NY Yoga + Life Magazine Fall 2015

FALL 2015 // COMPLIMENTARY

INSPIRATION

ECO FRIENDLY | PVC FREE | INSPIRING

spiritualrevolutionyoga.com Mat: Urban Liquid Artist: DorĂŠ Vorum

REVOLUTIONIZING

YOGA MATS

WITH ART TO MAKE YOUR SPIRIT SHINE Our eco-loving yoga mats use natural tree rubber and a luxurious, ultra-absorbent suede cloth top with water-based inks so you can feel good about our products.

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World-Class Teachers Yoga and Fitness Wellness Relax & Pamper Nutrition Seva Missions Cultural Hiking Climbing Biking Sailing Surfing Stand Up Paddle Skiing/Boarding Golfing Fishing Personal Transformation Healing or Therapeutic Solo Travelers Couples Families Groups Corporate Photo: Mexican Pacific, Reallifephotographs.com

email:

info@goyoadventures.com | web: www.goyoadventures.com

LIVING IN YOGA IS LIVING IN HARMONY WITH EACH OTHER, WITH YOURSELF, WITH MOTHER NATURE, AND WITH THE UNKNOWN. PEOPLE OF ALL WALKS OF LIFE HAVE SOMETHING TO GIVE, LEARN, AND SHARE. NOW, MORE THAN EVER, PEOPLE WANT A HUMAN CONNECTION, A PERSON, AN IDEA, AND A PLACE THEY CONNECT WITH. — JULI RATHKE, FOUNDER YOGA + LIFE MAGAZINES

PUBLISHER /FOUNDER Juli Rathke

NEW YORK EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Iana Velez

NATIONAL CREATIVE DIRECTOR Sami Lea Lipman

NEW YORK ART DIRECTOR Iana Velez

ASSISTANT FEATURES EDITOR Ko Im

FOOD EDITOR Justine Ma

COMMUNICATIONS Emily Steingart

ADVERTISING & SALES Jennifer Derham Heather Snyder Annie Fisc

SUBSCRIPTIONS Please visit us at www.nyyogalifemag.com for a list of locations or to order a magazine online.

ADVERTISING INQUIRIES Contact our corporate office or request a media kit: www.nyyogalifemag.com NY Regional Sales: ianavelez@nyyogalifemag.com National Sales Office: 815.414.YOGA

FEATURES If you would like us to consider featuring your business, event, or contributing content please contact Iana Velez at ianavelez@nyyogalifemag.com

OPPORTUNITIES Please contact our publishing office to inquire about adding new regions and titles to our network of lifestyle magazines.

The paper content of this publication has been certifiably reforested via PrintReleaf – the world’s first platform to

yogalifemagazines.com | 815.414.YOGA (9642) Email: juli@yogalifemagazines.com

measure paper consumption and automate reforestation across a global network of reforestation projects.

LEARN MORE AT PRINTRELEAF.COM

photo: flickr.com/nicholas_t | CC BY

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2015 Yoga + Life Magazines. All rights reserved. No portion may be duplicated, in whole or in part, without the written consent of its publishers. Every effort has been make to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this publication. The publisher assumes no responsibility for accuracy of information or omissions from the material provided. Company cannot be held liable for the quality or performance of goods and services rendered by the advertisers published in this magazine.

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Fall/Winter 2015

Contents

PROFILES

EDITORS // CONTRIBUTORS // AMBASSADORS // TEACHERS

8.

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THE TEAM

Our editors, special talent, and regional leaders

16. COVER LOVIN’

Fall cover model, Kelly Kam interviews photographer, Robert Sturman

20. NEW YORK’S INSPIRATIONAL TEACHERS

Teachers we recommend checking out around the City

24. A DAY IN THE LIFE

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Working in Wellness: Brian Collins

26. ELENA’S INSPIRATIONS

Five New York yoga teachers that inspire Elena Brower

LIFESTYLE

COMMUNITY // TRAVEL // MUSIC // ART // PRODUCTS

30. OUR KIDS

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The next generation of mindful beings

36. WHERE TO TAKE A BREAK

Places for yogis to unwind in and out of the city

38. PLAY THIS

DJ George Faya’s hot playlist

40. ART TO INSPIRE

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The Rubin Museum’s Buddha of Immeasurable Life

42. STUFF WE LOVE

Our picks for your wellness lifestyle

YOGA

ASANA // PHILOSOPHY // MEDITATION // BUSINESS

44. HANG TIME 101

Checking out Aerial Yoga

48. ACE OF HEARTS

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An inspiration backbending sequencing

52. MIND BODY OFFICE

Top NYC office mind-body providers

53. WORK TIME YOGA

Yoga you can do at your desk

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54. CLARITY IN CHAOS

Mudras & Pranayama

58. DUALITY

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An exploration of life’s opposites

60. BREATHE TO INSPIRE

Tap into strength through your breath

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62. CREATING MIRACLES WITH MALAS

Mala jewelry to help meditation

63. CONNECTING WITH CRYSTALS

Art given to us by the earth

64. LIFE. LIBERTY… AND THE PURSUIT OF THE HUSTLE

Managing being a full-time yoga teacher in the City

HEALTH

FOOD // MEDICINE // THERAPEUTICS

66. SHUT UP AND EAT

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Namaste

68. DEMYSTIFYING RAMEN

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mokbars’s chef, Esther Choi sits down with us

70. DESIRE, CURIOSITY, AND HUNGER

A recipe for a delicious buckwheat breakfast bowl

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76. ON PINS & NEEDLES

Acupuncture: The best-kept secret to vibrant health

79. AYURVEDA IN THE CITY

10 places to visit to add ayurveda to your life

80. CHIN UP, NEW YORK

The effect of texting on the spine

81. SOUND THERAPY

Facilitating the body’s natural healing process

EVENTS FESTIVALS // LOCAL FUN

83. UPCOMING NYC EVENTS

Exciting festivals, special yoga classes, and community events

86. NY YOGA + LIFE’S HAPPENINGS

Polaroids from our community events: @nyyogalifemag

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88. WELL + GOOD

The fitness biathlon is back for its third year

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PROFILES / Publisher

FROM OUR PUBLISHER

JULI RATHKE, FOUNDER OF YOGA + LIFE MAGAZINES

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I remember my first time running in Central Park, I took off counter-clockwise around the park only to be met by a few thousand other runners that day all finding their “peace of mind” just like me. No waves, hellos or head knods... just silence. We all come from somewhere, but in essence we all seek the same things.

It’s amazing in all my years of travel to realize we are the same wherever we are on the planet - connected, yet uniquely different.

And in our practices of yoga, life and humanity we all seek love, opportunity, and the simple expansion of ourselves; to be the best version of ourselves we can be wherever we are.

Our magazines (insert amazing team here) evolved out of the desire to represent the “rest” of an industry – or those you don’t see and read about in your popular newsstand titles every day.

As people desire more authenticity in print and online media, we tell real stories about real people in YOUR community with a philanthropic effort in mind. Everyone has a story to tell, a message to share, and a gift to give – and I want to help provide that platform to even the least expecting people. And because we are locally based, your story travels farther to truly qualified readers - the people you know, your own community.

As the inspiration evolved to launch regional yoga and lifestyle magazines around the country, the need to represent community was at the forefront. As a person in the media, I have always been amazed at the profound gratitude people felt when we interviewed them and retold their stories. I discovered this as well when publishing images for rising photographers, giving the stage to hungry musicians and sharing celebrity events to raise money for non-profits.

So please share with us your triumphs, your failures, your expertise, your causes, and your missions so we can share your story too. Send us your images, a link to your music, pictures of your art, and tell us about your yoga events. We are listening, and a bigger part of our conscious community is listening too.

In admiration, Juli Rathke

NY YOGALIFEMAG.COM

Covers About our

ON THE FALL COVER Shot on location at Grand Central Station by world-renown photographer, Robert Sturman celebrating the energy of NYC. Models: Kelly Kamm: yoga teacher and owner of Happy Buddha Yoga Studio Missy Murrell: Student, Lineage Project Jewelry: Satya Location: Grand Central Station, NYC Clothing on Missy: Rie + Ryn t-shirt Art Direction: Robert Sturman, Iana Velez

Thank you to Art Kartel!

The winter cover of our first issue was shot by a community of multi-media artists based out of Brooklyn known as the Art Kartel. NY YOGA + LIFE collaborated with this amazing group to co-create a cover we named “Goddess Inspiration” with yoga teachers Ali Cramer, Eleonora Zampatti and Nicki Napier.

Art Kartel is “A team who provides waves of inspiration to set all humans adrift. Their goal is to stimulate the senses and provoke the artist in all of us.” Explore the Art Kartel’s work at www.theartkartelnyc.com Group photo above (clockwise from top left): Ray Rhoomes, Suave Rhoomes, Shay Motion, Badder Israel, Noriko Nakanomata, Molly Laurie, Makiko Kanamaru, and the dog’s name is Pickles!

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ON THE WINTER COVER Shot on location at Smack Factory Studio in Brooklyn Models: Alison Cramer, Nicki Napier, Eleonora Zampatti Clothing: Tanya - B Jewelry: Satya Location: Smack Factory, Brooklyn Art Direction: Iana Velez, Badder Isreal, Stylist: Molly Laurie Makeup/Hair: Makiko Kanamaru, Noriko Nakanomata Photo/Video/Production: Ray Rhoomes, Suave Rhoomes, Shay Motion

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PROFILES / Editors

FROM OUR EDITOR

IANA VELEZ, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OF NY YOGA + LIFE MAGAZINE

I’ve never experienced anything as intense, exhausting and utterly exhilarating as creating this magazine. It has been one of the biggest joys and growth experiences I have had the privilege of being a part of. It all started less than a year ago in a small room in Colorado, four people that barely knew each other were brought together by their passion and excitement for one thing: yoga. That meeting gave birth nine months later to this tangible thing you hold in your hands; it looks like a magazine but it is so much more.

This is a physical manifestation of hope, love, fear and trust. Every single person who was part of this loves what they do, everyone gave it their entire heart. This is our passion project.

That is why the theme of this first issue could only be INSPIRATION. Everyone lights up when you say the word; they get curious, they get excited. Like most amazing things in life, seek it all you want, inspiration appears fully only when we are receptive to receiving. Sometimes it whispers hello, if you are lucky it blinds you with its brilliance. Inspiration to me is love in its most unconditional and unapologetic form.

Our mission with NY YOGA + LIFE magazine is to inspire, create and give a voice to everyone in this community. If you are holding this now, chances are you are a teacher, a student, a lover of yoga, wellness and health in this beautiful state of New York. On our pages you can read about Sean Egan a local teacher based in

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Staten Island in the same issue where Elena Brower shares her inspirations with us. World-renowned photographer, Robert Sturman shot our fall cover, and up-and-coming Brooklyn art community, Art Kartel produced our winter cover. We are all represented together in these pages. We are all truly in this together.

Thank you is too small a word for the people who made this not only possible, but really, really fun: my friend and co-inspirer Jennifer Derham, my unstoppable team of regionals and editors, our entire production team at Yoga + Life, and every single writer and artist I had the honor to co-create this magazine with. Beth Navon from the Lineage Project who is one of the most inspiring women I have ever met, Anne Rierson of Aura Cacia whose support gave me the hope to continue, and Natalie Gargiulo from the Flatiron Athleta store who generously hosted our very first event at her store. Robert Sturman who believed and supported us from the very beginning, Elena Brower for being one of the kindest people I have ever worked with, and Lara Land who taught me how to throw an event like a boss. There are not enough thank yous in the world for all my teachers in life, love and yoga who continue to shape and inspire me every day.

This issue is dedicated to beautiful Dasha, our lovely Poppy, and my mom, the person who makes me believe everything is possible.

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Children’s Yoga Teacher Training JUSTINE MA

Nothing is more rewarding than introducing children to the world of yoga!

Learn over 475 yoga poses, partner poses, group poses, yoga games and activities, breathing exercises, relaxation and visualization techniques, classroom management skills and more for sharing yoga with toddlers through teenagers!

NY YOGA + LIFE FOOD EDITOR Justine is a chef graduate of the Natural Gourmet Institute, the number one culinary school in the world for health and wellness. Justine is also a Health & Wellness Blogger (food, yoga, lifestyle) hired by SELF MAGAZINE to represent the company and writes fulltime.

Facebook: JustineMa Instagram: @littlemisslocal Twitter: @littlemisslocal

Also check out our Teen Yoga Teacher Training Intensive for doing deeper work with the population that needs yoga most...teens!

YA approved through Children’s Yoga Teacher Training Collaborative.

COME PLAY YOGA !

Karma Kids Yoga | 25 West 23rd St., NYC 10010 karmakidsyoga.com | (646)638-1444

KO IM

NY YOGA + LIFE ASSISTANT FEATURES EDITOR Ko Im is a features writer, wellness instructor and contributor to ForbesLife.

The Om Factory and Columbia Journalism graduate can be found at Crunch gyms and Yahoo Travel. The e-book author and narrator grew up on Guam. Ko loves to create and volunteer.

Facebook: Ko Im Lifestyle Instagram: Konakafe Twitter: @koimtv

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PROFILES / Contributors

This issue’s

Contributors

SHANNON TOMA Shannon is a career woman, two time halfmarathon runner, and essential oil wellness advocate. She uses essential oils to help stay joyful and balanced.

One of her deepest joys is to use and share essential oils.

MATT FRICOVSKY Matt is an internationally published sports and fitness photographer. His work has been published in a variety of media, from magazine covers and books to movie posters and ads. A true artist at heart, he’s been drawing and painting from a young age and had many solo and group exhibitions of his oil painting work. A highly versatile photographer, Matt’s rich and dramatic style creates powerful images that captivate his clients time and time again.

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THERESE TAN Therese is an illustrator based in New York City and works in the gaming tech and fashion industry. Her art is deeply influenced by a mixture of urban and bohemian lifestyle, fantasy art, music, and her passions of Muay Thai and yoga. You can view her portfolio at www. mysteriousxbeauty.com.

ELENA BROWER Mama, teacher and author of Art of Attention, Elena has studied yoga, meditation and healing with master teachers since 1997, teaching since 1999.

Her ground-breaking yoga workbook, Art of Attention, has been translated into 5 languages. Her meditation coursework and first film, On Meditation, are devoted to cultivating meditation as our most healing daily habit. www.elenabrower.com

ALI CRAMER Ali is the Director of the Ayurveda Program at Laughing Lotus and a Senior Teacher in their 200 hour Teacher Training Program. She leads retreats, workshops and master classes both nationally and internationally. Ali is honored to have led the first Yoga Teacher Training Program in the Sudan and to be a guest teacher on the faculty for Columbia University’s Psychology and Spirituality Program.

GINA DE LA CHESNAYE Gina is a teacher with The Lineage Project, a competitive kickboxer, boxer as well as a contributing writer and photographer to The Huffington Post and YogaCityNYC. Gina has written numerous articles on yoga, meditation, martial arts and Buddhism.

SARA AUSTER Teacher, Sound Therapist and artist, Sara Auster has studied yoga, meditation and various healing modalities with master teachers since 2003. Sara offers weekly asana and sound meditation classes, and private healing sessions in New York City as well as international workshops and retreats. For more information and details about Yoga + Sound events, please visit www.saraauster.com

CYNTHIA BETTIS Cynthia enjoys helping people have more fun in their yoga practice! She loves to blend various fitness formats in her classes and continually seeks out new ways to achieve high-energy sequences that maintain mindful movement with focused breath-work.

She is a vinyasa based, 200-hour yoga teacher, with additional certifications including Unnata® Aerial Yoga, BarWorks®, SculptWorks®, Pilates Mat, and TRX.

JON MARRO Jon LOVES to paint, draw, design, color, create, but his absolute favorite medium is Spirit. Jon has worked art directing and designing collateral for : Jason Mraz, Madonna, Maroon 5, Whole Foods Market, TOMS Shoes, and was recently commissioned to render a portrait for His Holiness The Dalai Lama for his 80th Birthday. As an artist he is inspired by the sacred, mystical, and archetypal. In a commercial world that is constantly assaulting the senses, Jon aspires to offer a visual vigil and a sanctuary for the eyes. www.jonmarro.com

LAUREN TAUS AND MIKE AIDALA Lauren is a NYC life coach and yoga instructor with over a decade of experience. Lauren focuses on corporate clients - because she used to be one. Lauren also teaches at Pure Yoga, Equinox and Soho House. Mike Aidala is a performance specialist, yoga teacher and holistic lifestyle coach.

Mike has a sports background and works with a broad range of clients. He customizes each program to the specific needs of the individual, and also teaches classes at Crossfit Solace in Manhattan.

