Aminda R. Courtwright | elephant journal

About: ARCreated

Website: http://www.arcreatedwellness.com
Profile: Aminda is a wellness facilitator and founder of ARCreated Wellness, LLC. A yoga teacher, transpersonal hypnotherapist, and Reiki Master, she shares her own healing journey with others in hopes of inspiring and uplifting those she meets. Her yoga classes are gentle and workshop style to invoke a real sense of learning and designed to be truly accessible for all levels. Her biggest hope is to help others take their yoga practice off the mat and into everyday life where it is truly meant to be experienced. (and can be most useful) Refusing to settle into the middle path just yet she prefers to dally on both edges and can be seen swinging right and leaning left. A devoted animal lover and activist and a humanist she is prone to rants and believes strongly that life is to be savored and that “we are all in this together, shouldn’t we enjoy it that way? “ When she isn’t teaching yoga, hypnotizing people, adoring her husband or doting on her grandson she is out riding her motorcycle—promoting the image that yogis are rebels and are a force to be reckoned with! You can also find her on Facebook. To join her for free classes online follow her here.
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Posts by ARCreated:

Stop Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Bill.

by Aminda R. Courtwright on Nov 24, 2012

The ‘offense of homosexuality’ includes same-sex sexual acts or being in a gay relationship, and will be prosecuted by life imprisonment.

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Drugs are bad, mmmkay?

by Aminda R. Courtwright on Jun 21, 2012

I am very curious to hear your thoughts on this…chime in!

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elephant review: The Zafu that Saved my Ass.

by Aminda R. Courtwright on Jun 8, 2012

…

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I Make a Difference. Do You?

by Aminda R. Courtwright on May 31, 2012

So my kick to the head came in the form of this very inspirational, empowering, kick ass piece of poetry and what it gave me was hope, determination and a much better start to my day!!

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10 Things I Learned while Meditating Naked.

by Aminda R. Courtwright on May 30, 2012

Sometimes heat really is the best catalyst. I recently returned from a Vipassana retreat (10 days of silence with approximately 11 hours of daily meditation). To say it was intense is a bit of an understatement, so I will be doing a few different posts about my experience. This first one is just to break [...]

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Can You Get Rich Fulfilling Your Soul’s Purpose?

by Aminda R. Courtwright on Apr 27, 2012

…

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I Am More than the Shape of My Ass…Aren’t I?

by Aminda R. Courtwright on Apr 12, 2012

You can fight it, or you can just accept that sex sells. Let me tell you a bit about me so you have a frame of reference. I’m not ugly. That’s about as good as I’ve ever been able to muster for myself on a lot of days. Sure, given the right lighting and circumstances [...]

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F You Cancer, I Want My Friend Back.

by Aminda R. Courtwright on Apr 5, 2012

Because you see we don’t need more research on medicine and cures (heavy on the sarcasm), we need to stop this sh*t…

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I Used to Hate April Fool’s Day. ~ Aminda Courtwright

by Aminda R. Courtwright on Apr 1, 2012

Does anyone stop to think how pulling a prank can cause stress? Tension? Emotional Turmoil? Just wondering.

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The Truth about Yoga! ~ Heidi Chadwick

by Aminda R. Courtwright on Mar 9, 2012

Secondly, and here is where I bowed in respect to his words, he wasn’t about to freak out about this tricky and sometimes uncomfortable finding. In fact, he remained an impartial witness to the emotion that had arisen, trusting as he softened to just be with and accept his experience.

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No More Airbrushed Yoga! ~ Sarah Shapiro

by Aminda R. Courtwright on Mar 1, 2012

While most pay homage to the great Masters (Krishamacharya, Iyengar, Bikram and Pattabi Jois), many have felt either financial pressure or some personal desire to imprint or ‘update’ what had come before. To be fair, a few of these early 20th Century Master Teachers did decide to brand themselves such as Bikram. This branding process has led to all sorts of Ego conflicts and suffering in the yoga community.

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The Yoga Bubble Bursts the Heart Wide Open: Recovering the Sacred by Returning to the Roots of Your Practice. ~ Dr. Katy Poole

by Aminda R. Courtwright on Feb 21, 2012

From this source, all sincere and authentic yogis should begin again. Recreate the yoga movement that has sunk to the bottom. Raise it up with the same practices yogis have engaged in for thousands of years by returning to the core teachings. Make it shine.

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I am what I am…Where is my guru and social media video response!

by Aminda R. Courtwright on Feb 17, 2012

Thanks to Angela Arnett , Jennifer Cusano, Julian Walker and Kate Bartolotta’s and their brief videos about the double edged sword called social media it was great to hear their view points and I just adored the “realness”of everyone’s videos…makes me feel closer to everyone. Once I got started I realized I had a lot more to say about the [...]

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This just in – the dirty hippies were right all along…

by Aminda R. Courtwright on Jan 10, 2012

And as if all that wasn’t enough, researchers found that pot smoking might actually improve lung function. “At levels of marijuana exposure commonly seen in Americans, occasional marijuana use was associated with increases in lung air flow rates and increases in lung capacity,” Kertesz said.

