pressed for time

i'm off to peru later this evening. i just finished doing laundry, answering email, paying bills, taking out the trash... and oh yeah, overstuffing my suitcase with stuff i probably won't need...

since i'm only going to be there a little over a week, i won't have the luxury of having the time to shop for whatever i might have left behind. like hiking gear (we're visiting machu picchu. and no, we're not hiking the inca trail. sigh). and running gear (i'm meeting my running friends there; they just ran the buenos aires marathon this weekend and will be swinging by peru on their way home). and yoga gear (because yes, i have every intention of taking at least one class while i'm in lima, even if it means missing an eating, shopping, or touristing expedition with the group).

ONE yoga class over the span of NINE days. wow. that'll be a record for me.

although this week hasn't been much better because of all the things i've had to do :(

i was lucky enough to be able to squeeze in a yoga class at the mahasukha center in westchester on monday. referred to as "worldview yoga", it was co-taught by ersellia ferron and jessica larsen. it was a more meditative, a more calming class. and given all the "stuff" i had to get out of the way before my trip, it was just what i needed.

had to skip class on tuesday to get to my evening hellerwork appointment. yup, for the same old back issue. after two years of cycling through chiropractic, physical therapy, acupuncture, and of course, yoga, it was time to try something different. similar to rolfing, hellerwork focuses on structural integration using deep tissue bodywork to release and reorganize muscle and connective tissue. but it also adds in movement education and mind/body awareness to help minimize the stressors that caused the pain in the first place. i wish i could say it's been a miracle cure, but after three sessions, i'm just slightly better. i know. patience.

wednesday was a no-go, too. an after-hours going-away party for someone at work. what can i say; it's good to be a party animal every now and then :)

thursday evening was the first ticket in my subscription series at the disney concert hall: esa pekka salonen conducting stravinsky's firebird and tchaikovsky's piano concert no. 1. with it being esa's last year as music director of the la phil, there's was no way i was going to miss that performance.

and friday was when i had to make sure i tied up all loose ends at work before my vacation. by the time i turned off my computer, my brain was fried. i suppose a restorative class would have been perfect for my mental state, but instead, i opted for some retail therapy at REI. i should be ashamed of myself!

saturday was when i decided to turn everything around and get back on track, at least yoga-wise. i filled my day with yoga events -- and food :)

first i had wine and cheese at robert sturman's poetry of the gods exhibit at his home studio.

then i shared a vegetarian feast with all the others who showed up for the iyengar institute's grand opening celebration at their new home on la cienega.

and to end the evening, it was birthday cake after the kirtan with joey lugassy and daphne tse at shakti's elements; not only was it an release party for new EP, mala, but it was also joey's birthday.

from a dearth of yoga to an obvious excess...

i just realized that i have to start making my way to the airport. i won't be bringing my laptop with me, so this may be my last post until i return. we'll see.

be good, and do send some yoga vibes my way while i'm gone!

your vote WILL count!

this message comes from the energetic forces behind off the mat, into the world: seane corn, hala khouri, and suzanne sterling. OTM is a cooperative of yogis and yoginis whose mission is "to inspire and guide you to find and define your purpose and become active in your local or global community in an effective, sustainable and joyful way."

with the second presidential debate scheduled for tonight, this seems like the perfect time to post this and remind you that if you live here in LA, it's not too late to register to vote -- the california deadline is monday, october 20th. two weeks will fly by before you know it, so do it NOW!

Dear Friends,

In just a couple of months we will have the opportunity to vote into office a new administration. Hopefully, whichever administration takes seat in the Oval office will be sensitive to the issues of all citizens and proactive in making policies and choices that will benefit us all, and the planet we live upon.

Whether you are a Republican, Democrat, Independent, Green Party or Libertarian is not the issue or the motivation for this letter. We are appealing to the 20 million US citizens who practice yoga to register to vote, or if you are already registered, then to actually cast that vote on or before November 4th.

We have tried to make the registration and voting process as easy as possible. For registering for any particular party, or receiving information on absentee balloting then please click onto www.longdistancevoter.org. We have also included an unbiased political site where you can learn more about each individual candidate. The information on www.vote-smart.org is easy to navigate and understand. Simply click "candidate" and then on "President" and it will list all the current nominees, their stand on the issues, and recent speeches.