BRIA TAVAKOLI Bria Tavakoli has taught yoga in NYC and globally since 2008.

She’s also an enthusiastic cook, traveler, and enjoys hiking while wearing glittery mascara. A former athlete and dance type, as well as a Columbia University grad, she’s grateful to yoga for reintroducing her to her inner light.

KELLY KAMM Kelly Kamm is the owner and director of Happy Buddha Yoga in Goshen NY. Trained at Laughing Lotus, she now teaches Bhakti Lila Flow, a practice that awakens the heart through mythology, music and creative vinyasa flow. Check her out at www.happybuddhayoga.com and www.bhaktilila.com.

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DEBORAH STOTZKY Deborah Stotzky M.S., L.Ac. is an Acupuncturist with a practice in Union Square, NYC. She has been practicing Acupuncture for 15 years, holds a Master’s Degree in Acupuncture, is Nationally Certified and Licensed in NY State. She is also a Yoga and Yamuna Body Rolling Instructor. With her husband, she has a line of Yoga-inspired jewelry called Yoga Jewels. For more info please visit: www.

AcupunctureAndHotstones.com and www.

YogaJewels.net

SAMI LEA LIPMAN Sami Lea Lipman is the Creative Director for Yoga Magazine Productions and a vinyasa yoga teacher in Boulder. She has taught at various festivals, internationally, and on the White House lawn. Sami chronicles the journey of love, suffering, and loss on her blog: grievingmybeloved.blogspot.com.

Learn more about her at samileayoga.com.

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ETHEL KAMBOURIAN Originally from Argentina, Ethel has lived and worked Internationally as an Artist and Photographer for over 40 years. She is inspired by love, light and texture. She currently resides in Manhattan and lives by the philosophy, “The joy is in the journey.” www. ethelkambourian.com

AVA TAYLOR Ava is an avid yogi, and a tenacious, creative entrepreneur with her finger on the pulse of the rapidly expanding yoga industry. She is well connected, and the go to strategist for top professional yoga teachers, studios, and brands looking to be relevant in the yoga marketplace. With a distinguished resume leading expansion at Clear Channel & Lululemon, Ava was ready to tackle the likes of Adidas, Dr. Oz, Flavorpill, Footlocker, Gaiam, Hanes, Hay House, Lionsgate, Random House, Smartwater and Zee Living TV when she founded YAMA in 2010.

CHRISTINE CHEN Christine is a NYC yoga teacher, health writer, and author of Happy-Go-Yoga, a #1 Best Seller on Amazon. com. Fifteen years ago, a combination of debilitating back injuries and chronic stress led her to yoga, helped her avoid surgery, and eventually transformed her life.

Christine is a former Athleta-sponsored athlete, Emmy award winning broadcaster, and corporate consultant. www.christinechenyoga.com & www. happygoyoga.com

DIANA BEZANSKI Diana is a full time photographer, and country girl at heart.

Her favorite days are lazy ones strolling farmer’s markets in the sunshine and taking walks on quiet paths among wide open fields, then finishing the day with a delicious home prepared meal and sipping on a glass of really good red wine.

The company of her husband Jeff and dog Alice resting comfortably at her feet makes for a perfect day.

SAMANTHA HILTON Samantha is a Marketing Director with over 10+ years of experience in the B2B marketing software space.

She is passionate about storytelling, finding balance, healthy living and connecting with others in search of the same.

KRISTIN LEAL Kristin is the creator of MetaAnatomy, a series of workshops, classes and trainings that explore the dynamic beauty and poetry of who you are. Her hope is by combining the physical and energetic anatomies we help to form a richer view, experience and ultimately a celebration of our differences and an honoring of our connectedness. She is co-author of the book “The Yoga Fan” (2003) and author of the book “MetaAnatomy- Anatomy of a Yogi” (2014) which was called a “luscious resource” by Rod Stryker and “smart and sassy”

by Elena Brower. www. kristinleal.com

SIRMILES DAVIS SirMilesDavis represents, LivingLovingLife™ – a Lifestyle Services company, offering a variety of specialties including Photography, Fitness & Wellness, and Adventure-Travel. Each service is custom designed to promote personal happiness as well as create opportunities for community spirit. While based in New York City, LivingLovingLife has a border-less portfolio and in 2014 the company launched its first satellite branch in Los Angeles, CA. www. livinglovinglife.me

MIRIAM CASTILLO Miriam has been exploring yoga for the past eight years. She ventured to north India in 2012 to accomplish her first 200 hour Teacher Training in Rishikesh Yog Peeth, where her journey as a teacher began. Later in 2014, she continued her education in Bali, Indonesia at Zuna Yoga 300 hour Teacher Training under the Tantric tradition. She is passionate about inspiring yoga through practice and art. She believes that practice is about finding what serves you in the moment to develop creativity in life to empower the body, mind and spirit, aligning them with your highest intentions. www.miriamcastillo.com and www. yogafor.us

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN BRIAN COLLINS Combining a 15 year career in NYC EMS and his own Training & Nutrition Practice, Brian is committed to helping people achieving their own personal wellness goals. An avid practitioner of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Yoga, he brings a non-traditional approach to modern fitness. Brian Lives in Brooklyn and trains people all over the city.

CONTRIBUTING TO NY YOGA + LIFE, PLEASE CONTACT OUR EDITOR-INCHIEF, IANA VELEZ: ianavelez@ nyyogalifemag.com

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PROFILES / Regional Leaders

Who are we?

Meet a few of our Regional Leaders ARTWORK BY: IANA VELEZ

Our team of “Regionals” are leaders in their own community who inspire, educate, and create change. These are the people who help shape the voice and vision of NY YOGA + LIFE. Contact Editor-in-Chief, Iana Velez for details on how to become a Regional Leader and become a part of our growing team.

ANGELA WILLIAMS-JONES

(LONG ISLAND)

Angela Williams-Jones, E-RYT is a genuinely nurturing soul with a deep love of networking, people connecting, goal crushing, assisting & elevating people with excellent listening and resolution skills. Angela is thrilled to be an ambassador for lululemon athletica, an elite Yoga Teacher for the Under Armour Performance Center, Ahnu Yoga Ambassador & LI Regional Lead for NY Yoga + Life Magazine.

Facebook: Flower Power Yoga Instagram: Corpyogi Twitter: @corpyogi

CHLOE MACKENZIE

(BROOKLYN)

Movement was Chloe’s first love and the first language she spoke... she breathed to dance and danced to breathe. Injury forced her to leave the ballet studio far too early in life. After a long period of loss and searching for answers, she stumbled into a yoga studio praying for direction. Chloe has remained on the mat every day since. She completed her 200 hour Teacher Training at Laughing Lotus and teaches yoga all over the magical New York City. She invites her students to journey, discover, dance, laugh and shake it out on the mat.

Facebook: chlomackieyoga Instagram: @chlomackie Twitter: @chlomackie

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NY YOGALIFEMAG.COM

ELEONORA RACHELE ZAMPATTI

(NEW JERSEY)

Eleonora Rachele Zampatti is a yoga teacher, personal trainer and founder of the Ode to the Moon Project. She created OTM to use yoga, art and music raise awareness on the topic of domestic violence. She has been featured in many publications including Mantra Magazine and is now an regional leader for NY YOGA + LIFE magazine.

Facebook: Ode To The Moon Project Instagram: eleonorazampatti Twitter: eleonorazampatti

LAUREN CAP

(MANHATTAN)

Lauren Cap is a graduate of The Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City. She is a full time yoga instructor and health and wellness blogger/writer. Lauren’s passions are: writing, singing, the beach, yoga, family, friends, NYC, Broadway, traveling, being around people who make her laugh...and many more.

Facebook: lauren.cap.9 Instagram: laurenalannac Twitter: @laurencap2

MIA SCELSI

(QUEENS)

Mia Scelsi found yoga in 2006 and has not left her mat since. Mia’s daily practice helps her find peace in hectic NYC, where she was born & raised. She currently calls Laughing Lotus Yoga Center her OMbase and completed her 200 hour RYTT certification there in 2014. In addition to teaching yoga, Mia is the Founder of Raga Varnish, a spiritually stimulating nail polish line.

Facebook: Raga Varnish Instagram: @ragavarnish Twitter: @ Raga Varnish

VERONICA BELTRAN

(WESTCHESTER)

Veronica is a global marathoner and triathlete, lover of movement, community, travel, the moon, the sun, the stars and the sea. Her heart is where Latin beats unite with a little hip-hop and rock and roll. She loves to be in community and being of service while doing what lights her up; combining movement, travel, business and philanthropy for causes dear to her heart.

Facebook: veronica.beltran.90 Website: Saltyvibras.com Instagram: @verobel12

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PROFILES / Teachers

BY KELLY KAMM

ny yoga + life’s winter Cover Model, KELLY KAMM’s conversation with photographer ROBERT STURMAN was always fairly flexible and strong but for a long time my practice lacked depth.

On the surface it may have been mildly interesting, even pretty to look at, but something profound was missing. Then I went through an extremely difficult divorce, followed six months later by a heartbreak so devastating I could barely breathe, much less do asana. My whole world fell apart; my heart felt like it was made of shattered glass that pierced my chest every time I inhaled. Many months later when I finally returned to my asana practice, it was different. I was different. There was depth, vulnerability, ferocity, profundity...all those things lacking before, that only a trip to hell and back could bestow. My heart has broken many times since then, sometimes in sadness and sometimes in joy, and each time I experience the anguish of a wounded heart, it eventually transforms into the nectar of deep and vivid asanas and I become more human, more real.

Robert, you and I have a very special relationship because it is without expectation. I think that we experience each other as even and easygoing because we never demand anything of each other, which is rare in this world! It’s my experience that loss of composure happens when people or situations don’t play out the way we think they should, and lucky for us, we have never imposed any “shoulds” on each other.

I strive to recreate this scenario in all facets of my life. Of course a regular yoga practice helps, teaching me how to abide in the waves of emotion without getting swept away, and reminding me that I can only control my own actions and intentions, the rest is up to grace.

I honestly have no idea where my life is headed. If you had shown me a picture of my current situation say five years ago, or even two years ago, I never would have believed it, so I stay wide open to all possibilities. I do know one thing for certain though, and it’s that I intend to squeeze all the nectar out of this experience we call “living” that I possibly can. I often think of the beginning of the Anna Akhmatova poem:

“YOU WILL HEAR THUNDER AND REMEMBER ME, AND THINK: SHE WANTED STORMS. THE RIM OF THE SKY WILL BE THE COLOUR OF HARD CRIMSON, AND YOUR HEART, AS IT WAS THEN, WILL BE ON FIRE.” Bring on the storms, the passion, the heartache, the loneliness, the ecstasy...I want it all. I want it to season me, transform me, and awaken me...that’s the plan.

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KELLY: Okay my dear friend, you keep coming back to NYC when you could be anywhere in the world. I know it’s not just because I’m here ;-) What keeps pulling you back, time and time again?

ROBERT: Besides the fact that I love being in New York, my work is well received here and the community keeps calling me back. It felt very powerful to me to accept a presence in America’s great city. Having the figurative poetry of yoga as the foundation of my work has allowed me to explore the city and celebrate it in a way that is immensely fresh and exciting to me. I feel at home here. I feel at home anywhere I am doing my work. And, don’t sell yourself short, I am nothing without the collaborations I have with sincere, expressive models and you have added an unquestionable amount of depth to my journey as an artist.

KELLY: I know that as a yoga teacher it is so crucial to keep feeding yourself so that you stay inspired. For me that means reading poetry, returning to a favorite teacher, taking a writing workshop...What do you do to keep your fire lit? Do you have any go-to books, teachers or places to visit that help you to tap into your creativity?

ROBERT: I try to appreciate my life – the people in it and the freedom that I have to be creative. There is so much inspiration in this for me – living a quiet life filled with gratitude. When this is in place, self-expression is effortless and natural. I also have a regular yoga practice which keeps giving me endless inspiration. I practice yoga to remove the unnecessary. When I unroll my mat, it’s a special time to go deep inside and examine whatever keeps me from having a direct experience of life. And through stretching, breathing, opening, and

sweating, I become much more relaxed, which enhances my work. When I walk out of a practice, I’m ripe and ready for clear expression.

KELLY: I often ask my students to remember why they began practicing yoga in the first place, as a way to reconnect with intention and spirit. Was there a decisive moment when you chose the life of an artist? Did you experience doubt but take the leap anyway, or was it something that you just unequivocally knew?

ROBERT: I went to India in 2000 for my thirtieth birthday, specifically to devote myself to a creative project. That was the first time I’d traveled overseas to do anything like this, and stepping into the unknown was scary. But when I arrived, my first stop was in Pune at Osho’s meditation center, and when I walked in I saw a sign that would change my perspective forever. It read...

“TO BE CREATIVE MEANS TO BE IN LOVE WITH LIFE. YOU CAN BE CREATIVE ONLY IF YOU LOVE LIFE ENOUGH THAT YOU WANT TO ENHANCE ITS BEAUTY, YOU WANT TO BRING A LITTLE MORE MUSIC TO IT, A LITTLE MORE POETRY TO IT, A LITTLE MORE DANCE TO IT.” I felt as if I was receiving something so profound, something I had not received at the Art Academy. It was then that I realized I could create from a place of joy and that my work could be a natural expression of the life I was living. This simple paragraph continues to inspire me on my path.

PHOTO CREDIT: MAMASTE

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PROFILES / Teachers

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PROFILES / Teachers

in New York THIS PAGE: LAURA LAND: HARLEM, NY // WWW.LANDYOGA.COM (PHOTO CREDIT: ROBERT STURMAN) OTHER PAGE (CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT): DEBORAH STOTZKY: NEW YORK, NY // WWW.ACUPUNCTUREANDHOTSTONES.COM SUMATI JOHNSON: KINGS PARK, NY // WWW.YOGAWITHSUMATI.COM ARIEL KILEY: NEW YORK, NY // WWW.ARIELKILEYYOGA.COM MILARD ROPER: HUNTINGTON, NY // WWW.THEFUNKYOM.COM ALAN COOK: NEW YORK, NY // (PHOTO CREDIT: ETHEL KAMBOURIAN) MARIA CUTRONA: BROOKLYN, NY // WWW.MARIACUTRONATHEPRACTICE.COM SUMATI KAREN BATES: NEW YORK, NY // WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/SUMATI.BATES SEAN EGAN: STATEN ISLAND, NY

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ADVERTISMENT

Before I had a solid yoga practice I was a functioning alcoholic and drug addict. Like many people, I worked a job that I hated in order to pay the bills.

I worked for a place to live and eat and stay high in some way shape or form. Before my yoga practice I was constantly numbing myself from the pain and horror of an uncontrollable spiral I was sliding down. A constant cycle of work, numbing out, minimal sleep, repeat. I was one cynical and jaded bastard too terrified to trust and reveal who I truly was, unable to let go and forgive. Yoga continuously shows me that I am the source of my suffering, and my joy. It also has shown me that I am not the sole benefactor of my victories, nor am I the only one that suffers and learns from my mistakes. Most of all, yoga has taught me to believe in myself and be open to the possibility of a greater existence.

SEAN EGAN // STATEN ISLAND

Advertorial

Please don’t touch my lines...they reveal the architecture of my life. Those deep creases between my brows tell stories of dreams and thoughts, of heartbreak and ecstasy. The ones that frame my nose and lips contain the echos of thousands of smiles born of loving and living, and marveling at hundreds of sunsets and my silly dogs romping. If you brush those away, you erase the very evidence of 45 years lived fully amidst the broad tapestry of the perfectly messy human sojourn. Please don’t touch my lines. Let my lines touch you...

KRISTIN MISCALL // NEW JERSEY

THIS PAGE (CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT): KRISTIN MISCALL: NEW JERSEY // (PHOTO CREDIT: ROBERT STURMAN) LORI MCALISTER: NEW YORK, NY // WWW.LORIYOGA.COM // (PHOTO CREDIT: MATT FRICOVSKY) MARCO ROJAS: NEW YORK, NY // WWW.MARCOROJASYOGA.ORG (PHOTO CREDIT: ALAN FINGER) NEXT PAGE: CASSANDRA MESCE-QUARANTELLO: NEW JERSEY (PHOTO CREDIT: CLAIRE SHEPROW - FINDORION PHOTOGRAPHY)

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PROFILES / Teachers

A Day in The Life working in wellness: Brian Collins

BY BRIAN COLLINS CPT, CNC, EMT-P

You may not have heard of Brian Collins, but there is nothing “average” about this man. He works as a paramedic, runs FitMedic - a company that specializes in personal training and nutrition coaching - is a husband and a new dad. This is a typical Wednesday for Brian, one of the few days he doesn’t work a 20-hour ambulance shift. www.fittosavealife.com

1-5:30 PM

4:30 AM Feeding time with my daughter Jessie.

