Loka Yoga

Schedule Change in February

2012-01-29T14:56:00.000-08:00

Starting

February 8th, 2012

Alice Joanou will be teaching class on Wednesdays

5:45-6:45 pm

Level 2-3

(the class is not recommended for beginners)

Thursday evening classes will resume with a new program—

"The Fundamentals of Yoga"

in April, 2012

Celebrate The Dream

2012-01-15T17:28:00.000-08:00

Loka Yoga with be open for regular classes on Monday, January 16th

Celebrate The Life of 

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. 

with a mediation on ahimsa, 

the great vow of non-violence. 

9 am - 10:30 am with Alice

6 pm - 7:30 pm with Dana

I'd Like To Teach The World to Sing

2011-12-13T20:26:00.000-08:00

Searching for the Teacher Within

January 6, 7, 8

Friday-7-9 pm

Saturday 11-5 pm

Sunday 1-4 pm

with

Alice Joanou

This intensive is developed for those who are teachers, parents, those in leadership roles and mentors.

We will begin placing the yoga tradition historically both in India and in the West so that we may more deeply understand the Yoga tradtion. We will then to use various inventive methods to cultivate ways to instruct our selves and others through the lens of yoga.

A great teacher is a good student.

This workshop is open to all.

$175.00

Pre-Registration is required.

or contact:

Alice-loka.oakland@gmail.com

Register on-line or in person at Loka Yoga.

Dari Sylvia on Saturday Mornings!!

2011-11-02T17:29:00.000-07:00

Starting November 19th

join 

Dari Sylvia 

on

Saturday Mornings 

9 am - 10:30 

for a

Level 1-3 Vinyasa Class

If you've never had a class with Dari, now is your chance to take class with a teacher who brings heart, wisdom and humor to each class she teaches. It's an honor to have her teaching at Loka.

Pranayama Intensive

2011-10-17T07:20:00.000-07:00

Join Alice Joanou

for a weekend of in-depth study

on Breath Meditation

pranayama

that which is infinitely everywhere

Friday November 4th, 7-9 pm

Saturday November 5^th 9am-5pm

Sunday, Novermber 6^th 1-4 pm

$175.00

Pranayama is the foundation of a deeper yoga practice. During this intensive many of the techniques of pranayama will be deeply explored and practiced in both sitting and dynamic asana sequences.

Learn the basis for the vayus-the winds of the body and the various breathing practices and their applications. Both mudras and bhandas will be expanded upon as a feature of a deeper knowledge of the breathing practice known as pranayama.

Pre –registration is required

contact: Alice at loka.oakland@gmail.com

Chanting Class Begins Tonight, October 2

2011-10-02T07:18:00.000-07:00

Learn to Chant 

with 

Mukund Subramanian

Sundays

6:30-7:30 pm

this is an on-going class and class cards are welcome

no pre-registration is necessary

Just show up and sing

2011-09-09T18:03:00.000-07:00

Yoga as Mind Medicine: 
Applying Chapter One of the Yoga Sutras to Your Yoga Practice  

October 7, 8, 9 — 2011 

Spend a weekend learning in depth the first chapter of this fundamental book of Yoga practice.
In Patanajali’s Samadhi Padha we discover the yogic mapping of the mind. Using diverse techniques including asana, meditation and chanting we will, together, demystify this profoundly practical handbook of sacred practice. Through our work we will more carefully apply traditional methods to our modern approach in yoga. Study in Yoga makes the journey to the Self more lucid and beneficial.

Friday: 7-9 pm
 Saturday:  8 am-5 pm
 Sunday:  1 pm - 4 pm
$175.00
 
Required Reading before Workshop: 
Two different translations of The Yoga Sutras Samadhi Padha of Patanjali chosen from the list below: 
The Yoga Sutras-translated and commentary by TKV Desikachar in The Heart of Yoga
How to Know God—translated and commentary by Christopher Isherwood and Swami Prabhavananda  
The Discipline of Freedom—translated and commentary by Barbara Stoller-Miller 

Workshop Registration Policy:
Pre-registration is recommended and prepayment in full is required to  hold space. 48-hour cancellation policy on all workshops. Cancellations  within 48 hours will be charged in full. No refunds. 

Register on-line or in person at Loka Yoga. 

Immersion Program 2011-2012

2011-05-17T06:06:00.000-07:00

The 2011-2012 Immersion Program is open to all.
You can take each workshop individually choosing from the series that interest you or you may sign up fro the whole program in order to qualify for the Loka Apprenticeship Program.
See link to read complete descriptions of each workshop.

Immersion 2011-2012

If you have further questions please email:
Alice Joanou

loka.oakland@gmail.com

Free Your Feet and Your Mind Will Follow

2011-03-21T20:37:00.000-07:00

Free Your Feet

Join Alice Joanou

for an entire class dedicated to

Your Feet!

Sunday April 17th, 2-5 pm
Loka Yoga

Learn foot anatomy and engineering so that you may understand the way your feet relate to the rest of your body. You will practice simple techniques that blend yoga, simple movement and massage that easily change the way your feet feel and the way you feel about your feet. Get ready to throw those orthotics away!!

Pre-Registration is suggested as this workshop fill up quickly.

$40 pre-registration

$50 at the door

to pre-register contact Kati: kati.loka.oakland@gmail.com

2011-03-05T08:48:00.000-08:00

Singing to the Divinity Within
A Concert and Sound Meditation with Mukund Subramanian
Loka Yoga
March 20th 2-5 pm

Mukund will sing South Indian Carnatic Music and lead participants through a sound based meditation.  This will enable an experience of deep listening and visualization, that will then lead into chanting. We will share sounds and tones that fill and heal the self, resonate within a space,and awaken a community.  There will be guidance to listen and sing from our chakra energy centers in the body. The concert will be an offering to the temples connected to Mukund's lineage and everyone at Loka.  It will be a journey of songs and chants that are dedicated to the divinities Shiva, Shakthi, Ganesha, Subramanya, Laxmi, Vishnu and Saraswati. For more information please see www.resonanceyoga.com

To Pre-Register for this Concert and Meditation
Please email Alice at loka.oakland@gmail.com
$30 pre-registration
$40 at the door

2011-02-28T06:18:00.001-08:00

Moving into Spring with Allegra Chabay

Saturday, March 5th 10 am-12 pm

$20 or two class card punches

Join Allegra for a class devoted to awakening the body to the changing season. The sequences will promote digestion and internal fire combined with restorative and reflective sequences to ground and ready for the Spring.

Schedule Changes for February

2011-01-29T11:54:00.000-08:00

Dear Friends in Yoga-

There are some minor changes to the Loka Schedule starting February 1st. 

We are adding a NEW CLASS! 

We are so pleased to welcome Allegra Chabay back to Loka! She will be doing mini workshops every FIRST SATURDAY OF THE MONTH. 

The first workshop will be held: February  5TH 

10 AM—12 PM

The focus of the workshop will be 

The Hands: Opening the Hand, Opening the Heart

Explore the movements that decompress and relieve stresses in the hands and wrists. 

Thank you and we all look forward to a healthy, happy new year.
Monday
Alice—9:30-11 am—Level 1-3—Vinyasa
Dana—6:00-7:30 pm—Alignment through Asana (all levels)

Tuesday
Amber—6-7:20 pm—Level 1-3 Vinyasa
Dari—7:30-9 pm—Detox through Asana (Levels 1-3)

Wednesday
Dari—9:30-11 am—Level 1-3—Vinyasa
Alice—7 pm-8:30 pm—Intro to Yoga

Thursday
Christie—9:30—11 am —Post Natal Yoga (w/pre crawling babies)
Alice—6—7:30 pm—Level 1-3—Vinyasa

Friday
Alice—9:30—11 am—Level 1-3
Dari—6:30-8 pm—Yoga for the People (donation based class)

Every First Saturday of the Month
Allegra—10:00-12:00 
February-Opening the Heart, Opening the Hand

Sunday
Alice-9-10:30 am—Intro to Yoga—Vinyasa
11-12:30 pm—Level 1-3—Vinyasa 

Phillip Joanou Sr. 1933-2010

2010-12-04T16:35:00.000-08:00

My father died on November 20th, 2010. He was directly responsible for my interest and passion for Yoga. He began yoga at the age of 52 and was a devoted practitioner for many, many years, even earning his yoga teacher's certificate. My father was a remarkable man, who was loved by many people. One of the most enduring and repeated phrases that I've heard in the past weeks regarding my Dad, was that he was a gifted listener. He was never distracted when in conversation with you. He had particularly piercing eyes (which scared the life out of every boy I dated in high school). He would listen as if your were the most important person in the world. And then he could distill what you said and would drive to the heart of it and help you find what was truly important about what you were expressing. He helped me know myself so much more deeply because he listened to me.

He loved that I formed a yoga community. He helped me discover the business element of yoga to be a creative extension of an artful life and he helped me to figure out how to live out the yogic principles in each aspect of my life. He taught me when I was feeling down or depressed that helping other people, that turning to service was a sure way toward feeling better. He helped me be connected to myself, my family and the Divine and he did this all with the best, most wicked sense of humor imaginable.

What I was reminded about my father through all the people that spoke at his memorial this Monday, was that he was a man who valued family and relationships above anything else. He mentored many people and in hearing about his life it seemed as if he lived enough for four or five people. Once when my brother Phillip was feeling despairing, he asked my father to tell him what the purpose of existence was. My father said he needed one night to think it over. The next day he said to my brother.
"Character. That's the meaning of it all."
"What???" Phillip responded, totally disappointed. He was hoping for something a bit more flashy.
"Character. It's all you have. It's everything."
My father's death was a beautiful and dignified. It was infused profoundly by his great depth of character—a feature of him that will remain unchanged by his passing.

Thank you to the Loka Community for all your incredible loving support during this very difficult time. I feel that my purpose has been re-invogorated through this powerful process.

New Classes with Dari Sylvia

2010-11-17T16:33:00.000-08:00

Tuesday 7:30 pm — 9 pm

Detox and Core Yoga Flow

A vinyasa flow class emphasizing clearing toxins from the body, mind, and soul, while building a strong and stable core. Eliminating poisons from the body paves the way to clear stagnation from our spirits, leading to an increase in vitality, confidence, and purpose. Our physical cores are not only our centers of gravity, but they are also are our sacred centers, the source of our intuition, and the place where we can reach our own inner gurus. Cleaning and strengthening our cores helps us find our own deepest truths and stand faithfully by them. Working with these areas can also cleanse the karmas from past relationships where you have hurt others, and to help you forgive where others have have hurt you.

