Imagine Yoga & Wellness, LLC

Inspirational Yogis

2011-03-22T14:37:00.000-04:00

I am so inspired by our chair yogis.
All of these kind-hearted folks have come to our Tuesday morning Chair Yoga class because, for some reason or another, they are uncomfortable with getting up and down for work on the floor. So we practice either sitting in chairs or standing beside them. We work together to find ways to modify the poses for reconstructed hips, tender shoulders, and arthritic ankles, using the ties and the bricks and the chairs.

Today we sang "Happy Birthday" to Esta, who just turned 87. She says, "You hurt as much if you stay home than if you come out, so you may as well come out." Her philosophy: "Just keep moving." And she feels better at the end of class having worked out some of the kinks.

One of the most common reasons I hear for not trying yoga is "I'm not flexible enough." Fortunately, we don't begin with perfection in yoga. You just start where your own feet are today, whether you are 87, just feel 87, or you want to be like Esta when you're 87.

Today we watched the cardinals in the garden as we practiced our tree poses. The crocuses are up and I'm happy we have this morning class. We enjoy sharing this morning of peacefulness and camaraderie, encouraging each other for the week ahead of us.

I hope that you all keep moving, that you decide to come out anyway and just start where you are today.

Ashes to Ashes

2011-03-09T08:12:00.000-05:00

I don't really go out dancing very much anymore - especially not on a Tuesday night. But last night was Mardi Gras and I met a few friends for drinks where my friend's band was playing classic rock with a few New Orleans tunes thrown in for the holiday. We had fun, people watching, singing loudly, and we even got up and danced for a couple of songs. I left feeling happy, glad I didn't just hit the couch and grab the remote.

That mid-week merriment means that today is Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent, the day of making a sacrifice that will remind you over the next 40 days of the suffering of Christ. Lent was never part of my childhood tradition. My Fundamentalist upbringing avoided doing anything that might be Catholic, so we never did ashes or Lent or even candles during worship. My young observation of Lent was that the Catholics went out for seafood on Friday night. I couldn't figure out how lobster related to Jesus. As I grew older, Lent seemed to be a bit like a renewal of failed New Year's Resolutions: I'm giving up candy, or soda, coffee, wine, fried foods.... Most sacrifices seemed dietary.

But considering how much I enjoyed just an hour and a half of fun with friends last night, I've decided to give up not making time to enjoy life. I'm sure, like all vows, I'll have lapses where I'm working all day, on the weekends, crowding out space for joy. I'm going to count on my children and my friends to remind me - even if I do have to schedule it on the calendar weeks in advance.

But fortunately, joy doesn't have to be time consuming. I can find simple moments of joy when I release myself - even momentarily - from the tension that arises from expectations: expectations about the helpfulness & motivation of my children, expectations about my productivity, expectations about my body. Not that I won't nag or write lists or eat cake, but for Lent, I am giving up my attachment to expectations of perfection. I will breathe deeply, letting my exhale blow those expectations away. I am an imperfectionist. Much easier than it's opposite.

Karuna® Reiki

2011-03-06T21:12:00.000-05:00

Saturday, I completed level 1 & 2 of Karuna® Reiki. It was an all day class, surrounded by 8 other Reiki Masters. It was an amazing experience. Reiki is a Japanese healing technique discovered by Dr. Mikao Usui, a seeker of the healing ability that Jesus passed on to his disciples. Dr. Usui felt that Jesus would not have passed on this ability to folks on earth if He did not want it to continue, so he made it his life mission to discover what happened to it. After many moons of searching.. and fasting on Mount Kurama, he had a divine enlightenment and became a powerful healer, legendary in Japan.

I have been a Traditional Usui/Tibetan Reiki Master Teacher for a few years now. That means that I have been attuned to 4 degrees of Reiki, attaining the highest level of the Usui practice, given the ability to attune and teach others, in addition to being taught Tibetan style Reiki for teaching purposes. I have been amazed at the miracles I have witnessed in my Reiki journey, never having dreamt of some of the things I have seen. I am astonished at watching the changes Reiki has created in my students lives and feel supremely blessed to have been given such a gift.

