the night the lights went out

perhaps you've heard about earth day, which is held every year on april 22nd (there will be events held around the world on or around that date; i'll be posting the LA-based events just as soon as i get them compiled).

but how about earth hour? here's some background information from the earth hour - north america website about the worldwide event that will happen this saturday, march 29th (that's tomorrow!):

On March 29, 2008 at 8 p.m., join millions of people around the world in making a statement about climate change by turning off your lights for Earth Hour, an event created by the World Wildlife Fund.

Earth Hour was created by WWF in Sydney, Australia in 2007, and in one year has grown from an event in one city to a global movement.

We invite everyone throughout North America and around the world to turn off the lights for an hour starting at 8 p.m. (your own local time) – whether at home or at work, with friends and family or solo, in a big city or a small town.

Join people all around the world in showing that you care about our planet and want to play a part in helping to fight climate change.

One hour, America. Earth Hour. Turn out for Earth Hour!

according to the website, many US cities will be participating in this event, including atlanta, chicago, phoenix and san francisco. but how about los angeles? not a peep. i've checked the LA blogosphere... LAist... LA metblogs... and they can't find anything, either. makes you wonder who's turn it was to keep track of these things :(

even the citizens of manila (yes, my kababayan!) have jumped on the bandwagon. here's what they said they'll do:

On March 29, 2008, from 8:00pm to 9:00pm, the entire stretch of Roxas Boulevard which spans three (3) cities will join the rest of the world for Earth Hour—an event that will create awareness on climate change and prove that people around the world working together can make a difference in the growing fight against global warming.

The Cultural Center of the Philippines’ fountain area will provide the backdrop for a countdown event where Philippine Earth Hour Ambassadors will come together with local press for a symbolic “switch off”.

Even SM Mall of Asia, the world’s third largest mall, will shut down their lights for Earth Hour.

Similarly, Makati City will be turning their lights off along Buendia, Kalayaan, JP Rizal and Ayala Avenue. (ed. note: these are fairly busy thoroughfares, so hailing a bus or a jeepney could be difficult in the dark!)

All around the metro, HSBC, Intel, Canon, Coke, Jollibee, Greenwich, and Chowking will be participating in Earth Hour by turning off the lights from their billboards and signages.

maybe this will shame los angeles into doing something next year...

anyway, for those of you here in LA, i'm sure you can think of all kinds of things you'd like to do in the dark... and whatever you end up doing this saturday night, just remember why you turned off the lights in the first place :)

look who just turned 10!

i came across an interesting article on the NPR website this morning:

Viagra Turns 10 by Renee Montagne
Morning Edition, March 27, 2008

The "little blue pill" — Viagra — turns 10 on Thursday.
On March 27, 1998, the Food and Drug Administration gave pharmaceutical company Pfizer the go-ahead to sell what would become one of the world's best-known pills.
In Viagra's first month on the market, doctors wrote more than 500,000 prescriptions. Former presidential candidate Bob Dole once plugged the pill in TV commercials.
The drug has been a long-term boost for Pfizer's profits. Last year, it brought the pharmaceutical giant more than $1.7 billion.

i fired up a google search using the keywords viagra and yoga... and the results were quite pleasant, so to speak, because it led me to this youtube video posted by YogaYatra, who says "It's a well known fact that You won't need Viagra if You Yoga."

so click on the link below and be prepared to be amazed at what you see :)

HOW TO STRETCH LIFE TO ITS LIMITS

getting it off my chest

i haven't been writing much lately. and it's not because i don't have anything to say. on the contrary, it's because i've been trying to keep myself from talking about something that's been bothering me. and because i've been suppressing myself from writing about it, i can't seem to write about anything else. sigh.

anyway, after giving myself some time to think things over and/or for things to change -- which, by the way, have not -- i've decided to go ahead and get it off my chest. you may agree with me, but then again, you're more than welcome to disagree. either way, i'd love to hear what you all think.

so here goes...

there's a new yoga studio in the works. it's scheduled to open in mid- to late-april and promises to be an exquisite experience for all those who enter its portals.

located in a newly-developed area in el segundo, just minutes from LAX and the upscale communities of westchester, playa del rey, manhattan beach, hermosa beach, and redondo beach, it will feature:

~ energy efficient and eco-friendly construction with sustainable woods, recycled board and natural tiles
~ relaxing organic tea and juice lounge
~ spacious locker rooms with full showers and complimentary towel service
~ lifestyle yoga boutique featuring the latest in yoga equipment and activewear
~ tranquil library with educational audio and visual yoga media.

this beautiful space will offer a diverse selection of classes taught by highly-trained instructors:

~ beginner's intros and series
~ specialty classes for children, seniors, prenatal, athletes
~ sculptworks and cardioworks fitness hybrids
~ hundreds of weekly classes at convenient times
~ private yoga and pilates sessions
~ programs geared toward therapeutics, stress reduction, and weight loss

honestly, it's everything a yoga student could want. it's nestled within the new plaza el segundo shopping center and is surrounded by restaurants and boutiques, as well as larger chain stores such as borders, best buy, cost plus, linens-n-things, and even a whole foods market. as an added bonus, there's also a lululemon and a pinkberry in the complex... and best of all, there's unlimited FREE PARKING!

so picture this: you have a few hours at your disposal. in that short time, you can pick up the book you've been meaning to read, buy a pair of shoes for the outfit you're going to wear that weekend, and maybe track down a doo-dad that you need for the house. you might have a leisurely meal at one of the cafes or pick up something to-go from the hot food bar at whole foods. and once you've gotten all your errands done, you decide to squeeze in a delicious yoga class.

there's one catch, though. when you get to the yoga studio, you're told that you can't just drop in and take a class. why not? the receptionist smiles sweetly and says: this is a members-only studio, and you're not a member. but if you register now and pay your membership dues, you'll still have time to make the next vinyasa flow class...

and this is where i have a problem. a BIG problem.

since when does one have to fork over a wad of money before taking a yoga class??!??! we're not talking about a high-end gym here. this is not a sports club LA. or a spectrum. or an equinox. this is the new yoga works south bay location. this is the same yoga works whose founders "... honor the tradition of the great yoga masters by passing their knowledge from teacher to student... and have combined their individual passions to pursue a common goal: bringing yoga to more people..."

to more people? you mean to more affluent people?

after speaking with the staff during my recent visit to their "pre-sale" office, i found out that to become a member, i'd have to first pay an initiation fee of $50. then depending on whether i plan on practicing solely at the south bay location or at all of the LA locations, i'd be paying either a $80 or $130 monthly membership fee. and in order to seal the deal, i'd have to prepay the first and last months' dues. so let's see... if i chose the more restricted (and less expensive) option, i'd have to pay $50 plus $80 twice. that's $210 just to take my first class!! there are no drop-in rates, no introductory specials. i can't even use a class from my yogaworks series pass to get in the door when they finally open.

what about visitors from out of town? sorry. what if you're a local like me who wants to try out a class with the teacher you've heard so much about? sorry. what if you're out of work, living from unemployment check to unemployment check, and want to take a class that might help relieve some of your stress (and yes, i've been there)? sorry.

i later called yoga works westlake village, which also happens to be a members-only location, to see if they had the same set-up. but unlike their south bay counterpart, they offer $10 community classes as well as $18 drop-in classes to non-members. if after some time, however, they notice that a student has become a frequent visitor, they'll suggest that he/she take advantage of the more cost-effective membership plan. fair enough.

so why is yoga works south bay insisting on restricting class participation to members only?

is it to keep classes small? i doubt it, because they can always close a class when it's reached its maximum size.

is it to make it more exclusive, and therefore more desirable? since when did taking a yoga class become a status symbol?

or could it be... about the money? if that's it, that's just plain wrong!

there are other equally fantastic yoga studios nearby, like yoga loft in manhattan beach, lyfe yoga center in hermosa beach, and many others. so until yoga works opens its doors to those of us who can't afford to pay the required dues, you know where i'll be practicing whenever i find myself in the south bay...

postscript: in all fairness, i should point out that the other LA region yoga works locations -- center for yoga (larchmont), main street, montana, pacific palisades, and westwood -- still accept drop-ins. so far, i haven't heard anything about their going members-only. and i'm keeping my fingers crossed that it stays that way!

something for easter eggheads

just in case you're one of the few who still hasn't heard, let me be the first to break it to you:

easter sunday is THIS SUNDAY, march 23rd.

and yes, it's really early this year. how did that happen, you ask?

basically, it boils down to this: after much wheeling and dealing among christian church heads many, many centuries ago, they came up with the following general rule (with some exceptions, of course):

Easter falls on the first Sunday following the first ecclesiastical full moon that occurs on or after the day of the vernal equinox, where this particular ecclesiastical full moon is the 14th day of a tabular lunation (new moon), and the vernal equinox is fixed as March 21. This means that Easter can never occur before March 22 or later than April 25.

so since today is the first full moon after the vernal equinox, it then follows that this sunday is easter sunday.

however, if you're a math geek (like me), a fairly straightforward algorithm can be used to calculate the exact date of this moveable feast.