Yoga For the People

Fridays 6:30—8 pm

A by Donation Class

pay what you can

New Classes with Christie Makanna-Cohen

2010-11-10T06:39:00.000-08:00

New classes with Christie Makanna Cohen

Wednesday 6 pm — 7:20 pm

Yoga for Transition and Growth

Find the strength you never knew you had through movement and breath. In this vinyasa class we will calm the nerves, move our bodies and even out the breath with the specific intention of working through difficulties that arise in life. Often times we need to tap into the divine in order clear out the misunderstandings that stand in the way of truth thus enabling us to access our 'super powers' and connect with joy.

We can work it out.

Yoga for Post Natal Health

with or without pre-crawling babies

Thursdays 9:30 — 11 AM

In this class we will focus on reconnecting to the power center in our core bodies. Back and shoulder issues will also be addressed in regard to nursing and carrying babies. Bring your non-crawling baby or come alone. we will strengthen and support motherhood together through Yoga. Come have fun and restore your energy.

Yoga For Children With Special Needs

2010-10-27T11:47:00.000-07:00

Loka Yoga is Pleased to Announce the addition:

Yoga for Special Children with Special Needs

with Amber Straus

Mondays 4-5 PM

Beginning November 6th 2010

Children with autism, Aspberger’s, down syndrome, ADD, ADHD, and other physical and developmental challenges can benefit tremendously from Yoga. Children who practice yoga can increase coordination, strengthen breath and circulation, tone muscles, and find peace in their bodies.

Please contact Amber directly for more information on enrolling in the class:

amberstraus@gmail

If you know someone who has a child with special needs and you think they may benefit from this class, please kindly forward this information

Exciting New Programs

2010-10-14T12:56:00.000-07:00

We at

Loka Yoga

are very happy to announce a whole new series of classes

in an effort to expand our community

and to expand your awareness of what Yoga is all about.

The New Classes Begin on Saturday, November 6th.

New Classes include:

Yoga for Children with Special Needs

Alignment through Asana

Detox and Core Yoga

Yoga for Recovery and Transition

Yoga for Nourishment and Nutritional Awareness

Post-Natal Yoga with Pre-Crawling Babies

Yoga for Advancing Beginners

and

Friday Night Yoga for the People—

a donation based yoga class

Saturday

9 am — 10:30 am

Yoga for Nourishment and Nutritional Awareness

Food is an important part of our lives, without it we cannot live.

Are you looking to rebuild that connection with your body again and remember how good life can taste? Confused by conflicting studies and confusing messages about healthy eating? We live in a world of abundance and may find it hard to make decisions about what is good or bad for us. Build a better relationship between yourself and food through the healing power of yoga.

This weekly class will focus on a different topic addressing the many issues with food, nutrition and our bodies to help you make better decisions and empower you as an individual. The class will include an opening discussion, yoga asanas, pranayama (breathing practice), meditation, tools for self care and end with a closing circle. Our body is meant to heal and yoga is one part of it, let the food you eat be the other component as well.

with

Tia Ukpe

Monday
4 pm - 5 pm
Yoga for Children with Special Needs

Children with autism, Aspberger’s, Down's Syndrome, ADD, ADHD, and other physical and developmental challenges can benefit tremendously from Yoga. Children who practice yoga can increase coordination, strengthen breath and circulation, tone muscles, and find peace in their bodies.

Please contact amberstraus@gmail.com to discuss enrollment in this class.

The class size will be limited to 6 children to ensure that attention and care is provided for all. with

Amber Straus

Monday

6 pm — 7:20 pm

Alignment through Asana

A Vinyasa-based class rooted in the principles of optimum alignment of the body. This class draws from various movement modalities, such as Pilates, Alexander Technique, and dance, to further enhance the student's understanding of proper posture when practicing asana. Aligning the breath with movement, focused from a structural stand point rather than sensory, addresses the mechanics of how the respiratory system is deeply effected by the alignment and posture of the body. Each class is personally tailored to those practicing, creating a creative and energetic practice. Sun Salutations, standing poses, deep stretches and strengthening exercises assist students into a greater understanding of how their own bodies 'work' rather than just relying of how a pose looks.

with

Dana Lawton

New Class Time!! New Teacher!!
7:30 pm - 9 pm

Vinyasa Level 1-3

with

Tia Ukpe

Tuesday

6 pm — 7:20 pm

Advancing Beginners
This class is for those students who have been to the Intro Class and are ready for reasonable challenges while continuing to focus on basic ideas in the vinyasa krama method of yoga.

with

Amber Straus

Tuesday

7:30 pm — 9 pm

Detox and Core Yoga

with

Dari Sylvia

Wednesday

6 pm — 7:20 pm

Yoga for Transition and Growth
Find the strength you never knew you had through movement and breath. In this Vinyasa class we will calm the nerves, move our bodies and even out the breath with the specific intention of working through difficulties that arise in life. Often times we need to tap into the divine in order clear out the misunderstandings that stand in the way of truth thus enabling us to access our 'super powers" and connect with joy.
We can work it out.

with

Christie Makanna-Cohen

Thursday

9:30 am — 11 am

Yoga for Post Natal Health

with or without pre-Crawling Babies!

with

Christie Makanna-Cohen

Friday

6:30—8 pm

Yoga for the People

donation based class-pay what you can

with

Dari Sylvia

For additional information or questions email:

loka.oakland@gmail.com

Sthira Sukha Asanam

2010-10-07T10:06:00.000-07:00

There was a time in my life when I did not know the meaning of the word NO unless I was saying it to my Mom. I rarely said NO to a drink, a party, a cigarette or the suggestion of a road trip to Idaho on a Wednesday in December on a dare.
After I sobered up and found yoga, I still continued to adopt this willful attitude of resisting any thing that might be bad for me. I know that seems antithetical to the yogic practice, but just because you walk through the doors of a yoga school and do some sun salutations does not mean the transformations are immediate. Not at all.
In fact yoga became the forum to act out all those extremes—extremes in diet, extremes in excessive asana practice, extremes in the types of contortions my body would do. I refused to say NO to any request made of me, especially if they were utterly demented and dangerous.
"Alice-you should try the watermelon diet."
"What's that?" I ask
"You eat nothing but watermelon for four months. It REALLY cleans you out!'
"OK!"
"Hey Alice-you should try to balance on your head till your eyes bulge and your nose begins to bleed. It will take you closer to GOD!! And cure dandruff!!"
"OK!!!"
"Alice did you know that shoulder injury is nothing more than a manifestation of your own fear. Ignore it and keep practicing until you weep!"
"OK!!!!"
Eventually my attitude towards yoga led to an ugly crash and burn scenario enacted during the monsoon season in South India. I survived, but I had to re-evaluate my process.
Was it necessary to practice yoga till I was barely alive?
"NO!!!!!"

I discovered the teachings of Desikachar whose wisdom professed gentle moderation in everything but ones devotion to God. He applied the ideas of sthira sukha—what Patanjali describes as the essence of the asana pose. Sthira sukha asanam can be translated simply as sweet steadiness. Sthira sukha asanam also suggests that when one is comfortable and not trying too hard, one is "seated"—meaning one is sitting comfortably in One Self. Iyengar likes to call it equipoise. I like to think of it as being graceful in the flow of things, even when they are really difficult. What the idea suggests is that if you're trying too hard, you've fallen out of the flow and into a state of effort that is usually attached to outcome—as if you can control it. The realization that you cannot control outcome is one of the liberating teachings of yoga. So why not find the sweet steadiness in the moment, without forcing it?

"Yeah, but what is the difference between that and just being lazy?" Wendy asked in class the other day.
I believe the answer lies in the breath. The key to your mental state can easily be accessed through the quality of your breath. If you feel you can breathe consciously, steadily and fully while you are practicing the asana, you're doing alright. If your body is uncomfortable to the point that your breathing is diminished, well then perhaps you should rest.
"But NO!!" says the ambitious one. "Resting is for the weak!"
When you don't heed the messages of the body, eventually your body will override your desire for success in the asana! And it will hurt. It's fine to experience struggle in the asana practice—as long as you can breathe fully and with awareness. Ideally even in the struggle you will still be able to access some part of your self that is sweetly contented at all times—the part of your self that is always in the state of sthira sukkha and that does not get exasperated during times like these:
"Misha, please get your clothes on for school."
"NO!"
"Misha please don't throw your underwear in the trash."
"NO!"
"Misha please stop rubbing that yogurt on your tummy."
"NO!"
"Misha please stop putting stickers all over Kitty Hank."
"NO!"
Oh Karma Sweet Karma.

Power to the Pada

2010-07-26T19:57:00.000-07:00

Every now and then, David and I like to play a little game called: "Irrational Pet Peeves." There are several complicated rules because there are many rational pet peeves
"How about a person discussing a yeast infection on their cell phone in a cafe?" I ask.
"Rational," David says rolling his eyes. Only a rookie would ask.
"Sperry Topsider shoes?"
"Can't be fashion related."
"What about high fives?" High fives really bug me.
"OK, but just barely," he concedes.
My friend Sarah's Irrational Pet Peeve is balloons—every single kind of balloon bugs her right down to her core. David's Irrational Pet Peeve is the French language and mine are running and high fives.

Now before I even knew about David or his fun game of Irrational Pet Peeves, I had taken a solemn and sacred vow that I would NOT run. Something about running, about seeing other people run, even people talking about running just drove me crazy. My vow had to be slightly altered after the birth of my children to accommodate the fact that I might have to save their lives, from say a bear, which I acknowledged would be the ONLY reason to run.

And as if to justify my peeve, the more yoga I taught, the more I became acquainted with running pains. Knees, hips, low back and feet were all free game to the monster appetites of the jog. I would gently scold people for running, saying that walking was just as good, if not better. Despite the fact that I had not run since 1997 my feet had started to hurt really bad.
On my 44th birthday my friend Kathryn pointed down at my feet, appalled and shouted: "WHY are you wearing those ugly slippers? They're hideous."
"Because my feet are killing me, " I said. "These, along with my orthotics, are the only shoes that don't hurt."
"Wow, you sound more like you're turning 144," Kath said.
"Your feet ARE NOT killing you!' Dari Love Sylvia piped in. "You shouldn't talk about your feet that way!"
And just as she uttered those words, a light went on. She was right. My feet hurt, but they were not waging war on me, they were not armed and dangerous. They just hurt. I realized that I had been annoyed and my annoyance had started to turn to hatred. I recently had gone to a podiatrist who announced that my feet were malformed and offered two solutions: radical surgery or MBT's—both of which were out of the question.
After mentioning my situation to a friend who also happens to be a doctor, she said:
"You have to meet John Crutchfield. He's the Foot Guy!"
And so I sought out John — a man I now refer to as "The Foot Genius." In his simple workshop he radically changed the way I think about feet and shoes. I became certain that I could heal my feet, not just a little but entirely and completely. I had to begin by changing my mind completely about my feet. I had to give them a little rub down after a long day's work. I had to be unafraid to walk barefoot and to decide that I was going to change not only my attitude and walking patterns but also my idea of what feet do. John also suggested that I read a book called "Born to Run" by Christopher MacDonald.
Now with my Irrational Pet Peeve still firmly in place, I felt a bit sheepish buying a book about this loathsome past-time, but I did because The Foot Genius had steered me true thus far. My feet, in two short weeks were feeling better than they had in YEARS!

