This was my experience every day for one week at The Sivananda Ashram YogaRetreat. It was a true sanctuary of peace and natural beauty located on a paradise-like island with crystal clear water and pure white sand just across the bay from Nassau.

My adventure began on a Saturday morning as I arrived on the island of Nassau earlier than expected. I gathered my luggage and took a 20 minute taxi ride to a dock. As I waited patiently for the boat to whisk me away to paradise, I encountered two lovely ladies and we made our introductions. Both women had traveled quite a distance to get to the Ashram. Anna came from Germany, Katie from Nova Scotia, and both were now part of the Teacher Training Course (TTC). They would be living and working on the ashram for one month. The TTC is based on “Karma Yoga”, also known as Buddha Yoga or the “discipline of action” and is based on the teachings of the Bhagavad-Gita, a sacred Sanskrit scripture of Hinduism. Of the four paths to realization, Karma Yoga is the science of achieving perfection in action. Karma Yoga is an intrinsic part of many derivative types of yoga.

Shortly after our introductions, the boat arrived and we were on our way – well not quite! First we had to lug bags and boxes of HEAVY produce onto the boat. I thought to myself, “You have to be kidding me. I’m on vacation! My poor back!” However, I actually didn’t mind at all. We all pitched in, and I reminded myself, “This is “Karma Yoga!”, although I noticed the two men on the boat were not practicing “Karma Yoga” – they were barely helping at all! Plus, the tiny walkway between the dock and the boat was making me plenty nervous that one of us was going to end up in the water! Needless to say, we all made it to the island in one piece and received some fruit for our effort. Thankfully, I caught on pretty quickly and adapted fast because the Ashram was not very organized and almost too laid back when it came to answering my pretty straight forward questions, such as, where is my room, and other basic questions one might ask upon arrival. Being resourceful, I went traipsing around the place and gave myself the unguided tour and finally found my room: “Hallelujah!” I thought to myself. “I’d best get to the beach fast and do some meditating before I lose it.” However, by the evening I figured out how it all worked and whatever I still didn’t know I would just learn as I went with the flow.

The Ashram is built around a semi-closed, outdoor meditation temple. There are spacious exercise platforms facing the warm blue-green waters of the Caribbean Sea, the bay and the gardens. I opted to stay in one of the private wooden cabins. The room had basic sleeping quarters, both rustic and unembellished, which worked fine for me. The other option was to pitch a tent in one of the quiet garden areas or coconut groves.

Daily Schedule:

The energizing program of the ashram is based on Swami Vishnudevananda’s (who is a disciple of Swami Sivananda the founder of the Ashram) five points for holistic evolution of body, mind, and soul:

• Proper Exercise

• Proper Breathing

• Proper Relaxation

• Proper Diet

• Positive Thinking and Meditation

My days would begin at 5:30 am when I would awaken to the sounds of the ocean, the palm trees rustling in the wind, the birds chirping and a light bell ringing every 10 minutes until 6am when the serenity of early morning meditation would commence. At the ashram they believe the clear sea air helps restore the rested mind to focus and the body to be still. Half an hour of silent meditation is followed by joyful chanting, a spiritual talk or reading, and closing prayers. Next, at 8am, came a 2 hour session of asanas (yogic postures) and pranayama (yogic breathing techniques to invigorate the body and mind). After these rituals, we would have a wonderful vegetarian breakfast/ brunch at 10am, where we all lined up just outside the kitchen with our trays to get our nourishment. I would quickly gather my food and head for the best seat in the house, right on the sand in front of the beautiful clear waters. There is time which you are free to study, to attend a special workshop, to swim, relax on the beach, or go snorkeling. At 4pm is the second asana/pranayama class of the day. Your body achieves maximum stretch at this time and great progress can be made. Dinner is at 6pm, and satsang (meditation, chanting and talk) is at 8pm which completes the day. During the evening satsang there would usually be a talk by one of the special speakers, a concert, or a performance. Lights-out was always around 10pm. All guests were required to attend both satsangs and asana classes but I have never been one to follow the rules. By the 4th day my body felt a bit achy from 4 hours of yoga per day and the long walks on the beach. I chose to sleep in a few days and practiced either the morning or afternoon yoga class instead of both. Most of the day I spent on the beach reading and writing and indulging in some wonderful and intellectual conversations with my new found friends. I found plenty of time for body work; I treated myself to a daily massage and an Aruyvedic body treatment all of which were amazing! I was lucky enough to be there for the Easter holiday and enjoyed a beautiful sunrise ceremony full of joyful praise to the Lord. I am not a religious person but this ceremony was lovely and uplifting and made me realize just how special it is to connect with Faith.

