Sunday, December 11, 2011

Korea...



I spent the last week I spent teaching in South Korea. I think this is about my 8th trip to Korea. One of my favorite things about being in Korea is the food...here are some fun pictures of it. The first two are made from acorn and the last is a bibimbop...

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Break Dancing

My brother just finished a video with his friends...not only is it shot very well but all edited incredibly.


Thursday, November 17, 2011

Om Shanti South America

Incredible classes and people on this trip. A few places that you should check out if you are planning a trip to South America

In Bogota, Colombia please visit Yoga Studio Colombia. It is a great spot with Jivamukti and Anusara classes and many more. Food was a bit difficult when we ate out but did find one fun place Quinua y Amaranto. Although not all the way vegan it was easy enough to order and they have a preset lunch menu which made it easy to choose.

Sao Paulo was next on the list and I had so much fun walking around and looking at all the graffiti. Although it was expensive in general I found some great food. My favorite was a tie between a place called Maha Mantra and Vegacy. Maha Mantra was buffet style (which is very popular in Sao Paulo) which had Indian style food for the most part and again although not totally vegan the options were great not too mention the fact that the most friendly people in all of Sao Paulo work there...not kidding. Vegacy as the name implies was a total vegan spot and had many traditional food items with a vegan twist. It was so good I went back twice and even got some food to take on the plane. I taught at a yoga studio called Yoga Flow which had a beautiful space.

Stop number three was Buenos Aires, Argentina. Eating out did not happen as I stayed with an incredible family and they cooked a decent amount and I did as well. Days I spent teaching at a lovely studio called Kaladanda. Owned by a Jivamukti teacher the feeling of the space is great. The students (although few) were so inspirational and excited about Jivamukti Yoga. The nights were late, there is nothing like a party in Buenos Aires...

Finally Lima, Peru. I am not done with my trip in Lima yet still have one more class to go. But so far its great. This whole trip would not be possible without Ximena Savitch. A Peruvian Jivamukti teacher based in NY. She set everything up including the place we are staying at now...her parents house. Never had so much fun with someone else's parents. Been eating so much, the food is cheap and there are so many veggy spots I dont know what to do with myself. The ones I really enjoyed do not have websites, they are a little bit ghetto but some of thebest food I have ever had. All of them in Mira Flores. Class tomorrow at Lima Yoga. Come by if you are around...

Peace, Love and Vegetables

Monday, November 14, 2011

Hip Hop Asana at the Yoga Journal Conference NYC 2012

Hip Hop Asana is making an appearance for the first time ever at a Yoga Journal Conference and needs your support. Sat April 14th, all proceeds will be donated to the Andrew Glover Youth Program which provides legal services to youth from the Lower East Side and Harlem. Please come ou and support.

Sunday, November 6, 2011

Walking in Sao Paulo

Spent the day walking around Sao Paulo and saw so amazing graffiti. Looks like NY is slipping. Not only was there art all over the street but we ran into some fellow vegans out on the street giving out information. That was great as I needed some for my class tomorrow. So of the pictures might be a bit blurry. But still pretty amazing.

YouTube Video
















Peace, Love and Vegetables

Saturday, November 5, 2011

Driving Through Bogota
















Peace, Love and Vegetables

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Morning Walk

Just behind the the apartment we I am staying in is the top of a mountain. Bogota is built about 2625 meters or 8612 feet above sea level. It took a bit of time to adjust to the altitude but once I did it was great. Below are some pictures from my morning walk.















Peace, Love and Vegetables

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Bogota Streets

Below are some pics from walking around Bogota today.














Peace, Love and Vegetables

Colombia and beyond...

