In This Issue...

Reflections
Upcoming Workshops and Events
News/Announcements
Mini-Reflection Exercise
This Issue's Sponsor

Reflections (by Tarisa Parrish, facilitator)

Ever have one of those days when everything seems to be moving faster than the speed of light? By mid-day, you’re left feeling dazed, confused and exhausted. I find that when I become aware of feeling this way, I need to listen to my body and fill its need to be re-centered, recharged and relaxed. With so much time and energy spent on the “go” it can be a special reward to take a few minutes out of our day to JUST BREATHE. You can stop, close your eyes and breathe deeply. Or, if you want a powerful boost, check out the mini-exercise which describes a technique called the 4/4 Energizing Breath from Kundalini Yoga. This can create a great “pick up” in your day. Try it before meals, meetings at work, or to avoid that late afternoon “pass-out syndrome.”

Use the mini-reflection exercise later in this newsletter to help you energize. Tarisa facilitates The Power of Commitment—Making or Breaking a Habit using a powerful approach that combines personal coaching with Kundalini Yoga.

Upcoming Workshops and Events

(click on workshop titles to view flyers)

Creativity & Tea: open creativity studio in St. Paul
Saturday, April 2 and the first Saturday of each month from 1-4 p.m. (Several times also available to groups—perfect for a fun gathering or celebration!) Host: Teresa Thomas-Carroll)

The Power of Commitment—Making or Breaking a Habit
Tuesday., April 12, 7:00 - 9:30 p.m. Facilitator: Tarisa Parrish

Creativity & Tea: open creativity studio in Shorewood
Saturday, April 16 and the third Saturday of each month from 1-4 p.m. (Or book your group for a morning or evening—perfect for a fun gathering or celebration!) Host: Janet Roper

Print registration form for workshops/events - or- Order Online

Looking Ahead at other Purple Crayon Factory presentations:

Celebrate Yourself! creative women’s retreat at Koinonia retreat center April 22-24. Sessions: Open Your Creativity! with Janet Roper & Creative Sustenance with Teresa Thomas-Carroll. For information, please contact Karen McCarthy at 651-351-7638. Register by April 8.

Time Well Spent! Women in Business conference, St. Cloud, Tuesday, April 26. Envisioning Your Ideal Future breakout session facilitated by Teresa Thomas-Carroll.

Mini Mom-Camp, Live Fully! event. Tuesday evening, April 26, 6-9 p.m. Body Confidence breakout session with Deborah Dora.

Art-a-Whirl art crawl, NE Minneapolis, May 20-21. Create a mini-collage with PCF, location TBA

Art as Spiritual Practice women’s retreat in Osceola, Wisconsin, June 3-5 with Susan Armington. Details to be announced. Contact PCF if interested in reserving your space.

Mom-Camp, September 29-October 1. Join PCF in breakout sessions to be announced.

News/Announcements

• Purple Crayon Factory (PCF) hosts WELLmet, a networking group for wellness, creative and spiritual practitioners. WELLmet meets the first Thursday of every month from 10:30-noon in PCF’s space at The Well, 2100 1st Avenue S, Mpls. Attend once or every month. If you are interested in attending or receiving information about meetings, please contact 612-722-6931 or teresa@purplecrayonfactory.com to receive invitations with more details.
  
  
• Mother’s Day is approaching. What better way to spend time together than relaxing with creativity and tea in an inspiring artist studio? Creativity & Tea! is the perfect thing to plan for the Saturday before Mother’s Day. We also offer gift certificates packaged as a thoughtful gift.
  
  
• To show appreciation to all of our clients, we are running a fun promotion through 2005. We are offering a gift certificate to any session of Creativity & Tea! to clients who book a workshop for their organization or register independently in two of our workshops. Share the gift certificate with someone you care about—how about yourself?
  
  
• Your thoughtful and generous support for Purple Crayon Factory is very appreciated. We are grateful to be in such good company and helping each other follow our dreams.
  
  
• PCF director, Teresa's interview on Happy Hour with Sandra Wakefield will be aired on the Minneapolis Television Network (MTN), cable channel 17, Friday, April 1 at 8:30 p.m., Sunday, April 10 at 8:30 p.m. and Thursday, April 14 at 7:00 p.m. Teresa shares how Purple Crayon Factory began, its mission, philosophy and vision.

Mini-Reflection Exercise

4/4 Energizing Breath

Sit with a straight spine cross-legged on the floor or in a chair with both feet on the floor. Firmly press your palms together at your heart with the fingers pointing up. Close your eyes and begin the Energizing Breath:

Inhale, breaking the breath into four equal parts of sniffs, filling the lungs completely on the fourth breath.

As you exhale, release the breath equally in four parts, emptying the lungs on the fourth.

On each part of both the inhale and exhale, pull the navel point toward the spine. (The stronger you pump the navel the more energy you will generate.)

Continue for 2-3 minutes.

To end, inhale deeply, press the palms together with force for 10-15 seconds. Create a tension in the whole body by pressing as hard as you can. Hold the breath as long as possible. Exhale powerfully and repeat the inhale, hold, press. Exhale, relax and allow the tension in the body to vanish.

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Subscriber Information

Purple Crayon Factory provides unique, refreshing workshops for participants to relax, reflect and creatively think through their personal and professional goals and dreams. Teresa Thomas-Carroll is the author of the newsletter and can be reached at 612-722-6931 or at 5116 31st Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55417 or by email at teresa@purplecrayonfactory.com.

Purple Crayon Factory respects your privacy and does not give out or sell subscriber names and/or email addresses. You are welcome to pass this newsletter to your friends and colleagues as long as the entire newsletter is kept intact. If this newsletter has been forwarded to you, you are welcome to sign up to receive your own copy at subscribe-956609963@ezinedirector.net. If you wish to be taken off this list simply send an email to remove-956609963@ezinedirector.net