Book Review of Raw Fusion series by Dr. LindaJoy Rose

By Dr. LindaJoy Rose

Just when I thought I knew all I needed to know about food and nutrition, along comes the raw diet. I hate to admit that as a self-proclaimed foodie, (I live to eat rather than eat to live), and gourmet cook with a strong tendency toward healthy cooking, I was a little skeptical about a raw diet. But Dr. LindaJoy Rose’s approach presented in her two volume series of Raw Fusion has me reconsidering.

When Dr. Rose described the changes that a raw diet produced in her life I became inspired. Relief of allergies, digestive problems and inflammation, a drop in weight, more energy. Who wouldn’t like the sound of that?

So, what is Raw Foodism? It’s a lifestyle (note, not a diet) that brings an entirely new paradigm and consciousness to how we select the foods we eat.

One of the things I like most about Raw Fusion is that Dr. Rose inspires rather than intimidates. She explains the benefits of going raw and gives suggestions for easing more raw foods into your diet. She tells you how it can make you healthier without threatening that “unless you do this, your hair will fall out and your bones will collapse.” She doesn’t demand that you go cold turkey on cooked and processed foods but presents an alternative way to bring more raw foods into your life. She presents a body of common sense facts without overwhelming the reader with scientific data requiring a Ph.D. to understand.

She also informs you of how a raw food diet is not only a path to better health, but also a path that brings a higher level of consciousness to how we relate to food.

“We eat rather unconsciously, not thinking about the effects it may have on our body, nor considering where the food came from, how it came into existence, what kind of treatment it got along the way to your plate – whether your meal consists of vegetables sprayed with toxic chemicals or of factory farmed meat pumped up with hormones and antibiotics.”

But for me the real litmus test for Raw Fusion was the recipes. To me, the major food groups consist of chocolate, garlic, tomatoes, any form of Mexican food (the spicier the better) and red wine. With the exception of red wine, all my major food groups are well represented in her recipes.

A Chocolate Spinach drink does not sound that tasty at first, but is actually delicious. Good chocolate masks the fact that spinach is also an ingredient. Some of the other recipes that got me going were the Green Fairy Lemonade, South of the Border Smoothie, Raw Cocoa, and Sunshine in a Glass.

As a retired baker, I’ve always balked at a gluten free diet, but LindaJoy includes recipes for scones and pancakes as well as wraps, breads and crackers.

By Dr. LindaJoy Rose

The Entrée’s in her book include such delectable recipes as Ravioli Bruschetta, Fennel Sausage, Pasta, and even Pizza. Then there is the dessert section. I could have stopped when I saw the recipe for Chocolate Mousse, Apple Betty or Chocolate Cream Pie or Family Favorite Flourless Chocolate Cake.

In addition to her cookbooks, Dr. Rose also maintains a Raw Fusion Living website where she periodically sends out new ideas and updates, and an online healthy eating/weight loss website as well.

OK, I’m ready, maybe not to take the full plunge, but to wade in at least knee deep and try this out. Sounds like fun and nothing to lose except a few excess pounds, energy sapping eating habits, and higher risk of disease.

In addition to reading her books, I interviewed Dr. Rose. Read below for more insights.

Interview with Dr. LindaJoy Rose

Raw Fusion Living by Dr. LindaJoy Rose

PTK: I’ve been reading through the two volumes of Raw Fusion and have to admit I am inspired. I consider myself a “foodie,” I love to cook, and I also have a great interest in healthy eating. But when I heard RAW, I found myself thinking really? After reading the first several chapters of your book, I realized, not only is this something I could do, but it doesn’t even look that difficult. The results are inspiring.

How do you define, Raw Fusion?

LJR: Raw Fusion is the blending of the incredible health benefits of the raw foods lifestyle with the comfort and convenience of traditional mainstream meals.

According to Dr. Oz, “there are immeasurable health benefits to maintain a raw foods diet”, but the key word there is “maintaining.” While going full force into raw foods might be the ideal solution to overcome a serious disease or chronic inflammation, it’s not a lifestyle that one can easily sustain over time. Raw Fusion includes cooked food compromises and a practical, manageable approach to eating and finding nutritious, delicious alternatives for your favorite comfort foods..

PTK: You talk about Raw Fusion as a lifestyle, not a diet. Could you elaborate?

Raw Fusion Living

LJR: Diets simply don’t work! Whenever we change the way we eat for a period of time we are bound to experience some weight loss or body fat adjustment, but over time we inevitably go back to the way we are accustomed to eating. The weight tends to slowly creep back on, and we usually gain it back with some interest.

With my background as an expert in the subconscious mind, when we deprive ourselves of something that we are used to, or depend on, like comfort foods or cravings, it creates a pressure cooker effect in the subconscious, which is vastly more powerful than our will power. We have a stressful day or a challenging week and it becomes virtually impossible to resist the craving. Once we succumb we usually go into self-judgment and being discouraged, so we give up.

Raw Fusion Living

Raw Fusion is a philosophy and practice that has enough flexibility that it can become one’s “new normal.” When your body gets the nutrition it needs and your system repairs from the chronic conditions caused by eating foods that are harmful to your metabolism, it easily releases stored fats and finds its correct weight and healthy muscle mass.

As a result of spending over three years eating mainly raw foods, I experienced a paradigm shift about food and how it impacts the body and I also learned a number of tips and techniques that enhance digestibility and metabolism. So Raw Fusion was the natural evolution; a way of combining the best of both worlds.

When you find a lifestyle that works for you, it is sustainable over time – even over a lifetime. Nothing in life is ever black or white and our bodies require modifications and adjustments in diet over time. Raw Fusion offers versatility, flexibility and definitely room for indulgences!

PTK: How have your books and website been received? Have you been surprised at any point by the public response?

LJR: We are happily seeing a very steady growth in book sales, website traffic and in bookings for the special programs that I have developed such as Corporate Wellness, Cardiovascular Re-Education and Hypnovation for Health. There is a growing consciousness building in the country about the sorry state of the nation’s food supply which seems to be fueling my calling as a healthy living advocate and educator.

PTK: So many lifestyle changes I’ve read about talk about the necessity of going “cold turkey.” How does the Raw Fusion lifestyle differ from that?

LJR: If I or a loved one were to be diagnosed with cancer or another life-threatening disease, I would do my best to lobby for a full raw diet, emphasizing mainly green juices and eliminating all forms of sugar and low pH foods (acidic). However, in most other life situations I don’t support an “all or nothing” or cold turkey approach because I believe it sets you up to fail (according to the subconscious dynamics explained above.)

Raw Fusion is about learning to integrate nutritious, delicious foods in ways that are creative, fun and relatively easy to manage. The changes become exponential over a short period of time, especially when you experience the way your mind, body and even taste buds transform.

