Planet Yoga

My Yoga Online has posted a new article by Melina Meza : Bring On The Spring. Melina gives you tips and ideas on how to prepare your mind and body for this upcoming season and how to embrace spring with lightening your load.

Enjoy tips and ideas on how to adapt your yoga asana practice and diet to accommodate the beauty unfolding in spring. Although the weather can really be hit or miss these days, there is enough proof in nature to confirm that spring is just around the corner, close enough to consider shifting your diet and yoga practice to complement the season.

Lighten your load
It makes sense that many of us are drawn to the idea of cleansing and purging this time of year—it’s time to lighten our load. Spring is really a time to THRIVE and it’s difficult to thrive if you feel weighted down by your inner or outer world. In order to feel your best, perhaps a little cleanse is in order to get rid of any extra winter weight, household clutter, or material possessions that keep you in the past or limit your freedom in the moment.

Here are a few diet adaptations that will help prepare your body and mind for spring:
• Decrease heavy, oily, cold, fatty foods.
• Increase spicy, bitter, and astringent foods (arugula, mustard greens, kale, strawberries, blueberries, and sprouts).
• Increase your vitamin, nutrient and chlorophyll intake with early dark green vegetables and sprouts.
• In general, eat light and eat local.

Click here to read the full article: Bring On The Spring

About Melina Meza:Melina Meza, BS Nutrition, 500-RYT, has been exploring the art and science of yoga and nutrition for over 16 years. She combines her knowledge of Hatha Yoga, Ayurveda, whole foods nutrition and healthy living into a unique style called Seasonal Vinyasa Yoga. Seasonal Vinyasa Yoga emphasizes the healing teachings of the ancient yogis and inspires students to adapt their asana practice, diet and lifestyle routines to better harmonize with the seasonal changes occurring in nature. Melina is the lead teacher at Seattle’s 8 Limbs Yoga Centers and is also the author of Art of Sequencing an innovative book that includes 34 unique yoga sequences and over 1,500 photos offering creative inspiration for experienced yoga teachers as well as fresh instructional ideas to jump start a home practice. More information about Melina and her offerings can be found at www.melinameza.com.

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My Yoga Online has posted a new yoga tip video featuring Jesse Enright: Yoga and the Neck Smart Yoga Tip. Enjoy this new Yoga Anatomy workshop in which Jesse explores the nuances of the neck and how it relates to your Yoga practice.

Click here to watch: Yoga and the Neck Smart Yoga Tip

About Jesse Enright: Jesse Enright has been a student of Yoga for eleven years and an instructor for the past nine. He began his studies with Sivananda Yoga before exploring the more dynamic Ashtanga Vinyasa, the detailed alignment of Iyengar and the comprehensive intelligence of Vijnana Yoga.

…Learn more about Jesse Enright

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when the subject line of an email update from a yoga studio says "Important Karuna Yoga Update ", you know it can't be happy news...

kelly wood from karuna yoga in los feliz sent this note out a couple of days ago. i wanted to get more information before passing it along to you, and earlier tonight, i did. from what i understand, the rent on the space karuna leases has become so prohibitive that kelly has been forced to close the studio at the end of this month. she's still hoping to find a new space nearby, but in the meantime, the days at the location on hillhurst avenue are numbered :(

here's her message:

Dear Karuna Family,

As you know, I have been searching for new (and hopefully improved) studio space for Karuna Yoga. Unfortunately, the new space that I initially found now appears not to be appropriate for our community.

We will continue our regular schedule in our current facilities at least until March 31st, 2010.

I strongly suggest that you come in for class as much as possible this month and make the most of the special space we have created together on Hillhurst. There may be an interval between the availability of our current space and our new space. Or it may be that we transition into a temporary space.

I will keep you informed in the weeks ahead.

I continue to look diligently for our new Karuna Yoga studio location. I am very grateful for your willingness to stand with me at this trying time. We can help each other move into the new phases of yoga, Karuna and life with mindfulness and hopefully an open heart of appreciation for our time together.

Sincerely,

Kelly

just received an update:

subject: Good News from Karuna Yoga

We remain in our current location through the end of April!

Our Karuna community continues to provide support, care and patience during this time of change and I thank you with my whole heart. ~ Kelly

My Yoga Online has posted an informative new pose presented by Dr. Robin Armstrong: Utkatasana Yoga Pose. Learn more about the benefits, contraindications, modifications, and cautions in doing this yoga posture safely.

Benefits of Utkatasana (Chair Pose)
*Strengthens the hip flexor muscles: rectus femoris, psoas
*Strengthens the quadriceps in the front of the thighs, hamstrings in the back of the thighs, adductor muscles of the inner thighs, gluteus muscles of the hip
*Strengthens and stretches calf muscles
*Opens chest and shoulders
*Improves range of motion in ankles
*Increases proprioception (sense of position in space) in the feet
*Traditionally thought to stimulate the abdominal organs and heart

Read more about Utkatasana Yoga Pose

About Dr. Robin Armstrong
Dr. Robin Armstrong is a Vancouver chiropractor and yoga instructor. Robin blends her western knowledge gained from her experience as a chiropractor, with the ancient eastern knowledge passed through generations of yoga teachers. Robin’s classes emphasize safety, breath, alignment, and movement, while teaching students ways to strengthen and lengthen their bodies to handle the stresses of our modern lifestyle. If you are coming to her as a patient, expect to be prescribed yoga! Learn more about Dr. Armstrong at www.stayactive.ca

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My Yoga Online has posted a new yoga workout video featuring Sharon Gannon: New Chakra Balancing Yoga Video with Jivamukti. In this unique and inspiring program, Jivamukti Yoga founder Sharon Gannon guides you through poses, affirmations, and mantras that open and balance the chakras. Focus on one chakra at a time or balance them all in one practice.

Click to watch: Chakra Balancing Yoga video.

About Sharon Gannon:

In 1984 Sharon Gannon and David Life created the Jivamukti Yoga Method, which is a path to enlightenment through compassion for all beings. The JY Method emphasizes vinyasa, scriptural study, devotion, prayer, music, chanting and meditation as well as animal rights, veganism, environmentalism and political activism.

…Learn more about David Life and Sharon Gannon

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oh. my. god.

back in december, i posted my third installment about the booming food truck scene here in LA. in it, i listed a whopping 34 trucks of all shapes, sizes, and food varieties.

and now, barely three months later, the number of food trucks i've been to has practically doubled. and i'm not exaggerating; i just stopped at my 65th truck today!! talk about a food truck explosion... as well as my need to invest in some pepto-bismol!... ok, not really. at least not yet.

these are the food truck guides i've posted so far. note that they all have a pescetarian slant (because, after all, that's what i am, or purport to be):

~ a pescetarian's guide to the LA food truck scene, part 1
~ veg-head LA food truck guide, part 2
~ a pesky eater's guide to LA food trucks, part 3

so here are all 65 of those food trucks i've been able to check out so far. and just so i don't have to repeat myself, i've included the links to the posts that have my comments on the previously-mentioned trucks. and if you want to know what the trucks look like, click here for my food truck frenzy! photo album to check out the photos i've taken of each truck.

please note that if you're pescetarian or ovo-lacto vegetarian, you have a good chance of finding something to eat on these trucks. but if you're vegan and have sworn off all eggs and dairy, the pickings will be slim, though not impossible. with that in mind, bon appetit!

fusion cuisine trucks:

kogi (kogibbq.com @kogibbq) - korean-mexican (part 1)
calbi (calbibbq.com @calbiBBQ) - korean-mexican (part 1)
bool (boolbbq.com @boolBBQ) - korean-mexican (part 1)
bull kogi (kimchibulkogi.com @bullkogi) - korean-mexican (part 1)
don chow tacos (donchowtacos.com @donchowtacos) - chinese-mexican (part 1)
LA fuxion (lafuxion.com @LA_FuXion) - asian-latin (part 1)
lomo arigato (lomoarigato.com @lomoarigato) - japanese-peruvian (part 2)

ikimchi 21 (ikimchi21.com will supposedly be online by april) - korean-mexican; similar to calbi in that it offers tofu and shrimp in their tacos and burritos, but with the added option of having it in a bowl over rice.