I opened the book, and couldn't put it down, reading with awe and wonder about the Tarahumara Indians who run on tire-tread haraches without so much as a bunion, about lunatics who run ultra marathons (ultra marathons can be up to 100 miles—a distance I'm not even psyched about driving), and about Barefoot Ted who runs ultra marathons barefoot or in Vibram Five Finger "shoes." But the book is not only about running. It examines the way that the Tarahumara Indians run—they run for the total joy and fun of it which seems to allow them to go great distances at quite a clip shod in little flaps of rubber. The story follows ultra runners who eat cheese pizza and Mountain Dew on the trail while shouting with joy. "Born to Run" is an examination of the act of running for the joy of it because we as a species we've been running a lot longer than not running. And the way Chris MacDougal writes about it, I thought, trail running sounds really super fun and with a certain kind of attitude, not at all unlike yoga.
"I'm going to go on a run," I announced to David the other day and he cracked up.
"I am."
"Can't wait to see that," he said.
I slipped on my ridiculously fabulous Five Finger Vibram Sprints (or my celibacy shoes as a friend called them) and took off an a trail run. I won't lie to you. I practically dropped dead after the first hill (a mound really) but I found myself smiling widely the entire time. I smiled as I plodded along through the trees and in the dirt. I felt liberated and happily awkward. And where my feet had been almost killing me just walking to the espresso pot only months before, they were now tripping along practically naked on the trail. Nevermind I was so awkward and slow that even the squirrels were laughing at my silly shoes and blundering style. I was running. Me! Running!
"Guess you'll have to find new Irrational Pet Peeve," David said as I burst in the door sweaty and elated.
"Hmmm—iPhones?"
"Yeah ok. Until you get one."

Immersed

2010-07-20T18:44:00.000-07:00

The Loka Summer Immersion is over, but the effects, I hope are lingering. The 6 AM practice was like a dream. We began every morning with the 12 mantras to the Sun. Each thankful offering corresponds to a movement in Suryanamaskara which also correspond to the 12 months of the year. The asana practice started each morning with Sun Salutations—each practitoner working at his or her own pace, as the Sun itself began to slowly change the feeling and light in the room. Introducing this more traditional approach to yoga instruction exceeded my all my hopes—hopes which I had hoped to abandon before we began so that we journey expectation free! Even still there were secret aspirations that the silence, the breath, the heat and self-aware practice would inspire those present. The word immersed comes from the Latin roots that means to merge. Interesting that yoga also means to merge. Here's to hoping the learning and yearning to merge continues until our last breath. Congratulations to the particpants for their commited presence.

Voluntas

2010-05-22T11:17:00.000-07:00

When I was younger, volunteering had a whiff of punishment attached to it. Volunteering meant that you had been in trouble and you were meant to pay. Picking up trash. Soup kitchen duty. Visiting elders. All things I did as a result of punitive action.

As I grew older and too tired to get in as much trouble I began to see service in a different light, but I still felt I had little energy to spare as I struggled along in my own universe. One day while wandering around the new SF Public Library, I came across a book called The Memory of Solferino written someone named Henri Dunant. I picked it up because of it was small, dusty and looked lonely and there was a cool Red Cross image on the cover. What it turned out to be was Dunant's recollections of a battle scene he chanced upon while touring the Italian countryside. He witnessed terrible suffering and a deathly shortage of medical help. Without thinking he immediately jumped to service. As he worked he saw townspeople rushing to the aid of their loved ones as well as their enemies—helping anyone who needed help regardless of their martial status. This single day changed the course of his life and the world's course as well. He wrote the memoir as a call to the international community to develop a corps of trained volunteers to selflessly serve. He was also responsible for insisting on humane treatment of prisoners of war. This all, of course led to the mammoth International Red Cross, for which he won a Nobel Prize even though the years following this brainchild's birth, Dunant fell into obscurity and poverty.

Dunant's book changed my life as well. I am disinclined to be around blood as I am a giant whimp and faint instantly at even the suggestion of too much life force spilling out. I fainted when my cat had a simple procedure done that involved needles (true story). BUT, I did change my notion of volunteerism. And as it works with life, when you open your heart and mind to the word/idea/spirit of something it comes to you in greater and greater volume. Suddenly I knew many more people in service oriented jobs. I got to know teachers, tutors to the illiterate, food justice workers, environmentalists, nurses, social justice pioneers, and anti-racist activists. It was amazing how the people's life stories flooded into my own. I began to see how their work was changing the world and though the work is often thankless, it is never without purpose.

This week I volunteered to teach yoga to a group of high school youth from Leadership Public School in Richmond. I was really anxious because I thought that maybe the youth were being coerced (in the friendliest possible way) to try yoga. I thought I would be greeted by unwilling participants in the yogic experience. And one thing I've learned about yoga is that it has to be volitional for it to be effective.

Ari, one of my students said "Hey it's going to be great! What if you speak to just ONE person there. And what if that changes their life somehow forever."
"Yeah," Donna piped in. "It'll be great!"
This was a daunting and unlikely suggestion but they were right. Plus, I had committed.

Well, as usual, I was completely wrong. In going to Leadership Public High School I was completely reassured about the potential in all people and the beauty that is expressed in youth. I was greeted happily, eagerly and volitionally by ten young women who put their mats in a circle. They very politely laughed at my jokes. They nodded with engagement when I tried to impart a few lessons of yoga. They were game for the difficulties of the asana. They meditated calmly and were still. When I explained the teacher-student chant I got a little weepy. I explained to them that they had naturally and easily taught me so deeply and that was the meaning of the chant. The teacher and student bond is a deeply moving one, even if you only meet the teacher once. I may never meet these wonderful young women again, but I bow to each one of them as my teachers.

Namaste, Ladies of Leadership.

Captain oh Captain

2010-04-24T07:30:00.000-07:00

When I was in third grade, two very important things happened. 1) I finally got a pair of Clark's Wallabies 2) met Mrs. Venit. The slightly more important of the two—Mrs. Venit—was my teacher at Palm Crest Elementary School. After all the subsequent years of education and yoga she still holds the trophy in my heart for best teacher EVER.
She changed my life in subtle but powerful and indelible ways. For example, she showed me how to use a Roget's Thesaurus which completely blew my mind. It was like having a secret code book and it allowed me to write sentences like: When I saw, with tenderness, my Wallabies, I felt such a crushing, delightful feeling of enchantment, rapture and fondness I had to purchase them at once. When I put them on my feet, my ardor increased and the amity and allegiance—No! Adulation I had for these rapturous shoes caused a fervor of fidelity, a flame of devotion in my heart's infatuation.

She also gave me an Agatha Christie book "10 Little Indians" which opened my mind to the great pleasures of mysteries and solidified my passion for reading. But above all, I feel like she got me. I know this may come as a shock to some of you, but I was a bit of an odd kid and Mrs.Venits' sardonic humor and abiding commitment to teaching made going to school each day a thrill. She was the only person I let tease me about the fact that I wore my Wallabies every single day and probably at night while sleeping too.

Everyone has a Mrs. Venit in their lives. Someone remarkable who changes the course of your life. Everyone you meet changes the course of your life, it's just that the impact runs from the imperceptible to the shattering. Mrs. Venit's impact on my life has been of the enduring kind. It's so important to remember that person who so clearly helped shape your life positively. There are people that may have done exactly the opposite: a single word or string of behaviors that squelched your being or injured your psyche. But those experiences can be used instructively. After that leave the memory like a seed to dry in the sun. Their words or actions need not bear fruit. It's so much more wonderful to tend the garden where the seeds of acceptance, encouragement and courage were sown by a beloved teacher, parent or friend.

Acknowledging the influence on your life allows that person to live and roam in your consciousness, continuing to produce those original feelings of love and respect they originally engendered. They helped give birth to who you are now. They loved and supported you and gave you a gift that endures and supersedes discouragement and self-doubt.

A few years ago I sat down and Googled Mrs. Venit. Within five minutes I'd found her and it was the first time I exclaimed out loud "I love the Internet!!" I emailed her and got an immediate reply. We agreed to meet for coffee as she was going to be visiting the Bay Area in a few weeks. On the day of our meeting, I got all dressed up, feeling like I was going on a first date. I was thrilled and nervous. I was so earnest to present myself as an accomplished person so that she could see what a profound influence she had on me. Plus I loved her in third grade. I assumed and hoped I would love her now. As I suspected deep in my heart, I found that we are soul mates. We reunited as adults and found such rich and exciting common ground it stunned me. We talked about work, family and most importantly, the joys of coffee. We talked about travel (she has since retiring become a world-class traveller) and books and coffee. It was a glorious reconnection. I got the opportunity to tell her, in person, what an incredible influence she has had on me every year since I was eight.
I asked her if she remembered the end of third grade.
"I gave you one of my Wallabies."
"Yes," Mrs. Venit said. "You gave me your old shoe as and end of the year present."
"Good Lord, what was I thinking?"
"I kept that shoe on my desk for years as a pencil holder."
As if it was possible to love her more than I already do.
Thank you Mrs. Venit.

Yeshua Avatara

2010-03-16T09:56:00.001-07:00

One day a student was perusing the books I keep at the yoga studio and she picked up a book called Yoga and Christianity. "You know it's interesting," she held the book up to inspect it closer. "You rarely hear Jesus mentioned in a yoga class. There's a lot of Buddha, Krishna, and Shiva. Even God. But not too much Jesus."

"It's true," I said. "Jesus talk freaks people out."

I thought more about this little exchange during the following weeks. I realized that for a lot of people, myself included, the spiritual elements of the yoga practice provided me with a sort of loophole. I could freely express and explore what was innately within my heart without uttering a single word about Jesus or Religion. And I found this entirely liberating. I even found I could practice deeply without hearing or saying the word God. We have found lots of synonyms—The Divine, Inner Wisdom, Wisdom of the Heart, and my least favorite because it is so utterly vague—Energy. If the word works for you, I think it's cool to have a word for the feeling, rather than nothing at all.
I think I balked at revisiting the teachings of my cultural heritage because they felt limiting, while the images and teachings of the Vedic tradition were exotic, foreign and wide open to my own interpretation.

Recently I have re-opened my heart to the wisdom teachings of Jesus, largely because of this casual little exchange with my student. I am reading wonderfully fresh translation of the Gospels by Andy Gaus called The Unvarnished New Testament. In my initial foray I came across two sentences that charged me like lightening. (Or was it Energy??)

