check out the youtube video featuring more shots of these three yogi rockstars on their GROOVY SKIDLESS!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOMW62pRtYg
November 6, 2009
August 21, 2009
BHAKTI FEST IS COMING
Bhakti Fest is...
a 3-day music festival celebrating devotion through chanting, yoga, meditation and community in beautiful Joshua Tree, California
Friday, Sept 11 - Sunday, Sept 13
come "be in the bhav" with us!
OPENING CEREMONY & CONSTANT KIRTAN
opening fire ceremony begins at NOON on Friday, Sept 11th...at 1pm Kirtan begins and continues as "constant kirtan" until Sunday night, 10pm. this is the first time such a gathering has scheduled constant Kirtan by so many great artists!
SANCTUARY
in the sanctuary building, discourses, seminars, trainings and dance opportuinties continue throughout the day on Saturday and Sunday.
on Sunday, Sept 13th from 12:30-2:00pm... meet yogitoes founder Susan Nichols at our NEWHIPPIE lecture on Bhakti Yoga - a dialogue on devotion and divinity
we hope to see you at there!
tell your friends and spread the word about this revolutionary spiritual event!!!
OM shanti, peace
the yogitoes family
NEWHIPPIE is our new yoga philosophy division, whose intention is to bring messages of compassion, awareness and unity consciousness to the planet. check it out at www.newhippie.com
August 17, 2009
there's no such thing as a free yoga class!*
Recently a friend approached me at a party, excited to share the news that he has recently discovered yoga!
I could see in his eyes and feel in his energy that he had opened that cosmic Christmas present that held inside this tool for total transformation... He was coming to join me on this yogic path! woo hoo!
"Awesome!" I yelped! "Where are you practicing!? I want to take a class with you ASAP!"
"At the free yoga studio!" He replied excitedly.... "ya know... the donation one in Santa Monica where you don't have to pay."
My
excitement plopped on the floor about as quickly and loudly as my butt had earlier that morning in titthibasana (firefly pose)...<--- you know... THAT one where your butt smacks your SKIDLESS on the regular
well... needless to say, I pulled myself up and I had a little chat with my friend, explaining that "donation" does not mean "free!"
In my neighborhood there are a plethora of DONATION-BASED yoga studios, and more on the way!
...to name a few...
BHAKTI YOGA SHALA
www.bhaktiyogashala.com
BRYAN KEST POWER YOGA
www.poweryoga.com
YOGA CO
www.poweryoga.com
YOGA CO
www.yogaco.com
HOME SIMPLY YOGA
HOME SIMPLY YOGA
www.homesimplyyoga.com
...and coming soon
YOGIS ANONYMOUS
www.yogisanonymous.com
Sooooo... you get the picture.
There are a LOT of donation based studios cropping up everywhere! Which make me think that we all need to have a little crash course on what "donation yoga" means...
Donation yoga was started as a way to allow practitioners to choose what they feel the class was worth to them. I seriously doubt that ANYONE can walk out of a yoga class and not feel as though it was worth something to them.
Generally, your teacher will be paying rent on the studio for that time slot and does not get "paid" to teach that class. All the money they make, is the money that you put in the box at the end of the class. That is their livelyhood.
Sometimes there will be a sign, letting you know what the "suggested donation" is, but if you really can't figure out how much is right, think about the following:
1. MAKE IT COMPARABLE - a drop-in class at non-donation studios is usually somewhere between $15-$20
2. SHOW SOME LOVE - can you REALLY put a price on the inner peace you just attained, let alone the workout you just got!? If you leave class euphoric, let the teacher know by showing some love in the donation box! If you were expecting to put in $15, leave a $20 instead!
3. DONATE FOR THE WEEK/MONTH - if you are like me, you never carry cash. this USED to be a turn off to donation studios for me, until i realized that i could just write a check for the classes i was planning to take that month and keep a little mental tally of how many classes I think i should have gotten for that sum! PLUS.. it feels really good to shove a three figure check into the box with the ones and fives!
