Yoga Journal - Samadhi & the City - Yoga Blog

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During these crazy times, remember the good stuff.

Owning that attitude of gratitude became an inspiration for my Kundalini Yogi friend Jodi Fuchs and her sister Wendy. The Fuchs sisters, both yogis and artists too, started the Gratitude Art Project (GAP) during a time when Jodi was experiencing some financial hardship. "I knew if I focused on what I had instead of what I was lacking, that might offer the key to unlock more prosperity in my life," says Jodi. The sisters also had wanted to work together as a way to heal, co-create, uplift, inspire themselves (and others) by focusing on the positive that already EXISTS in all of our lives.

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So they distributed a 1,000 postcards via friends and in yoga studios all over the country asking for people to mail back their "gratitudinals". They also started a blog and a Facebook group (The Gratitude Art Project), so they could share all this gratefulness and use it as inspiration to create works of art (pictured here) focusing on big themes like family, health, God, abundance and small thank yous like car seat warmers, great lip gloss, and good coffee.

This grateful theme is also something near and dear to my New York friend and YJ colleague Valerie, who has been blogging about her gratitudinals both big and small, mundane and fabulous, for quite some time.

Thanks ladies. Your attitude of gratitude reminds me that I have lots to be thankful for too. Please share your gratitudinals with Jodi and Wendy either on Facebook or on the GAP website and if you like, post them here.

Sat Nam.

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WHAT: Eco Gift Festival
Over 150 green companies presenting innovative gifts, an organic food court, children's Stage, live music and a speaker series with leading Eco-Preneurs and Visionaries.

WHO: Speakers include:
Arianna Huffington (Founder-Huffington Post), Michael Brune (Executive Director-Rainforest Action Network), Josh Tickell (award-winning filmmaker "Fuel"), Shallom Berkman (Founder-Urth Caffe), Blake Mycoskie (Founder, Tom's Shoes), Eco-designer Linda Loudermilk, Tom Szaky (Co-Founder TerraCycle), Susan Olsen, aka Cindy Brady on the Children's stage. John Marshall Roberts ("Igniting Inspiration, A Persuasion Manual for Visionaries"). Mallika Chopra "The Power of Intent to Affect Global Wellness" plus more.

WHERE: Santa Monica Civic Auditorium - 1855 Main Street, Santa Monica 90401

WHEN: Friday December 12 & Saturday, December 13 - 10:00am-8:00p,
Sunday, December 14 - 11am-8pm.

* 10% of the profits from the show will be donated to select Los Angeles charities, including GLOBAL GREEN USA.

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B.K.S. Iyengar turns 90 on Sunday, December 14. Come to the new and improved Iyengar Institute and celebrate 90 glorious years with 108 Sun Salutations and chanting too.

"The sun-salutation is a part of daily religious prayer, which comes from time immemorial. Every one, along with offerings and prayers, saluted the sun, since Surya, the Sun God has a tremendous solar energy, which is a vital need for mankind." - Geeta Iyengar

What: 108 Sun salutations for Guruji led by Jim Benvenuto and chanting led by Eric Small

When: Sunday, December 14 at dawn - 6:30AM

Where:
IYILA

Who:
all who wish to honor Guruji -- any level of student, any yoga tradition -- practice one or all the sun salutations, chant and be part of the community.

FREE & Open to all - Chai & sweets follow!

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Taking the time to develop a home asana practice is hard enough. Add a restorative element and you've got another challenge. But for me, restorative yoga is essential, especially during the holidays when designated chill-time keeps me sane and grounded.

Thanks to yogitoes and one of Los Angeles' favorite teachers, Annie Carpenter, the new relaxDeeply CD ($24.95) is a no-brainer path to relaxation. With three options -- the full 73 minutes, a 32 minute moonCYCLE sequence or the sleepWELL 41 minute choice -- Carpenter takes you on a soothing journey that allows you to sink comfortably into poses like Viparita Karani, Supta Baddha Konasana and Balasana accompanied by a mellow soundtrack of Michael Perricone's Tibetan bowl music.

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You'll need props to get the full benefit (a bolster, a couple blankets, a block and a strap should suffice). Carpenter's expert direction and the accompanying booklet that gives detailed photographs helps you to transition from pose to pose to pose.

But if you want to get the full yogitoes rKit, you can purchase all the props plus the CD for $225 (gift idea, anyone?). And I have to say, I think the yogitoes prop line is one of the chicest and sleekest out there, thanks to the vision of yogitoes founder Susan Nichols.

So take some relaxation time this holiday season and let us know how you unwind.

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Mani Niall is known in L.A. as the namesake of Mani's Bakery -- the wholesome cafe that uses natural ingredients and specializes in pastry that is gluten-free, low-fat, and sugar-free. While he no longer owns the bakery, his cookbook from that time Sweet & Natural Baking: Sugar-Free, Flavorfull Desserts from Mani's Bakery is a staple in my library and highly coveted since it's out print. Lucky for us, Mani hasn't abandoned his mission to develop healthful, satisfying desserts and continues to bake and publish.

His latest book Sweet! could not have come at a better time, especially for bakers looking for something a little different (and more mindful) for the holiday table. I was lucky enough to get a copy of the cookbook this week at Niall's L.A. book signing, where samples of his sweet treats were served. Did I mention the Melt-in-Your-Mouth Chocolate Cake with Dulce de Leche was not too shabby and unbelievably rich and moist?

Sweet! is a great primer for anyone interested in baking with specialty sugars that offer a lot more than just sweetness. And Niall does a really good job of breaking down the flavors and characteristics of different sugars including ethnic varieties like Jaggery (from India), Panela (from Mexico and South America) as well as raw sugars like evaporated cane juice and sucanat. Then there are my favorites: the moist brown sugars like muscovado and demerara.

