Perhaps
you already have your sparkly dancing shoes picked out for New Year's
Eve, or you're planning to spend the first hours of 2009 in another
city (or country) altogether. But if you're still pondering your
options for welcoming in the new year locally, you might want to
consider doing something mellow and mindful. The winter season is a
good time of the year to be quiet and go inside, and the new year is
the perfect time to be contemplative about the past, future, and, most
importantly, the present.
Here are some local yoga and meditation events to look into on December 31. If you know of any others, please let us know!
Where: Laughing Lotus
When: 10pm-midnight
What: New Year's Eve Midnight Yoga with Kate (celebrating yoga, music, and community)
How Much: $25
Where: Integral Yoga
When: 8:30pm
What: New Year's Eve Interfaith Service and Peace Chanting
How Much: See website for details.
Where: Being Yoga
When: 10pm-midnight
What: New Year's Eve Yoga in Burlingame
How Much: See website for details.
Where: Yoga Tree Castro
When: 6:30pm-8:30pm
What: Yoga For the New Year with Janet Stone (and kora master Daniel Berkman)
How Much: $35
Where: Yoga Tree Castro
When: 10:30pm-12:30am
What: New Year's Eve Kirtan and Revival with Rusty Wells (an evening of candlelit with special musical guests)
How Much: $25
Where: Spirit Rock
When: 8:00 pm - 1:00 am
What: Another Year? We Just Had One: A New Year's Eve costume-friendly
meditation and celebration hosted by Wes Nisker and Nina Wise with
drumming led by master percussionist Barbara Borden and dance music by
5Rhythms DJ diva Davida Taurek.
How Much: $50 - $80, sliding scale, plus a donation to the teacher
Posted by
Karen Macklin
on December 24, 2008 05:47 AM
December 18, 2008
San Francisco: Shop the Yoga Way
It's
a funny thing to be darting around looking for holiday presents, and
simultaneously holding tight to your last paycheck (that is, if you are
lucky enough to still be getting one). But if there is anything a slow
economy teaches us, it is to buy locally and mindfully.
If you are still looking for some last minute holiday prezzies,
check out these inexpensive yoga-themed gifts that can all be bought
online (meaning: no gas needed). And feel free to write in and suggest
some ideas of your own!
+ The beautiful Yoga Studio on Divisadero is now officially a YogaWorks studio. Give a friend a gift certificate for classes there to see what it's like under new ownership.
+ Books are personally one of my favorite gifts to give and receive. Check out local yoga teacher Sarah Power's new book Insight Yoga, or any of the yoga books at local bookstore Green Apple (type in "yoga" in the search box).
+ If your friends like to watch more than read, hook them up with any of the great yoga DVDs put out by San Francisco company Pranamaya.
+ A gift certificate for a massage at International Orange
is a great gift at any time of the year, but it's best during the
winter months when we all feel cold and sluggish. A massage at IO
includes free use of the steam room, too. Ahhhh.
+ Everyone is always up for some new yoga gear. Of course, it's hard
to tell if your new girlfriend or boyfriend's booty is a size small or
medium. Buy them a gift card at lululemon and let them go crazy.
+ Giggle Fish puts out the cutest eye pillows, which are made locally and smell yummy. Small, inexpensive, and perfectly portable.
+ Grab a new mat bag for that special friend whose old mat looks
like a pack of hungry puppies went at it. Oonasera is a Bay Area
company that makes yoga mat bags in original designs.
Posted by
Karen Macklin
on December 18, 2008 05:51 AM
December 12, 2008
San Francisco: Saltwater Buddha
I
met my ex-boyfriend at the yoga studio. When we first started dating,
he was doing a lot of yoga. I thought, "Cool, I am dating a yogi!"
Then, surf season started.
His practice dwindled down to the few stretches that he would do on
my living room floor to release the muscles in his back, tight from all
of the paddling. I tried, fruitlessly, to get him back to yoga class.
He kept telling me that, during surf season, surfing was his yoga. I was perplexed at the time. Now I get it.
A couple of weeks ago, my friend and fellow Yoga Journal contributor Jaimal Yogis sent me an advance copy of his new book Saltwater Buddha: A Surfer's Quest to Find Zen Out at Sea.
It's the perfect read for those who love the ocean as much as their
yoga mats, or for anyone who wants to gain a deeper understanding of
the spiritual practice that is surfing.
In his funny and poignant coming of age memoir, Jaimal (at left) tells
tales of his teenage journey to live and surf in Hawaii, his later
short-lived stint as a monk in Berkeley, and his eventual decision to
pursue a degree in Journalism at Columbia. Through it all, he keeps
returning to the ocean, and drawing comparisons between Zen meditation
and surfing, the waves of the mind and the waves of the ocean.
There are many beautiful passages, but here is one of my favorites:
" . . . it seemed to me that what the mind brought forth while
surfing a wave was as close as I'd come to Zen. The great ancestor
Sengcan described the Zen mind by saying that the subject disappears
without objects, objects vanish without a subject . . . Riding a wave,
this happened naturally. The wave demanded such hyperfocus, there
wasn't room for judging. On a steep, hollow wave, there wasn't even
time to differentiate between one's body and the wave. There was only
this and this. Just power and presence."
Saltwater Buddha is out in May 2009 (but is available for discounted pre-order now at Amazon).
Posted by
Karen Macklin
on December 12, 2008 07:32 PM
December 04, 2008
San Francisco: Yoga for Differently-Abled Bodies
There's
a widespread perception in our culture that yoga is for those who are
physically fit. I often have friends or family members say to me. "I
don't do yoga because I am not flexible" or "maybe I'll try it when I
lose weight/heal from my injury/stop feeling depressed." And those are
all able-bodied people. People with physical disabilities or serious
chronic health conditions often think that doing yoga is about as
likely for them as snagging a spot on the US Olympic gymnastics team.
We all know that yoga can be modified for "stiff" people or newbies, but JoAnn Lyons has proven that it can be modified for anyone. JoAnn teaches these two classes weekly at Piedmont Yoga Studio:
+ Yoga for People with Disabilities (Thursdays, 3-4:30 pm)
+ Yoga for People with Special Needs (Saturday, 3-4:30 pm)
The first class is for people with all kinds of physical
disabilities, from quadriplegia to cerebral palsy. The second class is
for people who have lesser disabilities, like fibromyalgia, chronic
fatigue, arthritis, MS, or scleroderma. You can also come to the
Special Needs class if you are nursing a bad injury, and don't want to
give up your practice. Both classes are sliding scale, funded in part
by the California Yoga Teachers Association's Yoga Dana Foundation.
Recently, I went to assist in one of JoAnn's class and I saw people
doing the most incredible things! With a team of staff and volunteer
assistants—and a range of props that include a headstander (see student
Ramona up top), a yoga sling, cushion wedges, beanbags, and
bolsters—JoAnn swiftly directs students into a wide variety of
postures, modifying each one for each student's separate needs.
Know someone who thinks they'll never do yoga because of a physical
limitation? Suffering from an injury yourself? I highly encourage you
to check out the classes. And if you are interested in being an
assistant in one of these classes, contact JoAnn to find out about her special teacher training workshop in May.
Posted by
Karen Macklin
on December 4, 2008 05:00 PM
November 28, 2008
San Francisco: Paul Muller-Ortega and the Tantra Renaissance
It
wasn't long ago that a mention of Tantra would evoke gasps and giggles
from everyone in a room, including the yogis. My own introduction to
Tantra, or what was labeled then as "Tantra", was at a yoga school in
Southern Thailand where all of the asana instructors read from a
script, and all of the dharma talks were about sex. But today, the
study of Tantra—as a yogic path, not a means to getting it on—has
become widespread and well-respected. And this renaissance is a direct
result of the teachings of people like Tantra scholar Paul Muller-Ortega.
Last weekend, I attended a workshop with Paul at Yoga Tree Hayes.
He has spent a good deal of his life immersed in spiritual studies, and
has focused in more recent years on Hindu Tantra. In class, we chanted
the Tantric version of the Gayatri, meditated, and listed to Paul talk
about various Tantric principles, like staying open to the mutability
of your identity, and spending time in meditation to learn what's
really going on inside, and beyond, yourself.
Paul also talked about how we are experiencing a new age of
consciousness education right now, and I believe that to be true: I
think there is a reason that mind-expanding practices like yoga (and,
specifically, Tantra) have become so popular lately. People in the West
are starting to more fully investigate themselves, their bodies, and
human consciousness. And because Tantra incorporates, rather than
restrains the use of, everything that is human—from the intellect to
the body and the senses—people in the West seem particularly drawn to
it.
Want to know more about the local Tantra scene? Check out the blogs I've written in the past year that have a Tantra bent:
Also, Yoga Kula is an Anusara-only yoga school, which has roots in Tantra.
And here's a recent post by LA blogger Stacie Stukin on her White Tantra experience.
Have you been touched by the Tantra bug? Tell us about your experience.
Posted by
Karen Macklin
on November 28, 2008 10:16 PM
November 20, 2008
San Francisco: Have a Yoga Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving
is my favorite holiday and always has been. That's not because of the
food or the season or even the two days off from work. I love
Thanksgiving for two simple reasons: it's nondenominational and it's
about being grateful.
I think of Thanksgiving as a simultaneously fun and contemplative
affair, just like yoga, so I thought I would poke around to see what
like-minded folks will be doing for the holiday this year. If you don't
yet have plans, explore these yogic options:
Are you eating a turkey or Tofurky this year? Do you do a metta
practice on Thanksgiving? Do you do a cleanse afterward? Write in and
let us know how the holiday and your yoga practice do or don't
intersect.
***************
P.S. For more thoughts about gratitude or yogic cooking ideas for Thanksgiving, check out YJ's new Community feature. Use the search to find a specific topic (like "gratitude") or go to one of the specific groups (like Yoga and Food). If you join, make sure to "friend" me; my username is karenyoga.
Posted by
Karen Macklin
on November 20, 2008 03:59 PM
November 13, 2008
San Francisco: Yoga Goes to the Green Festival
This weekend marks the 7th annual San Francisco Green Festival,
and yoga is playing a special part. Not only will there be a yoga and
movement room onsite at the festival, but on Friday, November 14 at
6pm, Yoga Journal is hosting a demo and discussion panel in the East Hall. Stephanie Snyder (left) will be performing a yoga asana demonstration to encourage non-yogi greenies to start practicing, and Baxter Bell will lead a discussion on yoga as sustainable health care.
So, what's yoga got to do with greenness? Everything. As Stephanie
said, when we spoke on the phone about her demo, yoga is about being
mindful and aware—and so is protecting the environment. "When people
start doing yoga, they just naturally start making more conscious
choices," she said. "You start to take care of your body and then,
naturally, to take care of the world we live in."
Want to know what your yoga studio is doing for the planet? Ask.
Most studios are taking baby steps, and even bigger steps, towards
being environmentally conscious. Here are a few local ones that have
the planet on their minds.
* Yoga Tree
studios recycle and composts everything, even those little paper
drinking cups. They also uses green products in the bathroom and
changing areas.
* Laughing Lotus refrains from selling bottles of water to discourage the waste of plastic.
* Yoga Garden of San Francisco
runs entirely on passive solar panels, is heated with super efficient
solar-to-electric fans, and was actually built with recycled materials.
* Greenpath Yoga is participating in the Green Yoga Association's
Green Studio Pilot Program. Through this one-year program, the studio
is making changes to incorporate more sustainable and recyclable
materials into its business operation, and is also helping to author
the first Green Yoga Studio Handbook.
Check out this article on greening your yoga practice, and let us know how yoga and environmental consciousness intersect in your life!
Posted by
Karen Macklin
on November 13, 2008 04:59 AM
November 05, 2008
San Francisco: Yoga Philosophy Course at CIIS Takes Off!
Sure,
you've got that Trikonasana down, and you're no longer tumbling out of
headstand like an 8-year-old in gymnastics class, but do you really
know what yoga is all about? Even though most yoga classes just focus
on asana, due to time constraints, yogic philosophical discourse is a
big part of the yogic tradition. From the yamas and niyamas to the
Upanishads and the Bhagavad Gita, there's a lot to learn.
Now, starting this winter, CIIS is offering a 150-hour certificate program in Yoga Philosophy.
The program, which was just recently finalized, runs from February to
May 2009 and involves teachers like Gary Kraftsow, Ian Whicher, Sally
Kempton, Richard Rosen, and Patricia Sullivan. If you're a serious yoga
student, understanding the depth of the yogic tradition can only
enhance your practice; if you're a teacher of yoga, this course—a first
of its kind—is practically a must.
Tonight (November 5) is the first open house; if you miss that,
there are two more on December 8 and January 21. All open houses are
from 7-9pm at the CIIS
Main Campus. Applications for the program are due by December 15, and the total for the course is $2000.
Anyone think they'll sign up?
Posted by
Karen Macklin
on November 5, 2008 04:04 PM
October 31, 2008
San Francisco: Uncovering the Tantras
Last weekend, Yoga Tree
Castro hosted a two-night benefit for an exciting new literary project
in the yoga world: a book that, if completed, will reveal incredible
never-before-read information about yoga.
The proposed 600-page project is called the Tantric Studies Reader,
and it's being put together by renown Sanskrit and Yogic scholars.
These scholars estimate that only 4% of the hundreds of key texts on
yoga and Tantra have yet been translated. There are thousands more,
unknown to the Western world, written on palm leaves (like the one
pictured here) in libraries in India and Nepal. This project is all
about getting a hold of these manuscripts, translating them, and making
them available to the yoga community at large.
This is awesome news for the yoga community because it means we will
get to understand a lot more about practices like mantra, darshana,
asana, pranayama, and meditation. But the academics working on the
project, specifically the main editor, Columbia University professor Somadeva Vasudeva, need more funding to see the book to completion.
Local interest is building, especially because the Bay Area's own
Sanskrit and Tantric scholars Christopher Tompkins and Harish Wallis
are also involved. And now, teachers like Janet Stone and Shiva Rea (right) have jumped on board to help. They both held benefit events this past weekend at Yoga Tree Castro.
I went to Shiva Rea's event—in which Chris Tompkins was also
teaching; it was a huge gathering on Saturday night around a colorful
yantra in the middle of the studio. Chris did a lecture on Tantric art
and Shiva Rea led the group in a spontaneous flow movement massive
trance dance. Janet held an event the night before and, between the two
events, more than $2000 was raised for this groundbreaking yogic text.
The teachers and scholars are putting out a plea for help with their
work. If this work excites you, there are lots of ways to get involved.
+ Read more about the project, and donate if you can.
+ purchase any of the spiritual art
or any of the DVDs on the Foundation for Yoga site; through November, all proceeds will go to the project.
+ Read more about the importance of Tantra in the history of yoga.
******** Photo of Shiva Rea by Lisa Johnston
Posted by
Karen Macklin
on October 31, 2008 02:43 PM
October 23, 2008
San Francisco: Enlighten Up!
New
York filmmaker Kate Churchill had been practicing yoga for seven years
when she decided to make a movie about it. The premise: Introduce a
skeptical young guy to yoga and prove that yoga can transform him. The
result is Enlighten Up!, which makes a quick San Francisco premiere this week at the Roxie, as part of the SF Doc Fest before its national run starts in March.
Nick Rosen, the star of the film, is a NY journalist in his early
30s. He has an attorney dad and a shamanic healer mom, and seems caught
between practical and mystical callings. He says, "I don't expect any
earth-shattering changes" at the start of the film, and he spends the
rest of the film trying not to be moved by yoga (while the filmmaker
tries to make a yogi out of him).
Churchill manages to get all of the big guns in the film: Baron
Baptiste, Rodney Yee, Cyndi Lee, Judith Lasater, Dharma Mittra, David
Life and Sharon Gannon, Pattabhi Jois, and even Mr. Iyengar, himself.
She takes Rosen to India and back to try every type of yoga from
kundalini to Bikram to "Yoga for Regular Guys" (invented by a wrestler
who says "T and A" is more important than "Namaste").
So, does Nick get enlightened in the end? The answer to that question may depend not only on his perspective, but on your own.
+ See the movie
at the Roxie on Saturday, October 25, or Tuesday, October 28. Rosen and
Churchill will be at the screenings to answer questions afterward. (Get
tix soon as they are selling out!)
+ See Churchill at the Apple Store on Friday, October 24, at 6pm, where she will be showing clips from the movie and giving a talk.
Posted by
Karen Macklin
on October 23, 2008 05:57 AM
October 16, 2008
San Francisco: Obama, McCain, and Yoga
The
election: It's got to be discussed, even here in a blog about yoga. San
Franciscans, like most people throughout the country, can't stop
talking about it. And yogis are hardly the exception.
During this past month, there have been several local political
fund-raising yoga events. Two nights ago, while gathering with some
fellow practitioners to chant, the conversation inevitably turned
towards the election. I have personally watched three of the four
debates with fellow yogis. And last week, another yogi sent me the
below political video put together by the Bay Area's own MC Yogi.
With all these yogis so impassioned about the election, it seems like a
good time to raise the question about the place of politics in yoga—or
even yoga in politics. To start a dialogue, I called MC Yogi and asked
about his motivation for making this video, and his thoughts about the
intersection between yoga and politics.
The owner of Yoga Toes Studio in Point Reyes, as well as an acclaimed yoga hip-hop artist, MC Yogi said that his teachers—Jivamukti
founders Sharon Gannon and David Life—taught him that it is yogic to
engage politically and speak one's truth. He talked about the yogic
reasons that he supports Barack Obama, citing specifically the Chicago
senator's take on the environment and his message of uniting people as
opposed to dividing them. He compared Senator Obama to the Indian
spiritual and political leader, Gandhi.
"Gandhi was really the synthesis of how we can use our internal
practices to engage in the external world in a way that we can lessen
the suffering," he said. "Obama embodies that. His message is a message
of hope."
Which of the candidates do you think is more in line with yogic
ideals? And what place do you think politics should have in yoga?
Please write in and share your thoughts.
*** P.S. The last day to register is October 20, and the last day to get an absentee ballot is October 28. You can also vote early at City Hall (I voted last week!). Click here for answers to all voting questions.
Posted by
Karen Macklin
on October 16, 2008 07:55 AM
October 09, 2008
San Francisco: Grace and Fashion at Ubuntu
With all of the current mudslinging taking place these days on the
nighttime reality shows known as the Presidential Debates and 7pm
Evening News, it's not a bad time to invoke a little grace. If you feel
like you need a little help locating grace at the moment, a new and
local yoga apparel company is on a mission to help you find it.
The Mill Valley clothing company is called Zobha (which means "grace" in Sanskrit), and it is piloting a program called Circle of Grace this weekend at Napa yoga hotspot Ubuntu. In line with its mission to create yoga apparel that lends itself to gracefulness, Zobha
has selected various yoga teachers from across the country whom they
feel also exemplify that quality. Those teachers are part of the Circle of Grace, and will lead workshops in various locations throughout the year. Four of those teachers (including San Francisco's own Stephanie Snyder) will teach the first Circle of Grace workshop this Saturday and Sunday at Ubuntu.
Apart from the 2pm-5pm daily workshops, there will also be an
opportunity at an evening reception Saturday night to meet the
company's founder and designer, Jamie Hanna, and view the fall
collection, which you can also check out online.
Another cool thing of note is that for the month of October, which is
Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the company is donating all the proceeds
from any purchase of a pink yoga top to breast cancer research.
Let us know if you make it up to Ubuntu this weekend, and, if not,
what kinds of local things you do to cultivate grace in your life. And
if you feel like you have a hold on grace, check back in next week when
I talk politics with MC Yogi!
