Archive for category Inspiration
A Beautiful Bodega Bay Beach Break!-via Santa Rosa Design
Posted by Irene Turner in Inspiration, Nature, Personal Style & Well being on August 26, 2010
Running, running, running. It’s what I’ve been doing lately. So Monday, when I was out in Bodega Bay for a couple of meetings I found myself thinking…I need a break. Sitting in my car I thought, go home and write, or seize the moment and take that break. Break it was.
We finally got our summer on the Sonoma coastline…it was 80 degrees, the sun was out, the water was blue, as was the sky. It was one of those miraculous days. I drove slowly along the coast, stopping at some of my favorite haunts and simply sitting or walking along for a bit. There were birds everywhere. It’s no accident that Hitchcock filmed the movie “The Birds” here. The sea lions were basking in the sun on their favorite rock, their incessant barking sounding like a group of harpy women at a coffee clutch. And best of all, the whales came close to shore to dance and play with us mere mortals! There were at least 10 of them. Two of which looked like babies, swimming and cavorting up and back again. Birds and Sea Lions and Whales…Oh My!
I was in 7th heaven. I moved here to slow down and get off that fast pace treadmill. Sometimes I forget and get caught up in the speed of daily life. But living where I do, I am quickly reminded that I can choose to stop…and smell the roses. Beauty does that for me. I need my Beauty Breaks!
Taking the time to savor the simple beauty within our own environment, the nature around us…beauty that we often no longer see in the repetitiveness of everyday life is refreshing, uplifting and helps us to slow down and savor simple pleasures. It is a well-known fact that beauty uplifts people. If we surround ourselves with beauty…Nature, good food, good wine, friends and family, gratitude, music, and other various expressions of the sweetness of life, we ennoble ourselves as well as our environment.
What do you do to slow down? What beauty is around you that can uplift your day and your spirit? Leave a comment and let me know.
In the meantime, come take a walk with me along our beautiful coastline, here in Bodega Bay.
Anusara Yoga-a movie review
Posted by Irene Turner in Inspiration, Personal Style & Well being on August 23, 2010
Anusara (a-nu-sar-a), means “flowing with Grace,” “flowing with Nature,” “following your heart.”
I recently experienced a movie at the Sausalito Film Festival. I say experienced because that’s what it was for me…A true experience. It began with a jam packed 1 1/2 hour Anusara Yoga class lead by the divine Ms. Laura Christensen who brought an additional excitement and awareness to the event with a practical application first. Then…the launch of the film which brought in even more people. All this was held in the magnificent setting of the BEAUTIFUL Mission Bay Church at Fort Baker and Cavallo Point and was filled with so many wonderful people and great energy that it was truly a wonderful and complete experience.
Written, directed and produced by Saraswati Clere, Anusara Yoga, the Heart of Transformation is an uplifting look at real transformation…that which happens in the heart. Ms. Clere knows what she speaks of…she is a life long yoga student and the owner of YogaKula, a studio in Berkeley and San Francisco. I call it a studio as it is much more then what we traditionally think of as yoga class. Yogakula is dedicated to helping people live healthier and more fulfilling lives. Believing in an integrated approach to overall well being, YogaKula offers yoga, pilates, holistic health treatments and workshops. And, of course they offer classes and trainings in the Anusara Yoga style. YogaKula is definitely a holistic approach to health and exercise, appealing to the mind, body and spirit all at once.