If you thought there was only one kind of white and brown sugar in the world (and generally the brown sugar you buy in the market is just white sugar with food coloring) and if you didn't know that most conventional white sugars aren't vegetarian-friendly because they are processed using bovine bones, then this is the book for you. It will definitely make everything a bit more sweet.

Any favorite sugars or recipes you love? Share the wealth, please.

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Last weekend I signed up to join 478 Kundalini yogis for a one day
White Tantric meditation workshop. It was a leap of faith for me and the other White Tantric virgins who, wore all white, covered our heads and gathered in the Ackerman Grand Ballroom on the UCLA campus. Sure there were many who had been there and done that, but for us novices, we had a case of the unknown jitters. (Yes that's me on the right with my lovely partner Regina Gelfo).

The White Trantric tradition was initiated in Los Angeles by Yogi Bhajan in 1970 and ever since, it's taught annually all over the world. Since Yogi Bhajan died in 2004, the wisdom (and the kriyas) are passed via a video-taped series of six to eight meditations lasting anywhere from 11 to 62 minutes. We were lucky enough to have Satsimran Kaur as our facilitator who worked with Yogi Bhajan for many years and helped him prepare the White Trantric tradition for dissemination after his passing.

The purpose: balance the chakras, create an energy force (of 478 chanting, doing asana, meditating and mudra making yogis) to cut through the blocks of the subconscious and release the burdens that plague the mind. Satsimran put it another way. "Kundalini yoga is like liquid plummer. You pour it down the drain and eventually it works. White Tantric is like the roto-rooter guy. He's able to get the job done right away and go were no one else can go."

I was also relieved that Satsimran set an important ground rule, "Don't take it so seriously," she said, "Enjoy and have some fun."
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So go ahead, get some wings and let us know how you fly.

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Question: is downdog an "American circus" trick and are yoga teachers "circus clowns"? According to Los Angeles' own Bikram Choudhury the answer to both is, yes. At least that's what the founder of hot yoga's Bikram College of India told Chicago Tribune blogger Julie Deardorff .

When asked why he called yoga teachers (with the exception of those who teach his system) clowns, he said:

"They completely (expletive) up yoga. They crucified yoga in America. There is no yoga called Kundalini, Power, Vinyasa, dog yoga. We follow 4,400 years of Patanjali's The Yoga Sutra. There are eight kinds of yoga--karma, hatha, raja, vedanta, bhakti, mantra, jnana and laya. What the hell is vinyassa? And Iyengar school (which uses props) looks like a Santa Monica sex shop. You don't need those things to do yoga. They make so many stupid things here (in America.) I am teaching the exact same postures as my guru (Bishnu Ghosh) taught me. "

On materialism and yoga, specifically about his $58,000 Piaget watch and his fleet of 35 Rolls Royces, he explained:

"There's nothing wrong with material things as long as you don't lie, cheat and steal... Let me ask you, what is the worth of one human life? It's priceless. I give that life to people. Next to that, what is a watch? Having doesn't mean anything unless you know how to use it. My job is to pick up the good of the East and the good of the West. I don't want to starve to death in India and I don't want to be a billionaire living in a mental hospital in the U.S. Maintaining spirituality and humanism are the keys to success. It's a balance."

In the yoga community, people are sometimes afraid to say what they really think, fearing they may appear unyogic so Bikram's blunt utterances are weirdly entertaining and somehow refreshing. Though, I have to wonder if he should apply his advice about how to treat the human body to his criticisms of the yoga community: "It's so sensitive, but if you treat it nasty for too long, of course it will backfire."

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photo courtesy of Bikram College of India

On August 9th, Los Angeles own classical Indian dance troupe, the Rangoli Dance Company, will perform Patanjali: Legends of Yoga and Dance at the Main Stage at Santa Monica College.

The evening, which is a tribute concert honoring Daniel Pearl and Daniel Pearl Music Days (the non-profit founded in his memory), was conceived and choreographed by award-winning artistic director Malathi Iyengar.

Iyengar's dedication to classic Bharatanatyam dance led her to explore the powerful relationship between yoga and dance. This piece features live music and explores legends like the cosmic dance of Shiva. It also attempts to answer questions like how did the great spiritual discipline of Yoga originate? Why did Patanjali to write commentary on yoga that inspired so many all over the world to practice? And who was Patanjali?

Here's a trailer from last year's performance for your viewing pleasure:


MAIN STAGE, Santa Monica College,
1900 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90405
Unwritten Rhythms: 7:30 pm
Patanjali Dance Concert: 8:00 pm.
Admission: Door $25 Advance $20
Student, Senior, and DRC members $15
Groups of 10 or more $15 per person
Tickets & Concert Information: 818 788 6860 or email malathisiyengar@gmail.com

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After an invigorating Kundalini class with Gurmukh at the Golden Bridge in Hollywood, I stop by the Dragon Herbs store inside the yoga studio and sidle up to the Elixir bar for a tonic pick-me-up. The barrista on call asks a few questions about my practice and when I explain that a 11-minute Kriya that included lots of breath-of-fire posed an understandable challenge; she offers me a hot golden-colored brew with an earthy aroma and a sweet taste.

The elixir, called Tibetan Magic, contains Rhodiola Sacra, a sacred Tibetan herb revered by monks for it’s capacity to increase spiritual power, and known among herbalists as an energizer that increases blood circulation, oxygen and supports the immune system.