The food was delicious however, but by the last day of my stay I was tired of the same food and the temptation of going across to Nassau or to Atlantis (which was on the other side of the beach) was sounding great for a farewell dinner. My new friend Kathy and I decided to have our final dinner at NOBU. I had no desire to see Atlantis but some of the guests at the Ashram kept talking about it and I didn’t realize until after a few days that it was it was literally in plain sight. I walked through one day on my own to go see the Aquarium everyone was raving about. It was interesting to see the dynamic of the guests at The Atlantis resort compared to the Ashram. It was certainly like walking through Disneyland. After leaving the aquarium I couldn’t wait to get back to the tranquility of the ashram. How ironic that these two different worlds can be physically so close yet spiritually so distant!

Lastly, my yoga adventure confirmed the importance of simplicity, balance, and community. The journey helped restore my faith, strengthened my yoga practice, enhanced my mind and purified my soul. It was a dynamic voyage that I look forward to taking again and again. I enjoyed the warm companionship and the connection with like-minded people from all around the world, which included sharing food, life stories, beliefs, and dreams. It was a truly holistic, revitalizing experience that left me recharged physically, mentally and spiritually!

Until next time

Claudia~

Every weekday I receive an inspirational thought for a happy, healthy and fulfilling day. Today’s “DailyOm” is about Cause, Effect and Transformation. I believe the quest for spiritual and emotional growth is never ending and any tool that can help us achieve this and physical well-being  is worth sharing! This winter has been a difficult one that has  left many feeling exhausted, overwhelmed  and blue (common symptoms of  the “Winter Blues.”) In fact, many Eastern medical practices recognize that with the changing of the seasons, our bodies also change and have different needs than they do during warmer months. But modern society expects us to be upbeat and productive throughout all the seasons. Look out for my upcoming post on how to “detox” and prepare your mind and body for  Spring!

Daily Om:

There are times in our lives when it seems our bodies are running on empty. We are not sick, nor are we necessarily pushing ourselves to the limit—rather, the energy we typical enjoy has mysteriously dissipated, leaving only fatigue. Many people grow accustomed to feeling this way because they do not know that it is possible to exist in any other state. The body’s natural state, however, is one of energy, clarity, and balance. Cultivating these virtues in our own bodies so that we can combat feelings of depletion is a matter of developing a refined awareness of the self and then making changes based on our observations.

A few scant moments of focused self-examination in which you assess your recent schedule, diet, and general health may help you zero in on the factors causing your depletion. If you are struggling to cope with an overfull agenda, prioritization can provide you with more time to sleep and otherwise refresh yourself. Switching to a diet containing plenty of nutritious foods may serve to restore your vigor, especially when augmented by supplements like B vitamins or ginseng. Consider, too, that a visit to a healer or homeopath will likely provide you with wonderful insights into your tiredness. But identifying the source of your exhaustion will occasionally be more complicated than spotting a void in your lifestyle and filling it with some form of literal nourishment. Since your earthly and ethereal forms are so intimately entwined, matters of the mind and heart can take their toll on your physical self. Intense emotions such as anger, sadness, jealousy, and regret need fuel to manifest in your consciousness, and this fuel is more often than not corporeal energy. Conversely, a lack of mental and emotional stimulation may leave you feeling listless and lethargic.

Coping with and healing physical depletion will be easier when you accept that the underlying cause might be more complex than you at first imagined. A harried lifestyle or a diet low in vital nutrients can represent only one part of a larger issue affecting your mood, stamina, and energy levels. When you believe that you are ultimately in control of how you feel, you will be empowered to transform yourself and your day-to-day life so that lasting fatigue can no longer gain a foothold in your existence.