I grew up in a family that was, at best, Jewish-lite. We held Passover seders while
chomping on Italian bread and ordered Chinese food on Hannukah. But
there were little nuggets of spiritual reflection tossed into my
nontraditional and secular spiritual life. And as I go deeper into my
yoga practice, I see more and more crossover between my Jewish cultural
upbringing and the Indian and Buddhist customs we yogis partake in—like
finding joy in singing in a language I don't fully understand,
considering charity a central part of my spiritual practice, and
fasting to cleanse the body and soul.
I mention this because this week marks a special time in the Jewish calendar. It's the week between Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, and Yom Kippur,
the Jewish Day of Atonement. The main idea behind the week is
forgiveness: asking for it and doling it out. It's also about making
mental notes of what we'd like to change or usher in. All very yogic
concepts.
This time of year is considered auspicious and meditative in other cultures, as well. Both the Muslim month of Ramadan (a time of forgiveness, prayer, and purification) and the Hindu holiday of Pitr-paksha
(a two-week celebration of one's ancestors) just came to a close. It's
also autumn, which means it's getting colder and darker: In short, a
time to go inward.
Looking for some yogic ways to celebrate this time of year? Here are a few ideas:
+ Do the four-day Samavesha course or the AcroYoga intensive, both at Yoga Tree
this weekend. Samavesha (which starts Thursday) is a meditative and
introspective retreat-like workshop offered in the Tantrik lineage;
AcroYoga is a fun and invigorating practice that teaches you to trust
others to support you.
+ Spend Yom Kippur with one of the inclusive and progressive temples in the city, like Keneset Halev, which includes kirtan and meditation in its services. The services are held in Golden Gate park on October 8 and 9.
Despite the fact that this initiative is being sponsored by all of
the major yoga mags and some of the big studios—and being supported, in
some way, by celebrities like Sting, Madonna, and Tiger Woods whose
photos are on the Yoga Month website—I
have seen little about it in the general (or even not so general)
media. But, come on. This is a big deal. There are only 12 months out
of the year, and it's been declared that one of them is ours! (OK, so
when I checked, I learned that it is also National Food Safety Month,
National Sewing Month, National Preparedness Month, and National
Chicken Month . . . but that's beside the point.)
According to the Yoga Health Alliance, which brings us Yoga Month,
20 million adults practice yoga in the US, and 250+ million adults
practice yoga worldwide. And while the feds aren't about to give us a
day off from work or school to celebrate the undeniable impact yoga has
had, there's a lot we can do locally to promo our practices. This Saturday
is a good place to start. All proceeds from the event benefit health
education for children. Here's what you get for an all-day pass (which
is $125, but is being offered at a special low price of $39 on some
days this week):
+ All day classes with teachers like Leslie Howard,
Hemalayaa, Scott Blossom, Dr. Timothy McCall, Katchie Ananda, and
Headstand's Katherine Priore (read my recent blog about Headstand) + Benefit concert featuring Suzanne Sterling, Wade Imre Morissette, DJ Dragonfly and MC Yogi (read our NY blogger's recent post about MC Yogi)
And even if you can't go, write in and tell us how you celebrated, or plan to celebrate, Yoga Month!
***
By the way, one of Stacey Rosenberg's students posted some awesome
photos from last weekend's beach cleanup. Thanks so much, Ginger! Check
them out here, and please send your own photos in at any time!
Posted by
Karen Macklin
on September 24, 2008 07:23 PM
September 18, 2008
San Francisco: Attention Surfers and Beach Lovers!
Yogis
are beach people. While most of us don't practice on the beach—at least
not on any kind of regular basis—we find ourselves there for beach
burns, surfing adventures, and mellow walks in rolled up pants along
the edge of the water. There's something about the ocean that simply
feels yogic and inspires a meditative mood.
If you are a yogi who loves the beach, this weekend is a great time to show it. Saturday is California Coastal Cleanup Day and there will be beach cleanup spots all along Ocean Beach. What's even better is that Anusara yoga teacher Stacey Rosenberg is offering a pre-cleanup all-levels class, from 8am-9am, on the beach at the entrance near Fulton Street and the Great Highway.
The class is free, and the cleanup starts right afterwards at 9am
and goes till noon. Breakfast will be provided by various sponsors,
including Whole Foods, and there's an added incentive for getting up so
early: Those who come to Stacey's class will be entered in a raffle to
win class passes from Yoga Tree, a Yoga Journal magazine subscription, and Prana and Jade yoga mats.
The California Coastal Commission
will supply everything you need for the post-yoga beach cleanup—all you
need to bring is a mat, some warm clothes to practice in, and a
reusable cup for coffee or tea. Last year more than 60,000 people came
out to Coastal Cleanup Day, and disposed of or recycled more than
900,000 lbs of trash. It really does make a difference!
**************
Also, this week: Check out Yoga Journal's new online community,
where you can create a profile, meet other YJ members, or even start
your own blog! If you want to "friend me" on the site, my username is
KarenYoga :)
Posted by
Karen Macklin
on September 18, 2008 07:26 AM
September 12, 2008
San Francisco: Yoga, Baseball, and Good Causes
If you love yoga and baseball (or know someone who does), you've got to join this eBay auction. Annie Appleby, the founder of the Burlingame-based yoga clothing company YogaForce, has teamed up with Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig to raise money for Stand Up To Cancer. Together, along with corporate sponsors, they are auctioning a package on eBay that includes a one night stay at the new Intercontinental San Francisco
(plus private yoga instruction with Appleby), a gift basket of Johnson
& Johnson skin care products, and a special tapered YogaForce Mat
(shown below) signed by Selig. The value: more than $1,000.
So how did Appleby, a San Francisco native whose yoga clothing designs
have been sold by some of the country's top boutiques and seen in high
profile movies and TV shows (like Sex and The City),
get involved with Stand Up To Cancer? The answer is simple: Appleby is
a skin cancer survivor. And so is Selig. (Appleby regularly auctions
YogaForce yoga mats signed by big celebrities to benefit
cancer-fighting organizations.)
This eBay auction
is a part of a two week fund-raising effort by Stand Up To Cancer that
started with a telethon last Friday night, which ran on all the major
TV networks and raised more than a hundred million dollars. (Involved,
says Appleby, was "every movie star on the planet" and BOTH
presidential hopefuls.) All proceeds from the auction are
tax-deductible and will benefit the nonprofit.
The bidding starts today and goes until September 15. To find out
more about Appleby's clothing line or her other auctions, check out the
YogaForce site. And if you want to meet Appleby in person, she's teaching a yoga class at this weekend's Sunday Streets event, from 10:30-11:15am at Ferry Park.
Let us know if you win the package!
Posted by
Karen Macklin
on September 12, 2008 01:18 AM
September 04, 2008
San Francisco: Celebrate Yoga Month!
It's
a big time for celebration in the yoga community as this week marks the
birthday of our favorite elephant-headed boy, Ganesh, the remover of
obstacles. (If you feel like you're bumping into a lot of walls these
days, it's a good time to have a private conversation with him.) But
this week also marks the start of the new nationally recognized Yoga Month .
Yoga Month is a new initiative that has been deemed a National
Health Observance by the Office of Disease Prevention and Health
Promotion within the Department of Health and Human Services.
Translation: It's totally legit. There are lots of ways to celebrate,
including a San Francisco Yoga Health Festival
at the Herbst International Exhibit Hall coming up on September 27. The
festival includes a full day of classes and lectures by fabulous local
yogis like Timothy McCall, Scott Blossom, and Katchie Ananda. The classes
are very reasonable—at the moment, it's only $88 for a whole-day pass
and $25 for individual classes. You should go if you can—I'll be there
to blog about it, too.
The festival's not for a few more weeks, but there's another great way to celebrate this auspicious month: Do yoga at Power to the Peaceful.
The music festival, which happens this weekend, features Michael Franti
and Spearhead, Ziggy Marley, and a whole line-up of others. There are
ample opps to do some yoga, too, from the free morning yoga sessions on
Saturday to the all-day Yoga Jam that happens on Sunday. See the full
yoga schedule here .
So, go and get your Ganesh on. And then report back and let us know it was!
Posted by
Karen Macklin
on September 4, 2008 05:41 AM
August 28, 2008
San Francisco: Yoga in the Streets (And the Controversy That Surrounds It)
Dreaming of a friendlier, greener, and more-connected city, Mayor Gavin
Newsom is piloting a program this Sunday, from 9am-1pm, called Sunday Streets.
From Bayview to Chinatown, a 4.5 mile stretch along the Embarcadero
will be off limits to cars (yay!) and open to the public, offering a
huge array of fun, physical things to do like roller skating, dance
lessons, Tai Chi, Chinese cultural crafts, running drills, hula hoop
contests, and yoga classes. The yoga classes will be happening at Ferry
Park and at the Bayview Opera House Stage. Check out the full schedule here.
Newsom is modeling Sunday Streets after a model in Bogota, Columbia,
that draws 1.5 million people a year. When I was living in Guatemala
City, there was a similar deal on Sundays, and it was pretty much the
only time people came out onto the streets because the city was
otherwise so dangerous. I loved those Sundays, watching everyone come
out with their kids and honeys to rollerblade and bike and eat ice
cream.
Newsom's main goal is to get the streets car-free and exercise
friendly for a day, but he is also hoping people who think of Bayview
merely as a dodgy pocket of the city will see it in a new light. I am
excited by the idea of Sunday Streets, especially because yoga is
featuring so prominently on the bill. It's just proof that yoga has
become an integral part of the fabric of the city.
The folks in Bayview are also excited about the event, according to
local media, but there's been a bit of uproar amongst the Pier 39
merchants who fear that the street closure is going to kill their
end-of-summer business. There has been some protesting and even some
talk of potential suing. Both SF Gate and ABC
printed pieces about the debacle. I understand their concerns, but at
the same time, I love the Sunday Streets model. It has the potential to
really bring the city together. Lots of people also rallied in favor of
it. Here's a Kron 4 clip of enthusiastic skaters rallying for the cause.
What do you think about Sunday Streets? Will you be there this weekend?
We
often talk about yoga's roots in India, and we chant in Sanskrit, but
how much do we know really about the land from which our practice
comes? I visited India in 1996, before I even discovered yoga, and was
amazed by the deep magic of the country . . . and the incredible
poverty. How could a place that birthed such a rich spiritual practice
be mired in such economic despair?
I know that India has changed over the years, but there are still
too many people living in extremely poor conditions, part of which is a
result of the caste system—which was denounced during the '40s but
still influences Indian society today. A man named Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar,
who was a contemporary of Ghandi's, played an instrumental role in
trying to change India's caste system (he was born an "untouchable"),
eventually converting, himself, from Hinduism to Buddhism, leaving the
caste altogether.
Inspired by Dr. Ambedkar, there's now a San Francisco-based nonprofit organization called Jai Bhim International
dedicated to providing Indian youth with the tools they need to live a
fulfilling life free from the caste system. It's having its first
fundraiser, an alcohol-free dance party, called Barefoot Bhangra, this Saturday night from 7pm-10pm at the San Francisco Buddhist Center
in the Mission. It's part of a series of three, so if you miss this
one, there are two more scheduled: September 20 and October 18. The
requested donation is $5-$10.
Check out Jai Bhim International's website for more info. The website is fairly comprehensive and gives a lot of interesting info on the caste system.
Anyone out there been to India? Have any thoughts on the remnants of
the caste system and its historical connection to Hinduism, Buddhism,
or even yoga? Please share! And let us know if you go to Barefoot
Bhangra!
I
left San Francisco in January of 2006 to teach journalism in Guatemala
City. I came home nearly a year later, happy to return to our beautiful
city, my wonderful friends, breathably clean air … and $18 yoga
classes. What?
I thought: Stay calm. Be present. Breathe deeply.
But, $18?
Yoga class prices had skyrocketed. And they haven't come down since.
There's no easy way around it. The teachers need to make money and the
owners do, too, since their rents keep going up. But some students just
can't afford it. Even with class passes, yoga classes can cost a
student $50+ a week, which is $200 month, which is … well, a lot.
This is why I love the idea of donation-based yoga. You pay what you
can when you can and, more often than not, everybody wins. People who
have more, pay more. People who have less, pay less. If all or part of
your income is freelance (like mine), you might pay $10 for a class one
week, and $20 the next. It just works out.
There was a time when donation-based yoga was only in small pockets
of the city, but the trend has hit its stride. The Sun Room at Mission
Yoga (pictured above) is actually ALL donation-based, and its studio
manager, Eben Ostergaard, said that the model works really well. While
teachers have to do more legwork to promote themselves, those with a
steady student base can actually make more money than they otherwise
would. Teachers also have more autonomy and independence. Yoga to the
People in Berkeley is another donation-based studio, and there are lots
of other pay-what-you-can classes throughout the Bay Area. Below are a
few on my radar. Please write in and share others that you know about!
Where: The Sun Room at Mission Yoga (3rd Floor)
Location: The Mission
Classes: All labeled "Sun Room" on the schedule
Time: Various
Type of Yoga: Hatha, Vinyasa, AcroYoga, Naked Men's Yoga * Read my blog on Jeremy Simon's AcroYoga class here.
Where: Yoga to the People
Location: Berkeley
Classes: All of them!
Time: Various
Type of Yoga: Hatha and Candle-lit
Where: Grace Cathedral and James Howell Studio
Location: Nob Hill and Noe Valley
Teacher: Jamie Lindsay
Time: Various
Type of Yoga: Intro Flow/Iyengar-based and Kundalini Flow * Read my recent blog on Jaime here.
Where: The Mindful Body
Location: Pacific Heights
Teacher: Sean Feit
Time: Tuesdays, 7:30-9pm
Type of Yoga: Pranayama and Meditation
Read last year's blog on Sean here.
Where: Rudramandir
Location: Berkeley
Teacher: Christopher Tompkins
Time: Wednesdays, 5:30-7:30pm, Oct. 1 through Nov. 12
Type of Yoga: Tantrik Yoga Philosophy * Read my recent blog on Christopher's class here.
Where: Piedmont Yoga Studio
Location: Piedmont
Teacher: Yolanda Vazquez.
Time: Wednesdays, 12pm-1pm
Type of Yoga: Yoga for a Cause (proceeds are donated to a number of different charitable
organizations)
Everyone
knows that yoga's a great way for kids to get exercise and stay limber.
But can it also be useful in teaching young people discipline, respect,
and stress-management? Can it even transform an entire school
environment? Thanks to San Francisco yogi Katherine Priore, we are
about to find out.
A yoga teacher and former inner city school teacher, Katherine is a graduate of the program at Yoga Ed., which develops educational curriculum for teaching yoga to kids. Recently, she started her own nonprofit organization called Headstand, which assists schools in implementing Yoga Ed. curriculum. In September, the Headstand program starts its first program at KIPP Summit Academy, a middle school in San Lorenzo.
Here's what's really cool: This is not just a gym class. It's
school-wide programming that teaches asana, pranayama, and yogic
philosophy to help students gain concentration and confidence, and
teachers manage their classrooms and job-related stress.
The yoga world is hip to doubters, so it's no surprise that
Katherine linked up with a bona fide Stanford researcher named Nick
Haisman, who will be evaluating the program for at least one year to
monitor its effects on discipline, academic achievement, and general
school culture. The hope is that the program will fare well, which
would pave the way to expand it to more schools in the Bay Area and
beyond.
The Bay Area is starting to rally around this program, which has local yoga teacher Dina Amsterdam and YJ writer Nora Isaacs on its board. You can get involved, too. Here are a few ways:
+ Volunteer at KIPP! Headstand is looking for yogis and all kinds of teachers to assist in classes.
+ Donate. Headstand is supported right now entirely by individual donors. Anything you can donate will help the program to succeed.
+ Go out to Cell Space on Friday night at 8pm to see live music and aerial dance—Katherine will be at the event to talk about Headstand.
I'm on a bit of a yoga movie trip these days, having recently seen The Roxie.
I can't go Thursday night because I am taking drum lessons (more
about that in a later post), but I ordered an advance copy of the film
to check it out. The documentary is about an hour and focuses on Swami
Satchidinanda's life, mainly the ways in which he brought certain
elements of yoga—like asana, meditation, health, and stress
management—to the West back in the '60s, and how he established the Integral Yoga centers around the country.
The movie is full of interviews by interfaith preachers who knew the
the swami (who was a huge supporter of the interfaith movement); people
from the Satchidinanda ashram, Yogaville,
in Virgina; Drs. Dean Ornish and Mehmet Oz; as well as a tiger trainer
named Bhagavan Antle. (The footage of the tigers is amazing.) Living
Yoga is less about Satchidinanda's life (it gives very little personal
biography on him) than it is about the ways in which he influenced the
spread of yoga to the Western world, which were many. One of the best
pieces of footage shows him delivering a speech at Woodstock to an
audience of thousands.
For those of you who came of age in the '90s (like I did), the suffix
"palooza" may bring to mind images of Soundgarden, Sonic Youth, and (my
personal favorite) The Smashing Pumpkins. Lollapalooza was kind of like
our Woodstock; even though it didn't have a political bent, it was our
day to let loose and rock out. In a way, that is also what Yogapalooza is about—minus the music.
Yogapalooza is a full day of yoga in Golden Gate Park this Sunday. The entire event, which was spearheaded by Yoga Bear,
a nonprofit dedicated to helping people with cancer, benefits nonprofit
organizations aimed at helping cancer patients and survivors. The orgs
that will benefit are:
Classes happen all day with a long list of teachers. To see the full schedule and the exact location in the park, check out the Yogapalooza site. There's also a silent auction that includes lululemon goods, Berkeley Ironworks climbing classes, and a one-year subscription to Yoga Journal. Sweet!
Sure, you won't get to peep Cat Power or Jeff Tweedy on the main
stage (they're playing at Lollapalooza this year in Chicago), but you
will get to do one of your favorite things all day long and for a great
cause. And if you are wondering about the name of the event, the actual
meaning of the word "lollapalooza" is a "remarkable or extraordinary
thing". So the naming of Yogapalooza seems right in line.
If you go to Yogapalooza, please comment below and let us know how
it was. (And if you want us to post your pictures, say so in a comment,
and I will let you know how to get them to me!)
I'm
not a morning person. I can get up on my own by 8 or so, but when the
alarm goes off earlier than that, I always gaze at it with the same
look of surprise. (Again? Really?) I've never met a snooze button I
didn't like.
At the same time, I know that most yogic texts and teachers agree
that it's good to practice in the morning. And now that we're in the
full swing of summer (meaning: more light and warmth), it's a little
easier to get up earlier. If you like the idea of rising with the sun,
check out Jamie Lindsay's sunrise classes at James Howell Studio, Mondays-Thursdays from 6-8am. (You can leave before the end of class if you need to.)
Jamie's Kundalini Vinyasa Flow Yoga classes focus on concentration and energy balancing.They begin with the Dance of Shiva (an intricate mind-body practice created by Andrey Lappa), and include a comprehensive asana practice, purification practices, pranayama, and meditation.
Jamie is a huge proponent of practicing in the morning. Here's what he says about it:
* practicing in the morning is akin to preventative medicine, while
practicing at the end of the day is like treating ourselves after we
are already ill (i.e. tired, stressed, or sore from a full day's work)
* the world is quieter at sunrise, so getting in touch with the energetic body is easier
* the mind is at its quietest, which makes meditation easier and more spontaneous
If you want to practice in the morning, but have a codependent
relationship with your snooze button (like I do), Jamie offers the
following tips.
• Go to bed earlier. Plain and simple.
• Change your schedule in one fell swoop. Don't practice some
mornings and some evenings; it's better for your body to have
consistency in your practice, and it's easier to get up early if you do
it every day.
