ASTRO.GONG.YOGA Offers Solutions for Connection and Practice

Part of the role of Yoga studios is their service as places of refuge and support to many on their path of enhancing physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. The current footprint of how people are able to access in-person yoga is going through some major shifts in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. In contrast, ASTRO.GONG.YOGA, a sound healing and Yoga Center with an astrology-informed approach, is emerging with an in-person presence in Mid-City Los Angeles.

ASTRO.GONG.YOGA merges a trilogy of proven ancient healing modalities designed to rejuvenate and rebalance mind, body, and spirit, while supporting you on the path to understanding yourself. Their offerings are widely diverse and yet interwoven to provide a holistic experience. These include: Astrology workshops, Gong Sound Healing events and in-depth training with co-founder and Gong Master Lou Maurer.

The schedule at ASTRO.GONG.YOGA also features a variety of yoga classes that allow everyone to discover the yoga style most suitable for their individual needs. These three methods are blended together in their bi-monthly Moon Time Ceremony and Workshop.

The physical environment of AGY is spacious and light and is a complete contrast to the hustling and bustling La Brea Ave. The interior consists of two studios, one which is home to 27 Gongs. Fortunately, AGY also has a large outdoor rooftop where all their current socially distanced offerings are taking place.

ASTRO.GONG.YOGA Cofounder Emily Johnston

Authenticity and Inclusivity

Opening in the Summer of 2020, during the coronavirus pandemic meant that founders, Emily Johnston and Lou Maurer, needed to be imaginative and inventive.

ASTRO.GONG.YOGA Co-Founder Lou Maurer

At this time, they were determined to offer a little sense of normalcy through ASTRO.GONG.YOGA. As the yoga community reorganizes, Emily and Lou are focusing their efforts on serving by bringing together an authentic and inclusive community that revolves around yogic philosophy, sacred sound, and wisdom.

Despite – or maybe because of – the intensity we have all felt throughout 2020 (and into the beginning of 2021), people are attending the in-person outdoor classes and workshops at AGY. The team has seen that individuals are actively searching for in-person socially distanced yoga that will enable them to maintain their self-care routine while maintaining the health of their community. Higher levels of anxiety and increased time spent online have left people seeking to engage with and be a part of a meaningful community that makes a positive impact in the world and supports each other. It is with the support of this emerging community that AGY is able to give back and contribute.

ASTRO.GONG.YOGA Boutique

Their indoor communal space is decorated with a gallery supporting local artists and cultural non-profits, fundraisers and community classes (on the rooftop) are offered regularly, and their in-house boutique offers ethically and locally sourced wellness products to support small business.

Hope and Connection

AGY’s story is one of hope. Hope that the essence of yoga, community, and connection is unreplaceable despite all the challenges that we are currently facing in Los Angeles and beyond. Connection and co-regulation are a vital part of our self-care routines. Perhaps more than anything the pandemic has taught us how connected we all are, reaffirming that those precious moments of coming together through breath and movement that make the practice feel meaningful will sustain.

Learn More About ASTRO.GONG.YOGA

To learn more about AGY offerings, health protocols, and to pre-book a class visit: www.astrogongyoga.com

Find AGY at 145 N La Brea Ave. Unit E. Los Angeles, CA 90036

Keren Eshed

Keren Eshed is an LA-based Yoga teacher, student, and a Yoga therapist in training who is passionate about sharing the gift of Yoga. IG @keren.eshed

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CULTIVATE Meditation + Wellness is in vibrant and eclectic Atwater Village on Glendale Blvd. It has a soothing but eye-catching pink exterior, with crisp and bold black marquee. The indoor walls are a calming and neutralizing fawn with pillows and bolsters of elegant grey linen and pashmina throws that are arranged in a unique and comfortable setup engineered by the studio’s owner. The space appeals to the energetically sensitive, or anyone that is seeking to temporarily dampen the caustic energies of the day and cocoon for a while in a supportive environment.

The Inspiration for the Studio

I had the pleasure meeting with studio owner, Jen Stavitsky, a certified Reiki master, polarity practitioner, and mindfulness facilitator. Jen explains, “I am…introspective and have been connected to energy work since high school. I used to have chronic sinus infections and doctors weren’t able to help me.”

Seeking alternative solutions, she found cranio-sacral and polarity therapy. After her first session, guided to be aware of all the subtle energies in the body, she realized that she had been living with chronic pain on one side of her face.

“As I sat up, my pain was lifted. Meditation has shifted my life; it gave me tools, I feel, that everyone should be given from the time they are a little kid. After being involved in an industry where I didn’t feel connected to a purpose. I quit without a plan…but knew that I was going to dedicate myself more to this world and to doing something with purpose…but the decision to open a studio happened organically, over time. It’s definitely a rollercoaster, but we’ve had what I was looking for: really beautiful moments with people…not to mention having this beautiful space to reconnect to what we are doing is huge.”

The Experience at CULTIVATE

CULTIVATE features, “a variety of meditative classes in a broad range of techniques including Mindfulness, Yoga Nidra, Sound Baths and Sound Healings, Kundalini, Past Life Regression, Hypnotherapy, Reiki, Breathwork, Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), and more.” They cater to both the newcomer and experienced meditator. However, I found CULTIVATE uniquely appealing because all classes are centered around little to no movement. Therefore, anyone experiencing pain, limited range of motion, dizziness, or any number of other seemingly prohibitive ailments, can chose any class and easily participate fully. I was personally able to attend four of the classes and was delighted with each experience.

Learn More about CULTIVATE Meditation + Wellness

Cultivate Meditation + Wellness, 3229 Glendale Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90039

Michelle Bonnee

Michelle Bonnée is a Yoga Therapist trained at Loyola Marymount University, who teaches throughout Los Angeles.

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The vision of Namastday Yoga Center, according to founder Michele Bohbot CIYT C-IAYT, is to “offer a program that encourages students to learn to connect with themselves on a deeper level. Yoga is the cheapest investment someone can make, and it offers the best return. Yoga has changed my life in many ways and creating Namastday Yoga Center was my way to give back.”

Namastday has expanded its original offerings of yoga classes and workshops to host teachers and special events such as Garth McLean’s Yoga to Address or MS & Other Movement Challenges and Approved Professional Development courses which meet requirements of the International Association of Yoga Therapists.

Teach and Go for Instructors

Studio rentals from Namastday’s “co-working” opportunity, as a Co-Yoga Studio®, allows instructors and other wellness professionals to use the modern facilities, rope walls, and treasure trove of yoga props and chairs to “Teach and go!”

Classes and Styles Available at Namastday Yoga

When I visited, a hallway filled with inspiring pictures of B.K.S. Iyengar led me to the entrance. Although Namastday has a profound Iyengar Yoga presence, class offerings are impressively diverse. The schedule includes Iyengar, Ashtanga, modern-style vinyasa, Hatha, and Restorative, as well as classes focusing on general and specific health concerns.

When I attended the Yoga for Health class, Nancy Sandercock, one of many highly qualified teachers, showed a tremendous amount of knowledge as she carefully explained how to cultivate awareness and healthier movement patterns.

Namastday consists of two studios, an education area where you can sip complimentary tea while deepening your yoga philosophy understandings, and a meditation room. A retail area sells Electric Yoga apparel designed by founder Michele Bohbot, as well as props, books, and more.

The studios have beautiful natural lighting and are fully equipped with every yoga prop you will need. With all the tools to give practicing yogis the space they need to nurture a consistent and healthy practice, Namastday Yoga Center is a one-stop haven.

