Mother's Day Naikan Activities

Naikan is a reflective practice which involves considering a more whole picture of the stories we tell ourselves about our lives.

Sometimes our relationships with our loved ones are complex or even tragic.  Naikan practice is not meant to deny that these are parts of reality.  However, through Naikan, one begins to notice how they have been supported in the world at different times in their lives.  Naikan is not necessarily meant to inspire guilt or gratitude but to cultivate awareness of actions and things we may have missed in the past.

In honor of Mother's Day, try these Naikan activities:

1) Calculate the money spent on you by your mother from age 0 to 21.  Try to be as specific as possible with your estimations.  Instead of calculating a broad cost for the food she bought for you, recall exact meals cooked and bought, to the best possible cent calculation.

2) Pick a birthday from your life and answer the following Naikan questions about that day, using very specific, concrete answers (instead of "laughter" try "My mother baked me a Betty Crocker cake and decorated it with soccer players"):
            What did I receive from my mother?
            What did my mother receive from me?
            What harm did I cause my mother?

3) Pick one of your mother's birthdays and answer the same three questions.

A portion of Naikan reflection involves "reporting out," and you may report your findings by writing constructive.livingtn@gmail.com if you choose to.

Mother's Day and CL Workshop coming up

STAY TUNED...
Mother's Day Naikan Exercises will be posted next week!

Also, don't forget about Early Bird Registration for our Constructive Living Workshop: Training for Ordinary Life, to be held at Yoga East (www.yoga-east.net) on May 14-15.

From the Another Way Newsletter

Constructive Living

In March, the Asala Center participated in the career fair for the Chattanooga School for the Arts and Sciences and talked to young men and women about Constructive Living instruction as well as dance, yoga, and resumes!

In April, Asala Center will be represented at the Cleveland State Community College as a part of the International Festival since Asala's business reflects more than one country's influence (Japanese therapies, Indian yoga, and Middle Eastern dance). Asala Center has also been invited to teach Chair Yoga classes at the Hamilton County Health Department starting in April.

Asala Center will be offering a May weekend workshop at Chattanooga's newest yoga studio, Yoga East (www.yoga-east.net). Yoga East opened on March 1 in East Brainerd. Lauryn from the Asala Center has been teaching morning yoga classes and a Monday evening Power Yoga class. The Constructive Living workshop will be held at Yoga East on May 14 (6:30-8:30pm) and May 15 (1:30-5:30pm).

Workshop Description:
Constructive Living: Training for Daily Life
Yoga East instructor Lauryn and her mother Diana will offer a workshop from their business the Asala Center. The topic will be Constructive Living, a blend of Japanese psychotherapies created for the Western mind. Constructive Living is a practical method for learning to approach life "realistically and mindfully."

The Asala Center offers individual and group Constructive Living instruction, which is a simple educational model designed to help people address any changes they would like to make in their lives.

In this workshop, the basic principles of Constructive Living will be introduced and experienced. The workshop will begin on Friday evening by introducing some basic ideas of "CL," and participants will be expected to complete some brief and simple daily life assignments before reconvening on Saturday afternoon. Saturday's session will include discussion of the assignments and further exploration of the "CL" principles through exercises, lecture, and discussion.

The point of Constructive Living is to bring it in to one's daily life with simple, do-able behaviors, so we encourage and expect participants to behave as they normally would on any weekend while practicing aspects of Morita therapy and Naikan reflection. Items you may want to bring: something comfortable to sit on, paper, and a writing utensil. Light refreshments will be available.

Registration and questions can be addressed by emailing lauryn.peterson@gmail.com or calling 423-653-4478.

For more information on the Asala Center, please visit www.asalacenter.com.

ANNOUNCING: Constructive Livin Workshop at Yoga East

May 14 (6:30-8:30pm) and May 15 (1:30pm-5:30pm)
Yoga East, Chattanooga, TN
Constructive Living:  Training for Daily Life
Yoga East instructor Lauryn and her mother Diana will offer a workshop from their business the Asala Center.  The topic will be Constructive Living, a blend of Japanese psychotherapies created for the Western mind.  Constructive Living is a practical method for learning to approach life "realistically and mindfully."  The Asala Center offers individual and group Constructive Living instruction, which is a simple educational model designed to help people address any changes they would like to make in their lives.  In this workshop, the basic principles of Constructive Living will be introduced and experienced.  The workshop will begin on Friday evening by introducing some basic ideas of "CL," and participants will be expected to complete some brief and simple daily life assignments before reconvening on Saturday afternoon.  Saturday's session will include discussion of the assignments and further exploration of the "CL" principles through exercises, lecture, and discussion.  The point of Constructive Living is to bring it in to one's daily life with simple, do-able behaviors, so we encourage and expect participants to behave as they normally would on any weekend while practicing aspects of Morita therapy and Naikan reflection.  Items you may want to bring: something comfortable to sit on, paper, and a writing utensil.  Light refreshments will be available. 