4. FEEL LUCKY WHEN IT'S ONLY YOU! - If you happen to show up for a class and you are the only one there, consider this.... you are getting a PRIVATE class that your teacher probably charges upwards of $100 for when scheduled. I definitely understand that you may not have wanted a private in the first place, but hey... enjoy the individualized attention and if you CAN, show your thanks with your donation...
5. COME TO CLASS NO MATTER WHAT! - If you are having financial hardship, don't let that be a reason for you NOT to practice.
Bryan Kest shared a story once about a guy who took his class every day for years and one day left an envelope in the box with a check for $7,000 and a note that said (something like) "Bryan, I've been in a really dark time for a while, and the only that got me through was being able to take class from you. But I've never been able to even drop a dollar in the box. And now finally I am in a comfortable financial situation, thanks to this practice. So here is a little backpayment." Bryan was so touched and said, " ya know... this is why i do it!"
Ally Hamilton (who's new studio 'yogis anonymous' will be opening Sept 1st) says "We do not want financial limitations to prevent you from developing and maintaining a strong and healthy yoga practice. We've chosen to be true to our yogic principles of love, trust, and generosity of spirit by using the honor system and asking that you donate what you can afford and what you feel these offerings are worth to you."
So, i guess the best rule of thumb is, give from the heart! and... it's not free.
_______________________
* amendment to the title
"there's no such thing as a free yoga class, except for lululemon's free yoga classes they offer weekly in their stores!" :)
(they bring in great teachers from your community and its a fun way to try new styles and teachers you have been wondering about... for free!)
www.lululemon.com/santamonica/santamonicablvd/events
- this is the link to the santa monica store... search for your local store for events in your area!-
YOGIS ANONYMOUS
www.yogisanonymous.com
Sooooo... you get the picture.
There are a LOT of donation based studios cropping up everywhere! Which make me think that we all need to have a little crash course on what "donation yoga" means...
Donation yoga was started as a way to allow practitioners to choose what they feel the class was worth to them. I seriously doubt that ANYONE can walk out of a yoga class and not feel as though it was worth something to them.
Generally, your teacher will be paying rent on the studio for that time slot and does not get "paid" to teach that class. All the money they make, is the money that you put in the box at the end of the class. That is their livelyhood.
Sometimes there will be a sign, letting you know what the "suggested donation" is, but if you really can't figure out how much is right, think about the following:
1. MAKE IT COMPARABLE - a drop-in class at non-donation studios is usually somewhere between $15-$20
2. SHOW SOME LOVE - can you REALLY put a price on the inner peace you just attained, let alone the workout you just got!? If you leave class euphoric, let the teacher know by showing some love in the donation box! If you were expecting to put in $15, leave a $20 instead!
3. DONATE FOR THE WEEK/MONTH - if you are like me, you never carry cash. this USED to be a turn off to donation studios for me, until i realized that i could just write a check for the classes i was planning to take that month and keep a little mental tally of how many classes I think i should have gotten for that sum! PLUS.. it feels really good to shove a three figure check into the box with the ones and fives!
4. FEEL LUCKY WHEN IT'S ONLY YOU! - If you happen to show up for a class and you are the only one there, consider this.... you are getting a PRIVATE class that your teacher probably charges upwards of $100 for when scheduled. I definitely understand that you may not have wanted a private in the first place, but hey... enjoy the individualized attention and if you CAN, show your thanks with your donation...
5. COME TO CLASS NO MATTER WHAT! - If you are having financial hardship, don't let that be a reason for you NOT to practice.
Bryan Kest shared a story once about a guy who took his class every day for years and one day left an envelope in the box with a check for $7,000 and a note that said (something like) "Bryan, I've been in a really dark time for a while, and the only that got me through was being able to take class from you. But I've never been able to even drop a dollar in the box. And now finally I am in a comfortable financial situation, thanks to this practice. So here is a little backpayment." Bryan was so touched and said, " ya know... this is why i do it!"
