I will be attending an event this Friday evening (tonight!) called Radiance 2012. I am looking forward to meeting other local women, enjoying time together and sharing the grant project (subliminal message: everyone can and should dance more often!) and feeling energized from this community event. If you’d like to learn more and join us, check it out on facebook or contact Jody Hagedorn.

Another brief bit about tapas to send you into a focused weekend:

TAPAS

The conscious effort to achieve ultimate union with the Divine and to burn up all desires which stand in the way of this goal. A worthy aim makes a life illuminated, pure, and divine. Without such an aim, action and prayer have no value. Life without tapas is like a heart without love.

BKS Iyengar

Namaste,

Cheri

As is your desire so is your intention. As is your intention so is your will. As is your will so is your deed. As is your deed so is your destiny.

As we set intentions, and cultivate them into our thoughts and beliefs, they will drive our daily decisions. Our actions, when matched clearly to our sankalpa are extremely powerful. Believe in yourself. Live intentionally and soak up every drop of happiness and health that is rightfully yours.

Read more: http://blog.beliefnet.com/intentchopra/2009/05/the-law-of-attraction-and-sank.html#ixzz1kObJBv2V

Be well,

Cheri

If you’re interested in a snowshoe outing, please COMMENT here – and we will find a date in February or March to make it happen.

You also see an unlikely word above. Donuts. About three times a year, I get this weird curiosity again about these little baked treats. I do have more of a sweet tooth than a salty habit, but these donuts (especially the ones from Gordy’s where they are bigger than my face!) are a bit too much. I buy one, I eat it and enjoy it. Then when I am finished I am convinced once again that I’d probably be content to never eat one again. The point of this all is not to bring shock and awe into your perception of who is this personal trainer of yours. Rather, to illustrate that we all make choices. I am a good person regardless of what I chose to eat yesterday. I am a healthy person who makes my fitness a priority. I made a choice. By removing the “good and bad” of it, we can objectively see what brings us true happiness and health. And for me, it certainly doesn’t come in the shape of a donut. Yet allowing myself these annual oddities makes me remember my commitments, reset my tastebuds (or maybe my memory or image of what  my tastebuds want, as I am glad that a few bites will do with something like a donut), and be able to relate to all of you. What I am asking for from each of you is not perfection. I am asking for more mindful choices each day, more awareness of how your choices effect you, and thus an effortlessly growing commitment to the choices that make your energy, your health, your mind vibrantly, brilliantly well.

Temptation is all around us, but really – honestly – what do you crave? The immediate taste of something that we often hear is forbidden? Or the lasting freedom of making clear, committed choices and living well? The feeling of supreme health each day?

My sankalpa (intention) for this year is CONSISTENCY and DISCIPLINED PROGRESS. I have a daily practice, I love being active, and I usually stick to the same types of foods and meals that I cook for myself. Yet, I know more is possible. I know that through disciplined, progressive attention to my practice I will see a natural unfolding into new levels of understanding and ability in my body, and balance in my life. This comes alongside the Yoga principle of Tapas. Tapas, according to the Yoga Sutras states:

“As intense discipline burns up impurities, the body and its senses become supremely refined.”

Cheers to you and your own sankalpas – many of you have written these on the Goal Scroll – and we will continue to refine your efforts, your practices, your commitments.

Have a beautifully mindful day.

Cheri

Take a moment as you begin to read this blog and get present with me. Find your sitting bones and allow yourself to find easy, upright posture. Observe your inhale as it fills you and supports the curves of your spine, and linger with your exhalation. Ready? Continue…

This recipe is one of many glorious eats we experienced at the potluck/full moon hike at Karen’s. This one comes to us from Mary H. If you attended that event and still want to share your recipes, send them over in an email! Enjoy!

Sweet Rice Curry 

3 tblsp oil

2 tsp curry powder

2 tsp cumin

1-2 bay leaves

1/2 to 1 tsp red pepper flake

1 small onion, minced

3-4 cloves of garlic, minced

1 1/2 cups rice – see note below

1/2 tsp each sea salt and black pepper

3 cups boiling water

3/4 cup nuts (she used pistachios!)

