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Lori maintains a private practice teaching people
Tantra for over ten years and has been leading workshops in Tantra
for fifteen years. She is also an anti-aging specialist. She has helped
many couples and individual women overcome a wide variety of difficulties
with their sexuality. She helps people expand their ability to
communicate with their partners, feel compassion and understanding
for each other, and experience profound levels of Tantric connection.
Private Practice
Announcement:
I am maintaining my private practice to work with a limited number
of couples and women using Tantra, communication work, hypnotherapy
and Sexual Energetics. I can be of particular assistance to couples
who wish to:
- Enhance their lovemaking with the use of
Tantra and Sexual Energetics
- Expand passion in their lovemaking using
Sexual Energetics
- Learn how to channel sexual energy and to
meditate with it, using Sexual Energetics
- Learn how to integrate Tantric ritual into
their lovemaking
- Greatly enhance their ability to communicate
with each other in both sexual and non sexual situations
- Bring more Spirit and Love into their lovemaking
and into their relationship in general
- If you and your partner are wishing to grow
in these particular ways, feel free to call me at
415-435-2583. We can then talk and design a short course together
to help you accomplish your goals.
And if you are a woman seeking to enhance
your experience of your own sexuality and your ability to communicate
with a partner about your sexual needs, feel free to call me as
well, and we'll talk about a program to help you expand in both
of these areas.
Listen to Lori's interview with COL teacher and internet radio host, Francesca Gentillé, at PersonalLifeMedia.com.
You can also hear Lori and Scott Catamas interviewed about Compassionate Communication at PersonalLifeMedia.com by internet radio host, Patti Taylor, PhD.
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Throughout the many years
of her practice she has observed that Tantra can produce the fuel
for healing relationships. You will enjoy being led to the most
ecstatic and fulfilling journey into your senses, into your heart,
and your spirit by tapping into your own innate ability to celebrate
your sexual vitality by surrendering fully to her wise and strong
guidance based on many years of experience as a psychotherapist,
sexual healer, yoga teacher and temple dancer. As one of the most
creative and experienced Tantrika she thrives in performing the
noble task of initiating and guiding men and women into their
most secret and deep places where body, mind and spirit connect
to give you the most complete experience of bliss. She sees clients
and presents workshops in New York, Boston, Chicago, Maui, San Francisco and Washington, DC. Carla is known for her spirituality,
integrity, vitality, friendliness, sense of humor and keen intuition.
Clients say she is a combination of laser-beam therapist and geisha.
Carla recently published her stunning book on rejuvenation through
Tantra, Lessons From A Tantric Tango Dancer. It explores the dance between consciousness and energy that inspires us to achieve our fullest potential. "There are many priestesses of love, but only one Carla. Her uniquely sensitive approach will guide you to the next level of intimacy as she reveals the good news about orgasm and the healing power of pleaure." — Betty Dodson, PhD, author of Sex for One and Orgasms for Two.
Listen to Carla's interview with COL teacher and internet radio host, Francesca Gentillé at PersonalLifeMedia.com.
Carla's web site is at www.1Tantra.com.
She can be e-mailed at Carla@TantraNewYork.com and phoned at 917-513-2500.
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 Don Strachan studied Watsu, Wassertanzen and Healing Dance
under their respective creators, Harold Dull, Claudia (Arjana)
Brunschwiler and Alexander Georgeakopoulis. He taught Watsu before
branching off to teach his own version, which he calls Wassage,
and founded the Wassage Institute. He has also created Water Tantra,
an erotic version of Wassage for couples, and co-led workshops
in Water Tantra in Hawaii and California. He resides at Harbin
Hot Springs, where he is an intern for HAI (the Human Awareness
Institute), producers of the "Love, Intimacy and Sexuality"
workshops.
Don is probably best known as the creator of
the popular massage tool called "Bongers." A former
journalist-editor (Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Free Press,
national magazines), he lists his favorite writing gigs as being
Press Secretary for Marty, the marijuana-munching mouse and co-editing
a little magazine called Light Times, "the black hole in
the Gutenberg galaxy." He was an environmental activist with
Zero Population Growth and Earth First!) and created two games, The 7 Famous Buddha Minds Dope Game and Save
the World, "the cooperative environmental board game."
