Nicole Doherty: Wellness

Recently I attended a workshop about the sacred knowledge of the Maya with Miguel Angel Vergara Calleros, a shaman and former director of Chichen Itza who studied for over 20 years with the Mayan elders learning their oral traditions, ceremonies and culture.

The Mayans were a highly advanced and very spiritual culture. They had a profound connection and understanding of the interrelatedness of cyclical time, Mother Earth, the Cosmos and Universal Consciousness. “They understood the cosmology of evolution of consciousness and the nature of spiritual inner transformation.”(pg 8. Sacred Knowledge of the Maya) 

A Maya is considered one that has brought his heart and mind into a perfect state of balance and has linked his soul with Great Spirit. The Maya calculated this date as the end of a major cycle in time and an opportunity for transformation from the world of duality to that of unity consciousness.

It is said that in their time they ascended their physical bodies into alternate dimensions through portals and gateways that opened in time, similar to what we may come to experience and understand in December. It’s clear that an opportunity for new beginnings is on the horizon and a critical shift is occurring.

It’s time for us, according to Miguel, to arrive to the frequency of unconditional love. Through forgiveness we can prepare our bodies, mind and spirit for entrance to other dimensions.

In his opinion, one of the most important ways to prepare is through connecting to Mother Earth. We are children of the Earth and as such we need to respect and love her. We need to thank her daily for all the things we have. We need to show love and gratitude for her wisdom, our food, our shelter, and the energy she provides us. We need to become friends with all embodiments of Great Spirit – such as trees, animals, and rocks.  

I’m fortunate enough to have the opportunity to light the path of raising frequency in preparation for this time. I want to extend you an invitation to join me on an 8-day all-inclusive pilgrimage into the land of the Mayan jungles and immerse yourself in sacred ceremonies and spiritual practices designed to align you with the transformation of the ages!! Through Mayan adventures, yoga, nutrition, astrology, transformational bodywork, dharma talks, and sustainable travel we are giving you the opportunity to reset your system, release patterns of resistance, and source the light.

MAYANTENTION: Be the Transformation You Seek
Spiritual Wellness Retreat in Belize – Yoga, Bodywork Astrology, Mayan Expeditions, Sacred Ceremonies
DECEMBER 17TH – 24TH, 2012

The land of the Maya calls us to come together and transform ourselves anew this Winter Solstice.  Now is the time to answer the evolutionary call for change within yourself and join hands with kindred spirits who have made a conscious choice to walk the path of awakening.  This place in time is the transformational doorway you have long sought, the stargate through which new worlds are seeded.

We’re inviting 13 soulful individuals on a one-week, all-inclusive* journey into the heart of the Mayan civilization.  Practice yoga twice daily, receive bodywork astrology, enjoy locally grown vegetarian cuisine, explore ancient Mayan ruins, and participate in sacred ceremonies designed to open you to the beauty and power of your true nature.  Embark on this initiation with us and assist in the creation of the quantum leap that will catapult Earth into a new spiral of being.

The yogis say NAMASTE… “The light in me bows to the light in you”

The Lakota say AHO MITAKUYE OYASIN… “We are all related”

The Maya say IN-LAK’ECH… “I am another you”

 FOR MORE INFORMATION ON OUR AMAZING TRIP VISIT MY RETREAT PAGE!

Congratulations to our 14 Day Yogi Seasonal Food Cleansers!  The results are in!  You loved it and some of you are still doing it because you feel so great :-P

We are so proud of you! We want to thank you for giving us the opportunity to work and learn from you as well.  We have received a ton of amazing testimonials and solid positive feedback about the program that we are happy to finally share. We plan to implement your suggestions and continually improve and refine the program with each and every group we work with. We are so excited for this opportunity!

The next Winter Cleanse will be held in January 2012 after the holidays, so I hope you can join us in celebrating transformation after the New Year!