seoul bulgogi (no website @seoulbbqtruck) - korean-mexican; the only item without meat on the menu is the plain quesadilla -- just a tortilla with kimchi and "mozallera cheese" :)

komodo (komodofood.com @komodofood) - asian-mexican; the fusion menu was created by a chef trained at a prestigious culinary school, so the food is a blend of french/asian/mexican cuisine. i've had both the blazin' shrimp and fish n' grapes tacos; both were very intriguing to my taste buds. their truffle fries and guac rolls are on my list of things to try the next time i drop by the truck.

kabob express (no website @KabobTruck) - mediterreanean-mexican; i had the hummus with pita bread when i stopped by at the t-lofts haiti fundraiser back in january. since the truck is supposedly parked by the DWP building in downtown LA on weekday evenings, i'll have to remember to show up early and get dinner from it the next time i attend a performance at the disney concert hall.

asian soul kitchen (asiansoulkitchen.com @ItsBentoBaby) - japanese-soul food; the first time i stopped at the truck was when it was parked by FIDM in downtown LA. i had just come from a nearby yoga class that had run late, so by the time i reached them, richard and akiko had just closed their doors and were getting ready to drive off. luckily, they saw me madly pedalling my bike in their direction, so they were nice enough to stop and take my order. "i'll take whatever you have without meat that's easy to make" was basically what i said. so they handed me a steaming container of veggie yakisoba, which i later ate with great relish at the nearby starbucks. since then, i've tried the tonkatsu-drizzled salmon korokke and the lettuce-wrapped shrimp "taco". warning: when they say something's spicy, they mean it!


ethnic street food trucks:

fishlips sushi (fishlips-sushi.com @fishlips_sushi) - japanese sushi (part 1)
india jones chow truck (indiajoneschowtruck.com @indiajonesct) - indian frankies and curries (part 1)
dosa truck (dosatruck.com @dosatruck) - indian dosas (part 1)
nom nom truck (nomnomtruck.com @nomnomtruck) - vietnamese banh mi (part 1)
border grill taco (bordergrill.com/bg_t/bg_twel.htm @BorderGrill) - gourmet mexican (part 1)
flying pig truck (flyingpigtruck.com @FlyingPigTruck) - asian and pacific rim (part 3)

salmon house (no website) - japanese; it's a good thing i'm pescetarian and eat seafood because everything on the menu contains either salmon or eel -- handrolls, rice bowls, tacos, burritos. i ordered a salmon handroll on a day when i was grazing my way through a row of trucks on the miracle mile; i'm still waiting for them to come up with a website and/or a twitter account so i can track them down and try some of the other items they have to offer.

dim sum truck (thedimsumtruck.com @dimsumtruck) - chinese dim sum; i always look forward to the times when i travel out to san gabriel with friends for dim sum, those times when we pick out our favorite dumplings from the neverending array of steamer baskets that are pushed around in carts. unfortunately, san gabriel is almost an hour away from the westside (and definitely over an hour with traffic), so it's nice to know that there'll now be times when the dim sum might actually come to me! the offerings on the truck aren't as varied, but as long as alex keeps supplying me with some tasty shrimp har gow, egg tarts, and sesame balls, i'm happy...

yum yum bowls (yumyumbowls.com @yumyumbowls) - thai curries; the great thing about this truck is that almost anything on the menu can be made vegetarian. you can have tofu spring rolls, tofu satay, fried tofu, tofu tom yum soup, and tofu curry -- red, green, or yellow. tommy's food is just as good as what would get at your favorite thai cafe, and it's all nicely priced.

phamish (eatphamish.com @eatphamish) - vietnamese bahn mi, spring rolls, and pho; the first time i stopped at the truck, i asked for a tofu bahn mi; unfortunately, they didn't have any tofu at the time, so i ended up getting a veggie spring roll. i later found out that "mom" was very particular about the tofu she wanted to use, and until she found what she considered to be the perfect tofu, she wouldn't serve any. thankfully, her search has come to an end; i can now get my fill of tofu bahn mi and tofu spring rolls. and it's clear to me that the wait was definitely worth it.

mandoline grill (mandolinegrill.com @MandolineGrill) - vietnamese banh mi and bun; i've only been to this truck once, and it was to its launch party last month at a bar all the way out in eagle rock. my friend and i split the vegan-friendly tofu banh mi and the tofu spring rolls. i wasn't particularly impressed with the speed of service nor the quality of the food (especially since i'm already a die-hard fan of the other two vietnamese trucks), but then again, i figured they were still working out the kinks. i'm waiting for them to come closer to me this time
so i can give it another shot.

kabob n' roll (kabobnroll.com @KabobNRoll) - mediterreanean kabobs; walking up to this truck is like walking into a middle eastern bazaar! wael and chrissy have all kinds of kabobs served on rice pilaf, including veggie and shrimp. there's even a fruit kabob drizzled with chocolate! they also have falafel wraps, stuffed grape leaves, baba ganoush, hummus, and fried cheese rolls. there's also baklava and a variety of cookies and sweets. it seems like each time i stop by the truck, there's something new on the menu. so if you can't find anything on the truck that interests you, i'm sorry; you definitely have a problem!

the tastymeat (tastymeat.org @tastymeat) - turkish-inspired meats; despite the name, there IS something on the menu that doesn't contain meat: their falafel wrap, complete with special sauce. and true to their name, it WAS pretty tasty! and if you want feta fries to go with your food, max can set you up with that, too.

louks (loukstogo.com @LouksToGo) - greek gyros; they'll be the first to admit that they cater to carnivores. so the veghead options are the veggie gyros (where you sub lettuce, cucumbers, and feta cheese for the meat), the greek salad, the fries, and the louks (or loukomades, mini greek donut balls). i've had the gyros, the feta fries, and the louks. they were all good, but the nutella-topped louks alone will keep me coming back :)

vesuvio (vesuviola.com @VesuvioLA) - italian sandwiches; when i first stopped at this food truck at the haiti fundraiser at the t-lofts complex in west LA, the only thing they served that was somewhat vegetarian was their arancini, or rice balls. while there were slivers of salami in them, i chose to order them anyway just to see how they tasted. and they did taste pretty good. since then, i've had their eggplant parmesan sandwich and their new vegetarian arancini (with sundried tomatoes and pesto replacing the salami)... and i can't wait for my next visit so i can have more of the food inspired by what their mother used to make...

piaggio (piaggioonwheels.com @piaggioonwheels) - argentinian empanadas and sandwiches; as luck would have it, there was a very short line at this OC-based truck when i walked past it at the LA food festival (what a surprise!). since my belly was pretty much full with everything else i'd eaten at the event, i ordered their churros con dulce de leche. oh my. if the rest of their veggie items -- tofu bravo taco/quesadilla, caprese empanada, and alfajores -- are just as good, i might actually find myself driving to the other side of the orange curtain on a regular basis...

reggae chicken (no website @REGGAEJERKCHICK) - jamaican jerk chicken and pork; since the focus is on the jerk chicken and the jerk pork, the only veggie item of interest to me was the side of fried plantains. and i loved their plaintains... as well as the bottle of ting, a jamaican grapefruit soda. thumbs-up to regine and her husband from me!!


good-old american grub trucks:

green truck (greentruckonthego.com @Green_Truck) - organic dishes (part 1)
let's be frank (letsbefrankdogs.com @letsbefrank) - hotdogs (part 1)
south philly experience (southphillyexperience.com @SouthPhillyExp) - philly cheesesteaks (part 1)
barbie's Q (barbiesq.com @BarbiesQ) - BBQ (part 1)
spring street smoke house (labbqguy.com @labbqguy) - BBQ (part 1)
chef on wheels BBQ (chefonwheelscatering.com @chefonwheelsBBQ) - hawaiian-influenced (part 1)
baby's badass burgers (babysbadassburgers.com @babysbbs) - burgers (part 2)
the gastrobus (thegastrobus.com @thegastrobus) - soups and sandwiches (part 2)
the grilled cheese truck (thegrilledcheesetruck.com @grlldcheesetruk) - grilled cheese sandwiches (part 2)
dogtown dogs (dogtowndog.com @dogtowndog) - hotdogs (part 3)
mattie's southern kitchen (mattiessouthernkitchen.blogspot.com @mattieskitchen - southern cooking (part 3)
frysmith (eatfrysmith.com @frysmith) - french fries (part 3)

buttermilk (buttermilktruck.com @ButtermilkTruck) - breakfast; almost everything on this truck is made from a buttermilk batter -- pancakes, waffles, and biscuits. they also serve oatmeal, yogurt, and veggie omelets if you prefer something less carb-heavy. by the way, gigi, who owns the truck, is filipino, so don't be surprised if you find some "exotic" items featured in the daily special :)

grill 'em all (grillemalltruck.com @GrillEmAllTruck) - burgers; matt and ryan, the guys who run this gourmet burger truck, intend to shock you with what they put on their burgers: beer-soaked onions, marinated green chiles, cranberry gastrique, crushed potato chips. luckily for vegheads, they have a veggie burger with guac, salsa, and frizzled onions (it's called the carcass, which is supposedly a heavy metal band with vegetarian musicians. um, yeah). or you can sub a veggie patty on the other hamburger options for a couple of bucks more.

