Walk the Great Wall of China

This is a trip if you are feeling fit, energetic and enjoy trekking.  Travel through the lush mountainous areas north east of  Bejing in remote areas and away from the crowds.  A fascinating journey on the backroads allows you to observe closely the everyday life of villages and offers great opportunities to interact with the locals.
It is an 8 day tour to and from Beijing departing Oct 08 or Nov 05 2011 at CAD $1256.00 and several departures in 2012 at CAD $1395.00.  Includes 7 Breakfasts, 5 lunches, 4 dinners, English speaking guide, Comfortable Hotels, rural life experience of one night in a local village, one night in a homestay and one night in a Farmers Inn. 
For more information click here or contact Marie to make your booking.

July Lavender News

Lavender is in bloom and it is a great time to come out and enjoy some Yoga Outdoors, walk the Lavender Fields and browse in the farmgate store.  Here are some upcoming events.

Tuesday July 05: 7.00PM - 8.15PM.  Evening Kundalini Yoga in the Garden 4 week series starts
$48.00 for the series or drop in at $15.00 per class

Saturday July 09:  9.00AM - 11.30AM - Enjoy Yoga & Meditation followed by a garden chat with Robyn about the benefits of Herbs.  We will choose an herb from the garden and learn how to make it into a Culinary Oil to use at home.  $25.00   (Yoga or Garden Chat only - $15.00)

Friday July 15:  7.00PM - 9.00PM - Full Moon Celebration.  Come and enjoy Yoga and Meditation in the stillness of the Garden, learn how to clear your energy and make your own Aura Cleanser using the power of Crystals and Essential Oils.  $30.00

Saturday July 16:  9.00 - 11.30AM - Enjoy Yoga & Meditation followed by a garden chat on Lavender and its many uses.  Robyn will demonstrate how to make Lavender Water and we will pick a small bundle of fresh Lavender to enjoy at home.  $25.00 (Yoga or Garden Chat only - $15.00)

Pre-register for all events at least 48hours prior. 

Full Bloom Farm, 2926 - 248th St, Langley

http://www.fullbloomfarm.ca/

www.insighttowellness.com/Lavender

Foot Massage in China

It always amazes me how one can just show up for a Spa Treatment in China.  We arrived at the Spa without an appointment and were ushered upstairs to a private room for our party of four and within seconds were brought hot tea and immediately after that 4 attendants came in with a big barrel of water each.  I was told we were having the 2 hour foot massage and I was a bit apprehensive and wondering what they were going to do with my feet for all that time!  I'm also quite ticklish and I'd never had a foot massage before so this was going to be interesting.  First our feet got soaked in the hot water and then we got to lie down and one foot got bandaged up in a hot towel while they worked on the other.  It was really interesting to watch the synchronicity of the attendants - it seemed to be down to the second where they would all start slapping our feet at the same time!  After the feet were done (I was quite relieved) the legs and arms got massaged, the fingers pulled and then we had to lie on our tummies.  The attendants then used hot rocks wrapped in a cloth to massage our backs.  After this the knees got attention - they used a ginger poultice on each knee and wrapped them in very hot towels for at least 5 minutes.  This was really soothing and I still felt the effects long after the towels were removed.  Great way to end a day of walking around. So the 2 hour foot massage turned out to be a very pleasant experience, except for the few moments when I got a bit ticklish!!

Spirit Plant Medicine Conference

Roots of Light, Ancient Wisdom for a New Humanity - this weekend Jun 17-19 at UBC, Vancouver.

Learn about sacred use of Ayahuasca, Cannabis, Peyote, Iboga and many more spirit plants.

Spirit Plant Medicine Conference is a sacred convergence of some of the most knowledgeable and practised hearts and minds related to plant medicines.  Indigenous Leaders, Ethnobotanists, Shamans and Medical Reserachers in the field of psychedelics from around the globe will meet to speak, hold forums, panels and share their wisdom.

Click here for more information and tickets

June - Honouring the Sacred Feminine and Masculine

June will bring new opportunities and healing as we start this month with a Partial Solar Eclipse on the 1^st and a total Lunar Eclipse on June 15, both in the astrological sign of Gemini.    The Sun represents our  Male Energy (Fire) and the Moon our Female energy.  Gemini  (May 21 – Jun 19) is the sign of duality and the energy that represents opposite polarities.  This is a good time for integrating, coming together with our yin (female) and yang (male) sides and balancing our left analyzing, rational mind with our right intuitive, emotional side. 

In this current age of technology and information we are using our left brain (male energy) constantly to compute, analyze and learn new things.  Everyone wants results now, and our new ‘time saving’ gadgets provide that with the push of a button, but more people than ever are suffering from stress, depression and addiction, and many report they have less time than ever!  