• Don't eat after dark. This gives you enough time to digest before your new earlier bedtime.
Jamie's classes build on each other, but if you can't go to all of them, check out his blog, on which he posts that day's sequences so that you can practice them at home.
Do you practice in the morning or evening? Do you notice a difference between the two? Comment below and let us know!
San Francisco: A New Tantrik Yoga Course (to make you love your mind)!
For several years, I listened to yoga teachers tell me where my
problems were. Ego was a problem. Desire: also a big problem. And Mind,
well, don't get me started on Mind. If my life was a train wreck, Mind
was the track it was on. As a writer and academic, this view of mind
being "bad" tortured me. Was I really going to have to discount this
large part of me if I wanted to continue on my yogic path?
Then, last year, I did the Samavesha course at Yoga Tree
(a multidisciplinary introduction to Tantrik yoga). Here, the Tantrik
scholars said that things like ego, desire, and, even mind could be
vehicles—as opposed to obstacles—to one's highest self. Wow. That made
so much sense. Some of my deepest connections with the divine have come
through things of the mind, particularly words. Stories, poems,
philosophy, Bob Dylan song lyrics. I felt like I could really get down
with this Tantra stuff.
Since then, my practice has really opened up to include everything:
mind, body, emotions, scholarly interests, and cravings for Nutella.
(Should I be admitting that here?) So, I was very excited when I found
out that one of the Samavesha scholars, Christopher Tompkins, is doing
a 16-week Wednesday night series at Rudramandir on the 2,500 year history of yoga, with a special emphasis on the role of Tantra. I went to the first class this past week.
I love listening to Chris talk, because he is so passionate about
darshana (yogic philosophy) and truly believes that one cannot leave
the mind out of the path to transformation. He says that darshana and
sadhana (practice) are inextricably linked like heat and fire, and that
words, themselves, can bring one to experience divinity. I love that!
Tompkins, who is a founder of The Foundation for Yoga,
and is currently doing a Ph.D. on the Tantrik Origins of Yoga at UC
Berkeley (where he also teaches), knows his stuff. The class at
Rudramandir is mainly lecture with some practice, and will cover
everything from the Upanishads to the Sutras, culminating in a
five-week series on the essence of Tantrik Yoga. It's donation-based,
and open to anyone on a drop-in basis.
As
city creatures, we're all quite used to practicing yoga in
climate-controlled rooms that are off limits to bugs (and sometimes
don't even have windows). It could be pouring outside, or even snowing
for that matter—we'd still be oblivious to it all as we do downward dog
on dry mats and meditate under a sort of fluorescent mood lighting that
fluctuates depending on how one operates the dimmer switch. And yet
there is something about yoga that just screams (or maybe chants?)
nature. So what to do?
If you're a yogi who wants to get in touch with nature this summer,
don't settle for another yoga retreat to a "rustic" cabin, complete
with a hot tub, spa, and fancy food. (Though that kind of retreat is
sometimes necessary.) Instead, dig up your trusty sleeping bag and
favorite backpack, and set out on a trail to the Gold Lakes Basin in
the Northern Sierras with yoga teacher Elizabeth Rosser and wilderness
expert Aaron Jessup.
Being outside is such an important part of being connected to the
human spirit, and we are so deprived of that connection in our daily
lives! The backpacking yoga trip goes from July 26-31, and includes a night at the Sierra Hot Springs.
There's hiking and yoga every day, and some swimming, too. All you need
is your own basic camping equipment (tent, pack, and sleeping bag).
This sounds so cool to me. I love doing yoga in nature. My three
favorite places have all been waterfalls: in Mexico, northern Thailand,
and South Africa (that's where I am in the pic).
What about you? Have you done yoga out in any beautiful natural
places? Do you know of any other summer opportunities to do yoga in the
great outdoors? Write in and tell us about it!
It was a blast. The teachers are Jeremy Moran (above right), a yoga teacher and chef, and Abbie Scianamblo (below left), a cerified ayurvedic practitioner who owns an organic olive oil company.
Jeremy leads the cooking lesson (we cooked three courses together) and
Abbie talks about ayurveda and how certain foods can either pacify or
aggravate the various doshas.
The class took place in this lovely apartment that is upstairs from
the studio. It has a huge dining room, and nice-sized kitchen, where we
each had our own cutting board and chopped and chatted around a long
prepping station set up in the center of the room. (There's me, below,
chopping a lovely seasonal nectarine.)
We started with a fruit salad, moved onto a quinoa version of kichari
with avocado mousse, and finished with an artichoke heart salad. What I
loved most about the class was that we actually got to prepare food,
and then eat what we had prepared. Jeremy taught us some very useful
knife techniques, and had us do everything from removing the hearts
from the artichokes (very hard work!) to plating (arranging food
decoratively before serving it).
During dinner, Abbie spoke about food sadhana and how to practice
eating yogically. She says that 75 percent of ayurveda is not what you
eat but when and how you eat it. I love getting more in touch with what
I put into my body, so this class was great. And the good news is that
this course happens several times a year, so if you missed this one,
you can sign up for the next one. Anyone out there have any thoughts about food, eating, and yoga?
San Francisco: Bikram, Yoga Chains, and Chakra Panties
Do you loathe the thought of yoga franchising? Get steamy when a studio
gives more space to its clothing shop than its actual studio? Or not
see either of those things as a problem at all? Whether you've pondered
or praised the commercialization of yoga in Western society, you should
see John Philip's documentary, Yoga, Inc. at it's SF premiere this weekend at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts.
Philip's film asks the question: Have we lost the spirit of yoga by
making it a business? He talks to a whole range of people in the yoga
world, including Rodney Yee, Cyndi Lee, Trisha Lamb, Baron Baptiste, John Friend, and Yoga Journal's own John Abbot about how they perceive yoga's place in the capitalist world. Philip focuses a large part of the film on Bikram Choudhury's memorable and controversial
decision to copyright his style of yoga, as well as the development of
his World Yoga Competitions. The movie raises questions, as well, about
the ethical implications of high priced asana, yoga chains, and the
selling of various accoutrement like yoga shoes and chakra panties. But
in the end, the filmmaker leaves the decision up to you.
It's a tricky question. To be honest, I am a bit of a purist when it
comes to my own practice. I study the texts and the poses more than the
fashion labels on my yoga outfits. I try to eat with an ayurvedic
conscience, I like to chant, and I steer away from materialism. But I
don't think every yogi needs to be like me, nor do I think my yoga is
the only yoga there is.
And in the end, I think a little yoga is better than no yoga, and
that commercialized yoga is better than no yoga at all. People in the
West, and specifically in the US, like to buy stuff. It's something
that seems intrinsic to our culture. It is almost our national
religion—and that's not going to change overnight. So, I say, if people
want to spend, why not spend on something that will improve their
health, make them nicer to people around them, and, maybe, even bring
them a little peace of mind?
Have thoughts about Bikram's enterprise, the commercialization of yoga, or chakra panties? Please share!
Yes,
this is a picture of me and my dad. Yes, I am wearing a Smurf shirt and
a denim beaded vest—and some pretty wicked braids, if I do say so
myself. And yes, even though that photo was taken more than 25 years
ago in Brooklyn, I do still own outfits that kind of look like that.
But more to the point: Father's Day is almost here and I have been
thinking a lot about my dad, and the influence he's had on my life—and
my yoga practice. It's not that my dad is a yogi or a "spiritual" guy.
He's not. He's never been to India or even sat in meditation, and would
way sooner be lifting weights in a gym than doing headstands on a hard
wooden floor. But, early on, my dad taught me the importance of fitness
and healthy diet. He also taught me how to stay calm in stressful
situations, how to always be truthful, and how to treat people with
kindness and respect. And when it comes down to it, that's all yoga.
So, I was thinking, what better gift to give a dad on Father's Day
than yoga? My pops is all the way out on the East Coast, but if you're
lucky enough to have a dad (or a dad-like person) who lives nearby, why
not take him down-dogging this weekend? If he's never been before, not
to worry: Below is a list of beginner classes that all take place on
Sunday.
And if you have a special yogic connection with your dad, write in and tell us about it!
Neighborhood: The Mission
Studio: Laughing Lotus
Class: Lotus Flow 1 with Katharine
Time: 9am-10:30am
More info: www.laughinglotus.com
Neighborhood: The Mission
Studio: Yoga Kula
Class: Introduction to Anusara with Jeanne Miernyk
Time: 1pm-3pm
More info: www.yogakula.com
Neighborhood: The Castro
Studio: Yoga Tree Castro
Class: Radiant Flow 1 with Janet Stone
Time: 6:15pm-7:45pm
More info: www.yogatreesf.com
Neighborhood: Portrero Hill
Studio: Yoga Sita
Class: Beginner yoga with Susannah
Time: 11am-12pm
More info: www.yogasitasf.com
Neighborhood: Hayes Valley/ Pan Handle
Studio: The Yoga Loft
Class: Vinyasa 1-2 with Jane Dobson
Time: 11am-12:30pm
More info: www.theloftsf.com
Neighborhood: Pacific Heights
Studio: The Mindful Body
Class 1: Beginner yoga with Dee Benefield
Time: 9am-10:30am
Class 2: Beginner yoga with Renee Heidtman
Time: 11:30am-12:45pm
More info: www.themindfulbody.com
Neighborhood: Western Addition/Nopa
Studio: The YogaStudio
Class: Level 1 yoga with Jo Lewzey
Time:11:45am-1:15pm
More info: www.yogastudiomillvalley.com
Neighborhood: SOMA
Studio: It's Yoga
Time: 6pm-7pm
Class: Astanga beginners modified primary series with Joe
More info: www.itsyoga.com
I went to go see Amma,
the "hugging saint," who travels all over the world with the intention
to hug as many hug-needy people as possible. But Amma, who has hugged
more than 26 million people and often hugs for 20+ hours in a row, does
more than hug. She puts her money where her hugs are. Over the years,
she has raised millions of dollars for orphanages, health care, and
emergency aid to survivors of tsunamis, earthquakes, and other natural
disasters in India and elsewhere.
Some people wait more than five hours for a hug. I was lucky because
I arrived early on a weekday morning. (Also, just like at the Rocky
Horror Picture Show, you get special treatment if it's your first
time.) I was probably among the first 50 people to get hugs. I watched
as Amma embraced each person. It wasn't as I expected. She was often
having discourse with one person while hugging another, and the
environment was intense as the organizers were—understandably—focused
on less spiritual endeavors such as nudging the hundreds of hug-waiters
forward and wiping our faces free of sweat and makeup.
I approached the scene like a journalist, the way I come into so many
situations, observing and analyzing the people and the proceedings. But
something in me changed when I saw an older woman nearby, quietly
weeping as she waited. And an elderly man who could barely stand
waiting in line for his hug. And then, I saw a woman, about my age,
holding a postcard for Amma. Not realizing what it was at first, I
glanced over, and saw the beginnings of a message of gratitude for what
she was learning from her cancer. At that moment, I realized the sheer
amount of suffering that existed in that room—in any room—and the
potency of what Amma was doing by alleviating, or simply sharing in,
people's grief.
My hug was sweet. She held me to her and said the words "my darling"
in my ear. Then, I went to the upper level of the center for a little
while to watch while she tirelessly hugged one person after the next.
With summer around the corner, it's no surprise that everyone is
feeling green. Join in the celebration this weekend in the Mission,
where you can experience the largest outdoor green event the city has
ever had.
The annual Carnaval San Francisco,
a festival and parade that showcases and celebrates all things Latin
American and Caribbean, is introducing a new element to its festivities
this year—the Green Zone
(Zona Verde). Spanning 60,000 square feet, the Green Zone will have an
Eco Village, which is all about sustainability, and a Holistic Health
Pavilion, which focuses on things like yoga, massage, and acupuncture.
There will be many demonstrations, as well as global healing ceremonies
that include elements of Capoeira, Native American, Sufi, and Aztec
dance. It should be a huge, and environmentally friendly, party—just
what us yogis like!
The When: Saturday and Sunday, May 24 and 25,
10am-6pm (Grand parade on Sunday to leave from 24th and Bryant at
9:30am and head down Mission Street to the festival)
The Where: Harrison Street between 16th and 23rd streets
I saw Snatam Kaur
play at Rudramandir this past weekend and it was really sweet. I had
only heard her albums, but to see her live was a very different
experience. The concert was at Rudramandir,
THE spot for all things yoga in Berkeley, and the room was cozily
packed with fellow yogis, a dash of deadheads, and happy hippies
galore. Snatam is originally from California and went to high school in
the Bay Area. She grew up in the Sikh tradition, as her parents were
followers of Yogi Bhajan, the Kundalini
master. Though she spent a few years of her adolescence outside of the
tradition, she quickly returned and followed a path to teaching peace
and singing really beautiful mantra. (She is also the "Peace
Ambassador" of the Peace Cereals (a line of cereals she also helped create with her degree in biology of knowledge of natural health).
Snatam sang Friday night with her regular guitar player Guru Ganesha
Singh and this amazing local drummer. She sang traditional Indian
chants, and also songs in English. Snatam has such a powerful voice
that I always imagined she would be older and larger than she is—but
she is surprisingly petite and young and quite beautiful. It seems her
whole family was in the audience that night, and she brought her mom
and her dad up to stage; her mom sang with her and her dad (pictured
with her, above) led a pranayama exercise.
Snatam looks pure and goddess-like in her Kundalini dress, wearing a
white turban and long, flowy robes. But she has a sassy sense of humor
on stage. She sang one song that starts with the line, "Make truth your
horn," the horn being one of the emblems traditional yogis in India
wear. To relate it to the audience present, she said, "Make truth your
fancy yoga pants."
Find out more about this Mills College grad at her website and let us know if you saw her this past weekend, too!
__________
Ever since the cyclone hit Burma last week, I have felt an uneasiness
that I just can't shake. I have never been to Burma (a.k.a. Myanmar),
but I met Burmese refugees when I was in Thailand, and I have friends
who have lived there, or are there still. It is a militaristic state in
which the residents live in fear of the junta, or armed forces, and
suffer violations of their human rights on a daily basis. The cyclone
that hit the poor country only served to make a very bad situation a
whole lot worse.
As yogis who have ties both to the Buddhist community and to
humanitarian causes in general, many of us have been asking the
question: What can we do to help? I spoke to my friend Gregg Butensky,
who is a long-time activist for the Burmese cause, a board member of
the Burmese American Democratic Alliance, and a foster dad to a young
woman whom he helped relocate to Thailand. He told me of the formation
of a new coalition of local Burmese organizations (that includes member
organizations as varied as the International Burmese Monks Organization
and the Myanmar Taxi Driver Association) to assist those in need. While
the coalition does not have a website yet, Gregg and some others did
put up an emergency website this past week to help point people to places where they can offer donations.
There are also three local events happening this weekend that are
focused on bringing awareness to the crisis. The biggest one is a Global Day of Action For Burma
rally at the UN Plaza (Market Street between 7th & 8th Streets) in
San Francisco on Saturday from 3-6pm, to urge the UN to protect the
cyclone victims. Also, there is an American Jewish World Service event
on Saturday evening in SF called Celebrating Voices for Change in Burma and a BADA fund-raiser this Sunday in Fremont.
I hope you will join me in sending blessings and much-needed funds
to our brothers and sisters in Burma. Please let us know if you have
found other ways to help.
I
first went to India when I was 22. I knew nothing about yoga, but I had
a transformative experience nonetheless, complete with my first contact
with saddhus, a visit to the temple where Buddha sat under the Boddhi
tree, and a visit to the Ganges to see the bodies burning on the ghats.
My trip felt deeply spiritual ... but, as a recent college grad in a
tumultuous love affair with a guy I met while traveling, it also felt
completely confusing, raw, and, at times, ridiculous.
So, when I heard about local writer and former Yoga Journal editor Anne Cushman's new book, Enlightenment For Idiots,
I was excited to pick up a copy. The book, which she calls a cross
between a spiritual journey and a dysfunctional romance, is about a San
Franciscan writer and yogi who can't seem to practice in life what she
practices on the mat. Her relationships are a mess, and she's
financially broke and emotionally ungrounded. Finally, she gets an
assignment to go to India and write a book called Enlightenment for Idiots,
for which she must hit all the big and small ashrams throughout the
country. Like the trip I took at 22, hers is a wild journey during
which she tries to find deeper meaning while simultaneously dealing
with a completely unenlightened romantic situation and uncertain
future.
While there is satire in Anne's story, there is also insight—and a
lot of research. She actually visited all of these places in 1998 when
researching a prior nonfiction book on spiritual sites and centers in
India, From Here To Nirvana, and used these experiences as the basis for her main character's travels.
Anne's main interest lies not in some arbitrary idea of
enlightenment but rather in how modern day life (specifically romantic
life) and yogic ideals intersect. Or how they don't. She says that many
yogic practices were designed for Eastern celibate men—not single,
Western women. She also says that our love lives are the most
challenging places for us to act with mindfulness and employ yogic
principles. As a Western yogini slowly navigating my way through a new
relationship, I can relate!
After practicing yoga for a while, people often get the urge to bring
their practice to others. But not everyone wants to become a certified
yoga instructor, or even charge for classes. Some just want to teach
others who need yoga, but don't have access to it in one way or
another.
Mark Lilly, a Portland writer and software engineer, started to feel
this way when he started practicing yoga in 2001, and shortly afterward
began volunteer-teaching yoga to homeless youth. He liked it so much
that he founded Street Yoga, a program dedicated to bringing yoga classes to kids who live on the streets, in shelters, and in foster care.
The Portland-based nonprofit program has a mostly volunteer staff
that goes around to places like homeless youth resource centers, drug
treatment programs, runaway centers, and juvenile detention halls and
teaches yoga to help kids keep warm, take care of their bodies, deal
with the stress of being homeless, and feel a sense of community.
The program has been so successful, that the organization now does
Street Yoga teacher trainings around the country. There is one
happening in San Francisco next weekend, from May 9-11, at It's Yoga
Kids Studio on Ruger Street. At the training you'll learn how to teach
yoga to homeless youth. The program includes regular teacher training
as well as role-playing, interpersonal exercises, talks about service,
and training around boundaries. You don't need to be a yoga teacher to
do this program—anyone can do it. At the moment, there are only a few
slots left, so if you are interested in doing it, sign up right away.
And check out this awesome video Street Yoga has on You Tube!
Because of its spiritual nature, yoga doesn't seem a natural match for
the fast-paced and electronic world of the web—at least not upon first
glance. But the invent of the Internet has brought with it a million
and one new ways to form community among people far and wide. When
looked at that way, yoga and the Internet have a lot more in common
than one might have thought.
In San Francisco, lots of yoga teachers are using the Internet not only to advertise, but to further develop community or sangha. For instance, Jamie Lindsay has a regular blog in which he details the sequences that he taught in class that week and shares other local yoga info; Deborah Burkman
sends out weekly emails that discuss what anatomical or yogic principle
she intends to focus in her Hatha class that coming week; and Bill
McCully often sends inquisitive emails out to his students to gather
their impressions of a previous class.
And local websites are also getting hip to yoga. On both Yelp and Citysearch,
you can find a plethora of San Francisco and Bay Area yoga studio
listings, complete with ratings and reader reviews. If you are looking
to connect with other local yogis, Tribe.net has several great yoga groups you can join including SFYoga. And then, of course, there is Yoga Journal's website, which, by the way, was just nominated for a Webby! (You can vote for us here!)
Do you know of any other San Francisco online communities or
listings you'd like to share? If so, please post a comment below and
let us know about them!