patty wagon burgers (pattywagonburgers.com @pattywagonLA) - burgers; the slider-sized burgers are from grain-fed cows and the veggies -- lettuce, tomatoes, onions, peppers, and mushrooms -- are from organic farms. yes, it's healthy, but no, it's not really veghead-friendly. the only non-meat option is a grilled cheese/pepper/onion concoction on a ciabatta roll. but they're new; given some time, matt and stef will probably come up with something more substantial. their fries are hand-cut, fried, then sprinkled with either sea salt or rosemary-garlic. yum.

qzilla BBQ (qzillabbq.com @Qzillabbq) - BBQ; i came across this pasadena-based truck at the LA food festival last month. since it specializes in ribs and brisket, the only options for vegetarians are the potato salad and the mac and cheese. i ordered the potato salad because it was the only thing they had left; i somehow kept thinking that i would've done better if i'd had the mac and cheese instead.

slice truck (slicetruck.com @SliceTruck) - pizza; if you want pizza that's affordable and tasty, too, hunt down this truck. i spent $3 on a large slice of cheese pizza that was sprinkled with parmesan cheese and fresh basil. and i would've had more if i could because it was that good.

willoughby road (willoughbyroad.com @WilloughbyRoad) - southern cooking; again, another of my stops during the t-lofts haiti fundraiser event. i ended up getting the shrimp with grits. it was pretty filling and very satisfying. hmmm... makes me want to hunt them down and try something else on their menu...

uncle lau's island BBQ (unclelausbbq.com @unclelausbbq) - hawaiian-inspired; this is actually chef on wheels' new and improved look. the truck has been re-wrapped and the food has been tweaked to emphasize the hawaiian dishes. but since i can't eat the loco moco nor the 808 burger (beef patty topped with pineapple/teriyaki sauce), i'll have to stick to eating chef stephen's shrimp scampi tacos and bowls instead.

fresser's hot pastrami (fressers.com @Fressers) - pastrami; i know, i don't eat meat, but after finding myself irresistibly-drawn to the aroma of hot pastrami wafting from scott and jessica's truck vents, i broke down and ordered a pastrami sandwich. yes, i broke my dietary rule but at least it was worth it! i got the caprese sandwich the next time i stopped by and fell equally in love with its mozzarella/basil goodness. yay for a good veggie option!

lee's philly (no website @LeesPhilly) - philly cheesesteaks; don't ask me why anyone would order a tuna sandwich from a philly cheesesteak truck, but when that's the only veggie option besides an egg sandwich (or at least i think that was my other option), it's what i ended up getting. i should've had them go easy on the mayo (having it in the tuna salad and again on the bread was a bit much). i'm going to have to track down john's truck once more to find out what that other option was, won't i?


and lastly, my personal favorite, the dessert trucks (which are totally vegetarian!):

get shaved (getshavedice.com @getshaved) - shaved ice (part 1)
coolhaus (eatcoolhaus.com @COOLHAUS) - ice cream sandwiches (part 1)
king kone (kingkone.net @kingkonela) - soft serve cones, sundaes, floats, and shakes (part 1)
sprinkles (sprinkles.com @sprinklesmobile) - cupcakes (part 3)
dainty cakes (daintycakesla.com @daintycakesla) - cupcakes (part 3)
sweets truck (thesweetstruck.com @thesweetstruck) - pastries and coffee (part 3)

del's (DelsLA.com @DelsLA) - frozen lemonade; they serve the famous frozen lemonade from del's out in rhode island. it comes in different flavors: original, peach/mango, cherry, and more. the flavors available on the truck vary from day to day, so be willing to be somewhat adventurous when you stop by!

nana queen's pudding and wings (nanaqueens.com @NanaQueens) - banana pudding, chicken wings; who knew you could do so many things with banana pudding and nilla wafers? janel will top your pudding order with crushed oreos, nutter butters, chessmen, and ginger snaps. or caramel or butterscotch. or... you get the idea. i asked for the fresh strawberry topping because it sounded healthier. i mean, how can it not be? :)


no longer on the road:

marked5 (marked5.com @Marked5) - japanese burgers (part 1)
skewers on wheels (skewersonwheels.com @SKEWERSONWHEELS) - skewered meat (part 1)
panini on wheels (paninionwheels.com @paninionwheels) - italian paninis (part 2)

jobels (no website @30sphillycheese) - philly cheesesteaks; bella, the guy who ran the truck, claimed that he made his cheesesteaks just like they do at tony luke's in philly, which, by the way, beat bobby flay's version at a throwdown on the food network. he and his wife were really sweet; i'd stopped by a few times to try different items. and each time i'd give them my opinion, they'd listen intently and thank me for my suggestions.

derbs gourmet treats (derbsla.com @derbsgourmet) - pacific rim; late last year, they had a launch event outside a bar in culver city. i fell in love with the veggie derb-a-dilla, which was tamale-sized deep-fried masa dough oozing with cheese and veggies. their last tweet dated january 1st said "A truly gourmet truck about to hit the streets of L.A. Follow us – we’ll keep you posted on launch date." unfortunately, i never heard from nor about them again after that.

little spoon desserts (littlespoondesserts.com @weliketospoon) - pastries; i managed to find them by accident at the brig while i was noshing on a harvest melt sandwich from the grilled cheese truck. i ordered one of their decadent chocolate concoctions (when in doubt, you can't go wrong with chocolate!). before i found them again to try something else, melissa tweeted that she was retiring the truck and was going to provide desserts to various food trucks instead. all of that's still in the works, so i'll have to wait to see how that goes.

umami burger (umamiburger.com @umamiburger) - burgers; if you're a burger lover in LA, you've probably already been to their restaurant on either la brea or hollywood (or both) to have your fill of its much-blogged about wondrousness. for some reason, though, i'd never had one, not even the veggie version, so when i found out they had a truck parked outside their soon-to-be location at the fred segal in santa monica, i made a beeline for it. however, on the day i showed up, the veggie wasn't available. oh darn. so that meant i had to try their famous beef version... and yes, it was everything they said it would be :)


believe it or not, there are many more food trucks scheduled to open within the next few months. so in the meantime, i'll keep eating... and keep you posted!

Shake your booty and rock your asana–all for a good cause.

At 10 am on April 25, 2010, Toronto’s Liberty Grand Entertainment Complex will host hundreds of men and women uniting to raise funds for breast cancer research. Participants join in on four Zumba® cardio dance sessions and four yoga sessions, all taught by Toronto’s top instructors. There are great gift bags, lots of prizes, product vendors, food samples and more. Information on living a healthy lifestyle will also be readily available. And all participants can attend the opening and closing ceremonies.

Everything comes together for a $25 registration fee and a minimum $250 fundraising goal. Register as an individual or form a team to fundraise together. For more information, visit www.yogainmotion.ca. 

My Yoga Online is proud to be a media sponsor of this event. “Breast cancer research is something I’m passionate about,” says My Yoga Online co-founder Michelle Trantina, “so I’m excited we can share our resources for this important event.”

Check out the latest videos from My Yoga Online: yoga, pilates, meditation, health experts, nutrition, and more.