Karuna® Reiki is a system developed by William Rand, a Usui Reiki Master/Teacher who felt led to explore beyond Usui Reiki. When I first heard of it, I felt it was just a gimmick, just a way for Rand to make money, something made up for when students were finished the attunement process. I felt that the Usui lineage was pure, the healing perfect, why try and improve upon perfection? But when a class became available in my area, I was intrigued. I'm a learning nut, perhaps I needed to continue on... why rest on my laurels if there was a possibility of continuing to refine myself? Maybe I was being too judgmental.. or maybe Rand was just crazy. I waffled back and forth, even posting on facebook to get advice from my buddies, who were all united in the feeling of what did I have to lose? (except a couple hundred bucks LOL)

The long and short of it is: it's amazing. Karuna® is referred to as the Reiki of compassion since it uses symbols from other traditions representing peace, love and wisdom. Karuna is a sanskrit word meaning compassion. All Reiki works with symbols, sort of a way to really focus your intentions quickly. Think of drawing a heart in the air.. instantly you feel love, it's a conditioned response. In Reiki, our symbols condition us to hone in on what our client needs. In traditional Usui Reiki, there are 3 symbols in level II, a master symbol in level III and 3 more in the teacher level. Each time you are attuned to a symbol, it raises the vibration of your energy a bit more. On Saturday, I was attuned to 8, that's right, 8 more symbols. Lordy. All in one day. Each one really refines the original Usui 3. They are not meant to replace Usui, in fact, they are quite an enhancement. Usui symbols sort of remind me of the Christian tradition of Father, Son, Holy Spirit. Karuna® reminds me of the Hindu tradition of different gods for different purposes, Karuna® is love, peace, wisdom, grounding, etc. Together they create a full circle of healing.

We had a Reiki Share today that was so wonderful. Our Healers got the opportunity to work on some new brave souls who had never tried Reiki before. They got to work on each other. Everyone was exclaiming all day about how powerful the energy was today, even more so than usual. What they didn't know was that before they got there I had infused the room with both Usui and Karuna® symbols. I think this is going to be a wonderful addition to our practice.

Now if I could just figure out how to shorten my "title". Traditional Usui/Tibetan Reiki Master Teacher & Karuna® Healer seems a bit excessive, don't you think? :)

Love & Peace coming your way...

Clearing mental clutter

2011-02-10T09:14:00.000-05:00

I've been spending my mornings with a new friend. Most every morning recently I've been having my coffee with a friend who let's me do all the talking, without judgment or interruption. I've been able to share my worries about my children, my new career, my relationships. Together we've explored my evolving faith. It's like starting my morning with my analyst.

This morning meeting has been with my journal. Writing in my journal is completely different from other types of writing, primarily because of the lack of an audience. I spent the last few years writing for a living, writing advertorials and editing general interest articles. While that was interesting and sometimes challenging, it wasn't personally relieving. No brain dump involved - in fact it added to by brain clutter.

And I have kept a few blogs, which is a great tool, useful for communicating and sharing, maintaining and finding friends. But the public nature of the blog limits the topics. Some information isn't mine to share. Some feelings I don't want the world to know about.

Last weekend we had the first in our series of Journaling workshops. We shared many ideas for inspiring and expanding our practice. We talked about how journaling let's us explore the darker sides of our selves. Our discomfort with our anger, our anxieties, our depression or laziness makes us want to pretend those don't exist. Ignore them and they'll go away. But in journaling you get to explore those and embrace them as part of who you are. It is both our darkness and our light that makes us who we are.

If you've never tried journaling before, consider getting yourself a notebook and writing in it - every day if you can. Don't go overboard. Limit yourself to 2 or 3 pages a day. You'll be amazed at the relief you create for yourself. Getting those thoughts out of your head creates space for creativity and growth.

