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Namaste! As many of you know I find myself once again in the UAE (United Arab Emirates). This time around it has been quite different! Rather than spending time vacationing or working within my realm of therapeutic wellness, I found myself helping in a work intense marketing office for a local corporate venture! The company builds “green homes” which I loved!
Basically they needed help with the launching of a new product in one of the biggest Expos in the region… Cityscape/Citybuild, and I was lucky enough to help. In the office I met wonderful people and my closest colleague happened to be a beautiful Spanish lady fluent in Italian, Spanish and English. What a treat! Together we wrote press releases, shopped for the event, and managed to learn quite a bit about each other’s life!
For those of you that have met me in the last few years, my background is actually in corporate hospitality and public relations. My university degree is in business with minors in psychology and tourism. Wow! For many years of my life I worked in the field! It was only twelve years ago that I completely changed my path and decided to go back to what I knew as a little girl… wellness. I was blessed to grow up in a household where wellness was the theme. As a spa owner my mom was a true maverick. She introduced yoga over 40 years ago in the island of Puerto Rico, where she was a foreigner, and to a society that was mostly conservative Catholic at that time. We were Catholic as well but not conservative and it was my mom’s intention to teach yoga as a path of health, wellness and deeper understanding of life. And with many obstacles to surpass, she moved forward and succeeded. Her work won great accolades within the community and her spa became “The Spa” in San Juan, at that time.
Well, going back to my time here, it was very interesting for me to find myself once again doing the work that I did so many years ago! For the first time in all the months that I have spent over the last few years visiting the Middle East, I got a chance to meet so many Arab locals. What in the past was a dream of mine, to interface with the locals, perhaps meet a Sheikh some day, became a reality! I met several Sheikhs and I am actually in a local newspaper photo where the Sheikh is greeting our company’s managing Director. Amazing! I got a chance to meet face to face and shake hands with some. It was a gift to meet some of the rulers (of any country!).
At the Expo, our stand was very impressive. The Managing Director of the company, a gentleman from Saudi Arabia, educated in the United States, made sure that our green product was introduced effectively. Our advertising campaign was very strong, and the media response was overwhelming. People heard our name everywhere and at the Expo, we were very, very visible and very successful. We laboured as a team day in and day out for four days non stop. I was just helping so my part was much easier than for the rest, who worked endlessly into the night to ensure that all was ready for the avalanche that awaited us the next day!
During the four days, most of our visitors were local men and women dressed in their traditional long gowns with headdresses. The women in black, the men in white. When you live here you coincide with locals everywhere, of course, but interactions are very limited. They are always gracious but you do not usually make friends in the street with locals. They are reserved and cordial and they simply let you be. The ladies are not very approachable, they tend to travel with other ladies or with their spouses. Many are fully covered exposing only their eyes. I had always been curious and wondered what their personalities would be like “behind the veil” “How are they different from me?” would be a question that repeated itself in my mind almost daily when I encountered them. I was blessed at the Expo to have the opportunity to inform so many gentlemen that came by, about our product, and to do the same, as well as to establish giggling momentary friendships with the ladies! I found the Arab locals to be very curious, repectful and many with a fun sense of humor, their personalities charming and playful.
I was so blessed to get to spend one on one time with one of the Arab ladies for almost 3 days (she also helped at the office while I was there!). We talked about yoga, meditation, Reiki and we both shared that spending time together felt as if we had known each for a long time. We look forward to spending time together ahead. At the Expo, I worked with many amazing people from different nationalities: Brazil, Syria, Germany, Sudan, Lebanon and more…and, I met several ladies that were fully covered. In the past I was almost a bit intimidated, aside from curious, about the veiled women of the Middle East. Yet, as we shared time together I realized that there was little difference at the human level between us. It was truly beautiful. We laughed together, we asked each other questions, we learned together. Upon leaving one veiled lady said ” I truly enjoyed spending time with you” and little did she know that a dream for me had come true in these interactions when I replied ” it was wonderful meeting you, thank you so very much for stopping by”. I deeply meant every word. I realized that behind the veil there were many mirrors of me, and I was blessed with a deeper understanding of cultural diversity.
