Sixth sense takes first priority in group's psychic workout.

Byline: Andrea Damewood The Register-Guard

Fitness buffs, listen up: A new workout group is meeting the third Monday of every month at the Downtown Athletic Club in Eugene.

But they can't be found in the weight room or on the treadmill. Instead, they are in a third-floor conference room, building a different muscle. They are doing "psychic sit-ups."

Based on the teachings of self-help author Sonia Choquette, the Six Sensory Eugene group gathers to explore their psychic side through games and training.

"It is an exercise," said facilitator Sharon Edwards. `You learn to recognize the feeling when it comes, like, `What's that feeling in my stomach?' '

Eleven people convened for the most recent meeting of the group, which formed in March and is one of about 75 that have cropped up worldwide.

Everyone has a sixth sense, and even gut reactions - such as a decision to not take a certain route to work - are that sixth sense in action, Choquette said in a phone interview from Hawaii, where she was hosting a recent psychic healing and training workshop.

The purpose of the groups is to provide an arena where those who want to learn to use their intuition can do so in a nonjudgmental environment, she said.

`The minute you hear the word (psychic), you roll your eyes and go, `Oh yeah, weirdo,' ' Choquette said. "The purpose of the groups is to confront the myth that being psychic is weird or fringe."

Still, Six Sensory Eugene is not without an element of the mystical that may alienate the buttoned-down set.

Before the meeting, Edwards' thin frame moves around the perimeter of the room, wafting bottles of essential oils named "harmony," "abundance" and "belief," as the Motown tune "Good Lovin' ' floats out of a boombox. She is cleansing the room of negative energy, and asking any "guides" - nonphysical beings of pure love, which can take any form - and angels to provide inspiration.

The group integrates a some tarot card practices: At the beginning of every meeting, Edwards draws a card from Choquette's "Ask Your Guides" pack to set the tone. This time she gets "victory." Later, they divide into groups of three and interpret card readings from various decks.

For another "sit-up," the party used intuition to "see" which totem animal card was contained in three sealed envelopes, which Edwards then opened and displayed.

"I created the exercises so that people don't have to announce whether they're right or wrong," Edwards said, adding, "So we don't get our egos into it."

That's because it's not really about being able to see the future or what's inside a paper bag - often it is the seemingly vague answers that end up being the most valuable.

`Some psychics say the best information you can give someone is the `I have no idea what you're talking about' kind,' she said. "Maybe it's something they've forgotten about themselves, and it will flag it for them."

The group is also part yoga class. Each meeting kicks off with cleansing breaths and the tossing of beach balls to get members relaxed.

Finally, Six Sensory Eugene incorporates a bit of group therapy into the mix; at one point, Edwards asks everyone seated in the semicircle of chairs to share how their vibes are that day.

Author Choquette said her teachings often draw people who have had intuitive experiences, or feel that they are in a slump and are searching for something new.

People who have a trait that is not obvious to the naked eye - such as believed psychic abilities - tend to benefit from group interaction with others who share that status, said Sara Hodges, head of the department of psychology at the University of Oregon.

"Our department is one that is skeptical of people reporting to have psychic abilities," Hodges said. "But with that said, there is lots of evidence to suggest that support groups can have an effect on mental and even physical health."

Participant Shawn Gibson, 42, who has been actively exploring her intuitive nature for the past 10 years, said that everyone in the Six Sensory group seems to be on the same psychic level.

"I think it's really brave of (Sharon) to start this," she said. "I've always thought how great it would be to have something like this."

Edwards is a certified Six Sensory practitioner, completing the second of three Six Sensory certification courses in September. Training with Choquette can be pricey: Level one costs $1,600; level two is $2,200. The classes also have a prerequisite of reading all 12 of Choquette's books.

Edwards asks for a $5 donation, but only to cover the $45 cost of the room rental - for her, it's all about helping others guide themselves.

"When you teach someone psychic training, it's about shining the light on someone's path," she said. "It's about opening up everyone's sixth sense so we can live happier, healthier lives."

SIX SENSORY EUGENE Meets the third Monday of every month at the Downtown Athletic Club in Eugene. For more information, call Sharon Edwards at 521-0272, or visit www.whisperingpine.com.