2014-01-24

Where to Find Yoga Fun This Weekend

E-News from LA YOGA Ayurveda and Health Magazine

JANUARY 2014 | ISSUE 193







December 2013 Issue

Photo: David Young-Wolff

From the Editor

Sometimes we think of practice being solo, on the mat or on the cushion, but practice can also be celebratory, creative, and innovative. For example, here in LA, we have a variety of creative methods to engage in our practice throughout the weekend. These moments of celebration can bring us together and allow us to collectively create the magic that is embedded deep in the practice. I’m looking forward to the joy of community, in all of the ways that are available. Hope to see you around town in person or in spirit…..

These are only a few of the various options (scroll down for more!)

Watching a live stream and practcing along with thousands in Mexico City at NAAM Yoga.

Group kriyas before sleeping to the sound of a gong at theRa Ma Institute.

Kirtan and yoga to benefit Yoga Gives Back at YogaFit.

Sound Healing at Bhakti Yoga Shala.

Marianne Williamson sharing teaching at Yogis Anonymous.

Free days to visit museums throughout Southern California on Saturday.

Open house with free yoga at YogaWorks on Saturday.

Kaballah and design at the Skirball on Sunday.

Yoga and dancing on Friday night, January 31 at Yoga Shelter.

Adopting a shelter or rescue animal.

Scheduling some time to go to the Conscious Life Expo and Shakti Fest.

Felicia Marie Tomasko, RN
LA Yoga Magazine, Editor in Chief

Add your event FREE on LAYOGA.COM! Find out more.

Upcoming Events

FRIDAY, JANUARY 24

6:30 P.M. – 8:30 P.M. Ashtanga with David Swenson. This class is an introduction to Ashtanga Yoga open to all levels and experience or lack thereof. The building blocks of Ashtanga Yoga will be explored via a short discussion then David will conduct an introductory flow. Click here to see David Swenson events for the rest of the weekend. Addicted To Yoga. 11940 Foothill Blvd. Ste 218, Rancho Cucamonga.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 25

7:00 A.M – 5:00 P.M. A Day of Wellness and YogaFit. Attendees will greet the morning with a hike lead by Beth Shaw in the beautiful and visually stunning Runyon Canyon in the Hollywood Hills.  Spend the rest of the day inYogaFit‘s amazing new space with a Level 2 Yoga class lead by Beth. Enjoy food, kirtan, music and special guest lecture by Dr. Jay Kumar and appearances from health and wellness experts and celebrity stylists. For more info and to sign up call 310-205-0430. YogaFit. 1540 S Robertson Blvd, Los Angeles.

8:30 A.M – 10:30 A.M. All Aboard the Ashtanga Train with David Swenson. ?Designed for those already familiar with the First Series of Ashtanga Yoga this class is open to all levels of proficiency. Addicted To Yoga. 11940 Foothill Blvd. Ste 218, Rancho Cucamonga.

10:00 A.M. – 3:00 P.M. Dharma Retreat: Practicing Compassion and Non-Harming. Join us for a Dharma retreat with Bob Isaacson, President of Dharma Voices for Animals. Delve deep within as we meditate together and discuss the Dharma practices of non-harming and compassion. $35 includes vegan lunch and parking. Temescal Gateway Park, Classroom #3, 15601 W. Sunset Blvd., Pacific Palisades.

10:00 A.M. – 4:00 P.M. Weight Loss Workshop. Discover the Ancient Wisdom and Secrets to Loosing Weight and Keeping it Off. $108 – 50% discount for you if you also book for a friend. RSVP. The Healing Gardens of Ayurveda. 2675 Irvine Avenue, Suite 100, Costa Mesa.

12:15 P.M. Prenatal With Partners. Spouses and Partners are welcome to join the Prenatal class on the last Saturday of every month. $17 per student or regular class pass. Yoga West. 1535 S. Robertson Blvd., Los Angeles.

12:30 P.M. – 2:30 P.M. Flying Floating and Handstanding with David Swenson.?One of the greatest challenges of the Ashtanga flow is the vinyasa. This class will break the vinyasa down into its basic components. Addicted To Yoga. 11940 Foothill Blvd. Ste 218, Rancho Cucamonga.

3:00 P.M. – 5:00 P.M. Breath, Bandhas and Pranayama with David Swenson.?This class will delve into the realms of specialized Yogic Breathing as well as the subtle and highly misunderstood internal energy valves known as Bandhas.  Addicted To Yoga. 11940 Foothill Blvd. Ste 218, Rancho Cucamonga.

