members of the jury

andrea marcum from u studio yoga in los angeles sent out this update earlier today:

ursula and myself will be on Jonesy's Jukebox on Indie 103.1 friday, february 29th at 12pm...there is to be a panel of yoga teachers, we'll be there representing U...

Jonesy's Jukebox Jury with Steve Jones
Guests listen to new songs and rate it PANTS (bad) or MUSTARD (good).
Fridays 12PM - 2PM
Rebroadcast @ 6PM

wanting to find out more -- like the topic as well as the other yoga teachers who were going to be on the panel -- all i could find was this entry at jonesysjukebox.blogspot.com:

Friday, February 29, 2008

Yoga Jury

Andrea Marcum - www.ustudioyoga.com
Meaghan Townsend - www.sunleaps.com
Pagan - www.liberationyoga.com
Ursula Vari - www.ustudioyoga.com

one can only wonder what they're going to talk about!

i'm hoping that i'll be able to get away from my workday tasks long enough to hear the broadcast in its entirety. if not, the show will be posted on the JJJ archives page... and maybe there'll even be a photo of the panel, too!

update: just got done listening to it online... anyone who thinks yoga is only for the silent meditative types needs to listen to the podcast pronto! the discussion ran the gamut from private lessons with "happy endings", farting in class, being able to put one's legs behind one's head (as deftly demostrated by meaghan and posted on the station's home page), doing ujjayi breathing to get high...

and the catchphrase of the day: kundalini kunnilingus!

who says yogis don't have a sense of humor?

by the way, andrea and ursula teach power yoga classes at u studio, pagan teaches iyengar classes at liberation, and meaghan teaches music flow classes at exhale santa monica (as well as at equinox and sports club la).

360 degrees of freedom

note: this is one in a series of long-overdue posts. i've been so busy lately that it's only now that i'm finally getting around to writing about things that happened a month or more ago. i'm working from rapidly fading memory, so if anything isn't quite right, my apologies...

last year at the global mala event at the LA convention center, seane corn was one of four teachers who took turns leading our massive gathering of yogis through a mala of 108 sun salutations. while the other teachers pretty much has us facing the stage while we flowed through our surya namaskars, seane had us turning clockwise, changing direction with each repetition. north, south, east, west -- it was quite exhilarating being able to see the group in its entirety, not just those in front of us but also those behind and on either side! the only problem was that when we were oriented towards our right or left and holding in downward facing dog, our feet would be on one neighbor's yoga mat and our hands on another's. a thought crossed my mind: wouldn't it be great if they made yoga mats large enough so that we could stay on our own mats while we turned around?

well, apparently someone else had the same idea. but unlike me, she decided to do something about it.

enter desiree bartlett and the lululemon 360 yoga mat.

it was sometime last month when the product roll-out started in earnest. i was compiling the list of events for january and noticed that desiree was making the rounds of the local lulu stores -- el segundo, calabasas, santa monica, pasadena, beverly hills. never having seen any other lulu product pushed as aggressively, i knew it was something i wanted to check out for myself.

i eventually found myself at the santa monica store one january evening for the 360 yoga mat class with kourtney kaas. while the class wasn't going to be taught by desiree herself, i thought it would be fun to take a class with kourtney anyway, especially since i'd already taken classes with her at other lululemon community events and at yogahop in santa monica where she's an instructor on staff.

as i had expected, lululemon's new mat was round; the "360" comes from the number of degrees in a circle (yes, i was a math geek in my previous life). why would anyone want to practice on a circular mat?, you ask. my answer to that is: why not?

Yoga 360 is multidimensional movement linked by arcs, ellipses and spirals. The movement is fluid and is inspired by the great luminaries, the sun and the moon. There is a feeling of being luminous from the inside out. The sequencing allows for greater freedom in movement and is inspired by Yoga, Dance and the spirit of celebration. Yoga 360 incorporates the use of the Lululemon 360 Yoga mat created by Desi.

it was liberating to be able to bend and stretch in any direction and know that no matter what you did, you were still on your own mat. not on the floor, not on your neighbor's mat. and because we were free to do any movement in any direction, we did just that. lunge this way, warrior that way. down dog facing the front windows, plank facing the back wall. by the time we had finished our class, i had many chances to check out the merchandise along all four walls of the store :)

i talked with kourtney after class and found out that she had worked closely with desiree to develop the pose sequences that would take full advantage of the geometrical shape of the mat. i asked her where i could take a class; she said that for now, they'd be taught only at the equinox gyms. in fact, desi was scheduled to teach a master class at equinox santa monica that coming wednesday. unfortunately, i was already committed to attending the fit yoga conference that same afternoon, so i couldn't make it. darn.

i eventually received a personal invite from desi and i explained to her my situation. she welcomed me to take any of her regular wednesday evening 360 mat classes at equinox, and i told her i'd take her up on her offer the first chance i got.

a few weeks later, i received an email from desiree. not only was she going to have a 360 class that coming wednesday, but she was going to have live music, too... daphne tse was going to serenade the class during savasana! it was just too good to pass up; i emailed desi immediately and told her i'd see her then.

desi's series of poses in the equinox class was totally different than what kourtney had us doing in the lulu class. it was clear that there really was no set sequence to be followed; any teacher with a vivid imagination could easily come up with really inventive ways to use the entire area of the mat. during the class, i was so busy trying to make sure i was doing the right thing (and facing the right direction) that before i knew it, we were resting comfortably on our backs while daphne tse softly sang and strummed on her guitar (and if you want to see daphne anytime soon, you'll have to travel to bali -- yes, as in indonesia -- where she's helping put together the bali spirit festival which will be held in ubud on march 5th through 16th).

desi has spent the past month visiting the various equinox fitness locations around the country for teacher training sessions. since i've seen the 360 mat sold at every lulu store i've been to (including the union square branch i dropped by during my recent trip to san francisco), i can only assume that 360 mat classes will be eventually be taught at all equinox locations, if they aren't already.

i'd love to have a 360 mat, if i can only figure out how to use it without getting nasty looks from other students in saul david raye's class at exhale or vinnie marino's class at yogaworks -- i'm sure they'd all accuse me of taking up more than my fair share of precious floor space in those packed rooms!

old school yoga

acrobatic yoga, hip-hop yoga, shake-your-booty yoga, yoga for sports, yoga for better sex... yoga classes have been constantly evolving to keep up with the ever-changing needs (and whims) of yoga students, especially here in LA. it's gotten to the point where, at times, they barely resemble the form of yoga taught by the father of modern yoga himself, t krishnamacharya.

today, if you want to practice "old school" yoga, you'd have to practice the style of yoga developed by the gurus who studied with krishnamacharya himself -- gurus such as bks iyengar (iyengar yoga), pattabhi jois (ashtanga yoga), and tkv desikachar (viniyoga). or by his contemporaries, like paramahansa yogananda (self-realization and ananda yoga) and swami sivananda (sivananda yoga).

you could drop by any of the studios around town that teach those more traditional styles of yoga. or if you happen to be near pasadena, you could also take a class at yoga kingdom sanctuary with naader shagagi, whose teaching style is greatly influenced by his early training at the self-realization fellowship center and at the bikram yoga college (and yes, while bikram choudhury has trademarked his own form of yoga, he learned everything he knows from bishnu ghosh, younger brother of paramahansa yogananda; draw your own conclusions).


Yoga Kingdom Sanctuary
553 South Lake Avenue
Pasadena, CA 91101
(626) 792-7871
website: www.yogakingdom.com

The Hatha Yoga system is distinctly different form other forms of exercise. It teaches people how to concentrate their attention, not on instruments, muscles, or body movements, but on their awakened energy, which is the direct giver of power, strength and vitality to all bodily tissues - including the muscular. Hence, the faithful student will find in time that the yoga exercises invariably and consciously develop his will power, along with his bodily strength.

A developed will can control and correct inharmonious physical manifestations. These yoga exercises are a non-mechanical scientific and natural means for the strengthening of all living or atrophying muscle fiber. The system teaches how to revive and strengthen them, awakening new life force energy in lazy muscles and other tissues. The correct use of these postures helps to strengthen injured or underdeveloped osseous or bony tissue as well.

i don't even remember how i came across this studio. i may have found it through a random google search or through yogafinder; either way, it was here in LA and i had to check it out. and it just so happened that of all the studios still on my short to-do list, it was the only place within a reasonable driving distance that had a class after 3pm on a saturday (ok, so maybe i didn't check the handful of possible bikram studios because i wasn't in the mood for a steambath...)

yoga kingdom is conveniently located in a small shopping mall anchored by a pavilions market. not only is it easily accessible via california or lake, but there's FREE parking in the large parking lot. there are two entrances: one from the back right off the parking lot, and one in front on lake avenue. either way, you need to climb a flight of stairs to get to the studio (and i didn't check to see if there was elevator access. my guess is no).

given that it sounded to be a small studio with a small advertising budget, i was surprised to find an enormous space when i walked in. there was a rather spacious lobby with an adjoining retail area. there was an entire display devoted to homeopathic and ayurvedic products. there was a room full of clothing and yoga accessories. there were books, CDs, and DVDs of shagagi's hatha yoga classes. and of course, there were the classrooms -- two of them. the classroom we used had a mirrored wall, a linoleum floor (if my memory serves me right), and was large enough to pack in at least 20-24 students.