The whole world of elixirs is big. Just looking at the variety that line the shelves at Dragon Herbs is a bit overwhelming. It's part art, part science and even a little about spirit. But my friend Neka Pasquale, a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner and acupuncturist in the Bay Area demystifies the subject when she explains there are classic formulations, or standard remedies, that have been used for 1000s of years, for purposes like enhancing kidney function or balancing reproductive hormones and that there also ways to formulate custom blends to treat individual conditions.

But ultimately, in her view, an elixir is anything that's soothing and healing. "Juicing for an energy boost, making a fresh ginger tea to calm an upset stomach, those things are elixirs too," she says. "Even making soups and adding herbs like burdock root and dong quai makes it more than a meal, it's like a medicine too."

With that in mind, I make almond milk -- something to ground my vata constitution -- and as I soak the almonds and then peel off the skins one by one, it becomes a mindful meditation where I slow down and take the time to make something nourishing for my body and my soul. How about you? Any elixirs that you've found to boost your practice or your health?

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What happens when a chef classically trained in Italian, French and Japanese cuisine decides to also become a Kushi Institute certified Macrobiotic chef? You get M Cafe de Chaya which, is one of my favorite destinations. And with their new Culver City location, there's yet another excuse to indulge in Chef Shigefumi Tachibe's creations like the M Chopped salad (romaine with herb baked tofu, almonds, avocado, ume-picked radishes, tempeh bacon) or the wild salmon teriyaki rice bowl.

There are also bento boxes, macro burgers and a wide variety of vegetarian sushi, scarlet quinoa, kale with spicy peanut sauce and so much more. Oh and did I mention a whole slew of vegan baked goods. Chocolate cupcake anyone?

I interviewed Chef Tachibe recently for an article about rice that appears in this month's issue of Yoga Journal and he explained that he developed this cuisine specifically because it's what he wanted to eat. He's certainly filling a void because the place is always packed.

He also passed on his secret for perfectly cooked rice. He uses organic brown rice because the intact bran layer, which makes it brown, contains b vitamins, fiber and immune boosting antioxidants such as selenium and manganese. His trick: soak the rice at least five hours, put in your rice cooker, add salt and let the steaming begin. "This makes it moist and sticky and the salt helps bring out the flavor." I've tried the technique it produces an aromatic and perfectly textured bowl.

Anyone who's ever tired to eat the Macrobiotic way knows it's a labor intensive feat so it's certainly a luxury to have a chef close by who prepares healthy, delicious food and all you have to do is remember to chew mindfully and savor every bite.

Sorry guys, it's ladies night at City Yoga Tuesday, July 8th from 7:30-9:30. Rebecca Benenati is teaching a FREE deep, butt-kicking class to help open the heart for some discussion and contemplation -- female style.

Which got me thinking, it might be nice to list some of the other women's only classes (excluding pre and post natal).

YogaWest
Women for Women
9:30 a.m.
Wednesday, Thursday and Friday
Guru Jagat Kaur teaches an envigorating Kundalini women's class where you're likely to dance, which is never a bad thing.

Goldenbridge
Women's Kundalini Yoga and Meditation
10:30-12:15
Wednesday
Gurmukh is a master at the Ladies' only genre and you're certain to leave with pearls of wisdom and mind-clearing peace.

If I've missed any, please let me know and feel free to weigh in on whether or not the ladies-only model works for you.

On another note, City Search just released their reader selected choices of the 10 best yoga studios in L.A. Seems to be stacked with the usual suspects so I'm curious to know how they compare to your own assessement of the best Yoga in L.A.

Now, go enjoy your independence day.

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My library is filled with books I've picked up at garage sales, thrift shops and used book stores because I love finding rare, out-of-print editions.

Of course, I have a yoga section and over the years some of my favorite finds are Yoga for Americans originally published in 1948 by Indra Devi (one of the first female yoga teachers, who was a student of Krishnamacharya and had a celebrity following among starlets like Gloria Swanson) and Swami Vishnu-devananda's The Complete Illustrated Book of Yoga from 1959 which is a yoga primer from the Swami Sivananda lineage.

And one of the best places to find books is the Bodhi Tree Used Book Annex, right behind The Bodhi Tree bookstore, which has been a metaphysical mecca here in Los Angeles since 1970, with readings, events, free tea and a wide selection of books and a knowledgeable sales team.

The used shop is jam-packed with books at a fraction of the new price and while books in the yoga section seem to go fast, the cookbook section never seems to disappoint. Most of the titles are vegetarian and the selection is satsifying for all palettes -- everything from Deborah Madison, to the Moosewood series, Tassajara, Madhur Jaffrey, and vegan choices abound.

I refer to these books often, as reference, as entertainment and of course, to cook. I wonder: any books that have particular significance in your library?

Kimberly Fowler has built a business on her no-nonsense approach to yoga specifically designed for athletes, who may not be interested in the spiritual side of the practice. She is the Yoga Nike spokesperson and her YAS studio -- which teaches a hybrid of yoga and spinning -- is a bustling hub in Venice.

So when I recently got a copy of her DVD Yoga for Athletes, which boasts "No Chanting. No Granola. No Sanskrit", I was skeptical. Didn't think it was my thing. But then I popped the sucker into my MAC and discovered a well-sequenced, well-considered and challenging class that focused on areas crucial to athletic performance -- the hips, the hamstrings, the core and the upper body. It was an efficient, tightly crafted hour and a great way to mix up my already eclectic practice.

Then another Fowler DVD arrived and this one was called Overcoming Obstacles: The Secret to Success. Again with a skeptical eye (oh no, not another wanna-be guru), I popped in the disc and learned that Fowler is someone who has overcome a myriad of obstacles -- poverty, alcoholic parents (and a dad who died homeless), a miraculous recovery from a harrowing climbing accident and brain cancer.