While taking care of Jessie, I work on breathing exercises.

5:30 AM Breakfast.

Coffee and fruit or a couple eggs.

Family Time. We are both learning the ins-and-outs of parenting so this time is important.

6-8 PM Jiu-Jitsu. At Brooklyn Brazilian JiuJitsu. It’s a reset button for my life every time I hit the mat.

6-7 AM

9-10 PM

Yoga. I use the Yoga Warriors 365 DVD Set, with Rudy Mettia. I LOVE this set.

Client calls. Confirm appointments and check in with clients who I work with from a distance.

8 AM Social Media. Client communications, schedule planning, online course tracking, and Facebook entries.

10 AM-NOON

10-11 PM Family Time. The only way I want to end the day. Catching up until bedtime and getting ready for those late night feedings.

THE NEXT DAY

Clients. I love this time! Today both clients are in our office space in Brooklyn so my travel is limited.

NOON-1 PM Review. Where can I improve? What to do next? Next up, some balance work, usually headstand, a backbend and bridge work.

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What is a day in the life like for people that work in the yoga/wellness field in New York City? Most are up at the crack of dawn, running from one borough to another, uptown, downtown, teaching back-to-back classes, if they are lucky. Juggling work, family, relationships in a field where emotional and physical health is the focus can be especially challenging for these busy people.

Welcome to our feature: A Day in the Life, where wellness professionals share their day with us.

The next day, I will be spending 20 or so hours working as a paramedic here in NYC so life is slightly different.

It’s important to note that I am able to do all this with the support of my amazing family and my regular yoga practice. I truly believe that we as humans are meant to thrive, and to thrive we need to challenge ourselves, both physically and mentally. So the choice is yours, think about what interests you and act on it. Namaste!

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YOGA UNION + YOGA UNION BACKCARE, SCOLIOSIS & THERAPY CENTER Conscious Movement, Conscious Life ALISON WEST’S INNOVATIVE CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF ALIGNMENT, FLOW AND THERAPEUTIC YOGA FOR THE BACK. DISCOVER THE DEPTH, BEAUTY, AND JOY OF YOGA WITH A DEDICATED COMMUNITY.

200/500-Hour “Gold Standard” Teacher Training Sept. 21, 2015 - Apr. 30, 2016 (Deadline 9/8)

E X P L O R E 3 7 W 28th S t 4fl NY NY

Basic Ropes Certification January 8-10, 2016

G R O W YO G AU N I O N . C O M

100-Hour Posture, Backcare, and Scoliosis Certification Three weekends: Jan. 22-24, Feb. 5-7 & 12-14, 2016

I N S P I R E 212 510 7404

PROFILES / Teachers

Gratitude for these wonderful teachers who’ve taken the time to talk about yoga and life in NYC; I’m honored to have the chance to call you my colleagues.

Abbie Galvin is co-owner of Katonah Yoga. She offers me an appreciation for refined alignment and its impact on organ function; an understanding how my habits of movement dovetail with my patterns of thinking, and helps me find new ways to recreate myself, starting with my bones.

Studying with Abbie has elevated my mind, opened my interior spaces, and given me a fresh look at how to stay filled up by my practice, my family, my work, my love.

Ally Bogard is one of my closest and dearest friends. She’s a shaman, a healer, a student, and a leader.

Her teaching voice is articulate and authentic; her understanding of the body is subtle and sound, and her friendship is a force for my creativity.

She lights up New York City with her teaching and her presence, and collaborating with her is one of the gifts of my work.

Elena’s

inspirations

BY ELENA BROWER ORIGINAL ARTWORK

BY THERESE TAN

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Elena shares with us some of her Inspirational teachers in NY and asks them each a few questions...

The first time I saw Alison West was for a workshop entitled The Yoga of Death. She taught me how to let go, in the depths of myself, at a critical moment in my growth as a teacher of yoga. I was in my early 30s, seeking a reprieve from vinyasa yoga, and found it unequivocally with Alison.

Her work is meticulous, mystical, and methodical, and her understanding of the human body and function is a wonder.

Leslie Kaminoff was an early influence in my teaching, from his Yoga Anatomy book to his engaging lectures, he gave me permission to take time to breathe, explore the structure of the breath and understand my role in the magical process of my breathing as my yoga.

Schuyler Grant and I have known one another for almost two decades; we opened our yoga studios at the same time, and her Kula Yoga Project has grown and expanded, as has our love for one another. She’s a masterful teacher and leader, she is an inspiring Mama whose ways have taught me much about parenting and listening, and she’s a dear friend.

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Abbie galvin Name the one place in NYC that most inspires you.

St. Ann’s Warehouse is a landmark theater in Dumbo where my heart bleeds, my eyes pop, where my emotions are always stirred and my interior is aroused.

Theater is that larger than life experience that feeds my own imagination and sense of creative danger.

Offer two gems of advice you would give your younger self when you began teaching, knowing what you know now?

Study the material. Learn a technique that’s bigger than you and make it your own. Your own teacher’s voice will emerge, the bet-

Name the one place in NYC that most inspires you.

I’m with Walt Whitman...the Brooklyn Bridge

to learn more about in the coming years.

I hope to learn more about growing organic food within the city.

Offer two gems of advice you would give your younger self when you began teaching, knowing what you know now?

I would tell myself:

I hope to learn more about how work effectively with the 4 directions, with ceremony, with prayer and with benevolent forces.

Don’t worry so much about whether or not you are liked as a yoga teacher. Rather, spend your energy ensuring you are a respected student; respected by yourself, your teachers and your peers. God lives as much in an empty room as in a room full of people - teach from your heart every time.

As much as possible, make sure that what you have to say is good enough to disrupt the silence.

Words are powerful. Silence is supreme.

Side note: I would also tell myself to not practice so many unconscious padmasanas – my future knees thank me!

Name three things you hope

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ter skilled you are rather than focusing on how “good” you are or whether or not your students like you. Knowing the material better helps you focus on them and not yourself. Don’t be afraid to make contact. You are not a performer.

Put your focus on them. Give to them what you would want: recognition, show your students that you see them, touch them with care and confidence, be curious about them. Know that it’s not about you. You are there for them.

Name three things you hope to learn more about in the coming years.

The larger my interior becomes, the better my teaching. I hope to find techniques that give me deeper insight, greater compassion, a big sense of the universe.

I would like to play Debussy on my baby grand. It’s so gorgeous and heart breaking. I would like my connections to my children and my nephews to reach its fertile max. My rapport with them whips me up into a better person, a more articulate mother, less inhibited, less needy, funnier, prettier, ageless. And then eventually…a great teacher.

Name four NYC people who light you up.

The people who light me up are my twin sister, who is my life, who teaches me how to be intimate, how to love, and how not to look haggard when I teach. My children who make me weep; need I say more? And my students, hands down, for whom I get up for every day.

Name five favorite food spots or restaurants in NYC. To be candid I would rather stay home and eat greens, preferably sauteed. When I do go to restaurants, however, with my foodie family we enjoy; Il Buco – for their informal, rousing atmosphere, my nephew’s favorite spot; Dowaba – for it’s total lack of atmosphere; Commons cafe near Katonah Yoga – where we sit for hours, writing, gossiping, sharing the narratives of our lives; and when we go to St. Ann’s Warehouse, Vinegar Hill - where we freeze in the winter, where they don’t take reservations, where we are practically sitting in our neighbor’s laps, but they don’t get snooty when my sister and I don’t order meat or anything resembling a main course.

I hope to learn more about how to live in right relationship with my power, my people, and my medicine gifts.

Name four NYC people who light you up.

Chloe Crespi (carrier of Light) Elena Brower (teacher of Light) James Beale (practitioner of Light) Tasha Blank (dancer of Light) Name five favorite food spots or restaurants in NYC. The dinner table of anyone willing to make me a home cooked meal.

Hu Kitchen Sweet Green ABC Kitchen Union Square Farmers Market

Ally Bogard

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PROFILES / Teachers

leslie kaminoff

WHAT’S MORE NEW YORK THAN THE HANSOM CAB DRIVERS IN CENTRAL PARK? THEY RELATE TO ME AS A FELLOW HORSEMAN, AND SOMETIMES LET ME NUZZLE THEIR HORSES.

Name the one place in NYC that most inspires you.

I know this is going to sound geeky and self-serving, but the honest-to-Isvara answer is The Breathing Project. In fact, if the studio I founded twelve years ago wasn’t my #1 most inspirational place in NYC, there’d be something seriously wrong with my universe. I can’t imagine a richer, more rewarding environment for me to spend time in, or a better group of friends, students and colleagues to share my work with.

Offer two gems of advice you would give your younger self when you began teaching, knowing what you know now?

Don’t bother convincing Swami Vishnu to initiate you into Sannyas...it’s truly not your path, you’ll be a terrible swami, and it will only last nine months anyway. On the other hand, you will eventually not in any way regret your decision to become a swami - it will lead directly to a whole host of opportunities that will transform your life, education and professional abilities.

Call off the September 1988 Yoga Therapy training in the Adirondacks and give everyone their money back. You’ve just met Desikachar for the first time, your head is reeling, and your breathing won’t be anywhere close to normal for at least six months. If you ignore all of that and go ahead with it, you’ll feel like a total fraud for trying to teach a “breath-centered yoga therapy training” while you’re in that state.

Tell everyone to come back in ten years - after you’ve figured some shit out. Also, please stop trying to sit in lotus pose – your knees will thank you when you’re about to turn 57 and still trying to play basketball and ride horses.

Name three things you hope to learn more about in the coming years.

How to best optimize the teaching and production of a live event for an online audience.

How to create more consistent blocks of free time to devote to writing projects.

How to more effectively communicate with my teenage son (probably hardest of all, since he’s a lot like I was at that age).

Name four NYC people who light you up.

Third generation New Yorker Lydia Mann. She’s the most supportive, skilled and loving partner I could hope for – and the best person I know.

Living up to her standards has made me a much better person.

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Originally from Nebraska, but now honorary New Yorker Amy Matthews. So many of the positive things in my life wouldn’t be possible without Amy: The Breathing Project, our book “Yoga Anatomy,” and my ongoing in-depth-dive into the fun and fascinating universe of anatomical and philosophical geekiness.

New-Yorker-to-the-core Eddie Stern. Eddie and I go way back. I’ve known him for more than half his life, and all of his yoga teaching life. He and I never fail to have a lot of laughs, as well as fruitful collaborations together. Eddie graciously opened his Astanga space to me back when I had not been teaching groups for a long time and really needed to start up again. Having that opportunity reminded me of how much I love to teach, and led directly to my desire to open The Breathing Project in 2003.

What’s more New York than the Hansom Cab drivers in Central park? They relate to me as a fellow horseman, and sometimes let me nuzzle their horses. Our mayor is a totally ignorant dick for trying to get rid of them - I hope he fails.

Name five favorite food spots or restaurants in NYC. Eisenberg’s Sandwich Shop on Fifth Avenue between 23rd and 22nd. I sit down at the coun-

ter for breakfast, and get offered my usual. We should all have a place where they know what our usual is.

Vino Levantino on 94th Between Broadway and Amsterdam. I’m reluctant to even mention this little gem of a wine bar because I don’t want it to get overrun, so forget I said anything. On the other hand, I want them to stay in business, so go check it out...just make sure to tell them Leslie and Lydia sent you so we can get a free dessert or something.

Risotteria on Bleecker and Morton. Absolute best gluten-free pizza, breadsticks and baked goods. It’s tiny and already overrun, so we’ve learned to get there early enough to be seated without waiting.

Tre Dici Steak. Nope...not telling the location, so look it up, then good luck actually finding it.

Don’t expect more help than that. Even if you do find it, I’m not revealing the secret password that gets you past the speakeasy front door with the peephole and the 400-pound bouncer.

E’s Bar on Amsterdam between 84th and 85th.

Great vibe, lots of fun, fantastic burgers and drinks. They stock one of my favorite mezcals – “illegal.” Owner is a high school buddy of Lydia’s so we always get special treatment.

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Alison West, Ph.D., ERYT Name the one place in NYC that most inspires you.

Wherever I am during a good mediation, or enjoying profound companionship, or experiencing delight through other means inspires me.

But if I had to try to localize inspiration, I would say looking up into the open skies above the city, the vaulted naves of the Cathedrals of St John the Divine or St. Patrick’s, Central Park’s wide open spaces, visiting the Metropolitan Museum, Carnegie Hall and all the stages on which great performances might be moving me beyond my daily state, the galleries where new ideas refresh me, my beautiful studio. But perhaps, above all, being outside of NY in the great expanse of nature inspires me most now.

Offer two gems of advice you would give your younger self when you began teaching, knowing what you know now?

START MEDITATING REGULARLY AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE.

My younger self would have to decide whether these are “gems:” Take more time to feel a pose rather than ”think” it.

Explore, explore, explore, and have fun on the great highway to realization.

Take lots of photos and videos of your practice and explorations for fun and study.

Name three things you hope to learn more about in the coming years.

I will continue to explore the subtle arts, including Mudras, Mantras, and Meditation.

The nature of reality offers endless interest.

And I would like to learn more about our beautiful, delicate, vulnerable planet and how to help her survive.

Name four NYC people who light you up.

To name four is to exclude so many. Just walking through the doors of my own studio into the company of everyone there lights me up. Beloved teachers, friends, my friends’ children and pets...

Marvin, the serene, courteous young evening guard at 37 West 28th street. And in a special world of his own, the beautiful, heartfelt teacher Prem Sadasivananda, former director of the NY Sivananda Center.

Name five favorite food spots or restaurants in NYC. Brette Popper’s Kitchen, Helene Verin’s Kitchen, Renée Price’s Kitchen, Hangawi, Jean George’s restaurants.

schuyler grant Name the one place in NYC that most inspires you. Cresting over the Williamsburg or Brooklyn bridge on my bike. I never love NYC more.

Offer two gems of advice you would give your younger self when you began teaching, knowing what you know now?

Start with basics classes. Don’t jump back all the time – or even most of the time!

Name three things you hope to learn more about in the coming years.

My ID, my ego and my superego but since that’s probably fruitless...cooking anything besides egg and kale. How to keep bees and chickens and how to fix electronics.

Name four NYC people who light you up.

My 3 daughters and my husband. That sounds like a pat answer, and it is...but it isn’t.

Name five favorite food spots or restaurants in NYC. Cafe Mogador, Marlow & Daughters, Rye, Aurora and The Shanti Shack.

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lifestyle / Community

Our Kids The Next Generation of MindfuL Beings

BY GINA DE LA CHESNAYE

Years ago when someone suggested that I teach yoga, my first instinct was: Hell no.

I didn’t feel I could offer anything that did not already exist in a city of fabulous teachers, nor did I think I was up to the task of being a teacher. I saw from my own teachers, especially Carla Stangenberg of Jaya Yoga, that teaching is a delicate and enormous responsibility. Many of us come to yoga for a variety of reasons - to gain physical flexibility or to find emotional ease from the troubles of living in an overwhelming city. Many of us come to yoga because we desperately want to heal physical or emotional injuries, and these tend to go hand in hand. My own personal practice has long been about integration and wholeness. The deeper my practice gets, the more that arises within that exploration.

My second instinct was: I want to teach teenagers. I remember quite viscerally what that particular time of hell was like.

Colored with self-doubt, loneliness and a constant searching for some kind of meaning to the pain I experienced and witnessed in others. As with any thought or intention, what is known as a bija, or seed, was planted. This bija grew as I did my 200 Hour Teacher Training with Alison West of Yoga Union, followed by The Lineage Project’s Teacher Training program.

I now teach in residential sites for sentenced youth, transfer high schools for truant youth, alternate learning centers for youth suspended for violent behavior, and alternate-to-incarceration programs.

AS A MOTHER AND A TEACHER, I AM ACUTELY AWARE THAT EVERY ACTION, THOUGHT, INTENTION AND EFFORT SPREADS OUTWARDS. -GINA DE LA CHESNAYE

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Aside from being a mother, there is no more profound job than being a Lineage Project teacher. As a mother and a teacher, I am acutely aware that every action, thought, intention and effort spreads outwards. Many students come from deeply underprivileged backgrounds, and in some cases have undergone extreme trauma and been locked up as young as thirteen. My job as a teacher of mindfulness-based exercises is to help them unlock the tools and skills that they have within, tools we all have, so that they can navigate their lives with more ease and resiliency.

