Apr 18, 2023 | Programming Spotlights, Sedona Yoga
by Judyth Shamosh, Ph.D., Systems Herbalist
Ayurveda
A philosophy for perfecting
through the art of the heart,
the timeless Truths of millennia
balancing Beauty
and graceful Goodness
to manifest our material matter
in harmony and healthful rhythm
to understand the Universe
to understand ourselves.
~J. Shamosh
Ayurveda is the earliest form of medicine on our planet originating in India well over 5000 years ago. It was, at first, a Vedic oral tradition before it was eventually written down. From northern India, the knowledge and wisdom of Ayurveda spread and was modified as it expanded throughout the world. Ayurveda is the Big Bang of medicine.
Ayurveda for over 5000 years has continually valued what modern physics has shown to be reality—the foundation of life is consciousness and body or energy-matter, but the essence of life is the spirit-awareness, the “heart of matter” –part of the living cosmic web of life. Our lives are physics and poetry, matter and expression, context and awareness. It is this fundamental understanding and wisdom of all aspects of life that renders Ayurveda so valuable in maintaining our health.
The vital science and system of Ayurveda provides guidance for living in harmony with our inner, microcosmic, and outer, macrocosmic, environments as well as other beings around us. Ayurveda’s way of teaching us is very poetic, because life is poetic, with much more going on between the lines than is readily apparent by just the material facts themselves.
Ayurveda is unique in that it clearly informs us how to live in harmony with Nature. One may call it the original ecological worldview where the fundamental interdependence of all living systems is primary. Ayurveda encompasses all aspects of life—our physical bodies, our thoughts and emotions, our spiritual connections, our relationships and inter-relationships to each other and the other living systems in our environment. Ayurveda teaches us how to maintain a dynamic harmony with these concepts to maintain and regain our health.
The Five Phases of Ayurveda precisely and poetically, describes the energetic processes that are inherent in the energy and matter of our bodies. The actions and experiential effects of the Five Phases transmit the chemical actions or potency of herbs and foods into our bodies to help us heal and maintain our health. Ayurveda’s foundational theory of the Five Phases combine in different ways to constitute our doshas. Learning the roots of the Five Phases gives us a more profound understanding of our doshas.
Explore more Ayurveda techniques, recipes, and foundational philosophy with Judyth and many more at SYF2023 April 27–30! Passes available here.
Apr 15, 2023 | Sedona Yoga
Nature Beyond Thread‘s activewear are original designs curated by founder Noelle Kristine’s captivating photographs of stunning natural landscapes, encountered during her global travels. The images evoke a sense of tranquility, serenity, and harmony. Scientifically, looking at pictures of nature speeds up mental restoration and improves cognitive functioning — as well as restoring focus, reducing depression, and improving our overall mood. This means that stepping into NBT’s activewear will not only help you remember to ground throughout the day; gazing at the intricate patterns of nature on your body will also help put you in a better mood and help restore focus. Their activewear also serves as a much needed, gentle reminder that you ARE nature — fashioned from the very same particles as the powerful ocean, grains of sand, ridged mountains, starry skies, and rippling plains.
Their distinctive clothing line transforms these mesmerizing landscapes into wearable masterpieces that allow individuals to showcase their love for nature while embodying a sense of adventure and exploration. Through NBT’s extraordinary creations, you’ll discover the perfect fusion of art, fashion and sustainability brought to life in their stunning active wear collections. Immerse yourself in the beauty and serenity of nature, masterfully woven into every garment and join their mission to create a world where style, nature and ethical practices unite to leave a lasting impact.
We caught up with Noelle to learn more about how this incredible brand came to be. Read on for more!
So cool that you drew inspiration from your travels to create NBT clothing. Is there a particular space or story that stands out to you?
I had been traveling alone with my camera for years, capturing the intricacies of remote regions and environments that were only visited by others, occasionally. The photos from these solo adventures are filled with excitement, enjoyment, and fond memories of all that I have experienced and the people that I have met along the way. Nonetheless, solo travel is, inevitably, an isolating experience. My landscapes invariably capture that isolation. Much like my own approach to life, landscapes that we see in places like National Parks are content with themselves, fearlessly independent, and unafraid of changing on their own time, at their own pace. They change slightly, slowly and cautiously, yet never make an excuse for their own growth and transformations. I am hoping that our designs will inspire exploration for others and for them to create their own personal connections to nature, people and art.