Anusara Yoga was founded by John Friend in 1997. While only 13 years old it is one of the most highly respected and fastest growing schools of hatha yoga in North America with an expanding presence in the UK, Europe, Japan, and Australia. It has three basic tenents:
- Tantric Vision-with it’s philosophy of auspiciousness and goodness…a yogic approach to daily life in the world
- Universal Principles of Alignment-a guide to channeling our energy to be more life enhancing and life affirming
- Community-with the feeling of family and support that extends way beyond the mat
I’ve been practicing yoga since 1989, and while I and my body know that I thrive when my practice is strong I could never tell you why. Anusara Yoga, the Heart of Transformation, was not only a visually beautiful movie, but incredibly informative as to the benefits of yoga on all levels, and…inspiring to all of us who saw it, even those who do not currently practice yoga. I’ve had the great good fortune to have taken Anusara yoga classes taught by John Friend and can personally tell you, that for me it:
- helps me to slow down
- strengthens my body
- focuses my mind
- makes me more flexible
- more balanced
- increases my feeling of inner peace
- expands my understanding of a yogic approach to life
- and it’s beautiful
Personally, yoga is the core of my exercise program, and also my meditative practice. It is what carries me through life. It is what helps me to be in harmony and slow down. In fact, I’d say it teaches me how to be comfortable with slowness. Yoga retrains my body and mind and helps me shift into a lower gear. It cultivates an inner calm that I take with me into the more hectic moments of the day . One of the key benefits of decelerating is that it gives me the time and tranquility to look inside myself, to listen to my heart, and to get in touch with my soul.
For those of you who want to know more about yoga, whether you practice or not…or want to find a way to explain to your friends and family why you love it so…I highly recommend this movie! You can purchase it through the YogaKula website.
Since the release of this moving film, Ms. Clere is working on another movie, one that talks about women from all walks of life and their experience of transformation through or with yoga. I can’t wait to see it…Kudos and cheers to Ms. Clere and her dedication to helping people transform!
It’s definitely a Little Bit of Beauty™!
What do you do to help you slow down? I’d love to know…
Is it Technology, Energy or our Mind?-via Energetics of Space™
Posted by Irene Turner in Inspiration, Product on August 12, 2010
I have always been fascinated by the unseen and the interaction between our mind, our body and our physical world. It’s why I’ve created a system I call Energetics of Space™ (or ESp), my theory that everything is interconnected and interacts through energy, even design.
Recently I read about two technological designs that seem to verify my thoughts…one is coming out soon, and the second one is currently on the market. These completely captivate me and seem to be further evidence of the interaction between all energy, whether physical or not.
The first one is a 3-D sensing device called the PrimeSensor™ which will be available this November via the X-box 360. I first read about this in Fast Company a couple of weeks ago…This technology will soon be found everywhere from hospitals to cars.
The PrimeSensor™ Reference Design is a box that is able to perceive the world in three dimensions and to translate these perceptions into commands that can control TV’s, computers, cars etc. The solution includes a sensor component, which observes the scene ( us users and our surroundings), and a perception component, or brain, which comprehends the user interaction within these surroundings. Imagine this scene, as described by Giovanni Calabro in his article for Fast Company Design entitled “Gesture-Sensing Tech Will Soon Change Our Everyday Lives”.
After a long day at work I walk out to my car; it recognizes me and opens without a key. After I sit in my car, my height and weight are registered and the airbags adjust accordingly for safe deployment. After driving a while I start to nod off. The movement of my head is registered and Michael McDonald’s “What a Fool Believes” plays full blast to wake me. When I arrive at home, I stand in front of my entertainment system and gesture to initiate interaction. It recognizes my face and pulls up my contacts rather than my wife’s. Using just my hands, I flip through my contacts, select one, and begin video conferencing with him.
Take a look!…
The second product which is currently on the market is called the mind lamp™, a new ambient LED lamp that looks a bit like a re-designed lava lamp and moves between deep hues of white, red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue, purple, and magenta. Being a color addict you can imagine that this just gets my YaYa’s going! AND…perhaps the most interesting feature of the Mind Lamp™, is that several research bodies have found significant evidence that the human mind can have an organizing effect on random systems. In other words, evidence suggests that the Mind Lamp™ can be influenced by consciousness – our subjective thoughts, moods, and intention. The ultimate mood ring…YES [fist pump]!
Take a look at this…
So, what do you think? Like? Not Like? Do you believe that energy can interact this way? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comment section below…
Home Altars-via Santa Rosa Interior Design
Posted by Irene Turner in Home, Inspiration, Spirit on August 6, 2010
If you were to ask people if they have altars in their homes or gardens, most of them, at least here in the United States, would automatically say no. The word “altar” makes many people feel uncomfortable. Most people equate the term altar with religious or spiritual meaning. And with the exception of Roman Catholicism, most Western religions, Judaism, Islam, and many sects of Protestant Christianity, have equated religious imagery with idolatry.