He authored King of Diamonds, "a light-hearted fable about
sexual healing, baseball, frogs and biodiversity," set in
a parallel universe. His current top priority is importing kapomo,
a nutritionally complete food, from the Central American and Mexican
rainforest.
You can reach Don at bongerdon@earthlink.net.
He invites you to view all his web sites: bongers.biz,
wassage.org,
king-o-diamonds.com
and kapomo.com.
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Dear Ones,
A life is made of moments, of mistakes, of risks,
of opportunities taken and options passed by. I am in wonder how
the soul leads us into our learnings. Some of our learnings are
through sweetness, others through pain. In our journey as a Sacred
Loving couple we began in separate harmony, living oddly parallel
lives in two "W" states; Wisconsin & Washington.
Over 25 years ago, just after completing our BA’s at two
delicious Jesuit Universities (Gonzaga University - English/John,
Marquette University - Psychology/me), we experienced a deep longing
for the Sacred in a way that conventional religions just weren't
fulfilling. John became initiated as a Dzog Chen Tantric Tibetan
Buddhist. I became initiated as a first degree Wiccan Priestess
of Native European Shamanism.
We married and divorced twice. Had children.
We experimented with sex, conscious relationship designs, and
cheating. It wasn't enough. All the sex, love and addictions didn't
fill the pain. I explored the expressive arts of theatre, poetry,
dance and song. I had my own TV show, starred in plays, had my
own band and won poetry contests. Something was missing. John
was a financially successful stock broker and restaurateur. Something
was missing.
We entered into a journey of learning,
growing, healing and releasing old patterns. Out of a longing
to make a positive difference in the world, John entered the path
of the Martial Arts and over 15 years became a head instructor
and 4th degree Black Belt. I received my 2nd degree Initiation
as a Wiccan Priestess, and over 20 years garnered my initiation
as a Daughter of Yemaja, a High Priestess of Inanna/Ishtar and
a became a multi-cultural minister & Holistic Life Coach.
We both studied personal growth paths such
as Landmark Education. I attended the University of Creation Spirituality.
We both studied expanded pleasure techniques of the Kama Sutra
techniques, Neo-Tantra & Taoism. Some of my favorite Sacred
Sexuality teachers are right here at Celebrations of Love; Lori
Star, our revered Robert Frey, and Phil Willcher. Also, Body Electric
(Women’s Only Courses), True Fellows, and Deborah Anapol.
As we learned, we wove our own unique version of spiritual pathwork,
and courageous-compassionate heartwork. Each persons path is unique.
Yet we can be supported and nourished by others. When we discovered
the work of Nonviolent/Compassionate Communication 3 years ago,
we felt connected and supported in new ways. Our very favorite
NVC instructor is our own Martine Algiers.
Each of us is earthy, passionate, depthful,
dark, light, soulful, playful, compassionate, serious, courageous
and reverently irreverent. Through wounds of childhood, culture
and relationships, it is easy to create patterns that defeat intimacy.
Love takes great courage. Through the healing and learning we
have done, today we challenge one another to love more, be more,
feel more, reveal more and live more fully our soul's in the world.
We find love to be shattering, uplifting, surprising, healing
and transformative.
To us Life Is A Dance of energies, ideas, possibilities,
darkness and light. We dance while cleaning, shopping and making
love. We make love while dancing. We seek greater and greater
wholeness, holiness, harmony and integration in all our lives.
We call it Sacred Living. We practice the arts of gratitude and
appreciation.
We invite you to join us, explore with us,
create with us, learn, heal, inspire and transform with us. We
are all here on the path together. We are delighted to teach you,
learn with you and learn from you. "To the Buddha, each one
is a Buddha." "To the Goddess, all acts of Love and
Pleasure are Her rituals." Together we make our dreams come
true.
Together we are nationally recognized relationship
coaches and sacred dancers. Together,we have over 20 years in
dance/Theatre/Movement (ballroom, tap, jazz, modern, middle eastern,
Irish, Scottish, Flamenco, Bhangra, Continuum, Erotic Dance),
and an extensive background in psychology, spirituality, martial
arts, addiction recovery and sacred sexuality. We carry a deep
sensitivity and compassion for the journey of life toward wholeness.