I recently worked with a group of at-risk cardiovascular patients at a well-respected clinic in West Virginia. Because that state has been the focus of much concern over diet-related health issues I was curious to see how the patients would adapt to the Raw Fusion Lifestyle. I am happy to report that the program was received an implemented beyond anyone’s expectations and we continue to follow their progress.

PTK: If I were going to take one thing from Raw Fusion that would most impact my life, what would it be?

Photo from RawFusionLiving.com

LJR: Getting more uncooked whole foods (fruits and vegetables) into your daily food intake. We make this fun and creative in Raw Fusion, because there is no better way to ensure that you are getting the most natural form of micronutrients, phytochemicals and antioxidants as your best defense against disease and environmental toxins.

With any group or venue that I have spoken, there is a very displaced concern about getting enough macronutrients in your food, namely Protein, Carbohydrates and Fat. All food is made up of the macronutrients, but not all foods are created equally. What our bodies need to prevent disease and delay the onset of aging is massive amounts of micronutrients and life-enhancing enzymes that haven’t been compromised by heat, preservatives, toxins or additives. Whole foods, particularly leafy greens, supply all of that. Concentrated foods — anything that’s not a fruit or vegetable – can create a lot of wear and tear on the body. The Standard American Diet (S.A.D.) is centered around far too many concentrated foods and that’s at the core of our nation’s obesity-related and cardiovascular diseases.

PTK: I also noticed that you have an online website for healthy eating and weight loss. Could you talk about that briefly?

Hypnovation for Health

LJR: Drawing on my 25 years plus as an expert and international trainer in the field of hypnotherapy, subconscious dynamics and power of suggestion I created a program called “Hypnovation for Health” an online healthy eating and weight loss program that combines education, motivation, demonstration and inspiration. It is very effective as it works directly with the subconscious mind through the hypnotherapy modules to reprogram the subconscious mind so that it becomes your ally in your healthy eating and weight loss goals, rather than always struggling with your will power and desire for change.

We will provide Minerva members with a special price (half off the regular $399 for 18 weeks) up through the Tuesday following my workshop – June 4th, 2012. Contact lj@rawfusionliving.com and check out the www.hypnovationforhealth.com website for more information.

PTK: Are there one or two recipes from your book that you could share with us?

Sweet & Spicy Cashew Wraps

LJR: There are many recipes on the www.rawfusionliving.com blog – both in written and video format. As the healthy living expert for the super-information site, eHow.com I am posting a couple of links. The first one is how to make a Green Smoothie, the “painless, brainless” and totally delicious way to get in a serving of leafy greens. The second is a very easy raw truffle dessert that will conquer your sweet craving while actually providing delicious nutrition. Finally, one of my favorite entrees – Sweet and Spicy Cashew Wraps with both recipe and an appearance on a NBC’s Daytime show.

Healthy Living Workshop with Dr. LindaJoy Rose

The Minerva Institute is seeking 25 participants for the Healthy Living Workshop with Dr. LindaJoy Rose on Sunday, June 3, 2012 from 11am – 3pm at the University Club of Winter Park.

REGISTER NOW and help us make this event happen!

Dr. LindaJoy Rose

The Healthy Living Workshop is instructed by Dr. LindaJoy Rose, author of the Raw Fusion Living–Healthy Recipes for Mind, Body & Spirit series. The four-hour workshop will be a fun, dynamic and upbeat session for participants to implement a nutritious eating program to boost your energy, please your palate, and tap your highest potential.

Linda Joy Rose, Ph.D. has been a professional counselor and hypnotherapist for over 25 years. Considered a pioneer in the field, she held the position of first Director of International Development for the American Board of Hypnotherapy for 12 years in recognition for her groundbreaking work in Japan, where her original system Hypno-Potential has become a standard therapeutic practice. She has lectured and taught workshops in many countries around the world. She is also a popular educator and chef in the south Florida area in the field of raw and living foods.

“Tell me and I Forget. Show me and I remember. Involve me and I understand.” – Chinese Proverb

The Epiphany Place

Discovering The Epiphany Place, located in the inviting Old Savannah House in Altamonte Springs, is like finding the key to a secret inner garden. The Epiphany Place offers coaching, mentoring and programs that offer a new school of thought: your life is an important playground and a place of  deep learning. This inspiring space was founded by two public school teachers, Kristen Tame and Sharon Klafter, who believe the real foundation for academic success lies in one’s ability to seek wholeness and well being in life. Their aim is to help individuals cultivate the skills needed in school and the real world: making goals and reaching them, discovering our life passions and pursuing them.

Believing that the current school system only touches the surface of what is needed for students to feel confident and clear about their place in the world, both Kristen and Sharon saw the need and opportunity to create a learning center that focuses not only on students but on parents and teachers as well. They wanted to help bridge the gap between public education and the skills young people need to live a happy and creative life. The Epiphany Place is a learning enviroment that shifts away from required testing and hectic schedules and offers a home for self-discovery, soul searching and supportive tutoring.

The Epiphany Place has several events coming up in May that will give you the opportunity to learn more about their purpose:

• For Students: Girl Power Life Coaching, May’s theme is “Allowing Your Authentic Desires” and will teach girls ages 11-14  how to get what they want in life. Sessions will be held on Tuesday evenings from 7-8:30 starting May 1st.

• For Teachers: Teachers’ Tea, May 3rd 4:30-5:30, FREE event for teachers to have a relaxing hour of tea, treats, and uplifting discussion, so teachers leave feeling refreshed and rewarded. Especially during Teacher Appreciation Week!

• For Parents: Parent Night, May 10th 7-8pm FREE Parent Night- Open house for parents who would like to meet us and see what we have to offer. Refreshments and parenting tips provided!

Kristen Tame, co-founder

Sharon Klafter, co-founder

I recently had an opportunity to interview Kristen and Sharon to learn more about their goals for The Epiphany Place and what drew them to embark on their creative adventure.

PTK: I just visited your lovely website and was excited to read about your organization. In a nutshell, could you explain what The Epiphany Place is all about?

Kristen/Sharon: Inspiring children to reach their full potential academically, socially, and emotionally, while also providing parents and teachers the opportunity to grow and realize their own full potential

PTK: I love your name, The Epiphany Place. Is there a story about how you came up with that?

Kristen/Sharon: We want to provide people with “aha” moments!

PTK: The stories you share on your website are inspiring . Could you comment on what you and she to brought develop The Epiphany Place?

Kristen/Sharon: Some students are just minutes away from latching on to the skills they may struggle with now. Coming to a place that is welcoming and interacting with educators who believe in them, who really see them, brings them success. As we were teaching in the general classroom, the moments where we were able to connect like this with children were the most thrilling, so we wanted to continue that in our new endeavor.

PTK: What circumstances brought you and Sharon together to develop this venture?

