Sadhana

I have crossed this

Earth as

a student and didn’t see you

as a teacher

and could not conjure you

I lifted stone

and stepped in soil

I have chanted your name

and breathed the techniques

practiced the particulars

that are mentioned in texts

representing you

I have found these beautiful stones

placed them on the altar and dedicated

it all to you

I have picked up fallen petals

and plucked new ones

all for you

I watch the moon

and feel the breath and a mudra

one that tastes you

I have been tired and not rested

and I’ve fallen in the darkest depth

I have danced and sat

been brave and a coward

have stolen and given my all

Animals, children and people have loved me

I have believed them all

and none of them

these years seem so short

a yesterday, at best

The Poetry Of Yoga (Vol. 1), a contemporary anthology compiled and edited by yogi and spoken word poet HawaH distills 333 pages of heart-wrenching poetry from over 1,500 pages of submissions originating from 16 countries.

Welcome to the first weekend of February 2012! We hope that you have found joy and abundance in the new year thus far, and continue to enjoy every beautiful moment that it has to offer. We have selected a few of our favorite events going down around the world to help you kick off this  new month with a bang! Check out our weekend picks below, and get out there and have some fun!

Don’t see events listed in your city? Want to submit an event of your own? Email us at Submissions@yoganonymous.org and let us know the deal!

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Montego Bay, Jamaica

Thursday, February 2nd – Sunday, February 5th

Get ready for the 1st Annual Caribbean Yoga Conference in Montego Bay, Jamaica this weekend!

The conference lineup includes workshops for all abilities with world-class instructors including Toni Bergins, Gaia Budhai, Kathryn Budig, Jeffrey Cohen & Andrea Boyd, Seane Corn, Sharon Feanny, Scott Feinberg & Amy Lombardo, Moses Jas Jeet, Noah Levine, Nadine McNeil, Sadie Nardini, Jason Nemer & Jenny Sauer-Klein, Simon Park, Stacey Shanks, and MC Yogi & Amanda G.  Topics range from Vinyasa Flow and Journey Dance to Core Strength and Kudalini.  The conference will offer two 2.5-hour sessions each day with opportunities for morning meditation and Noon yoga on the beach.

Click here for the Full Scoop!

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Philadelphia, PA

Friday, February 3rd – Sunday, February 5th

The Gravity Cowboys are heading to Philadelphia this weekend – don’t miss Brock and Krista Cahill at Dhyana Yoga!

Lift Off! | 2/3 | 6:30pm – 8:30pm: “Ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain speaking.  We’d like to thank you for joining us as we fly the friendly skies.  En route this evening we will be crossing over many points of interest, including the grand handstand, oceans of navasana, mountainous arm balancing postures, and rivers of vinyasa.” Enough said.

Buoyancy Control | 2/4 | 12pm – 3pm: Brock & Krista will take the principals of basic arm balancing techniques, and refine them using cultivation of bandhas (energetic locks). You will learn how to tap into the subtle energy in the body and explore how the blending of physical strength and energetic power can create a state of weightlessness.

One Giant Leap | 2/5 | 12pm – 3pm: One small step for man, one giant leap for your practice! We will investigate the jumps in this workshop, including jump throughs and jump backs, jumps to handstand, jumps into arm balances, jumps into standing poses…and more! Take a leap, and the landing will appear…if you want it to.

Click here for the Full Scoop!

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New York, NY

Saturday, February 4th – Sunday, February 5th

Alanna Kaivalya will be teaching her Art of Adjustments workshops at Pure Yoga this weekend!

Explore the principles behind save and transformative hands-on assists and effective adjustments to convey technique, sublety and mastery. All types of adjustments will be covered, and an understanding of how to “see” the body and optimize students’ freedom in asanas will be examined.

Click here for the Full Scoop!

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New York, NY

Saturday, February 4th

Also at Pure Yoga this weekend – Arm Balancing + Gravity Surfing w/ Kay Kay Clivio!

Join Kay Kay as she guides you through a broad range of playful and safe poses, step by step. Build strength, courage, and connection in a graceful arm balance practice.

Click here for the Full Scoop!

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Newburyport, MA

Saturday, February 4th

Join Ame Wren for her ‘Hot Core Cool Sequencing’ workshop at Repose Yoga Studio on Saturday afternoon!

In this 2-hour workshop, Ame will lead a 90-minute open level class focusing on smart and creative sequencing and the firing up of agni, or core strength to create internal heat. Through bandha work, core transitions, and specific anatomical and breathing cues, you will sweat your way into a deeper understanding of how to move  fluidly, fiercely, and intelligently from your core self. Following the asana practice Ame will open the space for questions about how to greater utilize your core throughout your practice.

Click here for the Full Scoop!

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Venice, CA

Saturday, February 4th – Sunday, February 5th

Head over to the Exhale Center for Sacred Movement for a meSheeky trunk show!

meSheeky takes you from studio to street, looking fit, fab and full of sheekitude. Our line of yoga-inspired skirts, pants and tanks is designed to accentuate your best parts and cover up the stuff you’d rather not display to the world. We’ve got leg-lengthening, hip-hiding and booty-boosting in the bag with mixable, matchable pieces to flatter every body. It’s no wonder Sheekynistas are effortlessly stylish wherever they go. Featured everywhere from the Today Show to Health Magazine, this is way more than well-crafted fitness wear, it’s a shot of confidence. meSheeky is yogi-owned and operated by Flowmotion yoga founder Sarah Tomson Beyer in Park City, Utah.