Through mindfulness students learn that while they may never be able to control a situation (none of us can), they can control how they choose to respond to it. Taking a breath or two or ten is a far better choice than raising a fist and hurting others. A few months ago when I asked my students if they were getting anything out of the classes, D. 17 quipped, “Yes, Miss, I haven’t hit anyone in a while.” Score one for mindfulness.

The practice of mindfulness is not one that happens only on a cushion in a silent room. As a Lineage teacher I’ve taught in a cafeteria, a hallway, and a gym filled with the buoyant laughter of other students taking a “regular” gym class while we sit in a meditation posture and allow sound to pass through us.

Even being in the living room of a group home where the teenagers are in a locked facility serving prison time teaches us that everything around us can teach us something. It is an extraordinary thing to witness the connection and calm that arises within someone after meditation or mindful-movement such as yoga.

Mindfulness is a practice that can be accessed anywhere, at any time, and while it may be harder to do so in the city as youth - their desire to even try is precisely the practice. They, like all people simply want to be happy, to love and be loved. They astound me with their courage, and every day that I am given the gift of their presences, I bow to it. Every opportunity I have to remind them of their inherent good, kind nature – I take it. There is no better job.

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Missy Murrell is a wise, delicate looking but tough as hell seventeen-year-old who lives in the East Bronx with her adoptive mother. She commutes daily to The American Sign Language School in Manhattan and while she is hearing has chosen to learn sign language because it is “interesting and different.” She has not lived with her birth mother since she was eleven but, “She’s just down the block.”

Her relationship with her father is nonexistent and when I asked her about it she said simply, “It breaks me sometimes.”

Missy and her fellow students were lucky to have mindfulness originally introduced to them by Mindy Gorlin, a faculty member with a long-standing Zen Buddhist practice.

Gina: Can you me give an example of a situation?

Gina: How would you describe the impact that mindfulness has had on your life?

Missy: I would sit with them and participate with them so they could see how important it is. And I would talk them through it instead of just telling them to do it. I would show them.

Missy: It changed the way I look at problems and it changed the way I react to things. It changed the way I present myself now and really helped me to relax.

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Missy: It definitely has helped my relationships with friends right now. When I see myself about to have quick anger I just leave or count to ten and I see myself not getting angry. I breathe and calm down and think about what I have been learning. It helps me before I get angry and prevents me from getting angry. It benefits the argument because the argument won’t be so angry. It can be a conversation not a fight.

when you get older and what do you want people to know about you?

Missy: I want to become a vet or a model. I have a really good heart. I care about people. I like to take people in and I don’t like to judge them. I’m thankful for what I do have and I think if you want the cycle to change you have to grab at the help that is being offered.

Gina: What’s your favorite part of the practice?

Missy: Meditation. I learned that I can be the bigger person and take time to calm myself down which helps others. The meditation spreads what I’m learning. And the yoga taught me not to be so tight. The poses help my body be free. If you’re angry and uptight it holds a weight on your body, too.

Gina: How would you advise someone?

…IF YOU WANT THE CYCLE TO CHANGE YOU HAVE TO GRAB AT THE HELP THAT IS BEING OFFERED. -MISSY MURRELL

Gina: What are you thinking about becoming

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lifestyle / Community

Luis LeFranc is an eighteen year old with a natural calm and curiosity. He lives in East New York, one of the more crime-ridden neighborhoods in the city. His world is not an easy one. When I taught Luis and his classmates at The Brooklyn Democracy High School, it was Luis’s openness to the mindfulness practice that was a pure joy to watch and guide. While Luis is a boxer, he is more typical of a martial artist, as he embodies the practice of mindfulness in who he is and how he is in the world. Luis and his classmates are fortunate to be guided by Lee Gambay, a deeply caring faculty member, who was fundamental in helping to bring Lineage Project to the school.

Gina: What was your first experience with mindfulness like?

Luis: It was a great exercise. When I first started doing it with you I noticed things about my body that I didn’t before. I could hear more things. I was actually listening more clearly. I became one with my body.

Gina: Did you notice any kind of change in your life?

Luis: I would have to say yes. Before, I used to slump over. I started to sit better. The more I meditate, the more I relax. I feel much different with everything.

Before my body would shut down on me and now with meditating and doing the poses my body has improved. I hear things now that I didn’t before. I’m open to my surroundings.

Gina: Tell me about your meditation practice.

Luis: When I meditate I make sure I’m in a room that is quiet. I try to relax and let my body take charge. I try not to have things running in my mind. If you have a lot of things in your mind, it doesn’t work.

Gina: How do you do that? A lot of people have a hard time focusing. What advice can you give them?

Luis: When I clear my mind out it just comes to me. You have to have patience.

Try to stretch out. Take deep breaths. Stay relaxed. Stay calm.

THERE IS NOTHING IN LIFE THAT IS NOT POSSIBLE. WE ARE THE ONLY ONES THAT MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE. YOU GOTTA STAY PATIENT. IT’S UP TO YOU WITH WHAT YOU’RE GOING TO DO WITH THAT CHOICE. - LUIS DEFRANCE

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Gina: Has mindfulness helped with school?

Luis: It helps with tests strategy wise. Before, I would freeze up. You started teaching us new techniques. It opened up my eyes. Now when I take tests I’m calm and stable with them. I take deep breaths and I passed all my tests with high scores.

Gina: What do you want to want to do when you’re older? And is there anything you can tell us about yourself or what you want people to know?

Luis: When I want something in life I work hard to make sure I achieve it. I’m going to college soon and I’m going to become a professional boxer and hopefully down the line I can open my own gym. There is nothing in life that is not possible. We are the only ones that make it impossible. You gotta stay patient.

It’s up to you with what you’re going to do with that choice.

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GIRLS ARE NOT FOR SALE

WHAT HAS YOGA DONE FOR YOU? Imagine what it can do for survivors of abuse.

Girls Educational & Mentoring Services (GEMS) is the only organization in New York State specifically designed to serve girls and young women, ages 12–24, who have experienced commercial sexual exploitation and domestic trafficking.

For ways you can help visit www.gems-girls.org.

Exhale to Inhale empowers survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault through the healing and grounding practice of yoga.

Free weekly classes throughout New York. Learn more and support us with a donation today! exhaletoinhale.org Exhale to Inhale, Inc. is a registered 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization

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Join in the power community.

Connecting Brooklyn to the rainforest of Costa Rica.

Be a part of this unique fundraising event—to preserve the rainforest in the Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica. “the most biologically intense place on the planet.”

National Geographic

Benefiting the White Hawk Foundation

SAVE OUR BREATH BE THE SOLUTION LIVE MUSIC & YOGA ART & EXPERIENCE AUCTION BROOKLYN BOTANIC GARDEN NOVEMBER 12, 2015 6:30PM - 9:30PM TICKETS: WHITEHAWKFOUNDATION.ORG Yoga + Life Magazines Support Local Non-Profits Through our PSA Partnership Program + Event Fundraising Efforts. Call for More Details. | 815.414.YOGA

Bringing mindful movement, social emotional learning and personal empowerment to children and teens since 2006 TEL (212) 634 7890 EMAIL info@littlefloweryoga.com WEB www.littlefloweryoga.com

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Beginner practicioners welcome. Three levels of training can be taken individually or combined. Yoga Alliance Certified.

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Sept 19-20, 2015: Level One Oct 17-19, 2015: Level Two Nov 21-22, 2015: Level Three Jan 16-17, 2016: Advanced Jan 23, 2016: Chair Yoga March 5-6, 2016: Level One April 16-17, 2016: Level Two June 4-5, 2016: Level Three

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Oct 3-4, 2015: Level One Jan 30-31, 2016: Level One May 2-3, 2016: Level Two Oct 3-4, 2016: Level Three

LONG ISLAND

Dec 5-6, 2015: Level One Jan 9-10, 2016: Level Two Feb 6-7, 2016: Level Three

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July 17-24, 2016 Level One-Level Three

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www.yogateddybear.com info@yogateddybear.com 212-627-3276

lifestyle / Travel

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BY KO IM, FEATURES EDITOR PHOTO: AMANDA KARI MCHUGH

HERE’S A LIST OF SOME PLACES FOR YOGIS TO UNWIND IN DIFFERENT WAYS IN AND OUTSIDE THE CITY. MIRBEAU INN & SPA (Finger Lakes) Tucked away in a forest, the upstate estate offers all kinds of different yoga – for alignment, hip and with essentials. There’s a spa and impressionist ponds and gardens to make you feel like you’re really out of the country.

DAYBREAKER (Moving target) Some rave it’s the best way to get over hump day. The sober dance party has taken place on a boat, Verboten in Brooklyn and other clubs in the city. Substitute cocktails with coconut water and shake to some DJs and sax instrumentalists.

PARRISH ART MUSEUM (East Hampton) The giant barn space hosts portraits and installations but also offers painting, meditation and yoga classes by the galleries. The highceiling, sunlit-filled space will leave you feeling open and inspired.

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lifestyle / Music

Play this BY: GEORGE FAYA

e had the opportunity to work, dance and play with famed DJ George Faya of Verboten in Brooklyn this past summer. He created a playlist for a special class Dana Flynn taught to celebrate NY YOGA + LIFE magazine at her BK Lotus studio. We asked George about his inspiration for the playlist, this is what he shared with us.

“My inspiration came from having taken Dana’s classes before and having a sense of her teaching style, which is in itself deeply inspiring through her combination of emotion and movement. I tend to play slower more meditative sets, but I know Dana gets you out of your head by moving and dancing almost immediately. I tried to keep a bit of momentum going for everyone with plenty of soulful house and tribal percussion at about 123bpm. I loved how she picked up on Nina Simone immediately and how it lifted her. Naturally, she sent the energy back out to us and lifted everyone else with her. Even as we circled back to stillness, the unity we found by moving together kept us together. The smiles at the end of class were evidence of that journey.”

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PLAYLIST FOR DANA’S BK LOTUS HOUSE PARTY CELEBRATING NY YOGA + LIFE Spiritual Insurrection – Joe Claussell Sunday Showers – Kentphonix Love Can Damage Your Health (Abicah Soul & Dennis Ferrer Remix) – Telepopmusik Take Words In Return – Henrik Schwartz Mr. Man – Dusky Deep Burnt – Pépé Bradock See-Line Woman (Kerri Chandler Remix) – Nina Simone Tribute – Soul Ascendants Jus’ Dance (Quentin Harris Re-Production) – Mr. V My Joy (Yass Remix) – Quentin Harris & Margaret Grace Palmaille – Dave DK Leaving Berlin (Lawrence Remix) – Donnacha Costello Distant (Feat. Christoph Kardek) – Yone B Gopala’s Dream (Edit) – Jai Uttal Cantamilla – Tranquility Bass

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RE-INVENT THE EVENT

STARR EVENTS 212.620.5000 x 290

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STARREVENTS.COM

lifestyle / Art

Art to Inspire THE RUBIN MUSEUM

INTRO: IANA VELEZ ARTWORK AND DETAILS: THE RUBIN MUSEUM

THE BUDDHA OF IMMEASURABLE LIFE: AMITAYUS BUDDHA Tibet 19th Century // Pigments on Cloth // Rubin Museum of Art

So often in yoga and spiritual studies we encounter images of Buddha, Gods, Goddesses, and are oftentimes unaware of the rich symbolism these images contain. New Yorkers are fortunate to have access to The Rubin Museum in Chelsea which inspires visitors to experience and learn more about vibrant artworks from the Himalayas, India, and neighboring regions. This piece from their collection titled, The Buddha of Immeasurable Life: Amitayus Buddha, has many of the traditional symbols we associate with art of this region. The Rubin Museum was kind enough to share with us the history and symbolisms of this stunning piece.

Amitayus, Buddha of the Western Paradise, is found not only in tantric texts but also in the early Mahayana sutras from India, making him a universally popular Buddhist figure. Amitayus wears a jeweled-crown, gold ornaments, and a fluttering array of luxurious robes, while holding his characteristic vase containing the nectar of immortality in his lap. Amitayus is also the Buddha of Infinite Life recognizable by his is ruby-red color like the setting sun, richly adorned robes, and ornaments he wears.

An image of Amitayus is often commissioned to wish someone a long life and he is sometimes depicted with two other deities, White Tara and Ushnishavijaya, forming a set of the three deities of long life.

SYMBOLISM IN THIS IMAGERY Color of His Body: the rising sun Adornments: divine attributes, things of beauty Vase: includes elixir of immortality, symbol of essential things in life (which are also often ingested) Lotus Asana: correct posture keeps your intention and attitude Lotus Seat: Foundation is what makes everything possible In addition to Buddha Shakyamuni, the historical prince who attained enlightenment, Tibetan Buddhism is populated by a number of other Buddhas who were not human figures but exist instead in their own celestial realms. They are embodiments of enlightened qualities and their Purelands are Buddhist paradises, where one can be reborn to focus entirely on achieving Enlightenment.

Visit The Rubin Museum: www.RubinMuseum.org 150 West 17th Street, New York

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ADVERTISMENT

Advertorial

lifestyle / Products

JEWELS Beautiful jewelry made by artist Erwin List and yoga instructor and acupuncturist Deborah Stotzky.

Together they make these handmade necklaces, earrings and bracelets of yoga asana. Sterling silver, gold, and platinum. www.yogajewels.net

LEGGINGS Designed by NY YOGA + LIFE Regional Leader and contributor, Eleonora Rachel Zampatti and Linnea Tober to support “Ode to the Moon” to bring awareness to the topic of domestic violence. www.artofwhere.com

MOON BOX

Looking for gifts for the yogis in your life? These beautiful gift boxes include hand-picked crystals, dried herbs, guided full moon rituals, and essential oils. www.gaiacollective.com

WHEEL Created by two of the coolest yogis we know, all wheels are made to order, hand-crafted and come in really great colors. Check out their great IG account and order your wheel online. They are generously offering a 15% discount to our NY YOGA + LIFE community: use the code YOGALIFE Instagram @breakin_a_sweat www.breakin-a-sweat.myshopify.com

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LIP BALM We can’t get enough of this protective and antioxidant rich lip balm that leaves lips deeply nourished and softly scented with the Valencia Vanilla natural and organic essential oil blend. www.bogavia.com NY YOGALIFEMAG.COM

JUICE

Delicious juices made right in Jersey!

Offering organic cold pressed juice , vegan nut milk shakes, herbal organic cold teas, and vegan snacks. This is also the first store in New Jersey to be offering hand-crafted Kombucha made in house.

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YOGA MIST

FOOD

Created by our friends and partners at Aura Cacia, these mists are USDA organic, 100% pure essential oils, with 1% given back to organic farmers and their communities. Not tested on animals, and paraben, petroleum free. www.auracacia.com

Organic, vegan and 100% delicious! We love all the spreads and are the perfect snack. www.jemraw.com

BODY SCRUB An exquisite pleasure for body and mind, Organic Honey Sugar Scrub is a hydrating body polish for satiny soft and radiant skin. www.omaroma.com

NAIL POLISH Inspired by Yoga, Ayurveda, and other spiritual practices, Raga Varnish brings you spiritually stimulating nail polish colors that help to energize your chakras, balance your doshas, unite you to the divine, and bring a little extra color into your already beautiful life. www.ragavarnish.com

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Hang Time 101 Coming out of class my back felt more aligned, my arms and legs felt longer, and my head felt clearer.

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The student:

My first AERIAL YOGA class BY: SAMANTHA HILTON “I have all the time in the world, life moves at a glacial pace, and I have very little stress,” a sentence never uttered by a New Yorker. For years I had been taking on more responsibilities, looking for the next project, next opportunity, and then learning how to handle it. My attempt to build a career had placed my health and fitness in the back seat. I realized if I continued down this road, as my responsibilities grew, so would my lack of muscle tone, low energy, and back pain.

I decided to be honest with myself about where I was and where I wanted to go. It was time to start making changes to my lifestyle. First step was to make a commitment to eating well and prioritizing physical activity, to take advantage of all the resources New York City has to offer.

PREVIOUS EXERCISE REGIME: Occasional half marathon runner, Yoga (Bikram and Hatha) GOAL: Incorporate new types of physical activity into my schedule 3-5 times a week that I look forward to, and meet new people trying to do the same.

FIRST EXPERIENCE: UNNATA® AERIAL YOGA at Sacred Sounds Yoga in Manhattan. I was certainly intimidated but had the most amazing instructor, Cynthia Bettis.

TIPS: Don’t be afraid to put your hand up and say “I’m new - can you help?” That’s one of the great things about yoga, you set the rules for yourself and determine how far you want to go.

Make sure you’re hydrated. You’ll be spending a good amount of time upside down and in amazing positions in the hammock.

