2019: Review of a deeply heartfelt, well traveled, and winning year

2019 Year in Review: Heartfelt, Well traveled, and Winning

2019 was a deeply heartfelt year that created a lot of unexpected opportunities to travel, through loss and gain.

My husband and I drove across the state of Florida for me to emcee the Awakening Into the Sun outdoor yoga and music festival the first weekend in March (it’s an annual event). And this year we were so delighted to have my husband‘s sister and her husband join us! We all stayed at the Crystal Bay hotel in St. Pete and enjoyed a fun time at Caddy’s on the beach with friends too!

Heartfelt travel

Then deep sadness hit me only a few days later. My dad passed away in his sleep on March 8th. I wrote a long and meaningful eulogy for my papa here.

Can’t fly without you.

Papa’s passing prompted my adult son and I to take a fast trip to West Virginia–with me doing all of the driving! I cannot even go into what a rushed and tiring trip this was. And grieving a lot of the way. But, I was glad to see the last property dad had bought, sit high on the ridge in peace and serenity, and have that entire road trip time with my son.

Later in the year, in September, I would find myself on another long road trip. This time, my husband and I took turns driving though. We drove from Florida to Tennessee for our sister-in-law, Mary Murrey’s funeral.

Sacred Celtic Journey

The trip I had booked in 2018 that was supposed to be taken in September 2019, was changed to July. And due to my father’s passing, my husband decided to join me and the group that was going.

It was a little last minute to pay for his ticket, but thankfully we knew before I had bought my airline ticket. And also thankfully, Patricia told us about Aer Lingus flights out of Orlando, and when I checked, they had non-stop flights for decent prices from Orlando to Dublin, Ireland (which was where our tour began). For more about that incredible trip, read all 3 parts, beginning here.

Seeing my girls

Went to NH to see my girls the week of Aug 5th. Only got to spend a week, but the best thing was that I got to sleep in my granddaughter’s room with her (that I couldn’t before without having breathing issues)! We had the best time!

Online classes

I participated in an 8 week class produced by the IONS group.

I thoroughly enjoyed engaging with our small group of 4 ladies in the Conscious Aging with facilitator, Beth Knight. This heartfelt group was sooo supportive and open to share meaningful life experiences!

I highly recommend taking this class if you’re over 50, or if you have any issues for yourself, parents, or other loved ones when it comes to embracing the aging process.

I also watched and bought the Keto Edge Summit package from Dr Jockers.

Near the end of the year, I hired a personal trainer for 12 sessions and astounded myself by how much I learned and what my body could do! I went from lifting 80 pounds to 200 pounds over the course of 3 months (due to illness, I had to skip some weeks), which really impressed me–read about that here.

About this same time, I hired a business coach and began working a one year plan, so my husband and I can work together to showcase his original music and art, travel, live off grid, and really combine his genius talent, experience, and education with mine. Read more about the direction we’re taking here.

Visiting friends in Florida

Finally, after saying we were going to see Tammy and Rodney for the last 10 years or so, we did it!! We took a weekend and went to Jupiter FL and the best bonus was that my elementary and high school friends, Nancy and husband, Jay, (who have lived in Stuart FL for years) got to join us!

We all had such a grand time that we want to go again!

Winning

I won a ticket to attend SoulTreat in Sedona AZ the weekend of Nov 2-3, 2019!!! I had two days on the red rocks and hike the same vortex behind the hotel where my Sedona siStars group had stayed when Alania and Patricia took us in 2016. I had an aWEsOMe experience and you can read more about that here.

But, before I could go to Sedona, I actually went to Las Vegas for an exciting health product convention! This was also a gift of a surprise when I had been told that my full-time job would end Nov. 30th (It didn’t and I may still be working through January 2020) and I reached out to my product sponsor that I needed to get busy sharing this product, (which my husband and I had been taking for a year). Read about that here.

Big News!

When we all thought my winning streak was over, I won again!