Click here for the Full Scoop!

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Wishing you a safe & wonderful weekend,

With LOVE,

YOGANONYMOUS

Enter discount code: YOGANONYMOUS to receive 10% off of the adult ticket price, click here to purchase your tickets today!

Rasa-Lila Fest: Play, Dance, Love

March 30th – 31st | Odessa, FL

Whether you can hold a strong Scorpion pose, or are working on perfecting stillness in Savasana, join Tampa Bay’s leading yoga and holistic practitioners at Rasa-Lila Fest March 30 and 31^st.  The event will take place at Camp Brorein in Odessa, Florida.

Beginning on Friday night, this two day event will be full of yoga and meditation, sound healers, musicians, holistic workshops and lectures, kayaking, paddle-boarding, and rock climbing.  Attendees are welcome to bring tents and camp out Friday night, at the beginning of the weekend’s festivities.

If a festival like Rasa-Lila Fest seems too good to be true, take it from Rasa-Lila Fest Founder Nathan Bangs, “I started Rasa-Lila Fest with a simple vision of bringing the local yoga community together.” He has made this possible through his vision, inspired as yoga continued to expand its horizon throughout the United States. “Rasa-Lila Fest is a celebration of that vision, uniting our growing community at one location, for one great event.”

With Rasa-Lila Fest meaning “the dance of love” in Sanskrit, Friday night’s Pre-Fest activities start with a yoga class to the sound of live music, with “I LOVE YOGA” instructor, Moses Love.  Local recording artist, musician and radio personality, ELUV, will indulge the senses on a sound journey, while festival-goers enjoy the relaxation of nature.

After a night in the great outdoors, or arriving to enjoy the party Saturday morning, yoga and wellness enthusiasts are treated to over a dozen yoga classes, including kids and partner yoga.  Six master classes offered every two hours, will take place on the main stage, featuring instructors: Nathalie Croix, Karina Hahn Harrison, Will Duprey, Jaye Martin, Tymi Howard, and Eric Wheeler.  Attendees will have the opportunity to meet local yoga teachers and studio owners.  In addition, the lucky festival-goers will enjoy musicians, over 28 workshops with Tampa Bay’s most respected healing practitioners, and a vendor village.

You can choose to bring your own treats to snack on, or indulge your taste buds with healthy options, provided by local vendors along the wellness trail.  Take a break to leisurely shop for items made by local artisans.

All proceeds from the Pre-Fest event will be donated to the non-profit, Rasa-Lila Cares, a public charity created to support yoga teachers and their immediate families with hardship as a result of sudden emergencies.  Rasa-Lila Fest will seek to serve a higher purpose through charitable giving in the yoga communities where Rasa-Lila Fest will take place around the country.

Pre-Fest adult admission is $20.00, Adult Fest admission is $45.00 before the festival.  Admission for teens (ages 13-17) is $20.00, and children 12 and under are free.  Camping is $15.00.  Mention discount code: YOGANONYMOUS at time of checkout and receive 10% off your adult ticket price! For more information, visit www.rasalilafest.com.

We hope you decide to join us in our weekend of relaxation and peace.  Namaste.

Join Will Duprey this April in beautiful Guatemala for the first module of his 300-hr advanced teacher training! More information below from the training website:

Fire of Purification: 300-hr Advanced Teacher Training

April 21st – 29th | Lake Atitlan, Guatemala

NOW you are ready to immerse yourself in the practice of yoga and live in it. As we integrate into the philosophies that enrich our living we begin to observe directly through contact with like-minded practitioners. If one is born with all the tools to obtain a state of yoga then certainly being around others with the same goal allows for certain discovery of that spark within.

The Advanced Training will take you deeper into the integration of practice to enrich the living experience. Even though we commonly view Hatha Yoga as being a physical practice involving multiple styles it is a distinct science referred to as Shadanga Yoga. This distinct path focuses particularly on prana and awakening the divine energy.

Essentially we practice a way to develop that burn for living, teaching and creating.

Comprised of three distinct modules – JOURNEY TO SELF, FIRE OF PURIFICATION, and SONG WITHIN – that fulfill 300 hours of Advanced Training and are a registered program with Yoga Alliance.

Fire of Purification or Journey to Self are required before attending Song Within. Fire of Purification and Journey to Self can be taken in any order.

Completion of all three modules acts as a bridge program bringing a 200 RYT to a 500 RYT. Enrollment in each module is limited to offer a better student to teacher ratio and to keep the quality of the program at it’s highest standards. Certification for 500 RYT will be given upon completion of all course requirements.

Curriculum

~ Use of Dinacharya and sadhana for awareness of one’s own potentiality

~ Purushathas and their role in yogic thought

~ Basic mantra theory with relationship to daily living

~ Nadi, chakra, and bandha theory

~ Mantra and asana: access to energy

~ Kriya, mudra, kosha, and psychology

~ Identifying the true nature of specific asana and pranayama for practical use

~ Prana and psychic development

~ Learn to access energy in asana

~ Ayurveda complex and yoga for preventative health

~ Bhagavad gita, yoga sutra, and hatha yoga pradipika

Included in your tuition: 90 hours of accredited Yoga Alliance study, 8 nights lodging and three delicious meals daily at Villa Sumaya, 2 sessions with a local shaman and all training materials provided by William Duprey.

