This is what The Shine Movement means to me. While it can sometimes be easy to have superficial engagements via social media or at your favorite bar, these may or may not inspire. Yet in contrast, every time I spend an evening at The Shine, I feel inspired.

In the summer of 2014, my dear friend and fellow meditation teacher, Light Watkins, started The Shine with 10 people gathered in his living room. Now more than 200 people attend a mindful variety show. There is a meditation practice led by a variety of teachers in the community. But more than that, there are musicians who perform and share their gifts, speakers who inspire, and films from around the world. We break bread together (well, really, we enjoy a nutritious meal—free of alcohol). People come together for the common desire to incite inspiring connections.

As much as The Shine takes place in a physical location, the essence is about engaging everyone in a conversation that extends far beyond the few hours that we all commune in person. One of the ways we activate that ripple effect of consciousness and inspiration is through a philanthropic raffle: The Shine On Challenge. At each event we raffle off to one attendee a portion of the proceeds collected that evening and then invite them to go out and take action to better the world. Part of the mandate is that they return to the next event and share what they did. There’s an incredible exchange of energy represented. I always find it amazing to see how the journey of giving back affects not only the community served, but also the person doing the good deed, and the audience who shares in the story. It’s a full circle experience that touches lives. To date, thousands of dollars have been raffled off in projects implemented to help others.

On a personal note, I feel fortunate to be a part of the team that produces this event; the all-volunteer production team is passionate about creating and holding a space for inspiration and community.

We would love to see you at the next Shine on March 5 in Santa Monica. Visit: theshinemovement.org to purchase a ticket (which includes your meal).  

Megan Monahan is a meditation teacher and student of Davidji who leads retreats at the Chopra Center, is the director of meditation at Wanderlust Hollywood and a regular teacher at Unplug. meganmonahan.com Instagram @megmonahan

Megan Monahan

www.meganmonahan.com/

The post The Shine — A Mindful Variety Show appeared first on LA Yoga Magazine - Ayurveda & Health.

All biases aside (he taught me how to meditate after all), davidji delivers a gem with his second book destressifying. I can personally attest to his mastery of stress management and the Vedic teachings of meditation, yoga, and Ayurveda, all of which combine to offer an integrative and real-life guide to changing your relationship with stress. He delivers profound wisdom in a way that is relatable, easily digested, and at times downright entertaining!

The first section of destressifying explains everything you need to know about stress, gives you a clear understanding of why it shows up in your life, and awakens you to just how powerful your response to it is. Then davidji masterfully guides you through a series of introspective exercises and practices to help you master areas of your life that contribute to your experience of stress. You will learn conscious communication principles as well as meditation practices to heighten your awareness and allow you to explore your needs and heighten your emotional awareness.

We all experience stress, which is defined as, “the anticipation of our needs not being met.” After reading this book, I was lovingly reminded that stress on it’s own isn’t the enemy. We all hold the power to choose how we perceive our needs not being met and we can control the stress in our lives by controlling our response to it. davidji shows us how we can use practice to change the way we experience our reality.

destressifying

by davidji

Hay House, Inc.

Megan Monahan is an LA-based Chopra Certified Meditation Master who is the director of meditation at Wanderlust Hollywood. She teaches at Unplug Meditation, with corporate groups and private students and hosts retreats and teaches s at The Chopra Center for Wellbeing in Carlsbad, CA. meganmonahan.com

Megan Monahan

www.meganmonahan.com/

The post destressifying by davidji book review appeared first on LA Yoga Magazine - Ayurveda & Health.