A Calmer Venice
Studio Surya Yoga
Amidst all of the crazy, grimy, funky street life of Venice Beach, studio owner Yonnus Becker has created a peaceful sanctuary for all types to practice centering themselves so that they may radiate from within. One step into STUDIO SURYA YOGA and you are transformed by its serene simplicity matched by Yonnus’ sweet, loving voice. The one-hour vinyasa flow classes are calming, intimate experiences lead by the studio’s owner (who currently teaches all forty-four classes). Complete with a touch of personal pampering during savasana (final relaxation), Yonnus has created a sacred place that feels as though she has invited you into her private home. Studio Surya Yoga, 1501 Main Street #106, Venice, CA. (310) 910 – 4740; studiosuryayoga.com –– Meagan McCrary
Yoga on the Glo-Glo
YogaGlo Studio
From the moment you venture into YOGAGLO’s studio you are overwhelmed by the vast creative energy circulating through the large, but simple space. That’s because YogaGlo Founder Derik Mills is an innovative businessman who has changed the online Yoga experience. By streaming Yoga classes globally, led by a number of talented LA teachers, Mills has created the authentic experience of participating in an actual class accessible on the go. Classes embrace a spectrum of asana styles, meditation, lectures and workshops. And for those who are local, studio classes are free for members of YogaGlo’s online community. YogaGlo, 1800 Berkeley Street, Santa Monica, CA. yogaglo.com –– MMC
YogaGlo Class
The Heart of West LA
Lauri Ashworth
For over a decade Anusara Yoga teacher, Lauri Ashworth (pictured, below, who also happens to be an interior designer) has dreamed of opening her own eco-conscious studio that would become an urban sanctuary for the body and soul. That vision was finally manifested with the opening of THE HUB, a stunning tribute to eco-design. True to its name, the studio is a center for students and a fusion of teachers to practice, study and thrive in an uplifting community. People of all ages, body types and abilities are encouraged to come explore different styles of asana, meditation, breathwork and body movement. The Hub, 2001 South Barrington Avenue, Los Angeles, CA. (310) 575 – 4200; thehub-la.com –– MMC
Love in Downtown
Jesse Lombardi
“We are all divine, creative spirits here to BE LOVE,” says the owner of the newly opened BE LOVE YOGA, Jesse Lombardi. Be Love is an urban temple with twenty foot-high ceilings and bamboo floors in the warm, inviting space on a cute, hip street in the downtown art district. The studio has a fusion of Hatha vinyasa with a strong Kundalini Yoga presence and fosters individual connections with the students. In addition to Yoga, Be Love offers transformational body work sessions that support a person’s ability to make deep, lasting change at the levels of body, mind and spirit. Be Love Yoga & Bodywork, 1855 Industrial Street #10, Toy Factory Lofts, Art District, Los Angeles City, CA 90021. (213) 415 – 1828.Beloveyoga.com. –– Melissa Chua
The Zen of Tea
Samovar Tea Lounge
SAMOVAR TEA LOUNGE has opened its third location in San Francisco. Already a conscious presence connecting yogis within the Bay Area communities, Samovar Tea Lounge owner Jesse Jacobs has created delightful spaces that pair savory teas with international selections of foods within an inviting environment. After class or before a meditation session, yogis often look for that place to hang, and in the Mission-Castro and Yerba Beuna Gardens, the six-year-old Samovar (named for the traditional Eastern European tea brewing setup) creates a unique alchemy within their tea shops. Samovar’s newest location has opened across the street from the San Francisco Zen Center in the Hayes Valley, and the reclaimed wood, warm stove, extensive tea selection, international menu and sunken tables embodies a magical haven. The tea bar is crafted from an 800 year-old, naturally fallen twenty-foot redwood tree. Samovar Tea Lounge, 297 Page Street (at Laguna), San Francisco, CA, 94102. (415) 861 – 0303. Don’t miss the official public opening, Saturday, March 7, 1:00 – 5:00 P.M. with a traditional door opening ceremony at 1:00 P.M., tea tastings, food and live music. Samovarlife.com. –– FMT
By Meagan McCrary, Melissa Chua, Felicia M. Tomasko