Our cleansers reported that they experienced:
•    More energy and focus
•    More mindfulness
•    Weight loss
•    A whitening of the eyes
•    Softer and clearer skin
•    Detoxifying and cleanse inspired yoga classes
•    A new awareness of their habits regarding food consumption (ie: emotional eating)
•    A better understanding of the importance of buying seasonal, local and organic food
•    Intentional self-care as a necessity, not a luxury
•    Better sleep
•    Reduction or complete removal of habitual substances, like caffeine & alcohol
•    A shift in consciousness around food choices and its origins
•    A deeper understanding of how food is prepared
•    More knowledge about how to shop for food
•    Joy in knowing that raw food could taste great!
•    Creativity in making new recipes
•    That eating less is satisfying and feels better
•    Happiness in sharing this experience with friends or loved one
•    Celebration in how they began to feel
•    A true desire to continue the cleanse even after it is over
•    Gratitude in learning tools that have resulted in true change

Some testimonials are below:

“Thanks again so much for this information really was an incredible experience. I feel great. I have more energy. I am more productive. I wake up easier. What I learned on this was life changing.   Eating this way makes so much sense –   it’s crazy what we’re doing to our bodies with food.”

Thanks again,
Scott A

“I am still following the cleanse regimen……fits perfectly with yoga and running and the weeks preceding Thanksgiving…What I liked about the cleanse was its simplicity.  The simple meals..less food..just as satisfying.   Love feeling light and empty! A sanguine kind of empty not an abyss kind of empty….Recipes are great…I tweaked recipes by adding garlic cayenne butter (raw)…. or more ginger or lemon here and there. Additionally, I wouldn’t mind more raw days…..YES!!!!

I would do this cleanse again…looking forward to the winter cleanse!!!!! and, of course, I am telling everyone how amazing this cleanse was both for the spirit and body…so I am inviting everyone in my immediate circle to join in on the next one! Hopefully, yoga, too!

Thanks to both you and Nicole for taking such good care of us!”

Peace
Judie G

“What I liked most about the cleanase was how thoughtful and mindful it made me. I am totally aware of what I put into my body. I look and feel different, my skin is smoother. The combination of yoga,hiking, the gym and mindful eating, has made me stronger. I loved the stuffed peppers.

Of course I would do this cleanse again  and I would refer anyone to try it in January!”
Liz

If you have ever thought about trying a Vegan diet, or a cleanse, the
two week Bronson Canyon Yogi Seasonal Food Cleanse created by Chrissy
and Nicole is a great way to explore.  The menu is soy-free Vegan
focusing on seasonal organic fruits and vegetables as well as assorted
grains and nuts. During the two weeks there is a period of raw food
only which was a challenge at first but ultimately quite doable.  In
general I was actually surprised at how easy it was to let go of
certain habitual items, like say diet coke.  Since the cleanse my
wife, mostly a vegetarian and I, a confirmed carnivore, have decided
to continue eating Vegan, and have now been doing so for six weeks.
We’re both feeling great and have each lost ten pounds since we
started.  Thank you Chrissy and Nicole!
~David

I loved the thorough information, support, weekly detailed/organized shopping lists and the awesome recipes. I liked that the cleanse advocated farmer’s markets and a more self-sustainable way of living. Mostly, I loved the way the Vegan diet made me feel: energetic, clear-minded, more intuitive and emotionally stable.
~ Erin

Thank you so much again for being a part of this amazing experience with us!  Feel free to contact Chrissy or myself if you’d like to join us for the next cleanse in January.  We are also have private one on one  cleansing clients. So if you can’t participate in the dates that we’ve outlined we will work with you individually to support your journey to a healthier way of living.

We love you all and we hope you have a blessed holiday!!!!!

Peace, love and nourishment.

YOGI SEASONAL FOOD CLEANSE – Fall Dates Announced!

