Do Yoga.

Ahimsa wk 3

2010-04-12T09:10:00.000-07:00

How do you try to fix people? Do you worry about others?

Ahimsa, Week 2, Balance

2010-04-05T11:23:00.000-07:00

"Balance comes from listening to the guidance and wisdom of the inner voice. When we are in balance, we automatically live in nonviolence. Ahimsa, or nonviolence, invites us to question the feeling of powerlessness rather than accept it." "Our ability to stay balanced and courageous has much to do with how we feel about ourselves. How we treat ourselves is in truth how we treat those around us. Our inability to love and accept all the pieces of ourselves creates ripples-tiny acts of violence- that have huge and lasting impacts on others." The Yamas & Niyamas by Deborah Adele.
This week our practice is to guard our balance as we would our most precious resource. Find guidance from the messages of our body. How do you create balance in your life? What effects does balance have in your life and on others?

Ahimsa

2010-03-29T13:08:00.000-07:00

Friday we began a book club at the Spiritual Deli. The book we are exploring is "The Yamas and Niyamas, Exploring Yoga's Ethical Practice" by local author and co-owner of Yoga North, Deborah Adele. For the next 4 weeks we are going to be practicing the first Yama, Ahimsa. Ahimsa is the Sanskrit word for non-violence. At first glance this seems like an obvious ethical guideline. In the book Deborah writes "In Eastern thought, nonviolence is so valued that it stands as the very core and foundation of all yoga philosophy and practice." She goes on to say, "Killing and doing physical harm are grosser forms of violence that are easily seen and understood. However, nonviolence has many subtle implications as well. When we feel hurried, afraid, powerless, out of balance, and harsh with ourselves, we may find ourselves speaking words of unkindess or even exploding with a violent outburst." Becoming less violent involves discerning between fears that keep us alive and fears that keep us from living- fear of the unfamiliar. "It is only our minds that have created the turmoil in our gut and kept us hostage to the possibility of our own lives."
This week practice courage by doing one thing daily that you wouldn't normally do. If you're feeling brave make it something that scare you. See if you can discern between fear and the unfamiliar.
Post your inquiries and share your discoveries with us!

I want to be an Avatar!

2010-03-11T12:48:00.001-08:00

I just saw the movie Avatar last week. It was truly thought provoking. I've always been a country girl. I love nature! I feel alive when I'm outside appreciating the amazing beauty that Mother Nature offers. I've yet to discover anything man made that can compare to the natural, organic beauty of the Earth. So why do spend so much time manipulating, destroying, and trying to control all this natural beauty?
In October I completed my 500 hour teacher training at Yoga North. We spent our final weekend together at Camp Amnicon. Most of the weekend was spent in silence and nature. It was a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the vast amount of knowledge I had learned over the past year.
Yoga teaches Ethical Practices to live more skillfully. They are called the Yamas and Niyamas. One of the practices is called Asteya or Non-Stealing. The Yoga practice of non-stealing dives deep into the subtle ways we steal from each other, ourselves, and the Earth.
In Deborah Adele's book The Yamas and Niyamas, Exploring Yoga's Ethical Practice she says "You wouldn't go to a friend's house for dinner, complain about the food, leave your trash lying around, and walk off with the candlesticks because you wanted them. And yet, this is so often how we treat our world." She talks about the concept of taking nothing without giving something back.
During this retreat I was sitting on the breathtaking shore of Lake Superior in silence and began to engage in one of my favorite pass times...hunting for agates. I had many, many agates that I've collected over the years, little gems I've stolen from Lake Superior. "My agates", nicely contained in pretty jars for my exclusive enjoyment. In my silence I was reminded of this profound concept of Asteya. It might not seem like a big deal. But I live 6 blocks from the lake and can enjoy these agates any time I want to! And they do look much more spectacular all shiny from the water with the sun glistening on them then they do in my dim living room collecting dust. In my own small way I was stealing from one of my most beloved friends, Lake Superior. They're free now. Returned to their home, for all to enjoy.
Imagine what would happen if each time we took something we gave something back. This week act as if you're a visitor to this Earth. Remember how beautiful the Avatar's world is without manipulation, destruction, and stealing.
Jodi Avatar Christensen
Join us at the Spiritual Deli for the Yama's and Niyama's Book Club. It begins March 26th! We will meet the 4th Friday of each month through October from 5:30-6:30p. Your only cost is the book. Deborah Adele will be joining us on the 26th from 5:30-7:30pm to kick of the book club! Live more skillfully and be Free!

