Rock-a-bye BodyArts: AquaMassage

If you've never had a hot springs/ hot tub massage -- you have been deprived of one of life's deeply satisfying pleasures. My first experience in New Mexico was such good medicine, I couldn't wait to explore sharing Acupressure water massages with friends and clients.

Pittsburgh, my hometown is lacking in venues to offer this BodyArts therapy, so I am always delighted with opportunities to return to Berkeley Springs where I can offer the Aqua-Acu massage at one of my favorite summer natural settings. Our up-coming August 20th week-end retreat: Return Mountain: Celebrating the Inner Healer will feature this unique therapy in the famous healing waters.

Of course, year-round the State Park 'ancient' roman baths can be booked, however, this is not the same as being in fresh air, surrounded by the forest, earth and sky.

Watsu is the most well-known water massage. My version incorporates the mindful use of acupressure points - for neck, shoulder and pelvis release along with the rhythmic rocking the client experiences,floating all the while. Quite restorative - refreshing and often transformative --
Picture yourself floating on warm water, gazing up at the blue sky and green trees, being supported by my hands under your shoulders, while I slowly walk and rock you, gently moving my hand positions along the energy pathways to release,balance and harmonize all systems.

I no doubt will include some serenading this time, with Threshold Choir lullabys that have also been accompanying the closing few minutes of The YeSSS Method of Restorative Yoga.

I'm looking forward to it and hope to bring back some client quotes when I report back at the end of the month.

Many Species...One Planet...One Future

Yours in Wellness, Gratitude, Vitality and Reverence for all Life,
Suzen Sharda Segall

This blog post can be reproduced in its entirety with the following information:

© Suzen Sharda Segall 2010, CelebratingtheInnerHealer.com

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Blog: www.celebratingtheinnerhealer.blogspot.com

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Suzen Sharda Segall, Wellness Personal Trainer/Consultant, designer and facilitator of BodyArts Therapeutics, has provided an integrated approach to health and wellness for a wide variety of populations, internationally,for over thirty-five years

Hear my first radio interview

I'm excited to share a conversation/interview I just had with Joanne Quinn-Smith of Positively Pittsburgh. I'm having fun with all this new-fangled technology -- in spite of myself ! -- thanks to meeting 'The Techno Granny", Joanne, at the Tepper School of Business, recently.

Check out the link in the new Media Room to the right. Let us know what you'd like to hear more about on future radio shows by scrolling down and adding your comments in the box below. Thank you!

It's getting down to the wire for me to leave the 'burgh and begin the next phase of this voyage of wellness --so I'll be brief here and get packin'!

Yours in Wellness, Gratitude and Excitement,
Suzen Sharda Segall

This blog post can be reproduced in its entirety with the following information:

© Suzen Sharda Segall 2010, CelebratingtheInnerHealer.com

Listen at: http://tinyurl.com/

Blog: www.celebratingtheinnerhealer.blogspot.com

Or on its unique radio channel at:

Suzen Sharda Segall, Wellness Personal Trainer/Consultant, designer and facilitator of BodyArts Therapeutics, has provided an integrated approach to health and wellness for a wide variety of populations, internationally,for over thirty-five years.

Monday at Sea

Yoga with Chandrakant was a great way to start this first full day -- I was kinda happy we were inside due to rain on the deck -- and even though 7 am start meant I only had 5 hours sleep- I trust the yoga was the ticket -- I'm writing at 10:30 pm - forgoing the Ice Cream social tonite and heading for some usual 7 hour sleep for tonite.

I've had such rich conversations and meetings with fellow voyagers already -- and some warm reunions - with last year's new friends.
I hope I can share more on that soon, but for now -- here's one taste:

Can you believe a Chilean woman sat across from me at breakfast -- just returned from home - and we talked about the earthquake and the Latino community fundraiser Abhai and I went to -- and I shared how touched I am with the Violeta Parra Thank this Life song -- did you see the lyrics I posted a week ago?

