What did we learn from quarantine that we would be wise to keep applying as we emerge? What are the daily lessons from lockdown that we are experiencing?

“When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.” Victor Frankl

Lessons from Lockdown: Control

The illusion of control is bankrupt. Life is inherently uncertain whether we like it or not. Control freaks have been humbled and are invited to go inward (and stop numbing with FB, eating, drinking, porn, or overworking). Thus, reacting is useless. Responding is wise. Feeling your feelings is essential.

One of the hugest gifts we can give ourselves is to do the inner work to find peace, safety, and approval on the inside. This allows our true worth to blossom and no longer seek validation from outside achievements. This feels like curiosity, confidence, and certainty in the face of anything.

*Keep meditating, journaling, spending time in nature, feeling your feelings, self-soothing without the addictions, connecting with true friends, and learning to find your worth from the inside out. Once you realize your worth, there is no one, nothing, and no circumstance that can take it away, ever.

Gratitude

We’ve been taught to be grateful for the good stuff, the wins, and goals achieved. That’s Gratitude 101. To earn a degree from the school of Gratitude, we must also learn to be grateful for the losses and their lessons. Thus, we mature spiritually and can hold both appreciation for what we have and heartbreak for what we’ve lost at the same time.

The beauty of opening your heart wide enough to say thank you for the support and the challenges is that you get off the addictive rollercoaster of resisting pain and clamoring for pleasure. You become a YES to all of life, not just the glittery parts. This also protects you when people try to manipulate you with a shiny carrot. You stay discerning, aware, and open.

*Keep your heart open in the face of anything. Ask for help, get a coach, join a personal growth community, practice seeing the gifts in the challenge, be curious about how even this life circumstance is benefitting you, keep a journal by your bed.

Pivot

Few of us can hear that word without recalling Ross with the coach on Friends. Nonetheless, it’s a great word for these times! One colleague has been forced by her governor to make hand sanitizer instead of moonshine at her distillery. While that is pivot by default, her attitude is still awesome. I’m speaking more about an example such as: shifting live corporate events onto a virtual platform such as Zoom. We can let go of the attachment of doing business one way, pivot and create a whole new way to give our gifts.

Curiously, many are discovering they CAN work from home. They CAN create delivery campaigns, CAN serve their customers, and actually LIKE it. Moreover, they LOVE not being in rush hour, doing yoga online, eating in, and family dinners. Others are admitting they never really liked their job in the first place and are putting more focus into their side hustle.

The world is, has been, and always will be your oyster. Lean into the situation and joyfully brainstorm 50 creative ways you can give the world your unique gifts. Circle the one that jumps out and get to it!

*Keep being innovative and creative. Be around people who respond, not react.

Ask yourself, ‘How is this working for me? What else is possible? What do I want to maintain that nurtures my work/life balance?’

Lessons from Lockdown: Feel

I believe the reason we have such an obese, drug-abusing, workaholic, FB or porn-addicted, et cetera, society is that we aren’t feeling our feelings. We’re spinning fast so we don’t have to feel. We’re feeding our hunger for belonging with temporary highs. Hurt people, in turn, hurt people. You need to feel it to heal it.

Quarantine is forcing us to slow down and notice our numbing. Lockdown invites us to feel our feelings and face what we’ve been avoiding in ourselves and our relationships. If you don’t know how to navigate intense emotions, it can be excruciatingly uncomfortable to discover how out of control you feel. AND we’ve been told negative emotions are bad and wrong, so self-judgment and criticism magnify the problem.

On the other hand, we’re also seeing people respond to the uncomfortable feelings in a healthy way, such as meditating, journaling, taking online mindfulness courses, signing up for intimacy training, or listening to podcasts about self-care. People are invited to return to what really matters, like connection, relationships, following our dreams, being with people who honor us.

*Keep taking time out to feel and breathe, be patient and compassionate, gain wisdom and insights, keep a journal to discover the root of what’s bothering you, finally dissolve traumas you’ve been avoiding, reveal your blind spots and create new habits, hire a coach, and heal sabotaging patterns, create a life you love.

Lesson: Truth

The Truth I’m talking about isn’t about doing the right thing or being a good person. It’s a knowing from the soul, not a moral opinion from the mind. Truth is more a whisper from your gut, an instinctive feeling, a YES from your heart. It’s found on the inside, not the outside, and it requires zero validation or justification because YOU are the only one with this Truth. There never was, is, or will be another YOU. Life broke the mold when they created you! Your Truth is the same. You KNOW somewhere deep inside if you are living according to your Truth. You’re in your ‘lane’.

Lockdown has forced us to face the shadows that we’ve allowed to hide our Truth. It’s inviting us to discover what parts of ourselves we’ve been ashamed of, hiding or avoiding. It’s making us question whether our values are aligned with our actions and if those actions are aligned with our words. We’re potentially reprioritizing a new work/life balance and enjoying the cleaner air we breathe. Some of us are questioning our marriages, long term relationships, or if we’d rather be happy alone. Newly graduated young adults are questioning career paths, while artists are having surges of creativity.

*Keep taking actions to be aligned with YOUR deepest truth no matter what anyone else says. Keep it private if you aren’t surrounded by empowering people who believe in you. Find a community who thinks outside the box, who believes in your gifts, who applauds your bravery, and who crowdsources collective genius, people who have your back and you have theirs. Fly your freak flag proudly! You are a child of the Divine. Live your best authentic life in the face of it all.

Doug Corbett

Doug has had a long and varied career in the magazine business in sales, marketing, editorial, and printing. As one of the original partners of Healing Retreats & Spas magazine Doug experienced publishing in the mind, body, and spirit space and has never looked back. 
In 2003 he dove headlong into the online space with the wellness website and e-commerce store Find Bliss based on the concepts he developed at Healing Retreats & Spas. He joined forces with Felicia Tomasko in 2011 to create the Bliss Network with the merger of Find Bliss, LA Yoga Magazine and Bliss Kit.

The post Re-Connection: Learn the Lessons from Lockdown appeared first on LA Yoga Magazine - Ayurveda & Health.

