As the lights dimmed, I glared through the sheer curtains of the stage with no expectations.  Within moments, the most beautiful white horses, as if semi-imposed on the scene, commenced to playfully and innocently run around within a  stage majestically arranged as a three-dimensional forest with rolling hills.  I watched in awe at how the stage designers created sceneries of nature so exquisite, I forgot I was within the confines of a very big white tent in the middle of Midtown Atlanta, GA.

The horses knew exactly where to run and when to disappear into the forest (it looks nothing like a stage) with seemingly no one guiding them.   As the show progressed, I thought, this was more than I ever could have imagined, and I’m all in.  Everything about Cavalia suggests grace and stunning beauty from the absolutely gorgeous riders (men and women) performing amazing stunts, including riding on multiple horses at one time adorned in colorful and ornate costumes (had to throw a bit a fashion in there).   In one scene that left me speechless, the horses and their riders, in a mysterious silhouette, rode over the hilltop in complete harmony and, well, disappeared.  Amazing!

There are several themes taking place throughout the show, and the horses are truly its stars, however, the African Acrobats from Guinea wowed me with jaw dropping flips, and the aerialists and the dancers performed synchronized routines that made me want to run to the gym for some upper body work.

The soloist is blessed with the most amazing voice that melds seamlessly with the scenes and creates the perfect ambiance.  The music and the show were a match made in heaven making me want to purchase the soundtrack immediately at the end of the show.   From the mesmerizing setting of the sun to the enchanting winter wonderland, I sat totally enthralled by this most wonderful experience that more than exceed my expectation.

The show culminates with water filling the forest (yes, I said water filing the forest) and the horses splashing through what appears to be the shore of a body of water.  Oh and make sure to look for Frosty the beautiful Gelding actually gives you a smile at the end of the show.   I didn’t think about the hectic week I had or the city outside.  In essence, the production transported me to a fantasy land and I did not want to leave.

Remember the old commercial, “Calgon take me away”?  I was definitely saying “Cavalia take me away!’  What a great way to spend two hours!

Cavalia Odysseo Production is now showing through January 8, 2012.  Prices begin at $49.50(children) to $229.50(VIP Packages) available online or at the Cavalia box office.  For more information visit www.cavalia.net or 866.999.8111.

Listen to  the VEDAM CLEMENT INTERVIEW

Ordained as an “Inner Faith Minister” in 2003, Vedam blends Eastern and Western Spiritual Philosophies in his approach to Life Coaching and assisting people in their desire for spiritual development and  through trouble times.

Vedam’s philosophies are based upon basic  psychology, meditation and the spiritual premise of “Oneness.” Oneness is not a philosophy but rather a lifestyle. Oneness is an understanding that we all come from One Source (irrespective of what you may call this Source), and we are united as Spiritual Beings, regardless of our perceptions of separateness. Human and social conditionings have created a division between races, religions, sects and social statuses that has supported our humanness to believe that we are separate, that my God is better than your God, that I am better than you or that I am less than you. It has created a society that is separated between the ‘have’ and the ‘have-nots.’ This belief system ultimately leads us toward war, conflict, power struggles and fighting.

Vedam’s philosophies and teachings will definitely support you to have and use the psychological and spiritual tools for relating to yourself and others in a new way: openly, lovingly, and authentically.

You may visit Vedam’s websites  www.vedamclementi.com, www.beingloveworkshop.com

To contact Vedam you may email at  vedam@vedamclementi.com or by phone 678-754-2438

If you are like many, you may feel your skin is sensitive to much of what is out there.  You may fall under the category that less is more when it comes to skin care products, and consequently do not use anything to properly care for your skin.  Does this sound like you?  We follow healthy diets to feed and nourish our other organs, so why take short cuts when it comes to skin?  Why leave your largest organ vulnerable?  Vulnerable skin equals aging and compromised skin.  It is critical to protect against UV radiation, free radicals, and other oxidative stressors in order to maintain that youthful, dewy, refreshed skin we all long for.

