Looking for the best Zumba experience available in Southern Utah?  Look no further.  Dixie Zumba Girls will give you the fitness time of your life!

Dixie Zumba Girls are the pioneers of the Zumba scene in Southern Utah and have quite the following with their zesty, sassy, high energy style!

So who are the Dixie Zumba Girls?

Kerry Langston and Marti Christensen

Kerry Langston has been an exercise instructor since March of 2007 certified through Fitour, AFAA, and Zumba. She thrives on teaching Zumba and cycling and the success her students achieve.  Kerry began her Zumba career in November 2007 at Desert Palms Health Club when the previous instructor decided to leave & saw Kerry’s skill, encouraging her to certify.  Kerry didn’t know that one day that first class would turn into a huge Zumba craze in St. George, Utah but she has loved every minute of it!

Marti has extensive dance training background and a love for dance, so of course she was drawn to Zumba.  Like Kerry, Marti was encouraged by Kerry to certify and so it was; Marti became Zumba certified in February 2008 & the team launched the Dixie Zumba Girls.

Dixie Zumba Girls were featured in the local newspaper, The Spectrum, after they held a Zumba in the Park event for the St. George Recreation Center this past summer.  On the front page, Kerry was jammin’ on stage at the Vernon Worthen park doing her Zumba thing.

Kerry brings a funk, hiphop, sassy, and hip swingin’ experience to her choreography that get’s you fired-up and feeling like you’re at a dance club with all the new moves.  Marti’s dance background sneaks into her choreography adding a “totally rad” spin and flare of good ol’ 80’s rockin fun to Zumba.

Now I’ve been to several other Zumba classes and have become Zumba certified myself; and I’m tellin’ ya, if you want to experience one of the hippest, sexiest, high energy Zumba classes, then I recommend the Dixie Zumba Girls from Southern Utah!  If you’ve ever been to a Dixie Zumba Girls class; you know to expect a party atmosphere where everyone is having a blast hootin & hollerin the whole hour!

For updates on their new choreography, class times, and other news, visit their blog at Dixie Zumba Girls.

Enjoy your Zumba class…….and much love to all!

A beautiful experience I will never forget was greeted by several family members and friends with expressions resembling weird, strange, eccentric, and bizarre. Not only were these the more typical responses to my decision to consult a midwife instead of a doctor while pregnant with my son, I was also surprised at the skepticism, fear, and total conventionalism expressed by family and friends once I actually gave birth to him, by way of water, easily and safely.

I gave birth to my son in a birthing tub in water in our home almost 12 years ago. It was a very interactive experience with my son’s dad, and my daughter. The actual birth was very short (3 pushes and he arrived), not accompanied by the horrible pain of birth we fear, and treated as a quiet peaceful celebration. My son’s dad cut the umbilical cord, while after; my daughter placed the warming cloth cap on his head. Shortly after he was born, my son’s dad, my son, and I all fell fast asleep on our bed in the next room while my friend entertained our daughter.  And, the next morning I was up doing laundry with no real recovery time needed!

Now imagine what the response to having a Dolphin midwife would have been like.

Dolphins are superior midwives for human births because they are here on Earth as our guardians.  As masterful midwives, Dolphins offer states of pure joy, love, and wisdom through their use of high frequency sonar transmitted as they elegantly program the human cellular blueprint for physiological, psychological and spiritual well being during birth.

Igor Charkovsky pioneered the practice of dolphins assisting women during birth. Charkovsky originally began his midwifery practice with several expirementations with water births among other water centered practices. He and his team took a woman to the Black Sea for an underwater birth. As she was sitting in two feet of water about to give birth, three wild dolphins appeared, pushed everyone out of the way and ‘took over’. They scanned the length of the woman’s body, somehow relaxing the mother and child; soon after she gave birth having no pain or fear. Needless to say, Charkovsky’s team of midwives, whom were present, were fairly shocked. This event opened up the new practice of ‘dolphin midwifery’. Since this incident in 1979, Igor began a series of experiments including dolphins as midwives for the birth of children.