To me, all of this winning seemed to tell me that my papa wanted me to fly for him and enjoy all of the many opportunities in alignment for me. One of my intuitive friends told me it wasn’t only my dad lining these events up for me, but my grandfather! And for me, all I can do is say, “Thank You.” Thank you to all of my loving relatives here and in the Grand Beyond for these incredible and healing experiences!

Yes, I won a rare and highly prized ENTRY into the neolithic burial tomb Newgrange chamber for the 2019 Winter Solstice sunrise on Dec 18th!!! I was one of 60 people picked from 30,861 applications!!!

You can’t make this stuff up!

And the winning continued

At SoulTreat 2019 I bought $20 worth of raffle tickets and envisioned Shari Alyse calling out my name and saying that she was ecstatic that I, one of her SoulTreat winners, WON the Wellness pack worth over $1,000!!!

Well, Shari wasn’t the one who announced my name, but when Anna Pereira read my ticket number (which contained the number 18 that was synchronistic to me because of my dad), at first it took me a moment to realize it was me! Yep! I won this fantastic prize and it included a ticket to SoulTreat 2020!!!

After my flight home to Florida, I stuck to my commitment to present as a vendor at my local Women, Wine, and Wellness event in Cocoa (even though tired from a full day of travel and driving an hour from the airport). And won another gift there of a CBD pack, which I will be writing a product article about here. Stay tuned.

I invite you to stay tuned on the new coaching program I am currently putting together. If you have an interest in health, vitality, energy, consciousness, feeling better, and living a wholly vibrant life, I think you will love what I have in mind!

A bit about us

My husband is an award-winning illustrator, plus he is a seasoned guitarist, bass player, and songwriter (of over 400 original songs). You can view some of his artwork and listen to all of his songs on RichardMurrey.com or check out his latest 24 songs here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC53E21F-JlTW2iQmPcEIWkQ

I’m an Amazon bestselling author of two co-authored books: “Transform Your Life Book 2 Inspirational Stories and Expert Advice” and “Energy of Receiving”, available on Amazon. Plus, I’ve written a new book (in the making for 13 years), Take It Upon Yourself to Live a Wholly Vibrant Life, that’s now available for online sale and distribution (PDF format). Buy it here.

As well, you can hire us to promote your book, band, business, or services here: https://www.facebook.com/MurreyMakers-103294764612382/

Be the best version of who you want to be and let us promote you!

We help small business owners, movement makers, and entrepreneurs to identify the highest vibrational words to craft the content to reach their ideal clients in fun, engaging, and mindful ways, while raising our collective consciousness! Reach out to me if you need a branding boost, or a design reboot, to attract your dream clients and you back in charge of YOUR well-being.

I am available to come to your bookstore, crystal shop, acupuncture / chiropractor office, or other holistic / natural healthy lifestyle business for books signings and lectures. For information on both of my books, visit my Amazon author’s page — Click here.

I’m “The Caring Techie” (changing that tagline in the New Year) and your alternative health researcher, joyful wellness guinea pig, and mindful Spirit-Soul-Mind-Body guru! Reach out to me if you need a boost, or a boot, to get yourself back in charge of YOUR well-being.

If you’ve beat a chronic health challenge by alternative, integrative, or other natural remedy I’d love to hear about it. Send me an email and keep in touch.

Follow me on Twitter at: TakeOnYourself

Information provided is for educational purposes only and is not intended to treat, diagnose or prescribe.

CD Review: Simple Truth by Shelley Morningsong will lighten and uplift

CD Review: Simple Truth

The following is my review of singer, writer, and soul-Connected sister-friend, Shelley Morningsong’s latest music CD: Simple Truth.

You can listen to the title track song on Shelley’s website here.

My readers know that I’ve reviewed Shelley Morningsong’s CD before and that I feel she and partner, Fabian Fontenelle, continue to authentically create spiritually uplifting and healing music that connect us with each other, as well as put us back in touch with our own souls. Anyone can listen to Simple Truth all the way through, and be moved.

Shelley’s powerful and rich vocals dive deep to our inner BEings, and stir our emotions.

Each of Shelley and Fabian’s CDs are masterfully produced, thus I feel all will richly enjoy listening. Put it on repeat. Listen intently or listen while working. Either way, you’ll receive the love put into each track on Simple Truth.

