South Coast Botanical Gardens - Blooms Everywhere -
Go take a stroll amongst the flowers- that’s how I enjoyed my 45th yesterday!

Image Courtesy of the Gallery

For an immediate vibrational shift, just step through the threshold of this spiritual sanctuary and be lovingly embraced by the strong yet gentle power of the crystals and gemstones within. Not to mention the very welcoming personal attention provided by the lovely owners of this establishment. My sons and I were greeted warmly and felt free to explore as long as we wished. We feasted on a myriad of colors and textures, thoroughly delighted and inspired. They provide a very informative card to go along with each of the stones they display, so you can better understand the individual properties of each, greatly assisting you in making your selections. An impressive gathering of exquisitely sculpted statues seem to guide you along your journey, and give you a sense of inner calm and balance. A variety of spiritual artwork graces the walls and contributes to the feeling of reverence that can’t help but move through you. We were even invited to enjoy a brief retreat in the beautiful meditation garden that they have created in the back of the store.

Our purpose for this particular visit was to find crystals that spoke to our soul, as Silvia was going to be leading us in some wire wrapping techniques that afternoon. We needed to find several stones each to play with and craft into jewelry to wear or adornments for our environment. There was so much to choose from and they all were so gorgeous, it was difficult to limit ourselves to just a few pieces each, but we made our choices, and we also made the decision that this was some place we really should visit on a regular basis. Quite a wonderous and transformative place indeed!

Sacred Stone Gallery
1832 South Elena Avenue
Redondo Beach, CA 90277

(310) 378-8866

sacredstonegallery.com

Weeds are overgrown - time to dig in the dirt again. Living in my head now for awhile, it’s time to reconnect with nature and get a bit more grounded, so the timing is right. Weeding is like doing dishes - very mundane, but also very therapeutic on several levels - wonderful moving meditation. There is something very comforting about doing rote activities for short spurts of time. Cleaning up in any regard helps you to also clean up your mind and spirit, not to mention the physical movement you receive - leaving you de-cluttered and in more suitable shape to engage in creative and fun adventures, besides just being more clear in your everyday life. So today, I will start with the garden. Not a large garden, but it will take a bit of time. Even bought some herb seeds to be contained in some old planters I found that had been forgotten for years. Nothing like fresh herbs to cook with, and you don’t even need a yard for that. Just get started. We can all reconnect with the earth even when we don’t seem to have a lot of earth around us. It just tends to give your spirit a broader expanse when you start digging.

» Photo courtesy of Deb Reynolds

A message from Claudia…

Hey Great Ones,

Summer is here and we want to be outdoors and enjoying the beautiful beach and weather.
A couple of weeks ago I went to Germany and Spain (Ibiza) on an amazing Yoga retreat in the mountains which gave me more inspiration to share the bliss of happiness with you.

Come join us doing yoga on the beach with the sounds of the waves and spectacular view of the ocean. Sometimes the dolphins are joining us. What a blessing to see them once in a while. We can greet the dolphins with our Dolphin pose!!! Yes, there is one!!! Smile!!!

Where: Torrance Beach at the end of the bike path (at the end of parking lot at Miramar Park in the City of Torrance), corner of Playa De La Paseo and Via Riviera (Esplanade Avenue turns into Playa De La Paseo), at the 3rd and last life guard tower (Sign TORR) near the ocean across from the main lifeguard tower/restroom.

When: Every Wednesday evening Sunset Yoga form 6:00 to 7:15 p.m. (ish),
and every Friday morning from 9:00 to 10:15 a.m. (ish) (except if raining)

Class Fees: Suggested Donation of $10.00 or more is gratefully appreciated.

• Bring a big blanket or sheet for the sand
• Water and sunscreen
• Dress comfortably (maybe a light sweatshirt if cold)
• Arrive 10 minutes early before class

Maybe we have some tea or coffee afterwards - your choice!

Namaste,

Claudia

For more information, call Claudia at (310) 370-3278, or (310) 698-9658 (cell)
Email: bliss-yoga@hotmail.com

Ten Things I Brought Back With Me From Paris

1. The reminder to keep connections to those you hold dear in your heart no matter how far or close they live.
2. Explore the world around you. Get to know what and who is in your own backyard.
3. Pay attention to your surroundings. Deeply experience things both beautiful and ordinary, hear glorious sounds, and participate in creative adventures daily.
4. Select small tastes are much more satisfying than opulent overindulgences.
5. Walking 2 to 5 miles daily makes you feel great, helps the environment and can most definitely even be done in LA.
6. It should never be considered a waste of time to sit under the trees and do nothing.
7. When you show politeness, respectfulness and appreciation, you find that a good share of people are more than willing to assist you when you are in need.
8. A rekindled desire to be able to converse in multiple languages.
9. The knowledge that the foundation for most things worth eating is Butter, Sugar and Eggs
10. The realization that the world would be a much happier place if more people walked around with long, thin sticks of bread under their arm.