Hhere are a few quick tips to help relieve the stress of seasonal, sensitized skin

1.)    Make sure you cleanse your face morning and night.  Sounds simple, but think of the pollutants you go to sleep with when you do not!

2.)    Cleanse your eyes and lips separately (use a cleanser designed for the eyes and/or lips-the tissue is much thinner and needs to be treated separately) Try: Darphin’s- Azahar Cleansing Micellar Water/Eau demaquillante Micellaire A’La Fleur D’Azahar or Dermalogica’s Soothing Eye Makeup Remover.

3.)    Use products free of artificial colors, fragrance, mineral oil, petrolatum, lanolin & phthalates (all of which are known skin irritants).

4.)    Detox your skin. PCA has two options: “Detox Deep Pore Treatment & Oxygenating Trio Treatment.  Both great for stimulating blood flow, bringing oxygen to the skin, and decongesting the follicles.

5.)    Get a skin check up.  Your Skin Therapist/Esthetician may need to tweak your Spring/Summer regimen.

6.)    Strengthen and nourish your skin with Vitamins: A, C, E

7.)    Correct with peptides

8.)    Fortify with antioxidants

9.)    Protect with Sunscreen SPF 15 (min).  Check out Intellishade SPF 45 by Revision Skin care (it is a moisturizer, sunscreen, and color wash-lightly tinted), Healthy Skin Protection SPF 35 by Obagi Skin Care or Dynamic Skin Recovery by Dermalogica.

10.) Reapply your Sunscreen every 2 hours (especially when perspiring).

Follow these 10 easy steps to alleviate some of your skin stress, and before you know it, it will become a beautiful, healthy habit.  Try it…I guarantee your skin will like it!

Wherever the mind goes the body follows. Our actions are the products of our mind. Watch the mind very carefully; we can see its full array of responses, expectations, reactions, and judgments from moment to moment. The mind also changes pretty quickly. Our feelings at 8am can be radically different by 9am. Let’s allow conscious awareness to be our anchor, knowing that our words and actions are our only belongings. Even our actions will one day be gone. People may not remember much about what we say, but they will always remember how we made them feel.

Buddha says that if you can’t help someone, at least don’t do them harm. If we cultivate a mind that produces positive causes and thereby positive actions, we can expect positive effects. Understanding that in any given moment we can be a healing agent to those around us, gives our actions even that much more meaning. It makes no difference how someone may be acting towards us; we can only own how we respond. If we can daily carve out some time to be aware of how we are being in the world, we may be able to shift our actions. It is worthy to note that this task may be a challenge; our ability to deal with challenging people only grows when we begin to understand the things that trigger our upset. Once we realize this we can begin to be more mindful of our actions in response to their behavior. We can show up with a great deal of love and compassion, for we know what their suffering feels like as we’ve been there not all that long ago. Handle your actions with great care and the people around you will blossom, including you.

Bronwyn Morgan is the Feature Spirit Contributor for CONNECT and is the founder and resident meditation coach at Bliss In Me Meditation. Visit www.blissinme.com.

“WHEN I TALK ABOUT MIND, I am not just talking about my mind, my trip.  I am talking about the mind of each and every universal living being. The way we live, the way we think-everything is dedicated to material pleasure. We consider sense objects to be of utmost importance and materialistically devote ourselves to whatever makes us happy, famous, or popular. Even though all this comes from our mind, we are so totally preoccupied by external objects that we never look within, we never question why we find them so interesting.”

“As long as we exist, our mind is an inseparable part of us. As a result, we are always up and down. It is not our body that goes up and down, it’s our mind-this mind whose way of functioning we do not understand-not just our body, but our mind. Therefore, sometimes we have to examine ourselves-not just our body, but our mind. After all, it is our mind that is always telling us what to do. We have to know our own psychology or, in religious terminology, perhaps, our inner nature. Anyway, no matter what we call it, we have to know our own mind.”