So for many, we find ourselves out of balance, we are do ing much more than be ing.  We need the time to 'collect our thoughts' using our right brain function (moon female energy) to stimulate our insights and ideas, relax, feel our emotions, 'see the whole picture' and integrate new awareness.  When we allow ourselves this time to 'listen' we can be much more creative and regain a sense of balance in our lives.

Come and join us on Saturday Jun 18:  9.00AM – Noon and explore the Sacred Feminine and Sacred Masculine aspects of yourself and learn techniques for balancing and honouring these energies through nature, stillness, and yoga.
 Click here for details

Trans Mongolian Rail Journey / Naadam Festival - 24 Days

This spectacular rail journey from Beijing to St Petersburg (or vice-versa) coincides with Mongolia's epic Naadam Festival, featuring centrues old contests of horse racing, archery and wrestling.  Discover Mongolia, where you journey out across the Mongolian Steppe to Kharkorin, Genghis Khan's ancient capital, and travel to Terelj National Park staying overnight in traditional Mongolian gers (felt tents) before attending two days of the Naadam Festival.  In addition to the Mongolian countryside, this fully escorted journey spends several days in Beijing, Ulaanbaatar, Lake Baikal, Moscow and St Petersburg.

St Petersburg - Beijing:  Jun 23 - 16 July 2012

Beijing - St Petersburg:  Jul 02 - 25 2011 and 04 -27 July 2012

Cost $5680.00 CAD
Click here for details

Lavender News

Hope you are having a relaxing long weekend.  The weather has definitely been a challenge but it does provide an opportunity to get caught up and for me that is writing in this blog!

We had a great Full Moon Celebration last week, writing a letter and releasing it into the fire. The sun came out and the rain stopped!  This picture was taken as we were looking at the beautiful cloud that had a rainbow of colour in it as we finished our ceremony.

Next Sunday afternoon we still have space for Tuning into your Chakras.  This will be an overview of the Chakras, we get to experience the beautiful Egyptian Oils, learn what Crystals we can use and exercises we can do to balance these energy centres to help with emotions, moods and wellbeing. 

There are still 2 more Saturday's in the Kundalini Yoga/Aromatherapy series.  Robyn does a great job with guiding us through the meditation, sensing and feeling the subtle energy of the oils and so far we have learned about Rose and Juniper.  The 4 week Tuesday night Yoga series Just be You starts Jun 07 but we are planning on having another class on May 31 so let us know if you are interested.  

For Lavender Events please visit www.insighttowellness.com/Lavender

Many blessings

Marie

Sacred Journey to Bhutan

This is an 8 day leisurely paced tour which departs October 01 2011 and takes in the final day of the Wangdue Tshechu Festival. 

Highlights are the flight into Paro - most spectacular of all mountain flights

Cultural Festival - meeting local people in their natural setting
Get dressed in Traditional Bhutanese dress (Gho for men and Kira for women) for Festivals
Special prayer ceremony for health and long life at private temple
Hike to Khamsum Yuelay Namgyel Choetan - Introduction to Tantric Buddhism

Traditional Bhutanese Archery

Hike to Tigers Nest Monastery - Bhutans Cultural Icon

Trip is lead by one of Bhutan's best guides.

Tour Cost USD $1780 per person (twin sharing)

Click here for more info:

It's Great Weather for Yogi Tea!

You can adjust the measurements to suit your taste but here is the recipe given by Yogi Bhajan.

Ingredients

For each cup

10 oz of water (about 1 1/3 cups)

3 whole cloves

4 whole green cardamom pods, cracked

4 whole black peppercorns

1/2 stick cinnamon
1/4 tsp black tea
1/3 C Milk
2 slices fresh ginger root

The ingredients of Yogi Tea are said to have the following properties:

Black Pepper - Blood Purifier

Cardamom pods - digestive aid

Cloves - beneficial to the nervous system

Cinnamon - strengthens the bones

Ginger root - healing for colds and flu, increases energy

The milk in the tea helps in the easy assimilation of spices.  A homeopathic dose of black tea acts as an alloy for all the ingredients, creating just the right chemical balance.  While it is not a part of the original recipe, the use of soy, rice or almond milk can be used. 

Instructions
Bring water to a boil and add spices.  Cover and boil 15-20 min, then add black tea.  Let sit for a few minutes, then add the milk and return just to the boil and remove from heat, strain and sweeten with honey if desired.
Enjoy!