Confession:
When I was in high school, I was on a sort of cheer squad. We weren't
very sophisticated but we did know how to move (Brooklyn in the
house!). One summer, we scored some acrobatics training and learned to
climb on each other and make pyramids and stuff. I weighed in at about
97 pounds (still do . . . ) and was always the one being thrown around.
I knew nothing about yoga or Eastern philosophy, but I did love the
gymnastics we mixed in with hip-hop moves during our half-time dances,
and I think learning ease and lightness in my body really helped when I
got into yoga. I hung up my pom-poms ages ago (thankfully), but lately
I have been having the urge to again be thrown around.
So, I got really excited when I found out that there is a weekly beginner's AcroYoga class at the Mission Yoga
Sun Room (held Fridays until April 23, when it changes to Wednesdays).
I went last week and had so much fun. We started with some warm-up
asana, simple partner poses,
and assisted handstands. But the real fun was when we got to take each
other into Folded Leaf and Front Bird. Folded Leaf is when you drape
your body over your partner's legs and hang there to establish balance
(me, above); Front Bird is when you push against each other's hands and
fly like Superman (another student, left). In the midst of all this, we
all gave each other some nice shoulder rubs.
I am one of those students who takes my yoga very seriously (and I
think that's important in terms of dedication and proper practice), but
to feel this kind of playful freedom with asana was exciting and
empowering. The teacher, Jeremy Simon, gave great instruction and kept
things specific, safe, and also really fun. I only got to fly once, and
I am definitely going back for more.
----
Whenever
I see modern dance, I can always spot the yoga inside the dance. I'll
nudge the friend sitting next to me and say, "Did you see that? That
was scorpion pose!" Or dolphin pose. Or some variation of downward
facing dog. Depending on the friend, they'll either say, "Yeah! Sweet!"
or "Shhhh!" Still, I can't help but get excited when I see yoga on
stage.
Enter: Tripsichore.
I have only seen this London-based yoga dance company perform once
before, when they came, in 2002, to the Cowell Theatre at Fort Mason.
Led by choreographer Edward Clark, Tripsichore's sequences and
movements are not just yoga-influenced, they are yoga-based. It's
amazing to watch the intersection of the dancers' bodies as they tell a
non-traditional story with the shapes of traditional asana.
Tripsichore is performing its show Merely Total Risk at Yoga Tree Castro
on Saturday night, at 8pm. The show is about the creation of the
universe, and also about one's personal experience with mortality.
Want a taste? The above is a clip from the other show that Tripsichore is currently touring, Insects.
Want to learn from the yogacrobats, themselves? Take one of the
company's workshops this weekend: "Tripsichore Sun Salutations &
Beyond" (on Saturday) or The Tripsichore 12-year Course Condensed Into
One Workshop" (on Sunday) at Yoga Tree Stanyan. Or, if you can't make the training, check out the company's DVD.
With the change of seasons, I have been feeling a little under the
weather lately. So last Sunday night, I went on a search for that
perfect relaxing restorative class. I fell upon this tiny tucked away
yoga studio in the inner Richmond called Bend.
Located in one room on the second floor of what seems like an office
building, Bend is a tiny little peaceful studio with a warm local
feeling. There were about 8 of us taking the class and we were at a
cozy maximum.
The class I went to is called Candlelight Yoga and the room has lit
candles all along the sides. The blinds were drawn but, due to the
longer hours these days, light sneaked in anyway to our 6pm class. (I
think that the candlelight effect, as pretty as it was, would be
stronger in the 9pm classes).
With soft tunes in the background varying from Iron and Wine to
Indian chanting songs, David led us through a deeply restorative
practice, really allowing us to sink into the four or five postures
that we practiced, which included supported child's pose, one armed
frog pose, and a supported back bend. Because there were so few
students, a lot of individual attention was given. The teacher was able
to give us all adjustments, put sand bags on us, and adjust our props.
We hardly did anything ourselves: talk about relaxation!
I found the class to be a great and gentle class for anyone feeling
like their body or mind needs a rest; it's also a good way to end the
night or weekend, especially with all the amazing Clement Street
restaurants nearby for a light post-yoga dinner.
When I was in Thailand a couple of years ago, I discovered the Thai
Massage. If you've never had one, it's a type of massage during which
you get stretched and bended into bliss—kind of like doing yoga asana,
but you don't actually have to do anything. Since I've come home, I've
been wanting to find a place to get Thai massage but it seems to be one
of the rarer forms of massage practiced at most yoga studios. International Orange,
however, offers a few variations of Thai massage and they also do
something called a Thai Fusion massage, which incorporates the best of
all worlds: the stretching motions of Thai massage, the smooth rubbing
motions of Swedish, and the pressure point techniques of Shiatsu. I
went for one last week with massage therapist and yoga teacher Christy
Swenson.
Christy used Shiatsu compression and Swedish sweeping motions (along
with signature aromatherapy oils) on my back and did Thai on my legs.
While I was being massaged, I was positioned in various yoga poses,
like Dhanurasana, Vrksasana, and half of Gomukhasana. She also
did yoga while massaging me, literally climbing up onto the table and
working on my back while she was in down dog! The massage was an hour
and then she sent me home with a card that had a special mantra she
wrote down for me, along with a couple of recommended yoga poses.
The benefits lasted well into the following week. I didn't only feel
looser, but I actually felt my circulation working better than it
normally does. International Orange also offers a 90-minute straight-up
floor Thai massage, if you're more of a traditionalist. And the sauna
there is also pretty sweet.
The
sun is shining, the birds are singing, and the roof on my building has
stopped leaking rain into my living room. All of that can mean only one
thing: It's springtime! And, according to the yogic tradition, that's
the best time to clean up one's act. So I decided to do a cleanse.
The only other time I've "cleansed" was last year when I did the
master cleanse (you know—10 days of nothing but lemonade, maple syrup,
and cayenne pepper). It was cool in a meditative way, but my body
didn't really enjoy the starvation aspect. When I learned that Scott
Blossom was doing a one-week ayurvedic cleanse at Yoga Tree Hayes that involved food, I was eager to take part.
I am now on day five of the cleanse, which is intended to balance our doshas,
or vital energies. Everyone is eating a dish called Khichari, which is
basically mung beans and a whole grain (rice, barley, millet, or
quinoa, depending on your dominant dosha) mixed with various vegetables
and Indian spices.
Don't know what a dosha is? Ayurveda is a huge health science, but
in short it tells us that there are three doshas in every body which
can be identified by both positive qualities (when they are in the
right proportion) and negative qualities (when they dominate). For
instance, vata brings creativity and nervousness, pitta can be identified by motivation and temper, and kapha suggests
both steadiness and sluggishness. The idea of this cleanse is to bring
your doshas into greater balance. (To determine your own dosha, you can
fill out Yoga Journal's dosha questionnaire.)
Scott is a yoga teacher and a doctor in ayurveda (as well as Chinese
medicine), so he has vast knowledge about cleansing the body. By
midweek, many of us were not feeling so great because of all of the
toxins or ama that's been stirred up, but Scott's been great
about helping us to understand what's going on and how to work through
it. We have also been meeting in the mornings to chant, do a
digestion-based practice, and ask questions.
The cleanse ends this weekend with a "purgative" dose of castor oil
(whoa!) followed by a day of fasting and meditation. It has been such a
great experience to cook fresh food all week, limit my Internet
browsing (required for the cleanse), and increase my knowledge tenfold
of the Rainbow Grocery herb aisle. I am, however, starting to salivate
just a little at the thought of Thai food, raisin bread … and
chocolate.
Anyone else doing a spring cleanse? Let us know how it's going!
The Piedmont Yoga Studio
(which was founded, in part, by Rodney Yee and has birthed some of the
Bay Area's best teachers) turned 21 this past weekend and celebrated
its anniversary with a number of events to benefit the studio,
including a very interesting lecture called Why Yoga Works. The
panelists were local teachers Judith Lasater, Tony Briggs, and Yoko
Yoshikawa and the talk was moderated by another PYS founder, Richard
Rosen.
So, why does yoga work? The articulate guest speakers spoke a bit
about how yoga focuses the mind, relieves the body of stress, and digs
below the surface emotionally. But, in general, they also seemed to
struggle somewhat with the question. And upon reflection, so did I.
After all, this is a question we all get asked from time to
time by people who don't practice: Why does yoga work? But how can we
answer that question without defining what exactly we're talking about.
Asana? Pranayama? Yamas and niyamas? Kriyas? Mantra? Sure, all of these
things "work," but they work differently.
The discussion meandered somewhat until Richard asked a great
question: What exactly does it mean for yoga to "work"? What is the
goal we are trying to accomplish with our practices? How do we know
when we are "successful"?
We could ask 100 practitioners why yoga works and get 100 different
answers. One person might say, "I feel calmer after a yoga class, so it
works"; another person might say, "My injury doesn't hurt anymore, so
it works!"; and yet a third person might say, "Yoga helps me feel
closer to God, so it works." See the problem? Perhaps the question
really is: "Why does yoga work for you?"
All of this difficulty speaking about yoga's ultimate benefits got
me thinking of my own troubles defining yoga to friends and relatives
who don't practice.
So, it's exercise, they say?
Well, not exactly. It's breathing?
Well, yes, but there's more. Is it praying?
Well, in a way, but … (Sigh.)
If only they just tried it, they could tell ME why it works!
In the end, even the panelists agreed that there was a certain
mystery to yoga, that its powers couldn't be completely explained by
simple terms and definitions. I wonder if anyone out there, teachers or
students, have thoughts about the question of "why yoga works"? Or
maybe just share with us why yoga works for you?
Ever
feel guilty when you practice yoga? Sometimes I do. Like everyone else,
I enjoy having my special yoga clothes and practicing at the beautiful
yoga studios in my safe and beautiful city. But deep inside I am always
acutely aware of the disparity between my life and the lives of those
who are less fortunate—those who live in impoverished countries and are
unable to even get food on the table or feel safe in their homes, let
alone have a guided asana practice. I often wish there were more
opportunities to combine my yoga practice with doing seva (service) abroad. If this is something you've thought about, too, you might want to consider Metta Journeys.
Founded by three local Bay Area yoga teachers—Sarah Powers, Chandra
Easton, and Janice Gates—and two yogis (financially savvy Jo Ousterhout
and travel expert Deepak Patel), Metta Journeys is a new program that
brings yoga practitioners to less fortunate parts of the world in the
name of global awareness and humanitarian service. It's holding its
inaugural trip from May 3-10, when its teachers will take a maximum of
20 students to Rwanda in partnership with Women for Women International
(an organization that I am a proud member of!), which helps women in
war-torn regions rebuild their lives (especially important work in
Rwanda because so many women were left widows after the massacres of
the early '90s).
The trip costs about $5800 (plus the plane ticket), so it's not an
easy getaway for those who are strapped. But for those who are short on
time, not too short on funds, and really wanting to make a difference,
it's a luxury yoga vacation, international adventure, and major
charitable endeavor all rolled into one. The price includes intimate
yoga instruction, accommodations at Kigali's only 5-star hotel,
personal translators, gorilla trekking, and, of course, the opportunity
to connect with Rwandan women and hear about their struggles. Each
person who attends will not only be paired up with a "sister" who they
will sponsor for one year (like I was when I joined Women for Women
International), but they will actually get to meet their sister, which I think is just really cool.
The teachers (who are not getting any financial renumeration for
this trip) are also planning to go about a week early to give yoga and
mindful meditation instruction to the brave Rwandan women involved in
the program.
Got
back problems? Join the club. The cause might be the way you sit or
stand or sleep. Or it could even be your yoga practice. But what if you
learned that it's not the muscles in your back that are responsible for
your pain, but the underlying connective tissue? And why does it even
make a difference?
Last weekend I had the opportunity to meet the brilliant yoga anatomist Paul Grilley while taking his class on connective tissue at the YOGASTUDIO
in Larkspur (he also did a class on bones, but it sold out before I
could get in). At the workshop, I learned that the majority of the
stiffness we feel in our bodies comes not from these "tight muscles"
that we always talk about, but from tight underlying connective tissue,
which results not only from natural things like aging, but also from
contraction that happens when there are emotional and energetic blocks.
Active asana (or Yang Yoga) is helpful in building muscle, but when
you want that tightness in your connective tissue to release (think:
lower back and IT bands), you have to hold poses for longer periods of
time. This is why Paul is such a big proponent of the more restorative
Yin Yoga.
The info-filled workshop was not my first experience with Paul's
teachings on anatomy and yoga. I was first introduced to Paul through
his yoga DVD (with local company Pranamaya) called Anatomy for Yoga,
which I highly recommend. In it, he explains why your bone structure
makes a huge difference in regard to what your practice looks like. For
instance, people literally have differently shaped hip sockets, which
either permit or limit external rotation at the hip joint. (See the
bone slide show on Paul's website for more on this.) And you thought you were just "stiff"!
Getting our muscles confused with our connective tissue, and our
so-called "stiffness" confused with our actual structural limitations
is not only hard on our ego ("Why can't I just do this already?") but
also hard on our bodies (injury—ouch!) I think these teachings should
be mandatory for anyone practicing yoga—and, even more so, for those
teaching it.
________________
PS: FREE YOGA FOR LEAP YEAR! Thanks to a partnership with Lululemon,
yoga classes are free all day on 2/29 at any Yoga Tree location.
Posted by
Karen Macklin
on February 28, 2008 06:33 PM
February 21, 2008
San Francisco: Become a Doctor of Yoga?
We spend a lot of time during our Hatha yoga practice quieting our
minds, but the tradition of yoga is actually quite steeped in academia:
The creators of yoga were intellects and scientists who dedicated their
lives to investigating the human body, brain, and connection to the
spiritual realm. That tradition continues today—some of the top yoga
teachers are some of the brightest minds around. So, why is it that
there are four- to fourteen-year study programs in the US to earn
degrees for everything under the sun, but only 200- and 500-hour
certifications in yoga?
This is a question that has been posed by local practitioner and yoga teacher Eric Shaw, who is currently completing a PhD in Humanities (with emphasis on Asian Studies, Hindu Philosphy, and Religion) at CIIS.
Shaw teaches asana to make a living but, like many asana teachers, he
is also a scholar at heart. And while he calls his degree-in-progress
at CIIS a "de facto PhD in Yoga" (because of where the academic
emphasis is placed), he dreams of seeing a bona fide PhD program in
Yoga at CIIS in the future.
Shaw's idea for the program would include courses in everything from
Sanskrit to scriptural studies to asana, yoga therapy, and even
marketing and graphic design (as practical skills for starting yoga
teachers). He sees this degree not only as a way to deepen one's
understanding of the subject, but also as an advanced professional
degree for yoga teachers—"an MBA in yoga" that would lend "a certain
legitimacy to yoga and bring it up to a higher professional level."
Shaw has already approached the director of public programs at CIIS
with his idea, and has been communicating with prominent yoga scholars
about it, including Ian Whicher and Paul Muller-Ortega, both of whom he
thinks would be perfect as starting faculty.
Currently, says Shaw, the only other American degree program in Yoga is at the small International Vedic Hindu University
in Orlando. He says that San Francisco (and more specifically CIIS)
would be the perfect place to do a Yoga PhD, and I agree. Shaw admits
his idea is just a seed at the moment, and much is needed (support,
funding, etc.) to make it grow. But I think we certainly have the
interest and the minds here to make it happen here in San Francisco.
What do you think of a degree program in yoga? Would you attend?
Posted by
Karen Macklin
on February 21, 2008 05:52 PM
February 14, 2008
San Francisco: Yoga Benefit for Yo
Have you been attending the same studio, or class, for a long time?
Starting to get to know the people there? Even starting to feel part of
a sort of community?
Yogis call communities sanghas , which tend to take form
particularly when a much loved and respected teacher is at the helm.
So, it's not surprising to see the sangha that has been showing up for
longtime Mindful Body teacher Yolanda Bain, who was recently diagnosed with ovarian cancer.
I took classes with Yolanda, who is also know by her friends and
students as "Yo," in the early 2000s when my practice was fairly new.
She always had such a graceful and assured presence, and was a pleasure
to be around. When I found out about her diagnosis, I felt a big lump
in my throat. It's so hard to hear about things like cancer happening
to beautiful people, especially healthy and strong yogis. About two
weeks ago, I heard that Yolanda was teaching a sort of "last class for
now" as a send-off into her surgery and recovery, and I went to take
the class.
I knew Yolanda had been teaching at Mindful Body for a while, but it
was still amazing to witness the overflow of students who came to show
support and love. The feeling of community was palpable, and the event
was a testament to the timelessness of the sangha, a much needed structure of life even (or especially!) here and now, where we often lead very fragmented and individual lives.
Yolanda is now home from the hospital and, according to her husband
Matt, recovering well! She started a blog (see the bottom of her webpage for the link) so that her students and friends can know how she is doing. In addition, Mindful Body is having a benefit
for her Saturday (Feb. 16) that consists of a 6:30pm yoga class led by
Maile Sivert and a party that starts at about 7:45pm with live music,
chair massage, and a silent auction. The benefit (donations will be
accepted) is to raise money for Yolanda's medical expenses and time
away from teaching, though Maile says it's also "intended to be a
spirit gathering of our extended yoga sangha". It's still too soon for Yolanda to be out and partying, but she and Matt say they'll be there in spirit.
Posted by
Karen Macklin
on February 14, 2008 08:16 AM
February 07, 2008
San Francisco: What's In An Adjustment?
Most
people love to get adjusted in yoga class. It feels so good to be able
to access a space in your body that you couldn't before, and sometimes
that just can't happen until a teacher touches you with his or her
knowing hands. It seems so simple—a small twist here or turn there—but
there is actually a lot behind the art of adjusting, from deciding who
to adjust to when and how. As part of the teacher training program at Yoga Loft, Iyengar-based teacher Anne Saliou gave a workshop last weekend that was all about adjusting, and I went to check it out.
While we tend to think about adjustments as being hands-on gestures,
Anne says there are actually three types of touch—physical,
psychological, and spiritual. And when a teacher does use physical
touch, there is a specific process that comes along with it. Physical
adjustments, says Anne, should start with observation, then vocal
direction, and then the application of a teacher's hands.
I am intrigued, both as a student and a recent grad of a teacher
training program, about this process of adjusting. I have often
wondered why teachers adjust the people they do, and don't adjust
others. Anne says the first students to adjust are the ones who might
injure themselves. After that, it's whomever it will help the most.
That's not necessarily new students, who can easily get overwhelmed by
too much adjusting.
In the workshop, we practiced a lot of deeper adjustments to do in standing poses like Parivrtta Trikonasana and Parsvottanasana,
using straps to pull the hips back to align them. We also used our
hands and knees to help other students open their shoulders in Urdhva Dhanurasana. We even practiced some adjustments on our own to see how they felt in our bodies before we tried them on others.
I sometimes take classes with teachers who will use soft touch—like
using their fingers to show where lines of prana should be running down
the spine—but, according to Anne, who gave me some great adjustments on
Saturday, touch in yoga should always be fairly firm, directed, and
about alignment. Anything else, she says, is not appropriate for the
classroom.
Does anyone have any thoughts about adjustments in the classroom and
what kinds of adjustments are your favorite (or least favorite) to
receive as a student?
Posted by
Karen Macklin
on February 7, 2008 05:11 AM
January 31, 2008
San Francisco: Durga Das and Devotion
I have been to enough kirtan
events to know what to expect: beautiful, ecstatic Indian chants that
propel me into joyful meditative states and celebrate Hanuman, Kali,
and Ganesh. But there is something about David Newman's music that
feels just a bit different. Though David, who is also known by his
spiritual name Durga Das, has a deep sense of tradition in his music,
there is also something thoughtful, poetic, personal, and almost
romantic about his songs. The music feels like a combination of prayer
and soft, percussive modern rock.