Tuesday, October 11th – Monday, October 24 (14 days). Just in time for Halloween ;)

It’s time to cleanse before the crazy holidays! Join our professional team of yogis for a 14 Day Fall Cleanse designed to align your physical and energetic bodies as the weather and season changes.  You will learn how to detoxify and heal the body through the use of local, organic, sustainable food and use our yoga practice to further eliminate toxins and boost your immune system in preparation for the holiday and flu season.  This is the ultimate “foodie” cleanse!  No starving here, just wholesome clean foods that will make you feel better than ever!  We hope that after participating in the 14 Day Fall Cleanse, you will attain the knowledge that will guide you toward long term healthier practices and an enhanced life!

14 Day Cleanse Includes:

• One in-person group q & a meeting (optional)
• Daily outdoor yoga classes at “Bronson Canyon Yoga” geared specifically toward the cleansing process. ** if you are out of town email us about discounts or book Skype privates for yoga sessions
• Email forum/Facebook
• PDF workbook including a detailed description of the cleanse, expert advice on how to succeed and get the most out of the cleanse, journal templates, 2 week sample menu, shopping lists, list of local farmers markets and organic markets, vegan restaurant guide, delicious seasonal vegan recipes and more.

Save the Date: (optional class)
Sunday, October 9th
9:30am morning Yoga class + in-person group meeting

Price:
Early Bird Special!!!  Pay by October 1st and pay only $150!!!
$190 (under $14 a day including yoga!!!)
Email us if you are not located in LA or can’t attend yoga for discounted cleanse options.
nic@nicolepresents.com

Yogi Seasonal Food Cleanse

Bronson Canyon Members $50.00 Cleanse No Yoga $80.00 Cleanse Yoga 6 Days $120.00 Full Program – 12 Days Yoga $190.00 Trade (email us) $0.00

The Gold I Gleaned from Wanderlust

The Wanderlust Festival this year was nothing short of incredible. Not only was this festival an opportunity to practice yoga and hear great music, but also it was a chance to collect valuable information from top-notch Yoga teachers around the world and get exposed to yoga modalities I had never tried before.

I think the most important thing that I took away from my Wanderlust experience this year was the importance of being Authentic.  Yoga becomes an expression of who we are as students, teachers and human beings.  The practice is beautiful, ancient and revered. Also, it is a highly creative and expressive art, science and philosophy.  It draws people out of their shell, breaks them down into little pieces and builds them back up into the most powerful expression of Divine love they can be.

We are all unique and it is that uniqueness that develops the Yoga that we teach or practice.  Students will follow whatever expressions they resonate with on a vibrational level and all forms of Yoga are awesome for this reason.

After 12 classes in just four days, I extracted a ton of great ideas and information from the workshops that will improve my practice and my teaching.  Below are some nuggets of information that I wish to pass along from some of my classes.

Rod Stryker
I was fortunate to be able to take three wonderful classes with Rod Stryker of ParaYoga. I could write a few blogs about what I learned through Rod, but will just highlight a few.

Class One – Hatha Yoga Pradipika
He made a point that resonated strongly with me -  a reminder -  that Yoga is not just about the muscles, asanas and breath, but also its about the Endocrine System, our organs.  It’s our organs that give us longevity and we use the breath and the bandhas to change the health of our organs.

Class Two – Treta Bandhas
Udiyana Bandha is the master key to Yoga.  This is where the fire (agni) burns up what Rod Stryker calls our “landfill”, the emotional stuff that resides in our second chakra that we need to burn up to get our spiritual Kundalini energy rising from the base of the spine.  He says Mula Bandha gets all the press, but it’s the Udiyana Bandha that we need to stoke.

Class Three – Prana Viyus
He was masterful in explaining the Prana Vayus. We watched our breath as it relates to the five Vayus. As teachers, we could watch our students’ breath through the five subsets and as it got shaky or stuck somewhere, we could relate that directly back to the physical and psychological blocks they were encountering in their lives.  This exercise was poignant for those participating and a real learning experience on the connection between breath and subtle energies.

Rod’s funny response to our discussion on the Apana Vayu and the importance of elimination on a physical and psychological level….“Spirituality goes out the door if you haven’t crapped in four days!”

