As I recapitulate the significant events of my 2011, they range from starting new relationships to ending old habits to visiting Santa Fe to having a cup of tea by the ocean. In the last year, I was given many chances for great exploration and curiosity, and just as many chances to be courageous. I was given even more chances to fail, to try, to celebrate, to reevaluate, and to love unconditionally. During the last few minutes of 2011, I was deep in gratitude for have taken all of those chances in the last year. But as the clock waited to turn 2012 at midnight, my heart was yearning for something else. There was something I had forgotten along the way.

So my intention for 2012 is kindness, not resolution. A resolution to be kind to myself doesn’t seem as kind as setting an intention and cultivating it. This attention to kindness has been called from within and I know it is the only way to begin if I too want to be kind to others.

When I look back a year earlier to my first blog entry it reads, 2011 – The Year of Mystery.  If 2011 was the year of mystery then 2012 is the year of kindness. And last night, a little over a week into it, I already began to question if this is what kindness feels like, when I opened a book to find:

Kindness

By Naomi Shihab Nye

Before you know what kindness really is
you must lose things,
feel the future dissolve in a moment
like salt in a weakened broth.
What you held in your hand,
what you counted and carefully saved,
all this must go so you know
how desolate the landscape can be
between the regions of kindness.
How you ride and ride
thinking the bus will never stop,
the passengers eating maize and chicken
will stare out the window forever.

Before you learn the tender gravity of kindness,
you must travel where the Indian in a white poncho
lies dead by the side of the road.
You must see how this could be you,
how he too was someone
who journeyed through the night with plans
and the simple breath that kept him alive.

Before you know kindness as the deepest thing inside,
you must know sorrow as the other deepest thing.
You must wake up with sorrow.
You must speak to it till your voice
catches the thread of all sorrows
and you see the size of the cloth.

Then it is only kindness that makes any sense anymore,
only kindness that ties your shoes
and sends you out in the day to mail letters and
 purchase bread,
only kindness that raises its head
from the crowd of the world to say
It is I you have been looking for,
and then goes with you everywhere
like a shadow or a friend.

What is your intention for 2012?

If you weren’t able to join us at our last DIY, we hope that we’ll see you January 23rd for our Citrus-themed DIY! Here are some photos from our holiday DIY–leave us a comment if you were there!

To conclude Sharon’s first experience with Shamanic Healing, she interviewed Irma. Please join us in getting to know our practitioners through these interviews, and introduce yourselves in the comments!

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What do you do at Raksa?:   I am a Shamanic healing practitioner – its an ancient paradigm for healing on the blueprint level or energy body level. Shamans see everything coming from emotions. For example; trauma can leave an imprint in the body. It can over time crystallize and continue to attract the same things and experiences. Addictions can manifest and then over time it becomes physical. I like to explain things practically….the treatment is an opportunity to release emotional or soul trauma.

How would someone expect to feel during or after a shamanic healing session?:   Each session is unique…one can expect to release of heavy energy and emotions. Wanting to shift, heal or unstuck the patterns, memories and/or pain releasing them from their energy body. Most people feel relaxed sometimes calmer sometimes happy or energized. However addresses things from the past you might feel like you experienced an energetic enema! Like a detox, a feeling low energy can happen. Feeling tired or spaced out from the cleansing  of your chakras. Integration time after the session is important. Homework is given after the session to integrate the pieces and help the client become responsible for the healing. It’s a team session – working together to heal. I help you step up to your own healing, there as a guide to help move energy. Its up to the client to show up!

How long  have you been a Shamanic Healer ?:  I started  in 2006 and the training is a 2 year program and I continue to take advanced courses.

Why did you start  down the Shamanic Healing journey?:  As a young child I always had a spiritual slant but did not know how to articulate it. I always liked the idea of something outside of our world – my grandfather  who was a yogi, planted seeds….and it carried over to me. As I got older,  things in my life came together and I got depressed while in college. I thought it was my soul or something in me –  showing me a quest. The depression moved me to explore different modalities to heal.  I went to a healer and I remember thinking “ how can this session work?” ….I was skeptical. The healer gave me homework and did it….went through the motions and a month later I realized that my issues I brought to the session were no longer a problem in my life.  It worked to my surprise!  And I wanted to learn more. Shamanic Healing is hygiene for the soul…. A spirit tune up.