4:00 P.M. – 7:00 P.M. Yoga Gives Back Fundraiser with YogaFit. Join Beth Shaw, event host and owner of YogaFit for yoga class, The Temple Bhajan Band performing live Kirtan and refreshments provided by Govinda’s Restaurant, Zico, and Rebbl with all donations going to support the Thank You Mother India Campaign. Minimum $20 donation. YogaFit 1540 S. Robertson Blvd., Los Angeles.

6:00 P.M. Meet Marianne Williamson. Spiritual leader, author and activist, Marianne Williamson will talk about her run as an Independent for Congress representing our district, and what’s inspiring her to want to make change happen from the inside. Yogis Anonymous. 1221 2nd St., Santa Monica.

8:00 P.M. All Night Gong Bath with Guru Jagat, Gurujas, and RA MA Records Artists. Subconscious clearing kriya and meditation, gong, live music Sadhana led by Gurujas and RA MA Records Artists. RA MA Institute. 304 Lincoln Blvd., Venice.

8:30 P.M. – 11:00 P.M. Kirtan and Sound Healing with Gabriel Brau. Gabriel Braun leads an evening of kirtan and sound healing, exploring the connection between our inner sound and the outer expression of our higher self. $20 suggested Bhakti Yoga Shala 207 Arizona Ave, Santa Monica.

Museum Free-For-All. General admission to many museums around Los Angeles will be free. The annual event, put on by SoCal Museums, is a way to show Angelenos what many of the museums that are peppered throughout Southern California have to offer.

YogaWorks Open House. All YogaWorks studios will have free classes all day, refreshments, free 15 minute private (call your local studio), pilates demos and special promo deals.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 26

8:30 A.M. – 10:00 A.M. Naam Yoga Super Class. Naam Yoga’s use of sound, breath, movement and special mantra has a unique and powerful healing impact on the mind, body and spirit. The class is designed to improve health and well being. Live streaming will be available at 6:30 A.M. PST. Monumento a la Independencia, Paseo de la Reforma y Eje 2 PTE, Mexico City, Federal District, Mexico.

9:00 A.M. – 11:00 A.M. Guided Tour of Primary and Secondary Series with David Swenson. This class is a talk-through of Half of Primary Series and Half of Intermediate Series. There are many wonderful asanas in the Intermediate Series for strengthening and opening the back as well as the hips.  Addicted To Yoga. 11940 Foothill Blvd. Ste 218, Rancho Cucamonga.

12:00 P.M. – 1:30 P.M. Larchmont Farmer’s Market. Every Sunday at the Larchmont Farmer’s Market, Le Petite Retreat will be handing out special invitations to their spa including coupons to save $20 on any $100+ treatment.

1:00 P.M. – 3:00 P.M. Inversions, Backbends, and Sitting with Breath with David Swenson. Whether you are frightened of inverting or love to hang out upside-down and whether you have a flexible back or a stiff board-like spine there is much to be learned for building confidence and gaining control in Inversions and Backbends. Addicted To Yoga. 11940 Foothill Blvd. Ste 218, Rancho Cucamonga.

2:30 P.M. Kabbalah in Art and Architecture with Alexander Gorlin. Explore the influence of Kabbalah on modern design with noted architect, design critic, and author Alexander Gorlin, whose new book, Kabbalah in Art and Architecture, reinterprets art and architecture through the lens of Kabbalah and Jewish mysticism. Skirball Cultural Center 2701 N Sepulveda Blvd, Los Angeles.

4:00 P.M. – 6:00 P.M. Eight Limbs and Daily Life with David Swenson. Underlying the mysterious and complex philosophy of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras there is a truly profound simplicity that may be applied within the context of our daily lives. Addicted To Yoga. 11940 Foothill Blvd. Ste 218, Rancho Cucamonga.

7:45 P.M. Awakening World film screening. Screening of the acclaimed documentary film, Awakening World, with post film discussion on Intimacy, Love, Purpose, and Q and A with director. Exhale Venice. 245 S. Main St., Venice.

MONDAY, JANUARY 27

7:00 P.M. – 7:45 P.M. Urban Meditation. This workshop will teach you about stress physiology and how to override stress through specific and scientific breathing, concentrating, and meditating techniques. If you’ve never meditated but wanted to…this is your workshop. The Life Center Chiropractic. 11666 Gateway Blvd., Los Angeles.