And yet most of us have altars, as I think of them, in our homes. If you rephrase the question and ask: “Do you have a place, or several places, in your home where you put family photos and other mementos, like shells, a favorite rock, flowers, or well loved collections?” most people would answer yes.
An altar can simply be a display of meaningful things or a place where you come to reflect on the things you truly value, that you set up in tribute to some cherished feeling. The objects on an altar are often symbols of larger ideas. Even family photographs are not just about the people themselves but also about your feelings toward that family, community, love, and friendship. It’s also a statement to those visiting your home as to what is important to you. To me it is a display that is set up with intention and full consciousness. Just a few example of altars or displays you could set up are:
- Family
- Fertility
- Abundance
- Nature
- Seasonal
- Health
- Love
- Beauty
- Spiritual or Religious
I realize that in my home we have “altars” everywhere. As a meditator I actually do have a meditation altar I visit every morning to start off my day. I have a visualization board in my office which I would call a manifestation altar. We have family photos in our main hallway and on our living room bookshelves. My husband, being a long time musician, has his collection of guitars lovingly displayed on the wall in his office and on stands around the house. I have fresh herbs and nature goodies displayed on my kitchen window sill. We have statues in our garden surrounded by flowers and other offerings, and I am surrounded by pictures of my family and friends here in my office as I write this.
I think it’s less important how you set your altar up, and more about how it makes you feel. For me my “altars” are an expression of our life individually and together, the things we are grateful for and a place for me to pause and reflect. All of which is important to me to help keep me balanced and with my eye on what is important in my life.
Do you have altars in your home? What are they? Share your ideas and thoughts here by leaving your comment below. I look forward to hearing from you.
Check out these altars…
Loving MC Yogi-Inspiration from Santa Rosa Interior Design
Posted by Irene Turner in Inspiration on July 12, 2010
Bear with me as I use music’s influence as a Little Bit of Beauty one more time. Those of you who follow here, know I LOVE an inspiring story! My latest and greatest craze…MC YOGI…formerly known as Nicholas Giacomini.
MC Yogi grew up in the Bay area painting graffiti & listening to hip hop Inspired by artists like The Beastie Boys & Run DMC, he began writing raps and freestyling for friends at house parties. Spending most of high school in a group home for at-risk youth, hip hop culture provided both a soundtrack and a creative outlet. Then at age eighteen, he discovered yoga.
On a whim, he joined his father for a yoga and meditation intensive with a famous spiritual teacher from India. Deeply moved by this powerful experience, MC YOGI devoted himself to learning everything he could about the ancient discipline. He began studying the physical forms of yoga, as well as meditation, philosophy, and devotional chanting.
Today he is a rapper with a spiritual and political consciousness. He is the writer and singer of Grassroots Movements, used by Starbucks as their theme song promoting local volunteerism. He’s wrote a politically inspired song for the last presidential election, Vote For Hope. And recently he came out with a song for Universal Health Care.
Being a yogi and spiritual seeker myself I of course LOVE his Hip Hop Hinduism…where he combines sacred chants and storytelling in rap form. By combining his knowledge of yoga with his love for hip hop music, MC YOGI is creating an exciting new sound that brings the wisdom of yoga to a whole new generation of modern mystics and urban yogis.
My passion for one world music AND a one world, spirituality, hot new trends, and people who care enough to want to make a change, all draw me to MC YOGI. He is a young man who comes from his heart, uses his gift, and makes a difference. You have to admit, there is a whole lot of beauty in that!
I have so many favorites it was hard to edit…but I got it down to three…YEA!
The First is GIVE LOVE, all about giving love to get love
The second one is BE THE CHANGE, about Mahatma Gandhi’s life
the third is GANESH IS FRESH, the story of Lord Ganesh
My question to you is, what are you doing with your gifts to make a difference and to be a change agent?
