Healthy Body Moves News Letter

58 Day Challenge to Better Health!

2011-01-22T15:55:00.000-05:00

Long time since I have posted here.

Lots going on and looking forward to new discoveries of 2011. Building new friendships and relationships with others.

A few things:

If you are interested in more information or joining a 58 day challenge to better health follow this link - http://healthybodymoves.ning.com/events/58-day-challenge-to-better You may pick the next 58 days to start!

I am hosting a Workshop on Healthy Feet January 29th, still a few spaces available! To learn more about it or join follow this link http://healthybodymoves.ning.com/events/happy-feet

A friend of mine is involed with a Great Health Debate February 6th. For more information follow this link:
http://www.1shoppingcart.com/app/?Clk=4096747

I would like to share with you 3 things I am grateful for this week!

1. That I have a wonderful family and friends to keep me inspired and excited about being a part of their lives. This includes my youngest son whom just started College this week. Will be very interesting to see how he starts to develop and grow from this experience.

2. That my health has been good through this year even though many have been very ill with whatever illnesses are around. I believe eating mostly raw, adding oil of oregano and green smoothies to my daily regime has been most helpful.

3. All the wonderful emails I get from those that study food and nutition. Like Kevin Gianni and David Wolfe. They keep me learning and sharing what I learn with others. I love making my raw chocolate and sharing the ideas of recipes with others.

Wishing you a wonderful week!

Karen Toth

P.S. I noticed most newsletters were not open, so I will post articles and activities here on this blog site. Please make yourself a member and receive updates as they happen.

Does doing Feldenkrais compliment other modalities?

2010-07-08T12:07:00.000-04:00

Feldenkrais can be used with many other modalities. It creates more awareness in the way you move and think.

For example when I first started my Feldenkrais training, I had to reduce the amount of weights I would lift. Over time I was able to pick up a weight that was more then I was used to lifting without effort. When my ankles started moving better I could jump with no stress or strain on my knees.

If you are doing other modalities to reduce pain such as massage therapy, acupuncture, chiropractic, physiotherapy it is best to do the other methods first followed by the Feldenkrais Method.

The Feldenkrais Method is done with slow, small, non-evasive movements. There is usually no pain attached to these movements as the movements are done in a way that works with your body, not against it. You start where you are at and find other ways to get to where you want to go.

There may be pain after the lesson, however it is short-lived and usually the next day you can move much better then before seeing a Feldenkrais Practitioner.

You will also find you can run, golf, ski, sleep, walk, move in yoga, pilates better. Awareness Through Movement or Functional Integration Lessons will give you better balance as well.

Those that notice the small changes will be the ones that benefit the most.

Karen Toth

Pelvic floor! Natural remedies for your health!

2010-06-16T11:01:00.001-04:00

There are many, many different movements we can do for our health! Pelvic floor health can be improved by awareness of how you are doing the moves. Side effects may include less pain in your back, neck and shoulders and more strength throughout your body!

This month find a comfortable place to I will lay on you back with your knees bent, feet standing. bring your right knee in align it so the leg is coming straight out of you hip joint. Bend the knee and let the front of you leg and foot fold down so your calf is touching the back of your thigh. Place your hand on your knee and start making little circles. This will be the top of you leg (ball and socket joint) moving inside your pelvis. Make about 10 circles one way and 10 the other way.

Notice which way the circles were easier, if they were circular or another shape. Put you foot back on the floor and notice the difference from one side to the other.

Repeat other side. Notice any changes. It is the perception of differences that make small changes to your overall wellbeing.

For any of these movement lessons if there is pain, stop and visualize.

Have a great month and if you have any comments or questions please contact me at
karen@healthybodymoves.com

Sign up for my free newsletter at www.healthybodymoves.com

Karen Toth

Five Reasons to do Feldenkrais Awareness Through Movement Lessons for back pain!

2010-06-13T10:46:00.001-04:00

Chronic back pain is often due to poor posture, injuries, or muscular tension, and can profoundly impact your quality of life. Try Feldenkrais Awareness Through Movement Lessons for a proactive, natural approach that can help prevent further injury and lessen the symptoms of current back pain.

1. Engage your body, mind and spirit; in slow and small movements allowing for change and improvements quickly. By using the slow small movements it quiets the parasympathetic nervous system which will reduce muscular tension.

2. Learn new movement patterns that will improve your organization, using less muscular effort and reduce stress. With less stress on the joints and muscles you will walk better, sleep better and enjoy life with more vitality.

3. Become more aware of where your body is in space creating better balance, better acture (moving posture as we are not statues) and overall flow of movement for the entire span of your life.

4. Create more strength and flexibility; increase blood flow, release your diaphragm to allow breathing to be easier and deeper - all of which can be beneficial for your back.

5. Use visualization techniques to see as much as your spine as you can. You may be surprised at how much of your spine is missing in your brain. Those parts that are missing may be where the pain is. Continue this visualization daily to see the changes that start to occur!

Learn how by using these principles you will create less muscular stress which can provide you with less pain and strain, better sleep to empower you to enjoy a better quality of life.

Karen Toth

Pelvic Floor Movements Better then Kegal exercises!

2010-05-31T10:20:00.000-04:00

Want a healthy pelvis? Willing to try a few small moves to change the pelvic floor muscles?

Most people do not realize the amount of muscles that are attached to the tail bone. Sometimes a tight tailbone will cause incontinence. Let us focus on three small movements you can do with your tail that will make some interesting changes in your body!

For all these exercises you can think in your imagination or physically do them. They will be small and possibly not even be felt or noticed to begin with.

1. go to the part of your body at the end of the spine, the tailbone. Imagine or do move it closer to your pubic bone and further away. Do this 20 or 30 times per day.
2. this time think or move your tail like a dog waging his tail side to side. It will be small or not at all to begin with.
3. think of your tail and make a circle with you tail. Go 20 times around one way and switch directions.

Just try and see how this can change your pelvic floor to allow for more movement.
Karen Toth www.healthybodymoves.com

Feet First!

2010-05-23T10:12:00.000-04:00

Good Morning!

Today is bright and sunny, the Sunday of the May long weekend. I am in the mood to write before I head out the door to walk!

I just listened to Randy Pausch Last Lecture again! What an inspiration he is to me. I am so blessed that I do have good mentors and friends in my life, always getting me to raise the bar in how I think, feel and move!