What’s a way nature / nature-inspired beauty has fostered a sense of connection or calm in your own life?
When I was younger at my family’s cabin in Lake Tahoe, my dad introduced me to skiing at Heavenly Mountain and that forever changed my view of the natural world. Even though I was terrified at the time, I was so mesmerized by the superb beauty of the jagged granite snow-capped mountains that surrounded me. I was in absolute awe of the epic setting and from that moment on I began to have a love for the outdoors and the feeling it gives me. I am at peace when sporting yoga pants and a backpack on an outdoor adventure. Beyond capturing its natural splendor, outside — among the dirt, trees, rocks, sand, water, grass, and flowers.
What inspired you to create “wearable nature?” Was there an “aha / eureka moment” for you?
After learning about the positive effects that nature and nature photography have on the brain, it sparked a sense of hope + inspiration when looking at my landscape photographs in the darkest depths of 2020. I decided to take this inspiration in my work to pursue it further. It’s important to recognize the power that nature has in our lives, and to find ways to incorporate it into our daily routines. Sustainable fashion became a passion of mine after researching the impact that fast fashion is having on our planet. I loved the idea that this seamlessly blends some of my other passions such as landscape photography and the great outdoors. I also love that it has relived my adventures while inspiring others.
What do you want people to feel when they wear NBT clothing?
Our imaginative approach offers customers an opportunity to stand out from the crowd and showcase their passion for art and nature. Wearing NBT is not just about style; it’s also about sharing a story and connecting with a global community of like-minded individuals who value the planet and its diverse beauty. Not only do we want them to feel calm and grounded throughout the day, but we also want women to feel empowered – Nature is Art, so we want them to become the art and unleash the artist within them.
Do you have a personal favorite piece or collection?
Of course, all are a personal favorite but when deciding which designs to choose for our launch, my Death Valley photographic collection stands out. The stark beauty of the landscape provides compositions, textures, patterns, and shapes that are both subtle and striking. In this collection, you can see how the landscape changes depending on the time of day and how the shifting light can transform the scene from ordinary to extraordinary with colors and shadows that dance across the landscape and the details within. For example, our designs named Mesquite and Sand Dunes sets are taken at the same location but at different times of the day. Mesquite was taken at sunset while Sand Dunes was taken at sunrise.
How often do you come out with new patterns/series?
We launched at the beginning of 2022 so it’s been a year pushing the first 11 designs to bring brand awareness and sharing our story. Nature Beyond Threads will be coming out with new patterns and collections this year.
Apr 10, 2023 | Sedona Yoga
by Dusty Swehla: Vista Celestial Retreats, Guest, and Wellness Advisor
Be entered to win a vacation to Vista Celestial by joining us for our 10-year anniversary celebration April 27–30! Passes are available here.
The name Costa Rica means “Rich Coast” because of the many rich metals throughout the country. Today, Costa Rica is known for its beaches, volcanos, beautiful waterfalls, oceanlife and biodiversity. The Osa Peninsula, on Costa Rica’s southern pacific coast, has been called by National Geographic one of the most biodiverse places on earth.
Statistics show that approximately 3.1 million people visited Costa Rica last year. You may be thinking, “Why do so many people want to visit?” Do people visit the beaches, waterfalls and ocean life? Of course! But they also come to find more. We believe that visitors come back year after year for the natural beauty of Costa Rica but also for the magical energy present the moment a visitor sets foot in the country. Many are looking for a break from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. They are looking for a place to connect to their inner selves and receive inspiration from the natural world. That pause and connection so many seek can be found walking in the lush rainforest mountainside, gazing at majestic ocean views, or walking along the vast and vacant beaches; all of which make up the natural setting that cradles our boutique resort called Vista Celestial.
The intimate setting of our luxury boutique resort is an ideal place to work “IN” and experience a transformational and relaxing stay in Costa Rica.
With just five, beautiful and newly renovated 1000 sq/ft villas set on 13 acres of mountainside rainforest with sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean, Vista Celestial is the ultimate sanctuary. Each villa features a private patio and private plunge pool. Your private plunge pool is the perfect place to cool off and enjoy the view of the Whales Tail shoreline feature by day; or to heat to a hot tub and stargaze at night.