besides the "classical hatha" class i chose to take that saturday afternoon, yoga kingdom also offers ashtanga/vinyasa flow, curative yoga, prenatal yoga, childrens yoga, and meditation classes. also on the schedule is a FREE laughter yoga class on friday evenings, which could be the perfect way to unwind at the end of the week, don't you think?

according to the posted schedule, the 4:30pm class i showed up for was supposed to have been taught by naader himself. i soon realized that it wasn't to be the case when jennifer jensen walked up to the front of the room and started us with some breathing exercises -- exercises that felt strangely similar to the pranayama practiced at the start of bikram classes. hmmm... in fact, as the class progressed, i found that there were many more poses that were bikram-like. granted, it wasn't the exact same sequence of 26 poses, but there were the obvious bikramish idiosyncrasies. like having to touch your forehead to your knee while in pyramid pose. and having to face away from the front on the room when you're lying flat on your back.

at least jennifer didn't clap her hands and count. nor did she turn up the heat in the room to a steamy 100+ degrees. in fact, the room was actually nicely cool and dry. not only that, but throughout our practice, we were inspired while the angelic voice of snatam kaur played softly in the background. thank goodness for little pleasures!

the class also reminded me of the more traditional classes i had taken at the SRF in hollywood and the ananda center in santa monica. while it was nothing fancy nor extremely difficult, it wasn't so easy that anyone past beginner would feel utterly bored. in fact, because it was somewhat simple, i was able to spend more time concentrating on my breath and relaxing into the poses. or at least trying to.

while i have to admit that i thrive on the novelty of all the new-fangled yoga forms, it's good for me to return every now and then to the old way of doing things. maybe by doing so, i'll get a better understanding of what yoga is really supposed to be all about...

reaching another milestone

when i first started using the platial tool to add a yoga studio map to the top of my blog page, their mapping functionality was still in its infancy. by incorporating the actual map into my site (rather than including a link to it or just an image of it), i found myself trying to access features that hadn't been ironed out yet. at one point, i was asked by their tech support crew what i expected the maximum number of markers (i.e., yoga studios) on my map to be. at that time, i had visited about 25 studios. so since that already seemed like a lot to me then, i gave them what sounded to be an incredibly large number. 100, i said. there can't be more than a hundred studios in LA...

boy, was i wrong.

yesterday, i took a class at my 100th studio. i've just added the marker on my map, and voila! the map now says that i have a hundred places (unfortunately, the map can't show all 100 markers, just the last 30 or so -- or whatever the display limit is at this point).

unfortunately, not all of those hundred studios are still around. some have closed, while others changed their names when they changed owners. there are twelve markers on my map that point to studios that no longer exist.

of the twelve, ten are now permanently shuttered. they are:

~ bala yoga, los angeles
~ forrest yoga institute, santa monica
~ harmony yoga, manhattan beach (the redondo beach location is still open)
~ illumination yoga, tarzana
~ insight yoga, pasadena
~ mukti yoga, manhattan beach
~ yoga garden studios, santa monica
~ yoga house, toluca lake (the pasadena location is still open)
~ yoga inside out, west hollywood
~ yogamatt, los feliz

two more underwent name changes. they're on the map under both their old names (which are marked as closed) as well as their new names. that way, if anyone tries to find a place under the old name, they'll still be able to find it... and hopefully figure out its new name. those two are:

~ jiva yoga - now yoga works pacific palisades
~ planet yoga - now lyfe yoga center

so let's see... 100 minus 12 is 88. so while i underestimated the number of markers i'd need for my map, i'm still accurate in saying that there aren't more than 100 yoga studios in LA. at least for now.

i know that there are still more on my must-visit list, so we'll see if i ever actually exceed that magical century mark. and when that happens, you know you'll be the first to find out :)

jai!

Jai is a Sanskrit word that is used as an exclamation of wonderment, admiration, and deep respect. It could be translated as "WOW!" "Awesome" or "Many Glories!" It is a simple word that describes how hugely inspired we are by the practices of yoga!

thanks, by the way, to jai yoga in brunswick maine for that very apt definition :)

given that, you could say i had a very jai-ful time in san francisco last weekend (and yes, that feeble attempt at a pun was intended).

i had a few good reasons for making another trip to the bay area:
- jai uttal would be performing live at laughing lotus san francisco on saturday, feb 16th.
- i found a ridiculously low airfare deal... something like $100 roundtrip.
- i FINALLY would have enough air miles to renew my premier frequent flyer status.

and there was also the issue of wanting a re-do of last december's visit to the bay area, where both of the teachers i wanted to take classes with were both subbed out :(

once i booked my air ticket, i called laughing lotus to check on the concert tickets. with over a month to go before the performance, half of the tickets were already gone! i immediately gave her my credit card info over the phone to assure myself a spot. good thing i checked...

day one, saturday:

after a brief delay due to the infamous san francisco fog, our plane landed at SFO shortly before noon. i hopped on the BART for the half hour ride to the civic center station, made my way to the hotel right by the subway exit, and was told they had a room available for an early check-in. so far, so good. i then found a decent indian restaurant a few blocks away with a lunch buffet. they had an all-you-can-eat deal, and wouldn't you know it -- i ate all i could. totally stuffed, i made my way back to the hotel, set my alarm clock, and promptly fell asleep. yes, it was 2 o'clock in the afternoon. i must be getting old...

an hour later, i packed my yoga gear into my tote bag and hopped on the BART for the quick two-stop ride to the 24th and mission station. this time i was headed for stephanie snyder's 4:30pm all-levels vinyasa class at the YT valencia location:

Yoga Tree, Valencia
1234 Valencia Street
San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 647-9707
website: yogatreesf.com/studiovalencia.htm

upon reaching the studio, i found a sign taped onto the front door. the 4:30 class was sold out.

what?!?!

i walked in, refusing to believe that, once again, i'd miss being able to take her class. and sure enough, i was told that because stephanie was back from maternity leave and EVERYONE wanted to take her class, her class was sold out. and that forty students had already been turned away ("forty" sounded like a rather large number; i must've misheard her). i could place my name on the waiting list, but there were already ten ahead of me. it wasn't looking good.

i had to find a way to get into stephanie's class.

but i'm from out of town and will only be here for the weekend, i pleaded... sorry.

you can try to take the 4:30 class a yoga tree castro... but that's a mile away. i'll be late for class by the time i get there... sorry.

ok, so who's teaching that class?... a substitute teacher... so what's her class like?

she didn't know. and neither did stephanie, who just happened to walk past the front desk. i was getting desperate. it was now looking like i wouldn't be able to take any class anywhere.

how about laughing lotus? you might try them... no, they cancelled their afternoon class because of the kirtan they're having tonight. which i happen to be going to, which is why this is the only time i can take a class today...

just then, an angel named katie stepped up to the front desk.

she can take my spot, she said. i work here anyway and can take stephanie's class another time.

are you sure? she nodded and smiled. i threw my arms around her and thanked her profusely. (by the way, if anyone who knows katie reads this, please let her know that in return for her kindness, i'd like to treat her to a yoga class at any studio here in LA. it's the least i can do!)

i quickly ran to the changing room to change out of my street clothes. i'd never worked as hard to get into a yoga class, but regardless, i was in! and it took me almost the entire class to calm down. all the while, voices in my head were battling it out. you were a bitch! no, i was just persistent! you should have kept walking when you saw the sign! but i couldn't just give up without trying! on and on... i'm surprised i was able to hear stephanie's voice at all!

i have to say that all the trouble i went through was all well worth it. it was a sweaty and wonderfully sequenced class, just as i had hoped it would be. stephanie gave clear instructions with various options for the different levels of students in the class, proving exactly why her class is as popular as it is. and by the time i had emerged from savasana, all my inner voices were too tired to argue. thank god!

by the time i left the valencia studio, it was dark outside. the surrounding neighborhood didn't strike me as being particularly safe. even if there were many people moving about, i worried that my being a lone female walking the streets with a yoga mat in tow was a risky proposition. so i quickly hightailed the mile or so to laughing lotus, stopping briefly at a convenience store to buy something to rehydrate myself from all the sweating i had done. once i saw the welcoming beacon from laughing lotus's front windows, i stopped and stood in the doorway. in my rush, i got there much earlier than i had planned; i had over an hour to kill.

dana flynn and her crew were scurrying about inside, getting everything ready. she noticed me standing by the door and suggested that i come back. i couldn't, i said. i was from out of town and didn't know where i could spend the time. i couldn't even stop somewhere to get dinner because, like the pig i was, i was still full from my lunchtime indulgence. i told her that i would be just fine waiting outside the door.

once the performers started walking in and out the door to bring in their equipment, dana invited me to come in and sit in the lobby. is there something i can help you with?, i offered. we'll be fine. just sit there and meditate. she smiled briefly, then continued to scurry about.

by the time the classroom doors opened to let us into the performance space, a large crowd had gathered in the lobby. we quickly picked our spots and plopped ourselves on the brightly-colored blankets that were neatly arranged on the floor. i was excited; i had never heard jai uttal perform live before!

and once again, it was everything i had hoped it would be. jai was accompanied by daniel paul on tabla and a mother-daughter duo who led us as we sang the familiar chants. while the overall sound wasn't as full as i what i was used to hearing in his recordings, just hearing that unmistakeable voice LIVE was magical enough.