I was just reading a post on how we need to be more deverse in how we think about the environment and some of the natural disasters that are happening. There is a larger plan, a plan that is beyond human knowledge, but can bring countries and peoples together to help others in need. It was a spiritual message from a small interview from the Dalia Lama! Honest, truthful and transparent! These are ways to reduce human created problems. Honesty, truthfullness and transparency what a beautiful way to live!

So about getting your "feet first"! When you wake up in the morning how do your feet feel? Are they awake, sleeping, numb, tingling? When you first step out of your bed onto your feet, do you even notice them.
What if you started to gently touch your toes with your hands, touch your big toe feel how it moves side to side, gently twist it to see how it twists right and left, as you twist your big toe, lengthen it a bit! Just notice how much more awareness you have of this toe now!
Repeat with the next toe, slowly, gently and with attention. Do the same on the other foot, notice any small differences from one foot or toe to the other.

Now get up, walk around and notice your feet! You may even notice your legs, hips, back, neck and shoulder in a different way!

You can repeat this every day if you like!

Have a wonderful day!
Karen Toth

Miracles, Miracles and More Miracles!

2010-04-04T13:06:00.003-04:00

The human body is just so amazing and fasincating!

The way through movement one can be one way and after a 45 minute lesson that way of being has changed. Out of pain, a shift of awareness, feeling a part of you that you could not feel before.

All this is what happened to one of my children while in Edmonton! She for the first time in her two years of life, has more control over her head.

For most of her life her head would just fall backwards! Now, thanks to her great skill for learning she can bring her head forward. I found it totally amazing how she just took this stimulation and turned it into information that has impowered her to feel not only her head, but more of her the upper part of her spine and connect it down to her pelvis.

When she first started to roll over, she would fling over by using her head. Now, she rolls through her spine and lets her legs, arms and head come along for the ride.

This little girl always amazes me! She is not the only one, but she takes all in and uses it. My dream or vision was to see her crawl, but she first has to feel her spine, her head and her pelvis. That is what she is doing now.

While on her belly she is now for the first time in her life, reaching for objects. Things that are taken for granted with most children. What miracles will present themselves next time seeing her, I don't know, but I do know that she takes the information and uses it the way her brain needs to funtction to get to the next level!

Have a wonderful Easter Weekend!
Karen Toth

P.S. Karen is off to California to study with Anat Baniel in her 4th Childrens Mastery April 10 -18.

In this segment we will focus on:

1. Coming up to standing, and standing.

2. Transitions: How to evoke successful transitions from position to position.
Understanding how to work with transitions such as, moving from lying to sitting, and sitting to squatting, and squatting to standing, and how transitions are utilized by the brain to master the next “developmental stage” or “developmental milestone.”

3. Walking – knowing when and how.

4. Understanding and working with the relationships between earlier functions and later, higher functions.

5. How to utilize increasingly more challenging TMLs to enhance the child's learning process and move the child to his/her next level - next transformation.

6. How to apply the Anat Baniel Method in helping the child with academic/conceptual challenges, such as learning to read, write, math etc.

7. Applying Anat Baniel Method principles and techniques for working with emotions and behavioral challenges.

8. When and how to use adaptive devices. Applying Anat Baniel Method theory and thinking in deciding whether to adopt or reject such equipment.

9. Live demonstrations: Anat will be working on a variety of different children in class.

10. DVDs of FS lessons with children will be shown during breaks.

11. Daily TMLs, lectures, demonstrations, practice, and discussions are all part of the training and the basis for the practitioners' learning and understanding all of the above. In addition, the practitioner will experience further growth and transformation within themselves as a result.

Off to Edmonton!

2010-03-06T12:42:00.000-05:00

I am very excited to be leaving for Edmonton on Tuesday. While there I will enjoy a day of skiing on Wednesday! Great thing is I have a friend that is a ski patrol at Marmot Basin. So I'm very excited about that.
My first year skiing and skiing in the Canadian Rockies! Wow, life is great!

Thursday - Sunday I will be working with some of my favourite children! I have not seen them since Novemeber. Really excited to see them all and the new ones as well. Together discovering new ways for them to move and be in life!

Thank goodness for Carla Richards and her enthusiasm around having these services available to others in her area.

For those interested, would love to have you join my facebook fanpage http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Stretch-Your-Life-Pilates-Feldenkrais/89651498641?ref=ts

Also join my web newsletter http://stretchyourlife.com/. Have lots of interesting videos in the making, with any luck will get them up and running within the next few days!

Healthy Visionary!!

2010-02-02T16:38:00.000-05:00

Do you ever find yourself sitting and pondering your day?

How an action that you took during the day the may affect how your outcome of you day would have been?

How you sit in your chair?

How your responded to your child, spouse or someone else you may know?

Just take a moment..... breath in through your mouth and out through your nose....... do this about 10 times...

Feel how the stess of the day starts to leave everytime you exhale....
Feel your jaw.... soften
Feel your neck ... soften
Feel your shoulders ..... soften and move away from your ears...

Now!! Go back to the thought you had a moment ago and see if something in your thinging has changed.

Can you allow yourself to be kinder to yourself... with this kindness, perhaps you can allow yourself to be kinger to the others in your life as well.

Enjoy more pleasure, more laughter....

I find myself really enjoying music while driving and thinking about the road and all the cars around me in a way, that we are all going somewhere, but where?
Can we slow down, and let our spirit enjoy this journey with us? If we speed around and try and do everything, be everything to everyone... we are doning too much and not living an authentic, spiritual life, well balanced life.

Pick three things you would like to do over the next month.. Three things is enough.

I love to write, I love to learn, but when I try to do too many things, I just get overwhelmed and do nothing!

Write down your three things you would like to do this month.

This month I would like to:

Business:

Get my receipts and sales ready for my accountant...
Write three articles toward my new online business...
Record two or three classes for online products...

Personal:
Go skiing two times...
Exercise three times per week...
Read articles on nutrition....

Family and Friends:
Share three meals with family...
walk with friends...
build a more bonding relationship with my boys...

Spiritual:
Visualize my life....
Count my blessings....
Get help from spiritual advisors...

Financial:
Get advice to reduce debt....
Create more income generating products and services...
Spend less on eating out....

That is a lot of things to do in one month...

If you have a list of things you would like to do or accomplish, send them to me and let us be accountability partners!!

Have a great day!
Karen Toth

Neck and shoulders, how can you make them longer!

2009-11-17T12:39:00.000-05:00

Have you even wondered why your shoulders are kissing your ears?

1 of the Move Into Life, "The Nine Essentials of Life Long Vitality" by Anat Baniel is Variation!!

http://stretchyourlifenewsletter.blogspot.com/

Just be aware when your shoulders and ears are having this love affair and like to be close to each other.

