Earlier this year, I took a 17-day (Feb. 10 -27, 2008) trip to Kerala, South India, specifically to an Ayurvedic Health Resort called Somatheeram (translation “Moon-Seashore”).

This trip was sponsored by Ananda’s Expanding Light Yoga and Meditation Retreat near Nevada City, California and led by Gyandev and Diksha McCord—it was their third year to take folks on this healing retreat, and they did a great job as tour leaders. There were 28 of us on the tour. I was able to join the group as an extra staff person, an opportunity for which I will be forever grateful. It was a never-to-be-forgotten experience.

I would highly recommend this Ayurvedic Retreat for anyone, for reasons I will describe below—but most especially if you are interested in healing yourself of anything and while enjoying a vacation in a tropical paradise, experiencing the lovingly spiritual vibrations of South India, and being pampered head-to-toe with unique Ayurvedic treatments.

Because I have been teaching yoga, meditation, and all related topics for over 30 years, I was somewhat familiar with Ayurveda (translation: “knowledge of life”), the primary healing and dietary branch of the yogic sciences. I’ve had my “doshas” diagnosed and special Ayurvedic diets recommended. I’d heard of the special oil treatments and massage that Ayurveda recommends and the “Shirodhara or oil-dripping-on-your-head” treatment, but had never experienced those delights before this trip. So although I knew a bit of what to expect, I was still not sure of how I’d feel about having Ayurvedic treatments every day. Still, the friends I had talked to who had been on this retreat had raved about it, so I figured I’d like it, too. In reality, it was far beyond my expectations, to say the least.

Most of our group flew from San Francisco to Trivundrum, South India, with a stop in Singapore. It’s a long trip, but much more fun when you are with a group. We arrived at night, so it was difficult to see just exactly what the surroundings looked like. We were greeted by the friendly and efficient staff and given fresh coconut juice (in the coconut!) to drink with a straw—very refreshing after all that travel. We went to bed hearing the ocean roar and awoke to the sound of rain on the roof (the only time it rained while we were there).

Kerala is the name of the state in South India where the Somatheeram Ayurvedic Retreat is located, right on the Arabian Sea. Kerala means coconut palm, and I could see why when we got up the next morning. The palms were very tall, slender, and lovely, and they were everywhere, blowing in the warm breezes! In addition were riots of colorful flowers blooming in profusion and washed clean by the rain. The property is landscaped and maintained beautifully. Along every walk-way, there were carefully labeled pots of live herb plants, many of which were used in our healing treatments. I’ve been growing and using herbs for many years, so this was a special treat for me, though certainly many were new to me. The sounds of crows (“caw! caw!”) was omnipresent and often very loud, along with the cries of many other sorts of tropical birds. It sounded like the background sound track of a Tarzan movie. The weather was clear, warm (in the 80’s) and quite humid. It was cooler and ocean-breezy in the mornings, when we did our yoga and meditation sessions outside, under the palm trees and overlooking the ocean.

On our first morning, we came together for an orientation on what to expect from our treatments and an introduction to the staff and the doctors. We also had a blessing and puja (special fire and other offerings ceremony) performed for us by a young Brahmin priest. That afternoon we had our first personal evaluation with two Ayurvedic doctors and were given a dosha diagnosis and treatment schedule for the rest of our stay. In our tour package were included seven Ayurvedic treatments of 2 hours each. I took only my 7 as I felt I needed to have spare time to help Gyandev and Diksha as needed, or just relax if not. Most of my fellow retreatants added on more treatments. My friend, Suzanne Ilgun got the prize for the most treatments taken, one a day and doubling up for two a day on the last few days. She looked so fabulous at the end of the retreat, having lost 10 lbs and looking so rested and relaxed with a “Kerala glow” all around her. She was impressive!

What were the Ayurvedic treatments like? Ayurvedic healing treatments are ancient. Some form of Ayurveda has been practice in this area of India especially, for over a thousand years. The traditions are old indeed! The area/climate/temperature/humidity etc are said to be absolute perfect for healing to take place. The humidity is high, but that is essential to the “sweating-out-the-toxins” part of the treatments. Once you are “diagnosed” and “categorized by dosha as predominantly vatta (airy), pita (fiery), or kapha (earthy)” by the doctors, you are given some herbal remedies to take orally, daily, usually before and after meals. Some tasted OK. Some were tablets and easy to take. Some tasted like something I refuse to describe, but I took them anyway (mostly). I’m sure they were doing me good, because I felt better and better every day. And then you are turned over to a primary therapist (male for the men, female for the women) who takes care of your treatments every day. You are taken to a treatment room, which is quaintly attractive, as all the buildings are there. Primarily brick with palm-thatched roofs. Simple but very nice, clean, and comfortable.