David is young, but his spirit feels older, and he comes from the same
lineage as Ram Das, Bhagavan Das, and Krishna Das, all of whom followed
the great Indian guru, Neem Karoli Baba. During his kirtan here in San
Francisco this past weekend, he gave out chant sheets (which was great
because it prevented me from making up words to songs I didn't know!)
and, along with his two amazing co-musicians, led the group in chants
like Gung Ganapataye Namo Namah and Hare Krishna. He also talked a
little bit about the universality of yoga and chanting. "There's a
transmission that happens through kirtan that doesn't belong to Hindus
or Indians," he said. "It belongs to the human heart."
The real icing on the cake was David's amazing rendition of the Hanuman
Chalisa, which is just a masterful piece of music. To hear more of
David's music, check out his website. You won't be able to get it out of your head.
Posted by
Karen Macklin
on January 31, 2008 03:56 AM
January 25, 2008
San Francisco: YJ Conference Recap and Decompression
Wow.
The YJ conference ended a few days ago and I am still recovering. It's
been good to catch up on some sleep, but I do miss the good energy and
yogic comradery that felt so palpable during those four days.
Interestingly enough, the things I most took away from the conference
had to do with healing and therapeutics, specifically Saul David Raye's
Thai massage techniques and Gary Kraftsow's Viniyoga prescription for
lower back injury. I think these things spoke to me the most because,
at this point in my practice, I am less interested in being taught new
traditions and techniques of asana as I am in learning how to move
through injury. Maybe it has to do with finally having a more
established personal practice; or maybe it has to do with getting older!
But I loved the conference, and could never help but marvel at all
of the superstar power gliding from floor to floor and classroom to
classroom. And what a testament to the yoga scene here in the Bay Area
that so many of the presenters were locally based: Jason Crandell,
Scott Blossom, Timothy McCall, Charu Rachlis—the list goes on and on.
If you didn't have a chance to read my blogs during the conference
(and really, who had time to read anything?), you can click on any of
the links below to see where I spent my days.
And please send in your own thoughts about the conference. We'd love
to hear what you loved, what you learned, and what you'd love to learn
in the future.
Posted by
Karen Macklin
on January 25, 2008 08:03 AM
January 22, 2008
San Francisco: YJ Conference (Gary Kraftsow and Dean Ornish)
If you're reading this, you likely already know that yoga is medicine:
for the body, the mind, and the soul. You know it, your teachers know
it, the ancient sages definitely knew it (that's why they invented it
in the first place!) But the Western medical industry at large has been
slow to warm up to the idea. So yogis have started realizing that, if
we want the rest of the world to believe how good this stuff really is
for you, we better find some Western ways of proving it.
That's what a lot of today's offerings, at the final day of the YJ
conference, were about. The theme of the day was Yoga as Medicine, and
I took Gary Kraftsow's day-long workshop entitled Viniyoga Therapy: Back Care.
Gary (pictured above), who founded the American Viniyoga Institute, is
an important figure in the yoga-as-medicine world. Over the last
several years, he has conducted studies in conjunction with the
National Institute of Health that have proven, through scientific
method, that yoga is beneficial in healing the body. This is a big deal
because it means that the Western world is starting to take seriously
the practice we cherish so much.
Gary talked a lot about basic principles of therapeutics, which is
his area of expertise, and offered us three different therapeutic
series' for lower back and sacrum, hips, and upper back and neck. He
stressed the importance of dynamic, repetitive movement as a treatment
for muscular injuries as opposed to long holds in a pose because: 1)
contracting and releasing a muscle helps bring circulation to the area,
which is essential in its healing and 2) repetitive movement helps
train the body to create new patterns. Gary also strongly stressed that
poses are meant to be adapted in different ways for different purposes
for different people. If you've been trying to access a pose a
particular way for years and it's just not happening, he said, you
might want to try another approach.
In the middle of my day with Gary, there was a lunchtime talk being given by Dr. Dean Ornish
(pictured left) who is, among other things, the director of the
Preventive Medicine Research Institute in Sausalito and Clinical
Professor of Medicine at UCSF. A huge proponent of natural health,
Ornish has also taken on the task of getting natural healing
modalities, like yoga and diet changes, to be taken more seriously by
the Western medical world. (He says Medicaid will soon be covering yoga
as a result of his efforts!) Ornish's speech was short but captivating,
and his message was clear: No matter what genetic condition we have
been handed down, we can change the way it is expressed by watching our
diet, and doing yoga and meditation. Ornish also did a book signing
today, as did Dr. Timothy McCall, the author of the best-selling book
for which the conference was named: Yoga as Medicine.
It's so great that the wider world is finally recognizing what we
know to be true. I like to imagine a day where people of all walks of
life are doing asana and eating ayurvedically after being diagnosed
with diabetes or heart disease—as opposed to downing a bunch of pills
with a Coke and a Big Mac. (Hey, I can dream, right?)
Posted by
Karen Macklin
on January 22, 2008 03:31 AM
January 21, 2008
San Francisco: YJ Conference (Ana Forrest, Saul David Raye, and Dr. Manoj Chalam)
Today was my best day at the YJ conference so far. I was immersed in
three of my favorite components of yoga: inversions, massage, and
philosophical discussion.
The first two hours of the day were spent sweating my butt off. I have always wanted to take a class with the famed Ana Forrest,
and she is a force to be reckoned with. She's so strong and powerful,
it's hard not to get inspired. The practice was built around what Ana
calls "gravity surfing." It's a fierce, yang practice filled with
numerous handstands, forearm balances, and arm balances. We partnered
up a great deal and Ana's entourage of assistants (all equally buff)
were awesome in performing demonstrations and helping the students get
deeper into poses.
Next stop: partner Thai massage with Saul David Raye. I find partner
classes to be a little strange at first. We had to select massage
mates, which is always a weird thing when you don't know anyone in the
room. My partner and I talked for just a moment before I realized who
he was—the former publisher of Yoga Journal, John Abbott! I
was a little nervous at first, but you kind of have to let that go when
a stranger is standing on your butt with their knees. John and I gave
each other approximately 45-minute massages, and we had a great time,
and Saul was an effective and compassionate teacher, giving specific
instructions in a grounded, loving way.
I finished off my day with Dr. Manoj Chalam's lecture on Hindu deities.
A sacred art dealer, Manoj (pictured left) talked to us about who the
different Hindu gods are, and the meanings behind their poses in
various statues. He covered both maha deities (great deities like Shiva) and upa
deities (deities who are closer to the people, like Hanuman and
Ganesh). I learned some interesting things. My favorite was this:
Ganesh uses a mouse as transportation because the mouse (and its
scurrying) symbolizes the mind; when Ganesh sits on it, he quiets it.
So, when we meditate on Ganesh, it's like he is sitting on our mind's
fluctuations and bringing them to a stop.
Posted by
Karen Macklin
on January 21, 2008 03:47 AM
January 20, 2008
San Francisco: YJ Conference (Seane Corn, Tias Little, and Michael Franti)
I started off day two of the YJ conference with Seane Corn
and 200 other women in one of the grand ballrooms at the Hyatt Regency.
This is the second time I have taken a class with Seane and she always
gives me something to think about. The class, which was called Yogini, was about how women can be better connected to our power.
Seane began by talking about how her perspective as a woman keeps
changing as she ages. Now 41, she talked about how, despite the bodily
and emotional discomforts she sometimes feels with the aging process,
she cares a lot less about what other people think than she used to. I
can relate to what she is putting out there; I think younger women tend
to be so affected (and hindered) by what they perceive the world's view
of them to be. I am 32 and can finally say that I have moments where I
let the outside world's criticisms roll over me—but I still give
outside voices too much attention. Here's to maturity!
Seane says that one of the biggest problems we face as a society is
personal self-doubt and insecurity, with which I completely concur.
When we, specifically women, don't have faith in ourselves, we don't
act. And when we don't act, things don't get done. So, how to engage
with our own power? She suggests these starting points: Forgiveness of
others. Radical self-acceptance. A commitment to self-examination.
If Seane's class opened my mind, Tias Little's backbending workshop, Freeing the Bird of Prana,
opened my body. Whew! Backbending is not my forte and we moved through
it pretty intensely. We worked the hamstrings and opened the shoulders
first so that tightness in those areas would not affect our backbends,
and then we moved into the back. Tias gives meticulous and precise
anatomical instruction, and through his teaching made clear all of the
impediments to backbending, such as tight quads and lack of space
between the sacral and lumbar vertebrae.
Tias taught with two assistants (one of whom is his wife, Surya) and I
received lots of great adjustments—I appreciated that, as sometimes the
classes at conferences can feel impersonal. I also liked Tias' sense of
humor. For instance, he admitted great enjoyment in saying "Now, bring
your fingers to the top of the crack of your buttocks." A little comic
relief when you're backbending for two hours (and near collapsing) is
always welcome.
I finished my day by listening to Michael Franti's lunchtime talk about Power to the Peaceful,
in which he made clear the connection, for him, between yoga and social
action. During his talk, Michael told a story about a butterfly. On my
walk home, I came into contact with this beautiful creature.
Coincidence? I think not.
Posted by
Karen Macklin
on January 20, 2008 02:18 AM
January 19, 2008
San Francisco: YJ Conference (Rod Stryker and Michael Franti)
I
just got home from the first day of my first Yoga Journal conference.
Whew! If you attended any of the events today, you know the buzz of
excitement in the air. I'll be posting a blog every night about the
conference—PLEASE write in and share your own stories!
So, this morning I scraped in just 10 minutes before my first class
(yeah, I admit, I couldn't find the hotel at first—a little
embarrassing!). Despite the crowds, registration went pretty quickly
and I arrived at Rod Stryker's day-long course, Tantra Yoga: Asana, Bandha, and Beyond, only a few minutes late. Rod's practice, which is also known as ParaYoga,
is a combination of three aspects of yogic tradition: ayurveda,
classical yoga, and Tantra. We focused mostly on Tantra, but Rod was
great at pointing out the places where Tantra and classical yoga
(derived from Patanjali's sutras and that sort of thing) differed. For
instance, in Tantra, moksha (spiritual liberation) and bhoga (delight
from worldly pleasures) are not seen as mutually exclusive, whereas in
classical yoga, it is generally deemed that you must limit bhoga (like, say, sex and chocolate) to reach moksha.
I love philosophical discussions about yoga and we had a lot of them
aboutthe different tantric paths, the use of bandhas, and the
acceptance of desire. We also practiced some asana, and Rod held us in
some poses—like dhanurasana—for long periods of time to
generate heat and prana. We closed meditatively with a mantra called
Maya Mitron Jaya, which Rod said was good for eradicating fear.
After a long day spent with the brilliant Mr. Stryker (and also
socializing with all of the familiar faces at the conference), I was
truly beat. I had a ticket to see Michael Franti's benefit concert for
YouthAIDS, but I had to drag myself there. I am so glad I did. I'd
never seen him play live before. Wow. That someone can sing about peace
and war and love and justice with such gentle passion and strength
moved me to shake my tired booty—and, at times, shed a few tears.
Michael's guitarist was equally talented, and Jenny Sauer-Klein and
Jason Nemer did AcroYoga for the crowd. It was such a phenomenal show.
Did anyone else attend?
Off to rest in preparation for day two. Please let us know how your time at YJSF 2008 is going!
Posted by
Karen Macklin
on January 19, 2008 07:10 AM
January 10, 2008
San Francisco: Retreat to Sonoma!
If you practice yoga in the city, chances are that you have been to one
of the Yoga Tree locations. But did you know that there is another Yoga
Tree location outside the city ... in Glen Ellen, Sonoma? It's actually
not a studio but a beautiful country home (complete with a yoga room
with hard wood floors, amazing views, and a hot tub!) that belongs to
Yoga Tree owners Tim and Tara Dale. Aptly called Tara Bella Villa, it's
become a prime spot for retreats with Yoga Tree teachers. Last weekend,
I went up there for one of Chrisandra Fox's monthly one-day retreats.
I have been practicing with Chrisandra since about 2002 and she has
always been one of my favorite teachers. It's clear that she has a
beautiful asana practice (she's often modeled for Yoga Journal
spreads), but what I truly love about her is her unwavering
encouragement for her students (each of whom she always give loads of
personal attention) and her unique way of transforming complex
philosophical concepts into succinct and unforgettable phrases, some of
which have stayed with me for years.
Tara Bella Villa is about an hour and 15 minutes away from the city,
but the drive is easy and so worth it. We practiced yoga for a few
hours in the morning and then had a divine lunch (prepared by chef
extraordinaire Meredith Klein) that included lemon mousse-infused
Israeli cous cous, a sweet beet and kale salad, gingerbread blondies
(see bottom right pic), and homemade chai to die for. We intended to
hot tub, as well, but we got so busy eating and chatting that ... we
just never got around to it.
At the retreat, we focused on our sankalpas, which are sort
of the yogic version of resolutions. Sankalpa roughly translates to
"intention" or "affirmation" and Chrisandra talked about the obstacles
(like physical ailments or idleness) to achieving our sankalpa and
things that help us realize a sankalpa (including hatha yoga,
meditation, and faith in the universe). We ended our asana session with
a candle-gazing practice and journaling.
The whole day, which started at 10:30 and ended officially at 3pm
(though several of us stayed later) was a welcome respite from city
life and a meaningful way to approach 2008.
----------------------
Photos by Pao Chiu
Posted by
Karen Macklin
on January 10, 2008 06:08 AM
January 03, 2008
San Francisco: In With the New
It's
a new year and that's always a good time to evaluate where we are, who
we are, and where and who we'd like to be. Feeling the desire to go
inward before the count down, I ventured out to Spirit Rock last weekend to do a one-day retreat called Out With the Old. It was on the same day as my sister's birthday, so we went together to celebrate.
The retreat was led by two of Spirit Rock's highly regarded
teachers, Nina Wise (who regularly contributes to Yoga Journal) and Wes
Nisker. It was a combination of seated vipassana (or insight)
meditation, poetry, and dharma talks.
If you've never been to Spirit Rock, it's a lovely place to spend
some time. The meditation center is smack in the middle of a sprawling
piece of wooded land. It was a gloomy day when we were there, so we
didn't spend much time outside, but we were still in touch with nature:
The surrounding trees were always visible and there were several deer
who kept coming only feet from the windows of the meditation hall.
This retreat wasn't specifically centered on yoga (some of them are)
but seated meditation is a great compliment to asana practice and Nina
did lead us through a couple of short series of yoga postures just to
get our blood moving.
Nina and Wes talked a lot about releasing judgment or goals from
meditation. They also talked about the idea of stuff, and how the
abundance of material things in our lives puts stress on us and even
poses a threat to the planet. Inside this talk about stuff that we own
was also a deeper message—about the stuff we carry with us. For me, the
day held a lot of introspection, but was made lighter by the warm tone
of the teachings and my sister's company.
At the end of the day, we did a ritual for the new year: We wrote
down all that we wanted to leave behind, all that we wanted to welcome
in, the people we wanted to forgive, and those we wanted to send love
to. We then threw our lists into a giant metal bowl in the front of the
room. Wes read a few anonymously (he said there was a lot of "more
yoga!"), and then took them outside and lit fire to them. The group
gathered around and watched as 2007 slowly went up in flames, and 2008
was slowly ignited.
New
Year's Eve should be the most yogic holiday of them all: It's all about
renewal and intention. But when we overload it with unreasonable
expectations of once-in-a-lifetime parties, memorable events, and
romantic encounters, we are often left disappointed. Maybe the party
gets canceled. Or it's not particularly memorable. Or your date leaves
in the middle—without letting you know. Then, when the clock strikes
midnight, the only words we're muttering are: "More champagne anyone?"
Last year was the first year I took off my party shoes to roll out
my yoga mat on NYE, and it was the best one I had yet! I went to hear
Karma Moffett play Tibetan bowls at Yoga Tree Castro while Christopher
Love led a beautiful evening of yoga. We were almost 100 in the room,
but it didn't matter because it was a total bliss fest. If you are
looking for a fun, spiritual, and alcohol-free way to start the year
ahead, sign up for any one of these events and usher in a healthy and
mindful 2008!
Where: Laughing Lotus
When: 10pm-midnight
What: New Year's Eve Midnight Yoga with Kate (celebrating yoga, music, and community)
How Much: $20
Sign Up: (415) 355–1600 or Laughing Lotus
Where: Yoga Kula (formerly Yoga Sangha)
When: 6:30pm-midnight
What: Indian buffet, kirtan with Benjy & Heather Wertheimer, and
midnight yoga, intention ritual, and meditation led by Darcy Lyon and
Richelle Donigan
How Much: $25 concert, $15 buffet. Yoga is free!
Sign Up: (510) 486-0264 or go to Yoga Kula
Where: The Yoga Studio
When: 7pm-beyond midnight
What: Bhakti Boombox New Years Yoga Jam (an Explosion of yoga, kirtan,
and trance dance with M.C. Yogi, D.J. Tat Sat, kirtan artist Jaya
Lakshmi, and percussionist Geoffrey Gordon)
How Much: $40 full evening, $60 trance dance only
Sign Up: (415) 292-5600 or The Yoga Studio
Where: Yoga Tree Hayes
When: 10:30pm-12:30am
What: New year's Eve Practice and Soiree with Chrisandra Fox (chanting, practicing, and snack-sharing with live music)
How Much: $25
Sign Up: (415) 626-9707 or Yoga Tree Hayes
Where: Yoga Tree Castro
When: 10:30pm-12:30am
What: New Year's Eve Yoga with Tibetan and Singing Bowls (a New Year's
flow class to the vibrational sounds of Karma Moffett`s Tibetan Bell
Experience)
How Much: $35
Sign Up: (415) 701-YOGA or Yoga Tree Castro
Where: Spirit Rock
When: 8:00 pm - 1:00 am
What: Another Year? We Just Had One: A New Year's Eve costume-friendly
meditation and celebration hosted by Wes Nisker, Mark Coleman and Nina
Wise with drumming led by master percussionist Barbara Borden and dance
music by 5Rhythms DJ diva Davida Taurek.
How Much: $40 - $80, sliding scale, plus a donation to the teacher
Sign Up: Tel: (415) 488-0164 or Spirit Rock
Posted by
Karen Macklin
on December 27, 2007 06:59 AM
December 20, 2007
San Francisco: Welcoming Winter With Yin and Yang
I
just got back on Friday from a 4-week yoga teacher training course in
Baha, Mexico (a million thanks to Jaimal Yogis for covering for me!)
and this whole week has felt a bit like slow motion. Not only have I
had to adjust from living in a tent on a tropical beach to working in
an office every day, but it's also just the season: Winter's here. Time
to eat warmer foods, sleep longer hours—and, yes, move a little slower.
With that in mind, I went to a 3-hour workshop with yoga teacher Dina
Amsterdam (pictured right) and devotional musician Mukund Subramanian
at Yoga Tree Valencia this past weekend. Dina teaches a Yin style of yoga (in the tradition of her mentor Sarah Powers),
in which deep, restorative poses are held for long periods of time to
stimulate the nadis and allow fluids to move through your joints. On
Sunday, we focused on opening the chakras. Starting at the root, we
held specific poses that accessed each chakra (like a wide-legged
supported Balasana to stimulate Muladhara, the root chakra, and a forward-folding Baddha Konasana
with the forehead resting on a bolster to stimulate Ajna, the third eye
chakra). As we held each pose, Dina talked about the different colors
and qualities of the chakras, while Mukund played the Tambura and sang
healing vibrational tones and chants.