Church

2011-02-02T09:14:00.001-05:00

Just the word Church can be a loaded subject. What do you think of when you think of Church? Committees and Meetings? Friends and Family? Oppression and Judgement? Or Comfort and Love? For me, it has meant all those things and more. We have a guarded relationship, church and I. When I was 16, I swore I would never step foot in a church again. When I was 18, after much debate, I got married in a church other than my own. At 27, I became a Taoist. When I was 30, I felt like my kids should at least see what a church was about so they could decide whether it was for them or not so we took them at Christmas and Easter.

In 2002, after much debate, I stood at the altar of the church with my husband and children, being baptised, becoming members of the church I was married in. I'd like to say we lived happily ever after, church and I. But alas, 5 years later I swore I'd never set foot in the church again. I lied. When I don't go to church, I start to miss all the hugs and beautiful energy of my church family. When I go to church, I get annoyed at all the politics and craziness that goes along with having a family. Everyone wants things their own way. Me too. I will fight for your right to have things your way, however, I do understand not everyone likes things the same way I do.

If I were Queen of the world, my church would be Taize' style. Taize' is a community built by a loving monk who believed worship should be a community affair. Brother Roger said,

“Since my youth, I think that I have never lost the intuition that community life could be a sign that God is love, and love alone. Gradually the conviction took shape in me that it was essential to create a community with people determined to give their whole life and who would always try to understand one another and be reconciled, a community where kindness of heart and simplicity would be at the centre of everything.”

Taize' is community worship. There is no choir, the songs are not projected on a screen, they are simple, repetitive, easy to learn. You can sing... or not. There is silence, lots of it. There is time to hear that "still, small voice" spoken of in I Kings 19. There are readings but not necessarily just from the Bible, any passage that gives a feeling of God is accepted, all religions are honored. The prayers of the people are truly that. Anyone moved to speak a prayer may do so. Each prayer is followed by a short chant, as if the community is affirming the prayer. No one is in charge. Just God. It's a beautiful thing.

Ritual is important in religion. Many folks find great comfort in ritual. Taize' is not for everyone, especially if you like structure and leaders. But it is a refreshing change occasionally from the hustle and bustle of regular church service. I am excited to get to plan 2 Taize' services for my church. One is this Sunday for our Stillness class, the other will be during Lent. The nicest thing about my church is that they are open to explore different things. Like yoga. And Taize'. And Reiki. The hugs are pretty sweet too :)

Join us in Imagine Center Sunday at 9:30am for a Taize' Style Worship Service. Namaste'

First SoulCollage® Reading

2011-01-23T12:07:00.002-05:00

Some things are better experienced than explained. I was reminded of that yesterday at my first full SoulCollage® workshop

I have been on the fringes of SoulCollage® for a few years now, hearing Linda and others talk about this artistic self-exploration program. I even built a card and came close to witnessing a reading, but was too busy and had to step away.

At yesterday's workshop, I was caught off guard by how revealing it was.

So let me back up. SoulCollage® is an on-going program where participants create collages on big cards, using pictures from magazines or personal photos. Participating artists create cards that have a uniting theme that is sometime apparent to anyone, and sometimes more ambiguous. As with the images in a tarot card deck, the interpretation of each card is in the eye of the beholder and is unique to the present circumstances. The cards eventually sort themselves into four suits. (For more on the suits, read here.)

I had fun creating cards, letting my creativity have a chance to come out and play. I admired the cards of the collagers who had built sizeable decks. I was soothed in the meditation portion of the afternoon. But the time came to read the cards and I was skeptical since I had to use someone else's cards. How personal could it be using cards created for personal use by another person?

My skepticism was squelched by a reading that was almost too authentic to discuss, my emotions welling up to make speaking a bit tricky. But the artists around the table were patient, allowing me to collect myself and share what I saw. They were familiar with these encounters and how emotionally revealing they could be.

Here is a picture of my reading, although I can't convey the intensity of the moment with my words. But I invite you to experience it yourself. You will learn more about yourself than you thought you could.

And I will never look at a magazine the same way again!

