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May/June 2004 NW Newsmakers
Community News

Body Moves - (Now) A Nia Space

After 19 Years Body Moves, Portland’s #1 alternative fitness and dance center, has new owners and a new name: Body Moves - A Nia Space

Debbie Rosas and Carlos Rosas creators of The Nia Technique one of the top Body Mind fitness programs in the world have purchased Body Moves and are transforming this beautiful historical space into the world headquarters for Nia Technique Inc.

Classes offered include Nia, Yoga, Pilates, Contact Improve, Body Rolling, Soul Motion. New students and people of all fitness levels and abilities are welcome. For 20 years Debbie Rosas and Carlos Rosas and "The Nia Technique" have been transforming lives and changing the face of fitness. Body Moves a Nia Space is the first official headquarters for this revolutionary organization. With 1200 teachers in 23 countries, a new book being released by Broadway Books, new videos and much more Nia is poised for household recognition. The Nia Technique will not be Portland’s best-kept secret for long. www.nia-nia.com

A New Metaphysical Church

A brand new spiritual center serving the holistic and metaphysical communities is in the making. Whole Life Church, lead by Rev. Scott Awbrey, will conduct its first-ever Sunday service on Mother’s Day, May 9, at 10 a.m. The new church, which offers great music by Alan Peterson, will offer a worship service each Sunday at Jackson Middle School, 10625 SW 35th St., in Portland. A youth program, serving children from infants through teens, is headed up by Amy Donaldson.

Rev. Awbrey, founding minister, said the church honors all faiths. "There are many paths to God," he said. "Our primary spiritual reference is the teachings of Jesus, understanding that he is the great example – not the great exception – for our life. We also draw inspiration and spiritual principles from other religions, the metaphysical teachings of Emerson and other Transcendentalists, and the writings of New Thought teachers. First and foremost, we are inspired and sourced from our own personal connection with God."

For more information on Whole Life Church, visit its web site at www.thewholelifechurch.org, or call 503-682-3355.

Spiritual City Forum - Exploring the Questions Shaping our Future

Spiritual City Club has changed its name to Spiritual City Forum. It has been led by Reverend Grace Young, New Thought Minister, and Gregory Kramer, Buddhist, for the past three years. The Forum provides a place for people of all faith traditions to come together for the purpose of bringing the their perspective to civic matters through contemplative dialogue. Grace Young says "It also expresses the importance of our responsibility as spiritual people to question what is happening in our community."

 The new name coincides with the expansion of Spiritual City Forum’s programs. In addition to the luncheon meeting on the first Thursday of each month, an evening dialogue program has been added on Third Thursdays – a conversations program led by Milt Markewitz.

 The meetings are held on the first Thursday of each month at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in NW Portland with 35 to 70 people in attendance.  For more information about Spiritual City Forum and its programs contact:

Rev. Grace Annmarie Young at 503-246-2829 or revgrace@spiritualcityforum.org, or go to www.spiritualcityforum.org.

A Parent’s Guide to Media Violence

The Oregon Peace Institute will present A Parent’s Guide to Media Violence: Information for Everyone Who Cares About Children, a workshop led by Amanda Byron, on Thursday, May 20, 2004, 6:30-8:30 pm, at the First United Methodist Church, Rm. 134, 1838 SW Jefferson, Portland, OR.

Explore the power and influence of media images and messages and the role that media plays in the lives of children. Workshop is free with a suggested donation of $10. For more information or to preregister, contact Frances Kaplan, OPI Workshop Coordinator, at 503-699-9833 or evefish37@earthlink.net.

Wisdom of the Elders Radio Series

(Portland, Oregon) Wisdom of the Elders (WOTE ) has launched a new public radio program series from Native America. There will be several series of eight one-hour radio programs produced by WOTE, which, with their mission of cultural preservation, education and race reconciliation, records and preserves indigenous oral history and cultural arts from exemplary indigenous elders, tribal historians, storytellers and song carriers. Other projects of this non-profit organization include documentary and publishing projects and cultural arts events.

WOTE was founded in 1992 by the late Martin High Bear, Lakota medicine man and spiritual leader, and Rose High Bear, Deg Hit’an Dine (Alaskan Athabascan).

For more information: Contact Rose High Bear, Wisdom of the Elders, Inc., 5518 SE Flavel Dr., Portland, OR 97206 or wote@pcez.com or Anne Morin, 790 SE Webber St. #304, Portland, OR 97202 at (503-234-3878 or rave_n_howl@yahoo.com.

EquusEmbrace Unveils New Arena

EquusEmbrace has been serving the Central Oregon community for the past year. On Saturday, May 8th, from 11 AM until 4 PM, the entire community is invited to tour their new 9,600 square foot covered arena at 18349 Fadjur Lane in Sisters, Oregon.
Equine-assisted psychotherapy is a proven and powerful therapeutic approach that has an impressive impact on individuals, youth, families, couples and groups. Claudia Lamphere, Founder, will talk about the benefits of using horses to help people, and give a number of demonstrations. There will also be opportunities for visitors to enter the arena and get a hands-on experience with the horses.
Scholarships are available for all of the programs offered at EquusEmbrace. For more information, call 541-548-0331.

Body Mind & Spirit Holistic Center

Body Mind & Spirit has been reinvented! The new community of health care practitioners offers Naturopathic Medicine, Acupuncture, Shamanic Healing, Coaching, Counseling, Facials and a variety of specialized Massage Therapists.  Body Mind & Spirit is a restful hideaway, in plain view. A sanctuary where you can release what prevents you from discovering wholeness, allowing you to reconnect with Spirit. Located on nearly an acre, the secluded grounds provide a restful peaceful retreat just minutes away from downtown Portland at 6491 SW Capitol Hwy, Portland Oregon 97239.

To enquire about Workshop space Contact Karyn Armstrong at 503-525-2521 or karyn@bodymindandspiritcenter.com. Their website is www.bodymindandspiritcenter.com

Baba Shivarudra Balayogi Maharaj Coming to Portland/Hood River

Baba Shivarudra Balayogi, Master of Dhyana Yoga, will be in Hood River and Portland for two weeks, beginning May 22. Baba is the disciple and spiritual son of the great Yogi, SSS Shivabalayogi Maharaj, who left the earth in 1994. Baba spend 20 years as an ordained monk and disciple, being trained by his Guru. In 1994, following his Guru's physical passage, Baba undertook an intense tapas, meditating up to 20 hours per day in samadhi, for 5 years. In the end, Baba Shivarudra Balayogi emerged as a Self Realized Master to carry on the mission of his lineage. At public programs in our area, initiation into Dhyan will be offered free of charge to any interested person. There are no qualifications, no restrictions and no charge. Everyone will have the opportunity to speak directly with Baba to get their spiritual questions answered. There will also be devotional singing and mantra chanting. See ad for more information and visit the website at www.shivarudrabalayogi.com.