COMMUNITY & CONNECTIONS: CONSCIOUS GOOD STUDIO FILM SERIES LAUNCH

Los Angeles, California: People are inspired and educated by watching films with uplifting and meaningful stories combined with the opportunity to discuss themes with a community. The Conscious Good Studio Series in partnership with Bliss Network and LA YOGA Magazine offers yoga studios curated film programming for monthly special events.

According to Conscious Good Founder Trina Wyatt, “The Conscious Good Studio Series offers a unique community gathering of like-minded people, with exclusive films that were made and curated for the mind-body-spirit audience.  During the screening, attendees relax using the props of their local yoga and meditation studio while surrounded by friends and soon-to-be-friends. After watching the film, people are encouraged to share their thoughts, what they’ve learned, and to take inspiration into action in their lives and communities.”

“The core mission for yoga studios and other related businesses includes building community. The Studio Series provides inspiring content that can be programmed into the studio schedule during non-class times, such as weekend evenings. This allows students to gather for a shared experience,” says Bliss Network Editorial Director Felicia Tomasko.

Trina Wyatt says, “I believe that stories – real or imagined – have the power to transform lives. I have practiced yoga for over 20 years and it has changed my life immeasurably for the better.  I’m thrilled that the Studio Series can bring these two powerful forces together to help nurture community and make people’s lives better.”

Yoga studios participating in the series benefit from a turn-key community event that generates a new source of revenue.

About Conscious Good: Conscious Good is a media platform whose mission is the elevate the human experience to collectively heal the world one inspiring story at a time. www.consciousgood.com

About Bliss Network: Publisher of LA YOGA Magazine and Find Bliss, the mission of Bliss Network is to build community and share inspiring stories through the editorial cornerstones of food, home, spa, and practice in Los Angeles and beyond. www.blissnetwork.com

CONTACT:
Trina Wyatt Founder and CEO
Conscious Good
trina@consciousgood.com

Felicia Tomasko – Chief Content Officer
Bliss Network, LLC
ftomasko@blissnetwork.com
#######

Doug Corbett

Doug has had a long and varied career in the magazine business in sales, marketing, editorial, and printing. As one of the original partners of Healing Retreats & Spas magazine Doug experienced publishing in the mind, body, and spirit space and has never looked back. 
In 2003 he dove headlong into the online space with the wellness website and e-commerce store Find Bliss based on the concepts he developed at Healing Retreats & Spas. He joined forces with Felicia Tomasko in 2011 to create the Bliss Network with the merger of Find Bliss, LA Yoga Magazine and Bliss Kit.

The post Conscious Good and LA Yoga Announce Studio Film Series appeared first on LA Yoga Magazine - Ayurveda & Health.

Russell Simmons at the Tantris Yoga opening party in West Hollywood

From the Editor

These days, it feels as though we need something to anchor us and keep us grounded amidst the challenges we face in everyday life on the local and global scales. I believe that gratitude can be one of those anchors. It is an anchor even when we may not necessarily feel grateful, when we have to call it up, make a list, or focus on the feeling. Our attitude may be crowded by any number of other experiences or challenges, but simply pausing for a moment to reflect on even one item from our gratitude list can be that anchor that gives us the strength and fortitude to take action effectively in the world: with ourselves, our family, our community, and the planet as a whole. These days require the best from all of us and we would do well to remember everything that fuels our resilience.

As we move through the Winter Solstice, the holiday season, and into the New Year, beginning or recommitting to a gratitude practice can serve as a powerful ally for our strength and faith. I love Tisha Morris’ suggestion for a 12 day Gratitude Practice as part of the ritual to celebrate this time of year.

Another way that you can build resilience is through all other kinds of practice—Tantris Yoga in West Hollywood is offering free classes throughout the month of December to support the LA YOGA community. The new studio is a sanctuary for the body and soul in the midst of the city.

However you practice and spend the holidays, may you be grateful for small miracles as well as great ones.

With Gratitude,

Felicia Marie Tomasko, RN

12 Days of Gratitude Practice

Regardless of your religious or spiritual beliefs and practices, the holidays are ripe for getting in touch with your higher power. Gratitude is one of the best ways to do just that. By placing your focus on positive thoughts and experiences for which you are grateful, you instantly take yourself to a higher vibration.

Take a few minutes each day for 12 consecutive days to journal what you are grateful for. This is an easy practice before you go to bed. Keep a Gratitude Journal on your bedside table. It can be a small notepad designated for gratitude or an ongoing journal. Jot down a few things you are grateful for during your day. Start with the prompt, “Today I am grateful for….” Even on the worst of days, you can find a few things to be grateful for. Taking a few moments to note these will immediately shift your energy positively and attract more of those good things to you. Go to sleep with gratitude and you will wake up on the right side of the bed every time. Read more of Tisha Morris’ suggestions here.

Free Yoga in December for LA YOGA Readers

The new studio Tantris Yoga, in West Hollywood on Sunset Boulevard, is offering LA YOGA readers free yoga classes in the month of December. Nestled in the heart of West Hollywood at 9200 Sunset Boulevard, the Tantris Yoga all-inclusive studio offers high-end, hot yoga classes, meditation, workshops, wellness services, kirtan and teacher trainings. Here you will be led by world-renowned yoga teachers and experts in field of yogic science. Despite the luxurious amenities, I assure you the studio is keeping it real with monthly themes to complement the essence of the ancient yogic teachings and a primary emphasis on the three pillars of Tantris Yoga: Daily Practice, Devotional Study and Karmic Duty. Read more about Tantris Yoga in Kumi Yogini’s article online here.

Sun Salutations as an Expression of Gratitude

The next time you practice sun salutations, consider the debt you owe to the sun. Offer your heart up. Then, bow down and say thank you. Offer gratitude. Move with intention. Match the movement of your body to the movement of your breath. Close your eyes. Concentrate on your heart and visualize the sun there. Imagine this light is within you; imagine you are this light. Take your time; you can’t rush a thank you.