Registration and questions can be addressed by emailing lauryn.peterson@gmail.com or calling 423-653-4478. 
For more information on the Asala Center, please visit www.asalacenter.com. 

SPRING SALE!

The above picture shows a rice field made into art in Japan...The Great Wave in rice!

Next week, March 8-13, the Asala Center is offering reduced prices on our services.  You can receive this discount for appointments occurring during the week OR appointments made next week to occur at a later date.

We are also giving away a prize to the first Chattanoogan to spot our new ad on www.newschannel9.com...write us if you think you see it!

*Constructive Living sessions: Spring Sale Price: $35/hr
Constructive Living instruction is a system which equips the student to view the world more realistically and practically.  Individual and group sessions available in person, by phone, or by email.  For more information, please see www.asalacenter.com

*Private yoga lessons----  Spring Sale Price: $35/hr
For information on regular classes instead of private instruction, Lauryn currently teaches classes at Clearspring Yoga and Yoga East

*Private tribal fusion dance lessons for women---- Spring Sale Price:  $35/hr
For information on regular classes instead of private instruction, please see www.zanzibarstudio.com, where Lauryn teaches classes 

*Resume writing assistance and job search tips--- Spring Sale Price:  $20/hr

For more information, please write Constructive.LivingTN@gmail.com, call 423-653-4478, or look at www.asalacenter.com
Thank you,
Lauryn and the Asala Center

Article from Another Way Newsletter in January

Constructive Living

Constructive Living is a wonderful tool to get one's new year jump started. Through an individual or group session of Constructive Living instruction, one can access practical, simple tools to use in daily life to meet new goals, stop unwanted habits, pay attention to the world around you, and appreciate the gifts one is being given throughout the day.

Constructive Living instruction generally requires a one-hour meeting in person, a phone appointment, or an email appointment. Our current trial rate is $40/hour.

Appointments can be made on a regular basis, but one can access tools for daily living within just one or two appointments.

Constructive Living instruction is an educational model with therapeutic benefits. Students receive homework for daily living, and the real learning takes place outside of the office.

If this approach sounds like it would benefit you, please call to set up an appointment at (423)653-4478

or write us at Constructive.LivingTN@gmail.com.

We are also available for specialized groups by arrangement.

---

In the holiday season, The Asala Center was invited to speak to several organizations on Constructive Living:

• Thanksgiving weekend
  Diana and Lauryn gave the sermon at the Unitarian Universalist church, presenting "A Constructive Perspective on Giving Thanks." This was an opportunity to follow up from the presentation given in May at the same location to a different group (CHIONS).
• On December 30th
  Lauryn offered a donation-based yoga and dance workshop at Zanzibar Studio. In honor of New Year's Eve approaching, she incorporated Naikan reflection into yin yoga.
• On New Years Eve
  Asala Center participated in Clearspring Yoga's annual open house. Each year, Clearspring Yoga offers a free, reflective space for meditation, kirtan chanting, and walking a labyrinth. This year, Diana and Lauryn offered New Year's Naikan exercises as an optional reflection.

Asala Center is featured in Chattanooga's Pulse Magazine this month. Look for us in the Health and Wellness issue, printed on January 20th.

This holiday season, Lauryn's husband Jared gave the Asala Center a website! Jared bartered his electrical services (Bill Higgins Electric) to their friend Brett Nolan (www.awenmediadesign.com), who in turn designed a very nice (while incomplete) website at www.asalacenter.com.

Asala Center invites you to check out our blog www.asalacenter.blogspot.com

while the new website design is still under construction.

Asala Center will be announcing dates for upcoming workshops and events in the near future, so stay tuned online through our website, blog, Myspace, Facebook, or Twitter accounts!
If you would like to receive email updates, please email us at Constructive.LivingTN@gmail.com

Donating to Farmer's Aid

Asala Center is donating a gift certificate to Farmer's Aid, a benefit occurring on Feb. 5.   See info below.