Hearing Dina's descriptions of the different chakras while feeling
them in my own body was helpful in understanding where I am open and
where I am locked up, both physically and emotionally. The practice
also just felt like deep rest. I did find my mind wandering a lot, but
concentrating on the spinning colored energy circles along the
Sushumna-nadi was helpful in staying focused.
If anyone else was at the workshop, please share your experiences!
For a more yang approach to the days of winter, celebrate the solstice
by doing 108 sun salutations at Yoga Sita or the Yoga Loft this Friday. And have wonderful holidays!
Posted by
Karen Macklin
on December 20, 2007 06:10 PM
December 13, 2007
Beach Blanket Yoga
Surfers often sound like yogis in describing their art: "Then the world
vanished," writes Steven Kotler in his surfing memoir West of Jesus.
"There was no self, no other. For an instant, I didn't know where I
ended and the wave began."
I've been surfing and practicing yoga for more than 10 years, and
though I've met lots of yogis who want to learn to surf, and a few
surfers who dabble in yoga, I've never had a yoga teacher who actually
surfed. So I was really excited to discover Alex Martin's straight-forward Ashtanga class at Mollusk Surf Shop
on 46th and Irving, just two blocks from Ocean Beach. I see Alex out
surfing almost every week, and he is one of the best big wave riders in
the area. (He has toured professionally, and was recently invited to
the Mavericks contest.) But I didn't know he was a yoga teacher until I
showed up for his by-donation class last night.
It was a humble affair. Squeezing our mats between Mollusk's
organic-cotton tees and rare, artistic surfboards, there was only room
for about 10 students, and we sometimes had to modify our poses for
lack of space. But Alex taught the usually-strenuous Pattabhi Jois series
at a very doable, even relaxing pace; there was something
satisfyingly-1974 about chanting "Om" next to a rack of Michelle Junod
longboards; and maybe it was just me, but there was also something
comforting about knowing my instructor could balance both on his head
and on fifty-foot wall of moving saltwater. (I'm not sure even Pattabhi
could swing that balancing pose). Alex teaches every Wednesday night at
Mollusk at 7 p.m. Bring your own mat, and a sweatshirt. It can be
chilly out here.
Posted by
Jaimal Yogis
on December 13, 2007 05:04 PM
December 06, 2007
A More Yogic Way to Party
I’ve
been happily hitched for years now, but not so long ago, meeting
potential girlfriends seemed difficult. Not because I was such an awful
suitor (I hope), but because as my yoga practice developed, I lost
interest in the bar and club scene. It seems like a lot of yogis go
through introverted phases like this, which is why I’m glad that
longtime yoga practitioner Michael Ellsberg has created a type of
singles party that avoids the usual awkward conversation — “so what
you do?†— and allows for a potentially more real exchange. It’s
called eye-gazing
— Elle recently deemed it “New York’s hottest dating trend†— and
I attended the second eye-gazing party ever in San Francisco this past
Monday.
There were about 50 stylish 20-to-30-somethings milling about the
cozy loft on 10th Street near Mission when I arrived. We chatted
casually, until Destin Gerek, a tantra teacher, asked the men and women
to line up opposite each other while he explained the process.
“Don’t worry,†he assured us, “you can blink — it’s not a
staring contest.†Other advice included choosing an eye to look into
(trying to do both makes you cross-eyed), and refraining from those
seductive eyebrow raises, which can be intimidating.
During the next hour — including a break — we sat cross-legged and
spent two minutes each silently gazing into the eyes of 14 different
people, an activity Ellsberg calls “meditation in relationâ€. The
most interesting part of the experience was seeing how different each
person’s gaze felt — some were warm, others playful, and others more
reserved. Afterward, I chatted with the other participants, and
everyone reported similar stories: they’d felt strong connections
with a few people, but not necessarily the people they’d thought
they’d be attracted to at the start of the evening. “And that’s
the cool thing about eye-gazing,†Ellsberg says, “you end up
realizing that real chemistry is more than skin deep.â€
The first two San Francisco eye-gazing parties have been so successful,
Ellsberge says there will be at least one per month from now on. I’d
recommend the experience to anyone. If eyes really are the windows to
the soul, you never know who you’ll meet.
Posted by
Jaimal Yogis
on December 6, 2007 06:23 AM
November 29, 2007
San Francisco: A Deeper Shade of Green
For the last six months, I’ve been reporting for San Francisco Magazine and Yoga Journal
on sustainable living. I’ve spoken with so many environmental
architects, scientists, and activists, I can hardly remember a time
when I took flippant road trips to clear my head, and I didn’t know
what peak oil
meant. It has been humbling learning from the people trying to
re-balance our earth, but one of the most inspirational parts of the
reporting has been realizing that yogis — with our extra-sensitivity to
toxic environments — seem to be at the forefront of the green movement,
especially those in the Bay Area. Take Ashtanga instructor David Lurey. This past week I visited him at his San Francisco studio, and he seemed to know as much about sustainable architecture
as any of the professional experts I've spoken with have. While giving
me a tour of his backyard studio (converted from an old shed), Lurey
showed me how he used non-toxic paint, bamboo flooring, recycled blue jean insulation, bamboo window shades, double-paned windows (for optimal insulation), a radiant heating system,
and light dimmers to make a low-impact and chemical free teaching
space. Lurey was also up to date on some of the environmental myths
about green architecture: one of them being that you need to buy
expensive solar panels to make a significant impact on a building's
carbon footprint. Lurey knew that installing proper insulation and
sealing leaking ducts can reduce a building’s energy use by more than
50 percent, more than a lot of solar systems. He also knew that most of
the electricity we Californians waste comes from leaving appliances —
computers, cell phones, TV’s, toasters — plugged in while they’re
not on. (That problem can be avoided by buying a smart power strip.)
“People look to yogis as examples of a healthy life,†Lurey told
me, “so I think we can really be leaders of environmental change.â€
After meeting Lurey, and other Bay Area yogis like him, I'm beginning
to really believe that. To learn more about how you can make your
studio or home eco-friendly, check out the Green Yoga Association, yet another Bay Area phenomenon.
Posted by
Jaimal Yogis
on November 29, 2007 08:10 AM
November 22, 2007
San Francisco; Eat, Drink, and Be Merry
With the eloquent Karen Macklin on a four-week yoga retreat in Mexico —
poor girl — you're stuck with me for the month. And in the spirit of
Thanksgiving, I'm going to make my blogging debut with the topic on all
of our minds today: food. For the next 24 hours, and really during the
whole holiday season, we'll likely throw restraint to the wind and
stuff ourselves with foods we swore off last New Years. I certainly
will, and it might as well be seen as part of the spiritual path. (Like
Jack Kornfield says: "Everything in moderation, including moderation.")
But while we're indulging, we can maintain some compassion for the
earth by shopping wisely. And because it's not always intuitive which
food choices have the best impact on the environment — do you buy the
organic pears from South America, or the local, conventional ones? —
earlier this week, I asked the famous Michael Pollan, author of The Omnivore's Dilemma: What are the top three most important things to keep in mind for eating with optimum ahimsa toward the planet? What he said might surprise you.
1.) Eat less meat. Eliminating industrial meat — meaning, for the most part, non-organic — from your diet has as big an impact on your carbon footprint as trading in your SUV for a sedan.
2.) Stop buying processed food. It takes ten calories of fossil fuel to produce one calorie of processed food.
3.) Shop at the farmer's market or join a CSA. Because they have to travel, imported foods pump much more C02 into the atmosphere.
In the Bay Area we're practically surrounded by organic,
locally-grown, non-processed, delicious food. Let's eat, drink, and be
merry with a conscience. Happy Thanksgiving.
Posted by
Jaimal Yogis
on November 22, 2007 09:38 AM
November 15, 2007
San Francisco: Ayurveda and Wit in Santa Cruz
I met Scott Blossom back in September when I took his 7-day Samavesha
immersion course. I became so intrigued with the type of yoga he is
doing—an energy-based asana practice that is more about moving prana
than moving your knee exactly over your ankle—that I have done little
else since. Scott's also an ayurvedic practitioner, and when I found
out that his teacher, Dr. Robert Svoboda, was going to be joining him for a day-and-a-half workshop at One Yoga Center in Santa Cruz, I jumped at the opportunity to go.
The Nov. 9-10 workshop was called Sthiram Sukham Asanam: Living in Rhythm With Our Prana,
and was mainly about how to align your energies (sthiram, the stable,
and sukham, the relaxed) with themselves and also with the energies of
the universe.
Scott led the yoga sessions, and Robert led inspired discussions
about everything from Saturn to sanskrit to female health to Life,
Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness (the philosophy of which, he
says, accounts for a whole bunch of our problems in our society).
I liked Robert immediately. He is not only brilliant—a scholar in
ayurveda (the Indian health system connected with yoga) and
astrology—but he also has a terrific, dry wit. He talks about the
conservation of energy in our own bodies, calling different actions
efficient or expensive. My favorite of his adages was: "Crisis is a bad
time to freak out."
Both Robert and Scott talked about how, in the West, we tend towards
overactive asana practices, but they only serve to deplete us and
create instability of the nervous system. The idea, they say, is not to
sweat profusely, but to practice balance. If you are already practicing
balance, that's great. But don't become complacent. Another gem Robert
threw us:: "Let's not dislocate our shoulders as we pat ourselves on
the back."
________________________________________________________________________________________
Missed it? Scott and Robert will be doing another tag-team effort at CIIS in December. I'll be out of town, sadly, but if you attend, let us know it goes!
Posted by
Karen Macklin
on November 15, 2007 07:37 AM
November 08, 2007
San Francisco: KD Tours Bay Area
You haven't heard the Hari Krishna mantra until you have heard it sung by Krishna Das.
And you haven't REALLY heard it sung by Krishna Das unless you have
heard him sing it live. KD—as his devotees and friends call him—is no
stranger to San Francisco, but, with the upcoming New Moon on November
9, he'll kick off an unusual full Bay Area tour, in which he'll hit
everywhere, from San Francisco to Santa Rosa. He's basically leaving
you with no excuse not to see—or hear—him.
So, what are KD's kirtans and workshops like? I have never been to
one, but the various teachers who are hosting them have told me that
it's a little hard to put into words. The kirtans are primarily call
and response chanting with KD and his brilliant musical
co-conspirators, and are said to be magical, transcendent experiences.
"It's a big sing-a-long," says Susannah Bruder, the owner of Yoga Sita,
who is hosting a KD kirtan on November 9-10 at Saint Gregory of Nyssa
Episcopal Church. "It's really beautiful and fun, but it's also just a
heart opening experience." She adds that the 2-3 hour kirtans almost
always sell out (even with nearly 1000 tickets available for the SF
shows!).
At kirtan, KD intersperses the chants with stories of his travels in
India and his spiritual teacher Neem Karoli Baba (aka Maharaj-ji). But
if you want to delve more deeply into the spiritual underpinnings of
the kirtan practice and learn more about KD's path, it's better to
attend a workshop. They are smaller and more personal, and have more of
a dharma talk feel.
"In the kirtan, you chant with him and different things come up on
the spiritual path," says Tania Varela-Ibarra, who's hosting a KD
workshop at the Mission's Yoga Sangha. "In the workshop, you can address those different things."
-------
To see a full list of Bay Area KD events, which are also taking
place at Thousand Oaks Baptist Church (Berkeley), The Glaser Center
(Santa Rosa), Grass Valley Veterans Hall (Grass Valley), The Ballroom
Embassy Suites Hotel (San Rafael), and Santa Cruz Veterans Memorial
Building (Santa Cruz), visit KD's tour page.
Posted by
Karen Macklin
on November 8, 2007 06:10 AM
November 01, 2007
San Francisco: Opening to Change
I met Bill McCully when I wandered into his Saturday morning yoga class at The Mindful Body
earlier this year. I was wanting to go deeper with my practice and
Bill's class spoke to me. It was a combination of asana, discussion,
meditation, and chanting, and the space he held felt energetically
alive. I started going regularly. Then, about two months ago, I signed
up for a 10-week Personal Transformation workshop with him.
Truthfully, I wasn't really sure what to expect. I wasn't even sure
what kind of personal transformation I was working out. Everyone else
in the group seemed to have pretty specific things they wanted to
address: relationships, work situations, or other life changes. I knew
I was moving through something in my life, but wasn't sure exactly what
it was.
In the first class, Bill, who is also an authentic movement
teacher, asked us to each spend 20 minutes in the five various "spaces"
in the room which were designated for drawing, writing, making sound,
moving, and witnessing. I didn't understand what to do. The idea of
just going to a corner of the room and singing or randomly moving in
front of all of these new people completely freaked me out. But, at the
end of the class, I felt a lot of walls come down. I understood that
there were more ways in which I could be understanding things.
Since then, we've used a whole variety of methods to get at what's
happening inside: We've had deep discussions about our lives, drawn
pictures of our obstacles, and even done tarot cards. The idea, says
Bill, from a yogic standpoint, is to not rely entirely on asana to give
us all of the information we need, but instead to "open up all the
different ways that we can self reflect".
Bill is a truly supportive teacher. He even offers free private
sessions for his yoga students if they want to come and talk about
their practice. I so enjoy sharing space with him, and he is always
eager to meet new students—if you are interested in embarking on a
deeper investigation into your practice, do check out his weekly class.
Posted by
Karen Macklin
on November 1, 2007 09:18 PM
October 24, 2007
San Francisco: John Friend Comes To Town
Ever take an Anusara Yoga
class? One thing you'll notice is that everyone is smiling—BIG.
Frequently known as the "happy yoga," Anusara was developed in 1997 by John Friend
as a heart-opening asana practice based on Tantric principles. This
past Friday, the famed teacher himself came to give a talk called Tantra in the 21st Century at the First Unitarian Universalist Church of San Francisco.
Dressed in a brightly colored button-down shirt, the happy yogi
behind the "happy yoga" talked less about the physical practice of
Anusara Yoga and more about Tantra, itself—its history and place in
modern life. The youngest of the main yogic systems (Tantra, Vedanta,
and Classical), Tantra centers around the belief that life is
inherently good and that we are all an expression of the divine. Tantra
yogis, John said, believe that the practice of yoga is more about being
who you really are than attempting to dominate or control your natural
personality, emotions, and desires. "Instead of stopping the mind," he
said, in reference to classical yoga's philosophy, "we use all parts of
the mind . . . Any emotion can be rerouted and re-channeled for the
glorification of something grand."
The talk, which ended with a short meditation, was lively (even from
the back where I was sitting—as you can see by the blurry photo!) and
digestible. Though it really only scratched the surface of Tantra, it
certainly left the audience with enough of a taste to want to inquire
further.
Interested in knowing more? The Bay Area is filled with ways to dig
deeper. To start, try taking some classes with San Francisco Yoga Tree Hayes' Anusara queen Stacey Rosenberg, or delve deeper into Tantric philosophy at the next two-day Samavesha course led by Scott Blossom, Chandra Easton, Chris Wallis, and Chris Tompkins at Rudramandir in Berkeley.
Posted by
Karen Macklin
on October 24, 2007 06:18 AM
October 18, 2007
San Francisco: The Experience of Zhander
For the last five days, I have been waking up at 5am to study with
Zhander Remete. I am completely delirious with all that I am learning,
not to mention the new sleep schedule. And I still have four more days
to go.
You may have heard of Zhander (also known as Shandor), an Australian-based Hungarian yogi who visits Mark Horner's Moksha Yoga Shala
studio in Walnut Creek every year to teach an intensive workshop on one
of his two main practices: Shadow Yoga or Nata Yoga. Zhander's more
well-known asana-based practice of Shadow Yoga
is deeply steeped in ancient traditions of yoga that are informed by
Marmasthana, the Indian system that focuses on the body's 108 vital
energy pockets (or marmas). Nata Yoga, which Zhander has started
teaching in recent years, is also marma-focused, but is a series of
karanas (as opposed to asanas) which are dance-like postures that
combine simultaneous movement of hands, feet, and body.
This week, we are practicing Nata Yoga, which Zhander discovered
when he saw the 108 karanas depicted on the walls of the South Indian
Chidambaram temple and was taught how to perform them by a sadhu. The
practice focuses on subtle movements—like flower-picking hand
gestures—as opposed to gross movements, like the usual big bends and
twists that most practices incorporate.
I had never before studied with Zhander, whose intense and sometimes
intimidating energy has earned him a reputation of being the "bad boy"
or "dark prince" of yoga in the past. He is certainly commanding, but
there is a real loving quality in him, and his rarely matched knowledge
of and commitment to the practice has inspired a multitude of
followers. I feel like I am only retaining bits and pieces of this
highly complex and esoteric practice, but it's still amazing. Zhander
discourages us from taking notes, with the belief that that which we
truly understand we will naturally remember. The writer in me wants to
rebel, but I must admit that he's got a point.
The course ends on Sunday and I think I might miss the
eat-before-sunset, in-bed-by-nine, pre-sunrise yogavan carpooling
delirium, not to mention the complex teachings themselves. But Zhander
will (hopefully!) be back next year. In the meantime, Mark Horner's
Moksha Yoga Shala studio focuses entirely on the practice of Shadow
Yoga and is a great place to absorb Zhander's teachings.
Posted by
Karen Macklin
on October 18, 2007 05:36 AM
October 11, 2007
New Bright and Happy Yoga Studio
If you live in the Mission, you are in luck: You've got a brand new yoga studio in your 'hood. Laughing Lotus
just celebrated its opening with a full weekend of ritual, music, and
classes. I missed the opening evening with Bhagavan Das (Jeff Tweedy
was playing in the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival and that was hard
to pass up) but I caught the tail end of the celebration Sunday evening
with a Lotus Flow class that was taught by a cool teacher named Keith
to the mantra rhythms of Sean Johnson's Wild Lotus Band quartet.
You may have heard of Laughing Lotus—it's a popular yoga studio in
Manhattan that was opened about eight years ago by Jasmine Tarkeshi and
Dana Flynn. The studio became successful and the two owners, who both
grew up in the Bay Area, decided to finally return to open a second
studio here in the Mission, where they both now live. (Laughing Lotus
in Manhattan still thrives, too.)
<
The venture took nine months to complete, says Jasmine, who, along with
Dana and a dedicated group of Lotus teachers and local friends,
designed and painted the space themselves. The studio is beautiful. The
front space has a little sitting area with hot tea, and there is a hall
with books and a large picture of Amma set on a shelf. The wood-floored
studio space is painted orange, pink, and yellow, with borders of
geometric flower shapes and beautiful paintings of different gods and
goddesses on the walls. There is even a small garden out back.
The mission of Laughing Lotus, says Jasmine, is to "create sacred
and ecstatic spaces for everyone to celebrate their lives," and to hold
classes in which students can practice "poses in a way that the body
allows." Each month there is a theme (this month it is Gods and
Goddesses) and their classes combine mantra, meditation, asana, and
philosophy. Another nice thing about Laughing Lotus is that many of
their classes are only one hour long, which is great if you are short
on time—or funds (those classes are only $11).
Let us know if you attended the opening ceremony or have had any experiences yet at the new studio!
Posted by
Karen Macklin
on October 11, 2007 08:40 PM
October 04, 2007
The Divinity of Deva
Hearing a recorded version of Deva Premal sing the Gayatri Mantra
has been known to bring me to tears. So you can just imagine what it
was like to see her perform live this past weekend at Sonoma Country
Day School in Santa Rosa.
