April 1, 2008
April 1, 2008
Greetings from Marie
Now that we are in April, can we expect to have spring? Every year there are some who fear spring won’t happen. Yet I can tell you for sure that every year so far, we have had spring.
Those of you who may be reading this from another country where spring has a different meaning, have patience with us please. We Canadians talk about the weather all the time. It plays a very significant role in our lives and on a daily, if not hourly basis, we choose to comment about it. For us it is not trivial.
Catching Up
If this is your first “Tips and Notes”, you may wish to read the March 1st issue. Being the first issue, it lays some ground work upon which the rest will be built. It is located on the web site. Just click here www.dallacor.com to see it in a different screen. It will be easy to come back here.
Q & A from the last issue
Is it alright to share the email I receive with the staff in my workplace?
Yes please feel free to forward the email you receive to staff in your workplace, to your wellness committee members, to friends, to students or to whomever you feel will enjoy reading it. You might wish to invite them to subscribe if they want to receive it monthly. They also have the option to unsubscribe if it doesn’t suit them. My preference is that only people who want to receive it receive it.
Is it OK to print it and copy it for people?
Certainly! As long as you indicate where it came from and the author. I also ask that you print it in its entirety and not break it up or eliminate portions.
One reader wrote about the suggestion to be present with loved ones:
“Ah, yes, to be present, completely so, is difficult. Recently, overcome by a family crisis I meditated, holding the dear ones to me, focusing my thoughts on how precious they were and how grateful I was to have them in my life. Still, in spite of the urgency in my heart to envelop them, the invasive thoughts intruded. The tax to pay, the grocery list, the meeting to come, the rewrites to attend to, on and on, as I attempted to be present for those I loved. It was a revelation as I saw the thoughts come and go. How difficult to pay attention even in the most important of times. Thank you for your message. Listening to my inner message will be my challenge.”
Yes. Some of that likely has to do with habits. The location, the conversation, the feelings, have all been there before so our mind which is the playground for the ego, decides to take us to other places. I know that experience well. None of us is perfect. What often helps most is to acknowledge the things about ourselves that do not please us, and love ourself anyways. Thank you so much for your authentic and thought-provoking comment.
April’s Message
This month I have put together a series of short tips and notes about different topics that fall within the wellness theme. They are not really connected. Just different tidbits of thought-provoking reflections and information.
“How are you?” “I am really well thank you. And you?”
What is that greeting all about? For decades we have discussed the irrelevance of this greeting. We have laughed at ourselves for our trivial responses. Sometimes to ourselves we may wonder if the other really cares about our well being or how we are.
Let’s look at this from another perspective.
What if…
• Every time someone says “How are you?” we take a moment to check out how we are in that moment. No need to share it with the other. You could give the same response you always give — “fine”. But you have done a quick scan and are aware of what you are really feeling.
• You remember the importance of how you are. It is a question about “being” rather than “doing”. It is better than asking “What is your long list of tasks for today?” Consider it a question about how you are being.
• Asking how you are is really meant to say something like “I care about you and I hope that life is going well for you” and when you respond “I’m fine” you are really saying “Thank you so much for caring. Already my day is improving”
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Wellness, food and exercise
BORING!!! Wellness is more than talking about what you eat and how much exercise you get. While obesity and lack of fitness are two very important aspects of wellness, in fact wellness is far more complex than that.
Many people oversimplify the relationship between food and exercise. Regarding only the balance between caloric intake and output trivializes the concept of making healthy choices. Food intake is about eating nutritionally according to your energy and nutrient needs. Exercise is about cardiopulmonary fitness and health. Both eating and exercising are also opportunities for fun, adventure and socializing. Eating and exercise also bring with them emotional baggage, as well as a set of subconscious beliefs that influence the quality of both. While working on weight management, fitness, and general nutrition, remember to work holistically.
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Physical ailments and their causes
We are learning more about the causes of health challenges. Research has increased in the area of examining the many factors involved in disease. The more we learn, the more we find out there is much we still do not know.
My recent trip to Guatemala reminded me of the importance of some of the very basic ways that we can prevent disease. The earth is really its own time warp. Life in the Western world in the privileged nations has reached a point of sophisticated scientific research to the degree that we can see beyond it to the more extenuating circumstances that set the conditions for disease in the first place – like stress for example. Yet basic good hand washing techniques and prevention of the spread of communicable diseases by the cleansing of toys and cribs after use by one child and before another uses it is still not known or understood in many countries. It must not only be taught but strictly monitored.
In our country we are very sterile to the point that perhaps we are reducing our built in capabilities to fight infections. On the same planet we have care facilities that are still learning the basics of care.
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Quick Fixes
Perhaps we will always have supposed quick fixes available and maybe it is because inherently that is exactly what we want. Being well from a holistic point of view is a daily practice .. maybe an hourly practice. Besides the need for treatment of acute problems, there is the overlying need for a change in life style that supports wisdom, healthy choices and taking the time to make all aspects of your life well. That is not quickly done.