With its incredible geography and climate, it is no surprise that Costa Rica is home to a wide array of freshly grown produce, fish, and more. You will find fresh, locally grown food all over Costa Rica and Vista Celestial is no exception. Our chefs take inspiration from our orchard and gardens and prepare nightly specials that incorporate the freshest available ingredients to create world class cuisine. Their 6-course, Taste of Costa Rica, chef’s tasting menu is out of this world!!
Beyond the natural setting and luxurious villas, the Vista Celestial team is what (or who) really delivers the magic of Costa Rica. Their heart and soul is put into meeting your every need, accommodating your requests and anticipating and meeting needs before they are even verbalized. They will become your friends and you will leave with a new family.
A few of the special touches created by our amazing team include cool eucalyptus scented towels and refreshing juice upon arrival, yoga props artfully displayed for each yoga session, local treats placed in your villa to welcome you in, and local coffee (grown by our general manager on his farm!) available complimentary in your villa. The list of magical touches go on and on. Vista Celestial sets the stage and takes care of every need so you can enjoy all the magical and spiritual experiences that arise throughout your stay. We welcome families, couples, yoga retreats and those seeking the magic of Costa Rica and Pura Vida.
A Costa Rican phrase that embodies the magic you will find here is “Pura Vida”. This term means simple life or pure life. It is used in everyday life to communicate “hello, goodbye, thank you, you’re welcome, and generally communicate a sense that ‘life is good’”. The phrase is a reminder of how little we actually need to be happy. We have the ocean, mountains, sunshine, hikes, coffee farms, waterfalls, waves and a culture that needs very little in order to find happiness.
I started my journey with Vista Celestial as a guest, I had a spiritual/transformational experience and I wanted more. Today, I live the Pura Vida lifestyle, literally. I find joy and happiness in the sounds of the ocean waves and the jungle. I find peace with the pure and simple pleasures of watching the wildlife, feeling the sunshine on my face, listening to the howler monkeys and knowing that all I need is within. Life is good here in Costa Rica, I hope you follow the path that leads you to Vista Celestial. Pura Vida!
We will be doing a vacation giveaway to Vista Celestial ONLY for SYF2023 attendees on-site during our 10-year anniversary celebration! To be entered to win, join us April 27–30. Passes are available here.
Apr 10, 2023 | Sedona Yoga Festival Teacher Feature
by Dr. Keneen Hope McNiven D.C., Founder of Hope, Grace and Gaia Transformation Retreats and Hope Chiro Yoga
How has life shaped you? What is your relationship with gravity, which is a form of Grace?
According to Liz Koch, author of the Psoas Book, “Gravity is a cohesive, graceful and loving support between heaven and earth. Gravity informs the rise and fall of the tides, our cells and the relationship between the earth and the sun. It is responsible for the health of our bones, joints and nervous system, as well as for optimal brain health and well-being. To engage and feel gravity deeply, is to also embody a deep sense of Grace, of being lovingly held.”
Fall from Grace
Do challenging residues from the past burden your body, mind, or spirit in the present? Our posture, spine, muscles and fascia contract with and reflect unresolved stresses. Some of the “shapes” we inhabit reflect our fight, flight, freeze and fawn responses to previous stress or trauma.
Additionally, some of the shapes are much more subtle and reflect memories of needing to duck, dodge, brace or protect our vulnerable underbelly. All these postural reactions or shapes contribute to back pain, joint pain, stress, fatigue, sleep loss and PTSD, along with a host of therapeutic issues that many of us experience in yoga. On and off our mats these shapes and disconnects from gravity or Grace impact our well-being and the embodiment of our awakening as well. The unconscious energetic memories and trapped energy they carry also have an impact on our relationships and communities.
Call of Grace
When we learn how to “re-shape” ourselves, recognize and honor the wisdom and messages inherent within our posture, pain and health challenges, then they become a graceful guide to optimal healing and recovery. A profound sense of Grace infuses us when we befriend gravity and re-align physically and spiritually between heaven and earth. We become healthier, emotionally authentic and enjoy more optimism, hope, trust, peace and joy. As we reshape the past and embody more presence, we enjoy a profound connection to our true nature depths, and our lives, health and actions are Grace-filled.