Click here for more information on this and the other modules, and to register today!

Join Kia Miller for a YogaWorks Certified 200-hr teacher training at Blue Spirit Retreat Center in Nosara, Costa Rica this July! More information below from YogaWorks website:

One Month Immersion 200-hr Teacher Training

Nosara, Costa Rica | June 30th – July, 28th

Join Kia for a YOGAWORKS CERTIFIED 200 HOUR TEACHER TRAINING at Blue Sprit Retreat Center in Costa Rica. Take a month to hone your skills as a teacher and deepen your practice in an environment conducive to the spirit of immersion! This foundational (200–hour) program is ideal for serious students of yoga and aspiring teachers. It is recognized by Yoga Alliance and comprises three areas of study: The Theory and Practice of Yoga, Yoga Philosophy and The Art of Teaching.  Break up the teaching sessions with a walk on the beach, surng, or sitting quietly in one of the Blue Spirit’s many contemplative settings.

This residential programs allow you to travel for a month in an exotic location while you complete your 200 hour yoga teacher training. Housing and other amenities are included as part of the price of your training. The foundational 200–Hour yoga teacher training program is ideal for serious students of yoga and aspiring teachers. It is recognized by Yoga Alliance and comprises three areas of study: The Theory and Practice of Yoga, Yoga Philosophy and The Art of Teaching.

What You Will Cover

The Theory And Practice Of Yoga

The 200-Hour yoga teacher training program will deepen and build your personal practice as you embark on a transformational journey toward becoming a yoga teacher. To facilitate a more scientific understanding of the body, you will study functional Anatomy, as well as the physiology of inversions, breathing and the nervous system. Moving beyond the physical, you will learn yoga philosophy, rooted in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. Finally, you will begin to learn the fundamentals of meditation, Pranayama, Ayurveda and the chakra system.

The Art Of Teaching

Our programs are aimed at developing teachers who encourage and inspire, who demonstrate sensitivity to the needs of individuals as well as the group. Build the foundation to teach skillfully – with compassion, integrity and safety – as you discover your own unique voice and style.

Students who complete the 200-Hour Teacher Training program will:

~ Deepen their practice and understanding of yoga

~ Know how to structure and create a cohesive, well-rounded class

~ Acquire an understanding of yoga philosophy

~ Become a member of the YogaWorks alumni association

~ Have the confidence and tools to begin teaching yoga

Students will also receive a diploma and Letter of Completion which they can use to register with Yoga Alliance at the RYT-200 level and share with prospective employers. Completion of this program will also qualify students for admission into YogaWorks’ 300-Hour Professional Program and open the door to career opportunities at YogaWorks and studios in the YogaWorks affiliate network.

Click here for more information and to register today!

Click here to view the embedded video.

Hanuman, is a legendary character from yoga mythology. He has three poses, or asanas, attributed to him: hanumanasana (splits pose), anjaneyasana (lunge pose), and virasana (hero pose). This video illustrates the mythology behind all three and introduces a sequence that incorporates these three hanuman poses.

The story of Hanuman comes from the Ramayana, an epic poem and tale. In this tale, Ram and Hanuman are best friends. Hanuman was a demigod sent to live in the forest with a band of monkeys. When he was young, his name was Anjaneya, named after his mother. That is why we call this kneeling lunge pose Anjaneyasana. This pose named for the baby Hanuman is all about finding an even stretch. Virasana is another name for Hanuman. Ram’s girlfriend, Sita, was stolen by an evil demon so he sent Hanuman to save her. He prayed for the faith to do a seemingly impossible task. He prayed to be filled with confidence and love. The last Hanuman pose is (you guessed it!) Hanumanasana. This video shows how to get into this challenging splits pose through multiple variations and sequences. In this challenging pose, it is super helpful to remember that Hanuman is the embodiment of friendship and happiness – not suffering!

What do these poses have in common? They are all hip openers and involve the stretching of the psoas, the muscle that is most involved in moving through fear. And moving through fear is exactly what this monkey demigod does and what we can do through practicing these asanas. As we start to open these muscles, we begin to relieve our fear and our stress. When we do that, we can do anything.

Click here to learn more about the Kaivalya Yoga Method

Yes you read correctly. 108 years…but I shouldn’t say “old.” She is 108 years YOUNG!

(Note: I was not allowed to show Katherine’s photo so instead I’m sharing the above photo of the oldest woman ever, Jeanne Calment, at her 122nd birthday party. Jeanne Calment exhibited many of the characteristics of which you are about to read.)

108 year young Katherine wasn’t just special, she was one of the most fascinating people I’ve ever met…

While there are definite signs her body is starting to disconnect from her soul (including loose dentures that made it hard to understand her), Katherine has the vibrancy of a young child.

Squirming around, flirting, a glimmer in her eyes, a passion to meet, share, taste…she’s squeezing every possible ounce of a life that began way back in 1903.

Born in South Dakota before it became a state, Katherine had a radio talk show, and moved to New York City because she wanted the big city experience.

She’s still frisky as a teenager. When the social worker put his hands on her asking, “Do you want to lie down?” she retorted, “Are you propositioning me?” HA!

Seriously, there were sparks flying off this woman.

She truly loves being alive.

