Category Archives: News

Aug25

Anusara Yoga Meredith Rom

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Anusara Yoga Meredith Rom

Photo of Meredith Rom by Meredith Rom

Photo of Meredith Rom by Meredith Rom

Yoga One opened a new studio in Santa Rosa and offered free classes for a few days. I checked out Meredith Rom‘s Anusara Yoga class because I had read about their recent scandal in Southern California.

I knew this style emphasized flow and feelings of love. Meredith moved through the room with fluid grace and gently connected with each student, quietly asking about injuries and introducing herself by name. She asked us to create an intention for the class and suggested love, compassion or beauty. We briefly chanted OM and went through several rounds of down dog, plank and cobra to open up the front of the chest. While the postures were mainstream for an introductory class, the vibe was distinctive. Very loving, both toward the inner self and the all the people in the class.

I was especially touched by her guidance as we slipped into a brief moment of shivasana. Meredith said, “Connect with your inner core of goodness.” Wow! This is so different from the Catholic indoctrination “You’re not good enough for God. You came into this world stained with original sin” and the repetitive chant at Mass, “Lord I am not worthy that you should come into my house. Say but the word and my soul shall be healed.” Catholic children are taught that they are, by definition, stained and unworthy.

This Anusara Yoga proposes a profound shift. I found two really interesting posts by Meredith on Elephant Journal.

  1. 10 Ways to Know if Yoga is Working
  2. Her review of several powerful books and an elite class for yoga teachers

Tip number 5 in the second link above is a quote from Mathew and Terces Engelhart’s book, Kindred Spirit.

I make powerful requests as an exercise in worthiness and remember that “no” doesn’t mean anything. I build my self-worth by making powerful requests and get at least one “no” everyday.

I am starting to see it is important to keep the concept of worthiness in my mind. It’s not just what I put into my body, it’s what I hold in my mind too. I am learning that toxins are not limited to food and beverages. Consciously choosing loving thoughts is as important as choosing to breathe into the discomfort in yoga. I am going to continue to check out Meredith Rom’s Insights.

Aug24

Goat Rodeo at Green Music Center

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Goat Rodeo at Green Music Center

Goat-Rodeo_largeGetting onto the SSU campus and finding a parking place was a Goat Rodeo. Forty-five minutes before showtime, I got on the end of the line of cars on Rohnert Park Expressway waiting to get in the single lane campus entrance closest to the Green Music Center. The line of cars crawled all the way to a parking lot near the front of the campus and I had to sprint to make it to my seat in time. Next time I will arrive MUCH earlier and have dinner there, or I will enter through the multi-lane front entrance, because it is closer to last-minute parking.

The music was fabulous, as I knew it would be, having listened to the CD so many times, and re-watched the Colbert Report show featuring them. I was in the hall (as opposed as out on the lawn as for Pink Martini) upstairs in the balcony facing the performers. There is another raised seating area behind the performers. My location had been described in the Press Democrat as acoustically optimum. I was distressed that I did not hear the acoustic version of the CD by burping up $80 for a ticket. It was amplified, and my friends who were on the lawn, and enjoyed the excellent video coverage, heard exactly the same thing I did.

I was hoping that this string quartet, which is what it is, could be heard unamplified in the hall. It was a great performance, wonderful stage presence by Yo-Yo Ma and Chris Thile. My favorite performer, both on the CD and live, is Stuart Duncan, the fiddler. Must purchase more CDs of his work.

I think Edgar Meyer, the bass player and composer of most of the work, will become considered a classical modern composer. His work is elegant. The Strings blog published an interesting interview with them about the technical aspects of their work. My favorite piece, however, was his transcription of a Bach piece for two flutes and a continuo. It was performed on the Bass, Cello, and Mandolin. Only Yo-Yo Ma used music. And he pointed it out.

Aug9

High Blood Sugar Linked to Dementia

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High Blood Sugar Linked to Dementia

What you want to see on your glucose meter.

What you want to see on your glucose meter.

High blood glucose levels are tied to an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia in a new study.

“We found a steadily increasing risk associated with ever-higher blood glucose levels, even in people who didn’t have diabetes. There’s no threshold, no place where the risk doesn’t go up any further or down any further.” The association with dementia kept climbing with higher blood sugar levels and, at the other end of the spectrum, continued to decrease with lower levels.

This held true even at glucose levels considered normal. Among those whose blood sugar averaged 115 milligrams per deciliter, the risk of dementia was 18 percent higher than among those at 100 mg/dL, just slightly lower. The effects were also pronounced among those with diabetes: patients with average glucose levels of 190 mg/dL had a 40 percent higher risk of dementia than those whose levels averaged 160 mg/dL.

http://newoldage.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/08/09/high-blood-sugar-linked-to-dementia/?smid=pl-share

Aug7

You Are What You Tweet

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You Are What You Tweet

Jamie Reuben Hosts Book Launch for 'The New Digital Age' By Eric Schmidt and Jared Cohen“The New Digital Age” by Eric Schmidt and Jared Cohen points out that, “by 2025, the majority of the world’s population will, in one generation, have gone from having no access to (uncensored) information to accessing all of the world’s information through a device that fits in the palm of the hand.”