We at the OTM team have seen an amazing year of connection and activation across the yoga community. We have witnessed the inspiration of individual voices and visions emerging and experienced the miracles that come when we allow ourselves to speak out, build communities of support and become effective leaders for change. Now is an incredible opportunity to take a small step with far reaching effects. Let's put our compassion into action and take our yoga into the world now.

Every single vote counts and our intention is to rally the yoga community to register, vote, and be a part of the political process. Please feel free to forward this email to your list and join us in encouraging our community to get out there to vote!

May there be peace on earth and good health, abundance and freedom for all.

Love,
Seane Corn, Suzanne Sterling and Hala Khouri
Shiva Rea, Baron Baptiste, Eddie Modestini, Nicki Doane, Jonny and Milla Kest, Saul David Raye, Ashley Turner, Matthew Sanford, Steve Ross, Blair Vaughn,Yoga Journal, Omega Institute, Manduka, YogaWorks, Exhale, The Engage Network, Yoga Tribe and Culture, Natural High, Yoga Chicago Magazine, LA Yoga, Yogamates, Whole Life Times, Yoga Loft, At One Yoga, City Yoga, Feathered Pipe Ranch, West Hartford Yoga, Om Time Yoga, Yoga Tree, Maha Yoga, I Love Yoga, Shores Yoga, Essential Living Foods, Spiritual Gangster, Jade Yoga Mat

an enlightened heart

the invites just keep coming...

alicia from the mahasukha center asked if i would post details about a workshop they're hosting this weekend at their new location in westchester. the class sounds interesting enough, and since it's from a place i haven't heard much about, i agreed to help spread the word. needless to say, i'll be checking out one of their yoga classes next week: worldview yoga? hmmm... i can't wait to find out what that's all about!

here's a short blurb on the center itself:

The Mahasukha Center (in Sanskrit "great bliss") provides a wide range of courses including guided meditations, Buddha dharma, teachings on spiritual partners, workshops by nationally known yoga teachers, and informal talks on a variety of subjects.

This Center is a place for people to connect through study, practice and events such as Dharma Flicks, debate nights, dinners and more.

here are the workshop specifics:

Enlightened Heart Yoga with Sarah Class: Bringing Love, Wisdom and Power to Your Practice

October 4th: 10am-1pm; 3pm-5:30pm
October 5th: 10am-1pm

Cost: Suggested donation $50 for whole workshop, $20 per session. No one will be turned away due to lack of funds

The practice of yoga includes far more than just physical yoga poses. In the Yoga Sutra, Master Patanjali describes four attitudes that will greatly assist us to fulfill the potential of our yoga practice. These four attitudes are love, compassion, joy and equanimity. In this workshop, we will learn how to integrate these four attitudes into our yoga practice, and our lives.

Each session will begin with a talk on the four attitudes, followed by an asana class which integrates them.

Sarah has been a student of Tibetan Heart Yoga since 2004, having studied under the guidance of Yoga Studies Institute and Diamond Mountain University teachers. She is a Sivananda trained yoga teacher and teaches in Reno, Nevada.

Registration and information: lauren.benjamin@aci-la.org

Mahasukha Center, 6512 Arizona Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90045

the center is located near the intersection of sepulveda and centinela, on the way to LAX. it's practically next door to dinah's family restaurant, the home of all-you-can-eat-depending-on-the-day-of-the-week fried chicken, ribs, fish, and spaghetti. that's a thought -- it's been a good many years since i've been there... while i'm there, maybe i'll swing by just to see if the place has changed any...

if you want to find out what other classes and events the mahasukha center has planned for the rest of the month, click here to access their schedule.

a month of goddesses

october's focus is on the goddess, with navatri (nine nights of honoring durga, lakshmi, and saraswati) and the fundraisers that usually go along with breast cancer awareness month (all women are goddesses, after all).

i'm still in the process of compiling all that will be going on around town, but so you don't miss out on this weekend's events, i'm posting what i've found so far. just know that there probably will be many more additions to this list...

ongoing events:

BodyFreedom -- Experience Profound Healing Through Dance with Tarnie Fulloon
The Awareness Center, Pasadena
Mondays, 7:30 – 9:00pm, Oct. 6th – 27th
Thursdays, 9:00 – 10:30am, Oct. 9th – 30th
Cost: $67/Series of 4, $20 Single Class

Join Tarnie Fulloon, creator of BodyFreedom, and experience her unique method of healing movement blending physical therapy, spiritual psychology and dance as a modality for self-expression and deep healing. No experience necessary!