I want to share with you with some lessons learned in my brief but unforgettable meeting with this 108 year young wunderkind:

1. ROCKY POWER

Katherine is now homebound on a 3rd story walkup apartment in NYC’s Upper East Side. Her priorities include human contact, sweets (ie cupcakes), sharing rich memories, and a sense of humor.

She has earned the right to live deep into life because she enjoys it. 

She struck me as the type who wouldn’t let anything hold her back or keep her down, which might explain why she was married 5 times.

Now this doesn’t mean leave your spouse.

Rather, it means, like Rocky Balboa,  take life by the goddam horns, never stay down for too long, and get after it!

A wise one said, “I can be changed by what happens to me. But I refuse to be reduced by it.“

2. TRUST YOUR JOURNEY

As goes the quote, “We are not humans on a spiritual journey, but rather spirits on a human journey.”

And you really got that sense from Katherine, like she was the last soul from a pack who ran around the earth for quite some time and left her behind because she demanded it!

She has lived an active life, a rich journey, and loves to share her moments and memories. The ups and downs, highs and lows.

And she seems to inherently TRUST people. When we walked in the door, such was Katherine’s excitement, that she threw her arms in the air as if to signal “TOUCHDOWN!!!”

3. STAY RELEVANT

I recall one moment when she shook her hair (even at 108, she has a funky short hairdo) on her head in a fashionable way that struck me as a throwback to what must have been en vogue in the 1920’s.

Katherine knows what’s going on in the world around her, she still likes to put on her makeup, she’s still cool!

Sometimes as we get older, we dismiss trends, movements, technologies.

A huge lesson from Katherine. Stay in the game, stay curious, keep your finger on the pulse. 

If you could use a little of this 108 year old’s vitality, consider jumping off with me on an odyssey: my Livin the Moment 2012 program.  Our rallying cry will be a line that best summarizes Katherine approach. I should also mention it’s a line from a cheesy Disney movie, and God knows I’m a sucker for cheesy movies:

“Put life in front of you and run at it!”

If you’ve been knocked down in life, if you feel that your regrets overshadow your dreams, if you are always looking over your shoulder and being chased by your fears, doubts, and worries…

…this 12 month journey will inspire you to turn around and seek freedom FOR life, not from it!

I’ve been sharing my Livin the Moment message and developing and practicing this philosophy for over 13 years and by joining me on this mission to take back your life, you have my absolute commitment that we are going to strip off the darkness and stoke the fire igniting a 2012 filled with passion, pleasure, and presence!

Take advantage of the early registration price by visiting here today and joining me for Livin the Moment 2012

Let’s Rock 2012!

Namaste,

David Romanelli

Dan will lead this advanced all levels yoga practice on Friday, February 10th. More information below from the event website:

#Rise Up! An Advanced All Levels Practice w/ Dan Wilf

Friday, February 10th | 6:30pm – 8:30pm

Tune in, open up, and rock out with Dan Wilf for this very special two hour all-levels vinyasa exploratorium. Dan’s creative, intelligent, and fun sequencing – an energetic array of fluid namaskars, challenging arm balances, spine tickling twists, deep hip openers, high flying inversions, and tricky transitions – mixed with great music, lots of sweat, and a bit of comic relief cultivate a vibe that is welcoming and inspiring for the most seasoned yoga practitioners, as well as those just starting out on the path. In this special class, we will come together and utalize asana, pranayama, and meditation techniques to RISE UP both on and off the mat. This is going to be a two-hour yoga throwdown like none other – you will leave feeling energized, focused, and full of bliss.

While some previous practice experience is recommended, all that is required is a positive attitude and a willingness to have fun – remember, it is just yoga practice, not performance. everyone is welcomed.

About Dan :: Drawing from his rock & roll background, Dan Wilf encourages his students to have an authentic, creative, and self-exploratory experience, free from any judgment or attachment, every time they get on the mat.

In addition to his 500 hour certification with Shiva Rea, he has studied many different styles of yoga all over the planet with teachers such as Dharma Mittra, Joan White, Richard Freeman, Simon Park, and Brock & Krista Cahill just to name a few. Dan currently resides in Brooklyn, NY where he runs the upstart yoga promotional platform YOGANONYMOUS, works on the Wanderlust Festival, and teaches yoga.

More info + Tickets at www.dhyana-yoga.com

Guess what?! It’s the last month of January – we are 1/12 of the way through 2012! We hope that the new year has started off well for you, and if it hasn’t, that’s ok too – there’s plenty of time to turn things around! You can start by checking out our weekend picks for some great yoga events happening across the country. Wherever you may be this lovely weekend, get out there and have some fun!

Don’t see events listed in your city? Want to submit an event of your own? Email us at Submissions@yoganonymous.org and let us know the deal!

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Boston, MA

Friday, January 27th – Sunday, January 29th

Root, Rise, and Fly with Brock and Krista Cahill at South Boston Yoga this weekend!

Root to Rise | 1/27 | 6p – 8pm: This workshop begins with plentiful amount of core work to warm the body by igniting the fire within and awakening the inner warrior. Brock & Krista will then go over proven secrets to make arm balances and inversions effortless! The workshop will conclude with a few creative “arm balance medleys” created by Brock & Krista that sequence these challenging postures together in a fun & melodic flow.

