November/December 2008 NW Newsmakers
NW Newsmakers 11-08

The Expanding Crystal

Crystal Cavern has grown from a one-room shop in downtown Lake Oswego to a thriving five-room store in Tigard. The new location now offers lectures, psychic fairs, massage, Reiki, and other special events and services.

Need guidance in your life? Choose from a variety of readers, including tarot, crystal, angel, numerology and astrology. Find out how to use color to change your life by seeing a certified color energy practitioner.

Bring your holiday shopping list and choose from new crystal books and CDs. Find the ever-popular Bullfrog candles, which glow from top to bottom, plus other unique gifts, including jewelry, bags and incense.

Looking for a chocolate face mask? Crystal Cavern offers Xocai Functional chocolate, which includes dark chocolate beverages, bars and nuggets, plus a new face mask that smells as good as it is for you.

The Crystal Cavern is located at 14915 SW 72nd Ave. in Tigard. Visit www.crystalcavernoforegon.com.

Discover Shambala

"There is hope for a bright future where all people live in perfect harmony, embracing their unique gifts, living life with passion and purpose," says Diana Wood, co-founder of Chrysalis Center of Light. "This dream may seem like it is far in the future and out of our reach but actually it is within your reach right now. There is a roadmap available to assist you in discovering your own special purpose in life and your vital role in the creation of Shambala."

Shambala is a Sanskrit term meaning a place of tranquility where all the inhabitants are enlightened. The energy for Shambala is already flowing on our planet and is available for those who are ready to embody it.

Join Wood and Tricia Radford on November 2 from 4 to 8:30 p.m. at Chrysalis for "Embodying Shambala: A Workshop for Today." Learn more about Shambala, the indigo children, the root races and the potential for 2012. Gain invaluable empowerment tools to assist in creating a radiant future for yourself, your community and the planet.

Visit www.chrysaliscenteroflight.com.

Mama Spa

Zenana Spa and Wellness Center, the first day spa and wellness center in Oregon with a focus on pregnant and parenting families, celebrated its second year in serving the Portland community.

The mission of the center is to provide women and their families with a safe, accepting environment in which to receive spa and wellness services, education and support.

"We recognize that every family is different and deserves the opportunity to choose what works best for them in childbirth, breastfeeding and parenting," says co-founder Annee Ingala.

With this in mind, Zenana Spa offers pregnant and parenting families a wide variety of services, including acupuncture and naturopathic medicine, chiropractic care, breathwork, pain body and cellural memory release, and hypnotherapy.

Visit www.zenana-spa.com.

Relief from Back Pain

In the Western world, back pain is one of the biggest sources of disability, yet effective long-term pain relief is rare.

According to a study reported in the journal of the British Medical Assn., the Alexander Technique offers long-term relief from recurring back pain. In contrast, massage may be effective in the short term, but the benefits fade away after three months.

In the study, subjects who were given 24 one-on-one Alexander Technique lessons from certified teachers suffered 86 percent fewer days of pain. In contrast, after one year subjects who underwent massage suffered 33 percent fewer days of pain.

Frederick Matthias Alexander, a Tasmanian actor, invented the Alexander Technique at the end of the 19th century to relieve his vocal and breathing troubles while reciting on stage.

His technique examines reaction habits. Lessons are taught one-on-one because each person's habits and learning needs are different. The teacher uses gentle, non-manipulative touch to guide the student through simple movements. In the process, the student is taught how to use thought processes in a new way, helping to end habits that interfere with natural poise and functioning.

The Alexander Learning Studio in Portland is offering two free lessons for the purchase of an initial 24-lesson course of study. Visit www.alexanderlearningstudio.com.