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My Yoga Online has posted a new Yoga Anatomy video featuring David Keil: The Hip Yoga Anatomy yoga video. Learn the important aspects of the hips including major muscles surrounding the hip joint. Discover why the hip has the amount of tension it has around it. Learn how the hamstrings and quadriceps function as “two joint muscles”. Demonstration of where and how tight hips play a role in knee dysfunction. Demonstration to show where movement does or doesn’t happen at the hip joint.

Click to watch this The Hip Yoga Anatomy video class

About David Keil: David Keil was introduced to yoga in 1989 by his Tai Chi Chuan teacher. Both the Tai Chi and Yoga practice at the ripe age of 17 began his research into his own mind-body connections. As an instructor of Kinesiology (the study of movement and musculoskelatal anatomy) at Miami’s Educating Hands School of Massage, David had developed a fun, informal and informative style of teaching. Because of his passion and desire to share the human body with everyone, he delivers this complex and sometimes frustrating topic in a way that is very accessible and understandable to yoga practitioners.

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to celebrate the fact that i now have a new map on my site AND that i'm about to hit 1000 fans* on my facebook page, i've decided to give something away to one lucky follower! and that follower could be YOU!!

* i know, a thousand fans is a piddly number compared to such power houses such as yoga journal with almost 24,000 facebook fans and elephant journal with just over 11,000 fans, but hey, it makes me feel wanted :)

of course, you might have to do a bit of research to win, but here's something that should get your brain in gear... i'm giving away the new eQua hot yoga towel from manduka, with a retail value of $55!!

here's more information about this cool prize -- which should help keep you cool and dry during your hot yoga practice:

For those that prefer their yoga hot, the eQua Hot Yoga Towel is the ultimate solution to sweat management—allowing the user to perfect their poses instead of dealing with a perspiring distraction from their practice.

Developed in response to the common problem of excessive puddling during a sweaty yoga session, the Hot Yoga Towel is created with ultra soft, double knit microfiber—that remains super gentle on the skin but tough against toxins. Outperforming ordinary cotton or polyester towels, when spread over the yoga mat the Hot Yoga Towel forms a plush, sweat-trapping barrier and slip-resistant, hygienic foundation—absorbing the maximum amount of moisture while keeping yogi’s mat clean and dry.

"We know how distracting perspiration can be during a high intensity yoga session," said Manduka CEO, Sky Meltzer. “So to assist the yogis that are heating up their practice, we wanted to offer a high quality product that allows the user to enjoy their practice without the diversion of slipping and sliding on their mat. The eQua Hot Yoga Towel is the perfect solution—not only is it super absorbent, but it also provides a hygienic barrier—keeping bacteria away from the user and off their mat."

Made to fit most yoga mats and user styles, the Manduka eQua Hot Yoga Towel is 72" x 26.5" and is available in Candy (pink), Olive (green) and Scuba (blue). Able to withstand countless washings, the eQua Hot Yoga Towel is both machine washable and dryable — sweat it out, toss it in the wash and start your practice all over again. Whether you glow, perspire, sweat or seep—Manduka’s eQua Hot Yoga towel has your mat and your mind covered.

Like all of the towels in the Manduka eQua Towel collection, the Hot Yoga Towel is created according to fair labor production standards. For more information, please visit: http://www.manduka.com/ or become a facebook fan at: www.facebook.com/manduka.

so here are the contest rules:

1. after taking a close look at my LA yoga studio map (click here to get the larger version), post a comment below, giving me the name of ONE yoga studio that is NOT on the map (and i know there's a bunch of them, so this isn't a trick question) as well as its address, phone number, and website address. oh, and the color of the manduka eQua towel you'd like (pink, green, or blue), if you win!

2. the yoga studio has to be within the LA county limits and must offer group yoga classes on a regularly-scheduled basis.

3. even if a location offers a slew of yoga classes, as long as it requires membership to take a class -- as in a gym, health club, or fitness center -- i'm going to have to exclude it. community centers and function halls are also excluded. for the most part, i'm going to have to exclude private homes, unless they have websites and drop-in yoga class schedules posted on those websites.

4. and here's the kicker: the location has to be a studio that hasn't been mentioned by anyone else (in other words, only the first person to mention it gets entered in the contest).

5. only ONE entry is allowed per person. so if you know of more than one studio, you'll have to get a friend to send in an entry for you... and both of you will have to work out who gets the prize if your friend wins :)

6. lastly, you must be a fan of the accidental yogist on facebook in order to win!

one thing i should point out is that all you'll need to do is TELL me about the place; please DO NOT update the map!

by the way, if you come up with a studio that i've been to but have forgotten to put on the map, you will definitely earn yourself a shout-out :)

i'll give all of you until next friday, march 12th, to come up with a whole bunch of nice places for me to check out and add to the map. i'll randomly draw the winner from the eligible comments that come in, so if you're the only one who responds correctly, guess what -- you automatically win!

good luck!

as you've probably read from my previous post, the map i used to have at the top of my blog page ceased to exist once the company that hosted it, platial.com, closed shop. here's a blog post by portland-based silicon florist that talks about the promising beginnings of platial, then how it finally was forced to close down: End of the road: Platial draws its social mapping pursuits to a close

thankfully, the nice people at platial made sure that all of their customers, including myself, had the proper tools at our disposal to export our mapped data into another mapping tool -- in my case, google maps.

the conversion itself was actually pretty painless; the only reason why it took me so long to come up with a replacement was because i needed time to grieve over the loss of something that i'd become attached to. and in a way, had been identified with.

once i was ready to move on, it was time to update my map... and its look. so i changed the place markers to push pins (the jury's still out about whether i'll keep these or switch them out for something else), added missing studios, marked as "closed" all the studios that are no longer in business, and basically just fixed anything that needed fixing.

i also implemented a slightly different color-coding scheme:
~ blue pins are yoga studios that are currently open
~ red pins are studios that have closed (including those that have moved; the red pin marks the old location while a blue pin marks the new)
~ green pins are donation-based yoga studios (and i'm hoping this proves to be useful to those experiencing financial difficulties)

i'll probably keep tweaking the map so make it more user-friendly... like i just realized that there's a big "platial the people's atlas" graphic right in the middle of each description bubble... more grunt work for me to do...

in the meantime, what do you think? comments are most welcome :)

The yoga path shows us how to charge neutral when we feel disagreements with our fellow human beings. The greatest yoga teachers know that we will not always get along, so they teach us that we do not need to make war based on our divergent points of view. We will not always feel joyful or loving, but we do not need to take out our unhappiness on others. We will not always be able to live totally without fear, but we do not need to let desperation for control determine our actions. This is the essence of ahimsa, non-violence, in action.

One of the most basic commitments on the spiritual path is ahimsa, the resolution not to do harm to other beings. Ahimsa is a noble proclamation that aims to align our actions with our intentions to be a force of healing in the world. However, a heartfelt commitment to refrain from harming others does not mean that we will never feel a negative thought again. Nor does it truthfully mean that we will never perpetrate another violent act. Instead the vow of non-violence undertaken by spiritual seekers throughout all time stems from a basic recognition that we have a choice in how we live our lives. While I practice yoga almost every day and live a spiritual life to the best of my ability, I am not always a peaceful person. Sometimes my past ways of waging small interpersonal wars tie me into a sticky knot of anger, fear, sadness and resentment. When I find myself in that hot, uncomfortable space I often feel trapped with no way out. Sometimes I am present enough to remember my desire to live in alignment with ahimsa, and sometimes not.

In moments when anger is too large, practiced and habituated the commitment not to do harm can feel like another burden to bear instead of the release it actually is. Anger breeds illogical states of mind and the nervous system needs time to cool down before any positive action can take place. We will never solve something in the midst of an angry wrath that we cannot solve when we are even tempered and clam. In fact sometimes the mere presence of anger and the urge to fight is itself the problem. Like fiery goggles that paint the world in bright hues of red, anger prevents us from seeing reality clearly. The most peaceful thing you can do when you find yourself caught in a conflagration of emotions is to walk away and regain the balance of your mind. Only once you train the mind to return to a clear state is it possible to reconnect to the path of peace through ahimsa.