Let us do some variations....

Start by sitting forward in your chair with your feet flat on the floor, legs comfortably spread.
Notice how you are sitting. Do you feel the pressure of your right foot on the floor the same as the left foot? Just notice. Are you sitting tall, straight or just notice how you are sitting.

In your minds eye what do you think of your spine? Is it like a stick that is there to support you? Is your spine like a pearl necklace that moves with grace and strength? Can you see the length of your spine, from your tailbone, up through to your head? Did you realize that your spine has a width? How wide can you see your spine in your minds eye? Does your spine have a depth? From front to back, how deep is your spine. Using this visualization will give you something more to think of then just your neck and shoulders. You have more of yourself in your minds eye!

Let gravity take the weight of your shoulders as they gently and slowly glide away from your ears.

Now start to bend your spine to bring your right ear to kiss your right shoulder, only go where the movement is easy and elegant, with no strain or pain, and gently leave your left shoulder move away from your left ear. Are you just bending at the small muscles and bones or your neck or can you make your spine from your tail to your head part of this movement? Then slowly bring your head back to your centre on top of your spine.

Rest and notice any changes in your sitting!

Then bend your spine to bring your left ear to kiss your left shoulder, again only go where you move easily with no strain or pain and gently let your right shoulder move away from your right ear. Is more of your spine in your thinking this time?

Rest and notice how you are sitting now.

It is by noticing small changes and miracles in your body that you can change areas in your life and your business that you get stuck!

Stretch Your Life to change the way you think, feel and move!

Working with Children with Cerebral Palsy and other Special Needs!

2009-10-08T15:17:00.005-04:00

For Parents that want to give their children more possibilites to live a dynamic life!

I would now like to share this story about a very special child that I have been working on over the past four months in Edmonton, AB, Canada. This little girl was diagnosed with:

Nystagmus...wobbly eyes due to brain development.

Lissencephaly(smooth brain)...Miller-Dieker Syndrome(rare genetic disorder).

West Syndrome & Infantile Spasms-seizure disorders.

Global Development Delay.

Swallowing issues-high risk for aspiration/pneumonia.

I don’t always understand or even know what these diagnosis mean as I am not a doctor, but I do know that when I first met this child, she would lay on the table like a piece of paper and not even really move or be aware anything around her. With this work, we engage the whole body or the whole person. What is she capable of doing? Where does she move easily and without effort? It is alway "I wonder". As we started doing the lessons with her, I noticed that she did put her right index finger in her mouth. That was a way for me to introduce to her in language, "are you counting your teeth"? Amazing how quickly she learned to associate the language with the "action", one of the first parts of bringing awareness of who she is in her body. Her legs were wide apart and not touching and her arms and hands were not very interested in touching herself, other then her index finger in her mouth.

She had a very "wobbley head" with they very, very slow movements, done with great attention, differentiation and with many variations I started to move her pelvis. Very, very gently to see how the cavity of her pelvis to her head was connected. Did moving her pelvis cause any movement in her head? If not, how far up her spine did the movement transfer? In which directions? What would make a difference in her life?

Her eyes were very focused on looking up toward her forhead. Seems like looking down and around were something she was able to do at this time. She was introduced to some neurological movemetns such as interlacing her fingers, touching her feet with her hands, touching her right foot to her left foot and as many different variations as I could think of.

Because of this way of moving her, over the 28 lesson she received, she quickly became more aware, started to move and discover her hands, her feet, and her legs. She has everything hard-wired in her brain, she just needs some movements she may have missed while in the uterus. With this she is now rolling over, able to turn her head on the side while on her stomach. Her eyes and look up, down, sideways and all directions. Her legs are staight under her!

She is doing some neurological things such as interlacing her fingers, able to touch her right side, touches her toes with her hands. Laughs and smiles frequently.

The steps to get her to this point have been done with great care and love. Not only did she have the opportunity to change but there was a shift done by the whole family. She is such a lucky girl to have the parents she has! They really embraced and supported the process by doing everything at home that would encourage and give enthusiasm to her and keep her learning inbetween sessions. Her older brother is also in on the action now!! This family noticed and honoured all the small changes, all the small miracles!

This is the part of noticing small miracles by holding your goals loosely. I had worked with one young boy only 8 sessions. I noticed many, many small changes in the child. I saw him 2 or 3 x per day for 4 days. On the third day he changed so much, when I mentioned to "soften" his legs, he did. Most of the time his legs were very spastic. He has such a wonderful learning brain! I was amazed with these changes.

The sad part for me was on the 4th day lesson 7 and 8 the young man was stiff and lost everything gained in the previous days. I could not figure out what had happened, until the end of the last lesson. Mom asked if I would really make any changes in her son. She didn’t notice anything. This is not a fault with her, but it put so much pressure on her son to perform in a way that he was not able to do at this time. It was a great way to learn a lesson in educating the parents to "see" and become enthusiastic on the small changes and hold their goals loosely.

I am just so thankful for the opportunity working with these very special children. The trust, enthusiasm and leaning that we as a community in Edmonton are creating one child at a time, one family at a time! Let's keep the momentum growing and see where we can take this work and knowledge out into the world.

Karen Toth

www.stretchyourlife.com

519-743-5375

Karen has been blessed to follow her heart in life and in her career. She took a 3 - 3/4 year training with Anat Baniel. Anat had studied directly under Moshe Feldenkrais in Israel, San Fransisco and followed and helped train others all over the world. Anat studied with Moshe for the last 15 years of his life.

Anat has written a book "Move into Life, The Nine Essentials for Lifelong Vitality". It is a book Karen highly recommend everyone read! This is a way to put what we do into language most people can understand. Here are the 9 essentials:

Movement with attention - our brains are organized through movement

The learning switch - everything in life becomes an opportunity and miracles

Subtlety - turns stimulations into new information

Variation - create a greater variety of possibilities in the way you think, feel and move

Slow - slow gets the brains attention

Enthusiasm - energy that lifts and inspires you

Flexible Goals - gives your brain opportunities to discover new ways to fulfil you dreams

Imagination and Dreams - leaving current limitations and leading to your authentic life path

Awareness - living in the present and being fully alive

To purchase this book Move into Life: The Nine Essentials for Lifelong Vitality

For more information on this method check www.anatbanielmethod.com/

Next training begins March 2011 check this site for more info http://www.anatbanieltraining.com/

Currently Karen is studying with Mia Segal and her daughter, Leora Gaster! Mia was Moshe's first assistant. Mia and her family were visited daily by Moshe and were there first hand as he devised his method. Mia even helping him create the method. Leora has be very blessed to live a life that was so full of possibilities and variations. Their approach is very different, it brings the simpleness of the method as well as letting the brain figure out how to do the organic learning. Mia and Leora have a wonderful way of sharing the Feldenkrais Method .