Practice makes Peaceful

2011-01-12T09:20:00.001-05:00

Last night at yoga I was the student while Ann was the teacher. This is the absolute best thing about having a partner. The snow was softly falling, when we laid down in relaxation we could see it through the tops of the big windows. It felt like it was gently shimmering right down on us. It was hard to close my eyes and go within with such beauty all around.

We are on our second week of this new adventure. In many ways, it feels as if it has always been. A Reiki/Yogi friend of mine told me yesterday that she is so thrilled that we have accomplished our dreams without making our students uncomfortable with the thought of change. Change is scary. Necessary, but scary. Finding solutions to accommodate the need for change while minimizing fear is a great goal. It's hard to accomplish great things while you are terrified. Not impossible, but it's easier when you can take a deep breath or two now and then. And speaking of breath...

As much as I love teaching yoga, I have to admit that doing yoga is better. Or perhaps a better statement would be that finding a balance between teaching and doing is sublime. I get to feed my need to share... and my need to breathe. Ahhh, the breathing! When you teach, you sort of have to talk through the breath so the class understands, "Inhale.... Exhale". When you are quietly holding a pose, focusing on the breath, riding the wave between expansion and relaxing... ahhh. I love watching a student experiencing the beauty of a pose combined with a deep breath, seeing their shoulders suddenly melt and their feet spreading out on the ground as they sink deeper and deeper into the comfort of the pose. There is nothing like total focus on the task at hand.

We are thrilled with the turnout for the classes. I am so happy to see so many of my "old" yogis returning and reaffirming their commitment to their practice, and by doing so, their health. I am delighted to meet so many new folk-- it's astonishing how many live right around the church, and hence, right in my neighborhood. I've lived in my home for 27 years and rarely have met the people on my block... and yet here they are, enjoying Yoga... trying out Reiki... what an unexpected gift. We are blessed with the opportunity to form a community. A community based on seeking wellness, seeking kindness and laughter, what a joy!

See you soon :)

Stillness

2011-01-09T23:03:00.001-05:00

When was the last time you took a moment to be still? Not sleep, and not vegging in front of the tv - which has its merits from time to time, but intentional stillness that is both physical and mental, even spiritual.

If you're anything like me, it doesn't happen very often. This morning we began a study of stillness and what inhibits us from achieving it: our responsibilities, our relationships, pressure to achieve, to be movers and shakers.

We looked at the verse Psalm 46:10 that says, "Be still and know that I am God." There is a connection between stillness and connecting with the divine.

One of the books on my nightstand is 365 Tao Daily Meditations by Deng Ming-Dao. This meditation on stillness reads

Wind stirs the bamboo,
But once the wind passes,
The bamboo is silent.
Geese land on the chill pond,
But once the geese fly away,
There are no reflections.
In the same way,
Once the red dust passes,
The mind is still.

Is your mind full of red dust? What will it take for the red dust to settle?

Although many people are initially drawn to yoga for the fitness benefits, one of the primary goals of yoga is to still the mind. In this stillness, a yogi can connect to that kingdom that is both within us and everywhere.

Next week, Linda is going to lead the class in a retreat into this stillness and silence, creating an opportunity for you to let your red dust pass from your mind. Like yoga, we will practice. We invite you to come join us as we still our bodies, our hearts, and that pesky red dust in our minds.

Happy New Year!

2011-01-01T19:17:00.000-05:00

We had such a wonderful time today in our new center, filling both our "wondrous blue" yoga studio and "amazing violet" workshop room with beautiful yogis. Linda and I are so grateful to have had our center blessed with such positive yoga energy. Many thanks to so many of you who contributed your efforts, energy, time and prayers into making this dream a reality.

In January we hear much talk about New Year's Resolutions, which often feel like unattainable goals. I prefer to think them as my best intentions. The beginning of a new year is a great time to think about what has been working for us, what hasn't, and what we are willing to do about that.

I have recently been meditating on the Reiki Creed:
Just for today, I will not worry.
Just for today, I will not anger.
I will do my work honestly and diligently.
I will show kindness to all living things, and
I will be grateful.