Even though Fowler claims she's more interested in the physical than the spiritual aspects of yoga, I think the focus, determination and self-awareness she touts are very yogic indeed. And like she says, "I'm not your guru...you are. "

Here's a clip from the DVD for your consideration. Curious to know your thoughts.

With gas and airline prices soaring and summer vacation on the brain, I've been trying to figure out ways to enjoy the summer while staying close to home.

scents11.jpgSo when I was invited to Spa Ritual

nail products, all which are vegan and free of scary chemicals like DBP, Toluene and Formaldhyde. I picked up a bottle called (and I blush) "Aroused" and it's a friendly shade of summer red, perfect for toe gazing during shoulder-stand.

Forgive me today as I digress from serious yoga talk but sometimes I find beauty talk almost as relaxing as a good gentle yoga class. I often wonder why and I think the answer lies in a Mel Gibson/Helen Hunt movie called “What Women Want.” Bear with me here, I know we haven’t gotten over Mel and his anti-semitic “sugar tits” rant. But there’s a brilliant scene in the movie. The premise is that Mel has a gift — he can hear women’s thoughts, the subtext, the ruminations, the real feelings, all of it. But when he goes to the beauty department at Bloomingdales in NYC he’s befuddled b/c all he can “hear” in the women’s heads is idle chatter about lipstick and moisturizer and eye liner.

Those conversations are like Zen. There is nothing else present. No future, no past, just make-up. Moisturizer. Nail polish. Even acne control. So pure. And perverse.

Perhaps I should not admit these things here but I wonder, do you have any guilty relaxing pleasures?

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This month's Elle has a juicy article about the artist Vanessa Beecroft, and the piece opens as she drags the reluctant reporter to a Kundalini class taught by Tej Kaur at the Golden Bridge studio in Hollywood.

Beecroft has been called a controversial narcisist, even colonial for her naked performance driven pieces and her proclivity for airing eccentricities (or pathologies) like exercise bulimia. Her latest project, and the impetus for the article, is a film documenting her quest to adopt African twins despite her husband's objection to the whole charade.

It's always interesting to see how the mainstream media characterizes yoga and in this case, it becomes an esoteric, out-there practice -- one more controversial aspect of Beecroft's "art".

Here's an excerpt toward the end of the article where Beecroft explains she was drawn to yoga to help deal with the bad reviews of her movie and her disintegrating marriage:

Beecroft is doing her best to respond to this perceived injustice in a new way, with the help of daily euphoria-inducing Kundalini yoga at Golden Bridge. “I am trying not to react, to be still,” she says. “I am doing Kundalini with these Sikhs because I want to understand better what this story is telling me by these series of events that are pretty unfortunate.”

Whether Beecroft really wants to change remains to be seen. It’s ambiguous, as usual, whether the yoga is for her personal growth or for her art. The yoga class, she confesses, “is something a bit exotic” to make the domestic stasis bearable. The class, like Los Angeles itself, is also a productive place for a zeitgeist channeler like Beecroft to be as she untangles her concerns about Africa, the environment, and her relationship with her aging body (the sculptures that will be in her next performance reference aristocratic funereal forms). This is the studio to attend if you want to do Breath of Fire next to a star; here, the students have the accoutrements of urbane enlightenment down, little lambskins for their mats worn just enough and stealth-wealth waffle-weave T-shirts sewn on the bias.

I don't know about you, but I like my yoga accoutrements; I also like Breath of Fire and fashion. If that's urbane enlightenment, sign me up.

Summer begins and workshops are abundant. So if you can't get out of town, no worries. There's plenty going on right here in L.A. to help you rejuvenate and learn something new.

Vinyasa Flow Intensive with Vinnie Marino at YogaWorks
June 16 - June 20
Mon-Fri 7:00 - 9:00am
$185 by 6/2; $210 after 6/2

This intensive will take you deeper into your practice. And the intimate setting will give you an opportunity to explore variations not usually offered in Marino's crowded, drop-in classes. As always, Vinnie's eclectic music will set the mood for an energizing and inspiring practice.

Family Yoga with Gurmukh at Goldenbridge
June 15, July 13, September 21, October 19
Sundays 11:30 - 1:00 pm
Cost: $16/per class - kids under 16 are free!

This once-a-month class is designed for the whole family. Play, Dance, meditate and gather with your children (all ages welcome). Bring everyone - dads, grandmothers, grandfathers, aunts, & uncles.

Explore the Chakras with Ashley Turner at Exhale
June 14 and 15
Saturday and Sunday
12:30 PM - 3:45 PM
cost: $35 each day

The Chakra System is an ancient map detailing the 7 primary energy centers and the 5 elements that comprise the body-mind-spirit. If you always wondered what the Chakras are, this class is for you. Beginners, therapists, teachers, bodyworkers are all welcome.

Intro to Shadow Yoga with Matt Pesendian at Golden Monkey Healing
June 12, 14, 19, 21, 26 and 28
Thursdays and Saturdays
8:30 a.m. - 10 a.m.
$100 per series (a bargain!)

Pesendian just moved back to Los Angeles from Santa Barbara and he's eager to expose more Los Angeles yogis to Shadow Yoga. Developed by Natanaga Zhander, Shadow Yoga is rooted in classical hatha yoga but incorporates elements of Indian cultural dance, martial arts and Ayurvedic and Siddha systems of medicine. To sign up, email matt@goldenmonkeyhealing.com.

Just add the alcohol of your choice (and the Modmix website has all kinds of fun recipes) or for a great virgin alternative, use sparkling water for a refreshing and delicious soda concoction. But the real recipe: good friends and lots of laughter.

When it comes to New Year’s Eve, you may consider ringing it in at Liberation Yoga as they present their second annual New Year’s Eve Practice and Celebration.