Yoga for Progressive Athletes
Rose Bowl, Pasadena (hosted by lululemon Pasadena)
Every Tuesday 6:00-7:00pm
Cost: FREE

Welcome to Summer. Breakout the running shoes, buy the new swimsuits, and get ready for months of outside activity. Fun lately has become serious business. We want to shave minutes off of our 5k, increase our vertical leap for the outside jumper, some of us just want to get more tone places to tan.
Yoga for the progressive athlete is a program designed to help those ready to define their relationship and understanding of how the body moves and functions. It will be an active econstruction of gross fascia binding, novel synthesis of kinetic and isometric movement to promote muscular growth and break muscular habits, as well as integrating of breathwork for a calm meditative mind. The goals of this class are to help the participant move more efficiently and completely, increase their strength and balance, and also to look 'tight' in their trunks or bikini.
Limited "community" mats are available. Bringing your own mat is encouraged. Please dress in layers so that you may remove articles as you warm-up during the class.
CLASS WILL MEET AT THE ROSE BOWL BETWEEN GATES A and B AT THE WILL-CALL TICKET BOOTH

Kids Fitness Classes
lululemon Glendale, 233 South Brand Avenue
Every Wednesday 3:00pm
Cost: FREE

Complimentary Kids Fitness classes on Wednesdays at 3:00pm.
(see "other events" section below for scheduled yoga classes)

Yoga For A Cause
Liberation Yoga, Los Angeles
Every Wednesday 4:30pm
Cost: By Donation

Join Laurie Searle For This Inspiring All levels Class!
A weekly all levels flow class with the intention of raising awareness for the issues we care about as a studio and community. Although this is not a donations class, donations are collected at the box hanging at the front desk and go directly to the cause. No donation is too small. This class is sponsored by www.ewishingwell.org

Community Fitness Classes
lululemon Calabasas, 4719 Commons Way
Every Wednesday 8:30-9:30pm
Every Sunday 9:30-10:30am
Cost: FREE

Complimentary Community Fitness classes on Wednesdays at 9:30 pm and Sundays at 9:30 am.
(see "other events" section below for scheduled yoga classes)

Yoga for Runners with Steve Mackel
lululemon Pasadena, 110 W Colorado Blvd
Every Thursday 6:30-7:30pm (except Sept 4th)
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.
Bringing your own mat is encouraged as we practice on the grass. As classes fill up quickly, especially for the weekly "Yoga for Runners" and space is limited, please come early.
Please dress in layers so that you may remove articles as you warm-up during the class.
**we meet at Parking Lot I all the way a the south end by the aquatic center.
**Run is 6:30-7:10
**Yoga is 7:15-8:00.
*WEATHER PERMITTING. Please check the events section for further information if it is a rain day.

Kirtan at SMPY West
Power Yoga West, Santa Monica
Every Saturday 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 and Radha (kirtanwithgovindas.com)
2nd Saturday of every month, Travis (traviseliot.com)
3rd Saturday of every month, Andres (powersoulyoga.com)
4th Saturday of every month, Terra and Friends (terrawellness.com)
Bring meditation cushions or blanket (no yoga mat). Wear comfy clothes.
Come sing from the deepest corner of your heart!

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

Every Sunday we host a complimentary fitness class featuring different styles of yoga, pilates, dance and personal training. All levels welcome - perfect for beginner, intermediate or advanced practitioners. 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 scheduled yoga classes)

Yoga on the Green
lululemon Glendale, 233 South Brand Avenue
Every Sunday 9:30-10:30am
Cost: FREE

Come participate and help us achieve our goal of seeing 100 happy faces on the green!
Light refreshments to follow, limited mats available for class use.
*Keep in mind class is outside, and may be in partial sun. Dress appropriately or wear sunblock, and bring water!*
(see "other events" section below for scheduled yoga classes)

In-store Fitness Classes
lululemon South Bay, 2008A East Park Place
Every Sunday 9:30-10:30am
Cost: FREE