Thanking the sun each day shifts our perspective through the practice of gratitude. Practicing gratitude can help to release our attachment to the ego and the desires of the mind. The intentional practice of gratitude is a powerful practice of yoga. Practicing gratitude is practicing yoga.

Read more of Garth Hewitt’s story here.

Best of Boston Yoga: How Yoga + Writing Deepens Practice

Both yoga and writing are a practice, a salve, and an exploration. A way to connect us more deeply to ourselves, make sense of our human experiences and, in sharing our own voice and journey, connect us more directly to others by way of our shared humanity. Both yoga and writing can create the space for us to slow down, connect in, navigate change (especially as we transition now further into fall), and support us in honoring the way that the body is a vessel for emotion and experience. Mindful movement and creative self-expression can be vehicles of self-sustaining support, portals for transformation, and allow us to embrace a sense of wholeness, fullness, and sensuality by embracing all of who we are. That may be one of the ways we carry our freedom with us off the mat, and that itself is truly beautiful.

Read the rest of Lindsey O’Neill’s article here.

The Perfect Gift for East Coast Friends: Superflow Tickets!

Featuring a dynamic line-up of yoga talent from both coasts in a spectacular downtown setting, SUPERFLOW is THE opportunity to commune with kindred spirits and power up naturally in preparation for one of the country’s most celebrated sporting events.  Three hours of cutting edge yoga, the latest in yoga apparel and accessories, high-powered products and community. This is an afternoon not to be missed.

Bring a friend and join us for our Second Annual SUPERFLOW right here in Boston. For more information and tickets, click here.

Sometimes Brilliant Book Review

Forty years in the writing, Sometimes Brilliant details the arc of Larry Brilliant, a young hippie doctor from Detroit who began living his dharma marching with Martin Luther King Jr in 1963, engaging deeply with the social movements of the time. He traveled overland from Western Europe to India with Wavy Gravy and the Hog Farm Commune in an unsuccessful attempt to bring aid to the cyclone-devastated Bangladeshi island of Bhola. A year later, he was dragged unwillingly back to India by his wife Girija  to meet the great saint Neem Karoli Baba, at whose feet Larry realized his destiny to become a key player in the eradication of smallpox, an ancient disease that killed more than half a billion people in the twentieth century alone. Read the rest of Benjy Wertheimer’s book review here. sometimes-brilliant-book-review

Vedic Astrology with Sam Geppi

On December 28, The Sun and Moon come together today in Sagittarius, which begins a new cycle focused on hope, inspiration, and higher purpose. For the next 30 days we will be focused on what inspires us or what disappoints us. Often they are the same thing. That may sound ironic, but it is not. Being disappointed with one type of teaching or teacher compels you to seek another who you more relate to more effectively. Be vigilant and able to recognize to false teachers or overly simplistic answers to complex problems. While influenced by Sagittarius, we may be tempted to follow the simple belief that doesn’t require our inquiry and understanding.

This New Moon happens in Mula Nakshatra, a cycle related to the goddess Kali, the destructive force of the universe. This destruction is necessary for greater wisdom. Your old paradigm has been destroyed and you must resurrect hope from the ashes of the past.

For the full Jyotish forecast for December/January click here.

Doug Corbett

Doug has had a long and varied career in the magazine business in sales, marketing, editorial, and printing. As one of the original partners of Healing Retreats & Spas magazine Doug experienced publishing in the mind, body, and spirit space and has never looked back. 
In 2003 he dove headlong into the online space with the wellness website and e-commerce store Find Bliss based on the concepts he developed at Healing Retreats & Spas. He joined forces with Felicia Tomasko in 2011 to create the Bliss Network with the merger of Find Bliss, LA Yoga Magazine and Bliss Kit.

The post December 22 – Inspiration and Events appeared first on LA Yoga Magazine - Ayurveda & Health.

(Foreground L-r) MICHAEL PEÑA as Simon, KATE WINSLET as Claire and WILL SMITH as Howard in New Line Cinemas’, Village Roadshow Pictures’ and Warner Bros. Pictures’ ensemble drama “COLLATERAL BEAUTY,” a Warner Bros Pictures release.
Photo by Barry Wetcher

From the Editor

Every day, I experience something that reminds me to appreciate the present moment as well as the community around me at any particular time. It may be meeting friends for yoga class and then laughing over a cup of coffee, a funny text message from my sister, a sunrise, a sunset, an unexpected visitor, a cupcake at my doorstep, a supportive message, a shared cry, or a night out at the movies. Every day that I am aware of the news of the world, these moments become increasingly more important. These simple moments fuel our resilience, our ability to see the beauty in every moment, to appreciate our shared community, our interconnectedness.

This Friday, December 16, the film Collateral Beauty opens in theaters. It is a film that reminds us of just how much we cannot expect to hold onto time, how much love fuels every moment of our lives, and how much the presence of death is the reminder to cherish all the time we have for love. Go see it. Bring tissues. I found that watching the movie was a powerful reminder to take every moment to remember the fleeting beauty that is this life and to take the time daily to recognize all of it.

In moments of practice, we can also enter this space of appreciation. For the month of December, the new studio Tantris Yoga in West Hollywood is offering free yoga classes to LA YOGA readers in order to have a chance to experience the studio and the teachers. Bring your friends and family and take the time to immerse yourself in practice. Turn off your devices, rebuild your strength, reconnect with the world and each other.

With Gratitude,

Felicia Marie Tomasko, RN

Upcoming Events

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15

December 15 – December 16. Jala Warehouse Sale. Jala is having a massive WAREHOUSE SALE! Save up to 80% Off! Stop by and take advantage of amazing deals on one-of-a-kind and closeout styles at rock bottom prices. Jala HQ. 4050 Spencer St., Torrance.

11:00 A.M. – 11:00 P.M. Kathmandu Boutique Open House. Reena Gauchan prepares a variety of traditional Nepali dishes to share at this day of community that includes special sales, tarot readers and massage therapists, and musicians and artists performing. Bring your own plates, silverware, and cups for this waste-free event. $10-20 donation for meals. 1844 Lincoln Blvd., Santa Monica.