Be Creative. Do Yoga.

2010-03-09T14:19:00.000-08:00

Breathe, relax, and ride the creative wave! Yoga brings you back to yourself and to the present moment. It brings you closer to being in the "zone." You know, that special place where ideas flow naturally and spontaneously. Feeling stuck or blocked. Take a break. Breathe deeply. Stretch your body, and you'll find the zone!
"Practice and all is coming." Pattabhi Jois

Do Yoga.

2010-03-01T12:46:00.000-08:00

Meet our Teachers!

2010-02-26T10:16:00.000-08:00

April, Jodi, Kate, Caroline, Hilary, Kiki, Salima, Gary, Sara, Patti

Curious? Try Yoga for Yourself and See!

2010-02-25T15:29:00.000-08:00

Yoga has been practiced for more than 5,000 years, and currently, close to 11 million Americans are enjoying its health benefits.

When some people think of yoga, they imagine having to stretch like a gymnast. That makes them worry that they're too old, unfit, or "tight" to do yoga. The truth is you're never too old to improve flexibility.

The series of yoga poses called asanas work by safely stretching your muscles. This releases the lactic acid that builds up with muscle use and causes stiffness, tension, pain, and fatigue. In addition, yoga increases the range of motion in joints. It may also increase lubrication in the joints. The outcome is a sense of ease and fluidity throughout your body.

Some styles of yoga, such as ashtanga and power yoga, are more vigorous than others. Practicing one of these styles will help you improve muscle tone.

But even less vigorous styles of yoga, such as Iyengar yoga, which focuses on less movement and more precise alignment in poses, can provide strength and endurance benefits.

Because of the deep, mindful breathing that yoga involves, lung capacity often improves. This in turn can improve sports performance and endurance. Most forms of yoga emphasize deepening and lengthening your breath. This stimulates the relaxation response -- the opposite of the fight-or-flight adrenaline boost of the stress response.

Even beginners tend to feel less stressed and more relaxed after their first class. Some yoga styles use specific meditation techniques to quiet the constant "mind chatter" that often underlies stress. Other yoga styles depend on deep breathing techniques to focus your mind on the breath. When this happens, your mind becomes calm.

Curious? The only way to be certain of all that yoga can do for you is to try it for yourself and see.

Adapted from www.webmd.com/balance/the-health-benefits-of-yoga

2010-02-25T15:12:00.000-08:00

Nourishment For Your Mind, Less is More

2010-01-07T10:55:00.000-08:00

Doing less leads to more love, more effectiveness and internal calmness, and a greater ability to accomplish more of what matters most to us, and by extension to others in the world.
It's easy to get caught up in doing activities. We live in a fast paced world full of text messages, emails...blogs. Providing opportunities for our children to pursue their interest and talents while maintaining a good education can feel overwhelming and exhausting.
Where does it end? When do we finally get to exhale? How do we cut the clutter from our busy lives? How do we spend more time doing what really matters while being less busy?
Less is more. It's simply profound paradox that gets missed when we're scurrying about completing our to do lists. Yoga continually invites us to slow down, push less, be present. The result...greater and faster gains with more satisfaction. When we approach any task in the right spirit, we become more successful and efficient at it. When we engage in fewer self-defeating behaviors, engage in less fear, become less distracted, we accomplish more of whatever we set our hearts to.
In Marc Lesser's book Less he lists 5 ways to learn to do less.