All levels flow yoga class from 9:30-10:30am

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

Limited "community" mats are available. Bringing your own mat is encouraged. As classes fill up quickly, and space is limited, please come early.
Please dress in layers so that you may remove articles as you warm-up during the class. Our space is outdoors behind the store on the patio (accessible through the alley on Delacey).
(see "other events" section below for scheduled yoga classes)

October Weekly Yoga hosted by YAS!
lululemon Santa Monica, 331 Santa Monica Blvd
Every Sunday 7:30-8:30pm
Cost: FREE

All of October we are partnering with a wonderful, neighborhood fitness center to offer you our complimentary yoga classes. YAS is a rockin' Yoga and Spinning Studio in Venice, located on the corner of Abbot Kinney and Westminster. It has fabulous teachers and a retro practice room.
Come see what their teachers have to offer.
Oct 5th - Julie Simon
Oct 12th - Denis Morton
Oct 19th - Tara Pollak
Oct 26th - Nicole Sciacca

Live Music class with Lucy Bivins
Guerilla Yoga at the Hollywood Dance Center, 817 N Highland Ave, Hollywood
Friday, Oct 3rd 6:00pm
Cost: $10 Suggested minimum donation

Lucy Bivins's inaugural, monthly Live Music class begins this Friday evening at The Hollywood Dance Center. 2 hours of sweet, flowing asana accompanied by three of her loyal and talented musicians. The music starts at 6 pm.

FRIDAY NIGHT GROOVE NIGHT
Yoga Groove, North Hollywood
Friday, Oct 3rd (1st Friday of the month) 8:00-9:15pm
Cost: $10 Suggested Donation

Join Kim Panzer and friends for a very special night of live original music.

Kirtan and Chanting Workshop
Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Center, Marina del Rey
Saturday, Oct 4th 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.

Kirtan in the Canyon with Andrew and Michele and Friends
Yoga Desa, Topanga
Saturday, Oct 4th (1st Saturday of the 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

Devotional Chanting
Ananda Los Angeles, Santa Monica
Saturday, Oct 4th (1st Saturday of month) 7:30-9:00pm

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.
www.geocities.com/anandala1/ananda-la-kirtans.html

Kirtan with Daniel, Larry, Sarah and Friends
Rising Lotus Yoga, Sherman Oaks
Friday, Oct 10th (Once a month) 8:15pm
Suggested donation $15

Come join me 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 joy.
I'm excited to say that in addition to Larry on percussion and lovely Sarah singing with me, we'll have Abby on Cello, Jeff on guitar and Slyvie on vocals too. Last month they joined us and the music lifted the roof off the building. Let's do it again!
Join me for a yoga class @ 6:30 or just come @ 8:15 to open your heart and sing.
Singing Kirtan has been a such a pleasure and we are building a powerful community with these regular events. Please forward this to anyone who might be interested.
Hope you can join us...

Karma Yoga Party
Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Center, Marina del Rey
Saturday, Oct 11th (Every month) 2:00-9:00pm
Cost: FREE

Karma Yoga is also important for balanced Sadhana, so we are offering a separate opportunity for that. Once a month, usually the second Saturday in the month we will be having a Karma Yoga Party - so that everyone can come and work together in the karma yoga spirit to support the center and strengthen the developing spirit of community. Projects will include cleaning, painting, computer work, filing and office work, gardening, sewing and a whole lot of other things that need doing to keep the energy of the center sattvic. Earn your Karmic points, and then stay for the free dinner and movie!
2:00-6:00pm Karma Yoga at the Center
6:00-7:00pm Dinner
7:00-9:00pm Saturday night at 'OM' (movie night): "What the Bleep.."

Community Nights at City Yoga: FREE Community Night with Chutney Berry
City Yoga, West Hollywood
Tuesday, Oct 14th (2nd Tuesday of the month) 7:30pm
Cost: FREE

Community nights are the 2nd Tues of each month. Everyone is welcome to come explore the inner world of Long, Still, Deep poses. Do you ever wish that your teachers held the poses longer, giving you a chance to really feel the biology, mechanics, emotions and energy of each pose on each side?
This practice will reveal and unlock places not previously known. It is a deep personal exploration of our bodies and minds in the context of a supportive group. The perfect antedote for ADD, ADHD and any other A's you might have.
Come out and uncover another layer of your practice.

