Thank You Everyone who participated in 2011 Yoga on the Steps!! We had an Awesome Team out this year! We were able to raise $4,000 dollars for Living Beyond Breast Cancer. We had a special donor that matched the contributions we raised and this generous donation was able to make a significant fundraising effort for the Totally Zen Team! Each person was excited about being a part of this noble cause and committed to raising money to contribute to Living Beyond Breast Cancer, an organization that does such exceptional work!

Living Beyond Breast Cancer (LBBC) is dedicated to assisting you, whether you are newly diagnosed, in treatment, recently completed treatment, are years beyond or are living with metastatic breast cancer. They are also here for your family members, caregivers, friends and healthcare providers to provide breast cancer information and support.

As a national education and support organization, our goal is to improve your quality of life and help you take an active role in your ongoing recovery or management of the disease, regardless of educational background, social support or financial means.

Their sincere, diligent and outspoken approach is educating and inspiring more local companies and individuals to get involved, participate and make a difference with them!

I have been a proud part of organizing a team for the event the last two years. I feel it is a perfect time to join with others in our community and try to increase awareness and commitment to helping our grandmothers, mothers, sisters, daughters and friends at a time when their life is confusing and challenging.

Each year, on the day of the event, the resident yoga instructor, Jennifer Shelter always offers such a heartfelt, uplifting practice that includes the mindfulness and appreciation for those we honor. The speakers seemed to be extra open and heart centered this year. Something new and super touching was a short story from ten survivors

They shared words about what happened, what they learned and how they have evolved from their experience surviving breast cancer. Their contributions moved many of us to tears!

If you have not ever participated in Yoga on the Steps, please, mark your calendars and make it a point to come out, raise money and awareness!  See you next year !

Sunlight streams through the window while rhythmic New Age music fills the air. This is the atmosphere specially created by  Stephanie Churchill for yoga practice. It is the early morning, and a fresh chance to shape ourselves for the coming day. What kind of person will we be today? Generous, kind, and humane? The yoga space is ripe with possibilities. It has been too long since I have practiced yoga, yet I sense a new beginning with Stephanie’s expert guidance.

Stephanie begins with meditation and breathing suggestions that form the backbone of the session. Her calm voice encourages the deep breathing that has me inhaling the good and exhaling the toxic. With each breath I feel more centered in my body and more relaxed for the workout to follow. On a spiritual plane, every inhale invigorates my life force for good, and every exhale sheds the negative energy that keeps me from being all I want to be. I meditate, like many others, with eyes closed. I follow Stephanie’s beautiful narrative and breathing suggestions. She suggests that my inhales be white light that I guide to my body’s center. I cheat here. I direct the white light of breath to far reaches of my body, that have been neglected of deep breathing for far too long.

Stephanie segues from meditation and gentle stretching to some more formal postures. She alternates more strenuous postures with relaxing ones, giving my body a respite and my mind precious moments to ponder the postures. At different moments, Stephanie interrupts her own practice to ensure that my positioning is the most that it can be for me. Sometimes she is a brace, and sometimes she lengthens and coaxes a stretch. Stephanie intuits easily when I need an assist.

As the session moves forward, Stephanie juxtaposes the positions of downward facing dog to the cobra. My mind is an empty slate, but then I reflect upon the rich imagery of these positions. I think of the submissive dog, bowed low, simultaneously humble and regal, and intensely loyal. Then I bring to mind the cobra, strong and proud, crown reaching toward the sky, vertebrae elongated. With these two images in my mind, I form the positive intention to live my day with both humility and strength.

Thank you, Stephanie for a meaningful reunion with yoga practice!

Recently we were informed that Nursingschools.net has included us in a list of the 100 Incredible Yoga Teachers Who Blog.

TOTALLY ZEN is Totally Excited to hear of this great news!

We blog about our mind, body, spirit in order to learn, grow and transform ourselves into the best person we can be at that moment. Sharing our experience and findings inspires and helps us to keep moving along the path of self development and Universal consciousness. Hopefully it does something for you too

It is Most Excellent to be recognized for our labor of love and hard work we do to create TOTALLY ZEN.

Check out the other yoga blogs in the list & see what other treasures there are to behold:

100 Incredible Yoga Teachers Who Blog

Thank You for your time, energy and readership!

The Greenfest of 2009 in Philadelphia, the 4th annual festival, was a representation of how a community can help educate and expand a movement. From humble beginnings and dedicated participants the event has taken on a life of its own. Each year this event draws more people, and there, they can find information, resources and people to create more understanding and more connection in the sustainable living community. Seeing many of the same faces and companies, friends who are dedicated to promoting these ideas. When you walked through the festival you could truly feel that there is a consensus to be a part of a growing culture or movement here and globally to be more appreciative, giving and respectful of the Mother Earth.

