Recycling Tips 07/22/2009
 

1.  The widely known, often owned and usually forgotten cloth grocery bags.
2.  Break down your boxes to save space in your recycling can and also in your local recycling center.
3. Start a compost pile for your produce waste. Use it on your garden or even a neighbors garden.
4.  Rinse out any food containers you are recycling to prevent contamination and make better work conditions for those bless-ed souls in the recycling center.
5.  Know that every piece you recycle really does make a difference!
6.  Click here to learn more on utah recycling!

 
 
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To any who are into or interested in a living foods diet, there is a get together happening July 27th at 7pm at Wheeler Farm in Salt Lake for a $5 donation.  The address is 6351 S 900 E. 

"Raw Food Chefs will take part in the 3rd annual Raw Foods Chefs Challenge. Chefs will challenge the clock, their skills and creativity to create a special recipe with no advanced knowledge of what ingredients will be available. The fun continues as the chefs present their gourmet raw food dish for auction to the highest bidder. Proceeds will be donated to charity. Our Guest Chef is Dr. Craig Sommers author of The Raw Foods Bible, also participating are Agi of Agi’s Raw Food, Raw Melissa, Ian of Sages, Karen of Inspired Ice Cream, Nadhirrah author of Thriving on Food Storage and Becky Johnson."

(FYI- I spent years on a raw food diet, felt amazing and never got sick.  I believe the more living, unprocessed foods you can consume, the more vital and radiant you will be.  I also found on this diet that it was easier to live and feel on a higher spiritual plane because of my body being more pure with no chemicals bringing my moods up and down.)
 
 

Thinking over my family and the friends I have come to know, I am overwhelmed with all the amazing gifts and talents they all share, and how those shape and bless the world, and me!  They leave their imprints through music, photography, natural health consulting, energy healing, performing, speaking in the truth and power of their spirits, serving their families, and in so many other ways. 

Take a moment today to recognize those people in your life who inspire you in one way or another.  Let that inspiration lift you to a higher place and know that you are already one of those people for someone you love.

 
 
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"Plan to meditate at about the same time every day.  You can do it as soon as you get up in the morning, in the afternoon, and/or in the evening before bed.

Sit as long as you can every day.  An ideal session is twenty to thirty minutes, but even five minutes twice a day will connect you.

Determine before you sit how long you will meditate.  This will prevent your ego from diverting your initial intention.

Keep it simple.  The purpose is not to induce a state of mind but to bring a new dimension of awareness and perspective to your daily experiences.

Let go of expectations.  Be open and receptive to what comes up.  Let go of judgements and the head stuff that keeps you from being present."

-Baron Baptiste
Journey into Power, p 201
 
 

This weekend my family and I went on a trip to St. George.  We took this time to step back from our lives and get a fresh perspective from a distance.  It was incredibly refreshing and enlightening.  For any of you who are feeling stress in your lives, take an opportunity to step back and remember what things are truly important.  Make the best of what is, without resistance to change, and see your life through eyes of gratitude. 

You will always have what you need. 

 
Is That So? 04/11/2009
 

The Zen Master Hakuin lived in a town in Japan.  He was held in high regard and many people came to him for spiritual teaching.  Then it happened that the teenage daughter of his next-door neighbor became pregnant.  When being questioned by her angry and scolding parents as to the identity of the father, she finally told them that he was Hakuin, the Zen Master.  In great anger the parents rushed over to Hakuin and told him with much shouting and accusing that their daughter had confessed that he was the father.  All he replied was, "Is that so?"
     News of the scandal spread throughout the town and beyond.  The Master lost his reputation.  This did not trouble him.  Nobody came to see him anymore.  He remained unmoved.  When the child was born, the parents brought the baby to Hakuin.  "You are the father, so you look after him."  The Master took loving care ot the child.  A year later, the mother remorsefully confessed to her parents that the real father of the child was the young man who worked at the butcher shop.  In great distress they went to see Hakuin to apologize and ask for forgiveness.  "We are really sorry.  We have come to take the baby back.  Our daughter confessed that you are not the father."  "Is that so?" is all he would say as he handed the baby over to them.
     The Master reponds and falsehood and truth, bad news and good news, in exactly the same way: "Is that so?"  He allows the form of the moment, good or bad, to be as it is and so does not become a participant in human drama.  To him there is only this moment, and this moment is as it is.  Events are not personalized.  He is noboby's victim.  He is so completely at one with what happens that what happens has no power over him anymore.  Only if you resist what happens are you at the mercy of what happens, and the world will determine your happiness and unhappiness.

