1/21/07
Dear Student, 

hope this letter finds you well and enjoying this very unique Winter season. I am hoping you have had a great New Year and that 2007 will bring you all the best and that you continue for forward toward your hopes and dreams.I can never thank you enough for all your support. It is your presence and commitment that enables me to continue to grow and enhance what I am able to offer you.
I excited to bring a variety of classes and workshops to you in this New Year. I encourage you to sample those that may interest you in the hope that they may add depth and breadth to your present interest in and understanding of Yoga. 

The new schedule is attached, Details and updates about these and additional classes and workshops are available on my website: www.creativeedgeyoga.com. Please let me know of suggestions and feedback about these offerings and what you would like to see in the future.

The Branford Adult Ed series 1;  “Yoga for Fitness, Function and Fun", begins on Thursdays starting 2/8/07 at Branford High School through the Branford Adult Education. Call 488-5693 for info and to register..

Kundalini Yoga is on the menu this Winter. I will be offering Kundalini Yoga for a Diamond Body & Lustrous Mind  at Raven's Wing Yoga on Tuesday February 24th, 2007, 1:30-4:00pm.
Ana Brett and Ravi Singh are coming back for another Kundalini Yoga Experience entitled New Life New Possibilities! Spring Equinox Kundalini Yoga Workshop!   The date is Sunday, March25th at Raven's Wing Yoga. Each event is unique, powerful--and consistently popular; so register soon for the ultimate spring cleaning and "pick-me-up"!

The Saturday morning Yoga and Egoscue® Style Functional Movement for Posture, Pain Relief and Stress Management continues at the Shoreline Center. I invite you to consider this as a supplement to the other Yoga and fitness activities that you enjoy. The work is truly unique and he premise upon which it is based is both simple and profound in its approach and impact. 

On Tuesday evening, February 20^th, enjoy the introductory workshop: On the Path to Pain Free Living----- Yoga, Meditation and the Egoscue® Style of Postural Alignment for Healing and Pain Relief to learn to decipher messages our body gives us and how it offers insight into what it needs for balance and healing.

Yoga Therapy:

The New Year is often a time of reflection and resolution, when we make promises to our selves to change that noxious or self-destructive habit or finally add that thing that is so "good for us”. Unfortunately, without the proper approach the subsequent weeks or months is often a time of dismay and dis-illusion as so many of those resolutions fall by the wayside. In my opinion, this is often due to the fact that the impulse to change can be reactive and self-rejecting, rather than wise and self affirming. 

In our society, the search for the quick solutions and our outward focus can lead us to ignore, minimize or misread the messages we are receiving from within. The state of our body, the patterns of thoughts and emotions, and the quality of our relationships with ourselves and others all generate effects. Bringing a more spacious and open hearted awareness to these effects can transform the fear that can trap us in into doing battle with ourselves in non productive ways. From there we can better prioritize our needs for change and set upon a more reasonable and committed course toward the place that our most life affirming aspect draws us.

At the highest levels, Yoga is an awareness practice. Heightened awareness toward ourselves and our world may give the promise of greater clarity and perspective. This can be seen as the wisdom of the overview that is intuitive understanding,  Other common names are  "witness consciousness" or the "witness". This wisdom is "unitive" in the sense that it allows us to see and rise above the conflicts or dilemma in which we are caught. Insights attained in witness consciousness may lead us toward a more self affirming approach to overcoming limits and making changes  in our lives. Formulations such as seeking "win-win" resolutions to conflict and making healthier nutritional choices (rather than losing simply weight) as our our dietary goals invite us enter our change process with new, more expansive eyes. Setting positive intension in this way sets up less inner conflict and and therefore can pleasantly and powerfully transform our day to day approach to change. I believe that such approaches affirm the ultimate aims of Yoga, that is to lead us to the expansion of our lasting peace and happiness.

The non-reactive component of witness consciousness also allows us to integrate the the fits and starts we make toward change into the process of change. As we integrate the lessons learn in our "pre -success" attempts to transform in both conscious and deeper ways; there often comes the day that we finally reach a deep and powerful conviction. All our deeper experience that have incubated over time now serves us in the moment. The ensuing transformation can be amazingly “easy” and complete”. In the “Bottem Line’s Daily Health” e-newsletter,  Meredith Haberfeld, co-founder and CEO, Handel Group Private Coaching; describes it as a “Click”. For me, these profound movements toward change are felt as “Of Course” actions--fully insync with present state as we evolve toward our highest aims.
Ms. Haberfeld states “But the thing that I've noticed over the years is that the times that I have made a significant and lasting change in my life, the change is precipitated by a shift in my perception and understanding of the challenge”.

Whatever they may be called, these are life altering processes tend to bring with them a clarity and passion can only come from a deep sense there is no other path to take that is true to your highest purpose. I agree with those who have warned that intuitive insight is often not what feels good. Indeed they my confront our very aloneness; as well as our fears of risk or change.  In my opinion and experience, yoga and meditation are powerful tools to create the ground for these “Of Course” changes. Often deep shifts of this nature need a good deal of energy and will as well as some “space to unfold”. The potent and profound physical, energetic and mental practices of our Yoga practice gives energy and strength to fuel us on our journey.

Consistent work on our inner life can help us simultaneously see and release past limiting patterns, create new habits and understanding while maintain existing structures and relationships in which healthy change occurs. The clarity attained through the way of awareness can help us see, soften or release existing judgments and attitudes, so often the root of the ego’s desperate reactivity, self negation and struggle as it attempts to hold to the status quo. The overview of intuitive understanding, reality tested by the experience of living, can give us perspective and vision to responsibly set and stay the course amidst the ego’s resistance and obstacles that exist in our lives. Ultimately, daily experience reinforces of the ultimate truth  that we are always the architects of our lives. The highest aim and impact of our Yoga and meditation practice is, in my opinion, the complete way in which it empowers restores our true and absolute responsibility for our lives and transformation in ways that get lost in the business of our day to day experience. 