I think it's the Just For Today part of of the creed makes it feel more possible - although sometimes I think "just for this moment" is a big enough commitment. The whole year seems too big. I know I will worry. I know I'll get angry, but maybe I can lay those aside just for today, just for right now.

And "doing my work honestly and diligently" isn't the same as doing my work perfectly. What a relief that is to realize.

Barry reminded me about showing kindness to all living things today when he was ushering a fly out of the yoga studio before our big opening today. Sometimes flies are easier to be kind to than people, but just for today, I will show kindness.

And I have so much to be thankful for, so many people, so much love. Today I am deeply grateful.

Christmas Night

2010-12-25T23:41:00.000-05:00

In the quiet aftermath of Christmas, after the family has gone, the wrapping paper gathered in the recycle bin, with the delicious smells of turkey and apple pie still wafting through our nostrils, we find the silence. It was there under the hub bub all day, but we didn't really have a chance to listen. Listening now... the space between the breath.. the beating of the heart.

We begin to remember what the day was about, what it was for, who it was for, why we rushed around all month preparing for this one day. So many stories have passed my way in the last few days, tales of remarkable joy and unbearable sadness. A 7 year old girl losing her battle with cancer.. a family surprised by the gift of a son returning home from the military for Christmas... an unexpected heart attack claiming the life of a loved one... the highs and lows surrounding us make me feel humbled and grateful for my many, many blessings. My daughter home from college, our new yoga studio, a lovely Christmas Eve worship, the promise of things to come.

In our practices: Yoga, Reiki, SoulCollage, we learn to become present, we learn to accept what is, without trying to control it, to feel, to watch, to allow. We feel the joy, we feel the sorrow, but we realize that none of it is lasting, all things shall pass. We can't hold on to the joy any more than we can eliminate sorrow, they are both parts of life that teach us many things that we couldn't learn any other way. This is the paradox. We learn through adversity, many times the same adversity we seek so desperately to avoid.

Yoga teaches us to treasure the moment, to feel the stretch, feel the calmness that comes when you bring those shoulders down and release the hips. It shows that us that when things are uncomfortable, sometimes a small adjustment can bring relief. Reiki gives us a chance to connect to something greater than we, lets us open to Spirit, releasing long held blocks and stagnation. SoulCollage teaches us to put the monkey mind aside and let images speak the words we need to hear to let our subconscious talk, helping point us in the right direction. All of these tools bring us to the same place... silence. The quiet within. Christmas night.

It is our fondest hope that you get a chance to find this quiet. Today and everyday.
Peace be with you.
Namaste'

Everyday Yoga

2010-12-19T22:51:00.000-05:00

Do you find yourself in yoga poses in your daily activity? Or do you ever turn your task at hand into yoga?

I recently had a relatively minor basement flooding problem that required some creative rescue plumbing (thanks Mark!), some fans and my wet-vac. I don't know if you've ever tried to suck water out of a carpet, but my carpet vac works best if more pressure is applied. So there I was on Saturday afternoon, on my knees in my basement, pressing my vacuum into my spongy carpet, wishing I was wrapping presents or editing my business plan or organizing my upcoming Sunday school class. Basement flood-sucking was not my plan.

So I decided to connect the movement to my breath in a type of soggy sun salutation. In a moment, my irritation evaporated and I was doing yoga instead of bailing my basement.

Have you ever had this happen?

Yoga is about connecting the body and the mind, the breath and the spirit. In the hustle leading up to the holidays, it is easy for us to let our practice slip, busy as we are putting everyone else first. But whenever you take a moment for even one intentional breath, you have taken your yoga practice off the mat in class and into your life.

I hope you are able to maintain your practice during the holidays. We are still having class this week, at 4:30 & 7 on Monday and Thursday. And if your family holiday plans prevent you from attending class, I hope you make some time to go to a quiet place and practice - even if it is only one intentional breath with your eyes closed in a check-out line.