Karen has also had the honour of studying with Yvon Joly from Montreal Canada. He is so delightful to be taught by and she noticed how much she was able to remember and learn. He has a playful, yet powerful technique from his many years of following Moshe back to Israel after his cerifying training.

Working with Children to Wake up the Brain Through Movement!

2009-09-19T15:37:00.003-04:00

The more I work with the children the more I learn.

To master setting limites on my table and in my practice has been a huge learning curve for me. The benefits that the children get is to listen to themselves in a more profound way and sets the tone to turn on a learning brain.

The parents can see and sense how the child is learning just by the look in their eyes. How quiet and focused they are on the movements change from using slow, small movements.

For example, if you were to sit tall on the edge of your chair, both feet flat on the floor and sense how you are sitting on your chair.

1. Turn your head to the right and notice how far you can turn and look to the right. Turn your head to the left and notice how far you can turn your head and look to the left. Come back to centre.

2. Next sitting on the edge of your chair feet standing flat on the floor. Start by rounding your back, thinking of the length in the back of your spine, come back up to sitting tall. Repeat 4 - 6 times. Check to see how you are sitting on the chair now.

3. Sitting on the edge of your chair with feet standing flat on the floor. Start by lifting your head and sitting up tall, sticking your belly out. Feel the length in the front of your spine now. Come back to centre. Repeat 4 - 6 times.

4. Sitting on the edge of your chair with feet flat on the floor. Start rounding your back letting your eyes and head look down toward your belly, then start sitting tall, feeling your spine lengthen at the front and head and eyes looking up toward the ceiling. Repeat 4 - 6 times.

When you are finished doing this. Sit tall and again look left and right and notice any changes you have noticed.

Karen Toth

ABM for Children!

2009-08-01T09:34:00.004-04:00

The second trip to Edmonton was great! Seeing the same 4 out of 5 children again was priceless. The changes from the month previous and the learning of how to take the children to the next level.

Most children get some PT and/or OT weekly. So I must come in and think outside the box on how to get the child to turn on the "learning switch"!! I have noticed if I do something, like lye the child on her side and she is not used to being there, she looks at me with a look that says I'm learning! When I teach them to feel there arm under there body on their side and feel different ways of holding their heads, they are learning. The parents report the child going home and sensing and doing what I have taught them throughout the day! This in and of its self makes wonderful changes for the children.

For the children that have a really hard time holding up their heads, it starts to give a kinesthetic sense of themselves. When requested and they start to use their lower back, they can then start to support their head. When the head and pelvis become more attached they can start to progress to another level. This takes them from "wobbly" to moving on their own.

With splasticity comes softness with awareness. Teaching a brain is very rewarding! It takes time, but we all have learning brains. It is when the brain or person chooses not to learn that the learning switch cannot be turned on. I see this in my aging father and it saddens me.

I often wonder if there is a generation thing here. Today, most people wish to learn and evolve to see what they can do and what all they can accomplish. Or perhaps these are like minded people to me. I see the children as a whole new way of being, how they can move, sit, roll, stand and then evolve into a continum of movement grow beyond what was ever expected of them. If you look at some of Anat's videos along the side you will see and hear some things that will perhaps even turn on your learning switch and give you a whole new way to view the world for you and your family!!

Pilates in Italy anyone!

2009-07-08T10:02:00.009-04:00

View from outside me window.
View from outside my window!

View from outside my window!

Outside Sportlandia, Castlemmare Di Stabia, Italy! The best coaches in the world.

Was it just a facebook joke? Was it real? I was asked to teach Pilates at an "International Marathon Pilates" event being held in Italy! My first response was "yes", in my mind I thought it was a joke. This all started in April 2009. I was than asked for my name and address for a airline ticket. I responded with the information.

Two weeks later I was asked for my email address to send the e-ticket to. I gave the information. One day the ticket arrived in my in box. I was so excited with this new possiblity of teaching in Italy. Meeting new friends and travelling. To think "NOW" it is real !! I'm going to Italy!

I flew from Toronto to Rome and from Rome to Naples. I was to be met at the airport by Sportlandia personal and driven to my hotel in Castlemmare Di Stabia, Italy. It all happened like clockwork. Not knowing what was to happen, where I was staying. Or the others that were attending. I had gotten my schedule 2 weeks before leaving and knew my teaching times. I arrived at the hotel. Actually the Grand Hotel La Medusa!!

What a place. 5 star, my own room with a king sized bed and a view that was out of this world.

Here is a link for some pictures of my hotel and some of the events that took place in Italy.

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/album.php?aid=104763&id=599946921

It went so well that we will be doing this again next year! 2009 had 96 hours of Pilates over 4 days! 2010 will have 480 hours of Pilates over 8 days. If you would like to go to Italy next year June 17 - 28th, let me know. Would you like to visit Italy and become a participant in this Pilates marathon? I would love to have some fellow Canadians join me on this venture next year.

After the event we can tour around see Rome, Florence and Vience.

Call 519-743-5375 for more details of this amazing trip.

Karen Toth

Feldenkrais (R) Anat Baniel Method (sm) for Children and Edmonton!!

2009-06-20T11:01:00.008-04:00

What an amazing journey this was. I flew into Edmonton to meet a lovely person, Carla and her sister-in-law Theresa. What a wonderful group of people to meet!

I was coming to work on 5 special needs children. My request upon landing was going to see the West Edmonton Mall ! I found myself at this mamoth place within 1/2 hour of landing! We saw the ice rink, the swimming pool, the roller coaster, stores galour, Europea section, and had dinner in the Bourban St. Area. We also stopped into the Lululemon store. I finally purchased so Lululemon fitness wear for my upcoming trip to Italy!

I was given my very full intensive, schedule to see 5 special children either 2 x for 45 minutes or 3 x for 30 minutes a day for the next 4 days.

First child was very cooperative and got 3 lessons that first day with some wonderful changes, eg. better balance, more confident playing sports.

The second child was amazing and loving in his own way. He was very spactistic, but learned to soften during the sessions.

The third child has had many lessons with Anat Baniel and other practitioners in California, so she was very quick to learn and change. She has had brain injury so repeating things was very helpful for her.