The class began by familiarizing yourself with the yoga hammock, a beautiful cloth that hangs from the ceiling. As a beginner, I needed a little modification using the hammock to swing; it is meant to rest just below your hips, and my balance needed some work. Once I was in the hammock and swinging I was able to let go, stretch my legs and back, and get deeper into positions. You’re basically doing a lot of traditional yoga poses, but doing them with the hammock and elevated. Watching the more advanced yogis get into poses was inspiring, and not intimidating at all.

The highlight of the class was getting into an upside down lotus position, largely thanks to Cynthia’s help. You end the class in a savasana cocoon within the hammock and have the time to reflect and think. Coming out of class my back felt more aligned, my arms and legs felt longer, and my head felt clearer. The business of the day felt more manageable and even possible. I’m so glad I did it – and can’t wait to do it again.

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The teacher:

Your first AERIAL YOGA class BY: CYNTHIA BETTIS

A person drawn to UNNATA® AERIAL YOGA is often eager and adventurous; and I always love the enthusiasm that comes through the door. We were born to dance and fly, not to be statues. Many of us spend the majority of our time upright, seated and rounded, so to be fully extended and/or upsidedown can be a very dynamic experience. Keep in mind it often takes practice to hold a posture and students should always feel safe and at ease with the process.

TIPS FOR STUDENTS: Have fun, play, and get curious about new ways to move.

Don’t worry if your movement “exactly” matches the teacher’s or your neighbor’s.

Take breaks when necessary from this dynamic experience, it can be over-stimulating for the nervous and/or circulatory system.

Our culture often promotes physical drive and stamina, which is great for creating a strong practice, but does not always serve in calming the senses and ultimately the mind.

Remember, the aerial hammock can provide a safe place for one to be physically held, and to energetically “let go”.

When you move more slowly and with intention, you have time to check in with your breath; and then adjust yourself to be more comfortable in (or out of) your fabric. This practice is ultimately about seeing with a new perspective and moving with more space in the body.

We were born to dance and fly, not to be statues.

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tanya-b HEATHER MIKESELL

Although there is no shortage of yoga apparel on the market today, it isn’t always easy to find a brand that not only looks and feels great but also seeks to bring the yoga community together. Fortunately, that’s exactly what co-founders Tanya Boulton and Anna Chung set out to create when they launched tanya-b, a yoga lifewear brand, this past winter.

The collection, inspired by the busy urban lifestyle, is designed for fashion-forward yogis who want their apparel to go from the studio to the streets. Made up of versatile pieces in limited-edition colors, the line features a variety of signature tie-dye halters, off-the-shoulder tops, colorful leggings, and more.

While the idea came to Tanya as she was living and teaching yoga in Hong Kong, the line didn’t truly take off until she teamed up with Anna, a former hedge fund executive. Unfulfilled from life on Wall Street and looking for balance, Anna enrolled in Pure Yoga’s Teacher Training. It was at the studio that she and Tanya first crossed paths and began discussing the idea of resurrecting the line, which had originally launched in Hong Kong to great acclaim. Due to limited funds and distribution channels, however, it was unable to keep up with demand. Never losing sight of her purposeful calling to create a brand that revolved around community, creativity, and connectivity, Tanya joined forces with Anna, who shared her vision of creating a truly authentic and accessible line.

Unlike many mass-produced yoga wear brands, tanya-b is focused on building a connection with the yoga community. As yoga teachers themselves, Tanya and Anna wanted the line to inspire other instructors both on and off the mat. “I believe people are craving community and connectivity, which is why so many people are drawn to yoga in the first place,” says Tanya.

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URBAN LEGENDS It’s that same yoga community that tanya-b is relying on to help spread the word, as members share their passion for yoga. “We have reached out to our global community to build a team of Urban Legends, acclaimed teachers who we’ve selected as brand ambassadors to showcase not only their tanya-b style but also teach at yoga events and share their epic playlists through our website,” says Anna. It’s a sense of community that visitors will find when they log on to the tanya-b website, which features profiles of the brand’s Urban Legends, top lists on everything from favorite poses to post-yoga thirst quenchers, and more. While the line appeals to yoga enthusiasts of all levels, it also honors those who devote themselves to guiding others on the yoga journey. As a result, tanya-b keeps it real by partnering only with yoga teachers to model the line. Who better to showcase the sexy yet functional styles?

GOOD DEEDS Living and breathing the yoga lifestyle, Tanya and Anna are intent on giving back. “We want people to look and feel great wearing tanya-b,” says Tanya.

“And knowing they’re supporting a line that contributes to causes we believe in is just one of the ways we achieve that.” The company has aligned itself with charities from Brooklyn to Los Angeles, including the American Heart Association; Edeyo Foundation, which is dedicated to improving the future of children in Haiti with education and nutritional support; Felix Organization, which makes dreams come true for children in foster care; and Lumos, an international organization founded by J.K. Rowling that works to transform the lives of disadvantaged children in institutions and orphanages by helping them regain their right to a family. As tanya-b continues to gain momentum through its collaborative partnerships with individuals, brands, and charities that align with the company’s vision, the grassroots brand is giving yogis a choice they can feel good about while decking them out in style. “We have a deep-rooted passion in bringing authenticity to the brand,” says Anna. “This means we walk the walk and talk the talk. We teach yoga, we support our yoga ambassadors with their dreams, we give back, and we strive to make yoga accessible to as many people as we can.”

INSTAGRAM: @TBNEWYORK TWITTER: @TANYABNEWYORK WWW.TANYA-B.COM

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INSPIRATIONAL BACKBENDING SEQUENCE MODEL & SEQUENCE: SAMI LEA LIPMAN PHOTOS: DAVID OAKLEY

Yoga + Life Magazine’s Creative Director, Sami Lea Lipman has an inspiring backbending practice. Sami says that backbending healed her body. When she was sixteen, she had a major surgery on her lumbar spine. At twenty-one, a motorcycle wreck resulted in a titanium rod being inserted to stabilize her pelvis and hips. Adding backbends into her practice keeps her pain free – and her heart open.

Here’s a heart-opening sequence that will leave you and your students feeling refreshed and inspired.

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BEFORE YOU START!

Backbends aren’t just about flexibility in the spine and require a lot of power from many other areas of the body. Start with a few Sun Salutation As and Sun Salutation Bs to create heat in the body and warm up your muscles. As you move, create flow with breath. Allow your breath to fuel a sense of lightness. At the same time, pay attention to grounding down and using the earth as a source of foundation. The combination of tapas (heat), breath, and foundation will build strength and prepare the body to explore these ecstatic heart-openers.

BLOCKS-IN-THE-BACK VIRASANA

1.

ANJANEYASANA

2.

Place one block on the high setting between your shoulderblades and another one beneath your head, then lie back into Supta Virasana. This opens the quads, shoulders, throat, and heart. TO MODIFY: Sit on a brick and clasp your hands behind your back.

From Anjaneyasana, go back! Hug into your midline, trust your feet, and engage the bandhas for stability. If you feel a tweak in your low-back, lengthen the lumbar curve by moving your tailbone down. TO MODIFY: Place your hands on your thigh in Low Lunge. Shift your hips forward to awaken your back quadricep.

G’NELL’S DESSERT

3.

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From Lizard on your forearms, bend your back knee, reach around, and catch your lifted foot with the opposite hand. Take it a step further by looping your lifted elbow over your head. Hello shoulder and quadricep!

TO MODIFY: Use a brick under your hand and a strap around your foot.

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ARDHA CHANDRA CHAPASANA

4.

From Ardha Chandrandrasana, bend your back leg and clasp your foot with your lifted hand. Sami likes to grab the big-toe side of her foot – it opens her shoulder-girdle more. Be sure to kick your lifted leg back, rather than up. Look up! TO MODIFY: Use a block under your hand and gaze down.

TRIKONASANA VARIATION

5.

Add a backbend into Trikonasana by walking your grounded hand back, and off your mat on spider-fingers. Support the back of your head with your lifted hand to encourage Jalandhara Bandha.

Recruit each vertebrae of your spine. TO MODIFY: Use a block or two to bring the earth closer to you.

GANDA BHERUNDASANA

6.

From all-fours, bend your elbows and shift your weight forward and down, so your chin rests on the earth. Tuck your toes into a Down Dog variation and lift one leg up. The other leg will follow. Be sure to use strength before momentum. And Sami speaks from experience when saying, do not try this in sand! TO MODIFY: Use blocks under your shoulders and try with straight legs before backbending.

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DWI PADA VIPARITA DANDASANA

7.

From Full Wheel, place the crown of your head back down on the earth, bring your forearms down one-at-atime, and clasp your hands behind your head. Send your chest forward, press your forearms down, walk your legs out, and lift your head. TO MODIFY: A simple supported Bridge variation with straight legs will hit the spot.

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Mercedes Club Review LAUREN TAUS & MICHAEL AIDALA

As fitness instructors with over a decade of combined experience working in different facilities around the country, we were very excited to experience Mercedes Club. We walked in without expectations, and discovered an oasis in the middle of Manhattan. A humble entry led us into a massive space for wellness where we enjoyed training sessions, a basketball court, spin, boxing and yoga classes, spa treatments, and of course the pool and outdoor space!

Our first day at Mercedes Club, we met with a trainer who had his work cut out for him working with two under- cover professionals, but he met the challenge. He designed a fun hour that had us moving and sweating right away! A high intensity athletic training session with a splash of partner exercises, made for a playful workout – our favorite kind. Melini’s yoga class, Ricki’s spin class, and Jackie’s boxing class were all standouts, and we feel confident that the entire schedule is full of rock star instructors.

One of the most striking qualities of Mercedes Club is its size and vibe.

The floor plan revolves around a giant outdoor swimming pool that is spacious and perfect for lounging or swimming laps. They also offer a sauna, a steam room and we were both treated to hour-long massages from excellent service providers.

In addition to all the fitness options, we felt that Mercedes Club was a great place to just BE. We loved Mercedes Club, and consider it one of the city’s better-kept secrets (that we are happy to now know all about)!

Mercedes Club is an urban fitness oasis combining sleek modern design, lavish amenities, state of the art equipment, creative Group Exercise programming, an elite Personal training staff and unparalleled Member service. This impressive 80,000 square foot Health Club surrounds a spectacular outdoor pool and grand sundeck. Unique and beautiful, Mercedes Club is a total body/mind experience that will help you reach your fitness potential.

THEMERCEDESCLUB.COM 550 W 54TH ST, NEW YORK, NY 10019

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Mind.

Body.

Office?

Your Guide to Top NYC Office Mind-Body Program Providers

BY BRIA TAVAKOLI PHOTOS: JOE LONGO MODEL: YOGA TEACHER, SARA SZUNYOGH “When we’re in contact with our own humanity, we are able to acknowledge another’s humanity. It’s the epitome of namaste.” ­— Tevis Rose Trower founder, Balance Integration Imagine a world where you never again had to sneak out of work to take yoga or meditate. For a growing segment of New Yorkers, that world is already a reality. More and more offices are offering mind-body experiences in-house, as an employee perk, and to boost productivity and morale. “You cannot deny science and personal experience of successful people,” says Jen Kluczkowski, co-founder of MindFresh, a company that brings its 30 minute office yoga format to offices around the city. “A lot of heavy hitters in the business world are starting to attribute success to yoga and meditation.” This secret weapon, “gives them the clarity and critical decision making skills.”

Benefits include: INCREASED EXPERIENCE OF COMMUNITY AND WORKPLACE CAMARADERIE FEELING MORE CONNECTED TO ONE’S COLLEAGUES BETTER MORALE, CREATIVITY, AND TEAMWORK

check out: BALANCE INTEGRATION: Launched in NYC in 2002 with a yogic focus, this company now operates in 20 different cities offering everything from acupuncture to Zumba. www.BalanceIntegration.com EXUBRANCY: Top choice of the NYC tech and startup communities, Exubrancy offers hour-long in office classes, equipment provided.

Formats include yoga, Pilates mat, barre, and 30 minute meditation sessions. www.Exubrancy.com MINDFRESH: A hit at SXSW 2015, they offer 30 minute yoga and breathing sessions in offices that require no changing of clothes, zero special equipment, and sometimes a post-class treat. www.YogaMeansBusiness.com PRITI ROBYN ROSS: A pioneer in this area, Ross has offered experience-based mindfulness and stress-reduction, productivity optimization programming since the 1980s to clients like the NYSE. She also leads retreats worldwide, including corporate mindfulness and team-building offerings. www.LifeasYoga.com YOGAWORKS AT WORK: The popular studio brings the mat into the office, with yoga and Pilates mat offerings. www.YogaWorks.com

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Work.

Time.

Yoga.

You can’t control gossiping co-workers or getting a massive assignment at the last minute, but you can manage your own cubicle aches and work stress. It doesn’t have to take up a lot of time or space. If you have trouble remembering to tear yourself away from your screen, mindfully set a little calendar reminder to try these three yoga poses – you’ll be more productive, easier to work with, and healthier on the job.

BY CHRISTINE CHEN, YOGA TEACHER AND AUTHOR, HAPPY-GO-YOGA

COUNTER POSE: TO COUNTER ACT SITTING ALL DAY Stand, facing your desk, and lay your outer right shin on the desk (your knee too). Put your left hand on the desk and press your right palm gently on your thigh while flexing your right foot.

If you want to go deeper, lean forward, hinging at your hips. Move your right hand onto the desk to support yourself and keep breathing to free tight hips, relieve your lower back, and feel more balanced after sitting for too long!

COUNTER POSE

TWIST DON’T SHOUT TWIST DON’T SHOUT: TO RELEASE TENSION AND NOT GET CALLED TO HR Sit toward the front of a chair that rotates with your knees and toes facing the desk.

Put your right palm on the desk and your left palm on the chair behind you. Inhale, sit tall, then exhale and twist to the left as you draw your belly button deeper into the center of your body. Repeat a few times, then, switch to the other side to calm your brain, purge toxins, relieve your lower back, and let go of what’s bugging you at work.

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WRIST WRESTLING

WRIST WRESTLING: TO TACKLE PROJECTS WITHOUT STRAIN Look away from your screen, reach both arms out in front of you, and interlace your fingers, pressing your palms together. Moving only at your wrists, draw a slow figure eight with your knuckles while breathing deeply for 20 seconds. Switch sides, and bring fresh blood flow and muscular relief to your hands, wrists and shoulders after a toxic session of typing, texting, and emailing – then go back to your projects with more vigor.

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BY ANGELA WILLIAMS -JONES PHOTOS: MATT FRICOVSKY

The word Mudra is Sanskrit for seal, mark, or gesture. Pranayama, is breathwork.

Mudras are often used during meditation or pranayama as a way to direct energy into the body stimulating specific portions of the brain, organs and tissues. A great settling posture that can be used prior to daily meditation is called the Ego Eradicator. This pose can be completed by beginners for three minutes, eventually building up to thirty-three.

ego eradicator pose TAPS INTO: Energy, positivity, intuition, and increased prana or life force. This pose builds upon your aura, charisma and radiance.

POSITIONING FOR POSE: Find easy pose with heavy, solid rooted hips.

Lengthen and straighten your spine with your crown pressed toward the sky.

Extend your arms up and out at a 60 degree angle and extended overhead.

Drop your shoulders away from your ears, extend thumbs out and press the remaining fingers firmly against the pads of your hands.

Close your eyes gently then shift your eyes toward the center of your brow.

Begin using Kapalabhati Pranayama (“skull shining breath�) for three minutes.

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CLARITY COMES WHEN THE MIND IS AT EASE DESPITE WHAT IS HAPPENING IN YOUR SURROUNDINGS.

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Kapalabhati Pranayama To effectively practice Kapalabhati Pranayama, take a deep breath through your nostrils, mouth is closed. As you exhale, contract your lower abdomen toward your spine using short, strong bursts of air. As you rapidly engage the contraction, allow your inhales to be automatic and passive. Do not contract the lower abdomen during your inhales. Your true energy and focus comes from the exhales ranging from 75-100 repetitions per minute.

At the end of your designated time, take a strong inhale in to touch thumbs above head. Hold the breath, and as you slowly exhale spread your fingers wide, turn palms down and float them down to the earth combing through the electromagnetic energy that surrounds you. Palms resting, find complete stillness and absorb the beautiful energy.

l

Health Wellness Vitality Retreats with Annie Fisco Yoga TULUM, MEXICO­ JANUARY 20-25, 2016 AMANSALA ECO-CHIC RESORT Tulum is the hottest destination in Mexico and each year it gets better.

I’m committed to a potent and energizing physical (Baptiste Yoga) practice, meditation practice daily, rejuvenation, and wellness for your mind and your body. Renew you. A more comprehensive look at itinerary and schedules by request. See you on the mat.

