Spring/Summer goings-on...

Wow! I can't believe its been so long since my last post! What a busy 9 months it has been! I ended up taking the summer off, but just prior to that, I taught a few Animal Reiki classes and spent some time working 1-1 with a couple of students. As much as I come from a place of fearing public speaking, I challenge myself by taking on public speaking opportunities whenever I can. As I've done this, I've come to realize that I really enjoy teaching - both in a larger classroom style and individually in a student's home. I think I will always find satisfaction in anything that involves meeting new people and their animals and working together to solve various problems/re-connect on a spiritual and/or emotional level.

Each and every time I teach a new student or a new class of a number of students, I am humbled and honored to be passing on the knowledge and experience I gained while at Brighthaven in 2014. Studying under my wonderful teacher Kathleen Prasad from Animal Reiki Source was a life-changing experience for me and resulted in my coming back to Winnipeg and completely changing my practice. I especially love witnessing students embrace the principles and foundations of the Animal Reiki program. I will also occasionally receive feedback and questions as students of various levels go out and put their skills to practice. What starts as a simply teacher-student interchange quickly becomes a symbiotic mutually shared journey into Animal Reiki, healing, love and light.

I am truly blessed to be able to do this work. :)

Namaste and blessings to you and your animals.

Kerissa
 

Peaceful Paws shows at Winnipeg's Wellness/Green Earth Expo this coming weekend...

I'm so excited to be a part of this year's Wellness/New Earth Expo! If you would like Complimentary VIP Passes, just click on this link and fill out the information to get your free passes:https://www.universe.com/embed/listings/3ZCMQ8/bookings/new….
In absence of a VIP Passes, it will be $10.00 at the door! See you there!

Winnipeg Convention Centre

Friday, February 19 , 5 pm – 9 pm
Saturday, February 20, 10 am – 6 pm
Sunday, February 21, Noon – 5 pm

22ND ANNUAL WINNIPEG WELLNESS EXPO

22 yrs ago, the Wellness Expo began it's journey to bring Proactive health options to the city of Winnipeg. Now with four cities on the go, and more coming on line each year, the Winnipeg Wellness Expo is still our flag ship event bringing over 6000 people through the doors each year.The 2016 Winnipeg Wellness Expo is shaping up to be one of our largest to date and we are excited to have you join us.

Categories: Conferences & Tradeshows | Health & Wellness | Business & Networking | Outdoors & Recreation

Winner of the Spirit Seeker's Conference draw last year...trying to get back to you....

In the small chance that the lady who won the prize from last years' Spirit Seeker Conference happens to see this, or in the event that someone who knows her can pass this on, can you please call me? I received your last voicemail, but when I went to return the call, found out that my voicemail service had accidently deleted everything. I would very much like to ensure you at least are aware that I am not purposely failing to get back to you.

Please contact me...

Thank you & Namaste,

Kerissa

PAWS from a PLANE a success...in more ways than one...

