Mindfulness Matters

The Meditation Garden

September Newsletter

Join us in celebrating the 10-year anniversary of our Kyoto style Meditation Garden. In the decade since its inauguration, the Meditation Garden has become the heart of Osmosis Day Spa Sanctuary. To celebrate this milestone, Osmosis is offering a month of special meditation classes, tours, and music performances in the garden.

Throughout the month-long celebration, several meditation teachers will visit, including Anam Thubten Rinpoche, an authentic representative of Tibetan Buddhism who was born and raised in Eastern Tibet and educated by esteemed spiritual masters. This is the first time this globally recognized teacher will visit Osmosis.

More and more, the practice of meditation is being recognized as an essential element of wellness and vitality.The ability to know the quiet side of our minds brings many health benefits. We have designed this series of special events to create opportunities for our guests to experience the garden in its fully intended form.

To read more about this month of exciting event, click here.

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September Specials

Try out a Lavender Infused Cedar Enzyme Bath with Lavender from Matanzas Creek! Enjoy extra deep relaxation as the oils from lavender flowers turn into vapors as they ferment in the enzyme bath and permeate your body. Includes refreshing lavender face cloth and mist. Request this soothing add-on when making your reservation for $10.

The beautiful weather isn't over yet! Enjoy the Endless Summer Ritual, a full day of transformation at Osmosis beginning with our Signature Tea in our Japanese Tea Garden followed by a Cedar Enzyme Bath overlooking our Zen Garden. Continue with a 75-minute Swedish/Esalen massage in a creekside Pagoda followed by a CERES lunch and refreshing beverages in our Pagoda Fountain Garden.

After lunch, spend time reflecting in our Meditation Garden before your organic Aromatherapy Facial. Finish the day by lounging lazily in our Hammock Garden with a 30 minutes sound therapy session.

Complete your ritual with a complimentary $20 Boutique Voucher good towards any new products added to our boutique this summer (including Voya, Soleil Organique, Erbaviva, Clarisonic, Kelly's Succulants, Corx, Tecniche, Dreamtime, and Vintage Style Oz T-shirts).

$324.00 (valued at over $400)

New This Month

We have quite an array of new product offerings...including the Belly Friendly Program and Erbaviva!

September, appropriately kicking off with "Labor Day", is known as the biggest birth month. As such, the timing is ideal to focus on health and well-being for expecting moms. Osmosis is now Belly Friendly featuring Erbaviva products for mom and baby!

Erbaviva offers a full-line of products to nurture your whole family, including all your pre & peri-natal needs. Certified Organic & Biodynamic, hand-packaged in a wind powered facility, and a supporter of small local farms, Erbaviva takes natural skin care to a new level. Not only is it one of the highest quality product lines on the market but it is one of the healthiest as well and one that is truly in keeping with the principles of the Green Spa Network.

Belly Friendly is a dynamic education and recognition program that enhances our prenatal service offering while creating a pregnancy friendly atmosphere. Our staff has participated in enhanced education to better understand what expecting moms are experiencing - keeping with our commitment to deliver the highest level of service possible.

Our Aesthetics department is excited to bring Clarisonic Sonic Skin Cleansing Systems to our guests. The Clarisonic will be used in all facials for deep cleansing even including the Back to Bliss Treatment. The Clarisonic is also available in our boutique to help you maintain incredible skin at home.

To learn more about these exciting new offerings, please read this month's Skincare in Focus.

New Treatments Available

We have added two new services to our spa menu:

Botanical Bliss Facial- this all vegan facial uses our botanical power products for a deep antioxidant infusion to revitalize all skin types. The Plant Stem Cell Serum encourages cellular regeneration with hyaluronic acid for hydration. The Green Tea Mask repairs and replenishes your skin with active antioxidants and amino acids while you enjoy a foot polish with massage and hot towels. 75 minutes $135.

Integrated Reflexology - Relaxing Swedish massage techniques are combined with reflexology point work on the hands and feet for the best of both worlds - a soothing full-body massage while areas of need are addressed through extra attention to the hands and feet. This treatment uses Naturopathica's Lemon Verbena Hand Cream and Peppermint Foot Cream. 75 minutes $135.

