YogaGlamGirl's Weblog

Beauty Is Everywhere

I really liked Rita's "Letter from the Editor" that I found in Fit Yoga.

I recommend reading the full letter, but here is a little snippet:

I devised a very private practice: For one week, my task was to find something that was truly beautiful about every person I came in contact with. Here's what I discovered: The check-out girl at the market has the most beautiful green eyes; the gentleman who pumps my gas has the kindest smile and always reminds me to drive safely; my daughter looks spectacular in periwinkle blue; the security guard in my office building happily greets everyone by name; my yoga teacher has the most amazing ability to explain the subtleties of asana with melodious ease; the faces of my students smiling back at me fill me with joy; my grandmother's hands are fragile and lovely; the woman practicing next to me has really gorgeous feet... and so on and so on.

More about Healing Touch with Margie Ford

A few days ago I raved about a particular healing modality that left me glowing, as if I'd just had a facial. I could feel as though I was literally radiating from within. I went back to Margie Ford, the woman who gave me the session to find out more.

Margie is the founder of Healing Touch Energy Therapy, a group of practioners who are trained in Energy Therapies that are blended to suit client's needs. Their common platform is Healing Touch. In addition to Healing Touch, Margie is also a Tera Mai™ Reiki Master, Angel Therapy Practitioner®, Quantum Angel Therapist, and Life Coach. This heart centered energy work is an integral component of the healing equation; where conventional medicine treats a specific issue, energy therapies treat the entire energetic system of the body. This holistic remedy encourages healing, nurturing, balance and rejuvenation to one’s emotional, physiological and spiritual health.

1) How has Healing Touch Energy Therapy helped your clients? Can you share some examples of transformation?

I see people who are suffering from emotional stresses and very physical ones as well. Some examples of physical changes include relief from the side affects from chemotherapy such as neurapathy or tingling in hands and feet. HT has been especially helpful in the healing and recovery process when provided before and after procedures or surgeries (oral and physical). I have several clients whose Doctors are amazed at both the speed of recovery and the reduced meds required. On the emotional level those greiving or deep in loss feel as those something has been lifted. The results are not always dramatic, it can be quite subtle, but it is very freeing.
The common aspect that occurs in all sessions is a very deep relaxation, a letting go of stress from the deep within. This allows for other areas of their life to transform.

2) What are the ancient practices that Healing Touch is derived from?

Janet Mentgen BSN,RN, the founded Healing Touch in 1989 by embracing shamic teachings and aborigine traditions as well as the concepts and teachings of Brugh Joy, Barbara Brennan and Rosalynn Bruyere. Healing Touch can be used in compliment with other modalities like Reiki, which again is a tradition that is thousands of years old. Like Healing Touch, Reiki is based on the belief that all life depends on a universal, nonphysical energy that needs to be balanced withouth the individual for optimum functioning. The combination of these two modalities would allow for the best possible outcome through a skilled practioner.

3) How many sessions are required or recommended?

This really is not a flash in the pan kind of experience. Those who seek this work want to come regularly. I recommend once a week for at least 6 weeks ( I have a discount program for this) and at that point I like to discuss the next steps with the client. However, there are those that like coming once or twice a month.

4) Why healing touch? In other words, why might someone benefit more from this work than other healing modalities?

The beauty of Healing Touch is that you really dont have to choose it over another modality. It works in compliment with other modalities beautifully. For example, a number of my clients have seen accupunturist while they see me. They found the two modalities supported one another. What I get from Healing Touch that I have not found in other modalities is that very deep healing, it is phyiscal. emotional and spiritual. It's also important to note that when you start working with a HT practioner, you set long term goals, and in each session you set a short term goal for that session. The client really is in charge of this.

5) What kind of work can be done (either during the session or afterwards) to augment the healing process?

During the session it's important to clarify with your practioner what the goals are for that session. Afterwards, if there is something that came up in the session there is space for that to be discussed as well. And, since there is a lot of energetic flow taking place it's important to drink lots of water. Take note of physical releases that may take place, there are a whole range that are quite norma. Also, meditation and being in nature assist in the work takes place in these sessions. If you are familiar with meditation feel free to ask your practioner how to get started,

6) How does one find a Healing Touch practitioner either nationally or internationally?