ready? here it is:

a = Y mod 19
b = Y mod 4
c = Y mod 7
d = (19a + M) mod 30
e = (2b + 4c + 6d + N) mod 7

where Y is the year and the values for M and N are determined as follows:
if Y is 1900 through 2099, M=24 and N=5
if Y is 2100 through 2199, M=24 and N=6
if Y is 2200 through 2299, M=25 and N=0

finally, after you've solved for a through e, if d + e is less than 10, then easter falls on march x (where x = d + e + 22). otherwise, easter falls on april x (where x = d + 3 - 9).

and if that weren't complicated enough, there's more...

if the resulting date is april 26th (which is outside the valid range), easter is moved back a week to april 19th. and if the result is april 25th (which is valid) but d = 28, e = 6, and a is greater than 10, the date should be changed to april 18th. don't ask me why.

so just for fun, let's solve for easter 2008:

a = 2008 mod 19 = 13
b = 2008 mod 4 = 0
c = 2008 mod 7 = 6
d = [(19 x 13) + 24] mod 30 = 271 mod 30 = 1
e = [(2 x 0) + (4 x 6) + (6 x 1) + 5] mod 7 = 35 mod 7 = 0

since d + e = 1 + 0 = 1 which is less than 10, then easter in 2008 falls on march x, where x = 1 + 0 + 22 = 23. ta da... march 23rd!

and to throw in some trivia you can impress your friends with, check out this entry from earthsky.org:

This upcoming Easter on March 23 will be the earliest date for Easter in all of the 21st century.
The last time Easter fell on March 23 was in 1913, and the next time won’t be till 2160.
The earliest possible date for Easter is March 22. This last happened in 1818 and won’t happen again until 2285.
The latest possible date for Easter is April 25, which happened most recently in 1943 and will happen next in 2038.

anyway, the point of this exercise wasn't to find out if you were paying attention in math class; rather, it's a heads-up:

some yoga studios will have modified schedules and/or special events this weekend, so before you show up for class on saturday or sunday, be sure to check ahead!

spring's here!

the vernal, or spring, equinox occurred last night, march 19th, at 10:48pm PDT.

and now that it's spring, you know what that means, at least to the lucky yogis and yoginis here in so cal -- it's time for yoga on the beach!

here are some beach yoga posts i've received so far... and i'm sure i'll be getting in many more soon...

this first one is from vanda mikoloski, a yoga teacher who also happens to be a stand-up comedienne. it'll be a challenging class, only because you'll be moving, breathing, and laughing, all at the same time :)

Fun Yoga on the Beach with Vanda
(Touring teacher for the Dixie Chicks)
Certified Yoga Instructor - 12 years experience

When? Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays 9-10:15am (note change: NO friday classes)
Where? Rose Avenue and the water’s edge. Bring a big bed sheet!
How much? First Class Free. Any Love offering $5-$20 accepted after that.
Details or consultation about your special needs, (360) 789-1466

I teach a fun class, an eclectic style informed by many yogic traditions, custom-designing the practice to your needs. I'm 48, so I've hurt myself enough that I can teach you not to.

We work from exactly where you are right now. We have fun celebrating being fully alive in the bodies we have right now. I'll remind you how perfect and radiant you truly are!

Must like laughing.


and this one came from the nice folks at the yoga loft and the pilates room & yoga lounge, both in manhattan beach. make sure you mark your calendars, because it'll be a morning of great yoga for a great cause!

In celebration of Earth Day 2008, The Pilates Room & Yoga Lounge and Yoga Loft are joining forces to organize a charity Yoga-Thon and special Pilates Mat class on Saturday, April 19, from 8am-1pm.... Your $25 participation fee will benefit 4 charities: Surfrider Foundation, Room to Read, the Jimmy Miller Memorial Foundation, and Off the Mat Into The World.

The event, to be held on the sand just south of Manhattan Beach Pier at 11th Street, will include a Pilates Mat class, a Yoga Mala (set of 108 sun salutes), 2 fifteen-minute seated meditations, and will culminate with live West African drumming featuring members of the Baker-Tarpaga Dance Project.

More information to come soon! Please visit thepilatesroom.com or yogaloftmb.com after March 25, 2008 to see the schedule of events and to download a registration form.

a new home!

back in april 2007, almost an entire year ago, the BKS iyengar institute of LA on 3rd street announced to their students that due to a dramatic rent increase, they could no longer afford to stay at the location they had occupied for the past 22 years.

then in december 2007, they announced that they were closing their doors on march 21st (this coming friday) and were planning a special farewell to 3rd st day.

but as we know, things change; fortunately, it's all good -- thanks to the all the support they've received from their members and friends, they've finally found a new home! and while the renovation of the new space is going on, they've received an extension from their landlord until may 15th so they can continue to remain open for business while the renovation is in progress. needless to say, they're very excited about this good news, and rightfully so!

the institute sent out two email updates last month, but for some unknown reason, i never got around to posting either of them here... my sincerest apologies!

here's the first one, dated february 13th:

Dear IYILA Community,

Dear friends, it is with great pleasure that your Relocation Committee announces that we are now in the final stages of lease negotiation with La Cienega Plaza (La Cienega and 18th street in Los Angeles) for our new home.

We will be moving into a 3000 square foot suite, with completely new studios and facilities, built to our specifications. We will have larger dressing rooms and restrooms, a larger lobby, a larger office, and a dedicated storage space, as well as two large asana rooms separated by a soundproof moveable wall which, when opened, will create one very large studio of approximately 1800 square feet. (Our current large studio is 1110 square feet.) Additionally, we will have access to virtually unlimited parking in the three-story parking structure.

While as of this date the final lease has not yet been signed, we feel sufficiently confident to share this exciting news with you. Also, our current landlord has indicated a willingness to extend our deadline while we prepare our new facility. Therefore, although we announced our official closing as March 22, we will in all likelihood extend our stay on 3rd Street until we can move the two miles south.

Once commenced, the preparation of our new Institute facility will take approximately 8-10 weeks. During this time, we will keep you as up to date as we possibly can, and our regular schedule of public classes at our 3rd Street facility will continue.

We extend our sincere gratitude to everyone who sent us leads and suggestions via the Relocation email hotline. It is abundantly evident that our Iyengar community cares very deeply about our Institute, our teachers, and our ability to function at our best.

Sincerely yours,
The IYILA Relocation Committee

and here's a follow-up, dated february 25th:

Relocation update:
Though not yet complete, we are in the final negotiations for the lease at La Cienega Plaza.

The general terms of the lease have been worked out. Our monthly rent will be virtually the same as we are paying in our present location, for an extra thousand square feet.

This site is truly the needle in the haystack that we have been seeking for over a year. We are still in negotiations for the scope of the build-out, as well as architectural details.

Our kind 3rd Street landlord has extended our stay until May 15. We will continue our regular schedule of classes until at least that date.

The Capital Campaign is still open for donations. We will certainly need every penny that we have raised to create our new dream Institute, and we are already facing the reality of some cutbacks in our initial architectural plans.

We have received some donations from the community who were reluctant to give without knowing that we had a place to go to. Now that we have our place, perhaps there are others who also waited to give until we had a target for their giving. Click here to donate via PayPal.

doing it in public

i'm sure you know what a PDA is (and no, i'm not referring to that electronic gizmo you're hopelessly addicted to). you know, a public display of affection...

well, here's a new acronym you can add to your vocabulary:

PDM: Public Display of Meditation

you can find out for yourself what it's all about this monday, the 17th. unfortunately, for 9-to-5 types like myself, it'll be held in the middle of the day. which means i won't be able to make it... unless, of course, i find a way to call in sick :)

here are the details:

what: PDM: Public Display of Meditation
when: Monday March 17, 3 PM
where: Dorothy and Benjamin Smith Park, 7020 Franklin Avenue, Hollywood, CA 90028 (corner of Franklin and Sycamore).
cost: Free to the public; RSVP to PDM@getselfcentered.com

Max Simon of The selfcentered tour will be leading a PDM on St. Patrick’s Day, Monday March 17, starting at 3 PM at Dorothy and Benjamin Smith Park, 7020 Franklin Avenue, Hollywood. We will walk down to Hollywood Boulevard, attract attention, and get quiet.

Even if you’re into meditation, you’ve never had an experience like a PDM. This is a tool to step away from the endless mind chatter, disconnect from the buzz, and get selfcentered - find our authentic inner space. Even when you're outside on Hollywood Boulevard.

Participants will be filmed.

At the same time, Lululemon Athletica will be holding a "Random Act of Yoga."

leave it to the selfcentered folk to come up with another great idea... i'm still can't get over the fact that i had to miss their chocolate meditation at last month's selfcentered event :(

speaking of the selfcentered tour and chocolate, i found this recent press release:

The selfcentered Tour partners with Theo Chocolates
First major sponsorship deal for growing movement

LOS ANGELES, Calif., February 26, 2008 – The selfcentered Tour (www.getselfcentered.com), a meditation-based movement consisting of experiential events, entertainment, teacher training and web community, today announced a partnership with Seattle-based Theo Chocolate (www.theochocolate.com), the only true bean-to-bar maker of organic and fair trade certified chocolate in the U.S.

