Upcoming May Gathering

Vital Living Gathering
Sunday, May 21st, 2023

 10:30am-12pm

“Hawai’ian Culture”

 In this gathering we will dive deep into Hawai’ian culture! We will discuss the significance of Lei Day, Hula and traditional Hawai’ian music. “Hula is the art of Hawaiian dance expressing all that we see, hear, smell, taste, touch and feel” and it has kept the history of the people alive through their stories. Join us to learn some Hula movements and steps! Furthermore, Kendyl will teach us a few Ukelele chords, allowing us to tap into the spirit of the music inside of ourselves and into the beauty of our islands.   

May Gathering

Please note the gathering time structure has changed! Our new time is 10:30am. 

The first hour will be a welcome, blessing and interactive playshop. The second hour will be optional potluck & vital community sharing time. 

“Hawai’ian Culture”

Program:

Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar with Kendyl

Opening pule (prayer)

Ukulele Workshop – learning the chords and lyrics to Kawai Lehua

Hula participation 

Closing circle and story sharing

    Feel free to bring a yoga mat, poem or story to share!

    -Potluck and sharing time (optional $10 suggested donation) 

    *Please bring healthy vital foods to share if joining our potluck, Mahalo!* 

    Past Events

    Vital Living Gathering and Services

    April 16th, 2023, 10:30am-12pm

    “Reflection”

    There are two basic definitions of “reflection.” One is “the throwing back by a body or surface of light, heat, or sound without absorbing it” as in a mirror. The second is “serious thought or consideration, deliberation, contemplation, study.” In this gathering we will explore combining these two definitions together!  

    Program: 

    -Music with Julie
    -Welcome and blessing with Lori
    -Ocean Reflection with CJ and Self Reflection and music with Pavana
    -Mirror and Partner Reflection Exploration with Lori
    -Self Reflection/Nature Immersion Therapy with Carrie
    -Closing circle, story sharing and pot luck!

    Vital Living Gathering and Services

    March 19th, 2023, 10:30am-12:30pm

    “Seeds of Change”

    Change can often feel like it’s happening to us, but change is always happening FOR us. When we want to see difference or transformation in our lives, we must plant seeds; this is true on both individual and global scales. Seeds can be ideas, feelings, or conversations that spark transformation. When we allow our hearts to be heard and giveaway to the flow of life, we release resistance, making growth and expansion possible. Through self-knowledge and self-care, we can be the change we want to see. In order for the world to transform, we must plant the seeds of love, unity, and self-acceptance  

    Program: 

    -Music with Kendyl
    -Welcome and blessing with Lori
    -Co-creation breathwork and meditation with Carrie
    -Special Guest Speaker: Jazmin Yong Diaz Kala
    -Ayurveda activities for Spring with Cory
    -Closing circle, story sharing and pot luck

    Vital Living Gathering and Services

    February 19th, 2023, 10:30am-12:30pm

    “Love”

    “When you love someone, you have to have trust and confidence. Love without trust is not yet love. Of course, first, you have to have trust, respect, and confidence in yourself. Trust that you have a good and compassionate nature. You are part of the universe; you are made of stars. When you look at your loved one, you see that he is also made of stars and carries eternity inside. Looking in this way, we naturally feel reverence. True love cannot be without trust and respect for oneself and for the other person.” –Excerpt from “How To Love”, a book by Thich Nhat Hanh

    Program:

    -Music with Kendyl and Pavana
    -Welcome and blessing with Lori
    -Heart opening tea with Merci
    -Partner yoga with Ananda
    -Heartbeat meditation
    -Ayurvedic self care with Cory

    Vital Living Gathering and Services

    January 15th, 2023, 10:30am-12:30pm

    “Intention”

    New year, new you! This gathering was about setting intentions for the new year. We created vision boards, wrote down a list of the things that hold us back and no longer serve us and burned them in the fire! Then rewarded our bodies with an incredible potluck!

    Program:

    -Music with Kendyl
    -Welcome and blessing with Lori
    -10 minute silent meditation
    -Create a vital vision with clear intentions for 2023 with Lori and Nicole
    -Story sharing and potluck!

    Vital Living Gathering and Services

    December 18th, 2022, 4:30-6:30pm

    “Reciprocity”

    For our 3rd Sunday December gathering we had an informal reflection time and story sharing. We talked story then sat in meditation for 20 minutes. We sincerely appreciate your presence at our past gatherings and look forward to seeing you in 2023! 

    We did not live stream this gathering, but please enjoy the livestream of the Vital Living Concert the night before! On Saturday December 17th we were honored to host Jamarek (West African fusion band) and drumming magic by Sekou and drum and dance ensemble Sewa Fare!