What attracted you to Raksa?:  The energy. The embracing of diversity -  of different healing modalities – you can explore healing and wellness from several gifted practitioners.  Raksa is a warm and welcoming community.

Where are you from?  I was born in Honduras and my roots are in Latin America. I did some traveling and been in Los Angeles for 5 years.

Favorite activities:   I enjoy being in nature, love the mountains, hiking, traveling, reading and learning. I really love reading and learning about the spirit, nutrition and healing. I also enjoy music, dancing, the arts and checking out creative events around LA.

Today, Sharon shares her experience with shamanic healing. Check back tomorrow for a short interview with our own shamanic practitioner, Irma Sierra.

This week I experienced my first shamanic healing session. Irma, the shamanic practitioner at RakSa set a calm and open tone from the beginning.  I was not sure what to expect and just decided to embrace whatever happens. Irma had a beautiful collection of stones and other objects that each had a meaning or represented something for her. She asked me to pick a stone and the session began. Irma cleared the space with beautiful words and flower water – to my understanding calling on powerful animals, mother earth and father sky to create a sacred place for us.  Afterwards, as I held onto the stone that I choose, we started talking. I did a lot of talking!  Irma delicately guided me to express what I would like to work on, improve, let go of etc. To my surprise – emotions came to the surface almost immediately. As if my most inner self finally got the chance to speak. Challenges with relationships, expectations, and wanting to truly accept things “as they are” came to mind. Irma guided me to use the stone, my breath and awareness to let go of any painful energy. Irma said that everyone experiences the sessions differently, and for me its clear that my spirit, body & mind needed to express itself. Irma continued the session using different healing tools such as feathers, music and sage.

She also gave me some visualizations to explore and some homework to do – to help integrate the session, process and heal the topics that came to the surface. This shamanic healing was powerful and evidently I needed it more than I realized. It is  an experience I think everyone would benefit from and most importantly it reminded me to take time to nurture myself.  Its so easy for most of us to get caught up in our busy “western” lives and this Shamanic Session took me back to the roots – the basics of taking care of my body, mind and spirit.

The sala was abuzz with excitement this past Saturday as Tory Jeen Valach led her third Interactive Tarot Workshop in the series of seven.

“Tarot is a beautiful, loving guide and healing tool which can assist each of us in tapping into our own inner wisdom and intuition.  We are each born with these inner abilities and using the Tarot is nothing to be afraid of, rather a gentle way to share your feelings and insight with others” she says. As we embarked on our journey to discuss and discover the 10 Minor Arcana Wand cards, I was eager to get started with my first Tarot experience.

I must admit, my previous knowledge of this practice was highly lacking and what I thought I knew came directly from movies and television. This was my opportunity to put those assumptions aside and have a fresh, new experience with an amazing teacher and other Tarot enthusiasts and students.

Tory began by passing out packets that she prepared for each of us, containing a color copy of each card we were to discuss, as well as the traditional meanings. Starting with the Ace of Wands, we took a minute or two to process and observe the card, taking note of what feelings were brought to light during our observation. After, we discussed our interpretations, bouncing thoughts off of each other, expanding on ideas and considering the card from many different, yet connected, viewpoints. We did the same for the remaining nine cards, each discussion becoming more passionate as we students began to feel more comfortable with each other and in trusting our intuition.

Following the analysis of the cards, we split into pairs and performed readings on each other. Tory made her way around the sala, jumping in and reading for each one of us. That was such an amazing bonus! It was very clear at this point how much we had learned; here we were, reading for others without notes or pamphlets. We simply felt the cards and spoke from the heart.

My first Tarot experience was enlightening, informative and transformational. This is a healing modality that I am eager to pursue and will definitely be attending Tory’s workshops in the future and am looking extremely forward to a private reading. Although the cards spoke to me in many different ways, they never failed to speak and that, to me, is the largest testament of their power and capacity.