“Don’t think that examining and knowing the nature of your mind is just an Eastern trip. That’s a wrong conception. It’s your trip. How can you separate your body, or your self-image, from your mind? It’s impossible. You think you are an independent person, free to travel the world, enjoying everything. Despite what you think, you are not free. I’m not saying that you are under the control of someone else. It’s your own uncontrolled mind, your own attachment that oppresses you. If you discover how you oppress yourself, your uncontrolled mind will disappear. Knowing your own mind is the solution to all your problems.”

Bronwyn Morgan is the Feature Spirit Contributor for CONNECT and is the founder and resident meditation coach at Bliss In Me Meditation. Visit www.blissinme.com.

So if we have not fried “Betty” with a laser we now “Be-Dazzle” her with jewels and/or, stencil designs, color her according to the holiday, season or upcoming special event.  We will accessorize her with just about anything!

I am definitely an advocate for keeping a well-groomed “Betty,” but Americans seem to have much more free time and money than our ancestors when it comes to the “Betty.” Instead of just scheduling play dates for our kids or ourselves, we now have to schedule time for “Betty,” too.

Today you might find in a woman’s Blackberry or iPhone her appointment for her: Labiaplasty (labia reduction & beautification), Vaginoplasty (rejuvenation of the tightening of the vagina) or Clitoral Underhooding (“hoodectomey”-offering women a heightened sense of sensation & arousal).  Certainly the women who require these surgeries for medical reasons are grateful for these advancements. However, I have a sneaking suspicion a substantial number of us are requesting these procedures for cosmetic reasons than medical.

Since many of us will not go the super adventurous route, the following are some simple ways to keep your “Betty” happy:

1.)    Treat her like a lady not a sailor. Instead of using harsh soap, try using a body wash that is pH balanced to the skin.

2.)    Ask your skin therapist (esthetician) to use high frequency in the bikini area after waxing. It will cut down on the bumps many get post waxing.

3.)    If you wax…wax consistently. It cuts down on the trauma to the skin & helps get your hair on a cycle.

4.)     Make sure your skin therapist (esthetician) is using a wax that is right for your hair type and skin sensitivity.

5.)    Avoid using artificial colors and fragrances in your bath products.  They are known skin irritants.

Marilyn Quist is the Owner & Lead Skin Therapist of The Cleanse Spa in Atlanta, GA. Get great skin care tips by contacting her at marilyn@thecleansespa.com. Be sure to visit the website www.thecleansespa.com .  Follow on Facebook & Twitter @The Cleanse Spa

We also know if these dark nights or suffering experiences are stored internally past norms, many aspects of our wellbeing developmentally will be altered.  Relational qualities are important facets of how we are wired to be in the world.  However, when we are in relational conflict with self internally, the external qualities with others cannot be fully realized.  This behavior crosses all boundaries in our ways of being with our children, co-workers, friends, personal, marital, and environment.  Shadow Works in mindfulness is the process of identify, surface, touch, detoxify, let go, and heal.

Listen to the Interview

O’Dell is a transpersonal life coach specializing in the area of health and wellness psychology.  His approach to health and wellness psychology focuses on the entire mind/body/spirit connection.  To further enhance healing and health his approach makes inclusive environmental experiences collective, and present.

O’Dell has worked in the field of biomedicine, biofeedback, mind-body medicine, alternative therapies, and psychology for more than 20 years.  He has studied and trained globally while connecting with some of the today’s most renowned spiritual leaders.  O’Dell served as spiritual guide and trainer in eastern methodology for the Chopra Center headed by Drs. Deepak Chopra and David Simon.  He holds a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Christian Science, and an External Master’s in Transpersonal Psychology.  O’Dell continues to train in the field of Transpersonal Psychology at the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology in Palo Alto, California where he serves as Research Assistant to Dr. Henry Poon, Director of Global Master’s Programs.  O’Dell is pursuing his PhD. in Health and Wellness Psychology with specialization in spirituality, and transformational life coaching.