Inspired by Earth April Newsletter

Karma Yoga is the selfless yoga of action; it is when we do something for others without expectation of payback. Karma Yoga is based on using kindness and compassion to be of service to others and is intended to be a way of life.

Since April 28th is National Pay It Forward Day, I thought we all could participate by offering Karma Yoga to those around us. So... below is a list of ideas I grabbed from the Internet. You can use these or create your own. You have until April 28th to do as many, but at least one, Pay It Forward Act and you have until 11:59pm on April 29th to tell me what you did (you can include pictures) so I can put it all in the May newsletter. That way, we can see how we came together as a group to make a difference. Pass this newsletter on to anyone you feel would be interested in joining us!

1. Hold the door open for the person behind you.
2. Introduce yourself to someone new.
3. Donate clothes to someone in need. 
4. Write a positive Yelp review about a local business you like.
5. Listen intently to people’s stories without trying to fix everything.
6. Donate blood. 
7. Volunteer at a hospital, homeless shelter, nursing home, etc
8. Inspire others online.
9. Share your umbrella with a stranger on a rainy day.
10. Check up on someone who looks lonely.
11. Let someone with only a few items cut you in line at the grocery store.
12. Spread good news.
13. Replace what you’ve used...fill printer with paper
14. Give words of encouragement to someone.
15. Stop and buy a drink from a kid’s lemonade stand.
16. Help someone get your parking space in a crowded parking lot when you’re leaving.
17. Babysit for parents who don’t get out much so they can have some alone time.
18. Save a few extra bucks a month and then donate it to a good cause or charity.
19. Help someone get active. 
20. Spend a few clicks of your time at Free Rice.
21. Make someone's favorite meal; give when they least expect it.
22. Make a difference in the life of a child.
23. If you shop online, make your purchase through Give Back America.
24. Pay for the person in line behind you.
25. Drop off your old eye glasses at your local LensCrafters to donate to OneSight program.
26. Create a care package and send it to an active duty military unit.
27. Instead of birthday and holiday gifts, ask people to donate gifts or money to a good cause.
28. The next time you see someone pulled over, stop and ask how you can help. 
29. Become a mentor or tutor to someone in need.
30. Help the shopper in front of you who needs that extra two or three
31. Come to the rescue.  If you realize someone is sick, bring them some hot tea, soup, etc.
32. Be a courteous driver.  Let people merge in front of you.
33. Put some change in an expired parking meter.
34. Offer your seat to someone when there aren’t any left.
35. Listen to someone’s pain and help them find a path through it.
36. Hug a friend.  Let them know how important they are.
37. Think twice before you throw something away. “Reduce, reuse, and recycle.”
38. Help an entrepreneur with a Kiva donation.
39. Bake cookies or brownies and share with a neighbor or colleagues.
40. Done with a book? Give to a friend or leave in random location.
41. Become a member of Freecycle, and participate.
42. Clean up litter in a park or open space nearby.
43. Send a nice email or handwritten card to someone you know, unexpectedly.
44. Leave encouraging post-it notes in library books and other random places.
45. If you see a couple taking a self-pic, offer to take the picture for them.
46. Collect canned/dried food contributions.  Then deliver the donations accordingly.
47. Join efforts to preserve and protect the environment.
48. Donate cat and dog food to an animal shelter.  Call and ask what is needed.
49. Compliment someone who deserves it.
50. Collect and donate prom dresses for underprivileged youth. 
51. When you’re getting fast food, buy an extra meal for a homeless person.
52. Stand up for someone.  Lend your voice.
53. Take the time to teach someone a skill you know.
54. When someone wants to repay you for something, ask them to pay it forward.

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Yoga Class Schedule/Workshops
*Gentle/Restorative classes every Wednesday evening from 6-7:15pm.
Healing Arts Metaphysical, 4 E Wilson Street, Batavia (parking lot in back)
All Levels, Walk-ins, $15

*Gentle/Restorative classes every Sunday from 10-11:15am.
Healing Arts Metaphysical, 4 E Wilson Street, Batavia (parking lot in back)
All Levels, Walk-ins, $15

*Inspired Vinyasa (Level 1), most Tuesday's 10-11:15am, 1 E Benton St,, Aurora, downstairs. Parking in back or on street. $12/class, walk-in, all levels. Email me first to see if we are having class that week. No class April 2 or 16
 
Reiki Sessions, Reiki Classes and Angel Card Readings are available as you need.
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YOGA FIELD TRIPS!!!

*Trivia Night, Ballydoyle's Aurora
Date: April 4, 8pm
Let me know in advance if you are coming so I can save seats! We need a good yoga group name- send me ideas!

*Kirtan, Sean Johnson & the Wild Lotus Band
Tuesday, June 18, Garaj Mahal in Batavia. Thinking we may want to go again again as a group- need feedback!!! If you want to go, we will purchase tickets individually.

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FEATURED HEALING STONE: Diamond
by Maryann Sanfilipp, Crystal Writer Extraordinaire

Born in April?  Lucky you!  The birthstone for this month is a “girl’s best friend!”

Diamonds are a crystal of pure carbon with a hardness of 10, making them the hardest of all substances.  Although often seen as a colorless stone, diamonds actually are found in many colors---yellow, brown, blue, pink, green, orange and even red! Each of these colors adds its own unique frequency to the stone.
 
Diamonds have been considered to be magical for many centuries.  Hindus believed they protected one from evil spirits, fire, poison, snakes and illness.  Other cultures believed them to provide victory, courage, purity and love.  During the Middle Ages, it was not common for women to wear diamonds and only men wore them as symbols of invincibility and bravery.  King Louis IV of France even forbade the wearing of diamonds by women.  He felt that the only woman who should wear one was the virgin Mary!
 
Diamonds are conductors and amplifiers of energy, and, as such, are considered master healers.  They have a high frequency which stimulates and opens all of the chakras, but especially the crown and etheric chakras.  They are very intense stones which seem to emanate more energy for their size than any other stone.  This intensity can work both positively or negatively so they probably should not be worn if one is in a bad frame of mind. 
 
These stones encourage one to perceive how life’s trials and tribulations can be put to good use.  As a powerful crystal, it can aid the wearer in becoming a beacon of light and encourages us to seek the light within. On a spiritual level, diamonds promote truth, vision and alignment with the higher self.  They encourage us to develop ourselves from our current state to one closer to the Divine.  They carry the energies of angels who are aligned with both courage and light.  On an emotional level, they can help dispel density in the emotional body allowing one to feel lighter and more joyful.
 
Today, diamonds are mostly seen as symbols of love and fidelity.  “A diamond is forever,” is a slogan that we have all heard.  It is a symbol of deep, everlasting love.  No matter your view of diamonds, they are beautiful stones and worthy to add to your collection!
 
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FEATURED QUOTE:
“Unexpected kindness is the most powerful, least costly, and most underrated agent of human change.” —Bob Kerrey. PassItOn.com.
 

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