2:00 P.M. – 5:00 P.M. Advanced Neuromuscular Therapy Demonstration. Learn more about advanced neuromuscular therapy as a vital bodywork technique at the National Holistic Institute Studio City Campus. National Holistic Institute. 10969 Ventura Blvd., Studio City.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16

December 15 – December 16. Jala Warehouse Sale. Jala is having a massive WAREHOUSE SALE! Save up to 80% Off! Stop by and take advantage of amazing deals on one-of-a-kind and closeout styles at rock bottom prices. Jala HQ. 4050 Spencer St., Torrance.

5:30 P.M. – 7:00 P.M. Restorative Yoga & Sound Therapy. Join yoga instructors Christy Graniere and Julie Murray for restorative yoga, which can be described as active relaxation. Restorative yoga consists of gentle, supported postures that nurture and soothe the nervous system. We will incorporate props, massage, sound therapy, and guided meditation. $35. Lotus 7 Yoga & Pilates. 22521 Avenida Empresa, Ste. 116/117. Rancho Santa Margarita.

6:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M. Sun, Moon & Earth w/Mas Vidal. Mas Vidal’s new book Sun, Moon, and Earth discusses the integration of Yoga and Ayurveda for the modern world. Free. Mystic Journey Bookstore. 1624 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 17

December 17. Wanderlust Community Gathering. Take a breather from the mall and OM in the holiday cheer with your Wanderlust community this Saturday! Enjoy FREE yoga, dance and breathwork classes, take advantage of 20% off the Wanderlust marketplace, shop with purpose from guest trunk show vendors Erbaviva Skin Care, Parks Project, and MyIntent and chow down on new cafe menu items! Wanderlust Hollywood. 1357 N. Highland Ave., Los Angeles.

10:00 A.M. Force of Nature Women. An experiential live class for activating the Spiritually and Erotically awake Warrior Woman. Online.

10:00 A.M. – 6:00 P.M. Yoga Expo LA. Take a variety of classes throughout the day, connect with like-minded yogis, try a new practice, meet new people and teachers, visit the marketplace, shop for yoga products, and learn more about opportunities to take classes or pursue continuing education. $35 / $45 includes Yoga Rocks Fundraiser. Los Angeles Convention Center.

12:00 P.M. – 7:30 P.M. Winter Solstice All-Day Meditation. Spend time in meditation to celebrate the light of the inner Christ and begin a new solar year with an immersion into spirit. Sunburst Sanctuary. 7200 Highway 1. Lompoc.

6:00 P.M. – 10:00 P.M. Venice Foto 2016. Opening reception for fine arts collective. VMW Gallery. 1003 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 19

6:00 P.M. – 11:00 P.M. Holiday Boutique Bazaar. Hosted by SITA Couture featuring Jessie’s Place and the incredibly awesome arts & crafts made by the disabled refugee’s in Rawanda. 1130 Meadowbrook Ave., Los Angeles.

7:30 P.M. Marianne Williamson. Lecture, prayer, and discussion based on A Course in Miracles with New York Times best-selling author Marianne Williamson. $15 suggested donation. The Saban Theatre. 8440 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21

4:00 P.M. – 8:30 P.M. Winter Solstice Celebration. Winter Solstice Celebration with a suggested donation of $20 (net proceeds to go to Boystown USA). $20. Lotus 7 Yoga & Pilates. 22521 Avenida Empresa, Suites 116 & 117. Rancho Santa Margarita.

Collateral Beauty invites you to Find Your Why

When a successful New York advertising executive suffers a great tragedy he retreats from life. While his concerned friends try desperately to reconnect with him, he seeks answers from the universe by writing letters to Love, Time and Death. But it’s not until his notes bring unexpected personal responses that he begins to understand how these constants interlock in a life fully lived, and how even the deepest loss can reveal moments of meaning and beauty. Starring Will Smith, Edward Norton, Keira Knightley, Michael Peña, Naomie Harris, Jacob Latimore, with Kate Winslet and Helen Mirren.

Check out Collateral Beauty here

Life is about people. The cast of Collateral Beauty challenges you to “Find Your Why” in this new featurette. Watch the “Find Your Why” featurette on YouTube here. Collateral Beauty in theaters tomorrow, December 16.

The 2017 Sedona Yoga Festival

You’re invited to the 5th Annual SYF 2017 conference, taking place March 9 – 12th! This consciousness evolution event, is held annually in Sedona, AZ with its core focus being on yoga, meditation and spiritual awakening, set against the iconic Red Rocks in the undisputed spiritual center of the West.

SYF 2017 will offer over 200 sessions for registrants to choose from, 40 vendors, 88 presenters and new special events and stages, registrants will be sure to have an experience like none other! Classes will cover the full range of class offerings including; rockin’ vinyasa, powerful meditation manifestations, flow, yoga writing workshops, yogi tunes and dancing, guided healing journeys, Sedona hiking, additional CEU’s, PTSD training and so much more! Get your festival ticket today at sedonayogafestival.com

Photo Credit: Dex Creative Imagery

Benedetta

This really is food for your skin. The delivery of raw, alive, holistically formulated preparations allows the skin to recognize and utilize the nutrients, similar to eating organic fresh foods.” Julia Faller – Founder/Formulator

Benedetta is holistically formulated to stimulate the skin’s natural ability to Correct, Protect, and Rejuvenate at deeper levels. For more than 20 years, Benedetta has pioneered the use of 100% botanical formulas allowing them to be actively effective.

With a keen formulative understanding of what the skin needs for youthful longevity, Benedetta is unsurpassed for authentic and original formulations.

Shop Benedetta online at www.benedetta.com or in person at the San Francisco Ferry Building Marketplace.

Create Space at Home for Happy Holidays

Jala is having a massive WAREHOUSE SALE! Save up to 80% Off! Stop by and take advantage of amazing deals on one-of-a-kind and closeout styles at rock bottom prices.

Where:
Jala HQ
4050 Spencer Street, Unit C
Torrance, CA 90503

When:
Dec. 14-16, Wed.- Fri., 12pm – 6pm

For more information, click here.