3/4 cup dried fruit (cranberries, cherries, raisins, etc)

Heat oil in large saucepan, and add the next 6 ingredients. Stir often until the onion is starting to become clear and softer. Mix in the rice, hot water, salt and black pepper. Bring to a boil then reduce heat and simmer covered for 45 minutes.

Remove pan from heat and let it sit, covered, for another 15 minutes. Remove bayleaves. Stir in nuts and dried fruit as you wish. Note: Mary uses a mix of wild and brown rice stirred together.

Good eats for a healthy body! Thanks Mary!

Live well,

Cheri

for musicians, choreographers, movement educators

Our Mission

to provide education, allowing our audience direct experience of dance as an art form

to show collaborative, contemporary dance work in nontraditional settings

The Details – Please read and continue with application with these requests in mind.

Event Date: Saturday, June 9. Approximate start time 10am, end time dusk.
Inclement Weather Date: Sunday, June 10. Earlier start/end times with a more condensed format for the day. Outdoor rehearsals will take place in late April and May 2012 on site. Rehearsal and event schedule TBD with artists involved. Location: Phoenix park, downtown Eau Claire

We will have audience members strolling through the park with our partner event, Open Air Festival of the Arts, so be prepared for interactions and potential distractions…this is our audience. Sound equipment and technical aspects are somewhat limited due to the outdoor environment. We do have a power source at the park in one or more areas. For sound and technical questions, please clearly list your needs in your application.

Musicians be aware of technical requests above. We are seeking musicians who want to collaborate with choreographers and dancers. If you are interested only in playing an existing set for the festival, please contact Jason Anhorn, Open Air Festival of the Arts through facebook or email jasonanhorn@gmail.com

Choreographers be aware our dance surfaces include rock, dirt, grass lawn, or brick paved terrace and labyrinth spaces. We may give preference to people with experience in site-specific/outdoor dance and musicians willing to go unplugged and help facilitate the audience’s experience with our performances. We prefer original work set for our event, but do not intend to exclude existing works. Please consider these details in your proposal.

Applicant Name ________________________________________
Email _____________________ Phone ____________________

Professional website or work samples online, if available _______________

Have you been involved with Open Air Festival of the Arts in the past? Yes / No

Do you plan to volunteer? Yes / No

List requested artist fees if you cannot volunteer. $_______
Define your role for involvement with movement arts day.
___ Guest choreographer – include name of group, years experience, title of work, cast size. Describe compositional themes/images you’re using for inspiration as well as any special needs in 100 words.
___ Movement educator – list your movement workshop title with a 75 word description below
___ Independent musician – voice and/or instrumental, please list all proficiencies and describe style
___ Music group/band – genre, original compositions and live improvisation only please, no covers. All musicians please state whether you have experience working with dancers.

Contact person: Movement Arts Day Director, Cheri Dostal

Cell: 715.864.7000 Email: cheri@livewellevolve.com

Mail: 412 ½ Water Street Eau Claire WI 54703 – Send mail attention Movement Arts Day/Cheri Dostal.

Applications due to Director (email preferred) no later than noon on Sunday, January 29.

Applications received after deadline may or may not receive consideration depending on the quality and type of proposal. Notification sent to accepted applicants via email within 10 days from deadline. Work samples will not be returned. Our event is supported by a grant through Visit Eau Claire.

Movement Arts Day, June 9 2012

Our Mission

to provide education, allowing our audience direct experience of dance as an art form

to show collaborative, contemporary dance work in nontraditional settings

The Event Details – Please read and audition if you can accommodate these requests. Please ask questions.

Event Date: Saturday, June 9. Approximate start time 10am, end time dusk.
Inclement Weather Date: Sunday, June 10. Earlier start/end times with a more condensed format for the day.
Preliminary rehearsals will take place at the studio space in Eau Claire, through February, March and April either once or twice per week, weeks may vary. Schedule TBD with dancers selected, and may include weekends. Rehearsals will not occur on Mondays; we will not rehearse between the hours of 10:30pm and 9am.

