By: Stephani-Lila Murdoch
Dear Members,
I, as well as the rest of the 2019 USTA Conference Committee members, am very excited about our time together, Friday September 13th thru the 16th (Post Conference) at Pearlstone Conference Center in Reistertown, MD. The program content promises to offer creative connection as well as an educational, inspiring, transformative, three-four days experience.
Along with the many offerings on the agenda, there will be a Silent Auction. This Silent Auction is a fun way of providing for the educational costs of our conference to be partially defrayed. All proceeds benefit both USTA (70%) and Shanthi Project. (30%)
The Shanthi Project of Easton, Pa. is a nonprofit organization founded in 2010 that provides trauma-informed yoga and mindfulness services throughout the Greater Lehigh Valley to thousands of at-risk children and youth, and trauma survivors of all ages. Through yoga postures, breath awareness, and understanding the genesis of and skills to control strong emotions, students learn valuable coping and life skills as well as the physical benefits of strength, balance, and flexibility that a yoga practice can provide.
These practices cultivate mind-body self-awareness, enhance resilience, and promote positive emotions that help establish a healthier and more productive home, school, or work environment, including the benefits of healthy relationships with family, peers, teachers, and co-workers.
The values and principles which Shanthi Project provides are much like what we are offering as Trager Practitioners. The Shanthi values of acceptance, compassion, collaboration, deepening qualities of self care, and commitment to well being are closely aligned with the values and principles of Trager. We are happy to further awareness of this incredible service that Shanthi Project facilitates and hope that you will feel moved to support the auction by offering your donations.
We will be setting up an area at the conference where donated items such as jewelry you haven’t worn in years, photos, do dad’s, a special piece of clothing, pottery, a basket of goodies, a weekend in the Bahamas (!) anything that will be appropriate for the silent auction will be made available for our attendees to “shop”. Your donation does not have to be expensive or extravagant, although we won’t say no to those sorts of items!
Last January I gave to a silent auction – candles I make, several pieces of jewelry I did not want any more, a journal that was new, Tibetan prayer flags, a pair of gloves, a Mexican statue, etc. You get the idea.
Again, please bring an offering or two or three and enjoy knowing that items you no longer use are benefitting two great causes; USTA and the Shanti Project. Even if you are not attending the conference, we would really appreciate any items you wish to send for the auction. Please contact me for arrangements.
http://www.shanthiproject.org/about-us-2/
Thank you for anything you may bring.
Enjoy the fun of the auction!
My Very Best, as always,
Stephani-Lila Murdoch
610-597-7153