CD: Simple Truth

Songs:

I Wanta Live opens with a single strong drumbeat to set the tone, and then the guitar comes in, following with Shelley’s powerful and rich voice. “Free my mind” she sings.  This song is an uplifting positive life affirmation. A positive message one can use to start each balanced day. Listen at any time to ground and center yourself.

Fatherless Child feels like a true and heartfelt story. I pick up some old blues in this, as it’s a slower tempo. This has clear guitar riffs and wonderful musicality. Shelley’s music is often full of deep emotion. And moving. This may bring tears if you’ve been in or known anyone in a similar situation. All are worthy of love. ❤️

Love Brought You Here is a favorite of mine and I’m not always a fan of duets, however this one is exceptional. The production on this love song is superb! Elements of soul and easy listening. A gentle piano and orchestra arrangement. And vocals that blend exquisitely. Where ever each of us has been, love has brought you here, indeed.

As I listen to the title track, Simple Truth I remember sitting outside on the red rocks of Sedona, Arizona and contemplating my life.  This song beckons us to embrace each day and all lessons. Take time to stop and smell the roses. Appreciate yourself for who you’ve become. Appreciate your family, friends, and neighbors.

Amazing Grace Interlude is a short folksy kind of instrumental of the classic spiritual tune.

Wade In The Water is a cover of a classic spiritual / blues song. I so love Shelley’s smooth voice. I’d never heard this song before, but the more I hear it, the more I enjoy it.

Soul Tie starts off with a rattle and guitar. Shelley paints an endearing story of abiding and timeless love. Soul to soul. We are knitted together and feel the ties. Kindred spirits, yes. Overlapping vocals embellish this elegant tune.

Quiet Place opens with guitar or dobro, which to my ear, lends a beautiful ancient Native American sound. The melody feels familiar. We can wait out any storm with Shelley listening to this track.

In California Dreaming, we hear Shelley’s version of this 1965 song originally written by John and Michelle Phillips and was a hit for the Mamas and the Papas.

With Good Day To Live, beautiful guitar opens and Shelley brings us in with her rich voice and story about it being a good day to live, no matter the season or circumstance. Forgive, let go, because life’s short. We love the melody and guitar work. Aho!

Finding My Way finishes off this CD with organ, piano, and Shelley’s Native American flute. A gentle healing song with an uplifting message. Forward progress promoted. No fear. Shelley encourages us to find and believe in the possibilities.

Overall, I have played Simple Truth from start to finish, even putting on repeat. It’s full of refined and graceful musical wisdom. I feel it’s a CD with which you can heal, and awaken.

Remember, We Are All Connected. Whether we have physical eyes to see or not, our loved ones stand with us. We are powerful and more loved than we may know. We Are All Related.

❤️🦋🌀

Order your own Simple Truth CD (or download individual songs if you’d prefer) from Shelley today –> Click here.

Come out to one of the following festivals or pow wow’s to meet Shelley and Fabian in person! Check the Musical Echoes Flute and Cultural event website to find upcoming dates.

I met Shelley and Fabian at the Brooksville, Florida festival after viewing their video (Click here to see the video –> on YouTube), which totally clicked when Shelley spoke the words that I was given years ago, We Are All Connected.

When you visit Shelley’s website be sure to scroll down, especially if you click on the Store or Gallery links, as there is much to see!

Another way you may wish to connect with Shelley, is through your support with Half the Sky. Click here –> Half the Sky to learn more about how you can help impoverished women and children who just need a hand up.

A bit about me:

An Amazon bestselling author of two co-authored books: “Transform Your Life Book 2 Inspirational Stories and Expert Advice” and “Energy of Receiving”, both available now.

To learn more about me Click Here –>> Take it upon yourself to be healthy, joyful, vibrant, and beautiful.

The book that’s been in the making for 13 years, Take It Upon Yourself to Live a Wholly Vibrant Life, is now available for online sale and distribution (PDF format).

