rites of spring

This is the Griffith Observatory Sky Report for the week ending March 21. Here is what’s happening in the skies of Southern California:

Spring begins in the northern Hemisphere at 5:07 p.m. on Tuesday, March 20. This is the Vernal or March equinox, and the sun, crossing the celestial equator from south to north, causes daylight to be about 12 hours long worldwide. If you make a reservation to visit Griffith Observatory on this date, be sure to catch the sun setting at 7:04 p.m., aligned with the new equinox sunset marker on the west walkway of the Observatory’s grounds.


the spring equinox is the time of year when there is an equal amount of darkness and light; the daytime will be exactly as long as the night. since the seasons don't really change much here in southern california (especially with the climate changes that seem to be making our winters warmer and almost spring-like), we can still celebrate the fact that our days are going to start getting longer and beach weather is going to be upon us in no time :)

here's what's scheduled around town this coming week:

Spring Equinox Celebration
Exhale Center for Sacred Movement, Venice
Tuesday, March 20th 9:00am
Cost: Regular class fee

Join Hala Khouri + Suzanne Sterling for a special ritual yoga class to call in the spring with live music and chanting.

Celebrate Spring! with Gurmukh and Gurushabd
Golden Bridge Yoga, Hollywood
Wednesday, March 21st 6:00-7:30pm
Cost: $15 or keytag

Join us as we celebrate spring and the Spring Equinox! We’ll chant dance, do yoga and meditate with the power of this special time of year. We’ll close the class with a special double-gong meditation!

SACRED BREATHING CIRCLE with Wahe Guru Kaur
March Theme: Spring Equinox
The Awareness Center, Pasadena
Wednesday, March 21st 7:00-9:30pm
Cost: $35

The Sacred Breathing Circle is a journey into the Self. It allows you to identify and release mental, emotional and physical blocks and bring light to areas that need healing. Experience an ancient pranic technique, called the "Healing Breath," that promotes healing and regeneration on all levels. Please come prepared for a short Kundalini yoga set.

Special Friday Night Candlelight Restorative Yoga with Stefan
Garden of Yoga, Woodland Hills
Friday, March 23rd 6:30-8:00pm
Cost: $14 (or just use a class from your series and pay only $13)

Relax, unwind and rejuvinate as we move into Spring with a special Friday night Restorative class with Stefan.
Restorative Yoga is a series of poses, which are supported through the use of bolsters, blankets, and pillows. The body can be held in each pose without having to exert any effort, creating a deeply healing and meditative experience. This class opens the body's energy channels to stimulate, soothe and relieve the effects of chronic stress.
Therapeutic and relaxing experiences that will leave you in complete bliss.
RSVP early - this class will be full soon (15 people only in this class).

Spring Equinox Yoga Mala with Jo Tastula
Yoga Loft Manhattan Beach
Friday, March 23rd 7:00-9:30pm
Cost: $25

Practice an ancient ritual of celebrating the change of seasons by initiating your own seasonal change. Join us as we welcome the spring season and set bearings for the warmer months ahead. The 108 Surya Namaskar take 2 1/2 hours to complete, so come prepared for a potent journey ~

Spring Awakening with Annmarie Solo
Yoga Works Main Street, Santa Monica
Friday, March 23rd 7:30-9:30pm
Cost: $20 by 3/16; $25 after 3/16

Spring is a time of planting seeds and rebirth. Join us in this Nada Yoga Spring Ritual Vinyasa Flow Class. We will flow to Live Music and Embody our intention for spring. Music is a catalyst for deepening your practice and cultivating rhythm within.
We will take you on a sound landscape journey through this intentional workshop creating an atmosphere for the seeds to take root and encourage growth with attention and great care. This workshop will be a strong flow combined with pranayama and chanting.
This workshop is appropriate for students of all levels; however, some familiarity with general poses is suggested.

Equinox Celebration with Daniel Stewart
Rising Lotus Yoga, Sherman Oaks
Sunday, March 25th 10:30am-12:00pm
Cost: Regular class fee

The Vernal Equinox is a time of rebirth and new life. Our soul stirs as the dark days of winter are replaced by the growing light of spring ... and consciousness.
Join Daniel for a dynamic flow class to shake out the cobwebs and celebrate the return of spring. We’ll chant a cycle of OM to set our intentions, planting seeds for new growth and watering them with the sweat of our devotion in a shortened Mala of 18 sun salutations.
Comfort with Vinyasa Flow recommended.