Hollywood welcomes a meditation and community space catering to both the beginner and the master.
When you first walk in the doors of The Den Meditation in Hollywood, you feel as though you are walking into a comfortable living room that also just happens to be a vibrant and inviting community space. In fact, that is just what former NBC Universal executive and The Den Mediation founder Tal Rabinowitz wanted to create. She says, “I want to create an unpretentious space that allows people to dive deeper in to who they are, and feel comfortable like they’re at home. My intention is to create a space for people to realize that you have access to meditation whether you’re a beginner or master and that you can meditate at any time.”
The idea for the studio came from Tal’s desire to maintain a regular meditation practice while working at a demanding job. “I had a desire to calm my mind when I was in a world where it was constantly running. I was on a path of seeking deeper introspection and needed the guidance and tools to get there.” She was looking for a studio where a student could just drop in and sit with other people. “My struggle to find a studio slowly started to spark the idea of opening my own space.”
Classes at The Den reflect a diverse array of offerings designed to meet the needs of modern urban life. From morning classes with titles like Focus and AM Energizer to midday Lunchtime Detox and Qigong, to evening Breathe, Yoga Nidra, Candlelight Relax, and Sweet Dreams. Regular class lengths range from 20 to 30 to 45 minutes with longer classes and workshops available on the schedule.
More than simply a studio, the lounge area offers the opportunity for people to gather. According to Tal, “This has been the best part of opening the studio! I love watching people get into deep conversations and connect for the first time at The Den.”
The Den Meditation, 360 S La Brea Avenue, Los Angeles 323-424-3444. denmeditation.com
Felicia Tomasko has spent more of her life practicing Yoga and Ayurveda than not. She first became introduced to the teachings through the writings of the Transcendentalists, through meditation, and using asana to cross-train for her practice of cross-country running. Between beginning her commitment to Yoga and Ayurveda and today, she earned degrees in environmental biology and anthropology and nursing, and certifications in the practice and teaching of yoga, yoga therapy, and Ayurveda while working in fields including cognitive neuroscience and plant biochemistry. Her commitment to writing is at least as long as her commitment to yoga. Working on everything related to the written word from newspapers to magazines to websites to books, Felicia has been writing and editing professionally since college. In order to feel like a teenager again, Felicia has pulled out her running shoes for regular interval sessions throughout Southern California. Since the very first issue of LA YOGA, Felicia has been part of the team and the growth and development of the Bliss Network.