Final Outdoor rehearsals will take place in late April and May 2012 on site. Rehearsal and event schedule TBD with artists involved. Event Location: Phoenix park, downtown Eau Claire

We are seeking dancers with and without formal training. Our mission is to provide audience members an active role in supporting and viewing contemporary dance performance and experiencing movement education. Dancers from these auditions will be cast in a minimum of two performance numbers (opening number involving the entire cast to begin our event, and at least one other original work with the possibility for more as audition warrants and schedule allows). Choreographer/Director Cheri Dostal will both host the audition and be setting new work with these performers.

Performers may or may not be paid depending on revenue from our event. Please plan to volunteer.

Dancers should wear layers, with their base layer allowing clear view of the body (fitted top or leotard, tights, yoga leggings, etc). Please have long hair tied back and remove most jewelry.

Dancers may begin their own warm up if they wish. The first portion of the audition will be a warm-up/class format. Then you will learn some simple combinations to perform in groups, and we may explore some contact improvisation and partnering as time allows. You do not need experience with dance or these particular skills, just an adventurous, willing spirit and a good attitude.

Primary audition

open to all

Saturday, January 28 at noon

Second Audition

Sunday, January 29 at 2pm

(those attending Saturday should plan to come today also, and any dancers who can’t attend Saturday)

Auditions Location: The Yoga Center of Eau Claire, 412 ½ Water Street Eau Claire WI

For details, contact Movement Arts Day Director, Cheri Dostal at 715.864.7000 or cheri@livewellevolve.com. Movement Arts Day is supported by a grant through Visit Eau Claire.

• 2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 2 Tbsp red wine vinegar (I only have red wine – it worked)
• 2 Tbsp tomato juice (didn’t have)
• 3 C Broccoli Florets
• 1 – 15oz can white beans (drain and rinse)
• 1 C grape tomatoes, halved
• 1/4 C fresh basil, chopped (wasn’t fresh)

1. Mix olive oil, vinegar & tomato juice; set aside.
2. Steam broccoli 2-3 min, until fork tender
3. In serving b owl, combine broccoli, beans, tomatoes, & basil with oil mixture
4. Add salt & pepper to taste.

Serving = 1 Cup

60 Calories

3.6g protein

3g fat

10.8g carb

3.6g fiber

114mg sodium

Enjoy! ~Paula

Serve: 4-6

½ lb Rotini (spiral pasta)

2 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

2-3 cloves garlic, minced

1 sm green bell pepper, cut into strips

10 oz package frozen shopped spinach, thawed and squeezed

14 oz can Italian plum tomatoes, chopped, with liquid

1 lb can chickpeas, drained and rinsed

¼ C shopped oil-cured sun-dried tomatoes

1 tsp dried oregano

Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste

¼-1/2 tsp dried hot red-pepper flakes (optional)

Grated Parmesan cheese or soy Parmesan for topping (optional)

1. Begin cooking the pasta.
2. Heat the oil in a lg skillet.  Add the garlic and bell pepper and sauté over moderate heat until the garlic is lightly golden and the bell pepper is slightly wilted, about 3-4 min.
3. Add the spinach, plum tomatoes, chickpeas, sun-dried tomatoes, and oregano to the skillet.  Stir together and simmer gently for 8-10 min.
4. When the pasta is done, drain it and transfer it to a lg serving container.  Tosss with the skillet mixture.  Season to taste with salt and pepper, and add the red-pepper flakes, if desired.  Toss again, and serve, passing around grated Parmesan cheese or soy Parmesan, if desired.