It is rather unfortunate that the international media relates to us the stories that foster and create a sense of deeper separation, alienation, anger and hatred, and fail to bring attention and awareness to the real news…. yes, the real facts…. that, in truth, we are all (all races, and cultures) brothers and sisters created by the same Source. How are we going to help each other grow in love, acceptance, gratitude and understanding? That is the question. Would you like to know the answer? ….. Meditate. With love and blessings! Ariel
Happy 2010 to all friends around the world! The year arrives with an urgency and call to action that requires every soul to look within and prioritize what is truly important. We are moving quickly into truth, alignment and a higher consciousness in love. The earth is changing as we know it and a New Earth is emerging. The signs are globally all around us. The world is becoming smaller and a new brotherhood and sisterhood is giving birth within us. If you align your thoughts with a higher perspective and see the bigger picture, your life will be blessed in many many ways, and your light will assist in the emergence of the new consciousness. Stay present, vibrate in love, be kind to all living beings, serve others in love and gratitude, and take care of yourself. So many may need help around you yet remember that you can only serve the most, when you come from a space of health, happiness and love. Cultivate that space!
I would like to invite you to visit our new little studio in Windermere… Ariel’s Yoga and More…at The Pond. The intention for the space is one of joy, spiritual camaraderie, kindness, shared laughter and love. It is a little home for the heart to relax and connect with joy through the classes and services that we are offering. We are constantly evolving and new facilitators are joining, so visit the website often as you are likely to find exactly what you are seeking at “the right time”.  That is how the universe works….
One of the activities that I am very excited about is our “Grand Bazaar”. Amongst my deep passions in this life are art and beauty. I delight in the vibration of unique creativity expressed. At the bazaars, the intention is to feature different artists with their crafts and offer beautiful creations that are unique and “vibrationally high”. Things that will bring color, lightness, beauty to your home, your friend or to you! Our first bazaar will be February 6th from 2-4 p.m. Stop by and share a cup of tea or cocoa with us, we have plenty at Ariel’s and have some homemade cookies too. Regardless of whether you find something that you may want to buy or not , sharing the space will be special…
Remember that this month of February we extend 9:30 a.m. classes to include Saturdays. Qigong classes begin the 15th at 7 p.m. and yoga for teens and for youth (ages 9-12) also start the first week of February…. much is happening at Ariel’s. Yoga, Reiki sessions, Reiki classes, Accupunture, meditation is all on going now or starting in February….
Call me or e-mail me if you would like more information…407-301-6878 or arielalbani@hotmail.com
I hope to see you at the bazaar on the 6th or sooner in class!
Much love and bright light!
Ariel
Dear Friends,
Thai-land means the “Land of Freedom” , most of the population is Buddhist and they call themselves the “land of smiles”. I agree. People were so kind, friendly and helpful in Thailand that it was a truly moving experience just to be there sharing in their land. The beaches in Phuket were magnificent, the sites, views, nature, fruits …. an enlivening experience for all the senses, including the 6th!
In Thailand, I had the opportunity to play with monkeys, pet elephants, kiss a gigant iguana, hold a cobra snake, pet a 4 month old tiger, and delight in the company of so many dogs that simply roam the streets and beaches peacefully. They live in the temples (there are aprox. 30,000 temples in Thailand) and are very loved by the people. They are not aggressive, the city takes care of them (rabies vaccines) and everyone seems to live in harmony and peace with nature and its gifts. For those of you that do not feel as connected to the animal kingdom as I do, Thailand offers a myriad of other experiences that are truly delightful.