Free Yoga in December for LA YOGA Readers

The new studio Tantris Yoga, in West Hollywood on Sunset Boulevard, is offering LA YOGA readers free yoga classes in the month of December. Nestled in the heart of West Hollywood at 9200 Sunset Boulevard, the Tantris Yoga all-inclusive studio offers high-end, hot yoga classes, meditation, workshops, wellness services, kirtan and teacher trainings. Here you will be led by world-renowned yoga teachers and experts in field of yogic science. Despite the luxurious amenities, I assure you the studio is keeping it real with monthly themes to complement the essence of the ancient yogic teachings and a primary emphasis on the three pillars of Tantris Yoga: Daily Practice, Devotional Study and Karmic Duty. Read more about Tantris Yoga in Kumi Yogini’s article online here.

Combine Strength Training & Yoga

When we consider the practice of modern yoga, we can consider using all the tools available to us from the equipment at the gym to techniques from physical therapy, physical fitness, and strength training. Using everything available to us in the context of yoga can help us to be more intelligent in how we use our body in practice. I have seen first-hand how strength training can help with some of the more challenging asanas. Strength training gives power to our larger muscle groups for strong poses like handstands. Done with awareness, strength training can also help us become more adept at yoga’s subtle effects. One of the most subtle and important actions that we enjoy in yoga is the ability to engage our bandhas. Read more of Desi Bartlett’s article here.

Best of Boston Yoga: Claiming Kindness

I consider myself fortunate… since losing my paternal grandmother at the age of seventeen, it wasn’t until my third decade of life that I experienced another loss of a loved one. Then this past May, my grandparents passed away within two weeks of each other. My grandfather succumbed to complications from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, a condition that slowly and stealthily disintegrated his ability to breathe on his own.  As for my grandmother, her death certificate reads “respiratory arrest”, but we like to think that she died of a broken heart. For the past several months, this loss has cast me into a revolving state of sadness, curiosity, introspection, and personal growth. Read the rest of Kathleen Collins’ story here.

Superflow Boston Tickets Available

Featuring a dynamic line-up of yoga talent from both coasts in a spectacular downtown setting, SUPERFLOW is THE opportunity to commune with kindred spirits and power up naturally in preparation for one of the country’s most celebrated sporting events.  Three hours of cutting edge yoga, the latest in yoga apparel and accessories, high-powered products and community. This is an afternoon not to be missed.

Bring a friend and join us for our Second Annual SUPERFLOW right here in Boston. For more information and tickets, click here.

Mercury Retrograde—What’s it Good For?

We’re coming up to a Mercury Retrograde cycle. Before you hide your computer under your bed and lock your doors, according to scholar and practitioner Dr John Casey, “These retrograde periods are said to be excellent times to catch up on bills, paperwork and correspondence, as well as engaging in review processes and consolidation of details connected with projects already underway. Not something to fear, this Mercury Retrograde will be good time for sending out Christmas cards, thank you notes and end-of-the-year newsletters. Unleash the power of the planets in practice.” Read more of John’s discussion of Mercury Retrograde here.

Vedic Astrology with Sam Geppi

On December 13, the Moon will be full in Taurus today, which brings contrast to the Sun in Scorpio. This full moon cycle helps us harmonize the intensity and dynamism of Scorpio with the stability of Taurus. The Moon is exalted in Taurus due to Taurus’ consistency and materiality. While it can be easy to become seduced by emotional drama with the Sun in Scorpio, this Full Moon in Taurus helps us relax into a deeper sense of peace and connection with our family and other loved ones.

This Full Moon happens in Mrigashira Nakshatra, which is symbolized by a deer wandering through the forest, curiously exploring its surroundings. Feel that sense of peace, family, and curiosity now on this Full Moon.

For the full Jyotish forecast for December/January click here.

Doug Corbett

Doug has had a long and varied career in the magazine business in sales, marketing, editorial, and printing. As one of the original partners of Healing Retreats & Spas magazine Doug experienced publishing in the mind, body, and spirit space and has never looked back. 
In 2003 he dove headlong into the online space with the wellness website and e-commerce store Find Bliss based on the concepts he developed at Healing Retreats & Spas. He joined forces with Felicia Tomasko in 2011 to create the Bliss Network with the merger of Find Bliss, LA Yoga Magazine and Bliss Kit.

The post December 15 2016 LA Yoga Newsletter appeared first on LA Yoga Magazine - Ayurveda & Health.

Doug Corbett

Doug has had a long and varied career in the magazine business in sales, marketing, editorial, and printing. As one of the original partners of Healing Retreats & Spas magazine Doug experienced publishing in the mind, body, and spirit space and has never looked back. 
In 2003 he dove headlong into the online space with the wellness website and e-commerce store Find Bliss based on the concepts he developed at Healing Retreats & Spas. He joined forces with Felicia Tomasko in 2011 to create the Bliss Network with the merger of Find Bliss, LA Yoga Magazine and Bliss Kit.

The post test video appeared first on LA Yoga Magazine - Ayurveda & Health.

For more information kharmakhare.com

Doug Corbett

Doug has had a long and varied career in the magazine business in sales, marketing, editorial, and printing. As one of the original partners of Healing Retreats & Spas magazine Doug experienced publishing in the mind, body, and spirit space and has never looked back. 
In 2003 he dove headlong into the online space with the wellness website and e-commerce store Find Bliss based on the concepts he developed at Healing Retreats & Spas. He joined forces with Felicia Tomasko in 2011 to create the Bliss Network with the merger of Find Bliss, LA Yoga Magazine and Bliss Kit.

The post Kharma Khare appeared first on LA Yoga Magazine - Ayurveda & Health.

Doug Corbett

Doug has had a long and varied career in the magazine business in sales, marketing, editorial, and printing. As one of the original partners of Healing Retreats & Spas magazine Doug experienced publishing in the mind, body, and spirit space and has never looked back. 
In 2003 he dove headlong into the online space with the wellness website and e-commerce store Find Bliss based on the concepts he developed at Healing Retreats & Spas. He joined forces with Felicia Tomasko in 2011 to create the Bliss Network with the merger of Find Bliss, LA Yoga Magazine and Bliss Kit.