Kristen/Sharon: We both taught fourth grade together for several years and shared in each others’ successes and frustrations before venturing out on our own to try tutoring and holding workshops in our free time. Through this independent work and discussions with parents, we knew we had a vision of how to reach children. We took a leap of faith and just watched things unfold in a very organic and encouraging manner and knew we were on the right path.

PTK: You might have already addressed this in earlier questions, but what is your goal for The Epiphany Place?

Kristen/Sharon: Our goal is to help students, parents, and teachers connect with the best parts of themselves so they can share their best self with the world. To do this, we not only want to help give them the skills and knowledge they desire, but also the emotional support and guidance that will help them grow. We know that when someone is empowered through their minds and their hearts, they go on to empower others as well.

PTK: The impression I get from your website is that you take a holistic approach to learning by addressing not only the needs of students, but of parents and teachers as well. Could you discuss that?

Kristen/Sharon: In order to help students reach their full academic, social, and emotional potential, we felt it was also important to help support parents and teachers as well. Parents and teachers have their own sets of challenges, and when they are feeling encouraged and supported, their children and students will, too.

PTK: How long have you been operating The Epiphany Place?

Kristen/Sharon: We started working out of people’s homes last summer. And while we loved connecting with children one-on-one, we felt that if we had a space, we could offer even more through classes and workshops. We found The Savannah House, a remodeled house originally built in the early 1900s, and fell in love. We moved into that space in October of last year and have been enjoying every moment there. It is the perfect place for all ages to come relax on the porch swings or sit in our beautiful lobby enjoying the ambiance. We couldn’t have asked for anything better!

PTK: What were some of the difficulties you encountered getting started?

Kristen: I think our biggest challenge was our own confidence. We knew we had a vision filled with great ideas, but the logistics of starting a business were completely new to us. Luckily, we received such positive feedback right away that we were able to shake off our nerves and go full steam ahead.

PTK: I’m sure that over the years you have had many success stories. Are there any in particular that stand out?

Kristen:When I look back over the successes of the years, there is not one instance that stands out, but I would say the highlights of my teaching success were the connections I made with the children and their parents throughout the years. Having both my children and their parents tell me how much they enjoyed their year was inspiring. I loved being a part of children’s lives and feel honored that their parents trusted me to be an integral part of their upbringing.

Sharon: You might think of a success story as one in which I taught a child, but the one that stays with me is the one that a child taught me. This special boy was in my fourth grade class. I had been asked by the principal if I would be willing to take him in my class. Severely disfigured from birth defects and continually undergoing operations, he was surprisingly, I was assured, very upbeat and eager to learn. Since this was fourth grade, the students were used to him, having had him in their classes all the prior years. Within moments of meeting him, the disfigurements disappeared and his personality jumped out. He was a model student and human being for all of us that year. For years afterwards he communicated with some of us. He went to college and through e-mail I could see he was still full of that beaming personality. I have lost contact with him, but I will always remember his attitude in facing a life that was not as perfect as most of us expect to have.

PTK: Who has been an important teacher and influence in your life”?

Kristen: Because I knew at 6 years old that I wanted to be a teacher, I had the opportunity to observe and take notes for 18 years before it was my turn. The teachers who always stood out were the ones who I felt really connected with me and saw me for who I truly was. I knew that was the kind of teacher I wanted to be because I always reached my highest potential in their classes and wanted my own students to have that same opportunity.

Sharon: I don’t have just one teacher but the type of teacher that influenced me was a positive thinker, believed in children, saw each child as an individual and made teaching look so easy that I actually thought it would be (I discovered they were just good.)

PTK: What is the most important thing you would want people interested in The Epiphany Place to know about you?

Kristen/Sharon: We see your child for the amazing potential they hold, and we work to get them to see it, too.

PTK: Could you recommend books and authors who have inspired you in your work?

Kristen: There are literally probably hundreds… but here is the short list Education: Ken Robinson (an amazing visionary regarding education), and Daniel Pink (sees clearly how education needs to adapt to our modern world), Life: The Secret by Rhonda Byrne (taught me that only we are the creators of our lives, no one else) and Laura Berman Fortgang (taught me how to reach my dreams, which helps me help others reach theirs).

PTK: Briefly describe the different services you offer.

Kristen/Sharon: Tutoring, life coaching, and self discovery classes & workshops for students, parents, and teachers.

PTK: Are there some upcoming programs that you want people to know about?

Kristen/Sharon: Our summer schedule is full of college prep classes, art and theater camps, and workshops. Check out the summer calendar on our website! www.TheEpiphanyPlace.com

Post by Paula Todd King

“Yoga is union with, connecting with yourself. It leads you to being aware in life. Awareness is no small thing; it demands that you focus and fix your mind on being aware in the present moment.” ~ Jan Durga Ahlund

by Jan Durga Ahlund

For years I have dabbled in Yoga as an exercise but never practiced seriously because I didn’t understand the deeper mind, body, spirit connection the practice teaches. In her book, The Yoga Toolbox, Jan has given the world a simple, comprehensive explanation of how Yoga works, and how to integrate easy practices into your everyday life to “bring relief and promote healing from the effects of stress and bad habits of the physical body, the emotions and the mind.”

In simple language, illustrated with photographs of poses, the book explains how Yoga can be used to tap into universal forces and to break down resistance in our body – mind connection. The book includes sections on loosening the lower and upper body, strengthening the nervous system, dealing with despondency, finding balance as well as finding rejuvenating sleep, and also contains a very helpful chapter on meditation

My favorite chapter was “The Power of Mudras,” in which Jan shares her own personal struggle with a physical condition, and explains “how intricately woven thoughts and emotions are, with the conditions of the physical body. Yoga,” she says,” is an art and science, which offer you a unique method of self-examination and self-therapy.”

What I like most about Jan’s book the is way she introduces the reader to practical, useful tools of Yoga in such non-intimidating way. The poses she suggests are simple beginning Yoga poses that almost anyone can do. Throughout the book Jan’s words emanate joy and vitality. Reading the book I feel as though I hear her voice patiently explaining, coaxing and inspiring.

In my opinion this is a great book for any level of practice from beginner to instructor.

I appreciate this book as a gift, an open window for gaining deeper insights into the practice of yoga as a means for creating balance, and therefore healing, by rebuilding inner connections of mind, body and life.

Click here to purchase a copy of The Yoga Toolbox

Click here to register for a 4-week series on How Yoga Works with Jan Ahlund (view flyer)

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Photo from flickr.com

Recently, I had the opportunity to catch up with Jan and not only ask about her book, but about her personal practice and how Yoga has transformed her life.

PTK: Jan, you have practiced Yoga for a long time. What drew you to Yoga in the first place?

