Jump Out of a Plane

Today at the hospital I saw mass amounts of suffering.
The man in the room next to us, moaning, not able to lay down because he was in a body/neck brace and could not move. His mother sitting across from him not hiding her tears.
The doctor that walks into another room and asks "what's wrong today sir?" "Everything!" he says with pain in his vocal cords.
Someone I love writhing around in bed, not able to get comfortable because of the tumors in her belly.

I realized something walking the halls of the hospital today. There are more people suffering in the hospital than enjoying the day at a park. Or taking lunch outside. Or turning on the sprinkler for their kids and running through it with them. Or turning on the sprinkler for themselves and enjoying the feeling of water on their skin. There are more people suffering everyday at a desk, staring at a computer screen wasting their lives on a job they despise so they can keep up with a house they can't afford to keep.

So, this is my advice - because one day we will end up in the hospital either watching someone in pain, or in pain ourselves, regardless we will suffer.

If you want to:
Jump out of a plane
Quit your job if you don't like it
Smell the roses, peonies, gardenias and a fresh picked tomato
Let go
Stop comparing yourself with others
Feel your emotions, stop stuffing them down with food, alcohol or work
Close your eyes and listen to the birds
Live life without a script
Drive with the windows down
Stop being a harbor for negative thoughts
Dance on tables
Cry, scream and let it out
Dance on bars
Dance naked in your living room
Kiss your friends, children, parents and lovers
Give free hugs regularly
Turn the computer off and turn on your imagination
Paint
Love yourself, be kind to yourself, say nice things to yourself
Play
Sing
Create
Play the guitar
Unplug your TV
Eat a chili dog
Go vegan for a day
Take the grocery cart in for somebody in the parking lot
Spend less on jeans and spend more time outside
Give something away to a stranger
Leave a big tip for a waitress even if its a bad service
Smile
Stand on your head
Be nice to others
Feel the rain on your face
Climb a tree
Sit in the grass if it feels good
Read
Cook a meal for someone you love
Throw a party
Quit whatever it is that is holding you back from the life you truly deserve
Bake bread
Say yes
Love
FOLLOW YOUR BLISS

Zumba!

I LOVE ZUMBA.
My first love was dance, so Zumba fits in with my child like energy to move and shake. However, Zumba is a far cry from the controlled moves of ballet, tap and jazz in my childhood. In Zumba you are free to cut loose, shake it, shimmy your shoulders and have FUN moving. What? Oh, I am exercising? Did I just burn 700+ calories - yes you did.

We are blessed at Soul Shine to have our own hot tamale, Maria Cardarelli teaching two times a week. Tonight is Zumba night and it is always a latin flavored, loud, sweaty, amazing night.



Even Hollywood celebs have jumped on the Zumba train - click here to read more about how Zumba is heating up Hollywood.

Also, Maria was honored with 3rd place in Project Safe's Athens Dancing with the Stars, see the video of her ballroom dancing here. 

Aiiiiieeeee!

Love your belly

I really don't think I can add anything to the article in the link below. Many of you have had the treat of learning dance from Oracle at Soul Shine and her "love your belly" speech changes the way you view and treat your pooch. I needed to read this today. I woke up and put on a tight t-shirt and said to myself "no, not yet - wait to wear this shirt until you have a flat belly." Then a beautiful voice in my heart said "what if you never have a flat belly again?" and I thought to myself...so what? I am pretty healthy, I have a strong back, strong abdominal muscles and a six pack is truly not what I desire. Be stong in your core, but recognize your potential for beauty without six pack abs. You will breathe better, practice yoga better and perform hotter belly dance moves. Soul Shine's new core strength class will teach you all about how to be strong in your core, move from your core and possibly lose a few inches if you need too - all without cruches or compressing our diaphram/breath.

Click the link below to read the article below by Oracle and learn more about loving your belly...the center of LIFE.

http://www.examiner.com/belly-dance-in-atlanta/love-your-belly?CID=examiner_alerts_article

Belly Dancing, Zumba Performances, New Clothing Line and YOGA - OH MY!

Many blessings to you all...


Check out that beautiful picture! This is really a picture from the resort Soul Shine is hosting in June...see more info about this below....
I have so many new blessings in my life I need to share with you! Great things are happening and I can not wait to see you at some (or all!) of these events.

On May 1st at the Buford Spring Festival Soul Shine Yoga and Wellness will have a booth full of cute clothes, demonstrating yoga, zumba and our newest Soul Shine goddess Oracle will be demonstrating some belly dancing. Also, at 6:00 PM at the Wine Tasting we will be performing Zumba for the crowds delight. Shakin' it Zumba style and getting the crowd to participate is going to be so much fun! Don't miss it! Also, Soul Shine has a new sister company LiciaLu. LiciaLu is a clothing line for all of us! LiciaLu will feature cute yoga clothing PLUS adorable "magic" skirts, tops, hand dyed shirts, batiked clothing etc...lots of one of a kinds and beautiful dresses you can wear to a concert, or to a fancy restaurant. LiciaLu will make its debut at Buford Days. Check out http://www.visitbuford.com/ for more info on the festival.