Be the change that you want to see! Mahatma Gandhi
Namaste
A Sonoma Experience-CornerStone
Posted by Irene Turner in Inspiration, Nature on June 30, 2010
One of my favorite places to visit, either by myself or to take guests is CornerStone Sonoma. Located on the outskirts of the town of Sonoma on Rt. 121, it is truly an experience not to be missed.
It all revolves around a series of walk-through gardens showcasing new and innovative designs from the world’s finest landscape architects and designers. When commissioned, these artists were given the freedom to create anything from traditional gardens to modern, conceptual installations. They are inspiring, tranquil and can just plain tickle your fancy!
CornerStone is also a chance to indulge in the best of wine country living. There are unique retail shops and galleries, 3 fabulous wine tasting rooms, and seasonal culinary delights and locally produced specialty foods to eat in or take away.
The shops include Artefact Design and Salvage (One of my favorite for unusual and unique pieces that I incorporate into many of my interior design projects), Zipper (filled with great gifts and unique home products), a couple of terrific garden stores, and a fabulous modern art & sculpture gallery called A New Leaf. If you like more traditional antiques, be sure to head just down the street to Sonoma Country Antiques and check out the great French and English one of a kind pieces and well made reproductions!
CornerStone also offers the opportunity to hold events there, and is a particularly fabulous location for outdoor weddings in a beautiful wine country setting.
If you haven’t been there yet be sure to visit this unique and inspiring place. There are so many Little Bits of Beauty, either things or ideas that you can take home with you! Check it out and let me know what you think.
The Summer of Color! a view from Santa Rosa Interior Design
Posted by Irene Turner in Color, Inspiration on June 10, 2010
Now here is an inspirational project and a colorful one at that. I read about this on the Let’s Colour blog, one of my favorites! It’s called the Summer of Color and is happening right now in Los Angeles, CA. By the end of September the LA County lifeguard towers will all be transformed into a collective work of art, a span that ranges from Zuma Beach to San Pedro.
Summer of Color is run by the organization Portraits of Hope which is the culmination of the efforts of nearly 6,000 children in schools, hospitals, and social service programs – and more than 2,500 adult volunteers – who have participated in the initiative’s program activities, which included the painting of the panels now installed on the walls and roof tops of the towers.
Portraits of Hope was founded by Ed Massey and Bernie Massey in 1995, and continued their utilization of art and poignant visual imagery for large-scale projects of social consequence.
Developed initially for seriously ill and physically disabled children, this program conceives and develops one-of-a-kind motivational art projects that merge the production of dynamic public art works with creative therapy for hospitalized children and civic education for students of all ages.
Today Portraits of Hope includes a core education program that focuses on social issues education, and projects that serve as creative therapy for children and adults coping with serious health and physical conditions. Portraits of Hope has provided children and adults facing cancer, burn trauma, spinal injuries, HIV/AIDS, head and brain injuries, and other serious medical issues with innovative, fun, and therapeutic activities that let them enjoy and take pride in themselves during the course of their medical care and/or rehabilitative treatments.
Some of their public projects to date are: a Garden in Transit that painted the NYC taxicabs and turned them into driving flower gardens; to painting Blimps, race cars, barges, New Orleans Schools and Buildings, and creating vibrant panels which were shipped to rape crisis centers, rehabilitative centers, hospitals, senior care facilities and other human service facilities.
FYI…want a pair of boardshorts as a personal style statement and to reflect these fabulous designs? Visit Shortomatic and buy one of their colorful patterns, or get creative and design your own! Then you can be a part of the Summer of Color for years to come.
Once again, color, art add a little beauty and uplift the world.
Can you support this colorful project by transforming your own space in the color of Hope?
Sculpture, Mosaic and Gardening-a view from Santa Rosa Interior Design
Posted by Irene Turner in Art, Inspiration, Nature on May 18, 2010
Photo by John Burgess, Santa Rosa Press Democrat
…you have to give life to the things you create…Peter Crompton
Sunday I went on a spring garden and house tour here in West County Sonoma. A fund raiser for a great local organization, Food for Thought, I was inspired and stimulated creatively by each and everyone of the fabulous gardens I visited. But by far, my favorite was the Sculpture Garden.