Theo Chocolate will sponsor The selfcentered Tour and provide chocolate for the signature 'Chocolate Meditation' in which participants are guided through an exercise to quiet the mind and focus the attention on the smell, feel, and taste of chocolate. The Chocolate Meditation is one of many unique and simple techniques and tools at the core of The selfcentered Tour, techniques that are easy to learn, teach, live and love.

meditating while savoring organic chocolate? even more reason i need to hook up with max and his crew!

yogamonth 09.2008

it's about time i made good on my commitment.

last november, i added my name to the list of supporters of the yogamonth 09.2008 campaign. by doing so, i said i would spread the word about this movement to inspire a healthy lifestyle.

but i got caught up in everything else and never got around to it...

... until i received an email update from them earlier this evening and realized that their big 09/2008 yoga health festival tour is only six months away!

so in a nutshell, this is what yogamonth is all about:

Yoga Month is a grassroots, community-based global campaign to educate people about the health benefits of yoga and to inspire a healthy lifestyle.

Yoga Month is a year-round campaign and will peak Sept. 2008 with millions of health and social conscious individuals practicing yoga at thousands of yoga studios and homes around the world.

Join the Yoga Health Revolution. Our intention with Yoga Month and the Yoga Health Festivals is to inspire and motivate. It is time to create a healthy lifestyle for ourselves, our children and family and community.

The Yoga Month campaign is produced and administered by the Yoga Health Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization registered in the State of California. Proceeds will benefit the Youth Health Alliance and health education for underserved children.

so far, various yoga studios and instructors have signed on to host events and spread the word. and as expected, los angeles is going to play a key role -- yogamonth will be partnering with the global mala project here in LA on september 21st!

here's the big announcement:

Global Mala Project partnering with Yoga Health Foundation and Yoga Health Festivals Sept. 21
We are happy to announce that the Global Mala Project will be produced and hosted by the Yoga Health Foundation as part of the Yoga Health Festival. The main GLOBAL MALA event will be held in Los Angeles 9/21 with inspirational teachers, celebrities and conscious musicians. Shiva Rea, the initiator of Global Mala RISE! Peace in Action, is fully supporting and leading the Sept. 21 event with 108 Sun Salutations and Trance Dance.

getting the tie-in with the GMP was such a coup that they decided to rearrange their schedule around it. and while it's a one-day event in all other cities, it'll be two entire days here in LA (yeah, we're special!):

New dates for 10 City Yoga Health Festival Tour
Because of our partnership with Global Mala Project, our team made the decision to change the dates for the Yoga Health Festival. One of the reasons is to create a really powerful and inspiring event in Los Angeles Sept. 20-21. Please get involved as a sponsor, exhibitor, media partner, volunteer.

9/1 Labor Day - Miami
9/5 Friday - Boston
9/7 Sunday - New York City
9/10 Wednesday - Chicago
9/13 Saturday - Denver
9/17 Wednesday - Austin
9/20-21 Sat./Sun. - Los Angeles (Sunday with Global Mala)
9/24 Wednesday - San Diego
9/27 Saturday - San Francisco
10/4 Saturday - Vancouver

in each city, the health festival tour will include lectures, concerts, exhibits, and mini yoga sessions focusing on healing or preventing a variety of issues such as heart disease, obesity, menopause, stress, back pain, diabetes and more. there will be free products, free food, and best of all, free yoga :)

so get involved now and click here to turn your passion into action!

i'm a little bit country

it all seemed like i was in the midst of a very disjointed dream. there i was, country line dancing in yoga pants and birkenstock sandals while dave stringer continued to chant govinda jaya jaya... huh?!? no wrangler jeans? no cowboy boots? no achy-breaky heart?

strangely enough, it was no dream; i was wide awake and, as far as i knew, quite sober. so how did i end up in this bizarre yoga-meets-country mashup?

leave it to the organizers of this past weekend's SYTAR conference to include something completely unexpected to their conference social program:

SYTAR SATURDAY NIGHT SOCIAL

SYTAR 2008 attendees are invited to enjoy a unique and fun evening of country western line dancing at the SYTAR SATURDAY NIGHT SOCIAL HO-DOWN at the Hilton LAX! Bring your beginner's mind and laughing spirit and be prepared for a "YAHOO" not found on an e-mail address! As a special and original treat, Mike Bendavid, Country Western Caller will debut a country western line dance choreographed to one of Dave Stringer's Kirtan tracks and commissioned exclusively for SYTAR 2008!

i had just spent the better part of saturday volunteering at this annual yoga therapy event, and it sounded like something fun to do before i headed home for the night. besides, it had been a long time since i had last tried my hand -- or rather my feet -- at line dancing. plus i really needed to work off the calories from the cheese and crackers i had polished off at the "meet and greet" earlier that evening... as well as all the chocolate i had helped myself to while taking a break in the volunteer room that afternoon...

by the time i had reached the function room, line dancing instructor michael bendavid and his assistant, diana dover, were already lining up the small group of conference attendees who were brave enough to show up for the class. i found an empty spot in the middle of the group and stared at my feet while waiting for further instructions. i had on a clunky pair of birkenstocks which had kept my feet nice and comfortable throughout the day; unfortunately, there was no way they could take the place of dance shoes. or even cowboy boots. oh well.

michael started by introducing himself and diana: they currently teach line dancing around the LA area, including rec classes at UCLA. they've also been responsible for training actors to look like seasoned country western dancers for TV and movie shoots. hey, if those students could look good, maybe i could, too :)

after warming up with a run-through of the popular electric slide (there's nothing like boosting your confidence by having fun with something you already know how to do), we soon found ourselves grapevining right and left, shuffling forward and back, kick ball changing, scuffing, stomping, and even cha-cha-chaing. for the most part, we were accompanied by recorded country tunes. and as promised, there were the familiar kirtan strains, thanks to dave stringer (also recorded, although dave did perform live at the SYTAR celebration the night before).

speaking of dave, someone with a video camera recorded our group dancing to one of dave's commissioned pieces. i've been told that dave asked for a copy of the video so that he can share it with his fans on youtube... eeks!

so if you somehow catch sight of me struggling through the moves -- despite my attempt to hide from the camera -- just know that i totally blame my klutzy footwork on my clunky birkenstocks. that's my story, and i'm sticking to it :)

bring on the men!

now that the word's out about how yoga can improve men's performance in bed, maybe there'll finally be a better male-to-female ratio in the yoga classes i've been going to. it's about time! :)

here's a post i found on the that's fit website:

Yoga may help men last longer in bed
Posted: Mar 5th 2008 9:57PM by Chris Sparling

Thanks to the breathing and pelvic-strengthening techniques of yoga, many couples may be able to put some of their bedroom troubles behind them.

According to a study out of India, and published in a recent issue of the Journal of Sexual Medicine, men who practiced yoga on a regular basis had less instances of premature ejaculation.

Following a group of men, all of whom admitted to regularly having premature ejaculations during intercourse, researchers found that practicing an hour of yoga each day for 12 weeks helped them triple the time they normally lasted in bed. This exceeds the effects created by medications designed to help with this particular issue.

Sting was unavailable for comment.

and being the science geek i am, i found an abstract of the research findings. here it is:

The Journal of Sexual Medicine
Volume 4 Issue 6 Page 1726-1732, November 2007

ORIGINAL RESEARCH—EJACULATORY DISORDERS
Yoga in Premature Ejaculation: A Comparative Trial with Fluoxetine

Vikas Dhikav, MD, Girish Karmarkar, MBBS, MD, Mallika Gupta, MBBS, Kuljeet Singh Anand, DM

Introduction. Yoga is a popular form of complementary and alternative treatment. It is practiced both in developing and developed countries. Use of yoga for various bodily ailments is recommended in ancient ayvurvedic (ayus = life, veda = knowledge) texts and is being increasingly investigated scientifically. Many patients and yoga protagonists claim that it is useful in sexual disorders. We are interested in knowing if it works for patients with premature ejaculation (PE) and in comparing its efficacy with fluoxetine, a known treatment option for PE.

Aim. To know if yoga could be tried as a treatment option in PE and to compare it with fluoxetine.

Methods. A total of 68 patients (38 yoga group; 30 fluoxetine group) attending the outpatient department of psychiatry of a tertiary care hospital were enrolled in the present study. Both subjective and objective assessment tools were administered to evaluate the efficacy of the yoga and fluoxetine in PE. Three patients dropped out of the study citing their inability to cope up with the yoga schedule as the reason.

Main Outcome Measure. Intravaginal ejaculatory latencies in yoga group and fluoxetine control groups.

Results. We found that all 38 patients (25–65.7% = good, 13–34.2% = fair) belonging to yoga and 25 out of 30 of the fluoxetine group (82.3%) had statistically significant improvement in PE.

Conclusions. Yoga appears to be a feasible, safe, effective and acceptable nonpharmacological option for PE. More studies involving larger patients could be carried out to establish its utility in this condition.