The fourth child came in very quiet and little to now awareness or movement. She changed very quickly to become aware and have a light and sparkle for life in her eye.

The fifth child was abused as a 9 week old and had suffered brain injury! She has a number of habitual habit that have formed from being in the hospital and parents and grand parents just not knowing what to do, how to create new possibilities and change. I believe this is the 1st step in becoming aware of an issue with your child.

The changes in the children were amazing and the parents were very, very thankful.

The news of your child being diagnosed with some disease or disability is 'overwhelming' to say the least! What steps do you take and what do you do? There are many agencies out there to tell you this that and the other, but the "overwhelm" creates a helplessness that sometimes closes our minds to look for other alternatives.

Working with the children in the Feldenkrais, Anat Baniel Methods gives me lots of insite as to how to create new possibilites, create more movement and self awareness for the child. I work with the whole child and adult, not just the dis-ease or dis-ability. I have been through a process of many lessons on the floor as well as doing hands on sessions in my training! With this new knowledge in my body, mind and soul, I have learned how to teach others to learn and be aware as well.

Whom has benefited and can be helped by this method?

Arthrogryposis
Ataxia
Athetosis
Autism - Autism Spectrum Disorder
Brachial Plexus
Cerebellar Atrophy
Cerebral Palsy
Charge syndrome
Contractures
Delayed development
Diplegia
Down's Syndrome
Failure to thrive
Fragile X Syndrome
Hydorcephaly
Hypertonia
Hypotonia
Larsen's syndrome
Macrocephaly
Microcephaly
Multiple Sclerosis
Periverntricular Leukommalacia
Polymicrogyria
Prader-Willi syndrome
Premature birth
Rett syndrome
Sensory integration dysfuntion
Shaken Baby syndrome
Spinal muscular atrophy
Stroke

What changes are seen when children receive lessons?

Improved mood
Better sleep
Greater comfort
Increased alertness and awareness of their surroundings

Functional changes that have been seen as children continue the work include:

More effortless movements
Better balance
Improved ability to move: crawl, walk, run, jum and reach
Greater problem-solving skills
Improved speech

Find an Anat Baniel Method (sm) practioner in your area to learn more! email me at info@stretchyourlife.com

phone 519-743-5375 please leave a message as I may be out of town (off to Italy June 23 - July 3rd) or working with a client. I will return your call as soon as possible!!

Article about The Thorax!

2008-01-03T14:01:00.000-05:00

http://www.efeld.com/news/2007/index.html

Christmas Special

2007-12-23T14:26:00.001-05:00

Merry Christmas,

This is a must have for anyone that works on a computer, sits in a car or has any pain.
There is a 20% off special for a day or two. http://www.desk-trainer.com/?_acode=696zqf4f5b

Increase productivity, awareness and your life.

Karen

Merry Christmas and Pilates

2007-12-16T19:37:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas,

Classes are coming to a close for 2007. Just a few short days away is a celebration for the Christian faith. Whatever your beliefs please enjoy a safe a wonderful holiday with your family and friends.

This fall has been very challenging for my family and I. With Aaron my youngest son being diagnose with Type 1 diabetes we have sure faced a huge learning curve. He is determined to live his life his way. Prayers would be appreciated. Until you become a mother or father the word love of a child is only a thought. When life gives you a huge lesson you learn to deal. Not always easy to do.

Aaron and I will be working on doing a fundraiser for Diabetes. We are thinking of a Saturday morning late February. The fundraiser will be based on the Bones for Life movements. Donations will start at $25 and there will be sponsor sheets for anyone interested in participating. More on this after the Holidays. They are so close to finding a cure. Things have already changed for diabetics so much in the last 5 years. We want to contribute to acquiring funds for this cause. Anyone that would like to participate as a donor or a participant keep posted.

*************************************************************

Off to a more fun subject... I am encouraging everyone to try a green smoothie. I love my smoothies everyday. Here is one mix that I love

1/8 Pineapple
1 tbsp Omega 3-6-9 oil
1 c Water
1" of ginger root, peeled and cut up
5 Raspberries
5 Blackberries
2 large handfuls of spinach or kale

You may add anything more to this like apples, oranges, clementines. I sometimes even add almonds or hemp hearts for protein.

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Exercise of the Month

Breathing

Just find a quiet place to sit. Inhale through your nose for the count of 5. Open your mouth as you let the air come out the back of your throat. Repeat about 10 x's.

This will open up and activate the lungs, reduce stress and get you ready for the holidays.

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Pilate's Business

I would like each of you to invite a friend or family member to a free Pilate's class Thursday Jan. 3 at 5:00pm and/or Free Awareness Through Movement Class Jan 3 at 6:00pm. I am also encouraging you to support Stretch Your Life by inviting a friend or family member in the New Year.

New program Bones for Life trial class Jan. 8 at 10:30

Class Schedule http://www.stretchyourlife.com/schedule.htm

Studio Rates http://www.stretchyourlife.com/studioRates.htm

Let's all evolve to the next leave in our wellness and fitness at Stretch Your Life.

Please do leave a comment on this newsletter so I can evolve even more!

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Holiday Special

For those last minute gifts, get the gift of a Certificate.

Special prices include

Buy 4 get 1 more Anat Baniel Method, Functional Synthesis Sessions $300 Buy 4 get 1 more Pilate's Private Session $240

Happy Holidays,

Karen Toth

Here is an interesting Utube to watch!!

2007-11-22T09:10:00.000-05:00

(http://www.youtube. com/watch? v=LnLVRQCjh8c)

Happy Thanksgiving!!

2007-10-04T21:50:00.000-04:00

Hello All,

Wishing you all a most pleasant Thanksgiving. It is a time to be with family and friends. I will be leaving this city to go to South Hampton to spend time with my family. Wishing you all a safe and very pleasant weekend.

****************
Next Saturday check these out!!

2 Great Workshops

Healthy Neck and Shoulders, Oct. 13, 2007 9:30-12:30 Cost $55

Neck and shoulder pain, strain and limitation are the most common disorders after back pain. Repetitive motion injury is common among computer users, musicians, athletes and others.Almost all adults experience stiffness and limitation in the movement of their neck and shoulders.Neck pain can easily be chronic, is often slow to diminish, can return with the smallest of exertions.

Pelvic Power Low Back, Oct. 13, 2007 1:30 - 4:30 Cost $55

This workshop will assist with awareness and tissue strengthening after menapause.It may help you avoid surgical intervention for prolapse. As myself and other women have discovered, it can return vaginal sensation even after years of loss of feeling. Low back pain is the most common disorder. Back pain can easily be chronic, is often slow to diminish and can return with the smallest of exertions.