Here you receive a 2 hour (for some slightly longer) treatment by 1, 2, 3 or 4 highly trained therapists. Now everybody was having different treatments of different types, some more strenuous than others. We really had fun each evening at dinner comparing our “treatment experiences” and laughing a lot at each person’s descriptions of them. I was having a “Rejuvenation Program” which was a lighter sort of treatment series. Others were having the “Purification Program” which was longer and more complex, as I had it described to me by others—it included dietary recommendations for every meal. Everybody I talked to seemed very happy with what was going on in their individualized treatments. I should mention that we had several men on this trip with us and they felt greatly healed and benefited by their treatments—it’s not just a “pampering girly” thing going on here, believe me! It involves deep healing techniques for men and women alike. Besides our group there were other guests also, primarily from Germany, Russia, Italy, and other European countries. I think we might have been the only Americans there!

Here is the main theme of the treatments: OIL, OIL, and more OIL! Literally gallons of herbal oil (usually sesame or coconut oil base) were being used on you. They make all this oil at a nearby facility, which we toured one day as part of our experience—very interesting to see how they do this! The oil was warmed to a comfortable temperature and slathered on in amazing quantities. Massages were quite different from the kind we are used to in the West. Lighter strokes (sometimes with more than one person working on you), not so much digging into the muscles. But very thorough and it really felt wonderful to me. They use their hands, obviously, to massage you all over, but also their feet. They treat your eyes, your ears, your nasal/sinus cavities, and other body parts I won’t mention. I drank cups of warm ghee (clarified butter) and herbs before treatments, and warm herbal water or coconut juice after treatments. So you are definitely being treated both inside and out. After two hours or more of treatment, you are give a clean cotton robe to wear to your room and told NOT to shower off the oil but rather sit out in nature in your hammock or rest somewhere shady and calm for an hour, to let the oil soak in more deeply and to reap the benefits of the treatments.

We also received Shirodara, the most commonly known treatment of Ayurveda, wherein a light stream of oil is poured slowly on your forehead for quite a while. It is blissful! You really do go into an altered state of consciousness with this one. All of it was a treat for me to experience, as well as being rejuvenating. I felt strongly that the doctors, treatment personnel, and all the healing staff members really know what they are doing and are very good at it and professional, too. Plus they are very kind, friendly, loving, caring, and always sweet as can be. Treatment sessions always began with a short blessing ceremony and lighting of incense by your primary practitioner. It’s pampering of body, mind, and soul like none other.

These treatments were the FOCUS of most of our days, but many other fun things happened too, a few of which I will describe. But first let me tell you what Somatheeram looked like. As I mentioned, it is located right on the Arabian Sea. The primary buildings and individual cabins are placed on many levels on the steep side of bluffs overlooking the ocean. Therefore, you are always feeling ocean breezes and hearing the sound of the sea. The cabins or resident rooms are new, but built to resemble the local and ancient architecture. They are made of red brick and often round in shape. They have thatched coconut palm roofs, ceiling fans, and excellent ventilation and kept spotlessly clean. Most have a hammock outside and spectacular beach views. They are set among palm forests and brick or stone walkways.

As I mentioned, everything is beautifully landscaped with tropical flowers and plants, meticulously maintained and kept tidy by a friendly grounds crew. There are many steps to climb to go from your residence to dining room to beach to sadhana area to treatment centers to swimming pool, but this is very good exercise (makes you sweat!) and very much a part of the healing process. The dining areas (there are more than one) are open and breezy, partially indoors and partially under the sky. There is entertainment almost every evening during dinner consisting or dance, music, chanting, plays, and so on.

The food is very, very good. It is served buffet style. It is fresh and delicious. It is primarily vegetarian and Indian style, but at dinner there is always one entrée which has meat or fish in it. If you don’t care for what is on the buffet, you may order whatever you like from their menu. There is room service—allowing you to have anything you want delivered right to your room.

The beach is an inspiring place to spend time and I did so every day, usually at dawn and/or dusk. The water is beautiful, though the crashing waves were a little too rough for me to venture out too far. The strongest swimmers in our group cautioned us to be very careful of the surf. On the way down to the beach closest to our resort is a Christian shrine with statues of Jesus and also St. Thomas, who brought Christianity to this area of India in about 50AD. There are always people there kneeling in prayer in worship. An inspiring sight! And there are often special processions to the shrine with music and singing. Christianity, Indian style, in a rainbow of colors.

