Can Meditation be Natural Medicine?  Read on to what Alexis Bonari has to say…

“Pharmacy For the Soul” – A Meditation Book for the Rest of Us

Like many people, I have always been intrigued with the potential benefits of regular meditation.  Proponents of frequent meditation make almost magical-sounding claims about its benefits.  After all, who wouldn’t want to live longer, look younger, be more relaxed, etc.?

Stress relief for the cynical.

When my friend suggested that I read this book; I was going through a very stressful time in my life.  At first glance, Osho, author of the meditation guide “Pharmacy For the Soul,” doesn’t look like the type of person who could write a meditation book aimed at the general popluation.  To be perfectly honest, I didn’t think I would get much out of the exercises.

20 minute meditation

Imagine my surprise when I found myself intrigued by the ideas presented in the book. In the past trying to fit meditation exercises into my daily routine had been impossible and soon becme a source of stress instead of a relief.  Unlike previous meditation books I had read, the meditation exercises could all be completed in less than 20 minutes.

Universal truths.

Other than the practical meditation regimen, another strong point is Osho’s clear writing style.  His advice for living a more fulfilling, healthier life easily transfers to different cultures and religious inclinations.  He doesn’t choose one particular religious or philosophical angle, but instead focuses on what it means to live a healthy, spiritual life in the most general senses of those words.

Teaching a new perspective.

Finally, the author seems to spend most of his time trying to teach you to experience for yourself the spiritual truths he has acquired during his meditations.  Many other meditation books seem to assume that you’ll never reach the point of experiencing deep meditative experiences.  They spend more time describing than teaching.

“Pharmacy for the Soul” is the perfect book for someone who is somewhat skeptical of meditation.  It’s also good for someone who wants to understand the main ideas behind meditation philosophy without being overrun by too much information.

Guest Blogger Alexis Bonari is a freelance writer and blog junkie.  She is currently a resident blogger at First in Education and performs research surrounding online degree programs (onlinedegrees.org).  In her spare time, she enjoys square-foot gardening, swimming, and avoiding her laptop.

It was my great pleasure and honor to interview my traveling companion and co-producer of the “Living an Organic & Orgasmic Life” tour, Yvette Summers.

The Natural Healers

We have been on this amazing European adventure for the last 3 months, and together practicing the mindset of “living an organic and orgasmic life.” Yvette is the most positive person I have ever met in my life, and I have watched her lift the spirits of everyone she meets. In this interview, I explored with her how she stays so happy and upbeat. I have observed as she spreads her love and laughter wherever she goes. On this podcast, she also shares the amazing story behind the collaboration of “The Natural Healers.”  Listen in…

Yvette Summers

Yvette is a musicologist and percussionist who has worked with Grammy Award Winning artists, Herbie Hancock, Bill Summers, and Los Hombres Calientes, to name a few. Her exotic and sensual dancing and singing will uplift your spirits and make you feel good. Her background includes studying with Master Percussionists from all over the world. Her knowledge of the African Diaspora allows her to take you on a journey including the cultures of Brazil, Cuba and New Orleans.

To learn more about Yvette and “The Natural Healers” go to www.myspace.com/yvettesummers and www.myspace.com/thenaturalhealers.

This special podcast captures a few moments backstage with Simon Bartholomew and Jan Kincaid from “The Brand New Heavies.” Listen in to see what they have to say about the healing powers of music.

Coach Betty and Simon Bartholomew

Simon Bartholomew, guitarist to ‘The Brand New Heavies‘ is a modern day renaissance man of many talents and interests. One fan has described Bartholomew’s guitar playing as: “a timely late 90s reminder that the guitar can be a delicately versatile tool, percussive and fluid as required…” However, this is not the only talent that Bartholomew possesses; his dexterity goes far beyond the mere strings of a guitar. Since forming ‘The Heavies’ (as he affectionately likes to call then) with school mates Andrew and Jay, Bartholomew has been involved in numerous other bands including ‘Akimbo’ and ‘1ibear’, both of whom are from the same acid jazz genre. Surprisingly, however, when asked what his own musical influences are Bartholomew discloses that he is secretly a bit of a rocker. To learn more about Simon, read more: www.myspace.com/sybarmy#ixzz0utHkz99K

Jan Kincaid and Yvette Summers

A pioneer of the London Acid Jazz scene, Jan Kincaid translated his love for the funk grooves of the seventies into a sophisticated sound championing classic soul in an era dominated by Hip-Hop. The Brand New Heavies was originally an instrumental unit inspired by the James Brown and Meters records its members heard while clubbing the Rare Groove scene in vogue at the time.

When Jan played live in the USA he hypnotised audiences that hadn’t seen a live drummer in a long time, but especially impressed were the rap community who saw a drummer playing grooves that rappers would usually sample from old 70’s records. Legendary R&B artist Ray Charles was so impressed with the BNHs that he invited the band to play his 50th anniversary in the music biz.

