Hi Folks,
Welcome! Updated information on local gatherings & event. Hopes our paths cross soon!
UPCOMING EVENTS:
Fall 2022
A 4 week Series! Me Time, Yoga Time
Sundays beginning on Sun, Nov 27-Sun, Dec 18th 2022
Time: 4:00 PM 5:00 PM
Location: ONLINE
Register at: Yoga Sanctuary
Self-care practices are intentional ways we choose to care for ourselves. Yoga practice is self-care practice. It encourages us to turn inward with curiosity and reminds us what we need is there inside of us. Welcome yourself just as you are into a reflective space designed to offer you choices–practice on the mat, in a chair or both. Connect with breath and movement as you create shapes with your body. Self-massage and self-touch exercises to relieve anxiety, release tension and enhance our body awareness will be offered. Options for quiet self-meditation and prompts for reflective chats with fellow yogis. Let this time serve you best.
Fall 2022
September 15-18, 2022: Art & Wellness Fall Retreat – SnowFarm- CLICK TO LEARN MORE AND SIGN UP
Location: Snowfarm 5 Clary Road Williamsburg, MA 01096
Contact: 413.268.3101 Email: info@snowfarm-art.org
Date: September 16th
Friday Afternoon: Sensing our Peace, Unfolding the Body led by Safara Fisher
Being present with your creative energy can take practice. In this session, explore how rooting into the moment-to-moment experience of the body can help with this process. Safara invites you to unfold your body in this Autumn season and open to the creative energy that exists within. Enjoy yoga as an expressive exploration. This practice is your time to feel into your body through breath, your senses and by movement into physical shapes. Safara has experience with trauma-informed practices and provides ample modification to support varying abilities. She encourages listening to your body and tapping into your own wisdom and intuition.
Friday Evening: Approaching Stillness, Daily Rituals and Routines for Autumn led by Safara Fisher
The Autumn equinox is before us and with this, a new season of changing light and landscape. Autumn invites a gentler momentum and a time to harvest and gather energy for the colder months. We can prepare for the approaching stillness of Winter by internally focusing the mind and encouraging downward energy in the body with meditation, food choices and cooking practices. Come learn a few grounding seasonal practices that Safara has adopted from yoga, Chinese Medicine and macrobiotic cooking.
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Fall 2022
Yoga Sanctuary- Pop Up in the Park- CLICK TO SIGN UP
Date: Saturday, September 24 or 25th- RAIN DATE
Time:
12:00 PM 1:00 PM
Chair & Mat Class with Lisa Leizman and Me
Location: Child’s Park- Northampton
Contact: Yoga Sanctuary 150 Main Street, Northampton MA 01060
413.585.YOGA
What a gift to be outside together in this new season. As autumn nears and the trees turn bright with the colors of fall, come take a seat of awareness and turn your attention inside. How do you meet the season as summer transforms into fall? When things change, what of yourself endures? How can your body be an anchor of awareness? Join us for a special yoga class in Childs Park—one that invites you to find your seat in a chair, on your mat or both! Our practice will include physical poses, breath work and embodied awareness—all accessible whether you choose to sit or to stand— a call to explore what is most essential in ourselves, to express the truth within. All levels are welcome!
Cost: pay-what-you-can admission
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Spring 2022 Chair Yoga 4 week Series
Pause, Notice. Breathe with Chair Yoga
Date: Mondays, 7-8:15pm
May 2-23rd
Location: ONLINE
Teacher Spotlight and Special Series CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE
Contact: Yoga Sanctuary
YOGA SANCTUARY
at Thornes Marketplace, 3rd Floor
150 Main Street
Northampton, MA 01060
413.585.YOGA
tech@yoga-sanctuary.com
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Spring 2022 Trauma Research Foundation
Location: ONLINE
Represented: Three and a Half Acres Yoga
I was privileged to be selected as a panelist in the Trauma Research Foundation’s Book Club Week 5 and Week 6 first ever Live Q&A with Dr. Bessel van der Kolk discussing his book, The Body Keeps the Score!
It was a thrilling and a deeply personal self-recognition building experience. I proudly represented Three and a Half Acres Yoga (THAY) practices as a teacher. I shared my experience of trauma-informed yoga as a support for reconnection to the body through observing sensations, noticing with curiosity, mindful awareness, and breath, and how this practice encourages a compassionate relationship to the body and oneself and to approach sensations with a curiosity rather than judgment.
Here are a few highlights:
In TRF Book Club: The Body Keeps the Score Week 5 we engaged in a discussion of Chapter 16: Learning to Inhabit Your Body: Yoga. What I learned from my THAY teacher training about the autonomic nervous system which when in balance helps us to reasonably respond to challenges from stress.
The autonomic nervous system is composed of the sympathetic nervous systems (SNS), where chemicals move from the brain to the body that signal the body to action and the parasympathetic nervous (PNS) system that supports functions like digestion. Heart rate variability or (HRV) helps to measure the balance between SNS and PNS. Yoga helps to support our breathing and therefore regulation of the HRV so we stay more in balance. How one breath can affect our moods, help us to stay calm and improve our stress responses to anxiety, anger and depression. This was a great reinforcement of THAY mindfulness practices of noticing the breath– our in breath and outbreath, not with any intention to speed up or slow it down but just through gentle observation.