Namastday Yoga Center

113 N. San Vicente Blvd. 2nd Floor
Beverly Hills, CA 90211
(310) 923-9922
namastday.com

Keren Eshed

Keren Eshed is an LA-based Yoga teacher, student, and a Yoga therapist in training who is passionate about sharing the gift of Yoga. IG @keren.eshed

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Inside, the Vastu (Vedic feng shui) is working overtime in 4,000 square feet of devotion, conspicuously optimized for bliss. There is nothing is here by mistake. Nothing superfluous and no detail overlooked.

Down a long hallway, two big yoga studios on each side have small Sufi ‘winged heart’ symbols stenciled in gold on the floor creating a grid that allows for the perfect spacing of rows for mats in a capacity class. Photographs of Mahavatar Babaji, Paramahansa Yogananda and Sufi Mystic Hazrat Inayat Khan adorn the walls.

Further down the long hall, a well-curated boutique offers goods to support the yogic journey.

The philosophically Curative Yoga is an East/West fusion created by founder Naader Shagagi, who is a student of the great Yoga Master Paramahansa Yogananda as well as Sufi Mystic Pir Inayat Khan. The studio brings a culmination of intensive study and experience offered through his Yoga of Mystics®.

The website says it best, “Combined, these philosophies inform a practice that is fulfilling on every level. In addition to being physically challenging and deeply healing, emotional health becomes balanced and clarity emerges from the deeper spiritual realm.” Naader Shagagi skillfully guides students in the discovery of The Self, the blissful home within us all.

Founder

Naader Shagagi came to Los Angeles in 1985. He was trained in Raja Yoga at the Self-Realization Fellowship in Los Angeles and in Hatha Yoga at The Yoga College of India, Beverly Hills. He’s been practicing Yoga and Meditation since 1983, leading to teaching these modalities to over 20,000 people and training over 1,000 teachers through his teacher training program. He founded Curative Yoga in 1996. Along with Carolina Cotman, Vice President of Curative, the studio is thriving in a decidedly competitive market.

Curative Yoga

Everybody is trying to cure something and, in this studio, you can cover a lot of ground: physically, mentally, and spiritually.

Naader blends Hatha Yoga, Raja (Ashtanga) Yoga, and ancient mysticism (Esoteric School of Sufi Mystics). They serve all levels and abilities in a nurturing environment.

The signature Curative Yoga™ series is an “invigorating and challenging system of Hatha Yoga choreographed and practiced by Naader himself to cure physical, mental and emotional bodies.”

This system of postures teach you how to accelerate involuntary functions. It can help optimize functioning of the systems in the body such as the heart, lungs, stomach, intestines, capillaries, lymphatic glands, veins, and the cerebral-spinal axis (brain and spine) without exhausting or overworking them.

Infrastructure

There are a lot of classes to choose from at the studio. CurativeXpress™ is an exhilarating 60 minute favorite. A broad range of other classes include Restorative, Prenatal Yoga, Curative Flow™, Gentle Yoga, Gentle Yoga, Children’s Yoga, Healing Yin, Yin n’ Yang Blend and others. Private classes, retreats, workshops, teacher training, retreats, spiritual counseling, and holistic therapies and supplements — all culminate in health, vitality, healing and realization of self.

In addition to their Pasadena community, Curative Yoga has a sister studio in Bigfork, Montana (curativeyogabigfork.com) and a retreat center also in Montana (samaafoundation.org).

There are no shortage of yoga studios throughout the Los Angeles area. Curative Yoga offers a community that combines a series of practices, a philosophy, and a direct focus on health.

Health is not everything, but everything is nothing without health – Arthur Schopenhaue

Sam Slovick

Award-winning journalist, documentary director and long-term LA Yoga contributor Sam Slovick is the director, writer and producer of the Radicalized documentary, currently working on the Kirtan Road Dogs documentary.

samslovick.com

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“We’ve moved!!!” says Liberation Yoga Co-Owner Christine Burke. It is not an easy thing for a yoga studio to do, but Liberation Yoga has changed locations after 15 years. And successfully.

Creating Community on La Brea in LA

For 15 years, Liberation has lived in the heart of LA on La Brea. They’re still on La Brea, so look carefully at their new address, near the intersection of La Brea and San Vicente. This neighborhood is a culturally and socially diverse, budding Arts District. The streets are filled with a community in resurgence, lovingly attended to by its residents and businesses. Liberation Yoga Co-Owners and married couple Christine Burke and Gary McCleery are OG community members and longtime “Mom and Pop” business-owners, who came to yoga through their beginnings as performance artists. Their values create a studio that gives people a safe space to be unique. This is represented by the teachers who have followed them from the very beginning in 2002, me included. Christine and Gary’s support of their students is reflected in how many have moved with them.

Christine Burke: Student, Author, Teacher

Christine came into yoga as an actress and dancer in New York, studying with David Life and Sharon Gannon (Jivamukti Yoga), Integral Yoga, and Om Yoga until she moved to Los Angeles in 1994. Her influences are many and diverse, and that same eclectic approach is reflected in her teacher training programs; the willingness to be open to new ideas and the richness of a wide range of backgrounds. In addition to teaching, Christine is an accomplished author, of the books The Power of Breath and Hand Yoga: Pranayama and Mudras for Health and Wellbeing, as well as The Yoga Healer: Remedies for the Body, Mind, and Spirit.

At Liberation Yoga, you can come as you are and expect to be fully accepted by everyone you meet. If you come with the mind of a beginner, the instructors are genuinely interested in meeting you “where you are.” If you come with the mind of a seasoned yogi the instructors will honor your practice and offer support as you continue your quest for deepening your own work.

Whatever your level, your practice will thrive here.

I am the founder/instructor for the Yoga for Parkinson’s class and Liberation has offered a home to my students where they can develop healthy, strong, vibrant bodies, and cultivate creative, tranquil minds. Through the kindness of Christine and Gary, this class has been offered for free for 10 years.

When Christine was looking for her “forever home” for Liberation, she had a lot of criteria to meet. These included keeping the new location close enough for her devoted students, and finding a space that continued to develop her dreams of lifting up underserved communities. In the process, she remembered the Parkinson’s students and the need to make sure the new location is accessible. Everything is here in Liberation’s new home. As Christine maintains, “Liberation Yoga is dedicated to promoting health, peace, and freedom in the community and on the planet.”

Find Liberation

Liberation Yoga
1288 S. La Brea Ave.
Los Angeles, Ca 90019
323-964-5222
liberationyoga.com

Kathleen Ross-Allee

Kathleen Ross-Allee, C-IAYT is Managing Director for the LMU Yoga Therapy Rx Program. Kathleen has developed yoga therapy programs to support cancer treatment and she teaches a weekly gentle yoga therapy class for people with Parkinson’s Disease, which she offers free at Liberation Yoga in LA: leenbodies.com.

www.leenbodies.com

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Photo of Shanti Hot Yoga by Hubert Cheng (IG @hubertsphotoarcade)

Spa-Like Wellness in Culver City

As soon as you walk into Shanti Hot Yoga, there’s a sense of peace as the Ayurvedic inspired design immediately takes you out of the city and into a place centered around the five elements of nature. This new spa-like wellness studio in Culver City opened on July 1 and welcomes you with a live plant-waterfall. The space with two practice rooms specializes in heated yoga classes. Every signature yoga teacher on the schedule is at least a minimum Yoga Alliance Registered 500 E-RYT.

Studio Founder Star Rader herself has completed more than 1,000 hours of training. She decided to open a holistic studio after a career in accounting at a major firm. Both her entrepreneurial spirit and dedicated practice inspired the idea to leave the corporate space and instead transform people with the power of yoga. Star said,“I am feeling grateful to finally open our doors and look forward to cultivating a community that can provide something for everyone – from new friends, stamina, strength, flexibility, to more peace of mind, a little more Shanti (Peace) in the bustling city.”

