Mondo Zen™ Workshop: A powerfully enlightening workshop in Castle Rock!

When: Sunday, October 25th, 2009, 1-5pm

Cost: $25 (tax deductable checks can be made to Friends Of Zen, a non-profit organization)
Presented by: American Zen Master, Jun Po Roshi and Zen practitioner, Kensho Len Silverston

• Learn Revolutionary Mondo ZenTM process to experience deep clarity of pure mind
• Transform Your Negative Emotions!
• Take Control Your Life!
• Discover a Clear, Open Channel for Awakening Your Mind, Body, & Spirit!
• Naked Zen Philosophy Stripped of All Religious Connotations!
• Includes meditation and instruction

Agenda: Guided meditation
Qigong (movement meditation)
Dharma talk
Mondo Zen Teaching and Practice
Questions and Answers

Where: Castle Rock AIKIDO - A martial arts school exclusively for adults
185 Caprice Ct. #5 (at the corner of Caprice Ct. and Caprice Dr. just off
Wolfensberger Rd., I25 exit 182, take right and another right at Caprice)

Local Dance Fundraiser for Women of Darfur

Show your solidarity and give support through a dance celebration and learning event called the "Sensual Heart Event," hosted by Castle Rock Nia Fitness Studio.

Please join us for an informative gathering and community dance experience in aid of our sisters who are victims of the violence in Darfur.

Saturday, October 17th, 2009 7 pm - 9 pm Fund and awareness raising $22*
Sunday, October 18th 11 am - 2 pm VividExistence 5 Stages DanceShop $65*,
or $80* for both days

*Donation: Ticket profits from this event will be donated to the Women’s Peace Center in Darfur to support women survivors of genocide to receive care and be given the start up costs to weave baskets for a self-sustaining income. We are also proud to be partnering with the Women's Peace Collection, the fair trade organization that is organizing this basket weaving cooperative venture.

For more information, please visit: http://www.niafitnessclasses.com/fundraiser_Women_in_Darfur.html

New Kid’s Karate Classes: Month to Month Tuition

This NEW Karate program specifically designed and intended for children and teens grades 4 and up teaches a traditional form of Okinawan Karate called Shuri-Ryu, which emphasizes personal development over competitiveness.

Classes are currently held Tuesday and Thursday evenings at 5pm and are taught by third degree black belt, " Sensei" Terry Martin of Castle Rock KARATE. Mrs. Martin has been practicing martial arts for more than 16 years and has been teaching Okinawan Karate to children and teens in Castle Rock since 1999.

She is also a professional educator holding a Master's Degree in Education, which makes her uniquely qualified to incorporate her professional teaching experience into her karate curriculum. Furthermore, she has significant experience and success teaching martial arts to children and teens with learning differences and difficulties.

Parents will be thrilled to hear that there is finally a martial arts program for children in Castle Rock that has family-friendly pricing and doesn't force parents to sign those unfair, coercive contracts committing their children to one, two, or, in some cases, three years of training.
Call today if you think your child(ren) might be interested in training with Sensei Martin. Call 720-270-7823 or email us at CRaikido@comcast.net

Castle Rock Karate is sharing space with Castle Rock AIKIDO. Of course, the AIKIDO and IAIDO programs remain strictly adult-only. The children and teens karate program will be training on opposite evenings at our Castle Rock facility and will not in any way detract from our adult-exclusive, mature dojo atmosphere.

Nia Fitness: Too Fun to Call Fitness

I just discovered Nia. It is a fitness class combining yoga, jazz dance, and martial arts. It was the most fun I've ever had in a class. It wasn't too aerobic and I moved my body in such a way to thoroughly stretch my joints in my shoulders and hips which is where I am usually stiff.

This was the first time I finished an aerobics class and said "That was so much fun!" I usually say, "Well, that was good for me." But with Nia, it really was a blast. I was very intimidated to go to a "dance" fitness class because I am not coordinated, but I did OK and the instructor stressed that it is important to follow your own body, not try to conform with what others are doing. Nia might be a way for you to lose that last bit of weight. You can watch a video about Nia at NiaNow.

I am going to put together a Nia workshop in Castle Rock so that Castle Rock residents can try the class and we'll see if that is the kind of fitness program that will do well in Castle Rock.

Email me at famisswomen@gmail.com to let me know you are interested and I will send you an email when the Nia workshop is set up. I hope the workshop will be in February.

A Nia class lasts an hour and there are plenty of breaks to have a drink of water in between. My cardio fitness is low so I was nervous about trying an "aerobic class," but the instructor assured me that the class is appropriate for beginners and advanced Nia students because you work out at your own pace. She was right. The classes I've attended had some women in their 30s, many in their 40s and 50s, and a couple in their 60s.