Vikas Dhikav MD, Girish Karmarkar MBBS, MD, Mallika Gupta MBBS, Kuljeet Singh Anand DM (2007) Yoga in Premature Ejaculation: A Comparative Trial with Fluoxetine
The Journal of Sexual Medicine 4 (6) , 1726–1732 doi:10.1111/j.1743-6109.2007.00603.x

paris and her guru

paris hilton was spotted recently with her "guru" walking through the aisles of the bodhi tree bookstore then dining next door at the urth caffe. while there, she gave a diamond necklace to a woman seated at the table beside her, then claimed she did so because "the greatest gift is to give".

of course, the paparazzi were there and recorded it all; click here for tmz's coverage of the "event" (turns out it was all staged -- it's going to be a scene in a new show called pop fiction on E! where the media is punk'd instead of celebs).

she must've come up with the idea after reading my blog entry about how i had spent time last summer with my own "guru", the great yogadawg. we dined at the same urth caffe then walked over to the same bodhi tree bookstore to attend an enlightening yogic performance by the brilliant vanda mikoloski.

i always knew i was a trendsetter... :)

more repairs!

while checking yoga studio calendars for this month's events, i found this class schedule update on silver lake yoga's website... may 108 years of bad karma befall whomever caused the damage!

Due to vandalism**, we are carrying on repairs on studio one. In the meantime all classes will be held in studio two, as noted below. The schedule is also available anytime at (323) 953-0496.

** "Someone put a garden hose through the mail slot from next door and flooded the place, Thought it was OK as it was mopped up fast Sunday AM. But the issue is mold underneath. Hence the closing for repairs." - thanks to Yogi Dana for supplying the details :)

Revised Schedule For Week of March 3rd – March 9th

Monday, March 3rd:
7:00 – 8:00 am Mixed Levels Shad
9:15 – 10:30 am Beginner’s II Jonathan Emerson
CANCELED 10:00 am Mommy & Me Mary Frances
12:30 – 2:00 pm Mixed Levels Marti – Jo
4:00 – 5:15 pm Flow Allison
CANCELED 4:00 – 5:15 PM Kid’s (8 – 11 yr.’s) Laurie
5:30 – 6:45 pm Beginner’s II Sam
CANCELED 6:30 – 7:45 pm Prenatal Juliette
7:15 – 8:45 pm Mixed Levels II Aria

Tuesday, March 4th:
7:00 – 8:00 am Flow Matt M.
9:15 – 10:45 am Mixed Levels Juliette
CANCELED 10:45 – 11:45 am Pilates Joanne
11:00 am – 12:15 pm Prenatal Juliette
12:30 pm – 1:45 pm Beginners Jill
CANCELED 5:00 – 6:00 pm Tai–Chi Walter
5:30 pm – 7:00 pm Flow Dana
CANCELED 6:30 – 8:00 pm Iyengar Julie
7:15 – 8:30 pm Beginners Jonathan

Wednesday, March 5th:
7:00 – 8:00 am Mixed Levels Maja
8:00 – 9:00 am Meditation Terry
9:15 – 10:30 am Beginners II Jonathan
CANCELED 10:00 – 11:15 am Toddler & Me
10:45 am – 12:15 pm Flow Susan
12:30 – 1:30 pm Pilates Evelyn
4:00 – 5:00 pm Kids’ Yoga (4 – 7 years) Laurie
5:30 – 6:45 pm Beginners II Jonathan
7:00 – 8:15 pm Prenatal Leah
CANCELED 7:15 – 8:45 pm Mixed Levels Hanna
CANCELED 8:00 – 9:30 pm Ashtanga Matt

Thursday, March 6th:
7:00 – 8:00 am Beginners II Leah
9:15 – 10:45 am Mixed Levels II Jeanne
CANCELED 10:45 – 11:45 am Pilates Ali
11:00 am - 12:15 pm Prenatal Juliette
12:30 – 1:45 pm Beginners II Jonathan Emerson
4:00 – 5:15 pm Flow Anna
5:30 – 7:00 pm Mixed Levels LeTania
CANCELED 6:30 – 7:30 pm Pilates Tannis
7:15 – 8:30 pm Beginners Sam
CANCELED 8:00 – 9:15 pm Flow Amalia

Friday, March 7th:
7:00 – 8:00 am Mixed Levels Jonathan
9:15 – 10:30am Beginners Jonathan
10:45am – 12:00 pm Baby & Me Juliette
CANCELED 10:45 – 11:45 am Pilates Evelyn
12:30 – 2:00 pm Flow Joan
3:45 – 5:00 pm Community Jill
5:30 – 7:00 pm Mixed Levels Hanna
CANCELED 6:30 – 7:30 pm Meditation Betsy
CANCELED 7:15 – 8:45 pm Flow Matt M.
7:15 – 9:15 pm Labor Support Prep. Class

Saturday, March 8th:
9:15 – 10 45 am Mixed Levels II Hanna
CANCELED 10:15 – 11:30 am Prenatal Jill
11:30 am – 12:45 pm Beginners Jonathan Emerson
1:15 – 2:30 pm Prenatal Juliette (temporary change)
CANCELED Community Laurie
3:00 – 4:15 pm Beginners II Joan
CANCELED Pilates 4:30 – 5:30 pm Chris
4:30 – 6:00 pm Flow Dana

Sunday, March 9th:
9:00 – 10 15 am Beginners Sam
CANCELED Baby & Me Leah
11:00 am – 12:30 pm Flow Matt S.
CANCELED 11:30am – 1:00 pm Iyengar Brad
2:30 – 3:45 pm Prenatal Leah
4:00 – 5:00 pm Tai Chi Walter
CANCELED Community Kundalini 5:30 – 6:30 pm Lynda
5:30 – 7:00 pm Slow Flow Marti Jo

marching into spring

if there were one event that should be on everyone's calendar this month, it's this:

DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME STARTS THIS SUNDAY, MARCH 9TH AT 2AM!

i still can't get over the fact that we're now changing our clocks in march instead of april. what's worse is that i'll have one less hour of sleep THIS saturday night, right before i have to report for volunteer duty at the SYTAR conference early sunday morning at 7AM :(

and since the vernal (or spring) equinox will be occurring at 10:48pm PDT on march 19th, there are a number of equinox-related celebrations on this month's event list, including 108 sun salutes and a week-long detox... that's some serious spring cleaning!

anyway, here's what's on tap for the merry month of march:

ongoing events:

Tuesday Night Yoga
lululemon Santa Monica, 331 Santa Monica Blvd
Every Tuesday 7:30-8:30pm
Cost: FREE

This month's classes are hosted by Studio of the Month TRUYOGA! Check them out at www.truyogala.com.
Sample some of the Los Angeles area's best instructors in a non-intimidating environment, deepen your practice with personal attention in an intimate space and practice with us!
We have community mats for our guests.
SEE YOU SOON!
march 4th - ben fritz
march 11th - yoga dan
march 18th - TBA
march 25th - TBA

Yoga for Runners with Steve Mackel
lululemon Pasadena, 110 W Colorado Blvd
Every Thursday 6:30pm
Cost: FREE

Join us for Runners Yoga with acclaimed ChiRunning coach Steve Mackel.
Yoga for Runners – Coach Steve Mackel works on creating overall balance, taking runners through a series of yoga poses and explains the correlations between the pose and the biomechanics of running. He also moves students through vinaysa flow series while he focuses on creating strength first and flexibility second. (60 minutes)
*WEATHER PERMITTING. Please check the events section for further information if it is a rain day.

All-levels Fitness Class
lululemon Beverly Hills, 334 North Beverly Drive
Every Sunday 9:30-10:45 am
Cost: FREE

Various styles of yoga, pilates, personal training, all levels - perfect for beginner, intermediate or advanced practitioners. Great for adults and teens. Check our community events listing, we do family classes too!
Weekly classes are followed by healthy snacks to refuel!
Sample some of the Los Angeles area's best instructors in a non-intimidating environment, deepen your practice with personal attention in an intimate space and practice with us!
We have community mats for our guests.
(see "other events" section below for weekly class schedule)

Community Fitness Classes
lululemon Calabasas, 4719 Commons Way
Every Sunday 9:30-10:30am
Cost: FREE

Complimentary Community Fitness classes on Sundays at 9:30 am - 10:30 am.
(see "other events" below for weekly class schedule)

All-levels Yoga
lululemon Pasadena, 110 W Colorado Blvd
Every Sunday 10:00am
Cost: FREE

These classes are outside, in back of our store. We suggest you dress in layers, appropriate for the current temperature. Bring your own mat or we can provide you an awesome Lululemon mat. Just show up. No RSVP needed.
*WEATHER PERMITTING. Please check the events section for further information if it is a rain day.
(see "other events" section below for weekly class schedule)

Kirtan in the Canyon with Andrew and Michele and Friends
Yoga Desa, Topanga
Saturday, March 1st (1st Saturday of every month) 7:00pm

Singing these special songs with full enthusiasm is a meditation in itself and can leave you quite happy and high. See for yourself.
Call (818) 340-6088 for information.
www.artoflivingla.org/public.html

Kirtan at SMPY West
Power Yoga West, Santa Monica
Saturdays, March 1st, 8th, 15th, and 22nd 8:00-10:00pm
Cost: By Donation

Our instructors will hold a candlelit evening of Kirtan/Chanting every Saturday of the month. Different instructors lead each week and always on donation basis.
1st Saturday of every month, Govindas & Radha
2nd Saturday of every month, Travis
3rd Saturday of every month, Andres
4th Saturday of every month, Terra and Friends
Bring meditation cushions or blanket (no yoga mat). Wear comfy clothes.
Come sing from the deepest corner of your heart!