The all-levels class is from 10 p.m. to midnight and it will include salutations to the New Year’s Eve
Moon, meditation, pranayama, champagne and chocolate.

As the flyer says: “No need to find the perfect dress, no worries over the “big moment” no falling asleep on the couch while the ball drops – just some good clean fun and a healthy glow for the first bright and shiny moments of 2008!”

Happy New Year.

When the world takes the day off for the holiday, the streets are empty, parking is aplenty and the calm after the holiday preparation storm is an ideal time to unwind and refresh with yoga.

Even though most studios are closed for Christmas, a few are offering holiday classes. Here’s a quick list to make sure your Christmas day yoga class shopping is completely stress-free:

City Yoga

9:00 a.m. Mixed level Anusara with James MacDonald
10:45 a.m Mixed level Anusara with Hillary Rubin

Black Dog Yoga

9:30 a.m. Level 1-2 Hatha Flow with Hanna Gilan
10:30 a.m. Level 2-3 Anusara-inspired with Jenny Brill

Iyengar Yoga Institute

9:00 a.m Level 2 with Marla Apt
11:00 a.m. Level 1 with Miriam Kramer

Golden Bridge

10 a.m Mixed level Kundalini with Gurmukh

Enjoy the season!

Conscious consumerism is a bit of an oxymoron, especially during the holidays. This time of year I find it hard to reconcile my desire to buy and possess with my desire to be mindful and leave a smaller footprint. But it also can be fun (or stressful) to find gifts for friends and family.

Next weekend the first ever Eco Gift Expo at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium will be an alternative to mall madness as 150 eco-friendly companies present their wares all in one place. It also sounds like a fun afternoon. I’m told there will be organic chocolate, an organic food court, musicians, minstrels, and a gift-wrapping booth offered by the Los Angeles Times (recycled newspapers for gift paper, of course). The details: Saturday and Sunday December 15 and 16 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. $10 tickets on-line, $15 at the door, kids under 12, free.

And for those interested in taking mindfulness beyond shopping, this Sunday Sylvia Boorstein will lead a workshop at Loyola Marymount University sponsored by Insight L.A. The afternoon of teachings will be from Sylvia’s new book “Happiness is an Inside Job: Practicing for a Joyful Life.”

I just got a copy of the book and it’s easy-to-read and offers useful ideas like equanimity is sometimes just a reminder away and bad feelings just aren’t good for you. It’s also refreshingly candid as Boorstein admits that even after 30 years of meditating, she still gets mired in the trappings of unskillful thoughts. Good things to know as the holidays heat up.

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This morning I met Jim Walsh for a cup of coffee and as he began to tell me about his Los Angeles-based company
Intentional Chocolate, it made me wonder why it is that food cooked with care and love tastes so good. After all, there’s nothing more delicious than chicken soup made especially for someone with a cold, or home-baked chocolate chip cookies received as a gift.

I think we all know intuitively that intentions can make or break an experience. With that in mind, Walsh set out to infuse his new chocolate line with a very specific intention: “Whomever consumes this chocolate will manifest optimal health and function at physical, emotional and mental levels, and in particular will enjoy an increased sense of energy, vigor and well being.”

But Walsh, a successful businessman who has launched several products and companies (including Hawaiian Vintage Chocolate, which was the first to grow cacao domestically), took this idea one step further. He literally enlisted monks from the Deer Park Buddhist Center in Wisconsin (including the venerable Geshe Sopa), and had them use their powers of meditation to “imprint” this intention into his products.

Then, with the help of Dean Radin, a scientist at the Institute of Noetic Sciences, he conducted a double-blind, randomized, placebo controlled experiment that proved the mood elevating properties of chocolate were enhanced by this intention and published the findings in the peer-reviewed publication Explore: The Journal of Science and Healing.

This afternoon I drank a cup of Intentional Dark Hot Chocolate and enjoyed the hint of vanilla and cinnamon in the warm elixir. I felt good knowing 10 percent of net proceeds from sales of International Chocolate will go to the Deer Park Buddhist Center and it was fun to think that eating Intentional truffles or baking with Intentional pistoles would not only make me feel good, it might just spread a little joy.

The holiday season has officially arrived and in the coming weeks there are so many great activities to choose from that I thought I’d keep you up to date and let you choose from this embarrassment of riches.

Krishna Das is coming to town, gracing Yogaworks on Larchmont with his awesome voice and Kirtan leadership from Friday Nov. 30th through Sunday Dec. 2nd. The weekend program also includes a three-hour workshop on Sunday, complete with musical accompaniment, stories about his Guru (Neem Karoli Baba), readings, teachings and intimate discussions.

Dave Stringer, with his more modern Kirtan arrangements/inspirations (sometimes even with a pop music twist), will be at the Goldenbridge on December 8th -- sure to be a fun way to spend a Saturday night.

And for those interested in meditation, don’t miss Sylvia Boorstein’s December 9th workshop at Loyola Marymount University sponsored by Insight L.A. The afternoon of mindfulness practice and teachings will be from Sylvia’s new book “Happiness is an Inside Job: Practicing for a Joyful Life.”

Finally, on Saturday December 8th you can help celebrate B.K.S. Iyengar’s 89th birthday at the Iyengar Institute with a “movie night”. The evening will feature excerpts from different historical periods in Guruji’s life, commentary and, of course the master performing asana.

Tis the season. So Enjoy.

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It’s underground. It’s rough. It’s roving. That’s how Marc Holzman characterizes his
Guerilla Yoga – donation only mixed-level Anusara classes that take place wherever he can find a space big enough to accommodate his loyal students.