Many of us might have been content to hang out and eat and sleep and do yoga and swim and walk on the beach and have our Ayurvedic treatments—sounds nice, doesn’t it?—it was! But there were other fun things we did—side trips and such. I mentioned our trip to the facility where all the herbal oils and medicines were made. But our first outing was to a nearby cove/beach area called Kovalam—about 30 minutes away. It was a georgous crescent shaped beach and a sort of shopping boardwalk all along the beach. This was a majorly good shopping area and people, including myself, found beautiful things to buy at really inexpensive prices. Also just outside the gates of our resort, were many nice shops also, including friendly tailors who would make you whatever clothes you wanted in just few hours—difficult to resist!

One day we went to downtown Trivundrum to a fancy department store named Parthas, where many beautiful shirts, saris, punjabis, and so on were purchased by members our group. My two favorite outings were the tropical delights of our houseboat ride on the inland waterway system of Kerala and our day-trip to the southern tip of India, Cape Comorin/Kanyakumari, and a temple on a rock island where Swami Vivekananda swam out to and meditated on for many days before coming to America in 1893—combined with a visit to a huge Hindu temple complex, Suchindrum, built in honor of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva.

We happened to be at our resort on the night of the full moon, so we had a kirtan (group chanting session) out on the beach that evening. I led it and I so much enjoyed chanting in that enchanted place with the ocean sound of AUM playing along with the harmonium.

As I mentioned above, we had a pretty location to have sadhana (Energization, yoga stretches, and meditation) outside on a lawn, under the tall coconut palms and overlooking the beach, every morning, 6:30-8am. Sadhana was optional, as was everything, but most of our group attended and enjoyed it very much. This really added to the healing dimension of the whole experience.

Diksha gave some great morning classes on the teachings of Ayurveda, which were very helpful in letting us understand more of what was going on as a part of what we were experiencing in the afternoon treatments.

When it was time for part of our group to leave for New Delhi for a week at Ananda India headquarters and part to go on back to the US or to other travel destinations, we found we had grown very close to each other and were a bit sad to be parted. We had laughed together and shared so many unique situations—making new friends or deepening already existing friendships.

Should you consider going on this retreat with us next year? Absolutely and without question! Ask anyone who went. I know that they’d recommend you do it. Being in Mother India is an experience not to be missed, no matter what part of the country you choose to visit. But Kerala and the Ayurvedic Healing experience are—well, I’m running out of good descriptive adjectives, so I’ll just stop now. Questions? E-mail me any time!

I haven’t posted for a couple months – life gets very full with a family of five! We all seem to be going separate directions these days, but part of me really enjoys all the activity and seeing three children grow and explore their potential is fun.

Many friends my age are watching their children grow up and leave home, and most are also watching their parents grow old and leave this life. A child’s independence is a joyful challenge; an elderly parent’s increasing dependence and passing can be a sad one.

My daughter and I recently visited my mother, who lives in the Napa Valley, near my sister and her family. My father passed away over 10 years ago and my mother has managed to live a life of joyful independence and adventure, despite her loneliness. However, she fell and suffered a broken pelvis over 5 months ago and has had a difficult and painful recovery. She was finally ready to transition back to her own home, after months under my sister’s loving care, and my daughter and I had the pleasure of being there.

Our days were filled with organizing and preparing her two-level condominium so everything was accessible and safe for her to manage alone. My siblings were counting on me to make an honest evaluation of her ability to handle things, so I scrutinized her every move. She couldn’t navigate the stairs, take a shower or lift a frying pan without me watching. She took my supervision good-naturedly because she was so happy to be feeling better.

It’s natural to think of when she leaves this body and when we will not be able to visit and chat. But instead of feeling sad, I was filled with gratitude for the opportunity to be her daughter.

I walked to a lovely pioneer cemetery a few times during my visit and was able meditate there late one afternoon. One could get melancholy reading the headstones and reflecting on all those people long forgotten. But one of the deep blessings of the teachings of Yogananda is the expansive view one gets of life.

I thought of all those souls represented on those gravestones, and I know that after playing through the life of a California pioneer, they all moved on to new adventures and new lessons that would one day lead them home to freedom in spirit. And I thought of my mother and my children – they too, will move on to new roles and new lessons, and I was so grateful to understand.

The life we have is not to be spent carelessly, it should be treasured and celebrated with spiritual adventuresomeness. But it is good to remind ourselves and our children of our true identity as immortal spirit, deathless, changeless and free.