JDA: It was an attraction and influence that spans decades. It first began with an experience I had as a small child that made me wonder, “who am I”, and “where in this body do I exist?” I pondered these questions each night for years, like a prayer, before going to sleep. It was in my teens that I discovered that this is atma-vichara, self-inquiry and a discipline of the philosophy of Vedanta and the main practice of Jnana Yoga (Yoga of wisdom or knowledge). I came to the postures (asana) a bit later, when my father gave me an exercise book based on asana.

PTK: Could you speak to the changes that you have experienced in yourself due to your practice? 

JDA: There have been so many experiences and changes, internal and external. Because I am often asked that question, I began a blog several years ago to answer it. www.seekingtheself.com.

The most important thing I can say here, is that Yoga helped me understand the questions of my youth. It pushed me to find myself, to discover what has true meaning in my life, and to see the significance of every single moment. It put me under pressure to accept and embrace change and it keeps me engaged in diligently studying myself, encouraging me to let go of any conditioning that is keeping me bound in rounds of suffering, or limiting my potential for creativity and happiness.

PTK: What is your personal definition of understanding yoga?

JDA: I think I answered that in the previous question. Yoga is union with, connecting with yourself. It leads you to being aware in life. Awareness is no small thing; it demands that you focus and fix your mind on being aware in the present moment. Awareness lets you know if you are even thinking a “wrong” thought. You learn the importance of planting good seeds.

PTK: Could you describe your personal practice, the practice you do at home?

JDA: My personal practice of Yoga is no longer qualified by the hours spent in asana, mantra and meditation. It is truly being aware in my daily life. But to answer the question, in general, I rarely miss out on doing some practices, which I love, silent mantra, pranayama, meditation, asana, in that order everyday. I spend about 1.5 – 2 hours in the morning. And I have a session of pranayama and meditation in the evening.

PTK: Can you give a few suggestions for carrying your practice through your entire day?

JDA: Enjoy a daily Yoga practice! Do 40 minutes every day. Really enjoy it. That is number one. Then, notice how you breathe during your day. Be sure that you breathe thoroughly. Sometimes people are more interested in their inhalation than in their exhalation. Most people breathe shallow or have a tendency to hold the breath. Take some time throughout the day to be still, breathe deeply and fully exhale. Do a few postures when you are tired, or stiff, tense, frustrated or angry. Even 5 – 10 minutes will bring equilibrium. Be aware of any negative thinking and let it go, as quickly as you can…and smile at yourself for being willing to do that. It is a big thing! Understand that and it will encourage you to continue.

PTK: Describe your book, The Yoga Toolbox in a sentence.

JDA: These are tools I have found effective in shaping my future.

PTK: What is the basic message you want readers of your book to grasp?

JDA: Your health and sense of well-being is in your hands.

PTK: You have taught Yoga for many years, have produced a Yoga video and a two year correspondence course called The Grace Course, and several books on Yoga. What was your inspiration for writing The Yoga Toolbox?

JDA: I wrote a Yoga column for several years for a magazine called Pure Inspiration. The wide audience was mostly new to Yoga, but it was well received and the General Editor asked me to put the articles in a book. Unfortunately, the magazine went out of business. I enlarged the scope of the book and published it.

PTK: I can see from just looking at your book, it is easy to read and gives in-depth information, and photographs of the different poses. My first impression is that it is a great resource to help those practicing Yoga deepen their practice. However, as a beginner myself, I can see how it will clearly help me understand how Yoga works, something I’ve never picked up in a class. Was your intent to produce a resource for a broad range of Yoga practitioners?

JDA: Yes!

PTK: Could someone like me who has only a basic knowledge of yoga poses benefit from your book?

JDA: Yes! I hope so. That is why I wrote the book. But, the key is to find the joy in your practice. The joy comes from within you as you practice as you connect with the deep creative energy within you. Anyone can experience it. The book hopefully explains this in a way that encourages the beginner to find that inner joy and energy.

PTK: What were the challenges you faced when you first started writing about your practice? What was easiest to write about?

JDA: It still is not easy to share my spiritual experiences in Yoga, as they are so personal and meant to be just that. After many years I finally accepted that it was useful to share them. So I began the blog. www.seekingtheself.com

It is easy to share the tenets of Yoga. I found profound joy through Yoga. Yoga is not competitive; it is an exercise regime. It is about connecting at a very deep level with yourself and with others. Once you know yourself, you can begin to know others. Yoga is not meant to only benefit the one who is practicing, but to benefit others, as well. Yoga is not self-serving. The goal is selflessness. It is meant to encourage others so that they in turn may encourage and support someone else, and so on and so on. It contains the wish that an infinite number of people reach a state of health and happiness and perfect understanding and kindness, even if I do not.

PTK: What is one question you’d most like an interview to ask? How would you answer that question?

JDA: The best questions are those asked spontaneously in the moment, from a real desire to know, when they carry the most energy. My answers are also usually best spontaneously in the moment, for the same reason.

PTK: In the process of writing your book, were there lessons that you learned about your practice? about yourself?

JDA: I have a hard time not sharing everything I have discovered about the practice of Yoga. Sometimes it was difficult to decide what would most useful to share and what might be best left out of this book. I do understand that people can only digest one thing at a time, and I have a tendency to want to give too much in each spoonful.

PTK: I love the cover of your book! It’s simple, unintimidating and down to earth. Could you tell me how you came up with the design and what message does it send?

JDA: My son designed it. He knows me well.

PTK: You are teaching a four part series, How Yoga Works for The Minerva Institute. If I were (and I do so wish I were) taking this class what could I do before in preparation for the class?

JDA: One could get this book and read it.

PTK: What do you hope to have people take away from the classes you are teaching?

JDA: A joy of Yoga and some understanding of how it works so that they will continue to practice and reap the benefits.

PTK: As a Yoga instructor and practitioner for many years, I am sure you have seen transformation in a number of your students. Is there one student or event that stands out? What are the most personally rewarding changes you have seen in your students?

JDA: There are so many. About 15 years ago I taught a woman in her later forties to do a headstand. I don’t usually teach headstand. But she had a lot of fear holding her back from life. I knew this would be a great challenge for her. And she wanted to do it. So after class I help her with it. It took a while. The pose truly frightened her. But, she perfected it to the point of being at ease in it. She would even demonstrate it at dinner parties. Her life totally changed after that. It was if she was propelled into her future. Mastering that one pose broke through decades of negative conditioning. That is the kind of power that mastering just one, Yoga pose can have on you. Thank you for asking me to share this.