My threshold choir friends will especially enjoy the news that while Bryant Terry was introducing his cooking demo - on Soul Food Revival - (which my Pgh Food is Elementary new colleagues will also appreciate - with his eliminating the objection that healthy food is too costly) First -- he sang twice!! He relayed a gospel hymn his cookin granny sang while stirring the pot -- Glory Glory..lay my burdens down.... and gave us the hip hop song that changed his life in 10th grade - 'BEEF" by KRSI
He demonstrated Double Mustard Greens with Roasted Yams a soup dedicated to Uncle Dan -- who he asked to compose a song with lyrics dedicating his cookbook it's called Thankful and I hope Cindy Harris will search out how it sounds for us Thresholders! His second demo was
sweet cornmeal coconut drop biscuits. I loved his energy and his philosophy -- more on that in future blogs.

Monday Breakfast:

Miso soup with Asian vegetables & tofu

Creamy whole oats with tamari almonds

Steamed collard greens

applel dried cherry compote

optional french toast with maple syrup and fresh berries

(plus the always buffet of wonderful fruits etc)



Lunch:

Guacamole with fresh tortilla chips and salsa

corn and rice salad

Mexican gazpacho served cold

Black bean burrito with toful sour cream and fried plantains

Rasberry and mango kanten
And again, my lunch companions were delicious special treats --A coach on Marilou Henner's website --and two brothers and their wives -- One from Utah - Patti M. gave me some great tips: Karina'sKitchen.com - where she found wonderful buckwheat chocolate chip cookies that pleased her not so food health conscious brother-in-law as well as a pumpkin pie I'll also want to test -- Pattie used coconut milk --just what I'd like to try! plus Babycakes now has a cookbook -

Areva Derchi (sp?)

Yours in Wellness, Gratitude and Happiness,
Suzen Sharda Segall


This blog post can be reproduced in its entirety with the following information:

© Suzen Sharda Segall 2010, CelebratingtheInnerHealer.com

Listen at: http://tinyurl.com/

Blog: www.celebratingtheinnerhealer.blogspot.com

Or on its unique radio channel at:

Suzen Sharda Segall, Wellness Personal Trainer/Consultant, designer and facilitator of BodyArts Therapeutics, has provided an integrated approach to health and wellness for a wide variety of populations, internationally,for over thirty-five years.

I See You: An Inside Look at the Spirit of Avatar Message #3

Remember our interconnectedness: The way the Na'vi live in harmony with their land and all living creators is one of the most profound and awe-inspiring elements of Avatar. There is a deep respect and appreciation for all living creators and for all elements of nature that the Na'vi truly embody. A great example of this is how the Na'vi warriors bond with their Banshees (the four-winged creatures they fly around on). Once they bond-which they do both physically and energetically-they are bonded for life and work together as one. The first few scenes in the film where we see the Na'vi warriors connect with their Banshees literally took my breath away and had a visceral impact on me as I sat in the theater. The many ways in which the Na'vi exemplifies this interconnectedness remind us of the universal oneness that is at the core of our spiritual essence.

How consciously interconnected do you feel toward other people, living creatures and our planet in your daily life? It's so easy for us to get caught up in the illusion of separateness-we think, talk and are reminded of all the ways we are different, disconnected and isolated from one another, living creators and the earth all the time. However, most of us have had experiences in our lives where we've felt a deep sense of interconnectedness, not just with people we know and love, but
with all of life. In those moments, we've seen, felt and touched the depth of our spiritual nature. When we consciously tap into this, we remember that, at the deepest level, we are all one.


I am eager to read your comments here on how you are reconnecting with that which is most sacred to you; what's it been like for you lately when focusing on what truly matters; and examples of remembering how connected we are to each other, all living beings and to the environment in which we live. And while this is the last in the series of posts related to Mike Robbins' article on An Inside Look at the Spirit of Avatar, I expect these themes will be woven into the fabric of Celebrating the Inner Healer.