Practice:
Ms Haberfeld offers these general suggestions and additional ways to support moving toward these “clicks” that precede healthy change:

In my opinion, healthy and long term change is usually not impulsive or reactive. In addition it is important and empowering to always realize that you are responsible for the short and long term impact of choices that we make.  The mystery of our lives begins and ends with the fact as the consequences and our subjective experience of any choice are never guaranteed. Enjoy the journey ) !. 

Workshops:

Kundalini Yoga for a Diamond Body & Lustrous Mind
 with  Alan Franzi, M.S., L.P.C.
        @
“Raven’s Wing Yoga”
869 West Main St Branford, CT
Saturday February 24th, 2007, 1:30-4:00pm
$25.00 incl. tax pre-registered; $30.00 incl. tax at the door

Yoga practitioners of all levels can supercharge your Yoga practice in this workshop series designed to explore the transformational possibilities of Kundalini Yoga. Kundalini Yoga is profound and powerful; and this experience is designed to bring all its potency to help you cultivate fearless confidence and the sense of physical and energetic resilience at the root of a healthy and happy life. Artfully sequenced movement, Yoga posture and meditation practices will be practiced intended to deepen the physical benefits of any Yoga practice. Facilitate the release and healing of inner tension and stress as you enjoy the beneficial impact of this energizing and calming Yoga practice on mood and consciousness.  Empower body, mind and spirit at once via this Yoga practice designed to fully animate, illuminate and transform.

Anyone can practice Kundalini Yoga. All seekers are welcome!!

On the Path to Pain Free Living----- Yoga, Meditation and the Egoscue® Style of Postural Alignment for Healing and Pain Relief
 with Alan Franzi, M.S., L.P.C.
         @
“Shoreline Center for Wholistic Health”
35 Boston St. Guilford, ST
Tuesday February 20th, 2007, 6:15-8:30pm
$25.00 incl. tax pre-registered; $30.00 incl. tax at the door

Learn and practice the “3 R’s” of authentic Wellness*(from "Pain Free" by Pete Egoscue). 
***Rediscover the design of the body;
***Restore lost function
***Restore muscular-skeletal health.   
Joint pain, back pain, tendonitis, bursitis, repetitive stress injuries; even conditions such a chronic headaches, vertigo, sinusiitis,  and TMJ  can often be linked to musculoskeletal dysfunctions that may be addressed simply, and efficiently through proper movement and alignment practices.
Introduce yourself to the insights and tools needed to resolve these issues and the limitations they create in life, as you come to understand the principles of postural alignment and your body in a new way.
Our approach, inspired and informed by Yoga Therapy and the ingenious work of Pete Egoscue, is based on the premise that any effective therapy treats the body as a unit.
Perform simple functional movement and postural "tests" that reveal your postural imbalances that help direct you to their resolution.
Experience the impact that this experience of simple and accessible specific sequences or “menus” of Yoga posture, therapeutic movement and basic functional exercises can have in helping to realign posture and remove imbalances throughout the whole body.
Additional awareness, breath-work and meditation are practiced as additional tools help integrate the physical practice and to further help you rediscover lost comfort and joy in your body. Take time to introduce yourself to a practice that supports all you are doing in your quest to live the best, most active life you can!

New Life New Possibilities! Spring Equinox Kundalini Yoga Workshop!
with Ravi Singh & Ana Brett  

On:    Sunday  March 25th, 2007 1:00—4:00  PM 
@    "Raven's Wing Yoga" 
         869 West Main St, 2nd floor 
         Branford, CT        
Fee:  $50.00 pre-registered,$55.00 at the door 

Isn’t it time for a breakthrough? Shine like the sun with Kundalini Yoga's dynamic blend of breathing, movement, stretching, meditation, and more. Traditionally, Kundalini was known as the "jewel in the crown," of yoga systems.

In this special workshop, Ana & Ravi will share special techniques to capitalize on the new energy of Spring for to plant the seeds for new possibilities in our lives. In addition to a whole body workout, this session will feature exercises to help us let go old stress and emotions and make room for the new. As always, we will generate a powerful group energy to help us all make great gains on the inner and outer planes. 85% physical/ 15% meditative. For All Levels.

Private, semi private and small group Yoga Sessions 

Over the past several years I have worked with several students in private sessions in both brief and longer term scenarios. The sessions have served different purposes for each individual  depending on specific needs and intentions. Students have utilized this time to: 

I am available for private Yoga instruction, Yoga Therapy, Postural Alignment Therapy via the Egoscue Method clinic. In addition sessions are available that employ a meditative healing practice format to support deep inner shifts and transformation that can accelerate your personal growth an amazing ways. Sessions can be held in your home or at my teaching studio locations. For details and to answer questions about how you may benefit from one of these modalities please contact me at (203)488-1700.  

I will be developing more workshop opportunities over these next few months. Please let me know of any requests or suggestion that you have.
Again, I deeply appreciate your ongoing support and I hope to see you soon. 

Namaste & Sat nam,
Alan

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****This newsletter is intended to inspire and stimulate thought and insight according to the general concepts and practices of Yoga and Meditative arts. The use of these opinions and ideas is no substitute for any and all professional services to suit your specific personal needs. Always consult a competent professional for answers to your specific questions.

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