The Bowing Project

I am passing on this note written by a colleague.- Be Well, Juliette Aiyana Dear Friends, As some of you might know, on September 11th, 2007, I initiated The Bowing Project, making a commitment to bow in a public place on the 11th of each month. Below is a link to a video showing some of my bowing adventures of the last two years. The Bowing Project Video The enclosed letter to our President and Mayor Bloomberg is the next stage of that project, the declaration of 9/11 as the Day of Bowing to Compassion. If the letter makes sense to you, and you would like to add your name to this petition, please send it back to me with your name, and the city and country you live in. I would also appreciate it if you then passed it on to anyone else who might want to join us. One thing I learned through my fertility work is that we gather strength, ideas, and faith through every small action we take on our own behalf. Those of us who wait for someone more qualified or more powerful to provide the answers often wait in vain. In the last several weeks, two people in our community here in Woodstock have taken their own lives. And headlines around the world continue to trumpet news of bloodshed in Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Somalia, Congo. How do we intensify the global consciousness of compassion? How can we console 16 year old boys before they head for the bridge? How do we hear a father’s call for help before he reaches for a gun? How do we cultivate a more humane way of being with each other? I’d love to hear your thoughts on all this and connect with those among you who might like to help. If you know of art teachers in and around New York City who would like to get involved, please forward this to them. This coming September 11, 2009 I will be in front of Brown Brother’s Harriman and Co. at 140 Broadway at 8:46 AM leading a Bowing Circle of Compassion. In the evening of the same day, I’ll be teaching a free workshop in Manhattan titled, Birth Your Next Creation, Birth Peace. On Tuesday, August 11th, at 9:00PM EST I'll be leading a 9/11 Bowing Project: Birth Peace Teleconference. Julia Indichova July 7, 2009 Woodstock, New York _____________________________________________________ Dear Mr. President and Mayor Bloomberg, I’m a mother, a wife, a former Manhattan resident of twenty-nine years, and a founder of an international community of parents and parents-to-be. On September 11, 2007, I initiated The 9/11 Bowing Project, to widen the public debate about the roots of violence, and to transform the sorrowful events of that Tuesday morning eight years ago into a source of healing. This letter hopes to enlist your support with the next stage of this project: declaring 9/11 the Day of Bowing to Compassion. The idea that sparked this peace effort arrived shortly after the attacks. After each devastating headline or anthrax scare I wished I could be brave enough to go to a public place and bow. I wanted to bow to a power wiser than my daily mind, a power wise enough to guide us out of the living nightmare of those days. I wanted to acknowledge that the impulse toward revenge continued to course through my own heart in spite of years of mental detox and shelves full of self-help books. The act of bowing was for me the most accurate expression of what was needed in order to stop the unleashing of hatred. As a healthcare activist I’ve had the privilege of working with hundreds of people. I've met revered healers, lifelong meditators and gurus of all ilks and I have yet to find a person who doesn’t have a frightened, angry orphan crouching in some corner of their heart. The Bowing Project hopes to initiate a deeper public conversation about this desire-to-destroy within ourselves, so that we understand it more clearly, and choose not to act on it. In identifying the roots of violence, one difficulty is the confusion perpetuated by a “positive thinking” approach to crisis: the idea that feeling resentful or angry or jealous or sad or greedy is bad. From observation and the teachings of wise women and men throughout the centuries, we know that it’s behavior set off by the denial of such feelings that is harmful. It’s when we don’t have a safe way to engage with the orphaned voices within us that we get into trouble. We in fact enable cruelty in the world by denying aspects of our own humanity. On September 11, 2007, I finally gathered enough courage to bow at Ground Zero, and I made a commitment to bow in a public place on the 11th of each month from then on, with a sign that read: I Bow to the Power of Good in Me and in You. I have honored that commitment for the last two years, and have recently begun to engage others in this project. We, a growing community of parents, aspiring parents, and peacemakers around the world, are now declaring 9/11 the Day of Bowing to Compassion. My hope is that with your help this may become an official declaration and a significant step toward reducing suffering within the human family. Thank you, Julia Indichova Woodstock, New York, July 7, 2009

GOVERNOR PATERSON SIGNS LEGISLATION TO MAKE HEALTH INSURANCE MORE AFFORDABLE AND IMPROVE ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE

GOVERNOR PATERSON SIGNS LEGISLATION TO MAKE HEALTH INSURANCE MORE AFFORDABLE AND IMPROVE ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE

Package Includes Proposals to Extend the Availability of COBRA Coverage for New Yorkers Who Lose Their Jobs and to Insure Dependents Up to Age 29

Other Proposals Will Make Insurance and Needed Health Services More Accessible

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Governor David A. Paterson signed into law three Governor’s Program bills that will make health insurance more affordable and improve access to health care for New Yorkers. The first extends the period of time for COBRA coverage from 18 to 36 months; the second permits families to cover their young adult dependents through age 29 under their job-based insurance; and the third enacts a series of managed care reforms to make health insurance work better for consumers and permit timely access to necessary health services. The Governor signed the legislation at the University of Rochester Medical Center and was joined by members of the Senate, Assembly and community.