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Fine you want the whole story? My sex life was suffering…

by Aminda R. Courtwright on Jan 10, 2012

So do I want to be attacked? Hmmm well now that I think about…maybe I do – maybe I want people to take a long hard look at their moralizing and judging ways, maybe I want people to show their true colors.

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Meditation vs. Asana? Vegan vs. Vegetarian? Liberal vs. Conservative…Meanwhile your rights are disappearing..

by Aminda R. Courtwright on Jan 9, 2012

I can’t pretend to have the answer but doesn’t it make you stop and think just a little bit? That while we are slinging metaphorical hash our a**es are being cooked?

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Sorry Vegan Friends – I am not strict Vegan anymore either.

by Aminda R. Courtwright on Jan 9, 2012

I don’t really want to argue about it. It is what it is. Both sides have pretty compelling arguments for who is right – so like the god question I think it is an unanswerable question therefore maybe we need to focus not on getting people to agree with us but on how we can live together and cause the least suffering possible for all creatures.

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Falling in Love is easy.

by Aminda R. Courtwright on Jan 2, 2012

I mostly just felt lost, scared and confused with bright spots in my life. Like amazing children and finally meeting a great man to help me raise them… and that’s where things changed (personally I think it’s because fate is nosey and bossy, but that’s just one woman’s opinion).

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I’m so far behind I think I’m first…

by Aminda R. Courtwright on Nov 1, 2011

What does your world look like when you feel overwhelmed and unable to fulfill your commitments? Do you say yes too much? Are you eyes biger than your stomach, as the saying goes?

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The Comma Sutra: Making Grammar Sexy Since 1875

by Aminda R. Courtwright on Nov 1, 2011

adding an orgasmic lift to your daily lexicon!

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Call it abundance, success, prosperity, cold hard cash…can you have that and be spiritual?

by Aminda R. Courtwright on Sep 12, 2011

I believe that it is almost incumbent on the yoga/mindful community to practice business in a mindful cooperative way because we should be the leaders in doing things differently…and I’m not alone in these beliefs…..face it; part of the reason for getting into was to actually enjoy what we do…but why do we have to sacrifice monetary compensation? Why can’t we have both????

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Rolling Rolling Rolling on the river…are you enjoying? or fighting the ride?

by Aminda R. Courtwright on Sep 10, 2011

everything that you love and cherish – even your own life: it all ends.

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Are you on your mission from god?

by Aminda R. Courtwright on Aug 16, 2011

What do you have in your life that drives you? How does it feel to do what you do everyday, is it your passion? joy? does it serve the world?

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Now that’s a juicy contradiction.

by Aminda R. Courtwright on Aug 15, 2011

the only true security come from your willingness to embrace the unknown, the realm of uncertainty.

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What’s Sanskrit for “f*ck it”?

by Aminda R. Courtwright on Aug 8, 2011

.why do we want to make everything so complicated? Everything I need to know about this law I learned from riding my motorcycle -

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What if you are exactly where you need to be?

by Aminda R. Courtwright on Aug 2, 2011

I think we should learn to accept that sometimes we will have to work hard, sometimes it is time to rest and wait, sometimes we have to let go…sometimes its not what we do, but when we do it

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There is no such thing as karma – or how anything can become dogma bullsh*t

by Aminda R. Courtwright on Aug 1, 2011

In the end I do not discount the possibility that karma is no more real than the easter bunny, that hot yoga may be the cure for cancer, that anusara principles can fix broken bones, or that god may not even exist-

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My dogma ran over my karma

by Aminda R. Courtwright on Jul 9, 2011

I believe we are meant to become the best human possible. Not stop being human, but come to a place where we are living our fullest potential. And to do this we must know all aspects of humanity; to experience being the captor and the prisoner, the victor and the loser; ruler and serf; we must know success and failure; joy and pain.

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You get what you give

by Aminda R. Courtwright on Jun 27, 2011

Is there a place in your heart that is locked? Are their areas of your life that you have blocked the flow of love or joy or happiness or abundance?? How can you bring more flow into your life? Where can you give OR receive more?

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Still Waters Run Deep (or how I got my mojo back)

by Aminda R. Courtwright on Jun 23, 2011

How could stillness and awareness of pure potentiality bring movement and flow back into your existence?

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It’s never too late to have a happy childhood

by Aminda R. Courtwright on Jun 23, 2011

Our children teach us what life is all about.

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A little daily dose of affirmation

by Aminda R. Courtwright on Jun 23, 2011

‎”I let go of the Past” Today I release the past. I am safe at all times. I breathe deeply & fully bring peace to every cell in my body. I love my life & myself. I see through the eyes of love. Goodness is flowing in every area of my life. My life is [...]

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Is there anything uglier than yoga angst?

by Aminda R. Courtwright on Jun 23, 2011

Read if you have ever felt disillusioned by life, yoga, a friend or anything even a little bit. Read if you aren’t perfect and it makes you feel better to know that neither is anyone else.

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I think I can, I think I can, I think….I’ll take a nap.

by Aminda R. Courtwright on Apr 24, 2011

Remember sometimes the best scenery is found during a detour…go with it…maybe you need to be just where you are.