We bring a ground of being founded in their own personal growth,
deepening sacred self-expression, loving joyous relationships
and commitment to family. LifeDance is a holistic philosophy of
being. We believe that the heart, body, mind and spirit are designed
to be in alignment. When we can unblock fears, negative messages,
traumas, and constrictive patterns we can open up to more joy,
better health, vitality, richer relationships and success. LifeDance
seminars, workshops and coaching provide intellectual, spiritual,
as well as somatic training and practice.
Presentations, Coaching & Workshops on:
- Conscious Flirting
- Romantic, Passionate and Sensual Living
- Empowered Aging for Women of All Ages
- Tantra: Extraordinary Loving for Everyday
People
- LifeLong Romance for Couples
- Revitalizing Harmony and Sensuality for Busy
Women
- Reclaiming the Goddesses of Love & the
Way of Beauty for Women
- Sacred Sensual Dance:The Art of Intimacy
for Women & Men.
To speak directly with Francesca Gentillé:
Phone: 510-759-3839.
E-mail address: info@LifeDanceCenter.com
Articles, E-group, and Testimonials. Calendar available at: www.LifeDanceCenter.com
Podcast/Internet Radio Show: http://personallifemedia.com/podcasts/225-sex-tantra-kama-sutra
To reach John Mariotti directly:
Phone: 775-338-2412
E-mail address: jmariotti@gbis.com
Web site: www.nvcama.org
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~ Certified WATSU Instructor
~ Certified Watsu and Massage Therapist
~ Certified WaterDance Practitioner
Gabriele Shuchi began studying Watsu and Massage
at Harbin Hot Springs in 1988 with Harold Dull the creator of
Watsu and returned in 1993 to continue her studies, adding different
modalities and styles of teachers at Harbin.
She is now a Watsu therapist and instructor,
as well as a WaterDance
practitioner.
Over the years she has been part of over 1500
hrs. of classes in Harbin
Hot Springs, both as a student and an assistant and has been the
staff
Aquatic Bodyworker during workshops in Harbin.
Her home is in Marin County, where she maintains
an Aquatic Bodytherapy practice.
Gabriele Shuchi's sessions are filled with with graceful movements
to
deeply nurture one's sense of completeness and harmony with existence.
She integrates stretching, Massage and Shiatsu, as well as poetic
movements and moments of flowing silence.
"Receiving a session you will feel deeply
relaxed, rejuvenated and
experience an increased awareness and flexibility in body, mind
and
soul."
"Gabriele is a superb artist, an inspired
Watsuer- no doubt."
Gabriele Shuchi has a rich background in various
therapies. Born in Germany she begun traveling in her teens and
explored the mysteries of India, where she exposed herself to
the Eastern and Western approach to Meditation and healing modalities.
In the last 20 years she has experienced the
works of:
| • Osho |
• Arjana Brunswiler |
| • Poonjaji |
• Alexander Georgeakopoulos |
| • Paul Lowe |
• Jahara |
| • Alan Cohen |
• Jahara |
| • Gabriele Roth |
• Minakshi |
| • Harold Dull |
|
and participated in:
| • Zen Meditation |
• Nonviolent Communication |
| • Mystic Rose |
• Awakening the Goddess |
| • Tantra |
• Reiki |
| • Primal Therapy |
• Massage |
| • Neo Reichian Breathwork |
• Watsu |
| • Tibetan Healing Intensive |
• Water Dance |
| • Miracle of Love Intensive |
|
Currently she combines her practice as a Aquatic & Massage
Therapist and her passion of guiding visitors through the natural wonders
and
cities of the Western USA.
She travels with and accompanies groups throughout
the year.
Her love for dancing, nurturing and love for
tender healing has brought
her to understand the healing powers of Aquatic Bodytherapy. Her
deeply
poetic soul finds itself expressed in the beauty of movement in
water,
in holding another human being to guide and allow a profound sense
of
peace and oneness with existence.