Locally, The Urban Green Partnership helps Philadelphia in green initiatives and education. Some of the improvements I notice in Philadelphia are: individuals recycle more and it has become easier, green buildings, energy and green alternatives/programs that are popping up everywhere!

The idea of sustainability, being mindful of how and what you use effects the world which has been defined as a way of life and a mindset from which to operate your personal and professional choices from, is catching on…

Last year, we did some research and found out just how much waste we create yearly and it is horrific to think of the ramifications, think about this: http://www.totallyzen.com/getting-green-is-a-continual-process.html.

Understanding the many interconnections between economy, society and the environment is essential. We need to learn to conserve, reuse and recycle everything. There is far too much waste and excess in all parts of our living. Reducing your carbon footprint on the world is a humble yet powerful undertaking. I strive to reduce my use whenever possible.

Eventually, this should help to establish a more equal distribution of resources and opportunities that will begin to disperse throughout the land. Creating opportunities for everyone who desires to be a part of a growing movement that is moving over the Earth. This change is coming and is undeniable. We must quickly unite and move forward to ensure that we collectively give back to Mother Earth as she has always been there for us. The more we do this: the greener our Earth will be, the more healthy, happy, green our lives will be and this will be felt all over the world.

Help to move towards a more sustainable future!                            

]]> http://www.totallyzen.com/greenfest-2009-moving-deeper-into-sustainable-living.html/feed 0 http://www.totallyzen.com/living-your-dream.html http://www.totallyzen.com/living-your-dream.html#comments Mon, 08 Jun 2009 01:03:50 +0000 Stephanie http://www.totallyzen.com/?p=410 Continue reading →]]>

Ahh. Returning to something you love after a hiatus can be challenging. It’s been one month since I wrote a blog post. Although I do truly love blogging I found it a little hard to sit down for the first few days and dig in to my old routine. Isn’t it strange that anything new or old you lose connection with can be hard to return to after the absence that separates you from someone or something?

I wanted a blog for so long and it took so much effort to create the “right” home for www.TotallyZen.com. Developing my ideas, doing the work, being professional, working with other like-minded individuals, creating the path in pursuit of my goals and follow through were all very important for this or any project to succeed. My vision, www.TotallyZen.com, was launched nearly two years ago.
I have been blogging weekly and have barely skipped a week .

Currently, I have been working SO HARD and HAVING SO MUCH FUN!!! Returning to another dream I once worked really hard at but temporarily abandoned without being fulfilled. The dream is being involved in the entertainment industry. Truth be known since I was three years old I dreamt of being a “star”. Did you know we are all just stars? Yes, universal energy compounded into one vital mass until our star power leaves our soul and we move on to another realm.

Anyway, I did not immediately pursue my childhood dream and for a while didn’t know what to “become” when I got older. Not feeling satisfied, I searched and searched and found my path of self- realization and actualization. Eventually, I become educated and excited about this journey and I realized I wanted to apply this knowledge to help others find their way more peacefully, happily and healthier through their own journey.

In the meantime, I realized I could combine this beneficial cause with another unfulfilled childhood vision. Hence, Totally Zen and Stephanie Churchill embody the helping, healing soul who may someday see her DREAM become a REALITY. I certainly have worked, sacrificed and not given up for a long time to be fit for this task. Then, just when I was not sure what my next move and I pondered how I was ever going to get to my final destination I ran into an unexpected opportunity.

No Joke Productions is an independent production company originally focusing on special FX and can build you any kind of set you want. Executive Producer and owner of No Joke Productions, Jeffrey A Cox, is a talented, driven, charismatic entrepreneur and has 19 years of hands-on production experience in the motion picture and television industry. In the last two years Jeff has been transitioning into full television production projects. His work is exceptional!

Jeff sees Totally Zen as I see it existing as in this world. As a lifestyle, health, wellness, natural living, conscious, engaging, adventurous, fun and energetic entity that brings its best to you! Helping you heal, grow, transform and evolve through sharing my experiences, knowledge and passion with you. Jeff and I work well together and have been spending a lot of time creating a development piece for television. It will be amazing to share this part of my journey that manifests my dreams and lets them come ALIVE!!!

Destiny is calling and I am working overtime.. Wish Me Luck.                  

]]> http://www.totallyzen.com/living-your-dream.html/feed 1 http://www.totallyzen.com/i-phone-game-give-away-vir2l-drums-taiko-sign-up.html http://www.totallyzen.com/i-phone-game-give-away-vir2l-drums-taiko-sign-up.html#comments Thu, 07 May 2009 20:24:33 +0000 Stephanie http://www.totallyzen.com/?p=405 Continue reading →]]>

Savor the Sounds of the Renowned Taiko Drums

On your I PHONE..