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We had an Ambassador meeting on Wednesday morning. Some of us were about to head to the airport to go home, and some of us were already home and were waiting expectantly for the arrival of family members. The conversation turned to thoughts of gratitude and thankfulness. Sharon offered the quotation “a grateful heart is a joyful heart,” which I’ve now written on my white board over my desk to remind me of my blessings and how happy they’ve made me.

It’s is our hope that we can usher in a season in which we are continuously thankful for the blessings in our lives, and that this year’s Thanksgiving was merely the beginning. Each Ambassador shared what we are particularly grateful for–family, new acquaintances, old friends, health, passion, love, and the community around us.

Our Founder, Apinya, shared a beautiful poem that has stuck with me for the past week, and I hope will stay with you in the coming holiday season.

As I began my first class, I felt silly and out of place, not knowing what to expect. I am an avid yoga student and fairly physically fit yet I felt intimidated. I arrived early, anxious to see what was in store. Immediately the teacher put me at ease. “Have you ever practiced Qigong or Tai Chi?” she asked. “No,” I replied, “but I do have a pretty strong yoga practice…” I hoped this would give me a little credit. “Perfect, there are several similarities. You’ll be great,” she answered.

As we began, I looked around to make sure I was breathing properly, to check my movements weren’t too fast. Was I cultivating enough qi? How do I know if I have enough or not? This was suppose to be a relaxing practice, making me feel more balanced and tranquil, not insecure. I decided to let go.

The next hour of class was pure bliss. My body was moving and I was in rhythm with my breath. I felt the awareness in my body, and imagined a ball of energy coursing through. The breath work that I enjoyed so much in my yoga practice translated seamlessly but challenged me as I coordinated my movements. Before I knew it class was over. I found myself wanting more. Had I circulated enough qi? Honestly, who knows. I do know I left feeling energized and balanced.

Fun Facts about Qi Gong:

• Pronounced chee gong
• Relieves physical affects of stress and depression through deep breathing
• Improves balance and stability by strengthening ankles and knees
• Promotes faster recovery from strokes and heart attacks
• Improves conditions of Alzheimer’s, Multiple Sclerosis, and Parkinson’s
• Reduces bone loss
• Improves lower body and leg strength
• Helps with arthritis pain
• Reduces blood pressure and improve blood circulation
• Strengthen coordination, Mind and body integration through mental imagery
• Accumulates energy by releasing endorphins rather than depleting it
• Enhances mental capacity and concentration

Hello!  I had the good fortune to talk with Karen Junk, an extraordinary esthetician at Raksa this weekend.   She described creating a Satori Experience for her clients – a moment of absolute presence, a moment of no mind, an opportunity to allow yourself to let go, heal or have whatever it is you need in that moment of time.    That sounds wonderful to me!   And I was eager to hear more.   Karen explained that she is also trained in Chinese face reading.  What is that you ask?

Chinese face reading is based upon a branch of Chinese Medicine.  For thousands of years the Chinese have studied patterns in nature and what the Chinese soon realized was that these patterns not only exist in nature but can also be used to describe people – including who we are and why we feel, think, act, believe, and often even behave the way in which we often do.  It helps explain what makes us different from others yet understand what also makes us the same.  Everyone has ears, a forehead and a chin – but what does YOURS mean and how is it significant for YOU?  Everything on your face has meaning and it can be an indication of something emotional, an event at a certain age or even a health issue.

I inquired as to why she choose to become an esthetician and Karen explained that it had a lot to do with healing her own skin and what a reflection her own skin was of her health –if that were true for her, she knew it would be true for everybody.  Karen wants to be able to help as many people as she can achieve the skin and health they desire.  Karen realized early on that healthy skin begins within – on so many levels – nutrition plays a huge part in addition to excellent home care but also the importance of positive affirmations and healthy self talk for the soul.

Karen has a calm nature about her, knowledgeable and caring.  She expressed that there is no judgment in her treatment room and her goal at any given time during any given treatment is to hold space –Karen’s motto is “For You and Your Face, I will Hold Space”…

Read a brief interview with Karen after the jump!