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Head Knowing
Learning to do what is best means reading and listening. Head knowing is what I call it when we know what is the wisest thing to do. As we know these wellness steps in our mind, we begin to articulate them. We talk to friends, share them with our families and perhaps write them in a journal. To really bring these pieces of wisdom into action in our life, we must bring them to our heart and get emotionally connected to them.
Once we get excited emotionally about our idea in our hearts, we begin to move them into the physical world we live in — into our sense of identity and our creative expression. They become part of who we are.
Ever wonder why you can write your personal strategic wellness plan and know there is wisdom in it but that is as far as it gets? Next time, be sure to take it from the stage of head knowing and planning into your expressive articulation and then into your heart where you become emotionally connected with it. Action will follow.
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The Chakras
Perhaps you recognize the chakras in the above piece. I enjoy reading Carolyn Myss’ books and today listened again to one of her CDs. She reminded me that “Ideas are a dime a dozen”. She is very clear about the wealth of ideas that come into our minds. It is bringing them into the Throat and then the Heart chakra that takes them into the physical form of the lower chakras. I enjoy learning more about the chakras. You will notice them mentioned below in What’s Up at DallaCor
What’s Up at DallaCor
Journey Though the Chakras
This coming Saturday April 5th I am excited about co-leading a workshop with Wendy Roman called Journey Though the Chakras. I have had the pleasure or going to Wendy’s Nia classes for perhpas 2 years now and thoroughly enjoy them. If you haven’t experienced Wendy, … well you will just love her.
Wendy had already put together a half day workshop called Dancing the Chakras and was looking for a way to expand it when I expressed an interest in expanding the chakras information and experience if we were to work together. It has just fallen into place so beautifully.
If you have never done Nia, don’t worry. I have seen many newcomers join Wendy’s classes and they just blend in naturally. Wendy’s has a special way. You will see.
Location: St George’s Hall, Owen Sound
When: Saturday April 5th, 10am to 4 pm.
Bring your own lunch and we will supply light snacks.
Cost is $55 in advance and $65 at the door.
For more information click here
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Mentoring Program: Soulful Facilitation
I am finding a great sense of fulfillment leading the Mentoring Program. For me it has been an opportunity to share my learning in a way that allows the others to use what they want and to ask for guidance when needed. It is not a course. It is a time of sharing and focusing on being fully authentic in everything you do.
Soulful Facilitation is the next Module and begins April 8th. 1 to 3 pm. There are 3 afternoon sessions plus one individual session. For more details go to my web site. Feel free to contact me to discuss it further.
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Individual Sessions.
After I joined the Canadian Holistic Nurses Association a couple of years ago, I enrolled in Level one of the Holistic Nursing Specialization Program. I found it very interesting and useful in terms of how Holistic Practice is different as a nursing practice. It took a while before the Level 2 program was available at a time when I could take it. I have now been a student in Level 2 since January and am very stimulated by this learning.
The individual sessions I hold with clients most represents this learning. It is based on understanding humans as an energy system — a unitary human being . Remember the metaphor of the orchestra? It is about enhancing the exquisite performance of that orchestra using vibrations: energy modalities, relaxation therapies, guided imagery, colour, light, sound and more. It is about patterns of being and about keeping all parts of the orchestra in fine tuning. From more information, click here.
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Reading Suggestions
A few months ago I came across a book called Wellness Workbook: How to Achieve Enduring Health and Vitality by Travis and Ryan. It is the closest thing I have found that translates what I have been learning on a theoretical and experiential level into an easy to read and well referenced guide. It is divided into short information pieces on a variety of topics. I recommend it as a book you can easily reference and leave out for family reading.
Spirit Circle
Once a month a group of like minded people gather on a Saturday morning to express their sense of spiritual growth in different ways – always in a safe and caring space. This past week I picked a card from the Thich Nhat Hanh deck about living in the moment. It struck a chord with me. Sometimes I feel shaken by world events, by life and travel experiences, by what I hear from others. Recently I came to realize that what is important is that we raise the vibrations in our own world, thereby helping raise the vibration of the world. The bell in this blessing is the vibration we send out
Listening to the Bell by Thich Nhat Hanh
May the sound f the bell penetrate deeply into the cosmos.
Even in the darkest places, may living beings hear it clearly
So that understanding may light up their hearts and, without hardship,
they may transcend the realms of birth and death.”
Many the chimes of the bells you ring fill every corner of the universe with light and love,
Marie
Journey Through The Chakras
March 13, 2008
Following a very successful workshop in April 2008, Wendy and I are willing to offer this again. Please let us know if you are interested or keep watching for further offerings in Spring 2009.
