Legend: BLUE-open, RED-closed, GREEN-by donation
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Tuesday, February 20, 2007

healing santa monica bay

i thought it interesting that two different yoga studios have selected heal the bay as their fundraising beneficiary for the month of march. for those not familiar with this los angeles county-based group, here's their mission statement:

Heal the Bay is a nonprofit environmental organization dedicated to making Southern California coastal waters and watersheds, including Santa Monica Bay, safe, healthy and clean. We use research, education, community action and advocacy to pursue our mission.

heal the bay hosts numerous programs that help raise public awareness about the state of the santa monica bay, such as the educational programs at the santa monica pier aquarium, the annual coastal clean-up day, and the malibu creek watershed restoration project. it also compiles and publishes the beach report card which grades the water quality at over 400 locations along the california coast and includes beach closures and rain advisories.

if you choose to become a member of heal the bay, you will receive benefits such as the quarterly newletter, invitations to events, and discounts at participating businesses such as santa monica yoga and the yoga center in redondo beach.

all donations to heal the bay directly support their ongoing activities and are tax-deductible.


one of the two studios is yoga loft manhattan beach, which is located at the southern end of santa monica bay. they just published their list of designated charities for 2007:

YOGA LOFT COMMUNITY IMPACT PROGRAM

For the past two years, we have offered a discount on our pricing each month. It is our goal to keep the price of yoga affordable for all of you, but it is also time to start giving back. So, we came up with Community Impact.

In lieu of monthly discounts, Yoga Loft will donate $5 from each class series purchased to a different non-profit organization for each month of 2007. These charities will be both local & national, chosen because they are close to my heart or close to yours, and will cover various causes, from the environment and health to childrens and animals’ needs. Here is the list for 2007:

January - The Manhattan Beach 10th Street Fire Fund
February - Children’s Defense Fund
March - Heal the Bay
April - CoachArt
May - Environmental Media Association
June - Children of the Night
July - Cure Autism Now
August - American Oceans Campaign
September - Ovarian Cancer Research Fund
October - Peter Zippi Fund for Animals
November - Planet Aid
December - Richstone Family Center

***NOTE: HS/College students, seniors over 55, and school teachers will continue to receive a 15% discount on all class series. And, we will offer FREE classes that will not count against your series on the following days this year: Memorial Day, 4th of July, Thanksgiving, and Xmas Eve. Proof of donations will be posted at the studio upon receipt.


the other studio is yoga works pacific palisades, which is located near the heart of the bay. they'll be celebrating their grand opening with an all-day affair:

CARE ENOUGH TO MAKE A CHANGE
a benefit to Heal the Bay

March 3rd, 2007
8:30am to 7:00pm

Please join us in celebrating the grand opening of the newest YogaWorks studio! This festive day of caring will include free classes, refreshments and luxurious grand prizes from partners including Quiksilver, Roxy, Gaiam, Gingi, Mama Mio, Kolologie, kookoon, Lotion Glow, Netflix, SweetLeaf Stevia, Unna & Co., Pharmaca, Kate Somerville, Sugar Daddy's, FH1, and Desert Essence.

Schedule of Classes
8:30-10:00am - Level 1/2
9:00-10:15am - Just Beginners!!
10:00-11:30am - Level 2
10:30am-12:00pm - Pre-natal
11:30am-1:00pm - Level 1
1:00 - 2:30pm - Just Beginners!!
1:30 - 2:45pm - Level 2/3
2:15-3:15pm - MyYogaSpace for teens
3:00-4:00pm - Gentle
3:30-4:45pm - Just Beginners!!
4:00-5:25pm - Mat Pilates
5:30-7:30pm - Yoga Groove Collective w/ Seane Corn, Hala Khouri, Suzanne Sterling & David Romanelli

By Donation: All Proceeds go to Heal the Bay



if you can't make it to any of those studios for any of the fundraisers, here are 10 more ways you can help heal the bay:

1. Put your mind in the gutter
It’s a fact: what goes into the gutter ends up in the ocean. So keep pet droppings, yard trimmings and trash off the street and out of the storm drains. Report full catch basins to the Dept. of Public Works: LA City: 800-974-9894 LA County: 800-303-0003.

2. Dry out
Overwatering not only wastes resources, it washes trash and toxins out to the ocean. Conserving water also helps the sewage treatment plant do a more effective job. So plant hardy native plants, turn off faucets, fix leaky pipes and install low-flow shower heads and toilets.

3. Keep your eye on the balloon
Released helium balloons eventually pop and land, and often end up in the ocean. There, animals make the fatal mistake of thinking they’re food. Avoid using balloons for decoration, and pop old balloons and put them in the trash.

4. Eighty-six the six-pack rings
Avoid buying them, or cut them up before you throw them out. Marine animals choke on garbage and get tangled up in trash. Six pack rings are like nooses to birds and fish, who can’t get out once they get stuck.

5. Get into detox
Avoid buying toxic products like liquid drain openers. Use pesticides as infrequently as possible, and look for non-toxic alternatives. Use compost instead of chemical fertilizers. And if you must use harsh chemical products, dispose of them at authorized household hazardous waste drop-off centers. For locations, call 1-800-CLEANUP.

6. Scoop the poop
Cleaning up after your own dog, cat or horse keeps their waste out of the storm drain and away from your favorite beach.

7. Make a clean sweep
Use a broom, not a hose, when you clean sidewalks and driveways. Collect trash in a dustpan, not the gutter, and use garden clippings as mulch to fertilize your yard.

8. Oil and water shouldn’t mix
Recycle used motor oil at gas stations, auto parts stores and garages. Never pour it down the drain, into the gutter or onto the ground, where it can find its way into the storm drain and wash out to sea.

9. Car detail: go to the car wash
Most car washes recycle their water. If you wash your car at home, do it on the grass. Use a bucket to conserve water, and use biodegradeable soap.

10. Join forces with Heal the Bay:
  • Donate
  • Become a member
  • Volunteer - Join a beach or community cleanup, or help out at our offices or at our events
  • Educate - Help spread the word through our education programs
  • Buy and wear cool Heal the Bay stuff!