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus says to his students:
"Here I am sending you out like sheep amid wolves, so be smart as snakes and innocent as doves."
I couldn't help but think of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa who taught that even an elightened snake should not loose the power to hiss ferociously.
And further in Matthew, Jesus says:
"And don't be afraid of those who kill the body, but can't kill the soul."
This is mirrored in the perplexing, majestic Bhagavad Gita:
" He who thinks this self a killer and he who thinks it killed, both fail to understand; it does not kill nor is it killed. It is not born, it does not die; having been, it will never not be; unborn, enduring, constant and primordial, it is not killed when the body is killed."

For deep readers, sacred texts are living words that you converse with, move with, live by and possibly even die by or with the words. The lessons and visions are not easily understood from a discursive mind, but rather through the heart and wisdom inherent and once found never lost.
I feel blessed by the opportunity to become lightened and confused, made joyful and frustrated by the beauty of the Gospels, and reading the words of the Christ Avatar.

Bikers Are People Too

2010-02-18T09:23:00.001-08:00

This story warrants a caution before reading: there are terrible words and even worse sentiments repeated, BUT these word are worthy of repeat for the lesson they impart.

Not long ago I was parking my car in Berkeley. As I got out of the car I very nearly "doored" a bicyclist that was passing. He stopped his bike and literally shrieked at me:
"WATCH WHERE YOU'RE GOING YOU IDIOT!"
I was so startled by his volume and presence that I jumped. And then I smiled stupidly. I actually said, "I'm terribly sorry." To tell God's Honest Truth, I was more frightened than sorry.
And then I tried to employ a practice I've talked about in class, read about in sutras and thought about in theory a lot—pratipaksha bhavana—the reversal of a negative thought or situation to its positive opposite. I tried to flip my immediately hostile response to a totally positive one. I smiled wider, certain this would calm him and he would wave happily at me, flowers would spring forth from his handle bars and he'd ride away, whistling and trailing lavender-scented farts.
Instead, he unclipped his clippy shoe thing from the pedal and was so infuriated a vein was visible beneath his wrap-around eyeshields. The rearview mirror that was attached to his helmet quivered in rage.
He looked at me and then said, calmly: "I hope you have children some day, and I hope they die."

In re-telling this story my stomach curdles and my blood runs cold. In the moment I actually almost fainted. I believe the word would have been swooned, had I fallen down. It was amazing to me that this strange encounter could have such a physical impact. Clearly this gentleman had not seen the two car seats in the back of my family style car indicating that perhaps I already had children.
I was beyond stunned. I still tried to employ the reversal but the closest I got was. "Poor man."
He hopped on his bike, his veins bulging in his helmet and rode away. No flowers, no whistling. Just the finger and some more profane speech. I sat down on the curb and cried.

Now did I use pratipaksha bhavana correctly? I am still unsure. Rama Krishna Paramahamsa would not have approved of my actions. He taught that the snake can become enlightened enough not to strike, but it need not loose it's ferocious hiss. Sri Freud theorized that feelings suppressed redouble their strength and make eternal returns until brought forth and sizzled by the magic of talking.

In the following days I tried to love this guy. I tried to imagine with compassion the hatred that roiled around in his little spandexed chest. I tried to imagine what kind of person would say such hateful things, and what it must be like to be him in his uncomfortable little black bike shorts. The "love" I felt for him was forced and truly imperfect.

Perhaps the lesson is to 1) look before opening the car door, and 2) to try and understand pratipaksha bhavana as not suppressing feelings or distorting them through self-deceiving circumabulations, but rather to try and understand the situation in a useful light. Ultimately I am grateful to the sociopathic bicyclist because he showed me how difficult the path of Yoga can be, but he also showed me that I have a powerful tool through Yoga in which to reckon with such a baffling display of human behavior.

Power to the People

2010-01-12T09:23:00.000-08:00

I make no secret of my love for television. I used to be ashamed that I liked it and in some weird hormonal state, I even suggested to David that we get rid of the TV before we had children.
"It will be great! We'll have shadow plays and little Shakespeare festivals instead!" My mind reeled with our TV-less Waldorfian future.
"No way, man." David replied. Whenever he calls me 'man' I know he is utterly serious.
I dropped it. And eventually admitted to myself, and now others, that I do like TV.
For instance, the other night I started watching a PBS series called: This Emotional Life. (No, I don't only watch PBS). The show examines our internal life both scientifically and simply through talking with people and hearing their stories. And man, the stories are incredible.

The feature of the show that struck me most is our deep and abiding need for each other. People survive terrible, catastrophic circumstances and their ability to be resilient seemed to rest on a few very important qualities: the belief in something greater than ones' self, followed by the ability to view the situation through an essentially positive lens. Watching Bob Shumaker talk about his 8 year imprisonment in a Cambodian prison is utterly startling. Even more shocking is that upon reflection of his life, he felt that his ordeal was essential to making him a better, richer and more fulfilled person. Whoa MAN!! I am so grateful to this wonderful stranger whose story has enhanced my own understanding of Being in a deeply profound way. And finally, for people to survive and survive well, they must have community. This feeling of community supports the other two elements of resilience and survival.

So it occurs to me when we are practicing together, when we are breathing together and joining our lots for that hour and a half at Loka, we are building a foundation of something so powerful and strong it creates a haven for heart, mind and body. Our secret narratives are woven together, and though we need not speak them aloud, we are having a shared experience made possible only by other people. And so I thank each and every person for stepping through that door, whether it is for one visit or more. You are all essential in creating a luminous umbrella which may shelter us in time of need.

For a wonderful source book on ways in which you can build community, check out our very own Emily Doskow's and Janelle Orsi's book: The Sharing Solution. It can be purchased out our very own Laurel Books!

Who Are Those Guys??

2010-01-05T12:05:00.000-08:00

"You're going to go guru on them?" my friend Kathryn asked when I told her I was making a new altar for Loka.
"Yeah. It's about time."
"It's going to freak your students out."
"Nah. It won't. Besides, the place wouldn't be there without these guys."
Yoga is a practice that is transmitted by PEOPLE. And some people are particularly, supernaturally gifted. Sometimes they're even referred to as saints, avatars and mahatmas.
So I thought I would give a little family tree—a brief history of yoga, a narrative so short in content and length that it will rival Stephen Jay Hawking's little work, "A Brief History of Time and Space."
We'll start chronologically:
This is Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, a Bengali saint born on February 18, 1836. He was a devotee of Kali and a priest to a temple in Dakineshwar outside Calcutta. He was a practitioner of Advaita Vedanta and the stories of his life and his teachings can be read in a voluminous history called: The Gospel of Ramakrishna, a book written by one of his disciples. His teaching methods were deeply unorthodox and his teachings radical yet simple. There are many Ramakrishna Missions all over India where he is revered by many as a saint and avatar. He died of throat cancer on August 16, 1886.
Ramakrishna's favored disciple was a young man he gave the spiritual name of Vivekenanda. Born on January 12, 1863 in Bengal. Vivekenada is credited with introducing Vedanta to the West. At the behest of Ramakrishna Vivekenanda came to America and taught. He rep represented India as a delegate in the 1893 Parliament of World Religions where he gave a famous speech in which he addressed the crowd as "brothers and sisters," (something outrageous for a monk in a turban to do to a bunch of white people). He was greeted with wild applause. He went on to discuss the nature of similarities between all faiths. He became a well-known teacher and was responsible for starting the Ramakrishna Missions. His life was dedicated to the study and knowledge of Yoga and Vedanta. Without him, it might have taken a lot longer for us to get the messages of Yoga. Thanks Vivekenanda, we owe you one!! He died July 4, 1902, leaving behind many books for us to enjoy today.
Sri Tirumalai Krishnamacharya was born November 18, 1888 in Southern India. He was not a devotee of Ramakrishna but came from a deeply religious Brahman family devoted to Vishnu. From an early age he showed great promise as a scholar and earned many scholarships in education. As a young man he went to Benares where he furthered his education in Sanskrit and became interested in Yoga. Eventually he met his teacher,and followed him to study at the foot of the Himalayas in Northern India. He went and lived with his teacher for seven years learning from him and preparing to become a sannyasi. His teacher insisted that he return home, take a wife and be a teacher of yoga. Honoring his teacher's request, Krishnamacharya struggled at first to make a meager living as a yoga teacher. He tutored in Sanskrit and eventually became yoga instructor to the Maharaja of Mysore, sort of a local king. He was then given permission to start a school of yoga for young boys, during which he developed his revolutionary vinyasa sequencing and radical ideas about teaching (including teaching Westerners and women!!). Without Krishnamacharya we would not know yoga as we do today. High Five! Sri Sri Krishnamacharya! He died November 3, 1989.
He taught many, many people, three being famous yoga teachers to us Westerners including:

Bellur Krishnamachar Sundararaja Iyengar born December 14, 1918. He was born into a poor Brahman family, and was a sickly child. At the age of 15 he was sent to study with his brother-in-law, well known by then Krishnamacharya (see above). Through yoga and the healing methods of Krishnamacharya, Iyengar became healthy and strong. At his teacher's encouragement he went to Pune and began teaching in 1937. His first famous student was violinist Yehudi Menuhin. It was Menuhin who arranged for Iyengar to come to the west to teach and it was through him that many people first were exposed to yoga. In 1966, he wrote The Light on Yoga which is now considered by some 'the yoga bible.' He still teaches his form of yoga in Pune and has been the teacher of many other great teachers. Props to you, Mr. Iyengar. Props!

Sri Krishna Pattabhi Jois was born in Karnataka, Southen India, July 26, 1915. He too was a born into a Brahman family, and was schooled in Sanskrit from an early age. When he was 12 years old he saw a lecture by Krishnamacharya and became his student the next day. Over the course of many years Jois studied with Krishnamacharya and eventually developed his own method—Ashtanga Vinyasa. He cultivated many students through teaching them rigorous sequences that are progressively more difficult. He continued to teach in Mysore until he was in his 90's and died May 18, 2009. Much of the methodology that he imparted to his senior students is passed down to us all now. Salutations, Sri K. Pattabhi Jois!

TKV Desikachar began studying with his father Krishnamachrya reluctantly, in 1960. Initially Desikachar's interest in yoga was primarily with the poses (asana), but as he grew as a student and yogi, he began to learn the powerful practices of pranayama and study of the scriptures, especially the Yoga Sutras. He started his own school in 1976 in Chennai, South India called the Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram and is still teaching what he calls his father's methods. His style of yoga (sometimes called viniyoga) focuses on the healing for the individual and the gentle flow of breath and movement along with chanting and breathing exercises. As mentioned in a previous post, he recently visited the US where he blew my mind with his humility, humor and profound teaching. Pranams, great Teacher. Pranams.

Ok, so there is a teeny tiny little family tree. Now you know who those guys are. Hopefully you'll see their importance in relationship to your own place on your mat. Remembering our teachers is a way to acknowledge the great river of yoga that we swim in each time we put our hands together and intone the maha mantra OM.

I bow to the feet of my teachers.