At THAY, we remind our students that they are in charge of their own bodies, encouraging a self-led practice. I got to highlight the importance of having autonomy of your own yoga practice by listening to your own body in our Week 5 TRF Book Club discussion. As we know this approach helps build trust of your body and to do what is right for you; which is so important to us as survivors of trauma and fellow THAY trauma-informed practiced teachers to foster within our communities we teach.
As we move our bodies, creating shapes, pausing, observing our breath and taking notice of any sensations we do so with curiosity and compassion tuning into ourselves and practicing mindfulness. This approach to mindfulness encourages what Bessel van der Kolk in The Body Keeps the Score references from the Internal Family System (IFS) by Richard Schwartz as “mindful self-leadership” and “the foundation for healing from trauma.”
Panelists and participants in the online chat described approaches to yoga practice that can be supportive as well as those that can be harmful. This spoke to trauma-informed practices we learn in THAY about being sensitive to our populations with our language and to practice with awareness of what can be potentially triggering. Additionally, to focus on a practice which fosters inclusivity as an overly challenging practice can make it less accessible to a larger community level of participation.
We also spoke about recognizing people’s experiences of trauma and the discomfort of what can happen to people. When we tell our own story of how we came to THAY and the disadvantaged communities we serve, we educate society and shape the social media discourse on yoga and the need for mental health services.
Your trauma-informed practices with THAY can be advocacy to increase society’s awareness and help shift the paradigm of yoga to include these practices as mainstream. We can also get involved within community organizations and institutions leaders who bring together clinicians, researchers, educators, such as with the Trauma Research Foundation and participate in social media by listening to people tell their stories through podcasts, writings within the larger public discourse on trauma and related fields.
The final TRF Book Club: The Body Keeps the Score Week 6 was a Live Q&A with Dr. Bessel van der Kolk discussing The Body Keeps the Score! It was such a thrill to be included and hear his honest and reflective thoughts. I was given a beautiful question to ask: Question 3: “What are the most vital things we can practice when we have a loss of self in both mind and body?” he shared,
“Our sense of self is a sense of body self. How do we get a sense of agency in our body?”
He went on to cite examples like boating, playing tennis, or doing yoga. For more see here.
TRF Book Club: The Body Keeps the Score
Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6
Visit the Trauma Research Foundation to learn more about the organization and their work. They have plenty of free online learning opportunities that I am taking advantage of to continue to learn, study, and become more educated to support my trauma-informed practices.
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Event: Spring 2022 LifePath
A Matter of Balance”- Managing Concerns About Falls
DATE: Monday, March 21st
OPEN TO: Participants in program ONLY
A session devoted to participants creating a life-long exercise program that includes all four types of exercise taught in the program: endurance/aerobic, strengthening, flexibility, and balance. Director of program Andi Weisman is providing an “expo,” exposing them to these various types of exercise and options for them as they create their plan (exercises at home, community classes, online classes, YMCA programs, etc…). I will be providing yoga.
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Event: 2019 Macrobiotic Summer Conference
At: Eastover, Lenox MA
Time: Check Schedule for daily activities and lecture times.
Cost: Visit website for prices
Featuring Virginia M. Harper, Founder of You Can Heal You…One Meal at a Time.
Website details: Over 25 Teachers, Counselors, & Macrobiotic Chefs • 50 Cooking Classes, Lectures, and Exercise Classes. Come for the Week, the Day, or for the Gala
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Summer 2018
Date: July 29-August 5th 2018
Event: 2017 Macrobiotic Summer Conference
At: Eastover, Lenox MA
Time: Check Schedule for daily activities and lecture times.
Cost: Visit website for prices
Visit: http://www.eastover.com/macrobiotic-summer-conference.html
Featuring Virginia M. Harper, Founder of You Can Heal You…One Meal at a Time.
Website details: Over 25 Teachers, Counselors, & Macrobiotic Chefs • 50 Cooking Classes, Lectures, and Exercise Classes. Come for the Week, the Day, or for the Gala
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Summer 2017
Date: July 30-August 5th 2017
Event: 2017 Macrobiotic Summer Conference
At: Eastover, Lenox MA
Time: Check Schedule for daily activities and lecture times.
Cost: Visit website for prices
Visit: http://www.eastover.com/macrobiotic-summer-conference.html
Featuring Virginia M. Harper, Founder of You Can Heal You…One Meal at a Time.
Website details: Over 25 Teachers, Counselors, & Macrobiotic Chefs • 50 Cooking Classes, Lectures, and Exercise Classes. Come for the Week, the Day, or for the Gala
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Fall 2016 None to announce at this time.
Please check back periodically.
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Date: August 28th thru September 3rd
Event: Wellness Retreat-Controlling Crohns and Colitis- Virginia M. Harper
At: Kushi Institute, Becket, MA
Time: Check Schedule for daily activities and lecture times.