Through the unique movement qualities of Nia we use dance and the healing arts to balance the body’s vital energy centres. Engaging a variety of tools to guide us on our journey, we explore how each chakra affects our well-being. no experience is necessary. Everyone is welcome.
Marie Knapp and Wendy Roman
for more information contact
Wendy Roman: Blue Belt Nia Instructor
www.rhythmwood.ca wendy@rhythmwood.ca 519 793 4687
Marie Knapp RN EdD: Holistic Wellness Practitioner
www.dallacor.com marieknapp@dallacor.com 519 371 1255
April Weekend Retreat
February 1, 2008
Self Empowerment through Aligned Intentions
April 18th to 20th
Dates: Arrive Friday April 18th between 4 and 5pm
Leave Sunday April 20th at 4:00
Location:Kimbercote farms
The April retreat is a great way to move into spring. We offer you inspiration and opportunities to explore and go deep. Andrea Smith www.hummingbirdholistics.com will be joining me Saturday afternoon inviting you to experience sound scapes to guide your process of uncovering your deeper soul yearnings. What a wonderful way to formulate intentions for the months ahead.
The April Retreat will be focused on Self Empowerment, Intentions, the Law of Attraction and actually getting to the depth of intention making. There are so many books related to Intentions and the law of the Attraction on the bookshelves these days that I just recommend you read one and bring it to the retreat. When Andrea shares the process with me on Saturday afternoon, she will offer her expertise in using sound and sound scapes to help you go deeper, allowing what needs to be raised to become more apparent to you. I have worked with Andrea before and her ability to intuitively find the right thing at the right time for a particular participant is so inspiring and useful to you.
Friday
We get together before dinner on Friday night and the friendly dialogue starts as people get to know each other. People get more or less settled in their rooms. The retreat begins. A delicious vegetarian dinner sets the tone for easy comfortable relationships over the weekend. We establish a sense of authenticity, fun, self-exploration and acceptance.
After dinner, we have activities that help people get to know each other. For the April retreat I am asking people to bring something of personal importance that reflects or brings strength or groundedness. It relates to the nature of the retreat. It is something that has meaning for you. Sometimes it is an object, sometimes a story. We aim to have a quiet house by 10pm so that those who wish to can get to sleep.
Saturday
Saturday morning begins early with meditation before breakfast. There is always a sense of anticipation as the day begins.
Saturday brings a variety of different self-exploration activities with mini-workshops. This could include working with sound/percussion/music/voice, as well as drawing and creating in a variety of ways. These are all ways we have to draw out what we know.
The retreats will offer some outside activity around lunch time. Come with outdoor walking clothing. Kimbercote has a labyrinth at the top of the hill overlooking the Beaver Valley. If weather allows, this is an optional activity providing exercise as well as inspiration.
Unstructured time
By popular demand, we will have a long lunch on Saturday afternoon to offer a number of options including simply being together. This has worked quite well.
Sunday
Sunday morning begins with meditation before breakfast again. Sunday is like Saturday in many ways. After breakfast, we will have more activities that help you consolidate what you have learned about yourself and somehow form it into an image and words that later become part of the closing circle exercise.
We ensure that you will be able to be on the road to home by 4pm. It is always important to be grounded and prepared for home life before leaving so that process becomes part of the closing activity.
I hope you will feel free to ask questions. Each retreat has its own specific offerings so you may want to know more about the one you are particularly interested in attending.
I hope you will consider joining us. Mostly people come because they heard about it from one who has previously attended. So please keep sharing the information. Let me know if I can answer any further questions.
Cost:
$295 if you pay before March 25
$325 after March 25th
Maximum number is 16. Register soon
**Cancellation Policy for retreats: $100 non refundable deposit ($150 – on cancellations 1 week prior to retreat, to cover costs of food, materials & booking fees) . No refund after Wednesday preceding retreat.
Soulful Facilitation. April 8, 15, 29
January 16, 2008
1:00 to 3:00pm alternate Tuesday afternoons.
To me this is a very important unit for anyone who works with people. Facilitation is almost a jargon word today. It really means any form of communication that is meant to serve others in guiding their process to help them be who they really are. It occurs when we are guiding our children, when we are being a good friend or spouse, as well as any time we are leading a group in any way. I have a great deal of experience in many different settings but there are common elements in all of them and I want to explore that with you, illuminating the concept of deep listening. This unit will examine the concepts of allowing, of wisdom and connection. We will discuss a few models for learning and adapt them to new ways of working with spirit. We will focus significantly on listening, both inward listening and outward deep listening. You will also learn about some new ways of facilitating using Open Space Technology and also Appreciative Inquiry. Being aware of these methods may prompt you to read more about them and apply them or a variation of them to your unique situation. The individual session with this unit can zero in on the specific area in your life where you want to enhance your facilitation with wisdom and spirit.