“By enhancing access to group health insurance, these reforms will make health insurance more affordable for everyday New Yorkers. More than 2.5 million of our residents do not have health insurance, partly because of the high cost of coverage,” said Governor Paterson. “We must take the necessary steps to improve our broken health care system. By making insurance coverage more accessible, we bring people into the system before they need emergency treatment, reducing the overall cost of health care to the State.”

Senator Neil D. Breslin, Chair of the New York State Senate Insurance Committee, said: “I was thrilled to be a part of advancing the Governor’s package of health insurance legislation. This legislation, which will provide New Yorkers with greater access to preventative care and more affordable insurance, is vitally needed in this economic climate. It is also a significant step toward reforming our health insurance system. I commend Governor Paterson for signing these very important bills and I look forward to building on these efforts during the next legislative session.”

Assemblyman Joseph D. Morelle, Chair of the Assembly Insurance Committee, said: “I am gratified to have been the sponsor of these key reforms, on behalf of patients and providers alike. Our best avenue to universal coverage is the expansion of existing programs, matched with a determination to remove the unnecessary and costly bureaucratic obstacles that impede the delivery of services and burden our working families and employers. Today is a milestone for health care in New York State, and I am grateful to the governor for his support.”

Assemblywoman Crystal Peoples-Stokes said: “At a time where medical costs are constantly rising, availability and affordability of health insurance is paramount. As prime sponsor of the COBRA bill, I would like to applaud Governor Paterson for answering the needs of New Yorkers. Access to primary care has been a major priority in my district's agenda and expanding the age to 29 for young adults will help them obtain and maintain much- needed healthcare coverage.”

The bills signed into law will:

• Expand COBRA for Employees to 36 Months: This law will increase the period for employees who lose their jobs to continue their health insurance under COBRA from 18 to 36 months. Under the federal Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA), workers who lose their jobs can continue purchasing group health insurance provided by their former employers’ group health plans for limited periods of time under certain circumstances for themselves and their families. Federal COBRA generally applies to employers with 20 or more employees, while the State’s “mini-COBRA” law requires that smaller employers – those who have fewer than 20 employees – offer the same continuation coverage. This allows employees to maintain health insurance at a lower cost than if they had to buy it independently on the open market. The Governor’s new law will allow New Yorkers who lose their jobs to extend their health insurance coverage for a longer period of time, which is particularly important in the current economy with its record high level of unemployment.
• Insure Dependents through Age 29: This law, outlined by the Governor in his State of the State address, requires insurers to allow unmarried children through age 29 – regardless of financial dependence – to be covered under a parent’s group health insurance policy. Young adults ages 19 to 29 represent 31 percent of uninsured New Yorkers. They often become ineligible for coverage under their parents’ policies at age 19 or upon high school or college graduation, find themselves in entry-level jobs that do not provide employer-based health insurance, and cannot afford to pay premiums for individual insurance policies – which are much more expensive than group policies. Under the new law, premiums will be paid for by families, not employers, and would cost less because coverage is under group policies rather than individual policies. The law also requires insurers to offer employers an option to purchase coverage that includes young adults as dependents in family policies through age 29.
• Managed Care Reform: This bill will implement reforms that help consumers receive the care they need and cut some of the red tape that results in inappropriately delayed or denied claims. Some of the protections that will benefit consumers under the proposal include:
  
  
• Prohibiting insurers from treating an in-network provider as out-of-network simply because the referring provider was out-of-network;
• Extending current protections for consumers in HMOs to consumers in “HMO look-alike” plans – health plans that operate the same as HMOs but are not licensed as HMOs, such as “exclusive provider organizations” or EPOs;
• Reducing the prompt-pay timeframe from 45 days to 30 days for electronically submitted claims so doctors and hospitals are paid more quickly;
• Reducing the time insurers have to review requests for post-hospital home health care;
• Extending providers a right to request an external appeal of a concurrent denial;
• Extending protections to doctors and hospitals when health insurers seek to recover alleged overpayments. The protections include basic notice and an opportunity to challenge the insurers’ overpayment recovery efforts.
• Limiting health insurers’ and HMOs’ ability to deny or delay payment of claims by sending a coordination of benefits questionnaire;
• Permitting participating health care providers to request reconsideration of a claim that is denied as untimely and limiting penalties for untimely claims;
• Requiring insurers and HMOs to give participating providers notice of adverse reimbursement changes to provider contracts and giving providers an opportunity to cancel the contract;
• Requiring insurers and HMOs who fail to meet a loss-ratio requirement to make efforts to locate and pay dividends or credits to former policy holders;
• Permitting newly licensed providers and providers moving to New York to be provisionally credentialed until the final determination is made; and
• Establishing a new external appeal standard for rare disease treatments.