Children who are born with the help of dolphins, at the cases documented in Russia show, become extraordinary children. Most of them have IQ’s of over 150 (genius range), are extremely emotionally stable, and/or have physically strong bodies; they are superior to other children in one way or another. The Charkovsky team believes that when one is born in the sea assisted by a dolphin, that particular dolphin midwife will come back to the same spot on the baby’s birthday to wait for her/him.
After having a wonderful and positive experience with a water birth, I suggested this for my sisters for their pregnancies and births. The institutionalized social conditioning is so strong that none of my sisters have yet to experience a water birth, much less a dolphin birth.
If you’re pregnant or plan to have children, click the following links to start your research into the possibilities of having the most incredible experience of birth.
Much Love……..

Dolphin Essence
Neva News

We no longer need or have use of the psychological connections to religious terms or epithets in an effort to reach the Conscious Self (Being) by way of connecting with the ego through these terms, not to upset it (ego) to the point of total rejection; and therefore, making no headway into True Self (Being).  And, in fact, the terminology has remained long past it’s usefulness; wherefore, the collective ego has been able to claim these for use in continuing it’s separation from Being through clever, yet extraordinarily painful tactics to ensure the illusion of separateness (i.e. My God is the only true God).  Ego/self/collective must do this for it’s survival because, they are one in the same, separateness & ego; so it thinks.

So lets entertain the ego for a sec.  Lets have a one-on-one talk with it.  Lets stop trying to kill it (as so many spiritual teachings keep suggesting) and assist ego in recognizing it’s true purpose, then maybe it too won’t fear annihilation by using it’s incredible power and desire to live on in such a globally destructive approach to the physical existence.  After all, we, the ONE, chose to be a part of this physical world & ego is an aspect of the physical existence.

Here’s an excerpt of a hypothetical interview I wrote years back:

So lets talk with ego:

Interviewer: So – Ego, I can see that you have an intense desire & drive to survive.

Ego: Of course I do.

Interviewer: So – Ego, do you know what your purpose is?

Ego: To fight at all costs to remain separate because Oneness is death.

Interviewer: Okay, I can see where you’re coming from because in a way, separateness is your purpose, but I think you might be misunderstanding separateness a bit.  Ego – If I were to ensure your survival while providing a little twist on your understanding of your purpose, would you hear me out?

Ego: If you can guarantee my survival, sure I’ll hear what you have to say.

Interviewer: The human existence is facing extinction, as you know oh so well, and without human existence you are assured your death, right?

Ego: Right!

Interviewer: Ego – take a moment to consider this, your purpose isn’t necessarily separateness, but rather, Individuality.  Because Individuality (In-divide-duality) enables physical manifestations of a plethora & diverse realm of talents, creativity, expressions, etc. that is only capable of being expressed by manifesting through “many” individualities, as opposed to only one.  Where ONE is not necessarily able to express manifestations, creativity, and talents in the same way or with the same magnitude as “many” can.

Ego: Interesting.  Elaborate a bit more, cause if I’m going to use this new tactic of Oneness in order to survive, I need to know more about what you’re saying so I can put it to use.”

When I wrote this little story above, it was one of those moments you might described as an “Awe” and “very enjoyable sensation”.  It was though I didn’t write it, it felt like it just came through me and my pencil, somewhat of an experience I call “natural knowing” awakening in me, or maybe even channeled; who knows, but it was fun and very eye-opening.

So as you might have taken from the story, being an individual requires actually desiring the personality, but for it’s true purpose, to create what no one else (or the One) has before, including your own individual life’s experiences.  So what I have learned, is that, we (including new-age spiritual teachers/leaders) may want to stop slapping the personality/ego/self around with negative energy thinking that we can get rid of it, or that it is the root of all our problems.  We cannot exist in the physical world without it, so if we embrace it, love it, comfort it, and assist it, WOW imagine the creativity and beauty we’ll get to experience in this amazing physical existence!  I believe this is similar or the same concept of “individuation” that the famous Carl Jung spoke and wrote about on his path of discovering the human mind as a pioneer of psychology and was Freud’s most revered student.  Jung however discovered and carried a spirituality to his great works within psychology unlike Freud.