Get Grounded | 1/28 | 1pm – 3pm: Powered by the ebb and flow of rhythm and spirit, fueled by the seductive tunes of rock „n roll, and focused by the fluidity and grace of moving meditation. Move quietly into a space of poetic stillness and use the breath to create a mantra of healing and rejuvenation.

Monkey Business | 1/28 | 3:30pm – 5:30pm: This practice is hanuman training. We will take a trip down the rabbit hole to the monkeys den, and practice hanuman style. Of course this will include his namesake pose, and great news! We will be on our hands quite a bit, and riding the wind. Jai hanuman!

One Giant Leap | 1/29 | 1pm – 3pm: This workshop is geared toward giving you the tools you need to resist landing. This is a fantastic way to practice honing your leaping skills, building confidence, so that when a leap appears out in life, you are ready to rock.

Flight Club | 1/29 | 3:30pm – 5:30pm: Ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain speaking. We’d like to thank you for joining us as we fly the friendly skies. En route this evening we will be crossing over many points of interests, including the grand handstand, oceans of navasana, mountainous arm balancing postures, and rivers of vinyasa.

Click here for the Full Scoop!

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Chicago, IL

Friday, January 27th – Sunday, January 29th

Get ready for a weekend of Forrest Yoga w/ Allison English at the Chicago School of Hot Yoga!

New Year, New Yoga: Introduction to Forrest Yoga | 1/27 | 6pm – 8pm: Start the New Year off by exploring a different style of yoga or deepening your knowledge of a favorite path. This Introduction to Forrest Yoga will take you on a journey into the simple yet transformative four pillars of this amazing practice – Breath, Strength, Integrity and Spirit. Open to all levels of practitioners.

Forrest Yoga: Opening Your Heart to the Unknown | 1/28 | 1:30pm – 3:30pm: Inherent in each new moment, period or year is the opportunity for the unknown to become the experienced. In this Forrest Yoga workshop learn to safely and therapeutically explore backbends into the unknown pockets of energy and strength within your body, mind and Spirit.

Changing Perspectives: Moving from your Wiser Self | 1/29 | 1:30pm – 3:30pm: The practice of Forrest Yoga is grounded in the direct use of Spirit to guide decision making from a powerful space of personal wisdom. Interweaving inversions and arm balances into an exciting adventure, this workshop will help you connect to and use your Spirit to change your perspective on decisions or resolutions you are making in your New Year. Open to all levels of practitioners.

Click here for the Full Scoop!

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Denver, CO

Friday, January 27th – Sunday, January 29th

Don’t miss Les Leventhal this weekend at Bliss Yoga in Denver, CO!

Hips & Twists: Liberate Your Hips, Free Your Spine: In this workshop, we will open our hips by stretching our hamstrings and relaxing and strengthening our quads and thighs, while cultivating awareness of the challenges that we hold deep in our hip and pelvic regions. We will also free our spine with twists, which can release enormous amounts of tension and can tone and rejuvenate the abdominal and pelvic regions.

Art of Backbends: Backbends are some of yoga’s most invigorating postures and sometimes some of the most challenging. In this workshop we will explore the physical, psychological and spiritual aspects of backbends. While  balancing effort and surrender, we will open the  entire front body, with emphasis on the heart center.

Arm Balancing & Inversions: Arm Balances and Inversions are some of yoga’s most fun and exhilarating poses to practice. In this workshop you will learn to safely defy gravity, strengthen your core, build upper body strength, and begin cultivating awareness of your body being upside down and moving through space.

Click here for the Full Scoop!

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Boulder, CO

Saturday, January 28th

Join Nancy Kate Williams at Om Time Yoga in Boulder for an ‘Honoring the Transitions’ workshop!

The transitions we embark upon in life are powerful opportunities for growth and personal evolution.  Honor and embody the spaces between breath and posture to allow the practice of weaving them to become a broadened current of time to savor, reflect, and deeply feel.  Learn to embody fluid connection with ease through fun transitions on and off the mat to bring yourself more deeply into the call of each moment.

Click here for the Full Scoop!

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Philadelphia, PA

Saturday, January 28th – Sunday, January 29th

Don’t miss out on this awesome weekend of liquid flow yoga with Simon Park at Dhyana Yoga in Philadelphia!

Jai Hanuman! Inversions & Arm Balances | 1/28 | 2pm – 4:30pm: Handstands and inversions are empowering mudras that embody the best qualities of Hanuman, the archetypal heroic monkey: courage, fearless flying, pranic body of power, agility and light. Learn a pathway of flows within a powerful Vinyasa Flow workshop so that you can evolve to enjoying handstand in the center of the room with creative energy and empowered vitality.

Chakra Vinyasa – Focus on Backbends | 1/29 | 2pm – 4:30pm: Practice an accessible and universal approach to the chakra system within vinyasa that accesses the essential truths of our energetic body to live in greater alignment with our authentic flow. Experience a full spectrum practice dedicated to the elements and chakras, and how backbends such as Naturajasana, King Pigeon, and Scorpion are the perfect way to ignite the Chakras.

Click here for the Full Scoop!

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Del Mar, CA

Sunday, January 29th

Take your practice upside down with Aubrey Hackman at Bindu Yoga in Del Mar this Sunday in ‘Demystifying Upside-Down Poses’!

Stop missing out on the most integral part of your yoga practice! Discover the ease and benefits of going upside down in this physically available inversion session. Explore headstand, shoulderstand, hand stand and all of the possible modifications as we breakdown any fear or hesitation that may be related with the most potent of yoga asanas (poses). Come flip your world upside down in this Jivamukti style workshop!