Reiki Healing

2010-12-17T16:51:00.002-05:00

The last 2 weeks have been very busy with Reiki appointments. Reiki is great for stress reduction and try as we may, we do get caught up in holiday frenzy; my regular clients know that Reiki will chill them out, help them relax and remind them of what is really important. Spending an hour resting on a massage table, with soothing music playing, an aromatherapy pillow over your eyes, having someone hold your hand, can make all the difference in how you approach the nuttiness of the season. Sometimes it can even make the difference between life and death, sadly. It doesn't matter whether you believe in the Reiki or not, whether you meditate or sleep, or whether you talk and laugh or even cry through the whole hour. It seems to work no matter how much we try and get in the way!

The blessing of Reiki is that it works for both the Healer and the client. I've been REALLY stressed lately, Ann & I have had some big decisions to make with our new partnership, I really think the Reiki has saved us! When we pray for our client, we pray to be a conduit or a channel, allowing the energy to flow through us into wherever the client needs it. Since it's not our energy, we can't help but be healed in the process as well. Many times I will come into an appointment feeling depleted... and come out rejuvenated and energized, what a gift! The prayer is for the highest intention of the highest good, that we may both be blessed and blessed we are.

While I LOVE getting a massage, sometimes it feels like work, especially if I am drained or feeling fragile. Let's face it, when you are already feeling pounded by the world sometimes it's hard to take one more thing.. even a beautiful massage. Reiki feels more gentle, you are hardly touched, and when you are, it is soothing, loving and kind, which is what most of us hunger for. Many people are stunned that they are brought to tears, they ask why, they can't figure it out, "what am I crying about?". It's that deep need to be touched, to be held, to be comforted, unconditionally, without reciprocation, to just receive. It's my deepest pleasure to see a client finally let go, take a deep breath, and allow themselves to relax and be comforted, it never ceases to bring a smile to my face when I see them release all those years of tension into Reiki bliss.

You really should try it yourself sometime :)

Just for today, I will not worry.
Just for today, I will not be angry.
I will be kind to all living creatures.
I will do my work honestly and diligently.
And I will show gratitude for everything.

Reiki Creed~Dr. Usui Sensei

2010-12-11T11:40:00.001-05:00

I am looking forward to our Readings for the Seasons tarot party this afternoon. They always generate such interesting conversations.

Have you ever had a tarot card reading? I was raised in a conservative Christian church and had been taught to fear tarot cards, without even really knowing what they were. But I had heard from other sources that they did reveal deep truths to those who tried them, that the cards act as a mirror to your thoughts and feelings. When I was in a failing marriage, I did not want to look into that mirror. I wanted to pretend what was happening wasn’t happening. So I never tried them.

But once the worst was behind me, I decided to give them a try and was fascinated. I began to look into them more.

No one knows for sure where tarot cards originated. They more likely evolved out of several card games in ancient Egypt, India, Persia, and Greece. These mystical decks were shared around the world through the crusades and by gypsies. By the 14th century, 4-suited playing cards were common in Italy.

The language of a tarot deck is symbols, which convey much meaning in a glance. The classic Rider-Waite deck, or universal deck, made popular in the late 1800’s has much Christian symbolism with priests, angels, and devils. Now you can find a deck with any kind of symbolism, ranging from the Zen deck that I know best, to fairies, or I’ve even heard of an Elvis deck!

A tarot deck is divided into two major sections: the Major Arcana and the Minor Arcana, which translates to “Big Secrets” and “Little Secrets.” The Major Arcana is comprised of symbols that reveal major human archetypes like the Fool, the Rebel, Lovers, or the Wheel of Fortune. The Minor Arcana is divided into four suits that represent our emotional journeys, our passions & vision, our minds, and our physical journeys.

Tarot is beyond good or evil. A tarot reading is a synchronicity of the participants and their reaction to the images at that moment. The same cards would hold different meaning for each person, or for the same person at a different point in their lives.

The gift a tarot reading offers is a chance to pause in our busy schedules and reflect for a few moments on your journey.

Linda or I would be happy to schedule a private reading for you, or you are welcome to come to one of our quarterly tarot events. Sign up for our newsletter to keep up to date on the latest plans.