As we approach the end of 2009, I tend to reflect back on the year gone by and contemplate around this time and ask myself what I would like to change in 2010. There is something satisfying about one year coming to a close as a new one begins. It gives me the opportunity to look back on everything I have learned and experienced in the midst of challenging times.

As many of you may have, I underwent extremely difficult times in 2009 but managed to come out somewhat unscathed. I have bittersweet memories having experienced the “Great Recession” but I am hopeful about the second chance the New Year will bring with it. It is essential to embrace change and new ideas and make revised plans for 2010

On the other hand, professionally, it was a great and busy year!

March 09: Fábula was voted in New York Magazine’s “Best of NY ” issue, creating a buzz which helped introduce a new audience to our holistic approach to skincare and wellness.

July 09- Beauty Beyond Skin Deep: The Fábula Skincare & Wellness Lifestyle Blog was launched.

Aug-Sept 09: I moved the business to a new and beautiful studio space, and slowly but surely am making it feel like home.

For me, I look toward this New Year to promise great professional partnerships, continued advancement in skincare – which always delivers, and of course results-oriented treatments and products. As always I will keep you up to speed on the latest news in beauty, health and wellness. I’m very excited to be attending the Integrative Healthcare Symposium NYC  in February, the Esthetique Spa International Conference Las Vegas in June and hopefully will make it to  my favorite destination spa-Miraval Life in Balance, Tucson Arizona after the conference.

As a side note, I was reading a trade magazine recently that asked the question, “Are the keys of change and success really dependent on a miracle, person or plan?” I believe the answer lies in what we do every minute of every day to execute the plan. Being consistent and persistent! Keeping integrity in the choices we make to realize our own personal truths. The future is in our hands and we have to establish a new road to create a new beginning!

Until next time ……….I leave you to be inspired and

Change Action For 2010

“Every moment we are sowing the seeds of our future through our thoughts and intentions. A powerful way to focus your intentions is to write them down.  Set aside some time to think about what you really want. Be as specific as possible and don’t limit yourself. You are planting your seeds in the fertile ground of intention. Consider your desires for sensory gratification – sound, touch, sight, taste, and smell. What do you want to see, hear, and feel in 2010?” ~Deepak Chopra

Material Abundance: What do you want on the material level? A new car or house with a backyard and garden?

Relationships: Write down all your desires for your relationships – your romantic partner, friends, children, parents, co-workers, and any others.

Spiritual: What would nourish your heart and soul? Do want to go on a meditation retreat? Start journaling or have a daily yoga practice?

Personal Goals: What areas of your life would you like to nurture this year? Do you want a new intellectual challenge such as studying a language or learning new software?

Community: What do you want to contribute to your neighborhood, country, or to the world? Consider how you might use your unique talents to serve others.

Health: What are your health goals for the new year? Learning how to meditate? Regular, restful sleep? Better eating habits? Perhaps exercise more? Releasing old emotional wounds?

Make sure to write down everything you desire for your physical and emotional well-being.

Happy new year with love & light

Claudia

Christmas like most holidays can come with a lot of drama.  Expectations run high, but the holidays often deliver little of what we expect.  It’s only natural that holidays will focus our attention on what life lacks- a peaceful family, a thriving career, a happy home, or maybe you are still searching for the perfect partner? What if, instead of focusing on what isn’t perfect in our  life, we focus on the simple things that bring us joy- the dream you’re nurturing that’s on its way to being fulfilled, the creative spark within you that longs to be expressed.There is always something to be grateful for. I know it’s challenging to feel this way in difficult times and when life gets hard. Yet, that is when gratitude can be so important and helps me work through what may feel like and endless rut.

I leave you with some of my simple pleasures and reasons to be thankful this Christmas Day……..

• Laughing so hard my face and stomach hurt
• Listening to my favorite songs
• Clean sheet day
• Bubble baths & hot long showers
• Laughing at an inside joke
• Making new friends and spending time with old ones
• Playing with my  cats and puppy
• Overhearing someone say something nice about me
• Listening to my nieces and nephews laugh
• My husband unexpectedly hugging me
• Dancing ( the best medicine)
• Cup of tea, a good book and a lazy day

Merry Christmas to all who celebrate this holy day and may the energy of the season guide you to joy and peace!

