Article on Meditation Retreat Experiences

Hey, check out an article I wrote, that appears in the Shelburne Falls & West County Independent of July 24-Aug 6th. Its about my monthlong meditation retreat that I attended in June. The article examines my responses to the difficulties I encountered and my desire to share the benefits of meditation with youth, especially "at risk" youth. It's titled Looking Inside for Comfort & Peace in the Opinion & Commentary section. I'm still trying to figure out how to attach a copy to this blog-I'm tech challenged at the moment. But hey buy your local paper anyway!

Shiatsu Massage & Summer's Impact on Health Pt. 1

I occasionally write  about the effects of the seasons on our health from the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine as it's reflected in my practice shiatsu massage.   The summer is according to TCM's, 5 Element theory-a season of fire!    Remember this system uses metaphor in relating our bodies to the natural world.  I will list some correspondences below and then expand a bit on them..   

• Cyclic stage:  growth
• Body tissues:  blood vessels
• Organs:  Heart/Small Intestine
• Sense organ: tongue
• Sense: speech
• Sound:  laughing
• Emotion:  joy
• Spiritual aspects: mind
• ....many more correspondences

See a previous shiatsu overview article here.  So this is a general sketch of how a shiatsu therapist might react to a person, using some of this rather arcane information.  I like to create a composite person to show the manifestation of imbalance and how shiatsu can help.   I'll highlight (in italics) the clues that relate to the aspects in the list above, that help to plan an effective session for this client.

It's July and a  woman comes in for a shiatsu treatment.  After filling out a health intake form, we review her answers.   She is in her 20's, has had issues with stammering in her childhood and still occasionally does.   Her manner is very jovial and she laughs in between sentences throughout our conversation.  She conveys a feeling of excitement and quick emotions.  She suffers from anxiety for which she takes medication.   She has restless sleep and is often nervous, and temperature changes affect her, she often feels to hot or too cold.

As I continue to listen, she asks many questions re: what shiatsu is and expresses worry that it can help her.   I repeat the information several times in different ways to help her understand. We transition to her relaxing on the shiatsu futon so we can begin.  After a few minutes of relaxing,  she relates further that she is back in school and finds that feels a bit overwhelmed by the new information and has trouble assimilating it.   

I feel good as I have now some idea of which meridian flows might need support...even before begin the actual hands on sensing of her energy....

Pt. 2 next time.   Click button in sidebar to receive auto updates of this blog.

101 Simple Salads for the Season

Just found this wonderful NY Times article of "recipes,"  really ideas of salads of all varieties that one can put together.   They give the ingredients but not amounts.  As an adamant non-recipe follower, I love that approach.  Use your senses to put together the amounts and proportions that are perfect for you and your guests/loved ones.   I love reading cookbooks for ideas not for prescriptions that must be followed.  They present ideas for the  vegan to carnivore and all in between.   Enjoy.

Back from Sabbatical

I'm back and just spent quite some time posting my resume. I'm wanting to start working with at risk young adults again teaching mindfulness/and or yoga tools to help them get some peace of mind. If you know of any possibilities out there in area of Western Mass, let me know. So this is short hello and see you in class starting Tuesday July 7th 5:30-7, or on the shiatsu mat. Or both! Be well.

Current Resume-(Kalavati) Vivinne Williams LMT, MFA

Pioneer Valley/Greenfield/Shelburne Falls, MA

E-mail(best contact): viviwill@hotmail.com
(c)413.824.2674

EMPLOYMENT

2008-2009 Massage Therapist/Yoga Teacher. Self-Employed & Hart Yoga, Shelburne Falls, MA.

• Teaching vinyasa/hatha yoga classes at Shelburne Falls Yoga & now at Hart Yoga.
• LMT specializing in Shiatsu massage. A type of bodywork that inhances the bodys energy and promotes health & wellbeing naturally.

• 

2007-2008 Wellness Coordinator, Onondaga Community College, Syracuse, NY.