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Jan Durga Ahlund

Jan Durga Ahlund, (B.S.Ed) has been practicing and studying Yoga since 1967. She shares her experience of Yoga as a writer, teacher of Hatha Yoga, Kundalini Yoga, and Kriya Yoga and as a Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapist, which uses Yoga for emotional release. She gives Initiation seminars in Kriya Yoga, all over the world. She co-authored, performed, and produced with her husband Marshall Govindan, the Yoga video, .Babaji.s Kriya HathaYoga, Self-realization through Action with Awareness. They have also co-authored several books on spiritual Yoga. Durga developed a two-year correspondence course called The Grace Course, which is a course of Yoga and self-study. She developed and teaches a 200-500 hour Hatha Yoga Teacher Training Course worldwide, giving trainings in India, Canada, Germany, Estonia, Brazil and Spain. Her two latest books are “Deepening your Practice,” and “The Yoga Toolbox: An everyday guide for shaping your future.” She and her husband take students on pilgrimages to India twice a year. They have a Yoga Ashram in Quebec, Canada, but have recently become “snow birds” in Orlando.

Click here to register for a 4-week series on How Yoga Works with Jan Ahlund (view flyer)

Click here to purchase a copy of The Yoga Toolbox

“My life is based on an overall vision. I want to help or assist other people in transforming their lives and reaching their highest potential. Most importantly, I believe in the importance of connecting to a Divine source for guidance.”
~ Karen Castle

Photo from K. Castle

As many of you know, The Minerva Institute is sponsoring a Holotropic Breathwork experience facilitated by Dr. Karen Castle on March 9 – 10th (read event details). Holotropic Breathwork is a unique way of “moving toward wholeness” and was developed by Stanislav Grof (a pioneer in the scientific understanding of consciousness). Through the power of Breath, you can remember and realign with an inner wisdom and divine essence. This is the core to who you are and within the center of your being lies your highest potential and understanding for life.

I know of many people who have gained deep self-exploration, personal transformation and healing from Holotropic Breathwork. Karen Castle’s personal experience ranks as one of the most inspiring stories that I’ve heard. Karen’s first session of Holotropic Breathwork was with Stan Grof almost ten years ago. At the time, she was trying to heal from two family deaths and deep injuries from an automobile accident. Seeking to progress from such pain, Karen turned to her faith and intense therapy. Underneath her efforts laid an enormous aching…one that required traveling into the inner realms of the psyche.

“It was through Holotropic Breathwork,” shared Karen, “that I for the first time, sensed an eternal presence.”

By Karen Castle

The session became a pivot point in her life as it provided enormous healing and insight for personal transformation. The breathwork also connected Karen to Inanna; a name she had never heard before but was revealed to her.

Holotropic Breathwork led Karen on a journey of self-discovery and empowerment. She is now the author of the book Unveiling the Modern Goddess: Thru Symbolism, Chakras & Myth and a certified facilitator of Holotropic Breathwork. She has an MA in Oriental Medicine and Transpersonal Psychology and is also a licensed acupuncturist and transformational coach.

Read below for my interview with Dr. Karen Castle.

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CA: What inspired you to write this book? 

KC: In one of my Breathwork experiences, I felt a powerful feminine presence. I later learned that this presence was the Goddess Inanna. This book is based on her 5,000 year old story. The last 8 years of my life I felt called and guided to write this book.

CA: Is there a core message that you want readers to grasp? Is this book mainly for women?

KC: The core message of the book is that everyone should begin to familiarize with the inner feminine energy—the yin energy. Not just women, however, women are being called to lead in this evolutionary shift of consciousness.

For thousands of years, women have been subject to a lower status or have been victimized in some way. Through the story of the Goddess Inanna and through identifying with the chakras in our body, we can overcome imbalances and become stronger more empowered females.

CA: Who is the Goddess Inanna? How did you learn of her?

KC: The Goddess Inanna is an ancient Sumerian Goddess. She existed a thousand years before many of the Egyptian Gods & Goddesses we know of. She was known as Queen of Heaven and Earth. She is also known as the Babylonian Ishtar – the Goddess of Fertility. In the book, I explain the details of my research and how I was guided to a book about her through Amazon. The book is called Inanna: Queen of Heaven & Earth. It was written by a male scholar who recognized her feminine power.

Thank goodness for his research and study or we would have a skewed version of who Inanna is. Male scholars in the 1940-1960’s were subject to the ideals of their time. i.e. Bible scriptures.

The story of Inanna is one of the most profound stories a woman can read to identify with her own self-empowerment, courage, strength and wisdom.

CA: How has writing this book shaped an understanding of your own life journey?

KC: Interestingly, since identifying with Inanna’s story, my personality has transformed. I used to be the quiet, shy and passive type. Now I am confident and assured. I know exactly what I want and am not afraid to go for it and attain it. In my relationships, I believe in giving and receiving—it is not one-sided. My life is based on an overall vision. I want to help or assist other people in transforming their lives and reaching their highest potential. Most importantly, I believe in the importance of connecting to a Divine source for guidance. Inanna is one of my spiritual guides.

CA: What is your one wish or piece advice for fellow self-explorers?

KC: Everyone is capable of reaching their highest potential if we stay connected to source and are open to listening. We may pray and ask for what we want but it is equally important to listen. Inanna encounters two important times in her life where she listens without question and follows her inner guidance. This is very important and few people achieve their highest potential for that reason.

CA: What are you currently paying attention to in life?

KC: Right now I have started a practice to “lighten up.” I want to enjoy life and not take myself so seriously all the time. I have had a rapid spiritual growth in the last 5-6 years but find that is not as powerful if I don’t “stop and smell the roses.” Laughing at myself (with love of course) when I catch myself in a thought pattern, feeling attached to something or realize my shortcomings. I have been told through my Akashic Record practice that the spirits and guides laugh at us humans all the time. We have the best of both worlds yet very few utilize our spiritual insight or we lack any appreciation for our human bodies.

For many years, I have practiced the enjoyment of being in my body and the capacity to taste, smell, touch, see and experience emotions~whatever they may be at the time.

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Dr. Karen Castle

Dr. Karen Castle is a licensed acupuncturist and has an MA in Oriental Medicine and Transpersonal Psychology. She is an author, health and wellness expert and a transformational coach. Karen’s expertise lies in the mind, body, spirit approach to health and wholeness. She is passionate about helping others live happy, healthy and fulfilling lifestyles. Karen has an eclectic background that weaves together some of the best tools for overall health and wholeness. She is a Certified Holotropic Breathwork Practitioner and hosts regular workshops.

Attend a Unique Session of Holotropic Breathwork with Karen Castle

Attend a transformative lecture and 1-day retreat in Holotropic Breathwork led by Dr. Karen Castle on March 9th – 10th. An introductory lecture will take place Friday evening from 7pm – 9pm and will be followed by a 1-day retreat on Saturday from 12:30pm – 8:30 pm. The event will be held at Harmony Yoga Studio. Minerva members and Harmony Yoga students and teachers will receive a 20% discount to the event. Price is $135 for both events and $25 for lecture.