Buy it here: https://beingwhollyvibrant.wordpress.com/2018/09/12/book-launch-take-it-upon-yourself-to-live-a-wholly-vibrant-life/

I would love to emcee your outdoor health festival in Florida – reach out to me. I’m a licensed Florida notary and would love to marry people also.

Be the best version of who you want to be.

Information provided is for educational purposes only and is not intended to treat, diagnose or prescribe.

Follow me on Twitter at: TakeOnYourself

P.S. If you find this blog informational, won’t you consider a small donation to keep it going? PayPal.Me/SheilaMurrey

2016: Review of a productive and enlightening year!

The year of 2016 has been a banner year of self discovery for me!! What a whirlwind of knowledge and experiential learning–and this is my review of such a productive and enlightening year:

After having completed Dr. Alison J Kay’s teleseries which had begun in Dec 2015, but wrapped up in January 2016–see more about that here, I believe it certainly set me up for quite a fantastic 2016! And I highly recommend Alison’s courses to everyone–especially if you want to have a banner year!

I began volunteering in January/February at Awakening Wellness center. I so loved meeting so many people there and being off service. Just the energy of being in a wellness center, where people could come for sessions and I could learn how to help, was such a joy! My heart warmed with each and every connection.

During this time, I met my naturopath and was urged to go back to a diet my husband and I had tried, but had given up years earlier–Dr. D’Adamo’s Eat Right 4 Your Blood Type. Two days after changing my diet, the stiffness in my ankles disappeared! Over the next few weeks I could think more clearly. As the months went on it became easier and easier to avoid the foods that Dr. Peter J. D’Adamo tells me are toxic to my body.

Then in February, I took Rev. Michael Beckwith’s six-week Master class online with Mind Valley. (Cost: About $300) I wrote a blog article especially about the program here.

The following is a brief summary of what I learned:

• I learned and implemented the following thought: I cannot stop birds from flying around my head, but I can prevent them from nesting in my hair.
• Affirmative and agenda-less prayer and meditation can always shift me back into Gratitude.
• Faith, only as small as the size of a mustard seed, is all it takes to move the proverbial mountains in our life. Really.
• Stay my attention on the changeless reality of my inner self, don’t look to the external world for fulfillment.
• Silently converse with my own heart, commune with joy in my heart.

Meditate or affirm in prayer: I renounce any sense of being bound by personal history, habit, experience, or circumstance. I’m free as spirit is free.

 

In March, I volunteered and had the ultimate privilege to greet every vendor as they were setting up at our huge Awakening Into The Sun (a Zen festival) in downtown St. Petersburg. I had the utter joy of bringing in two vendors to the event too! Emily Stein and the Breakthrough group.

Throughout the two day event, I kept checking in with them–’cause that’s how I roll! I always want to ensure everyone’s ease and happiness while they’re at this fantastic event. We also bought concert tickets for, and attended, the Awakening pre-show. Both my husband and I immensely enjoyed the entertainers! They were all aWEsOMe!

Emily Stein (whom my husband and I took a class with) was one of the Awakening Into The Sun vendors. And I got to meet Emily’s mom! I love these powerful ladies! Such vibrancy! Beautiful spirits! I’m looking forward to spending more time with them in 2017.

Also that month, my daughter experienced a miscarriage. It was gut-wrenching. And since I’ve never been through it, I was truly at a loss for words. I felt helpless, without any way to offer her comfort. And since I had also signed up for, and was in the beginning of an eight-week class, though I wanted to grab a flight to New Hampshire to hug my daughter, I couldn’t get there until May. To ease the gap, and also to help my daughter in any small way that I could, I remembered that a friend of mine and hypnotherapist, had written a book on the subject of miscarriage. And it’s not a subject that very many people talk about!

So, I bought both of us a copy of Angel Babies and we read it together (via distance) and I believe that helped (at least a little bit) to ease my daughter’s mind, as well as, help myself–as the grandmother–to release my sad emotions and also feel and somehow relate a bit more to my mother’s feelings of loss–as she had lost five babies (my unborn siblings) when I was a child. You can find Patricia’s amazing book “Angel Babies” here. (Cost: Book: $15.95 or less on Amazon. Being able to offer comfort: Priceless)

As for that eight-week voice / energy class, I was able to continue, and I am sure it helped me too (to ease the sadness I was feeling for my daughter) with the Breakthrough Performance Workshop — and it did turn out to be a phenomenal experience!