Yesterday I started a tour of South America, 5 countries in about 3 1/2 weeks. It is a fun time to be teaching Jivamukti...the focus of the month is Brahmacharya and Veganism. When I travel I try not to teach too many workshops. I can only take so many backbending or inversion or standing workshops and I am sure others feel the same. I prefer to teach Open and Basic classes when I am on the road which means I have to teach the focus of the month. This can make it more accessible for different ages and levels. However it can be challenging. The focus of the month is usually a bit more intense then most people are use to. Especially when the focus is similar to this months. One of the benefits for myself, teaching an open class with a challenging focus in an area I have never been to and may only know a few people, is that I must find creative ways to grow and be comfortable in what may not be a very comfortable situation. Everywhere I go people seem to think their community or culture is very different from the rest of the world. In some obvious ways they are correct but for the most part we live in a world culture. "Jules you dont understand my family going back many generations has been eating meat, we barbecue we have large family dinners with a roast, my mom always made me chicken soup." Guess what? that is pretty much the same everywhere especially in affluent countries. According to the USDA, America is the largest beef producer and the second largest beef exporter (although wikipedia says it is Brazil, then Argentina both countries I will be teaching in). Americans are no stranger to a meat based culture, and being an American with Latin roots I am definitely no stranger. People always assume I have been vegan forever, since birth, that somehow I have it easy. Not true. I became vegetarian when I was 18 and vegan when I was 19. I have an aunt and uncle who have been vegan for many years. They were never shy about the issue and it always made me a bit uncomfortable. I resisted it for many years and it was not until I was in my last year of high school that I met someone who really motivated me to become vegetarian. He was incredible smart, a graffiti artist and very much loved being a counter culture type of person. I was drawn to the fact that his food choices did not make him a "not cool" person. That he was able to hang out, go to parties and not feel like he had to convert or argue the food issue. It allowed me to drop my psychic barriers and go a bit deeper and investigate vegetarianism on my own. I needed someone who was not going to hit me in the face with the message. Some people need that but I did not. What I needed was someone who was willing to be an example, have the info and hold the space for me to ask questions and explore. Of course my aunt and uncle had been doing it the whole time but I was not able to see them as cool until a bit later. I try to infuse that feeling of holding a safe space, whenever I am teaching. Bringing a sense of where I have come from, what my community and culture is like and how it is the same as the one I am in. Find some common ground and from there gain the trust that is necessary to broach the sensitive subjects in a short period of time. That comes from strong and intelligent sequencing (some humor always helps). The practices of asana, meditation and chanting all help to build that strong bind that will allow us to be a spokes person for the animal without being ashamed or afraid or feeling like our story is too different from other stories. Let our lights shine so that others have the confidence to do the same...brahmacharya-pratishthayam virya-labhah (PYS II.38)
When one does not misuse sexual energy, one obtains enduring vitality resulting in good health.

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Hip Hop Asana at the Yoga Journal Conference NYC 2012


I am very excited to be leading two classes during the main part of the conference in April 2012. One of the classes I will be teaching is of course Hip Hop Asana. The class will also double as a fundraiser for The Andrew Glover Youth Program (AGYP) in the Lower East Side. It is a probation program that I use to attend and played a fundamental role in who I am today by keeping me out of jail. All the money that I make for the class will be donated directly to AGYP and there will also be a chance for people to donate at the conference or through Yoga Journals website. The money will be used to provide legal counsel for young adults unable to pay for it themselves. All the music for the class will be played by an incredible DJ Derek Beres of EarthRise Sound System. The warm up of the class will be a Hip Hop dance led by Alex Febre my brother...it is going to be crazy... In order to get people excited about this class I will be shooting a video Saturday on what is HHA. Please check in over the next few weeks to see what going on...


Celebrate Living Retreat

20th Year that this amazing event is happening at Ananda Ashram in Monroe NY. Teaching it with Julies Kirpatrick who is also my mom...awwww....daily sanskrit, asana delicious vegan meals and nightly vedic fire ceremonies. For more information please call Jivamukti at 212.353.0214 or visit www.jivamuktiyoga.com or check it out on

FB http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=278983798780962

Saturday, October 22, 2011

Jivamukti Global Satsang

Tonight is the last night here at the Jivamukti Global Satsang / World Peace Conference. It has been such a great time. Today I had the joy of listening to two incredible beings Gabriel Cousens and Will Tuttle. After a tasty vegan feast for dinner Chloe Jo Davis and Alexandra Jamieson gave a beautiful talk on finding love in our communities. They were followed up by the one and only Julia Butterfly Hill. Author, activist and world changer if you are not sure who she is please visit www.circleoflife.org The evening would not be complete without some chanting and we had some of the best. First up was a group called The Jais. Started by Rama himself Jeffrey Cohen. Next up was Donna Delory who's voice is so crystal clear. This is a one of a kind conference.