there was a touching moment when jai invited his two-year-old son, ezra, to sit on his lap while we all sang sita ram. it was even more amazing to see this little boy singing along while he was nestled contentedly in his father's arms... and yes, while those same arms continued to play the harmonium.

at the end of the evening, i managed to score jai's autograph on one of his CDs: kirtan! - the art and practice of ecstatic chant. another wonderful addition to my growing kirtan CD collection!

day two: sunday

during the course of my previous evening's brief conversation with dana flynn at laughing lotus, she mentioned that she was teaching the 11am class the next day. since that was almost an implicit guarantee that her class wouldn't be subbed out, i made it a point to be there. and to make sure i didn't get closed out of class (all i needed was a repeat of the previous day's fiasco), i got there extra early. so early that i had enough time to check out their retail shelves and buy one of their cool logo shirts with a large PEACE emblazoned on the front :)

if there's one word that describes dana's level 2/3 lotus flow class that morning, it's: KALI-ente! she had us moving briskly to a hot latin soundtrack and had us laughing along with her as we shouted caliente! at various times during our practice. at times, i found myself struggling to keep up with her brisk pacing, wondering what possessed me to stay close to the front of the room. but i was having lots of fun, despite my klutziness. and given some time, i'll eventually get the hang of it.

i'm already planning my next trip...

spreading the word

for the past month or so, i've been seeing blurbs here and there about yogi times and their PAY WHAT YOU WISH campaign, which offers:

• One year of Yogi Times delivered right to your door
• Access to the heart of your community
• Support your conscious independent media

with these suggested support levels:
• I am inspired = $18
• I am involved = $25
• I am Yogi Times = You decide

the way i looked at it was: why pay for something to be delivered to my home when i can easily pick it up at a yoga studio somewhere? ok, so i'm cheap...

but after i read the latest email from sophie pariente, editor-in-chief of yogi times, i now understand why.

we need to keep all this good information coming in... let's keep yogi times from going out of business!

here's what she sent out:

It is four in the morning and for the twentieth time I am working on this special announcement. It is probably the most challenging letter that I have ever had to write, but the time has come for me to deliver this message regarding the status of Yogi Times.

With rising operating costs, lower advertising revenues and no corporately funded parent company in place to fuel the demand for our growth, the future of our company is in jeopardy.

We want to create a situation in which Yogi Times, one of the few independent media companies operating in America today, can continue forth with our mission to inspire, educate and unite communities nationwide. We are now reaching out to you, our community of readers, who have witnessed Yogi Times’ birth and growth over the course of the last six years.

How can you help create the future of Yogi Times?

• As a reader, through the same grass roots entrepreneurial spirit that created the magazine, we are now offering a solution to sustain it. The PAY WHAT YOU WISH campaign delivers a copy of Yogi Times right to your door each month at a price you determine! If each one of our readers were to subscribe, our ability to persevere would be secured. subscriptions.yogitimes.com/store/one_page_form.html

• As an advertiser, your participation is essential to the vibrancy of our magazine. Our readers are looking for your message. PARTNER with us. Support independent media and stay on the forefront of the community. Contact us today at: sales@yogitimes.com

• As an investor, JOIN the wingspan of Yogi Times. Become our strategic, financial partner. We champion your ideas and encourage you to contact us right away at invest@yogitimes.com

Yogi Times needs your support!

I am asking everyone who reads this column to take an immediate action. Many of you have already joined our PAY WHAT YOU WISH CAMPAIGN, and we thank you for making an important contribution! For those who have not yet joined our wingspan, I urge you to refrain from thinking that someone else will step up and cover it for you. Become an active member of our community and subscribe online at a price you wish to pay.

Together we are creating MAGIC!

Engaging the world outside,

Sophie and Jc
Founders, Yogi Times

construction zones

running a yoga studio takes a lot of hard work.

running a yoga studio while undergoing construction takes a lot of hard work and diligent planning.

but running a yoga studio while undergoing construction that you didn't plan for takes a lot of hard work, diligent planning, and a little help from your friends. that is, help in the form of patience, understanding, and a LOT of moral support.

take, for example, the current plight of two neighborhood yoga studios.

here's an excerpt from an email i received from yoga blend in burbank:

You may have noticed that two of our bathrooms are out of order. For those of you that don't know, someone accidently drove their car through our building into those two bathrooms. Construction will begin soon and we will do our best to stay open the entire time. However, please know that it will not be as quiet as usual during classes. It is a perfect time to practice remaining present and calm even when life gets crazy around us. It is very likely that the hallway will be closed off so you will need to utilize the outdoor entrance to the Shakti studio once you have checked in the lobby.

We will keep you updated as the work begins but hope to make this transition as smooth as possible. Although a slight inconvenience for a short time, we are all so very grateful that no one was hurt.

and if you think that's inconvenient, read this e-mail update from liberation yoga in mid-wilshire:

Some underground pipes have burst and we have been flooded. The damage is quite extensive and for a few days the inside room is unavailable as we try to salvage our beautiful floor. We have to spend this week with all of the blowers blowing and try to get the indoor room to dry and the insides of the walls as well. What this means is that we have to cancel classes as we can't have two at a time.

With hope and a prayer we will be back to the usual business of full schedule bliss by Saturday. The interior floor will be a bit wobbly but dry and then we can hope it will settle without furthur interruption. There will be a fair amount of construction so we ask for your patience a bit more then. THANK YOU ever so for sticking with your practice and with us!

And now the schedule (drumroll)~

MONDAY 2/18
7:00am with Lynn Taylor - CANCELLED
9:00am-10:30am Iyengar - ON
9:00am Ashtanga with Joel Bender - CANCELLED
11:00am Level 1 - ON
4:15pm-5:30pm Gentle Restorative with Jeanne Korn - ON
5:00pm-6:30pm All Levels with Sarah Isenberg - ON
6:30pm Level 1 with Cathie Baker - ON
6:30pm-8:00pm Flow with Ashley Albrand - CANCELLED
8:00pm-9:30pm All Levels Vinyasa with Alicia will be ON with Ashley teaching

TUESDAY 2/19
6:30am with Arun Deva - CANCELLED
9:00am-11:00am Ashtanga with Joel Bender - ON
9:30am with Steven Espinosa - CANCELLED
11:00am-12:30pm Level 1 with Jessie Diaz-Perez - ON
4:30pm-6:00pm All Levels with Jennifer Long - ON
6:30pm-8:00pm Level 1 with Kathleen Ross-Allee - ON
6:30pm-8:00pm Flow with Christine Burke MOVED to 8:00pm and will be ALL Levels
8:00pm Level 2 with Erica Kyriakatos - CANCELLED
8:15pm Meditation class - CANCELLED

WEDNESDAY 2/20
7:00am with Lynn - CANCELLED
9:00am-11:00am Ashtanga with Joel - ON
9:30am-11:00am Iyengar - CANCELLED
11:00am-12:30pm Level 1 with Sarah Hemphill - ON
11:15am Qi Gong - CANCELLED
4:30pm-6:00pm All Levels with Laurie Searle - ON
6:30pm-8:00pm Flow with Ashley - ON
6:30pm Restorative with Jeanne - CANCELLED
8:00pm Level 1 with Christine - ON
8:00pm Flow with Alicia - CANCELLED

THURSDAY 2/21
6:30am with Arun - CANCELLED
9:00am Ashtanga - CANCELLED
9:30am with Steven - ON
11:00am Level 1 with Jessie - ON
5:00pm with Sarah - ON
6:30pm with Christine - ON and will be ALL Levels
6:30pm Level 1 with Molly - CANCELLED
8:00pm All Levels with Mark DeWhitt - ON

FRIDAY 2/22
9:00am-10:30am Iyengar with Pagan - ON
9:30am Flow with Ashley - CANCELLED
11:00am Level with Lynn - ON
4:30pm Gentle with Kathleen - ON
6:30pm All Levels with Christine - ON

and from the 2/22 update:

Weekend Schedule (2/23 and 2/24)~
All Classes will be as usual for Saturday and Sunday EXCEPT Family which will have to be cancelled. So sorry sweet yogi families!