The “Living an Organic & Orgasmic Life” tour continues in Frankfurt, Germany with 4 LIVE shows from August 12th – 15th. This 90 minute unique event combines conversation, music and dance to edu-tain you about how to return to your true inner nature.

Coach Betty shares her own personal healing story, and quotes and shares expertise from her amazing guests on CoachBettyLIVE.com. The Natural Healers, Yvette Summers, Inor Sotolongo and Fa7, weave in their musical and dancing talents to demonstrate the power of natural healing.

The venue is a quaint Ethiopian restaurant in the arts district of Frankfurt, Kulter & Kunstraum Lalibela e.V. These memorable shows will leave you with a smile as you experience a taste of what is possible when you tap into your inner good juice. See below for all the details.

Coach Betty with Ferricia Fatia

My special guest on this podcast, Ferricia Fatia, is a dynamic singer and passionate spokesperson for love and peace through her music. She can make you laugh and cry as she taps into her inner power and belts out her message. In her vision of a healthy world she speaks of getting healthy herself first…gee, where have we heard that before? Her laugh, her spirit, and her intelligence articulated so beautifully will entice you to listen to more…

Ferricia is a singer, composer, author and poet.  She wants her art to bring life and not simply imitate or modify it.   The musical quality and the conscience of Alice and John Coltrane, Abbey Lincoln, Rachelle Ferrell, The Roots, Gill Scott Heron, AACM, and many others influenced her artistic approach.  She likes to collaborate in an eclectic way with artists and organizations in the genres of jazz, hip hop or gospel to help the artists and the audiences open their hearts and their spirits.  To learn more about Ferricia and her incredible work, go to www.myspace.com/keepersofka.

Fa7 and Inor Sotolongo

This special podcast highlights musicians, Fa7 and Inor Sotolongo, who are both part of the “Living an Organic and Orgasmic Life” tour. Together with Yvette Summers, they have created a new group called The Natural Healers, and are spreading their good music to the world. On this interview, both Fa7 and Inor describe the beginnings of their musical careers, AND what an organic and orgasmic life means to them. Inor, Fa7 and Yvette (The Natural Healers) all know the healing power of music, and this professional ensemble will express it through their amazing collaboration which started from internet communication with each other.

Listen in…

Inor was born in La Habana , Cuba in 1971. He began playing the congas  (US name) or tumbadoras (cuban and original name) at 2 years old, and then went on to study music as part of his education. Its rigorous academic formation, allowed him to respond to the diverse musical neccesities. His music is based on experimentation in all the scopes of music, with a limitless percussion. He experiences as composer and arranger give him an opportunity to bring even more elements of its creative universe on the basis of the essential : the cuban music enriched by the universal music and vice versa.

To find out more, go to myspace.com/inorsotolongo.

Fa7 is a musician and artist in France and travels extensively visiting Europe and Africa, making friends in passage with people of all social and geographical origins. His guitar and his song writing are his expression and vision for how to assist healing the world which encircles it. One of the many wonderful qualities of Fa7 is that he composes all of his music in nature.

Always nomadic mind…learn more about Fa7 and his music on myspace.com/fa7music.

The Natural Healers

Check out “The Natural Healers” as they spread their love throughout the world…in a very organic and orgasmic way!

My special guest on this podcast is Nat Jones. Nat’s fascinating story started in New York City where his parents were in show business and so he naturally followed that path as well. His first stage appearance was at 4 years of age, and moved to Los Angeles soon after where he appeared on TV star at the age of 7. He shared that the show biz lifestyle made him a good living, but he continued to search for true meaning for his life. He learned from his searching that the meaning happens from the inside out. His story of how he healed from crippling depression, with the help of a skilled therapist, will inspire you to never give up. His insights are profound and so in line with CoachBettyLIVE.com.

Listen in…

Nat Jones with Coach Betty

“I was very happy to be on the program with Nat Jones at the Enghien Jazz Festival 2004. I was dazzled not only by the beauty of his voice but also by his charisma on scene. A dazzling purity and truth emanate from this artist.  He is certainly a great hope of the jazz in France.” –Director Blandine HARMELIN of Enghien Jazz Festival.

“Nat has not only one enchaning voice, soft like velvet, but its honesty and its passion of the music always offers a new direction to each song which it interprets. It is a gift…” –Diane REEVES

To listen to his music and learn more, go to www.myspace.com/natmjones.

Curtis Young is living in Paris, France teaching, writing and sharing his favorite city with the travelers that come through. His story is one of following his heart and instincts, and what makes sense to his inner being. His life has been very organic and orgasmic. You will hear him share much of the same message you have heard from me over the years.

Listen to his inspiring story of incredible strength, integrity and intelligence.

Curtis Young & his Son at the Oval Office Rose Garden

Curtis began telling stories in his early teen-aged years growing up in Chicago. He entertained his friends for hours with the stories that he would invent spontaneously with them always begging for more. He began writing professionally as an advertising copywriter for the Leo Burnett agency in Chicago, and then moved to Young & Rubicam in New York. His final job, before moving to California, was as Senior Vice-President, Creative Director, for Burrell Communications in Chicago…all this for a high school drop out!!