The Buddhist temples are magnificent, the food fresh and delicious, the shopping inexpensive and the spa experiences one of a kind! Massages are available everywhere! And for a small amount, as you are walking the streets, you can stop and have your feet pampered for a whole hour, beyond words. You find a massage facility literally in ever street. Nightclubs abound and lady boys are common in their culture. Thailand allows freedom of opinion and behavior, perhaps more than we are accustomed to in the West.
We were there for the kings birthday celebration (oficially on December 5th) and the city buzzes with festivities. The king is very, very loved by the Thai people and everywhere you see something that represents their love, whether a picture, a trinket or a statue.
We experienced so much wonder in Thailand that it is hard to put in words all that transpired! I can just say that it was truly an amazing journey to be in the energy of this beautiful country. I have so many photos to share! So if you are interested in looking at some of them, just send me a quick e-mail at ariel.wellness@yahoo.com and I will forward them for your enjoyment! (tell me what you would like to see…views? animals? temples? so that I do not burden you with much).
Well, dear friends, this marks the end of the overseas blogging. I shall return back to Orlando this week. Thank you for the beautiful comments and e-mails! I will continue to blog from home, but the blogs will certainly be different in nature. We will be discussing metaphysical principles of life and having discussions on the philosophy of spiritual and material lifestyles as one. Classes will begin in January! The schedule will be posted soon. Stay tuned!
In the meantime, may you have a very beautiful and joyful holiday season, and may the year 2010 grant you the opportunity to live in alignment with purpose in the highest degree of love and light always.
Blessings!
ma’ assalama,
Ariel
Namaste! It is different to be so far away during our holiday time of the year. In truth the spirit of the holidays is something worth carrying within every day of the year. Yet , we get used to the decorations, the planning of family gatherings and the sweet scent of the fireplaces as they lit in the colder nights. I love the spirit of the holiday season and look forward to spending the Christmas holiday back home. As we get closer to Thanksgiving Day, I ponder on all that I am so grateful for and I feel so blessed. I think of everyone back home in Florida, my family, dearyoga and reiki friends and pets. I think of Puerto Rico and Argentina, where most family and friends still reside, and St. John, Brazil, where dear friends now are, and I think of being here. I have encountered the beautiful smiles and faces of so many different nationalities, and I am so grateful for that. I have fed so many stray cats, and also fish! and have developed such a friendly relationship with the birds. New friends have graced my life, my girly best friend here is from the Ukraine and I have learned so much from her. I cherish every moment of her friendship. She is truly a soul sister, it feels like we have known each other for so long! I have recently also met American girls and it is so nice to have a “home” connection here. The opportunity of being here has been possible because of your love, your kindness and your support. I am so very grateful for that and I love sharing the light in this part of our world and being enlightened in so many ways by the experiences granted and the people I have met. I will keep this blog shorter, but just wanted to let every one of you know that I am grateful and blessed by you. Thank you so much for being in my life. You know exactly who you are….If you are reading this, that is YOU. Thank you for your love, support and friendship. May you have a very Happy and beautiful Thanksgiving Celebration! I will be in Thailand this Thursday and will be writing a blog with the experiences learned next week…so stay tuned!
Blessings always!
Ariel
Picture this….pristine water lining new ample roads, a track that passes through a hotel wing, a marina with magnifiscent yachts surrounding a most beautiful stylish racetrack. Personally I had never been into cars, but I have to say, that attending the last race of the Formula 1 in Abu Dhabi was a world class experience! Upon arrival, we were greeted with bottles of free water, free earplugs and smiling faces from so many different countries. A sense of camaraderie filled the air. The weather was hot but bearable and on the night of the actual final race, it was actually quite pleasant! A cool breeze flowed, and ice cream was available everywhere! There were fans from all over the world… I met Bristish, Australians, Spaniards, Argentine, Colombian, Venezuelan, USA American, German, French, Italian and of course Middle Eastern. Once again, the world felt as One, smaller than ever for me before. The event was very well organized and everyone seemed to be having fun. We parked easily, and travelled smoothly throughout the day anywhere we went… with the other 150,000 people present…it was quite remarkable. You never felt cluttered or uncomfortable with your surroundings.
