The LA Parks Department has water system improvements to do that will benefit the surrounding communities as well as the Fire Department. “Completely closing down the park’s hiking trails ensures that the work can be done faster,” says Lauren Stillman of FORC (Friends of Runyon Canyon).

The good news is that, thanks to the advocacy of Friends of Runyon Canyon, the park’s yoga field will remain open and still offering donation-based classes seven days week, confirms Daniel Overberger of Runyon Canyon Yoga. They have six teachers offering a variety of styles, and for the next couple of months, parking will be a breeze.

With no specific dates announced, we will have to stay tuned as to when the park will actually reopen. In the meantime, there are great hiking alternatives nearby such as Franklin Canyon Park and Fryman Canyon Park. (And if you happen to see Amy Schumer at one of them, give me a jingle, will you? I’m convinced we need to be BFFs!)

The Runyon Canyon Yoga schedule can be found on Facebook and Twitter.

Julie Hale

Julie Devi Hale, MFT, eRYT is a psychotherapist, yoga and meditation teacher who attends to private clients in Los Angeles as well as runs retreats regularly in her home away-from-home; the Sequoia National Forest: juliehale.net

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Dr. Wayne Dyer earned his PhD in educational counseling and was a professor at St. John’s University in New York before his 1976 book, Your Erroneous Zones, became one of the best-selling books of all time. Since then, his inspirational words have impacted countless seekers on the path. “My purpose is to help people look at themselves and begin to shift their concepts,” Dr. Dyer said. “Remember, we are not our country, our race, or religion. We are eternal spirits. Seeing ourselves as spiritual beings without label is a way to transform the world and reach a sacred place for all of humanity.” This is his profound legacy. May we all carry the torch with hope, light, and sacred spirit.

Felicia Tomasko is the editor in chief of LA YOGA and Find Bliss Magazines and the President of the Bliss Network.

Felicia M. Tomasko

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.

www.blissnetwork.com

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The first time I met LA-based Japanese filmmaker and yogini Kayoko Mitsumatsu, I was struck by her sincerity, her dedication to yoga, and her gratitude for the gifts of the practice. Kayoko’s commitment has inspired much more than a consistent personal practice; in 2007 she founded Yoga Gives Back, a nonprofit with a meaningful tagline “For the cost of one yoga class you can change a life.”

She did this to find a way to link people across cultures: those of us who benefit from the practice of yoga and those who live in the birthplace of the tradition. Inspired by Nobel Prize winner and microloan advocate Mohammed Yunus, Yoga Gives Back raises funds to support programs including microloans as well as educational scholarships for women and youth in India. Members of a worldwide ambassador program engage in fundraising efforts that have transformed communities, partnering with Indian NGOs, funding micro loans allowing women to become entrepreneurs supporting families, and allowing youth access to previously out of reach educational opportunities. The YGB Films document the organizations success stories and can be viewed on the organization’s website.

The annual global campaign, Thank You Mother India, spans September 1, 2015 through January 31, 2016. Classes and events around the world contribute to the campaign, including what has become one of the organization’s signature events, the Thank You Mother India Malibu Fundraiser. The Malibu event includes dinner, silent and live auctions, community, and the presentation of The Namaste Award.

This year marks the first presentation of The Namaste Award. As Kayoko says, “The Namaste Award was established to recognize special people who have gone beyond the practice and teaching of yoga to incorporate noble humanitarian service, which elevates humankind and helps make the world a better place.” The inaugural award will be bestowed upon writer, teacher, and humanitarian Mallika Chopra, author of Living with Intent. Mallika Chopra, an outspoken advocate for the power of meditation for changing lives and the world, will share how meditation has changed her life at the Malibu event. “While it’s common for many to perceive yoga as a mere physical exercise, through deeper study, we learn that the ultimate goal of yoga is to unite with the Divine Self—and meditation plays an important role in achieving this. ‘Namaste,’ which means “the divinity in me salutes divinity in you” in Sanskrit, symbolizes Yoga Gives Back’s mission, which is to help others, and is the inspiration for the award,” says Kayoko.

In September, Mallika will be presented with the award itself, a unique piece of art created by Lakshman Rao, an art student currently living in Karnataka, India, where he is pursuing a bachelors degree in fine arts. Lakshaman Rao is himself a Yoga Gives Back success story. He is a graduate of the Deenabandhu Trust Home in Chamarajanagar, near Mysore. The home is an orphanage and 21 young people there are supported by Yoga Gives Back. An additional 35 students in the area receive higher education scholarships supported by the yoga community. Kayoko says the sculpture Lakshman Rao has created represents the spirit of unity embedded within the word “Namaste” and the unity of Yoga Gives Back’s mission. Kayoko remarks, “I cannot wait to present the award to Mallika and to share the remarkable story at the event.”
For more information about Yoga Gives Back, the Thank You Mother India campaign, The Namaste Award, to buy tickets for the Malibu event, host a fundraiser, or become a member or ambassador, visit: yogagivesback.org.