Every week our little group of would-be singers were given a song to sing, sometimes a song we’d never heard of, and we would break through any mental barriers, stretch our voice, find our courage, and build our confidence by practicing the song at home, and then in front of the group at our next practice. Eventually, we videoed each other and learned what we liked, or didn’t like about each performance to build our stamina, poise, and performance ability.

When the night of our concert finally came, even with a pulled neck (which was my silly fault for trying to get into a way too tight garment) I got to do something I’d always dreamed of–to sing a solo with a live band! (Cost: $1200 plus)

After all of this amazing work, you must know how strong I was feeling, emotionally and physically. I’d been doing Pilates for about a year at this point, so on April 21 when I tripped over an ill placed box of printer paper, it really jolted me. I thought, “oh no, now here we go” and figured I might have really hurt one of my wrists, which I had landed on with nearly all of my body weight. But, to my joy and surprise, I didn’t break any bones and I healed quite quickly–only needed a couple of massages by my friend Tiffiny, and one acupuncture treatment. Read about Tiffiny’s massage therapy here.
(Cost over $200; and never got compensated from workman’s comp)

On May 5th, I was blessed to spend Mother’s Day in New Hampshire with my daughter and granddaughter. How much love! Like a sponge, every time we’re together I always soak in every moment. Lots of laughter, play, hugs, kisses, and singing! However, there was something or other in their hundred year old house that irritated my eyes and lungs, so once I returned home, I coughed for a couple of months and couldn’t sing for a long time.

In May, I also joyfully became a Florida Notary Public. And performed my first official wedding for Jessica and Phillip Walling, May 21st, 2016 at a beautiful outdoor venue. If you know anyone getting married in the Central Florida area, Tampa Bay area, or eastern part of Florida, let me know! It thrills my soul to be able to officiate weddings! I love being able to bring two people together with love and harmony.

The most fantastic news came by June–my daughter had conceived again!! And the most aWEsOMe of news was that… she’s having TWINS!!!!

The summer seemed to keep me busy… I attended several different meetups and finished several books.

In September, instead of my usual pilgrimage to New Hampshire for my granddaughter’s birthday, I’d learned that my daughter’s father and his wife were going to visit. So, that freed up my schedule. And I took advantage of this for ME! I took a once in a lifetime trip to Sedona AZ.

Unlike any other vacation, this trip was just for my Self, with two facilitators I have met and worked with, along with twelve other like-minded ladies, most of whom were unknown to me before the journey, but most became friends! I was full of Energy the whole time I was in Arizona, and felt like a kid again while hiking and exploring!! You can read the blog article I wrote about my Sedona trip here.

The downside was that while I was away, my husband fell and broke his wrist and our fridge quit working. I came home to my hubby needing me to help him get out of a shirt, empty and clean out our fridge, wash dishes (which he normally does), and so on. Our joke was that I climbed five mountains in five days and didn’t even break a nail, but he fell coming into the RV and broke the first bone he’s ever broken in his life. We tried any way we could to make light of the situation, so that I wouldn’t feel bad about having taken my solo vacation, and to help him heal and not feel depressed about not being able to play guitar, and not feel guilty about not being able to do regular household tasks.

However, three days after I arrived home from Sedona, I began coughing. Eventually, and not soon enough, I went to see my naturopath, Maggie. If only I had went to see her sooner, I’d not have suffered for a month or more! I found some relief as soon as I took the first homeopathic remedy–which, I realize, sounds incredible!

Apparently, I’d had several different kinds of things going on. I had markers for viruses, mold, two kinds of flu, and mycoplasma. Physically, I was a hot mess. I made a vow to refocus my attention on getting well–and staying well!