Chanting with Steve Ross
Maha Yoga, Brentwood
Saturday, Oct 11th (Once a month) 8:00pm
Cost: A Donation for our musicians

Please join us at Maha Yoga for a beautiful evening of chanting with Steve Ross. Dont miss this opportunity to let bliss flood your heart. This is a donation based event. Wear comfortable clothing, bring a cushion to sit on and enjoy.

Kirtan (call and response chanting) with Travis Eliot and Friends
Santa Monica Yoga, Santa Monica
Saturday, Oct 25th (4th Saturday of the month) 8:00-9:30pm
Cost: By Donation


other special events:

Navaratri 2008
Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Center, Marina del Rey
September 30 - October 9
Cost: By Donation

Join us for the nine nights of the Navararti festival!
This festival lasts for nine days in honor of the nine manifestations of the goddess, Durga. In India during Navaratri (the word literally means 'nine nights'), devotees observe a fast, Brahmins are fed, and prayers are offered for the protection of health and property. The basic aim of this celebration is to honor Shakti--the goddess in her aspect as power--to bestow all wealth, auspiciousness, prosperity, and knowledge (both sacred and secular) upon us all.
Behind whatever special request we may ask of her, is our desire to link with the divine. There is no other aim. This is being effected consciously or unconsciously. Everyone is blessed with Her loving mercy and is protected by Her.
On the tenth day, the Day of Victory, come for an early morning puja and have the tools of your work (instruments of karma) blessed. Yes, bring your computer keyboards, keys, photos, personal items, anything you use on a regular basis. Have them energized. And stay for the feast!
Pujas are free of charge. Sweets, flowers or monetary donations are gratefully accepted.
Schedule:
~ Durga ~
Tue, Sept 30 8:30p
Wed, Oct 1 7:00p (Puja will take the place of Satsang)
Thu, Oct 2 8:30p
~ Lakshmi ~
Fri, Oct 3 8:30p
Sat, Oct 4 6:00p
Sun, Oct 5 6:30p (Puja will take the place of Satsang)
~ Saraswati ~
Mon, Oct 6 8:30p
Tue, Oct 7 8:30p
Wed, Oct 8 7:00p (Puja will take the place of Satsang)
~ Day of Victory ~
Thur, Oct 9 6:00a Morning Puja - Bring Your Tools of Karma. eg. book, manuals, pens etc that you use for work.

FREE Yoga Therapeutics Class with Hillary Rubin
City Yoga, West Hollywood
Friday, Oct 3rd 6:00pm
Cost: FREE

We will embrace our physical condition, empower by using the Anusara Universal Principles of Alignment and Evolve into a more spacious pain-free space.
You will learn tools you can use in your everyday to alleviate your pain.
Please call to sign up (only 30 spots) 323-654-2125 and tell them what your injury is to better serve you.

Special Class with Guru Singh
Yoga West, Los Angeles
Friday, Oct 3rd 7:00-8:30 PM
Cost: Keytag class

Right here now there are many forces at play in these cosmos and this world: some of them are feeding off our collective human energy without our conscious knowledge while additional forces, in each of our worlds, are our allies . . . siblings of our dharmic destiny . . . rocks of Gibralter that stand by us to gather the support that we can rely upon. It is each of our personal responsibilities to know the difference between the two and have the mindset, skillset, toolset and willset to make the conscious difference.
Our Special Los Angeles Yoga West class this Friday - lecture, yoga set and meditation to be placed on the website for those not in Los Angeles - is going to deal with exactly achieving this mindset, skillset, toolset and willset. For every action there is an equal - opposite reaction . . . what is happening in this world can be countered by using the available equal - opposite reaction. Therefore, once again, I say . . . this is the best time to be here now.