MONDAY 2/25 - PLEASE READ - VERY IMPORTANT!
Lynn Taylor's 7am Level 1-2 will be CANCELLED
Joel Bender's 9:00am Ashtanga will be CANCELLED
Pagan's 9am Iyengar will BE ON
Susan Kaye's 11am Level 1 will BE ON.
As for the afternoon we will know by 1pm if we can have a full schedule indoors or not so please call and check if you are coming for an evening class some time after 1pm.

unbelievable!

anyway, i've since taken classes at both studios and chatted with both christy at yoga blend and christine and gary at liberation. given their circumstances, they're all handling it as well and as upbeat as they can.

while christy lost temporary access through an interior hallway (and could have had some flooding of her own had the car hit the plumbing), christine and gary lost temporary access to their main classroom (and have had to cancel half of their classes!). until things are back to normal, students at yoga blend will have to deal with noise and dust as the walls are being rebuilt, and students at liberation will have air blowers and dehumidified air while the floors are drying out.

honestly, though, it really wasn't that bad. if i can get through it, so can you... although if you're going to liberation, make sure you bring a warm shirt or sweatshirt because the garden room can get a bit drafty :)

they're doing their darned best to minimize the inconvenience to everyone. so drop by today -- better yet, take a class -- and show them that you care!

shanti shanti shanti

earlier this afternoon, as i sat quietly on a grassy slope high up in the hollywood hills, looking out past the hiking trails of griffith park to the valley below, i thought of jeannie as i picked up stray flower petals and moved them back to the mound of flowers on the ground beside me.

back to rejoin the overwhelming display of love and affection that completely covered the grave of my good friend, jeannie cheung, who passed away last week.

i had first met jeannie many, many years ago during a saturday morning run with our marathon training group. we were running in the same pace group at that time; she used to run at the front of the pack and pull everyone along with her while greg, our pace group leader, kept cautioning everyone to ease up and keep pace with him, not her, because she was running faster than our intended pace. it was her first year with our group and she was training to run her first marathon. as early as then, it was clear that nothing was going to stand in the way of her doing as well as she could. she put her heart and soul into running that first long distance race, and while she didn't win or even come close to winning it, just knowing that she was able to finish it turned her into a racing junkie.

jeannie eventually traveled around the country to run races, many times finishing among the top three in her age division, especially in the shorter sprints. the more medals she was awarded, the more determined she became to win even more. i used to tell her that i was glad we didn't run in the same age division, otherwise i'd never stand a chance of winning... of course, whether or not we competed against each other made no difference; i didn't stand a chance. for me, running was merely something i did for fun and exercise. in fact, the only reason i once placed in the top three of a race was because there were only five women in my age group who bothered to show up that morning... and i beat two of them :)

she was unstoppable. like many of us, she had her share of downtime -- illnesses, accidents, surgeries -- yet she always bounced back, many times even before her doctor gave her the go-ahead to resume running. she was extremely driven (not to mention extremely stubborn), which made her the amazing person she was.

by the time jeannie was diagnosed with lung cancer, it had already spread to other parts of her body. despite the dire prognosis, she felt she could fight the disease if she tried hard enough. chemotherapy, radiation, chinese herbs and treatments -- she tried them all. she successfully made it past the projected six months she was expected to live. she dug in her heels and was in it for the long haul.

slowly though, she lost weight, lost her hair, lost her energy. outwardly, she barely resembled the jeannie we had all come to know and love. yet we knew that the real jeannie was still somewhere in there, struggling to stay alive.

when her older daughter announced that she was engaged to be married in six months, jeannie knew that by hook or by crook, she was going to be there to walk her daughter down the aisle. but she was fading fast. she now had to wear a face mask to protect her from attacking germs. and had to be pushed around in a wheelchair because it hurt her too much to walk.

last november, once it became apparent that there was a good chance jeannie wouldn't make it past the holiday season, her daughter and her fiance decided to move up their wedding date. instead of the big wedding that was originally planned, they had a smaller, more intimate ceremony. and in true jeannie fashion, with some assistance, she mustered up enough strength to walk her daughter down the aisle.

the next week, in a show of solidarity and support for jeannie, our large group of runners and walkers participated in the run for her 5K in beverly hills. joining us were her two daughters, her new son-in-law, his immediate family, and jeannie herself. we took turns pushing her wheelchair along the three mile course. seeing this once vibrant and energetic woman now completely dependent on others to get around was a very emotional moment for all. by the time we crossed the finish line, we were all chanting, cheering, and crying. as for jeannie, she was equally moved and so very, very grateful.

the traditional dinner banquet for her daughter's wedding was held in hong kong over the christmas holidays. and jeannie was there, albeit in extreme pain, to share in the celebration. shortly afterwards, she returned to LA to celebrate her 58th birthday. a month later, as the new moon ushered in the new chinese year, jeannie slipped into a coma and quietly passed away...

i was out of town this past weekend and was unable to attend her funeral. her daughter told me that over two hundred people showed up for the service; an overflow crowd had to stand outside the chapel as friends and family members inside took turns sharing their own fond memories of jeannie. i would have loved to have been there.

instead, all i could do was offer up an intention for jeannie during my yoga practice this evening. while i will miss her, i am glad that she is finally free from pain. and back to running with the angels in the big race course in the sky.

om shanti shanti shanti... peace, jeannie, peace.

celebrating the new year in new york

to most people, the phrase "new year in new york" conjures up images of a boisterous crowd of people wildly counting down the seconds to midnight as an enormous crystal ball slowly descends a flagpole in times square. 3... 2... 1... happy new year!

as for me and my daughters, that same phrase came to mean something totally different: we all met in new york this past weekend to celebrate the new year -- the chinese new year, that is. 2008, the year of the brown earth rat. gung hay fat choy!

but in all honesty, the chinese new year celebration really wasn't the original reason for our short get-together...

i still needed another long-haul trip to reach elite status on my frequent flyer account, so i searched for deeply discounted air fares to the east coast. let's see... i could fly to boston to visit my older daughter, or to philadelphia to see my younger daughter. hmmm... tough decision. once i threw the yoga options into the mix, i came up with a great idea: since i'd already checked out the yoga scene in both boston and philly, why not try someplace new? how about someplace like new york?

long story short, i ended up booking a ticket for the cheapest itinerary i could find, which happened to fall on the weekend before the presidents' day weekend. and since my daughters didn't have any pressing plans, i was able to get them discounted bus tickets so they could meet up with me. ta da! a mother and child reunion in the big apple... which just happened to fall on the chinese new year weekend.

our plans called for me to fly out of LAX on the thursday night red-eye to JFK. i'd arrive early friday morning, spend the day at my leisure (read: doing the yoga thing), then pick up my daughters at the bus station later that evening. we'd spend saturday and sunday together, then after they hopped back on the bus early sunday afternoon, i'd be on my own again (read: more yoga stuff) before i boarded my late night flight back home.

other than the tickets to spamalot that i had bought online before the trip, we really had no major plans, no major expectations. and because we pretty much just winged it the entire time, it turned out to be a fun and stress-free weekend. some shopping, some eating, lots of walking, lots of talking. we even met up with an old family friend who recently moved to manhattan as well as my DC-based sister who decided to join us when she heard about our little get-together.

and of course, our trip wouldn't have been complete without a stop in chinatown for some dim sum to celebrate the new year. yum!

as for the yoga, it was pretty yummy, too :)

friday morning. right after i arrived at JFK, i rode the subway to my midtown hotel, dropped off my luggage, then headed out to union square for my first yoga class:

OM yoga center
826 Broadway, 6th floor
New York, NY 10003
(212) 254-YOGA
website: http://www.omyoga.com/

OM yoga is a juicy blend of flowing yoga asanas informed by precise attention to alignment and supported by the relaxed wakefulness of Buddhist mindfulness meditation. The practice of OM yoga is a lively dance of awakening that leads to a deeper understanding of yourself and a more personal connection with your world.

sometime last year, i had a chance to be one of the students in a monthly yoga DVD class taught by cyndi lee. unfortunately, my hamstring injury flared up the day before the taping and i had to cancel out at the last minute. right then i decided that if i were to ever to find myself in new york, i'd make it a point to check out cyndi's class at her studio in manhattan. of course, i didn't know at the time that she no longer teaches regularly-scheduled classes; she's so busy traveling around that she only shows up at OM yoga to teach workshops. darn. but since her studio made it to travel and leisure magazine's top 25 yoga studio list, i had to go check it out, cyndi or no cyndi.

OM yoga was relatively easy to find. it was a little more than a block away from the 14th street - union square subway stop, right between 12th and 13th streets. an elevator took me to the 6th floor, where i found a wonderfully inviting lobby with wonderfully inviting faces behind the front desk and wonderfully inviting items in the boutique :)

after i filled out the new student registration form and paid $18 for the drop-in class, i was directed to the women's changing room located in back. it was a large area with enough space to store students' clothing and belongings. it even had a shower for rinsing off after a particularly sweaty class. nice!

with four separate classrooms -- named earth, forest, sky, and sun -- there can be just as many classes going on at the same time, which allows for the wide variety of classes OM offers throughout the day. despite my short weekend visit to the city, there was a good chance that i'd find a class that fit into my tight schedule.

based on some teacher recommendations i had found on the citysearch site, i decided to take the 10am intermediate class with brian liem, a senior teacher on staff at OM. of course, i later found out while waiting for class to start that his class was being subbed that morning by kelly brennan, a teacher so new that she still didn't have her bio posted on the staff page. shades of san francisco! were all my NYC classes going to be subbed out as well?

luckily, kelly's class turned out to be quite pleasant. it wasn't very strenuous, but with arm balances and inversions thrown into the mix, it was an appropriate class for intermediate students. and perfect for someone who had just landed a few hours earlier from a five hour flight across the continent.

before leaving OM to catch the 6 train back to the hotel, i picked up a logo shirt to add to my souvenir collection. playing yoga tourist sure is fun!

then came sunday afternoon. with everyone else on their respective buses bound for home, i was back on the subway, headed once again for union square and another yoga class:

Jivamukti Yoga Center
841 Broadway, 2nd floor
New York, NY 10003
(212) 353-0214
website: http://www.jivamuktiyoga.com/

The Jivamukti Yoga method is a style of Yoga created by David Life and Sharon Gannon in 1984. It is a vigorously physical and intellectually stimulating practice leading to spiritual awareness.