Photo by Hubert Cheng (IG @hubertsphotoarcade)

Yoga and More

In addition to an array of yoga classes, the studio also offers barre, sculpt, meditation, sound baths, and guest workshops—plus a healing room for acupuncture and chiropractic care, locker rooms with stone pebbles and rainfall showers, and a retail space. Parking is validated for two hours in the Access Culver City Development garage. Memberships are well priced and mat and towel service are included with the Shanti Unlimited.

Deborah, the principal of Belle Vie Interiors worked extensively with Star and the team on every detail in the creation of this wellness sanctuary. Shanti Hot Yoga features a state-of-the art, safe heating system which provides constant fresh air circulation and disinfects the studio with UV lights.

I love how Shanti Hot Yoga blends ancient wisdom with modern luxury and prides itself on its mission to provide an educated staff to support the community’s physical and emotional nourishment. Each visit is a new experience designed to serve your soul and keep you coming back for more peace of mind.

Shanti Hot Yoga

Shanti Hot Yoga
8770 Washington Blvd. Suite A Culver City, CA 90232
shantihotyoga.com

Leah Marsh

Leah Marsh is a wellness enthusiast and energetic entrepreneur who has co-owned Yoga and Pilates studios, founded Fit Girl Club, currently gets in her cardio at Disneyland, and recently adopted a stray puppy: lifestylebyleah.com

www.lifestylebyleah.com

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LaLaLå! Jivamukti Yoga Los Angeles in the DTLA Arts District

Tucked away in an industrial looking alley in the Arts District of Downtown Los Angeles is the Jivamukti Yoga Los Angeles Center. The studio is a welcome addition to the growing number of boutiques, cafes, communal workspaces and juice bars in the area. The first and only licensed Jivamukti Yoga studio on the West Coast opened in February, 2019. It looks like it is right at home in the evolving enclave.

For those not familiar with Jivamukti, it is a vigorous vinyasa style Hatha Yoga practice that incorporates ethical and spiritual awareness as part of its five tenets. These include: ahimsa (nonviolence, non-harming), bhakti (devotion), nada (music and sound), shastra (study of teachings), and dhyana (meditation). The method was founded in NYC in the 1980s by Sharon Gannon and David Life. Independently owned schools create a strong global community and views yoga as a conduit for activism.

The DTLA space is inviting, filled with light and plants. True to its industrial roots, it is constructed with repurposed and found building materials. The space has two practice studios. One is larger with a wall made of perfectly weathered, sliding industrial doors. The smaller studio is behind two beautifully hand-painted turquoise doors. Pink lights adorn the recessed shelf in the boutique stocked with local, handmade lotions and oils and a thoughtful selection of books. The different textures, materials, and colors in the studio are thoughtfully combined like a handmade quilt.

Community and Practice

Envisioned by founder and Advanced Certified Jivamukti Yoga Teacher Ha-Chi Yu several years ago as a way to bring the Jivamukti practice to Los Angeles, as well as a place to engage the local community through events and workshops. The new studio has something for everyone. Each week, the studio offers signature Jivamukti Fundamentals, Spiritual Warrior, and 75, 90 minute open level classes as well as vinyasa, restorative, and Karunta or “puppet” yoga performed with the aid of the ropes wall for added release, spinal traction and alignment.

There are several workshops each month ranging from Ayurvedic Facial Massage to Chakra Tuning to conscious movie nights. Look for the rotating roster of visiting international teachers for events and trainings. Before jumping back into the work week, find your way to DTLA for Sunday Reset, a guided meditation journey with certified clinical hypnotherapist Bianca Degroat.

LaLaLå! Jivamukti Yoga Los Angeles

421 Colyton St, Los Angeles, CA 90013 213-221-7978 Jivamuktiyogala.com

Staff Writer Lakshmi

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Creativity, Consciousness, and Crystals at Be Crystal Clear

A new incarnation of wellness has arrived in Santa Monica. Be Crystal Clear is a studio and event space on Broadway created by owner Sugar Panbehchi. A visual treat of intricate murals on the facade and adorning the walls within have been painted by Mari Pavanelli and Brian Farrell, artists that provided imagery of creativity and consciousness. Then there are the innumerable hand-selected crystals. One cannot help but be taken with all the shining potency on display and for purchase. This is Sugar’s powerful yet delicate touch, her vast knowledge of healing, her attention to detail. I attended a breathwork and sound bath on a Monday evening, a great way to behold this space, the offerings, and its glittering greatness in twilight.

What struck me as the class began is Sugar’s love for the individuals who come to Be Crystal Clear. She is unconditional with her words, eyes contact and soft smile. This provides an embrace of trust as one goes into the breathwork, which truly is work, before relaxing us into restoration of sound with crystal bowls carefully chosen from a maker in Utah. It’s crystal clear that Sugar’s background of mind/body/spirit healing is thoughtful, intentional. She shares with us what she adores and it shows.

Sugar has created something worthy of awe, being careful stewards to the space. Classes offered are always changing yet focused on movement, stillness and sound. The depth of experience held by Sugar shows in every nook and cranny, like the textured stairs that feel like beach sand below your toes on the way up to the children’s area and her private healing room. I recommend to anyone looking for a safe place to dance, stretch, and rest come see/feel what is available here.

Visit Be Crystal Clear

Be Crystal Clear, 719 Broadway, Santa Monica, CA 90401
424.280.4525
becrystalclear.com

Dawn Sorenson

Dawn Sorenson is an artist/writer, yin yoga instructor and healing advocate with a focus on our emotional bodies. Trained all over Asia and blends eastern/western modalities for a balanced approach of ancient and modern. Based in Santa Monica, she is a lover of life, people and all things transformational. www.rootandrisehealing.com

www.rootandrisehealing.com

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Urban Yoga Aligns with Desert AIDS Project

Kristin Olson’s Urban Yoga in Palm Springs has long been a beacon of yogic community through classes, workshops, gatherings, fundraisers, and more. For example, Kristin and the team have sponsored Urban Teen Yoga at Palm Springs High School for PE credit for 20 years. And Kristin initiated discounted classes for HIV/AIDS Clients and employees of Desert AIDS Project in 2000. And, for the past 11 years Urban Yoga helmed by Kristin Olson guiding a vibrant team has occupied a splendid and welcoming studio in Palm Springs.

Building a CommUnity

As of November 2018, Urban Yoga aligned with Desert AIDS Project (DAP) to create a new yoga studio in Palm Springs. UYC at DAP that serves the thriving Urban Yoga CommUnity, as well as the general public, DAP clients, and the center’s doctors and employees.

Kristin Olson at Desert AIDS Project. Photo by Barry Schoenfeld.

Students joined Kristin to help transfer the sumptuous Urban Yoga decor to the new studio on the DAP campus. The tranquil room is carpeted with a state-of-the-art Deepak Chopra InnerSpace grounding floor. This unique feature provides the benefits of earthing through the absorption of negative-charged free electrons.

Students will also recognize the elements unique to Urban Yoga. These include: favorite teachers and classes, kirtan and soundbath events, familiar incense, the full-wall mirror, colorful pillows, and the watchful Ganesh and Buddha statues.

The two entities, UYC@DAP, share a focus on the mental, physical, and spiritual well-being of the “Planet & the Peeps.”

Desert AIDS Project

David Brinkman, CEO of Desert AIDS Project, says, “The healing communities of Urban Yoga and Desert AIDS Project joined together to increase our collective impact in the Coachella Valley.  Through partnering under one roof, we provide a more holistic approach to health and wellness.”