Eric Schmidt is the Executive Chairman of Google and Jared Cohen is the Director of Google Ideas, coming from a State Department and Security background. They have so many interesting scenarios of how things could be in the future that on page 53, I came up with a Movie of the Weeks idea about a fearless war correspondent working secretly because the system is set up so that even his editor does not know his/her identity. She was recruited “Charlie’s Angels” style by the senior editors who recruit and vet correspondents.

The focus of the book is quite international and the policy implications fill the last half of the book. They end with this thought:

the virtual and physical civilizations will affect and shape each other; the balance they will strike will come to define our world. In our views, the multidimensional result, though not perfect, will be more egalitarian, more transparent and more interesting than we can even imagine.

Aug5

First Weekend in August

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First Weekend in August

AugustMontage
On Saturday we hiked along Brush Creek where we found this plaque which reads:

   Santa Rosa

To perpetuate the legend
that on the Feast of St. Rose, August 30, 1829
Padre Amoros
Beside this stream
baptized an indian maid from which
the city took the name
Santa Rosa

I also went on an Art Walk on Sunday and tried on a crown of twigs and enjoyed some of the wall art.

Jul16

Senior Peer Counseling Success

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Senior Peer Counseling Success

GretaLouisePears300
Eight weeks ago I started with my first Senior Peer Counseling client, a lady in her 70s who had recently left the hospital after a one-week stay and was feeling down. I was thrilled yesterday when she showed me this artwork that she created this past week.

Our goal is to get her more socially integrated so that she does not further stress her over-burdened daughter. I have not yet been able to get her to go to community activities in the senior community where she lives, and have not yet persuaded her to visit the Finley Senior Center which is fairly close to where she lives.

My great hope is to get her to enroll in the FREE semester-long art classes offered by SRJC in seven locations in the county, including a previously unknown (to me) campus near the intersection of Hwy. 12 and Fulton Rd.

I spoke with Judy Butler, who teaches this class at the Petaluma Senior Center. She was very kind and enthusiastic.

When I asked if my client, who does not have online access, could drop-in to check it out and register in class, Judy replied,

Hi, Anet – – Your client can sign up in class. The teachers will have the registration materials (very easy to fill out, plus no charge for class.) The names of the three teachers at the Wright site for fall are Adriane Hatkoff, Susan St. Thomas, and Judith Selby. They are all very experienced watercolorists and teachers, no doubt open to accepting art students working in other mediums. All your friend has to do is show up with her art supplies at whatever class schedule time works best for her. Drop-ins are also welcome (but they will probably be asked to fill out the basic reg forms (filed out only once for the whole semester). Sonoma County is filled with many experienced older artists, who thrive in this gorgeous wine country retirement area. I know, because I’m one of them)!

It would make me so happy to see my client in a semester-long art class with other seniors. I know they will see her talent and encourage her. I really think this would help her become more emotionally self-sufficient which would go a long way toward healing her relationship with her long-suffering daughter.

Jul15

Pink Martini

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Pink Martini

PinkMartini600
Went to Green Music Center for the first time with (from left) Howard, Frances and Jason. We sat outside at table on a glorious Sunday afternoon, Bastille Day, and enjoyed the roast chicken Howard prepared, quinoa and other gluten-free food we brought with us, and wine purchased there. We got to take a peek into the main building which is sleek and modern and looks like high-end Ikea. I am looking forward to checking out the acoustics on Friday, August 23 when I see Yo Yo Ma in the Goat Rodeo Sessions. It’s great to see how many people support the arts in Sonoma County. I wonder how much it cost Victor LaCombe and his family to ring the gong before the performance?

May7

Senior Peer Counselor Graduation

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Senior Peer Counselor Graduation

Senior Peer Counselor Graduation

Anet, Dan, Mary, Diane, Bernice


Here is a jittery cellphone photo of the new Senior Peer Counselors at our graduation on May 7 when we received our roses and certificates. The five of us completed 35 hours of Training starting January 30, 2013, to join more than 40 veteran Senior Peer Counselors of Sonoma County who provide social support to other seniors by offering goal-oriented individual and group counseling on a short-term basis. We address the problems and life adjustments of our clients with an emphasis on helping them develop coping behaviors and expanding their knowledge and use of resources.

SPCcertificateWe learned a tremendous amount from our boss, clinical supervisor Vicki Wedegaertner, and the SPC Program Manger, Melissa Fike. Their knowledge and compassion set a very high standard and an inspiring model to emulate. Topics included communication, building resilience, stress, depression, anxiety, burn-out, legal reporting requirement for elder abuse, county resources, and more.

The five of us had a great time, laughed a lot and learned a lot. I am so impressed by the caliber of the veteran Senior Peer Counselors who contribute their time and experience to help other seniors. I am confident that the new graduates will do our utmost to contribute effectively to the community.