All human beings want to live in peace and feel love. What gets in the way is not the desire to do good, nor the desire not to harm, but instead our past patterns of warfare and disagreement. Whenever we react in a callous, confrontational way with people close to us it is more often based in an assumption made in the past than in an actual grievance in the present. Sometimes drama is all we know because that is all we have experienced in the past so we keep recreating it in the present. It could even be said that some people have an addiction to pain and drama that prevents them from living a peaceful life. But when a dramatic interlude is a substitute for a way of living, it is a deep samskara, or habit pattern, that is a detrimental force of pain and suffering in life. Yoga helps build the bridge from past addiction to pain into a more peaceful life in the present.

The only benefit that waging war with those around actually has is that a state of combat is perhaps the greatest motivator for a desire for peace. You never want peace more than when you feel yourself surrounded by war. War does not have to involve dropping bombs, gunfire and fighter jets. It can be waged with an arsenal of words and actions that are almost as traumatic to the heart as weapons of destruction are to the body. When partners live in war zones, erect mine fields around our hearts and cast out others whose culture or appearance is different than ours, peace and ahimsa are simply not possible. As the people of nations sometimes at way we have a responsibility to live more peaceful lives on a direct and personal level. It is an ironic double stand when we expect entire nations to sign peace treaties and when we are not able to make peace with our neighbors. In some sense world peace is a personal ethic choice as well as an global governmental action. The yogic path pledges its allegiance to peace through the ancient vow of ahimsa.

The battle in yoga, if there is one, is actually fought on the inner terrain. The great paradox that many longterm practitioners find out is that the only one they are really fighting with is themselves. Yoga asks you to make peace with the deepest, most secretive, terrifying and even shameful parts of yourself. In doing you you find the only way possible to make that peace with the external world too. It is not that you will never feel irritated, frustrated, angry, sad or fearful again, but that you will learn how to manage these difficult emotions when they do arise. In actively choosing your course of action you will transform the old habituated patterns of war and fighting into peace and friendship. By doing so on the internal level you will naturally change your outer world as well. Yoga means to unify, to yoke, to bring together and one of the most omnipresent things that yoga brings together is the unity of the inner and outer worlds. For was is possible only when we believe we are separate from others and we focus on that separation. Like battle-tired soldiers we must learn to lay down our weapons and surrender to the true power of peace.

Navigating the inner world is not easy and sometimes when we truly realize the harm of being at war with one another we take a inner vow of ahimsa. This vow sometimes creates non-confrontational people who are actually unresolved on the inner plane. While the intention is good, the path to peace sometimes involves a bit of confrontation and inner searching. The non-confrontational person who feels anger and avoids confronting it or other difficult emotions ends up in a kind of cold war with themselves and the people in their lives. This type of peace is not really peace, but instead is a kind of passive aggressive boiling pot that usually bursts at some point. Yoga practitioners cannot dig their heads in the sand like ostriches in the name of peace when conflict arises. Instead we must learn to negotiate a peaceful solution with presence, consideration, compassion and compromise. Just like we learn to practice through an injury into healing we must approach difficult emotions and situation with the same consciousness and awareness if we are to experience true healing.

While it could be said that holding the unhappiness in is at least better than lashing out at others, the danger in being so outwardly peaceful in the midst of inner turmoil is the falsity of peace. The pretense of a desired state is not replacement for the actual experience of it. The substitute for the real goal does not produce a sense of accomplishment. The Yoga Sutras state that the deepest benefits of Ahimsa are not gained when we go about the world in a state of non-harming, but instead when a state of absolute non-violence lives within us to the degree that violence is no longer possible on any level in our very presence. Friend and colleague Govinda Kai introduced the notion of ahimsa as being more than merely non-violent. He stated that ahimsa must mean the radical and spontaneously occurring opposite of violence. As such non-violence cannot be the true antithesis of violence. Perhaps peace is the true opposite of violence, but perhaps healing is as well. For only if we heal the root cause of the violent action can we truly experience peace and resolution. It is healing on all levels that allows our souls to rest in the peaceful acceptance of a situation. Until that healing has transpired the risk of recidivism into a state of warfare will always be there.

In a karmic sense healing could be understood as removing the root of a negative habit pattern. Unless the samskara is healed at the deepest level so that there is no trace of it remaining then there is always a chance that it will resurface and re-ignite the fire again. Yoga is the process of burning away old karmic seeds of destruction and planting in their place the vow of ahimsa. Whenever you practice yoga and align your actions with the spiritual path you nurture these new seeds of change in your life. Peace is a moment to moment choice just like healing. It is a fragile balance that is easily lost in a hateful argument. Peace is an active choice made each time we maintain our balanced mind amidst difficult circumstances. The peace of ahimsa is not boring, just as the meditator’s mind is not dull. Instead this peace, like love, is a dynamic balance where life happens.

About Kino MacGregor
Kino MacGregor is a small business owner (www.miamilifecenter.com), yoga teacher and freelance journalist who has produced two yoga DVDs and is currently working on her first book, Inner Peace, Irresistible Beauty to be released late April 2009. For complete details please see www.ashtanga-awareness.com.

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My Yoga Online has posted a new Pilates video featuring Rachel Wainwright: Pilates Workout video. Is fun yet effective way to reshape your backside. This class provides exercises to tone & tighten your glutes for all fitness levels. These Pilates exercises will heighten your body awareness and improve your self-image. Be prepared to fall in love with your booty.

Click to watch this Pilates Workout video class

About Rachel Wainwright: Rachel is the creator and owner of Exhale Studio. Her goal is to create a very special comfortable environment so her clients get a great workout, relieve stress, gain fulfillment, feel stimulated and have fun while doing it. Her hope is to inspire people to better themselves, to enhance their self-image and self-confidence.

A highly qualified teacher, Rachel is a Yoga Alliance Certified Yoga Instructor, BCRPA Registered Pilates Instructor, BCRPA Registered Group Fitness Instructor, and BCRPA Registered Personal Trainer. She also, did her Advanced Pilates Mat & Reformer Certificate at The Pilates Den to PMA standards.

Rachel is a professional dancer, and has performed in a variety of stage shows, TV and film work. An avid practitioner of Yoga and Pilates, her other main interests include snowboarding, wakeboarding, scuba diving, surfing, soccer, and traveling.

Rachel combines all of her diverse background, experience, and knowledge to create a well-rounded and effective class. She uses her energy and motivational skills to get you inspired and moving.

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The March 2010 issue of The Yoga News has just been sent out. If you subscribed to receive this monthly yoga e-zine, check your email now. If you don't see it there, be sure to look in your 'junk mail' or 'bulk mail' folders. Also be sure to add our email address to your "safe list" so that you'll receive all future editions of The Yoga News. If you are not already signed up to receive The Yoga News, you can subscribe for Free. Just go to: http://www.discover-yoga-online.com/yoga-news.html

if you're currently looking at my blog page and are looking at the message:

To make a long story short, Platial is unsustainable and cannot support itself any longer.

just know that it refers to the company that was hosting my yoga studio map, not me.

i've been using platial to keep track of all the yoga studios that i've visited for many years now, and the resulting interactive map is what i've been using as my website header for many, many years now. unfortunately, like many other businesses affected by these hard times, they found it impossible to stay afloat with the limited amount of income they were pulling in. thankfully, they've developed tools i can use to save and export all my map data into another format, so until i figure out what i'd like to do, please bear with the funky warning message until i put something else in its place.

at times, it seemed like both platial and i cross-promoted each other. my platial map would greet all my blog visitors as they visited my site, and platial would use my site as an example of how a blogger could implement a map. here's an excerpt i found in directions magazine, dated november 1, 2006:

PORTLAND, Ore.-Bloggers and Web site owners can start building maps with their community members in seconds by using a new MapKit from Platial.com. Users can sign up at http://www.platial.com/mapkit, cut and paste a snippet of code into the site, and in seconds they’re able to easily create and share places of interest directly with their readers. Because there’s no new programming to learn, the interface is simple, easy-to-use, and can be customized to complement any Web site. This new community-building map tool – once available exclusively at Platial.com – can be used on any Web site and most blogs.

More than 4,000 sites are already publishing Platial user-created maps, building community and generating content. The blogger behind the “The Accidental Yogist” Web site was one of the first Platial users to publish her map. Her community of yoga enthusiasts has created a map of 67 yoga studios in the Los Angeles area, and more are added every week. The map is also available on Platial, so visitors to Platial.com can benefit from this community’s work.