Palm Springs Mayor Rob Moon (left) with CEO David Brinkman (right) at Desert AIDS Project

Desert AIDS Project is one of the most influential HIV/AIDS nonprofits in the country. Serving 4,500 people within 11,000 square miles of California, the center has already been treating people holistically with testing, treatment, Ayurvedic diets, acupuncture, meditation, and yoga. Forward-thinking, DAP is a national model with its innovative care programming.

Kristin says, “In addition to wellness, we focus on mindfulness and increasing the strength and flexibility of the body to create the balance and union of Body, Mind, and Spirit.”

Urban Yoga

The Urban Yoga schedule features a mix of Gentle, Beginning, and Restorative classes as well as challenging Energetic Flow, Bottle Rocket, and Vinyasa 2-3 classes. Join UYC@DAP classes and be a part of this happy, dedicated CommUnity in their new home. Urban Yoga Center moves to Desert AIDS Project, 1695 N Sunrise Way, Palm Springs Call: 760-320-7702 or Visit:
urbanyoga.org

 

Karen Henry

Karen Henry is an Associate Editor at LA YOGA who volunteers in a variety of capacities for nonprofit organizations and artists around Los Angeles. She practices yoga as a counterbalance to her daily impact sports and is a mother of four grown children who also practice yoga . Now, she’s working on teaching yoga and joy of life to the grandkids!

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Charming Old Town Newhall has a rich history. It’s a community whose present has just become richer with Rising Lotus Yoga Santa Clarita.

Rising Lotus Yoga, the vibrant studio located in Sherman Oaks and co-founded by Daniel Stewart and Claire Hartley in 2006, is expanding with an oasis for practice in the heart of the Santa Clarita Valley. Rising Lotus Yoga Santa Clarita Co-Owners Claire Hartley and Santa Clarita native Heather Riggen have come together to create this space that promotes the unity and awareness inherent in yoga. They exude enthusiasm with their mission to provide a yoga experience that is joyful, immersive, and creates a sense of ease for students.

Classes at Rising Lotus Yoga Santa Clarita

Claire and Heather are both long-time dedicated yoga practitioners whose want to share yoga and build community. Some of the classes offered at Rising Lotus Yoga Santa Clarita include: Urban Zen, which features Reiki as well as the use of essential oils; several Restorative yoga classes to quiet and relax the mind and body; and the studio’s signature Flow Yoga class. In the Flow class, students move from pose to pose with variations that encourage deep strength and a greater range of motion.

Rising Lotus Yoga Santa Clarita is full of good vibes and a welcoming spirit. The space features practice-friendly bamboo floors, sunny classrooms — named the Shiva and Ganesha rooms, and a mission-driven retail store. Stop by and participate in Rising Lotus’ invitation to experiment new practices, shift perspectives, and develop strength, and even greater happiness. As their tagline asserts, “Let Joy Rise!”

All Photos by Golden Bee Artistry

For More Information

Rising Lotus Yoga Santa Clarita
23550 Lyons Ave, #117 (In the Plaza Posada)
Newhall, CA 91321
661-200-7293
risinglotusyogascv.com

Staff Writer Lakshmi

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A quaint space located in the heart of the South Bay, Novo Yoga in Redondo Beach delivers a sense of community. As soon as you walk in the door, you are greeted with a smile and welcomed into this gracious yoga family. Regulars mix with new students as the recently remodeled space now offers non-heated classes as well as their strong heated yoga programming for 60 weekly classes.

When I had the great pleasure of meeting one-half of the brother–sister team behind this operation and was impressed, as Paola is a true light. Paola began her personal yoga practice at the age of 10 in Italy and has studied many modalities, eventually finding her joy in bringing the practice of yoga to others.

Classes at Novo Yoga in Redondo Beach

Novo Yoga offers classes for kids as well. This location has two separate practice rooms, with class times for children set when parents can practice in the other room. Currently, Novo offers 58 classes weekly. The schedule features options unique to Novo, such as Novo Core and Novo Sculpt. In addition, multiple varieties of yoga are offered including H60/H90 (Bikram style), Flow, Yin Yoga, Kids’s Yoga, Yang-Yin, and Yoga Barre. New student specials are available as well as monthly packages. When I visited, I instantly became a personal fan of the 60-minute Heated Fusion class.

Studio Amenities

The studio is equipped with multiple showers in the changing rooms. A variety of waters and kombucha brands are available for purchase in the boutique.

Workshops and Trainings

Novo Yoga also presents a full line-up of workshops and trainings. You can join the October 2018 Yin Yoga TT with Bianca Fearon of BFunctional Yoga and YogaWorks. Look for Novo Yoga Teacher Training in 2019. And stay tuned for an upcoming Kids Yoga Teacher Training. To learn more about classes, rates, workshops, and special offers, visit: novoyoga.com.

Find Novo Yoga

Novo Yoga
1820 S Pacific Coast Hwy
Redondo Beach, CA 90277
310-540-2023
novoyoga.com

Dana Jean Costantino

Dana Jean Costantino is looking forward to continuing to grow within the Yoga communities of NYC and LA as a balance to her career in advertising. IG @danajeanyoga

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I love everything about this studio. So where do I begin? Ordinarily I’ll start with the setting and the vibe of the spot, however, it’s the people at One Life Yoga that stick out most in my mind. Founders, Samy Rose and Reza Samadi are both hip, humble, warm, excitable, and illustrious yoga practitioners. They are deeply passionate about creating an environment where people of all levels of yogic experience can come to learn and grow from a multitude of modalities and teachings.

Laura McCarthy, studio manager and resident teacher, offers a cheerful energy to the space, which is at once both welcoming and grounding. In fact, the communal atmosphere at One Life makes everyone, students and teachers alike, feel like old-time neighborhood friends. There is even a majestic German Shepard/Husky mix named Lily that enchants the space with her soft and friendly demeanor.

The Studio at One Life Yoga in Pasadena

Located in the serene, quiet mountainside of Northern Pasadena, the relaxed attitude of the studio seems to match its surroundings. It features a sleek façade, exposed brick, and modern décor. Yet it maintains a comfortable and cozy feeling; one of the two studio spaces is aptly called The Calm Room. With large fluffy carpeting and over-sized cushions, it is the perfect space to curl up and dive into the mysteries of Tarot or one of the other eclectic workshop offerings. The other studio boasts new wooden flooring and a sun-lit and spacious environment tailored for both hot and unheated flow classes.

Five Core Practices at One Life Yoga

One of the hallmarks of the studio is their structure of five core practice offerings. These include the following: Fire (held poses/hot yoga), Water (flowing vinyasa in medium heat), Earth (Yin/Restorative/holds without heat), Air (energizing Kundalini and breathwork inspired classes without heat), and One Life (multi-modality class in medium to high heat).

Other notables include their dedicated parking lot (off Washington Ave) with ample spaces. There are also private showers in each of the locker rooms. Check out their user-friendly app, powered by Mind-Body.

Whether you are a dedicated practitioner or new to yoga, the variety of classes provides an opportunity for you to find the practice you are seeking. In addition to their loaded schedule, the studio offers some Gratitude classes, with $5 or $10 suggested donation. You’ll see me here often!

More information about One Life Yoga in Pasadena

One Life Yoga, 1365 N Hill Ave Pasadena, CA 91104, 626-714-7447
onelifeyoga.com

Brett Fleisher

Brett Fleisher is a filmmaker, yogi, musician, and world traveler.

www.beheadedforgreatness.com

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Downtown Santa Monica’s Fauve Yoga Club offers their guests a cozy and inviting sanctuary to discover and deepen their passion for yoga in community.