In divine friendship,

Lorna

Ananda’s Expanding Light Yoga and Meditation Retreat recently hosted a group of people with early stages of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) to conduct a Yoga Therapy Workshop. The purpose of the workshop was to investigate yoga’s effect on the functional abilities of an MS patient to maintain an active and fulfilling life. I have had a chance to interview Maitri Jones, a registered nurse and a staff member at the Expanding Light, who designed and conducted the study with help from many other members of Ananda around the country. Below are some excerpts from this interview:

Koral: How did the idea of this workshop come up?

Maitri: A lot of research is being done about yoga practices and meditation, using MRIs showing how these ancient teachings result in beneficial changes for the brain. Multiple Sclerosis is a disease that affects the brain and nervous system. The idea for this MS research was first started in Rome, Italy with our Ananda Yoga teachers from Assisi. They found a lot of benefits for MS patients from doing Ananda Yoga. Yogananda talked a lot about the nervous system and many of the techniques that he brought us have a positive effect on our nervous system with ultimate goal to prepare us for cosmic consciousness. That link between the nervous system and general health and well being that those of us who practice these techniques daily experience in our own lives; how we become calmer, not so reactive, less prone to depression through yoga and meditation practices are also the aspects that would help people with neurological disorders. In the Rome study, they looked at depression and fatigue primarily, and saw great improvement in those areas when people practiced Ananda Yoga.

Koral: What is the difference between the Rome study and the one conducted here at the Expanding Light?

Maitri: Their study was funded by a manufacturer of Interferon. Drugs like Interferon are helpful with MS patients, but not without side effects, such as depression and fatigue, which are already a problem with those patients. They were looking at ways of how to encourage patients to stay on the medication without being bothered by these side effects. The Rome study showed that by doing these yoga practices, specifically Ananda Yoga, people had a lot of improvement in these symptoms of fatigue and depression, so they were more likely to continue to stay on their medication, which was helping them in many other ways. Teachers in that study also found that people had improvements in their physical ability to walk and control bodily functions. But that study wasn’t focusing on those aspects. So, our study was building on theirs. We measured the psychological aspects as well as people’s physical functions, walking, balance, sit to stand test, which is a very good measure of whether someone is going to have enough muscle strength and coordination to avoid falls a common problem with MS.

Koral: How many participants did this study have?

Maitri: We had 28, which was wonderful.

Koral: How far did people come from?

Maitri: The majority came from Northern California, but we had people from as far as the East Coast. A lot of people found the “retreat” setting very appealing and mentioned in their evaluations that it exceeded their expectations.

Koral: How was the study conducted? What was involved in the study?

Maitri: The Rome study was conducted with weekly yoga classes. For us being out in the country, it wasn’t practical to expect people to come once a week for such a long distance. So, we decided to do a 5-day long program with overnight stay at the Expanding Light, where we can teach people how to practice energization, yoga and meditation and then they can go home and continue their practice on their own. The first day we spent doing some evaluation and tests regarding their physical abilities, and followed up with Beck depression scale and also fatigue severity scale. We had an MS quality of life scale, which is a combination of well-known and accepted measurements for the ability to day-to-day functioning, and then some specific things for MS, such as bladder control, bowel control, vision, etc. They filled out a number of questionnaires that way and then we did some actual physical testing. We had a physical therapist who helped us take meaningful measurements of the participants functional abilities. After our testing we started them on learning an Ananda Yoga routine broken down into its components, with specific adjustments so that they can do them in a safe way for their condition.

Koral: Were a lot of them new to yoga?

Maitri: A number of them were new, it’s hard to get a population of people who have never done yoga. A few people had a regular practice, but Energization Exercises were new for them, which is a key part of our study. Most had not been meditating. As part of the routine we taught them Energization Exercises, yoga postures, deep relaxation and a meditation technique. One of the other things that went on that we didn’t even think about beforehand was their retreat experience. When you are taking a weekly yoga class you don’t really have time to get to know others in your class. These people had five days with each other and they made some really good connections with each other. A lot of them talk about how isolated they feel with their disease. Here they were able to openly and freely talk about what was going on with themselves. A lot of them said that alone was a great benefit of the whole program.

Koral: Are they still keeping in touch?

Maitri: They all have each other’s emails. Each person also had a phone or email buddy, who they promised to keep in touch with. Of course, the staff is also available for follow-up. That’s one of the hardest things, when they go home, how would they integrate it into their lives. So, we hope that they will be able to support each other in these ways.