Love & Light

Claudia~

Inspired by my friend Joe Monkman, spiritual teacher, shaman and life coach. I share with you his weekly inspirational quotes taken from personal meditation journals to call us into action and celebrate positive change now.

• Who will inspire you to think and act ‘out of the box’, enjoy a smile, and reflect on all of the positive abundance that Life offers every moment of every day? Be Open.

• Moving forward requires your attention, your focus, your commitment, your love, your desire, your joy, your ACTION. Move into action. Be that.

• Life is a wonderful journey. Go first class.

• There is nothing to ‘do’ even as you take action. Is that a contradiction?

• There is no ‘doing’, only ‘being’. Being in action. Being in love. being open to receive. Being available. Being joyful. Being prosperous. Being present.

• What do you want to BE?”

• Look now at the path you are clearing. There is room to grow. There is room for more to enter. There is an abundance of space. Now is the time to broaden your view. Go beyond your walls – the walls of your home, your city, your country, this Earth. You are Universal Energy. Tap into that source. Act like you know it. Believe. Achieve. Receive.

• There is brilliance acting on your behalf.

• ACT on your subtle impulses. Say YES. Be OPEN to new ideas. Let LIFE move you. REWARD yourself with LOVE.

Joe Monkman
Earth Spirit Works
‘Enhancing the Prosperity of People and the Planet’

Love & Light

Claudia

Fall has arrived! As we enjoy this transition from summer into winter we need to embrace the inevitable internal changes. Fall season, in itself promises a rich palette of colored foliage and a changing climate, both which are enough to ignite the power of our senses.

Most of us are accustomed to and want some level of consistency in our daily lives and rituals. However, I keep asking myself about change, new beginnings and stepping outside the comfort zone. In part to autumn and while recently watching a friend’s skydiving video, I said to myself, “I could never do that”. Does this sound familiar? Personally I truly dislike saying or thinking I can’t do something. For example, I am extremely afraid of heights but have faced this fear head on by skiing and riding some pretty amazing steep mountains across the country. I also faced my fear by rock wall climbing at Miraval in Tucson, Arizona (where I had a panic attack!) but I got through it and made it all the way to the top! What a great feeling it was getting to the TOP – not to mention the beautiful view of the Santa Catalina Mountains.

You may not be ready anytime soon to jump out of an airplane and free fall to the ground. However, you may be ready to jump in and pursue some of your own interests that you’ve put on the back burner. Some of those so called guilty pleasures, personal desires and indulgences which allow you to escape from the stress of daily life.

We all tend to make excuses for why we don’t do things but you can start by changing your thought process. This change will open up doors and opportunities you never even knew existed.

The beauty of being alive is that the rules are always changing. Discover yourself, embrace whatever slight discomfort, and venture into those places of delightful daring. Remember both you and your life are beautiful works in progress!

Love & Light

Claudia~

Astrologer and writer Judi Vitale has had her eye on the sky for most of her life. Partnering with Fábula she brings you Astrological insights into wellness.

Hello, Everyone! We’ve made it through September and all the ups, downs pushes and pulls of Saturn and Uranus, now we can look forward to more positive energies during the month of harvest celebrations, chillier weather and, of course, Halloween! People become cheerful during October, maybe because it seems so wonderful to dig out the jackets and other warmer clothing that make us feel cuddly-cozy. Now that Mercury Retrograde over, it’s going to be easy to push through those projects and ideas you had so much trouble getting off the ground before. By the way, do you have a funny or amusing Mercury Retrograde story? How did this little-but-mighty planet affect your ability to communicate? From broken-down disk drives to cars that just wouldn’t start – I’ve heard more than a few. I think the funniest one I heard came from a friend who, while suffering from food poisoning, tried to take a quick cab ride home. In an attempt to avoid soiling the cab with the obvious results of her ailment, her BlackBerry got caught in the “line of fire” and… with soaked circuits, it became impossible for it to function any further. With the help of a handy insurance policy, all was well within a few days, including her tummy. Even when it comes to this bothering condition we know as Mercury retrograde, all’s well that ends well!