Fauve Yoga Club Practice Space

Yogis may recognize the location, formerly occupied by Yogis Anonymous. Fauve Yoga Club has made the studio their own by creating separate spaces for group classes, for lounging in community, or for detoxifying in the infrared sauna. The studio entrance leads you down a warmly lit hallway lined with plants and lockers, stylish benches, and a water filling station. The hallway guides you to the check-in desk that is surrounded by a finely curated selection of retail items. The effect is both simple and elegant. To the left of check-in, you’ll find the entrance to the studio and access to restrooms, the sauna, and a changing room. The practice space maintains the overall chill feeling with soft light, soothing colors, beautiful hardwood floors, and an elevated platform that includes singing bowls and a glorious hanging gong.

Fauve Yoga Club Vision and Classes

Co-founder Effy Bongard shared her vision for the studio. “Creating a club, a space, where people with common interests gather to retreat from the outside world and its rules. Our wide variety of classes and workshops invite you back to your center, enhance your essence and nourish your soul.” Fauve Yoga Club was named after the artistic movement which embodies this symbolism. Simplifying form while enhancing color – intense and shadeless.

My visit began with a 45-minute infrared sauna session that left me feeling calm and relaxed. The quiet warmth of the infrared sauna, which emits heat that is directly absorbed by the skin so that it penetrates deep into the muscles and tissues, prepared me for the yoga class that followed. The 60-minute vinyasa flow class was skillfully led by Eddy Rimada. He set the space with his warm and welcoming presence. Eddy brought us into the practice with sama vritti pranayama, followed by a hip and shoulder opening sequence which included wonderfully executed hands-on assists.

In addition to traditional studio offerings, Fauve Yoga Club presents a broad spectrum of classes. These include the body sculpting of Yoga Sculpt, Power Barre, Power Yoga Dance, Fauve Flow, and Buti Yoga. The schedule also includes healing and relaxing of Yin Candlelight, Yang & Yin, and Yoga Nidra. Look for upcoming programs of varied intensity to challenge body and mind, individualized to meet students’ needs.

Ahmed Elaasar

Ahmed Elaasar, Teacher, Writer, and Life Long Student helping people calm their mind and awaken their body through mindful living and functional movement. http://www.ahmedelaasaryoga.com

www.ahmedelaasaryoga.com

The post Fauve Yoga Club Santa Monica appeared first on LA Yoga Magazine - Ayurveda & Health.

Photo of Bobbi Boston Ashtanga Yoga Sherman Oaks by Joy Santos

Ashtanga Yoga Sherman Oaks Welcomes Students

Ashtanga Yoga Sherman Oaks (AYSO) is the first and only yoga studio (Shala) in the San Fernando Valley dedicated to upholding the tradition of the Ashtanga Yoga practice. The Shala offers ongoing Mysore-style classes. AYSO has been open since November, 2017. The Shala welcomes students into the yoga practice with a modern open and clean space. Adornments are reminiscent of its roots of Eastern meditative traditions, and its simplicity is inviting and supportive.

The Mysore format of Ashtanga Yoga allows students to learn the series of poses at their own pace. This allows them to connect with the teacher, find their own breath, movements, and individual experience while feeling the collective energy of practicing in a group. The Shala also offers traditional Led Primary Series on the first Saturday of the month.

Bobbi Boston photographed by Joy Santos

Ashtanga Yoga Teacher Bobbi Boston

Owner and Founder Bobbi Boston has been practicing Ashtanga Yoga since 1996. She feels it is her dharma to share the Ashtanga practice in the traditional Mysore format. Bobbi is a dedicated student who continues her education with her teacher R Sharath Jois in Mysore, India, and received her blessing to teach from his grandfather Sri K Pattabhi Jois before his passing in 2009. Fondly referred to as Guruji, Sri K Pattahbi Jois divinely created this practice and style in the lineage of his teacher, Tirumalai Krishnamacharya. Ashtanga Yoga remains one of the few lineage practices.

This studio is a testament of the dedication to the roots of the Ashtanga practice and how it has personally transformed Bobbi’s life.

More Information Ashtanga Yoga Sherman Oaks

For more information about Ashtanga Yoga and this lovely dedicated space, please visit ashtangayogashermanoaks.com

Ashtanga Yoga Sherman Oaks/My Petite Shala
17071 Ventura Blvd Ste 200, Encino, CA 91316
310-867-0894
bobbibostonyoga.com

Natalie Macam

Natalie Macam is a Yoga Teacher who teaches locally in Los Angeles: www.nataliemacam.com.

www.nataliemacam.com

The post Ashtanga Yoga Sherman Oaks with Bobbi Boston appeared first on LA Yoga Magazine - Ayurveda & Health.

I was on a volcano in Bali, doing sunrise yoga, when I found out that Michael Jackson died. Fast forward nine years and I’m practicing yoga at Liberate Hollywood. This is the former Hollywood Sounds Recording Studio, where MJ recorded some of his most legendary hits. “Man in the Mirror” has never sounded so good.

Expanding Liberation in LA

Cristina Dam has owned Liberate Emporium in Los Feliz since 2010. She expanded the idea of liberation by taking over the old Hollywood Sound Recording Studios last year and rebranded it under the name Liberate Hollywood. Cristina transformed the former recording space into a place where “spirituality and creativity” unite.

Liberate Hollywood is a shop, space for events and classes, and somewhere you can receive healing services including Reiki, hypnotherapy, and readings. They offer meditation classes seven days a week and yoga six days a week. More classes are coming soon.

The space is one of the most unique locations where I’ve ever practiced yoga. More than 3,000 pounds of crystals were used in the walls and floors when owner Cristina remodeled the place. She says “The crystals add an extra energy and vibration that facilitate creative energy.” There is definitely a vibe when you walk into the place. You instantly feel like you’re somewhere special.

Rockstar Magical Flow

I’ve been attending the class Rockstar Magical Flow yoga with Lori Rischer on Thursdays at 7AM.  We actually do yoga IN the studio where The Doors, Michael Jackson, Prince, Madonna, and Donna Summer all recorded. Their hits pop up in the yoga flow playlist.  I think it was at least 22% easier to hold warrior pose while listening to “She Works Hard For Her Money.” Donna’s spirit was with me!  Lori Rischer‘s class is intimate, with personalized instruction, and won’t completely destroy you (or your hair) before going into work.  Other yoga classes include Oracle Yin Yoga and Crystal Infrared Flow.

Liberate Hollywood

Liberate Hollywood had their soft opening October, 2017. They are planning their Grand Opening for Summer, 2018.  Stop by for some of the most unique meditation and yoga experiences in the city, if not the world. Chill out with a sound bath while shopping for friends’ birthdays—or for yourself!  In addition to the regular schedule, special events such as motivational speakers, trainings, workshops and live performances happen regularly. For example, in March, more than 100 young women packed into Liberate for the inaugural “Her Music Club” with panels and performances. Look for more events and view the complete schedule online.

Where to Find Liberate Hollywood

Liberate Hollywood
6365 Selma Ave, Hollywood, CA 90028
323-745-0495
www.liberatehollywood.com

Julie Pilat

Julie Pilat works in music and tech in Los Angeles. She also is the founder and host of The Idea Fountain: Life Changing Conversations interview series. www.theideafountain.co

www.theideafountain.co

The post Open Doors Liberate Hollywood appeared first on LA Yoga Magazine - Ayurveda & Health.