You can find certified Healing Touch providers and more information about Healing Touch by going to: http://www.healingtouchinternational.org/. If you'd like a listing of local providers (California, Bay Area) you can email me at htet4u at gmail.com

7) Are there any other thoughts/comments you'd like to share?

I'd like to add that all practioners are not the same. Not that one is better than the others, but if you take me, for instance. I am blending my angel work along with the Reiki and Healing Touch and end up doing a bit of coaching as well. A session with me may be different than another practitioner who does Healing Touch and another modality. The key, like with any modality is find someone you connect with and trust. I also wanted to mention that men give and receive healing touch.

***Special Note: Healing Breast Cancer: There is currently a program through Stanford University where Margie and other Healing Touch providers volunteer to pair up with a breast cancer patient for 6 mos. Breast Cancer patients need not be Stanford patients and can be within one year of having gone through surgery and chemo. If you or someone you know suffers from breast cancer in the Bay Area, you can learn more about that program by emailing Kathy Turner: healingpartners at sbcglobal.net

Margie Ford can be reached at: htet4 at gmail.com and 650-968-1239

Words of Wisdom from an Incredible Woman

I generally hate getting chain mail. But maybe I'm getting softer these days b/c I just read something from my Mom that made me smile.

Photo: John Engstead /mptv.net
Below is a wonderful poem Audrey Hepburn
wrote when asked to share her "beauty tips." It was read at her funeral years later.

For attractive lips, speak words of kindness...
For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people.
For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry.
For beautiful hair, let a child run his/her fingers through it once a day.
For poise, walk with the knowledge that you never walk alone... People,
even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed,
and redeemed; never throw out anyone.

Wow. What an incredible woman.

Aromatherapy Remedies for Flu and Depression

I managed to fly from east coast to west today. But it felt like I was hit by a truck most of the way. I even resorted to groaning quietly to myself. Pretty pathetic, I know, but it soothed me somewhat and that's all that mattered at the time.
Now that I'm home again and quieting my nerves, I'm tuning in to how depressed I am feeling. Amazing how a sickness like the flu affectes posture (I'm slumped over, of course) and this negative posture in turn pulls my attitudes and emotions down with it.

So I just reached out to my trusted book: The Aromatherapy Companion find out how to improve both flu and depression. Here's what the author, Victoria Edwards, suggests...

For Common Colds Flu: 5 drops eucalyptus essential oil 5 drops geranium essential oil 5 drops sandalwood essential oil 5 drops juniper essential oil 120 ml (4 ounces) milk Stir the oils into the milk and disperse in a hot bath. Soak until the water turns tepid.

For Depression:
Frequent inhalations of clary sage, jasmine, or patchouli--or all three mixed together--can effectively dispel the most common depressive thoughts in just a few minutes.

So far the jasmine seems to be helping...as is my improvised sandalwood and geranium that is burning in water over a small candle. I'll have to pick up some milk and the remaining oils next time I'm at the store. The bath above sounds delightful!

Finding my inner carp

In case you haven't noticed...I've been extremely MIA of late...

Last week was Zazen (sitting meditation) training as well as Sound Healing workshop at Daihonzan Chozen-ji Zen Temple in Honolulu.
This week is family visits and a wedding.
Next week is a week in nature and learning more about animal tracking in California. and then straight to the California coast to celebrate my 31st bday (Happy Bday to all my fellow Aries friends...and to all dragons too).

I got back from one trip on a red-eye yesterday and leave for the next 7am tomorrow. wheeeeeee

In short, I am growing, learning and continuing my path.
My training experience at Chozen-ji was life changing. Here is a quote from their website that explains a little about Zen training there:

Chozen-ji is a Rinzai Zen temple where the martial and cultural arts are integrated with traditional Zen training. Here, entering Zen through the body is emphasized. The student must refine breath, posture, and awareness to cultivate samadhi, a state of complete concentration and relaxation. In samadhi a person transcends dualism, lives fully moment by moment, and is most effective and creative.

While we were there, we focused on developing our Hara...the center of our beings...right below the belly button. We learned how to use our breath to develop a strong hara or stable being. Your kiai or vital force becomes stronger the more you develop your hara. You develop your hara using many different exercises, all of which emphasize posture and breath.