Click here for the Full Scoop!

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New York, NY

Saturday, January 28th

Join Alanna Kaivalya at Land Yoga for her Myths of the Asanas Workshop!

Alanna’s first book, Myths of the Asanas, was released in Spring 2010 to great praise by yogis and non-yogis alike.  Join us for this very special lecture/workshop based around Alanna’s book and learn the Beautiful Stories behind your Yoga poses.  Your practice will be transformed!

Click here for the Full Scoop!

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Wichita, KS

Friday, January 27th – Saturday, January 28th

Join Dave Romanelli at Siva Yoga in Wichita for 3 beautiful, funny, delicious workshops!

Yoga & Wine | 1/27: Unleash the mind with a little….

Yoga & Chocolate | 1/28: How exotic chocolate  makes you look and feel awesome!

Yoga for Foodies | 1/28: The rich taste of slow food from Tanya’s soup kitchen!

Click here for the Full Scoop!

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Wishing you a fun & fabulous weekend!

With LOVE,

YOGANONYMOUS

Angela and Aimee will be teaching a “Bliss Mix” workshop on Saturday, February 11th. More information below from Yogis Anonymous:

“Bliss Mix” Partner Workshop

Saturday, February 11th | 6pm – 8pm

Do you enjoy getting adjustments in yoga class; for example, a nice push on your lower back in child’s pose? Have you ever noticed that with a little assistance you can often go deeper and get more enjoyment out of most yoga poses? If so, you have already experienced the benefits of partner yoga. Making friends in yoga class has many advantages outside of just having a friend to spot you in a handstand kickup in the center of the room however, it’s just plain FUN! Join Angela Kukhahn and Aimee’ Donahue for a memorable night of yoga, play, and a chance to get to know your fellow yogis a little bit better. This class is ALL levels and is part yoga class, part mixer. Come alone or bring a friend, doesn’t really matter as there will be a lot of mixing! Doing yoga poses with a partner can be a little uncomfortable at first, but also can be a great way to deepen your poses and your connection to others. Come with an open mind and a sense of play!

Click here for more information and to register today!

About Angela

Angela’s love for yoga began in 2003 after she refused surgery following an awful car accident that damaged both of her knees. Fortunately, fate had it that she stumbled upon a beautiful studio called the Adiaya Yoga Sanctuary where she met her compassionate teachers Dy Tysen and Rachel Sellars. Yoga healed her broken knees and sparked a fire inside of her. The flame was lit and she knew she wanted to teach!

She completed her first 200hr teacher training with Yogaworks in New York city. She then migrated to sunny Los Angeles to study under the brilliant Annie Carpenter. After completing the 6 month mentorship program at Yogaworks she spent a month in Sydney, Australia as Annie’s teaching assistant. Annie’s alignment-based style of teaching has had a profound effect upon Angela’s teaching style. Other teachers that continue to shape Angela’s teaching include Brock and Krista Cahill, Vinnie Marino, Kathryn Budig, Dice lida-Klein, and Briohny Smyth. Angela offers a physically challenging class where her students are encouraged to have fun and grow at their own pace. She invites you to join her in an exciting exploration on your mat!

Angela currently teaches at Yogaworks (El Seguundo, CA), Yogis Anonymous (Santa Monica, CA) where you can watch her class streamed LIVE every Tuesday from 1-2pm, and privately. Her classes are also archived on YogisAnonymous.com

Home Studio Schedule

Monday:

12:30-1:30pm Vinyasa Flow 2/3 YogaWorks (South Bay)

Tuesday:

1-2pm Mixed Levels Flow Yogis Anonymous (Santa Monica)

Wednesday:

12:30-1:30pm Vinyasa Flow 2/3 YogaWorks (South Bay)

Thursday:

1-2pm Mixed Levels Flow Yogis Anonymous (Santa Monica)

Friday:

12:30-1:30pm Vinyasa Flow 2/3 YogaWorks (South Bay)

Sunday:

8-9:30am Mixed Levels Flow Yogis Anonymous (Santa Monica)

10:00-11:30am Level 2 Vinyasa Flow Yogis Anonymous (Santa Monica) * Class shared with Krista Cahill

5:30-7pm Vinyasa Flow 2/3 YogaWorks (South Bay)

Upcoming Workshops

February 11th

Playing Upside Down – From Fear to Fun – YogaWorks Southbay

February 11th

Bliss Mix Partner Yoga Workshop w/ Aimee Donahue – Yogis Anonymous – Santa Monica, CA

Click here to visit Angela’s website and learn more!

Join David Romanelli for 4 days of yoga and relaxation in one of the most beautiful places in the world! More information from David’s website:

Yoga & You Retreat to Tropical Tulum

May 2nd – 6th

Join David May 2-6, 2012 at the Amansala Resort in Tulum, Mexico. For more on the warm and delicious details, read below or register now. The price includes all meals, beachside accommodations, and yoga.

“A warrior feeds her body well. She trains it, works on it. Where she lacks knowledge, she studies. But above all, she must believe in her strength of will and purpose and heart and soul.” -David Gemmel

Much has been said about the year 2012 as a year of transformation and change. And it all started in the heart of Mayan country at the tip of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. Their prophecy:  that the world will come to an end on December 21, 2012.