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author of the best selling book, "Don't
be Nice, Be Real - Balancing Passion for Self with Compassion
for Others, has been featured in Elle magazine, appeared
on many TV and radio shows, lived in an ashram many years, is
a humorist, singer, & licensed therapist in private practice.
He keynotes conventions (National Montessori), has been an authorized
trainer for the International Center for Nonviolent Communication
for 20 years, and has trained thousands in the U.S., Europe and
the Middle East. He trains, presents and consults with groups,
corporations (Tony Robbins, Paul Mitchell Salons), churches (all
flavors), schools, (U.Cal.L.B, Body/Mind College), clubs and all
organizations.
Kelly's web site: www.LanguageOfCompassion.com
Kelly's Phone: 831-462-EARS (3277)
Toll free # 1-877-NO-FEARS(663-3277) for info. or Phone Sessions.
(Most insurance accepted.)
To Reg. for any event or contact Kelly by email: kelly@LanguageofCompassion.com
To Purchase Kelly's book "Don't
be Nice, Be Real" or other
related CD's, audio tapes & books, or to read chapters from
his book, go to www.languageofcompassion.com/Publications.htm.
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Martine is a Certified Trainer for The Center for Nonviolent Communication, cnvc.org, and a founding member of the West Marin Community Mediation Board. She teaches and consults with families, business groups, schools and other organizations internationally. She is a grandmother, has taught in both public and private schools, continues to be delighted by working with parents and children and is passionate about community building and creating a Culture of Peace.
Since the mid 1960’s she has been an explorer and innovative educator in the human potential movement. Her background in includes training in Reichian and Gestalt therapies, Neurolinguistics, Bioenergetics, deep tissue bodywork. martial arts, contact dance and meditation.
Her devotion to conflict resolution education and mediation during the last 2 decades, stems from a deep conviction that these skills and the consciousness shift underlying them form an essential element in community building which is in turn, one of the most vital aspects of creating a healthy, sustainable Culture of Peace.
Education and parenting have been a central interest since the 60’s Her own children were born at home in 1967 and 1970 and she is now a grandmother. In the 70’s she created The Rainbow Preschool in her home in San Francisco and later facilitated art classes in her children’s public primary schools in San Francisco and Marin. She was a Teacher’s Assistant in the Bolinas alternative school, Pine Gulch and and taught at the BPUD pre school in Bolinas in the 80’s.
In 2007 she enjoyed working with Five Families Homeschool parents and children in Mill Valley, CA.
Working with groups whose focus is spiritual development and body/mind/ spirit integration is of special interest to her. As a Trainer for CNVC she has worked with Vipassana monastic communities in California and England and served on the trainer team for the NVC training with the Siddha Yoga Foundation. In 2005 she began working with the staff of Esalen Institute as a Visiting Teacher introducing NVC. She presented a five-day NVC Intensives at Esalen in 2005, '06 and 07 and will be offering another 5-day in May of ’08.
Martine is available for and individual, family or couples sessions in person at her offices in San Anselmo, San Francisco or by phone and for speaking engagements and trainings designed for special groups.
You can view her original portraits of Spirit Guides, other Interdimensional Beings and Visionary paintings at www.martinealgier.com. Soon to be added will be Giclee prints of the paintings (available to purchase) and SongPrayers written for Ceremonial occasions.
Martine may also be reached via 415-868-9036 or martinealgier@earthlink.net.
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Meganwind Eoyang is an
associate trainer at BayNVC. She graduated from the inaugural
BayNVC leadership program in 2002, and has since led teams of
training assistants in that program. She is a founding member
of the BayNVC Restorative Justice project through which she co-teaches
NVC to inmates in San Quentin prison and in the county jail in
Santa Rosa, and helped develop curricula to use with prisoners.
She teaches classes based on Marshall Rosenberg's Nonviolent Communication
(NVC) on both coasts, and relishes the aliveness found in working
with individuals, couples, and in mediations. She also leads practice
groups across 3 counties. She shares inspiration from many years'
study of and participation in cross-cultural and Native American
spirituality.
Meganwind originally approached NVC with
skepticism and doubts based on early inner-city street gang experiences.
Now she delights in sharing what has grown into a felt trust in
the promise and values of NVC, and the profound inner changes
that can bring personal peace and make world peace a real possibility.
