High Mesa Happenings

LAUGHTER YOGA CLUB

Join Laughter Yoga Leaders Michele Caskey and Jan Butchofsky at HMHC beginning Thursday, March 10th, for Levity Infusion, an hour of laughing, breathing, clapping and moving where laughter is facilitated as an exercise and quickly becomes authentic, jubilant and fun through incorporation of eye contact and child like playfulness. Laughter Yoga is a means of learning to laugh for no reason without the use of comedy, humor or jokes. No actual yoga postures are involved, but the practice is yogic in that it brings balance to the body/mind/spirit as a unified whole. As Dr. Madan Kataria, the founder of the laughter yoga movement says, "When you laugh you change. When you change the whole world changes." Come see how adding more laughter to your life can lead to a greater feeling of harmony, connection and wellness.  The Laughter Yoga Club will meet the second and fourth Thursdays of each month from 5:30-6:30 p.m.  There is no charge, but donations are appreciated.

Michele Caskey is a Laughter Yoga Teacher, Expressive Arts Practitioner, Reiki Master and visual artist who has been studying and teaching the link between creative expression and energy healing for over 10 years. Her personal laughter practice has expanded her ability to process and release limiting thoughts and beliefs empowering her work as an artist and healer. Learn more from Michelle at http://www.youvegottobekidding.net/

Jan Butchofsky is a Laughter Yoga Leader, public speaker and photographer specializing in travel and culture. She has visited over 80 countries, pursuing her deepening interest in woman's spiritual practices and rituals.  She speaks international sign language--a smile and laughter--as she creates images that get to the heart of the matter. To learn more about Jan go to http://janbutchofsky.com/.

Ukrainian Story Drawn in Sand

I found neat that this artist uses anew art medium to speak of history and a painful time for her folks. As showing in the clip, many people were deeply touched.

“May all beings and creatures be free of suffering and diseases.”

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Kseniya Simonova's Amazing Sand Drawing
Kseniya Simonova is a Ukrainian artist who just won Ukraine's version of "America's Got Talent." She uses a giant light box, dramatic music, imagination and "sand painting" skills to interpret Germany's invasion and occupation of Ukraine during WWII.

 

Posted by Nadette

How to Relax this Season

Holidays, Holiday Season! A time that can bring joy and warm, fuzzy feelings; maybe also some stress. Here are 9 Holiday Relaxation tips from the Chopra Center:

1. Do one thing at a time

2. Commit less

3. Communicate consciously

4. Maintain a restful sleep routine

5. Learn to meditate

6. Eat warm Vata- pacifying food

7. Don’t skip lunch to do holiday shopping

8. Exhale your stress

9. Nurture your senses with aromatherapy and essential oils

In a nut shell, this season, just enjoy the moment, take it easy, be kind, party less, slow down, eat your soup, spend less, take a deep breath, and pamper yourself.

Easier said than done, at times. We deserve it, though.

                                   

Posted by Nadette

Welcome Back, Barbara!

Barbara is almost back from China;  HMHC is posting this article just now to welcome her back to the blessed place she loves so much! 
                          

    "As I was preparing for my trip to China I took a breath, centered myself and realized just how fortunate I am. I took just a moment to look back over the summer realizing that this has been an awesome time. 
     HMHC hosted the 6th annual Peace Village and it was the best ever! The team came together just after Peace Village 2008 and began planning for 2009. Organization & control of Peace Village (PV) was passed to Kaylah Glasgow and Susan Finch, who have brought intense dedication and great experience to this annual event. 
     They attracted and recruited several retired educators who brought a wealth of experience with them to PV. All that planning and preparation really paid off as the campers and counselors gained so much from the camp.
  The wider community came forth with donations and assistance in so many ways. Some have said that they want to do this, to be a part of this project for they do not see anyone else doing this kind of event. With those kind of comments Peace Village will continue. There are so many who made PV the success that it was: Kaylah Glasgow, our fearless leader, who has been here all 6 years and Susan Finch, who stepped up to co-direct with Kaylah. What a team they make together. As they worked and planned in cooperation, it all came together so smoothly, making it easier for the other volunteers to follow their example. It was just beautiful. 
      Envision Your Future was a new curriculum that the kids loved. It was brought to PV by Linda Hand and Melissa Gebhart from Region 9. The kids also loved the challenge course at Bonito Conference Center. It was just a very rich experience for all.
     As the PV crew was tearing down and leaving the grounds, the Vision Quest group arrived to support our vision questor. We are so grateful that Sonnie and Memo Licona continue to come to HMHC to do the Native American ceremonies and rituals for this community. 
     When my family were visiting one of my kids asked me if I would ever look down there at the Center and just wish that they would all go away?  I can not even imagine such a thought, for it has taken 17yrs to develop this place with this energy where folks can come to participate in the activities. It is also a place where folks can come and share their talents by offering their services to the community.
     And I get to live here, holding the space for all these wonderful events to happen.  I am so blessed!
  And now I must get on with my preparations for my trip to China with a delegation of Holistic Nurses led by Dr. Barbara Dossey, one of the founding members of the American Nurses Association. The mission and goals of this delegation are to explore ways to share our nursing knowledge with each other and with our Chinese colleagues. We will engage in dialogue to share our collective nursing wisdom and values as health diplomats and health coaches in creating a healthy world --local to global. This program is co-provided by People to People Citizen Ambassador Program.