 I am safely home after a successful jump on Sunday! It's honestly very difficult to explain how I felt throughout the various stages of the event. But, there was never a moment when I thought of "chickening" out...I was doing it, no question. I remember feeling nauseous from the tiny little plane ride up to about 1500 feet. After that, the climb to just over 9000 feet was calm and scenic - mainly due to my instructor Ken talking in my ear and showing me the sights around Gimli. It was very uncomfortable in the plane - now that I think about it, maybe purposefully, because who would want to remain crammed in there like that? ;) Jay, the videographer, started videoing right away and I vaguely recall saying how I was feeling and answering that I was "ready to jump out of a perfectly good airplane" (love the move Point Break, by the way)! There was some uncomfortable and less-than-graceful shifting that took place, Jay jumped out and flew like a flying squirrel (I'd say bird, but his flight suit had "wings" like a flying squirrel) and immediately, it was my turn to quickly shimmy into place, get into jump position and fall - HEAD FIRST (OMG) out of the plane with Ken strapped tightly to my back! Yes, the whole thing started with a summersault into the wild blue yonder! I remember the cold air (it's cold up there folks!), feeling the force of the air fighting against gravity, Ken correcting my positioning (it's hard to think of anything up there, even though you've practiced a few times), and quickly (after about 30 seconds) getting into "canopy" mode (essentially the time when your shoot deploys and you find yourself silently floating through the air...wondering if you're dreaming or if this is really happening. The two inch drop that occurs when the instructor unclips two of the restraints and you go from falling at about 120 km to 20 km in a matter of seconds, was not as jolting as people have said. I recall being mesmerized with the blue of it all and I started to relax and enjoy the view. Still, my stomach was reminding me of all of the stress and anxiety - along with the small fact that I seemed to forget...that I suffer from motion sickness. :( Ironically, my body decided to remind me of this around the time that Ken showed me how to do turns with the parachute. "AHHHHHHH!!! NOooooo! Don't throw up, don't throw up!" - became the "mantra" that I was chanting in my head. I think we did one radical turn and a couple of smaller more gentle ones and it was time to practice landing. Yes, folks...this is all happening in the air as your concentrating on what the instructor is telling/showing you , not screwing up so that you kill you both AND for me, trying not to get sick. Top that off with the fact that it seems to happen quicker than you can blink and it's one heck of a ride! The landing went way smoother than I anticipated (with many thanks to Ken's expertise), and I didn't feel as though the "ground was rushing towards me" as some have explained. From there is was just unhooking from Ken, catching my breath, trying to recover from the nausea and trying to explain to my smiling family (including my 96 year old Baba who surprised me by being there for my landing) and new friends what it was like. It took about 30 mins for me to get my "land feet" back and feel grounded again. After showing gratitude to my instructor, the pilot and Jay for all of their support and expertise, I did a quick interview with The Interlake Spectator, who came out for a follow-up article interview (should be in this Thursday's edition). Would I do it again...? At this point, I'm still unsure. Am I regretful, NO WAY! This event started with a simple idea to combine a bucket list, fear challenge with animal advocacy. It's been 6 months since I started planning it and it's been a heck of a ride just getting to jump day! I've learned soooo much from every detail and every stage of the project that it would be hard to list it all. What I will say, is that even though I haven't met my personal fundraising goal as yet (I will continue to accept donations until October 9, 2015), I am proud of what I managed to create and execute over the last 6 months. Every detail was considered carefully - including a last minute event t-shirt creation!
I would like to thank the following people for their overwhelming support and belief in this event: My jump partner, friend and colleague Lorrie (who agreed to this crazy adventure and saw it through despite fear and doubt); my wonderful parents (who I realized as I landed that I am solely responsible for aging - due to my risk taking behaviours and stubborn will); my awesome boyfriend (who grounds me, calms me and without question, supports me in my crazy adventures); my grandmother ("Baba" who was surprisingly supportive and calm...AFTER asking if I was "crazy"); Kim and Greg from Winnipeg Lost Dog Alert (for your promotion, support and for coming out to the event); my dear friends ( who contributed donations, printed posters, and gave advice and encouragement); Lee Wilcox of The Little Doghouse (for your support and promotion); Michael Lazer of Lakeview Resort and Suites (for your support and generosity); Glen Hallick and staff of The Interlake Spectator (for coming out and for the media coverage) and last but certainly not least...Ken, Brian, Jay and Dick of Skydive Manitoba for your professionalism, expertise and patience with all of the chaos and drama over the weekend. Finally, a huge "Thank You" to all of you who donated to the event, shared posts via Facebook and Twitter, talked to people about the event, came out on jump day, and tolerated all of my rash of updates. As mentioned, I will continue to accept donations for the next two weeks via GoFundMe , in-person donation and cheques to the organizations so there's still time if you were waiting for the jump to actually happen!! ;)
Thanks to everyone....WE DID THIS!!! :) Pics/Video coming soon....
 
Kerissa Cymbaluk

Two more days till "Jump Day"...

Well, two more sleeps to go...I can honestly say that I'm starting to have free-falling nightmares and anxiety about the jump. It started becoming "real" last weekend...such a strange feeling - it's like a combination of fear, anticipation, excitement, disbelief and motivation at the same time. While I have planned many an event over the years, this is the first "fear challenge, fundraiser, public display". As someone who is more introverted and private, I have to admit, it'...s a bit intimidating. It's been an interesting experience so far...even just with the planning of it all. I've learned a lot, and I've had some harsh lessons along the way about human nature, business, community and fundraising in general. Still, at the end of the day, I hope what comes across loud and clear is my love and appreciation for the animals. That is the foundation for why I'm doing this...to give a little something back to the beautiful creatures that we tend to take for granted - the ones that bring so much joy to our lives and ask for so little in return. "Yes", I am crazy to do this...I'm crazy about animals!
Let's do this!!!!

https://www.gofundme.com/PAWSfromaPLANE

Revised event poster...PAWS from a PLANE - skydive fundraiser

My commitment and devotion to the animals has resulted in the idea to combine a personal bucket list item/fear challenge with a wonderful opportunity tosupport two beloved animal organizations in the city - Winnipeg Lost Dog Alert (WLDA) and Craig Street Cats (CSC)...and "PAWS from a PLANE" was born!  PAWS from a PLANE is a pledge / sponsorship skydive event with all pledge monies going to WLDA and CSC (at the donor's discretion).