     

    Vital Living Gathering and Services

    November 20th, 2022, 4:30-6:30pm

    “Gratitude”

    In this gathering we will discover how to find a way to come back to a place of gratitude in our moments of frustration, anger, or self-pity, and be able to focus on the simple things that we take for granted. Let’s tackle the disturbing factors that take us away from feeling grateful and restore sincere MAHALO for all that is life!

    Program:

    -Music with Kendyl Beschen and Terry Brown
    -Opening Prayer and Welcome with Lori
    -Somatic Gratitude with Carrie
    -Creating Heart-Centered Vibration with Breath and Sound: SuperNova Sarah
    -Gratitude Art Lei Making with Lori
    -Mahalo Circle

    Vital Living Gathering and Services

    October 16th, 2022, 4:30-6:30pm

    “Fear”

    Fear exists because pain is real and we experience fear when we face pain or the possibility of pain. Let’s explore openly talking about our fears, and finding ways to face them, learn from them, and allow them to teach us and heal us. 

    Program:

    -Music with Kendyl Beschen
    -Opening Prayer and Welcome with Lori
    -Breathing through Fear and Anxiety with Carrie
    -Movement and Sound, resetting the nervous system with the VT Ambassadors
    -Death Meditation with CJ
    -Bonfire to Release Fears
    -Birthday Celebration for Cory!

    Vital Living Gathering and Services

    September 18th, 2022, 4:30-6:30pm

    “Discipline”

    Knowing that we all have a choice, and we can choose to be disciplined to get us where we need to be for mental, emotional, physical and spiritual health! The power is ours! 

    Program:

    -Music with Kendyl Beschen
    -Opening Prayer, Welcome and Discipline Exploration with Lori
    -Road Mapping for Vitality: Goal Setting with Nicole & Garrett
    -The Tao of Belly Breathing: Breathwork with CJ
    -Discipline of Dance with Ananda
    -Dinachara: Daily Intention to Live a Healthy Life with Cory
    -Discipline Through Music: Playing your part with Dr. Lori

    Vital Living Gathering and Services

    August 21st, 2022, 4:30-6:30pm

    Expression”

    Learning how to be more comfortable with expressing our true selves will allow us to move our vital energy, emerge from the tunnel and prevent illness and disharmony in mind/body/soul and heart!

    Program:

    – Music with Marley
    -Opening Prayer
    -Welcome and Expression exercise with Dr. Lori
    -Elements of Expression with Cory
    -Group Expression with Kendyl

    Vital Living Gathering and Services

    July 17th, 2022, 4:30-6:30pm

    “Service”

    Program:

    – Music with Pavana
    -Opening Prayer
    -Welcome and exercise with Dr. Lori
    -Exploring Service with CJ
    -Dig in the dirt and farm service

    Vital Living Gathering and Services

    June 19th, 2022, 4-6pm

    “Flow”

    Program:

    – Music with Kendyl
    -Opening Prayer
    -Welcome words with Dr. Lori
    -Pitta Flow acceptance with Cory
    -Poem Reading with Marcia
    -Movement and Music
    -Yoga and Ecstatic Dance
    -Hydration Potluck

    Vital Living Gathering and Services
    April 17th, 2022, 4-6pm

    “Cleanse”

    Program:

    – Music with Kendyl
    -Opening Prayer
    -Welcome words with Dr. Lori
    -Energetic Spring Cleaning,
    Breath and Mindfulness with Carrie and Sarah
    -Love Your Liver with Dr. Lori
    -What’s Your Poop Telling You with Dr. Merci
    -Magical Marma with Cory
    -Egg Hunt with Dr. Merci

    Vital Living Gathering and Services
    March 20, 2022, 4-6pm

    “Nourish”

    Program:
    -Music with Pavana
    -Opening Prayer
    -Welcome words with Dr. Lori Kimata
    -Planting Seeds of Nourishment – Creative Playshop with CJ Macias
    -The Taste Experience with Dr. Lori
    -Soul Nourishment experience with Nicole McNamara
    -Nourish the Mind and Mood through Elemental Connections with Cory Tixier
    -Spring Equinox Closing Ceremony with Cassie Mitchell

    Vital Living Gathering and Services
    February 20, 2022, 5-7pm

    “Balance”

    Program:
    -Music and opening prayer with Kendyl and Marley 
    -Welcome words with Nicole and Garrett McNamara
    -Balancing Breathwork exercise with Carrie Alford
    -Ayurvedic dosha balancing with Cory Tixier
    -Balance through movement with Dr. Merci and Ananda
    -Drumming with Dr. Lori Kimata