SELF EMPOWERMENT/SELF RELIANCE

Spring is right around the corner! With the transition from winter, our bodies will be making the seasonal transition from coldness to warmth as well. The body’s nutritional requirements will change too. We can get ready to put away the crock pot and move towards seasonal fruits and vegetables, soon. We can take our bodies out for walks in the warm sun. We can also take this opportunity to transition ourselves mentally and emotionally.

Our body gives us more obvious queues when it needs attention: pain, fatigue, an illness. You know when you’ve been injured or are physically sick. You can take it to the doctor or your acupuncturist (of course), or tend to mending it yourself.

But how do you know when you have an attitude or habit that makes you unhealthy? How do you know when your spirit is being neglected? We are not just cells and tissue and hormones. We have attitudes, habits, fears and tendencies that can either facilitate good mental and physical health or contribute to poor mental and physical health.

Consider this: your diet, sleep habits, exercise or lack of physical activities, how you communicate with those you love or with whom you work, how you deal with difficult situations or a crisis – these are your daily “supplements” that nourish, or the “toxins” that keep you anxious, depressed, tired and frustrated. Where do you go for that diagnosis?

You go inside. You tap into your own inner resources. You face yourself with the compassion and understanding that you deserve. The same as you would if your body was injured or not well. You start to identify your daily toxins in order to eliminate them. You build upon your strengths. You make conscious choices about your life.

It is your spirit and mind that create the stage in which your physical body responds. Too frequently we rely on others to make us better: our spouse, our friends, our work, our doctors. But no one is as powerful or has the resources for healing our lives, as we do. It’s important to become aware of the symptoms that signal a decline in your mental or spiritual well being. That is why we have Mind/Body workshops!

MIND/BODY FERTILITY WORKSHOPS

Tuesdays in Northern Virginia starting March 20, 2007
Wednesdays in DC starting March 21, 2007

That is why I love to teach the Mind/Body workshops. I get to help show you how powerful you are. The well-known description of this workshop is: stress-reduction. The link of stress to difficult conception is not that stress causes difficult conception, but that difficult conception causes extraordinary stress, on top of our already stressful lives. And stress is not just an intangible concept that causes mental anguish: anxiety, irritability, loneliness, anger, lack of focus. Stress is harbored in our body: tense neck and shoulders, low back pain, headaches, poor digestion, insomnia, fatigue, PMS. It exacerbates existing conditions and creates other unhealthy conditions.

In this workshop, you learn the physical and mental consequences of stress, how to bring the symptoms into greater awareness and how to reduce or even eliminate the impact it has on your body and mind. Reducing stress increases your chance of conception.

But this workshop is so much more than “stress-reduction”. You get to learn about your own healing power, that you have choices in your life. You connect with yourself and others at a deep level. We cover strategies that help you through the challenges of difficult conception. We cover topics on nutrition, exercise, yoga. You learn and practice, every day, methods that reduce the impact of stress on your mind and your body. You learn self-empowerment.

I hope you’ll join me and other courageous women who are choosing to live a more conscious and healthy life!

Click here to download the registration form. (doc)

Fertile Ground Inspiration - Spring Equinox Celebration

One night workshop - Friday March 23, 2007 6:30 – 9:00 PM

Don’t miss our Spring Equinox celebration! This one-night workshop is only held four (4) times year.

The evening’s activities will help you to recognize that where you are now, is the best place to tap into and to cultivate your inner resources. We practice greater consciousness in breathing, posture and movement. We have small group discussions. We play and do "rituals" that help us to define our "intention" for the upcoming season, to be better, make improvements in our lives, to do the things that bring us joy. It’s also an opportunity to network with others who are also on this difficult journey.

Your $10 contribution will be donated to Resolve for their excellent work in providing information, education, conferences, support groups and the networking of courageous women and couples seeking help in this most challenging of life circumstances.

If you are currently pregnant, we respectfully ask that you not attend this event. We wish you a healthy and peaceful pregnancy, a smooth, fast delivery, and a happy, healthy, tiny new person who will be the light of your life!

This is a special community of women and an auspicious gathering! Call to let us know that you’re coming: 202-244-2289. We look forward to celebrating with you!

RESOLVE

Upcoming Events - for details, go to: www.resolve.midatlantic.com

March 2007 – On Line Chats:

March 14th - Male Factor Infertility Diagnosis and Treatment
Dr. Molina Dayal, George Washington University Fertility and IVF Center

March 28th - Understanding Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
Dr. Nancy Durso, Metro Fertility Care

Adoption

If you are considering adoption as a family building option, you should not miss this special two-part program focused on all aspects of the adoption process.  This seminar is specifically designed for people beginning to consider adoption or just starting to gather information.  This popular soup-to-nuts, no pressure program gives a very honest portrayal of adoption and a broad overall picture of adoption not found in other seminars.   Presenters include adoption professionals, counselors, and adoptive parents.  The session topics will include:
 
Part One March 24, 2007:

Are you ready to adopt?
Legal issues and adoption overview
Domestic Agency adoption
Domestic Private adoption

Part Two March 31, 2007

International Adoption
Foster Care Adoption
Home study
Parent Panel (three types of adoption represented)