Love the One You're With

2009-12-24T10:43:00.000-08:00

One day a few months ago, Lucy had a substitute teacher who's name unbelievably was "Mrs. Gurgler." It sounded like a death rattle when Lucy uttered it.
"Gurgler?" I asked? "Like Hamburglar?"
"Like what?"
"Tell me about Mrs. Gurgler," I said not wanting to bring up MacDonalds twice in once conversation.
"Well, for one she did NOT use her pleases and thank yous."
"Oh," I said. Not a terrible infraction.
"And she yelled. A lot."
"Uh-oh."
"Yeah. And she is like 800 years old."
"Oh wow." I said, imagining someone around my own age.

A few weeks later I went to do my duties as room parent and there was Mrs. Gurgler. And sure enough she did NOT use her pleases and thank yous and did shout a lot, but I believe this was due to the fact that she was indeed 800 years old. I felt like I was there to do damage control.
"See what I mean about Mrs Gurgler?" Lucy asked as we drove home.
I suddenly was filled with compassion for the old, old teacher. Being a substitute sucks. It's like showing up at a party, opening the door holding your present, all dressed up and a bunch of people greet you with—
"Oh, it's you..."
One time when I substitute taught a yoga class, over half the people got up and walked out when they realized their teacher was not there. It was very powerful and instructive. I didn't take it personally. I did my best, didn't make a big deal that I was not her, and assumed that the yoga would work it's particular magic. Because yoga is magical. It is healing and unifying. We as teachers are conduits and some teachers will conduct the energy in just such a way that really electrifies you. And some don't resonate with you. But your job as a student, and my job as a student is to be responsive to the moment. As we practice yoga we must continually check what prevents us from accepting the moment—even the experiences that are uncomfortable because they will prove to be, somehow, very valuable.

So I tried to explain to Lucy that the Mrs. Gurgler was probably doing her best, and that she probably should try to say please and thanks more, but if she survived to the next subbing opportunity, perhaps Lucy could serve as a helper to the ancient one.
"Like reminding her to use her manners and inside voice?" Lucy said.
"Uh.. no. You might offer to help out in the class room. Or practice being respectful, even when she's not so nice."
"OK!" she said cheerfully.
I love Lucy so much. She is one of the best teachers around.

Kamichu!

2009-12-01T14:48:00.001-08:00

The other day Misha suddenly announced that she had decided on her future career.
"I now know what I'm going to be when I grow up!"
"What is going to be then?" I asked. It was about time she had come to this decision. She is already four and I'd been waiting patiently for years.
"I am going to be a god."
I wondered, feverishly, if a Master's Degree was required for Godhood.
"Yeah. And I'm going to wear a very pink dress. With jewels. Lots of jewels."
She sounded definite. I would have to come to grips with all the pink. I began announcing the good news to friends so that they could get their wish-lists in order. She was going to be very busy in the near future and I wanted to give them a heads up. That night, I wondered if I had handled the situation properly.

It just so happened later that same week we were watching our newest Netflix acquisition: Kamichu!!

The first lines of the movie may prove to be the most memorable in film history:
"About yesterday. Something happened...um...I happened to become a god."
Misha gasped! That girl had macked her original career plan.
But as the tale wore on, being a god didn't' seem quite so glamorous. Yurie Hitotsubashi, the middle schooler/god was still very bad at calligraphy, clumsy in PE and couldn't get the boy she liked to even notice her. She invited typhoons by accident and was surrounded everywhere she looked by other gods. At one point she says to a fellow god, "I didn't know there were so many gods," and he replies, "Oh there are as many gods as there are things in the world."

By the end of the movie Misha seemed quite convinced that being a god was nothing too special at all and openly began questioning her career options.
Meanwhile I was still reeling with the depth and beauty of the Shinto message in Kamichu! There are gods all over the place. The world is teeming with holiness. The soccer ball and the edamame (see above picture) represent in the divine world. Have we just not yet awoken to our truest calling as spirits experiencing the human condition? To see the divine in all things. To recognize. To redeem the boring. To revel in the commonplace.
I'm off to the basement to do the laundry. I'll alert you if I see the god of socks. (Misha, meanwhile, is still searching for a job that allows for superhuman grace, courage and non-stop glittery-ness. I think she's well on her way).

Class Descriptions

2009-11-17T09:48:00.000-08:00

Descriptions of Classes at Loka Yoga
Loka Yoga offers classes in the vinyasa krama tradition. This is a form of yoga that marries breath and movement. The primary importance in the practice is coming into an awareness of your breath/prana through movement. The philosophy that you must "start where you are" is implemented at all times. All teachers at the studio have experience and are trained in this method.

Intro to Yoga

This is an on-going class open to all. No pre-registration is required nor is any prior knowledge of yoga. Even if you just heard the word YOGA yesterday and want to try it out, this is the class for you. Though it is an introductory class, it is still challenging and hard enough to keep you interested, but gentle enough so that you won't cry.

Advancing Beginners

This is a good class if you've been taking Intro for a while or have been to yoga but not in a long long long time. This class re-focuses on detail and safe alignment while introducing some slightly more advanced postures than in the Intro class. This is a good transition into the level 1-3.

Level 1-2

This class is an intermediate class, not unlike the Advancing Beginners, but offers more variety for those in the class who wish to try something a little more challenging. Variations are offered all along the way so both levels will feel comfortable.

Level 1-3

This class is a jumble of all levels. It really should be called Level 1 -5oo. In this class there will be practitioners of all levels having fun together. Variations are offered and more challenging poses such as arm-balances and inversions are explored. All are welcome, though if you are a total newbie, I do recommend starting with Intro and working your way up to 1-3.

Restorative Yoga

Restorative yoga is a method that encourages deep breathing and long holds in relaxing postures so that the mind/body can renew and relax. This is a class for those days when you want a massage, only it's better than a massage because it's you and much cheaper!! And you can learn to do these at home so you become your own masseuse at the ready day or night. Wonderful when you're feeling depleted. Wonderful when you're feeling great. Wonderful anytime.

Sweet Dreams

2009-11-10T11:50:00.000-08:00

I shall begin this story with words you never want to hear:

I had the weirdest dream last night....

But here goes: George W. Bush was President of the United States. (You may not want to hear those words either). It was September 12, 2001. He stood before the gashed earth that was the Twin Towers and made the world wide proclamation:
"This is a GREAT opportunity for love. We shall exemplify the Christian principles-the principles of all great spiritual traditions and employ compassion. We shall love our enemies. We shall love our Muslim brothers and share in our injured humanity. This event will be the beginning of the healing."
And then he began singing the Youngblood's song, "Come on people now, smile on your brother. Everybody get together, try and love one another right now."

BIZARRE! I KNOW!!

But then the dream continued to unfold as the reverberations of these words were made manifest. The earth literally blossomed. I will not go into grisly detail about the flowers and rainbows and hand holding and singing. Hunger was a thing of the past and the word "war" was a fiction! And there was more. Much more.

Now it's possible that in one of the other dimensions this has taken place. But whatever. We're sharing certain aspects of a dimension right now that does not include George W. singing "Come on People Now."
What my sleeping mind was doing is called in yoga parlance pratikpaksha bhavanam,
or cultivating the opposite state of mind. Desikachar's student Bernard Bouchand translates Patanjali's Sutra 2:34 as this:

When harassed by doubt, cultivate the opposite mental attitude (pratikpaksha bhavanam).

Sutra 2:35 goes on to say:

Cultivating the opposite mental attitude is realizing that it is our own impatience, greed, anger, or aberration that leads us to think, provoke, and approve conflicting thoughts, such as violence. The intensity of such thoughts may be weak, medium, or strong, but their consequences, ever self-perpetuating, are always suffering and ignorance.

And finally the grand kicker!
Desikachar translates Sutra 2:36 as:
The more considerate one is, the more one stimulates friendly feelings among all in one's presence.

It's one thing to try to cultivate compassionate, forgiving even loving thoughts towards a figure as remote and unreal as a politician, so how about starting with yourself. When that nagging, particularly nasally little voice pops into consciousness stating you may not be good enough, beautiful enough, smart enough, enough enough, try a little pratikpaksha bhavanam. Give yourself the same opportunity to blossom like the earth, replete with rainbows, unicorns and freedom from suffering. I am quite sure that friendly feelings are more contagious than the Swine Flu.

100 % Gen-U-ine

2009-10-14T10:00:00.000-07:00

Occasionally I read parenting books. Sometimes I need some navigational tools as CEO of the Clifford/Joanou Family, but the problem is that most parenting books end up making me feel like shit. Upon reading most of these "helpful manuals" I feel that I've irrevocably damaged my children by saying for example, "No!" or not using the correct words for the potty, or when insisting they try broccoli I've seeded an eating disorder which will later haunt all of us. I'll think, "Why, WHY did I insist on making them eat broccoli??"

Recently I stumbled upon a book, and judged it by its cover. (See above). The adorable little naked guy sitting in the grass was irresistible. and so against my better judgement I checked it out— "Your Child's Self-Esteem." I held the book in my hand and smiled at the little nude person. I felt happy. I felt promise. Then suddenly the lessons of Yoga began to shroud my optimism. Am I not, as a dedicated practitioner, supposed to diminish my sense of self until I am merged with the greater Self? Then what am I doing holding this book which suggests to go in the opposite direction. And how does one possibly instill such ideas in children?
Despite my experience with such books, and David's total loathing of them, I read it anyway. Since it was written in the mid-60's it was delightfully free of current parent lingo. As I read, my eyes fell upon a phrase that shone like a beacon of truth. THE GENUINE ENCOUNTER. That's what the book was promoting. The simplicity and necessity of the genuine encounter in your relationships with children. This is the moment in conversation when you're really listening. The moment in nature when you're really looking. The moment in a crisis when you're really feeling. This little book suggested that most children can spot the genuine from the fake, and crave the real connection more than anything. I don't think this is exclusive to children.The book suggested that in moments of shared consciousness our sense of self is cultivated and reassured.

But how do we fulfill that need and still cultivate selfless service? Ghandi suggests that the more selfless you become in service, (that is the less you worry about the outcome) the closer you get to the genuine encounter. The more you get out of your own way, you find your life's purpose and this is the source of self-esteem and surplus. The Bhagavad Gita suggests that you come into direct alignment with your principles, you are guided by your dharma and the aspects of the ego that fetter and bind us will fall away in the course of our practice.

So, I sat my girls down and had a heart to heart with them gazing directly in their little eyes (cultivating the GENUINE ENCOUNTER). I explained the nature of the Great Self and the appearance of the individual self. I explained that they would be freed by seva and prayer. I explained that we are all sharing a consciousness and that we should try to direct our attentions to the genuine encounter so that our dharma is revealed and we can do the righteous work.
And then I gave them each three gummy bears, a kiss, and sent them to bed.
Just kidding. I would never give my girls gummy bears before bed.