Next Month's Vitality Quest - Wednesday, October 17

Somatic Explorations/Active Meditations in Nature with Jamie McHugh

Breath, stillness and movement are somatic technologies to slow down your mind and open up your sensory perception. These bodily meditations and explorations cultivate grounding, calm and clarity so you can receive the blessings of nature. After a structured period of inner orientation, you will have time to explore your own rhythm of movement and stillness in the environment, enabling a creative exchange between your inner ecosystem and the larger body of life.

Jamie McHugh is a teacher and artist living on the Northern California coast. He has taught workshops and trainings internationally for over thirty years, and is the creator of Somatic Expression http://www.somaticexpression.com, an ecological approach to somatic education and the expressive arts. Jamie is a senior faculty member at Tamalpa Institute and Adjunct Faculty in Holistic Health Education at John F Kennedy University.

Call to reserve 707.823.8231

For more information about Osmosis' Vitality Quests click here.

Anam Thubten Rinpoche and Shabda, a Jazz Enlightenment Concert - Tuesday September 11th from 6-9 pm

In the musical spiritual traditions of India and Tibet, all the enjoyments of the sense fields are offered as a very powerful method to awaken to a dimension of sacred perception and boundless love. Their songs invite and invoke the audience into playful participation... thereby allowing us all to join in a spontaneous celebration of bliss, beauty and healing. Following the performance, enjoy an array of appetizers prepared by Osmosis chef, Kristopher Kolkema, delicious Matanzas Creek wines and delectable desserts by Patisserie Angelica. Finish the evening off by warming your toes in Cedar Enzyme footbaths.

$25. 6pm - 9pm Tuesday, September 11th.

Tickets available online or by phone at 707.823.8231

Monthly Meditation

To experience Daidie Donnelley's beautiful
meditation click here

Take the Scenic Route

A drive to Osmosis is rich with gorgeous views, charming stops, and delicious restaurants. We've planned a fabulous excursion on the The Olivet Wine Road.

With detailed directions and an array of restaurants to choose from, your trip will be as pleasurable and relaxing as your destination here with us! Click for this month's Road Trip.

Rancho La Puerta - October 6th-13th

This is a week that could change your life! Make your plans NOW to join us October 6th to 13th at Rancho La Puerta for our first Osmosis week at the Ranch.

This is a very special opportunity to participate in a cutting edge program with folks from Osmosis. We will be doing pioneer work as we team with Ranch staff to put on our first week long Vitality Quest at the world's most highly rated destination spa according to the readers of Travel & Leisure Magazine.

Rancho La Puerta is the perfect place to advance physical strength, life balance and soul replenishment! Click here for more information.

17th Annual Peak Hike for Prevention - Join Team Osmosis!

Team Osmosis is joining The Breast Cancer Fund for the 17th annual Peak Hike for Prevention at Mt. Tamalpais on Saturday September 29th! This program supports eliminating cancer causing chemicals from products in our daily lives and we hope you agree this is a worthy cause to support.

Make a donation online here or at Osmosis (no later than 9/28) and enjoy a complimentary Naturopathica Holistic Health aromatherapy oil with your next massage or facial.

Upcoming Events in our Neighborhood

September 1-3, Sat-Mon-- Tippi Hedren Appearance & Autographing @ Tides Wharf

Meet the star of Alfred Hitchcock's film classic, "The Birds" Labor Day weekend. Saturday & Sunday 11am-4pm and 6pm-8pm. Monday 10am-2pm. Photos will be available for purchase and autographing. 835 Highway One, Bodega Bay
Fee: autograph fee applies Time: 11:00am - 4:00pm Phone Number: (707) 875-3652

September 6, Guest Dharma Teacher Sessions

Zen Lay Priests: Wendy Johnson & Martha DeBarros

Wendy is a Buddhist meditation teacher and organic gardening mentor and author of Gardening at the Dragon's Gate. Martha is a Zen lay priest ordained by Norman Fischer and co-founder of Zen Center Hospice. Wendy and Martha will lead an enlightening morning of talk and meditation bringing together the spirit of the garden and mindfulness practice.