Unplug Meditation Photo by David Young-Wolff

For former fashion and makeover mogul Suze Yalof Schwartz, opening Unplug Meditation was a feat of feeling. “I run this business based on feeling,” says Suze. And while people warned against intuition-based business practices, Unplug Meditation is booming. Unplug Meditation includes the founding Santa Monica studio, the newly minted second location in West Hollywood, and a world famous Unplug Meditation smartphone app that reaches 60+ countries.

You can see Suze’s keen eye for style in every part of the design of the Unplug Meditation studios. You’ll also notice it while perusing Unplug’s floor-to-ceiling bookshelves heralding titles by New York Times best-selling authors and visionaries of the meditation and personal development worlds, many of whom have visited or spoken at Unplug. Every item in the perfectly curated cache of mugs and playing cards, books and glittered jars is a reflection of Suze’s taste. If she would read it, buy it, use it, or love it herself, an item makes its way into the collection.

Photo of Unplug boutique area by David Young-Wolff

Suze’s twenty years in the fashion industry have primed this makeover guru’s ability to be in front of a trend. As the Associate Accessories Editor for Vogue and Executive Fashion Editor at Large for Glamour, she covered the Oscars’ red carpet for Access Hollywood and did makeovers on Good Morning America and The Today Show.

When she searched for her second Unplug studio location, Suze found what was famously named, “The ugliest building in all of Los Angeles.” Suze states, “I saw what it could be.” That same ugly duckling edifice among its couture shop neighbors is now the “It” place on Melrose Avenue.

Unplug Mindfully Plans Classes

When designing her class roster, Suze says, “I think about my husband—who is in the financial world and not interested in the woo woo and I ask myself, ‘Would Marc sit through this class?’ And if he wouldn’t, we’re not doing it. Although we do broaden our offerings on Friday nights to include just about anything. So no matter whether you are super spiritual or just looking to destress, you will have as profound an experience as the person next to you.” The mindfully simple language allows everyone, from avid practitioners to new meditators, to access their own experience.

Making Over the Meditation Studio Experience

The bottom line for Unplug is for each person to leave feeling one hundred times better than when he or she came. For a makeover guru who has dressed the who’s who in fashion, celebrity, and entertainment, Suze Yalof Schwartz has now made over the meditation world. Her vision for the first drop-in meditation studio was born from a solitary idea of what is possible. Unplug has certainly changed the landscape. And because of Suze’s eye for transformation, her ripple will be felt for generations to come.

Visit Unplug Meditation in WeHo

Unplug Meditation WeHo, 8500 Melrose Ave #201, West Hollywood
Learn more about the studios and app at: unplug.com

Marja Lankinen

Marja Lankinen, founder and CEO of Yoga for Dancers, is a yoga therapist and commercial dancer in Los Angeles and travels the globe teaching yoga and meditation: yogafordancers.com

www.yogafordancers.com

The post Unplug Meditation in West Hollywood Has Classes for Everyone appeared first on LA Yoga Magazine - Ayurveda & Health.

Many teachers have found charm in the animal associations of various asana. Antonia King, owner and founder of Zooga, Yoga for Kids, in Culver City, ran with that vision. In her tangerine-colored space bursting with plush toys, she has created a playful living zoo-like environment where children can learn animal poses. Everything about Zooga is a sanctuary for yoga for kids.

Zooga Yoga for Kids and Families

Zooga is thoughtful in its mission and impressively executed. The layout and schedule caters both to the needs of busy parents and developing children. Whimsical murals fill the walls of both studios. The images are used interactively for poses and games in a deliberate anti-tech approach. Here, children as young as six weeks are encouraged to use their senses, connect to their bodies, and cultivate mindfulness.

Many signature classes incorporate Yogaplay®, a specific trademark of Zooga that uses games and props to foster creativity while staying true to the yogic values of mind/body health. In addition to the variety of yoga, dance, music and parent and me fitness classes, Zooga offers one-of-a-kind birthday parties, kids nite out and camps. Zooga’s kids retail boutique also integrates with the experience.

Kids Yoga and Transformation at Zooga

“We’ve seen children totally transform,” King said just as a group of beaming toddlers waddled through the glass doors. “Students from the program have demonstrated improved focus and conflict-resolution skills. They are more in tune with their bodies and kinder to one another.”

The Zooga community has been thriving for six years. Their flagship location on Washington Boulevard in Culver City was completed in December, 2017, supporting families both on and off the mat. Franchises in West Hollywood and the South Bay have recently opened.

The Zooga Family Boutique

In addition to classes, Zooga’s boutique integrates with the experience. The retail selection is also community-focused and features items by local female artisans like Mommy and Me matching leggings.

Zooga offers an amazing new client special for one month of unlimited classes for you and your little yogi. Register online today at: zoogayoga.com.

For More Information about Zooga Yoga

Zooga Yoga
11054 Washington Blvd
Culver City, CA 90232
310-839-6642
zoogayoga.com

Kiara Kinghorn

Kiara Kinghorn is a cardio-dance enthusiast, writer and editor for LA Yoga Magazine, and manager at The BOD by Kym.

The post Zooga Yoga for Kids Features Practices and Playtime appeared first on LA Yoga Magazine - Ayurveda & Health.

Sister and brother duo Susan and Nick Marrufo recently opened their brick-and-mortar-dream-come-true studio in Echo Park. They combined their desire to create a safe space for self-inquiry with the reach of their imagination. Samarasa Center offers yoga, Pilates, meditation, study groups, and community gatherings – all influenced by Susan’s teacher, Sri Prem Baba. A humanitarian and spiritual master, “Baba is the pillar of this place.” He personally blessed the newest yoga and Pilates studio to hit LA’s East Side, as Samarasa will serve to be a center for Baba’s teachings.

Upcoming Workshops at Samarasa Center

Samarasa has an impressive line-up of world-renowned teachers in the upcoming workshop and training schedule. For example, author and Tantrik scholar Christopher Hareesh Wallis offers intellectual discourse in June. Tibetan Buddhist teacher, Emmy-award-winning composer and musician (also a Krishna Das band member) David Nichtern will lead a mindfulness meditation teacher training this summer. And Jovinna Chan graces Samarasa in July to teach meditative movement and dance. Later this year, Samarasa co-owner Susan Marrufo offers her six-week course on Yoga, Sex, and Death, a deep dive into the tapestry of intimacy with Self.

Transformation and the Multi-Dimensional Self

Students can visit Samarasa Center to take group or private Pilates sessions or yoga classes, as well as specialty workshops or meditation teacher trainings. Samarasa offers physical, mental, and spiritual practices for the multi-dimensional self. Susan says that the center is a space “to drop the mask and do the deep work” of self-realization and transformation. “We have it all,” says Susan, “and it’s all done well.”

For More Information on Samarasa Center

Samarasa Center
1030 N Alvarado St, LA
1.833.4AWAKEN
samarasacenter.com

Marja Lankinen

Marja Lankinen, founder and CEO of Yoga for Dancers, is a yoga therapist and commercial dancer in Los Angeles and travels the globe teaching yoga and meditation: yogafordancers.com

www.yogafordancers.com

The post Samarasa Center in Echo Park appeared first on LA Yoga Magazine - Ayurveda & Health.

Photo of Rudy-Mirkovich and Karen Russell from Yoga NoHo by Hello June Films

North Hollywood is currently living a renaissance of revitalization and reinvention. New restaurants, food trucks, vegan pop-ups, and juice bars crop up daily in this walkable section of a driving-centric city. While Yoga NoHo is not new to the neighborhood, this bustling indoor smorgasbord of wellness is under new management. In Fall 2017, former professional dancers Michelle Rudy-Mirkovich and Karen Russell took on the task of revitalizing the Yoga NoHo holistic wellness center and yoga studio.

