February Newsletter

Learn what you need to know in order to start your own personal, at-home exercise program. Topics include evaluation of your present level of fitness, stress reduction, weight loss and healthy eating, strengthening your core and lower back muscles, a personal stretching program, individualized progressive cardio program, strength training and balance improvement. Enrollment is limited to nine students per class.

See Detailed Course Outline and Description

Ian Ramsay, BA, BSc, Diploma in Education, is a Certified ACSM Personal Trainer with 30 years of teaching experience

Pilates Teacher Training Intermediate
Advanced Mat Work

30 hours ~2 weekends
February 20, 21 and March 13, 14, 2010 ~ Saturdays 2-6PM & Sundays 9-6PM

This course certifies you to teach Intermediate & Advanced level Pilates-mat classes in a group health and fitness setting. It is open to instructors of Beginner Pilates and/or other movement-based disciplines, who have a good grounding in functional anatomy as it applies to Pilates. All candidates must have ongoing Pilates experience.

See Detailed Course Description

Samya Tatone completed the two year Pilates Teacher Certification at the Pilates Foundation in the UK and has lead groups for 19 years in Canada, Jamaica, Italy, and the UK. She owns her own Pilates studio in NDG.

Recipe: Borscht
(a hearty soup for Valentines)

Ingredients

2 chopped onions

2 pounds (0.9 Kg) of peeled & chopped beets

2 large chopped cooking apples (Lobo, Macintosh)

4 chopped celery sticks

1 chopped red pepper

8 ounces (237 mL) chopped mushrooms

4 tablespoons (71 mL) of butter

4 tablespoons (71 mL) of canola oil

16 cups (3.8 L) vegetable stock (or water)

2 teaspoons (5 mL) cumin seed

pinch of dried thyme

2 large bay leaves

juice from one lemon

salt and pepper to taste

Optional Garnish:

sour cream

sprigs of dill

Sauté all chopped veggies in a soup pot using butter, oil and ½ cup (125mL) soup stock/water until

tender (15 minutes).

Stir in cumin seeds

Cook for one minute then add remaining stock/water and dried thyme, bay, lemon and seasonings.

Bring to boil,

cover and simmer 30 minutes.

Puree soup in a blender to a consistent texture.

Serve with a dollop of sour cream and sprig of dill.

Tastes good hot or cold

SERVES 12 (Yummy!)

Holistic Humour

More proof that dogs resemble their owners.

It is said that if you rub the Buddha's head and make a wish, your wish will come true
Funny Rukh's Wish

Inspirational Videos

Steven Covey talks about "Big Rocks" Duration 6:28
Link to Video

Drs. Gay and Kathlyn Hendricks on Listening to your partner

Duration 4:47
Link to Video

Greetings!

As you read this, I am on in Cuba to spend the first week of February on a personal retreat, teaching Meditation and Yoga. Sometimes, life's ups and downs can take us off course and make us feel disjointed, unhappy or empty inside...we wonder if we may be off our path...we wonder if there may be more to life that we're missing...we yearn for peace, happiness, fulfillment - and a clear direction on how to get there.

Time to RE-TREAT; to allow ourselves sacred time and space to go inside and connect with the deeper guidance within, that is the True Me - loving, compassionate and joyful. I gift myself this precious time now and look forward to uncovering new hidden treasures (we all have them inside) - and return feeling renewed, restored, and eager to share what I've learned! To be continued...

Rukhshana

Helping Haiti

If you want to do more to contribute (besides donating money) here are some suggestions:

Create your own fundraising page to support the Canadian Red Cross.

Create your own fundraiser

Participate in a yoga class to support Habitat for Humanity's work in rebuilding Haiti, The Montreal Anusara Yoga Community will be holding a two-hour class and bake sale on Saturday February 6 from 2-5 PM at Studio Bizz, 551, Avenue du Mont-Royal est (corner Berri). For more information, please email Nathalie Keiller.

Email Nathalie Keiller

Double your financial contribution, the Government of Canada has created the Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund. For every eligible dollar donated by individual Canadians before February 12th, the Government of Canada will contribute one dollar to the Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund.