Thailand - Journey to the Heart of Tao

Here is an interesting tour to Thailand next March.  Minke de Vos lives in Vancouver area and I took a Qi Gong class with her a while back and found her delightful and passionate about her work.   The first half of the tour will be at Tao Garden Health Spa & Resort, and the second half at the beach in Koh Pha Ngan.

Awaken your inner and outer smile as you journey through the “Land of Smiles” in Thailand with Taoist Master, Grand Master Mantak Chia and Senior Universal Tao Instructor, Minke de Vos. Rejuvenate your health, deepen intimacy, and awaken spiritual presence through Taoist energy cultivation. This retreat will teach practical tools to enrich your life and teach you how to uplift and transform energy into creativity, compassion, and love. You will learn to integrate awareness and breathing through meditation, yoga and qigong, and build the foundation for awakening to this powerful healing energy.

Click here for more information

Tuning into the Energy of your Chakras

Come and join us for this fun workshop!
By using the ancient technology of Yoga, Meditation, Aromatherapy and Crystals you will gain an understanding of how to balance these energy centres (Chakras) to improve your health, enhance your moods, and balance your energy. 

When:  Sunday May 29 starts 1.30PM ends 4.30PM

Where:  Full Bloom Lavender Farm, 2926 - 248th St, Langley

Cost:  $44.00 + tax

Pre-registration required - please visit www.insighttowellness.com/Lavender for more details

Meditation Challenge starts on Friday!

40 Day Meditation Challenge is starting this Friday May 13 and ends Summer Solstice.  No, you don't have to go to Egypt, although that would be fun to do again.  You do this challenge in the comfort of your home and know that others are also joining in.  The Blog gives an opportunity to share your experience.
For more info go to the Challenge Blog   40 Day Challenge Community Blog

Mirabai Ceiba coming to Vancouver

For those who enjoy the music of Mirabai Ceiba in my Yoga classes you will have an opportunity to see them live in Vancouver on Friday June 10 at 7.30PM.  Concert is at St Mark, 1805 Larch St - Kitsilano.
Click here for ticket info:

Wellness in China - Bath House

After a day of sightseeing near Nanjing on my recent trip to China, we were asked by our host if we would like to go and take a shower before we headed home.  I thought personally why go somewhere else to have a shower when I had one in my room, but it was further explained that after a shower we could have a massage.  Well, that sounded much more appealing so off we went. 

As we were driving there I noticed it seemed to be taking a long time and we were no longer on the way to Nanjing - it turned out the 'Shower Place' was 50 kilometers out of our way in the Province of Anhui as this was apparently 'the best'. 

When we finally arrived we entered a very large lobby, not unlike a hotel lobby and were greeted by a couple of young ladies who rushed to get us slippers, take our shoes and give us a numbered key to a locker.  We were then taken to a dining room where a buffet was set up and we could enjoy some dinner, this was all part of the 'shower experience' and covered in the cost.

After satisfying our hunger we then went separately to the women and men's sections, found our locker and prepared for the shower.  I looked around for a towel or robe but no sign of any, so off I trundled with just my rubber slippers and found a lovely hot shower already for me.  Still no towel in sight when I got out of the shower, yikes!  Instead I am whisked over to another room where 20 naked ladies are on beds with an attendant for each.  I was told this room was for 'getting the dirt off my body' - (isn't that what the shower was for!)  So after lying down on the plastic sheeting I had hot water poured over me and I saw my attendant wrapping a towel around her hand in a very precise way and she was ready for action.  I got thoroughly loofahed from head to toe!  Then some Chinese Massage that always includes some thumping and slapping, and finally lotion was rubbed on to the skin.  Then I am sent off again to the shower to rinse, and finally I'm given a towel!!!  After drying up I was given a two piece (shorts and a tunic) and a pair of disposable panties.

I felt fabulous and thought we were done, but no then it was off for a 2 hour massage!  We were put in our own private room for 4 along with a TV (there are TV's everywhere in China - in the buses, in taxis, in subway cars).  The massage starting with the face and neck, included the feet, again more thumping and slapping and ended up with the attendant using her feet to massage my back. 

Of course after 1 hour of Shower and Loofah, and 2 hours of massage, one has worked up an appetite again so it was time to head to yet another restaurant for more food and some fruit.  In fact you can stay at this Bath House for 12 hours.  There are billiard tables, computer rooms, TV rooms and a ray of other treatments to try, all for a VERY modest price! 

Lavender Yoga

We have a new series starting this Saturday May 07 at 9.00AM out at Full Bloom Lavender Farm.  Classes will include Kundalini Yoga and Aromatherapy.  Each class we will learn about an essential oil and meditate using the oil.  This week it's the beautiful high vibration of the Rose!
Click here for info: