Oh, my god!  I have 32 Christmas gifts to get this year and it’s already December 1st!  What the hell am I going to do?  Even if I buy one gift a day for the next 25 days, that’s only 24 presents!  I don’t get out that much. I’m screwed.  I’m up a creek without a……lost in a forest with only bread crumbs… between a rock and ……you get my predicament, 'cause you’re probably in it too, right?  Or at least something slightly similar?  I’m going to use my own advice and breathe.  I shall let the great 'S’ of my life guide me.  She’s never let me down yet.  I remember my birthday several years back… in an attempt to throw off the normalcy of it all, I bought gifts for my friends and family.  It just about flummoxed my hub man, flabbergasted my friends and tickled my son to pieces.  I was so happily surprised by how good it felt to be Santa on my own birthday that I am recalling that feeling again today to inspire me through this coming holiday season.  I want to be Santa so I can flummox, flabbergast and tickle all over again.

Look back on this most incredible year. Relish all the wonderful things life has given you. Find the desire inside yourself to give back and turn gift giving into a way to reach out and extend your love and appreciation into someone’s heart. You're probably saying exactly what I said to myself, "What the hell am I going to get everyone and when am I going to get everything?" The first step is to write down your list and then, for whomever you are gifting, think of the reaction you want to elicit from them. For example, to tickle, to touch, to surprise, to warm, to inspire, to make laugh, etc., and allow your inspiration to take it from there. It is such a delicious feeling to give someone a present that you know they will truly, sincerely enjoy and cherish.  There is nothing quite so spectacular as when your friend, child, or lover rips off that wrapping paper and their face lights up with elation and surprise.  You instilled that emotion in them and now it’s time to indulge in the gift of happiness you just provided.  That feeling is undeniably priceless.

The most surefire way to get a gift for a like-minded pal is to think about what you love and what you really want when you go shopping.  That gorgeously soft butternut cashmere scarf that you’ve had your eye on for oh-so-long is probably something your best friend will also really love.  For a man, any man, think about what they surround themselves with in their life and what they love. For example, that plaid, multi-pocketed golf bag (I know, I don’t get it either) that your husband decided was too frivolous… surprise him, take the plunge and get it .  Take time to think about what would truly make your friends and family members feel good about themselves.  If finances are tight or you simply want to change it up and be different, offer them your time… babysitting, gardening (plant them a special tree or bush that will remind them of you), cooking, a foot massage, car wash… whatever it is that will lift their spirits and give them time to appreciate their own lives a little more. 

You can also be really creative and inspiring by doing something unique with your friends such as a special girl’s trip or a sled riding extravaganza, complete with hot cocoa, to get everyone in the holiday spirit.   Or make a date to take all your girlfriends to coffee and a movie or to sing karaoke for a night of laughs and relaxation.  You could also look at the interests that bind you and your friends together and create a unique gift around that, such as a book or film club or walking group.  Even better, sign everyone up for a dance or exercise class (or buy the first class or Intro session for everyone).  Or if you have a special talent that your friends covet, set up a monthly or bi-monthly time to teach it to them, individually or as a group – you could teach knitting or crochet, pottery making, baking or even something active like swimming or surfing.

Giving is so much more fun than receiving, (well, okay, maybe not more fun, but it’s as good as) especially when you take the time to make gift giving a ritual, rather than an obligation or duty.  Let go of that feeling of panic we get during the holiday chaos.  Try our "Body Conscious" exercise this month and breathe, surrender time-pressured thoughts, and know that this year of gift-giving is an inspiring journey that you can relax into and enjoy.  Turn giving into an art form, something to luxuriate in as you find a gift that will truly elevate a person you really care about, inspire them beyond their daily routine and touch them.  May the 'S’ be with you.

Breath is the nectar of life. Simple as that. Without breath there is no life, there is no movement. Breathing is something we do without thought or effort every single minute of our lives. Yet stopping amidst the busy holiday chaos and taking a few minutes to really slow down and indulge in your breath can make all the difference in your day. Take five minutes, stop everything, turn off the phone and noise factor in your environment (if you can) and draw some deep, cleansing breaths into your body. You can do this wherever you are, even if you are right smack in the middle of shopping. You can escape to your car, a park bench… even in your office at your desk. Sit down and close your eyes. Take a long, luxurious breath, inhale as deeply as you can all the way into your pelvis and on down into your toes and then exhale with an open-mouthed release, letting go of all the stress, tension and tightness in your body. Try it right this very second. Take the time, make the time… demand five minutes to center yourself. If you have the privacy, let your next slow breath pull your chest forward, face up toward the sky in a gorgeous, forward spine stretch. On the exhale, follow your body, scoop your belly and reach your spine toward the wall behind you for another yummy stretch. Continue this breath and body wave for a few more moments and then carry on with your day. Feel the oxygen flowing into your blood stream and the clearheaded high you will have and let your ‘S’ smile creep onto your face. Have a delicious holiday!

What can we do this year that will blow our friends' minds? After shopping parties and candle shows… spice up yours and your girlfriends’ season by throwing a fun and innovative get-together: an S Factor style Christmas Lapdance party! You will get to share a whole new side of yourself with your girls, while arming them with a ‘gift’ they can also give if they so choose. If you are taking the ‘S’ or have the S Factor DVD 2: Intermediate with Lap Dance and the book, The S Factor: Strip Workouts for Every Woman (if not, click here to purchase) then you are well-equipped to show your girlfriends a good time that they can likewise share with their friends or lover. Set a date and time to have your girls over, stock up on some fun libations like Christmas punch, mulled wine (also known as “glogg”) or maybe even a little eggnog, something that will get you feeling pampered. Most importantly, make sure you have an armchair. Then pop in the DVD and warm your lovely self up with 15 minutes of the workout, involving some slow sensual stretches to make sure everyone’s muscles are ready.

Fast forward to the lapdance lesson with Miss Barbara D. and the magnetic Teri Jaworski, as they show you some powerful tools for tease while yours truly talks ’em through it! It will be a great way to turn other women on to the ‘S’ in a comfortable, non-intimidating environment and all will have an absolute blast – it will be a fun bonding experience that everyone will remember for years to come.

Sujata Ray
S Factor Instructor

Sujata Ray is an inspiring S Factor instructor, with a diverse background and experiences to share with her students.  Born and raised in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, she attended the same high school Sheila Kelley attended, Hempfield Senior High.  Both of her parents immigrated from India, where Sujata spent her summers growing up.  Though she speaks fluent English, her first language is Bengali, which is touted as the “sweetest sounding Indian dialect.”  Spending time in India significantly shaped her view of the female culture in developing nations, making her truly appreciate the freedom and place in society we enjoy as women in the United States.

Sujata moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in acting and writing after receiving her Bachelor of Science in Systems and Control Engineering from Case Western Reserve University.  Her dance background includes the study of Bharatnatyam (Indian classical dance) for 10 years and Modern Dance during college.   She was also involved in performance while in high school, participating in musicals where she sang, danced and acted, her three foremost passions.  However, it was during a year of study abroad in Sydney, Australia that she truly realized the extent of her penchant for acting.  As one of the few Indian actresses in Sydney, Sujata was cast in many productions and enjoyed it immensely, prompting her move to Los Angeles after graduation.

Since moving to Los Angeles, Sujata found herself missing dance very much and was in search of some type of movement.  She considered ballet and tap, but truly wanted something more unique to help get her in shape and provide an outlet for expression. Sujata had lived in Los Angeles for almost a year when her former high school principal suggested she look up fellow alumni Sheila Kelley for some advice regarding her acting career.  After speaking with Sheila and learning about S Factor, Sujata immediately knew that she had found what she was looking for.  She fell in love after only one class.  “S Factor opened me up sensually and awakened my dormant sexual energy,” she says.  “It helped me get in touch with myself and my acting, and made me more confident moving though the world in normal everyday activity.

Sujata liked what the S Factor did for her so much that she decided to lead other women on a similar journey of awakening and help get them more in touch with their sexual selves.  Her academic experience in a male-dominated industry (her college had a male to female ratio of 7:3!) inspired her to help other women find a sense of power.  “Teaching S Factor allows me to help women cultivate a sense of power and discover that they can do anything they put their minds to,” she says. “Whether we want to work for NASA or hang upside down in a Snake, we can do whatever we put our minds to.”  She loves to watch her students grow and open up, and see the smiles on their faces and the excitement that they’re feeling during class.

Sujata lives in Studio City and teaches at both the Los Angeles and Encino locations.  In addition to teaching S Factor classes, Sujata is a commercial, film and TV actress who has worked on television shows including Buffy the Vampire Slayer, 7th Heaven, The Loop and Campus Ladies, as well as in independent films and commercials.  In her spare time, she loves to write screenplays and short stories and music.