Welcome To Imagine!

2010-12-08T09:02:00.004-05:00

What a whirlwind! Ann & I started with an occasional "hmm, wouldn't it be fun if we combined talents?" and suddenly here we are... combining talents! And combining friends.. and combining a blog-- yikes! It's sort of scary combining a blog with a very talented writer. Feels like I might have to watch my p's & q's... and exclamation points and dot dot dots...

For those of you who don't know me, my name is Linda Miller. I have been teaching yoga for 9 years, have been practicing yoga for many more. I've studied Tai Chi extensively and am a learning geek. I love to read and will voraciously consume any book that will help me better understand the inner world, our inner spirit and our connection to Divine Spirit, God, The Universe, call it what you will. Because of this, I have a long line of certifications and initials that I could use to follow my name but paradoxically, because of this, I don't really care much about those things.

I LOVE yoga. When I first started teaching to adults, it was mainly because MY yoga teachers/mentors were leaving and moving on to other places. They encouraged me to take their spots, teach their classes and take care of their long time students. I was petrified. I am very shy by nature, although most folks would beg to differ... but that's another blog. With their encouragement and guidance, and the support of those students, I found the courage to teach. Before I knew it, I was teaching many classes a week and when I turned around and looked I had built a small business, Yolinna Spirit, with a website, newsletter and many other offerings besides yoga.

John Lennon said life is what happens when you're busy making other plans. Wise Sage, John Lennon. I can't say I'm very good at making plans. I tend to spring in and live. Sometimes with great results, sometimes... not so much. That's the reason why I'm excited about Imagine. Life is all about balance. One of the primary focuses of Yoga-Tai Chi-Reiki, is to learn to create balance. Ann & I are a great example of this principle. We are quite yin and yang. Ann is a great planner, an English teacher and writer, she will keep us on the straight and narrow, making our message clear. I am the opposite, I leap first and ask questions later. I get things done. When we get bogged down with the endless details of starting a new business, I plow through like the Ox that I am, according to Chinese Astrology. Together we will make this dream come alive.

Today is the anniversary of John Lennon's death. I remember the day 30 years ago vividly, like it was yesterday. I am so proud to be here, honoring his legacy of dreamers and having the opportunity to share that dream with you, our Imagine followers.

"Imagine all the people, living life in peace. You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one. I hope someday you'll join us, and the world will live as one." ~John Lennon 1940-1980

Welcome to our new blog!

2010-12-07T08:55:00.001-05:00

Linda & I have been hard at work transitioning Yolinna Spirit into Imagine Yoga & Wellness Center. So many details to attend to! We thank you for your loyalty and patience as we work on streamlining our registration processes and expand our offerings. Linda & I will both be posting on this blog and we invite you to join the conversation.

Although many of you know me from Linda's yoga classes, many of you I am meeting for the first time. Let me tell you a little more about myself.

I am a hometown girl, having grown up in the Kenilworth section and graduating from Bowie High School in 1982. My first career was as an English and special education teacher in Prince George's county. After having three beautiful kids, my career evolved into journalism, writing and editing and even selling ads for several local publications.

The stress from those jobs, three kids, and a divorce are what led me to try yoga in Linda's classes at my church, CCPC. Before long, I became addicted to the relaxation and deep stretching that comes from a regular yoga practice. As my strength and flexibility increased, so did my friendship with Linda. Through her encouragement, I began to pursue yoga teacher certification and continue to hone my skills as a Certified Yoga Teacher.

With Linda's guidance, I began exploring other avenues of self-awareness like tarot cards, studying with Linda, reading books, and attending workshops. I have met many of you at the tarot events I have hosted in my home.

Before long, I tried reiki healing with Linda and felt the balance that reiki provides. When she began offering her attunement series, I signed up and am growing in my practice as a reiki healer.

So now I am on to exploring SoulCollage as Linda and I have joined in this business partnership. I look forward to sharing my thoughts as I continue on my journey, and I look forward to hearing from you too.