The post young-wolff_4568weblogo appeared first on LA Yoga Magazine - Ayurveda & Health.

By Kelly Vogt Campbell

The Rising Lotus Seva Project, a nonprofit organization that brings Yoga into underserved communities and people in need throughout Los Angeles, has been working in a variety of settings since 2009. The Seva Project has brought Yoga to domestic violence shelters, mental health facilities, safe houses for victims of human trafficking, and centers for homeless youth. The program recently expanded to offer classes for members of the Los Angeles Fire Department and LAMP, a homeless services agency on Skid Row.

The project stems from Rising Lotus co-owner Claire Hartley’s desire to offer the healing potential of Yoga to the people who need it most. The Project, which also cultivates community through organizing kirtan gatherings and other events, celebrated a kickoff fundraiser in March, with plans for more in the future.

“I was inspired to start the Rising Lotus Seva Project by our community at the studio,” said Claire. “Over the years I’ve been fortunate to see many transformations of people’s personal energy as well as my own, and I wanted to find a way to channel this to others who might not necessarily have the opportunity to start a Yoga practice or be introduced to the healing properties of Yoga.”

The Project is a pragmatic expansion of the studio’s teacher training program. “We’ve been training these incredible teachers and it felt like an obvious path for them to gain experience and serve,” Claire explains.

Shannon Baker, a Yoga teacher, bodyworker and peer counselor speaks on her experience teaching former victims of human trafficking, “As a Yoga practitioner and teacher in a studio, it’s easy to get caught up in the more esoteric aspects of the practice. However, when I’m working with these women, there’s no talk about philosophy – by just putting them into the poses, I watch as the practice does the work.”

For more information or for teachers to sign up, check out the project page on Facebook or visit: www.risinglotussevaproject.org.

Doug Corbett

Doug has had a long and varied career in the magazine business in sales, marketing, editorial, and printing. As one of the original partners of Healing Retreats & Spas magazine Doug experienced publishing in the mind, body, and spirit space and has never looked back. 
In 2003 he dove headlong into the online space with the wellness website and e-commerce store Find Bliss based on the concepts he developed at Healing Retreats & Spas. He joined forces with Felicia Tomasko in 2011 to create the Bliss Network with the merger of Find Bliss, LA Yoga Magazine and Bliss Kit.

The post Rising Lotus Seva Project appeared first on LA Yoga Magazine - Ayurveda & Health.

Often we hear the term becoming more “present.” What does it mean? To become more present is to become more conscious in our bodies, to release daydreaming and simply exist in the moment without moving into the future or the past. To be present is to connect to the breath, the through line of every art, every method.

If our intention in life is health first, then everything we eat, think, do, absorb and practice supports this core intention. When we are healthy, our life purpose becomes clear; we know why we are on the planet. If our thoughts are aligned with our identity and our purpose, then we are empowered. If our thoughts are not in alignment with our identity and purpose, then energy will be stolen from us, drained away. The beauty of the Taoist techniques is that they are very practical and simply concerned with energy cultivation – all the time.

Photo: Adam Latham

Five Categories of Taoist Meditation

Instead of drawing ourselves into meditation, why not draw meditation into our daily activities? The Taoist approach to meditation creates mindfulness of the sacred nature of life. This approach is organized into five categories, which reflect the natural rhythms of life: lying, sitting, standing, moving and lovemaking.

Each of these practices is perishable: we are only as skilled as our last practice. The cultivation of energy must be continuous: eating colorful food, breathing clean air, connecting to others and knowing what we all draw in and consume is nothing less than the totality of the world around us.

Lying-Down or Supine Meditation

We spend a third of our lives lying down: before sleeping, then entering into sleep, so this meditation brings a part of our lives that is usually unconscious into consciousness. This can be particularly beneficial when we don’t feel rested, even after eight hours of sleep. It is entirely possible to feel more aligned and rested after lying meditation than after a full sleep. And to be present and experience this meditation is to sense the horizon between states of awareness, before the mind brings the world back into consciousness. This is a powerful meditation.

In lying meditation you are in a receptive position that is effective for creating calm. In lying meditation you release action, movement and striving – you simply exist, the body goes into a restorative state. This is a good way to absorb the practice and carry the wisdom into your bones.

This state of non-doing is often mentioned in the I Ching: Book of Changes, an ancient Chinese book of divination.

An aesthetically pleasing and tranquil environment can have a potent effect, producing a sense of deep, abiding calm and tranquility. Chimes, waterfalls, light, space, smells of incense or calming scents like belladonna, lavender or camomile can entice us into relaxation.

Photo: Adam Latham

Sitting Meditation

Sitting meditation is the middle path, the way the Buddha spoke of balance between sensual indulgence and self-mortification or deprivation. Sitting requires more energy than lying down, yet not as much as standing. You need strength to support your back in an erect position that allows your prana, chi or qi (life energy) to flow freely.

Asana in Sanskrit literally means ‘seat’ or ‘sitting down.’ In yoga, when we place our body in asana, we take on a shape. Physical shapes create the muscle memory of potential and conscious awareness. A position in which we are seated upright brings us to wakefulness, allowing conscious breathing and awareness.

Sitting with the legs crossed and hips externally rotated is the classic form of sitting we are familiar with seeing. But meditation can also be brought into other sitting positions: kneeling, in a chair, on a cushion or bench, upright in your car, on an airplane, in the dentist’s chair, on a park bench, at dinner, on the computer, at work or lunch. Any sitting position can be a potentially mind-altering experience. Simply taking a physical and mental shape is a very powerful meditation.

If you haven’t created the luxury of time to sit and meditate daily, look at your life. If you don’t have five minutes a day, then reconsider your life. Why are you so busy? What are you running to or away from? There is a quote by the Sufi poet Hafiz of Shiraz, “The ship you are riding on. Look where it is heading. Your body’s port is the graveyard.” Death can be a skillful teacher; living with an awareness of death allows us to embrace life more fully. Sitting meditation allows us to remain poised between extremes, to balance, to observe the subtleties of prana.