Peter and Robyn Spencer Crompton are the creators of these hidden treasures that rise out of and are part of mythical and magical gardens designed by Kamala Crompton.
Peter is a sculpture and freelance theatrical designer. His body of work includes Ballet, opera, musicals, contemporary and period drama, experimental works, and several world premieres. As one of the most sought after designers in the San Francisco Bay area, He works for many Bay area companies including, Festival Opera, Marin Theater Company, Revels, Napa Valley College Lamplighters, Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival, Opera San Jose and Willows.
Robyn is an internationally exhibited quilt maker and theatrical costume designer. Robyn has found mosaics to offer the physical manifestation of the mythological spirit that inspires her. Her garden sculpture is created to give voice to the “mysteries of life that have no other language”.
Together and independently they create these magnificent sculptures. Peter sculpts the forms and together Robyn and Peter create a concrete surface strengthened with polymer fibers and additives. Then it’s up to Robyn to clad the forms in mosaic materials utilizing glass and found objects. To her it is the part she likes best. “It’s where meaningful content and glistening surfaces join elegance of form creating something significant as well as beautiful.”
All I can tell you is that I felt transported by the beauty and the fantasy, and totally rejuvenated by the sanctuary of this garden. Thanks to Kamala, Peter and Robyn for a magical afternoon!
Photo by John Burgess, Santa Rosa Press Democrat
Come and take a walk through their own personal garden…the story starts 37 seconds in. Their art is also available for sale. Enjoy!
“Gutsy Gals Inspire Me!”-not just for girls…
Posted by Irene Turner in Inspiration on May 4, 2010
As a woman, did you have a female role model as a child?
I didn’t. I mean, other then my mother. I didn’t really grow up with other female relatives and I didn’t know a woman who inspired me and who I wanted to be when I grew up? No. Unfortunately, there weren’t many women I was exposed to, or historically that we were taught about in school.
I skipped the mother role myself and went straight to the grandmother role…yes, it can be done, marry someone with children of their own and become a grandmother! So, now that I have this beautiful grand daughter …I want her to grow up inspired by all the women in her life, and know that she can do and be anything she wants to be!
From a friends post on Face Book, I heard about Gutsy Gals Inspire Me. It is an inspirational media company that honors women of the past and showcases women of the present to provide positive, female role models to children and adults. They collaborate with industry veterans, as well as up-and-coming talent. Their vision is one where women of all ages, no matter what their situation or circumstance, feel confident to live their own lives through examples of possibility.
“I believe in the word ‘possibility.’ With possibility … can’t becomes can. Complicated becomes simple. Challenge becomes opportunity. I believe in driving your destiny, realizing your dream, and if the rules don’t work—challenge them.” Deborah Hutchinson, Founder of Gutsy Gals
Deborah is teaming up with a cadre of leading media professionals and she plans to inspire people of all ages—with a special emphasis on girls and women—to follow their calling and promote positive female role models for all! Now this is an idea I can get behind!
My grand daughter has three Grand Mothers, three Great Grandmothers, an aunt, and of course her mother, all with in 20 minutes of her. She will be surrounded by female love and role modeling. I want her to be inspired by us all…and, to be introduced to Women Role models across the world…other then Disney princesses. Gutsy Gals Inspire Me provides valuable media tools with their untold legacies of women in history and of today who impact our lives, and tells their stories in a way that educates, inspires and entertains! They do this through:Animated Films, Middle Grade Novels, Collectible Biographies, Children’s Picture Books, Teaching Guides and Games.
It’s a beautiful thing to mentor or role model for a young child, in my case, my grand daughter. And, when I have grand sons…I want to do the same for them, so they will feel comfortable with, and choose Gutsy Gals for themselves!
Do you have a young person you could introduce to Gutsy Gals…besides yourself?
-
You are currently browsing the archives for the Inspiration category.
Don't make these mistakes! Free downloadable report reveals
The 5 BIG Mistakes
you must avoid when hiring an Interior Designer.
We will NEVER rent, trade, or release your information to any third party for any reason - ever. We respect YOUR privacy. Connect with Irene
Networked Blogs