Take time to rest metally and physically in between our outside of our usual activities. Find an activity that feeds your soul and revitalizes your spirit, like yoga and meditation.
Pause in the midst of activities: mindfullness practices like connecting with our breath between emails or walking meditation.
Identify and reduce unnecessary activities, things that are not in alignment with what we want to accomplish.
Be completely present for what we are doing, without sacrificing or rushing what's in front of us in order to get to "more important" stuff later. No matter how mundane the activity, treat everything as important and take pleasure in it. Whatever we are doing right now is what we are engaged in and it deserves our full attention and appreciation.
Integrate effort with a feeling of effortlessness. This sounds like a contradiction but it isn't With practice, we all can find that sweet spot that combines engagement, creativity and composure. Non-excess.

Fear less, hope more; Eat less, Chew more; Whine less, breath more; Talk less, say more; Love more and all good things will be yours. ~ Swedish Proverb

Nourishment For Your Time Workshops
February 6th, 9-12pm Historic Relief Society Building, Richmond Utah with Jodi Christensen
March 27th, 10-1pm Spiritual Deli, Duluth, MN with Jodi Christensen and Hilary Buckwalter

www.spiritualdeli.com

Peace 1:33 pm

2009-10-23T09:13:00.000-07:00

Peace 1:33 pm

Days come and go quickly as we're seeing with the beautiful display of fall colors. It is easy to get caught up in daily responsibilities and let family and friends fall from the fore front of our mind. Shane, Sarah, and Josh were taken on July 31st, 2009 at 1:33 pm and are still being held in Iran. Keeping them on the forefront of our minds is one of the most important actions we can take. Action is created by thought. It is this universal truth that has inspired Peace 1:33. The purpose is to hold the vibration of peace and positive energy for Shane, Sarah, and Josh by focusing on and feeling peace for 1 minute or more each day at 1:33 pm.

Set a daily alarm on your cell phone for 1:33 pm. Spend 1 minute thinking/meditating on peace in honor of Shane, Sarah, and Josh and continue with the daly commitment. If you have access to a bell, ring it 3 times in honor of each hiker.

Spread the word! Join Free the Hikers on Facebook adn invite friends. Ask your church or school to participate by ringing their bell 3 times each day at 1:33 pm.

Free the Hikers official website

Become a fan on facebook

Spiritual Deli Website

Music Nourishes your Soul

2009-10-07T08:40:00.001-07:00

Music moves us. It inspires us and reaches our deepest being. Music is a bridge that connects us with our self and others. It can be a catalyst for meditation, creativity, and spiritual expression. If anyone has been so lucky to be in the presence of the talented Kathy McTavish while playing her cello you've witnessed this experience. When Kathy plays her cello, they are one, and if you allow your self to let go and be present with the experience you'll find yourself at one with the experience and universe as well. It truly is a divine expression of the "oneness" we all seek. It's much more than a musical experience, it's an expression of sound... it is an expression of Om.

The Yogi's have used sound since the beginning of time to transcend boundaries. Om (Aum) in Yoga is referred to as the soundless sound. It is called the seed sound of the Universe.

"The universal AUM, put forth by the Supreme, is an infinite Ocean. The individual AUM, chanted by man, is a drop in that Ocean. It cannot be separated from the Ocean but nevertheless even the tiniest drop can claim the Ocean as its very own. Chanting AUM, man touches and calls forth the cosmic vibration of the Supreme Sound. When one can hear the Soundless Sound within oneself, when one can identify oneself with it, when one can live within the AUM, one can be freed from the fetters of ignorance and realise the Supreme within and without." Sri Chimnoy

We invite you to join the Spiritual Deli and Kathy McTavish in some Om experiences, expressing the Soundless Sound within your self.

Cello Yoga Flow, Tuesdays, 4-6 PM. Kathy plays cello while Nicole Hanger leads the class through a yoga flow in silence.
Creative Flow, 2nd Fridays of the month, 6-8 PM. Kathy plays cello, Jodi Christensen leads a meditation to get your creative juices flowing, then we engage in some creative activities with guest Artist.

Come swim in the infinite Ocean!
spiritualdeli.com

Free the Hikers: The 59th Day

2009-09-16T13:03:00.000-07:00

Free the Hikers: The 59th Day Fundraiser

September 27th 4-6 PM Hiking Meditation
Meet at Enger Tower. By Donation.