Yoga Superstar

2009-10-02T07:07:00.000-07:00

Close your eyes. Imagine you are 16. Recall your most beloved star. Remember that love, that interest, that fascination. Now imagine that you are in the presence of this person. Your sixteen year old self in the presence of Elvis Costello, David Bowie, Princess Leia, Hans Solo, E.T, Sean Cassidy, or your favorite Beatle, Rolling Stone or even Bob Dylan. OK— you got the meditation. Now you know how I felt this Wednesday night in the presence of TKV Desikachar.

He was sitting all by himself in the corner of the Women's Building in San Francisco. His hands rested on his knees quietly observing the crowd trickling in. He was wearing pants that appeared to be Dockers, a cardigan, giant black framed glasses, practical shoes and a scarf. He also appeared to be slightly amused by the surroundings.
I was telling Jo-Ann about it and she said, "Well, did you go up and say hello?"
"God, NO!" I shivered at the thought. "I was too shy."
For some reason she thought this was funny.

Now I am not going to go into great detail, because it would take all night. He gave a wonderful lecture concerning yoga and meditation. I will report that he announced at the beginning in a thick South Indian accent: "I am going to teach you meditation. And you will LOOOOOOOOOVE it!"

And he did. Without ever mentioning meditation again, he proceeded to show us that learning meditation is a practical matter. That one must simply begin. His chanting was precise and beautiful, not in the aesthetic sense of singing, but in the sincerity of his voice, the command of Sanskrit, and the clear thread of devotion that he carried for his Teacher. Mr. Desikachar had us move in very, very simple gestures, while chanting simple mantras that saluted the Earth and the Sun—the very sustaining elements of our being. He translated one of the mantras as: "Oh moon, you are a beautiful person. You heal me!"
It was all so simple, but it quite literally made me giddy. As he wished us goodbye, he said, "I hope you have a beautiful life!" I was so moved I imagined rushing the little podium and hugging him. For me he embodied the deepest elements of teaching Yoga.

I tried to explain it to David when I got home, but failed, as I am here, in imparting how important the experience was. We were in the presence of a true Master, though I think Mr. Desikachar would deflect such a title. I knew we were all in the presence of an authentic teacher, and I was delighted to find that such a great vessel of wisdom prefers Dockers and comfy shoes.

Go Fly A Kite, Or Not...I'm Not Attached

2009-09-21T21:17:00.001-07:00

The Gita emphasises again and again that one should cultivate an attitude of non-attachment or detachment. It urges repeatedly that one should live in the world like the lotus-leaf, which is unaffected by water. He who acts placing all actions in the Eternal, abandoning attachment, is as unaffected by sin as a lotus-leaf by water—Padmapatramivambhasa.—

Sri Swami Sivananda

If the above is true, then I'm screwed. My lotus leaf is saturated in water, soggy, bogged down and often slightly bummed at getting wet. I am attached. I am attached to all sorts of outcomes, big and small:
One time I was in a therapeutic situation, and I told the therapist that I had taken the girls kite flying.
"Oh, that sounds nice!" she said blandly.
"Not if you go kite flying with JOAN CRAWFORD." I yelled at her.
She looked at me blankly.
"You know. NO WIRE HANGERS!!!"
Nothing.
"Mommy Dearest?"
"Oh, yes. Well it must have been upsetting." You know how those therapists can be. So noncommital some times.
"I ruined the experience entirely."
"How?"
"I FORCED them to have fun!"

Here's the scene: The day before was a blustery day, perfect for kite flying. We went to the back yard and tried, but trees and fences and stuff kept getting in our way. It was a little frustrating, and so I promised to take the girls to the Berkeley Marina where there are fanny-packed kite fliers galore.
The next morning equipped with our kites, we drove directly to the Marina. It was the most eerily windless day that I have ever experienced in 20 years on the Bay Area. I tried to remain cheerfully optimistic.
"It's OK, girls. Let's go up that hill. There's bound to be wind up there!"
I began the march, and Lucy followed gamely, while Misha began to wail that her sparkly Mary Janes were getting muddy. She plopped down half way up the hill, refusing to go further.
"What about kite flying!" I shrilled, cheerily.
"I don't want to. It's dirty here." she yelled back.
I continued on, determined to provide my daughters with a memory to cherish.
"Here!" I gasped at the top of the mountain/hill. "This will work."
There was still not a leaf trembling on a tree. The sea was glassy.
"Hold your arm up like this and RUN!" I shouted.
Lucy did as told, and began running down the hill as fast as she could, kite skudding behind her on the grass.
"NO! Sideways!" I shouted down the mountain/hill to her.
"Oh," she said and huffed up the hill again.
She began again and ran down the mountain hill, the kite dragging hopelessly behind her.
"It's not working," she shouted despairing.
Now a realized soul would have laughed at this moment, taken the opportunity to marvel at the TOTAL AND COMPLETE windlessness and offered to buy her girls a fizzy water at the nearby market.

But no...
The tale goes on and on, us running sideways and up and down the hill. The kite getting a foot of air, teasing us that it might go up and then diving nose down in the muddy grass, where Misha lay. Lucy, in her wisdom tried to quit several times, but I kept at it like Old Yeller—frantic— rabid for success. I was rabid for fun. I was rabid for flight.
Needless to say the outing ended on a sullen note back in the car, the kite in a degraded state in the trunk and no mention of kite flying made since.
The therapist should have said: "I can't help you."

But the Bhagavad Gita might. It says over and over to not be attached to the outcome. This is exceedingly difficult. The opportunity for release from this bondage is provided for us on a minute to minute basis. Expectation creates attachment. So how does one go through life without expectations? If I were just a little bit better of a person, I would find out. (Expectation) But for now, I am grateful for the dawning day and the opportunity to try a little less hard to accomplish anything other than being Present.

Though in all honesty, I still want to see that freaking kite in the air.

A Couple of Tra La La La's

2009-09-08T09:22:00.000-07:00

The other day I cracked out the Wizard of Oz movie. I thought it was high time for some serious psychedelia around our household. As the Technicolor magic began to unfold, Lucy started to say:
"Are those munchkins children?"
"No, they're little people."
"Is that scarecrow a man dressed in a scarecrow suit?"
"Uh, yeah."
"I can see the wire on the witches broom. Can you see it?"
"I think so..." My answers were starting to fade.
"That isn't a real monkey! That's a guy in a monkey suit. And that field of poppies is FAKE!"
And I was sad. Here it was. The unraveling of magic and make-believe.
I wanted to say:"Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain!!"
But I tried to patiently answer her questions, and gently suggested that she give herself over to the Hollywood delusion so that perhaps her little sister might take pleasure in the fantasy.
"I can see the man inside that tree costume!" she bellowed proudly.

Even as I tried to shush her, I deeply admired her intelligence, curiosity and will to differentiate between the real and unreal and how The Wizard of Oz is a wonderfully yogic tale in that regard. The best moment came when she realized, on her own, that the Cowardly Lion, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, the Wizard and the Witch were all people from Dorothy's everyday life. She realized that Dorothy had occupied a vivid parallel universe with flying monkeys, little people dressed in FAB outfits, mean talking trees, a horse that changes colors and a hair salon where you can have your eyes dyed to match your gown!! Even still Dorothy was at home. She had always been home and the wizard could not bestow any gift that was not already present in the receiver. Lucy and Dorothy realized that there's no place like home and that all you had to do was unveil that reality for it to be so.

As the great saint Ramakrishna said: "It is all a question of the mind. Bondage and liberation are of the mind alone. The mind will take the color you dye it with."
The big question is: Will my mind match my gown?

what if...

2009-08-25T11:57:00.000-07:00

When I am, not Mother Theresa patient with the girls...

When I imagine the Berkeley Bowl going up in flames...
When I use words that would wilt a flower...
When I manage to fail at each and every one of the yamas and niyamas in ONE SINGLE day...
When I shove the cat off the bed without remorse...
When I am mentally cruel to myself and others, especially when in front of a mirror...
When I am quite sure that the Galileo was wrong and that surely the earth is rotating around ME
I think, Jeez Louise, this Yoga is not working...
And David says: "Just imagine what your life would be like without it."

Are you a CPA?

2009-08-16T20:56:00.001-07:00

When I was in college, every night after class I would hurl my Honda Civic through the local Del Taco and drive home while eating, smoking a cigarette, careening down the 101 singing along to X and pumping my Green Burrito in the air every once in while for punk rock good measure. I prided myself on never once cooking dinner in my whole higher educational experience and was mildly famous for never, ever sitting down to eat a meal.
I could drive and do many things, (this was of course LOOOOOONG before the cell phone). I could drive and read, drive and smoke, drive and drink, drive and sleep. It was LA. It was the 80's. I was doing what everyone did. Drive and do stuff.

And then the 90's came along and gave special, almost magical credence to this ability. Multi-tasking. If I could do more than one thing at a time I was almost as good as a computer. In truth, the computer is only providing us with the illusion that it is doing more than one thing at at time, as is our delight at being able to drive and talk on the cell phone. In actuality the brain is actively and frantically switching back and forth between the two or more tasks, creating what has also been called continuous partial attention or CPA.

In the 3rd chapter of the Yoga Sutras, sutra 9 states:

The mind is capable of having two states based on two distinct tendencies. These are distraction and attention. At any one moment, however, only one state prevails, and this state influences the individual's behavior, attitudes and expressions.
Sutra 10 continues:
By constant and uninterrupted practice the mind can remain in a state of attention for a long time.

The entire contents of the Yoga Sutras examine this theme in as many ways as philosophically and phenomenologically possible. It is a very complete text and manages to be so in less than 200 concise aphorisms.How can one be sure of the distinction of being in authentic attention or a state of distraction? Well, you've all had the experience of being in the groove. I have watched my children cultivate samyama, or this state of attention while threading Cheerios on a string, watching fish, putting together a puzzle. I have watched adult students fall in and out of this state while practicing asana and when emerging from the state of attention there is a washed expression that can only be described as glorious and beautiful. One can experience in yoga a sense of completeness, that however fleeting, is palpable and very real.

Our culture does not support this experience in very many ways. In fact people are lauded for being busy busy little bees. But in yoga, the most important activity—the very reason for our existence—is to cultivate attention and to unite with the object of our attention whole-heartedly and without any reservation, judgment or misunderstanding.
Good luck with that.
I'll call you on my cell. From my car. We'll chat about it.

Bad Words

2009-08-03T14:15:00.000-07:00

The other day Lucy and David were working on the car in the garage and an N.W.A song came on the i pod.