WHAT’S INCLUDED: Meditation everyday 2 yoga classes a day Option for evening Yin Delicious, 0healthy meals Workshops (Manifesting the Life You Want, Finding Your True North)

Annie Fisco Certified Yoga Instructor Holistic Health Consultant

ANNIEFISCOYOGA@GMAIL.COM

NY YOGALIFEMAG.COM

203-273-0446 annie.fisco@gmail “My

Annie is a 800hr teacher. Trained at Pure Yoga NYC with Kay Kay Clivio and Yogi Charu, and completed an additional training with Loren Bassett 300hr. Annie also studied with Raghunath and Leslie Kaminoff. Annie is a Baptiste Certified teacher, and continues assisting program, and working with Baron Baptiste. Annie currently teaches at Lyons Den Power Yoga and Powerflow in Hoboken, NJ. Annie has a strong background in Sports Medicine, and is a Holistic Health Coach as well through IIN (Institute for Integrative Nutrition). Annie teaches private lessons, corporate classes, meditation, yoga, and motivational speaking for corporations all over NYC and the tristate area.

goal is to walk into a room and make the lights get brighter. Empower you.”

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yoga / Asana

BY ELEONORA RACHELE ZAMPATTI

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I UNDERSTOOD I HOLD WITHIN MYSELF BOTH SUN AND MOON.

Duality sits at the core of the human identity.

Life is full of inexplicable opposites: one moment I hide behind my tears, the next moment I warm somebody’s heart with my smile. I often want to hide in the darkness of the night, yet I cannot live without the warm touch of the sun. My soul shines when surrounded by people, yet it seeks moments of absolute solitude. I love the vibration of music, yet I recharge through silence. The more I surrender to this constant wave of being, the more I find myself.

I spent my entire life dwelling within myself. The more I tried to be strong and avoid emotional connections, the more I fell apart.

I often thought I was too little and fragile for this world. One day while sitting in the darkness of my little apartment I understood how much I was able to love the worse of me and the best of me at the same time. I understood I hold within myself both Sun and Moon and understood that neither of them we’re supposed to fight the other. I decided to just be. To stop hiding “the wrong Eleonora” trying to be “the good Eleonora” and instead to embrace them both.

I made the decision to be everything I was not proud of; alone, scared and vulnerable. I embraced that darkness and I connected to the sound of my heartbeat and suddenly discovered

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that primordial rhythm, that life force that we all carry inside.

I discovered that force is the product of the perfect mix of two opposite energies that collide inside one heart.

WE HOLD A POSE ONLY TO UNDERSTAND HOW TRULY GOOD IT FEELS TO LET IT GO.

I connected to the force that shines in my core, the fierce fire that comes from accepting who you are deep down in the scariest place of your soul. I understood that being vulnerable was not my weakness, but my strength. I understood that duality, vulnerability and strength are my identity. In life, the more you try to hold onto something, the faster it will slip away from you. Once you’re able to surrender, the more you’re able to take in.

We learn this same principle in the yoga practice. We hold a pose only to understand how truly good it feels to let it go.

We love to fire up our physical practice working on inversions and arm balances, and then we water it down for those grounding moments in forward bends or hip openers. We energize our soul in back bends, and then we nourish it in savasana.

We constantly fight and surrender. Surrender to God, to our breath, to a reality that sometimes does not make sense. We do this in order to bloom into who we really are: opposites of the Universe contained in the infinite whole of our soul.

PHOTOS: CLAIRE SHEPROW, FINDORION PHOTOGRAPHY

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yoga / Philosophy

BY KRISTIN LEAL

There is a deep abiding truth and beauty born in each breath.

I wholeheartedly believe we have the opportunity to lift the covering of cells and structure to reveal the weight of our own inner presence most poetically through our own breath. Place your hands over your heart (go ahead, I’ll wait). Feel the selfless commander of the heart, the rise and fall of your breath. It is our own intimate geography that reminds us of our very visceral participation with who we are.

The breath is controlled both by voluntary action as well as the autonomic nervous system. This means you could be asked to take a slower, deeper breath, and you can oblige consciously.

Either way, the breath is initiated nervously (via the nervous system) by a muscle called the diaphragm. It is sometimes likened to a portabello mushroom cap, an open umbrella, or my favorite, a jellyfish. A nerve leading to your diaphragm fires and stimulates it to contract. This causes the central tendon to pull downward, flattening towards the abdomen. This in turn creates a negative pressure in the thoracic cavity. Air loves to move towards the area of lowest pressure, so air is funneled into the lungs via the nose causing the lungs to expand. I used to think that we simply sniffed the air in and pushed the breath out, but the real view is so much more elegant and dare I say more “yogic”. Our own physiology teaches us that we are only just making space for the inspiration to fill us.

Hundreds of muscles conspire to make room for this inspiration and become responsive to its caress. The dynamics we often talk about in yoga of engagement and surrender are played out with each breath we are blessed to take. With each inhale there is an opening, a stretch, a reach, a literal and energetic inspiration. There is a choice to engage with where you are and to follow the long loose tendrils of the breath as they unwind and slide into each nook and cranny. The exhale is a physical and energetic surrender. It is the yielding of the diaphragm, the belly, and the ribs toward your very center. It is a bowing to where you are and to what is. That surrender of whatever is tugging on your “mind’s sleeve” to pull you away from the truth of where and who you are. The end of the exhale, at your most surrendered, is actually where you are the strongest, anatomically, and most primed for action. Physically, the belly and pelvic floor can be at their most contracted. You are at your lightest point.

BREATHE DEEPLY, UNTIL SWEET AIR EXTINGUISHES THE BURN OF FEAR IN YOUR LUNGS AND EVERY BREATH IS A BEAUTIFUL REFUSAL TO BECOME ANYTHING LESS THAN INFINITE. – D. ANTOINETTE FOY

This is why in the vinyasa style of practice you often do all of the heavy lifting of hopping or stepping forward at the end of the exhale. This also beautifully hints that the more you can surrender and soften, the stronger and more susceptible you become ready to receive the rush of inspiration just around the corner.

ART: JON MARRO

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If we are lucky this truth will be whispered to us over 23,000 times today. Our only job is to get quiet enough to listen.

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THE EXHALE IS A PHYSICAL AND ENERGETIC SURRENDER. ART: MIRIAM CASTILLO

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yoga / Meditation

BY SATYA SCAINETTI

What if you could create a oneof-a-kind piece of jewelry that would not only showcase your unique sense of style, but would also help center you while acting as an amulet for all that you want to manifest in your life?

The mala is a traditional garland of 108 prayer beads. Every bead represents a truth, and meditating on each bead with an affirmation, or mantra, is known to bring peace of mind. The mala also can be seen as a metaphor for life; a small knot between each of the beads represents a challenge between the smoother, more beautiful aspects of life. How can we learn from these challenges and triumph over them to arrive at a life more beautiful than we could have imagined?

EVERY BEAD REPRESENTS A TRUTH, AND MEDITATING ON EACH BEAD WITH AN AFFIRMATION, OR MANTRA, IS KNOWN TO BRING PEACE OF MIND.

In her fun, inspiring manifestation workshops, Satya Scainetti, co-founder of Satya Jewelry, leads attendees in the sacred art of mala making while instructing on how to use the mala to manifest miracles in their lives. Creating a personal mala necklace works to open hearts and serves as a talisman for individual empowerment and well-being.

Each attendee leaves the workshop with a one-of-a-kind mala bead necklace.

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To learn more about Malas please join Satya for an intention setting and Mala making workshop brought to you in part

by NY YOGA + LIFE magazine.

This workshop will be held Nov. 14, 2015, at The Rubin Museum.

Details can be found at www. nyyogalifemag.com.

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Crystals Connecting with

BY PAULA PAVLOVA

PHOTO: PAUL UNDERSINGER PHOTOGRAPHY MODEL: SHANNON TOMA

WHEN COUPLED WITH MEDITATIVE PRACTICE, SUCH AS YOGA, CRYSTALS ACT AS RECORD KEEPERS, WHICH CAN HELP ONE CULTIVATE AND PROPAGATE POSITIVE INTENTIONS.

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CRYSTALS ARE ART GIVEN TO US BY THE EARTH. e, as human beings are an equally magnificent gift from nature. We live and breathe magic in action. Whether we are aware of it or not, we are always transmitting energy throughout the universe. In addition to diverse cultures and ancient traditions, innovators, inventors, and scientists alike have used crystals as a way to better connect with and understand the underpinnings of our existence. Today the

use of crystals continues as a means of spiritual, personal, and ecological exploration.

Most notably, crystals can be used as magnifiers of intention. When coupled with a meditative practice, such as yoga, crystals act as record keepers, which can help one cultivate and propagate positive intentions. Together, the two act as an energetic force that can powerfully transform and manifest your true Self. The best part about all of this is that there is no right or wrong way to begin connecting with crystals. In fact, it is highly encouraged to work intuitively. When connecting with crystals, do your best to stay receptive and open minded to anything that can shift within you.

To learn more about what we have to offer, visit our website www.gaiacollective.com, and order yours today to join our MoonBox cOMmunity!

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yoga / Business

Life.

Liberty… and the pursuit of the hustle!

BY AVA TAYLOR PHOTOS: JOE LONGO

hat is it like to be an independent yoga teacher in New York?

Equal parts entrepreneurial drive, belief in the fundamental right to be able to work for oneself, and a whole lot of hustle. I get it.

In 2010 I founded YAMA, a full service yoga management agency, because yoga teachers were struggling to make a living teaching yoga. I had a hunch that the tools I’d gained from working in sales, PR and management could be a compliment to the creative minds of yoga teachers and an asset that would allow them to increase revenue, opportunity, stability and to help clarify their career path in a rapidly growing industry.

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I was right, and we have been hustling ever since. I love my job. I love my freedom. I love that every day is different. I love knowing that my work makes a difference because it helps support getting more yoga into the world. I also know what it is like to piece one’s income together staying in the grind, to need to constantly improve your product and to stay relevant. This is yoga in New York.

There are no set salaries for a yoga teacher; we must earn it bit by bit.

Here are few things I’ve learned conceptualizing, giving birth to, and raising a small business in NYC that every teacher can use to not just survive but to thrive in NY: 1. TAKE IT SERIOUSLY. Own the fact that you are a running a business. Too many teachers get caught up for too long in the head trip of whether or not it’s okay to be a business-minded yoga teacher and since we know your landlord doesn’t take karma for rent, we must ask ourselves, what option do we have?

The sooner teachers can get real with the fact that they are their own small business. It becomes inevitably easier to operate. Are you working every week on the BIG 4 for small business? You should be. Every week you should be working on the following: Strategy: thinking ahead, where do you want your business to go, and why?

Marketing: getting the word out about your products/services Operations: how is your business functioning?

Financials: revenue assessment/analysis 2. ASK FOR HELP. None of us can do it alone. Not only are teachers spread thin time-wise, it is also incredibly helpful to have someone objective to work with who can help you set targets and achieve them. We alone can only go so far solo.

3. SET CLEAR GOALS. Most of us know we want to be more successful, less stressed, reach more students and make more money. But how exactly do we see ourselves getting there? It’s so important because if you don’t know where you are going, you end up somewhere else.

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4. LEVERAGE YOUR NETWORK. New York is probably the best place on earth to network. People want to help you reach your goals, they really do. I have had enormous support over the years in all sorts of ways to help me make YAMA a reality. Once you are clear on what you want, and not afraid to speak up, you will quickly realize that everyone you need to help you accomplish your goals is already around you.

5. JUST SAY NO. Some of the hardest learned lessons for yogis is the art of prioritization and negotiation. How to evaluate the give/get in any situation and make sure that opportunities you take on are actually an important and appropriate value of your time. Which means sometimes you have to say no, or push back on an offer until it is right.

Long live the hustle!

I LOVE KNOWING THAT MY WORK MAKES A DIFFERENCE BECAUSE IT HELPS SUPPORT GETTING MORE YOGA INTO THE WORLD.

connect | Balance | collaborate | celebrate | truth | beauty | unity

SEPTEMBER 18-20

HAYGROUND SCHOOL, BRIDGEHAMPTON, NY

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health / Food

Shut Up +((namaste)) Eat BY: JUSTINE MA

Choosing a place to eat is not a simple task. It requires some thought regarding the guests sharing the meal, cuisine, location, budget, and environment. To ease some of this responsibility, I’ve chosen three restaurants in New York - casual Italian, fine-dining New American, and a Jewish bakery cafe - that accommodate vegans, vegetarians, and omnivores. Yes, we can all eat together and be happy about it!

ABOVE

BREADS BAKERY 18 E 16th St., New York, NY (Union Square) www.breadsbakery.com

VIC’S NEW YORK 31 Great Jones St., New York, NY (NoHo) www.vicsnewyork.com

Vic’s New York is a great place for brunch, lunch or dinner. It’s the perfect spot to dine solo, impress a friend, or invite family members. The restaurant décor is modern rustic with exposed brick, hardwood floors, and an atrium featuring Chef Hillary Sterling and her team working in the open kitchen. Known for her expertise in Italian cuisine, Chef Hillary sources fresh, seasonal ingredients to highlight her take on classic Italian-Mediterranean dishes. Order heavily from the “mercato” section and do not pass up on her handmade pastas. Open everyday, dinner reservations recommended.

BELOW, RIGHT

Chef Uri Scheft is known for his signature chocolate babkas, challahs, and dark rye breads, but he also offers delicious sandwiches, hot soups, and healthy salads at the back counter. Located near Union Square station, Breads Bakery has become a local favorite among New Yorkers. Treat yourself to a quick lunch or post-workout snack. If you’re in a rush, pick up the gruyere sandwich and chickpea salad to take with you; or sit down for a cup of coffee and indulge in your favorite pastry… there’s always something fresh baking in their ovens! Breads Bakery also has a kiosk in Bryant Park, pop-up shops around the city, and a new location will open on the Upper West Side this fall!

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NY YOGA + LIFE instagram fun!

RESTAURANT NORTH 386 Main St., Armonk, NY (Westchester) www.restaurantnorth.com

Experience farm-to-table fine dining by Chef Eric Gabrynowicz and Wine Director Stephen Mancini. Focused on sustainable food systems, Restaurant North supports their local community by sourcing ingredients from farms within 65 miles of their restaurant. Daily menus are created based on the season’s bounty and executed with thoughtful preparation by Chef Eric.

Restaurant North provides undeniable hospitality and food that is fresh, hearty, and delicious.

PICTURED BELOW

Whether you choose to visit the restaurant for lunch or dinner, it will be a divine dining experience in a casual, yet refined atmosphere. Closed on Monday, open for lunch and dinner Tuesday-Sunday. If you prefer an ultra casual experience, walk across the street and snag one of ten seats at Market North. This gorgeous café serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner while offering baked goods and prepared foods to take home with you.

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In May NY YOGA + LIFE had the honor of partnering with Land Yoga as media sponsors for the Uptown Yoga Festival in Harlem that was part of the Harlem EatUp festival. We asked participants to answer the question on social media “what feeds your soul?” and loved this one from @seaofmarina.

IG: @SEAOFMARINA UP EARLY TO FEED SOME YOGA TO MY SOUL. DON’T LET THE RAIN RUIN YOUR FLOW! CREATIVITY IS WHAT FEEDS MINE #FEEDYOURSOUL #UPTOWNYOGAFESTIVAL

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health / Food

BY: JUSTINE MA

Ramen ˈrämən/

Quick-cooking noodles, typically served in a broth including meat and vegetables There’s a stigma that we’ve created around ramen as cheap comfort food due to value packs of fatty noodle bricks and salty seasoning packets; however, ramen doesn’t have to be associated with tight budgets and bad break-ups.

Chef Esther Choi of mŏkbar is reversing the perception of ramen by turning it into an enjoyable dining experience in New York City. Using many of her grandmother’s Korean recipes as the foundation of her dishes, Chef Esther creates slow-cooked broths to develop clean, flavorful food for all to enjoy.

J: What inspires you as a chef?

E: Seasonal ingredients drive my creativity. It’s fun for me to transform standard dishes by putting my Korean spin on them! I can also incorporate kimchi (fermented vegetables) into anything I cook.

At the end of the day, I like to create dishes that are seasonally delicious, sustainable, and healthy, especially the ramens I’ve created for mŏkbar.

J: Can you explain how ramen can be a healthy meal?

E: When I cook, it’s natural for me to create dishes that are clean. When you take away all of the stereotypical elements of ramen you’re left with noodles, broth, vegetables, and meat. I make all of the broths and kimchi from scratch - no MSG or artificial flavors whatsoever. And kimchi is a superfood!