“The End” doesn’t have to be a scary thing. It can be The End of a bad relationship, or The End of worrying too much, or The End of watching Housewives of Beverly Hills on the Bravo Channel because it rots your brain.

Join David and Vyda Bielkus May 2-6, 2012 at Amansala Resort in Tulum, Mexico to celebrate The Beginning!

This 5 day and 4 night retreat to one of the most tropical and spiritual spots on the planet will focus, not on the hard core yoga tradition, but rather on those aspects of YOU that feed the ego and make you chunky in the ways of spirit.

As Iyengar said, “One who can put aside his every identity can access places where no plump ego could squeeze through.”

It’s time for THE END of that which that weighs us down… and for THE BEGINNING of those emotions, dreams and habits that leave us with a sleek, fit, revitalized spirit!

Dream Days, Starry Nights

Who doesn’t love long naps in warm ocean breezes, flowing through vinyasa yoga set to tropical music, and sipping on a cool one (iced tea or margherita) in a hammock as the sun dips over the Caribbean Sea.

The days will begin with my flowing vinyasa yoga classes, lighthearted inspirational messages, and sweet tunes…

…you’ll spend the afternoons resting on the white sandy beaches or venturing to the ancient Mayan ruins…

…before savoring Vyda’s late afternoon deeply relaxing yoga that will set you at ease for the warm starry nights to follow.

Join us May 2-6, 2012 for a vacation to soothe the body, revitalize the soul, and scintillate the senses!

Email Dave with any questions and for additional details on booking airfare to Cancun.  Airfare and ground transportation are not included in retreat price. We will be there every step of the way to make this experience AWESOME and seamless!

Click here for more information and to register today!

“I love my life.”

How do you feel when you hear someone say that? Do you feel like, “Yeah, me too!”?

Or do you feel envious? “How arrogant! Where do you get off lovingyour life? Especially when mine stinks.”?

Recently I ran into someone who asked me what was going on in my life. I told them I was just about to be on Good Morning America and was very excited about that. They didn’t say congratulations or ask me any other questions. Instead of being happy for me, their thoughts turned to, “What am I doing wrong with my life?”

I felt like I had been in a time-warp and was looking at an earlier version of myself. I may not have ever said that out-loud but I used to think that way. Back in my twenties and early thirties, I lived much of my life that way. Someone else’s success or joy meant less for me.

What a myth!

Thankfully I found yoga and Wayne Dyer and my calling in life and I no longer feel such lack. In fact, one of my mission statements is to serve and give back as much as I humanly can. This involves helping others thrive even when—especially when—they are in the same exact field as mine. It’s funny because (and here’s a little secret of mine) the more I do that, the more show up for me. Mostly it was fear that had stopped me, and most people, from truly living in this way. But once I opened the floodgates to There is enough for everyone, I started to believe it, teach it, and experience it daily.

OK, so you have reached a place where you feel joy at someone else’s joy. Or maybe you were always that way? Lucky you.

Next point of discussion:

How do you get to the place of “I love my life” when you don’t? How do you get there when you feel like your life has taken a wrong turn?

I teach free yoga for kids with special needs. I started this after my nephew (the rockstar pictured above) was diagnosed with Prader Willi Syndrome, and it cracks me right in half with happiness. One day a few months ago I asked a question I start every kids class with:

What do you love about yourself?

Now, when I pose this question to a room of perfectly healthy adults, I  hear crickets and tumbleweeds roll across the mats. But these amazing kids can’t answer fast enough.

“I love my life!” Jeanie, a blind and severely autistic girl, yelled out before I had even finished the question.

It took me a minute to compose myself; to process the profundity of this little girl—who cannot see a thing, who needs two adults with her at all times—telling me that she loves her life.

That brings me to the next question I ask them:

What are you thankful for right now?

The kids’ answers range from “my parents,” “my Legos,” “music,” “my dog,” “my yoga teacher” (yay!), “my legs,” “the school bus,” and “ice cream,” to “God” and “roller coasters.”

They don’t have to think about it. They have their list ready at all times, both what they love about themselves and what they are grateful for.

So how do you get to the point where you truly love your life?

Here are some ideas that have helped me and my students:
(you may have seen me write about some of these before)

1. Make a Joy List. I do this in many of my yoga classes and ask my students to post it somewhere where they can see it.

2. Create mantras for yourself. We do this in my yoga class, as well. Create a phrase or a word and repeat it as often as needed to replace another mantra that no longer serves you, such as “My life sucks” “I am fat” “I am broke,” etc.

3. Laugh when you fall. It is my rule in my class, but start to apply it to real life as often as you can. Develop a sense of humor. Especially about yourself.

4. Be kind.

5. Be grateful for what you have right now AND for what is on it’s way. Say “thank you” in advance.

6. Forgive yourself for not being perfect. No such thing. As my client’s son Will says, “Mom, why isn’t the word perfect extinct since it does not exist?”

7. Do yoga. On and/or off the mat.

8. Find things to be in awe of.

9. Sing out loud, even if badly. Feel free to come to one of my karaoke yoga classes (that was what I was on Good Morning America for).

10. Write poems, even if only in your head.

11. Dance.

12. If you don’t have anything nice to say, you know the deal.

13. Tell someone that you love them. Yes, right now.

14. Take more pictures.

15. Watch Modern Family.

So there you have it, just a few simple ideas, so that you can really own saying “I love my life!”