Link to Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund

Nurturing Intimate Relationships by Ian Ramsay

February can be a difficult month for many because of the cold temperatures, longer periods of darkness, and difficulty in getting around. For some couples February can be additionally trying because Valentine's Day may be an unwelcome reminder that they are not feeling close. Here are some basic guidelines to strengthening a relationship with someone that we love.

Take Time to be with your Partner

It is said that we always make time for what we think is important. Most of us have very busy schedules, and finding time to take care of all of the important things can be challenging. Making time for your partner demonstrates that you value them because you have chosen to be with them over all of the other things that you could have chosen to do instead. When you give quality time to your partner they feel valued. Another way to value your partner is to take time daily to express appreciation for the special thing(s) that they have done for you that day. (For more about making time for the important things, check out "Big Rocks" in the Inspirational Video Section below)

(continued below)

New Yoga Teachers!

Here are our new yoga teachers and the classes that they teach.

Andrea

Beginner Yoga Monday 4:45 - 6:00 PM

Gentle Yoga Monday 8:00 - 9:15 PM

Caroline

Meridian Yoga Monday 6:30 - 7:45 PM

Yoga Wednesday 9:30 - 10:45 PM

Staff Celina

Celina

Healing Yoga Monday 11:00 - 12:45 PM

Beginner Yoga Wednesday 3:30 - 4:45 PM

Hatha Yoga Thursday 9:30 - 10:45 AM

Healing Yoga Thursday 11:00 - 12:45 PM

Staff Melanie

Melanie

Yoga Kidz (3-5 years) Wednesday 11:00 - 11:30 AM

Yoga Kidz (5-8 years) Thursday 4:00 - 4:30 PM

Staff Neil

Neil

Beginner Yoga/Meditation Tuesday 7:45 - 9:00 PM

Staff Sarah

Sarah

Yoga for Energy! Wednesday 6:00 - 7:15 PM

Prenatal Yoga Wednesday 7:30 - 9:00 PM

Yoga Saturday 9:30 - 10:45 AM

Yoga (Teens) Saturday 11:00 AM - 12:00 noon

February Workshops

Please register for workshops in advance by calling Harmoni at (514) 695 9025

Link to Detailed Descriptions of Workshops

Shamanic Journey

Thursday, February 4, 7:30 - 9:30 PM $25

Through visualization and the sound of the drum, "travel" to the spirit world and discoover your animal spirit guide. Return to share and interpret your journey.

Jessica Romano, Cranial Sacral Therapist, visionary artist, musician and teacher of Shamanic studies, gives life-transforming healing, meditation and healing-arts workshops.

Conscious Breathwork Group

Friday, February 5, 6:30- 8:30 PM $15

Conscious Breather's bi-monthly group. You must have taken a breathwork seminar with Denis, Sabine or Rukhshana to join in. Trained facilitators from the Harmoni team will be there to support your breathwork session and experience. Please bring your pillows and blankets and a little fruit to share. Next Mtg: Sunday, March 7, 10-12

Workshop Valentine

Valentine Couple Massage

Friday, February 12, 7:00 - 9:30 PM $75 per couple

This year, learn how to give your Valentine a wonderful relaxation massage that promotes togetherness, heartfelt communication and love. Massage oils, chocolate, candlelight, romantic ambience & vous! *Please book early as space is very limited.

Rukhshana Surty, Director of Harmoni Holistic Center, Body-Mind Massage Therapist and teacher of Breathwork, Meditation &Yoga.

Ian Ramsay is the model for this hands-on workshop and is always happy to get a massage from Rukhshana.

Healing Retreat with Rukhshana - Releasing Fear and Anxiety
Thursday, February 18, 7:30 - 9:30 PM $25

Take two hours for yourself and connect to your breath using movement and meditation. Experience letting go of fear and living from an inner place of balance and empowerment - kidney, liver and 3rd chakra work! Wear/bring something yellow.

Rukhshana Surty, Director of Harmoni Holistic Center, Body-Mind Massage Therapist and teacher of Breathwork, Meditation, and Yoga.