Dr. Dre goes:
"Order, order, order!
Ice Cube, take the motherfuckin stand
Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth
and nothin but the truth so help your black ass?"
David said he moved slowly toward the stereo, not wanting to cause a scene. He quickly and discretely changed the song.
"Hey, why'd you change the song?" asked Lucy looking up from her carburetor.
"Uh..." David stalled. He wanted to tell the truth, but not the whole truth. "Well, it had bad words."
"Oh," whispered Lucy conspiratorially. "Did he say 'stupid'?"
"No," said David.
"Did he say hate?"
"Uh...no."
Two days later at our dinner table my friend Kathryn and I were having a casual conversation.
"Oh, I hate that," Kath said.
Lucy and Misha gasped in horror.
"That's a BAAAAD word," they both shouted in unison and delight at calling out an adult on their misbehavior.
"Which word?" Kath said, totally startled.
"HATE. Hate is a bad word," said Misha. "And so is boring, stupid and duh!" Each word rolled off her lips with relish.

In Yoga, as in many traditions, words are things—as much as a rock is a rock and the truth is the truth. In the Biblical Genesis it is divine speech that creates the universe. In the Gospel John it says: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." Many Eastern traditions continue stating that a rock isn't really a rock, but only appears to be a rock, just as you only appear to be you. But to Yoga and other traditions the only reality and truth is the One appearing to manifest as many. In the Upanisads the word and thing are inseparable and the pranava mantra ( AUM or OM) is not only the NAME of God, but God present and immanent in your utterance of the mantra.

In the yamas and niyamas (principled attitudes as described in the Yoga Sutras by Patanjali) kind speech and thought is imperative to our progress toward wholeness. My favorite translation of the sutras is by TKV Desikachar in the Heart of Yoga. He renders the sutra 2.31 (satyapratishthayam
kriyaphalasrayatvam) as "One who shows a high degree of right communication will not fail in his actions." Gandhi took this principle of 'satya' or truth telling to the heart of his resistance and liberation movement, calling it Satyagraha.

It's quite possible that what you say manifests itself quite effortlessly in the world, so I suppose it would be wise to align your thoughts and words with the light. It is my recommendation to avoid words such as: boring, hate, stupid or duh.

Facebook

2009-07-20T18:31:00.000-07:00

Most yoga traditions admonish us to stay in the present, and I can't help but feel that my gruesome curiosity with Facebook is a forced march down Memory Lane. It's a messy street littered with several bodies, overflowing ashtrays, crumpled love letters, beer bongs and unfortunate hair-cuts. On the other hand, I think in part that the improbable success of Facebook is filling some unfathomable need to connect. To re-connect. To be assured that there is a meaningful thread to the whole fabric of existence.
"Don't over-think Facebook, Alice," David says. "It just another lame way for people to not connect."

He's right too. Authentic connection with people face to face is, I guess, preferable. True friendships are hard-won and precious. But I like Facebook because, to me, it reflects Vishnu, the Sustainer. Vishnu is often pictured with many faces, many incarnations, He is showing the various faces of time on the line of existence.
Mostly, I don't mind facing the past. I don't mind forgetting the past either. I don't want to live there, so I guess I'll pass on the invite to reconnect with my 7th grade flame, but thanks all the same.

Now Hear This!

2009-07-14T21:57:00.000-07:00

Announcing Loka Yoga's first audio class CD.
Two practices —a beginner and intermediate sequences
to support and encourage home practice.
CD includes diagrams of postures to follow along.
Get yours now at Loka!
$20
Here's Lucy practicing to her CD
on our state of the art equipment.
Hi-Fi!!

The Flow

2009-07-06T16:45:00.000-07:00

In case you haven't heard—I learned how to make friendship bracelets. Sort of.

Lucy, my daughter, began by saying. "You should begin with a four-strander."
"But I like the look of the eight -strander, " I said.
"OK," she shrugged, looking rather dubiously at my color choices which were tasteful shades of blue and gray.
And then she began very, very patiently to teach me though I was a painfully slow learner. She was kind, giving me little love pats now and again and assuring me that I "would get it in time."
Meanwhile she was knotting away a perfect little bracelet for her BFF.
"Lucy, mine doesn't look like yours," I said.
"Well, it is a little...um...bumpy. And it looks like you might have gotten mixed up here. And here. And here." She patted my arm lovingly.
"You'll get it Mama."

Off she skipped to a barbecue with her bracelet tied around her leg to work on and I sat there for FOUR STRAIGHT HOURS knotting and knotting and still no right pattern emerged. Every once in a while a little line would show up and there was hope. But then my hopes would be dashed several rows later as some kind of psychotic string episode would appear.
Eventually our neighbor Jo-Ann knocked on the door and asked why I didn't join the 4th of July bbq.
"Can't you see I'm friendship braceleting!" I shrieked at her. "And I can't get it. I just can't get it!" I shouted in her face.
"Do I need to take that from you?" she asked.
"No, no. I"ll be ok." I assured her. As soon as I was sure she was gone, I was straight back at it.

What has this got to do with yoga? Everything.
For starters while I was struggling with the difficulty of SIMPLE KNOTTING, I experienced pockets of total and complete effortlessness and mental peace. Then I would stop, look at my work and become critical, self-conscious, and riddled with fear at the failure of my friendship bracelet. Then I would knot some more and enter an unbelievable state of calm.

This is a state described in many yogic texts. It is called pratyahara—the removal one's senses from the world. And what disturbed my pratyahara was critical self-consciousness. This happens countless times in our week. We're going along just fine. Better than fine and then suddenly a word from a friend, spouse, a honk from a car or a disappointment will shatter our flow. Our work in yoga is to become aware of the state of flow without worrying about the lumps and bumps, but rather dedicating ourselves entirely to each and every task at the moment we're doing it. Surrender to the process—this is what the asana practice is hoping to develop in each and every practitioner.

I presented Lucy with her monstrosity of a friendship bracelet. She looked at it with real and true pity and held out her wrist for me to tie it on.
"It's beautiful Mama...but you really should have started with a four-strander."

Non-Attachment

2009-06-27T13:52:00.000-07:00

My daughter Lucy is an entomologist, a great enthusiast of Mother Nature and all things creepy gooey and crawly. One of her BFF's from school said to her the other day, "Hey, you've got to come over to my house for a sleepover. We have tons of cockroaches you can catch! They're all over our kitchen!!"
And Lucy, ever the passionate scientist, replied,"I would love to! I will keep some as pets. I will name them Cocky and Roachy."
"Or, you could name them No. 1 and No. 2," David threw in.

Meanwhile, several thoughts raced though my head almost simultaneously: Should I call child services? Lucy probably won't be having a sleepover at her BFF's. Cockroaches make me want to puke. And then most importantly: Wow, both these kids found this truth of cockroaches in the kitchen (especially, according to the BFF, when the light is turned on at night) to be a delightful turn of events and potential for hours of play and imagination.

I was surprised at my own developed sense of judgment and limited potential. My distaste of cockroaches is an acquired experience, cultivated through many years of my mother's freak-out when any kind of insect entered our home and her immediate napalming of the kitchen, bathroom, bedroom when a single ant appeared. This combined with cultural forces that exclaim cockroaches are disgusting makes for a powerful aversion. But to Lucy and the BFF, Cocky and Roachy are wondrous creatures full of fun.

All the forms of Yoga, whether they are the active hatha forms, contemplative, devotional or service oriented, tell us that one of the most important features of the practice is vairagya, or detachment. This is of course one of the most difficult things for us to do because we seem to thrive on the pleasurable experiences of success, sweetness, fame, sex, comfort and all that other stuff. Yoga teaches us that we need not avoid all that, but to enjoy it with discretion and modesty. Yoga admonishes us to enjoy the sweetness of life in the moment and to offer the fruits of our labor up to a Source beyond us. It's the process of acting with intention that's important. The outcome is not up to us. The expectation of more, more, more, is according to yogic teaching, the root of all suffering. sadness, and misunderstanding (dukkha and avidya).

I suppose then what I must learn is to admire the cockroach's tenacity as a species and expression of God (if I must, I will TRY). And to also recognize that I don't have to live with No. 1 and No.2 or Cocky and Roachy inhabiting my kingdom. I can use discretion. I will try to practice ahimsa and avoid the use of napalm.
"What is that SMELL?" I asked Lucy upon entering her laboratory the other day.
"Oh, that's cat poop." She said as a matter of fact and pointed to a terrarium filled with leaves, dirt and a little pile of cat feces. " I collected some so that I could attract flies, because I wanted to study them and also feed them to my spider."
"Cool!" shouts David. "Great idea!"
I love them so much. I really do.

Thorny Issues

2009-06-12T13:02:00.000-07:00

photo by Charles Macnamara

Recently I attended a workshop, where during an extended restorative pose, the young gentleman next to me moaned and groaned and sighed and made a strange whistling noise several times before taking several more really super loud, "Ahhhhhhhhoooooooooohhhhhhhhaaaaaaa's!"

Now speaking from a stunted spiritual place, I was sincerely distracted and quite honestly wanted to give him a firm little shove. He was interfering with my practice. He was interfering with my thoughts. His noise pollution was dusting my mat. I was shocked and ashamed at the limited and ungenerous quality of my feelings, but, there they were.

I hesitate to even write this, but I think (I hope) some of you can relate to this experience. Say, for example, you've just had a wonderfully uplifting yoga class (one where everyone keeps their pleasurable moans to themselves) and you hop in you car and drive down the road a bit. Then someone cuts you off. Or goes before you at a 4 way stop sign even though it was clearly your turn, and you say under your breath, or even out loud "Fudge!" Or something equally ferocious. The bliss of yoga has been instantly replaced by a brief but encompassing road rage. Does this undo all the good work of yoga? NO WAY! The awareness of your explective, your feeling of injustice or upset is guided more and more by awareness. And in your awareness you are taking the seeds of unconscious behaviors (samskaras) and as described in the Yoga Sutras, placing them like seeds in the sun. Soon, with the brilliant and consistent light of awareness they will burn up and lose all power to grow and flower.

Now clearly, I am a garden full of samskaras that can still bloom into full-flowered feelings of resentment or judgment. But we're all working on weeding the garden when we practice.

When I first opened Loka, I worried that the paper thin walls allowed every squeak and poot from my neighbors to trickle into the sacred space. What would I do? How would I shield you all from these NOISES? Finally, I realized, 'Hey that's life, man. And yoga is about life. Merging with life, accepting life, rolling with the loud sound of life." The voices are welcome sound of a neighborhood thriving all around this sacred space. The sounds became the sacred space. It is the sound of the neighborhood, Oakland, the planet, the stars singing by. All the sounds of LIFE! Even the sound of the guy going "Ahhhhhhhhooooooooooohhhh!"