Upon our arrival the first day, when we heard the loud buzzling of the car engines on the racetrack, an instant adrenaline rush flowed through our brain, heart and veins. It is inevitable to feel very excited even if racing or cars is not your thing. When I first saw them, they appeared to me as beautiful toys and to think that a driver was actually sitting inside was hard to fathom. The speed was unbelievable!
Ferrari did not take the top positions but they raced very nicely and their cars magnificent…these vehicles are truly a work of art! The highly skilled drivers of the Formula1 race are very inspiring. I had never seen anything like this “live”. I wasn’t well versed on the racing and the teams, their history and the expectations for results this year, but I am certainly more interested now and would like to see it again in the future. It was a great experience!
The evening closed with an Aerosmith concert, the air was very festive, the moon so full and beautiful, the acoustics phenomenal and for the first time in my life I stood within 5ft. from Steve Tyler….as he sang “Dream On” I simply felt “on track” …. I dream of a world were we are all citizens of it together and for this one night again, I live within this dream….may it one day be our global reality. As for the Formula 1 being truly all that it is made out to be…. I have to say that it was way beyond expectations…the answer? A definite YES.
Blessings!
Well, after 6 weeks in Abu Dhabi, we had the good fortune of hosting my sister, Johanna for a weekend visit! And what a weekend! It was truly amazing…non stop…full, fun action! Johanna was here for a total of 4 days, quite an ordeal to come to the other side of the world for such a short stay! But being a flight attendant allows magical trips as such to be possible…she loves the job! As Johanna arrived in Dubai, which is a bit more than an hour from where we are in Abu Dhabi, we decided to tour a bit of Dubai prior to our return “home” . The stop of the night was the “One and Only Royal Mirage” Resort….it is the gem of Dubai… everything in Dubai is grand, yet the subtle elegance of this resort, exceeds all expectations. It exudes a sense of calmness, impeccable beauty, attention to detail, beautiful finishes, yet warm, inviting and simple, it is Mediterranean with an Asian feel…. an oasis in the desert, an exotic and romantic experience. Highly, highly recommend it. Can you tell it is my favorite? Yes, it is! We enjoyed a delicious Thai culinary experience, in the midst of a tropical setting, by a sparkling water feature, that evening. It was lovely.
We headed home and in Abu Dhabi we took Johanna to the Emirates Palace, a magnificent hotel where the film festival was held all week. The atmosphere was buzzing and the views from every angle indoors and outdoors, breathtaking! If you are interested in learning more, you can google all these resorts and take a peak…;-)
We travelled again to Dubai the next day to marvel in its design, architecture and culture. The Burj Dubai is almost ready to open and it is the largest building in the world! The water feature that surrounds it has a number of fountains that light up as the music begins every 20 minutes. The music changes every time, allowing Arabic, African, Italian, European…different world rythms ….to be featured while your eyes delight in the rythm of the water that ”dances” to the rythm of the tunes. Can you visualize that? The colored lights emerging from the water illuminate the building and the sky at the same time…. it is a sight to be seen…what the human mind is capable of envisioning and creating is finely sampled in the United Arab Emirates.
We had the pleasure of spending time in the old souks, walking the streets, visiting vendors and enjoying so much each other’s company. We reminisced, we laughed, we shared, we spent lots of quality time.
We enjoyed the tents, the shisha and even the company of a Miami friend, Alex, who is living here!
On our last day together we attempted to visit a historical place in Abu Dhabi where you can see camels and learn how Abu Dhabi used to be years ago. The Heritage Village ended up being closed yet we were able to see and say hello to a beautiful camel that was there. Since the visit was short, we had just enough time to take a dip in the refreshing waters of the gulf. So, we reminisced, we laughed and we shared some more…what a treat!