To register for the full event, click here

To register for the lecture only, click here

Within you lies a deep and powerful source of wisdom. It is never wrong. Consult it. Listen to it. Live by it. ~ Melissa Studdard

By Melissa Studdard

Six Weeks to Yehidah by Melissa Studdard takes you on an enchanting adventure with the delightful nine year-old Annalise and her two amazing, talking sheep friends, Mabel and Mimi. Swept away from her peaceful home in the rural Verdant Hills, to a mysterious place in the clouds, Annalise encounters a series of challenging circumstances, meets new friends and learns to deal with those who aren’t so friendly. Annalise is forced to make life changing decisions and learns not only about the new world she sees, but gains deeper insights into herself.

Six Weeks to Yehidah will challenge, entertain and surprise its readers, and young Annalise will wind her way into your heart in her quest to find the way back home. But insight and wisdom are woven into the tale as well. Studdard delivers a universal spiritual message within the story, one that speaks to all people regardless of age, crosses religious barriers and reaches deep into our collective spirit. The book reminds us, “Everything is connected through the fabric of the universe…” and that we are connected, not just by places, “but times, people, plants and stars too; anything you can imagine and some things you cannot yet imagine.”

Read my interview with Melissa, a fellow Natalie Goldberg student and writer, to learn more about why this book is a must read for you and any young adult who seeks to know themselves deeply.

“When things come at you very fast, naturally you lose touch with yourself.” ~ Marshall McLuhan

Photo by Ode Magazine

I was immediately drawn to a recent NY Times article titled, “The Joy of Quiet” that was published over the holidays.

The author points out something that we all know and feel: We have more and more ways to communicate, as Thoreau noted, but less and less to say. Partly because we’re so busy communicating. And — as he might also have said — we’re rushing to meet so many deadlines that we hardly register that what we need most are lifelines.

Reading this during the holiday frenzy was the perfect reminder for me to stay anchored in my practice of taking the time each day to unwind, unplug and check-in with myself. It was a few years ago that I had created a wish list of things to do that would give me much needed downtime. I handed it to my husband who lovingly helped me to create a few quality, quiet moments for myself as well as for the two of us (read my post published by ODE Magazine on creating a “quietmas” from 2009).

Since then, one of our annual holiday traditions is to go to New Smyrna Beach and walk until sunset. On the way, we play new music albums and spend the drive simply listening. The same happens on the beach. We walk without saying much. When the sun goes down, we find a nice restaurant along Flagler Ave. and finally chat over dinner. We always return home refreshed and relaxed.

Pico Iyer says in his NY Times article, Nothing makes me feel better — calmer, clearer and happier — than being in one place, absorbed in a book, a conversation, a piece of music. It’s actually something deeper than mere happiness: it’s joy, which the monk David Steindl-Rast describes as “that kind of happiness that doesn’t depend on what happens.”

I wanted to write and wish everyone a calm, clear and happy start to the New Year. And to remind everyone (myself included) that slowing down to connect to what’s real and important in life is essential and necessary. Whether it is yoga, taking a long bath or walk, writing, meditating or reading, stay committed to a personal practice of peace.

Make it a habit to slow down and simply connect to what’s happening in a given moment. The more you do so, the more you realize that breaking away from your busy schedule is a great act of kindness and self-care.

Wishing you peace, health and happiness in 2012.

A holotropic state of consciousness is a non-ordinary, evolutionary state of consciousness that leads one toward wholeness. Holos means whole in greek. Trepein is moving in the direction of…Holotropic Breathwork (HB) is a means of processing emotional toxins and deep-rooted trauma. It can make changes in awareness and grant spiritual experiences, which can lead you to your path of transformation. Working with the perinatal energies, HB connects to transcendent experiences or the condensed experiences of one’s life to propel a person into wholeness.

Sessions in Holotropic Breathwork are especially useful for people who have not been practicing yoga and meditation daily. This kind of prolonged conscious breathing is perfect for people who have become so stressed in their habits of living that their breathing has become disturbed and their thinking ungovernable. It provides the opportunity for using the breath to release tensions held in both the physical and emotional body.

While it is not possible to predict what kind of experience you will have, all that is required is intense breathing and allowance for your internal intelligence to guide you. The experience of being fully aware of your breath while maintaining a continuous, deep and rapid circular breathing pattern can initiate small steps toward releasing tensions, tightness and contractions in the inner channels and may produce a major breakthrough.

Sometimes during Holotropic Breathwork, participants can have emotional memories of childhood, even childbirth itself. A session may be filled with imagery, mythology, spiritual beings and sometimes just deep rest. Many traumas can be relieved through HB including events buried deep in the psyche, unhealthy mental patterns, and the remaining scars of physical and emotional abuse. There can be real healing even in one HB session, but it can additionally open you to an experience of vivid awareness and insight.

The breath links inner and outer worlds. The energy of the breath and the energy of the mind are directly interrelated. There is great power in your faculty to control your attention and to control your breath. As the breath moves, so do your thoughts and memory. By controlling the breath and keeping it moving consistently for two or more hours (remaining aware of the breath rising and falling without pause) thoughts, pain and trauma that are held deep in the muscles and cells of the body have a good chance to be moved out. It is a natural occurrence that I have seen occur over and over again in people. The mind is focused on the breathing, but the breathing pattern will speed up or slow down on its own as it begins to meet restrictions in inner channels. As the breath relaxes the body, the breath will set into motion a healing intelligence.

When you employ breathing methodologies like HB, there is an internal drive to move your body in certain ways. Sometimes people start spontaneous yoga postures even when they are not familiar with them. There can be many different levels of experiences, which you could relate to your own history, but afterwards you can see how it had its own way of cleansing. The energy in the physical body can be quite wild, especially in the arms and the heart area.

The idea of Holotropic Breathwork is that inside each of us is a healing mechanism. And while healing is initiated during the session it continues long after the workshop has concluded. Within each of us is a witnessing Self or the Presence of the true I AM, which is the only power acting in your mind, body and world. It is this Presence that is available to heal each of us. Holotropic breathwork is one means of entering into a space that allows access to this healing presence.

Everyone will have a unique experience. However, there are some similarities that seem common. The body initially relaxes in a yoga nidra state where it is completely at rest. This allows for one to become conscious of every thought that passes through the mind. There is a quickening, allowing an opening for deeply rooted pain to be released through sound, and vibration. Emotions are released. Tension builds up at particular points in the body. This can be experienced in rather dramatic ways. And finally there is some kind of breakthrough when the body/mind allows itself to receive the intelligent direction of the inner healing presence. This may be experienced as insight, visions, visitations, a blessing, forgiveness or an intense increase of energy flowing through the body bringing greatest peace and stillness. Although the breathing sessions are several hours long, many people have completed the breathing within two hours. The breathing session is supported moment-to-moment by the most amazingly powerful ambient music, which gives wings to the process and helps in some way to create a safe womb for what it happening. The integration continues immediately after the breathing session, when participants are directed to create an artist expression of their inner experience. This too can take surprising turns. Insights come when least expected.