Navaratri Celebration
Maha Laxmi Puja and Ananda Kirtan: Yogic Ceremony for Health, Peace and Prosperity
With Saul David Raye, Shiva Rea, special guest musicians and Vedic Priest Shiva Kumar
Exhale Center for Sacred Movement, Venice
Friday, Oct 3rd 7:30-10:00pm
Cost: Tickets $20; $25 day of event

Come together in community for this magical evening of celebrating and aligning with the Divine Feminine through sacred movement, ceremony, chanting, dancing and prayer.
In the Vedic tradition the Divine Mother is worshiped primarily as three main energies or cosmic forces; Durga/Kali as strength and courage, Shri Laxmi as abundance and grace, Saraswati as wisdom and knowledge. All three are considered needed for a blessed life. This authentic ceremony will invoke all three energies and be dedicated to self & world peace. It will include sacred intention, live music, prayer, dancing and chanting of mantras to create a powerful group energy for all! A beautiful yantra will be created and all participants will have the opportunity to make a flower offering to the center of the yantra as a symbolic act of awakening the Divine within.
This evening will also include Ananda Kirtan, ecstatic chanting. Don't miss this wonderful celebration and affirmation of life ! It will open your heart, lift your spirit and nourish the inner channels of strength, abundance and wisdom in you !

SURF'S UP SATURDAYS with Billy Asad
Yoga Works Pacific Palisades
Saturdays - Oct 4th, Nov 1st, Dec 6th 4:00pm
Cost: $25 per session, $65 for full journey

Keep the summer vibe alive through autumn with Surf’s Up Saturdays!
Enjoy an afternoon of yoga at our Pacific Palisades studio and then head to Sunset Beach for a sunset surf session.
Bring your friends and make new ones at these casual gatherings for yoga and surfing. Don’t let the end of summer keep you from hitting the waves this fall! Watch the holiday stress melt away, one wave at a time. (Surfing equipment is not provided.)

RHYTHMIC FLOW AND KIRTAN with Tamal Dodge & Kristin Cooper
Yoga Works South Bay
Saturday, Oct 4th, 7:30-9:30pm
Cost: $25

Rhythmic Flow Yoga is a vinyasa-based practice inspired by live drums and music.
This event is a vinyasa yoga class with live music, followed by a Kirtan with Tamal Dodge and the Rhythms of world-renowned drummers Loren Gulak and Troy Pierce.

IYILA Grand Opening Celebration
Iyengar Yoga Institute, Los Angeles
Saturday, Oct 11th 3:00-7:00pm
Cost: FREE

Please join us on Saturday, October 11, for our Grand Opening Celebration in the beautiful new space. All events are FREE and open to the public.
3pm: open house - tea and sweets
4pm: Rangoli Dance Company 'Splendor of Indian Dance'
5pm: video greeting from BKS Iyengar; remarks from Manouso Manos; keynote talk by Paul Cabanis
6pm: Vegetarian Indian dinner

lulu at the village
Yoga at the Village (in association with lululemon Pasadena)
Saturday, Oct 11th 5:00-8:00pm
Cost: FREE

lululemon athletica joins forces with Yoga at the Village in presenting an evening of entertainment and yoga inspired fashion.
Join us for cocktails, hor d'oeuvres, a lulu "function" show and the opportunity to purchase all the yoga inspired fashions seen on the runway.
Stay for the chance to win a lululemon athletica Yoga Starter Kit and other goodies.
repondez s'il vous plait by October 8th to lululemon athletica: 818-241-3251

Benefit Evening with Dance for All
Exhale Santa Monica
Saturday, Oct 11th 6:30-8:30pm
Cost: $10 suggested donation

Please join us in a benefit evening featuring Dance for All Performance at 7pm, Live Music by Suzanne Sterling, Om Butterfly Jewelry and Dino Apparel Trunk Show. Special Guest Hala Khouri will begin the evening with a meditation. Proceeds from this event will go toward a scholarship fund to make theraputic programming more available for low-income families, and will support research on yoga autism and developmental disabilities. 10% of all trunk show purchases will be donated to Dance for All Scholarship Fund. Dance for All is a local dance and yoga program for teens and adults with developmental disabilities. This inspiring event will bring together local artists, health practitioners, and business and community leaders to raise joy, money, and awareness of the important health benefits of yoga for people with autism and other developmental disabilities.

Kirtan and Sacred Sound with Joey Lugassy and Daphne Tse
Shakti's Elements, Santa Monica
Saturday, October 11th 8:00pm
Cost: $15 Suggested Donation

Join us for a full evening of live music and chanting celebrating Joey's birthday and the release of Daphne's new EP, Mata, produced and recorded in Bali, Indonesia.
There is a nice organic tea/vegetarian snack bar at Shakti's Elements. Come early and enjoy some delicious food.
Feel free to bring blankets and pillows to get comfy in the Kirtan hall.

