Thursday, June 11, 2009

SPONSOR BLOG- David Rose NLP for the actor

During our research in Mexico, we were lucky enough to stumble upon David Rose (www.davidrosenlp.com) who is a teacher of Neuro Linguistic Programming for the actor. NLP for the actor is the retraining of the mind to build self-confidence, get better results in going after goals, and an overall tool to keep one present and positive.

According to David Rose’s website… “generally speaking, NLP provides a practical understanding of how the brain works... how people think, learn, motivate themselves and change. NLP is about how people process and retrieve information and how this manifests into behavior. NEURO refers to the mind-body-spirit system, because it is through our senses that we perceive and experience the world and from which we create our “realities”. LINGUISTIC refers to Language because in large part, we process, make meaning, understand and describe our experience linguistically. Not only do our perceptions shape the language we use… language (internally and externally) shapes our perceptions, responses and behavior. Therefore, language is more than just a means of communication, it is an "organ of perception". PROGRAMMING refers to internal processing, because thinking can be thought of as a network of internal programs. Basically, what people are able to do is directly related to these internal programs. Therefore, the ability to do anything is based, in large part, upon the ability to influence thinking patterns to program and re-program the mental processes from which responses and behavior are created."

We contacted David and he was generous enough to donate the programs he uses to help train actors in getting rid of insecurities and performance anxiety. The programs aid the actor in taking control of his/her life by teaching positive communication both internally and externally. Our group has personally seen remarkable growth and development from the utilization of this program. We continue to receive weekly tips (http://www.davidrosenlp.com/freetips.htm) that provide us with helpful ways to apply the NLP techniques in our careers as well as daily lives. We are fascinated by the practice of NLP and are grateful to David Rose for his wisdom and continued support. Check out his website if you are interested in purchasing his programs or if you'd like to read more! (http://www.davidrosenlp.com/products.htm)

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

AN AMAZING SPONSOR - TRX!!!!



Like we have said before - here at the Transcendence Theatre Company we are dedicated to a healthy body and working out in order to make our body and minds stronger.

One of our most generous sponsors who has really helped us in this goal has been the TRX® Suspension Training® by Fitness Anywhere. They have generously donated a TRX Suspension Trainer Professional Bundle to each and every company member here in Mexico as well as many different training DVDs to learn all the different exercises. This suspension training has been so beneficial because being where we are located we are not able to go to a gym. TRX® Suspension Training® harnesses your own bodyweight to create resistance as you train. That's all you need - the TRX and your own body. No additional weights required. We are able to connect the harness to trees and door frames and Basketball Hoops and do our workout wherever we need to! No wonder they call it Fitness Anywhere. It truly is! TRX® Suspension Training® allows you to instantly adjust not only the level of difficulty for each exercise, but you can easily customize any workout on the fly. You can easily switch from exercise to exercise in less than 15 seconds. This allows you to maximize your training time and enables circuit style workouts. In real life, our bodies move to the side, backwards, forwards and diagonally. Shouldn't we train the same way? Unlike traditional weight training that tends to be linear and follow one plane of movement (sagittal), Suspension Training encourages multiplanar training (frontal, sagittal, transverse) which integrates all your motions and mimics real life movement. This will bring a muscular balance to your body, increasing performance and preventing injuries.

We would love to thank all the people at Fitness Anywhere for their generous sponsorship and for all their help in achieving our fitness goals. Because of their over the top donation and sponsorship we have created a Video in their honor to show you how amazing this equipment really is! Trust me you are going to want to run out and buy one right now! Sit back and enjoy!


ANOTHER INCREDIBLE SPONSOR - NUDEFOOD.COM - CHOCOLATE BLISS



Today we would like to celebrate another sponsor - NudeFood.com. For a considerable amount of time before we ventured to Mexico to explore the mind, body and its effect on theatre, many of us were on a constant quest to find foods rich in nutrients and void of negative additives. And even though they so graciously became one of our sponsors early on, several of us used nudefood.com to find just these products. Nudefood.com is wonderfully dedicated to providing people with incredible raw superfoods that respect quality and ethics. What a perfect company to compliment the goals of Transcendence Theatre. Check out their website to find the vast list of products they offer.

One of the main things they provided for us on our adventure was Chocolate Bliss! Chocolate Bliss is a raw, superfood powder designed for daily use and it provides optimum energy, nutrition and mental clarity. Check out the ingredients:

Mayan Gold Cacao Powder, Hemp Seeds, Whole Coconut Flour, Rhodiola Rosea, Maca, Sun Fire Salt, Bioperine, Carob, Tocotrienols (Vitamin E related Tocopherols, CoQ10, Glutathione), Camu Camu Berries, Acerola Berries, Amla Berries, Manioc Root, Blueberry, Cherry, Raspberry, Cranberry, Buckwheat Berry Sprouts, Rose Hips Fruit, Lemon Peel, Psyllium Seed Powder, MSM, Pure Vanilla Powder

Truly, Chocolate Bliss is almost unrivaled in its benefits. Almost all of us use this daily post-workout or just as a mid-day pick-me-up. We blend it with any number of things: homemade almond milk, fresh bananas or other fruit, agave nectar, walnuts, oats, extra maca, green powder, spirolina, ONE coconut water (another sponsor of ours!) Honestly, the difference this product makes in optimum health is inspiring.