Now, on to October…The beauty-centered influence of the Libra Moon will paint the trees all sorts of beautiful colors, and you may want to do something to enhance your own cosmetic color palette, too. Natural tones that enhance your good looks, just as they do with the trees, will make you look bright and cheerful. After the 23rd, the Sun will move into Scorpio, and the spirit of fall will hold no more hints of summer! The deep and intense energy of this time is meant for taking all the good things that are left after the harvest and considering the potential for new life to emerge from it. You can take this to mean that those things that have outlived their usefulness will pass away – and you’ll be ready for that. Jupiter will come out of its retrograde period on the 13th, allowing you to feel optimistic about some projects you are working on, from work assignments to love affairs. And, there is no doubt that, by the time the month is over, you’ll notice all kinds of things lifting from your life – because there will be one huge change in the planetary lineup.

Saturn will move from Virgo to Libra on October 29th. Saturn is the mean teacher of the solar system, and now those of us with Libra, Capricorn, Aries and Cancer energies will be especially aware of Saturn’s harsh side. People with Gemini and Aquarius in their astrology, on the other hand, will feel a welcome hand of structure helping to steer the ship of life. You would have to consult a professional astrologer to detect specifically how you can best take advantage of or learn from Saturn’s lessons – but in any event, everyone will feel the change. It can affect your personal relationship, financial social and family life, depending on how Saturn interacts with your personal astrology chart.

The Harvest Moon will be out on October 4th – enjoy the fruits of your labors, including some surprises. The unpredictable planet Uranus will insist on being heavily involved on all the goings on around that time. On the 17th and 18th, a New Moon in Libra will be excellent for planning out the beauty routine that will help your skin and body make the transition into winter. Replenish moisture and guard against those harsh, cold temperatures! That way, you’ll be ready for anything and everything the planets decide to put on your plate.

If you wish to learn more about astrology, or to arrange a personal
consultation, please contact Judi via e mail: judivitale@me.com

Astrologer and writer Judi Vitale has had her eye on the sky for most of her life. Partnering with Fábula she brings you Astrological insights into wellness.

The onset of September brings with it the feeling of “back to school,” and
this year the urge to get up and at it will be stronger than ever. There
will be tons of action going on among the planets, and not all of it will be
pleasant to deal with. The first thing you might notice is an uptick in the
number of breakdowns, traffic jams and communications gaffes, beginning
right after Labor Day, and lasting for the whole month. Apart from backing
up your computer and getting your car checked out beforehand, your best bet
for handling this is to go back and re-consider your body’s need for
restorative treatments. As Mercury will be retracing its steps through the
beauty-conscious sign of Libra, it’s appropriate to pay attention to outside
features such as your skin, brows and other areas that you want to show off
at one point or another! Mercury will allow all the connections to be made
without.

On September 11th, Pluto is going to come out of its long retrograde period
to release those items that have been swept under the carpet and bring them
back into consciousness. Four days later, erratic Uranus and stalwart
Saturn will be in a head-to-head contest, creating major tension. Expect
some problems involving huge waves of change to return – even if you thought
the worst was over. Relaxation and centering will become especially
important. You’ll deal with problems a lot more sensibly if you’re in a
state of mind that allows you to process what’s happening by engaging the
rational portion of your mind. No matter what’s happening in the world, you
can deal with these planetary gyrations by accepting change in your life on
the psycho-spiritual level, and promoting change for the better with your
body! Use massage, detoxification and purification to ensure that you’re at
your very best from the inside out.

You can also use the cycles of the moon to manage your projects and attune
your goals with the rhythms of the cosmos. This month, the Full Moon takes
place on September 4th in the sign of Pisces. You may notice the results of
a project you began in mid August is showing results. Also, your psychic
and intuitive energies will be enriched by the Moon’s immersion in the sign
of unconditional love. On the 18th, start something new that will improve
your health and organize your life when the New Moon takes place in Virgo.
Think about a new workout, use time management techniques and get a
full-body massage that stimulates your circulation and rejuvenates your
internal organs.

As you can see, no matter what’s happening with the planets, you can still
be fabulous.

If you wish to learn more about astrology, or to arrange a personal
consultation, please contact Judi via e mail: judivitale@me.com