Fee: $25 Time: 9:30am to 12pm Call 707-823-8231

September 8, Sat -- Shakuhachi Interludes: Classic Japanese music with Elliot Kallen on Shakuhachi at Osmosis

The Shakuhachi is a five-holed, end-blown bamboo flute with origins in India and China. Elliot Kallen plays shakuhachi in a wide variety of contexts, from traditional Japanese music with koto and shamisen. Additional performance on September 15th at 2:30pm with Naoko on Koto.
Call for more information at 707-823-8231

Fee: Free to Guests at Oz, Time: 11:30am-2pm

September 8, Sat -- Sebastopol Cajun-Zydeco Festival

Authentic Cajun food, legendary Zydeco music and dancing under the redwoods! Mark St. Mary, Delta Blues, Zydedco Band, Andre Thierry & Zydeco Magic, and much more! Live Crawfish, Gator Sausage, Gumbo, Crawfish Etouffee, BBQ chicken & Oysters, Hurricanes, Margaritas, Oyster Shooters, wine and beer. Ives Park, 7400 Willow Street, Sebastopol CA
Fee: $25 admission/Kids under 12 Free Time: 11:30am - 7:30pm Phone Number: 707-823-3971

September 8-9, Sat-Sun -- Art in the Park

Exhibition, Benefit: Don't miss out on the largest event of the year. Both members and non-members will be able to display their work, as room permits. Donations from sales at this event provide scholarships for local art students. Held in Petaluma's beautiful Walnut Park, 201 Fourth Street, Petaluma CA
Fee: Free Time: 10:00am - 5:00pm Phone Number: 707.762.2978

September 11, Tuesday -- Anam Thubten Rinpoche and Shabda, a Jazz Enlightenment Concert

Come experience Anam Thubten Rinpoche's joyful humor, brilliant insight, and radically transformative presence. After the talk, the seasoned musicians of "SHABDA" bring together a joyful and delicious feast of jazz, folk, world fusion and kirtan. The word Shabda means sacred sound or musical offering. Their songs invite and invoke the audience into playful participation... thereby allowing us all to join in a spontaneous celebration of bliss, beauty and healing. The evening will begin with delectable appetizers prepared by Osmosis chef, Kristopher Kolkema and served with Matanzas Creek Wines. Fee: $25 Time: 6-9pm

September 16, Sun -- Osmosis Vitality Quest with Karen Halseth and Karen Lydon-Adams

How do you live your juiciest life ever? On this vitality quest, participants will journey within to discover what truly matters to them in life. They will recognize that success is no substitute for living a juicy and fulfilled life, and will leave with juicy techniques and 1-2 personalized Inspired Action Steps to upgrade the quality of their life. The afternoon will include quiet time, interactive exercises and channeled readings. Call to reserve at 707-823-8231

September 20 -- Zen Teacher, Myosho Ginny Mathews at Osmosis

Ginny Mathews is a senior student of Sasaki Roshi for over 35 years. She will lead participants through a literal and figurative experience of the extraordinary meditation garden at Osmosis. This provides a unique opportunity to contemplate our life's journey as we discover the ancient Buddhist parable of the ox and the ox-herder, which the garden is based on. Through an in-depth tour of the garden, meditation and other contemplative techniques, we will look at life in the 21st century and receive some guidance for gathering the tools of stability and peace of mind. No prior experience of meditation is necessary.

Fee: $25 Time: 9:30am -12pm Call 707-823-8231

September 22, Sat -- Healdsburg ARTS Festival

Festival: This event will include fine art & craft, live music, food, wine, a children's art zone, and face painting. Don't miss out! Downtown Healdsburg, on the Plaza.
Fee: Free Time: 10:00 am - 5:00 pm Phone Number: 707-431-1970

September 22 -23, Sat-Sun-- Russian River Jazz & Blues Festival
Live Music: Sit in an easy chair on the rivers edge and enjoy music from top name acts on the main stage. In between sets go to the wine garden and enjoy music and dancing there too. Or you can just wade around in the Russian River. Lots of food and drinks available for sale at reasonable prices, check out the International Food Court where you will find world-class cuisine. Johnson's Beach Resort, 16241 First Street, Guerneville CA
Fee: $50 general / $10 kid 6-12 / 2-Day Pass $80 Time: 10:00am Phone Number:707.869.1595

Every Sunday in September at Osmosis -- Inauguration of the Bamboo Forest Walking Meditation Passageway. Free Guided Walks in the Meditation Garden for Spa Guests

Sundays from 11:30-3:30pm.

Thursday mornings at 8AM - Dharma Morning Meditations at Osmosis

Weather permitting. No Charge. Bring your meditation cushion and warm clothing.

Your Pathway to Peacefulness

707-823-8231