Friday Night Groove Night
Yoga Groove, North Hollywood
Friday, March 7th (1st Friday of every month) 7:45-9:15pm
Cost: Regular class

Uniquely themed classes created by the Yoga Groove staff. May include candlelight, live music, dance, meditation, singing, and chocolate.
Please check www.yogagroovestudio.com for details of each week.

Chanting Workshop
Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Center, Marina del Rey
Saturday, March 8th 4:00-6:00pm
Cost: FREE

If you love to chant or want to learn, this is your chance! Come for a relaxed afternoon of Kirtan (mantra chanting) and good company. Practice the traditional call-and-response Sivananda daily chants, experiment with rhythm, become confident to lead chants, learn new ones. It's easy, and uplifting.
Mantra chanting is the most joyful when done in a group. The awakening energy develops devotion and selfless love. These are wonderful complements to your hatha yoga practice.
www.sivananda.org/la/Chanting.htm

Chanting with Steve Ross
Maha Yoga, Brentwood
Saturday, March 8th 8:00pm
Cost: A Donation for our musicians

We invite you to join us for a blissful evening of chanting. This is Steve's first chant since returning from India. It's certain to be extra special.
The evening will open your heart, still your mind and lead you to a state of profound euphoria.
Wear comfortable clothing, bring a cushion to sit on and enjoy.

FREE Community Night: Self-Acupressure for Wellness
City Yoga, West Hollywood
Tuesday, March 11th (2nd Tuesday of every month) 7:30pm
Cost: FREE

As a new offering for 2008, on every second Tuesday of each month, City Yoga will hold an informal gathering featuring different teachers and topics.
Join licensed acupuncturist and yoga instructor, Sharon Skok, for an evening of learning self-acupressure for wellness. After a short introduction to Traditional Chinese Medicine and an explanation of the meridians and qi, Sharon will guide you through a series of acupressure points sequences that everyone can do daily to improve their health and well-being. Attendees will learn simple but extremely useful point locations and self-massage techniques. The sequences covered and practiced in the class include:
- immune system strengthening
- insomnia and sleep issues
- massage for face rejuvenation
The night will be focused on acupressure to help you feel good, sleep well, and look great. If time allows, attendees are welcome to bring questions on which acupressure points can help more specific health concerns. Come enjoy Tulsi tea and cookies and bring a friend.

Kirtan with Daniel, Larry, Sarah and Friends
Rising Lotus Yoga, Sherman Oaks
Friday, March 14th (2nd Friday of every month) 8:15pm
Cost: $15 Suggested donation

Come join Daniel and many talented musical guests for a joyful evening of music, meditation, and chanting. No singing experience needed, only a willingness to open your heart to the blissful flow.
Welcome the spring and the lengthening days with a flow class at 6:30 and a rocking Kirtan at 8:15.
Attend one or both. Regular class fee for class, Kirtan by donation.
Singing Kirtan has been a such a pleasure and we are building a powerful community with these regular events.

Ananda Ritam - A Benefit for Shanti House with Saul David Raye + Special Guests
Exhale Center for Sacred Movement, Venice
Friday, March 21st 8:00-10:00pm
Cost: $15 in advance; $20 at the door

Dancing and singing have long been sacred healing practices to awaken the life force, connect us to spirit and embody an ecstatic connection to the Divine force that sustains all life. Join us for this transformational evening of breathwork, chanting, live music and sacred dance to celebrate life, support Shanti House and open to the very rhythm, energy and bliss of existence.
Shanti House is a non-profit seva organization whose goal is to empower and involve the local healing community to provide food, healing services, wellness education and yoga to the homeless, at-risk youth and those in need in our community. Shanti House will aid and support other local non-profits already in the community.

Soul Flow: Mantra Movement with Haridass Kaur
Awareness Center, Pasadena
Friday, March 21st 8:00-10:00 pm
Cost: Equinox Special - 2 for $15

It’s the Spring Equinox - join Haridass Kaur/Basia for a wholesome and soulful evening! Become happier and healthier as you move your body to healing mantra sounds and eclectic music. This event includes creative dancing with a healing journey through the chakras, flowing music, group interaction and playfulness, and a meditative closing circle.

Kirtan (call and response chanting) with Travis Eliot, Daniel Stewart, and Friends
Santa Monica Yoga, Santa Monica
Saturday, March 22nd 8:00-9:30 PM
Cost: By Donation

Join the evoLUtion!
lululemon Santa Monica, 331 Santa Monica Blvd
Thursday, March 27th 7:30-9:30pm
Cost: FREE

Join the evoLUtion is a monthly event in which an inspiring guest speaker addresses current social/spiritual/environmental issues followed by a radiant, heart-opening yoga class. This is a unique opportunity to gather with your local community and learn ways to make a difference in our world through embodied spirituality and compassionate action. Participants will explore these ideas through, asana, music, and meditation.
Kia Miller will be leading us through asana and meditation during this soulful, uplifting event. Come and enjoy!
Please check back for confirmation of March's guest speaker.
Spread the word.

Yoga For A Cause with Joel Bender
Liberation Yoga, Los Angeles
Sunday, March 30th 1:30-3:30pm
Cost: By Donation

Join Joel for an enlightening exploration of sanskrit! This will be an absolute beginner level class. All proceeds will go to Antyodaya - a very special orphanage in New Delhi, India that provides a safe haven for at-risk homeless children and adults.
Beyond Shanti: a very, very easy introduction to sanskrit prayer and song. Like yoga itself, sanskrit prayers and hymns come from the rich spiritual tradition of India. With a rare lyrical beauty they offer serene insight into the depth of human spiritual knowledge and experience. In this workshop we'll take a few sanskrit hymns and explore their meaning, rhythm, and most importantly how you can make them a meaningful part of your everyday life. Come and spend an afternoon immersed in the sounds of sanskrit prayer and song.

Devotional Chanting
Ananda Los Angeles, Santa Monica
None this month (2nd Saturday of every month)

If you like music, either singing yourself, or sitting quietly while others make music around you, come take part in Ananda's chanting sessions (kirtan in the Sanskrit language).
The sacred sounds of chants penetrate deeply into the consciousness. They have the power to transform and uplift the soul, and to open the heart. Chanting is an excellent, easy way to lift your spirits, and revitalize yourself after a long week of work.
Yogananda and Kriyananda have written many beautiful chants in English. We also sing some traditional chants of India in Sanskrit. Melodies are simple, and usually repetitious so you can easily join in. The chants are usually accompanied by harmonium, guitar, drums and cymbals.
Some Kirtans will be dedicated to Babaji and Lord Krishna with chants, stories of these great saints, an arati, and periods of meditation.
We pull out all the stops and let the devotion flow with chanting on harmonium, guitar, drums and cymbals.
Come ready to clap, sing and let your heart open wide to God's blessings.

other special events:

FREE YAS class for LA Marathoners!
YAS Fitness Center, Venice
Entire month of March
Cost: FREE

MARCH IS MARATHON MONTH AT YAS
SHOW OFF YOUR RACING BIB for a FREE YOGA for ATHLETES® class in March

Kirtan with Dave Stringer + Friends with Dave Stringer
Exhale Center for Sacred Movement, Venice
Saturday, March 1st 7:30-10:00pm
Cost: $25; early bird $20 prior to 2/29/08

The call and response form of mantra chanting known as Kirtan is a consciousness-transforming practice, directing the singers to vanish into the song as drops merge into the ocean. The form is simple: a lead group calls out the melodies. The crowd responds, clapping and dancing as the rhythms of tablas, finger cymbals, harmonium, tamboura, electric bass, guitar and trumpet build and accelerate. The mantras are projected overhead, making them simple to follow.
Yoga doesn’t ask us to believe, it asks us to practice, examining our experience until we can witness the truth in the book of our own heart. The mantras are primarily recitations of names given to the divine. But perhaps the true understanding of the mantras can be found in the sense of unity, well-being and timelessness that they elicit. The mantras quiet the mind, and the music frees the heart. Ecstasy is both the process and the product.

Sada Sat Kaur Kirtan and Concert
Awareness Center, Pasadena
Saturday, March 1st 7:30pm
Cost: $20 pre-paid by 2/27, $25 thereafter

Join Sada Sat Kaur for an evening of joyful and energetic chanting that will exalt your spirit. You will learn Gurumukhi mantras and chant along, accompanied by the harmonium and Sada Sat’s glorious voice. Dance and sing or go into a deep meditation. Experience the devotional power of mantra and transform your life through the sacred sound current. Families and children welcome.
Sada Sat Kaur studied Naad Yoga directly with Yogi Bhajan beginning in 1970, and has been teaching Kundalini Yoga for the past 36 years. She has traveled the US, Canada, India and Europe to bring the transformational energy of mantras and chanting to thousands of people. She comes once a year all the way from Italy, to bless us with her presence. This is not to be missed!

