because there will always be a negative side-effect."

This entry was posted on October 2, 2009 at 7:00 PM and has received 882 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.