Guided Meditation • Visualization • Mindfulness

Mindfulness Practice #1:  When feeling stressed or challenged this week, start breathing deeply.

1. When we are feeling stressed or when we are in the midst of a conflict, it is normal for us to hold our breath. When this happens start to breathe deeply and slowly directing the breath into the belly. Do this while keeping the distribution of weight even between your right and left foot or your right and left cheek if you are sitting down.

2. Do not worry about whose right or wrong in that moment, just breathe and feel the body/mind coming back into balance.  **Act from the intention of wanting balance.  When we act from the need to be right, we create conflict.  When we act from the intention of wanting understanding, we listen, and we create harmony.

3. Deep breathing feels like a cool glass of water on a hot summer’s day.  It is good for you and its stress reducing effects are immediate.  So simple and yet so profound. 

Popularity: 2% [?]

Hello Everyone,

I just wanted to let you know that the Summer Quater at Beach Cites Health District in Redonodo Beach begins tonight at 7:30 PM.  This is a guided meditation class, our focus this quarter will be on total relaxation.  I look forward to seeing you all there!

When:  Wednesday’s June 24th thru August 19th (No Class July 22nd)

Where:  Beach Cities Health District

514 N. Prospect Ave., Redondo Beach, CA 90503

Register at:  http://www.bchd.org or 310-374-9852 ext. 212 or 147

Cost:  $45 for all 8 weeks

You are welcome to drop in also.

Popularity: 2% [?]

Hi Everyone,

This Saturday from 11:30 am-1:30 am I will be having a meditation workshop at Beach Cities Health District.  Although it is a level II workshop, it is open to everyone.  Our focus this month will be creating a positive mental atmosphere, opening ourselves to compassion, and of course deep relaxation.  We will also be doing our tea ceremony which is always a big hit.  I am looking forward to seeing you this Saturday!

Cost:  $25

Popularity: 7% [?]

Redondo Beach Center for Spiritual Living

Presents

The 9th Annual Peace Thru Unity Breakfast

Saturday May 16th from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM

Enjoy a delicious home-cooked breakfast, the multicultural sounds of world music singers, dancers, and speakers from various faith’s.

Eat, Love, Laugh, and Celebrate Peace with us!

Visit us at http://peacethruunity.net

This event is close to my heart.  I hope to see you there!

Popularity: 6% [?]

In preparation for this evening’s class on the heart center, it occured to me how the energy of compassion, forgiveness, empathy and kindness nourishes the entire body and mind.

The heart center correlates to our body’s circulatory system.  The circulatory system feeds, oxygenates and removes waste from the entire body.  Looking at the picture of our circulatory system, I imagined how the energy of compassion travels the same route, bathing our bodies in light and ease while at the same time removing negativity.  I also imagined how feelings of anger, resentment, and even hatred are destructive to the body, since this negative energy travels along the same route. 

It occurs to me how vital compassion, empathy and forgiveness are to our total health and wellbeing.  This week, please practice along with me the Loving Kindness Meditation.  Let’s bring health and healing to ourselves and our world.

Loving Kindness Meditation:

Assume a meditative posture and repeat silently to yourself
1. “May I be safe, May I be happy, May I be healthy, May I live with ease.”

2.While visualizing someone whom you feel grateful towards, such as a mentor, a friend, or a loved one, say silently to yourself:
“May you be safe, May you be happy, May you be healthy, May you live with ease.”

3.While visualizing someone whom you are indifferent towards, such as a grocery store clerk, repeat statement number 2.

4.While visualize someone with whom you are having a difficult relationship with, repeat the statement number 2.

Because our feelings about people can be complicated, this meditation can be very challenging. However, with practice it can be transformative.

For more information see: http://www.beliefnet.com/Health/2000/07/Opening-The-Heart.aspx

Popularity: 7% [?]

“Live your passion and you’ll always have money in your pocket!”  That’s what I told my youngest daughter the other night while I was tucking her into bed.

Passion is a strange conversation to have with an almost seven year old at bedtime, but she’s searching for a way to express her unique, and I think audacious, point of view about life.  “We’ll go see Jerry at the Gymnastics studio on Saturday and take a cheerleading class,” I said.  She is really excited.