Yoga and Environment Mini-Conference Presented by SYVC-LA and the Venice High School Learning Garden
Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Center, Marina del Rey
Saturday and Sunday, Oct 18th 6am-9pm, Oct 19th 9am-8pm
Cost:

Featured Workshops:
~ Foundations of Yoga and Ecology with Chris Chapple
~ Yoga and Permaculture with Vidya Chaitanya
~ What We Can Do To Honor The Environment with Joanne Poyourow
~ What is a Green Yoga Studio? with Gary and Melissa Margolin
~ Yamas-Niyamas and the Environment with Vidya Chaitanya
~ The Significance of the Animal Postures in Yoga with Chris Chapple
~ Garden Karma Yoga with Vidya Chaitanya
click here for more information

Yoga for Waiters with Kara Greenspun
Sacred Energy Arts, Santa Monica
Saturday, Oct 18th 11:00am-1:00pm
Cost: $20 in advance, $25 at door

All you on your feet all day? Can your lower back and shoulders use a bit more love? Really, ANYONE can take this workshop. We will learn tools to de-stress from work. Not only will you have these tools for a lifetime, but you will also be doing a good deed - all proceeds go to charity!
www.karagreenspun.com

Symphonic Yoga V with Brad Keimach
Exhale Center for Sacred Movement, Venice
Saturday, Oct 18th 2:00-4:00pm
Cost: $25

This is a Level 2/3 Vinyasa Flow class, set to classical music. The composers whose music will accompany this special class include Mozart, Beethoven, Debussy, Verdi, Puccini, Ravel, Tchaikovsky, Brahms, Strauss, and Mendelssohn, among others. All of the performances were conducted by Brad from his professional conducting days in New York. come and see how your practice feels, and how your breath moves when accompanied by some of the towering geniuses of classical music! A once-in-a-lifetime experience!

The Art of Floating and Flying: Arm Balances and Inversions with guest instructor Ricky Tran
A Benefit for the Jimmy Miller Foundation
Yoga Loft, Manhattan Beach
Saturday, Oct 18th 6:00-8:00pm
Cost: $25 suggested donation

Join Ricky for 2 hours of practice designed to prepare the body and mind for arm balancing and inversions.
This practice is recommended for students that have been practicing for at least one year (level 2 and up), though everyone is welcome. Students should be familiar with Surya Namaskara A and B, headstand and handstand against the wall. Bandha (locks) and Ujjayi Pranayama will be discussed and demonstrated.
Come play with us and help us raise money for the Jimmy Miller Foundation, an organization dedicated to supporting the healing of mental and physical illness through surfing and ocean-related activities.
www.jimmymillerfoundation.org

CD Release Kirtan - Love, Peace, Chant with David Newman
Exhale Center for Sacred Movement, Venice
Saturday, Oct 18th 8:00-10:00pm
Cost: $20; $25 at the door

Come celebrate the release of David's new CD ~Love, Peace, Chant! Join us for an inspired evening of call and response chanting and devotional music with Durga Das. David’s distinctive approach to Kirtan embodies a heartfelt devotional mysticism with an adventurous musicality and poetic intimacy. His Kirtans are a joyous and spiritually uplifting journey into bliss! David will be joined by vocalist and percussionist Mira.

Yoga & Drums Potluck Benefit with Psalm Isadora
Ozone Park, Ozone and 7th Streets, Santa Monica
Sunday, Oct 19th 10:00am-2:00pm
Cost: By Donation

Please join us in the BEAUTIFUL OUTDOORS of Ozone Park in Santa Monica to start your Sunday off right invigorating the mind/body/spirit with 54 SUN SALUTATIONS and 54 rare MOON SALUTATIONS.
* It doesn't matter if you've never yoga'd before or don't practice regularly. Your presence is the most important.
* The salutation ceremony will last about 2.5 hours with savasana breaks.
LIVE MOROCCAN DRUMMING and sacred sounds will accompany you deep into the flow.
We'll enjoy a POTLUCK FEAST afterward. Vegetarian preferred, but not required.
The money raised is to travel to Goa, India in January with teacher and founder, Psalm Isadora, to help build the Community House in Goa, India and be a part of the Yoga Outreach program to women and children there. You can find out more here.