Yoga NoHo and Community Building

Michelle found her modus operandi was authentic community building. “I’ve been to a million studios in Los Angeles, and I was always looking for community. A lot of studios would talk about that, but I would be there for a year and the teacher didn’t know my name or people would take class and leave right away. When this opportunity [to take on ownership] came my way, the students were talking to me, and the teachers knew my name. I thought ‘Oh, this is what I’m looking for.’ This is what the previous owner had built.”

Yoga NoHo and Collaboration

At Yoga NoHo, Michelle is collaborating with her friend and fellow dancer of 30 years, Karen Russell. The two of them met on their first Broadway audition. Since then they’ve lived the rock ’n roll life and made the transition to yoga. In the entertainment world, Michelle’s credits include A Chorus Line The Movie, The Big Lebowski, The Bodyguard, and touring with Cher. Karen has danced with legends including Madonna, Bette Midler, Michael Jackson, and Alice Cooper.

The Throughline is Kindness

The two of them intend to create a safe space without the frills, bells, and whistles of branding. With teachers from Anusara, Vinyasa Flow, fitness, Yin, and Restorative backgrounds, the throughline is kindness. “All of our teachers are so different. All are so loving,” says Karen. With Yoga NoHo’s intentionally small class sizes, students receive a personalized experience with their teacher and a community that they craft together.

Yoga NoHo and Wellness

In addition to yoga, Yoga NoHo features an in-house chiropractor, hypnotherapist, naturopath, and massage therapist. Studio members receive discounts on Yoga NoHo’s menu of services. With offers like $30 for two weeks and $59 for one month, Karen remarks, “We have the best prices in town!” For a studio that offers a personalized approach to health and wellness, that is more than one good deal.

Where to Find Yoga NoHo

Yoga NoHo
5257 Vineland Ave, North Hollywood
yoganoho.com

Marja Lankinen

Marja Lankinen, founder and CEO of Yoga for Dancers, is a yoga therapist and commercial dancer in Los Angeles and travels the globe teaching yoga and meditation: yogafordancers.com

www.yogafordancers.com

The post Yoga NoHo and the North Hollywood Reinvention appeared first on LA Yoga Magazine - Ayurveda & Health.

Yoga can be intimidating to new students. Many people never set foot inside a yoga studio because of the preconceived notion that everyone there will be freakishly fit and flexible. Those who pass that initial hurdle and venture inside often find the Sanskrit and the Hindu deities a little overwhelming, or even at odds with their own culture and beliefs. Annmarie Rung, owner of Remix Yoga in Fountain Valley, recognized this obstacle. She wanted to provide a space that is accessible to those who have never done yoga but who could deeply benefit from its healing capacities.

Remix Yoga in Fountain Valley

The studio is simple and minimalistic. It features white walls and black floors in the front lobby and one long rectangular space for classes. Owner Annmarie Rung hopes that this space will allow students to feel safe and welcome in order to access their practice. She says, “Connecting to the breath is the most important part.”

The name “Remix” refers to the hybrid nature of the yoga classes taught here. The studio offers a traditional practice that is updated for the modern yogi. So far Remix offers 26 weekly classes, including Vinyasa Flow, Basic Flow (designed for beginners and those who want to focus on the basics), Pump N Pose (yoga with weights), and Stretch N Restore.

Annmarie has practiced vinyasa for many years. She recently hit a turning point in her practice when she discovered Kundalini Yoga. Annmarie says the healing that she’s garnered from Kundalini in the past year has been far greater than anything in her practice up to that point. When Annmarie experienced Kundalini Yoga firsthand, she wanted to share the practice. This is largely what drove her to open a studio.

On the schedule at Remix, you’ll find a Saturday morning Kundalini class as well as several “Ultimate Remix” classes throughout the week. This signature format combines Kundalini kriyas with Vinyasa and breath work. It is all set to contemporary music for a truly “old meets new” experience.

More information about Remix Yoga in Fountain Valley

Alisha Maxine

Alisha Maxine is a yoga teacher, climber, world traveler, and handstand enthusiast.

www.yogawithalisha.com

The post Remix Yoga in Fountain Valley appeared first on LA Yoga Magazine - Ayurveda & Health.

Soul Hum Meditation in Sherman Oaks

Soul Hum is the latest Zen enclave to open in the Valley. It offers elegant, inviting, and stress-to-bliss transformation in under 30 minutes. Soul Hum studio owner Natalie Kiwi says that the studio’s name is a derivative of the yogic contemplative mantra “so hum.” Soul Hum’s intention is to leave your soul humming. That it did when I took Raegan Loston’s BreathWork Meditation class. I laughed. I cried. And I felt like I could release stress, rule to world, and return again any time I needed to bask in their bevy of mindfulness and guided meditations or Sound Bath, Yoga Nidra, crystal or astrology workshops.

Soul Hum Meditation Owner Natalie Kiwi & her Inspiration

As a former recruiter in biopharmaceuticals and entertainment consumer products, Natalie found herself at 40 depleted, and tired. When she was diagnosed with autoimmune issues and chronic fatigue, Natalie’s Western doctors didn’t have many answers. Her Eastern practitioners had their own advice, “You can cleanse as much as you want. You can take as many supplements as you want, but if you don’t learn how to properly deal with stress, you’re not going to learn how to be well.” Natalie took heed and enrolled in meditation classes around the city. While stuck in traffic one day, the idea to create her own space in the Valley hit. With the help of longtime practitioner and teacher Megan Monahan, Natalie crafted a studio, schedule, and teaching roster. Soul Hum offers the practices and tools that had taught Natalie how to reset, recharge, and take back her health.

Soul Hum Meditation for Families

In addition to the classes Soul Hum offers for adults, Natalie added weekly meditation and emotional intelligence classes for middle and high school students. “I wanted my sons to know this exists,” says Natalie. Class are tailored to the stressors particular to each stage of life. As someone with three boys, a successful yet taxing career, and chronic fatigue, Natalie found a way to gift herself health and well-being through a meditation practice. “In modern life, it is a necessity not just to be well but to stay well.” That is the gift to self, family, and community that Natalie keeps on giving through Soul Hum.

More information about Soul Hum Meditation in Sherman Oaks

Soul Hum
13721 Ventura Blvd, 1st Floor, Sherman Oaks
818-616-2728
soulhumstudios.com

Marja Lankinen

Marja Lankinen, founder and CEO of Yoga for Dancers, is a yoga therapist and commercial dancer in Los Angeles and travels the globe teaching yoga and meditation: yogafordancers.com

www.yogafordancers.com

The post Soul Hum Meditation in Sherman Oaks appeared first on LA Yoga Magazine - Ayurveda & Health.

Locally owned and homegrown, Yoga Vibe WeHo is the sister studio to Yoga Vibe Los Feliz and Black Dog Yoga in Sherman Oaks. It is the quintessential neighborhood West Hollywood yoga studio. “We strive to be the kind of studio that is embedded in the community,” says co-owner Larry Santiago.

Yoga Vibe West Hollywood Yoga Studio

Yoga Vibe is heralded as a non-corporate and indie option.  The studio is not about the frills or pageantry but pure, simple practice. When I walked into the reception space, I felt as though I had traversed Los Angeles to loop back to my living room. The simple elegance of this yoga space is calming in and of itself. In addition to the airy entryway, the studio also features a spacious main room as well as a smaller practice room for trainings or private sessions. And while Yoga Vibe WeHo is in the midst of a bustling area, it definitely fulfills what Santiago describes as a “peaceful and calm oasis in the city.”