Standing Meditation

If each meditative state is an archetype, then lying down is the healer, sitting the middle bridge, and standing the warrior, scout or sentry.

In standing meditation, we are strong, aware and patient, supporting ourselves in the world. The bolster doesn’t support us. The floor doesn’t support us. Standing is what the warrior does in the vision quest, developing power grounded in the Earth. There is a Taoist expression, “Man stands between heaven and Earth.” If you’re standing in a natural position with feet parallel and hip-distance apart, knees unlocked, back full, chest soft and released, crown of the head lifted to the sky, breathing from the belly – it supports your ability to both cultivate strength and release tension. Standing meditation has a long tradition in both classical yoga and the external and internal martial arts. In yoga, this is tadasana, the mountain pose.

Standing meditation is most effective just before dawn, before the world is awake or at last light as the sun sets. In Chinese medicine, this predawn time of 3:00 A.M. to 5:00 A.M. is the lung time, because this is when the energy pathways to the lungs are most receptive. The lungs take in breath and life, opening us to new experiences. In Ayurveda, these hours of darkness represent the vata (air and ether/space elements) time of day, characterized by a sense of expansiveness. Predawn is ideal for cultivating energy because there is less interference from traffic, radio waves, ambient noise and children.

The Practice of Standing Meditation

Stand on a natural surface, preferably barefoot. To absorb the Earth’s energy, stand outdoors on the Earth herself, or a wood floor or natural fiber rug rather than a yoga mat for this practice, since rubber is not conducive to transmitting the Earth’s energy. The life force prana or chi is similar to electricity. An electrician wraps tools in rubber to protect them from a current, so look at how you are insulated in those moments of standing meditation when you need to remain open and receptive to the flow of energy from the earth. Five to twenty minutes of standing meditation allows time to connect to the Earth and draw energy from her bounty.

The great Tai Chi master, Chang Man Ching once said, “Tap the Earth’s strength and swallow Heaven’s chi, preserve life through softness.” This saying embodies the essence of standing meditation.

Moving Meditation

Moving meditation is the meditation of action. The archetype of the warrior takes on new meaning here, in motion, with an open heart. In a moving meditation our footsteps leave an impression on the Earth, symbolic of the impact of all our actions. Whether we touch the world with peace and openness or leave a scar depends on our ability to be present and on the quality of our meditation. Presence can be used either constructively or destructively. Dictators can be present and do a lot of damage, so it is not just about being present, but being aligned with the creative forces, developing patience and strength rather than aggression. To cultivate a positive presence, we must release the past and the future, aligning our intent with both our breath and our actions.

In moving meditation practice, we shift our focus from internal to external points of reference. To move effectively, we must retain our connection to the Earth. To move is to dance with gravity.

Walking is a simple moving meditation. While walking, you can measure each inhalation and exhalation until your breath is even with your steps. To do so, notice how many footsteps comprise an inhale, then an exhale. In this way, you link breath, awareness and movement.

Other moving meditations include: walking with a partner, pushing a stroller, holding a child’s hand, walking a dog, practicing yoga asana, qigong, tai chi, martial arts, slow dance or even sports.

Recruit your senses, one by one: feel the Earth, let your eyes soften so that you can see what is around you and allow light to come to you, notice smells. Listen to faint melodies and let the air caress your skin. If your mind wanders, return to the rise and fall of the breath. Use the gateways of the senses to transform movement into meditation.

Movement is complex. It unites muscle, intention and breath in alignment. Our consciousness expands to fill up the tiniest moment.

Lovemaking Meditation

The fifth category of Taoist meditation is lovemaking; this is also a practice of the Tantric path. Lovemaking meditation is focused on cultivating consciousness and respect. According to Taoist philosophy, jing is a precious yin substance similar to ojas (basic strength and immunity), not to be released without respect. Every time a man loses semen he loses sacred jing. Tantric techniques create the environment for this energy to be absorbed or reabsorbed. This initiates the heightened experience, radiance and strength without a corresponding loss of energy. These techniques can become complex as the man learns specific breath techniques to facilitate the absorption of female energy and gift her with yang or masculine energy. In this way sexual alchemy becomes a conscious act of meditation that can be beneficial for health.

Lovemaking moves us from duality to integration, from external to internal with breath as the link. The act of consciously making love creates the living entity of the relationship itself within the partnership. The energy of our most intimate experience with another person becomes a link to the sacred, a way we can bring the divine into the world.

Meditate and Live

In some ways, all meditation concerns the release of duality, or moving from non-presence to presence. As meditators, we are continually looking for awareness, releasing grasping and attachment to objects and everything that separates us from truth. All of life’s positions can become meditation, in the Taoist view. The rhythms of our routines, both active and in periods of rest are opportunities to cultivate meditation in every moment. With this commitment, with health, comes the awareness of how to live a more creative, aware and meaningful life.

Matthew Raymond Cohen teaches his signature Sacred Energy Arts method at Sacred Energy Arts in Santa Monica, California, and at workshops and trainings worldwide. He wrote about these practices just before leaving on a teaching pilgrimage to China.

http://www.SacredEnergyArts.com

By Matthew Raymond Cohen

Doug Corbett

Doug has had a long and varied career in the magazine business in sales, marketing, editorial, and printing. As one of the original partners of Healing Retreats & Spas magazine Doug experienced publishing in the mind, body, and spirit space and has never looked back. 
In 2003 he dove headlong into the online space with the wellness website and e-commerce store Find Bliss based on the concepts he developed at Healing Retreats & Spas. He joined forces with Felicia Tomasko in 2011 to create the Bliss Network with the merger of Find Bliss, LA Yoga Magazine and Bliss Kit.

The post 5 Categories of Taoist Yoga Meditation appeared first on LA Yoga Magazine - Ayurveda & Health.

Q: I am a 32-year-old woman with a predominately pitta (fire element) constitution. My health is good, but I have a continuous problem with acne all over my body. I limit pitta-provoking foods and take aloe vera juice every day. What else can I do to clear up my skin?