Oracle, our newest addition to Soul Shine, will be teaching a Belly Dancing workshop on May 15 from 1:00 - 3:00 PM. You do not need to bring anything, just come and learn some beautiful dance moves. Hopefully we will also be adding a weekly belly dancing class to Soul Shine's schedule. For more info on Oracle and her amazing dance company click here. If you don't know what to get mom for mother's day - maybe this could be a great gift for her! (Or YOURSELF!!)

Our yoga classes are growing and we are expanding all the time. We would like to know what days, times and types of classes you want to see at Soul Shine. I created Soul Shine for YOU, so let us know how we can serve you and bring total wellness in your life.

This is our current schedule:
Monday:
6:00 PM – Beginner Series (6 weeks of Yoga 101) with China (Next Series Begins May 3rd.)
7:30 PM – Yoga for Strength and Toning with Heather

Tuesday:
6:00 PM – All Level Yoga with Heather
7:30 PM – Zumba! with Maria
Wednesday:
8:30 AM – All Level Yoga with Heather
6:30 PM – Beginner/Level One Yoga with China

Thursday:
6:00 PM – All Level Yoga with Heather
7:30 PM – Restorative Yoga with Heather

Friday:
10:00 AM – Gentle Yoga with China

Saturday:
9:00 AM – Zumba! with Maria
10:15 AM – All Level Yoga with Heather

The most exciting event coming up for us is Soul Shine is our first Yoga Retreat! Whooo Hoooo!
This weekend is going to be amazing! Everyone is invited! It will be on June 11 - 13 at Pura Vida Spa and Resort in Dahlonega. The cost depends on the type of room you book, but the pricing includes ALL MEALS, yoga and meditation 2 - 3 times a day, lodging, a Jacuzzi, music under the stars and take home materials. The resort is beautiful. Meals are served on the front porch over looking the mountains. There is a hiking trail, pond, Jacuzzi and a spa if you want to get a massage. I am pumped! :)  Go to http://www.rrresorts.com/ and click on Dahlonega for pictures and more info on the resort.

2 Night Retreat

                                      Double Occ.                                          Single Occ.

Farmhouse…………….…...…$370……………………………….…$460

Bear Den Cabin…………...….$420…………………………………..$525

Cottage Suite……………... ….$440………………………………......$550


Schedule:
Friday, June 11
3:00 PM – Check In
4:00 – 5:30 – All Level Yoga Class with Intro to Meditation
5:30 – Tea and Refreshments on the front porch
6:30 – 8:30 – Dinner and Free Time

9:00 – Guided Full Body Relaxation and Evening Meditation

Saturday, June 12

8:30 – 10:30 - Breakfast and Free Time (good time to take a hike!)

10:30 – 12:30 – Morning Flow Yoga

12:30 – 2:30 – Lunch and Free Time

3:00 – 4:30 – Restorative Yoga and Meditation

4:45 – Tea and Refreshments on the front porch

4:45 – 6:30 – Free Time (maybe a trip to the spa?)

6:30 – 8:30 - Dinner and Free Time

9:00 – Hanging out Under the Stars, Hot Tub Time, Meditation…your choice!

Sunday, June 13

8:00 – 9:30 – Continental Breakfast

10:30 – 11:45 – Gentle Yoga and Closing of the Retreat

12:00 – Check Out (you are welcome to use the trails, enjoy the day!)

I truly hope you can join us at the Buford Spring Festival, at the Belly Dance Workshop and at the Summer Retreat! Its going to be a fabulous summer!

Namaste,

Heather

PS: Hailey is at the beach enjoying herself for the first time in 2 years! Thank God!

Cleanse Challenge Day 2

Well, day one went well and now I am on day two of trading my beer for a glass of green juice. I already have more energy and I have not even had any caffeine today! That is HUGE for me!

This morning's juice consisted of 3 big hand fulls of spinach, a small red apple and a carrot. It was gooooood. Carrots tend to overpower any juice, so if you do not like carrots, skip it. Just make sure you have tons of greens in there! That is where the goodness is! I also had a handful of almonds for some protein and fiber to start my day. For lunch I had organic butternut squash soup, a spinach salad with cranberries and oil & vinegar, and some more almonds.

Dinner tonight may be more vegan chili - Mike made it the other night and its so good. Yea, Mike made vegan chili. You did read that right. He made it darn good too.

Tonight's exercise (after I teach yoga) will be NIA - a free dance style of exercise. I lovingly call it hippie aerobics. Its SO much fun. Lots of drums and free movement is encouraged. I need to work out some negative energy that is creeping in with the stress of Hailey's pending move to Texas. Its all so up in the air, we have no idea when, or how long she will be gone, or who is going with her for that matter. Please pray for us! We need all the strength from the Good Lord we can get.

Its getting chilly out there and its time to bust out the socks and sweats. Keep warm out there my fuzzy-wuzzy darlings!