What exactly do you do at Raksa? 

I am an esthetician – and give facials, chemical peals and facial waxing.

Why did you start this career as an esthetician?

I LOVE skin! And the body fascinates me.  The face contains so much information.

What makes your facial or treatment different or unique?

I truly care about individual as a whole.  I customize the experience and I hold a certification in nutrition.  I’m also trained in Chinese face reading.

What attracted you to work at Raksa?

Raksa is a nice place filled with interesting people – its like home.

Where are you from & how long  have you been in LA?

I am from the Midwest and I’m new to LA – have been here for almost a year.

What are your favorite activities?

Fitness Training and going to the gym!  I also enjoy reading and learning new things – my nose is often in a book!

What is your schedule at Raksa for those that want to book a treatment with you?

Evenings and weekends – come experience my facial!

Check back tomorrow for our manager Maribel’s first experience with Qi Gong!

As a former swimmer looking to get back into the water, I was excited when I saw that RakSa was offering a workshop to teach methods of “swimming smart.” Stacy Barrows, the designer of the SMARTROLLER and a Physical Therapist, created this workshop as a way of integrating her swimming practice with her Feldenkrais Practitioner background. New studies in swimming have revealed major connections with the nervous system and Stacy believes that by using the Feldenkrais method and improving sensitivity to movement, we can all swim more easily, quickly and with less drag.

Instructor Stacy Barrows setting up for the workshop

The workshop began with a body scan in which we lied on the floor and slowly shifted focus between all body parts, noticing our contact with the mat, tension, and any other imbalances. It was clear that all participants were slightly uneven and possibly uncomfortable. Following the scan, we began our work on the roller with a few movement puzzles. We lied with our backs on the roller, opening our hips slightly and reaching towards the ceiling with our arms. We then lied on our sides with our head on the roller moving our shoulders forward and back and doing the same with our hips. After a few more of these slight movements and adjustments we returned to just the mat and performed another body scan.

It was in this moment that I noticed, immediately, a complete shift in my posture, contact with the floor and overall comfort. I have never experienced such a dramatic change in such a short time. This, Stacy said, is the result of the brain shifting mental states and relearning ways of moving.

Stacy used the term “parasitic work” to describe unnecessary movements. One of the goals in implementing the Feldenkrais method in your swim practice is to cut down, as much as possible, the amount of parasitic work we perform. This allows us to exert less energy that is ultimately wasted and guide our attention to the smaller adjustments we can make. Stacy’s son Daniel, a swim instructor and active Feldenkrais and Tai Chi student, followed our work on the SMARTROLLER with a discussion of swimming warm-ups and techniques we can begin to integrate into our swimming sessions.

His five tips, all for freestyle, were:

1)                          Catch-up stroke- Keep your guiding hand forward and extended until the other hand makes its full rotation and returns to the forward position. This allows you to maintain follow-through and focus on each arm’s individual stroke while increasing speed and reducing drag.

2)                          Slowly push down your body with the thumb side of your hand against your chest as you perform the first half of the stroke. This will provide momentum without strain or over-exertion.

3)                          As you make the second half of the stroke with your arm above the water, drag your fingers so as to maintain slight contact and then use this positioning to help you “spear” into the water. This will reduce drag and increase speed.

4)                          Allow your body to rotate from side-to-side as your switch arms. In doing so, your lower should also be slightly rotated and your kicks will act more like a fin as opposed to a static propeller.

5)                          Practice breathing on both sides to reduce kinks in one shoulder.

This was how I first met Jennie, one of our talented and gifted Ayurvedic practitioners, who has also become a dear friend. As we began my third PK journey (I am proud to have experienced Panchakarma long enough to call it PK like Jennie does) this year in October, Jennie warned me that the number three is very significant. Each time we do a PK, a different layer gets taken off or addressed, and we go deeper each time. I’ve had people stop coming to see me after their third PK because it was just too much, Jennie said to me. This is my kind of journey, I thought! The one that really changes your life. I am in!