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Who knows what evil lurks in the heart of men (or women).

by Aminda R. Courtwright on Apr 24, 2011

It is my sincere conviction that the best way to release stored toxic thoughts, feelings and beliefs is to practice forgiveness.

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Life is yoga, yoga is life….get off the mat and into the living

by Aminda R. Courtwright on Apr 11, 2011

What if our religion was each other If our practice was our life If prayer, our words What if the temple was the Earth If forests were our church …If holy water- the rivers, lakes, and ocean What if meditation was our relationships If the teacher was life If wisdom was self-knowledge If love was [...]

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One Teacher gives it to you straight…what do you think of her list?

by Aminda R. Courtwright on Apr 9, 2011

You are not the forest, you do not speak for this tree…I do love lists, I’m a list kind of gal. And I do so love opinions and insights, I have many of those as well. I don’t however like being lumped into a list — I see it a lot with yoga teachers (probably [...]

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Are we the product of one big marketing campaign?

by Aminda R. Courtwright on Apr 8, 2011

WATCH THIS: Consuming Kids and then consider the following…. What do you buy? Why do you buy? Do you have children, what do you “feed” them. This thought provoking and somewhat frightening documentary is real FOOD for thought. As a child raised in the era of GI Joe, Transformers and Care Bears (shiver) I know [...]

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Let’s Ride Motorcycles…

by Aminda R. Courtwright on Apr 7, 2011

What do you live for?

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What if the Hokey pokey IS what it’s all about?

by Aminda R. Courtwright on Apr 7, 2011

I hope life isn’t a big joke, because I don’t get it. ~Jack Handey What if the ego is who you really are? What if the Buddha/Christ/Muhammad was just some guy that was seeking—no different from you or me? What if they were wrong? What if what you believe is more correct than what others espouse? [...]

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What the world always needs is love

by Aminda R. Courtwright on Mar 24, 2011

Love alone is capable of uniting living beings in such a way as to complete and fulfill them, for it alone takes them and joins them by what is deepest in themselves. – Pierre Teilhard de Chardin The last line of the manifesto pretty much says it all. Stay Present Practice Patience Cultivate Gratitude [...]

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Free your mind…

by Aminda R. Courtwright on Mar 12, 2011

An open mind is a mind of curiosity, wonder, learning, infinite possibilities and a beautiful desire for understanding. –unknown Those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything. – George Bernard Shaw —- What I prefer to focus on from Mr. Shaw’s quote is the opposite…those who can change their minds can change everything… [...]

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Oh lord…with you it’s easy to be humble

by Aminda R. Courtwright on Mar 1, 2011

Humility is the ability to give up your pride and still retain your dignity.” Vanna Bonta quotes True humility is intelligent self respect which keeps us from thinking too highly or too meanly of ourselves. It makes us modest by reminding us how far we have come short of what we can be.” Ralph W. [...]

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Take it easy on you

by Aminda R. Courtwright on Feb 23, 2011

Growth is an erratic forward movement: two steps forward, one step back. Remember that and be very gentle with yourself. Julia Cameron Nothing is so strong as gentleness, nothing so gentle as real strength.Saint Francis de Sales Just continuing down my list: Stay Present Practice Patience Cultivate Gratitude Maintain Flexibility Be Kind & Gentle Remain [...]

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Do you really have to be cruel to be kind?

by Aminda R. Courtwright on Feb 12, 2011

The only religion is kindness. ~ Dalai Lama Guard well within yourself that treasure, kindness. Know how to give without hesitation, how to lose without regret, how to acquire without meanness. George Sand Constant kindness can accomplish much. As the sun makes ice melt, kindness causes misunderstanding, mistrust and hostility to evaporate. Albert Schweitzer ARC’s [...]

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A Change Will do you good —- Flexibility Rocks!

by Aminda R. Courtwright on Feb 12, 2011

Without flexibility we do not grow, expand, learn, change, or even truly love. We do not discover, realize or create.
During class I invite students to explore and practice this idea of flexibility by trying to approach their practice in new ways…

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here I am I’m the man on the scene

by Aminda R. Courtwright on Jan 30, 2011

First and foremost in my Life Manifesto: Stay Present We have only this moment, sparkling like a star in our hand … and melting like a snowflake. Let us use it before it is too late. –Marie Beynon Ray Living in the present moment creates the experience of eternity. –Deepak Chopra Where is your mind [...]

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Cultivate Gratitude ~ and get more of what you love!

by Aminda R. Courtwright on Jan 30, 2011

And not that “I’m so thankful it’s not worse feeling”, or I have so much more, or thank goodness that didn’t happen to me…that’s dirty gratitude;

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I sing the body Electric…why I love THIS life.

by Aminda R. Courtwright on Jan 29, 2011

I sing the body electric I celebrate the me yet to come I toast to my own reunion When I become one with the sun A renaissance? An awakening? A great big A-ha? Whatever, all I know is that recently music has inspired me like it used to, not new music necessarily, just that feeling [...]

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