KIRTAN WITH TRAVIS ELIOT and Bhakti Musicians Ena, Dahveed, Damon Grossman, Neil and Michael Mollura
Santa Monica Power West, Santa Monica
Saturday, March 1st 8:30pm
Cost: $15 suggested donation

This Saturday night I am pleased and excited to be a musical part of a SPECIAL EVENING OF KIRTAN WITH BROTHER TRAVIS ELIOT. If you haven’t yet chanted with Travis, I welcome you to that space. He’s such a sweet guy and there will be plenty of beautiful souls there to feel good with. Bring friends, spread the word, bring your children, bring your hairdressers, bring your priests, bring your accountants, bring people you hate and fill their hearts with love, forgiveness and campaign promises for a New Earth.

CRUNCH Group Fitness POWER YOGA with Ursula Vari
lululemon Beverly Hills, 334 North Beverly Drive
Sunday, March 2nd 9:30-11:00am
Cost: FREE

Come join us for an amazing group fitness class with CRUNCH instructor Ursula Vari!
Crunch is constantly coming up with the most innovative classes around! You will not want to miss Power Yoga.
This is an Ashtanga Yoga based class, with powerful and vigorous overtones. This class is great for all levels of fitness.
Ursula's background is as a former Romanian gymnast. She discovered yoga in 2000 as a last resort to healing a chronic injury she’d sustained. Her training includes completion of the teacher-training program at Steve Earth’s Power Yoga Studio on Fairfax as well as studies at Maha Yoga with Ish Moran and Steve Ross. Ursula's teaching style combines the detailed attention to alignment found in Iyengar yoga with the freedom in vinyasa or flow-style yoga. She likes to create both a playful and challenging practice that inspires self-exploration, balance and compassion.
Meet us at the store from 9:30am to 11am!

Sunday in-store yoga with Leslie Gale
lululemon Calabasas, 4719 Commons Way
Sunday, March 2nd 9:30-10:30am
Cost: FREE

Complimentary in-store yoga with Leslie Gale of Inner Power Yoga, 9:30-10:30am.

Yoga with YogaWorks I
lululemon South Bay, 2008A East Park Place
Sunday, March 2nd 9:30am
Cost: FREE

Join YogaWorks instructor Emily Maupin for a YogaWorks all levels yoga class.
YogaWorks will be opening soon in Plaza El Segundo, in the "Edge" at 740-E Allied Way.
Join us before they open to get a sneak peek!
Class begins at 9:30 am. Please RSVP to plazaelsegundo-community@lululemon.com.

Complimentary Yoga Class with lululemon Glendale
Verdugo Job Center, 1255 S Central Ave, Glendale
Tuesday, March 4th and Thursday, March 6th 12:00-1:00pm
Cost: FREE

Looking for a career with lululemon athletica? Be sure to stop by and see us at the Americana job fair in Glendale! (March 3rd-7th, 9am-12pm daily)
We will be hosting a complementary yoga class on tuesday and thursday from 12 to 1pm as well.
Please bring a resume, dress is casual

Wednesday evening restorative yoga with Colleen Carroll
lululemon Calabasas, 4719 Commons Way
Wednesday, March 5th 7:00-8:30pm
Cost: FREE

Stretch and relax at our restorative class, instructed by Colleen Carroll of Inner Power Yoga, from 7:00-8:30pm. Complimentary class! Mat and other supplies are provided.
RSVP calabasas-store@lululemon.com

Mahasivaratri Festival
Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Center, Marina del Rey
Wednesday, March 5th 9:00pm
Cost: FREE

Festivities and Chanting starts at 9:00pm
All are invited to celebrate Sivaratri, the Night of Siva, one of the most auspicious events of the year in the Hindu calendar.
It is said that Lord Siva protects the world throughout the year but this is his one night to rest. It is our duty to watch over the world for him. This all night vigil with continuous chanting of the names of Siva, Lord of Yogis, will tune your mind to the highest spiritual vibrations.
Stay for the first puja (devotional worship), which begins at 10:00pm or all through the night.
Offerings of fruits, sweets and flowers are welcome. The festival of Sivaratri will end with a feast at dawn.
Sivaratri is a free event and all are welcome.

Holistic Health Seminar
lululemon Calabasas, 4719 Commons Way
Wednesday, March 6th 7:00pm
Cost: FREE

"Be careful of what you read in a health book- you may die of a misprint" - Mark Twain
Come share in a discussion with us as we challenge conventional thinking and find out:
• Why your body’s pH balance should be your number one focus in health, fitness and WEIGHT LOSS.
• Why anti-oxidants are critical to your health and fitness.
• Why you run and workout religiously and you don’t lose weight. Why calories have little to nothing to do with weight loss.
• Why exercise could be the wrong choice in health & weight loss!
• Why simply changing your water can be the single most important move in your life!
-Not all water is the same. Bring your favorite bottled water, filtered water or your tap and we’ll test it and show you why!
-Come see why you’re better off drinking Vodka for re-hydration than Gatorade, Powerade or Propel. it’s a brave statement--come see for yourself.
-Drinking the right water, taking in the right amount of anti- oxidants and finding a “greens” drink can potentially neutralize any dis-ease in your body such as, but not limited to: High Blood Pres-sure, high cholesterol osteoporosis, diabetes, Acid Reflux(GERD), chronic constipation, even cancer! And get you the body you deserve!
We’ll show you what you can do!
Info on ‘Greens’, Mona Vie(Acai berry), Water & more
Contact Paul DeBellis for more information @ 805-448-7616 or just show up.

2nd Symposium on Yoga Therapy and Research (SYTAR)
LAX Hilton, 5711 West Century Blvd, Los Angeles
Thursday, March 6th thru Sunday, March 9th
Cost: see registration page

The Symposium on Yoga Therapy and Research (SYTAR) is the Annual Meeting of the International Association of Yoga Therapists (IAYT). It is open to all members of IAYT as well as other professionals involved in any aspect of Yoga therapy including Yoga teachers, Yoga therapists, Yoga researchers and health professionals who use Yoga in their work. SYTAR brings together the teachings of many distinguished Yoga teachers, therapists, lineages and schools. SYTAR also presents contemporary research in Yoga and addresses professional challenges and opportunities facing Yoga therapy today.
http://www.sytar.org/

Yoga Trance Dance with Shiva Rea
Exhale Center for Sacred Movement, Venice
Friday, March 7th 8:00-10:00pm
Cost: $15

Yoga Trance Dance™ is an exploration of the eternal flow of natural movement through yoga. Beginning with sahaja prana yoga or the experience of prana initiating yogasanas, yoga trance dance flows into an exploration of free-form, breath driven movement to liberate one's creative life-force and cultivate embodied freedom. . Experience the latest spin of meditative and high-energy world music.
Yoga Trance Dance: Dance for Life Moving Activism Partnership with Trees for the Future
Join a people to people movement centered around one of the most crucial issues and solutions of our times - the power of trees to transform global warming and air quality, restore ecology and empower community. Shiva Rea donates all her proceeds from Yoga Trance Dances to Trees for the future raising money to plant over 1,000,008 trees for the future! See www.treesftf.org for more info.

Yoga Trance Dance with Christy Marsden ~ Anniversary Weekend
Yoga Blend, Burbank
Friday, March 7th 8:30-10:30pm
Cost: $20

Yoga Trance Dance™ (as developed by Shiva Rea) is an exploration of the eternal flow of natural movement through yoga. Beginning with sahaja prana yoga or the experience of prana initiating yogasanas, yoga trance dance flows in an exploration of free-form, breath driven movement to liberate one's creative life-force and cultivate embodied freedom. This is a guided experience but you are always free to flow into your own groove!

108 Sun Salutes with Nicole Honnig ~ Anniversary Weekend
Yoga Blend, Burbank
Saturday, March 8th 2:00-4:00pm
Cost: $10

What the heck's a Sun Salutation? And why 108? A Sun Salutation is a series of yoga poses linked together, common in almost every style of yoga. For years, 108 has been a sacred number in numerous traditions. The reasons are many and range from astrological to spiritual. This class is for everybody but be ready to work. However you don't have to finish all 108. You can do as many or as few as you want. It is your intention, and most importantly, your presence, that counts. You are encouraged to participate as much or as little as you like. You can take breaks and soak up the energy as it flows around you and then jump back in whenever you recover. Second of all, you don't have to worry about keeping track. That's why Nicole is there!

Kirtan with Joey Lugassy and Band
Electric Lodge, 1416 Electric Avenue, Venice
Saturday, March 8th 7:30pm
Cost: $15 members, $20 non-members; Cash only at door

Join us for an evening of Bhakti!
Register on www.yogimilan.com to become a member. Buy tickets for this event on www.yogimilan.com in the 'events' section or Click here to Buy Tickets Now!
Feel free to bring blankets and pillows to get comfy in the Kirtan hall.
There is parking for about 40 cars at the venue. Rest will have to park on the streets.

Paramhansa Yogananda's Mahasamadhi Celebration
Biltmore Hotel, Los Angeles
Saturday, March 8th 7:30pm
Cost: Donation basis

March 7, 1952 marks the occasion of Paramhansa Yogananda's mahasamadhi at the Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles, in the presence of a large and distinguished audience.
Many souls have been touched by the life of the Master, or inspired by his Autobiography of a Yogi. This devotional evening will include inspirational stories of his life, chanting, meditation, recordings of his voice and an opportunity to receive his inward blessing. All are welcome.

