Living from the Heart series
By Alejandro Negrete September 26, 2008 San Miguel de Allende

Lecture
Transforming Suffering
Tue, Sep 30, 6–7:30pm
Sala Quetzal
Biblioteca Pública
Insurgentes 25
Donation 50 pesos

What is suffering? In the sacred scriptures of the East, it is affirmed that the root of suffering originates in the mind. Suffering arises first in negative thought, then it infiltrates into the emotions and only then does it manifest in our words and actions. Being conscious of our inner processes, observing ourselves serenely from instant to instant, is the only real way of beginning to understand our psyche.

We are the makers of our reality. What is within us is what we create in our lives. Once we become conscious of our inner landscape and make changes in the mind, then our external reality changes. In this way inner work has the power to liberate us from suffering.

In this class we speak about how every difficult or painful situation can be transformed into something positive for our growth and evolution. We learn how to cultivate love and compassion in order to help us transform negative impressions and learn a meditation to help us become more conscious and connected to love.

Alejandro Negrete is a certified teacher of the Pneuma System. Information: 120-2179, alepneuma@yahoo.com.  Pneuma System: www.inkarri.org. 

Talk and movement experience
By Richard Adelman

Lecture
Aging Gracefully: Flexibility after 50
Tue, Sep 30, 5pm
Teatro Santa Ana
Biblioteca Pública
Insurgentes 25
Donation 50 pesos

Aging is inevitable, but how we age is up to us. Body awareness education offers us a way to age with dignity and grace. This practice can be safe, pleasurable and rewarding. In fact, it should be—it works better that way! 

Joint stiffness brought on by aging can be annoying and painful and can interfere with the quality of daily life. The simplest everyday movements such as turning your head, getting up from a chair, bending over and walking can become difficult. Some people feel so restricted that it is as if they were in conflict with their own selves, trapped in an uncooperative, alien body. 

Yet, during my 35 years of experience in the body awareness field, I have learned that movement flexibility and bodily grace often can be regained. I use movements from the Feldenkrais Method, Rehabilitative Pilates, Osteopathy and Somatic Psychology. They go beyond the traditional “no pain, no gain” mechanical approach. Rather than straining to perform uncomfortable stretches, you invite more flexibility by reprogramming your nervous system through gentle movements. With deepened body awareness you relearn to move all the parts of your body together in harmony.

Anthropologist Margaret Mead recognized the Feldenkrais Method as “the most sophisticated and effective method I have seen for the prevention and reversal of deterioration of function. We are condemning millions of people to a deteriorated old age that’s not necessary.” 

Perhaps best of all is that practice can enhance your self-confidence and brighten your outlook for the future. Optimism is a natural antidepressant!

This event will include very gentle movements to increase your ease and flexibility in turning your head (e.g., in your car). You will discover how improving your stability can paradoxically also help to increase your flexibility—and vice versa. We will explore how to create more “living space” for yourself inside your very own body. (Those who prefer not to participate in the movements are welcome to simply observe.) 

In addition, hands-on therapy will be demonstrated briefly with an audience member. If you have any questions about this event or the private sessions I will give at LifePath Retreats at Recreo 80 between September 28 and October 6, contact me at 044 (415) 114-3069 or richardadelman@gmail.com.

Did you say “Aging Reversal”?
By Craig Landry

Lecture
Aging Reversal
Wed, Oct 1, 3–5pm
Teatro Santa Ana
Biblioteca Pública
Insurgentes 25
Donation

There has been a recent explosion of research on aging and strategies for dealing with it. This presentation introduces the audience to the 10 major physiological aspects of aging and describes clinically proven approaches to reversing each, all in a manner easily understood by the layperson. Craig Landry is a clinical physiologist specializing in aging reversal. He attended medical school at Louisiana State University and Tulane, did brain research at Baylor College of Medicine and taught at the University Center for Pain Medicine in Houston. He has been in private practice for over 20 years. 
This lively and entertaining presentation may dramatically change your beliefs about aging. Those with questions can call “Doc” at 044 (415) 115-3699.

Promising a sultry October
By Lauren Lesko

Lecture
The Astrology Forum
Tue, Sep 30, 11am
Sala Quetzal
Biblioteca Pública
Insurgentes 25
Donation 50 pesos

Every civilization has shared a similar concept of the Great Round of Life reflecting the living sense of an eternal rhythm of growing, flowering and decaying. The zodiac in astrology was born of such a rhythm observed in the daily rising and setting of the sun, the monthly phasing of the moon and the seasonal changing of the year. The circular frame of the chart represents the constellations along the ecliptic and the months of the year order time and space in a cyclical continuum of movement.

In astrology the year begins on the vernal equinox, March 21, when the earth crosses the ecliptic at 00 Aries, heralding a day and night of equal proportion yet championing the strengthening of light over dark, day over night. In spring the air is ripe with possibility, a raw willfulness “to be” thrusting forward using more brawn than brain but building the stamina to persevere with each lengthened day.

Then, on the longest day of the year, the summer solstice, an exquisite vibrancy shines forth, the breath of summer electrified and pulsating with the fullness of life’s potential. The radiance of the sun’s rays burst forth effervescent fireworks, cascading crowns of light above our heads.

Summer’s spectacular spectacle of lights peaks, life’s vitality weakens and with daylight diminishing we on earth prepare for Persephone’s annual descent into Hades. On September 22, earth crosses the ecliptic at 00 Libra, the autumnal equinox, heralding a day and night of equal proportion, only this time championing the strengthening of night over day, darkness over light. We have reached the counterpoint of the cycle and the preceding six months spent celebrating the magnificence of individual expression demands dispersion and integration.

We have harvested the fruits of our labor and feasted upon life’s fertile bounty. In Libra, our individuality is offered in service or in sacrifice, the celebrating of two valued more than one. The autumnal equinox marks the dissolving of our separateness and the birthing of our awareness of our need to relate with another—not surprising that the goddess of love, Venus, rules Libra, setting the terms and conditions for a mutually fulfilling relationship. The sun in Libra, and Venus and Mars in Scorpio promise an October of sultry romancing between sheets of erotic prose and smoldering desires, comrades in arms with Mercury’s journey backwards in the sign of Venus’s rule.

On September 30, I will elaborate on the relevance of the autumnal equinox in our daily living as well as what we can expect from Mercury retrograde in Libra, Venus and Mars cozy in Scorpio and the general astrological hue of October.

Interested readers can visit www.LaurenLesko.com for additional commentary on the relevance of astrology in daily life.






.