Passion is a gift. Passion tells us why we’re here and what we’ve come to share and to express with the people around us.  Passion doesn’t have to be about something big.  We can be passionate about flowers, or sunny days, or reptiles.  What’s most important is that we are able to express that passion with enthusiasm and then share it with others.  Passion is a great, good thing.

If you don’t know what your passion is then ask yourself, “If I had 20 million dollars, what would I buy and how would I live?”  Take your time and really let the answer come from within, let the answer fill your heart, let it create an energy within you.

But what if the answer both exhilarates you and makes you sad?  What if your answer is to buy a sail boat and sail around the world…but you remember the kids, and being the president of the PTA, and making sure mother takes her medications, etc…What if sailing around the world is too impractical?  Well, what about just taking sailing lessons and taking your mother and your kids with you.  Yes you can find a creative way to make your passion work for you right now. 

How much is your passion worth to you?  If you are always finding excuses why you can’t live your passion then maybe being happy, I mean really happy, isn’t worth that much to you.  Or, maybe that “thing” you dream about is just a fantasy and not a passion.  If that’s true, then ask yourself again, meditate on it, contemplate what would bring you the most joy in this moment, and invite passion into your life today!

With Love,
Krista 

Popularity: 11% [?]

Even if you’ve been practicing meditation for years, there may be occasions where it is really difficult to sit still and concentrate. 

You’re sitting for your practice, you open your eyes and what felt like 20 or 30 minutes was really only 5 minutes.  You expect that with each hour, week, and year, you would be getting better and going deeper, but that has not been the case. 

 Striving in our meditation practice, that is, trying to be better, go deeper, or sit unperturbed for a certain amount of time, actually impedes our “progress.”  In fact, we should not be thinking in terms of “progress” at all when practicing meditation.  If we were to have a goal,  it would be to just be natural, to do nothing, to watch the breath, to listen to the birds or the traffic, to feel the heart beating in the chest, to visualize a lovely golden light, to feel the aliveness within and around us, to just be. 

It’s important not to allow any feelings of discouragement or frustration keep you from your practice.  When you find it difficult to concentrate or sit still, tell yourself that it is temporary, that the restlessness will pass, and just stay put!  If you’ve given yourself 20 minutes for your practice, but you were only able to “meditate” for 8, then just sit for the other 12 minutes and look out the window or watch the clock.

May every day be a blessing to you!

Love,
Krista 

Popularity: 8% [?]

Wishing you a joyous Easter celebration!

Namasté,

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Guided Meditation for Relaxation and Self-Healing

8 Weeks

Begins Wednesday April 1st, No Class April 8th

From 7:30 PM to 8:30 PM

Cost: $45 for all eight weeks

During this class you’ll not only experience the relaxing and healing benefits of practicing meditation, you’ll also learn about the energy centers of the body (the chakras), and how to create balance and harmony in your life through the practice of mindfulness.

This class is especially beneficial to those who find meditation difficult.

Please wear comfortable clothing

Where: Beach Cities Health District

514 N. Prospect Ave., Wellness Room 2nd floor

Redondo Beach, CA 90277

Please register at http://www.bchd.org

Connecting With the Still Small Voice Within

8 Weeks

Begins Friday April 3rd, No Class April 10th

From 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM

Cost: $45 for all eight weeks or $7 per class

This is a structured class that will include a series of guided meditations and mindfulness lessons to help you relax, manage stress and anxiety, be more focused, and present. However, the ultimate goal of this class is to help the student deepen the connection with their Source.

The class will be held in the exquisite sanctuary of The Center for Spiritual Living in Redondo Beach. The energy of this beautiful space as well as the group energy will help to settle the mind and facilitate a deeper connection to Spirit. This class is appropriate for all levels.

Where: CRS Center for Spiritual Living

907 Knob Hill Ave.,

Redondo Beach, Ca 90277

To Register please call: 310-540-5080

Guided Meditation Workshop, Level 1

Saturday April 4th from 11:30-1:30 PM

Cost: $25

Curious about meditation but not sure where to start? Get a taste for some deeply relaxing techniques to help you reduce stress and create serenity. Learn how to balance mind, body, and spirit at this special mini-workshop.

Where: Beach Cities Health District

514 N. Prospect Ave., Wellness Room 2nd floor

Redondo Beach, CA 90277

Please Register at http://www.bchd.org

Popularity: 10% [?]