Our 2nd Anniversary Open House!
Your Neighborhood Studio
Sunday, Oct 19th noon-6:30pm
Cost: FREE

Join us in celebrating our TWO YEAR ANNIVERSARY. Schedule for the day includes FREE 30 minute sample classes:
12:00pm - Sculpt
12:30pm - Yoga Booty Ballet
1:00pm - Bollywood Fusion
1:30pm - Acro Yoga
2:00pm - West African
2:30pm - Jazz
3:00pm - Hip Hop
3:30pm - Ballet
4:00pm - Modern
4:30pm - Hip Hop
5:00pm - Booiaka
5:30pm - Yoga with Thomas Taubman to complete the day!
Vendors such as Be Love, Charla's Place and Funky Famous Bracelets will be there with their full lines of merchandise. There will also be special packages and PRIZES!!!
Admittance is on a first come first serve basis.
9am Yoga and 10:30am Zumba classes will run as scheduled and are not included in the event.

Women's Night with Rebecca Benenati: Celebrating Your Role Models and How to be One Yourself
City Yoga, West Hollywood
Tuesday, Oct 21st 7:30pm
Cost: By Donation

Join Rebecca for her second Women's Night here at City Yoga. Please bring a journal and a picture of your role model.
Please call to sign up! 323.654.2125

Breast Cancer Fundraiser: Journey of the Heart with Ashley Turner
Exhale Center for Sacred Movement, Venice
Sunday, Oct 26th 2:00-4:00pm
Cost: $35 donation; all proceeds go to Susan G. Komen

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month! 10 million women around the world could die from breast cancer in the next 25 years without a cure. Zobha, exhale and Ashley Turner are sponsoring a unique ritual to commemorate anyone who has ever been touched by Breast Cancer!
Join a supportive community, as we honor this fierce, courageous journey of the heart. The breasts, chest and heart center are the physical metaphor of giving and receiving. Through deep ritual, prayer, guided meditation, yoga and community, we reclaim this ancient symbol of nature 's abundance and nurturing qualities.If inclined, please bring a sacred object, photo or personal memento to add to the ritual altar. This slow-flow class, will focus on heart-opening and a deeply healing, restorative sequence.
Susan G. Komen for the Cure's mission is to save lives and end breast cancer by empowering people, ensuring quality care and energizing science to finda cure. Komen is the only breast cancer foundation in which 75% of the net proceeds stay in the communities where they are raised. www.komen.org

Yin/Yang Yoga with Sara Ivanhoe
Yogaworks Main Street, Santa Monica
Sunday Oct 26th 5:45pm
Cost: $17

With Live Music By Govindas And Radha

Halloween Party with Awareness Center Family and Friends
Awareness Center, Pasadena
Friday, Oct 31st 6:00-9:00pm
Cost: FREE

Boo! It’s Halloween, and we are celebrating as a community this year. Joyful activities for children and adults. Bring your friends! Come dressed in your favorite costume. Please bring a pumpkin if you wish to carve. Light snacks provided.
6:00–7:30pm: Kundalini Yoga w/Baba and Nimrita (regular class price).
6:00pm: Pumpkin Carving and Games for Kids of all ages.
7:30pm: Bobbing for Apples – find a magical symbol on your apple…
7:30–9:00pm: Dance and party with the AC gang!

poetry of the gods

here's another invite that i'd like to pass along to all of you. while it isn't exactly for your typical yoga event -- asana, kirtan, meditation, or the like -- and therefore wouldn't usually end up on my monthly event list, it's for a photo exhibit that features many of those active in the LA yoga community. and because i happen to know a good number of the artist's subjects, i plan on dropping by to view my friends in all their colorful splendor... while wishing that maybe one day, i'll get my chance to get "sturmanized", too :)

ROBERT STURMAN
Invites you to join in celebrating the new series

POETRY OF THE GODS ~ THE YOGIS

At the artist's studio
Saturday, October 11, 2008
12-6 pm

2947 Delaware Avenue
Santa Monica, California 90404
310.264.7826

Please join us as we pop the champagne bottles and take a moment in the autumn sun to celebrate a body of work that celebrates the grace, strength, beauty and aliveness of THE YOGIS

One Vision ~ Hundreds of Remarkable Yogis ~ The Exhibition

http://www.robertsturmanstudio.com/