We promote the educational aspect of the practice and give students access to where these ideas have come from. Each class focuses on a theme, which is supported by Sanskrit chanting, readings, references to scriptural texts, music (from the Beatles to Moby), spoken word, asana sequencing and yogic breathing practices. The average Jivamukti student is more educated about the philosophy of yoga than most yoga teachers.

The name Jivamukti means Liberation while living. Jivamukti is taken from the Sanskrit term, Jivanmukti, which is used to describe the state of enlightenment or God realization. We named our yoga method Jivamukti because we wanted the student to be reminded of the ultimate aim of the practice.

for the longest time, i'd been wanting to find out more about this style of yoga with the funky name, especially since many of the teachers i've studied with here in LA trace their yoga roots back to the jivamukti school in NY.

here are some excerpts from some of their bios:

Upon discovering yoga at Jivamukti NYC in 1996, (she) felt an immediate kinship with this ancient yet thoroughly relevant art...

Her first experience with Jivamukti yoga was with Michele Baker (Vani Devi) in Costa Rica, and she was drawn in by the style’s focus on spirituality, yogic philosophy, and the use of sound. After this enlightening experience, she studied with the founders of Jivamukti, David Life (Deva Das) and Sharon Gannon (Tripura Sundari), whenever possible...

Upon walking into the Jivamukti Yoga Center she had a feeling of “coming home.” She found that a daily asana practice and the spiritual teachings were essential to adjusting to big city life. As she felt her life transforming through her practice she decided to study with David Life and Sharon Gannon and became a certified Jivamukti teacher...

Fate brought her to her first teachers at the Jivamukti Yoga Center in the East Village. The teachings and the practice were challenging exciting and incredibly purifying. After studying for seven years at the center she moved across country to Los Angeles and pursued a full-time career as a teacher...

after reaching the second floor and stepping out of the elevator, i felt like a tourist who was visiting disneyland for the first time. so this is it, i thought. i'm finally here!

of course, it didn't help that i was running late for class. thanks to the misleading directions i got from the citysearch site, which said that jivamukti was by the astor place subway station, i ended up having to drag my luggage five blocks up broadway when all i needed to do was walk one block if i had exited one stop earlier at union square. luckily, the receptionist let me sign in even if i was five minutes late for class... although by the time i had filled out the paperwork, paid my $20, changed my clothes, and stashed away all my belongings, i was almost fifteen minutes late :(

again, based on a recommendation i'd read on the citysearch site since neither sharon nor david were on the posted class schedule, i planned to take the 2pm open level class with uma saraswati. i found the krishna classroom (one of three at jivamukti; the others are named ganesha and goddess), slowly opened the door, and let myself in.

but instead of hearing a female voice leading the class through the pre-asana meditation, i clearly heard a man's voice. another substitute... why was i not surprised? i was 2 for 2 in the sub game. 4 for 4 if you include my visit to sfo. unbelievable.

the large classroom was packed. even the empty space right by the door was too small for me to spread out my yoga mat. i had to wait until meditation was over before the teacher was able to ask people to move to make room for myself and a few other latecomers (and i'm still wondering why the yogini by the door was so resistant to sliding over a few inches so i could squeeze in... i finally gave up trying to ask nicely and moved to a different row!)

as for the class itself, it was just what i needed to get over the stress of getting there late. not too easy, not too hard. the students around me were of different levels, with some clearly looking like they knew what they were doing and others looking like they needed assistance. and the teacher did a good job of roaming the room and helping out. his music selections were an eclectic mix of contemporary, reggae, and chant. i definitely give him a thumbs-up (although i still have to find out who he was -- update: i called. it was jeff scios who taught our class.)

in general, i also have to give the entire jivamukti studio itself a thumbs-up, too. like om yoga, it had a large women's changing room with lots of wall hooks for hanging clothing. plus an adjoining shower, too. there was an ample coat-and-shoe drop-off area by the entrance as well as lots of cubby space by the classrooms for storing belongings. the retail area had a good selection of items for sale, with a large majority of them being either sustainable or organic. including the jivamukti logo tank i purchased, which was made from organic cotton by yoga tribe and culture. i know, i already own way too many YTC tanks...

after class, i spent a good half hour seated in the jivamuktea cafe, scanning the enormous menu board while quenching my thirst with an ice cold izze grapefruit sparkler. all the vegan selections sounded delicious. had i been a bit hungrier, i probably would have ordered a warm bowl of brown rice and tofu. or a sandwich. or salad. or both. there were so many things to choose from -- teas, juices, smoothies, pastries, and more. but my flight was to depart in two hours and i had to leave the comfortable confines of jivamukti and make my way through the bustling traffic outside for the long subway ride back to the airport. i knew that i had to come back to jivamukti the next time i was in town... if not for the yoga, then definitely for the food :)

me, selfcentered?

if you told me that i was self-centered, i'd take it as an insult. being self-centered would imply that i was selfish, egoistic, narcissistic and that i considered myself the center of the universe, thinking of no one else but myself. and even if i did realize at the time that i was acting self-centered, i probably would have never openly admitted it.

but max simon and his crew of "awareness architects" now want you to believe that being selfcentered is actually a good thing.

really?

according to them, someone who is selfcentered is authentic, grounded, balanced, self-aware, and ready to spread the love.

so i checked out their website, getselfcentered.com, to find out more.

in a video interview, max, the founder and chief enlightenment officer of selfcentered tour, talks about this new movement.

it's geared towards younger people who hunger for community, guidance, and leadership.

it's a fresh new spin on tools to help you go inside, to reconnect to your authentic inner space, so that the sense of selfcenteredness stays with you throughout the day.

it's fun, blending consciousness and music, spirituality and entertainment.

it's about using "chocolate meditation" to learn how to stop and think about what you're doing.

chocolate? now they're talking...

anyway, if you're young or young at heart, all these selfcentered people will be converging here in los angeles next week. spend the day with them and when you emerge from the all-day immersion, you'll be selfcentered, too. and maybe even proud of it.

here are the details:

What: The FIRST All Day selfcentered Event
When: Saturday, February 16, 9:00am - 9:00pm
Where: LAX Hilton, 5711 West Century Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90045
Host: Max Simon & The selfcentered Crew
Tickets: $75 until 2/10, $85 pre-sell after 2/10, $95 at the door $45 individual rate, $30 group rate (per person, group of 10 or more)
Contact Info:
Email: events@getselfcentered.com
Phone: 888-5-SCTOUR

Come join Max Simon and the rest of The selfcentered Awareness Architects for our first full day selfcentered Event.

During this entertaining and interactive new school event, you will:
~ Experience what it feels like to be truly authentic
~ Get clarity about who you are and where your journey can take you when you live your legend
~ Learn The selfcentered Tools of meditation, breath styles, body opening flow, and vantage fashioning
~ Drop normal and start being real
~ Connect with amazing young people devoted to self-expansion and global vision
~ Enjoy signature selfcentered experiences like The Chocolate Meditation and PDM (public displays of meditation)

Schedule
9:00 AM – 9:15 AM Welcome
9:15 AM – 9:45 AM A selfcentered Experience
9:45 AM – 11:00 AM Max
11:00 AM – 11:15 AM Breath Style
11:15 AM – 12:30 PM In-Joy
12:30 PM – 2:00 PM Lunch (bring your own)
2:15 PM – 3:00 PM Connection Experience
3:00 PM – 4:30 PM The selfcentered Tools
4:30 PM – 5:30 PM Body Opening Flow
5:30 PM – 6:00 PM In-Joy
6:30 PM – 8:00 PM Dinner
8:00 PM – 9:00 PM Vantage Fashioning Experience

Starting at 9 pm, we will close up shop and party like conscious rock stars with performances by Mark Malik Houlihan of Jupiter Sunrise and Eugene Gant.

This first event will be very special. Don't miss this unique opportunity to connect with a cool new community and get involved with our meditation inspired revolution for authenticity seekers.

towel girl

some people splurge on designer clothing. others on gourmet food and drink. and then there are those who spend loads of cash in an attempt to make even more. like wagering that the patriots would beat the giants in the superbowl and end their season with a perfect 19-0 record. thank god i'm not the betting kind!

as for me, all my money seems to go to anything yoga-related. classes, clothes, concerts, cds. i'm afraid to add up all the receipts i've accumulated just in the past year; it might just confirm that i need to check into the nearest yogaholics anonymous meeting pronto :(

take my obsession with yogitoes skidless towels, for example. recently, while folding up my laundry, i realized that i had not just one, nor two, but SEVEN of them!

it started innocently enough. i was tired of slipping and sliding all over my mat, so i saved up my money (which was hard to do while living off unemployment) and used my volunteer discount to help me pay for my first yogitoes: a blue one. for the throat chakra, communication and self-expression. i had just started blogging at the time, so it sounded like the perfect one for me. but with my daily practice, having just one wasn't enough. i mean, there's no way i'd reuse a towel that had been drenched with sweat the day before... ewww...

before i knew it, i was finding all kinds of reasons to "reward" myself with a new skidless towel -- a new job, a better paying job, a special occasion. my collection started to grow. i bought a green one (heart chakra for love and compassion), a purple one (third eye chakra for psychic perception), and then a pink one (to kick in $5 for the breast cancer research efforts of the dr. susan love foundation). four seemed like a good place to stop, so i did.