6-10 PM Silent Auction and Fundraiser
$10 at the door

Music by James Moors, Dave Mehling, Dan Dress and The Rez. Spin Collective will be performing outside. Food, wine, and Brewhouse Beer! Meet family members of Shane Bauer. A good time for a good cause!

"Be the change you wish to see in the world." Mahatma Gandhi

Shane Bauer, Josh Fattal and Sarah Shourd have been detained in Iran since July 31, 2009, when news reports say they accidentally crossed an unmarked border during a hiking trip in the mountains of Iraqi Kurdistan. They were in a peaceful region of Iraq that is increasingly popular with Western tourists.

The three young Americans, all graduates of the University of California at Berkeley, are believed to be held in the Iranian capital, Tehran. They have had no contact with their families, and have not been granted their right to consular access.

Shane, Josh and Sarah care greatly about the world. They admire and respect different cultures and religions and share a love of travel that has taken them to many countries. That’s why they went to Kurdistan, not because they wanted to enter Iran.

The families and friends of the three hikers created a website to tell the story of Shane, Josh and Sarah and keep the world informed about their situation. Learn more at www.freethehikers.org

Donate online! www.freethehikersdonation.com

Free the Hikers t-shirts available at the Spiritual Deli! All net proceeds go to the efforts to raise awareness and bring the hikers home as soon as possible!

Also available online at www.laughingstockdesign.biz

Fall Open House and Artist Reception

2009-09-02T08:02:00.001-07:00

Join us for our Fall Open House and Artist Reception!
September 17th
4:30 PM Ribbon Cutting with the Chamber of Commerce
6-7 PM Open House
7-9 PM Artist Reception with Nate Lindstrom

Our open house will include FREE 20 minutes Yoga classes. Meet staff and teachers. 10% off Punch Cards!

Yoga is good business

2009-08-12T08:10:00.001-07:00

When stress and pain are gone, productivity and creativity return. This is the logic of bringing Yoga into your workday! In short what is good for you is good for your business!
Yoga works to alleviate the #1 work related health problem: stress. By practicing Yoga you'll be more productive and increase your blood flow to the brain, which makes it easier to concentrate and think clearer!
Repetitive stress injuries such as Carpal Tunnel Syndrome can be avoided by staying alert to what the body needs in order to stay healthy!
Our current schedule is available online~ www.spiritualdeli.com

What's better than Yoga?

2009-07-02T11:13:00.000-07:00

Yoga with Childcare!!!

We're so excited offer a Yoga class with childcare! Join us Thursdays from 4-5 pm for Hatha Yoga in our downstairs studio. Childcare will be provided by our fun loving staff member Nicole Hanger in our upstairs studio. Kids will be entertained with Yoga poses, art projects, and other fun and inspiring activities. Our plan is to expand our Yoga with Childcare classes in the fall.

Thursdays 4-5 pm
$15 drop in
or use a punch card + $2.50

Namaste

Dear Lake Superior

2009-06-10T15:06:00.000-07:00

Gitchigumee-

You are my mother and one of my greatest spiritual teachers. Your waves have taught me to move with the ebb and flow of life and to welcome the changes that each wave brings to the surface of the lakeshore.

Your water has taught me to be cool and fluid. The wind that pools above your surface has taught me to move through and around obstacles and to be flexible.

I am thankful for all of the messages you have sent a long on the breeze during my meditations. Your water, vibration, and spirit, refresh, repelenish and restore my soul. You are an invaluable entity to me on my spiritual path.

You are neutral.
You are unpredictable.
You are so powerful that you create your own weather.
You are the grand metaphor for God and for life itself.

The gratitude I have for you is immeasurable and almost beyone my poetic capabilities. The grace with which you accept me, nurture me and guide me is something that I hold close to my heart.

Your combined simplicity and complexity have taught me: love, patience, compassion, tolerance and most importantly, that I interconnected inherently to that which is greater than myself.

I know when I look into your waves that I am simply one of them as I am also simply a single grain of sand on your shore.

I appreciate all of you and have experienced the width and breadth of your being. I have been the fog, the sideways rain, the wind rattling the windows, the sky high snow drifts and your calm mirrorlike surface in its entirety.