One idea for beginning this transition is, start listening and watching your “self’s” saboteur thoughts, the mind chatter, but without judgment.  You might begin to see that most of the mind chatter (usually negative and destructive) comes from social & collective conditioning and non-working beliefs about the world and yourself.  If you approach the mind chatter this way, you then might be able to view it much like a child and begin to coach and guide it into more useful, healthy, and creative thoughts.  You can even laugh at it at times like you would chuckle at a child when the child just hasn’t quite figured it out yet.

I’ll leave it at that, for now,  in hopes that in some small or big way, this has helped you to view our dual selves more compassionately and progressively so that you’ll experience more “Awe” moments in your life.

Much Love always

The joy of life is about giving, but has been misinterpreted. It’s about doing the most loving thing for your Being first and foremost. Because, the Being made of love, will naturally share and give to others when we are aware and awake to our Being and the joys we deserve to experience.

It is very exhausting to constantly give to others if we haven’t given to ourselves first, but if we fulfill our own needs, desires, etc. (not the egos/self/personality’s), then it’s not exhausting at all to give to others, it’s actually energizing. If we give to others without giving to ourselves first, we have actually become takers, because it comes with an energy of “I’m tired”, or “I don’t have time, but I’ll do it anyway”, or “If I help these people, I’ll look good”, or “If I don’t give, give, I’m a bad person”, or “If I say no, then I’m being selfish.” This mind chatter obviously goes on forever, since we all have our own versions.

Be compassionate towards your “self”, don’t judge it, watch it with your Being, so that you can learn how to balance and unite with it, anything else only perpetuates the mind chatter cycle.

My explanation for,

“but if we fulfill our own needs, desires, etc. (not the egos/self/personality’s)”

Our own needs, desires, etc. is referring to our Being’s needs, desires, etc. rather than the personality’s, just to be clear if it was not clear. I don’t believe the personality is undesirable, it’s just been distorted, manipulated, conditioned, and most of all entrenched with deep seeded fear.

The fear that “self” experiences is a fight against the fact that we are all a part of the One essence of light/love. Self believes that if we accept existence as One, it will die, and anything fearing death will exude a powerful force of resistance.
Good Luck, and Much Love to You!

My previous post “What is Love?” had a couple of fun exercises to do that I’ve done myself, one of which is a love letter to yourself.  Below is my love letter to me that I wrote a few years back.  Enjoy.

“Somehow, somewhere, I always knew I would find you.

The child in emotional solitude longed for your return, always trusting that you would.

The struggle that once seemed so painful then, is only now, a sweet reflection of the perfect path to reunite.

I am on our path, but yet still a student of your light and now without fear, instead dawning trust.

This reunion has brought such peace and reverent freedom.

Thank you, I say, to your perseverance to open my soul to our Spirit!

I Love Thyself!”

In the last few years, I’ve had the opportunity to learn from several magnificent people whether through books, conversations, group programs, relationships, trials, and experiences.  These few years have also been the most difficult yet majestically beautiful and awakening for me.  Interestingly enough, there has been one main vein of awareness throughout it all, and that is Love.

I’m taking the liberty to define Love here and however simple the definition; it’s the expression of Love that has many faces.  Expression is where we get confused, myself included, and when we get clear with our expression, peace always follows.

Love is Being.

A little strange maybe, to proclaim such simplicity with something so big, right?  Maybe not, if we clarify what Being is.

Being is the absolute existence, complete and perfect, lacking no essential characteristic; Essence.

Love is not an emotion; however, the expression of Love can encompass many different emotions.  Love is simply Being, it’s what you are; you are Love.  Many may argue that if we are Love, then we are complete & perfect (by the definition of Being); I say, yes you are complete & perfect.  Now there is another component of our experience in physical form, having a body and being here on Earth that we confuse to be whom we are; this is the personality, or ego, or self, or external self; any of those terms work.  That is not the same as your Being Love.

Ironically enough, many years ago when I was watching the scene of the lifeline discussion in the movie Donnie Darko, I empathized with the character Donnie Darko a teenage boy (played by Jake Gyllenhaal).  He was distraught by his teacher’s discussion and argued how everything can not be lumped into the two categories of Love & fear.  I remember feeling the concept was absurd and like Donnie Darko, life is not that simple.