then yogitoes came out with their "eco" colors. and like the slave to fashion that i didn't think i was, i ended up coveting the "moss" towel, not because of what it supposedly signified (kaivalya: absolute freedom, spiritual growth), but because it helped me imagine that i was doing yoga outdoors on the grass, under a bright summer sky. after a particularly fun day doing acroyoga in the park, i broke down and bought that grassy-green one. i do have to give myself credit for restraining myself from also getting the "sand" towel; after all, yoga on the beach is pretty fun, too! that one more made five.

then came the global mala last september. and the orange limited edition. at least i didn't have to pay for it; i "earned" it by volunteering three days at the event. so what's that now? oh, six.

sometime later, at an exhalesoul fundraiser at sacred movement, i spotted the exclusive exhale edition. brown with mint green trim. whether or not the money went to exhalesoul, i wanted one, especially since i consider the exhale location in venice to be my home turf. i could now flash the colors of my homies. yeah. and now there were seven. one for each day of the week.

i was just fine until sometime last month, when i spotted a whole new crop of yogitoes colors at harmony yoga in redondo beach. and i drooled. instead of the usual orange trim and orange drishti dot, these towels were edged in gold. and in the place of the familiar dot was the golden visage of a deity. ooooh! luckily for me, class was about to start, which saved me from making that purchase...

two weeks later, i saw them again, this time at yogaworks in larchmont. and i found out that a portion of the proceeds go to charities around the world. i wanted one. i craved one. i yearned for one. but i held fast and kept my wallet zipped up securely in my purse. i patted myself on the back when i successfully left the studio without that new acquisition. and then promptly popped into the pinkberry next door to console myself with a coffee frozen yogurt topped with bananas. argh.

and then it happened. last saturday, while walking past the power yoga studio on 2nd street in santa monica, i caved in. not only was i confident that they would have the color i wanted (after all, i'd spent many of my volunteer hours there stocking shelves with rainbows of yogitoes), but i knew that i could get it cheaper there than at any other place in town. minutes later, i emerged with my prized purchase:

GANESHA (Teal towel with gold trim)
The God of knowledge, wisdom and wealth. Lord of success and destroyer of all obstacles.
A portion of 'GANESHA' proceeds go to YOGA ED.
Yoga Ed. develops health/wellness programs and materials that utilize the physiological, emotional, and educational benefits of yoga and creative play, and distributes them to children, teachers and parents through schools and communities nationwide. yogaed.com

not only had i attended a yoga ed fundraiser with hala khouri last year, but i also have a fondness for ganesha, the half-boy, half-elephant deity, the remover of obstacles. plus i couldn't help but notice that the color scheme was somewhat similar to the blue and gold of my alma mater, UCLA. go bruins! :)

eight is enough. or so the TV series title goes.

the charities for the other colors in the series are just as worthy; in fact, i'd been to yoga fundraisers for some of them, too, like the one in 2006 with ted mcdonald for the chandler sky foundation and the one held just yesterday with missy costello for the tunahaki foundation. so does this mean there are at least two more in my future? i'm not making any promises.

by the way, here's a rundown of the other skidless towels in the deity line; maybe you'll find yourself gravitating towards one of them, too:

KRISHNA (Bronze towel with gold trim)
The supreme person, the Godhead, teaching salvation through selfless action, knowledge, and devotion of God.
A portion of 'KRISHNA' proceeds go to The Chandler Sky Foundation.
Casa de Milagros (Home of Miracles) is a children's home in the Sacred Valley near historic Machu Picchu, Peru. It was founded by the Chandler Sky Foundation to heal the mind, body and spirit of many of the thousands of orphaned and abandoned children living in poverty on the streets of Cusco, Peru and surrounding towns. chandlersky.org

LAKSHMI (Crimson towel with gold trim)
The Goddess of light, beauty, good fortune and wealth. Signifying loveliness and grace.
A portion of 'LAKSHMI' proceeds go to The TunaHAKI Foundation.
TunaHAKI Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization which empowers orphans and vulnerable street children in Africa to become self-reliant, thus ensuring basic human needs, including food, clothing, shelter, education, medical care, and the right to a secure future. tunahaki.org

KALI MA (Black towel with gold trim)
The Black Goddess that takes away the darkness from every devotee who strives in the path of perfection.
A portion of 'KALI MA' proceeds go to the Mary Ellen Gerber Foundation.
The MEG foundation opened its doors on June 3rd, 1997, and has been in India since 2000. The mission of the foundation is to help in the caring of orphans and children in need. In its 2 villages, Puri and Visakhapatnam, established by the foundation, it lodges, nourishes and schools 200 children to prepare them to obtain a worthy occupation. Since the recent tsunami the foundation has also cared for an additional 650 children. megfoundation.org

VISHNU (Tan towel with gold trim)
A peace-loving Deity, sustainer of life with the principles of order, righteousness, and truth.
A portion of 'VISHNU' proceeds go to The Ravi Shankar Foundation.
The Ravi Shankar Foundation in California and The Ravi Shankar Centre in New Delhi (also known as RIMPA) have been established to collect, document and archive the vast works of Ravi Shankar, which are fragmented all over the world. They are also committed to posterity the artistic and creative energy that this unique musician has still to offer. It is a dedication to awaken the consciousness of people to help towards the preservation of the diversity of cultures and richness of their art and the aesthetic and ancient traditions of the past and present. The dream is to support the freedom of artistic creativity and to help in the collaboration and exploration of world music, performing arts and work for universal Peace and Harmony through music. ravishankar.org

treats for the yoga lover in you

february looks to be a great month for the yoga aficionados in LA, especially for those who can't get enough FREE yoga :)

and don't forget to check out all the fun partner yoga classes where you can pair up not just with your mate but with anyone you please -- a friend, a relative, or even someone you'd like to get to know better!

as always, this is a work in progress, so please keep checking back...

ongoing events:

Friday Night Groove Night
Yoga Groove, North Hollywood
Every Friday 7:45-9:15pm
Cost: By donation

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.

Ananda Ritam - A Benefit for Shanti House with Saul David Raye + Special Guests
Exhale Center for Sacred Movement, Venice
Friday, Feb 1st 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.

Kirtan in the Canyon with Andrew and Michele and Friends
Yoga Desa, Topanga
Saturday, Feb 2nd (1st Saturday of each 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, Feb 2nd, 9th, 16th, and 23rd 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!

Kirtan with Daniel, Larry and Friends
Rising Lotus Yoga, Sherman Oaks
Friday, Feb 8th (Second Friday of every month) 8:15pm
Cost: By Donation

Join Daniel, Larry, Sarah and other musical guests for an evening of musical meditation and chanting. No experience necessary. Just a willingness to open your heart to the blissful flow.
Come to Daniel's candle-lit flow class at 6:30 pm, come to chant after or join us for both.
Sita Ram Sita Ram Sita Ram....

Chanting Workshop
Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Center, Marina del Rey
Saturdays, Feb 9th and 23rd 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

Devotional Chanting
Ananda Los Angeles, Santa Monica
Saturday, Feb 9th 7:30pm

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.

FREE Community Night - Self Healing: An Introduction to Ayurveda
City Yoga, West Hollywood
Tuesday, Feb 12th (Second Tuesday of every month) 7:30pm
Cost: FREE

City Yoga presents a FREE night of yoga-related topics for discussion, contemplation, and inspiration. Join our fine teachers for a laid-back night of fun questions and answers.
Remember it's FREE for you and your friends, Make a night of it!
This month, Mary-Alice will be discussing some important facts about Ayurveda.
Ayurveda is the science of self-healing; it is a natural system that teaches us how to heal ourselves and prevent disease through proper diet, daily lifestyle practices and herbal remedies.
No prior knowledge of Ayurveda is necessary. We hope to see you there!
Please RSVP by calling 323-654-2125.

Soul Flow: Creative Dance with Haridass Kaur
Awareness Center, Pasadena
Saturday, Feb 16th 8:00-10:00pm
Cost: $20...or 2 for $30

Join Haridass Kaur/Basia for a wholesome and soulful evening! This eclectic 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, Terra Gold and Friends
Santa Monica Yoga, Santa Monica
Saturday, Feb 23rd 8:00-9:30 PM
Cost: By Donation

Yoga for a Cause: Antyodaya Orphanage in India ** CANCELLED **
Liberation Yoga, Los Angeles
Sunday, Feb 24th 1:30-3:00pm
Cost: Whatever you want to donate!

Join Joel Bender this Sunday for 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.
The cause of the month where our donations will go is the Antyodaya Shelter which is an interfaith initiative. It is intended to help adults and children in need who survive below the poverty line in Delhi, the capital of India, whatever their religious, cultural, ethnic or social background. They have saved countless children from a life on the streets of Delhi and give children and adults the chance for a decent life they could not dream of otherwise.
Yoga For A Cause is an all levels donation based class that happens the last Sunday of each month. Every penny donated will go to the cause of the month. We hope to bring some awareness and financial aid to those who need it most while offering up our spirit and energy towards the highest good - all this and a fun and healthy yoga class too!
For more information visit www.ewishingwell.org.


other special events:

Falling in Love Kundalini with Gurutej
lululemon Beverly Hills, 334 North Beverly Drive
Sunday, Feb 3rd 9:30am
Cost: FREE

Come join Gurutej for a truly inspirational class.
This is the month of love and we're going to make the most of it.
Join us in this process of falling in love, deeply, fiercely, joyously.
Explore the legacy of love.
Bring your body with you for we will work all parts of your being.
Expereince the joy of chocolate after this joyous experience.
Class begins promptly at 9:30am!