In September, I met Dr. Ronald K. Porter at Miracles bookstore. Ronald teaches Pranayama breathing and yoga and this was a workshop that I definitely needed. (Cost: $10) A nagging nerve pain that I’d had in my right knee was healed during the workshop–only from my focus on learning the breathing techniques!! I was thrilled! I loved the class so much that I started going to Dr. Porter’s yoga classes at Metro and invited friends to join me! Also, when Ronald was teaching the Pranayama class at Miracles again, I invited my friend Karen to go with me–and we had a great time!

Also in September, I attended a free yoga movie night in Sarasota and bought six DVDs directly from the filmmaker ($100). At that event, I met a new friend and she invited to see Sadhguru (who would be in Sarasota a week later). As it turned out, I was given a promo ticket for writing a blog article about Sadhguru’s book launch event, and received a copy of his new book!) What’s really interesting about this, and totally synchronistic was that all of this occured just a week after finding Sadhguru on YouTube while searching for more videos on Pranayama breathing!

November brought more enlightening events. On the 9th I attended a healing workshop at Heatherhoney’s center in Brandon. There I met Veronica, who facilitated the event and used Young Living essential oils to raise our vibration. Now I have been a Young Living essential oils distributor for years, but I’ve only used the oils in my own self-care and to give as gifts when I meet someone in need. So I’m always happy to continue experiencing how I can share these healthy oils–this event gave me more ideas on sharing.

I arrived early to the meeting and talked with Veronica a bit about a friend of ours who is suffering with ALS. Veronica asked me if our friend would be open to Alternative treatments, and if I had heard of the Medical Medium. Anthony William, the Medical Medium, has millions of people listening to him. And now I am too. Naturally, I was super excited to learn that there might be other ways to help our friend, so I passed all of what I learned to our friend to potentially ease her suffering.

Mid November, I took six FREE meditation classes from BKTampa.org – Brahma Kumari’s on Saturday and Sunday mornings in Tampa. Yes, I had to make the effort to drive 20+ miles to attend, but it was so mind expanding! I am grateful that there are teachers who make themselves available to teach meditation to anyone who will take the time to learn.

In another synchronistic meeting, I was invited to, and attended a healing event at the beautiful and energy-filled Crystal Bay hotel in St Petersburg, where I received a word from Dr. Mark Tong about exercising and that I should continue doing so. How could he have known that I had ramped up my yoga and Pilates!! Wow! After the event ended, my friend Terri introduced me to Linda McCarthy. As Linda and I talked, I experienced God bumps, which always validates that a conversation is of utmost importance to me (or perhaps, to my Soul).

Linda and I talked outside of the hotel until nearly everyone had gone. She gave me the audiobook called, The Reconnection. This was only just a week after I had found Dr. Eric Pearl on YouTube!!!

As the year ended, it found me celebrating a full and robust year of learning and implementing many of the new found mind-body and spirit-filled tools, which have increased my confidence, health, and well-being to overflowing!

I continue daily to practice meditation, yoga, Pranayama breathing, Pilates (twice a week), and singing / chanting to reach a higher and deeper sense of self and spiritual connectivity with our Ever-Living, Filling-All-Space, LIMITLESS Creator. Oh what a profound and beautiful year it has been!

I send you all many blessings, in ALL ways for a brilliant and uplifting 2017! Happy New Year!

OM

Take it upon yourself to be healthy, joyful, wholly vibrant, and beautiful.

A bit about me:

An Amazon bestselling author of two co-authored books: “Transform Your Life Book 2 Inspirational Stories and Expert Advice” and “Energy of Receiving”, both available now.

I am available to come to your bookstore, crystal shop, acupuncture / chiropractor office, or other holistic / natural healthy lifestyle business for books signings and lectures. For information on both of my books, visit my Amazon author’s page — Click here.

If you’ve beat a chronic health challenge by alternative, integrative, or other natural remedy I’d love to hear about it.

I am interested in participating in any raw and living food’s festivals in Florida – if you would like to reach out to me to help you get that going!

Send me an email and keep in touch.

To learn more about me Click Here –>> Take it upon yourself to be healthy, joyful, vibrant, and beautiful.

UPDATE 9/12/2018:

The book that’s been in the making for 13 years, Take It Upon Yourself to Live a Wholly Vibrant Life, is now available for online sale and distribution (PDF format).

