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!