Register for both now and pay $95

*****************

Just a reminder there will be no classes Oct. 17 at 5:30pm or Oct. 18 at 7:00pm.
Oct. 16 9:15 class will be Oct. 15 at 9:15pm.

I will be away in New York City studying with Ruthy Alon. Ruthy is a master Feldenkrais teacher and has devised Bones For Life Program. I will be attending 30 of the 200 hour training. I am very excited about the trip and the training. 1st time to NYC. I have classmates there and will get to see the neighbourhood will there. There are 2 raw food restaurants close by.

***************

I would like to thank all those who have invited friends or fellow workers to join the studio. Please do keep inviting people. I would like to see another 20 or more students gain strength, flexibility and balance in their lives. My dream is to let all be aware that aging and pain are options, but it does take awareness and commitment to change these processes. It can happen!

***************

**Exercise of the Month**

Rolling Like a Ball

http://www.stretchyourlife.com/exer/roll_like_ball.htm

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Health to all. Have a great Thanksgiving weekend.

Karen

Fall into Pilates

2007-09-27T23:08:00.000-04:00

Hi All,

I had a most pleasant end of the summer driving down the coast of California from San Francisco to LA. The scenory was breath taking. I spent the first night at a classmates house near Monterey. The next day she and her sons took me in to the town of Monterey to the wharf and we drove down Cannery St. It was as if out of a Disney movie.
We than ventured to the 17 miles road in Pebble Beach. We stopped by the ocean a few times and really had a most enjoyable day. Great company and beautiful scenery!
I continued down the coast past the Big Sur and Hearst Castle (what a sight that was) even from the road.
The next day I went horseback riding at Circle Bar B Ranch. They have a truely awesome bed and breakfast, the riding trails and theatre all back off the highway on a 1.5 lane road.
That night I was in Marnina Del Rae. Since I forgot my swimsuit, I went shopping. I did find a suit for $20 and I visited the Victoria Secrets store. I spent two nights there and got to study with Marie Jose one the the great trainers in the Pilates world. My favourite place by there was Santa Monica, the beach was warm enough for swimming and there were 2 raw food restaurants there. Loveley place to sit by the beach and write. It is currently rated as 1 of 10 green cities in the US.
I left there and went north to Santa Barbara. What a pleasant surprise it was. I was greeted by a fellow bridge player and toured arount the whole town. There was a family event that took place on a little boat ride around the harbour. The boat, the little toot, was followed by 4 dolphins, we would turn to see them and they would turn. It was good fun that lasted about 20 minutes of dolphin entertainment.
I saw some of the wine country with 2 places of wine tasting! Each place had a different flavour. The second the one I perferred was set in New Orleans style with beads and lamps in the tasting room. I had never done a wine tasting before. I was very fearful of being ill, but they really know what they are doing when handing out the tasting in a special order.
After meeting my friends mother Dagmar Hegland, I can never be the same. What an outstanding lady of 86 years. I do wish she would finish her story before it is too late.
I was in Santa Barbara for 3 days and really got familiar with where to drive.
Next stop was LA. It was highly recommended that I see the Getty Museum. What a place! Bought in 1983 it took until 1997 to finish building and opened to the public in 2000. The stones were beautiful. The budget just for art at this place is $20,000,000 per year. The cost to enter $8 for parking. There were buses or trolly. The gardens are spectacular and I never saw grass that green and short. The view of LA was clear that day and the houses in the neighbourhood were something to view as well.
My classmate and her husband, gave me a tour of Hollywood, Sunset Blvd., Malibou, Bel Air and Rodeo Dr.
Overall was a very pleasant visit of which I hope to do more of in the future.

Karen

Classes and new learning!

2007-08-25T11:28:00.000-04:00

Hello All,

Hope the end of your summer is going well. Here in California it is warm during the days and very cool at night. The Anat Baniel Special Needs training is going great! Learning to move myself in ways I never thought was possible or even thought of. With this new knowledge I can now see how that does create incredible learning for all children and adults.

Classes Starting Sept. 10, 2007
For more information on class schedule http://www.stretchyourlife.com/schedule.htm
Registration is Sept. 6 & 7 from noon until 6pm. I look forward to seeing many of you than.

New Classes:
Wednesday 8am Total Body, 9am Everyday Movement, 4:15pm Teen Pilates, Thursday 7am Abs-Hips-Thighs, 6pm Pelvis and Low Back series.

Exercise of the Month
100's with the ball
http://www.stretchyourlife.com/exer/hundredsBalls.htm

Fall Workshops
Healthy Neck and Shoulders, Oct. 13, 2007 9:30-12:30 Cost $55
Healthy Pelvis and Low Back, Oct. 13, 2007 1:30 - 4:30 Cost $55
Register for both now and pay $95
I am studying with one of the best teachers in the world. She is considered an Genius in Residence by her publisher. Tell your co-workers, family and friends about these great workshops!

Closing remarks
Enjoy the end of the summer! See you in September! Remember that movement will increase your brain power and intelligent movement will increase connections in your brain at the rate of 1.8 million per second.

Karen

Green Smoothies

2007-08-01T22:37:00.000-04:00

Hi All,

A Friend of mine named Helen is doing a 9 city tour on green smoothies. She is also the lady that introduced me to Eat Right for Your Blood Type. Here is a link to her site http://www.waytogonutrition.com/ Select Live Enzyme Cuisine on the left and recipes & Menu on the right for a few recipes.

Summer time and Pilates

2007-06-30T09:32:00.000-04:00

Hi All,

With the summer session in full swing now and this heat, please be sure to drink plenty of fluids. The summer session has a few changes from the spring schedule check link http://www.stretchyourlife.com/schedule.htm

July 15 there is a Caring for the Caregiver pampering time from 9am - 5pm. Please do let all your family and friends know of this. For more information please check this link http://www.bubblingsprings.org/main.php

Exercise of the month:

Rolling like a ball http://www.stretchyourlife.com/exer/roll_like_ball.htm

I have just spent the weekend at a Landmark Education Forum. It was very informative of how I am living in the past and continue to bring my past into the future. There were 188 people in the training. I met people with PHd's to alcoholics. Everyone learned an incredible amount about themselves. I will be going Tuesday evening to finish the course. I would like to invite anyone interested in joining me to call 519-741-1449 for more information. Here is a link for more information http://landmarkeducation.com/

I am also holding a summer special 4 Anat Baniel Method sessions for the price of 3. That is a $75 savings.
There is the studio pass available as well. The cost for the next 9 people to join is $750.00 per year. That includes all the classes you would like to attend and $50.00 per private session.