Kirtan with Dave Stringer ~ Anniversary Weekend
Yoga Blend, Burbank
Saturday, March 8th 8:00pm
Cost: $20 by March 7th, $25 at the door

Kirtan (from the Sanskrit word for singing) is easily learned and instantly memorable. The form is simple: a lead group calls out the melodies. The crowd responds, clapping and dancing as the rhythms of tablas, finger cymbals, harmonium, tamboura, electric bass and guitar build and accelerate.
The intention of kirtan is consciousness- transformative, directing the singers to vanish into the song as drops merge into the ocean. The musicians and the crowd coalesce in a cloud of intelligence, turning together like a flock of birds, until the song itself vanishes into the skies of silence.

KIRTAN WITH TRAVIS ELIOT and Bhakti Musicians Ena, Dahveed, and Michael Mollura
Santa Monica Power Yoga West, Santa Monica
Saturday, March 8th 8:30pm
Cost: $15 suggested donation

This is an encore performance!
PLEASE ATTEND EVEN IF YOU DON’T HAVE MONEY TO DONATE... “EVERY MOMENT OFFERS A CHANCE AT BEING PRESENT...” this is a choice to put LOVE into your life and experience some peace of mind on a Saturday night.

Vinyasa Flow 2/3 Yoga with Andrew
lululemon Beverly Hills, 334 North Beverly Drive
Sunday, March 9th 9:30-11:00am
Cost: FREE

Andrew has extensively studied asana for the past three years is one of the newest teachers at both the Beverly Hills Sports Club and Equinox in Century City. Andrew encourages his students not only to cultivate the body of a yogi, but the consciousness of one as well. He believes that yoga is simply a moving meditation where we can learn how to conquer fear, live in gratitude, and rediscover our true nature. Away from the yoga studio, Andrew is an avid musician and performer.
...a well rounded level 2/3 vinyasa flow class. Be prepared for many arm balances, backbends, and inversions!
Meet at the store... 9:30a Sharp!!

Yoga with YogaWorks II
lululemon South Bay, 2008A East Park Place
Sunday, March 9th 9:30am
Cost: FREE

Join YogaWorks instructor Tulsi for an exclusive YogaWorks all levels yoga class.
YogaWorks will be opening soon in Plaza El Segundo, in the "Edge" at 740-E Allied Way.
Join us before they open to get a sneak peek!
Class begins at 9:30 am. Please RSVP to plazaelsegundo-community@lululemon.com.

Sunday Yoga with Emill Kim!
lululemon Pasadena, 110 W Colorado Blvd
Sunday, March 9th 10:00-11:00am
Cost: FREE

A yogi and acupuncturist, Emill Kim, leads our all levels Sunday Yoga class outside on our patio.
Emill's classes always bring awareness to our energy and our health.

Spring Fever Concert
STUDIO BLUE, 11928 Jefferson Blvd, Culver City
Thursday, March 13th 7:30pm
Cost: $20 suggested donation - a portion of the proceeds will go to the fight against cancer

An interactive concert fusing indie-folk and sacred chanting
FEATURING: Spring, Dave Stringer, Hans Christian of Rasa, Mark Gorman, Dave Allen, Ty Taylor and the Fever Choir
ENTRANCE & PARKING LOT in BACK ALLEY
RECORDING LIVE- Be a PART of it!!
www.Springgroove.com

Yoga Bootcamp 90210 with Angie Stewart
lululemon Beverly Hills, 334 North Beverly Drive
Sunday, March 16th 9:30-11:00am
Cost: FREE

When is the last time you jumped rope? Played hop scotch? Did push ups till you dropped? Threw a ball? Moved sideways? Laughed under the sun? Stretched every muscle in your body? Felt total bliss? If you haven't done these things in a while then come to Angie’s Yoga Bootcamp 90210 to sweat bootcamp style finishing with rejuvenating yoga. See what all the buzz is about…
Bootcamp begins at 9:30 am sharp!
Check out angiestewartfitness.com for more info!

Anusara-inspired Yoga with Georgina Purple
lululemon Calabasas, 4719 Commons Way
Sunday, March 16th 9:30-10:30am
Cost: FREE

Complimentary In-Store yoga with Georgina Purple from 9:30-10:30am

Yoga with YogaWorks III
lululemon South Bay, 2008A East Park Place
Sunday, March 16th 9:30am
Cost: FREE

Join YogaWorks instructor Melanie Lora for an exclusive YogaWorks all levels yoga class.
YogaWorks will be opening soon in Plaza El Segundo, in the "Edge" at 740-E Allied Way.
Join us before they open to get a sneak peek!
Class begins at 9:30 am. Please RSVP to plazaelsegundo-community@lululemon.com.

Sunday Yoga with John Bea!
lululemon Pasadena, 110 W Colorado Blvd
Sunday, March 16th 10:00-11:00am
Cost: FREE

John Bea leads our all levels yoga class today! John is definitely a favorite teacher as his classes are for those who like to get that yoga flow going.

Spring Equinox Workshop with Guru Singh
Yoga West, Los Angeles
Sunday, March 16th 1:30pm-4:30pm
Cost: $49

Spring Equinox is a sacred time to prepare, with our meditative mind, the planning of our year's projections.
Join Guru Singh and friends as we plant the seeds of personal abundance and global unity.
Bring a piece of fruit, paper and pen and a blanket.

Spring Equinox Workshop with Bekah Finch
Yoga Blend, Burbank
Sunday, March 16th 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Cost: $25 pre-registered by March 9th, $30 after

The Spring Equinox is one of 2 days out of the year that night and day are in perfect balance - but Spring equinox also marks the beginning of longer days than nights - as we welcome the "new light" we also welcome "new life."
Through a blend of asana, meditation and creation we will honor and explore the blossoming of this new life both in nature and ourselves.

First Day of Spring!
City Yoga, West Hollywood
Thursday, March 20th 6:30am
Cost: Regular class

Come to the 6:30am class and welcome spring in the ancient tradition.

Autism red carpet event
lululemon Calabasas, 4719 Commons Way
Thursday, March 20th

lululemon athletica is pairing with ACT Today! (Autism Care and Treatment) in the fight against autism! We will be hosting a red carpet event at our Calabasas store in order to raise awareness surrounding "Wyatt's Run", a 24-hour run to provide aid to families who have been affected by autism. Join us for the pre-run event, and enjoy live music by recording artists Thorn Hill, Stereofix, and NonP, food by Marmalade, and a bar hosted by HOPE Wine!!!
RSVP calabasas-store@lululemon.com

Ritusamhara - A Celebration of the Seasons with Sara Ivanhoe
Yoga Works Montana, Santa Monica
Friday, March 21st 7:45—9:45pm
Cost: $35 by 3/7, $45 after

"Trees put forth flowers; waters abound in lotuses; women’s thoughts turn to love; the air is sweetly scented; mornings are pleasant and days delightful; all things are more alluring in springtime, my love." - Kalidasa’s Ritusamhara 6.2
"Ritusamhara" is a traditional Indian celebration. Literally translated as 'Garland of the Seasons', we will be honoring "Ritusamhara" 4 times a year, beginning with the spring equinox. This mini-festival will include asana, pranayama, mudra, mantra and music- all in praise of spring, the beginning, the birth of all things. We've all had a long winter and deserve a fresh start - come celebrate!

Liberation Annual Easter Egg Hunt
Liberation Yoga, Los Angeles
Saturday, March 22nd thru Sunday, March 23rd
Cost: FREE

Back by popular demand is our annual easter egg hunt! Beginning at sun-up on Saturday the 22nd and ending after candlelight class on Easter Sunday there will be plastic eggs cleverly hidden by our resident Easter Bunny Bob throughout the studio. Find one, open and see what Bob has left for you! There will be chocolate delights, store discount coupons, free classes and more!

Equinox & Full Moon Celebration with Gurmukh
Golden Bridge Yoga, Hollywood
Saturday, March 22nd 9:30am
Cost: $16 or keytags

The Equinox is the time of year when everything comes into a Balance – and it brings a chance for us to manifest that balanced, neutral mind within.
When your psyche expands in a neutral balance towards the Infinite, all awareness comes to you. The oddness in you becomes even, and your flow becomes as vast as the universe—and even beyond the universe.
Craziness goes away with the balanced, neutral mind, and life becomes joyful. Happiness is our birthright, and you can only have happiness when you are neutral.

A Celebration of IYILA on 3rd Street: An IYASC Workshop with Paul Cabanis
BKS Iyengar Yoga Institute, Los Angeles
Saturday, March 22nd 5:00-7:00pm
Cost: FREE to members

Like few others B.K.S. Iyengar has illuminated the connection between yoga practice and the esoteric teachings of the Indian sages.
Generations of non-practitioners were baffled as to what the practice of yoga poses and breathing techniques had to do with the mysticism of the yogic world view. Practitioners knew but rarely took the trouble to explain or give a specific methodology to fuse gross and subtle awareness together in reproduceable ways.
In this workshop we will explore Iyengar's methodology of asana and pranayama as related to one’s inner explorations.
To sign up contact: Mark Harelik, (626) 533-1602, markharelik@sbcglobal.net
Don’t miss out on this workshop -- become an IYASC member!
Sign up at the workshop and reap one of the many benefits of your IYASC membership immediately! For more information on the IYASC and membership visit www.iyasc.org.
- Join at the $50 level and get one free workshop.
- Join at the $100 level and get two free workshops.
- Workshops are $35 for non-members.
- All members are automatically enrolled in IYNAUS (the national Iyengar yoga association) and receive a subscription to Yoga Vidya, Southern California’s Iyengar yoga newsletter.