For the past two years, I have committed myself to building an extraordinary life by pushing my limits and breaching my comfort zone. You only live once, better make it count! It's not so much about making more money, owning luxurious things or partying "like it's 1999", it's about achieving a better quality of life. It's about not wasting any more time on petty things we can't control or things that don't feed the soul. Life is full of adventure and purpose, you just have to be willing to alter your perspective and have an open mind. I am not an "adrenaline junkie",  I am simply a lover of life who wants her story to say more than "she was a (enter various labels here) and worked for "X" company for 20 years and earned a good pension". The purpose is to help as many people and animals in my lifetime as possible. That is my purpose, and I am blessed to be aware of it! :)

 This will be my first ever skydive and as someone with a fear of heights, it is also a personal fear challenge for me! What better way is there to overcome personal fear issues than with a passion that is stronger than fear...animal advocacy / welfare!
 
The event is scheduled to take place on Saturday, September 26, 2015 at 2:00 pm at Manitoba Skydive in Gimli, Manitoba, Canada (bad weather date is Sunday, September 27, 2015). With all of the excitement, support of attendees, possible media attention, and positive energy, my dream is to see a sea of smiles as I decend from the skies that day!

About the agencies I'm jumping for...

Founded in 2011,  WLDA was created by a man who was out searching for a dog and thought there had to be a better way to communicate with other searchers out there. The Winnipeg Lost Dog Alert Facebook page was created as a central place to post information on lost dogs in the Winnipeg and surrounding area, the coordination for searching for them, and updates on who are out searching, where, and when.  Since its creation, WLDA has secured a wonderful group of followers who volunteer their time and resources to give needed support to the ones that have lost their dog as well as tips and ideas on what to do when they have lost or found a dog. These volunteers will also go out searching for a missing dog, either by vehicle (using their gas) or by foot, walking in bushes or swamps. Members of this organization play a vital part on getting these lost dogs home.

In 2008 Winnipeg’s Wolseley neighbourhood was home to a number of large, and growing, colonies of feral cats.  Craig Street, only one block long, was home to over 40 adult free roaming cats that were mating freely, having kittens all over the block, and generally causing a nuisance. The original Craig Street Cats project was started with the intention of performing TNR (trap, neuter, return) for the adult cats on the street.  CSC's founder, Lynne Scott, bought one trap, made 18 appointments with the Winnipeg Humane Society's TNR program, and started trapping cats.

Since that first year the project has grown.  Currently, CSC provides care or resources for community cats all over the city, and is the only organization actively working to humanely reduce Winnipeg's free roaming cat population.  Craig Street Cats is now the largest cat specific animal welfare organization in Winnipeg.

Please help me by passing on the information, coming out to the event with all yourfriends/family/fellow animal lovers, sharing my Issuu poster via Facebook ( https://www.facebook.com/peacefulpawsanimalreiki.manitoba), and/or pledge me as I plummet from a plane! Youcan offer your pledge online via GoFundMe.com (please ensure you indicate if your donation is 100% to CSC or WLDA or 50% to BOTH by entering your preference in the "COMMENT" section) - or by sending cheques directly to WLDA and/or CSC, referencing "PAWS from a PLANE" in the memo line. I am committed to seeing this through to its ultimate success. This includes obtaining sponsors and inviting media promotion.  
 
What started as a simple personal adventure/bucket-list challenge is quickly turning into a quest to raise as much awareness and donations for these wonderful animal agencies as possible! GO BIG OR GO HOME! ;)
 
Any support you can offer is greatly appeciated and greatly needed to ensure this dream of mine comes true. Thank you for taking the time to read my story and for considering support of this event.

Namaste, peace and blessings to you and your animal friends!

Kerissa Cymbaluk

Please see the attached link for the printable/shareable poster:

http://issuu.com/peacefulpawsanimalreiki/docs/revised_event_flyer.docx