Dear Friends,

It's wonderful to connect with you again. So many thoughts and experiences have flooded my heart, mind and body. It's time to share.

As the season of summer is coming to the place where seasons change and the fall equinox is upon us...we can celebrate by showing appreciation for what we have harvested in our lives.

I encourage you to take the time to acknowledge what the energy of fall means to you. We can celebrate this time where there are equal hours of day and night in both hemispheres...where we can come together and meditate with Tonglen awareness...breathe in the darkness...breathe out the light...you may focus on yourself...your family...your friends...strangers that you pass on the street...strangers you never see...perceived enemies...people who provoke you...all people on the planet...etc. Tonglen is a meditation that teaches that we can breathe in the pain and breathe out the healing. During the fall equinox...we can use Tonglen to deepen our experience to connect to humanity...celebrating our sameness...celebrating love and peace within ourselves...ready to share with others.

May we take this special time and reflect on what has come before us that provides a pathway of bountiful wisdom...a time to give thanks for all that has been given to us...including the obstacles that may seem so confusing at the time...obstacles that can include illness....loss of life...financial woes ...devastation on any level...etc. May we honor our experiences...may we learn from them...may we listen with a kind heart and may that wisdom we gain, allow us to open our hearts even more.

There are several yoga studios who are participating in the Global Mala Celebration. Due to this special time for me personally...I'm not able to share
this celebration with you in person through yoga or/and spirit dance. However, my heart and intention is to take the time in meditation to honor this special event and it's deep meaning. If you would like to participate in person or in your meditation...please google Global Mala and see how you may participate.

UPDATE:

Last month I completed 11 chemotherapies...8 of those cycles included a two drug therapy of Carboplatin and Taxol. The last 3 cycles were part of a maintenance plan of Taxol only. The original plan was to complete one year of Taxol only. Last month ...I wrote in my journal that I was done with chemo. I wanted to be sure that I was not making an emotional decision so I went ahead and did one more...which was last month... I still feel clear in my thinking body as well as my emotional body and I have made the decision to stop chemotherapy.

I have been cancer free from the beginning of the first chemo and have continued to stay consistent. I'm starting to feel the toxicity of the drugs...intuitively I know it's time to take a break. While I don't know what the future holds for me re: cancer...I do know that I am ready to embrace the many paths that provide continued healing ... intuitively and intelligently I chose chemo and intuitively and intelligently I'm choosing to stop.

Dr. Bahador supports my decision. He has been a healer from the first moment I met him. He represents the possibility of a Dr./patient relationship...a relationship built on mutual trust and respect....a caring loving human who happens to be an oncologist/surgeon...a Dr. who is also intuitive ...who allows his intelligence to make space for that intuition ...he provides his patients the space we need to make our decisions with his intelligence ...his experiences...our mutual wisdom...our mutual intuition...our mutual respect. His humbleness makes him the special and gifted Physician that he is...I am proud to know him...I am blessed to have him as my Dr. and friend.

If you are so inclined to feel fear from my decision...please take a moment and change that fear into healing love. I'm clear about my decision and this is the time I need you to continue your powerful healing energy. Please see me clear... healthy ... happy and vibrant...see me transparent and full of clear white light...or any healing color that comes to mind. Continue to lift me and surround me with your amazing love!!!

My health will continue to be monitored by monthly blood tests... and check-ups with Dr. Bahador...I will continue to have my normal check-ups that include mammograms...MRI's that will monitor my progress ...liver checks ...pelvic checks...soon...a colonoscopy...all of those tests that we all get...and yes...I will continue to write my book...our book with Dr. Bahador. I meet with Dr. Bahador this Friday to celebrate this decision.

One year ago I was diagnosed and have had amazing experiences this year...I was on my way last October to attend a Qigong teacher training in Ashland, Oregon. I was not able to attend as all of you know...I was on my way to surgery instead.

GREAT NEWS!!!!
I'm going to attend the Qigong Teacher Training this year...celebrating one year cancer free and my intention to be a Qigong teacher...as you know ...I have always blended Qigong energy into my classes from the beginning of my career and have lived Qigong energy in my life from my first memory. Now ...I will have the opportunity to bring Qigong into my life at a deeper level...

This training will provide me the ability to take my own healing to a deeper level while at the same time incorporate the wisdom of Qigong by learning from a Master and by opening myself to become a more in tune teacher ...available to teach others...to awaken the knowing that we can all heal ourselves and others...this is not a situation of instead of ...this is learning to integrate our wisdom in a more profound way.The workshops that I attend are available to anyone...the teacher training aspect is also available to anyone but not necessary to incorporate Qigong into your own life.