Felicia M. Tomasko

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.

www.blissnetwork.com

The post Yoga Gives Back – The Namaste Award to Mallika Chopra appeared first on LA Yoga Magazine - Ayurveda & Health.

Every corner with a patch of soil or some empty space has the potential to feed a community. With nutrition, with connection, with hope.

A community initiative is sprouting in Venice: The planting of 108 garden boxes to grow organic produce. The planning, building, and sowing has begun— and will continue through the summer.

LA native Grant Gottfurcht, founder of the Yoga Collective on Rose in Venice, planted the seeds of vision for the Community Healing Gardens. He wanted to unite everyone in the community in a common project based in positive intention to create abundance. Word has spread and a team of volunteers have shown up willing to build, plant, and nurture the gardens. Kids are contributing signage, completed by uplifting messages. The food grown will be shared among the neighborhood and donated to those in need of organically grown nutritious food. “We believe that by coming together we can heal the community and one another,” states Grant.

For more information, to volunteer, or to donate, visit: communityhealinggardens.org

Nicole Landers

Nicole Landers is an eco marketing maverick working in sustainability with nonprofit and for-profit enterprises in environment, health and well-being, clean tech, consumer products, and media. She lives in Venice, loves farmers markets, cooking, yoga, travel, music, and the arts. Twitter: @girliegreen

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At their annual Gilda Award Gala, the innovative Cancer Support Community (CSC) Benjamin Center honored Kimberly Fowler and Sherri Rosen from YAS Fitness Center as well as psychosocial cancer researcher Dr. Mitch Golant and comedian, writer, and cancer survivor Tig Notaro.

The nonprofit CSC Benjamin Center’s Executive Director Julia Forth notes that the Center believes that “No one should face cancer alone. CSC is here to ensure that all people impacted by cancer are empowered by knowledge, strengthened by action, and sustained by community.” Cancer Support Communities are found throughout the country and provide social and emotional support for people with cancer. The Cancer Support Community Benjamin Center was founded in Santa Monica in 1982 by Dr. Harold and Harriet Benjamin; they provide free emotional and psychological support including yoga classes as other programs: cancersupportcommunitybenjamincenter.org.

Kimberly Fowler and Sherri Rosen were honored for their positive influence promoting an ethos of health and fitness as well as for their ability to rally the community. The YAS (Yoga and Spinning) community, under the leadership of Fowler and Rosen, has raised nearly $2 million for a number of organizations focused on cancer research. YAS’ sixth annual Yas-A-Thon, benefitting ThinkCure! will be held Sunday, June 28 from 1-4 pm. Spinners will ride at all area YAS locations for three hours to raise funds for research at City of Hope and Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. People who don’t want to spin but would like to support can join the party in Venice on Saturday night, June 27. go2yas.com

Felicia M. Tomasko

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.

www.blissnetwork.com

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CALL FOR ENTRIES

Deadline: November 15 at 5pm PST

Calling all yogi artists: We are looking for an illustrated portrait of BKS Iyengar for the cover of our upcoming issue.

Part of the mission of LA YOGA Magazine is focused on supporting the yoga community in Los Angeles and beyond. BKS Iyengar is one of the shining lights of yoga in our generation and we would like to take the opportunity to pay tribute in a way that integrates and includes the community. So we’re asking for your contributions as we crowdsource an illustration of the venerable BKS Iyengar to feature in our upcoming issue. Please share this far and wide and submit your entries for a chance to be published in and featured on the cover of LA YOGA.

SPECIFICATIONS:

1. Submissions should be 8.5″ x 11″

2. Portrait orientation (tall like a magazine cover)

3. Any medium is acceptable: pen & ink, watercolor, cut paper, charcoal, digital

4. Please do not include any typography in your artwork. Though it would be helpful if you consider our typical cover typography in the composition of your artwork, we will add the appropriate typography to the final piece.

Entries should be submitted in the form of a photograph of the work or a digital scan via email to art@layoga.com

Please include the following information with your submission:

Full Name (as you would like it credited if your artwork is selected)

Mailing Address

Phone Number

Email Address

25-word Bio of the Artist

Felicia M. Tomasko

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.

www.blissnetwork.com

The post Calling all Artists! appeared first on LA Yoga Magazine - Ayurveda & Health.

Yogitoes®, a privately held yoga towel brand, single-handedly transformed the yoga product industry with its Skidless® technology. Yogitoes towels are made with 50 percent recycled polyester, designed to create a super absorbent, hygienic layer that prevents slipping. From noticing an unmet need, yogitoes® pioneered a new market in the yoga product category, and the yoga world noticed.

One company that grew particularly fond of yogitoes’® innovative efforts was Manduka, purveyor of high performance yoga gear. On July 31, 2013, Manduka, whose products include yoga mats, towels, yoga straps, water bottles, and bags, announced that it acquired yogitoes®.