J: Where do you get your ingredients for ramen?

E: For ramen, we use Sun Noodles. They’re the absolute best noodles and we love the chewy texture. For produce, I try to buy local vegetables at the Union Square Greenmarket and I make trips to the Korean markets in Flushing, Queens. Some of my favorite Korean ingredients are only available in Flushing during the warmer seasons, so I’ve created an additional summertime menu to highlight cold ramens!

J: Many of the ramens on the mŏkbar menu include animal proteins and fish sauce. Are there options for guests who are vegan and vegetarian?

E: Yes! All of our ramen is made to order, and the soup broths are made for specific dishes. Vegetarian ramens are available, and vegans can substitute our noodles for rice. In addition to our ramen options, we offer japchae (handmade dumplings with vegetables), seaweed salads, and kochi sticks (rice cakes).

J: You’ve been working in the food industry since you were 14 years old, what are your hours like now that you own a restaurant?

E: Being a chef is physically demanding - I’m usually on my feet for 10-12 hours, seven days a week; but it used to be a lot worse. Now it’s nice to sit down for a lunch break and I’m starting to take one day off each week. As a chef, entrepreneur, and business owner, I realize how important it is to take a break.

mŏkbar 75 Ninth Ave., New York, NY 10011 www.mokbar.com mŏkbar is a ramen shop located in Chelsea Market, combining traditional Korean soups with fresh Japanese ramen noodles for a unique noodle experience.

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J: How do you treat yourself on your day off?

E: A long walk or a hike, and a glass of wine. A big glass of wine!

J: What are your goals as a chef?

E: As a chef, it’s important for me to share my Korean heritage through my food. Korean cuisine has a long way to go before it becomes a social norm, and I’m excited to be part of the transition!

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mŏkbar classic Craving ramen? Need a warm hug?

Order the mŏkbar classic to experience layer upon layer of flavor; made with bone broth, braised pork, and three seasonal vegetables. The mŏkbar classic is a game changer. Ramen won’t be the same for you ever again.

seaweed “miyeok” (summer only) Just finished a sweaty class and looking for a meal that’ll keep you cool? Order the cold miyeok ramen that’s made with kombu seafood broth, garlic shrimp, green tea noodles, pickled shiitake, and cucumber. It’s the perfect post-workout meal because the seaweed will restore minerals into your body while aiding in digestion.

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disco fries Looking for something that says, “treat yo’self”?

Canadians call it poutine, New Jersey natives say Disco Fries. Chef Esther put her spin on this staple by serving fries in a cast iron pan, covered in pork ramen gravy and melted cheese curds. Indulge my friends.

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health / Food

DESIRE,

CURIOSITY,

AND HUNGER

Often I like to take an old favorite recipe and try something special, something that adds interest to the ordinary. Or take the ordinary and make it extraordinary. Shaking things up a bit makes me happy, and keeps the kitchen lively with a rotation of fun and delicious food.

Comfort food is probably my favorite, and for breakfast now and then I love a bowl of grains both in savory or sweet. The warm spiced buckwheat is a variation of oatmeal, with more chew and texture. It’s also alkalizing and gluten free. Add warm spices and top with fresh berries, nuts or seeds, coconut butter and pure maple syrup. Try shaved chocolate or home -made banana ice cream, and what a dream.

Taking photos of food is amazing fun and it’s taught me a lot about presentation and keeping that appeal even off lens. There’s pride in food created and the joy it gives is so rewarding. Who doesn’t love a pretty photo of food, it creates desire, curiosity and hunger, and it makes us drool. Sharing the images with others is such a treat especially when it encourages and inspires others to create for themselves, that’s the best part.

Enjoy!

ARTICLE AND PHOTOGRAPHY: DIANA BEZANSKI

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Buckwheat Breakfast Bowl with Cherries GLUTEN FREE, VEGAN // SERVES 3-4

INGREDIENTS: 1 cup buckwheat groats soaked in water for 45 minutes 1 tsp oil Water ¼ tsp powdered cinnamon ¼ tsp ground nutmeg ¼ tsp sea salt Pitted cherries fresh or frozen thawed

SOAK THE BUCKWHEAT IN WATER FOR 45 MINUTES TO REMOVE THE PHYTIC ACID AND RELEASE IT’S BENEFICIAL NUTRIENTS.

BUCKWHAT?

Buckwheat groats is a gluten free seed, with a wonderful chewy texture, which makes for a nice alternative to oatmeal for breakfast, not to mention it’s alkalizing for the body. I especially enjoy it in salads topped with avocado, chickpea, and a creamy nut dressing. So, if you haven’t tried this lovely seed, give it a go and you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

RINSE THE BUCKWHEAT UNDER WATER TO REMOVE THE PHYTIC ACID

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health / Food

PLAN AHEAD Soaking the buckwheat for just 45 minutes is an important step prior to cooking for a number of reasons; it removes the anti nutrient phytic acid, which is found in seeds, grains, and legumes and releases wonderful beneficial nutrients, allows for better digestion and absorption of the nutrients and speeds up the cooking process. Adding oil while cooking prevents the buckwheat from sticking to the pan and foaming out the lid.

METHOD Add the dry buckwheat groats to a bowl and cover with water, let it soak for 45 minutes. Rinse the buckwheat after soaking. Add 1 teaspoon coconut oil to a small pot and melt, add the rinsed buckwheat to the pot and toast while stirring for 1 minute 30 seconds. Add enough water to cover the buckwheat by ½ inch. Add the ground cinnamon and ground nutmeg an pinch of sea salt; bring to a boil then reduce heat to a very low simmer covered for 15 minutes or until water is absorbed. Remove from heat, fluff once gently with a fork, and keep covered off the heat for another 15-20 minutes, the buckwheat will become fluffier.

SERVING

VARIATIONS

Add ½ cup cooked buckwheat to a bowl along with almond milk, cherries, walnuts, banana, coconut butter, more cinnamon, and finish with pure maple syrup.

Shave chocolate, raspberries, blackberries, banana, almonds, or dates

THE BUCKWHEAT COOKED IS FLUFFY AND NOT GUMMY

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ADD THE BUCKWHEAT TO THE POT AND COVER WITH WATER ABOUT ½ INCH ABOVE THE BUCKWHEAT

COOKED BUCKWHEAT WITH FRESH ALMOND MILK, CHERRIES, BANANAS, WALNUTS, CINNAMON, SHAVED COCONUT BUTTER AND PURE MAPLE SYRUP

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PITTED CHERRIES OR YOUR FAVORITE SEASONAL BERRY

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Tumeric Me Yummy Smoothie MAKES 1 SERVING

BY SHANNON TOMA

INGREDIENTS

at pirit s d an y body hosted b , d n i . ot our m ngryro ctober 17 y y f u s Sati t with H urday, O at Ou Veg Duff on S ie Hayl

1 cup coconut milk (substitute base: coconut water or any nut milk)

DIRECTIONS:

1 scoops doTERRA V-shake (protein powder – substitute any protein: whey, pea, hemp)

Add all ingredients to a blender

½ banana

Blend well

1 tbsp. coconut oil

Add a dash of cinnamon on top

1 tsp. tumeric powder 1 tsp. honey (sweeten it up) 1 tsp. vanilla Dash of Himalayan salt

DOTERRA ESSENTIAL OIL: 1 drop cinnamon,

More info on doTERRA protein & essential oils go to: www.mydoterra. com/stoma/

1 drop Ginger, 1 drop Wild Orange

Pumpkin Pie Rockstar Smoothie MAKES 1 SERVING

OCT. 15-18 | 866.969.2933 | @NYCWFF HOSTED BY AND BENEFITING

EXCLUSIVE PROVIDER OF WINE AND SPIRITS

INGREDIENTS 1 cup light almond milk (substitute base: coconut water or any nut milk) 1 scoop doTERRA V-shake (protein powder – substitute any protein: whey, pea, hemp)

PREFERRED CARD

HEADQUARTER HOTEL

OFFICIAL AIRLINE

PREMIER

1/2 cup pumpkin puree 1 tbsp. almond butter 1 tsp. honey (sweetens it up) 3 ice cubes

CULINARY DESTINATION OF THE YEAR

EVENT SPONSORS

DOTERRA ESSENTIAL OIL: 5 drops of Slim & Sassy Blend Dash of Himalayan salt

DIRECTIONS: Add all ingredients to a blender Blend well Add a dash of cinnamon on top More info on doTERRA protein & essential oils go to: www.mydoterra. com/stoma/

Dash of cinnamon The Festival promotes responsible drinking.

100% of the net proceeds go to Food Bank For New York City and the No Kid Hungry® campaign.

Sponsors confirmed as of 7.29.15

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ADVERTISMENT Advertisement

Enhancing Yoga with Essential Oils

by Charlynn Avery

Yoga is much more than just a form of physical exercise; it is a disciplined practice that touches upon the health and well being of the entire body, mind and spirit.

Like yoga, the practice of aromatherapy strives to support the well being of body, mind and spirit. Aromatherapy achieves its effects through the application and diffusion of pure plant essential oils that influence physical wellness, a positive emotional state and mental clarity. Combining aromatherapy with yoga can powerfully enhance the yoga journey. Three key methods of application are: Diffusing – aromatic essential oils are evaporated into the yoga practice space to create an inspiring/motivating mood and to enhance breathing.

Purifying – essential oils are applied as powerful cleansing agents to wipe down and deodorize the yoga mat or used to clear the atmosphere.

Anointing – essential oils are used in applications of massage to enhance body stretching and recovery or worn as a scent to support visualization, meditation and focus.

How to use oils in yoga

Diffuse essential oils during your yoga session with a candle lamp. Candle lamps consist of a bowl of water over a small tea light-style candle.

Just add six to 10 drops of essential oil to 1/4 cup water in the bowl, and then light the candle. The flickering flame, coupled with the gentle release of aroma, will create a potent ambience during your yoga practice.

Oils to consider: tangerine and peppermint are inspiring and motivating.

Eucalyptus and cypress open the breathing process. Sandalwood and vetiver are grounding and strengthening.

the bottle and mist over your mat and wipe it clean with a soft towel before and after each use. Or use the spray to mist the air of your practice space to create a clean, motivationally aromatic atmosphere.

Blend one or more versions of your own signature massage/anointing oil formulas. Start with 4 tablespoons of a light, non-greasy carrier oil such as jojoba or grapeseed oil and then add 12 drops of essential oils. You can customize the blend of essential oils to create several yoga-centered benefits.

Yoga is a journey to a soulfully balanced body that is properly aligned with mind and spirit. Incorporating the powerfully effective properties of aromatic essential oils – often described as the soul of the plant – into your practice can help you fulfill your journey.

Grapefruit & Frankincense Yoga Mat Mist Ingredients:

2 fl. oz. (60 mL) water 6 drops grapefruit essential oil 6 drops frankincense essential oil Amber mist bottle

Directions:

1. Measure water and essential oils into mist bottle, replace lid and shake until well mixed.

2. To use, shake bottle and mist yoga mat with 5-7 spritzes. Wipe clean with towel.

Create a purifying mist that doubles as a yoga mat cleanser and room deodorizing spray. Combine 12 drops of sweet orange, six drops of tea tree and six drops of lavender with 4 ounces of water in a spray bottle. Shake

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health / Medicine

On Pins & Needles

Acupuncture: the best-kept secret to vibrant health

BY DEBORAH STOTZKY ORIGINAL ARTWORK: MIRIAM CASTILLO

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NY YOGALIFEMAG.COM

or nearly 5,000 years, cultures across the globe have practiced the holistic form of medicine known as acupuncture. And yet in the West acupuncture is still one of the best-kept secrets for relieving pain, dissolving stress and restoring vibrant health. Why are acupuncture’s merits still such a secret? Perhaps because acupuncture involves needles. Perhaps because pharmaceutical companies haven’t found a way to make money from this modality. People often seek acupuncture only after they have tried “everything else” with less than satisfying results. More and more frequently, Western medical doctors and physical therapists are sending their patients to acupuncture for a whole host of reasons, and they see that their patients get results.

WHAT IS ACUPUNCTURE? Acupuncture involves the painless insertion of very fine needles into specific points on the body that lay along energy pathways called meridians. By stimulating acupuncture points at the surface of the body the entire system is prodded to react. This gentle prodding generates the movement of energy (Qi) through the meridians and initiates the healing process. When there is an obstruction or stagnation of Qi in the body, there can be imbalances, illness and “dis-ease” in body, mind, and spirit. When Qi flows freely through the meridians, there is not only the absence of illness, but the presence of vibrant health.

MEDICAL CONDITIONS ACUPUNCTURE CAN TREAT Acupuncture can successfully treat all the systems of the body, such as the respiratory, circulatory, digestive, reproductive, neurological, gynecological and urinary systems. Acupuncture can enhance the immune system, promote healing and reduce inflammation. It can profoundly reduce stress and create a deep connection to our natural intuition.

Acupuncture is excellent for the treatment of pain of all origins, and perhaps the most effective kind of therapy. Imbalances often manifest on the surface of the body, where acupuncture needles are placed. When muscles are tight, they can cause radiating pain patterns that can look like a completely different condition altogether. For example, one can experience numbness and tingling in one’s hands and fingers because of tightness in the shoulder, neck and forearm muscles. When the tight shoulder, neck and forearm musculature is released, the numbness and tingling in the hands and fingers resolve. When the surface of the body is released and the deeper levels of the body are supported and nourished, the entire system functions at a higher level, sleep improves, stress is reduced, pain resolves and a sense of vibrant health emerges.

THEORIES AND PRINCIPLES OF ACUPUNCTURE AND CHINESE MEDICINE: The foundation of acupuncture is firmly rooted in the Tao and on the principles of Yin and Yang and The Five Elements.

The theory of Yin and Yang is one of relative and opposing forces. For example, Yin is considered cold and dark in relation to Yang, which is considered hot and light. In Chinese Medicine, we can look at disease as an imbalance of Yin and Yang and base our treatment on this determination.

The Five Element theory divides everything in existence into five categories. The elements are Fire, Earth, Metal, Water and Wood and we can look at illness and healing through this perspective.

If one displays an imbalance in the Wood element, for example, we can use specific acupuncture protocols to rebalance this element. The Five Element theory is a guide to understanding the kind of imbalance a person may be exhibiting and a healing path towards resolution. There are many styles of acupuncture, and it is important to find a style that works for you.

THE CAUSE OF ILLNESS: According to Acupuncture and Chinese Medical theory the causes of illness are due to lifestyle, poor food, poor sleep, repetitive strain, emotions and/or environmental conditions such as cold, heat, and dampness – to name a few. The negative effect that consistent, chronic stress has on our health and wellbeing is very real. A lifestyle that promotes health includes a balance between work and rest, and physical activity and quiet contemplation.

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WHEN THERE IS AN OBSTRUCTION OR STAGNATION OF QI IN THE BODY, THERE CAN BE IMBALANCES, ILLNESS AND ‘DIS-EASE’ IN BODY, MIND AND SPIRIT.

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Once a treatment plan has been designed, the client will lie comfortably on a massage table and a variety of techniques may be used, such as needling, cupping, gua sha (frictioning), tui na (Chinese massage) and heat application. Once the needles are set there will be a rest period of about 20 minutes before the needles are removed. A Hot Stone Meridian Therapy session, which is the application of gentle pressure and movement of warm stones over the body, can be used to finish a session. This technique continues to release and lengthen the muscles and calm the nervous system.

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM AN ACUPUNCTURE SESSION There are several techniques an acupuncturist will use to gather information and begin to determine an individual’s constitutional type, where their imbalances are and where health can flourish. Questions such as the existence of pain, digestive patterns, sleep patterns, emotional fluctuations, feelings of hot and cold, appetite and family history will be discussed. The acupuncturist will also observe the tongue and feel the radial pulses to gather invaluable information about the nature and location of imbalances. Body palpation can also be an important and telling sources of information. The acupuncturist will feel for tightness in the musculature and listen closely to feedback from the client. Diagnosis and treatment can often be a team effort between acupuncturist and client. This collaborative approach can be empowering and affirming for the client as they learn that what they feel in their bodies can help guide their healing.

After an acupuncture session it is common to experience deep relaxation and mental clarity. If Trigger Point Techniques were used, it is very common also to feel muscle soreness for about a day, accompanied by a huge gain in range of motion and release of pain.

If you have not yet tried acupuncture, why not join the millions of people who have gained remarkable, often immediate and long lasting results through this ancient form of healing.

You may discover a state of health and happiness that is truly your birthright.