(you can tell how long ago that article was written; the last time i updated my map, i had over a hundred studios on it, with many more that i still had to add on!)

i'd like to thank the wonderful people at platial for going over and beyond in showing me how to get my map up and running, in resolving any issues that were caused by their feature enhancements or my "user error", and now, in helping me transition to another mapping application. it's hard to say goodbye to people who've always been there for me, at all hours of the day and night (or so it seemed)... tracy, jason, and everyone else on the team, i'll miss you all.

postscript -- i tried to update my blog template with a temporary fix, but even the blogger software is having issues today. ugh. must. remember. to. breathe...

on monday, i started posted the few events that i'd heard about on the accidental yogist's facebook page. and before i knew it, i was still finding things to post as recently as last night. who knew there was so much to do in LA on what initially seemed to be a slow weekend?

here are the items that merited a post. i'm including my original facebook comment plus the contents of the links that went with them. if you know of anything else, please feel free to share them with me...


FREE yoga with seane corn at Yogaglo in santa monica -- 7 almost-daily classes starting this THURSDAY 2/25.

On the following dates:
February:
25th 6-7pm
26th 4:30-5:30pm
27th 6-7:30pm
28th 9:30-10:30am
March:
1st 11-12
5th 11-12
6th 10-11:30am
In this class, we will explore the multifaceted dynamics of Vinyasa Flow yoga, focusing on both the physical- (body alignment, pranayama, bandhas) and the spiritual – (meditation, reflection, prayer), initiating strength and flexibility in your body/mind. Through the integration of asana, specialized breathing techniques and conscious intention, learn how to experience the creative and powerful practice of Vinyasa Flow as a devotional expression of life -beyond the body. Leave feeling inspired and centered. Experience with Sun Salutes A and B is recommended.


This FRIDAY 2/26 7:30pm - an evening of kirtan with Tony Khalife and special guests: Matthew Hufschmidt, Dan Licht, and Cooper Madison Ladnier at Rose Temple in Venice. Tickets $15 in advance, $20 at door http://www.dpacla.com/

Kirtan w/ Tony Khalife & Friends
Date: Friday, February 26, 2010
Time: 7:30pm - 9:30pm
Location: The The Rose Temple, 305 Rose Ave. Venice, Ca. 310-266-2123
~ An Evening of Kirtan Friday Feb 26 at 7:30-9:30pm
w/ special guests: Matthew Hufschmidt - Percussion, Dan Licht - Harmonium & flutes and Cooper Madison Ladnier - Tabla
~ Kirtan Workshop Saturday Feb 27 9am-1pm
w/ special guests Matthew Hufschmidt - Percussion and Cooper Madison on Tabla
An in depth Kirtan workshop exploring Vedic Mantras, the throat Chakra, the breath, Music, and daily affirmations for achieving kinship with the Divine. Elements of Mantra (origin, seed syllables, meaning, sound, proper pronunciation and form). Kirtan (Chant repetition, Bhakti Bhava and stories of Saints)


just because i've never heard of anything like this (at least in LA), i'm passing this along: Tropical Blend Hawaiian Yoga Party with David Adams & Hilary Kimblin at Yoga Blend this FRIDAY 2/26 8:15-10:15pm. Laughter yoga, Pranayama, Mantras, Chakras, Mudras, Heart, Hip and Pelvic Opening Asanas, Hula Hooping AND an expert instructor to show you how to dance a traditional Hawaiian Hula! Plus tasty samples of tropical delights, selected according to your Ayurvedic dosha. $20 by Feb 24th/$25 after

Hawaiian Yoga Party
Date: Friday, February 26, 2010
Time: 8:15pm - 10:15pm
Location: YogaBlend
Street: 1921 W. Magnolia Blvd.
A sumptuous mix of delights for all your senses!
A mix of traditional and contemporary Hawaiian and Polynesian tunes will greet the lucky group who gathers to drink in Tropical Blend Yoga: Heart, Hip & Pelvic Opening Asanas, Laughter yoga, Pranayama, Mantras, Chakras, Mudras, AND an Expert Instructor to show you how to dance traditional Hawaiian Hula!
Before Western contact and the introduction of a written language, Hawaiian culture was kept alive through dance, mele (song or poetry), and chant. Hula seeks to express everything its dancers hear, see, smell, taste, and touch.
If your mouth isn’t watering yet, it will be for sure as Hilary treats us to tasty samples of tropical delights, selected according to your Ayurvedic dosha. (Not sure what that is? No worries wahinis, she’ll help you figure it out!)
With even more exciting surprises planned for the evening, you’ll be having more fun than you can throw a coconut at!
$25 per guest


this FRIDAY 2/26 8:30pm - kirtan with kalidas at Bhakti Yoga Shala

Kalidas Chants to the Mother
Date: Friday, February 26, 2010
Time: 8:30pm - 10:30pm
Location: Bhakti Yoga Shala
Come chant with Kalidas, Manohar and Greg Klimuck


This SAT 2/27 9am-1pm -- BWell Fit will hold a FREE day of fitness and nutrition at the Pan Pacific Park in LA. Participants can take part in fitness demonstrations, receive nutrition and fitness advice, and register for BWell’s “Fit to BWell” Weight Loss Challenge Competition. Also FREE yoga with My-rah Penaloza!! Bring a yoga mat, towel, and water/snacks.

Host: Linda Okwor & Toneka Pires
Location: Pan Pacific Park
7600 Beverly Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90036 US
When: Saturday, February 27, 9:00AM to 1:00PM
Phone: (877) 319-1133
Join us for a day of fitness, motivation, nurtition, information and fun! This is our way of showing you love and giving you a real feel of BWell Fit and all we have to offer. Get there early for the boot camp!
Activities include:
* Fitness and Nutrition Consultation with Celebrity Personal Trainers and Champion Fitness Competitors Linda Okwor and Toneka Pires
* Weight Loss Expert Dr. Andrea Pennington will share her 5 tips for weight loss success
* Boot Camp Session with LA's #1 Boot Camp featuring Dulcie Hellings
* Body Assessments
* Pole Dancing Demo by Sharon Polsky
* Yoga with My-rah Penaloza
* Fit to BWell Challenge sign-up; winner gets up to $1000! (12-weeks, only 25 participants taken, $40/person/month)
* Event Cost: Free!
* Please bring water, towel, notepad, snacks, yoga mat and small weights Limited space, please RSVP!
We will be hosting the event rain or shine!
*After the event we will be casting families for a new total wellness show called "Diabetes Proof My Family" from 2pm to 4pm. For more information and general inquiries please contact: info@andreapennington.com


this SATURDAY 2/27 10am - a yoga fundraiser for Canine Cancer Detection Project LA at Yogis Anonymous taught by Annie Carpenter, Ally Hamilton, Brock Cahill, Jerome Mercier, John Sahakian, Jesse Schein and Krista Cahill. $20 suggested donation

"Cancer Dog" Benefit Class: Supporting Early Cancer Detection Research
Date: Saturday, February 27, 2010
Time: 10:00am - 12:30pm
Location: Yogis Anonymous
Join Annie Carpenter, Ally Hamilton, Brock Cahill, Jerome Mercier, John Sahakian, Jesse Schein and Krista Cahill for a morning of awakening and community!
This 2 1/2 hour yoga class will be followed by refreshments and a raffle of local products and services. One ticket per student will be given and additional tickets can be purchased for a $2.00 donation to the cause.
ABOUT THE CAUSE:
The Canine Cancer Detection Project LA is embarking on a very important project researching the early identification of cancer using canine scent detection. Dina Zaphiris (professional dog trainer and yogi) participated in one of the pilot studies in the field of canine cancer detection. It was in these studies that some interesting findings were made. Studies have suggested that dogs have the ability to detect cancer earlier than other forms of testing such as MRI, CT Scan, Radiology, blood work, etc. We are committed to studying the efficacy of this amazing new discovery. The early detection of cancer is paramount for successful treatment and saving lives. We are trying to do research specifically on early detection to enable early treatment.
A minimum $20.00 suggested cash donation will be used to bring this incredible non-invasive medicine to our future medical practices. To reserve your space for this event, please donate at: http://www.dogsdetectcancer.com
Use the "donate" button to make a secure payment via Paypal, print a copy of your receipt and bring it to class for guaranteed entry.
GREAT RAFFLE PRIZES FROM OUR SPONSORS:
Yogis Anonymous, Hard Tail, YogiToes, OM Girl, Om My Dog, Rock & Republic, Sujen B. Art & Design Blue-Owl.com, Woof Worx, Robert Green Fitness Training, Geralynn Cada cccouture.com, Ashley Bordon Fitness ashleyborden.com, Olga Tot, Grant Cramer
Melodia Medley melodiadesigns@gmail.com, Marla Johnson marlajohnsonjewelry@mac.com, Gerald Minniti, MD drminniti.com, Gabi Jewelry, evolm.com, Mr. Bilardi Hair, Krista Cahill Yoga, Brock Cahill Yoga, Debbie Kim Acupuncture/Herbalist, Dina Zaphiris Dog Behavior, Dr. Magdy Guirguis, Dr. Tamara Trebilcock, Dr. Michael Campbell, Dr. Katie, Gabriel Moreno Hair