Yoga Mala: 108 Sun Salutes Celebrating Spring Equinox with Jo Tastula
Yoga Loft, Manhattan Beach
Saturday, March 22nd 6:00-8:30pm
Cost: $25

A yogi ritual intended to mark the transition between seasons. Spring is a time of hope, opportunity, and fresh starts; join Jo for an evening of physical challenge and intention-setting for the Spring season.

Easter Celebration with Gurmukh
Golden Bridge Yoga, Hollywood
Sunday, March 23rd 9:30am (also at 5:00pm)
Cost: $16 or keytags per class

You are born on earth very pure and innocent. That is all you ever need to be to realize the heavens. But with our upbringing and programming we forget. This Easter, the time of Resurrection, is a time to reconnect with our own innocence, the purity of our own inner child. a time to rediscover our humble, natural, smiling self. When we see that child in us and confirm our own innocence, the Divine Mother and Father will come to serve us.
Join us as we develop the mind & body to remember the innocence of that child which is within. Once awakened, you will never deny your child—your innocence, your beauty, bounty and bliss. Gratitude and purity are the mothers of innocence.
Let the Love within blossom… let the Love within become your blessing.

Sunday in-store KIDS yoga with Tracy Dardick
lululemon Calabasas, 4719 Commons Way
Sunday, March 23rd 9:30-10:30am
Cost: FREE

Complimentary in-store yoga for kids (ages 6 and up)!!! The class will take place from 9:30-10:30am on Sunday and will be instructed by Tracy Dardick, who teaches the kids' yoga class at Bay Laurel Elementary School and is also a private instructor.

Yoga with YogaWorks IV
lululemon South Bay, 2008A East Park Place
Sunday, March 23rd 9:30am
Cost: FREE

Join YogaWorks instructor Al Tavera for an exclusive YogaWorks all levels yoga class.
YogaWorks will be opening soon in Plaza El Segundo, in the "Edge" at 740-E Allied Way.
Join us before they open to get a sneak peek!
Class begins at 9:30 am. Please RSVP to plazaelsegundo-community@lululemon.com.

Sunday Yoga with Janine Conte!
lululemon Pasadena, 110 W Colorado Blvd
Sunday, March 23rd 10:00-11:00am
Cost: FREE

Anusara instructor, Janine Conte, leads our yoga class today! Janine brings great lightness and fun to her yoga classes.

URBAN YOGINI / AROUSE THE ECSTATIC FEMININE with Micheline Berry
Exhale Center for Sacred Movement, Venice
Sunday, March 23rd 12:30-3:30pm
Cost: $35

Join Micheline for Spring ritual yoga practice accompanied to live world music to activate and deepen the flow of Shakti Prana – the sensual, vibrant creative aspect of our yoga practice. This special yoga journey integrates a deep, liquid practice of yoga asana, somatic afro-brazilian dance movement and meditation. You will come away from this practice feeling deeply empowered, juicy and rejuvenated.

Special Spring Offering Candlelight Ceremony
Liberation Yoga, Los Angeles
Sunday, March 23rd 7:00-8:30pm
Cost: Regular class

Come to Christine's Candlelight Class on Sunday evening and share a special ceremony to honor nature and spring. Bring something from nature as an offering (a leaf, flower, stone etc.) Afterwards we will enjoy Jasmine tea and a spring time treat.

Dreaming, Drumming and Dancing to the Heartbeat of the Mothers and the Grandmothers: A Shamanic Celebration of Spring with Eaglewoman
Golden Bridge Yoga, Hollywood
Friday, March 28th 7:00-10:00pm
Cost: $35 in advance; $45 day of

Eaglewoman invites you to welcome the Spring in total spiritual alignment, reawakening your True Self on a journey to connect with the Grandmothers, the wise women of all places and times who have come forward now to share their message of the reawakening of the Feminine consciousness.
Emerge anew in the light, as Eaglewoman guides you on a Shamanic Journey that recreates the traditional ways of the sweatlodge, going back to the beginnings, back to the womb of mother, connecting each of us to the heartbeat of Mother Earth and all of the mothers that have come before us. Rebalancing, renewing, refreshing the divinity within ourselves with the new season.

Triangle of Transformation: Yoga, Ayurveda and Chanting with Travis Eliot
Santa Monica Yoga, Santa Monica
Saturday, March 29th 1:00-4:30pm
Cost: $40 pre-registered by March 24, $50 after

In this workshop we will be using the three modalities of Yoga, Kirtan, and Ayurveda to cultivate both inner and outer radiance. The workshop will begin with Kirtan (Devotional Chanting) as a way to connect to the current of the heart. We will then transition into a Surya Namaskara Chakra journey flowing and chanting the bija (seed) mantras as a way to activate these sacred centers. Next, we will have a discussion on the fundamentals of Ayurvedic Medicine and how we can incorporate this knowledge into all aspects of life. We will emphasize special Ayurvedic detoxification tips to Spring forward into the season of regeneration with health and vitality! Coming full circle we will finish with more kirtan followed by delicious Ayurvedic Chocolates (provided by Chocoveda 'a higher state of chocolate'). In India there is the saying that 'experience is the greatest guru,' this workshop provides you an experience and everlasting knowledge to move from the ordinary into the extraordinary!
Open to all levels, come prepared to flow, to sing, and to experience deep transformation!

Conscious Indulgence: A Party Till the Lights Come On
Bonsorte Studio, 2401 Lincoln Blvd, Santa Monica
Saturday, March 29th 6:00pm
Cost: $25 pre-sell, $30 starting March 24, $35 at the door. click here to purchase tickets

A New Edge Workshop where Soul Tribers Party.
Get a hit of the selfcentered vibe to turn off the mind and tap into the flow. Explore, learn, evolve, and "InJoy" as you wake up to the new vision of selfcentered through silence, connection, and music.
The Event will kick off with an introduction to the visionary selfcentered tools of meditation and breath styles (excellent for beginners and a great refresher for those already practicing). The flow will continue with a guided group meditation to the core of soul purpose. Once we’re in the zone, we’ll play with authentic connections using games and tools to expand our global tribe of conscious friends.
To take us forward into the night, we’ll party till the lights come on with performances from the legendary Monkey Chanting Crew, Malik Houlihan, and a special guest DJ with soul seductive beats.
Schedule:
6 pm – 7 pm: Learn the selfcentered Tools
7 pm – 7 30 pm: Guided Meditation
7:30 pm – 9 pm: Connection games
9 pm – midnight: Party till the lights come on

Kirtan with with Daniel Stewart, Larry, and Friends
Kula, 1231 Lincoln Blvd, Santa Monica
Saturday, March 29th 8:00pm
Cost: $15 Suggested Donation

Join Daniel Stewart, Larry Klein on percussion & other special musical guests for an evening of call and response chanting. No experience necessary. Just a willingness to
open your heart to the blissful flow.
Part of the proceeds go to support conscious events at KULA and to help Kiva.org make micro loans to people in poverty around the world.

YogaWorks Yoga V
lululemon South Bay, 2008A East Park Place
Sunday, March 30th 9:30am
Cost: FREE

Join YogaWorks instructor Emily Maupin for an exclusive YogaWorks all levels yoga class.
YogaWorks will be opening soon in Plaza El Segundo, in the "Edge" at 740-E Allied Way.
Join us before they open to get a sneak peek!
Class begins at 9:30 am. Please RSVP to plazaelsegundo-community@lululemon.com.

Sunday morning in-store yoga with Jonathon Simons
lululemon Calabasas, 4719 Commons Way
Sunday, March 30th 9:30-10:30am
Cost: FREE

Complimentary in-store yoga with Jonathon Simons, 9:30-10:30am. Jonathon instructs at Inner Power Yoga.

Spring Cleaning – Yoga Detoxification for the Urban Yogi Week-long Workshop with Kyra Haglund
Santa Monica Yoga, Santa Monica
Sunday, March 30th through Saturday, April 5th:
Sunday 2:00-4:00 pm
Monday/Wednesday/Friday 6:30-7:45 am
Tuesday/Thursday 7:00-9:00 am
Saturday 7:30-9:30 am
Cost: Sunday Only $40; Full Week $175

Spring is not only the season for clearing out your cupboards and closets, it is also time to detoxify and reinvigorate ourselves. Join Kyra Haglund for a ritual ‘Spring Cleaning’ of the body and mind through hatha yoga.
Throughout the year toxins from food, drink, medicine, cosmetics, pesticides, environmental pollution, and even common house-hold cleaning products collect in our systems. Over time, these toxins can prevent us from experiencing the full potential of our bodies, minds and spirits.
We will begin the cleanse with a specially sequenced vinyasa practice. Then throughout the week will continue to support cleansing together with gentle asana, breath work and daily meditation. In addition, a comprehensive diet and guided self-inquiry work will be offered to assist the body, mind and spirit to release that which is no longer serving it.
Come clean, release and rejuvenate!