March 2018 Newsletter

 In a theme last month, we talked about some interesting life theories in Richard Bach's book Illusions. One premise offered is that everything we experience here, on Earth, falls into one of two categories: educational or entertainment. I can easily see this with my two greyhounds. Izzo is quirky in a goofy kind of way, constantly providing amusement. He has really long ears and when he looks at you with one pointing straight up and the other down, one cannot help but laugh. Anna, on the other hand, is here to teach me lessons in patience and compassion. Her fears are inexplicable but produce an immeasurable amount of whining and pacing that, many times, leave me frustrated. But, then I see the panic in her eyes and am reminded of our roles in guiding each other.

   One analogy from the book is that our lives are like movies. We go to a movie expecting laughter, fear, sadness, problems and solutions. It is what we paid to experience. We are sucked into the drama to the point we may actually cry, jump, or laugh aloud. The movie is an illusion, but we experience it in a reality-like way. Our life, according to the main character, is our own movie that we pre-produced before arriving here. We, too, know to expect certain things over the course of our time here on Earth: happiness, disappointment, love, tragedy, health, illness, etc. So, when I think about this in conjunction with the idea all experiences are either educational or entertainment based, it makes it easier to detach from the drama, step back, and view my life circumstances from an imaginary theater seat.

   A couple of weeks ago, my car was hit when a driver ran a red light. The aftermath is time consuming; one must deal with their car insurance, the other person's car insurance, the rental car, the health aspect... I kept stepping back when one more thing piled on imagining I was the lead character in my self-produced movie. I could here my director Self saying, "Hey, wouldn't it be funny if she finds out her car is totaled and now she has to find a new one?" Bam, done! "Wouldn't it be hilarious if, while she's dealing with this, we toss in X, Y and Z?" Bam, done!

   I started to amuse myself with these thoughts, and they detached me from the anxiety while actually preparing me for what else may add onto my to do list. Learn or laugh, right? Sometimes it is both. I encourage you to own this idea for a day and see what you think. Are we living in illusion or reality? Do we need to know? The book ends by saying something like, by the way, everything in this book may be wrong. One has to laugh:)Yoga Class Schedule/Workshops

YOGA SCHEDULE
*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
NO CLASS SUNDAY MARCH 4th! See fun field trips below!

*Inspired Vinyasa (Level 1), Tuesday's 10-11:15am, 1 E Benton St,, Aurora, downstairs. Parking in back or on street. $12/class, walk-in, all levels. Even more exciting, I will be making a monthly donation to the Aurora Food Pantry as part of the agreement for using this space.  Work out, find peace and give back all at the same time!
*NOTE: For March 6 and 13,
the Tuesday morning class will be held at my house due to construction at the Benton location. Email or text me for address! sandracoyner@yahoo.com, 630-803-7366
 
 
NEXT FUN YOGA FIELD TRIPS!!!
Sunday March 4   12-2pm (No yoga class prior)
We can arrive at 11:30 to chat and eat:)
Join us at Pinot's Palette in Naperville- we will be painting a mandala!
Picture shown below.
Register here: https://www.pinotspalette.com/naperville/event/219515
or come as a walk-in! 
Cost is $39/person. We can bring in food; they sell beverages there.

iPanic Escape Room!
Saturday, April 7   6:40pm (arrive 15 min's early)
Located in Pheasant Run Resort in St Charles. Sign up for the room called Shipwrecked- it holds 12 people! If you have already done this room, choose one of the others and we will all re-join somewhere afterwards?? First come, 1st serve so sign up on your own when you know you are free:) $30/person.
 
FEATURED HEALING STONE:  Aventurine
by Maryann Sanfilipp, Crystal Writer Extraordinaire
  As March arrives, I always think of green, mainly because of the St. Patrick’s Day celebrations from my youth, but also because of the promise the color holds for the coming spring. Green is a color of fertility and renewal bringing new life into endeavors and growth, whether spiritual or physical.  Since these green stones remind us of the coming spring and rebirth of nature, they are quite useful in meditation as we emerge from the depths of winter.
 
The green stone chosen for this month is Aventurine. Its name is derived from the Italian word for chance and is considered to be one of the luckiest stones as well as a stone of optimism and zest for life.  It is purported to assist one in embracing challenging situations and a facilitator for taking everything in stride.  It brings lightness and even humor in dealing with the ups and downs encountered in everyday life. 
 
Green aventurine is considered a stone of good luck and is recommended if you wish to manifest prosperity.  It might even be a great stone to carry in your left pocket as you are preparing your taxes or buying a lottery ticket!
 
Associated with the heart chakra, it can help clear this chakra and assist one to move forward in life.  It helps to find hope, optimism and joy in daily life.  Green aventurine supports the heart and circulatory system and stimulates cell repair, growth and general healing.
 
Some of the benefits include: balancing blood pressure, stimulating metabolism, lowering cholesterol and having an anti-inflammatory effect on the body.  It can also ease allergies and migraines.