Free Meditation and Mindfulness Retreat in Palm Beach

Do you get the attention you deserve?  What better way to change that, than to give yourself affectionate attention through Mindfulness.  Mindfulness is an age old practice that enhances our relaxation, clear thinking and inner peace. Join us for an all-day retreat for a taste of Mindfulness, Yoga and Generosity. You will be guided by Gus Castellanos, of 18mind.com, and Kimberly LaRue, of ShadeTree Yoga and Wellness. Give yourself some affectionate attention in a beautiful setting.

The retreat will be held on Saturday, August 21st from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the home of John and Tussi Kluge (89 Middle Road, Palm Beach, FL).  All levels are welcome.  Please RSVP to Kimberly at aummm@mac.com by Thursday, August 19th.

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Course Orientation/Registration

Please come and register for an 8-week intensive course on MBSR, starting in September.  Participants of the 8-week program will learn how to pay attention on purpose, relax, reduce stress, and boost the immune system.  When: Wednesday, August 18, at 5p.m. / Location: Sari Asher for Integrative Cancer Care at 1411 N. Flagler Drive (8th Floor), West Palm Beach.  Please RSVP to Kimberly at aummm@mac.com or by calling (561) 714-6131.  You must attend this orientation to be considered for the 8-week course.

Hi there!  As you know, trees are constantly growing.  Their roots deepen, trunks fill out, branches branch out, leaves and flowers bloom.  When a nut or seed falls from the tree, its DNA is passed on to create another life – a sprout that eventually leads to a forest.  We are so happy to announce our new baby sprout:   Yoga in the Garden, at Mounts Botanical Garden.

You know, I (this is Eric) try to practice yoga in every aspect of my life.  I am the first to admit that I am not perfect at it but the intention is there.  The word “yoga” typically means “union” of the body, mind and spirit.  When I am in nature, I am inspired to get in touch with that union.  The peacefulness and beauty of the gardens at Mounts Botanical are amazing and a great place to practice breath and mindfulness.

Tomorrow, I will have the honor of teaching the inaugural class for Kimberly, as she is at the Omega Institute in upstate New York for a training in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, with Jon Kabat-Zinn.  I am sending her much peace and love as she is following her dreams this week.

Yoga in the Garden starts at 9a.m. and ends around 10:15a.m..  The class will be held outdoors or indoors- class vote decides. Whether you are a beginner or advanced, all levels are welcome.  Bring your yoga mat, towel and a bottle of water. Please respect the students around you by not wearing perfume – we will be doing plenty of breathing.  If you want to know more information, call (561) 233-1757.

Cost: $10 pre –paid; $15 at door
Location: Garden-meet at front entrance

Please join us and help us grow our class by bringing your friends. Also, don’t forget about our 6:30 PM class Yoga Groove at Hotel Biba on Thursday night in the zen garden.  Soon as it gets hotter out there, Yoga Groove turns into Aqua Lung Water Yoga.  We do a nice yoga vinyasa class on land and then suit up for some yoga and exercise in the pool following with some freshy drinks afterward.  Check our calender for our schedule. Please note that both of these classes are held in the beautiful outdoors.  So if the sky is dry, come on by!

Active Isolated Stretching (AIS) is a technique used to increase the length of a muscle, end-to-end, effectively, and without resistance.  In traditional ‘static’ stretching, you hold a position for 10-30 seconds (or longer) until the muscle gets longer, right?  Well maybe, but not without a fight.  The muscles have a defense mechanism where it ‘contracts’ if it feels threatened of over-stretching.  It is called the stretch reflex and within approximately 3-5 seconds, usually begins contracting the very muscle you are trying to relax and stretch.  AI Stretching releases the stretch after 2 seconds – just before the ‘reflex’ activates – and is continuously lengthening the muscle under a state of relaxation.

The benefits of this stretching technique are many.  It increases circulation to muscles and areas that massage alone may not be able to reach.  It can serve as a ‘warm-up,’ to increase elasticity to the muscles, before physical activity.  Soreness is decreased. Body performance, power, and strength is increased.  Posture can be restored.  Increases in range of motion can be seen instantly.  This technique can also help with injury prevention and rehabilitation.

Suggestion: Take a class or purchase a session from a qualified AI Stretching professional, such as myself (Eric Holmgren) of ShadeTree Yoga and Wellness, to learn these techniques for yourself.  You could see increased range of motion in many of your joints with just one session. Remember, flexibility equals power.  To schedule a session, find out our schedule, or just to ask me a question, you can email: takingaction@mac.com or call (561) 351-5071.

Hello peeps,
Eric and I are on our way to visit Eric’s mom in Lake Placid Fl. I am so excited to go to Highlands Hammock State Park and get our mother nature fix! It is so beautiful there. Imagine cypress trees everywhere growing from swamps with with water lilies and wild orange trees. The restaurant and gift shop makes ice cream that is so amazing! I cannot wait to get there!
Just two days ago, I had a private client who I shared with her how we became ShadeTree Yoga. She wrote me sharing this beautiful story about a bird and a quote which really resonates my intention here on earth as as a ShadeTree. Here is the He will cover you with His feathers
and under His wings you will find refuge.
Psalm 91:4
 

http://www.wildroserescueranch.com/the-pigeon-and-the-bunnies.htm

http://www.wildroserescueranch.com/the-pigeon-and-the-bunnies.htm

Welcome to our Earth Day Sale!

Since every day is Earth Day, in honor of our mother earth, ShadeTree Yoga and Wellness is offering services up to 40 percent off!* Go to www.shadetreeyoga.com for a list of our services. Hey- we are talking $50.00 a service! This offer has been extended and will end soon.  *applies to new clients please
May all beings experience peace.love.wellbeing.

Eric Holmgren, from ShadeTree Yoga and Wellness, demonstrates isolated stretches for the Gluteals and Piriformis muscles of the posterior hip. Try this if you have sciatica, discomfort in the bum or the outside of the leg, or to improve your lower body-related athletic performance (such as running, soccer, etc…).

Thank You to all who visited us on Yoga Day over the weekend! It was a great success and the people were so nice. What a great opportunity to bring the enjoyment of yoga to both the new and experienced. May all beings experience peace.love.wellbeing.

A couple of weeks ago after a stressful summer of house hunting, I decided I would go on retreat to Padma Samye Ling Retreat Center and Monastery (Inconceivable Lotus Land) which is located in Delaware County in upstate New York. Set near the top of a mountain in the western region of the Catskill mountains, the outstanding facilities are contained within five hundred acres of forests, meadows, and natural springs. This is the first time I went to the Shedra retreat which means “place of learning.” It has been 3 years since I have been back to the land. I used to go frequently when I lived in Chicago. It was easy to drive up with my friend Dawn and there were times we would drive up 6 times in a year!