If these ideas don’t work, come with me next time I teach my kids and ask them—they seem to have it figured out.

Click here to read the original article

Join Nancy Kate Williams & DJ Hyfi at the Yoga Pod in Boulder on Friday, April 20th! More information below from the studio website:

Friday Night Yoga Club w/ Nancy Kate Williams & DJ Hyfi

Friday, April 20th | 5:30pm – 8:30pm

Friday Night Yoga Club (FNYC), is an annual winter series which gathers Colorado’s Boulder & Denver yoga communities each Friday 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. at various yoga studios and venues around the most innovative and inspiringyoga instructors and musicians in the area.

YOGA ~ CHANT ~ DANCE ~ WELLNESS ~ FOOD ~ DRINK

It is an evening of heart-opening yoga practice and soul-felt chanting, live percussion, kirtan and djs all created to help you discover your deepest, truest Self – the sacred, joyful identity we all share!

10% of net revenue raised supports the Wellness Initiative, who’s mission is to improve the physical health, social and emotional development, and academic performance of low-income youth through yoga-based wellness programs.

About Nancy Kate Williams

Nancy Kate’s enchantment for the practice shines in her ability to hold space for students to go inside and create personal transformation in a fun, loving & supportive environment. Her classes focus on integrity of alignment and intention in every moment with sequencing that is thoughtful, deliberate, balanced and challenging. She trusts that it is through this precise way of practicing that we create the awareness to learn about our bodies, our selves and how we relate to the world…deepening all the connections in our lives.

About DJ Hyfi

HyFi is a Philly based DJ who has taken his art into the yoga studio to create a deep fusion of sound and movement. He spends most of his time on the road spinning for workshops, festivals and conferences around the nation, striving to create a fresh experience for people who love yoga. Finding inspiration from life on the road and the interesting collection of characters along the way, he shares his perspective on yoga through his turntables. Ian’s DJ mixes are infused with a wide range of soulful electronic music, from deep ambient tunes to ecstatic rhythms of Jungle/DnB.

Click here to learn more about the Friday Night Yoga Club

Click here to register today!

Get ready for a great weekend of yoga, workshops, lectures, concerts, and much more! Even better? We are here to hook you up with an exclusive discount! Enter promo code NY19 for an additional $50 off your main conference pass! Early-bird pricing ends March 2nd, click here to get your tickets today!

Featured Presenters

This year’s NY Conference features some of today’s greatest yoga teachers including: Elena Brower, Seane Corn, Sharon Gannon/David Life, Dharma Mittra, Sadie Nardini, Aadil Palkhivala, Tao Porchon-Lynch (93 years old!), Shiva Rea, David Romanelli, Desiree Rumbaugh, Colleen Saidman Yee/Rodney Yee, and more!

Conference Highlights

Special Events:

Get Your Dance On | Friday, April 13th | 7:30pm – 11:30pm

Get Your Dance On is a high vibe dance party that welcomes absolutely everyone. Born in NYC, we are festival, house party, tea lounge, and temple. The night begins with a yoga class led by Elena Brower and Dana Flynn, featuring the legendary India-infused beats of DJ Drez, and continues with a trance dance lead by Shiva Rea and Da’Riddim INya Drum Ensemble. Then the party opens up into two rooms: Drez and Da’Riddim INya will keep the high energy dance room going while the Didge Project and House of Waters play mellow grooves andCraig Anthony Miller whips up live paintings in the chill space.

Click here for more information.

In addition, Yoga Journal will offer free community classes Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, as well as free meditations and panel discussions!

Featured Classes:

Yoga for Dudes w/ Nikki Costello | Saturday, April 14th: 3:30pm – 5:30pm

Stabilize and stretch. Move and breathe. Unwind and soften. The components of this class are like all yoga classes. So why is it so special for men? Come find out how men learn, improve at, and get hooked on yoga when the class is focused on their strengths, challenges, and a little friendly competition.

Hip/Hop Asana w/ Jules Febre | Saturday, April 14th: 3:30pm – 5:30pm

Hip-hop asana is Jules’s union of Jivamukti Yoga and hip-hop culture. Finding ways to creatively bring yoga to the community that you are from will be emphasized. Fun sequencing distinct to the Jivamukti Yoga method will warm you up and keep you cookin’. Come prepared for an upbeat session with great music and sequences. Music will be provided by DJ Derek Beres of EarthRise SoundSystem. A hip-hop dance teacher will warm us up for the asana practice. This is classic Jivamukti: original, sequential, inspired with spirit, and a little wild. A vigorous Jivamukti Yoga class for all levels.

Yoga & Steve Jobs: Unlocking the Collective Consciousness w/ Dave Romanelli | Sunday, April 15th: 8am – 10am

The late cofounder of Apple Computers, Steve Jobs, studied and traveled in India before his revolutionary career. His otherworldly vision and tenacity to stick to his guns stem from an ancient Eastern embrace of simplicity, meditation, and purpose. In this vinyasa flow, you’ll explore how a relaxed body frees a connection to the collective consciousness and how other great innovators, from Einstein to Mozart, sensed the treasures that await us if only we can unlock the code and free the mind.

Check out this awesome video below, just in case you weren’t already excited enough:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Don’t forget – early-bird pricing ends on March 2nd – and enter promo code NY19 for an additional $50 off your main conference pass – Click here to register today!