Ally Hamilton (who's new studio 'yogis anonymous' will be opening Sept 1st) says "We do not want financial limitations to prevent you from developing and maintaining a strong and healthy yoga practice. We've chosen to be true to our yogic principles of love, trust, and generosity of spirit by using the honor system and asking that you donate what you can afford and what you feel these offerings are worth to you."
So, i guess the best rule of thumb is, give from the heart! and... it's not free.
_______________________
* amendment to the title
"there's no such thing as a free yoga class, except for lululemon's free yoga classes they offer weekly in their stores!" :)
(they bring in great teachers from your community and its a fun way to try new styles and teachers you have been wondering about... for free!)
www.lululemon.com/santamonica/santamonicablvd/events
- this is the link to the santa monica store... search for your local store for events in your area!-
August 4, 2009
WANDERLUST in pictures...
The backdrop to our Wanderlust weekend at Squaw Valley, Lake Tahoe...
2000 feet up at the top of this mountain was High Camp, an outdoor venue where teachers like John Friend and Duncan Wong held class.
Looking (way) back at The Alpine Village and beautiful Squaw Valley...
Susan Nichols, founder of yogitoes and New Hippie which hosted the discussion Human Evolution: From Duality to Unity Consciousness facilitated by Leanne Whitney (at the Alpenglow Room).
Q & A afterwards with Leanne Whitney.
Lululemon sporting their SKIDLESS... a big seller as the temps were HIGH!
...And here being put to good use!
Susan, Jai Uttal and Daniel Paul.
Sianna Sherman/MC Yogi yoga class finale! The energy was as high as the altitude!
'DANCEFLOOR' - a new use for SKIDLESS!
MC Yogi, DJ Drez, vocalist Nikko and the amazing AcroYogis (as John Friend looks on)!
The one and only Annie Carpenter!
The Yo Yo Yogis - Alex and Terri Cole
(check out their 100 Studios in 100 days adventure http://yoyoyogi.com/wordpress/)
High Camp meadow off season is GLORIOUS!
Gold Coast stage at High Camp with Andrew Bird performing... breathtaking!
Michael Franti came down with appendicitis... a few of us sent him a little get well card...
The first year of Wanderlust was beautiful, melodic, inspirational and just plain fun!
I can't wait to see what creators Jeff Krasno and Schuyler Grant have planned for next year...
Om Shanti!
I can't wait to see what creators Jeff Krasno and Schuyler Grant have planned for next year...
Om Shanti!
Back
July 25, 2009
YOGIS TO SAVE DOPHINS!!
HELP SPREAD THE AWARENESS!
Please join Yogis to Save Dolphins at YogaGlo... a VERY IMPORTANT EVENT!
Saturday, July 25th @ 7pm
$35 suggested donation... no one will be turned away!
"passionate, exciting, and frightening ... the footage is staggering."
Bilge Ebiri, New York Magazine
"I'd be surprised if it doesn't wind up being nominated in next year's best documentary feature Oscar race"
Martin Grove, Hollywood Reporter
“Incredibly moving, scary, riveting. a terrific film. one of the best documentaries I’ve seen in years.”
Chris Columbus, Director of Harry Potter
“One of the most talked-about documentaries at this year’s Sundance Film Festival”
Bilge Ebiri, New York Magazine
“This film is going to make headlines.”
" documentaries don't get much more compelling than The Cove”
July 16, 2009
Sally Kempton... The Art of Tantric Meditation
I was privileged to recently attend a meditation workshop, “Art of Tantric Meditation” led by Sally Kempton at Yogaglo. I wasn’t quite sure what Tantric Meditation was but I have been reading articles of Sally’s for years and have always been impressed with her ability to clearly and insightfully integrate yogic philosophy into everyday life… this was enough to get me there!