This product is also certified Pristine, placing it high above organic products. Check out the following website if you’re unfamiliar with what that means.

Check out our video of us professing our love for Chocolate Bliss in song!

Friday, June 5, 2009

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR NOTES from WORKING

“If you have built castles in the sky, your work need not be lost, that is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them.”

- Henry David Thoreau

I love theatre because of the electrical current that pulsates through the creation and spirit of art. It creates a love affair between artist and audience—a mesmerizing dance of brilliance in which human emotions are shared and transcended. Theatre is a precious gift that illuminates humanity. One tiny moment of human interaction onstage can change a life… can lift a soul… can inspire a movement… can open up a world of unlimited possibilities to the eyes and hearts of the beholders. It is through the sacred art of theatre that I learned in the most magical ways that anything and everything is possible in life.

The Transcendence Theatre Company is dedicated to empowering the world through our lives and our art. We traveled to Punta Banda to build a foundation for a dream and mission that will undoubtedly inspire and empower the lives of millions worldwide. Just as The Gertrude Pearlman Theatre was built brick by brick through an immense love, we too are building a company and a new, holistic approach to the performing arts that will become a powerful and extraordinary force of goodness in our world. It is awe-inspiring to dedicate our lives towards building that castle in the sky.

I speak on behalf of our entire company when I say that the days we have spent here in your incredible town are the fullest, most passionate, most grounded, and most powerful days that we have ever lived on this earth. This is just the beginning of a lifetime of adventures and service to humanity. I am so honored to join together with my dear and brilliant friends for this great purpose. We are the vessels through which the future of the world shines. It’s time for all of us to take life and art to new levels of unbelievable brilliance. It is time for Transcendence!

- Amy Miller









Thursday, June 4, 2009

"WORKING" ...Green!

The Transcendence Theatre Company’s first musical production “Working” has come to a close and we wanted to take a moment to reflect on the simple choices that were made in our production to help out the environment.

Before rehearsals even began, we were off to a “green” start because the Gertrude Pearlman Theatre actually has a recycled light system that was given to them from a university that was upgrading their own. We also were lucky enough to have our very own theatre sustainability consultant Michael Crowley teach us a few easy steps to green the Theatre even more. For example, we installed compact fluorescent lightbulbs (which use ¼ the energy of traditional bulbs) in backstage areas which will reduce the theatre’s energy bill and allow the theatre to put that money into programming and educational initiatives. Additionally, swapping the theatre’s traditional (toxic) cleaning products with organic materials will create a safer environment for future inhabitants in the space.




As for the production itself, we decided against buying new lumber and building new sets and decided to turn old pieces from previous shows into our recycled earth-conscious set. We pulled old flats and reinvented them and we simplified our original design ideas and went with a more "black box" feel for the show.



We also chose to go a similar route with the costumes. “Working” is an ensemble based show with the actors playing numerous roles so we decided that we would wear uniformed jeans and tee-shirts and then we added signature costume pieces that we found laying around the theatre storage room to represent specific characters. The uniformity of the grey shirts represented how all of these workers are indeed one...from fireman to businessman...we are all in this together! Also, when a signature costume piece was added, it helped to put the focus on the character whose story was being told.



These were not only earth sustaining choices but they also sparked the company to be creative with the materials they already possessed which sparked many simple and effective artistic choices. It also truly allowed the story to speak for itself through our talented actors without any distraction…not to mention the fact that it was indeed easier on our new company’s pocket book! Although our show leant itself to this style of production beautifully, we would highly recommend other theatre’s try this approach with some of their shows. Luckily, helping out the pocket book is also helping out the environment. We would not have created the show in the same way if we had not thought first about the environment and let its beauty be an inspiration for our first musical production.

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

SPONSORS OF THE WEEK!!! -Sun Warrior - Vita Mix - Pure Joy Planet - Solay Wellness - Sacred Chocolate

As we’ve talked about a lot, nutrition is one of the most fundamental cornerstones in Transcendence Theatre philosophy. Much of why we began this great adventure started with a true belief that food so fully effects mental clarity, physical strength, endurance, and overall wellness. When our bodies are in prime shape as a direct result of us having listened to our nutritional needs and consequently satisfied those needs with a powerful blend of incredible, nutrient-rich foods…well there’s no stopping the power of our minds. This includes you…and we encourage people to jump in and explore the many incredible options for food that can keep you running with exceptional focus, clarity and energy!