Click here to watch the Nia video to see if it is something you might like and I'll do my best to offer Nia classes in Castle Rock. Email me at famisswomen@gmail.com and I'll put you on the email notification list when the Nia workshop or class is available.

The workshop will be held at Castle Rock AIKIDO which is located a few minutes west of I-25 off the Wolfensberger exit.

Hope to share Nia with you,
Allison Frederick

Classic Car Rental for Special Occassions

Review: A

What do you buy for someone who has everything? How can you make an occasion like a 60th birthday, an anniversary, or the wedding day unique?

One way to stand out and have a good time is to rent an antique car. You don't have to go to Denver to find such a service, Rich's Auto Body in Castle Rock offers several classic cars for special occasions.

We used Rich's service a few years ago when we wanted to offer a unique drive and experience for a birthday dinner at Gabriel's in Sedalia. Talk about arriving in style. We rented the 1930 Model A Town Sedan (featured above). It was a lot of fun and made traveling down rural Highway 67 a memorable experience.

To make sure the riders have the best experience, Rich will ask questions about the event such as "Will there be any highway driving?" (if so, they recommend certain cars) or "Will it matter if your hair blows in the wind?" (if so, they recommend a sedan). Whether you want to look classic or racy, they have a car that can meet your fun needs.

Some of the cars they had available according to their website include: a 1914 Model T, a 1953 Chevy, or a racy 1964 Valiant.

Visit their classic antique car rental website for more information. RichsBody.com

Life in South West Douglas County, Colorado offers news, things to do, restaurant reviews, business directories, gossip, hiking information, and real estate information. If you are looking for something to do or trying to find the perfect neighborhood to move to, I hope you will love this FREE resource guide.

Road Construction Erupts

The extended Indian summer has encouraged road construction crews to come out in droves. I can't possibly relay all the construction interruptions that are slowing traffic so my best advice is to allow more time than usual to get to your destination.

In the last 36 hours I've run into crews at Wolfensberger and Park Street, Morningview and Foothills in The Meadows, the back entrance to Castle Pines North along Monarch (at least the view is enjoyable while you wait), and on Castle Pines Parkway.


I am sure there is much more, it is like the crews are multiplying like our infamous rabbits.

Good luck!

Life in South West Douglas County, Colorado offers news, things to do, restaurant reviews, business directories, gossip, hiking information, and real estate information. If you are looking for something to do or trying to find the perfect neighborhood to move to, I hope you will love this FREE resource guide.

Concerts in a Colorado Castle

(View from Cherokee Castle in Colorado. Sorry, I don't have a picture of the castle itself. I'll have to take one later. This view; however is still quite grand.)

In the 1950's a woman of refined European taste fell in love with the vistas and dusty buttes of south west Douglas County.

The open space and rugged individualism of Colorado ranchers must have nipped at her because Tweet Kimball soon called the Cherokee Ranch and Castle her home. While not every rancher can boast a full armoured knight, a Titian painting, or royal guests, this distinguished art collector became an award winning cattle rancher respected by many.

If a stoic ranch hand revealed his emotions, he'd probably smile at the woman donning a full length fur coat, giving the day's instructions on how to look after her Santa Gertrudis cattle.

Today Tweet is gone but her art, castle, cattle, and legacy survive.

This holiday season the Castle is hosting several classical concerts. The performance also includes wine tasting, a castle tour, and a dinner buffet. The Cherokee Castle, providing a magical "other world," complements an evening of fine music. While the tickets aren't inexpensive, they are fairly priced based on what is offered along with an experience unlike any to be had elsewhere in Colorado.

The Castle sits on a 3,100 acre wildlife preserve that Tweet entrusted when she passed away. It is located off an easy to miss road between Castle Pines and Sedalia. Be sure to get instructions from someone at the Castle.

By the way, if you are curious where the name "Tweet" came from then you will have to take a castle tour or rent the video about Tweet Kimball's life from a Douglas County Library.

Looking for more?

Tours of Cherokee Castle

Tickets for Concerts at Cherokee Castle

Documentary about Tweet Kimball's life, complete with an interview with the famous Douglas County resident herself. Called "A Jewel in the Rockies: The Story of Cherokee Ranch." Available at the Douglas County Libraries.

article: Englewood Author's Novel Inspired by Colorado Castle Owner

Life in South West Douglas County, Colorado offers news, things to do, restaurant reviews, business directories, gossip, hiking information, and real estate information.

If you are looking for something to do or trying to find the perfect neighborhood to move to, I hope you will love this FREE resource guide.