By Krishna Khalsa An ancient Eastern mystical science fused with Western pragmatism at Los Angeles’ first Kundalini Yoga Expo, held at the end October and sponsored by 3HO’s Teacher Association (IKYTA). People from around the world gathered on the magnificent campus of Mount St Mary’s College, overlooking the J. Paul Getty Center, the Santa [...]
The impact of B.K.S. Iyengar as a yoga practitioner and dedicated teacher has influenced the totality of the landscape of modern yoga. We asked some notable students of Iyengar to reflect on their experience of Iyengar as a yogi. What inspired you to study with B.K.S. Iyengar? Chris Stein I had been practicing yoga since [...]
“I need a vacation from my vacation.” We’ve all said it; we’ve all felt it: the blanket of exhaustion that unfurls upon our return from what was supposed to be a relaxing vacation, the disorientation tinged with melancholy that always seems to take us by surprise. Imagining and fantasizing about a trip is energizing. [...]
A Project of the Yoga and Body Image Coalition By Melanie Klein The “This is what a yogi looks like” campaign is a testament to that commitment by creating compelling, raw, and authentic imagery reflecting the full range of diversity among contemporary yogis in North America. We wanted to highlight and celebrate the faces, bodies [...]
Nicky Vreeland…the Monk with a Camera is now in Front of the Camera A new documentary showcases glimpses into the life of a fashionable Westerner who chose the path less traveled. Interview by Felicia Tomasko For those who knew Nicholas Vreeland before he shaved his head, he might have been an unlikely Buddhist monk, much less [...]
Directed by Guido Santi and Tina Mascara A dedicated photographer met Khyongla Rato Rinpoche (The Tibet Center founder) in 1977, the Dalai Lama in 1979, became a monk in 1985, and the Abbot of Rato Monastery in 2012. His story is unique becauase he is first Westerner named to this post in a Tibetan Buddhist [...]
Edited by Melanie Klein and Anna Guest-Jelley Llewellyn Publications Some people assume that yoga is not for them, based on their perception of themselves or the portrayal of yoga in the West. It’s not until they find themselves on a yoga mat when they can truly understand the power and multiple benefits of a dedicated [...]
In her book, Yoga for Warriors, Beryl Bender Birch illustrates how yoga is as a healing tool for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), the physiological response many veterans experience upon returning home from a war zone. Birch, the cofounder of Give Back Yoga Foundation, has personally provided yoga as a healing technique for PTS [...]
Conversations with Sridhar Silberfein and Ram Dass Since Bhakti Fest’s inception, Ram Dass has made an annual appearance through exclusive video interviews with festival founder, Sridhar Silberfein. Sridhar travels to Maui each year and films their conversations. Known for their humor, inspiration, and unmasked devotional attitude, these videos have been a highlight of the festival for the [...]
LA Yoga Magazine September 2005 After hearing of the death of beloved yoga guru B.K.S Iyengar, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted, “Generations will remember Shri BKS Iyengar as a fine Guru, scholar & a stalwart who brought Yoga into the lives of many across the world.” Born in Karnataka, India in 1918, [...]