Wishing you all a great July,
Karen Toth

A Book, a birthday party and more

2007-06-03T10:22:00.001-04:00

Hi All,

Thank you all that attended and sent best wishes for my 50th Birthday Party! It was great to see so many there!

Last trip to California has introduced me to RAW food. I love the taste and texture of the food. No sugar, no wheat and no dairy. My body really likes it.

Working with Children with special needs was remarkable. We all worked on a child with special needs and watched each other work on these children. The results in changes of the children were amazing. If you know of anyone who has a child with special needs and is interested in trying this modality, I would love the opportunity to work with them. I will charge a small fee of $30 for 30 minutes as an Anat Baniel Method Practitioner (regular fees are $75 for 45 minutes). The treatment has no pain to the child, very small, gentle, slow manipulations. Children with Autism, brachial plexup, ADHD and slow learners, unable to move or other neurological concerns are whom I would like to work with. The more children I can work with, the better feeling in my hands and more knowledge I will be for the next session in August.

Oh and at long last my "Pilates for Pregnancy Pre and Post" is finished and in print. Cost is $20 from me. I will be attending book signings at Chapters and other stores. I will keep you posted as to dates and places. I will also have another party. A book launch. See what happens when I turn 50! I become more alive and brave to complete more of my dreams and goals.

What is Feldenkrais?

2007-04-21T21:53:00.000-04:00

Hi All,

WOW!! Here is a link to let you see and hear about more about the Feldenkrais Method (R).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_i5QuIqcQo&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Eutahfeldenkrais%2Eorg%2Fblog%2F

Ask and You Shall Receive

In this workshop you will learn how the law of attraction will increase your spirituality and your awareness! April 28th from 10 - 5:30 Cost is $149 including materials to continue your journey at home.

Check this site for more information and to register.
http://www.saraswatidavies.com/
Sara is also available to read tarot cards, do astrology, reiki master and too many more trainings to write here. Her tarot card reads are very, very good and worth a try. She will be offering $30 readings in the studio May 5th 100's day.

I would like to see as many of you out May 5th as possible. It is like a customer appreciation day as well as to introduce other memebers of the community to Pilates in a studio setting.

Enjoy this lovely weather with more vitality and action,
Karen

April Newsletter

2007-04-19T08:31:00.000-04:00

Hi All,

Just an invite to join me at the studio Friday night for some fun with makeup. From about 7:30-10:00 a talk and than some fun with makeup. There will be some wine and cheese available as well. Please RSVP as soon as possible so I know how many to expect.

May 5th from 10:30-Noon is 100's Day.

Come try free private movements on the specialize Pilates equipment. Invite family and friends to try some demo Pilates classes. Please feel free to pass this on to family and friends. We are going to make this a really fun day for all that attend.
I will draw to give away 3 private Pilates session as well. It may not be just Pilates. Try some Anat Baniel Method Functional Synthesis and feel how much more you can move, feel and think!

Later May 5th at 1pm I have the Healthy Neck and Shoulder workshop. Discover the difference a few simple movements can do to your life!
For more information check http://www.stretchyourlife.com/classes.htm

Canadian Alpine Ski Team Uses Feldenkrais(R)

More exciting news in the Feldenkrais Method (R). Here is a email I received on Sunday. As a result of the excellent work Kurt Kothbauer and Irene Gutteridge are doing with the National Ski Team, the benefits of FM are spreading around our ski world.
I received an email from the Coach of Ontario Women's Ski Team saying, "Feldenkrais is used by our National Team with a great deal of success". He came to class the other night and we have set up a series of classes exclusively for the Women's Team. Hans, if you are not familiar with them, you might be interested in two great articles Margaret McIntyre wrote for Skiing Magazine. Margaret, formerly of Vail, is a PT, Feldenkrais Practitioner and Ski Instructor.
To read more of this article http://www.whistlerquestion.com/madison/WQuestion.nsf/0/597A28C63F1DCBAD882570C30070B084?OpenDocument

Book of the Month

Pelvic power for men and women. By Erick Franklin

This is a must read for anyone with pelvic floor concerns, incontinence, low back and hip joint issues. He gives amazing stories and visualization for assisting with small movements that make huge differences. How the organs not moving correctly can cause incontinence.

http://astore.amazon.com/stretchyourli-20/detail/0871272598/103-3709320-2835815

Exercise of the Month

As many of you are learning about the Hara, or furnace. We will use one for you to do while driving long distances or sitting at your computer. Please feel free to pass this along to friends and family that drive or sit alot.
1. Sitting tall, inhale to prepare, exhale and start to round down through only the pelvis, feel the length spine and from the sitting bones to the ears. Come to sit tall. Repeat 10-15 times. This really warms up the pelvic floor. Benefits strength in the core to help prevent back pain and incontinence, improve you sex life.
2. Sitting tall and start to slowly rock back and forth from sitting bone to sitting bone. Inhale to right, exhale back to centre. Inhale left, exhale back to centre. Repeat 10-15 times. Benefits keeps the spine moving sequentially from side to side using the obliques and think of the hara while you do this, feel more strength.

Increase your spiritual awareness

Sara Davies will be offering a one day workshop "Ask and You Will Receive - Opening Our Eyes to Clarity and our Spiritual Gifts" the workshop is centered around "The Law of Attraction" and will include the tools that are needed in order to make the "Law of Attraction" work. This workshop is an insight into how things truly are, and a human perspective on the immediate universe. This Seminar examines the gift of the love perspective of the universe and an insight into what truly maters.

Participants will learn to see auras, understand and practice meditation and trance work, learn to use energy-healing techniques and psychic development. We will explore dreams and dream symbols and participants will develop an understanding of the different modalities used to obtain their answers to their spiritual questions. The cost of the seminar is 149.00 and it includes a copy of "The Answers CD" with Hypnotherapist Guy Letourneu.

Register now! as space is extremely limited. You can register on line at http://www.saraswatidavies.com/ You will stretch your awareness and your minds. If you have been stuck in a rut, this seminar will unblock your energies and allow you to move forward in an abundant and spiritual way.

Namaste and Blessings

Saraswati

New session begins April 30th

Check class schedule here http://www.stretchyourlife.com/schedule.htm
Sign up for your classes now!