It started as a solution for wayward yoga orphans abandoned when two local studios ceased to be. (First Ross Rayburn’s Yoga Inside Out merged with Bala Yoga and then the latter closed too). “I thought just because the studios no longer existed didn’t mean the community had to disband,’ says Holzman, who is the kind of guy you want to hang out with, like a hip, gay Uncle.

So he borrowed the donation-only model of Bryan Kest, his first yoga teacher, who has been teaching such classes in Santa Monica for years. He got a couple of friends to join him – Tiffany Fraser and Acro Yogi Huck Hirsch – and created a teacher collective without the hassles that come with running a yoga studio. Students need only to log-on to the website to find out where and when.

Right now, there are at least three weekly classes and they take place either at the Hollywood Dance Center (an old-fashioned dance studio replete with well worn wood floors and hip hop classes in the next room) or at the Woman’s Club of Hollywood (the building is a historic landmark and has been home to this group of ladies since the late 1940s). Both have ample parking and offer-up an inspired spaces for no frills classes.

One recent Sunday morning at the Hollywood Dance Center, about 40 people showed up for Holzman’s 9:15 a.m. class including a few moms with kids, a photographer from one of the local yoga magazines and everyone was happy to give urdhva kukktuasana a whirl. Those in town for the holiday shouldn’t miss Fraser’s two hour Thanksgiving day class and be sure to check the website for future updates.

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The World Festival of Sacred Music is seeking applications for performers, venues and presenters to participate in this coalition of arts, faith and music scheduled for September 20-October 4, 2008 here in Los Angeles.

Initiated in 1999 by his Holiness the Dalai Lama to mark the millennium with a message of peace, cultural understanding and spirituality, the 15 day, 40 event multidisciplinary festival takes place in venues large and small, sacred and secular, public and private all in attempt to cross religious, neighborhood, and cultural boundaries.

Over the years, the festival has grown to encompass everything from gospel, to aboriginal didgeridoo, Buddhist chanting, Latin American folklorico dance and kirtan.

In fact, during the last festival Jai Uttal performed at the Goldenbridge and members of the Self-Realization Fellowship Temple in Hollywood presented more devotional chanting accompanied by harmonium, tablas, cymbals and bells.

Anyone interested in applying should attend one of three community meetings being held in December. There, you’ll meet fellow artists, presenters and learn about the guidelines for the Application process.

Here are the details:
RSVP: Call 310-825-0507 or email info@festivalofsacredmusic.org
Mon, Dec 3 (6-8pm) UCLA Glorya Kaufman Hall
Wed, Dec 5 (6-8pm) Japanese American Cultural & Community Center
Thurs, Dec 6 (6-8pm) St. James Presbyterian Church

photo credit: Jorge Vismara

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Back pain is an unfortunate part of my life and my yoga practice. While I've made great progress, there are days when I may have tweaked my neck during a sun salutation or long hours in the front of the computer make my back unhappy.

But Annie Carpenter and O.N.E.

natural coconut water. The company that makes O.N.E. is based here in Los Angeles and while I had seen the boxes at yoga studios and at Whole Foods, it wasn’t until I attended the Mindfulness and Psychotherapy: Cultivating Well-Being In the Present Moment

conference.

I’ve already signed up and look forward to Saturday’s keynote address by Thich Nhat Hanh (walking meditation, silence and box lunch included), a Q&A with Jack Kornfield, and chanting by the nuns and monks of Plum Village and Deer Park monasteries.

There’s also an array of workshops and speakers that will surely enhance any level of meditation practice. I’m fairly new to meditation and have been fascinated by the work of neuroscientists, like conference presenter Sara Lazar, PhD (also a yogi), who conducts double-blind, clinical studies proving that meditation is more than just a stress reducer; it can change the brain much like asana can change the body.

In fact, Lazar’s most recent study – one of the first to look at ordinary westerners who meditate and not Buddhist monks who meditate all day – found evidence that daily meditation thickens the part of the brain responsible for decision making, attention and memory and it can even slow the natural thinning of the brain that occurs with age.

Even if you can’t make it, a look at the program line-up will give you a google primer to start your own educational discovery on the role of meditation in emotional well being. And I’ll report back next week to tell you what I learned.

This weekend marks the Global Mala ritual to celebrate world peace . Lucky for us, the hub of the international effort is right here in Los Angeles at the Yogi Ramesh

, take a class from Shiva Rea, Seane Corn, and Gurmukh, chant with Jai Uttal and Wah! as well as see a screening of Jeremy Piven’s documentary
"Journey of a Lifetime"
about his trip to India.

Here's the full schedule of Saturday's events, but please visit the Global Mala website for updates and details.


10:15 AM: Sri Chakra Puja Blessing with Sri Karunamaya Baba
11:00 AM: Gayatri Chanting with Saul David Raye & Friends
11:30 AM: Meditation and Satsang with Paramahamsa Nithyananda
12:30 PM: Inhale Kirtan with Sreemati, Suzanne Sterling, The Wild Lotus Band, Laughing Yoga

2:15 PM: Kundalini Yoga with Gurmukh Kaur Khalsa
3:30 PM: Kirtan Music with Joey Lugassy & Daphne Tse
4:00 PM: Yoga Mala, 108 Surya Namaskars with Core Yoga Teachers and Kirtan hosted by Shiva Rea, Seane Corn, Krishna Kaur Khalsa & special guests
with kirtan with Donna De Lory, Girish, Wah!, and Govindas & Radha

6:30 PM: Jeremy Piven intro Journey of a Lifetime with Shiva Rea and Bob Wisdom
7:00 PM: Sheila Chandra
7:40 PM: Kirtan Mala with Jai Uttal and the Global Mala Kirtan Members
8:40 PM: Agape International Choir opening for RISE! Paradigm Shifting Speaker, Michael Bernard Beckwith, Founder and Spiritual Director for Agape International Spiritual Center
9:30 PM: Yoga Trance Dance ignited by Shiva Rea with DJ Cheb I Sabbah and master drummers, hosted by Bob Wisdom and Craig Kohland
11:00 PM: Closing with 108 OM Chant, Kirtan with Wah!, Joey Lugassy and the Global Mala Project Kirtan Members

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I love Yoga and I love wine. So when I saw a flyer for David Romanelli’s Yoga + Wine workshop at
Exhale in Santa Monica, I had to sign up.