If ...you would like more information on Qigong...including workshops and classes...please visit: www.chicenter.com ...Master Gu (Mingtong) and his wife Linling are available to guide you ...

You may also visit Fay Mcgrew for local classes and general information as well... www.qigongwithfaymcgrew.com

I will be out of town on retreat and teacher training between October 12th- 21st.

MORE GREAT NEWS!!!!


I'm negotiating with a few locations to bring back my group classes!!! Ill let you know as soon as I know the details of location(s) and class times!!! Thank you for your recommendations on location ideas...it has been very helpful!!! My plan is to bring back all classes by November of 2007.

At this moment...

I'm still teaching the private resident group class in Fairbanks Ranch...Spirit Tone includes the blend of Pilates mat...yoga...resistance training with small weighted balls ...resistance tubing and other fun toys to allow for diversity. Meditation and Qigong techniques are also included.This class is full at this time ....the next series begins this tuesday....if you are interested please contact me and perhaps a drop-in option could be arranged.

I'm also training clients in my home studio and I continue to travel to clients homes and /or businesses. My home studio offers Pilates Reformer/ 1/2 trap/cadillac, wunda chair, pilates accessories, pilates mat, yoga, weight- training (traditional and/or pilates based and/or yoga based), meditation (various styles) Qigong (will be added as a class or/and personal training in November) and Tao Mentoring (life coach session).

I was recently diagnosed with "osteopenia" precursor to Osteoporosis...this diagnosis is a result of the instant menopause that was created by the surgery last year and by the chemo drugs ....as well as many other factors that contributed. Since my recent diagnosis I have done extensive research and can help anyone with information as well as training that is safe for either condition.

I will also provide a fact sheet in all of my future classes that will list precautions and movement options if you would like to participate in yoga and pilates but feel concerned about the contraindications. Unless a class is designated as a specialty class safe for osteoporosis or osteopenia...it may be a high risk for someone with progressed bone loss...it's very important that you take your health and well being into your own hands and educate yourself. With that said...there is an over-hype and excessive dramatization with how we have come to understand these conditions...we don't want to panic or to avoid living our lives because of fear. Education is key...including the healing work of Qigong,pilates and weight training geared for these conditions. Please let me know if I can help you with this.

....From my own personal health and wellness perspective...

I continue to integrate many things...meditation...qigong ...yoga...pilates... weight-training...hiking...biking indoors (at my home) soon to dance again with all of you!!! Buddhist and Toaist studies ongoing...formally and informally...Qigong teacher training...reading...writing...journaling...writing books...acupuncture with Dr. Tsai ( let me know if you want his info...he's been my friend and Dr. since Dr. Ni passed away...I love him) ...Healing sessions with various practitioners...drinking tea...tap dancing ( I love tap dancing...if you want info on tap dancing ...let me know...)...listening to music...making music...and yes...even some TV....diet has morphed from healthy to healthier...and more curious as I discovered some misunderstood allergies...at this time I am eating lots of raw fruits and veggies...vegan....brown rice and some cooked veggies ...still experimenting with it all as I learn more about me...I feel better since I eliminated gluten/wheat...all my food intake is soy free...dairy free...gluten/wheat free...egg free..and at this time meat free...vegan...I was eating fish ...experimenting not eating fish...I have mostly been a vegetarian from the time I was a little girl....at 16 years old I stopped eating all meat and later added fish and chicken back in and then went back to vegan again...I like experimenting with how I feel. My heart is a vegan...my body sometimes asks for options...we'll see how it goes.

I found the best raw food ..."The Greenery" behind Mozy's in Luecadia....open for lunch and dinner....they even offer biodegradable to go containers...they walk their talk...if you enjoy this type of food ...please support them...if you don't ....even more of a reason to explore this wonderful place...we can meet for a great meal sometime!!!

I am grateful and blessed to have all of you in my life...the love you have shared with me through prayer, blessings, food preparation, hospital visits... gifts in all forms...energy ...financial...specialty heart felt items...walking companions...email buddies...the list goes on and on and on...thank you for all that you have done and continue to do. I am here for you ...to support you to love you to offer you whatever you need...I am here lifting you as you have lifted me. May we all continue to live our lives with the intention of the highest good guiding us ...providing a light for us to follow when we lose our way...when we feel afraid...may we walk beside each other offering strength and love.

Namaste,
Summer