Classes at Yoga Vibe

Each one of the Yoga Vibe studios have a distinct character and charm. Each of the teachers is afforded the opportunity to brand their own classes with the freedom to personalize their offerings, “showcasing their strengths and personality.”

Classes such as Morning Vibes, Chill Vibes, or Mixed Level Flow (offered at WeHo) differ from teacher to teacher and studio to studio. Santiago says, “Los Feliz is more Vinyasa Flow for all levels and Black Dog is more well-rounded.” Yoga Vibe West Hollywood is the latest addition to the family. It opened in June, 2017. Classes include Brunch Vibes, Relaxed Vibes, Vin/Yin, and more. In addition, the WeHo schedule offers $10 Lunch Flow from 12:15-1:15pm Monday through Friday.

These proud parents (Larry and Amy Santiago and Sigrid Matthews) of independently operated yoga spaces are listening to the community. The team is meeting the needs of the students, one pose and one kind smile at a time.

Where to Find Yoga Vibe West Hollywood Yoga Studio

Yoga Vibe
7327 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90046
323.498.5333
yogavibela.com

Check out the new student special! One month of classes for $40. You just might join the Yoga Vibe family!

Marja Lankinen

Marja Lankinen, founder and CEO of Yoga for Dancers, is a yoga therapist and commercial dancer in Los Angeles and travels the globe teaching yoga and meditation: yogafordancers.com

www.yogafordancers.com

The post Yoga Vibe West Hollywood Yoga Studio appeared first on LA Yoga Magazine - Ayurveda & Health.

Meditate and Chill

Sometimes we all just need to #CTFO (Chill The F*&@ Out) at any time of the day. Fortunately, the options for where we can do just that in LA are increasing. The DEN Meditation has added a Studio City location (they began with a La Brea flagship) to provide a fitting home for the meditation newcomer, the long-time mindfulness devotee, and everyone in between. It’s an opportunity to meditate in the Vally.

People who have sipped tea, read books, or attended classes or workshops at The DEN on La Brea will feel a sense of familiarity with the brick and wood elements, accents of live plants, wool rugs, and colorful matching cushions made by the fair-trade artisans at Chattra.

The DEN features a large class space and a cozy smaller room for private meditation or mini workshops (complete with hammock).

Even with the similarities, this DEN maintains a unique and carefully curated feel. The 2,000 square foot studio is right on the busy Ventura Boulevard, yet it provides a serene safe haven in which to chill out.

Why The DEN Opened in the Valley

Owner Tal Rabinowitz chose Studio City based on meditators’ requests. Many people live or work in the area and were zipping across town to La Brea in order to sit still. Tal said, “I have so many friends who live in the Valley. It was just really familiar and comfortable here, so it was kind of a no-brainer. When I was first envisioning The DEN, I was thinking, ‘Where can I go before work, where can I go after work, where can I go during work?’ People practice even when they have an insane schedule. So, for me, this would have been perfect.”

The DEN owner Tal Rabinowitz

Now, a full variety of classes is available at The DEN in Studio City with enticing names like Intention, Joy, Lunchtime Detox, Happiness, Mantra, Focus, Self-Compassion, Reiki, Energy, Qigong, Psychic, Restorative, Kundalini, Sound, Chakra, and of course, #CTFO. Workshops are also held regularly. Classes from a variety of traditions and lineages are available for students of all levels and interest in meditation.

Community for Meditators

There is a community in the space. Many of the teachers started out as students and have developed their own practice at The DEN. A number have even attended the studio’s teacher training programs. Being part of teachers’ growth and development is meaningful for Tal. She says, “To watch them unfold and become these brilliant, strong voices in this community – it’s been beautiful!”

Come early and find your own meditative voice. Once the class starts, latecomers are not seated. Be prepared to check in your cell phone. You’ll be glad you did.
The DEN Meditation
12323 Ventura Boulevard, Studio City 91604
818.856.8033
denmeditation.com

Felicia M. Tomasko

Felicia Tomasko has spent more of her life practicing Yoga and Ayurveda than not. She first became introduced to the teachings through the writings of the Transcendentalists, through meditation, and using asana to cross-train for her practice of cross-country running. Between beginning her commitment to Yoga and Ayurveda and today, she earned degrees in environmental biology and anthropology and nursing, and certifications in the practice and teaching of yoga, yoga therapy, and Ayurveda while working in fields including cognitive neuroscience and plant biochemistry. Her commitment to writing is at least as long as her commitment to yoga. Working on everything related to the written word from newspapers to magazines to websites to books, Felicia has been writing and editing professionally since college. In order to feel like a teenager again, Felicia has pulled out her running shoes for regular interval sessions throughout Southern California. Since the very first issue of LA YOGA, Felicia has been part of the team and the growth and development of the Bliss Network.

www.blissnetwork.com

The post Meditate in the Valley at The DEN Meditation Studio City appeared first on LA Yoga Magazine - Ayurveda & Health.

Kundalini Yoga By the Sea studio in Santa Monica. Image by Samir Janjua Photo.

Kundalini Yoga by the Sea is a welcoming studio in all senses of the word. Owners Dharam Dev Kaur Khalsa, Kia Ancilotto (Kia Dharam Atma), Lisa Arshawsky, and Nicholas Petricca share a commitment to the practice. They’ve created a light, airy space that offers traditional Kundalini Yoga, as taught by Yogi Bhajan. The studio serves all ages and levels. The weekly schedule hosts more than 43 classes with a roster of more than 40 teachers.

Classes at Kundalini Yoga by the Sea

The wide variety of classes on the schedule include Kundalini Yoga and Meditation, Prenatal Yoga, Partnered Prenatal Yoga, Mommy and Me, Sunday Family Yoga, and First 40-Days Postpartum Circles. (Pre-registration is required for the postpartum circles). Pranic Flow Yoga, practices that include a sound bath are on offer. In addition, classes with a special focus in Yoga for Recovery Stress, Trauma and Addiction are held at the studio. If you want to learn more about the science of sacred sound, try Mantras in the Kundalini Tradition. Check the schedule for the pre-dawn sadhana.

The Mama Tree at Kundalini Yoga by the Sea

Studio co-owner, teacher, midwife, birth educator and nurse Lisa Arshawsky created The Mama Tree, which offers the prenatal, mommy and me, and new mothers support programs at the studio as well as birthing preparation classes, immersions, and services.

The studio features more than weekly classes. The variety of weekend offerings include a number of different kinds of workshops as well as panels on birthing, sound baths, kirtan, Conscious Spiritual Art Shows and Women’s Circle Gatherings. Look for the 2018 teacher trainings: Level One KRI Aquarian Teacher Training Program featuring 10 legacy Kundalini teachers, and a Mommy & Me Yoga Teacher Training.

The single-room space is brightened by a custom, ocean-themed mural (which makes a beautiful backdrop for social media photos). Located just six blocks from Santa Monica Pier, Kundalini Yoga by the Sea is across from a Metro stop and the neighborhood has plenty of three-hour street parking. The studio also boasts its own original boutique clothing line called ‘Gusoo’ and sells lovely globally-sourced fashion.

More information on Kundalini Yoga by the Sea

Kundalini Yoga by the Sea
605 Colorado Ave, Santa Monica 90404
310-963-9811
kundaliniyogabythesea.com

Karen Henry

Karen Henry is an Associate Editor at LA YOGA who volunteers in a variety of capacities for nonprofit organizations and artists around Los Angeles. She practices yoga as a counterbalance to her daily impact sports and is a mother of four grown children who also practice yoga . Now, she’s working on teaching yoga and joy of life to the grandkids!

The post Kundalini Yoga by the Sea appeared first on LA Yoga Magazine - Ayurveda & Health.