So in our blog this week are a few of our sponsors that have continued to provide us with unmatchable nutritional energy and the means in which to easily add these ingredients into our diets!

One thing we want to make sure we get enough of as we are working out and adding all these superfoods to our diets is Protein! Well we are lucky enough that another generous sponsor who is all about a healthy vegan raw lifestyle - Sun Warrior - helped out in this! They are a relatively new company who we reached out to because of their raw vegan organic products that we are so interested in. They have sponsored our company with Raw Vegan Chocolate and Vanilla Protien Powder as well as 100% Organic Activated Barley.

This perfect protein is from sprouted whole grain brown rice. It is the ultimate anti-aging protein designed for althletes, body builders, and health enthusiasts. It is ideal for those who want to loose fat, build muscle mass, and be extremely healthy. At 85% protein, Sun Warrior Protein has the highest (non soy) row whole grain sprouted vegan protein on the market. This protein hasa 98% correlation rate to mother’s milk and a 98.2% digestion efficiency making it one o the highest digestibility and efficiency ratings of any other protein sources (compared to whey and soy). We have been using this protein daily in our superfood smoothies after our workouts and have really loved the taste and the results we see!

We have also been adding the barley into our shakes to add one more superfood into our diet. Nutritional research demonstrates that the best energy source for the body is a slow-burning carbohydrate that provides well-balanced sugar and insulin levels. The activated barley that we got donated to us provides slow-burning carbohydrates by delivering energy for more than two hours. Sun Warrior Activated Barley is the ultimate body fuel for hard training athletes and bodybuilders. It is perfect for controlling hunger and supplying energy while dieting. Other benefits include maintaining and lowering cholesterol levels, building the immune system, and controlling energy and glucose.

As you can see Sun Warrior has been a really great addition to our diets and everything we have been experimenting with here in Mexico. We have been a big fan of this company and are so thankful for their contribution of their products. We now understand why naturalnews.com has voted them the Editor’s Choice for best New Protein!!!




How do you combine all of these ingredients to make your diet the best it can be? Many of own personal blenders, but here at Transcendence we’ve found most consumer blenders to fall short. We here are true, dedicated users of the Vita-Mix Blender! Vita-Mix, another of our incredible sponsors provides unlimited possibilities in blending foods. (something very important for those trying to incorporate more raw foods into their diet)

You literally can blend almost anything with the Vita-Mix, not just the kind of super-food smoothies described above. Once a week we have an incredible “family dinner” here at Transcendence in which we collectively cook foods in line with our vision. We would venture to claim that 75% of those “family dinner” foods involve the use of the vita-mix, especially when the foods are part of our raw menu.

Things we’ve made with the Vita-Mix include: raw polenta, pine nut and basil pesto, raw apple sauce, raw-curry sauce for Quinoa, avocado and cilantro salad dressing, raw & vegan coconut ice cream mix, raw fudge, and raw tomato sauce for gluten free pasta. The list could go on for pages and more than justifies the price.





We also use the Vita-Mix to make homemade almond milk. Sounds complicated, but boy is it easy! We simply soak almonds for about 10-15 hours and then blend them in the Vita-Mix and strain using incredible nut-milk bags provided by Elaina Love of Pure Joy Planet!

These nut bags are incredibly durable nylon bags that have many purposes. They are wonderful to for straining the nut pulp from nut milks and they eliminate the need for buying unrecyclable milk cartons. But you can also use these bags for sprouting (as many of us here do!) and for straining other juice pulps. Check out her website to see even more raw and vegan options and other wonderful products to compliment a nutritionally conscious lifestyle!





In our family dinners, we also are big proponents of using Organic Himalayan Table Salt in so many our recipes. In addition to being a great, super-food alternative to regular cheap table salt, this salt, donated to us from Solay Wellness, Inc. adds a fantastic, rich flavor to all our food.

Check this out: it contains 84 minerals!, is 100% natural and unrefined, and is hand excavated, sun-washed, sun-dried from the foothills of the Himilayans! Doesn’t get much better than that…

Another product they donated to us was Original Himalayan Sole Natural Salt Rocks. When water and salt combine, they create a new dimension, Sole (So-lay). One teaspoon taken daily can restore your body's energy deficit and rebalance your organ functions. this very small amount of sole has an incredibly positive effect on your functions. We have been doing this by simply disolving a rock in a jar of water and in the mornings we pour just a teaspoon or more in our water! What a difference it makes!