YouTube Video

Peace, Love and Vegetables

Friday, October 21, 2011

Global Satsang Day 2

Days keep on getting better here in Loveland, Ohio. Took a morning practice with Jeffrey Cohen and then a class with Doug Swenson. In the evening was the incredible Trevor Hall signing in the video. Tomorrow early morning shakti-pat with Shanti and Gabriel Cousens before a plenary with Chloe Jo Davis and Alexandra Jamieson two of the hottest vegans I know. Please check out their blog girliegirlarmy.com

YouTube Video


Thursday, October 20, 2011

Jivamukti Global Satsang Day 1

Flew in this evening just in time to see David Newman. And another great thing is that Jeffrey Cohen sings at night.

YouTube Video


YouTube Video


Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Giving Thanks

On my way back from Japan a few weeks ago i had a very rough trip. I was awake for the better part of the 60 hours it took to get home after having missed two trains and two flights. I found myself getting more and more frustrated, tired and sick of travelling. The plane i was on could not land at Newark and so we circled for so long we ran out of fuel. The pilot announced we would have to stop in Toronto to re-fuel. As we were on the tarmac I felt the frustration slowly subside. What did I really have to be upset about. I spend the majority of my time flying around the world meeting the most incredible people. Being part of the Jivamukti Global Satsang, helping communities to grow and growing myself. Although it took me a long time to get home it was much faster than it would have been just 50 years ago or 100 years ago. At least I did not have to take a boat...I was upset as I flew hundreds of miles per hour through the sky as I sat on my butt. We all have so much to be thankful for but we forget as so many extraordinary things have become common place. It is a strong and powerful not to mention humbling practice to give thanks every day...what are you thankful for today?


Peace, Love and Vegetables

Saturday, October 8, 2011

With That Moon Language



Admit something:

Everyone you see, you say to them, "Love me."

Of course you do not do this out loud, otherwise someone would call the cops.

Still, though, think about this, this great pull in us to connect.

Why not become the one who lives with a full moon in each eye

that is always saying,

with that sweet moon language,

what every other eye in this world is dying to hear?

-Hafiz

Translated by Daniel Landinsky from the book Love Poems From God.