In a weekend workshop, one generally will have two sessions. I recently attended a weekend workshop with Stan Grof in Kripalu. There, I met a woman who was recently operated on for breast cancer. She offered to share her experience.

“The first day after feeling a lot of pain in the arm and shoulder area, my arms and hands were making lots of strange movements, very very fast, it was like writing, playing instruments, some involuntary spasms. Intense releases. The second session I recall doing a lot of arm and hand movement again, but this time they were more organized, and in this second sessions my hips and legs were involved too. I was told by the facilitators that I was doing some mudras with my hands along with the positions of the legs and feet it was resembling the Bharathanatyam. No insights, pure energy flows. Then, deepest relaxation.”

It is important to recognize that Holotropic Breathwork is a safe, nurturing, forgiving and compassionate process. Participants should be reassured that even though the process may be exhausting, the energy work is intelligent, healing and reaffirming. The outcome may include insight that allows you to forgive yourself for any pain you have caused yourself, or forgive others for the suffering they have caused you. By working with a partner, compassion enlarges to embrace others widely. Forgiveness and compassion are doors that open the Heart and brings you closer to your soul.

Creative thoughts cause both our pain and our joy. Therefore, it is important that we learn to be in control of our creative thoughts and become immune from hurt or disturbance by the words or actions of others. With this in mind, Holotropic Breathwork could lead to a major make-over and real personal, evolutionary transformation.

All are welcome to attend two upcoming experiences on breathwork hosted by the Minerva Institute.

• A workshop on the Science of Pranayama by Jan Ahlund will be held on Saturday, November 12 at Mindful Body of Maitland from 10:30am – 1:00pm. (click here for more details)

•  An authentic session of Holotropic Breathwork with Karen Castle (an eclectic healer, author and HB facilitator certified by Stan Grof) will be held on Friday, December 2nd through Saturday, December 3rd in Longwood Florida. (learn more)

“While we try to teach our children all about life, our children teach us what life is all about.” ~ Anonymous

Sarah Herrington. She’s a NYC yogi, poet, writer and advocate on teaching kids yoga. She was featured in Oprah and deemed a “poet to watch.” And she’s coming to Orlando!

So, how did I hear of her? Well, it was in May of this year that an email blinked in my inbox with the subject line “yogipoets unite.” Sarah had found my blog on writing meditation and dropped me a line about having similar passions in poetry, writing, meditation, yoga, literature and more. Fast forward through a few correspondences and here we are, announcing an OM Schooled Weekend with Sarah Herrington to be held here in Orlando on Nov. 4-5 at Mindful Body of Maitland.

I got a chance to ask Sarah a few questions when she wasn’t writing, teaching kids yoga, meditating, snapping photos and reading. Read below for some “OM schooling” from this dynamic NYC kids yoga expert and author who I can’t wait to meet in person!

C.A. What inspired you to write your two books, Always Moving and OM Schooled?

S. H. Both of these books came from experience. Always Moving is a collection of poetry, mostly grown out of my life as a New Yorker, a yogi, and someone who grew up in the country and then moved to the Big Apple. The contrasts between inner and outer life, the material and spiritual, rural and urban, interest me. The poems in Always Moving span, literally, 10 years of inner and outer discovery.

Om Schooled grew out of my work as a yoga teacher in NYC public schools. At the time I began teaching in that setting, I searched for books which would specifically help me structure meaningful yoga lessons for youth in the school environment. I had lesson-plan writing, curriculum-crafting and yoga-leading on my plate. I found many great books, but none that spoke specially to my journey in depth. I ended up working on writing the resource I wish I’d had when I first started. Om Schooled combines stories of my time spent teaching kids yoga with lesson plans and practical tools. I hope it helps other teachers.

C. A. Share with us your deepest insight and memory from working with children in a NYC school, teaching them yoga.

S. H. I learned so much from the kids I taught. I was reminded daily of the power of joy and play, and the way it’s kind of a form of resilience in face of the hardships of life. No matter what your circumstances are or what’s going on in your life, it is a meaningful pursuit to search for and celebrate joy. It is not frivolous, it is truthful. Working with children reminded me to find that joy in my own yoga practice. Working with children is also a great reminder in staying present. Kids see things in the moment that many of us grown-ups miss. Kids are very connected in a way that inspires me.

C.A. How did Kids Yoga become a career focus for you?

S. H. I had been mentoring youth in creative writing in New York City for years, so as my yoga practice deepened and became more dedicated, my impulse was to share yoga with the same population, youth. I had this intention and then happened upon a school that was in need of a yoga teacher for a full-time program they were piloting. It seemed meant to be, and I was so grateful to take on the role. Teaching youth yoga can be very challenging, but it is very fulfilling, as well. I received so much love from my students and felt I was really sharing something of great importance to me with kids.

C. A. What are you currently taking note of in life?

S. H. I am currently writing a lot, so have been taking in more: poems, stories, readings. I’ve had my nose in many books as of late. I’ve been teaching some teen meditation, and that has inspired and strengthened my own sitting meditation practice. I’m taking note of how people use art to survive and to connect with each other.

C. A. What inspires you?

S. H. There’s so much! New York, yes, but also travel. I love meeting new landscapes and people. Lately I’m reading a lot of fairy tales for the creative work I’m embarking on, and I’m inspired by the myths of many traditions. I’m inspired by people’s stories of resilience. And, standing on my head.

Want to meet Sarah and practice yoga with her? Join us for a special OM Schooled Weekend that begins with an evening poetry reading and book discussion on Friday, Nov. 4th at 7pm. Then join Sarah on Saturday, Nov. 5th for two unique yoga experiences: a fun morning session of kids & adults yoga and an afternoon training session on how to introduce yoga to kids.

Click here to learn more about this special, upcoming weekend and register!

Photo by TTV

The Ten Thousand Villages (TTV) store in Winter Park celebrates its 5-year journey this September 2011. If you haven’t visited this unique store, you’re in for a treat. It’s filled with beautiful handmade items from artisans around the world and passionate volunteers who support fair trade.

The inspiration for Ten Thousand Villages came from a Mahatma Gandhi quote: “…India is not to be found in its few cities but in the 700,000 villages…we have hardly ever paused to inquire if these folks get sufficient to eat and clothe themselves with.”

To this nonprofit organization, a village in the world represents a unique, distinctive people who offer extraordinary products born of their rich cultures and traditions. The focus is one of fairness – to people, planet and profitability.