Koral: Have you heard from them whether they are able to continue their practices?

Maitri: The people have emailed me so far seem to be working the practice into their lives. I have heard from a number of people who are using it and enjoying it. If it’s something you enjoy, you are more likely to do it. We asked people to do it three times a week, one participant called me and asked if she could do it more than that. Of course they are encouraged to do that.

Koral: What is next after this initial step?

Maitri: We have a 16 week study period, where they will continue and record their practices. We’ll bring them back for a follow-up in May, which I am sure will be a great re-union for them. Many of them told me how much they were already looking forward to that. We’ll give them the same evaluation tests and compare the results.

Koral: What is the expected outcome?

Maitri: We are expecting that people will have some improvements in their physical ability. In the energization exercises and yoga postures, you have to develop some neuromuscular coordination to be able to do those things. Isolating your left lower back is a challenge even people without MS. Part of this study we also gave them some classes on why we expect this to work. One was with Dr. Peter VanHouten on the research on brain, how changeable the brain and the nervous system is. Whatever part of the brain you start training and using more, that part of the brain grows more neurons, create more interconnections and you get a lot more efficient in whatever you are practicing. We expect that when people are practicing using their various muscles and isolating muscles, doing things that require balance and coordination, their brains and nervous system are going to support that practice even if there is damage in those areas. Many people with MS have poor balance. They told me that Tree Pose was the hardest for them, but even after 5 days they noticed they were able to do it much better, which is very encouraging. We also have them do deep relaxation, diaphragmatic breathing, visualization, which helps them engage the parasympathetic nervous system, which we expect that to be beneficial with depression and anxiety.

Koral: Once all the results are collected, what are you going to do with them?

Maitri: We are very lucky to have Brian Coleman-Salgado, who is connected with CSU Sacramento, as our principal investigator. He made sure that our study design was approved by their Protection of Human Subjects Committee, so he prepared us in such a way that if we’d like to publish the results they would be compliant with the Federal Standards.

Koral: Where would they be published?

Maitri: Probably rehab-type journals or medical journals as well as yoga based publications such as with the International Journal of Yoga Therapy. It is more and more accepted by the medical community that yoga is an evidence based therapy. Doctors and insurance companies are more likely to recommend yoga practices when there is evidence that it helps people become healthier.

Koral: What is special about Ananda Yoga? Why would it help more than other practices of yoga?

Maitri: I think this research will add to the body of knowledge of yoga in general because we use classical yoga poses and meditation and relaxation techniques that are similar to what other yoga traditions use. The unique thing about what we are doing here is the Energization Exercises and affirmations. The affirmations bring in the element of connecting the mind and body while you are holding the pose so that it is not only a physical exercise, but that you are using it to find an inner strength and inner connection, which particularly helps with anxiety and overall sense of well-being, especially when you are dealing with not just the physical effects of the disease but all the psychological effects.

Koral: Are you planning on doing any other types of studies, either more of MS or other neurological diseases?

Maitri: We had a lot of positive response for this study and we are not even done with it. This will be a jumping off point for further studies. We will continue to refine this particular study over time, especially when we find that a specific portion of the study was particularly helpful. So, we will continue to improve it over time. If this turns out to be helpful for MS - which we believe so - it certainly has implications on other neurological diseases and conditions that are worth investigating. Also, when we show how much someone with a neurological disease is benefited by this, it also implies that others who are disease-free can improve not only their physical, but also their mental, psychological and spiritual well-being. This study certainly has potential for that. Americans like to first see the proof of something being beneficial before they jump on it.

Koral: If people would like to participate in future studies or interested about the results, who should they contact?

Maitri: They can contact me at the Expanding Light. The next study is being planned for January 2009. We might also plan for some retreat programs - not necessarily studies - that are targeted for MS patients. Not everyone with MS can meet the guidelines of a study and the commitment level that is required, but many MS patients can still benefit from applying these techniques.

Koral: I wish you best of luck in successfully concluding and publishing this study. You are doing a great service to humanity. Thank you very much for taking the time to meet with me.

Maitri: Thank you for the opportunity.

Further information about this study is available at http://www.expandinglight.org/yoga/misc/multiple-sclerosis.htm

Lifestyles for Radiant Health:

Last October we offered an exciting new program at the Expanding Light, Ananda’s Yoga and Meditation Retreat. It was called Lifestyles for Radiant Health: Personalized Coaching for Optimal Wellness. Our goal was to reach people who wanted to make healthy lifestyle changes, but had not been able to do so on their own. We knew that with Yogananda’s teachings related to health and healthy living, we had a dynamic program to offer that could really help people to make desired changes in their lives.