It’s true that some yogis are more ascetic than others. I happen to be one who enjoys gathering friends together for great food and wine. And as David pointed out last Saturday, the intention of Yoga + Wine is not drinking to “catch a buzz” rather, it’s about spending time with those you love, creating ritual and savoring delicious flavors in an effort to honor and appreciate the small moments that make up our lives.

He even quoted Jim Morrison who said, "We are looking for ritual to join our fragments,” and then he played the Doors “L.A. Woman” (and among others, Guns and Roses, Jimi Hendrix, Bonnie Raitt) while we all flowed during his vigorous vinyasa class.

The asana part of our day done, we sat relaxed on our mats ready to taste Sicilian wines from the Feudo Arancio vineyard. With a small glass of white Grillo (fragrant with green tea, green pepper and jasmine) and another of red Nero d’Avola (flavors of sour black cherries, blueberries and nuts), we tasted while nibbling on dried figs, apricots accompanied by two cheeses: a soft, mild tallegio and a tangy, hard provolone.

The wines weren’t the best I’ve ever had but they were a drinkable reminder that wine, music and friends are simple gifts. And it sure was a nice way to spend an afternoon. Stop by David’s website, for more information about upcoming Yoga + Wine workshops and to hear his playlists, too.

Like most of us, Arthur Klein woke up on the morning of September 11th, 2001 to the horror of the collapsing Twin Towers. Klein, who lives in Santa Monica but grew up in New York, was particularly shaken since he remembered watching the buildings being constructed in high school and had friends who worked there. The only thing he could think to do that day was go to a yoga class.

"I didn’t know what was next," he recalls. "But somehow I thought yoga would be a good way to regain a sense of peace and understanding of the world."

Before then, his yoga practice was limited to gym yoga. A filmmaker, Klein soon realized that some of the most renowned yoga teachers in the country were right in his Santa Monica back yard so he started to take his practice seriously and make a documentary. What came from all those hours of footage is a self-funded film called Y Yoga featuring interviews with teachers like Seane Corn, Shiva Rea, Bryan Kest, Hala Khouri, Diamond Dallas Page (who went to Iraq to teach the troops yoga with one of Klein’s cameras), and many more.

On September 16th, there's a free screening of Y Yoga at the Hill Street Center in Santa Monica accompanied by a yoga class taught by Jasmine Lieb. Klein will also be there to answer questions. With the sixth anniversary of 9/11 right around the corner, check out the trailer and think, why yoga?


Avi Rothman aka The Inappropriate Yoga Guy first came to my attention after I read about his You Tube sensation short on one of my favorite L.A. yoga blogs, The Accidental Yogist. In fact, Rothman’s comedic sketch about a lecherous yoga enthusiast who cruises classes for dates inspired an article in the New York Times about yoga pick-ups.

So I called Rothman and found out he is neither a lech, nor has he ever asked anyone out from yoga class. Instead, he has a Yoga Works annual pass and practices flow or ashtanga almost every day – a nice respite from the stresses of being an actor/writer who spends his working hours navigating traffic to auditions and meetings.

His inspiration for The Inappropriate Yoga Guy was an exaggerated composite of real-life characters he’s witnessed in his own yoga classes. “Yoga happens in hot rooms where people are wearing practically nothing. Whether you want to admit it or not, yoga is sensual so of course, you’ll be attracted to people there,” he says. And since he’s a comic, he found the funny in the situation. “I knew I might offend someone but I had to get over that. Besides, sometimes I feel like people are too scared to laugh at yoga, that they think you have to take it so seriously. I just wanted to bring to light the humor.”

When he’s not doing yoga, writing or acting, Rothman, who is 29 and single, can be found at the bulk food bin at the Santa Monica Coop stocking up on Goji berries and dreaming up Inappropriate Yoga Guy II. What can we expect from the sequel? “I’m not at liberty to say,” he teases. I guess we’ll have to stay tuned.

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Labor day is almost here and that means it’s back to school. The arrival of fall is an ideal time to consider the myriad of top-tier teacher trainings. At
Goldenbridge, Gurmukh will share the energy-shifting art of Kundalini yoga and Erich Schiffmann will teach how to move into stillness at Exhale in Venice. Of course, Yoga Works has a well-rounded hatha teacher training as well.

But for something a little more academic, outside the for-profit yoga studio world, Loyola Marymont University’s Yoga Studies program offers an intriguing line-up of courses exploring topics like the Bhagavad Gita, the Yoga Sutra of Patanjali, mindfulness meditation, pranayama, the principles of Buddhism and Sanskrit too. The yoga RX therapeutics program, a blend of yoga therapy and complementary medicine, is taught by experts like Larry Payne and Leslie Kaminoff and the Vinyasa certificate is led by Srivatsa Ramaswami, who learned his art and science directly from Krishnamacharya.

The program is also a hub for the yoga theological community and attracts high-profile visitors like Thich Nhat Hanh, who will be on campus September 5th. For a taste without full enrollmnet, try the Thursday night, donation-only class led by Trudy Goodman that includes sitting, walking meditation, and a dharma talk.