Totally Zen is proud to GIVE AWAY

A few copies of the new application for your I Phone

Play along to free play or 9 original compositions

**LEAVE YOUR EMAIL IN MY SIGN UP for Newsletter BOX*

( in right hand column)

WINNER WILL BE POSTED MAY 13th

Imagine playing the Taiko Drums at your fingertips???

A little stressed, whatever, need to chill-

Take yourself far away*****

Get tribal

Get funky

Feel Zen

Make Your Own Beat

& then Dance to Your Own Drum

*Nagado Daiko are the most popular type of Taiko Drums.

Used by modern groups their bodies have a barrel shaped appearance, with a maximum diameter about equal to the head to head length of the drum.

*Ko Daiko are the smaller members of this family of drums. Their diameter of drumhead is from 1- 1 1/2 shakuto. A shakuto is 1 ft long.

RELEASE YOUR INNER BEAT

Columbus Day is the day of celebration of the anniversary of Christopher Columbus coming to America. Instead of finding countries in the Far East as he sailed from Spain he stumbled upon America.

A lot of Italian-Americans observe this day as celebration of their heritage. The first occasion was in New York City in 1792. In 1905, Angelo Noce, a first generation Italian, lobbied to make this day a national holiday. So, in 1934 the Knights of Columbus, Franklin D. Roosevelt and Congress declared October 12, 1492 Columbus Day a Federal holiday and we celebrate with a wonderful parade in New York City.

Watch how Totally Zen makes the most of being able to be a part of all the culture, excitement and people there in NYC to enjoy the festivity. It was a great fall day and being there was a treat!

            Getting out and experiencing ALL life has to offer

                   INVIGORATES  the mind, body and spirit!!!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbus_Day

Do you ever wonder when you go to a show, maybe a concert how much work went into it (like a Madonna tour) or what had to happen to produce the event? I don’t know if I am strange; but I am sensitive to these factors all the time when I go to events. It’s probably part fascination to the creative world, part sensitivity to the physical world and other parts just plain mystified.

I bring this up because I was an exhibitor at a pretty big yoga conference for the first time. Now my experience of the “show” was from the back end and not the “glitzy” front end, which was a change from years past.

My experience began in Philadelphia. Trying to organize and then pack my small VW until you couldn’t get anything else into it ☺ Fully loaded, I drove to the Big Apple with excitement and wonder. Upon arriving, I found my way to the loading dock, a big truck with Omega Institute’s “stuff” and two sweaty guys trying to unload it greeted me.

Then, it was official; I was a vendor at The Being Yoga Conference. Now, it’s time to unpack the “stuff“. Finding your way up to the conference space from the loading dock took 2 elevator rides, a long walk down a hall and about 15 minutes each direction. Ahh, to have yoga in your life means to breathe, be calm and be happy. So, it wasn’t so bad, especially when I was finished. Setting up the booth I logged in more time to set up my virtual store, www.totallyzenstore.com, in the physical world; this was a cool manifestation for me!

Beginning the conference: I was present, enthusiastic and ready to greet and help each person which was an act of endurance and perseverance. It was an honor to meet and talk to each and every one of you I had the opportunity to do so with at the show! I enjoyed explaining my philosophy and experience in reaching this part of my journey. The yoga path/spiritual path is a long one and I was so grateful it lead me to that place and I look forward to what the future unfolds for my journey!

                                                                                                         Unfortunately, when you are busy overseeing your space and “stuff” there is no time to duck out and take some classes. So, I missed practicing and learning yoga with some very “tuned in” masters. I heard a lot of very positive feedback about all the wonderful opportunities to learn and grow in these sessions.

It was during the down times while people take classes that I got to know some of the exhibitors. It was so rewarding to hear other people’s stories about where they came from and how their companies’ manifested in their lives. The best thing was that there was so much heart and soul in every person’s story or company. I got to appreciate what it took for each person to get to that point. I enjoyed talking and sharing with them very much!

Funny, just three days later we were repacking everything again. The “show” was over and it was time to move on to other shows or back to another part of their life.

Either way if you are behind the scenes or in front of the scenes your experience is ALWAYS what you make it and part of that is your attitude and effort that you apply to it. I know everyone behind the scenes put a lot of love into getting the Being Yoga Conference to be the best it could be. I am sure that those that were fortunate enough to experience the conference were able to feel all that positive energy.

Acting from love with love makes the world a brighter place.

