seva journal

April 6 & 9 11am -12:15pm

Has your yoga practice slowed down a bit with your new baby? Or are you wanting to start a yoga practice but don’t have the time with a newborn? If so, this class is for you! Mommy & Me Yoga is designed to give you the tools you need to continue (or start) your yoga practice while caring for a new baby. The poses are designed to give mom a well rounded yoga practice while interacting and stimulating baby. Both you and your baby will fold, twist and stretch in a fun and playful way. No experience necessary

What you need:
· Yoga mat (or rent one at the studio)
· Blanket
· Small towel
· Baby’s favorite small toy
· Sling or other baby carrier (if you use one)

Cost is $40 for the 2 sessions

YOUR YOGA ADVENTURE IN TUSCANY at Soul Space
with Michele Fife and Daniel Gottleib, July 24th – 31st 2010

My goal as a teacher is to guide you on a journey- away from the everyday stresses of life. We have an incredible opportunity to experience this journey in an entirely new way. An old Italian Villa in Siena, Italy awaits us! In this ancient place called ‘Soul Space’ we will practice, we will play, we will eat local organic foods, and enjoy all that the beautiful Tuscan countryside has to offer. This unique Yoga adventure is available to 20 students.
Contact Michele Fife for more info at 616 901 7229 or email sevayoga@gmail.com.
See more pictures at Soul Space

ABOUT THE TRIP-
This property is immersed in the midst of the Tuscan woods, atop the rolling hills of Cerbaia on 100 acres in the Senese countryside. Silence and peace are assured. The rooms are elegantly decorated and newly restored. The yoga space has views of the surroundings and is equipped with sound system, including a piano.

ACCOMMODTION & ACTIVITIES
Accommodation is in newly and nicely restored apartments. Rooms have private bathrooms. Some single rooms available. Activities will include daily yoga, an excursion to Siena, a great medieval town famous for the Palio horse race, an excursion to the small towns of Montalcino & Montepulciano with wine tasting, an excursion to the ocean by the Maremma National Park, half day to the Petriolo Hot Springs.

COST OF RETREAT
$3250 per person / $3550 single occupancy
Package includes:
- all transfers (arrival and departure from/to Pisa airport)
- 7 nights accommodation
- breakfast, lunch and dinner, except lunch during excursions (wine not included)
- full day excursion to Siena
- full day excursion to Montalcino and Montepulciano
- full day excursion to the ocean
- 1/2 day to the Petriolo hot springs
Not included: airfare, tips.

HOW TO ENROLL
To enroll please pay a $500 non-refundable deposit per person.
Please pay your deposit by check made to Cultural Italy and give it to Michele.
The balance will be due 60 days before the retreat (June 28th.)
You can pay the balance by check or credit card (visa, mastercard or amex) over the
phone.

(This great recipe comes from Seva student Brian Fox!)

Here is my variation of a vegetarian enchilada recipe. These roll-ups are a yummy combination of sweet and savory flavors. There are also lots of ways to change this recipe up (wet burritos , dry, cheesy, spicy, etc. ) Just play with the recipe and see what you like best.

INGREDIENTS
2 large sweet potatoes, peeled and diced
1 onion, diced
3 large garlic cloves, minced
2 cans black beans
1 can diced tomatoes
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 tablespoon cumin
1 tablespoon cinnamon
1 brunch of fresh cilantro, chopped
salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
1 tablespoon olive oil
8 large flour tortillas
1 can green chili or red enchilada sauce
1-2 cups of shredded cheese ( I use Mexican blend)

Other toppings
o Finely chopped red onion
o Salsa
o Sour cream

1. Preheat oven to 400F.

2. Put garlic, onions and sweet potatoes in a sauce pan w/ olive oil. Add spices (except cilantro) and cook for 20 minutes, until tender. Add black beans and tomatoes (do not drain). Simmer for 10-15 min. Add chopped cilantro , simmer mixture 5 minutes. Set aside.

3. Turn oven down to 350F. Warm the tortilla in a microwave/other (30 secs). Place a tortilla on a flat work surface, spoon a portion of the sweet potato mixture down the center of it and roll it up. Place the filled enchilada in the baking sheet with the seam side down. Repeat with remaining tortillas and sweet potato mixture. If there’s any filling left over, spoon it on top of the enchiladas, then top with remaining cheese, enchilada sauce, optionally salsa and sprinkle with red onion.

4. Cover and bake until hot and bubbly, about 20 minutes. Serve immediately.

Thanks, Brian!

March 26th, 7:30-9pm
Enjoy the opportunity to come into balance through a restorative yoga practice. Allow yourself to release muscular tension as well as emotional and mental stress. Creating a calm and healing environment, Marro is known for her clear and caring instructions. As the new year begins, come join us for an experience sure to nourish your mind, body and spirit.

Let yoga do you for an hour and a half ~ preregister to save your spot. Limited to eight participants. Cost is $20

Saturday, March 20, 2010 from 6 to 7:30pm

Yogis near and far,

108 is considered a sacred number in Hinduism and Yoga. Traditionally, malas, or garlands of prayer beads, come as a string of 108 beads. Mathematicians of Vedic culture viewed 108 as a number of the wholeness of existence. 108 also connects the Sun, Moon, and Earth: The average distance of the Sun and the Moon to Earth is 108 times their respective diameters. According to yogic tradition, there are 108 pithas, or sacred sites, throughout India. And there are also 108 Upanishads and 108 marma points, or sacred places of the body.

And one can enjoy a Yoga mala of 108 Sun Salutations as an offering to Peace and Unity.

Join Michele on Saturday to celebrate the vernal equinox with 108 sun salutations!

Normal class fees apply.

-michele

Saturday, March 20, 2010 12:30-1pm

For March’s Seva project we will be visiting with residents of Clark Retirement Community. Plan on spending a half hour reading to, sharing stories with, and learning about a new friend. You’ll want to bring your favorite short stories or poems. Perhaps even pictures of your family. But most importantly – come with an open heart and a mind that’s free.

Date: Saturday, March 20, 2010
Time: 12:30pm – 1:00pm
Location: 1551 Franklin ST SE, Grand Rapids MI 49506

We need 10 volunteers for this project — please email amber if you are coming (or mark yourself as attending on the facebook event page). We will be paired with residents when we arrive and to show up with less than 10 would mean that some residents wouldn’t have a partner (which they are very much looking forward to!).

email azkilpatrick@gmail.com with any questions.

all love
amber

The life breath of every living being – So Hum. So Hum, I am that. A song every sentient being sings, proclaiming their own divine existence. When I pause, when I pay attention to my own life sound, a natural calm come over me. It is the rushing, the drive to Be, to be More, that calls my attention away from this sound and makes the mind like so many puzzle pieces. I wait to be put together again.

So Hum, happening without me trying, without effort, this pranic vinyasa. I can pause and take note whenever I chose, I can listen again. To listen to the sound of all life inside of me. The sound is there to remind me. I am that.

-michele

“DALLAS — Six-year-old Alexander Mitchell of Dallas has trouble keeping up with other kids.

As a child with Pervasive Developmental Disorder, Alexander struggles to control body movements and use appropriate social interactions.

But he’s flourishing in Lynne Silberman’s yoga program for special-needs kids, says his mother, Kellie Baker-Mitchell.”

Read the full article at fox59.com

“As someone who wore a tool belt for 25 years, Allan Nett is very familiar with the aches and injuries that plague homebuilders. As a certified Iyengar Yoga instructor, he also has some ideas on how they can be avoided.”
Read the article at finehomebuilding.com