Writing the Stories You Need to Tell

Thursday, Feb 25, 7:30 - 9:30 PM $25

Explore the stories you hold in your body using poetry and prose as a compass to release your thoughts and emotions through the written word.

Lesley Pasquin is a published Montreal poet, writer and retired Principal.She teaches in the Faculty of Education at McGill University.

Joyful Musical Evening - Monthly Kirtan
Friday, February 26, 7:30 - 9:00 PM $15

An evening of fun, participatory musical and spiritual connection.

Lea Longo is a certified Kundalini Iktya yoga instructor and an award winning singer/songwriter whose music has been featured in Hollywood films.

Full Moon Medicine Wheel

Sunday, February 28, 7:30 - 9:30 PM $25

Meditation and affirmation to connect you with and call forth your inner strength and wisdom.

Jessica Romano, Cranial Sacral Therapist, visionary artist, musician and teacher of Shamanic studies, gives life-transforming healing, meditation and healing-arts workshops.

Inspirational Quote

"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage."

~Lao Tzu~

Eco Tip: Lower Your Electricity Bill

Hydro Quebec Home Diagnostic

This month's eco tip begins with filling out the Hydro Quebec Home Diagnostic. When it's completed, you will get a customized report within seconds which will show you how much you presently spend on heating, lighting, laundry, fridges, and other appliances with lots of detailed suggestions of things that you can do to eliminate wasted energy consumption (and save you money).

To set up a personal page you will need the customer number and bill number that appears at the top of your Hydro Quebec bill. The diagnostic survey contains approximately 120 questions which take around 20 minutes to half an hour to fill out.

Link To Home Diagnostic Survey

Nurturing Intimate Relationships (continued from above)

Listen Emphatically

Steven Covey says that when someone speaks to you, "Seek first to understand not just the words but the feelings behind the words". If you identify the feelings behind a statement, the other person will feel heard. What people often do instead, is express their position first and then "listen autobiographically" to the response, which means that they filter what they hear through their own paradigms. Autobiographical listening includes judging the person while they're speaking, listening to fix the speaker's problem, listening to make them wrong, listening to criticize...

Listening emphatically means that you encourage the speaker to talk, summarize what they've said to verify that you've understood the message, and confirm what is said by sharing your reaction in a nonjudgmental way. (This does not necessarily mean that you agree with them), Open, honest communication prevents many problems from escalating because you talk about what is really said rather than what you thought about while it was being said.

Quality Communication for Conflict Resolution

Detailed discussion of conflict resolution methods is not possible in a short article like this but here are a few thoughts about some fundamental things that must happen, (and frequently don't), in order for problem solving to happen. The consequence of not speaking clearly is unnecessary misunderstanding and upset, that consumes more time and which could have been avoided altogether if things had been stated clearly from the get go. According to relationship psychologist Dr. Hendricks, all conflicts in relationships can be identified as being caused by anger, fear or sadness. During conflicts, we often blame others which puts them on the defensive and changes the focus of the conversation to blame. Instead, he recommends that you "speak the unarguable truth" which means that you identify the feeling you have, name what you think causes that feeling and suggest a solution that might reasonably meet the needs of both partners. For example you might say 'I feel sad when you are late and I would prefer it if...' (To hear more about listening to your partner and speaking the unarguable truth see "Listening to Your Partner" in the Inspirational Videos Section in the left hand column above).

Supportiveness

It is said that opposites attract and this is very constructive in a supportive relationship because the strengths of one partner can help offset the weaknesses of the other. Healthy relationships are based on compromise. Any two individuals will always have some differences in perspective and disagreements will inevitably arise. With a will, there is always a way to figure out a win-win solution to any problem. Negative energy arises when the focus is on differences in personality or in blaming the other. A positive, co-operative energy is generated when time is taken to thoroughly understand the issues discussed and the focus is placed on resolving them in a mutually beneficial, or win-win way.

Respect

Respect does not mean that you agree with everything your partner says or share all of the same beliefs as them. It means that you accept differences and do not try to change them. Respect also involves consideration of boundaries and privacy. Dr Hendricks talks of the acid test for relationships. If you are talking to someone else about intimate matters that you don't talk about with your partner then you are failing the relationship acid test.