Her fondest wish is to teach NVC to people who will go out and
spread NVC wherever it is needed in the world.
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has been working with Celebrations of Love for many years after having received
his Watsu training at Harbin Hot Springs in 1992. He trained in
sports massage at Heartwood Institute of Massage in Garberville, California in 1988. He currently uses both of these techniques in
his personal body work practice. He offers a Tantric style Watsu
that is somewhat sensual, especially for women, but not sexual. His style is simple yet effective
and has worked with both couples and singles. His intention is
to help his client's access a more sensual massage experience
and learn a few water technique they can then practice at home. He also is
a certified fitness trainer and is currently focused on building
up a clientele. In his own words: "I like to work with people
in an integrated, holistic way toward a goal of optimum health."
He lives in Corte Madera.
Home phone: 415-927-2121 and cell: 415-497-1499. Feel free to contact him if you have further
questions or to schedule an appointment.
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is a gifted, certified hypnotherapist, N.L.P. practitioner and life coach.
He is passionate about offering tools for self-empowerment so that people can learn to be more response-able; i.e., make better conscious choices to life situations, instead of being reactive to them, or feeling like a victim.
Phil was one of the first Sylva Mind Control Instructors in the Sixties. Over the past thirty-five years, he has been been involved in human growth potential, Yoga, Martial Arts, and studying and teaching Tantra, Meditation, NVC (aka Compassionate Communication), and other models of communication.
Phil has a private practice in Marin County and is available for groups, couples and singles. For an appointment with Phil call 415-203-8277.
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Ritch Davidson began
his study of Tantra with Celebrations of Love in 1986. He quickly
developed a strong connection with the teachings, the teachers
and the COL community and has been a regular participant and contributor
since that time. Since 2000, he has been Sunrise Center's Senior Junior Executive
Assistant in Charge of Something Sometimes Office Guy.
He absolutely relishes the daily opportunities to serve and to
be in connection with the larger COL community via his role there,
be it answering phones, sending e-mail announcements, graphic
designing flyers and newsletters, or creating pages and maintaining this Celebrations of Love website.
Ritch has been studying Nonviolent Communication
since 2002 and in 2005 completed the nine-day International
Intensive Training (IIT) led by NVC founder, Marshall M. Rosenberg,
PhD and other NVC certified trainers, including Robert Gonzales
(see his bio in this section). In 2007 he completed Robert Gonzales' week-long training on the Embodied Spirituality of NVC. Ritch has been
co-teaching Growing More Loving with Compassionate Communication
with Lori Grace Star, co-facilitating COL's Practice Groups and Conflict Improv evenings with Lori, Phil and Scott since 2005.
Ritch has been one of the Core Teaching Team
members at COL's residential weekend workshops, (Celebrating
Intimacy: Into the Heart of Love and Opening
to Love, for example) as well as various other classes and events, including our 2007 Sacred Puja Ritual for Friends and Lovers.
Additionally, Ritch Davidson is the Senior Vice
Emperor of Playfair, Inc., an international consulting company
that offers keynote presentations, management seminars and playfulness
trainings to over 100,000 people every year. He is an innovator
in the design and presentation of programs that focus on the value
and impact of humor in team building, stress management, and living
a healthier worklife. Additionally, he helped conduct research for Playfair Emperor, Matt Weinstein's, best selling
business book, Managing to Have Fun (Simon & Schuster,
1997).
Born and raised in Buffalo, NY, Ritch graduated
from Kiddie Haven Nursery School in 1955. He has a B.A. in Psychology
and an M.A. in Humanities and completed a four-year training program
in organizational development consulting. Ritch is a published
photographer and, each summer since 1979 he travels to Oregon for a five-day
river rafting trip to which he has pledged to continue every year
for the rest of his life.
Ritch can be reached
personally at: RitchDvdsn@aol.com
or through Celebrations of Love at 415-924-5483 and info@celebrationsoflove.com.
Please also visit him on Playfair's website: www.Playfair.com
where you can send a friend a Standing Ovation!