As time has passed, experiences realized, and awakenings occur, life has become more conceptually simple yet experientially complex.  The complexity comes from becoming aware of the simplicity that I AM Love, but have yet to clear all my counter intentions, non-working deep seeded beliefs, and find the sub or unconscious counter beliefs.

However, the joy of reuniting with the Essence I Am and recognizing that it’s Love, is the spark that ignites continuous personal growth.  Many people are still suffering from the lack of awareness that they are Love and we are united.  Here are a couple of fun exercises I’ve done that you can do that may open that window, as it did for me.

1. Write a Love Letter: write a love letter to yourself, LOL. I know it may sound silly, but give it a try and see what happens.  Of course, the letter must only include all those wonderful things about you as though you were writing the letter to the love of your life.  You can even ask for forgiveness if it’s helpful……hmmm?
2. The I Am Chant:  close your eyes and start saying, “I Am a __________ woman or man” (fill in the blank with words like: loving, worthy, beautiful, powerful, passionate, caring, creative, etc.).  Keep doing this until you find three or four words that really feel true for you when you say them.  After you have found your words, chant out load, “I Am a _______,______,_______woman/man”, over and over until you feel a definite shift come over you.  This shift is expressed many different ways and is unique for you.  Some have experienced tears of joy, laughter, a beam of light from within, it’s entirely unique to you and your experience.  A simple note to make, do not put an “and” between any of the words you have found for yourself because this tends to diminish the word that the “and” proceeds.

Look for a future post discussing the expressions of Love…….until then……..

I Am a Loving, Powerful, Passionate Woman; Much Love to all of You!

In the previous post I discussed the nature of feminine energy, its value to humanity as a whole, and it’s returning force as the harmonizer to human existence.

This part will focus on the scientific knowledge that supports my outlook of 2012 representing a beautiful shift into a new consciousness requiring the return of the feminine energy to create balance.

Mathematics is a universal language and in my opinion, every aspect of the Universe, Creation, and even human beings has a spiritual language of numbers within.

Fibonacci numbers are a series of numbers introduced to the western culture by the mathematician Leonardo Fibonacci (Indian mathematics had previously described this sequence) as follows…..0,1,1,2,3,5,8,13, 21 and so on.  The sequence is derived from the first two numbers 0, 1 and each remaining number is the sum of the previous two.  This sequence is the closest series of numbers to the Golden Ratio.  The best way to describe this ratio is through the picture below.

The golden ratio exists in nature, the human body, music, you name it, it’s there.  The Fibonacci sequence shows the relationship of the numbers in the sequence and their dependence on each other.  This is also true within the progressive cycles of the Universe, Earth, and humans.  If we take a section of the sequence (any section will work) we can then correlate the same relationship and dependence to the human cycle we’re about to experience in 2012 as follows:  take 3,5,8

3 represents the past and ancient knowledge

5 represents the present and modern knowledge

8 represents the future and the combined knowledge of both past & present

Again looking at the sequence above, we now plugin the feminine, masculine, and partnership energies for each number sequence representing the most likely and prevalent energy of each phase.  The feminine energy is placed where the ancient knowledge resides; the masculine energy is where we reside now; modern knowledge, and the future is the combination of both; partnership & harmony. The year 2012 suggests the possibility of human existence experiencing total & complete harmony by combining the past/feminine (#3) with the present/masculine (#5) creating the future, the Golden Age and an entirely new human experience (#8).

The year 2012 is found within the Mayan calendar which is now universally accepted as the most accurate calendar that exists.  Within the Mayan calendar, 2012 represents a very definite occurrence happening, more specifically, the calendar ends representing the end of human existence.  In a way, this is true; however, I believe it’s describing the end of human existence as we’ve known it while at the same time representing the beginning of an entirely new human existence that is utterly inconceivable in our current way of viewing reality.  I also believe it is the Universe’s or the Creator’s accomplishment of harmonizing and purifying the reality of existence both in physical form and spirit essence and becoming unlimited co-creating physical/spiritual beings.

If you’re curious to learn more about where these beliefs originated, come visit future posts with topics on the purpose of the ego, monatomic elements, monatomic gold, dormant DNA, and others, and don’t hesitate to comment and/or provide additional information……….I love receiving new knowledge and truths.