Buy it here: https://beingwhollyvibrant.wordpress.com/2018/09/12/book-launch-take-it-upon-yourself-to-live-a-wholly-vibrant-life/

Be the best version of who you want to be.

Information provided is for educational purposes only and is not intended to treat, diagnose or prescribe.

Follow me on Twitter at: TakeOnYourself

P.S. If you find this blog informational, won’t you consider a small donation to keep it going? PayPal.Me/SheilaMurrey

 

Are you scared of Yoga?

Yoga isn’t just for thin and fit young women… ohh nooooo! Why then, would you be scared of Yoga?

If you’ve ever walked into a yoga studio and been made to feel anything less than beautiful, no matter your age, weight, skin tone, gender, hair color, or personal style, then honey, that group wasn’t for you anyway.

Or, if you’ve ever thought that you’re just not flexible enough to do yoga, think again! Only with practice does flexibility come. No one has ever became a yoga guru overnight! And no one will expect that perfection from you. It’s all about the progress, not perfection in yoga. No one is born a master.

In a yoga class, each of us are so busy working on getting into a posture and breathing in it, that we aren’t looking at you anyway. Sure, there may be the occasional glance, but our purpose in class is to focus on self, breathe and connect with our own mind and body, all the while feeling the support and building our confidence by feeling supported by a caring teacher who will guide us.

This is why I delightfully invite you, if you’re anywhere near the Tampa Bay area of Florida, to meet Dr. Ronald Porter and come to one of his uplifting classes.

I attended Dr. Porter’s “Yoga FUNdamentals!” class yesterday (one of the series of experiential learning classes he offers on a monthly basis at Miracles Metaphysical bookstore in St. Petersburg, FL) and he did a brilliant joy (er, job) of leading an older group of us (many of whom had never moved their bodies much at all, much less had done yoga before) in yoga. Plus, he taught us how he came to learn and teach yoga, the proper way the positions (asanas) are done, the Sanskrit words for each asana, and how to modify it for our body and ability. We moved very slowly, breathed, and held the asana for 3 to 5 minutes.

I woke up this morning feeling ten years younger, lighter, and with no muscle soreness at all! In fact, yoga can help you live longer, because with a flexible spine you’ll be able to do more, and not hurt when you bend over and pick something up from the floor. With practice, yoga will enable your body to flex, thus allowing  you to feel younger! Yoga is a process. But, it won’t take long, with consistent practice, for you to feel, and then see, a transformation in your body.

In the Fundamentals playshop, Dr. Ronald K. Porter lead us in an exploration of the basic philosophy and fundamental poses of yoga.  We all learned and practiced right along with him. We smiled, and laughed. It was experiential! And it was fun!

During Ronald’s class, we could obviously see Ronald’s mastery of yoga, yet we could also see, hear, and feel that this master has transcended ego. He never made us feel “less than” anything! In fact, because Ronald says, “beautiful” so much during class, he has me saying it more now in my everyday life. Positivity abounds!

The journey of yoga is a lifelong process, and the student who is open to this process can experience an entirely new readjustment and realignment in their life.  We invite you to laugh and have fun learning this wonderful technique for better health! People have diminished or eliminated anxiety, eased stress, calmed nerves, and lessened depression by practicing yoga. Some have even replaced their smoking habit, or other addictive habit with yoga–it’s very beneficial for you since it’s all about the mind-body connection. And if you’re on prescription medication for a chronic health issue, over time, you may find you’ll need less of those meds!*

If you’re taught properly, yoga is simply about connecting your breath to your body.

Yoga means “to yoke with”. The history of yoga indicates it was thought that by practicing yoga you could enter a meditative, contemplative state of mind, and establish right relationship with God, or the Divine. Whether you want to explore yoga for spiritual reasons, or to relieve your body of pain or chronic dis-ease, don’t let anyone judge you into not coming to a yoga class.