Peace, Love and Vegetables

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Yoga Means You Do It

I have been in the beautiful Philippines for the past few days. Comprised of over 7,000 islands and home to many different ethnic groups and non-human animal species, the Philippines is a beautiful place. I am currently on an small island called Boracay south of Manila. I flew in via a small plane into another island called Caticlan. From there you take what is called a pump boat another 10 minutes to Boracay. The sight of approaching an island is incredible but this one especially. Sheer cliffs on one side and a huge palm tree lined beach on the other. On the ride over i noticed many signs that said please keep Boracay clean.
I did not grow up with much access to the beach so i was excited to spend some time there. The water so blue and warm it was as if from a movie. As i walked down the beach i began to notice small pieces of trash, just a few at first but the more i started to look the more i saw it. Everywhere there was steyrafoam, plactic cups, candy wrappers and empty tissue packages. As I was noticing this i was chanting something you may have heard in a Jivamukti class before, Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu and planning out my class for later in the day. I started to think that I would speak to my host about how he should organize a day trip of students to the beach to do some karma yoga and clean for an hour or so. I was thinking about how it would be beautiful to host a retreat here focused on environmental accountability and each day some time would go to, hiking, plant identification and cleaning up the beach.
All these things were going through my mind, how some other people at some other time should go come to where I already was to make a difference; all the while i was chanting. It took a little a while but i finally understood that there were no others and no other time just me and now. How rediculous was it that i would project this onto someone else. I started immediately to pick uo the garbage that i walked by. I was carrying my back-pack which had two pockets on either side for water bottles. I started filling them up. It did not take long, a few steps and they were already full. I would also need to empty my bag so that i cpuld it fill again. Emptying the contents of my pack was the strangest part. People saw me throwing away the strangest and most decrepit things.
I first i felt very self conscious. What were the people thinking when they saw me, did they think i was collecting garbage? Did they think i was crazy or poor or both? It did not take long for that to turn into judgement. Philippinos walked by me asking to take me on a sail boat or a jet ski or zip line as they watched me picking up the garbage that littered the beach on the island they called home. Then of course were the tourist, most of them westerners sprinkled with people from other asian countries many koreans and japanese. Lying on their backs drinking cocktails and smoking cigarettes. I saw them watch me or try not to watch me as perhaps i was picking up something they had walked by or just thrown down themselves.
I was not picking it up for them but for mother nature, for the fish in the sea and the small amount of life left on the beach in the form of crabs or birds. All i could think about was how many fish die from eating plastic. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is a mass of plastic and toxic sludge in the Pacific Gyre that is about twice the size of Texas (that is huge) and ranging from a few inches to a few feet deep. The Pacific Gyres (please look it up) western most side is very close to the Philippines. I would look from the signs not to litter and then back to the shore with all the garbage and was perplexed. We do need to stop littering but what we also need is to find ways to deal with the devastation we have already caused.
After a while of feeling frustrated and ashamed to be a human being I realzied i was still chanting. I realized that of course if people really knew how much harm they were doing they would at least think twice before polluting the earth. I thought about what the chant really meant, that all beings regardless of what they do are trying to find happiness, but that their view is focused on the happiness of an individual seperate from the rest of the world. The more i contemplated this the more i saw that i needed to be patient with myself and those around me. We are all doing the best that we can. May my thoughts words and actions contribute in some small and humble way to happiness and wellbeing for all.
I was not able to collect all the garbage (although i am going back today) nor did anyone really seem inspired by what i did; but i was. The beach and the world as a whole is in a state of decline but not because of me, i choose to let my actions come from a place of wanting happiness but not just for me but for as many as possible, even if that means i have spend my two days off picking up trash. Who knows maybe those that saw me or will see me will think about all the garbage they are walking by and choose not to ignore it but instead to take an active part in the world for the happiness of all.


Peace, Love and Vegetables

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Yoga in Tompkins Square

This tuesday marked another day of Jivamukti in the Park. This months focus at Jivamukti is Living Wild...hard to find many wild places as we think of them...trees, animals (not just squirrels and pigeons) and some varied plant life. Sharon Gannon's essay starts of with the following passage.." Tompkins Square Park is near where I live on 7th Street in the Lower East Side of NYC. In the middle of the park there is the famous tree where, in the 1960's after arriving in the United States, Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada first chanted the Hare Krishna mantra. Lots of pigeons and other smaller birds often can be seen gathering together around the base of that tree, sometimes several hundred. One day as I was walking toward the tree, I saw many birds walking and quietly pecking at the ground. A group of three or four children came rushing by me towards the birds, screaming and laughing. They ran at full tilt, right into the peaceful demonstration. Of course, the birds, alarmed and frightened, flew off immediately, circled around overhead and landed again this time in another place not far off. The kids took off towards them with the same intent to disrupt and cause havoc. I turned to see who I assumed were the parents, who giggled and said, "They've been cooped up all day at school how can you blame them for wanting to go wild?"
Is wildness synonymous with the freedom to do what ever you want, to whomever you want, whenever you want? Contrary to popular belief, to be wild is not to be selfish, chaotic and unorganized. If one observes wild beings in a wild environment you will see that orderly co-existence among all is the norm."
So of we planted our mats across from the famous tree Swamiji concecrated and began our practice. You can see the tree in the center background of the bottom picture. One thing was apparent; Wildlife
was not just in the tress and winged creatures around us. In some of the pictures you can see we were surrounded by other people that were not practicing yoga. Some were getting drunk while others were blasting rock music. It was a beautiful chance to put the teaching into practice and try to see all thing as equally deserving of love (in whatever limited expression we could muster). Some people from the park came and joined while others watched.
Yoga in the park been such a hit we are stepping it up next week. Not only will we have yoga in the park but I am trying to get the Herban Caveman Ken King to take us through a plant walk. To share with us some of his vast knowledge on what are the plants we alk by every day. You may be surprised at how much eatable food there is in the parks of NYC. I course I suggest you wash it first...