At Chozen-ji there are 3 powerful ceramic pieces in one of the large rooms. All pieces were done by the same person. There is an inscription in front of the 3 that reads: A Carp, Leaps over a Waterfall, Becomes a Dragon. It is based off the Chinese Legend (this from Wikipedia):

In Chinese Mythology, there is said to be a place called Dragon's Gate. Dragon's Gate resides at the top of a waterfall. It is said if a carp can jump over the waterfall from the waters below, it will become a beautiful dragon.

The first piece was done before the woman reached enlightenment. It is labeled "Carp". The second very tall piece is the gate or waterfall. For her, it was during the creation of that piece that she reached enlightenment or samadhi. When looking at the piece you can actually feel the change in her kiai or chi as the change in her self occurred. The final piece is considered the dragon. To some, it may appear quite similar to the first Carp piece. But in truth, the feeling or kiai is so much stronger that you can actually feel a big difference between the 2.

My honey teased me (since I'm a dragon) that as I pursue Zen training I'm looking for my own essence and therefore my "inner carp". I think I'm really just hoping to become more of my self.

Zen: Moon Over Water

I've been absent the past few days, many thanks for your comments even while I've been away.

Here's a quote from an "enlightened" friend of mine.


Don't confuse
the reflection of the moon over water
for the moon itself

I had been getting caught up with movies playing in my mind rather than the truth of what is..right here...right now.

Wealth, Abundance and Life’s Riches

Here are a string of thoughts on abundance, wealth and living richly...

I adore Hindi moves, especially some of the new releases. In every movie there is music and dancing. Mesmerizing women with round curves, beautiful bellies (no hard six-packs, that’s for sure) and bodies draped in rich textures and colors. Marvelous. I’m transported to a place where beauty and wealth is measured in the vibrations of all the senses.



Spring morning nature walk. Gratitude for spring. Tiny yellow flowers everywhere. My heart feels rich as tread through infinite blades of brilliant green grass.

Having money does not equal living richly.

I bought a huge shiny plastic pink ring on Haight St in San Francisco. It cost $1.25 and it was part of my Halloween costume. Halloween is long gone now, and I find myself wearing whenever I want to feel shiny. People light up when they see it.

Anytime I feel stuck in survival mode, I go to the farmers market and buy fresh flowers, fruit and something scrumptious like cheese.

What do you do to feel abundance and/or live richly?

In a word...Patience

I felt like screaming yesterday.
Felt like everywhere I turned I was smacking up against a wall.
Wanting to run full speed ahead.
Frustrated when other people, events, situations
That aren't keeping up with my pace.
AAAAAAHHHHHH.

By evening, I finally talked about my frustations with my beloved.
He said that he was noticing that this seemed to be a recurring pattern for me right now.

Funny.
I am good about creating situations in my life
that teach me lessons
give me an opportunity to grow

(I hate them usually at first)

My lesson for this week is patience.
Letting go
of things I cannot control.

so here I sit
Taking a deep breath
and letting the art of patience
gently seep in.

Begin Again

A good friend of mine is a beautiful dancing goddess. She used to share her delight and learning about dance.
I remember one particular learning that she shared with me. It was the idea of beginning again. It meant that no matter where she was in movement or rhythm…she could be flowing smoothly like water or abruptly throwing herself around the room with reckless abandon….she could always, stop, pause, begin again.
This image of her comes to mind right now as I remind myself of my ability to pause and begin my next moment completely and fully present to my self, others and the universe.
Now I choose to stop, pause a n d begin a*g*a*I*n.

Yogaglamgirl on Zen in the Grocery Store Checkout Line

Delightful post about a mother, child, and Finding Center.

And a tip from Lee Wells on transforming your time waiting in line into moments of gratitude:

Amassing gratitude while standing in line can turn your mood around 180 degrees. Pick one thing that you can see that you are thankful for. For example, "Wow! Look at my cart! So full of food, I'm very lucky to never, ever be hungry." Now add another thing. "My shoes are very stylish; I remember how excited I was when I bought them." Add another thing, "It is amazing to have such easy access to fruits and vegetables all year. Our farmers and food chain are doing very well." If you keep the inner conversation to only things you can have gratitude for, I promise you will feel a difference in your body.