If you aren’t local to our area, or for any reason whatsoever still scared to try a public yoga class, you can always go to YouTube or Gaiam TV online and find a beginner video to watch. Begin moving your body in rhythm with your breath. Do five minutes of yoga. Then build to ten minutes, and so on. Until you feel ready to come out and join a group. The energy you’ll feel while in a group experience is so much richer than going it alone, that within a couple sessions, you’ll really enjoy it.

From Dr. Ronald Porter,

Yoga is for everyone!  Whether your tall, short, round, thin, male, female or transgender, yoga has the potential of being very beneficial for your life.  Often, when people think of yoga they imagine lean and slender persons contorting their bodies into positions that look painful, and even disturbing.  Every now and then I am even asked, “Hey, can you demonstrate that pretzel position?”  It’s sad to think that many people miss out on yoga simply because they have been led to believe it is not for them.

However, yoga is for us all!

I have overheard some people say they’re scared of yoga for religious reasons. Well, that is simply misinformation. If you’re thinking that a yoga teacher is going to attempt to convert you into becoming a mystic, read this.

Some of you may feel intimidated at the thought of yoga, but again, everybody has to start somewhere. We’ve all been new. It’s really okay! Just start wherever you are! And if you tried a class somewhere and felt pressured to perform a posture that was too much for you, or worse, you were called out in any way, you have my assurance — you will not feel that way in Ronald’s yoga classes.

Ronald’s soothing voice and calm manner was one of the first things that attracted me to his classes. When Ronald says to, “breathe d-e-e-p”, you will feel the tension melt away, and as you breathe deep, you’ll feel the ease of your body. I am blessed in those moments. And if I didn’t feel like I fit in when I arrived, I feel it then!

Each week, I look forward to the energy and the flow that I feel during our yoga class, the relaxation, and the healing that takes place. No one has to prod me to attend. I even sleep better after attending a yoga class!

Try it, you’ll like it!

You’ll find a group at Ronald’s classes who are kind, supportive, and loving. You may not get to know them all at once, because since yoga is about our “self” you might find more introverts practicing yoga. However, over time, as you come to class and practice next to someone, mat to mat, you will see that we are all each on our own journey. Yet, We Are All Connected.

Along my life’s journey I have learned that if I do not judge others, they do not judge me. And I think that’s a pretty good mind set and way to live, whether on or off the yoga mat.

Amen. Namaste. OM

———– Weekly Yoga Class Invitation ———

When?

Every Tuesday evening from 6:00pm – 7:30pm

Where?

Metro Wellness and Community Center

3251 3rd Ave. N

St. Petersburg, FL

There is a $5 donation requested per class with all proceeds going to Metro.

Also, Ronald offers a yoga class on Thursday evenings at Awakening Wellness Center in St. Pete –> visit the their site’s calendar to view events here.

———– Blessings to you in ALL ways! ———

*Consult with one of your licensed health professionals / wellness practitioner team before making any changes in your prescribed medications.

Take it upon yourself to be healthy, joyful, wholly vibrant, and beautiful.

A bit about me:

An Amazon bestselling author of two co-authored books: “Transform Your Life Book 2 Inspirational Stories and Expert Advice” and “Energy of Receiving”, both available now.

I am available to come to your bookstore, crystal shop, acupuncture / chiropractor office, or other holistic / natural healthy lifestyle business for books signings and lectures. For information on both of my books, visit my Amazon author’s page — Click here.

If you’ve beat a chronic health challenge by alternative, integrative, or other natural remedy I’d love to hear about it.

I am interested in participating in any raw and living food’s festivals in Florida – if you would like to reach out to me to help you get that going!

Send me an email and keep in touch.

To learn more about me Click Here –>> Take it upon yourself to be healthy, joyful, vibrant, and beautiful.

UPDATE 9/12/2018:

The book that’s been in the making for 13 years, Take It Upon Yourself to Live a Wholly Vibrant Life, is now available for online sale and distribution (PDF format).

Buy it here: https://beingwhollyvibrant.wordpress.com/2018/09/12/book-launch-take-it-upon-yourself-to-live-a-wholly-vibrant-life/

Be the best version of who you want to be.

Information provided is for educational purposes only and is not intended to treat, diagnose or prescribe.

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