-Excerpt from A New Earth
                  -Eckhart Tolle

 
Non-attachment 04/09/2009
 

The past few days have reminded me of the importance of non-attachment.  I realize looking back that I caused myself so much stress because of asserting MY WILL without staying open to THE HIGHEST GOOD or God's will.  In staying attached to the way I wanted things I was unable to see the perfection in another way things could work out. 

I read in Christian scripture, "as many as are not stiffnecked and have faith, have communion with the Holy Spirit."  "Stiffnecked" is basically being attached to our own will.  The fifth chakra is located in the throat center and is associated with our will.  It's highest function is when we give up our will to God and say "thy will be done."  When we hold on to our own will, we are inflexible, attached and "stiffnecked."  When we have faith and trust, and detach from the way we think things should be, we will have a more fluent connection with the spirit, or our intuitions, and we will be led to our highest good in a much more enjoyable way.

Let go and let God.

 
 

A few weeks ago we held our first meditation workshop with Phillip McLemore.  Phillip studied meditation with the last living disciple of Paramahansa Yogananda, author of Autobiography of a Yogi. I LOVE that book and was completely blown away with a lot of the things it said, so I was very excited to absorb some of his knowledge and experience.

Phillip's presence was very clear and grounding and he was a very dynamic teacher.  He has developed a meditation called, The Abba Om Meditation.  He taught this meditation at this workshop and each time I inhaled, I felt chills rush up my spine.  I have since practiced his Abba Om Meditation at home several times and on the days that I have, it has deepened my awareness, and my ability to stay centered through out the day.  If my two year old were old enough to understand how I am gaining more patience, he too would be very grateful to Phillip for what he has taught me. 

Now it's up to me to meditate EVERY DAY!!  I'm excited to bring Phillip back to start a regular meditation group.  I know our community will be blessed for it.

 
 

"The Power of Intention" workshop with Cory was a wonderful success and a beautiful introduction into many power filled topics.  It was uplifting, inspiring and left everyone with tools they can choose to use everyday to be more connected to their Source and attract more joy into their lives.  I for one will be eliminating "try" from my vocabulary and "om-ing" more than just at the end of my yoga practice.

One powerful practice that Cory recommended to assist conscious creation is to keep a "creation journal."  First thing in the morning you write, "My intention for today is . . . ," or "I choose to create _______."  At the end of the day you come back to your journal and take inventory with four lines. 
          1.  What happened? (An honest and non-biased record of your results.)
          2.  What worked?  What didn't work?
          3.  Lessons learned
          4.  What's next

Below is the list of emotional frequencies that Cory referred to.  Cory taught that to pull yourself out of a funk, it is helpful to find your emotional state on this list (from Power vs. Force) and find an emotion that is just slightly higher, rather than attempting to jump straight from despair to optimism.  May you all be richly blessed in your paths of learning.  Remember, "gratitude opens the windows of abundance."  We will all be excited to have Cory back!

enlightenment/ ineffable            700-1000
peace/bliss                             600
joy/serenity                             540
love/reverence                         500
reason/understanding               400
acceptance/forgiveness           350
willingness/optimism               310
neutrality/trust                        250
courage/affirmation                  200
pride/scorn                             175
anger/hate                              150
desire/craving                         125
fear/anxiety                            100
grief/regret                              75
apathy/despair                        50
guilt/blame                             30
shame/humiliation                   20

 
    About Me
    Amber Gurr

     I was first introduced to yoga in 2001 and quickly fell in love.  In 2004, I completed my 500 hour teacher training with D'ana Baptiste and have done annual trainings since that time with notable teachers such as Mark Whitwell, David Williams, Baron Baptiste and Rolf Gates.  I love teaching and I love seeing yoga bless both the physical and spiritual aspects of people's lives.

    I have a husband and 4 little boys, ages 9, 3, 2 and 0 that keep me busy and playing.  I decided that now is the time for me to be home with my family so now I just sub a yoga class here and there.    I also am a nutritional herbalist, herbalist, doula, have an Associates degree in music,  teach piano and do some energy readings and healing here and there. 

    I am excited to share some of the tid bits of truth that I have come across that have shaped my life thus far and hope that this sharing  will assist many others in their journey.

    Namaste!
heal strengthen renew