a call for volunteers

The International Association of Yoga Therapists (IAYT) is pleased to announce our first Symposium on Yoga Therapy and Research (SYTAR). SYTAR is a response to the rapidly growing field of Yoga therapy in the U.S. SYTAR's mission is to establish an annual professional gathering for Yoga teachers, Yoga therapists, Yoga researchers and health professionals who use Yoga in their work. SYTAR brings together the contemporary teachings of many distinguished Yoga teachers, therapists, lineages and schools. SYTAR also showcases important new research and addresses public policy issues facing Yoga as an emerging complementary healthcare discipline.

January 18-21, 2007

Hilton Los Angeles Airport
5711 West Century Boulevard, Los Angeles, California, 90045
Tel: 310-410-4000


i'll be volunteering at the upcoming symposium on yoga therapy and research (SYTAR) this coming january 18th thru 21st. we had our first orientation meeting yesterday afternoon at the LAX hilton, the conference venue, and were given a brief overview and a tour of the facilities.

it turns out that the response to this inaugural occasion far exceeded the organizers' expectations. currently, there are 800 confirmed attendees from throughout the US as well as from 17 countries, with 300 more on the waitlist (a maximum headcount has to be strictly enforced due to space constraints). given that, the conference organizers need many more people to supplement our small group of volunteers.

the only requirement is that you're willing to be the helpful, smiling face that attendees approach when they have questions about registration, workshop information, function room directions, and so on. and it wouldn't hurt to have a good working knowledge of yoga in general. a two-day minimum commitment is required, with assistance especially needed to handle registration and check-in on thursday, jan 18th, and friday, jan 19th. as far as i know, on the days worked, all volunteers will be provided free parking, free meals, plus the opportunity to listen to the presentations and maybe even participate in the practice sessions (space permitting, of course).

so if you're in the los angeles area on those dates and are willing to volunteer your time and energy in exchange for the chance to listen to and even meet some of the luminaries in the yoga field today, please contact volunteer coordinator ryaan (yes, it's two 'a's) at ryaanc [at] yahoo. tell her that joni sent you :)

for more information about the conference events, here's the final program.

see you there!