I spend most of my time alone in joyful comtemplation so to have a friend and sister to laugh and share joy with was such a blessing! Our host was an angel, our trip was delightful and being able to share together, a true blessing!
So that is the latest! Coming up…. the final race for Formula 1 is here in Abu Dhabi on November 1st, and the track that has been built for it … well, there is nothing like it. My team?….it has to be Ferrari.
Blessings!
Ariel
As I prepare to welcome my sister Johanna’s visit to this beautiful part of our world, I was in my room and saw a beautiful little “pigeon~kind” of bird staring at me, outside my window. It was very cute. We have an abundance of beautiful birds in our area, and I have been consistently feeding them every day. I love welcoming them to the terrace with delicious treats and water. There are different kinds of birds, many very little ones, other ones with white spots around their eyes, others with orange little beaks… they bless my day. I watch them from the side of the window, and last week I spotted 24 birds at one time! If they see me come out to the terrace, they immediately fly away. I thought about their fear upon my presence, and felt a bit sadden by it. I wished at that moment that I could communicate with them, that they would understand that I mean no harm, that I love them! Then, I thought to myself ” Oh dear, I do eat chicken” maybe they can ”sense” that I am a threat! Obviously I am truly not a threat to them, but I was trying to find reasons to justify why they did not like me around. (Is anyone thinking that I have totally lost it yet? No worries, I do realize that this sounds bizarre! :-)! Well, it was on the same day of my bizarre “maybe they do not like me because I eat chicken” thoughts that the little bird mentioned previously appeared outside my window. I was so delighted to see it but was super quiet making sure that I did not disturb it. The bird kept staring at me, and I was looking and delighting in it. All of a sudden, the bird goes wild, opens the wings and taps strongly on my window! I immediately thought it must be hurt!!! So, I rushed to open the window and there it was, quietly staring at me. I looked and did not see an injury, I gently reached out with my fingers and caressed its soft, little chest. I could not believe the magic of the moment!! The universe was speaking to me with such beautiful kindness through it. I set out food for the little bird, but it was not food what he was interested in. Perhaps it comes heralding the joy of my sister’s visit! Eventually it swiftly flew away. The little bird simply reassured me of the magic of our world, of the importance of not making self critical or negative assumptions, and allowing each moment to unfold exactly as it should…. for when we do…. really “cool” things can happen! That day, I felt how specially we are all blessed. May we always remember who we really are. May we always remember how at the levels of heart and spirit, we are all, sentient beings, connected, in light, as One.
Blessings,
Ariel
First of all, thank you so very much for so many warm e-mails, e-cards and such kind birthday wishes! It was so beautiful to receive them and a deep reminder that miles do not mean that we are apart!
Let me share with you about my Birthday celebration….! Many of you knew that last year upon my visit to Dubai I had been planning to participaate in a Full Moon drumming celebration. When the time came to go, we were unfortunately unable to make it then. I was SO very dissappointed! But, what I did not know was that the Universe had a better plan. Nine months later, the Full Moon drumming circle was taking place exactly on my Birthday… October 2nd. I immediately made arrangements, and last Friday we headed out to Dubai for an overnight stay, and from there to the desert for a six hour full moon drumming party! We arrived at sunset and the view was magnificent, immediately took our shoes off and felt the soft sand embrace our feet so deeply, so comfortably, we felt at home. The weather was just right. Camels greeted us and the camp was in the bottom center of a circle of large tall sand dunes. We could go down rocky sand stairs or simply “slide” down the dunes to the drumming camp. Being the birthday girl with a deeply awakened child within, we slid down joyfully and it was the first of many times of climbing dunes and sliding that evening. It was SO much fun! We laughed (and sweated!) tons!
In the camp, about 400 people were expected that evening. All the drums were lined up in the center, before a stage. Behind it a huge dance floor made with Persian rugs over the sand, and a DJ station next to a huge bonfire. All around it, were tents with plush seating, the scent of the Arabian BBQ cooking, the aromatic shisha pipes, a full bar, and camels roaming, all adorned, and ready to take you around for a tour if you so desired. The Full Moon was bright above us! It was exhilarating!
