Category: wellness

meditation, wellness, yoga

Yoga & Wellness Newsletter May 2019

Laurie A. Ferris

Below are a few yoga and wellness events in the East Bay Area, followed by the latest Yogapedia podcast and a good read from the Greater Good Science Center.

Bay Area Events

May Day Yoga Dance @ North Berkeley Library
Wednesday May 1, 11:00 AM-12:00 PM
North Branch Berkeley Public Library

dance logoPlease join Angela, an instructor from Big Yoga Life, for a very special May Day version of Sit Stand Dance, a fun new event that blends meditation, yoga and dance. We will start with a brief meditation, chair yoga (sitting and standing) and then moving our bodies in a free-flow dance. You will have the option to sit down and pause at any point during the event. Our main focus be about your own personal experience with movement and what feels good to you to move.
 
These take place the first Wed. each month, 11:00 AM-12:00 PM.
See https://www.berkeleypubliclibrary.org/events/sit-stand-dance-north
FREE! Sponsored by the Friends of the Berkeley Public Library

Continue reading “Yoga & Wellness Newsletter May 2019” →

wellness

Interesting Facts about Baroness Oona King, I-House Alumna of the Year

Laurie A. Ferris

I-House: Where UC Berkeley Meets the World

The I-House Connection

Greetings from Berkeley!

We are so pleased to honor Baroness Oona King (IH 1989-90) at this year’s Gala and present her with the 2019 Alumna of the Year award for her advocacy in human rights, her visionary leadership, and the many accomplishments throughout her career.

Baroness Oona King (IH 1989-90) to be honored at I-House Gala on May 9, 2019 Baroness Oona King (IH 1989-90) to be honored at International House Gala on Thursday, May 9th

Here are a few inspiring achievements and interesting facts about Baroness Oona King:

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Journey to Inner Peace Hawaii
meditation, wellness, yoga

Yoga & Wellness Newsletter April 2019

Laurie A. Ferris

Below are a few yoga and wellness events in the Bay Area and Maui, followed by online freebies, including a new podcast series by Saraswati Clere, owner of the YogaKula studio in Berkeley.

Later in April, I’ll publish some exciting news on my blog about: a campus wellness award we just received; yoga mat tips and bargains; and a “rolling joints” yoga sequence for 4/20. This is separate from the free monthly wellness newsletter that I send to subscribers via Mailchimp. Follow my wellness blog at lferris.com so you don’t miss out on the occasional bonus content.

Bay Area Events

FREE Sound Meditation with Melissa Felsenstein
Saturday April 6th, 10:30 – 11:30 AM
North Berkeley Library
1170 The Alameda, Berkeley, CA 94707

Start your morning with a Sound Meditation and then peruse your imagination in a world of books and ideas after. North Berkeley library is a gorgeous space, come see it and enjoy this free library hosted community sound bath! No prior yoga or meditation experience needed, beginners and all ages welcome. See library details and directions.

Continue reading “Yoga & Wellness Newsletter April 2019” →

EQUANIMITY~ Spring Equinox Sound Healing Bath by Inner Sounds Meditation
meditation, wellness, yoga

Yoga & Wellness Newsletter March 2019

Laurie A. Ferris

Wellness and yoga events are mainstays on this newsletter, but I’ll occasionally include a review of a book that I enjoyed — one that you might find inspiring or useful on your own journey. The first of my “Required Reading” series is a book I highly recommend, Perception and Deception: A Mind-Opening Journey Across Cultures, by Joe Lurie.

Below are a selection of Bay Area events, followed by online freebies, the book review, and an update on my birthday fundraiser.

Bay Area Events

Yoga for UC Berkeley Staff
Friday, March 8, 12:10 – 1 pm
251 Hearst Gym, UC Berkeley Campus

View from Hearst Gym

It feels great to be teaching yoga again at the beautiful studio in the Julia Morgan designed Hearst Gym this semester.

I like to have students face the windows during class, not just for the nice view of the Campanile, but to witness the prana (life force energy) that surrounds us. After our last class, one student wrote, “The amazing windows of Hearst Gym is the perfect backdrop. We even had a hail storm during class that ended with perfect timing as we came out of shavasana to sunny skies! Dreamy!” Continue reading “Yoga & Wellness Newsletter March 2019” →

meditation, wellness, yoga

Yoga & Wellness Newsletter February 2019

Laurie A. Ferris

“Faithful followers, there is no shadow of me and a beautiful spring it shall be!”
– a reading from the groundhog prediction scroll on Feb 2, 2019

My birthday is on Groundhog Day, and both Phil and I didn’t see our shadows this year, which means there are only six more weeks of winter. Woohoo! For my birthday, I decided to do a fundraiser for my favorite non-profit, International House at UC Berkeley, which is also where I work. Its annual online fundraiser takes place on March 14th, but this year there is a VIP link for early access to donate. Continue reading “Yoga & Wellness Newsletter February 2019” →

Grace Cathedral Sound Symphony
meditation, wellness, yoga

Yoga & Wellness Newsletter January 2019

Laurie A. Ferris

Happy new year, and happy new moon! Below are some upcoming events, followed by an art exhibit, online freebies, and the January happiness calendar. If you are interested in hiking and Camino de Santiago pilgrimage, check out my Camino Provides blog for more exciting events in January, including a labyrinth walk.

The photo of the full moon eclipse over the San Francisco Bay was captured by one of my favorite photographers, Joël Thai.

Photo by Joël Thai - joelthaiphotography.com
Photo by Joël Thai – joelthaiphotography.com

You will have a chance to witness a “blood moon” eclipse on January 20-21, 2019. To see times, viewing locations, or to view live streaming video of the event, check out this website. East Bay residents might consider Chabot Space & Science Center’s Total Lunar Eclipse Viewing party on January 20th for just $8 with hot chocolate included!

Bay Area Events

FREE Sound Meditation – West Berkeley Library
Tuesday, January 8th ​6:30-7:30 pm
West Berkeley Library
1125 University Ave, Berkeley, CA 94702​

Come on by and enjoy this free library hosted community sound bath! No prior yoga or meditation experience needed, ages 12 and up are all welcome. This is a seated meditation, but bring layers as the room is chilly. More details:
https://www.berkeleypubliclibrary.org/events/sound-healing-therapy-west

About the Presenter
Melissa Felsenstein is a certified 750 hr yoga therapist and sound healer. A self-proclaimed “reformed” relaxer, Melissa focuses her work on restoring the nervous system through the use of live sound with quartz crystal singing bowls and specifically tuned gongs. Melissa used these unique instruments as therapeutic tools to rid herself of severe anxiety and depression.

Her mission is to offer others a soft, receiving, space for inward journeying, truthful listening, and sustaining change. Learn more about her at www.innersoundsyoga.com

Continue reading “Yoga & Wellness Newsletter January 2019” →

wellness

Yoga & Wellness Tribe Newsletter December 2018

Laurie A. Ferris

Listen to the sound of waves within you.
— Rumi

The theme for the December newsletter is sound because I have been checking out a lot of sound meditations lately. I feature a sampling of sound events for you to try the experience for yourself. Much like meditating, attending a sound bath can lead to reduced stress and deep relaxation. This issue also features a free online yoga class, guided meditations, and winter retreats events offered by some of my favorite yoga teachers. Refer back to this post which I will update because I often hear about more wellness events and tips to share.

Are you ready? Sound the gong! Continue reading “Yoga & Wellness Tribe Newsletter December 2018” →