And now that it’s the New Year, we’re hoping to assist a group of guests to clarify their New Year’s Resolutions related to healthy living, and most importantly help them to develop a personal plan that will empower them to succeed with their resolutions. How about you? Wouldn’t you enjoy participating in this fun, dynamic and life-changing program? This program will be offered again January 20-27, 2008. (if interested, call the Expanding Light 800-346-5350 or send an email to info@expandinglight.org Call or write soon to reserve a place in the program.) Previous participants raved about how much they enjoyed the program and how much they felt it helped them to believe that they could make the changes in their lives that they wanted to make.

The program starts with a self-evaluation of the participants’ current state of health of body, mind, emotions, and spirit. We also ask them to identify their priorities for where they want to make changes in their lives. One of the most significant things that our coaches do is to help the participants to set realistic goals and to map out short-term goals that will lead them to their long-term goals. For example, one person’s goal was to remember to take deep breaths every hour while at work. It’s a great goal, but how can we remember to do something like this? That’s the challenging part. So, we looked for ways to be reminded: a beeping watch, a programmed Blackberry, notes on the computer, keeping a log, etc. The key is to find ways that are fun and magnetic to help people remember their goals.

The participants met with their personal coaches almost daily to help them focus on their personalized plans for change. Much of this involved helping them set realistic goals, ones at which they could succeed, as well a practical strategies for helping them to successfully make their desired changes. We also went on 30 minute “power walks” every morning after sadhana (spiritual practices: Energization Exercises, Yoga Postures, Chanting and Meditation), during which they all mentally repeated personal affirmations on qualities that they were wanting to energize. These walks also incorporated time for quiet appreciation of the beauty of nature, and exercises to draw on the healing energies found in nature. The participants really loved this activity, as did the staff members who joined them on the walks! It gave us the experience of actually finding a way to bring some enjoyable exercise into our lives in a reasonably easy way—doing it first thing in the morning, and with group support.

The first two days of the program included powerful classes by Jyotish and Devi Novak, the Spiritual Directors of Ananda Village, and the popular class by Dr. Peter Van Houten, MD on “The Brain: Engineered for Transformation.” At the first class Jyotish presented a model of the Pyramid of Radiant Health, identifying the key areas to develop in our plan for Radiant Health. He also focused on how to activate the power of the mind for wellness. Devi’s class helped us to learn about and experience Energy and Magnetism for Well-Being. There were also classes on How to Meditate, Introspection, Journaling, Habit Changing, Creating a Healthy Lifestyle (including healthy eating), the Spiritual Dimensions of Wellness, and Quick and Easy Stress Reduction Techniques, and Vibratory Healing through Music. Each day there were guided practices of Energization Exercises, Yoga Postures, Chanting and Meditation, with a focus on how these techniques can help us achieve optimal wellness. In our next offering of this course we will also offer opportunities for participants to receive personalized yoga posture routines to take home with them.

In the follow up feedback we’ve received from the first group, many have told us that the practices of affirmations and positive thinking were very helpful when they returned to their everyday lives. These are powerful tools, and we practiced them together daily for a week, thus getting a good start in making them new habits. Also, since we combined the walks with affirmations, and since Ananda Yoga includes the use of affirmations with yoga postures, there were multiple opportunities for diving deeply into the practice of re-programming our minds with positive thoughts.

One of the most enjoyable activities of the Radiant Health Program was an Evening of Uplifting Fun spent in the home of two of the coaches. It was a great opportunity for group bonding and much laughter.

One unique and helpful aspect of this program is that following the program, participants receive regular inspiring emails, daily for the first 2 weeks, then periodically over the following 6 months. And many members of the group also formed a yahoo group in order to easily keep in communication with each other. It has been great to watch how the participants have continued their efforts at lifestyle change and how they have become a good support system for each other in these efforts. This first group is planning to return to the Expanding Light in April, 6 months after their program, for a reunion and a motivational boost and/or just to relax and recharge with their friends.

The staff is looking forward to sharing this dynamic program of Lifestyles for Radiant Health at the end of this month (January 20-27), and also May 11-18, August 31-September 7, and November 30-December 7, 2008. It’s a fabulous opportunity for anyone interested in improving their health, vitality, and mental and spiritual well-being. We invite you to join us for a week of fun, dynanic change and radiant health! Joy to you!

Mangala Loper-Powers