Hatha Blend Yoga with Sri Hari Moss
lululemon Calabasas, 4719 Commons Way
Sunday, Feb 3rd 9:30-10:30am
Cost: FREE

Sunday Yoga!!
lululemon Pasadena, 110 W Colorado Blvd
Sunday, Feb 3rd 10:00am
Cost: FREE

Join us for our all levels yoga this Sunday on our lovely patio. If it is raining, we will be moving class inside!!
Class starts at 10am.

FUNDRAISER DONATION YOGA CLASS Benefiting TunaHAKI Orphanage in Tanzania, Africa
Maha Yoga, Brentwood
Sunday, Feb 3rd 7:30pm (after the Super Bowl)
Cost: By Donation

Maha Yoga and Missy Costello invite you to a fun, music filled, donation flow yoga class on SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 3 (after the Super Bowl) at 7:30pm
Share your abundance and good fortune with the beautiful children of TunaHAKI orphanage located in Tanzania, Africa.
Please bring your mat, towel, water and a cash or check donation.
Any amount (large and small) helps and is greatly appreciated.
100% of the donations collected will go directly to TunaHAKI.
TunaHAKI Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization which empowers orphans and vulnerable street children in Africa to become self- reliant, thus ensuring basic human needs, including food, clothing, shelter, education, medical care, and the right to a secure future.
To find out more information about Tuna Haki, please visit tunahaki.org.

Runners Yoga 90210
lululemon Beverly Hills, 334 North Beverly Drive
Tuesday, Feb 5th 6:45pm
Cost: FREE

Presented by lululemon Ambassador, Beverly Hills Yoga Instructor Extraordinaire, and Former Collegiate Runner Angie Stewart (MPH, CSCS, NASM-CPT). Whether you are training for a marathon, a 5K or running just to stay in shape, this consummate runner's yoga class will help you reach your personal best. Learn how to effectively open up those hamstrings, hips and the many other common tight spots in running for more speed, efficiency and quality of stride. Runner's Yoga 90210 will seek to heighten your mental focus, reduce your risk for injuries and renew your love of running.
Get focused for the marathon, or just get fit!
Class schedule is as follows:
6:45 - 7:30 pm optional outside run meeting at the store
7:30 - 8:15 pm in store Runner's Yoga
See you at the store!
Your life may change completely - for the better.
Come experience "the ultimate complement to running."

The 10-Minute Yoga Fix
lululemon Pasadena, 110 W Colorado Blvd
Wednesday, Feb 6th 6:30pm
Cost: FREE

Are you dealing with a physical injury, new or old? Do you have areas in your body that always seem tight or painful?
Does stress show itself in parts of your body?
If so, let Certified Anusara Yoga teacher Scott Lewicki prescribe a yoga fix!!
Whether or not you have ever been to a yoga class, awareness and application of the principles of yoga alignment and action can bring about profound and sustained healing.
Please sign up ahead of time with your name and a description of what part of your body needs addressing and what types of movements cause discomfort.
Please RSVP to pasadena-community@lululemon.com by February 4th, 2008.

Yoga for Runners with Steve Mackel
lululemon Pasadena, 110 W Colorado Blvd
Thursday, Feb 7th 6:30pm
Cost: FREE

Join us for Runners Yoga with acclaimed ChiRunning coach Steve Mackel.
Every Thursday at 6:30pm
About chirunning:
Whether you are just beginning a running program or training for a marathon, race, or triathlon, the ChiRunning approach is one that builds a healthy body, instead of breaking it down from misuse or overuse.

Get Self-Centered with Max Simon
lululemon Beverly Hills, 334 North Beverly Drive
Thursday, Feb 7th 7:30pm
Cost: FREE

At the age of 22, Max became the youngest meditation and yoga teacher in Chopra Center history. As a living example of someone who could integrate ancient wisdom into modern times, Max began to tour the country with Deepak Chopra M.D. and his father teaching meditation and yoga to thousands of people at the Chopra Center’s prestigious workshops and events.
Max’s passion for teaching and appreciation of silence gave rise to a movement that would forever change the way the world looked at meditation. Known as The selfcentered Tour, he designed this program to bring a fresh new look and feel to spirituality and the people who do it. Engaging, experiential, and wildly entertaining, Max’s programs equip people with the tools and techniques to step away from the endless mind-chatter, disconnect from the buzz, and settle into a world of authentic inner-calm.
Max’s vision is to inspire one million people to join him in spending time each day connecting to their silent inner-self. The selfcentered Tour has manifested to make that vision a reality.
The meditation is from 7:30 - 8:30pm. See you there!!!!

Blood Drive
lululemon South Bay, 2008A East Park Place
Saturday, Feb 9th noon-6:00pm
Cost: FREE

Sign up to donate blood and save a life! We are partnering with Little Company of Mary to bring a mini mobile unit to Plaza El Segundo. Your unselfish act would bring much joy and hope to those patients in need. As a member of the community, please join us in an effort to make this a better and caring place for everyone.
Donations will take place from 12 noon to 6pm.
To reserve your space, stop by the store or call 310.640.9476.

Stephen Longfellow Fiske In Concert
Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Center, Marina del Rey
Saturday, Feb 9th 8:00pm
Cost: Suggested Donation: $15

A Concert by Stephen Longfellow Fiske, Songwriter/Peace Campaigner
Acclaimed poet, peace activist, singer, songwriter and yogi, Stephen Longfellow Fiske will entertain us with insightful, poetic and often humorous songs and stories. A vegetarian dinner will be served after the concert.
Stephen has shown his dedication to peace and humanitarian, environ­mental and spiritual concerns through his music and art since his first album release, Seeds of Peace, in 1980.

Wah! Live music!
YogaWorks Main Street, Santa Monica
Saturday, Feb 9th 8:15-10:15pm
Cost: $25

Come sing, dance, and groove with singing sensation Wah!
Hip elegance through music of perennial wisdom flows from the lovely voice of Wah! If you've taken a yoga class in the last five years, you have no doubt heard her music which encompasses everything from her free flowing Savasana relaxation CDs to rockin’ reggae Sanskrit chants to acoustic pop tunes in English. As described by Australian Yoga Life magazine, "Wah! just might be a devi. She sings with the voice of a goddess reflecting the deep devotion and reverence of a seasoned bhakta."

Ambassador Month: Julie Rader and Lisa Ellerton
lululemon South Bay, 2008A East Park Place
Sunday, Feb 10th 8:30am
Cost: FREE

Join ambassadors Julie Rader (yoga instructor) and Lisa Ellerton (spin instructor) for a lecture/class combo. Lisa will speak about cardio training and why you need a solid cardio program. Guests attending will receive a free class at Lisa’s studio SPACE in Manhattan Beach! Julie will speak about the benefits of yoga as well as meditation and will follow with a yoga class where you’ll learn the 5 Tibetan exercises and practice your sun salutations.
Join us as we celebrate our Plaza El Segundo ambassadors during the month of February!
Class begins at 8:30 am.
RSVP to plazaelsegundo-community@lululemon.com

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

Join one of our favorite yoga teachers this Sunday...John Bea leads class in anusara style. Prepare to work hard with one of our most popular teachers!!
Class starts at 10am!

Love Fest: Mojo Rising with Shiva Rea
Exhale Center for Sacred Movement, Venice
Tuesday, Feb 12th 4:15-5:45pm
Cost: Regular class

Celebrate, awakening and open your heart Shiva-style. This rockin’ class will be sure to open your heartfire!

Love Fest: Tantric Scents Samples with Julie Carmen
Exhale Center for Sacred Movement, Venice
Tuesday, Feb 12th 1:00-2:25pm
Cost: Community class

Dr. Jyoti Light Miller, author of Ayurveda + Aromatherapy, will help you find your scent for yoga class and beyond.
Special Guest: Shanti Shivani Nada Yoga master, Sound Healer and Singer of Sacred Music.

Runners Yoga 90210
lululemon Beverly Hills, 334 North Beverly Drive
Tuesday, Feb 12th 6:45pm
Cost: FREE

Presented by lululemon Ambassador, Beverly Hills Yoga Instructor Extraordinaire, and Former Collegiate Runner Angie Stewart (MPH, CSCS, NASM-CPT). Whether you are training for a marathon, a 5K or running just to stay in shape, this consummate runner's yoga class will help you reach your personal best. Learn how to effectively open up those hamstrings, hips and the many other common tight spots in running for more speed, efficiency and quality of stride. Runner's Yoga 90210 will seek to heighten your mental focus, reduce your risk for injuries and renew your love of running.
Get focused for the marathon, or just get fit!
Class schedule is as follows:
6:45 - 7:30 pm optional outside run meeting at the store
7:30 - 8:15 pm in store Runner's Yoga
See you at the store!
Your life may change completely - for the better.
Come experience "the ultimate complement to running."

Love Fest: A Ritual Yoga Flow with Micheline Berry + Shaman's Dream
Exhale Center for Sacred Movement, Venice
Thursday, Feb 14th 4:15-5:45pm
Cost: Regular class

Shaman's Dream Live Music Yoga Class: Open to all levels of yoga... come alone or with a partner.