And for our desserts (yum), we satisfy our nutritionally-conscious sweet tooths with the unparalleled chocolate from Sacred Chocolate , another one of our sponsors. This chocolate is practically unbelievable. Perhaps enough wishing that chocolate could actually be good for you, has lead to this wonderful manifestation. This chocolate is Organic, Vegan, Halal, Kosher, Fair Trade and composed of anywhere from 70 to 100% cacao (including the skins). Many of you may already know, but cacao is a pretty delicious and nutrient-rich superfood. And to have a bar with that high a percentage of cacao is hard to find. The benefits of Sacred Chocolate include high iron content in the skins of the cacao beans, and as they claim, a pretty confident link to healthy stem cell production. Plus they are delicious…we’ve even used them in some of our raw desserts!






So there you have it. We are so fortunate to have had many of these companies back our integrities. But unlike many organizations that simply look for sponsorship without caring about the ethics of those they attach their names to, we at Transcendence Theatre firmly believe that there shouldn’t be a separation between business and ethics. We are working hard to define ourselves here and we are so proud to have these products backing that work. And truly, we believe in them just as much as they believe in us. So check them out!




SPONSORS OF THE WEEK!!! -SWISS BALLS & SUCCESS ULTRA NOW

This week we are focusing again on the combination of body and mind! There are many benefits to working out that we are aware of including better physical health and looking fit but there are also many mental benefits that come out of it. We are very excited to implement our mental training with our physical training to produce amazing results. That is why this weeks sponsors have helped us achieve some of these goals.

A company that has been a help in our fitness goals is swissballs.com. They have sponsored us by giving each company member their very own ball. For those that aren’t familiar with what these are - Swiss balls are large, heavy-duty inflatable balls with a diameter of 45 to 75 cm (18 to 30 inches). The Swiss ball is also known by a number of different names, including exercise ball, gym ball, Pilate's ball, sports ball, fit or fitness ball, stability ball, therapy ball, yoga ball, balance ball, body ball, or birth ball.

Swiss balls offer you a fun, safe and highly effective way to exercise. They will last for a very long time and are inexpensive compared to other exercise equipment

The Swiss ball was used as early as the 1960s. It originally was used by physical therapists and chiropractors in Switzerland to assist with rehabilitation and became known as the Swiss Ball.

Through seminars and classes the Swiss Ball was introduced into the USA in the early 1980’s. But, the Swiss Ball is far more versatile and valuable than simply for re-hab use. In the late 1980’s coaches, athletic trainers and personal trainers realized the effectiveness of the Swiss Ball in developing balance and core strength. Since then they are reported as being the most effective method for core conditioning.

We have been using these balls in our daily exercise routine to help tone up our core as well. Especially as performers who rely on their bodies and core strength for dance and singing – these balls have really been essential in our training to become better athletes on and off the stage. The balls are great for proper alignment, great abs, muscle strenth and endurance, core stability, stretching, and losing weight. Please check out their website and see all the many varieties of balls you can buy that will enhance your core strength and help you become to purchase an original swiss ball click here














Getting into the mental side of it all and really strengthening our minds to become and believe whatever we dream of is a huge topic of discussion here in Mexico and in our company’s mission. We have been lucky enough to be sponsored by Dr Nick Good’s company Success Ultra Now. How good are you at making things happen? How efficiently can you manifest? Do you know an amazing, unlimited natural resource exists as pure potential within you? Are you interested in accessing it? Do you know how? Dr. Nick Good, with more than 25 years practical experience on the leading edge of personal development protocols, is one of the most sought after personal development consultants in the world. He is given us his book SUNPOP to read. This book is an incredible tool to really learn the power of the mind and the control we have over our lives. He also has given us posters with a daily morning program called The Best Day Ever . On these posters it says:

"Today I give thanks in my heart for the opportunity to make a difference in the world. I understand that I can build on yesterday's achievements and I except that responsibility. I know that within me is an amazing natural potential and that it is my birthright to manifest that potential. I understand that this may be a subtle achievement recognized only by myself. It may be in the smile I give to a stranger. it may be in the peace I give to the world. It may be in the love I allow to flow through my heart. I understand that my mission is to bring all of my thoughts words and actions into harmony with the life purpose that is encoded within me. I therefore dedicate this day to the expression of that purpose. I chose to live in harmony with my highest destiny. I chose to be the embodiment of my mission and I accept with a sense of wonder and gratitude the magic of Life which is hear to help me. I breathe the magic ofLife's eternal love with ever breath. this truly is the best day ever - Amen

In the Beauty of Peace, Surendered to Love, Now I Breathe Perfection"

This morning program and the SUNPOP book has been a huge help in our mental training and we couldn’t be happier with the support we have been given from this amazing man! So thank you Dr. Good.





As you can see there have been some more incredible sponsors who have helped us to train both mentally and physically. They have brought us to higher levels of fitness and consiousness. We thank them for everything!