One friend recognized the message of macrobiotics when watching Avatar -- feeling affirmed
in her new healthy lifestyle choice this past year (sparked and fueled by A Holistic Holiday
at Sea) - I hope she joins in on our conversation about it here!

I, of course, felt so encouraged that the ancient Jain path of Ahimsa, the philosophy and practice
of Reverence for All Life, that I have embraced for about forty years, is reflected in the spirit of the Avatar messages. What did and do you see? Please scroll down to the comment box and join the discussion. You can also look for the word Followers on the right and click on the box to receive the upcoming posts directly.

I See You: Namaste:

I greet the light in you. I bow to your essence. When you and I recognize this we celebrate oneness.

Yours in Wellness, Gratitude and Ahimsa (Jain philosophy of Reverence for All Life),
Suzen Sharda Segall

This blog post can be reproduced in its entirety with the following information:

© Suzen Sharda Segall 2010, CelebratingtheInnerHealer.com

Listen at: http://tinyurl.com/

Blog: www.celebratingtheinnerhealer.blogspot.com

Or on its unique radio channel at:

Suzen Sharda Segall, Wellness Personal Trainer/Consultant, designer and facilitator of BodyArts Therapeutics, has provided an integrated approach to health and wellness for a wide variety of populations, internationally,for over thirty-five years.

I See You: An Inside Look at the Spirit of Avatar Message #2

Connect wih spirit: The Na'vi worship a mother goddess called Eywa. Eywa is the center of the Na'vi's spiritual universe, and their reverence for her is displayed in a beautiful and palpable way throughout the film. In all that the Na'vi do, there is a direct connection back to their relationship with Eywa. There are breathtaking scenes in the film showing large groups of Na'vi chanting and praying around the Tree of Souls as a way to honor, connect with and access
Eywa's power, wisdom and love.

How consciously do you connect with spirit in your own life? We often get so busy that we don't take the time to connect with spirit in a deliberate and meaningful way in our daily lives. We also sometimes get too caught up in the external aspects of our spirituality-thinking we have to go to a specific service or gathering, practice a particular form of prayer or meditation or do something else externally in order to tap into our spiritual connection. While any of these practices can
help us access spirit, none of them are necessary: We can connect with God at any time, in any place and for any reason.

I've been counting some of the gifts of the day - which always brings me back to a sense of connectedness with nature within and around .... Daylight savings time shift, the rain instead of snow, seeing green grass and the first fresh signs of spring. A very special Latino community concert event was organized Saturday evening as a fund-raiser for Chile...deeply moving...heart-warming and uplifting music, talent and generosity... Thank you El Coro Latinoamericano de Pittsburgh and all blessings on your mission of sharing cultural and musical enrichment that gives us the sweet taste of the flavors and diversity that make our countries unique -- and one.

We Are Not Alone. Stay tuned for future blogs where I'll share the lyrics to "Gracias a la Vida" by Chile's beloved songwriter,Violeta Parra that we sang together in the finale and hopefully a UTUBE glimpse that dear Victor Beltran documented. And the parting message of 'Cambia toto cambia' ( I loosely translate as Change everything Changes -- Life is change - is movement)


I am eager to read your comments here on how you are reconnecting with that which is most sacred to you; what's it been like for you lately when focusing on what truly matters; and examples of remembering how connected we are to each other, all living beings and to the environment in which we live.

Please Scroll Down for comment box --- and do click on Follow me!

I See You: Namaste:

I greet the light in you. I bow to your essence. When you and I recognize this we celebrate oneness.

Yours in Wellness, Gratitude and Ahimsa (Jain philosophy of Reverence for All Life),
Suzen Sharda Segall

This blog post can be reproduced in its entirety with the following information:

© Suzen Sharda Segall 2010, CelebratingtheInnerHealer.com

Listen at: http://tinyurl.com/

Blog: www.celebratingtheinnerhealer.blogspot.com

Or on its unique radio channel at:

Suzen Sharda Segall, Wellness Personal Trainer/Consultant, designer and facilitator of BodyArts Therapeutics, has provided an integrated approach to health and wellness for a wide variety of populations, internationally,for over thirty-five years.