7:00 P.M. Expressions of the Inexpressible: The Princeton Dictionary of Buddhism presented by The Southern Asian Art Council and The East Asian Art Council. RSVP. LACMA Brown Auditorium. 5905 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29

9:00 P.M. Lu Fam Pro presents the Luminous Movement with the Luminaries. This trio of MCs will electrify you with their high vibe Hip Hop and electronic driven beat set. Amazing crunk and bass with DJ Dragonfly, plus very special guest EVeryman. Zanzibar. 1301 5th St., Santa Monica.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 31

January 31 – February 2 Open Your Healing Abilities retreat with Siberian Shaman Ladamira in Malibu. $300/3 days, one day $150 or $30 Medicine Wheel Ceremony at Wright Ranch on February 2 at 3pm. Location given upon registration.

7:00 P.M. Friday Night Yoga Club launches it’s music fueled, nighttime yoga party series in Los Angeles with Eric Paskel featuring music by DJ Drez. Yoga Shelter 12408 Ventura Blvd., Studio City. $25.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 1

10:00 A.M. – 2:00 P.M. Welcome to the New You. Jumpstart your journey into ayurvedic lifestyle with this informative educational workshop. Go home with a gift bag full of the tools you need, and a belly full of Aadhi cuisine’s delicious ayurvedic goodness. $128 Svastha Health Ayurvedic Wellness 444 W. Ocean Blvd, Suite 800, Long Beach.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 2

Super Spa Sunday. Glen Ivy Brea, at the Brea Mall, is celebrating the big game day with special savings of up to 20% off select 50-minute treatments all day Sunday, February 2nd, 2014. Guests can also enjoy Glen Ivy Spa Manicure or Pedicure nail treatments for just $40 each. These and more spa treatment deals may be reserved by calling 1-888-GLEN-IVY in advance.

12:00 P.M. – 1:30 P.M. Larchmont Farmer’s Market. Every Sunday at the Larchmont Farmer’s Market, Le Petite Retreat will be handing out special invitations to their spa including coupons to save $20 on any $100+ treatment.

6:00 P.M. – 10:00 P.M. Optimum Diet for Spiritual Life with Gabriel Cousens, MD. Gabriel Cousens is a 40-year yogi and an authentic, holistic liberated being, acknowledged as such by both of his spiritual teachers, Swami Muktananda and Swami Prakashananda. $50 RSVP. Naam Yoga 1231 4th St., Santa Monica.

On The Horizon

February 6 – 10 Sedona Yoga Festival 108 distinguished presenters, over 150 workshops, 16 performing artists and more make up this conference of consciousness evolution in the spiritual hub of Sedona, AZ. Festival followsMindful Therapeutic Yoga for Veterans, a certification course for yoga teachers.

February 27 – March 2 Wanderlust O’ahu. A 4-day festival of yoga, live music, beer and wine tastings and epic surf & outdoor adventures. Join the Wanderlust community for an all out ecstatic celebration in this striking natural setting. Inspired to dive deeper into your practice? Combine the Wanderlust Teacher Training with your festival experience. Turtle Bay Resort. North Shore, Oahu, Hawaii.

We’re honored to be the sponsor of Yoga Chat with the Accidental Yogist on killradio.net every

Wednesday from 1:00-3:00pm Pacific.

Here’s the link to this week’s podcast featuring interviews with kirtan

singer Manika Kaur, “Tipping Sacred Cows” author Betsy Chasse, and Raw

Living Expo producer Laura Fox:

*Life: Raw, Sacred, and True*

Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes by clicking here.

Animals in Need: Meet Charlie Pom

Charlie Pom is an adorable 6 pound purebred Pomeranian that we rescued when he was discovered on the streets with half his tail chopped off. This poor little fluffball, who is approximately 3 years old, has had a long road back to recovery and is finally loving life!

Charlie Pom warms up slowly to new people but is very affectionate once he trusts you. He would be best in an adult only home and would be fine as an only dog or with another small dog or with a cat. Charlie Pom is neutered, microchipped and current on shots. If you are interested in Charlie Pom please email or stop by The Forgotten Dog Foundation’s Sunday Adoption Events which are held every Sunday morning.
The Forgotten Dog Foundation distinguishes itself by committing to using a foster-based boarding solution for our rescued dogs, rather than caging them in facilities, so that they may be rehabilitated in a loving home environment.

Interested in sponsoring our pet adoption section? Call 310-306-1785.

Gourmet Vegan Food Delivered to Your Door!

Gourmet convenience just went to a whole new level. Veestro’smouthwatering vegan meals are delivered frozen so they’re conveniently on hand when you need them most.  Don’t be caught hungry and tired with no food in the house!

All of Veestro’s meals are fully prepared with the best organic, non-GMO ingredients and are completely preservative-free.  Mouthwatering, healthy and affordable meals DELIVERED.