Saturday, July 23, 2011

Its Hot so why not practice at sunset




NYC is hot getting up to 39 degrees Celsius and humid as a mofo. A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of teaching a class outside for some amazing people. I am exited to announce that I will be teaching a free yoga class every week in a different park. Every Tuesday we will be meeting at a different park. I have no permits, speakers or mics so its guerrilla style yoga take over. We have to keep the classes small so people can hear what is be being said. If you are interested find me on facebook and I will message you the info.

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Yoga With Russell Simmons and Heidi Klum




Uncle Rush was kind enough to extend an invitation to teach a class outside earlier this week with Heidi Klum. Check out the link below



Daily Mail

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Desiderata

Go placidly amid the noise and haste and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly and listen to others even the dull and ignorant, they too have there story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others you may become vain and bitter; For always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is. Many persons strive for high ideals and everywhere life is full of heroism. Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love, for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment, it is perennial as the grass.
Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and stars. You have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the Universe is unfolding as it should.
Therefore be at peace with God whatever you conceive Him to be and whatever your labors and aspirations in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace with your soul. With all it's sham and drudgery and broken dreams it is still a beautiful world.

Be cheerful
Strive to be happy.

written by
Max Ehrmann



Peace, Love and Vegetables

Saturday, March 19, 2011

A long South African tale

The first time I went to South Africa I knew only the basics of the history. Of course I knew of apartheid and of the huge divide between nit only the races but the classes as well. I had the opportunity to visit Capetown and Johannesburg. Although on that first trip it was winter it was still much warmenr than it gets in NYC. So I was able to spend some time on the beach in Camps Bay and to take a beautiful hike up Lions Head, a small mountain that overlooks much of Cape Town and into the Atlantic Ocean. The clouds that day rolling over Table Mountain honor clung the top making me understand why they called it a table cloth.

In Joburg I went with a fellow Jivamukti teacher Sarah Bentz, downtown to find a place called arts on main. We were in the completely the wrong place and never found it. I did find a place to get my hair braided. Although it took some time. Every place we went to was charging way too much for what I wanted. I suspected it was because the person I was with Sarah, was the only white person we had seen in a while.

I was speaking with the woman who braided my hair about where I was from and where she was from. She spoke 3 or 4 languages and was originally from Cameroon. There was a man who kept hovering about but did not say anything. The barber shop was not unlike the ones in the neighborhood I grew up in. A few seats, about half empty and the ones filled got a haircut and an update on the daily gossip. As my conversation subsided I could understand parts of a song that was playing over the radio. It was a christian song and the only words I could hear clearly were Jesus loves me. So I sang along out loud. The man who had been hovering was not excited and he immediately came over and asked me what I know about Jesus. The woman braiding my hair replied that in the United States there are many churches and of course I knew about Jesus. The man seemed intrigued and asked where in the U.S. I was from. I looked over and said New York. He brightened up giving me a big smile and said "New York? What's up my nigga, what's up. I love New York" I could not help but smiling just as big as I responded in kind. He knew about different hip hop artist and wanted to use his knowledge about it to find some common ground. I on the other hand had no real knowledge of South Africa, the music and recent history let alone the music and history of where he was originally from, Nigeria. I knew nothing of the intense violence that had just happened against non-south african blacks or the current political climate. Wen I left the barber shop that day I had a yearning to learn much more about where I had been. It actually set the trend for me that whenever I go somewhere I try to know as much as possible of the people, the culture and the history; either by reading, planning trips to culture heritage spots or if possible taking long walks to just be around local people.

On my way back to the states from South Africa I read the book A long Walk to Freedom, Nelson Mandela's autobiography which was not only incredible but really put into perspective the ways in which America treats it's political dissidents. It lead me to want to know more about Oliver Tambo another leading figure in the movement to end apartheid.

On this trip I had the immense pleasure to work with Africa Yoga Project as I wrote about in the last blog. I left out one of the most amazing experiences though. The very first day we went to Kenyas largest maximum security prison for woman. Many of the woman were HIV positive and were incarcerated for some form of theft. Many were also there with their children. In Kenya if a single woman is incarcerated they children live with them until the age of 5. I am not sure what happens after that age however.