Urban Lily Yoga will be celebrating their grand opening in sherman oaks this SATURDAY 2/27 7pm with a lululemon trunk show and decadent DESSERTS! need i say more? :)

Urban Lily Yoga’s GRAND OPENING CELEBRATION!!!
Date: Saturday, February 27, 2010
Time: 7:00pm - 11:00pm
Location: Urban Lily Yoga
Street: 14843 Burbank Blvd.
City/Town: Sherman Oaks, CA
Urban Lily Yoga’s GRAND OPENING CELEBRATION… Put your Dress UP clothes on and ROCK the night away with amazing musical guests, sweet treats & plenty of SURPRISES!!!!!!!!!
*We'll feature a LULULEMON Trunk Show
*Surprise Show
*Dreamy & Decadent Desserts


also at Yogis Anonymous this SATURDAY 2/27 7:30pm - Dani Shapiro and Ally Hamilton are going to talk about "Finding Your Teachers", whether they be yoga teachers, meditation teachers, or just people in your life who are able to impart something of value to you at the right moment in time. Dani will read from the book and do a book signing after...

Finding Your Teachers
A Reading, Q&A, and Book Signing with "Devotion" Author Dani Shapiro
Date: Saturday, February 27, 2010
Time: 7:30pm - 9:30pm
Location: Yogis Anonymous
Street: 1221 2nd Street
City/Town: Santa Monica, CA
I'd like to invite you to come and meet a very good friend of mine, Dani Shapiro. Dani is a well-known author whose newest work is a memoir called "Devotion". Receiving high praise from People Magazine, The Today Show, Publishers Weekly, and many other reputable reviewers, it is a deeply personal, moving, and relevant account of her search for peace. I could say so many beautiful things about this book...it genuinely gripped me and moved me to tears, and I feel so grateful that she was able to chronicle her experience this way.
Dani and I are going to talk about "Finding Your Teachers", whether they be yoga teachers, meditation teachers, or just people in your life who are able to impart something of value to you at the right moment in time. Dani will read from the book and do a book signing after. I already feel so much emotion about this night and I hope you'll join us.
- Ally


at Exhale Center for Sacred Movement in venice this SATURDAY 2/27 7:30-10:00pm - temple of rasa full moon celebration with shiva rea and donna de lory

Temple of Rasa: A Full Moon Celebration for Bhakti Rasika Love Rebels with Shiva Rea, Donna DeLory and special guests
Date: Saturday, February 27, 2010
Time: 7:30pm - 10:00pm
Location: Exhale, Venice, CA
To Benefit the PULSE Project! Rhythm Activism and Save the Tiger Fund
7:30PM - Opening Aarti and Invocation
7:30PM - Kirtan with Donna De Lory and Band
9:00 - 10:00PM Yoga Trance Dance with DJ Sahaja, DJ Nagaraja and Live Drumming


live in concert at Golden Bridge Yoga in hollywood this SATURDAY 2/27 8pm: simrit kaur, $25 in advance, $30 at the door

Simrit Kaur Kirtan at Golden Bridge With Musical Virtuosos Todd Boston and Kristopher Rein
Date: Saturday, February 27, 2010
Time: 8:00pm - 10:00pm
Location: Golden Bridge Yoga Hollywood
Street: 6322 De Longpre Ave
“For Simrit Kaur, singing is not a performance, it is a sacred worship of the Divine. Her voice, her music, and her teaching, reflect this devotion which seems to come from her so effortlessly. This devotion is a gift, a talent beyond any, that will lead thousands into the lightness of being and awareness that is so vital to humanity in this day and age.” -Snatam Kaur
$25 Advance $30 Door
Tickets at www.goldenbridgeyoga.com


this SATURDAY 2/27 8:00pm - kirtan with cooper madison at Aanand Saagar in venice

Kirtan with Cooper Madison and Friends
Date: Saturday, February 27, 2010
Time: 8:00pm - 9:50pm
Location: Aanand Saagar - Venice
Street: 606 Venice Blvd. #H
City/Town: Venice, CA
Please join me for an evening of Kirtan and Chanting as we celebrate the divinity within each of us through music. We'll sing some authentic Indian bhajans as well as some western devotional songs.
Joining me will be the wonderful singer Grace Shanti, Ben Marciano on Flute/Guitar, Christo Pellani on Drums and others to be announced.


FREE yoga classes at lululemon stores this SUNDAY 2/28 9:30am: lululemon athletica Beverly Hills - heather foster (city yoga), lululemon athletica Brentwood - sarah ezrin (the hub and kest's power yoga), lululemon athletica Santa Monica - lauri ashworth (the hub)


at Yoga West Los Angeles this SUNDAY 2/28 10:00-11:30am - Relief for Haiti: Join Gurudhan for a Kundalini workout. All funds raised will go to Doctors Without Borders

Yoga West
1535 S. Robertson Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90035
website: http://www.yogawestla.com/


you've probably heard about this on elephantjournal.com, so if you're here in LA, come join us at YOGAco this SUNDAY 2/28 12:45pm to wish jen and robert a happy future together... and raise money for haiti earthquake relief!

My Wedding Celebration
All donations going to RED CROSS for Haiti relief
Date: Sunday, February 28, 2010
Time: 12:45pm - 3:00pm
Location: Yogaco
Street: 1408 3rd st Promenade
City/Town: Santa Monica, CA
Hey all,
If you are coming to my wedding celebration on Sun Feb 28 @ Yogaco, there has been a change of plans. It was going to be a gentle yoga class but there is not enough time or room (too many people). Please feel free to bring something to drink (wine or champagne or something you like, or a snack) and also if you are so inclined... Bring a blessing, a poem, a song etc to share. Erica Rhodes will play cello and Samadhi is singing but we have a stage and I think it will make a lovely ceremony. So, only if you would like to bring something to share....
I am so honored that you all are coming. Please get there by 1245 pm so we can start on time. I cannot wait to make a toast to all of you.
Remember, I am also taking donations that day in the box and giving them to the Red Cross (for Haiti).
I look forward to hugging all of you. Yoga is at 1408 3rd st Promenade (next to Anthropologie)
love
jennifer


this sounds like an amazing afternoon of world music - PremaSoul and Classical Arabic Takht at the Pasadena Central Library auditorium this SUNDAY 2/28 2-5pm

PCM presents: TJ Troy Solo Tabla, PremaSoul, and Classical Arabic Takht
Date: Sunday, February 28, 2010
Time: 2:00pm - 5:00pm
Location: Donald R. Wright Auditorium Pasadena Central Library
Street: 285 E. Walnut St.
Pasadena Creative Music presents an afternoon of diverse world music and fusion. www.pasadenacreativemusic.com
PremaSoul fuses ancient Indian melody with the soul of American music, transcending musical & cultural boundaries with an intoxicating mix of pop harmonies, world rhythms, & original and traditional songs in many languages. (www.premasoul.com)
T.J. Troy presents solo repertoire of the North IndianTabla, in the style of the Lucknowgharana. This performance will feature traditional compositions, created distinctly for tabla solo, including peshkar, palta theka, kaida, kaida-rela, rela, gat, tukra, and chakradhar.
Classical Arabic Takht: Fahd Shaabad, T.J. Troy, Yvette Holzwarth, and Chris Votek have formed an exciting new oud, riqq, violin, and cello quartet especially to play this concert. The repertoire is classical Arabic music, and includes sama'i, longa, taqasim, and many instrumental songs.
After the concert abundant food and drink will be served at Chris's house on 246 N. El Molino Ave. As February 28th is the the date of Chris's birth it will be a combined concert reception/birthday party!