• Designed and taught 2 different workshops and yoga classes to faculty, staff & students. Workshops were "Mindfulness for Stress Reduction" open to entire college community & "Desk-side Stretch" aimed at faculty/staff. 
• Scheduling workshop times, booking rooms, confirming participation, creating marketing materials.
• Liaison between departments such as Human resources, Events office, Campus Web etc. to organize and promote programs, involved getting activity listed on Web site, and campus televisions, regular mass emails and followup.
• Also supporting promotion of programs by brainstorming ways to increase attendance such as using yoga and stress management programs as part of the mandatory sanctions for students found to be abusing alcohol or drugs. 

In first semester of new program implementation: presented to approximately 150 students, with overwhelmingly positive feedback from both classroom teachers and students.

2003-2007 Assistant Professor of Art, Tenured. Onondaga Community College, Syracuse, NY. 

 

• Teaching -planning semester course flow, research new courses and create syllabus.
• Committees: Teaching Center & search committees.
  
• Restarted defunct student Art club. Plan and implement trips: annual NYC, Italy, student recruitment, book transportation & lodging, tracking payments and meet payment deadlines, organizing club meetings, keeping club officers engaged and active. 
  

2006 CNY Yoga Center. Syracuse, NY. Taught Ashtanga yoga class.

1999-02 Sattva Yoga & Wellness, NY, NY. Owner.

• Owned & operated yoga studio, taught classes and workshops.
• Hired teaching staff
• Successfully promoted the studio which was featured in several national publications including Yoga Journal, Self & Essence magazines. 
• Designed new workshops/meditation sessions/kirtans
  

1994-2003 Long Island University, Brooklyn, NY. Adjunct Associate Professor of Art 

• Taught Painting I & Drawing I

1995-1999 Museum of Modern Art, NY. Lecturer, Education department.

• Developed & delivered in school lectures and art activities related to upcoming museum visit for grades 3-12.
• Conducted in museum lectures using MOMA's, discussion format that encourages open ended questions and discussion.

EDUCATION

ART

1994 Rutgers University, Mason Gross School of the Arts, NJ. M.F.A Painting.
1992 Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA. Cum laude. B.A. Studio Art
1991 Skowhegan School of Painting & Sculpture, Skowhegan ME. Juried summer arts program.
Also attended Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY. Visual art program, foundation year. Graduate Music & Art High School, NYC.

WELLNESS-

2009

• 4 weeks Mindfulness/Vipassana meditation, Tatagatha Meditation Center, San Jose, CA. Sayadaw U Pandita.  The meditation trainings are silent, intensive programs. Sayadaw means respected teacher (a monk) in Burmese. Sayadaw U Pandita is the author of "In This Very Life, the Liberation Teachings of the Buddha."
• '07-09 Gradutate of 18 Month Mindfulness Meditation & Yoga Training Program. Spirit Rock Meditation Center, CA.

2007

• Onondaga School of Therapeutic Massage, Syracuse, NY. 1,000 hour Massage Therapy Program. 2007. Current NYS & MASS licensed.
• 20 day Retreat Mindfulness/Vipassana meditation, Mountain Hermitage, New Mexico. Sayadaw Vivekananda & Marcia Rose. Held at Vallecitos Center.

2006

• 4 weeks Mindfulness/Jhana meditation, Forest Refuge @Insight Meditation Society, Barre, MA. Venerable Pau Auk

2005  

• 6 weeks Mindfulness/Vipassana meditation, Forest Refuge @IMS. Ven. Sayadaw U Pandita

2004

• 4 weeksMindfulness/Vipassana meditation, Forest Refuge @IMS. Sayadaw U Janaka

1994

• Kripalu Yoga Center, 200 Hr. Yoga Teacher certification; also completed 40 hr. teacher training in Ashtanga with David Swenson at Yoga Vermont.

'94-Ongoing

• Numerous workshops on yoga, health and wellness at Kripalu Yoga Center. Several weeklong and 9 day Vipassana/Mindfulness retreats @ IMS.