Love Fest: Invoking the Beloved Within with Shannon von Burns
Exhale Center for Sacred Movement, Venice
Thursday, Feb 14th 5:30-6:55pm
Cost: Regular class

This Valentine’s day Shannon will focus the class's attention toward a flowing journey invoking the beloved within as a tool for individual transformation. She will be accompanied by her brother, Sean von Burns, who will be singing during the invocation, in the beginning of the class and during savasana.

Valentine's Evening Class with Ashley Quaine
Rising Lotus Yoga, Sherman Oaks
Thursday, Feb 14th 6:00 pm
Cost: Regular class

Join our beloved Ashley for a a special evening of yoga, love and poetry. She'll read from the ecstatic Persian poets, Rumi, Hafiz and more in a celebration of unconditional love.
Come alone, come with your beloved -- just come and celebrate THE beloved in this evening of heart opening flow.

Yoga for Runners with Steve Mackel
lululemon Pasadena, 110 W Colorado Blvd
Thursday, Feb 14th 6:30pm
Cost: FREE

Join us for Runners Yoga with acclaimed ChiRunning coach Steve Mackel.
Every Thursday at 6:30pm
About chirunning:
Whether you are just beginning a running program or training for a marathon, race, or triathlon, the ChiRunning approach is one that builds a healthy body, instead of breaking it down from misuse or overuse.

Open your Heart with Rick Feldman
Revive Studios, Chatsworth
Thursday, Feb 14th 7:30-9:00pm
Cost: $15 per person

Join Rick Feldman for an evening of opening the Heart Chakra. This class will be a candlelight deep stretch with an emphasis on opening the shoulders, chest and back through gentle postures.
Open to all levels, great for first timers!

Charity Flow for Animals
YogaWorks Main Street, Santa Monica
Friday, Feb 15th 7:30-9:30pm
Cost: $20 suggested donation

How many times have we done downward facing dog and felt like a new person afterwards?
Join Mia Togo, Malachi Melville, Kathryn Budig, and Jesse Schein for a night of celebration of the animals in our lives through an eclectic flow class, music and dedication. Bring an object of affection of an animal you love like a photo, toy, collar, etc. to place on the altar to bring healing and awareness to animals in need.
Lastly, bring yourself and maybe a friend and come with an open heart to bring healing to a cause that needs out help. All proceeds will go to Much Love Animal Rescue (www.muchlove.org).
There will be a raffle with exciting prizes!

ExhaleSoul Presents: Spontaneous Pathways with Jamie Elmer and Sherry Brourman
Exhale Center for Sacred Movement, Venice
Saturday, Feb 16th 4:00-5:45pm
Cost: Suggested donation $15

A musical, fanciful, all levels class.......
Based on their instincts and intuition, Jamie elmer and sherry brourman will work together, as they have for years, to unfold a light and delicious sequential class. It will be, of course, spine stabilizing, and of course, uplifting and fun. Sure to include heart openers, inversions, breath work, musical delights and surprises along the way.

Ambassador Month: Peter Rojas and Cristin Schult
lululemon South Bay, 2008A East Park Place
Sunday, Feb 17th 8:30am
Cost: FREE

Join ambassadors Peter Rojas (personal trainer) and Cristin Schult (pilates instructor) for a lecture/class combo. Peter will speak on nutrition for body fat loss and recovery and will follow with a functional core “bootcamp” class. Cristin will speak about the history of pilates and what it can do for your body and will follow with an all levels pilates mat class.
Join us as we celebrate our Plaza El Segundo ambassadors during the month of February!
Class begins at 8:30 am.
RSVP to plazaelsegundo-community@lululemon.com

Flow Yoga with Robin Ramirez
lululemon Calabasas, 4719 Commons Way
Sunday, Feb 17th 9:30-10:30am
Cost: FREE

In Store complimentary yoga with Robin Ramirez, 9:30-10:30am

Sunday Yoga with Rebecca Rosen!
lululemon Pasadena, 110 W Colorado Blvd
Sunday, Feb 17th 10:00am
Cost: FREE

Rebecca is a unique teacher with over 25 years of experience in movement education. Her connection with anusara, kundalini, bikram and iyengar yoga has helped Rebecca to reconnect with her body physically and spiritually in uncompetitive, process oriented way.
Join us for class at 10am!!

Runners Yoga 90210
lululemon Beverly Hills, 334 North Beverly Drive
Tuesday, Feb 19th 6:45pm
Cost: FREE

Presented by lululemon Ambassador, Beverly Hills Yoga Instructor Extraordinaire, and Former Collegiate Runner Angie Stewart (MPH, CSCS, NASM-CPT). Whether you are training for a marathon, a 5K or running just to stay in shape, this consummate runner's yoga class will help you reach your personal best. Learn how to effectively open up those hamstrings, hips and the many other common tight spots in running for more speed, efficiency and quality of stride. Runner's Yoga 90210 will seek to heighten your mental focus, reduce your risk for injuries and renew your love of running.
Get focused for the marathon, or just get fit!
Class schedule is as follows:
6:45 - 7:30 pm optional outside run meeting at the store
7:30 - 8:15 pm in store Runner's Yoga
See you at the store!
Your life may change completely - for the better.
Come experience "the ultimate complement to running."

Fundraiser for the new Art of Living Center
Kula Music Studio, 1231 Lincoln Blvd, Santa Monica
Saturday, Feb 23rd, 7:30-10:30pm
Cost: Suggested minimum donation: $5 - $10

The Art of Living Musicians and Friends invite you to join us for an evening of:
~ Bhajans
~ Making Divine Music Together
~ Dancing
~ Celebrating Your Own Perfect Joy
~ and Raising Money for Our New Center!
Enter from the rear, and go up the stairs
Bring a cushion (mostly floor seating) and a bottle of water
Questions and information: Call Tulasi, 310-740-0493

WAH! Concert at the Loft
Yoga Loft Manhattan Beach
Saturday, Feb 23rd 8:00pm
Cost: $20 in advance, $22 at door

Ambassador Month: Bonnie Johanson and Leila Cunningham
lululemon South Bay, 2008A East Park Place
Sunday, Feb 24th 8:30am
Cost: FREE

Join ambassadors Bonnie Johanson (yoga instructor) and Leila Cunningham (pilates instructor) for a lecture/class combo. Bonnie share her light-hearted view on the basics of yoga (intention, breath & movement, base postures) and will then teach a flow class. Leila Cunningham will speak on the function of core muscles and types of core strengthening exercises. She will follow with a pilates mat class.
Join us as we celebrate our Plaza El Segundo ambassadors during the month of February!
Class begins at 8:30 am.
RSVP to plazaelsegundo-community@lululemon.com

Moving into Bliss Yoga with Maggie Mellor from Yogaworks
lululemon Calabasas, 4719 Commons Way
Sunday, Feb 24th 9:30-10:30am
Cost: FREE

Complimentary In-Store Yoga with Maggie Mellor of Yogaworks from 9:30-10:30am

Sunday Yoga with Janine Conte!
lululemon Pasadena, 110 W Colorado Blvd
Sunday, Feb 24th 10:00am
Cost: FREE

Janine Conte teaches us today in an anusara style yoga class. Janine is a dedicated yogi and a very special member of our local community.
Class starts at 10am

CRUNCH Group Fitness THIRD EYE YOGA with Sahara Ali
lululemon Beverly Hills, 334 North Beverly Drive
Sunday, Feb 24th 9:30-11:00am
Cost: FREE

Come join us for an amazing group fitness class with CRUNCH instructor Sahara Ali!
Crunch is constantly coming up with the most innovative classes around! You will not want to miss Third Eye Yoga.
This class is out of sight. Blindfold your eyes and uncover your other senses as you feel your way through a traditional yoga class.
Meet us at the store from 9:30am to 11am!

Runners Yoga 90210
lululemon Beverly Hills, 334 North Beverly Drive
Tuesday, Feb 26th 6:45pm
Cost: FREE

Presented by lululemon Ambassador, Beverly Hills Yoga Instructor Extraordinaire, and Former Collegiate Runner Angie Stewart (MPH, CSCS, NASM-CPT). Whether you are training for a marathon, a 5K or running just to stay in shape, this consummate runner's yoga class will help you reach your personal best. Learn how to effectively open up those hamstrings, hips and the many other common tight spots in running for more speed, efficiency and quality of stride. Runner's Yoga 90210 will seek to heighten your mental focus, reduce your risk for injuries and renew your love of running.
Get focused for the marathon, or just get fit!
Class schedule is as follows:
6:45 - 7:30 pm optional outside run meeting at the store
7:30 - 8:15 pm in store Runner's Yoga
See you at the store!
Your life may change completely - for the better.
Come experience "the ultimate complement to running."

ANUSARA YOGA
lululemon Santa Monica, 331 Santa Monica Blvd
Tuesday, Feb 26th 7:30pm
Cost: FREE

Our featured teacher is Lauri Ashworth who will be opening up opening a beautiful new yoga/meditation/lifestyle center in Spring 2008!

Join the evoLUtion!
lululemon Santa Monica, 331 Santa Monica Blvd
Thursday, Feb 28th 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. Brett Dennen will be playing live music!!! Come and enjoy!

Leap Year Class with Sara Ivanhoe
YogaWorks Montana, Santa Monica
Friday, Feb 29th 6:00-8:30pm
Cost: Regular class fee

Celebrate Leap Year with a free extra hour tacked onto Sara's Vinyasa Flow class.