Ten Thousand Villages’ mission is to create opportunities for artisans in developing countries to earn income by bringing their products and stories to our markets through long-term fair trading relationships.

As a current TTV volunteer, I got to ask store manager Lisa Dunaway to share her insights on fair trade and what it means to our local and global community.

TTV Winter Park, FL

C.A. How did Ten Thousand Villages come about originally and in specifically in Winter Park, FL?

L.D. One motivated woman, Edna Ruth Byler, started Ten Thousand Villages in 1946. It began with Mrs. Byler purchasing needlepoint work from women in Puerto Rico, who were doing this work to raise money to send their daughters to school. Another motivated woman brought Ten Thousand Villages to Winter Park. Mary Dipboye moved to Central Florida in 2004 and began recruiting a group of volunteers, assembling the first Board of Directors and fundraising for Ten Thousand Villages in Winter Park. Due to the hard work and dedication of these volunteers and the outpouring support of our community, the store opened its doors in September of 2006. Many of those original volunteers are still with us today.

C.A. How did you personally get involved with the organization and its Fair Trade mission?

L.D. I was attending Rollins College in 2005 and heard about this “great store” opening down the street from Rollins on Park Avenue from my sister, Jennifer, who is now my Co-Manager at the store. I was not familiar with the concept of Fair Trade at the time, but the idea that my purchase would make a difference in the lives of others intrigued me. So, Jennifer and I stopped by the store. When we saw all the beautiful handmade items and learned of the artisans who made them, we sincerely contemplated how our purchases were making a huge difference in bettering the lives of others (which is what Fair Trade really means). Then we were hooked! I began volunteering every other Saturday beginning in November 2006 and became an employee in March 2007. Jennifer was hired as our Store Manager in 2008. She and I have been co-managing the store together since April of 2010.

C.A. How does Fair Trade impact our local and global community?

L.D. Although Fair Trade is a slow growing movement in the world, we hope some day it will be more than a movement but a way of life. Business partnerships based on fairness, sustainability and respect is one major step to a more peaceful planet. The artisan partners of Ten Thousand Villages receive a fair price for their handmade goods and a long-term commitment from Ten Thousand Villages. The fair price and consistent purchases from Ten Thousand Villages allow these artisans to provide basic necessities for their families. They are able to educate their children and support their local communities. Partners of Ten Thousand Villages also receive assistance and guidance on creating safer work conditions for their workers and ways to be environmentally responsible. We also collaborate with our artisan partners on product design, including size, color scheme and popular trends, which allows us to sell more, and in return, purchase more of their products.

From a local perspective, we make certified Fair Trade products available and are afforded the opportunity to hold important conversations about it with customers every day. At least once a day , but usually more often, a customer will tell us about how the special handmade gift they purchased touched the recipient because they were able to read about the artisan who made that item and about the impact Fair Trade has had on that artisan’s life. The opportunity to educate our customers about Fair Trade has been such a joy to our staff and volunteers. For most people, it is not a common practice to stop and think about where the products they buy are made, or more importantly, who made them and under what conditions. When we tell them about the artisan who made the item they are purchasing and about the concept of Fair Trade, they do stop to think about its impact. I truly believe it changes the way they think about their future purchases.

C.A. What has fueled the success of your store?

L.D. Our amazing volunteers, who commit thousands of hours of their time, lots of hard work and plenty of enthusiasm year after year! The continued outpouring of support from our community, not just their purchases, but their sharing of our mission is also a major key to our store’s success. It is so touching for us to hear customers enthusiastically sharing our mission and artisan stories to their friends as they walk around the store. It is as if they are letting their friends in on a secret and taking pride in their favorite store. And, of course our hardworking artisan partners and their beautiful products and commitment to creating quality products.

Photo by TTV

Photo by TTV

C.A. Share the story of one artisan product that can currently be found in the store.

L.D. One of the first items I purchased at Ten Thousand Villages is a necklace from Kenya. The stylish and very reasonably price was what attracted me to it, as a “poor college student”. Then, I learned the story of the artisans who created this beautiful necklace and it became a treasure. This necklace was made by the Bombolulu workshop near Mombasa. Bombolulu provides employment and numerous other benefits, including housing, medical aid and adult education, for adults who are blind or physically disabled and who would otherwise have virtually no chance of employment in the mainstream labor market. There are approximately one hundred and thirteen artisans who work and live near the workshop and they create jewelry and other products for both local and export markets. The group uses recycled metals including soda cans to create several of their whimsical products. Ten Thousand Villages has partnered with Bombolulu since 1986.

C.A. Share with us your current endeavor to make Winter Park a Fair Trade City.

L.D. We learned about The Fair Trade Towns campaign while attending the Ten Thousand Villages national workshops in May. The campaign was started by Fair Trade USA to create more awareness about the importance of choosing Fairly Traded products and to recognize retail locations, restaurants, cafes and markets, churches, non-profits and other ethical business and groups who have made a commitment to serve Fair Trade products during services or meetings or to offer those items for sale. When we started to make a list of all the ethical businesses in Winter Park, we thought this would be an easy endeavor. So, we organized a steering committee of local business owners and fair trade supporters. We are hoping to make Winter Park a Fair Trade town by March 2012 and to celebrate on World Fair Trade Day in March 2012. If we can make this happen soon, Winter Park will not only be the first Fair Trade Town in Florida, it will be the first in the South!

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To learn more about Ten Thousand Villages, Winter Park visit their website and Facebook page.

“A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.” ~ Winston Churchill

I’m an avid reader of Ode Magazine. Ode is a print and online publication about positive news and the people and ideas that are changing our world for the better. I love the content and the tagline: a community for intelligent optimists. It was through Ode, that I learned about PeaceWeek 2011.

PeaceWeek is from September 15 – 21 and will be a free global telesummit featuring 52 speakers offering insights on creating personal and world peace. Key lecturers will include some of my favorite authors: Alice Walker, Deepak Chopra, Marianne Williamson and Daniel Goleman.

Topics to be discussed include the following:

• Cultivating Inner Peace
• The Path to Peace through Social & Emotional Intelligence
• Integrating Peace & Happiness into How We Do Business
• Ending Our Addiction to Crime, Violence and War
• Technology & Peace: Empowering Youth
• Large Scale Organizing for Peace
• A Peace Economy
• Subtle Activism as a Personal and Collective Peace Practice
• Making Poverty History
• A Path to Peace & International Security

Last year, there were 25,881 registrants for PeaceWeek in from 149 countries. I’m inviting everyone in our local community to join in this year!

We all care about creating and sustaining positive social, environmental and economical changes and should take advantage of this unique opportunity to engage with an international community of like-minded individuals.

To register for this free telesummit, visit http://peaceweek.info/

For those who register, please consider sharing your thoughts on the Minerva Community Blog.