Manduka and yogitoes® both share a history of innovation in the yoga world, as well as a mission for making the practice of yoga more accessible, joyful, and inspiring. “We have a deep respect for the yogitoes® brand and share many of the same values,” said Sky Meltzer, CEO Manduka. “Both Manduka and yogitoes are fanatical about quality, sustainability, innovation and, most importantly, the teachers and yogis who make up this amazing community.”

With their commitment to eco-responsibility, Manduka is praised for their green technologies, as well as for implementing better-than-fair labor practices.

Manduka’s acquisition of yogitoes® gives customers  a single source for high quality and sustainably produced yoga essentials. Yogitoes® products will continue to be available at yogitoes.com until 2014. Once the new year hits, customers will find yogitoes® at Manduka.com. As practitioners, we look forward to the future as these two lines continue to integrate its revolutionary Skidless® technology and innovation efforts, into other yoga products.

By Vanessa Harris

Staff Writer Lakshmi

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It’s the Law: October 1. In the ongoing effort to create a humane Los Angeles and to help make the City a No-Kill zone for dogs and cats, the L.A. City Council and the Mayor approved a law requiring all cats and dogs in the City older than four months of age be spayed or neutered, with some exceptions. This ordinance was signed into law on February 26, 2008 and goes into effect on OCTOBER 1. By October 1, pet guardians subject to the law must have their dogs and/or cats spayed or neutered. People in violation of the law will be required to have their pet spayed or neutered and will be subject to fines. Be part of the solution and spread the word. If you are interested in volunteering, contactani.volunteers@lacity.org. For more information about the law, Humane L.A. and Los Angeles Animal Services, visit: laanimalservices.com. – FMT

Neighborhood Ahimsa

Resources for animals affected by housing foreclosures. With the recent torrent of bank foreclosures, staggering numbers of homeowners have found themselves in the doghouse. But if they’re in the doghouse, one might wonder: Where are their dogs…and cats, rabbits, snakes or chickens?

Many of these animals currently occupy city shelters, some which are filled to more than four times their capacity. And most of these animals are not spring chickens, but loyal companions to families for as many as 10 to 15 years. Unfortunately their loyalty may be less appealing than youth on the adoption market. The fate of the older animal is evident in the thirty percent increase in euthanasia
rates in a recent two-week period.

Don’t buy stock in Kleenex yet. Valuable resources are available to people faced with foreclosure and struggling with prospects for their pets. One Los Angeles area nonprofit, Voice for the Animals (VFTA) is devoted to finding creative solutions and keeping all members of a family together during this difficult time.

VFTA services include:

• 24-hour hotline with live people equipped to comfort those in shock and help brainstorm practicalities.
• Resource list for pet-friendly housing.
• A slew of donor supported programs, some aimed to help qualified people during economic hardship.

Melya Kaplan, founder and executive director of VFTA, is approaching her seventeenth year in uplifted animal advocacy with multiple programs at Voice, including those assisting people in the housing crisis. She engages activism with heart rather than anger and realizes that results in her field, as well as in her personal yoga practice, require determination, goals, consistency and the power of community, ideals to which we can all contribute, no matter our own circumstances.

Be the change you wish to see.

• Donate.
• Foster an animal temporarily.
• Adopt an older rescue animal.
• Direct those in need to the VFTA.
• Become involved in the other VFTA programs advocating for animals.

Voice for the Animals Foundation, 2633 Lincoln Blvd. #202, Santa Monica, CA. 90405, (310)392-5153. vftafoundation.org

Lindsay J. Greene is a Bodyworker, Somatic Experiencing® Practitioner, and Poet keepin’ it real in Los Angeles.

Voice for the Animals is Searching for a home for Katie

katie

Katie is a lap-loving shih tzu whose elderly owner lost her house to a foreclosure. While the woman’s daughter could take her in, there was no room for Katie. Approximately six years old. Katie loves to please and likes the company of people and other animals. To foster or adopt Katie, call Voice for the Animals at (310)392-5153 and leave a message for Debbie at 4#.

Stop Animal Cruelty

Vote YES! On Proposition 2 in California In the upcoming November general election, California voters have the opportunity to vote for increased ahimsa (nonviolence) for animals by signing Proposition 2 into law. This ground-breaking measure in the U.S.’s largest agricultural state sets up a value system for outlawing the worst animal rights abuses by agribusiness offenders. The law would prohibit confinement in veal crates, battery cages and sow gestation crates and would go into effect in 2015. Large industry has put up money to block its passage which is why the yoga community needs to come together in a concerted and loving effort to bring more compassion to the lives of farm animals. Vote Yes on November 2, and in the meantime, tell your friends and galvanize support for the proposition. – FMT

For more information, visit the Humane Society of the U.S. at: hsus.org or Californians for Humane Farms at: humanecalifornia.org.

By Felicia M. Tomasko, RN

Brian Chance

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