My first yoga lesson was in Afghanistan

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In 1975 when travelling on Marco Polo’s Silk Route overland for 6 months, I had my first yoga lesson. I was in a hostel in Afghanistan with other foreigners and a couple from Belgium taught me some yoga.

Years later, I started studying yoga and meditation in New York City to balance the stressors of Wall Street. My authentic self was not emerging enough and I knew my spirit was not flourishing in that environment at that time.

From Wall Street to Yoga Nun….

So, I moved into a yoga ashram, the largest in North America with 350 residents and serving 20,000 guests a year with holistic health and personal growth retreats and courses. I became Program Director of yoga and massage therapy certification trainings.

A broken arm from a horseback riding fall brought me back home to Ohio to heal. Little did I know I would pass up a on six figure job offer overseas to open the first Yoga & Wellness Center in Greater Cleveland…..

Open House to Celebrate the Bhumi’s Community and 10 year Anniversary of the New Studio

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What are you celebrating this year?
I am celebrating :
70 years of being on the planet
50 years living/traveling internationally
47 years ago had first yoga lesson
42 years practicing mindfulness meditation & yoga
37 years training yoga teachers nationally
30 years teaching yoga & coaching in Ohio
10 year anniversary of the current new training studio

Sunday June 5, 2022 we had an Open House to celebrate the 10 year anniversary of Bhumi’s new yoga studio. It was also a reunion of the latest and final graduating class of Bhumi’s Yoga Teacher Training Certification.

The weather was perfect, the company exquisite and besides currently active guests, some faces from the past as far back as 1997 came to share and spend time together!

Now is the time for even deeper conscious work in collaboration through Masterminds. Do you want to join us?

“The World is One Family”
Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam
 वसुधैव कुटुम्बकम्

Halloween Across Cultures October 31, 2021

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Halloween Around the World
How did you celebrate Halloween, Samhain, All Saints/Souls Day, Harvest time?
Want to get to know another culture without travelling?
Attend a cultural event right in your home city. People love to share their traditions and you can learn a lot. I did.
I went to the Dia De Los Muertos, Day of the Dead festival here in Cleveland, Ohio with my Mexican American friends. So, today I’ll highlight that.
Fun Fotos Follow.- taken by me.DIA DE LOS MUERTOSMexico and parts of Latin America, as well as some southwestern parts of the USA celebrate Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) to honor those who have passed away. The Gates of Heaven open up at midnight on October 31 and the souls of children return to Earth to be reunited with their families on November 1. Then on November 2, the souls of adults come down from heaven to join in the festivities.
The Aztecs developed the ritual some 3,000 years ago. During the Spanish conquest, Catholic leaders exerted their influence on the tradition and the resulting mash up created the Day of the Dead celebration.
Recognizing death as a natural part of the human experience, without mourning or sadness, Día de los Muertos celebrates the lives of the deceased with food, drink, parties, and activities they had enjoyed in life. The dead are awakened from their eternal sleep to share these celebrations with their loved ones.The Parade beginsStilt People against the CLE OHIO backdropThe most familiar symbols are calacas and calaveras (skeletons and skulls), which appear everywhere: in candied sweets, as parade masks, as dolls, on altars. Calacas and calaveras are portrayed as enjoying life, often in fancy colorful clothes and entertaining situations.Mariachi Band MusicHorse Skeleton RiderDía de los Muertos combines indigenous Aztec ritual with Catholicism. Temporary private altars (ofrendas) are constructed in the homes for deceased loved ones.Aztec Dance PerformanceNote the cross made with cempasúchil marigolds on the left side of this altar.Every altar includes the four elements: water, wind, earth and fire. Water: water or alcohol in bottles Wind: Papel picado, traditional paper banners. Earth: Food, especially bread. Fire: Candles, in the shape of a cross to represent the cardinal directions, so the spirits can find their way.Pan de los Muertos (Bread of the Dead) are sometimes baked in the shape of bones, and dusted with sugar. It only baked this time of year.The cempasúchil, a type of marigold flower native to Mexico, is placed on altars and graves. The vibrant color and strong scent allow the ancestors to find their way back for this occasion. .Monarch butterfly: These butterflies, which migrate to Mexico each fall, were believed to be the spirits of the ancestors coming to visit.Pet Cemetery display outsideHOW DID YOU CELEBRATE?Feel free to connect and share your tradition with me? EMAILI’d enjoy learning about you.HOW OTHER CULTURES CELEBRATEMany cultures around the world celebrate similar traditions of honoring the dead, each with different rituals and times of the year.
LIST and LINKS to LEARN more::Samhain – Ireland and Scotland  Day of Dracula – Romania Kawasaki (川崎) Halloween Parade – Japan Pangangaluluwa – The Philippines The Hungry Ghost Festival – Hong KongPitru Paksha (पितृ पक्ष) – India Dzień Saduszny All Souls Day – PolandAwuru Odo Festival – NigeriaPhchŭm Bĕn (ភ្ជុំបិណ្ឌ) Ancestors Day – CambodiaOgnissanti All Saints’ Day– Italy Kukeri (кукери) – BulgariaGai Jatra (गाई जात्रा) Cow Festival – NepalTết Trung Nguyên The Ghost Festival – VietnamHari Raya Galungan – Bali, IndonesiaRadonitsa (Радоница) Day of Rejoicing – RussiaTotensonntag Sunday of the Dead – GermanyLa Toussaint All Saints Day – Brittany, FranceJum Il-Mejtin – Malta
LINKS TO ARTICLES for SUMMARIES:
Twenty Halloween-Like Traditions Around the WorldUnveiling the Spirit of Halloween Cultures Around The WorldHALLOWEEN TIMELINE IN THE USAAncient Times: Halloween Begins as Samhain10th Century: Samhain Is ChristianizedThe Middles Ages: Trick-or-Treating (Souling) Emerges19th Century: Jack-o-Lanterns Take Shape19th Century: Halloween Comes to America – And With It Comes Mischief 1930s: Haunted Houses Become a Thing in the USA1950s: Halloween Costumes Go Mainstream 
LINK TO ARTICLE for TIMELINE DETAILSHarriet L. Russell, Cross Cultural Strategist, CoachI run a cross cultural training company. I work with and speak for organizations who want their people to work better together, both internally and across borders.
After working with me, people feel more at ease with others from around the world, are able to communicate more effectively with respect, honor, and trust, and have a deeper awareness of what makes others tick.  
On a personal note, I have certified hundreds of teachers in my yoga teacher training system and mindfulness masterminds.
LINK to VIDEOS, ARTICLES, and MORE!My latest book: Doing Business with Ease Overseas:Building Cross Cultural Relationships That Last takes you not only on a journey across the globe, but a journey within yourself.1. Have you ever felt uneasy when you don’t understand another person’s accent?
2. Do you ever feel uncomfortable when you interact with people from different cultures in your work?
3. Does your business require developing relationships internationally?Link to Schedule a CallTestimonial from a Life Coaching Client




“Harriet is a compassionate, articulate and thoughtful life coach. She helped me during Covid on life issues in a loving and effective manner which I never thought would l be possible before trying her services. She actively listened to my concerns and with specific coaching techniques I was able to unravel what was going on and how to navigate solutions.
I highly recommend Harriet as a globally-minded coach and a treasure to work with.”.
Leslie Kodish, Senior Corporate Patent Paralegal, Seattle WALink to More Testimonials ‌  ‌

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