‘Til next time…………………Much Love to all

For more information about the Mayan origins visit Drunvalo Melchizedek’s broadcasting representing the Mayans and their preparation of 2012.

What’s going to happen to the world in 2012? This question is circling around the world more rapidly as the year gets closer.

Many believe that this is the date of the true apocalypse that many religions, the bible, and the Mayan calendar speak of; and that the year 2012 is the end of the world and human existence.

Personally I think that’s a very negative and limited view for such a significant, ancient, and vastly recorded event. However, I do feel that many great and marvelous changes will occur for human existence and Earth in general.

Systems run in cycles, the Earth and the Universe included. There are many cycles of the Earth that we are now aware of scientifically along with archeological evidence of human experience and cycles we’ve undergone over thousands of years. With all my studies and research into ancient history, religions, spirituality, archeology, metallurgical science, quantum physics, and so on; I have come to some conclusions myself which provide an outlook much more encouraging than an apocalyptic view.

The first and maybe the most important element of this shift that I see happening is a shift from a dominator society to a partnership society (termed by Riane Eisler in her book The Chalice and The Blade). We currently live in, more specifically, a male-dominator society, masculine energy, the left brain, etc. 2012 presents the possibility of the world shifting into the partnership system with an emphasis on the return of the feminine energy, by creating a united, balanced, and harmonious global community.

Partnership societies have existed in our ancient past, where for thousands of years, humans lived amongst each other WITHOUT war. For most of us, it’s almost impossible to conceive of a warless society ever being possible, but the evidence is there, and the evidence shows that within these harmonious societies, the feminine energy has been the directing force; however, not a dominating force of these communities.

Archeological evidence of equal partnership societies has been found on the Island of Crete in the Mediterranean. In conjunction with the evidence of a warless community, Goddess was the focus of their religion or spirituality as the vast female artifacts have shown. The evidence shows that these societies lived as a matrilineal system (inheriting or determining decent through the female line) where the mother was the “head of the clan” whereas, after marriage, the new husband would go to live with the wife’s family rather than the husband’s family.

Interestingly enough, we are already experiencing an increase in feminine energy within the male population. The feminine energy is not the same as effeminate, but rather an increase in the qualities of caring, nurturing, showing emotions & feelings, intuition, and affection, just to name a few.

Our closest primate, the Bonobo (Chimpanzees are no longer our closest primate) provides compelling credence of the feminine energy providing peace within a civilization. Bonobo primates have a social order representative of a matrilineal/matriarchal system as opposed to the typical male order within the Chimpanzee communities (visit www.bonobo.org for more information).

Young Bonobo

And, it’s fascinating to learn that the Bonobo communities live entirely peaceful and non-aggressively amongst each other, while Chimpanzees have very dominating and aggressive behaviors along with the other human primates. Bonobos are also the only primate for which no infanticide exists within their society.

To correlate the return of feminine energy to the year 2012 and a more positive outlook, I’ll discuss in Part II, certain geological and other scientific cycles determined by scientists showing reasonable speculation for a beautiful and harmonious shift to come in 2012.

Relationships are tricky and full of challenges. There are many types of relationships we develop in our lives each having unique meaning, experiences, and joy and/or sorrow. These relationships are a core purpose for existence here on Earth by having the opportunity to interact with each other in physical form; a very different experience from interacting solely in a non-physical state or spiritual state of being. Many of us have forgotten (especially when in a difficult relationship) the choice we’ve made to experience the unique and diverse relationships we have here on Earth. And yet, the difficult relationships are some of the most sacred agreements we’ve made to each other prior to coming into form.

In conjunction with our challenging relationships are those that are harmonious, easy, joyful, and feel natural; these relationships are equally important as they give us continuous support, and nurturing while we face the challenges of life. These are the relationships that feel easy, smooth, and simple as though you both just know what’s up without having to go into much detail. These are also the relationships to seek out when undergoing inner transformation and/or experiencing the more difficult relationships in order to have the support needed.

The question to ask yourself is, to what depth do you learn about yourself or the other person in a harmonious relationship? After discussing difficult relationships, ask yourself this question again and see if your answer changes.