A group of professional drummers from all over the world took the stage and the night took off ! They were amazing! Each of us, 400 people, had a drum and we were guided into different world rythms that moved our souls. The Producer, a lady, excellent drummer (trained in South Africa), from England, whom formerly organized mind, body and soul expos, told us about the Full Moon in Aries this month. She said that it marked a a time “to let go of that which no longer serves us, and begina new, take on new life experiences!” Again, I felt right at home
Her husband was celebrating his birthday that night (hmm..interesting!) and he was called on to the stage as we all did drum rolls to celebrate his big day! That led to the rest of us having a birthday, being invited to the stage! And so we did, and danced up there, each to our own rythm. Each of us (5 total, 3 adults and 2 children!) were asked to share a wish. I was last on stage and I simply said “One World, One Nation!” and went back to my seat and drum. Well, the producer went with that and she guided us through each letter of the alphabet, to find out what countries were being represented that evening in the drumming celebration. We drum rolled for each other and our countries, the professional drummers played the authentic drum rythms to many of them, and we found out that 50 different nationalities were drumming together in one song that night!! Argentina, India, Netherlands,USA… you name it … we were there! After drum rolling for our friends from Zimbawe, she yelled out “Ariel, your wish came true! Tonight we drum together as One World, One Nation!” Yes indeed, that was true! Enthusiasm was flowing through all my being.
I felt so excited all throughout the evening, the moon so bright, sharing this amazing evening with my beloved, dancing and drumming the night away, as a true citizen of the world. In my heart I felt deep love and gratitude for all my family and friends. You were with me in my heart, my soul, so beautifully, I felt you and I felt so blessed by you. I hope to celebrate our drumming circle in Orlando next! 
As the producer said, indeed, my dream came true that night, in the desert, drumming under the Full Moon with people from all around the world, drumming to the heartbeat of Mother Earth, together as One. I invite you to wish with me that we embrace our beautiful diversity, as we did that night, and live with each other in this planet, with respect and understanding, in love, peace, truth and celebration…. after all we are One World, One Nation… Planet Earth. All in One.
Cheers to All of Us! And a very Happy Birthday to all my fellow Libra friends
Blessings!
Ariel PS. To get a feel of the night, check out www.dubaidrums.com and click on the Full Moon Drumming video! I will attempt to post some of our photos too! Until our next blog…namaste!
We were blessed with a few days off for the Eid celebration and headed off to Istanbul in Turkey! What a wondrous city! From the moment we arrived and saw the beauty of the city painted across the Bosphorus straight, the traditional red roofs sloped amongst the hills, we were in love! Istanbul is located partly in Europe and also in Asia. The Bosphorus Straight divides the two sides. You see fishermen everywhere, beautiful boats streaming by and mussels available in street carts, ready to eat, in every block! The history is rich and the mosques are a sight to be experienced. An arquitectural marvel, Istanbul offers a classic mix of old golden splendor with a very chic and modern twist to the city as well. It is very European, at moments I thought I was in Italy!… and yet, it is also very Middle Eastern as well. There is a large muslim population and during the evenings prior to the Eid, it was beautiful to witness so many muslim families gathering for Iftar in the plush green public parks, next to the famous Blue Mosque. As you walk the cobblestone streets you hear the call to prayer and it reaches you. Regardless of your particular spiritual beliefs or any differences amongst them, it is beautiful to celebrate the presence and awareness of one Source that unites us all in our humanity, as people, in this planet called Earth, at this time… May we always be blessed in this awareness! If you would like to learn more about Istanbul and see a photo gallery, visit: www.istanbul.com The sites are so so beautiful, you will love them! Namaste, Sending you multiple blessings of joy and peace across the miles! Until we meet again, I will write next week with a new update…stay tuned… With much love and light always, Ariel
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