Photograph Courtesy of Arlene Yakush

Take a journey…

Enjoy Silvia’s work up close and personal at the
Redondo Beach Art Group’s:

“Impressions of the Marsh”
Ongoing through Saturday, May 17, 2008 with
Artist’s Reception May 10, 2008 from 2:00pm to 4:00pm

(That’s this weekend!)

Go enjoy some time with nature and art - a combination that is sure to refresh and inspire at:

Madrona Marsh Preserve and Nature Center
3201 Plaza del Amo
Torrance, CA 90503
www.friendsofmadronamarsh.com

For information on future events of the Redondo Beach Art Group
check out their website at: www.redondobeachartgroup.org

and of course, to view more of Silvia’s amazing paintings and jewelry click here!

New necklaces just added - remember it’s
Mother’s Day this weekend!

Seeking respite from the pre-summer heat (around 97 degrees F) yesterday, we met with friends and traveled south to San Pedro to hang out on the lawn that surrounds the Korean Bell of Friendship. Sitting high on the hills and overlooking the broad expanse of the Pacific, we couldn’t have picked a better spot to receive some much needed mid-afternoon ocean breeze. Amidst the beautiful gardens that seemed to be filled with ladybugs, there were many kite flyers with their colorful dragons and fierce looking bugs. We even got to enjoy some music and view a wedding that was taking place right next to the bell. Sitting in the grass, watching the kids wrestle, having a nice conversation with my friend was a perfect completion to a wonderful but hot afternoon.

This elaborately embellished and massive bell and the gorgeous pagoda-like pavillion that houses it, was donated to the people of Los Angeles in 1976 from the people of the Republic of Korea to honor veterans of the Korean War, to commemorate the U.S. bicentennial, and as a memorial of lasting Friendship between our two countries. There are many things to be found in the detailed relief work at the base of the bell, and all the ornate structuring and painting work that went into this is just stunning as you can see by the picture above.

It is a very peaceful place to retreat to for a picnic, to visit with loved ones, or to just lay back on the grass and relax in the sun.

The Korean Bell of Friendship is located in Angels Gate Park (review on that to be coming soon) at:

Gaffey and 37th Street
San Pedro, CA 90731

Visit the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce for more information:

www.sanpedrochamber.com/champint/korenbel.htm

A message from Claudia:

A Path for Peace Labyrinth Walk
Saturday, April 19, 2008
A community Arts Event

Please join us at this community gathering to build peace and walk our sand labyrinth on the beach. We believe that together, we can heal all levels of our lives - from the personal to the global. And so we invite everyone, to join this meditation and celebration.

Learn about and walk a large heart-shaped mound labyrinth that has been designed for this event by
Labyrinth Designer/Artist Annemarie Rawlinson.

Enjoy the wonderful meditation of a guided walk by the ocean.

For more information contact Annemarie at (310) 832-9767

Hear about the campaign for a U.S. Department of Peace. Special guests will share their commitment to this wonderful idea. For more information on this visit www.ThePeaceAlliance.org

Saturday, April 19, 2008

1:00pm Welcome Ceremony

1:00pm - 3:00pm Labyrinth Walk and Peace Celebration

3:15pm Children’s Labyrinth Walk

Everyone is welcome!

The Event will be held on the beach just north of the Hermosa Beach Pier.

For more information, plese visit http://apathforpeace.blogspot.com

Volunteers Are Needed!

I am happy to volunteer at this event to guide the people through their Labyrinth Walk.

Claudia

Feel The Bliss Yoga

bliss-yoga@hotmail.com

(310) 370-3278

Not too long ago my good friend Sara took me and our 4 kids to
El Dorado Nature Center, located just off of the 405 in the fine city of Long Beach.

It was a gorgeous day during the week, it wasn’t too crowded and we enjoyed a fabulous, couple hours hike through the woods - stopping occasionally for lizard, animal, bird and insect sightings (we saw Blue Heron flying over one of the lakes, an owl high up in the trees, lots of turtles and ducks and the prettiest, most sparkly, jade colored beetles imaginable), vistas of the lake, and unusual and not so unusual plant life. I remember it smelling so good out there, and even though you could hear the freeway, it seemed to melt away with every step you took on the trail, until you were in this glorious place completely surrounded by nature. Not something I take the time to do every day, but I am going to try and make a new habit of that. There is nothing like a good hike to change your outlook on things. Even if you are in a great place in your life, I believe it’s always a good thing to get close to nature on a regular basis to maintain balance between all of the many facets of our lives.

The Nature Center gives you the whole package. You can pick from either a one or two mile dirt trail or a 1/4 mile paved path. There is a museum and visitor center, with some interesting dioramas and interactive exhibits, and of course they have a nice little gift shop that the kids will like. There is a broad expanse of land just beyond the parking lot, outside of the trail area where you can picnic at tables, throw a ball around and find some beautiful trees for shade. They offer many volunteer programs, community classes for kids and adults alike and special events, such as their upcoming Evening Campfire on April 18, or Earth Day Celebrations on Saturday, April 19, and Sunday, April 20.

You can find more information on their website at www.longbeach.gov/naturecenter

7550 East Spring Street
Long Beach, CA 90815
(562) 570-1745

Make sure you check their hours online before you make the trip.
They are closed on Mondays.