My relationship to Deva (or, rather, to her music) goes way back to
when I first started practicing yoga around seven years ago. I'd be
sweating bullets after muscling through my vinyasas and Utthita Trikonasanas and absolutely detestable Urdvha Dhanurasanas, and finally, it would be time for Savasana. My teacher would flip on the Deva CD Love Is Space and it was, quite literally, like I'd died and gone to heaven.
Watching Deva in concert is much the same, except that you get her
live. She performed with three fabulous guest musicians and her
partner, Miten, who brings humor, rock and roll, and even a little
reggae to the proceedings. The show, which began with the whole room
chanting OM, was more of a kirtan than a concert: Deva taught us the
words to all of the mantras and then invited us to sing along. No one
clapped in between songs, so entranced was the audience, and the
musical group paused for long silences after every song to sit together
in brief meditation on stage. In fact, the entire evening was like a
meditation since the performers were so mindful about every note they
played and motion they made.
I'll admit that a concert with Deva is also a bit of a scene with
lots of men and women in flowy clothing and scarves, an extravagant
feast of delish Indian chow, and little stands in the lobby selling
carved silver and beaded jewelry. But never at a concert have I seen
people so quietly and deeply moved by the music. There was even a
lightness as scores of mood ring-wearing women lined up during
intermission to gain admission into the hopelessly small two-stalled
bathroom.
_________________________
Deva was only in town for one night for this benefit show for the Sonoma Ashram. If you missed her, check out her website to find out when she'll be back.
Every day it seems the yoga community develops a greater connection to
activism and social change. From Seane Corn's important work with women
in India to the local Power to the Peaceful event that takes place
annually in San Francisco, there are an increasing amount of
opportunities with which you can get your yoga on—and do a bit of world
good at the same time. Now, there's the Global Mala Project.
The purpose of Global Mala is to bring together the global yoga community in the name of peace and seva (selfless
service). It is a benefit and was held last weekend, on UN
International Peace Day, which doubled as Yom Kippur (the Jewish Day of
Atonement) and also fell in the middle of the month of Ramadan. More
than 300 events in 35 countries took place, and I went to the one that
happened here in the Castro at Yoga Flow.
So,
what happens when a bunch of yogis get together to do 54 sun
salutations in a close-windowed room in the middle of a bumping
nightlife spot? Well, for one, the room gets pretty hot and stinky! But
it was also a lot of fun. And though I am not a huge fan of doing
excessive repetitions of sun salutations, it always feels good to
practice for a cause.
The evening also included a meditation sit, a session of chanting
the Tantric version of the Gayatri Mantra, talks from representatives
of the benefit's three receiving charities (Trees for Life, Glide Church, and AIDS Project East Bay),
beautiful music by David Lurey and friends, and a great talk by
meditation teacher Christopher Tompkins about connecting with ourselves
in order to better connect with others.
But a surprise teleconference with Ram Das, who appeared live to
both LA and San Francisco via modern technology, was the highlight of
the evening. While his image was clearly projected onto the studio
wall, we only caught about every third word that he said due to sound
issues. When he realized this, he just looked into the camera, smiled,
and started saying: "One, one, one, one, one."
____________________________________________
GET TICKETS TO SEE DEVA ON SEP. 29! Mantra superstars Deva Premal and Miten are making a rare appearance at the Sonoma County Day School to benefit the Sonoma Ashram. I'm going! For tix, visit www.YogaMates.com.
Posted by
Karen Macklin
on September 27, 2007 05:54 AM
September 19, 2007
San Francisco: From India, With Love
While
practicing the rich tradition of yoga here in San Francisco, it's easy
to forget that there are so many poor people in the very land that yoga
came from. Swamini Lalitananda, an incredibly energetic 70-year-old
Indian scholar and yogini, has devoted her life to helping some of
them. She spends six months a year in India (mainly Bangalore) running
residential establishments and orphanages for the poor; she spends the
other six months of the year traveling all around the US to raise money
for her mission. Last Sunday evening, I went to a mediation and satsang at the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Center to hear her speak and to donate to the cause.
This was not my first experience with the Swamini. We met when I visited the Grass Valley Yoga Farm
ashram several weeks ago. The first time I spoke to her, she told me
about her life as a university professor, yoga teacher, and meditation
instructor. When I asked her about her family, she said, "You are my
family. Everyone is my family." I learned that's what it means to be a
swami—to renounce all of your material and personal attachments and
devote your life to a higher purpose.
On Sunday, Swamini led a chanting session (she's got a great vocal range) and gave a dharma talk that focused on the Vedas. She also talked about why we often say shanti
three times when we chant: once for peace inside, once for peace for
our loved ones and community, and once for peace in nature.
But the thing she stressed the most was the importance of charity.
Starting with nothing, the Swamini and another Sivananda disciple named
Sro Omananda Swamiji created five establishments that house 300 women
and children in India. The children need lots of stuff. Their education
is taken very seriously, and in addition to the basics, they also need
money for things like notebooks, bus passes, and uniforms.
Every now and then it's important to remember that giving is an
essential part of yoga. To find out more about Swamini Lalitananda's
mission and to donate, visit www.atma-vidya.org
____________________________________________
GET TICKETS TO SEE DEVA ON SEP. 29! Mantra superstars Deva Premal and Miten are making a rare appearance at the Sonoma County Day School to benefit the Sonoma Ashram. I'm going! For tix, visit www.YogaMates.com.
Posted by
Karen Macklin
on September 19, 2007 07:44 AM
September 13, 2007
Yoga Jammin'
At a foggy Speedway Meadow last Saturday morning, a couple of hours before Michael Franti's Power to the Peaceful
concert began, scores of yogis gathered for a free community Yoga Jam.
Some were sitting on yoga mats and some on the grass, some wearing yoga
clothes, others jeans and even pajamas. The crowd was a mix of yoga
teachers, locals, and some hippie teenagers thrown in for good measure.
As the scent of the fresh morning intermingled with the faint whiff of
a joint being smoked in the distance, I wondered just how this thing
was going to go down. But by the end of the two hours, the entire
stagefront lawn was buzzing with wild and freaky yoga energy.
The 9am session, led by Maya Yoga
founders Nicki Doane and Eddie Modestini, was a great warm-up. The
couple took us through a seated meditation, a series of sun
salutations, and a number of standing poses to heat us up. The weather
was bleak, but no one seemed to notice. Throughout the practice, Nicki
reminded us of the reason that we had come here in the first place: to
support this annual concert for peace. "Yoga is conscious action," she
said. "Make this practice a form of activism."
At 10am, Shiva Rea
danced onto the scene. "I think we're here to breathe change," she
said, redirecting the now voluminous group into the shape of a mandala.
Shiva's yoga was more of a dance, during which we shot arrows of peace
into the center of the mandala, and then out toward the community and
the world. Her one-hour practice, accompanied by an electric
soundtrack, ended in an ecstatic dance of joy where even the most
resistant two-left-footers got into the groove beside Michael Franti,
himself.
At one point, Shiva joked that if she had been in her hometown of LA
leading an outdoor class in such gray weather, everyone would be
complaining about the cold. We all laughed. Who needs sunshine when
you've got yoga?
Posted by
Karen Macklin
on September 13, 2007 08:41 AM
September 06, 2007
San Francisco: Immersion Into the Divine
Yoga
can be a great workout, but we all know that it's so much more; if we
didn't, we'd be running or playing soccer instead. The stress relief
and strong quadriceps that come with a good asana routine are
encouraging, but the possibility of self-investigation, devotion, and
powerful meditation is what reels most of us in. If you are a
practitioner who wants to move into a deeper energetic place with your
practice, or to simply prepare your body better for meditation, the
Tantric tradition has a lot to offer.
This week at Yoga Tree Hayes, four highly respected teachers are leading a week-long workshop entitled The Samavesha Immersion: Fundamentals of Tantrik Yoga..
The course is led by yoga and Ayurveda educator Scott Blossom, Tibetan
Buddhist scholar and yoga teacher Chandra Easton, and Sanskrit and
Indian philosophy scholars Chris Tompkins and Chris Wallis. The
diversity of teachers allows for a curriculum that covers both sadhana
(the actual practice of tantra) and darshana (the study of its
historical and philosophical underpinnings).
Samavesha means "immersion into the divine," and, at its heart, that
is the goal of all Tantric practice. This course will focus on the
various elements of Tantric yoga, including mantra, mudra, bandhas,
pranayama, and meditation. There will be special emphasis on ancient
Tantric yoga texts and Vinyasa Krama—the sequencing of a South
Indian-influenced asana practice so that the body is energetically
prepared for the true goal of meditation.
"Meditation is the natural outcome of proper asana practice," says
Blossom. "When you don't sit to meditate at the end of the practice,
it's like making this incredible cup of chai and not drinking it."
Blossom says that the more balanced your chakras and nadis, the
deeper the state of meditation you can achieve, which means a clearer
path to reaching the divine.
"When it's all humming together and there's harmony, there's
something that begins to happen . . . an insight that transcends the
physical body . . . it's so delicious that you want to remain."
The course runs from Sunday, September 9-Saturday, September 15. To find out fee and time info, go to the Yoga Tree website.
Posted by
Karen Macklin
on September 6, 2007 07:29 AM
August 30, 2007
San Francisco: My Trip to the Yoga Farm
On
August 6, something very unexpected happened. I received an email that
told me that the teacher I was planning to do a 200-hour teacher
training with this coming October—an American man living in Singapore
named Scott Orton—suddenly died. He was young and healthy and there was
no explanation for his death. Though I had felt a connection with him,
I knew little about his life, except that he had studied yoga at the Sivananda YogaBlog/DSCN2517.JPG" vspace="5" width="200" align="right" height="150" hspace="5">
Founded by Swami Vishnu-devananda, a direct disciple of Sivananda himself,
the Yoga Farm is on a wide, sprawling piece of land in Grass Valley.
Ashram living—and visiting—is regimented, but not rigid. The daily
schedule (6am-10pm), consists of two simple asana classes, two
meditation/satsang sessions that incorporate devotional chanting, a
daily lecture on a particular topic, and two amazing vegetarian meals.
Swami Sita,
the senior teacher at the ashram, is a devout practitioner and a strong
presence there. She gave a couple of dharma talks that were quite
captivating about positive thinking, devotion, and karma; she also
talked to me personally about Scott, which was a blessing as it helped
me to move on from a place of grieving to a place of understanding.
The place is magical, and what makes it so is not only the land and
the gracious staff, but the other visitors. Some were studying to be
Sivananda yogis, but many were just there to practice ashram living and
retreat for a while from their regular lives. With all of the programs
offered there, the nearby Yoga Farm functions as a retreat, a school,
and a journey (both physical and spiritual) all at once. Next time you
have a free weekend, I would strongly recommend visiting. Just make
sure you leave the city by 1pm on a Friday to beat the crazy I-80
traffic.
It's
easy to find yoga DVDs with names like "Yoga on the Go" or "Fifteen
Minutes to Yoga Buns," complete with a picture of a hot, shirtless yogi
on the front. (And I do appreciate the hot, shirtless yogi.) But who's
documenting the real masters of our generation? An SF-based company
called Pranamaya has taken on the task.
Pranamaya founders Mark Holmes and Ian Albert, who have been friends
since the '80s when they met in high school, spent years working in the
film industry while maintaining devoted yoga practices. Mark was a
visual effects artist for Industrial Light & Sony Pictures, and Ian
was a director and producer for a live public policy talk show that ran
on PBS. A few years ago, they decided to pair their professional skills
with their love of yoga and Pranamaya was born.
Since then, they have double-handedly produced 12 DVDs on some of
the most exciting yogis of today. Their subjects—which include
acclaimed yogis like Sarah Powers, Andrey Lappa, Edward Clark, Dharma Mittra, Paul Grilley and, most recently, Viniyoga founder Gary Kraftsow—are
chosen, says Mark, for their "incredibly deep devotion to a true path
of inquiry into yoga and how existence is informed and reflected by the
practice."
The DVDs are simple, but polished, and packed with info you really
can't get anywhere else. (Yes, the founders are my friends, but they
truly do cool stuff.) Pranamaya is a real SF company, often using local
yoga teachers—like Chandra Easton, Deb Burkman, and Chrisandra Fox—as
students in their DVDs. The company, which operates out of Portrero
Hill, has quickly made an international rep for itself, with thousands
of DVDs sold and customers in such far-flung places as Saudi Arabia and
South Africa.
But no matter what success the future may hold in store for
Pranamaya, you won't be seeing them go mainstream anytime soon. Mark
and Ian are more concerned with recording the esoteric practices of
these yogis for posterity, so they can be passed down to the next
generation—and shared with the current one, as well.
If you’ve been practicing yoga for a few years—or even a few
months—you may have thought about becoming a teacher. Good news: You
don’t have to spend a month in India (or even at Kripalu) to get your
certification. This fall, there are three fabulous 200-hour Yoga
Alliance-registered training programs right here in San Francisco.
Here's the deal.
Yoga Tree Dates: 9/14/07-2/17/08 Basic schedule: Every weekend Styles taught: Hatha and Vinyasa Price: $2950 How long they’ve been doing it: 7 years How many students per training: appx. 40 Teachers involved: Darren Main, Stephanie Snyder, Jamie Lindsay, Elise Lorimer, Janet Stone, Darshana Weil, Chris Tompkins, Michael Watson The deal: If you’ve taken yoga classes in San
Francisco, you’ve probably gone to a Yoga Tree studio. With locations
in Hayes Valley, the Mission, the Castro, and the Haight, the Yoga Tree
community is large, wide, and well reputed. YT representative Jeremy
Simon says that the main focus of the TTC is to expose students to a
large diversity of styles and teachers so that they can find their own
voice as a teacher. The program also includes a lecture series with
renown visiting guests and unlimited free and discount yoga classes,
the guidance of a mentor, and lifelong relationship with the Yoga Tree
family. Find out more: www.yogatreesf.com
Yoga Loft Dates: 9/15/07-2/23/08 Basic schedule: most Saturdays, 7 Sundays Style: no one particular style, though several of the teachers are Iyengar trained Price: $3400 How long they’ve been doing it: 5 years How many students per training: appx. 15-20 Teachers involved: Tony Briggs, Jason Crandell, Sabine Kuehner, Geoffrey Roniger, Anne Saliou, Patricia Sullivan The deal: This is the smallest program of the three,
and focuses on individual attention for students. In addition to the
regular curriculum, each student chooses a mentor to study with and
assist in classes. A cool aspect of this training is that the Loft
stays connected with students well after graduation and offers them
subbing opportunities and jobs teaching community classes in the
afternoon. Studio co-owner Meg Whitbread says that the program is a
reflection of what the Loft, itself, aims to do: "To keep this practice
as real as possible, so people can really see themselves, see their
true nature." Find out more:www.theloftsf.com
Yoga Works Dates: 9/7/07-3/2/08 Basic Schedule: one three-day weekend every three weeks Style: Krishnamacharya lineage (Desikachar, Iyengar, and Astanga) with an emphasis on detailed alignment within a flow practice Price: $3200 How long they’ve been doing it: 17 years How many students per training: appx. 20 Teachers involved: Annie Carpenter & Julie Kleinman The deal: Yoga Works is known as one of the premier
yoga schools in the country. Though they don't have a studio here, they
have partnered with Sports Club LA to bring their training to the Bay
Area. The director, Julie Kleinman, was a student of Eric Schiffman and
Rod Stryker and says that the Yoga Works TTC can be set apart by its
two decades of experience in training teachers, its particular method
of intelligent and thoughtful sequencing, and its emphasis on the
skillful instruction of asanai. Find out more:www.yogaworks.com
You may also want to check out an upcoming Anusara training at Yoga Tree, the Sivananda one-month training at the Grass Valley Yoga Farm, or the three-month immersion (not Yoga Alliance certified) at The Yoga Studio
in Larkspur, all starting also in the fall. Of course, the best way to
choose where you will study is to talk to the teachers who run the
training and see if it is a good fit.
I
am not a person who likes to pretend I am a monkey. Or a reptile. Not
even on Halloween. But Cameron Shayne got me crawling around on all
fours for three full hours this past Sunday—and loving it.
L.A.-based teacher Shayne is the founder of Budokon,
a practice that melds together hatha yoga and martial arts with the
theory that they are a more complete art form when blended together
than when practiced separately.
The Castro's Yoga Flow
hosted two workshops with Shayne this past weekend. The Art of Floating
lent insight into the physical and philosophical tenants of the
practice, which are core and upper body strength, controlled and
precise movement, and personal empowerment. In Animal Awakening, we
moved our way through human evolution, embodying single-celled
organisms, lizards, four-legged mammals, and finally primates. Shayne's
own physical imitation of these creatures is uncanny, and when you walk
on four feet yourself, you begin to understand what your arms are
really capable of.
The practice is lighthearted and fun, but also offers incredible
strength training. It was a great introduction to martial arts and did
wonders to inform my yoga practice. What I appreciated most is the way
Shayne slows everything down. He says that speed covers up weakness,
and he teaches you to move from one pose to the next with perfect
deliberation, pointing out that asanas were not designed to be
unconsciously bled together.
Shayne's both a yogi and a martial arts master. He's encouraging and
kind—but not afraid to engage in conflict. "You don’t really know
someone," he says, "until you have a fight with them."
There was some talk after class about the possibility of a local
teacher training, but nothing yet planned. In the meantime, if you want
to learn how to gracefully connect your backbends with some forceful
kicks, take one of his donation-based classes next time you are down
south. It'll be worth it.
I have practiced yoga in a lot of places, but never in a retail store—until last Saturday. Lululemon,
the city's famous one-stop shop for yoga clothing, cleared the floor of
their Marina store to make space for a charitable yoga class that was
part of their new Practice for a Cause program. This class was being
held to raise money for the Healing & Yoga Foundation of San Francisco.
One one level, it seems a little weird to be doing yoga while
surrounded by a seemingly endless array of hot yoga shorts, low-waisted
reversible pants, and brightly colored tank tops that cross in the
front, cross in the back, and have new removable boob pads. On another
level, practicing together is about community and meditation, not
incense-burning or Shiva statues. The class energy was great, the
students were excited about the cause, and if you're going to practice
at a clothing store, it may as well be Lululemon.
Community outreach is a big part of Lululemon's operation. Lululemon
community leader Elizabeth Brotz's entire job is to bring the yoga
community together through recruiting store ambassadors (local teachers
who represent the company like ambassador Deborah Burkman
who taught this class), as well as product testers and fitness experts
who provide feedback on new clothing designs. Lululemon gives Elizabeth
$150 a month to donate to a charity; she developed these monthly
charitable yoga classes to raise more. On Saturday, students donated
$225 which, coupled with the monthly $150 from the store, resulted in a
$375 donation to the Healing & Yoga Foundation.
Combining yoga with giving is a brilliant idea—in some ways, it's
really the whole point. I took a class once with yoga teacher Patricia
Walden in which she said that there were five words you need to know to
lead a happy life: "Be good. Be of service." Mission accomplished.
And yeah . . . I did some shopping, too.
_______________________________________________
Upcoming dates for more charitable yoga classes at Lululemon: August
25 (with Pete Chandonnet), September 22 (teacher TBA), and October 27
(with Les Leventhal). All classes are at the Union Square store at 8:30
AM.
There
comes a time for most of us when we realize that all of this jumping
around, backbending, and toe-touching is part of something bigger. The
question is: what? If you are starting to get curious about what's
beyond asana, you may want to take a class or workshop with Sean Feit.