Use code LAYOGA for 15% off your order!

Chef Love’s Green Warrior Soup

Eating “Green” doesn’t get much easier than this!

This easy to prepare raw vegan soup by Chef Jillian Love is a wonderful daily staple.  The generous measurement of spinach makes it nutrition dense, the avocados provide sustained energy and satisfying healthy fats, and the cucumber, lemon and greens all are super alkalizing for the body. Total preparation time is about 10 minutes.

4 cups water

1 cucumber

4 cups spinach

1 clove garlic

2 tbsp fresh squeezed lemon

1 tsp sea salt

1/2 tsp black pepper

1 medium sized avocado

For full recipe, visit LAYOGA.COM

Conscious Life Expo February 7 – 10

An enlightening 4-day explosion on how to transform your life in wellness,  spirituality and healthy living lifestyles. Connect with like minded friends in this illuminative weekend of collective consciousness.

We invite you to participate in the conscious co-creation of your future with 11 free Panel discussions, 100 Free Lectures, 175 Exhibitors, Post Conference Intensives, Permaculture Lounge, Programa en Español, Live Music, Healthy Foods and Film Festival. Featuring: Gregg Braden, Marianne Williamson, “The Secret’s” Rhonda Byrne and more. Purchase discount tickets. February 7 – 10 LAX Hilton Hotel. 5711 Century Blvd., Los Angeles.

Higher Brain Living Demo at Conscious Life Expo

Research shows that 90% of all doctor visits are the result of stress.

Our primitive lower brains fear change. They were designed to keep us safe and alive. Today, they encourage an unnecessary state of stress, anxiety and fear.

Become licensed in Higher Brain Living®. Now, thanks to Higher Brain Living®, created by Dr. Michael Cotton, we can actually change the physiology of our brains. This system creates a clear channel and powerful energy surge to the Higher Brain that opens a gateway to lasting and limitless higher living like no psychological, spiritual or physical healing modality on the planet. Register today for a free presentation and mind-blowing demonstration February 10 at Conscious Life Expo. Free if pre-registered, $97 at the door.

Rajashree Choudhury Event to Benefit UpRising Yoga

UpRising Yoga was established in 2011 by Jill Weiss, who has been practicing yoga since 2000 and has been a certified yoga instructor since 2006.  The mission of Uprising Yoga is simple: to bring yoga to at-risk youth and to communities that need it most.

Support this wonderful organization by attending Rajashree Choudhury’s (pictured) yoga class on January 25 from 10:00 A.M. – 12:00 P.M. at Bikram Yoga Hacienda Heights. 16388 Colima Rd. $30 with %100 of proceeds going to UpRising Yoga. Sign up now!

Get Your Tickets to Shakti Fest May 16-18

The 4th Annual Shakti Fest will take place at the Joshua Tree Retreat Center, May 16-18, 2014. Three full days of kirtan, yoga, and workshops all in celebration of the Divine Mother. Join Jai Uttal, Shiva Rea, Saul David Raye, Kia Miller, Wah!, Sara Ivanhoe, Dave Stringer and many others at “The Spiritual Woodstock of the Millenium.”

Purchase tickets for Shakti Fest, Bhakti Fest Midwest in Madison Wisconson, June 20-22 and Bhakti Fest West, September 4-7 in Joshua Tree at discounted prices.

Win Tickets to Kabbalah in Art and Architecture at Skirball

On January 26 at 2:30 P.M. explore the influence of Kabbalah on modern design with noted architect, design critic, and author Alexander Gorlin, whose new book,Kabbalah in Art and Architecture, reinterprets art and architecture through the lens of Kabbalah and Jewish mysticism. Skirball Cultural Center. 2701 N Sepulveda Blvd, Los Angeles.

For your chance to win a pair of tickets to Kabbalah in Art and Architecture, email us and tell us why you’d like to attend this event.

Astrology: The Full Moon with Sun in Capricorn Harmonizes Energies.

A 30-day cycle of emotional centering begins with the Full Moon in Cancer on January 15. Cancer is the sign related to motherhood and selfless love; it reveals where emotional energy may become authentic devotion, but it may also lead to excessive sentimentality and emotion for the next 30 days. This Full Moon is in contrast to the Sun in Capricorn, which relates to establishing practical boundaries and material structures. Now we are challenged to harmonize our energy between the practical and the emotional. These two energetic forces support each other and lead to a greater clarification of each.

Read more from Vedic Astrologer, Sam Geppi on LA Yoga’s website.

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