Deborah Stotzky, M.S., L.Ac. has been practicing acupuncture for 15 years in NYC. She is also a Yoga and Yamuna Body Rolling instructor. Please visit her website: www. acupunctureandhotstones.com

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health / Medicine

4. PRATIMA SPA

places to visit to add Ayurveda to your lifE

BY ALISON CRAMER

1. SUN’S ORGANIC TEA AND HERBS

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79 Bayard Street My favorite herb shop in Manhattan, the owner knows so much. The store has a great stock of both Ayurvedic and Chinese herbs, and the most beautiful selection of exotic teas. Mention I sent you and she will give you a discount!

2. ENFLEURAGE

237 West 13th St. My favorite stop to treat myself, or get supplies for my Ayurvedic workshops and trainings. Joe, the owner, is a fountain of knowledge and everything here is of the highest quality. It’s easy to get a little overexcited here, so bring your credit card!

3. DUAL SPECIALTY STORE

91 1st Avenue Excellent selection of spices, grains, beans, nuts, seeds, Ayurvedic herbs and teas. They also carry supplies for makeyour-own scrubs and moisturizers like organic shea butter, cocoa butter, and dried flowers like lavender and rose.

110 Greene Street Ayurvedic massages, facials, and other treatments. Dr. Pratima Raichur, the founder, wrote a great book called “Absolute Beauty”, which is an Ayurvedic approach to skincare and health in general. The spa also sells her line of lotions, face creams, oils, and scrubs.

5. SARVANA BHAVAN

81 Lexington Avenue Traditional Southern Indian food like I had in Kerala, the birthplace of Ayurveda. When the dosa craving hits, you have to go! Extra sambar or coconut chutney upon request.

6. JACKSON DINER

72 University Place Traditional Northern Indian food like I ate in Rishikesh, Haridwar and Delhi. They even make a vegan version of my favorite, Palak Paneer, with Tofu. Ask them to make it spicy, and get some cucumber raita on the side.

7. BUTALA EMPORIUM

132 East 28th St. A solid selection of Ayurveda texts, incense, herbs, and lovely Deity statues for your altar.

8. LAUGHING LOTUS YOGA CENTER

636 6th Avenue.

I keep the boutique stocked with everything you need for dinacharya (daily cleansing).

Neti pots, tongue scrapers, triphala powder, sesame and coconut oil for self massage, and even chyvanprash, which is an herb filled paste, great for immunity and strength. We also carry all the books I use in my Ayurveda courses-the next one is coming up October 25-29. See the website nyc.laughinglotus.com for details.

9. WHOLE FOODS

multiple locations Easy to find supplies to make your own beauty treatments. I get the aloe juice, rose water, indian clay and all kinds of odds and ends for my Ayurvedic workshops. They also carry wonderful teas and incense, and organic cold pressed oils and ghee.

Ayurveda in the City

10.

KALUSTYAN’S 123 Lexington Avenue.

The Queen Mother of all spice markets. Whole and ground spices, spice blends from all over the world. You will also find every kind of Indian pickle, chutney, gluten free flours, grains, beans, condiments and teas – it’s a Wnderland!

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ior is most likely subconscious, it is consistent with New Yorkers who are not aware. Tilting the head downward toward cell phones and newspapers is the choice for many.

On average an adult human head weighs ten pounds. According to The Physiology of Joints, “For every inch of Forward Head Posture, it can increase the weight of the head on the spine by an additional ten pounds.” Looking down assists in this gravitational pull of the head forward, increasing the weight on the shoulders and spine over forty pounds!

Chin Up, Up New York

BY LAUREN CAP

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PHOTO: ETHEL KAMBOURIAN

In a city with sky-high buildings and the hunger to rise to the top, why is everybody looking down? Hunching over and gazing down is a popular New York habit that needs to be broken! Save your spine for a healthy body before the cold winter season creeps up on us!

New Yorkers have to brave the weather all year-round as commuting is an outdoor sport. There is an unconscious transformation in our bodies during the warm seasons as chests expand, shoulders drop, and chins rise. Spring and summer are ideal for many city goers as streets are filled with euphoric pedestrians frolicking to Central Park and outdoor brunches. But, as the temperatures drop, so do our heads, causing various health risks and unwanted stress on the body. This misalignment in posture is most significant during the cold winter months in New York City.

It is human nature to undergo a change in bodily posture in search of finding warmth when the weather becomes brisk. Even with the chance to warm up on the subway, there is a noticeable sense of wanting to hide and look withdrawn. Whether it is acting indifferent to the subway performers or complete disregard for the homeless asking for money, there is sometimes no eye connection amongst passengers. Although this behav-

This consistent misalignment over a long period of time means slumping and internally rotating shoulders place extra weight on the levator scapulae, trapezius, and overstretch the rhomboids. This also creates an unhealthy flexion of the cervical spine that puts an additional burden on those tiny cervical vertebrae, which are not meant for heavy weight bearing. This arrangement materializes into neck and back pain, headaches, muscle spasms, limited range of motion from shortened muscles, and degenerative joint disease, just to name a few.

Arthritis of the hands and feet is very common as well. This pain and inflammation of the joints and lumbar spine are some of the many reasons to correct unhealthy posture.

Additionally, one very important muscle affected is the diaphragm, as poor posture creates loss of full lung capacity. Breathing is tremendously important for our health and energetic spirit. There is a constriction of the rise and fall of the diaphragm if our bodies are not vertical and anatomically aligned. This unnatural breathing pattern is linked to fatigue and depression, as there is a lack of oxygen to the brain and numerous cells of the body.

New York City living is fast paced, competitive, and stressful, to say the least; and sometimes being body conscious takes a back seat.

It is very important to take care of the body and the first step is being aware. Yoga and meditation are great ways to de-stress and bring balance and alignment back to the forefront.

As the cold weather gets closer, let’s get back to being body conscious.

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Facilitating the Body’s Natural Healing Process

WE ARE CONNECTED TO OUR SURROUNDINGS ON A FUNDAMENTAL LEVEL.

BY SARA AUSTER

any of us move through life as if there is a distinct separation between ourselves and the world that surrounds us. We categorize, externalize, and divide things in our attempts to understand the complexity of reality: that’s a chair, there’s the wall, that’s my iPhone, etc. But we are all made up of the same ‘stuff’ that makes up everything else: energy. We are connected to our surroundings on a fundamental level.

Sound Therapy works from that foundational principal. When sound frequencies move through a space, we are part of that space, and our bodies resonate with those frequencies. This can have deep effects on our breath, our blood flow, our cellular movement, our thoughts and of course our consciousness as a whole. Loud and sudden sounds can elevate our stress levels, create imbalances in our nervous system, and lower our immunity. Slower, softer sounds have the potential to clam, soothe and relax. We can tune into the world around us through the medium of sound to facilitate the body’s natural healing process and

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become better listeners, more present, with a greater sense of awareness of our surroundings.

Our body has the ability to harmonize with different frequencies and/or rhythms. In Sound Therapy, rhythms and frequencies are used to entrain our brainwaves. Entrainment can synchronize our fluctuating brainwaves by providing a pattern or stable frequency to which we can attune; similar to the effects of meditation. In meditation, you are focusing on something, whether it’s a candle flame, your breath going in or out, a mantra or a prayer. It then becomes possible to shift from our normal beta state (concentration, alertness) to alpha (relaxed, reflective), and also theta (dreaming sleep) and delta (dreamless sleep), where internal repair and healing commonly occur.

When we experience trauma or loss, our psyche becomes marked by the experience. Even if we block out conscious memory, the psyche holds an energetic imprint of the event. When we encounter new situations that are energetically similar to the original trauma, the imprint/memory becomes stimulated. Our perception of a new event is then filtered and effected by the memory of a previous experience, and we act accordingly. This is usually done unconsciously. In the East Indian culture, the idea of a psychic or energetic imprint is referred to as Samskara (the Sanskrit word for groove, it also translates as imprint or impression). This imprint in the energy field will continue to act as a magnet to attract further experiences that are thematically similar until the psychic imprint can be healed and released. Vibration and sound can aid in creating new Samskara which support learning and healing.

While many people are only just discovering it, the use of sound for healing is actually a return to ancient cultural practices. For thousands of years, chanting, singing bowls and various musical instruments have been used to relieve pain, restore health and help us move from feelings of dis-ease to those of harmony.

WHEN WE EXPERIENCE TRAUMA OR LOSS, OUR PSYCHE BECOMES MARKED

BY THE EXPERIENCE. EVEN IF WE BLOCK OUT CONSCIOUS MEMORY, THE PSYCHE HOLDS AN ENERGETIC IMPRINT OF THE EVENT.

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EVENTS / Local

NEW YORK EVENTS Yoga. Family. Local. Art. Music.

To co-host a regional event with us or to feature your own event, please contact us today! ianavelez@nyyogalifemag.com @nyyogalifemag NY YOGALIFEMAG.COM

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AHISMA Yoga & Music Festival

Are you curious about the beautiful music in your Yoga class? The healing effects of the music played live at a Yoga festival? They may be the product of Bernie Walters’ life work and passion. Together Bernie, the owner of Om Planet Music Management, and his wife Katherine have launched AHIMSA Yoga and Music Festival.

This year’s AHIMSA offers 75 classes and 12 musical artists in one uplifting and mind-shifting weekend. Featured teachers for 2015 include Raghunath, Peter Sterios, Melina Meza, Baxter Brooks, MD, Jillian Pransky, Sondra Loring, and many more.

Musicians in this year’s line-up include Shantala, Brenda Mc Morrow, Gina Sala, Kirtan Soul Revival, Adam Bauer, and more.

We sat down with Bernie to chat a bit about his passion and experience with music and yoga.

You’ve had a long standing experience with the music industry, having founded and created Om Planet Music in 2009. Can you describe the inspiration to join your passion and experience for Music with Yoga?

It all started back in 2008 when I replied to a Craig’s list ad for help creating the music for a Dali Lama movie. That is when I started working with Sitarist, Roop Verma. Roop went on to cowrite 3 of the songs on the Dali Lama renaissance soundtrack.

That coupled with my wife’s career change to a Yoga teacher lead me to this field.

You have great teachers in your line up for this year’s festival, among them Raghunath, Peter Sterios, Melina. You’ve worked with so many amazing teachers, what is about these that teacher that stands out and inspires?

Each year we look for teachers that best fit what we are trying to offer at the Ahimsa festival. We try to offer a cross section of classes for all levels from beginner to classes for other Yoga teachers as well. These three are very experienced and bring to Ahimsa the qualities and high level of knowledge that we want to share with attendees.

Can you describe what Ahimsa means and how it relates to the festival?

Ahimsa means the act of non-violence. We feel by using this name we can also set an example to the public through the festivals growth. Ahimsa festival and Om Planet Music gather together the best of high vibrational teachers and musicians, and brings their offerings to broad audiences, facilitating the positive shift happening in the wider world, and feeding the hunger for more light in yogis everywhere.

The theme of this first issue of NY YOGA LIFE is inspiration...tell us what is it that inspires you?

I am inspired by new music I hear all the time and the growth and new awareness the masses seem to be accepting of the Yogic lifestyle and messages of Love and Peace.

TO CHECK OUT THE BLISS THAT IS AHIMSA, PLEASE VISIT AHIMSAYOGAANDMUSICFESTIVAL.COM AND FIND THEM ON FACEBOOK.

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Hamptons Yoga Fest Jenna Walters one of the co-founders of the first ever Hamptons Yoga Fest shares with us her vision for the festival.

When we stand in our TRUTH to UNITE and live through the real eyes of LOVE, we can bring more LIGHT to the world. Hamptons Yoga Fest will be a safe house for all those ready to create, celebrate and activate their pure potential to live in HARMONY with all of creation.

We are a community of diversity and we are ready to UNITE in our LOVE of this sacred LAND, YOGA and high vibrational life styles that support our HAPPY genes and give us more smile POWER. We believe in prosperity CONSCIOUSNESS for all who live and raise their families here and to know that here is connected to everywhere.

We are COURAGEOUS in our statement to stand in our TRUTH and promote the UPLIFTMENT of our COMMUNITY and beyond by sharing the resources of our hearts, laughter, JOY and BEAUTY. Through yoga, dance, music, stillness, education, ceremony, community, commerce, food, laughter, healing arts, we will BE the change we want to see in the world.

Wednesday Night

Blues

This coming November marks the three year anniversary of the Wednesday Night Blues! A monthly blues-infused yoga class at Laughing Lotus which was created by Sheri Celentano and Johnny Holleran. This combination of soulful Laughing Lotus vinyasa matched with stellar blues musicians and vocalists will transport you at the very first note.

Grand Central

Pure Yoga Have you ever wondered what it would be like to practice yoga in one of New York’s iconic landmarks? This historic event celebrating National Yoga month is happening this fall. On September 29th, Grand Central Terminal will be transformed into a yoga destination with its first “Grand Zentral” event. Six free yoga classes will be taught by world-renowned instructors under the Beaux-Arts chandeliers and breathtaking architecture of Vanderbilt Hall.

Pure Yoga teachers including NY YOGA + LIFE’s friend Tanya Boulton, will guide the free, open level vinyasa flow sequences that start at 7am and continue throughout the day until early evening. These 60-minute vinyasa flow sequences are designed to build strength and flexibility. Participants must register in advance, and invited to pick up their complimentary copy of NY YOGA + LIFE at the event.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2015, 7 A.M. – 7:00 P.M. Check-in for pre-registered participants opens at 7 a.m.

CLASSES ARE AN HOUR EACH AND BEGIN AT THE FOLLOWING TIMES: 7:30 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 12:30 a.m., 2:00 p.m., 4:30 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT GRANDCENTRALTERMINAL.COM AND NY YOGALIFEMAG.COM.

RIDE THE WAVE THIS NOVEMBER AS WE CELEBRATE MUSIC AND YOGA AT A SPECIAL EVENT DESIGNED TO ENLIVEN YOUR SPIRIT AND SET YOUR BODY FREE!

FOR MORE INFORMATION EMAIL SHERI@LAUGHINGLOTUS.COM AND VISIT NYC.LAUGHINGLOTUS.COM.

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NY YOGA + LIFE MAGAZINE EVENTS

Polaroid Scrapbook fun in Long Island

mat t (is the best)

shoot day! april 2015

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NYYL M on the move!

“glit ter monster”

Justine at work :)

MN YOGA in the City

strike a pose

Times Square Yoga

missy, kelly + robert

mama love

lovelies!

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FOLLOW US FOR INVITES TO ALL OUR LOCAL EVENTS ON FACEOOK, INSTAGRAM & TWITTER: @NYYOGALIFEMAG

Ishta Love

BK House Party!

Queen for just one day

we love you joe

family :)

Erin = pure love NY YOGALIFEMAG.COM

nyc 6/21/15

George the hot tie ;)

Satya + The R ubin + NYYL M

Beautiful Gina

Uptown Yoga Festival

House of Jai!

Land Yoga family!

fun, fun, fun!

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Well+Good’s Fitness Biathlon is back for its third season—and this year the popular fitness event will take place in three cities: New York City, Boston, and Chicago!

The Fitness Biathlon is a celebration of all things fitness, giving participants a chance to attend back-to-back classes at coveted fitness studios before heading to a healthy after-party for much deserved rejuvenation and celebration. Based on an overwhelming demand, we are growing the NYC Flagship event, with 15-20 of the hottest studios joining our celebration of the fitness scene in the Flatiron, Chelsea, and Meatpacking neighborhoods, followed by a party at the Dream Hotel.

Ticket proceeds from all three events go to Girls on the Run, a transformational physical activity based positive youth development program for girls in 3rd-8th grade. Girls on the Run teaches life skills through dynamic, interactive lessons and running games. The program culminates with the girls being physically and emotionally prepared to complete a celebratory 5k running event. The goal of the program is to unleash confidence through accomplishment while establishing a lifetime appreciation of health and fitness. www.girlsontherun.org

PHOTO: ROBERT CAPLIN PHOTOGRAPHY

NYC EVENT: SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17TH 2015

For more information and details on how to register for this event, check out www.wellandgood.com and www.nyyogalifemag.com

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NEW YORK IS ONE OF THE MOST INSPIRING PLACES. IT IS FILLED WITH THE GREATEST JUXTAPOSITION OF CHAOS AND CALM, BEAUTY AND GRIT, LIGHT AND DARK. SOMEHOW THE OVERALL EFFECT IS THAT OF A UNIFIED WHOLE BORNE OF THIS AWESOME SYNERGY-MUCH LIKE A YOGA PRACTICE ITSELF. ~JENNIFER DERHAM, MA, EDS, 200-RYT EDITOR IN CHIEF, MN YOGA MAGAZINE PHOTO: JOE LONGO JEWELRY: SATYA JUMPER: WHITE HOUSE BLACK MARKET