Anything needing to be released must first come to the surface in order to be recognized.  A challenging relationship will trigger the aspects about ourselves and others that need releasing or healing and bring them to the surface ready to be looked at. These are usually deep seeded aspects that would have never risen otherwise and demands special love, acceptance, and attention. These are the parts of us we rarely know are there; although, under the surface they are subconsciously driving the non-working patterns and painful experiences we encounter in life.  Beliefs about ourselves, others, the world, and Reality create the life we experience.  Many of these beliefs are running the reels behind the scenes as they are usually embedded at an early age or within the collective consciousness we are born into.  How are we to know what these are if they aren’t usually obvious?  One way to do this is by recognizing our reactions and actions in difficult relationships.

Who do we usually show are weaknesses to throughout life? Our co-workers, our acquaintances, etc., or do we show these to the ones we’re the closest with? Why is this?  It just might be that we want to be healed of these aspects, false or non-working beliefs, and have subconsciously chosen that person to shake our inner world.

Enlightenment or Spiritual Alignment does not exist when separateness, conditional love, limited tolerance, and non-acceptance exists.  We cannot achieve transformation without an upheaval and  a deliberate look at where these lie within ourselves or others in order to begin healing them. This is a most ominous opportunity to show strength and share love for yourself and others because here is where you or they get to heal this aspect of self.

With a simple shift in perspective, you can transform a difficult relationship into a most sacred one by recognizing the opportunity you have to either heal aspects of your own personality or of the personality of the person you’re with. When the events pop up, take a moment to step back and reflect for a moment and ask “what is trying to surface here?”  If it’s you or your companion in the relationship (friend, mate, lover, parent, etc.) experiencing a counter belief surfacing; the shift from reaction to reflection will transform it by simply remembering, “this is an opportunity for healing this counter belief by simply accepting, reflecting, and releasing this moment,” either for yourself concerning whatever came up or for what came to the surface for the person you’re with as opposed to reacting and taking it personally.

Quite simply put, try to recognize that you or they have detached from their own source of love and light within themselves or yourself during that moment.  Recognizing the innocence and sacred opportunity to heal that moment comes when you accept, forgive, and allow for the source of love and light to replenish the space and energy that was just released.

We are all One, separateness is an illusion and we are all here learning how to balance and harmonize our form with spirit.  This comes with cooperation and by honoring our difficult relationships as much as our easy ones and then we’ll get there!

Much Love too all.

Wow, want a saucy dance night with Latin festive music? The Karamba is the place to be.

Latin music always carries an undertone of sensuality which makes for a unique & fun experience when dancing out for a “night-on-the-town”.

The Karamba, located in Sugarhouse, Utah, features chic salsa, festive cumbia, jammin merengue, and we can’t leave out the poppin’ beats of bachata and raggaeton (the Latin version of hip-hop). Not only does the Karamba deliver exceptional Latin rhythms, you’ll experience strains of hip-hop and R&B spun into the mix by their talented DJ’s.

If that plethora of dance beats aren’t enough for you, then visit the Karamba on night with their live band choices! Yes, the Karamba frequently features live bands Friday nights; most recently, they flew-in a traditional cumbia band from Colombia igniting the house with cumbia chants from the crowd and lots of dance.

If you’re looking for a posh atmosphere, you’ll need to go elsewhere, the Karamba has a basic interior nothing flashy, but the incredibly fun music, the three bars, and the option of two dance floors featuring different beats makes up for it in spades!

The Karamba offers:
Latin music
Live Music
DJ
Dancing
Serves Alcohol
Serves Beer
Accept Credit Cards

The music is fantastic, the age range is broad, and everyone is friendly and respectful. And ladies, you might get to learn a little partner salsa dancing from a nice Karamba regular that really knows how to lead your dance steps!

I highly recommend the Karamba to anyone, even if you aren’t too familiar with latin music, you’ll still love it, guaranteed!!! My friend from India and I (white American) had a great time dancing the night away.

Catch the Latin Fever at Duvan’s Karamba!
1051 E. 2100 South
Salt Lake City, Utah 84106-2349
(801) 487-4604
801-696-0639

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