AYP has a bi-weekly yoga class with them but since the group is so large they split it in half with some doing asana and others writing or drawing. Since they already had a yoga teacher and the person who was in charge of the writing was not able to come in made me the person in charge of it. I had one night to figure out what to do. When I worked in the city with young people at a place called The Door it was in conjunction with an amazing woman Ashley Dorr, no relation to the space. she is an art therapist and I was able to pick up a few tricks from her. I also picked up some amazing work ideas from David Life and the work he has done with some students.

We started with writing about a time in life that we had made a decision that we really felt was the right one even though it caused hardship and might have been a difficult to choose. We ended with writing our own obituaries as if we had died many years in the future, writing them as we would want to be remembered, one who fed the poor or became a politician or president or whatever. Afterwards we thought about the different things that were holding us back from becoming that person and then we pulled the car up as close the space were using as we could and blasted some Bob Marley and the whole thing turned into a dance party. It was a beautiful thing.

When I made my way back to SA after the trip to Kenya I really wanted to visit Robben Island to make a further connection. I was staying with another amazing teacher in Muzienburg, Jill King. Her husband is a scientist working on a new tuberculosis vaccine and neither had been to Robben Island before. I taught one class in Cape Town a Chakra Tunning class that people really seemed to enjoy. With only two days left in CT we tried to make it out to Robben Island but it was not possible we got there just a few minutes after the last boat had left the port. I was sad not to be able to make it but we did so many other things in CT that we almost made up for it. I also got to meet many students in CT and Joburg on this trip that were interested in coming to the Jivamukti TT. In fact it looks like a mini SA invasion of the TT will be happening thanks in large part to Cherryl Duncan in Joburg. She is doing amazing things not only for yoga but for the animals as well in SA.

Thank you Cherryl, Jill and everyone else who made this such an amazing trip. I am looking forward to seeing you in TT and if not there maybe on my next trip back.

Peace, Love and Vegetables

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Kenya

I am sitting in a small room with large glass windows looking out on about 75 young Kenyans. I am getting ready to teach Hip Hop Asana in a community center that use to be a cinema. The Sarakasi Dome is home not only to weekly yoga classes with the Africa Yoga Project but to a recording studio (they invited me in to do the drops/intros to a couple djs and rappers), many troops of dancers, an art space and more. The trip in Kenya started 10 days ago in Lakipia, Kenya where I was assisting Sharonji and Davidji at a beautiful retreat at the Center of Origin in the Great Rift Valley. It is truly the center of origin as one of the oldest human remains were found close by. Located on 100,000 acres of land you can look in all directions and see no human settlement. I have never been in a place so wild. I left the retreat a day early to come into Nairobi (6 hour drive) to begin teaching with Paige Elenson and her amazing team at AYP. I was accompanied by Jessica Sjoo and Lisa Cordova and we got right into teaching. The first class had about 73 people in it and was an introduction to Jivamukti although some had taken classes with Sharonji and Davidji when they were in Nairobi last year. After class many of us went to a Hare Krishna spot for lunch. AMAZING!!! Some of the most affordable food in the city and completely vegan!!! People from all walks of life filled the cafeteria style room, from suits to mechanics. Later in the day we accompanied Paige and some AYP teachers into the largest slum in Kenya. At first sight and smell it was one of the saddest places I have ever been. The slum stretched on for miles and there was no end in sight. How could a government that collects taxes let such a place continue I have no idea but it was the sights I had only seen on tv. We were on our way to a school in the middle of the slum to teach some yoga classes. I was thinking this is not what these people need, they need running water and food, they need clothing and better food. One of the teachers came up to Paige as we walked in with a baby they had found in the trash that was extremely sick. Paige immediately left with the teacher and baby to a clinic her friend has founded in the slum. I stayed with the group. As we walked around it became apparent there was something else I could provide besides yoga, laughter. The children were all younger the 10 years old. We ran around and had so much fun that I had to hide to stop the games. The yoga classes were amazing as well. It sounds cliche but you cannot take the happiness away from a child and if you are able to in some way increase that happiness it can be the best nourishment available.

That brings me to today and the Hip Hop Asana class. The group has grown since I started writing, time to go...

