Guided Meditation • Visualization • Mindfulness

Over the years I have learned that the ultimate stress reliever is practicing faith.  We are stressed because we can not forgive the past and we are stressed because we are worried about the future.  We lack faith. Faith in what?  Faith in yourself, and faith that life is gorgeous and good and that It is on everyone’s side.
 
Meditation teachers often talk about, “practicing presence” or “practicing mindfulness.”  The practice of presence or mindfulness means to practice faith.  How can we practice presence, being here now, being in the present moment if we don’t have faith that life will take care of Itself? 
 
Faith is not a set of beliefs, faith is knowing, and the only way we come into this sense of “knowing” is through practicing faith. We practice faith by affirming always that there is more to us than any given situation.  We study, we walk, we contemplate, we smile, we breathe, we meditate, we cry, we give, this is our practice.
 
Faith is not for God/Source/Universe/Spirit/Whatever, the practice of faith is for us. We practice faith so that we will come into a remembrance of our divine natures, thereby healing everything. 
 
If you are unhappy or stressed ask yourself, “Where is my faith? Is my faith a set of out dated beliefs?  Is my faith in villainy and negativity stronger than my faith in Spirit?”  Ask yourself these questions, and wait for the answers to bubble up from within you.
 
My wish for you is that you find and express joy.
 
With Love,
Krista

A new 8 week Meditation Series begins Wednesday September 30th, 2009

The class is called: “Connecting with the Still Small Voice Within”

From 7:30 pm to 8:30 pm

at the Redondo Beach Center for Spiritual Living, 907 Knob Hill Ave., Redondo Beach, CA 90277

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

To register please visit:  http://www.redondocrs.org or call 310-540-5080

Stay tuned because I want to add an optional journaling and study portion to this class. 

I look forward to seeing you all there!

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. 

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

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 

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

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

Hello and Happy New Year!

What! How can we think of a happy new year when bad news is all around us? Recession, people losing their jobs and their homes, tax returns are delayed because California is broke, the Taliban is back in charge in Afghanistan, and so on. But communities are not things in and of themselves.  A community is a collection of individuals and the energy or mindset of the community is determined by the individual consciousness of everyone in it. 
 
Our thoughts are sneaky.  We may believe that we are thinking positively, that we are in charge of our thoughts, but the truth is, is that our thoughts are in charge of us most of the time.  For example, how often do you think about what you do not want, or how much you dislike your work, or your neighbor, or how much debt you have?  How often do you complain, criticize, judge, become defensive, or compare yourself to others?  How often does it happen that when you see a beautiful or wealthy person you think that their beauty is fake and their wealth undeserved?
 
To find peace in our body/mind and community we must rest our conscious awareness in the truth:   that because we are alive, and there is breath in our bodies, we have the awesome power of choice. 

Watch your thoughts closely this week, notice the thoughts that make you feel anxious, stressed, and fearful.  If necessary, take a mental health break and go on a news fast for the week.  Put off talking to your friend that likes to complain about everything for a few days.

When you change the way you think and feel about your life, the conditions of your life will follow.  We have been deluded into believing that in order to be happy, to realize health, wealth and wellbeing the conditions of our lives must change first, not so.  But only you can change the way you think and feel about your life.  This isn’t about “the power of positive thinking,” this is about affirming the truth that you are the beloved of the Universe, that you possess the awesome power of thought, and that you have the free will to choose and to create freely in your experience.

Know the truth and the truth will set you free!

Every breath presents us with an opportunity for renewal.  The leaves don’t regret the turning of the seasons and the birds don’t lament winters past.  Every thing in the natural world exists fully in this moment and is therefore always new.  Humans have this same ability to be renewed and live fully in the present moment for we are not separate from the phenomenal world we are integral to it. 
 
Numerologically 2008 was a year of new beginnings.  What did you initiate?  What seeds did you gather for harvest this past year?  Spend some time this week contemplating these questions, because 2009 is the year that we will be planting and nurturing these seeds.  Perhaps there was something that was initiated that you don’t want to bring to fruition this coming year.  Write those things down and burn them, release them, let them go.  You can do this; it is your birthright to be renewed and prosperous in this coming year.  Do you believe you can have that?  I know that you can.
 
May the coming hours, days, weeks, and months be a blessing to you.  Breathe deeply and live fully.
Love,
Krista

“When bad thoughts enter your mind, let them come through. Don’t resist them. Let them talk. Let them have the floor to speak .Then, when they’re done talking, talk back to those thoughts and correct them. Let them know that they have no power. They hold no weight. And most importantly–They’re not real.”
           —-Dr. Daniel Amen M.D.
      Author of: Making a Good Brain Great

Our thoughts create our reality. This is no secret. However, have you ever thought or imagined an event so crazy, that if it happened instantly, you would be in deep trouble? I know I have. In fact, I don’t know of anyone who hasn’t.  Have you ever thought about why those thoughts almost never happen instantaneously? I have. And what I’ve come up with may be just as crazy as the thoughts themselves.

The best way to explain my theory is this:  Your thoughts are like those school erasable markers, and your reality is like the dry erase board that you write on with those markers.

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