Stretch Your Life February News Letter

2007-02-24T19:56:00.000-05:00

Hi All,

February draws to and end and spring is just around the corner! New session starts March 5 and runs for 8 weeks.

For class schedule see http://www.stretchyourlife.com/schedule.htm

For a 5-7 minute mini workout to reduce computer pain and strain check the desk-trainer link at http://www.stretchyourlife.com/index.htm This workout was and is being developed by my teacher Anat Baniel. It was because of this site that she was given a 6 digit figure to publish her book. This company publishes 16 books per season and has Deepak Chopra as one of their clients.

Exercise of the Month

Pilates for Equestrian http://www.pilates.com/BBAPP/V/personal/pilates-equestrian-exercise.html

For those interested in increasing or becoming more aware of their intuition, there is a 1 day workshop March 11 from 10 - 5:30. Space is limited so please respond quickly. (If you would like me to forward the info to you please email info@stretchyourlife.com)

Saraswati Davies and Guy Letourneau (Naturopath and Hypnotherapist) have come together again to present a one-day seminar called Ask and You Shall Receive, which is designed to enliven the students' own psychic abilities.

Guy has created The Answers CD, which will allow participants of this new seminar to practice on a daily basis. Each participant will receive a copy of this amazing CD to take home and practice with.

Saraswati and Guy have designed a program that includes learning to see auras, energy work, meditation, as well as interesting discussions on dream analysis and creative visualization.

Saraswati also discusses the tools connected with spiritual counseling such as astrology, tarot, and channeling.

Saraswati teaches the techniques, which, if practiced, will enhance spiritual and psychic abilities, producing spiritual answers for the questioner.
In this one-day seminar, participants will examine the following aspects of psychic and spiritual awareness. Participants will be given the opportunity to experience these aspects for themselves. This workshop will be both experiential and instructional.

VisionaryThis is the ability to transform thought forms into a vision, symbol, or a specific colour by using the mind’s eye and correctly interpreting the vision. This part of the course will awaken our ability to see and read auras. We will examine the chakra system and its colours, their meanings and their relationship to our spiritual, psychological, emotional, and physical health. We will also examine the Dream State and its importance to clairvoyance. Students will learn to keep a dream journal. We will discuss symbols and their meanings. We will also learn “grounding and protection techniques”, which are essential tools when attempting to work on the vibrational level.

PropheticDescribed as the ability to pick up a thought and just “know it”. This ability makes one sensitive to precognition and produces hunches, dreams and “knowings”. Adepts at this practice work to become clear channels and receive their information directly from The Universal Source. They pick up the Akashic record of emotions past, present, and future. This ability allows the clairsentient to capture the energy signal of those emotions in the time-space continuum, thus producing images and “intuitive knowing”. Some describe this practice at its most basic as simply seeing red flags or hunches.We will look at the use of Tarot Cards and their symbolic journey to the rediscovery of the past, the situational content of the present, and the predictive probabilities of the future. The future, although probable, is malleable by its creator.

FeelingThis ability allows one to pick up a thought and transform it immediately into a feeling. The sense of touch is well developed; thus the Feeler has the ability to know people by feeling the vibrations they receive. In combination with other skills, a feeling clairsentient can tell the past, present, or future from the vibrational energy they perceive. We will explore the science of psychometry, which allows the student to learn how to pick up vibrational impressions from inanimate objects. We will also return to our discussion on the various techniques of protection and detachment when attempting these practices.

About Saraswati Davies
Saraswati’s formal career into the Para-normal began twenty-five years ago.
At the age of twenty-eight, Saraswati had a near-death experience, which changed the course of her life.
Saraswati studied parapsychology and philosophy; and started reading tarot cards on a regular basis.

Her teacher in those years was a world class expert on Dream Analysis, June Mewhort, and from her, Saraswati learned spiritual philosophy and the art of dream divination.

Simultaneously, she studied with Astrologer, Robin Armstrong. Over the next four years she delved into the world of planets and predictions.

Saraswati’s very first tarot party was at the home of Senator Keith Davie and his wife Judge Dorothy Davie. She has been reading and guiding people of position and celebrity ever since.
Saraswati continued to work with clients and started teaching spiritual development and philosophy in the mid-eighties. The trips to sacred sites and the Dolphin swims in the Gulf of Mexico, which she arranged for her clients, were one of the many highlights of those years. She enjoyed introducing her clients to their spiritual roots, while finding her own.

In 1988, she wrote and produced “Wishing Well,” a program of relaxation tapes and print. The program was designed to bring clarity to her readers and listeners.
Later she wrote, produced and appeared in her own TV show “ESP”. Saraswati wanted to get the word out to all those who would listen. This show featured interviews with prominent guests in the fields of alternative therapy and medicine.

1990 rolled around and Saraswati realized that she needed more education; if she were to continue to be effective for her clients and students, and so, she enrolled at Wilfred Laurier University and completed another degree, this time in Religion and Culture with a minor in Psychology.

Her curiosity leaned toward Psychology, Native American and Women’s Studies and she studied privately with the Wolf-Clan Mother on Six Nations in Brantford, Ontario. Sylvia Sandy mentored Saraswati until her own death, in 2004.

She left for Mexico, in 1996, and over the next two years she lived with the Huicholes; who initiated her into their medicine society. She returned: Tu-Tu Chenulawey – Grandmother White Flower who calls to you from the desert.

Upon her return, two years later Saraswati earned her degrees as a Reiki Master/Teacher.
The next few years found her in the middle of the crop circles in Southern England, collecting evidence that would hopefully help us to understand the real meaning and significance of these phenomena. Already a third degree priestess and hereditary initiate of the Old Religion, she thrived in the magical land of Ancient Avalon, and the land of her birth.

In 1998, Saraswati used her education in a different manner; she left Canada for Korea where she taught English in the land of Temples and Eastern Philosophy.
When she returned Saraswati joined the Lester B Person School Board and developed a program for ADD and ADHD kids.

In 2002, illness threatened to stop her from continuing with her work; however, she met Guy Letourneau who had enough internal fortitude and strength for both of them. Saraswati started her long road back to health.
Saraswati and Guy, co-produced and Aids Awareness docu-drama “Good Dogs Go To Heaven”; it premiered in 2003, in Montreal Quebec

Again, in partnership with Guy, “The Answers CD” was produced. This was an attempt to help her clients understand the process of “reading” for them selves.

Saraswati now lives in Southern Ontario, where she continues to study, teach and do readings.

Saraswati is currently studying with Swami Sai Premananda and counts herself very lucky to be doing so.

Create a month full of "action and vitality".

Karen