The bills signed into law today build upon other initiatives aimed at increasing the availability and affordability of health insurance. In March, Governor Paterson signed into law his Program Bill to help New Yorkers who lost their jobs at small businesses take advantage of a COBRA subsidy made available under the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). In addition, the 2009-10 budget eliminated certain barriers to enrolling in public health insurance coverage such as face-to-face interviews, finger imaging, and asset tests, and authorized the Department of Health to seek federal support for expanded coverage for low-income adults. Moreover, as of September 1, 2008, all of New York’s uninsured children became eligible for moderate or no-cost health care coverage under Child Health Plus.

The following statements were given in support of the legislation:

Acting Insurance Superintendent Kermitt J. Brooks said: “The Governor’s legislative package includes substantial reforms that will have a real impact on New Yorkers, allowing those who currently cannot afford health insurance to obtain coverage. In addition, these proposals help make insurance work better for consumers, providers, health plans and employers.”

State Health Commissioner Richard F. Daines, M.D., said: “I commend Governor Paterson for his commitment to expanding health care coverage, giving more New Yorkers access to consistent primary and preventive care which will help prevent chronic disease and avoidable hospitalizations. The Governor’s managed care reforms will streamline the administrative process so that health insurance claims are processed more efficiently, ensuring that New York families get the care they need when they need it.”

Senator Thomas K. Duane, Chair of the Senate Committee on Health, said: “New York State continues to take the lead in overseeing the private health insurance market to make sure it works effectively in linking people to needed health care. Increasing access to care is not only the right thing to do, it is an important step to reducing the social and financial costs incurred by uninsured and underinsured New Yorkers.”

Assemblyman Richard N. Gottfried, Chair of the Assembly Health Committee, said: “This continues Governor Paterson’s work with the Legislature to make health coverage better and more affordable in New York. Whatever happens in Washington, we’re going to need to keep doing this in New York.”

Home Care Association of New York State Board Chair Victoria Hines, President and CEO of Visiting Nurse Service of Rochester and Monroe County, said: “The home care community applauds Governor Paterson, Assemblyman Morelle, Senator Breslin and the Legislature as a whole for advancing these critical managed care reforms. By helping to remove service authorization hurdles that often impede or needlessly delay access to care, this landmark bill allows providers to initiate care urgently needed for patients to return home from the hospital.”

MELT in Brooklyn

The MELT method with Zoe Levine

Sundays 10:00-11:00am

Park Slope Fitness Collective

366 7th Ave (10th st) Brooklyn NY

The MELT method is a self-treatment technique, that taps into the natural healing systems of the body (think connective tissues and nervous system), and empowers you to live a healthy, active, and pain free life. In this class you'll learn how to special foam rollers and hand and foot balls to help you feel long, lean, and more connected in your own body.

Who is MELT for?

MELT is for anyone who wants to slow down the aging process and live better, longer. MELT is also for active younger adults and ahtletes who want to maintain a fit, toned body and achieve optimal performance without debilitating wear and tear. MELT is also great for those of you trying to unwind those tight "office bodies".

What benefits does MELT offer?

MELT creates a strong, flexible body that maintains its upright posture for life. And you will see and feel results after just one session!

IMPROVES:

flexibility and mobility

posture

the results of exercise

sleep and digestion

overall well-being

and REDUCES:

aches and pains

wrinkles and cellulite

tension and stress

headaches

risk of injury

Class cards will be available for purchase after class 6 classes for $110. This Sunday class will be ongoing all summer (drop in rate $20- cannot guarantee space in class) Cash or Check only.

What's On Your Plate?

What’s On Your Plate?

 What’s On Your Plate? is clever and thought provoking documentary which follows two 11 year old city girls, Sadie and Safiyah, as they explore the world of food through supermarkets, fast food, school lunch programs, and greenmarkets. One of the girls has genetic high cholesterol and learns how to regulate her diet to both lower and control her cholesterol. I highly recommend this movie for parents to watch and discuss with their ‘tweens and teens.

 The film also teaches some very important facts about kids and food such as:

 Childhood obesity has quadrupled in the last 10 years.

- Centers for Disease Control

The generation of Americans born in the year 2000 is the first in history to have a shorter life expectancy than its parents.

- Centers for Disease Control

Estimates say two in three black and Latino children in the U.S. will develop type II diabetes during their lifetimes.

- Centers for Disease Control

One study found that only 27% of parents of overweight or obese children ages 2 to 17 acknowledged themselves as such.

- Time Magazine, June 12, 2008 Issue

Overweight children are more likely than healthy-weight kids to be anxious, unhappy and depressed.

- Time Magazine, June 12, 2008 Issue

 

For More Information Visit the Website

http://www.aubinpictures.com/woyp/about.htm