Dr. Ram Tamang

A: According to Ayurveda acne is known as yauvana pidaka or mukahadushika. Although acne is caused by the vitiation of all the doshas (elements), pitta (fire element) aggravation is the predominant cause. The aggravated dosha circulating in the bloodstream pollutes it and creates acne pustules under the skin.

Likely Causes

Many factors contribute to these flare-ups, including: hard to digest foods such as red meat, eggs and dairy; emotional issues; a polluted environment; exposure to chemicals; bacterial infections; too much sunlight; excessive use of stimulants; unsatisfactory bowel elimination and premenstrual syndrome (PMS) in women. These factors can interfere with digestion, leading to mandagni (poor digestive metabolic fire) and aggravation of pitta dosha.

Home Remedies

• Mix equal amounts of cumin, coriander and fennel seeds. Brew tea with one cup of water and one-half teaspoon of the seed mixture. Drink this tea three times a day after meals for two weeks.
• Rub some fresh melon on the skin at bedtime, and leave it on overnight.
• Make tea with one-half teaspoon of amalaki powder (Indian gooseberry) and drink it two to three times a day.
• Make a paste of methi (fenugreek) powder and rosewater and apply to skin.
• Make a paste with a 2:1 ratio of aromatic turmeric and sandalwood and apply on the face and affected area. When dry, rinse.

Ayurvedic Recommendation

Panchakarma: Highly personalized Ayur-vedic detoxification process under the guidance of qualified Ayurvedic physician or practitioner, who can assess the type of acne and your body constitution.

Yoga

• Simhasana (lion pose).
• Chandranamaskar (moon salutation) to cool the mind-body.
• Left nostril breathing (cooling) for 5 to 10 minutes.

Q: I am a 34-year-old man and recently started practicing yoga. Will steady, dedicated practice of yoga (I’m going to class three times a week) help me with some health concerns, specifically depression and anxiety?

A: A steady and regular practice of yoga that is appropriate for your mind/body constitution can be beneficial for many health issues including depression and anxiety. A pilot study investigating brain scans showed a healthy boost in levels of the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) immediately after a one-hour yoga session. [See citation at end of article]. Low brain levels of GABA are associated with anxiety and depression.

According to yoga and Ayurveda, symptoms of depression and anxiety can be triggered by physical and mental stress. Yoga is shown to help reduce stress, create a peaceful state of mind and promote a positive outlook on life, which are great weapons for fighting depression and anxiety. Yoga asana (postures), controlled breathing, meditation and Ayurvedic lifestyle recommendations work together to help ease the mind that is plagued by anxiety and depression. Controlled breathing helps to focus the mind and to achieve relaxation, while meditation helps to calm the mind.

• Asana: maintains a healthy nervous system,
• Pranayama: to increase self-awareness and acquire a more peaceful state of mind.
• Meditation: for a stronger concentration and focus of the mind that can help in overcoming anxiety.

Yoga and Ayurveda developed together. Ayurveda is the science of healing the body and mind. Yoga is the science of self-realization and depends upon a well-functioning body and mind.

Note: Learn an appropriate and personalized practice from a qualified yoga and Ayurvedic practitioner. Together they will be much more effective in overcoming depression and anxiety than either one alone.

Q: I am a 50-year-old woman in good health. I had my first colonoscopy recently, and they did not find anything unusual. But ever since I have had a fever blister on my lip and my digestion hasn’t felt right. Is there anything Ayurvedic I can do?

A: With limited information, it is hard for me to assess your condition. However, according to Ayurveda, you have jeerna jwaram (pyrexia of unknown origin), a sign of ama (toxins) in the circulatory system, due to poor digestive or metabolic fire. Any invasive procedure can bring about a change in the digestive metabolic fire leading to indigestion and formation of ama (toxins). This leads to toxicity of the rasa dhatu (the body’s basic vital tissue or plasma), aggravating inflammation and leading to fever.

Home Remedies

• Put a handful of cilantro leaves in a blender and add ½ cup water and blend thoroughly. Strain the pulp. Take two teaspoons of the remaining liquid three times a day.
• Mix equal amounts of tulsi (holy basil), lemongrass and fennel. Take one teaspoon of the mixture and brew into a tea using one cup of water. Drink two to three times a day for seven to ten days.
• Soak one teaspoon of fenugreek seeds in a glass of water for a couple of hours, and drink that water two to three times a day.
• Apply aloe vera gel on the blisters.
• Clean and wash the blisters with triphala water.

Ayurvedic Therapies

Some people are very sensitive to anesthesia so the best is to cleanse the body of its after-effects. Panchakarma (Ayurvedic detoxification) under the guidance of an Ayurvedic physician or practitioner is recommended to cleanse and strengthen the body’s immunity.

Yoga

• Vajrasana (diamond pose)
• Paschimottasana (seated forward bend)
• Trikonasana (triangle pose)

Before using any of the above Ayurvedic remedies, consult with a qualified Ayurvedic practitioner or healthcare provider. The information given here represents the opinions and recommendations of the author and does not necessarily reflect the views of LA YOGA Ayurveda and Health magazine.

Dr. Ram Tamang B.A.M.S. is a licensed Physician in India and Nepal and is the Director of Panchakarma at The Healing Gardens based in Costa Mesa and West Hollywood, CA.http://www.thehealingardens.com

By Dr. Ram Tamang

Doug Corbett

Doug has had a long and varied career in the magazine business in sales, marketing, editorial, and printing. As one of the original partners of Healing Retreats & Spas magazine Doug experienced publishing in the mind, body, and spirit space and has never looked back. 
In 2003 he dove headlong into the online space with the wellness website and e-commerce store Find Bliss based on the concepts he developed at Healing Retreats & Spas. He joined forces with Felicia Tomasko in 2011 to create the Bliss Network with the merger of Find Bliss, LA Yoga Magazine and Bliss Kit.

The post Ayurveda Q & A appeared first on LA Yoga Magazine - Ayurveda & Health.