Que RIca

The coast of delicious goodness is another way of saying Costa Rica. The teacher training has been incredible but words cannot describe it so I figured some pictures would suffice.

Begin Again

One of the greatest teaching of the most simple sound of Om is that each moment is new. It is Pranavah, that which is always renewed. It is giving us an idea on how we might want to live, in a state of fresh, vibrant, creative and renewing energy. I find that in order for that to happen in my own life I have to be willing to question some of the most fundamental aspects of my being, my habits, desires, goals etc. This can be very difficult because it often means that I have to find the things I see so often, I cannot see them any more. I have to confront what has become "me". Some things serve me and some do not. Some allow me to grow as a person and some cause stagnation. Halasana is usually translated as plough pose. However hala can also be poison. Halasana can be called poison releasing pose. For the yogi the poison is stagnation. Just as the plough removes the stagnation from the soil so that new growth can come, the yogi focuses on removing the stagnation from their ways of being. This can be tricky, even the practices of yoga can reinforce the same tendencies we are trying to move past. There are a few things that can help with this removal of stagnation that we will get into over the next few months such as integration of practices into daily life, being with a teacher, veganism, being a spiritual activist and more.

Peace Love and Vegetables...

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...

Break Dancing

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

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

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.

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.

Peace, Love and Vegetables