                Peace, Love and Blessings to All

                            Barbara”
 

Kids and Nature

Summer is here. Kids are home or grandchildren come and visit. 

There is now a new condition affecting our youth, and along a label for it: Nature Deficient Disorder. Click the link to find a NPR report and a book about this ailment.

Then, Nature lovers ! do with kids what you love to do yourself: go to a water park, go camping, find your favorite outdoor spot to read them nature and animal stories, draw and invent with them new flowers, animals, trees, places, etc. Just about anything that will inspire budding botanists!

And never mind that special bond and awe you inspire!

For more tips, visit The Green Life

Find fun printable Earth Coloring Pictures and Reading Activities at Love our Earth.

Written and Posted by NWH

OOps! Down the Drain...

... or how to retrieve something that REALLY went down the drain. Kate W. sent this and as you will see since you'll be curious enough to find out what this posting is all about, lots of other people found this trick superbe!

What you need: a pair of pantyhose;

What else you need: a vacuum shop type of instrument;

What you do: drop something down the drain; the more personal or precious a thing, the better the experience;

How to do: Click Something Down  to figure it out!

Posted by NWH

Playing a Little with the Brain

Cindy W., friend of HMHC, sends cool stuff. See below what she sent us recently for fun and to captivate... Thank you Cindy!   The Brain This is quite amazing. . .     If you see this lady turning in clockwise you are using your right brain. If you see it the other way, you are using left brain. Some people do see both ways, but most people see it only one way. See if you can make her go one way and then the other by shifting the brain's current.   BOTH DIRECTIONS CAN BE SEEN.  Experimentation has shown that the two different sides, or hemispheres, of the brain are responsible for different manners of thinking. The following table illustrates the differences between left-brain and right-brain thinking: Left Brain                 Right Brain     Logical                      Random    Sequential                 Intuitive    Rational                    Holistic    Analytical                  Synthesizing    Objective                  Subjective    Looks at parts            Looks at wholes  Most individuals have a distinct preference for one of                    these styles of thinking. Some, however, are more whole-brained and equally adept at both modes. In general, schools tend to favour  left-brain modes of thinking, while downplaying the right-brain activities. Left-brain scholastic subjects focus on logical thinking, analysis, and accuracy. Right-brained subjects, on the other hand, focus on aesthetics, feeling, and creativity. If you look away, she may switch from one direction to the other.   Posted by NWH

Keep that Puck Gliding

From Barbara:

Wow, is that ever SOMETHING! We need more Hazel's in this world!

Love,

Barbara

Look who is talking above! Anyone who knows Barbara knows her sparks and oomph.

Congratulations to both!

Posted by NWH

A Fitness Challenge

"Walk in the Woods Fitness

Challenge"

Starts January 19th and Ends April 11th 

Kick Off Night is January 15, 2009 

White Mountain Intermediate School

3:30 ~ 6:00 PM

How does the Challenge Work?

1. Create a team or participate as an individual

2. Sign up is $25 for a team or $10 for an individual

3. Participants can sign up for one of four divisions

Youth Division, Adult Division, Family Division or

Individual Division

4. Decide on a team name and a Team Captain

5. Each participant keeps track of their own points

per week

6. This challenge is based on the principle that cheaters never win

and winners never cheat

LET'S GET STARTED!

GET MOTIVATED!

GET TOGETHER!

GET FIT!

Contact Information: 258-3252, ext. 6720

Parks & Recreation 257-5030 or

http://www.lincolnhealthcouncil.org/walkinthewoods.html
                   

 

 

A Beautiful Mind

Fun and amazing! Take a few minutes to watch this! Beautiful workings of the brain...

Posted by NWH