This year I had already come to Jennie with many changes in my life. RakSa was at a point of transformation and many changes were happening. We were now almost two years old and had begun to notice things that worked and those that didn’t. I had spent some time earlier this year reevaluating and reflecting on myself, the business, and my role as the founder. As much as I embraced all that RakSa already was, I knew that many things, including myself, had to change in order for her vision to be fully realized and to simply survive in this economy. There needed to be more accountability for myself and our community, and most importantly I could no longer continue to do this alone. I am not capable of it nor do I want to. If we are to be a true community, I must continue cultivating more of such. This requires a lot of trust on my part and letting go – not just any kind of letting go. I am not opposed to change or releasing, often I welcome them, as I know this is how we grow. But this was the kind of letting go that would shake your identity. The kind that breaks a core belief we may have held about ourselves that may not be who we truly are. I saw this clearly and it was becoming more and more evident by the minute. Everything in my life was pointing to this message, as if to say, you may have gotten it in your head but now it’s time you live it in your body. As if without this change I will not survive. I can no longer continue on like this.

Jennie suggested that with so much already going on in my life, my pre-diet of yellow mung bean, rice, steamed vegetables and cleansing spices should only last four days instead of ten. I compromised with seven. Already I should have seen that there was some internal battle going on. My first day of PK began with Jennie taking my pulse and discussing the place I was in. All my pulses were loud and clear. I was all Pitta – in Ayurvedic medicine, this is a combination of fire and water out of the five elements; space, air, water, fire, and earth. I was completely in my head.

Jennie and Sheila, our other beautiful Ayurvedic practitioner, began the session by massaging me from head to toes with warm oil made of all natural herbs chosen specifically for me. Ocean, Jennie’s 10 month-old son, also contributed in the selection. With four hands working simultaneously on me, many things were starting to move and stir within. It seemed at the time they were mostly in my mind and my thoughts. Jennie and Sheila later confirmed this and told me that so much heat and energy was coming out from head it was overwhelming. I then entered a steam box and sweat out even more toxins. This was much more emotional. With every drop sweat, I became lighter and began to find more peace. The treatment followed with a bastis, herbal enema, that I held in until later in the night, and Shirodhara. Ahh, Shirodhara, the magic medicine of that day, a treatment of warm oil that pours in a gentle rhythm across the forehead.

As the oil cooled and caressed my forehead, I began to see my grandmother blowing sweet air over a wound, which has left a scar on me since I was two years old. I had such a nice visit with her during the session and I felt completely held. She was the woman who raised me and taught me about my first Vipassa meditation. She was whom I slept with until I was nine. The memories of her brought everything in my head down to my heart. I left that day wordless filled with love and gratitude from all that was around me, people in my life, Jennie, Sheila, RakSa, the earth, the sky. I felt connected to something so deep again.

The interesting thing about seeing my grandmother help me to heal my wound from the accident I had when I was two is that I am not sure it actually happened. My memory of that day is that I was playing so hard and ran into the corner of my bed with my head. I had started to bleed. My sister was the one who found me gushing with blood and carried me from there into the car and then I was taken to the hospital for stitches. It was as if the Shirodhara had helped me to create a different memory, a more nurturing and healing memory, to remind me of what it feels like to be cared for, held, and loved. I needed to feel that and embodied that again. So often my roll as the youngest child was the peacemaker. The one that made our family laughed. The one that apologized simply because I had to show respect to the elders. The one that went between my father and the rest of our family. I took on everyone else’s emotional being and believed that it was my responsibility. That I must do this and if I didn’t, things wouldn’t be okay. I was proud of this role because I thought that was why my family loved me.

I love my family and I love caring for others but I don’t love the responsibility of everyone else’ emotional state or feel that I have the responsibility to make everything okay, just as I had no longer wanted to carry the responsibility of RakSa’s vision and success alone. I realized that when I had told myself that what was my role and hung on so tight all these years wasn’t necessary who I truly am. And shedding that identity had began because it no longer serves me. It probably never did. But finally I was willing and given the chance to see and meet myself again. Seeing myself so clearly and more honestly is heartbreaking and humbling in many ways. It’s like meeting someone you’ve waited for all your life but you were never really sure existed. It is both so familiar and so unknown all at the same.