I am so thankful for you, what you have given and what you will continue to offer.

With the deepest gratitude...

Staying Established

2009-06-10T14:43:00.000-07:00

In our crazy, driven, fast paced culture how can we stay firmly established in our selves? Do you feel like you are easily knocked off of your center, do you hold tension in your neck and shoulders, use coping mechanisms such as alcohol or food to distract yourself from the messages your body is sending to you?

Developing a relationship with yourself can be one of the greatest spiritual challenges that any seeker faces. We all need alone time; time to nurture our minds, bodies and spirits. We receive an infinite number of messages from our body every day that signal to us where we are at any given moment; shallow breathing, chest pain, hunger, anxiety, a yawn, an adrenaline rush, a smile. How often do we really listen to what our body is telling us about our selves?

Finding your "center" or place of being established is at the root of most spiritual practices a long with various breathing techniques that help bring mind and body into balance. That center, or place of stillness and peace, is always within you and is most often only one long deep breath away. From that centered place of being, stress and tension melt away, evaporating right out of your body. Anxieties, fears and worries seem less intense, less important, easier to deal with from an objective perspective.

We all have choices about cultivating that place of centeredness within our selves. What are you doing in your life to nurture and cultivate the roots of being established in yourself?

Wandering in the Wild World

2009-05-29T10:31:00.000-07:00

"The wanderer crosses and recrosses borders in order to find something whose location is unknown and unknowable. She will conclude she has found it not by its location in a certain place, or by its confirming a prior belief, but by how it feels, how it resonates within her upon her discovery. She doesn't know where or how or when clues will appear so she wanders incessantly, both inwardly and outwardly, always looking, imagining and feeling. The wanderer cultivates an openness to mystery and offers her attention to the edges of thoughts, dreams, feelings and to the borders between place and between events. She's aware that anything can happen at anytime, and that every moment is charged with the numinous. In her wandering, she makes her own path." -Bill Plotkin Nature and the Human Soul

A handful of fresh dirt and pine needles in my hand, I inhale a deep cleansing breath. Beach. Waves. Light rain. Driftwood and Che by my side. Smiles. Deep breaths. Minnesota Point; for 12 seasons I have loved her, and with every barefoot summer and frigid winter I welcome her changes as I welcome my own. Two Canadian geese honk in the bay, 100 sea gulls circle overhead, squealing and spinning in a dizzying fashion, ascending and descending over my head. I release two wood ticks from my pants back into the grass, 5 crows fly by low to the ground sharing in a loud cacophony. We may get rained on. Thunder rolls in the distance. Right now I am alive. Waves tap gently against the shore of an overcast sky, ants navigate the driftwood circumference of the medicine wheel, Che catches flies with his mouth; his jaws closing intermittently with a resounding snap. We share trail mix laying in the late May sun, my hammock hangs in the distance between two birch trees. No cell phone. No Facebook. No talking. No one can reach me. My feet are dirty, my hair in a bandanna. The only thing to do here is be.

What is Yoga?

2009-05-20T14:08:00.001-07:00

Yoga literally means yoke or union; union with mind, body and spirit. We yoke ourselves to our practice, exploring the width and breadth of ourselves with compassion, curiosity and self love. The goal of yoga is to become comfortable in your own skin, to gather all of your scattered pieces, and to remain established in your center; no matter what life throws in your direction.

In the West yoga is commonly seen as simply a physical practice in which pushing, sweating and contorting are happy companions to our fast, driven, stressful lifestyles. The physical benefits of yoga are many, however, one need not twist themselves into a pretzel shape in order to receive them. The most benefits come from first unraveling any tension and stress in the mind and body; then body awareness and core stability follow creating a symbiotic dance of breath, balance, strength and relaxation. When you learn to relax deeply you interact differently in the world from a place of stillness, ease and direct experience.

The goal of yoga is simply, yoga. Yoga brings the body and mind into balance with spirit creating a safe and nourishing space for a meditative practice and a deeper understanding of one's relationship to the whole. Yoga can be done by anyone, with any body shape, at any age, in any stage of life. Why not start a yoga practice today?