Friday, February 25, 2011

On The Road Again

Off to Laikipi Center of Origin in Kenya to assist Sharonji and Davidji. The founder of Laikipiai Nature Conservancy is famed author and wild life protector, Kuki Gallmann, author of I dreamed of Africa. Afterward I will be staying in Nairobi a few days with Paige Elenson and Africa Yoga Project amazing... If you are not familiar with AYP please check out their website www.africayogaproject.org. The founder Paige is not only a Jivamukti teacher but has done numerous trainings and brings teachers and support from all over the world to use the teachings of yoga in Nairobi's urban environment and make it a spiritually and financially viable solution to some of the problems people live with. Next down south to see Cherryl Duncan in Johannesburg before Cape Town. SA All Day is a past posting on here with Cherryl. Actually it is a pretty amazing nude shot in forearm stand which is part of a series to draw attention to the unnecessary use of animal products. Please visit her website www.livingyoga.co.za the pictures on the homepage are yoga fairies in the woods... Holy smokes how can I leave out one of the most exciting happenings. Deva Premal and Miten, Shyam Das along with Sharonji and Davidji will be at Blue Spirit in Costa Rica. This is Omega's new campus in Costa Rica and although I have not been I was with a friend in Beirut who said it was amazing. I will be tagging along on that adventure as well assisting before I head out to Japan with LADY RUTH!!!! Thats right JAPANESE JIVAMUKTI IMMERSION WITH LADY RUTH AND JULES FEBRE. GETTING OUR SIDDHIS UP...

peace

peace

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Michael Franti in KY

I took this at a Michael Franti concert Ocotber 2010. Had was in Kentucky as I was teaching in Loveland Ohio at the World Peace Yoga Jubilee/ Jivamukti Satsang. So I snuck out with MC Yogi and Amanda and we went to this. This show he was on fire and playing from his new album the Sound of Sunshine as well as some classics. If you do not know him please check out his music it is becoming a lot more mainstream which is an amazing thing. The we have him in the spotlight the better. He also have a great documentary called "I know I am not alone" very moving about the healing power of music and communication as he travels to Iraq, Israel, and Palestine. This clip is a bit short and not great quality but you can hear him pretty well.



Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Something a bit different

I have been in NYC for about a week now and it feels great to be able to practice at Jivamukti whenever I want and I do not have to teach. I was catching up with a friend who has been practicing at Jivamukti for many years and she said she was reading about my travels via my blog. I replied that you must not know very much as I am the worst when it comes to linear blogging, she agreed adding that I mostly talk write about vegan findings at airports. Taking a picture of a snowman chilling on the park bench in Thompkin Square, on my way back from a yoga class, I found a bunch of pictures that I had forgotten about featuring some other great beings. Here is the first one. It is actually from maybe 2 yrs ago in Berlin with the amazing Andreas.




ॐ शांति
As I was writing this out I noticed a "type in Hindi option" in my tool bar...When did that get there?

Monday, February 7, 2011

Prague again!!!

Just finished teaching at the amazing Prague Spirit Festival. Put on by a beautiful Jivamukti teacher Martina Prochazkova based here in Prague. Dance, music and yoga... Tomorrow off to Beirut to hang with the amazing Rima Rabbath and Danielle Abisaab. About to get my habibi on...


Peace, Love and Vegetables

Thursday, January 27, 2011

NYC

Early this morning started the 8th largest winter storm in NYC history. It snowed yesterday as well and I was worried that they might close the NYC public schools. I had made an appointment to teach a yoga class to 6th graders at P.S. 161. Located on 133rd on the west side I was invited by a woman I had met at the Jivamukti Cafe; Lindsay Brown. She is a music teacher and she was able to clear most of the floor space in the room an we got pretty much straight to business. Lindsay's relationship with the class allowed for a very fun and fast paced experience. It did not feel like 50min at all. We were able to go over some asanas (down dog, warrior 1, warrior 2, mountain) sing om...we did it loud (really loud), quiet and in the middle. Even a few moments silence at the end.

I wished i had taken some pictures.

Thank you to Lindsay, all of the young folks from the wed music class at 161 and my mom who was also a public school teacher.

PEACE, LOVE & VEGTABLES