Sorry, I didn’t get some more action shots from the conference; I must have been glued to my booth.

Well, it has been a long week! I have taken about 500 pictures in the last four days, reshot part of a video and much more.

The consequence of a distinct change brought about the opportunity for putting a lot of “things” all together. My friend and main artistic contributor will be moving on from my project. Oddly enough, we have done a lot of work together; but most of it is in some stage of “almost finished.”

I have never really been someone who took one “thing” from start to finish and went on to the next. I think I lacked the attention, dedication and discipline to finish most “things” I began for a lot of years in my life. I would start a bunch of projects and abandon them for others.

As I have reflected I found, I was not all that committed to these undertakings and my attention and focus definitely needed some improvement. Yoga has been a worthwhile commitment of my time if for nothing else than increasing my attention and focus.

When you work for yourself on independent projects if you don’t meet deadlines and timelines nothing happens when you don’t finish them on time! So, my habits have been harder to break.

I got to thinking, when you start multiple projects and finish none is this any different than creating duality in your character or a way of masking your true desires and ambitions by diminishing your core from being strong and centered? Is the beginning and end to some “thing” a spiritual communication of energy and intention that better serves you if validated in some way or form in the universe?

Is the reason I “can’t” or “don’t” finish my work a cause or effect of what my actions and/or my spirit manifests? I am not sure of the answer; but, I am very aware of the possibilities and I am intrigued by the idea that I have been hurting myself while I have been helping myself. A characteristic we find in the human struggle and a great impetus to studying Buddhism.

I have moved around a variety of Totally Zen projects and will eventually complete them all! For now, I can proudly say my friend and I will complete the first two Totally Zen videos within the next two weeks. All the photos we just took are for the preparation of the Totally Zen ecommerce offering that will be launched in the next two months. In blogging each week for eight months I have been able to create and complete many small heartfelt projects. The design and execution of original yoga mat bags are in the works; after, ironically seeing the same personal struggle I spoke of earlier be reflected to me in the first two designers actions.

In the pursuit of sanity and happiness I found Zen. In the pursuit of sharing my Zen vision with others as a means to continue and expand my endeavor and to make it a sustainable business I found equally difficult challenges!

Planning, positive thinking, workable ideas and perseverance are all the makings for finding yourself “putting it all together!”

per·se·ver·ance steady persistence in a course of action, a purpose, a state, etc., esp. in spite of difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement. Theology. continuance in a state of grace to the end, leading to eternal salvation.

http://dictionary.reference.com/search?r=2&q=perseverance

This is my friend Kimberly Garrison. Kim is a personal trainer, fitness column writer and fitness expert in and around Philadelphia. She is pregnant; so, we decided it would be fun to make a unique, relaxing and challenging fitness routine for all new moms to be and post pregnancy moms!

We will offer our own twist on a pregnancy fitness video. This video celebrates the goddess in all females; but, is especially geared towards the ones who have taken their fertile flower and created a new seed.

The video will play out as such: I will lead us in a meditation segment. Then, engage our mind, bodies and spirits in the pregnancy yoga routine suitable for all three trimesters of a pregnancy. Finally, Kim will lead us in a high-spirited strength training segment that will use the fitness balls and hand weights to work the whole body. We feel this video will provide a nice blend of activities and have enough variation that you will stay excited as we are about it!

I thought spending some time in meditation for pregnant people can help them remain healthy and clear. Another meditation that can be useful is using the breath as a bond between new moms and their babies. Lastly, learning and practicing the birthing breath is a necessary step to prepare for in pregnancy.

Remember that when you are pregnant everything you think, feel and eat is transferred to your baby. It is ultra important to try and manage your stress, get plenty of sleep, eat the right foods and amount of liquids and try and stay supple and strong!

Breathing meditations practiced in a yoga class may become essential during labor! Additional benefits pregnant women can gain from practicing yoga are: relief from back pain, nausea and increased stamina. Yoga is a low-impact exercise which will help expectant moms to stay in shape. The exercise balls and hand weights are perfect ways to provide some support and structure to free weights. Keeping the weight low is a safe practice during pregnancy!

Our video will be ready for market in the following months. There is still a lot to do: editing, packaging, photos and original music. It’s an exciting, creative cumbersome undertaking made with heart and soul straight from us to you!

In pregnancy there a lot of considerations to become mindful before engaging in any fitness routine and talking to the doctor before you start is an ABSOLUTE MUST!!

Here’s an article Kim wrote about pregnancy and fitness:

http://www.philly.com/dailynews/columnists/kimberly_garrison/20080207_Kimberly_Garrison__Exercises_for_you_when_youre_exercising_for_two.html