How are You Celebrating Life Today?

I recently read a newsletter from Oprah featuring the sought after motivational speaker and best-selling author Mike Robbins (Focus on the Good Stuff and Be Yourself: Everyone Else Is Already Taken). His article (abridged) is well worth sharing here.

"Avatar is a film that not only broke new ground in filmmaking technology, visual effects and box office success, it's a movie that challenges us in a spiritual way to remember who we really are and why we're truly here. The film is a wake-up call-reminding us of the dangers of greed, unconsciousness, disconnection, insensitivity and arrogance, both globally and personally."

I'd say Avatar brilliantly dances us the yin-yang (Chinese philosophy of the dynamic balancing of polarities within wholeness) of Callousness-Compassion.


Robbins outlines three of the most important messages we can take away from Avatar and
use in our own lives and on our spiritual journeys. I've included the first message below
and stay tuned the next couple days for message two and three.

Robbins said that in viewing Avatar 'I felt as though my life had been altered spiritually.'

How about you???

I See You:

An Inside Look at the Spirit of Avatar

Honor the sacred: A central theme of the film is the way in which the
Na'vi (the native species of the moon Pandora, where the story takes
place) honor the sacredness of their land-specifically Hometree (where
they live) and the Tree of Souls (where they worship). They have a deep
sense of reverence for these important places and for all of Pandora.

How well do you honor your own space? How much reverence do you hold
for where you live, where you pray, meditate or worship, where you
work, where you eat, the planet? So often we forget that the sacredness
of any place is more about how we relate to it than about the space
itself. We have the ability to bring a sense of sacredness to anywhere
we are, at any time.

By scrolling down to the comment box you can share your thoughts and experience.

And on the right you'll see the Followers section - by clicking here you will receive the upcoming posts directly.

I See You (Na'vi) Namaste: (Hindi)
I greet the light in you. I bow to your essence. When you and I recognize
this we celebrate oneness.

Yours in Wellness, Gratitude and Oneness,
Suzen Sharda Segall

This blog post can be reproduced in its entirety with the following information:

© Suzen Sharda Segall 2010, CelebratingtheInnerHealer.com

Listen at: http://tinyurl.com/

Blog: www.celebratingtheinnerhealer.blogspot.com

Or on its unique radio channel at:

Suzen Sharda Segall, Wellness Personal Trainer/Consultant, designer and facilitator of BodyArts Therapeutics, has provided an integrated approach to health and wellness for a wide variety of populations, internationally,for over thirty-five years.

Chi with Me on the Deep Blue Sea

The schedule is set -- I am sharing Qi(pronounced chee) Gong -( Chinese Yoga) - and
guided Hara breathing (diaphramatic breath) on deck of the luxurious Costa Fortuna to start the day in the Virgin Islands Wednesday March 24th.

On Friday the 26th we'll be Mindfully Walking and Sharing The Tai Ji
Dance of the Five Elements after breakfast before exploring Grand
Turk. (Tai Ji or Tai Chi - pronounced 'chee' - is an ancient standing slow-moving meditative practice for health or martial art)


Even if you are unable to join us in person this year, you do not have to
do without some Five Star mindbody nourishment and nurturing self-care
and community. Through this new Celebrating the Inner Healer blog
I'll be suggesting several ways for you to experience "A taste of health"(link to their website) without packing your suitcase.

As I am counting down less than two weeks to Bon Voyage on the Costa Fortuna, I invite you to join me here for some timely tastes of health and healing.

I look forward to your comments and would love to hear about other Wellness Getaways you have discovered, enjoyed and recommend to our community of folks celebrating the Inner Healer.

Starting tomorrow -- Why not embark and book an
appointment with yourself for the Guided Radiant Skin - Radiant Self
treatment that I'll describe here on Thursday. I'll be very interested to hear how it rates -- what you learned -- what suprised you about the experience -- or any questions.