Sally described Tantra as a tapestry of divine energy and Tantric meditation as a “highly functional approach to meditation” by which we learn to harness this energy. I could follow that, but it seemed like it was something one must experience to really 'get'.
I gained more insight when she interpreted the expression “that by which we fall is that by which we rise”, providing the visual of the Universe portrayed as a pulsating ocean consisting of waves and whirlpools and the like. These force-filled elements can either drown us or uplift us; they can toss us around or we can learn to surf them. We can learn to ride the Universal Ocean’s natural energy to an awakened state through finding the still point within chaos, and… here within lies the entry point to the divine. This chaos takes the various forms in our lives: a fight with our beloved, the loss of a job, the many things that make up what we call 'having a bad day', but each can be used to go deeper as we practice through meditation.
Of the several meditations we experimented with, the “Armpit” meditation was my favorite. Breaking from the routine of using breath to go within, (something the restless mind may be bored with), I found the unusual focal point of the “void of the armpit” surprisingly effective. I was quickly drawn into a space deep within – quite a feat as I was definitely struggling with ‘monkey-mind’ that day. Maybe the nearness to the heart chakra had something to do with it, as I felt content and without want in my meditation. I was in a place beyond thought, a place of dark, safe warmth beyond the realm of the worldly concerns. It was a tough one to come out of as I felt like I was too quickly drawn out of a deep sleep.
Maybe this is Tantra's tradition of radical interiority that she spoke of.
Sally teaches meditation as part of a process of inner exploration, in which one learns to integrate heart, mind and body in order to experience our natural state of wisdom and love. Her classes create an atmosphere of support and joy that allows deep exploration. It is appropriately summed up by a student of hers… "She can take a whole room into a state of oneness. When you meditate with her, meditation seems natural and easy."
Sally described Tantra as a tapestry of divine energy and Tantric meditation as a “highly functional approach to meditation” by which we learn to harness this energy. I could follow that, but it seemed like it was something one must experience to really 'get'.
I gained more insight when she interpreted the expression “that by which we fall is that by which we rise”, providing the visual of the Universe portrayed as a pulsating ocean consisting of waves and whirlpools and the like. These force-filled elements can either drown us or uplift us; they can toss us around or we can learn to surf them. We can learn to ride the Universal Ocean’s natural energy to an awakened state through finding the still point within chaos, and… here within lies the entry point to the divine. This chaos takes the various forms in our lives: a fight with our beloved, the loss of a job, the many things that make up what we call 'having a bad day', but each can be used to go deeper as we practice through meditation.
Of the several meditations we experimented with, the “Armpit” meditation was my favorite. Breaking from the routine of using breath to go within, (something the restless mind may be bored with), I found the unusual focal point of the “void of the armpit” surprisingly effective. I was quickly drawn into a space deep within – quite a feat as I was definitely struggling with ‘monkey-mind’ that day. Maybe the nearness to the heart chakra had something to do with it, as I felt content and without want in my meditation. I was in a place beyond thought, a place of dark, safe warmth beyond the realm of the worldly concerns. It was a tough one to come out of as I felt like I was too quickly drawn out of a deep sleep.
Maybe this is Tantra's tradition of radical interiority that she spoke of.
Sally teaches meditation as part of a process of inner exploration, in which one learns to integrate heart, mind and body in order to experience our natural state of wisdom and love. Her classes create an atmosphere of support and joy that allows deep exploration. It is appropriately summed up by a student of hers… "She can take a whole room into a state of oneness. When you meditate with her, meditation seems natural and easy."
July 6, 2009
Here Comes The Sun...
...and it's alright!The summer kick off festival was a grand success!
yogitoes joined the many other conscious vendors for this fun filled evening of art, food, music and exploration.
There were many familiar faces there be it from yoga class, kirtan or other events in our yoga community... many stopped to say hello. It was great connecting (or reconnecting) with you all!
Many thanks to Derik at YogaGlo for putting this event together!
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