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Instructor Robert Alexander has been an exercise
aficionado since he was twelve. At fifteen he performed 1,300 situps to
win a $25 Savings Bond at the Texas State Fair. In 1990, he won
a World Martial Arts Championship and, in 2001, he competed in a bodybuilding tournament.
Robert maintains a body fat percentage in the single
digits. He can do more pushups with one arm than you can with two. He considers
93-year-old Jack LaLanne one of his role models.
Robert Alexander
Expert Therapeutic Massage
Medical Chi Gung(Energy Work)
Yang and Wu T'ai Chi
Push Hands Instruction--World Champion
Certified Personal Fitness Trainer
Nutritional Consultations
Wellness Lectures and Seminars
Proofreading
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Robert Gonzales received a Ph.D. in Clinical
Psychology in 1989. He met Marshall Rosenberg and Nonviolent Communication
in 1985, and has been offering Nonviolent Communication training
in some form since 1986. His original training is as a licensed
psychotherapist. He has offered Nonviolent Communication training
for community colleges, high schools, churches, social workers,
pychologists, mediators, teenagers, and public groups. He has
taught psychology, counseling and communication at Prescott College,
a local liberal arts college. Robert opened the Prescott Center
for Nonviolent Communication in Prescott, Arizona in June, 2000.
The Center is a non-profit educational organization that offers
training, practice groups, private consultations and coaching
in NVC. He has been a trainer at NVC Intensive International Training's
and is currently one of three assessors in North America for certifying
trainers for the Center for Nonviolent Communication. He is also
one of a team of four NVC trainers, the NVC Training Institute,
offering in depth and continuing training in the United States
and Europe.
NVC as a Spiritual Practice Click Here
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Scott Catamas has devoted his adult life
to consciousness, communication and education. For fifteen years, he
was the founder and president of a successful multi-media company
that reached millions of children & teenagers with socially
responsible messages. During this time, he wrote and/or produced
over 100 original stage & television shows on a wide variety
of subjects. Scott won multiple EMMY awards for his PBS television
shows, and also produced informational/educational programming
for HBO, Showtime, NBC, FOX, and other national outlets. Scott
co-founded an Exploration Arts Camp at Jane Fonda's ranch in Santa
Barbara, that successfully transformed the lives of thousands
of young people.
In the year 2000, Scott was introduced to NVC
by Lori Grace. He has embraced NVC as a lifelong practice, and
has been actively studying and facilitating NVC. Scott has produced
video and DVD projects for Dr. Marshall Rosenberg (the founder
of NVC), and most recently with Robert Gonzales (a popular NVC
teacher). Scott also facilitates classes, workshops and practice
groups in the area of COMPASSIONATE COMMUNICATION, which includes
his understanding of NVC. His workshops have been well attended
throughout the Hawaiian Islands, Southern and Northern California,
and several other states.
In 2005, Scott was invited as a guest to the
UNIVERSITY OF ONENESS in India, where he was trained in the art
of giving "DEEKSHA". This energy transmission helps
people to relax their mind, open their heart and move into higher
states of consciousness. Scott appreciates the non-denominational
nature of both NVC & DEEKSHA, while recognizing both as profound
& practical paths to spiritual awakening.
In January of 2007, Scott and Lori Grace were invited to become part of Al Gore's CLIMATE PROJECT PRESENTER's team. They attended a private training in Nashville with Mr. Gore and several leading scientists and researchers, and 200 other Environmental activists and leaders. During this time, they learned all about the dramatic effects of climate change. Since becoming an official "Climate Project Presenter", Scott has given presentations at conferences, conventions, fairs, high schools and colleges. He was the Keynote Speaker at the L.A. Conscious Living Expo, and has also co-moderated several panels on Global Warming with Lori.
You can also hear Scott and Lori Grace interviewed about Compassionate Communication at PersonalLifeMedia.com by internet radio host, Patti Taylor, PhD.
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Since 1978, Sophia has produced ten luscious,
inspiring recordings for healing, meditation, massage, love/tantric
ecstasy, life transitions and rituals. Her latest, Chakra Healing
Chants, invokes the Goddess in her many glorious forms.
This powerful and hauntingly beautiful extended
musical journey features exquisite arrangements virtuoso accompanists
and guest soloists. Creating a deep and sacred tapestry of sound
on which Sophia's golden voice soars and seduces. You can learn
more and hear music samples at www.songhealer.com.