A Buddhist meditation and yoga practitioner, Sean teaches a pranayama and meditation class at The Mindful Body
on Tuesday nights, and also leads occasional workshops and kirtans. He
often starts class with a short asana practice first, but it is in
preparation for a deeper meditation practice during which he introduces
the other limbs of yoga, including pratyahara (withdrawal of the senses) and dharana
(concentration). This past Sunday, in a workshop called All Eight
Limbs, Sean talked about everything from modern day spirituality to brahmacharya—the, um, touchy subject of celibacy.
I first learned about these concepts five years back when a teacher recommended The Heart of Yoga
by TKV Desikachar (a great book, by the way), but I always wondered why
no one was talking about it in my classes. I love the jumping around
and the toe-touching as much as the next person, but it's also nice to
be reminded where our Hatha practice could be leading us—if we want it
to. Sean's intimate classes are the place to go to ask personal
questions about your pranayama or meditation practice; he always has
time to talk on and off the mat.
We've got so many amazing asana teachers demonstrating the perfect Urdhva Dhanurasana, but very few talking about samadahi.
Of course, it's not like we can reach samadahi just by taking a class
that addresses it (wouldn't that be nice?) but we can at least get a
better idea of what's possible. "My hope in presenting these
practices," says Sean, "is just to plant a seed."
Coming Up: Lululemon yoga benefit for the Healing Yoga Foundation of
San Francisco on Saturday, July 28, 8:30am, at 1981 Union Street (Go,
if you can!)
San Francisco: Iyengar, Enlightenment, and Happy Feet
Yogacharya, a week-long festival dedicated to BKS Iyengar, did not
rake in the numbers the management was expecting this past week. But
for students that was a real blessing, as we got to take intimate
classes with some of the country's best teachers.
I went down to Santa Clara for the festival on Sunday. My first
class, in which I was one of 12 students, was Mystics on the Mat with Seane Corn.
I found Seane to be a complete tour de force—both petite and powerful,
spiritual, yet highly pragmatic. Well-known for the charitable work she
does around the world, Seane spent the majority of class leading a
discussion about spirit, service, empowerment, and what she calls the
three levels of yoga: the physical/mental, the energetic/emotional, and
the psychic/spiritual.
What I dig most about Seane, other than her hybrid of
straight-talking New Yorker and soft yogi heart, are her views on
spirituality. She doesn’t speak of intangible, spiritual goals. She
says she is on a personal quest for empowerment, not enlightenment, and
views ego as something to be dealt with, rather than destroyed. "In
order to reach the light," she says, "you must understand the shadow."
My next class was with Glenn Black. In traditional Iyengar style,
Glenn will hold you in a pose . . . forever. The asanas we
practiced—like Baddha Konasana, Upavistha Konasana, or Eka Pada Rajakapotasana—didn’t
seem difficult at first. But after a few minutes, agitation set in.
People started to groan. Thankfully, Glenn calls upon a dry sense of
humor to keep his students at it. "If you can stick your toe in your
nose," he said, during one particularly difficult stretch, "you’ll
find samadhi."
The last class of the day (and week) was with Viniyoga
founder Gary Kraftsow, who focused on pranayama in the tradition of
Krishnamacharya. Gary’s just a cool guy—he led a large class that
felt more like an intimate family reunion. He talked about various
techniques and ratios, and got me to personally connect with my breath
more than I ever had before.
The conference was both inspiring and uplifting—good energy, great
teachers, and lots of shoes abandoned in the halls by happy naked yoga
feet.
As
hard as it can be to select the right midweek yoga class, it's even
harder to select a teacher training course. I've been looking at
various programs for the last two months and am considering a
well-reputed Sivananda training in Southern India. To further
investigate, I decided to check out the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Center in San Francisco this past Sunday. They hold a monthly open house (it's free!) that includes a class and a yummy Indian home-cooked meal.
The center, now celebrating its 50th year, was first opened by one
of the pioneers of yoga in the West, Swami Vishnu-devananda—a disciple
of the Indian sage Swami Sivananda.
The classes at the center are really small and ashram living is
available. If you're serious about your practice, you can live in
community with other yogis, meditating and practicing together, all
while keeping a day job.
The basic class I took teaches the Sivananda-inspired series of 12 basic postures, all a variation of fundamental hatha postures. Designed to balance the chakras, the series starts with Sirsasana (Headstand) and works its way down in the body.
Sivananda yoga is the opposite of trendy: The series is always done
in the same order, the students dress modestly, and the friendly
teachers (mine was Shambhu) don't try to put their own stamp on the
practice. To some San Francisco yogi-hipsters, this repetitive and
lineage-based style may not feel stimulating. But for students who
gravitate toward more devotional aspects of yoga, the dedication to
tradition will be appreciated. And any student is sure to notice how
many local teachers have been influenced by the principles of this
practice.
Even if you're more concerned with your Adho Mukha Vrksasana
(Handstand) (not practiced much at the center) than your spiritual
awareness, the center is worth visiting, at least once. If it speaks to
you and you decide to become an ashram resident, be prepared to do your
karma yoga and help with the center upkeep, and to take a spiritual name—everyone I met there has one.
Anyone have experiences with Sivananda yoga, either here or in India? Please share!
You
may be a pretty seasoned practitioner. But have you ever tried
AcroYoga? What about viniyoga? Jivamukti, kundalini, or
bare-all-stripped-down-totally-naked yoga? Every week, it seems, a new
yoga trend takes root here in the Bay Area. It's incredible. Back in
the day, if you were a yogi or yogini in San Francisco, you knew all
the studios and the teachers. Now the amount of yoga
available has become so overwhelming that people often find a single
teacher or studio and practice there—and no where else.
Which is fine. I mean, routine is good, right?
But maybe you're just a little curious about what else is going on.
You'd like to poke around a bit more, try out new yoga styles, check
out new studios, learn more about kirtan, and perhaps even get a
translation of what you've been chanting
in your Thursday night class. Or maybe you simply want to know more
about the local scene—without having to skip dinner with your spouse
repeatedly or risk getting fired due to excessive yoga-hopping on lunch
breaks.
Samadhi in the City is a place for us to share information
about all of the rich, inspiring, and, occasionally, bizarre yogic
offerings in San Francisco. I'll be blogging each Wednesday about cool
classes and workshops around town, community events, yoga fashion,
studios, retreats, visiting luminaries, and local gatherings. I'll also
highlight innovative local teachers, share my experience with their
classes, and ask you to share your own.
Barring India, the Bay Area really is the yoga capital of the world
(or at least we'd like to think so) and even if you practice regularly,
you know that it can be impossible to keep up with all of what’s
going on. Of course, a blog is not a substitute for practice—unless you
promise to read it while practicing Sirsasana.
But whether you're a newbie or a seasoned practitioner, it's a great
way to stay connected. Have specific things you'd like to see here? Let
us know what you think!
Karen
Macklin is a San Francisco-based writer, editor, and yogini who is
originally from New York. She has written for more than a dozen
publications nationally, including the New York Times, SF Weekly, FitYoga, and Tricycle
magazine. Her creative works, which include plays and poetry, have been
produced and published in the United States and Italy. She holds an
M.F.A. in Creative Writing from San Francisco State University and
spent 2006 teaching journalism at the university in Guatemala City on a
State Department fellowship. She is currently the editorial director of
Zest Books, and is co-author of Indie Girl, a book that advises teen girls about getting involved in the arts. Karen is also a registered yoga teacher.
Perhaps
you already have your sparkly dancing shoes picked out for New Year's
Eve, or you're planning to spend the first hours of 2009 in another
city (or country) altogether. But if you're still pondering your
options for welcoming in the new year locally, you might want to
consider doing something mellow and mindful. The winter season is a
good time of the year to be quiet and go inside, and the new year is
the perfect time to be contemplative about the past, future, and, most
importantly, the present. 
Where: Laughing Lotus
It's
a funny thing to be darting around looking for holiday presents, and
simultaneously holding tight to your last paycheck (that is, if you are
lucky enough to still be getting one). But if there is anything a slow
economy teaches us, it is to buy locally and mindfully. 
I
met my ex-boyfriend at the yoga studio. When we first started dating,
he was doing a lot of yoga. I thought, "Cool, I am dating a yogi!"
Then, surf season started. 
There's
a widespread perception in our culture that yoga is for those who are
physically fit. I often have friends or family members say to me. "I
don't do yoga because I am not flexible" or "maybe I'll try it when I
lose weight/heal from my injury/stop feeling depressed." And those are
all able-bodied people. People with physical disabilities or serious
chronic health conditions often think that doing yoga is about as
likely for them as snagging a spot on the US Olympic gymnastics team. 
It
wasn't long ago that a mention of Tantra would evoke gasps and giggles
from everyone in a room, including the yogis. My own introduction to
Tantra, or what was labeled then as "Tantra", was at a yoga school in
Southern Thailand where all of the asana instructors read from a
script, and all of the dharma talks were about sex. But today, the
study of Tantra—as a yogic path, not a means to getting it on—has
become widespread and well-respected. And this renaissance is a direct
result of the teachings of people like Tantra scholar 
Thanksgiving
is my favorite holiday and always has been. That's not because of the
food or the season or even the two days off from work. I love
Thanksgiving for two simple reasons: it's nondenominational and it's
about being grateful. 
This weekend marks the 7th annual 
Sure,
you've got that Trikonasana down, and you're no longer tumbling out of
headstand like an 8-year-old in gymnastics class, but do you really
know what yoga is all about? Even though most yoga classes just focus
on asana, due to time constraints, yogic philosophical discourse is a
big part of the yogic tradition. From the yamas and niyamas to the
Upanishads and the Bhagavad Gita, there's a lot to learn. 
Last weekend, 
I grew up in a family that was, at best, Jewish-lite. We held Passover seders while
chomping on Italian bread and ordered Chinese food on Hannukah. But
there were little nuggets of spiritual reflection tossed into my
nontraditional and secular spiritual life. And as I go deeper into my
yoga practice, I see more and more crossover between my Jewish cultural
upbringing and the Indian and Buddhist customs we yogis partake in—like
finding joy in singing in a language I don't fully understand,
considering charity a central part of my spiritual practice, and
fasting to cleanse the body and soul.
A few weeks ago, 
Yogis
are beach people. While most of us don't practice on the beach—at least
not on any kind of regular basis—we find ourselves there for beach
burns, surfing adventures, and mellow walks in rolled up pants along
the edge of the water. There's something about the ocean that simply
feels yogic and inspires a meditative mood. 
It's
a big time for celebration in the yoga community as this week marks the
birthday of our favorite elephant-headed boy, Ganesh, the remover of
obstacles. (If you feel like you're bumping into a lot of walls these
days, it's a good time to have a private conversation with him.) But
this week also marks the start of the new nationally recognized 
We
often talk about yoga's roots in India, and we chant in Sanskrit, but
how much do we know really about the land from which our practice
comes? I visited India in 1996, before I even discovered yoga, and was
amazed by the deep magic of the country . . . and the incredible
poverty. How could a place that birthed such a rich spiritual practice
be mired in such economic despair?
I
left San Francisco in January of 2006 to teach journalism in Guatemala
City. I came home nearly a year later, happy to return to our beautiful
city, my wonderful friends, breathably clean air … and $18 yoga
classes. What? 
Everyone
knows that yoga's a great way for kids to get exercise and stay limber.
But can it also be useful in teaching young people discipline, respect,
and stress-management? Can it even transform an entire school
environment? Thanks to San Francisco yogi Katherine Priore, we are
about to find out.
I'm
not a morning person. I can get up on my own by 8 or so, but when the
alarm goes off earlier than that, I always gaze at it with the same
look of surprise. (Again? Really?) I've never met a snooze button I
didn't like. 
As
city creatures, we're all quite used to practicing yoga in
climate-controlled rooms that are off limits to bugs (and sometimes
don't even have windows). It could be pouring outside, or even snowing
for that matter—we'd still be oblivious to it all as we do downward dog
on dry mats and meditate under a sort of fluorescent mood lighting that
fluctuates depending on how one operates the dimmer switch. And yet
there is something about yoga that just screams (or maybe chants?)
nature. So what to do?
I
was never taught to cook. My parents are great, but their favorite room
was certainly not the kitchen. And it never became mine. 
Yes,
this is a picture of me and my dad. Yes, I am wearing a Smurf shirt and
a denim beaded vest—and some pretty wicked braids, if I do say so
myself. And yes, even though that photo was taken more than 25 years
ago in Brooklyn, I do still own outfits that kind of look like that. 
Yesterday, I waited all morning for a hug. 
With summer around the corner, it's no surprise that everyone is
feeling green. Join in the celebration this weekend in the Mission,
where you can experience the largest outdoor green event the city has
ever had. 
I saw 
Ever since the cyclone hit Burma last week, I have felt an uneasiness
that I just can't shake. I have never been to Burma (a.k.a. Myanmar),
but I met Burmese refugees when I was in Thailand, and I have friends
who have lived there, or are there still. It is a militaristic state in
which the residents live in fear of the junta, or armed forces, and
suffer violations of their human rights on a daily basis. The cyclone
that hit the poor country only served to make a very bad situation a
whole lot worse.
I
first went to India when I was 22. I knew nothing about yoga, but I had
a transformative experience nonetheless, complete with my first contact
with saddhus, a visit to the temple where Buddha sat under the Boddhi
tree, and a visit to the Ganges to see the bodies burning on the ghats.
My trip felt deeply spiritual ... but, as a recent college grad in a
tumultuous love affair with a guy I met while traveling, it also felt
completely confusing, raw, and, at times, ridiculous.
After practicing yoga for a while, people often get the urge to bring
their practice to others. But not everyone wants to become a certified
yoga instructor, or even charge for classes. Some just want to teach
others who need yoga, but don't have access to it in one way or
another. 
The
sun is shining, the birds are singing, and the roof on my building has
stopped leaking rain into my living room. All of that can mean only one
thing: It's springtime! And, according to the yogic tradition, that's
the best time to clean up one's act. So I decided to do a cleanse.
Ever
feel guilty when you practice yoga? Sometimes I do. Like everyone else,
I enjoy having my special yoga clothes and practicing at the beautiful
yoga studios in my safe and beautiful city. But deep inside I am always
acutely aware of the disparity between my life and the lives of those
who are less fortunate—those who live in impoverished countries and are
unable to even get food on the table or feel safe in their homes, let
alone have a guided asana practice. I often wish there were more
opportunities to combine my yoga practice with doing seva (service) abroad. If this is something you've thought about, too, you might want to consider 
Got
back problems? Join the club. The cause might be the way you sit or
stand or sleep. Or it could even be your yoga practice. But what if you
learned that it's not the muscles in your back that are responsible for
your pain, but the underlying connective tissue? And why does it even
make a difference?
We spend a lot of time during our Hatha yoga practice quieting our
minds, but the tradition of yoga is actually quite steeped in academia:
The creators of yoga were intellects and scientists who dedicated their
lives to investigating the human body, brain, and connection to the
spiritual realm. That tradition continues today—some of the top yoga
teachers are some of the brightest minds around. So, why is it that
there are four- to fourteen-year study programs in the US to earn
degrees for everything under the sun, but only 200- and 500-hour
certifications in yoga?
Have you been attending the same studio, or class, for a long time?
Starting to get to know the people there? Even starting to feel part of
a sort of community? 
Most
people love to get adjusted in yoga class. It feels so good to be able
to access a space in your body that you couldn't before, and sometimes
that just can't happen until a teacher touches you with his or her
knowing hands. It seems so simple—a small twist here or turn there—but
there is actually a lot behind the art of adjusting, from deciding who
to adjust to when and how. As part of the teacher training program at 
I have been to enough 
David is young, but his spirit feels older, and he comes from the same
lineage as Ram Das, Bhagavan Das, and Krishna Das, all of whom followed
the great Indian guru, Neem Karoli Baba. During his kirtan here in San
Francisco this past weekend, he gave out chant sheets (which was great
because it prevented me from making up words to songs I didn't know!)
and, along with his two amazing co-musicians, led the group in chants
like Gung Ganapataye Namo Namah and Hare Krishna. He also talked a
little bit about the universality of yoga and chanting. "There's a
transmission that happens through kirtan that doesn't belong to Hindus
or Indians," he said. "It belongs to the human heart."
obstacles
(like physical ailments or idleness) to achieving our sankalpa and
things that help us realize a sankalpa (including hatha yoga,
meditation, and faith in the universe). We ended our asana session with
a candle-gazing practice and journaling. 
It's
a new year and that's always a good time to evaluate where we are, who
we are, and where and who we'd like to be. Feeling the desire to go
inward before the count down, I ventured out to 
Surfers often sound like yogis in describing their art: "Then the world
vanished," writes Steven Kotler in his surfing memoir West of Jesus.
"There was no self, no other. For an instant, I didn't know where I
ended and the wave began."
I’ve
been happily hitched for years now, but not so long ago, meeting
potential girlfriends seemed difficult. Not because I was such an awful
suitor (I hope), but because as my yoga practice developed, I lost
interest in the bar and club scene. It seems like a lot of yogis go
through introverted phases like this, which is why I’m glad that
longtime yoga practitioner Michael Ellsberg has created a type of
singles party that avoids the usual awkward conversation — “so what
you do?†— and allows for a potentially more real exchange. It’s
called 
For the last six months, I’ve been reporting for 
The Nov. 9-10 workshop was called Sthiram Sukham Asanam: Living in Rhythm With Our Prana,
and was mainly about how to align your energies (sthiram, the stable,
and sukham, the relaxed) with themselves and also with the energies of
the universe. 
I met Bill McCully when I wandered into his Saturday morning yoga class at 
Hearing a recorded version of Deva Premal sing the 
So,
what happens when a bunch of yogis get together to do 54 sun
salutations in a close-windowed room in the middle of a bumping
nightlife spot? Well, for one, the room gets pretty hot and stinky! But
it was also a lot of fun. And though I am not a huge fan of doing
excessive repetitions of sun salutations, it always feels good to
practice for a cause.
While
practicing the rich tradition of yoga here in San Francisco, it's easy
to forget that there are so many poor people in the very land that yoga
came from. Swamini Lalitananda, an incredibly energetic 70-year-old
Indian scholar and yogini, has devoted her life to helping some of
them. She spends six months a year in India (mainly Bangalore) running
residential establishments and orphanages for the poor; she spends the
other six months of the year traveling all around the US to raise money
for her mission. Last Sunday evening, I went to a mediation and satsang at the 
Yoga
can be a great workout, but we all know that it's so much more; if we
didn't, we'd be running or playing soccer instead. The stress relief
and strong quadriceps that come with a good asana routine are
encouraging, but the possibility of self-investigation, devotion, and
powerful meditation is what reels most of us in. If you are a
practitioner who wants to move into a deeper energetic place with your
practice, or to simply prepare your body better for meditation, the
Tantric tradition has a lot to offer.
I
am not a person who likes to pretend I am a monkey. Or a reptile. Not
even on Halloween. But Cameron Shayne got me crawling around on all
fours for three full hours this past Sunday—and loving it.
There
comes a time for most of us when we realize that all of this jumping
around, backbending, and toe-touching is part of something bigger. The
question is: what? If you are starting to get curious about what's
beyond asana, you may want to take a class or workshop with Sean Feit.
Karen
Macklin is a San Francisco-based writer, editor, and yogini who is
originally from New York. She has written for more than a dozen
publications nationally, including the New York Times, SF Weekly, FitYoga, and Tricycle
magazine. Her creative works, which include plays and poetry, have been
produced and published in the United States and Italy. She holds an
M.F.A. in Creative Writing from San Francisco State University and
spent 2006 teaching journalism at the university in Guatemala City on a
State Department fellowship. She is currently the editorial director of
Zest Books, and is co-author of Indie Girl, a book that advises teen girls about getting involved in the arts. Karen is also a registered yoga teacher.