269 Calories

7g Total fat

0g Cholesterol

39g Carbohydrate

9g Protein

70g Sodium

Paula’s Hints:  I don’t like spicy/hot food, so I did not put the dried hot red-pepper flakes in.  You can pass them around for people to use on their own.  I also did not add salt, I figure there is enough in the canned tomatoes.  I only use about 1/4 of a box of rotini, it was plenty (but we like more veggies than noodles, to each their own).  I just used what ever canned tomatoes I had in the house, and we did not have chickpeas but white beans (who knew?) – and it still tasted great!  I also did not have the sun dried tomatoes, but just dehydrated tomatoes from my uncle’s garden and just threw those it.  Just goes to show you my may not have everything to a recipe, but you can still make it work:>)  Good luck!

Paula Steenrod, MPH

GRATITUDE.

I am increasingly honored and amazed at how I spend my days here in this town of Eau Claire. My business has done nothing but grow, even with all the traveling and training, and especially in the past year since opening the studio. I am able to set my own schedule, earn a comfortable living (I humbly thank you), and commute less than 2 miles to my job. Most of the time, I try to commute by foot or by pedals…something I hope never changes to a 20-30 minute commute in traffic guzzling gasoline. I see people in all arrays of current health and fitness levels, yet I see the best of all of them – YOU. I like to think that the hour you spend at the studio could be the best hour of your day. Where you get to set aside your work, family, and other roles in life and you get to focus on your fitness. You leave feeling better than you came, usually sweaty, always smiling. I love sharing time with all of my ‘clients’ and do consider you like a family to me.

This year I’ve learned how to reset the breaker at the studio, climbed a ladder a hundred times it seems to set up for TRX classes, enjoyed seeing John poke his head out of the salon door to smile and say hello and deliver some light hearted sarcasm as I head upstairs. We’ve seen three open houses where significant others and kids and friends all gather to try to guess what I did to alter another recipe. I have welcomed my good friend and colleague Paula Steenrod into my business world as an independent contractor. She lights up my world (and my mornings) and I have heard plenty of positives from all of you! And just when I think maybe the economy (schmonomy) will finally impact my business, I continue to see growth through the referrals that you willingly send my way. I am blessed.

I have witnessed countless personal triumphs, coached you through sticky spots and down days, and have seen many of you racing and crossing finish lines, some for the very first time. You’ve trusted me to assist you with personal decisions and times of family crisis, and allowed me to meet your families, even invited me into your homes. I met the cutest little boy a day after his birth, chatting with momma while he slept in my arms. Late night discussions as one of you accepted change, and now has begun your Master’s degree. I have cartwheeled in a yoga class, discovered how much I love running through the woods, and now teach the community, embodiment, and positive change process that is the Franklin Method. I have assisted my teacher Donna Farhi on three occasions, and can call her a friend and mentor. My boyfriend runs with me and encourages my feet to move swiftly and my head to stay focused. He is my climbing partner and best friend and I send thanks to you, Jason Ryba, for how you have helped me shine this year. And I continue to look ahead for more memories, more achievements.

This next year brings my 500 hour Yoga Therapy training with Scott Anderson, and level II of the Franklin Method begins in September, again in Boulder, CO. I have also made a commitment to myself that in 2012 I will complete a 50K trail race. Yes, 30 miles of beautifully brutal trails in the year I turn 30. (Let’s see how I try to top that when I turn 50!) I will be running a lot this next year… In the meantime, I am meeting my goals of living debt free and simply, and resuming artistic work with a couple opportunities to dance and choreograph again. My soul sings its praise for all things good in my life.

GRATITUDE.

Merry Christmas and happy new year to all of you and your families.

See you soon,

Cheri

I am posting this video throughout the week to make sure more people get the opportunity to watch it. This visual lecture appeals to me because of the color, creativity, and imagery that helps bring the research concepts home. Gives us real perspective that hopefully MOTIVATES us to have our bext day, our best year yet.

Please comment about how this video makes you feel, and what it has challenged in your thinking. How will this video inspire you to live well each day with more passion and diligence than before? Do tell.

Enjoy your Monday, look forward to family time this weekend, and find that spare 30 minutes.

Make movement happen.

namaste,

Cheri