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I like a massage as much as the next girl. And while fancy spas with scented candles and cucumber-infused water are certainly a worthwhile treat, in Los Angeles, there’s no reason not to take advantage of authentic, reasonably priced, no-frills Thai massage.

This therapeutic technique, believed to have been invented by the Buddha's personal physician, compliments any yoga practice and is a great opportunity to just be. And since the therapist moves you into a series of yoga-like stretches and incorporates acupressure massage, all you’re required to do is focus on your breath, on the present moment, and receive this great, relaxing offering.

A few favorite L.A. spots:

Thai Sabai

With two locations, one in Westwood and one in Hollywood, this is a straightforward, what-you-see-is-what -you-get place. You won’t be disappointed

Wat Po Thai Massage

If can get over the dumpy Westside strip mall location, you’ll definitely be happy you stopped in.

Pho Siam

For a fancier (and more aesthetic) experience, this Silverlake spot is the place.

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Susan Nichols has turned her practice into a profession.

It started innocently enough in New York. Once an avid Ashtanga practitioner, who relished the discipline of her daily 4 a.m. yoga practice, Nichols was frustrated when sweating turned her yoga mat into a hazard rather than a grounding tool. And when she tried using a Mysore yoga rug eventually, she said, "It smelled like a wet dog." Not pretty.

So when she moved to Los Angeles, she used her skills as a former art director at a toy company to invent a "yoga towel" that would absorb perspiration and stay put. Enter the "skidless"—a micro-fiber mat with silicone nubs that launched Nichols company

With all this talk of sustainable materials, bamboo has moved out of the realm of tiki and into flooring, furniture, house wares and now, yoga clothing. Los Angeles-based Sworn Virgins just launched a line of bamboo-jersey yoga clothes and the fabric is soft-as-silk, breathable as cotton, wicks moisture and they even claim the anti-microbial and anti-bacterial properties of this woody grass (the same quality that allows it to be grown without pesticides) also prevents odor.

But not all bamboo fabric is created equal. According to Sworn Virgins owner Alex Amini, Bamboo textiles are made by breaking down the wood with caustic chemicals until what’s left are the cellulose fibers which are then turned into yarn and later knitted into fabric. Sworn Virgins sources their bamboo yarn from vendors who guarantee their manufacturing process is as low-impact as possible. Almost all bamboo comes from China but once they get the yarn, Sworn Virgins knits, designs and manufactures locally in Los Angeles.

The fall line includes camisoles and racer back tops which come in rich colors like Chianti, nickel, midnight and cafe and they offer a variety of yoga pants—from tight ballet leggings, to more relaxed, bootleg bottoms. Then there are their flirty dresses—all with 5 percent spandex, which gives the fabric a bit of support. Like bamboo, spandex is 100 percent biodegradable. What more could you ask for?

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Quiksilver skateboarder and yogi Reese Forbes.

I’m a southern California girl, which means I grew up skateboarding and body surfing. I didn’t pick up a surfboard until later in life but when I rode my first wave in Hanalei Bay on Kauai, I quickly realized all those years of Chataranga Dandasana (Four-Limb Staff Pose) and Virabhadrasana (Warrior Pose) prepared me for that sweet moment.

The folks at Quiksilver and Yoga Works have also figured out the connection between board sports and yoga. That’s why they're hosting a free “Yoga for Surfers” class every Saturday at 10 a.m. until August 25th at the Quiksilver Edition Mission on Abbot Kinney Boulevard in Venice.

Last weekend, skateboarder Reese Forbes joined the group for a well-balanced hour class led by Yoga Works program director Julie Kleinman. Kleinman, who always braves the chilly Los Angeles swells in a wet suit says, “I really believe I was able to pick up surfing faster because yoga gave me the upper body strength, endurance and balance I needed.”

To prepare for board sports, Kleinman recommends balance poses, like Vrksasana (Tree Pose) or Ardha Chandrasana (Half Moon Pose) and core strength builders like Navasana (Boat Pose). When it comes to upper-body boosters like Chataranga, Kleinman says, “If you don’t use your core, you’ll never be able to stay standing.” Also crucial are shoulder openers like Dolphin Pose and passive backbends.

For Forbes, Bikram yoga gave him the ability to trust his body again after he blew out his knee. He also realized there was much more to the practice than the poses. “In skating a lot of the stuff we do requires that we constantly challenge ourselves. It’s kind of the same in yoga. You may not think you can do it but eventually you come to a place where you’re not over-thinking, you're just doing." And that's when you can really enjoy the ride.

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For years, I read the arresting, yet charming rants on bottles of
Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps and wondered, who is this guy? I never found out. Instead, I continued to use the lavender pure castile soap to clean my yoga mats, the almond in the shower to smell like fresh marzipan, the eucalyptus cleaned the dogs, and my husband favored the original peppermint scented bar soap.

Now the mystery of Dr. Bronner is unveiled in a new documentary that opens today in Los Angeles (and San Francisco). It’s called City Yoga or you can make a donation. And if you know of other ways local Yogis are making a difference please, let us know.

Namaste!

Stacie Stukin is a Los Angeles native who has been practicing yoga for almost 20 years and writing about it for nearly as long. Her personal practice incorporates elements of Iyengar, Ashtanga, and Kundalini, and she checks out classes and teachers all over the city.

In addition to writing about yoga, she writes about health, design, food and wine, and travel for the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, Yoga Journal, Time, Elle, Vegetarian Times, among others. She has written a book with Natalie Chanin of Alabama Chanin, called the Alabama Stitch Book: Contemporary Stories, Lessons and Projects Celebrating Traditional Hand Sewing, Quilting and Embroidery, which will be released by Stewart Tabori and Chang in the spring of 2008.

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