Cost: Visit website for prices
Visit: http://www.kushiinstitute.org/controlling-crohns-colitis/
Come join me for a week long digestive wellness retreat. Here you will get an in-depth lecture with Virginia M. Harper, Founder of You Can Heal You…One Meal at a Time. Macrobiotic cooking classes along with breakfast, lunch and dinner are included.
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Date: August 3rd & 4th
Event: 2016 Summer Conference- Kushi Institute-Lecture & Cooking Demo- Virginia M. Harper
At: Kushi Institute, Becket, MA
Time: Check Schedule for daily activities and lecture times.
Cost: Varies. Schedule will indicate.
Visit: http://www.kushiinstitute.org/summer-conference-2016-2/
Come join me for the summer conference at the Kushi Institute July 31st- Aug 14th. The theme for this year is “Toward a Sustainable Future.” Virginia M. Harper, Founder of You Can Heal You and I will be present at her lecture and cooking class.
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Brown Bag Lunch Series @ Ramsdell Library
Date: March 5, 19th and April 2, 16th
Event: Brown Bag Lunch Talk: Spring Into Healthy Eating, Easy Digestion & Healthy Gut
At: Saturday @ Ramsdell Public Library Location: Housatonic, MA
Time: 1-2pm
Cost: Free
Come join me at the Ramsdell Library in Housatonic MA for healthy cooking recipe swaps and easy prep tips to promote a healthy gut. Workshop topics include a discussion of mindfulness practices, natural sources for good gut bacteria, healthy choice swaps for oils, grains and proteins, quick kitchen meal prep tips and how to shop healthy on a budget.
So come bring a brown bag lunch and join me, sample some foods, pick up some recipes and learn more about good gut health practices.
See you there.
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Date: February 28th
Event: Powder Keg Reading
At: Six Depot Roastery, Café & Gallery Location: 6 Depot Street, West Stockbridge, MA
Time: 2-4pm
Cost: Free (support local business- grab a tea, coffee pastry or enjoy lunch)
Come join us for our 2nd annual Powder Keg Reading. Women from Suzi Bank Baum’s writer’s group the Powder Keg’s will be reading from a selection of works. Local art work will be on display. A nice warm beverage and sweet treat to nosh on while you listen will be sure to make this an extra nice way to spend your Sunday afternoon.
Look forward to having you with us.
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Hope to find you tuning in. If you miss it no worries, there will be a podcast and it will also stream:
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Date: Monday, September 21st- 26th Kushi Institute
Event: Digestive Wellness Seminar- Virginia M. Harper
At: Kushi Institute
Time: Check Schedule for daily activities and lecture times.
Cost: Visit website for day and week series prices
Visit: http://www.kushiinstitute.org/controlling-crohns-colitis/
Come join me for a week long digestive wellness retreat. Here you will get an in-depth lecture with Virginia M. Harper, Founder of You Can Heal You. Macrobiotic cooking classes along with breakfast, lunch and dinner are included.
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Date: Saturday, August 1st
Event: How Health Works 1 Day Lecture- Virginia M. Harper
At: Kushi Institute– Summer Conference 2015
Time: Afternoon 2 lectures series
Cost: Visit website for Summer Conference 2015 price schedules
Gain a comprehension of the digestive system and the practice of being mindful about eating and wellness. Come sit and enjoy a meal before the lecture series and meet us. We welcome new and returning visitors to the Kushi Institute.
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Date: Thursday, July 16th
Event: Reading from an anthology publication of the Berkshire Festival of Women Writers (BFWW).
At: The Whitney Center for the Arts, Pittsfield, MA
Time: 5:30-7pm
Free
Come join me at The Whit for a reading from Writing Fire.
Featuring writers Suzie Fowle, Lorrin Krouss, Susie Kaufman and Joan Embrue.
More information can be found at:
http://berkshirewomenwriters.org/event/third-thursday-reading-writing-fire-at-the-whit/
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Date: Sunday, May 31st
Event: Open Poetry Reading
At: No. 6 Depot Café, West Stockbridge, MA
http://sixdepot.com/
Time: 4:30
Free
Come join me and others who will be sharing their piece with the public. Its open to anyone who would like to contribute. So bring your talents in writing and rhyme with ya and come join us. No. 6 Depot Café is a cozy nook and cranny spot with wonderful goodies.
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Date: Tuesday, May 12th
Event: Making Blackberry Jam
At: Reuner Cancer Support House, Kingston NY
Time: 10:00-12pm
Cost: $10.00
“Miso Happy” Kathy Sheldon offers a jam making party. Local biodynamic farmer will be demonstrating how to make Blackberry Jam.
We will all have a chance to create our own batch.
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Date: Saturday,May 2nd
Event: Spring Reading Series: “The Loves and Labors of Women”
At: Sandisfield Arts Center 5 Hammertown Road, Sandisfield, MA United States
Time: 4:00-6:00pm
Cost: $10.00
More information can be found at: http://berkshirewomenwriters.org/event/spring-reading-series-women-writers-on-labor/