I would highly suggest checking out Rod Stryker. His new book the “Four Bodies” was just released and I would bet that it’s nothing short of amazing!
This is his website:  http://parayoga.com/

CorePower Yoga
CorePower Yoga was an expression of Yoga rooted in physical training and fitness. It was a high-energy class filled with lunges and Utkatasanas.  We used weights to sculpt and sweat a bunch.  I could see this form of Yoga doing really well for the gym devotee and was very happy that I got to experience it.  I could see myself hitting one of these classes once a week to really get the heart rate up and challenge myself on a physical level. CorePower Yoga teacher Becky reminded me that, “there are seeds of transformation at every turn.”

Seane Corn
Seane is epic all the time!  I don’t even know where to start other than to say that I find her to be one of the most empowering individuals on the planet.  She always has a huge message and it calls you to do great things. When I leave her classes I want to be her – a badass – ready to save the world, raise money and do something great!

I could write a book of favorite quotes from Seane, but this one was particularly funny and it stuck out in my mind…(it’s paraphrased)… “Wow, I just whiffed the alcohol some of you are sweating out. I’m getting high off your sweat. Luckily, Yoga is a practice of detoxification!”

Shiva Rea
I walked out of Shiva’s class with Random Rab and Steve Gold and found myself walking around completely stoned off her energy. It’s Shakti -  its sensual and mystifying.  I don’t even know if we did much asana, but we sure shifted our consciousness quick.  What I love about Shiva is her willingness to be spontaneous, her ability to hold space and allow people to dive into their sensuality. I get high off her love of music and dance. It’s a breed of Yoga that’s just plain … Shiva.

Off the Mat and Into the World – “Finding Your Voice” with Suzanne Sterling, Kerri Kelly and Hala Khouri
A revealing and empowering experience!  We worked with our fifth chakra, Vishuddha, to enhance our ability to communicate.  In our society, many of us are told at a young age that we can’t sing or that we shouldn’t say something when maybe we want to.  From these mini traumas we close down in this center.  We are dying to express ourselves! We learned the power of singing as a tool to heal, express and release the tension we’ve accumulated at the throat.  Together, we practiced opening this chakra through asana, moaning, groaning, shouting and above all singing as a large community.   I realized that we are all amazing singers and have tremendous voices when we can sync up as a community and feel safe and supported! Beautiful.

John Friend, “Creating Potent Themes”
All heart, all the time.  John Friend is a devotee to Bhakti – devotional being and practice. He embodies Yoga as a prayer. In his workshop, Creating Potent Themes, we discussed the importance of language in creating an experience for students of Yoga.  He taught us how we can call upon themes as they relate to the Universal Divine and how themes draw upon heart characteristics. As an example, we analyzed the ‘Five Elements’ and how they relate to actions in our bodies, characteristics of the heart and ultimately express the Divine.  I love Anusara and its intention to open to grace and love!

Kathyrn Budig
I knew Kathryn was beautiful as I see her in Yoga Journal all the time, but I had no idea how down to earth and absolutely adorable and funny she was until Wanderlust.  She’s hilarious and promotes fun and joy! She also has a sick practice and is really great with analogies, simple instruction and making really hard poses achievable.  I look forward to taking many more classes with her in the future.

Michael Franti
I captured part of a story he was telling and thought I’d share it. It’s a little cut off at the end but you can just see his sweetness! He is astounding. Michael is a family man, a musician, a Yogi, a businessman and a spiritual guy.  His energy is profound and intoxicating.  He’s got a heart of gold and a real purpose on this planet to help transform it.

Overall, Wanderlust Festival was amazing and I look forward to next year and all the related events they are hosting around the U.S.

Yoga is a conscious practice that is raising the vibration of this planet one breath at a time on a massive scale. I feel so blessed, honored and grateful that I am able to get on my mat every day and experience this gift of breath and transformation.

Great thanks to the Wanderlust Festival founders for having this vision and manifesting it into our reality!