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Autumns Meditation :
" If you sit at the edge of a river , you see only a small part of its surface . And Yet the water before your eyes is proof of unknowable depths "
Anita Diamant , The Red Tent
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Teaching homeschoolers Art and Yoga at Workshop 13 in Ware , Ma.
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---------------------------------------------- 2012 - 2015 YESSSSS! Finally !!! YOGA Therapies in a hospital ! From 2012 - 2015 It was my great privilege to have developed the first Yoga Therapies program at Health Alliance Hospital a member of UMass Health Care Simonds-Hurd Complementary Care Center . Yoga helps in Hospitals ! *2012 - 2015 a program was developed assisting patients , care givers , doctors and nurses in learning stress management in body mind and spirit with Yoga tools listed below ... *This was literally a dream come true ...A manifestation turning Some BIG lemons in to Sweet lemon aide . Having had back surgery at 15 ..and again at 33 I remember thinking hospitals needed more healing modalities. I had studied Yoga Therapies for , survival - for self awareness, healing , and peace in my life . I didn't just learn to swim , i now had a life boat to share . Yoga and this experience are part of my transformations , Art ,Motherhood, marriage all are part of my growth. I combined YT with Art for a natural marriage in healing in December 2016 I published Fountain of Trabazon an Oracle deck that was begun while working on the Oncology unit to inspire and elevate the joy and consciousness with yogic theory , humor and good conversation delivered with art Yoga Therapies teaches these amazing self help tools: Asana " poses " for strength and balance Pranayama " breath work " for relaxation and quieting the mind a few Years after my second back surgery I was working at Simonds - Hurd Complimentary Care Center and Oncology Ward in Fitchburg Massachusetts , I taught Yoga Therapies, assisting those in need with anxiety and pain management. We developed personal skills : Asana "poses" for awareness of changes in the body, strength, skill maintenance and restoration. (this can take the smallest form of movement or propping for support and ease adding much comfort when challenged with long term hospital stays) Pranayama "Breath Work" for quieting the mind and developing a new system of relaxation for the brain to relate to (and in succession the body follows) Mindfulness Meditation skills prepare us for the changes of new habits and awareness slowly but surly of Santosha - "contentment" ( a distant concept to those in pain) Our Sessions would begin with a Dharma talk , a conversation about what their intentions were , from there we work together with the above systems for, including a specialized combination of stress releasing , strength building practices - some take only minutes to learn and practice. This is key because many clients were literally receiving Chemotherapy as we worked together . In a long process such as Chemotherapy Yoga Therapy can offer a safe space ,and we can safely build a positive mind set .. this helps many fold ! On the Oncology floor we used guided meditations to form a practice that connects body mind and spirit in finding a restful positive place to dwell . Being relaxed and positive unlocked freedom. We learned together that a discipline contains relaxation and release. We used the relaxing experience of Tibetan Medicine Bowl (music) meditations Release of and pain management with Reiki , and Savasana ( a relaxed restorative posture ) for the body to spot Comfort . We learn about the skills of "practicing relaxing" by witnessing thoughts ,watching them and we can practice letting go of thoughts , a choice of no longer "hooking into them" and worry over them. We also used "Fountain of Trabazon" www.fountainoftrabazon.com an Oracle deck of 56 paintings and a brief guide book for positive affirmations to learn how to read the symbols in life and seek the calm and sweeter path. I created this deck over the early years of work in Oncology Yoga and self published it in 2016 to make it available to everyone. Id like to Thank the Clients who gave it their all ! Doctors Nurses and Staff who participated and shared these new holistic modalities . You are very appreciated My hope is that all hospitals incorporate these skill sets to help care for all staff, patients and care givers to share in a simple sweet path toward holistic being. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Previous class descriptions at Health Alliance Hospital in Fitchburg , Ma. 2010 - 2015 Tuesday 930 am Restorative , Gentle Raja Hatha Yoga Class Restorative implies building back up, slowly and gently using poses that are individualized to suite injury or tightness. This yoga practice also increases mindfulness and awareness of the breath to decrease stress, increase tone, flexibility and strength. Some classes may include: Nidra The practice of Yoga Nidra systematically combines initial relaxation of body and mind, awareness of breath, awareness of feelings and sensations, and the rotation of consciousness throughout different parts of the body. Though “nidra” means sleep, students experience profound relaxation on physical, mental and emotional levels. The class is open to all levels and no prior experience with yoga is required. Classes do not build upon each other, therefore you may attend randomly (drop-in) or every week. 2012-2015 Free Yoga Therapies Tuesdays and Thursdays Thanks to Angie's Spa Grant Patients at the Simonds-Sinon Regional Cancer Center in Fitchburg received free acupuncture, yoga and hand/foot/chair massage made possible by a renewed grant from Angie’s Spa Cancer Foundation! Free massage and Yoga are also made available to caregivers who accompany patients during treatment.
Founded in memory of Angie Levy, Angie’s Spa is a 501(c)(3) charitable, cancer foundation that funds hospital programs across the country with the express purpose of providing free therapeutic spa services to cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. These spa services are designed to alleviate painful side effects, provide relaxation to enhance traditional treatments and give cancer patients a self-esteem boost. As a 100% volunteer organization, including all of the Angie’s Spa staff, legal counsel from Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP; advisors from the entertainment, financial industries and more, Angie’s Spa ensures that all raised funds go directly towards patient services. A distinct aspect of Angie’s Spa is that everyone involved has been personally touched by cancer, and therefore has a unique and specific understanding of the needs and interests of cancer patients and their families. As of October 2013, Angie’s Spa is funding SIX hospital programs. These programs are community-based, thus providing therapeutic spa services to economically under-served populations, among others. Feedback from acupuncturists, massage therapists, physicians, hospital administrators and testimonials from the patients have been incredibly positive and have pushed us even more to raise funds for additional hospitals across the county. Learn more about Angie’s Spa or make a donation at www.AngiesSpa.org or www.facebook.com/angiesspa . For more information about accessing the services at the Simonds-Sinon Cancer Center, please contact Lynn Gerrits at 978-343-5098. Millions of Americans seek the comfort, relief and relaxation provided by therapies such as massage, Reiki, acupuncture, yoga, Tai Chi, meditation and more, often as part of their daily, weekly or monthly health and wellness regimen. Though cancer patients may also enjoy the same benefits, they may also seek out “complementary” therapies to help reduce the often brutal effects of chemotherapy and radiation or to aid in healing following surgery. In the field of integrative medicine, these evidence-based practices have been shown to help reduce such physical side effects as nausea and vomiting, fatigue, sleeplessness, pain, as well as numbness and tingling in the extremities. In addition, patients report reduced feelings of anxiety, a strengthened immune system and an overall enhanced sense of well-being. Call or e mail Julie for more information 
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at the OIC in Orange Ma Julie teaching at
"Arc in to Spring" Yoga Clinic at "Follow the Honey" Yoga Space - owned by Mary Canning of "Follow the Honey" in Cambridge Ma . -see her awesome space on Face book ! 1: 1 and Group Yoga and Meditation Classes available
@ Barre Highlands Cabin in beautiful central Massachusetts ! 
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