Hope, Grace, and Gaia
“One who has health has hope, and one who has hope has everything.” – Thomas Carlyle
When we resonate from embodied Hope and Grace, we radiate enhanced health and we emanate an abundance of vitality and awakened consciousness. The more Grace-filled we are, the more “fully human and fully divine” we are. We feel part of a oneness that includes all of reality, animate and inanimate, and from which we are not separate. Our relationships, communities, politics and our planet reflect this evolution, and also reverberate with cooperative synergy and wholeness. This Non-Dual “Gaia consciousness” is the realization that we are all truly one unified Being.
Learn more about the connection between personal awakening and healing with Dr. Keneen Hope McNiven D.C. in person at SYF April 27–30! Passes available here.
Apr 10, 2023 | Sedona Yoga Festival Teacher Feature
By Nina Bratcher, LCSW, Owner of Bay Area Therapy Services
Every moment, of every day, in every interaction, our autonomic nervous system (ANS) is moving us toward connection or protection. Have you ever noticed walking into a room and feeling a sudden sense of dis-ease? It is likely your ANS picked up on information that was interpreted as threatening to your overall well-being. This information could be coming from what you experience through the 5 senses, from an internal thought or sensation, or from cues of dysregulation in the emotional states of others. The mind and body are interconnected and in constant communication with one another. While the body physiologically experiences a state of being, the mind generates a story. Deepak Chopra said it best when he stated, “The body and mind are like parallel universes. Anything that happens in the mental universe must leave tracks in the physical one.”
Understanding how the ANS works is crucial to understanding your emotional self and why you react in the ways you do. Let’s first breakdown the ANS. It consists of 2 branches, the sympathetic and parasympathetic. Many of us are familiar with the concept of the “fight or flight” response. This is part of the sympathetic branch. When under stress, the sympathetic branch is activated, mobilizing us fight or flight to protect ourselves. The parasympathetic branch is where our relaxation response is housed. The vagus nerve, which starts at the brain stem, branches up into the face connecting to our sensory organs and wanders down through the body connecting to our vital organs including the heart, lungs, stomach, intestines, pancreas, etc.
It is through the vagus nerve that the body and brain communicate back and forth to one another. This is where the term “gut feeling” comes from. This nerve plays a crucial role in activating the parasympathetic branch.
Polyvagal Theory, introduced in 1994 by Dr. Stephen Porges, posits that the autonomic nervous system consists of a hierarchy of physiological states between the 2 branches. According to polyvagal theory, there are 3 nervous system states that have developed over time. The most evolved is the ventral vagal state, housed in the parasympathetic branch. In this state our system is at ease and functioning well. There is a sense of safety and we are able to connect with ourselves and others. The second response, a bit older in time, is fight or flight. This response is housed in the sympathetic branch and mobilizes us to take action to protect ourselves in the face of danger.
For our distant ancestors who lived during the Stone Age, this response was necessary for day to day survival. The third and most primitive response is the dorsal vagal response housed in the parasympathetic branch. When we are unable to protect ourselves through social connection or by fighting or flighting, we drop into a state of freeze. In this state, we become immobilized and unable to take action to protect ourselves. This state is necessary at times and does provide respite from the emotional overwhelm that can occur in sympathetic.
Each of these ANS states brings a cluster of emotions and sensations that reflect what the state is designed to do. For example, in a ventral state we may feel at ease, relaxed, curious, grounded, allowing us to connect with others and access creativity. In sympathetic, we may find ourselves feeling activated, on edge, alert, restless, angry, inflamed. Sensations might include increased heart rate, labored breathing, temperature changes, unsettled stomach, tension in the chest, muscle tightness. In a dorsal state, we often feel shutdown, disconnected, withdrawn, numb. Intuitively, the human body knows how to navigate its way back to ventral.
However, because we live in a chaotic world where safety is not guaranteed, there may be times when the system is overloaded and gets stuck in a sympathetic or dorsal state. Tuning into your ANS state can help you become aware of what you might be needing to move toward ventral. We must first emerge from a place of survival in order to truly live and allow ourselves to thrive. You can practice tuning into your nervous system by pausing, taking a deep breath, observing sensations in the body and naming your emotional state. Once aware, ask yourself “what am I needing in this moment to take one step toward safety?” Perhaps it’s an action, connecting with a safe person or relating to yourself with compassion.
To learn more about this topic and tools for building resilience in the nervous system, join Nina in person at the Sedona Yoga Festival from April 27–30! Passes are available here.