i'm sure you've heard about the blue avatars in that animated flick, but there's also a GOLDEN avatar: sri chaitanya mahaprabhu, "the divine manifestation of the Supreme Goddess, Radha and the Supreme God, Krishna." it was he who popularized the call-and-response form of chanting known as kirtan. this SUNDAY 2/28 4-8pm... at Rose Temple in venice, there will be a kirtan led by the kirtaniyas in his honor

The Day of The Golden Avatar
Date: Sunday, February 28, 2010
Time: 4:00pm - 10:00pm
Location: The Rose Temple
Street: 305 rose avenue
City/Town: Venice, CA
At The Rose Temple this Sunday there will be a celebration for the Golden Avatar: Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.
Join us for AT 4 PM through 9 PM for: KIRTAN, BHAKTI YOGA, CHANTING, DISCUSSION, VEGETARIAN LOVE FEAST, DANCING AND MORE KIRTAN!
The Kirtaniyas, BV Bhagavat Swami and other guests...
"Sri Chaitanya is the divine manifestation of the Supreme Goddess, Radha and the Supreme God, Krishna.
Krishna being the reservoir of pleasure once desired to understand the love that his greatest lover (Radha) had for him. He wanted to have first hand experience of this love. So they (Radha and Krishna) combined in one form and came to play in this material world as The Golden Avatar.
While experiencing the depths of Sri Radha's love for him in this combined form Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu distributed this love to ONE and ALL through the process of KIRTAN.
KIRTAN is a gathering of hearts expressing feelings of love. LOVE being GOD and GOD being love this expression is called BHAKTI... the gift of Sri Chaitanya."


This SUNDAY 2/28, come for KIRTAN with PREM JYOTI of Encinitas and celebrate the Book Release of "WHERE SOULS DREAM GOD" written by Sundaram La Pierre at Bhakti Yoga Shala in Santa Monica

KIRTAN AND BOOK RELEASE with PREMA JYOTI
Date: Sunday, February 28, 2010
Time: 8:00pm - 10:30pm
Location: Bhakti Yoga Shala
Street: 207 ARIZONA AVE
Come for KIRTAN with PREM JYOTI of Encinitas
and celebrate the Book Release of
"WHERE SOULS DREAM GOD" written by Sundaram La Pierre.
The book is a unique glimpse into the ancient culture of India as seen by Westerners who have adopted that culture as their own. Anyone who is fascinated by the magic and the mystery of that holy land will find this book intoxicating. If you have ever thought about going there, after reading "WHERE SOULS DREAM GOD", you may just have to put your life on hold and leave tomorrow!
The book includes the full-length CD, recorded exclusively for the book: I Love You, India, by Swami Nirvanananda, the “Singing Monk.
Sundaram and Hilary are the owners and hosts of Jyoti Mandir. JYOTI MANDIR is a temple at a private home in Encinitas. We host many Kirtan events both here & at other venues in Encinitas. We believe that the true purpose of music is to uplift the consciousness, leading to actual communion with God. Visit their website www.jyotimandir.com and their facebook page Jyoti Mandir to learn more.


if you're in the OC, this is for you: the new YogaShala in Costa Mesa will be holding their first Introduction to AyurYoga class this SUNDAY 2/28 2-4pm. They offer customized yoga classes based on individual body constitutions according to the ancient science of Ayurveda.The classes provide a holistic healing experience for the physical and spiritual self through not only specific yoga postures but guided meditation and live music.

The Healing Gardens of Ayurveda, LLC
234 E. 17th Street, Suite No. 102
Costa Mesa CA, 92627
website: www.thehealingardens.com/yoga_meditation.htm

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My Yoga Online has posted a new nutrition article by guest author Brendan Brazier: Guide For Transitioning To A Healthier Diet. Brendan offers simple, but effective advice in how to start adding healthier foods into your diet in order to avoid physical shock to your systems. Enjoy these great nutrition tips as part of your overall yoga and wellness program.

At this point, most of us know what foods are healthy. The challenge is no longer in finding the best health-promoting foods, but rather conveniently incorporating them into the diet on a daily basis without overextending our time budget. What then is the best route to take when aiming to integrate more healthy foods into the diet by replacing the less-healthy options?

A common approach when transitioning to a new way of eating is to eliminate certain non-health promoting foods. However, the most effective way to seamlessly adopt a new eating plan is to include more health-promoting foods as opposed to eliminating the less healthy. This is a practical solution that works on a physiological level as well as a psychological one.

Enjoy reading more Guide For Transitioning To A Healthier Diet

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Urban Lily Yoga
14843 Burbank Boulevard
Sherman Oaks, CA 91401
(818) 782-6144
website: www.urbanlilyyoga.com

Urban Lily Yoga "Blossom where you’re grounded", the yoga wellness center of the valley, is open to the public offering its powerful blend of traditional and progressive yogic practices, with a philosophy that is both contemporary and timeless. Our center offers yoga as it is meant to be, a practice that uncovers your true nature.

Yoga is the possibility of growth. A practice, a seed if you will, which contains within it a miraculous blueprint of an astonishing life that can emerge and come into being through the everyday mindfulness of yoga leading to an intuitive illumination of consciousness which blossoms forth in the form of health, vitality and happiness.


if you live or work in the valley, you know that most everything you need is located on ventura boulevard -- the hip boutiques, the trendy cafes, the major chain stores. even the yoga studios are in the midst of all that activity, right where you can easily find them.

but a new yoga studio has sprouted in a strip mall off the beaten path, about a mile and a half north of the boulevard. hmmm... why out there?

but then again, why not? i mean, if you're going to bring yoga to the people, you might as well bring it closer to them, right?

and i must say that as far as this westsider was concerned, it definitely was closer. or at least much easier to get to.

all i had to do was drive north up the 405, exit at burbank blvd, and after crossing a few traffic lights, there i was, at urban lily yoga. it was so unlike my typical commute to most places in the valley, where i usually find myself crawling along the 101 and the surrounding surface streets, past the soccer moms driving carpool in their SUVs, the writer/producer/actor types chatting on their cell phones, and the senior citizens driving way too slowly under the speed limit.

urban lily yoga was like a little burst of sunshine in their quiet neighborhood. there were no hip and trendy people in this neck of the woods, just moms attending to their washloads at the laundromat and people picking up groceries at the corner market. a banner above the front door marked their spot among the small businesses in the building.

once inside, you could feel the sweet energy of the place, from the retail items stored in wicker baskets in the armoire to the photographs of the teaching staff on the bulletin board. all of it was clearly a work of love by elinore cohen, owner of urban lily. you could definitely feel the female touch in the decor, although that obviously didn't deter the man who walked in off the street to check out the class schedule.

i was there to take elinore's class; while we waited for the earlier class to let out, we chatted as i filled out the requisite paperwork. and since my first class was free, i didn't have to pull out my wallet. nice!

the classroom was small and welcoming. all the props were arranged neatly towards the back of the room. even the blankets were folded so perfectly that any iyengar student would feel right at home here :)

elinore led our little class of three through a mellow, yet challenging, flow class. i especially enjoyed it because after we went through the customary sun salute sequences, we moved on to prep work for harder arm balances and inversion poses. we didn't do anything crazy nor overly backbendy, so my lower back emerged unscathed and happy.

most of the classes at urban lily are vinyasa flow and hatha blend, with some gentle therapeutic classes and restorative classes for those who just want to de-stress. there are also prenatal yoga classes for the neighborhood moms so they can come meet and bond with their future PTA pals.

urban lily will be holding their grand opening celebration next week, on saturday, february 27th at 7pm. everyone's invited to come by to share in the music and the treats; i've heard about all the little details that elinore's been working on to make sure her guests have a great time, so you know i'm not missing this party!


parking: free parking available behind the building
bike racks: none
closest intersection: burbank blvd and kester ave