Testimonial
"Sophia continues to bring
a magic to the world of music, sense and soul. She wraps us in
a refined mystery of beauty. No matter your musical tastes, this
is a splendid journey through East and West, voice and heart."
—Don Campbell, Author of The
Mozart Effect and The
Roar of Silence.
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 When Sundra and I (Lee) met in the
summer of 1989, Sundra was quite experienced in dance: ballet
classes starting at age thirteen, which she pursued into her 30's until
a major knee injury; tap, Charleston, jazz, modern, Samba, and
belly dance were all in her repertoire. One significant omission
was partner dancing.
My dance experience was more limited:
some classes at the 1981 summer school of the Naropa Institute
in Boulder, otherwise just an inclination to dance around wildly.
Sundra and I started taking dance classes
together, ballroom, swing ... but we both struggled with feeling
restricted and oppressed by rules. We just wanted to fly! An opportunity
arose after we hung a string hammock from the rafters of our huge
bedroom. Sundra started dancing with the hammock and in it, doing
wonderful, angelic spirit dances. Hammock dancing was born! It
was a marvel to do yoga dances together in and around the hammock.
We lost the use of that space, but were
able to resume something like hammock dancing with the low-flying
trapezes in Terry Sendgraf's classes. Round about this time I
fortuitously recorded a TV show of a dance cabaret competition:
couples were doing amazing lifts and we wanted to do that too!
By playing the tape in slow motion over and over, we were able
to extract the mechanics of some of their moves. Now all Sundra
wanted to do was to be able to climb on me!
We discovered NCDC with Barefoot
Boogie in SF and Dance
Jam in Berkeley. We were amazed:
so this was where the aerial dancers danced! We took some Contact
Improv classes and then some aerial classes from Ken Martini to
learn the fundamentals of lifts. Acrobatic classes with Gitta
Sivander taught us some cool and not-too-hard acrobatic skills.
Our explorations even took us into the dark underworld of San
Francisco's lap dancing clubs to learn erotic "snake dancing"
skills.
We decided that what we were doing was cool enough (or was it
"hot?") to share, so we started putting together choreographed
performance pieces. We started off at Francesca Gentille's performance
parties and then at other parties. The response was very encouraging.
About 2006 we started tap lessons;
our teacher loved our partnership and asked us to perform as a
couple at her company performances. At her instigation we put
together a piece based on Fred Astaire and Ginger Roger's famous
"Cheek to Cheek" routine and performed that. Recently,
our tap teacher pushed us into entering a ballroom dance contest
- we were reluctant, not really knowing ballroom, but we won!
We felt that it was the creative flow that we have learned in
all the different arenas that did it for us. It feels like new
horizons of dance are opening up for us, a very exciting process.
The class we have put together for Celebrations of Love represents
a quest for the essence of our dance journey. It is a profound
and wonderful experience, one that we love to share!
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March 2, 1946 - June 15, 2004
Robert Frey, MA, was an exceptional group
leader, therapist, psychic and author with twenty-five years of extensive
background in Tantra, holistic health, hypnosis, counseling, relationship
work, rebirthing, bodywork, psychic healing, Tai Chi, vision quest
and shamanism.
Robert created many inspirational songs and
Sufi circle dances and produced five albums, including the CD
"Opening to Love". He is the on-camera host on the best-selling
video "Ancient Secrets of Sexual Ecstasy". He drew
from Hindu, Tibetan, Kriya, Taoist Chinese, Sufi, Western Psychology,
and Breathwork. He led hundreds of events, seminars, and retreats
and presented at conferences.
Robert was a naturally gifted healer, counselor,
and coach facilitating powerful healing sessions for individuals
and couples in person and via phone sessions. He was known for
his special ability to create safety and a loving, spiritual atmosphere
for clients and students while inviting and guiding them through
limiting blind spots into clarity, self-esteem, relationship harmony,
and personal power. His sessions and classes have permanently
enhanced thousands of lives.
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Meganwind
Eoyang, certified NVC Trainer
Ritch
Davidson 
Sophia