This is the second blog in a series on Artist Date ideas.  An artist date is a powerful tool from the book and process “The Artist’s Way,” a creativity recovery process.  It is time you spend alone doing something that nourishes your soul.  Something just for you - mini-retreat of sorts.  In the Artist’s Way you do this weekly.   I try but am not always successful in keeping this frequency, so sometimes I take a whole day or afternoon to do something that THRILLS ME.  And I am sharing my date activities with you!

Recently I had an Ayurvedic Thai Yoga massage with Janet Love at Family Wellness Center in Midland, MI.  If you’re not familiar with Ayurveda, it is an ancient Indian approach to wellness that is based on prevention and treatment of illness through lifestyle practices (yoga, massage, meditation, dietary changes) and herbal remedies. The exact prescriptions for the above are based on doshas, or body types, and how to balance them.  I practiced Ayurveda some when I lived in California, but had not encountered anyone with Ayurvedic knowledge since returning to Midland.  I found that it made a big difference in my overall sense of well-being in my body.

Janet recently returned from Kripalu where she earned another certification in both yoga and Thai massage, in the field of Ayurveda.  In my session, she asked me a variety of questions to help me determine my predominant dosha, or body type.  Sometimes it can be tricky to identify if more than one dosha is prominent, but in my case Pitta stood out.  This re-affirmed what I’d learned about myself in California. She gave me advice on different lifestyle practices that would balance my dosha, like avoiding heat, intense exercise and competitive environments; she also recommended specific yoga postures to help me calm and re-center, like spinal twists and standing poses. 

Then, based on my dosha, she tailored a Thai yoga massage to balance my Pitta.  Gently guiding me in assisted postures and stretching while clothed, she coaxed my body into relaxation.  Some yoga poses that I usually find too intense for me, felt much gentler and easier with her assistance. The hour flew by, and at the end I felt differently than I usually do after a traditional massage.  Calm, but not out of it.  Like every joint in my body was nourished and loose. Supremely relaxed.

Janet currently offers this service several days a week, as well as her Gentle Yoga classes at Creative 360. 

Please feel free to share your artist date ideas and activities too!