He then began a career of freelance writing, and wrote a newsletter for Honda Motor Company dealers in Los Angeles, and was a columnist for a Buddhist newspaper, “The World Tribune” for a number of years.

Curtis Young with Mme. Ségolène Royal

He went on to UCLA as a graduate student of European History, and has written and published a number of scholarly papers.

He is writing his first novel, “16 rue Rambuteau” a love letter to Paris, which includes a contemporary mystery involving misappropriated property during the 18th century, and the protagonist 21st century efforts to see that justice is done. It is planned for publishing in 2012.

You can see that this man has an amazing story…what amazing story are you creating in your life?

As I have traveled throughout France, John Gray and his Mars/Venus work are well known. This interview, originally done in December, 2009, is being re-posted because of the universal nature of his message. His experience coaching and counseling 1000’s of women and men and relationships provided insights that can radically shift the way we relate to each other on the planet as men and women. Listen in as John speaks to the importance of women’s happiness and how it relates to the way we care for our planet, Mother Earth.

Dr. John Gray

John Gray was a Certified Family Therapist for over 15 years and has been conducting personal growth seminars for over thirty years.

His unique focus is assisting men and women in understanding, respecting and appreciating their differences.

To learn more about John and his latest book, ‘Why Mars and Venus Collide‘ go to MarsVenus.com.

Listen in to this podcast interview with AyiTe, a beautiful man, musician and communicator of the natural healing message of music. He is African French living outside Paris, and is a professional who has been playing since he was 7 years old. He shares his experience of how the natural rhythms of African music can get us in touch with what is real and important.

AyiTe

AyiTe is a guitarist and a singer, based in Paris, born from a Togolese father and a French mother. He was raised with both the African and European culture, sharing time between the two countries growing up. He began to play the piano early as his mother was a piano teacher. He began the guitar at 16 and then moved to France.

He started playing in many local groups and worked hard to improve his skills on the guitar as well as his vocal abilities. He has worked with some of the greatest world music artists like Angelique Kidjo, Xalam, and Wasis Diop to mention a few. He performs at most major European, Australian and US World Music Festivals.

AyiTe & Coach Betty

What you hear on the podcast is a song from his first record “Ofra“, a song titled  ”Cape Of Good Hope,” telling about South Africa, the breathtaking place where the black continent meets both the Atlantic and Indian Oceans in an Organic and Orgasmic fusion.

His new record “Togoville” is due soon, and contains songs in English, French and Mina, telling his very own vision of the universality of music,through stories inspired by his childhood in Togo and in France, and  his experiences when travelling world wide later as a musician.

To hear a sample of his music, go to www.myspace.com/oayit.

Listen in to this WOA Baby about Rheumatoid Arthritis on the rise, and the recent study from the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR).

Back to the 18th century, orgasms (with vibrators) have been prescribed for healing. My own path of RA has led me to use orgasms for relief of pain. That is why this is such a WOA Baby for me…RA is on the rise and sexual difficulties with RA patients who are taking medication is a double negative in my mind. I am not against pharmaceutical medication as it has provided much relief for me over the 20+ years I have had pain. However, there are many other ways I have experienced that can help…including sexual orgasms. I have carried that further to adopt an attitude of living an organic and orgasmic life!

Want more details…email me…coachbetty@coachbettylive.com.

Let’s unite and reverse these trends of pain, and turn it into pleasure!

Biodanza ‘The dance of life’ is an intense moment of being alive and feeling pleasure in the here and now. It reinforces self esteem, allowing us to develop our genetic potentials of  vitality, creativity, affectivity, sexuality and transcendence. In a sacred space, move and dance to warm rhythms and sweet melodies. Dissolve tensions, find  harmony and balance to body, mind, spirit. The system is integrative, enabling us to let go of fear and open up to new ways of being, finding  joy and love and feeling more alive than ever before. Developed in the 60’s by South American anthropologist/physiologist Rolando Toro and now taught worldwide. A dance-based system that is simple and fun, open to everyone, yet profound and life-changing.

Lyndsay Granveau with Coach Betty

My special guest, Lyndsay Granveau, talks about how this experience uses music from all over the world, has no particular steps, and invites you to self express learning about yourself as an individual and as part of a group. The first time I heard of it was when I came to France…listen in to learn more…

Biodanza Outside

Lyndsay Granveau is English-Jamaican and has chosen France as her home. She describes herself as a wife, teacher, musician, songwriter, daughter, traveller, friend, and mother of two lovely daughters. She is passionate, dynamic, feminine and gentle as you will hear on the podcast. She welcomes Biodanza participants to experience and express the vital force of life within and around in a fun and profound way. She loves to celebrate life and her workshops are open to everyone and are full of joy. Lyndsay offers weekend workshops in Narbonne & Carcassonne (South of France).

Lyndsay Granveau
Association Music-Emotion
biodanza.aude@gmail.com
Tel : (0033) 468 49 09 11
www.vivremieux.org