Compulsion to Repeat

2009-06-01T17:24:00.001-07:00

As some of you know, I began yoga as a way to try and quit smoking. I immediately loved the yoga almost as much as I loved my cigarettes. Not wanting to hurt the tobacco industries' feelings I continued my passionate relationship with them despite the conflicting affair that sprung up between me and yoga. Years later I would often make "jokes" about ending teaching a class quickly so I could go out to my car and have a delicious taste of that dark goddess, Nicotine. ("Hahaha!" students would laugh! And I would say "Hahaha!" right back at them as I fished for my matches in my yoga bag.)
As I continued to explore forms of yoga, I discovered Ashtanga Vinyasa a method which in its traditional form is a repetition of over 70 poses meant to be practiced 6 mornings a week. I did this practice as faithfully as I smoked for many, many years. I discovered through my commitment, the power and grace in repeating the same poses day after day. It occurred to me that this wasn't the first time I had discovered the power of repetition.
Of course there was the repetition of the Lord's Prayer in church. Then the learned repetition of the many prayers for Confirmation where during our catechism classes my friend Kelly Blaine and I would lob adolescent questions at the long-suffering priest—questions we thought to be spiritually catastrophic and would possibly make him renounce his calling. "Oh yeah?"We'd say, "What about evolution?" The priest would smile and say, "Now the Nicene Creed. Again."

After some years of practicing Ashtanga, I went though a phase of doubt regarding the repetition of the same poses over and over and I was reminded of a book I read in high school—Franny and Zooey by JD Salinger. It deeply and hilariously addresses a young girls misguided attempts at finding God through the repetition of the Jesus Prayer. And though I was only capable of a single repetition in high school—"Is there any more beer?"— the book moved something in me that lay nascent until I began practicing yoga.

Repetition finds its way into all spiritual inquiry.

It is an act of faith to show up and repeat, and in this exercise one can find the movement and change of ones own spirit as it is reflected in the stability of the practice. So a triangle pose remains the same each time, but you are different each breath you are in it. Your relationship to the boat pose may be loving one day and not so much the next. The practice provides a stable point from which we move to the deeper more hidden parts of our Selves.

Now I am a practitioner of different kinds of repetition.
"Can I watch TV?" Lucy says. "Nope." I say.
"Can I have pink jelly beans for breakfast?" Misha says. "Nope." I say.
"Can I put this string around the cat's neck and walk her down the street?"
"Nope."
"Can I wear your underwear on my head to school"
"Nope"
"Can we go camping in Alaska?"
"Nope"
"Does Santa come in summertime too?"
"Nope"
"If I eat my blankie, will I poop it out?"
"Nope"

Welcome Adeline Sylvia

2009-05-18T08:22:00.000-07:00

Sweet Adeline Sylvia is here.
Born May 12
10:06 PM
Mama Dari and Papa Scott and Brother Henry are all happy and healthy.
Welcome darling little Yogibhuini to the world.
Loka welcomes you with a heart full of love and blessings.

Sing! Sing a Song!

2009-05-12T10:04:00.001-07:00

The first time I led a chant my voice hit a note that was heretofore unknown by mankind. I had single-handedly discovered the flattest, screechiest, most broken sound ever uttered by a human voice. It made my eyes water and I was the one who had done it. But I continued. It felt like a moment on the precipice. If I didn't continue, I was sure I would never chant again, and probably would take several months off of speaking too. So I went on to the next words. "Vande Gurunam!" There. I had done it. It sounded horrible, but I committed. The call and response in the room reflected my own uncertainty so there was a lot of pretty weird sounds coming out of people, but I think they were intrigued. "Hmmm! What is this foriegn exotic language? I must be getting more spiritual!!"
And I too have thought that many times regarding chanting. How is chanting different than, say, reciting the Pledge of Allegiance every morning?
In fact it's not that different, except for maybe the intention. Because chanting is rather foreign to most of us, the introduction to it is wonderfully new and connects us to that yearning within to sing—to praise! Does it matter if you know the meaning of the words? Well not exactly. Of course it's better if you do, because then you can guide your thoughts with the words. And to that end I have included a PDF download of the Ashtanga chant we do before each class. I encourage you all to sing it out in class. Let that voice within you come out. You know, the one that's 8 years old at the campfire belting out songs with total abandon.

Though I no longer practice "by the books" Ashtanga, I sing that chant every morning. I sang that chant while I was in labor with my daughters ( in moments of privacy, so the mid-wife would still be nice to me). I connect with that chant because it connects me to all the wonderful teachers I have had in my life. It connects me to the teacher within. And dammit, despite all odds, I like the sound of my own voice.

Jai Ma!

2009-05-05T09:11:00.000-07:00

Yesterday my daughter Misha came reeling into the kitchen and wrapped her arms around my legs. She looked up at me urgently and said: "I have to tell you something."
"Yes," I said kneeling down. I looked into her eyes.
"I need to whisper it. It's important."
I leaned forward ready to hear her heart's secret.
"I"m going to call you poop!" She said into my ear, and then turned and spun out of the kitchen leaving a trail of glitter behind her.
I was oddly proud, even though in our house calling names is against the rules. Before I went to remind her of The Law, I had a moment of reveling in my maternal role. I'm her mother, I thought and it made me feel wide and whole.
Now as Westerners we may have lots of issues with "mother." Psychology promotes doubt and inquiry, not at all bad practices. But in many other practices the issue of "Mother" evokes spiritual inquiry which can result in multifaceted understandings of the "concept"of Her besides the woman who can drive you crazy. She is the matter of Spirit. She is the Matrix. She is the source of all manifest reality. She is Shakti. She is Queen of all She Surveys. She is the River Ganga and the life-giving destroyer Kali. And she is never, ever called Poop.
The teacher Desikachar used to tell his students to pick something to focus their love and commitment on during their practice. He would suggest the Divine, but he would say something like: "If that is not appropriate for you, you can meditate on your loving parents." I think after realizing that for many Westerners that would be cause for more medication, he wisely added "...or you can meditate on the life-giving warmth of the Sun!"
Mother's Day approaches and I thought for the week I would suggest a practice that was once imparted to me. Consider the idea that each person you meet in the space-time continuum has been your Mother. You have been Mother to everyone you meet. They have been Mother to you. Treat each person you meet as if they had once been your beloved child, or your beloved Mother. Or you can meditate on the Sun.

Open for both classes this Sunday—Mother's Day.
Jai Ma!!

Spinal Tap

2009-04-29T16:38:00.000-07:00

You wouldn't believe how hard it is to find yoga music that:
A) supports the asana practice and doesn't distract
B) has words in other languages so that the mind doesn't get caught up in the drama of the lyrics
AND MOST IMPORTANTLY
C) is not total new age crap.

Somehow their seems to be a license to cheese when it comes to yoga music. So below are some AJ Approved artists to supplement a playlist for your HOME PRACTICE (cause I know all three of you who read this are practicing diligently at home each morning at 4:3o am greeting the beautiful God Surya!!)
The Red text indicates links!
Go forth and Listen!

1. Krishna Das—The Beatles, Bruce Springsteen and Bay City Rollers of the Kirtan world. Kirtan is the practice of devotional call and response singing. A personal favorite album is Breath of the Heart (produced by Rick Ruben (?). The Baba Hanuman track is one that always fills the room with a joyful sense of united purpose.

2. Dj Cheb i Sabbah—Really nice mixes and remixes of classical Indian singers with a sort of (yikes) techno beat. I particularly like Krishna Lila and Shri Durga

3. Bhagavan Das—He's more like the Sex Pistols of the Kirtan world. More wild and unpredictable. Especially the stuff he did with Beastie Boys. I lean toward his more mellow stuff. But that's cuz I'm old. Golden Voice is the rockin one and Now is the softy.

4. Kiran Ahuwalia—Kiran Ahuwalia. Apparently she used to be a stock broker, but gave into the call of the sweet sound. Good thing. Beautiful voice. Traditional ghazals and Punjabi folk songs with a twist. She's probably marketed really well too.

5. Shusheela Rahman—Salt Rain. Almost all the songs are good. There are a few "fusion" clunkers that annoy, (I'm not a fan of the saxophone with Indian harmonies--Jai Uttal listen up), but she does a nice job of combining East/West—a trick far trickier than you'd think.

6. Sheila Chandra—Roots and Wings and Moonsung, Zen Kiss and Abonecronedrone. Amazing beauty in her voice. Man I wish I could sing like that.

7. Axiom of Choice—Niyah Yesh. These songs are in Persian, often folk songs or lullabies. Really beautiful.

8. Gojogo—All is Fair—Local heroes. Amazing tabla and violin. The whole album is incredible. I want them to come play at the studio. Wouldn't that be amazing?

9. U. Srinivas—A Carnatic master of the Indian mandolin. He is often accompanied by some of the greatest living tabla players.

10. Amritakripa—Dancing Lotus. I just like her voice.

11. Six Organs of Admittance—Layered guitar. Really nice change when you want to move out of the East.

12. Jane Winther—Bardo is my favorite one. There are a few other albums that don't really work for me.

13. Call of the Valley–Is an album from the 60's. One of the first sort of popular Indian music albums that wasn't Ravi Shankar.

14. For the deep listener and lover of Northern Indian vocal music I cannot recommend highly enough Pandit Pran Nath. He is a mystic of the highest order and the songs will take you toward the heart of the silence.

And by the way...I'm always up for new music suggestions. Thanks!

Let's Get Physical! Physical! Physical!

2009-04-21T15:48:00.000-07:00

I wonder, sometimes, what the hell I'm doing. On a yearly basis I take a good hard look at the whole Yoga thing. Seriously...am I a thinly disguised aerobics instructor? Better clothes and music, but really...what is going on when we practice Yoga? On a good day (which is most of them) I realize this practice to be a deeply transformational method of self-discovery. But then occasionally I am derailed.
When I was in India, people would say to me—
"Madam, what is that you are doing here in India? Alone. Without a husband?"
And I would reply confidently: "I am here to study Yoga."
"OH! Will you compete in the Yoga Olympics then?"
"Um. No." Were they kidding? (No.)
"Ah, I see." And then I would often be met with a knowing little grin.
Finally I asked a nice lady, "Is it funny to you that I'm here in India to study Yoga?"
And she said, "Oh yes! Madam!" She politely stopped there.
"Why?" I persisted.
Well, after a lot of prodding she admitted that a) it was bizarre that I was in my late 20's and unmarried and alone in India and b) contemporary yoga in India was often regarded as something on the same level as professional wrestling.
Well, this was yet another surprise that Mother India offered. (She is full of them, given by the second.)
And while this did not deter me from pursuing my "goals" in India, I later realized that much of my ambition was driven by a desire to accomplish ever increasingly difficult asana. Did I think it was going to bring me closer to God? When I answer that honestly—nope. I just wanted to see if I could put both legs behind my head comfortably and hang out there as I conversed sagely on the finer points of the Yoga Sutras while smoking a cigarette.
As I age and age and age I can see the deep and healing benefit of a committed physical practice. I feel the invitation to meditation through breath and movement combined. I feel that regularity may be the most important aspect of asana practice. Perhaps it's all about just showing up, no matter how much you feel like an over-aged aerobics instructor. Yoga is showing up no matter how doubting you are—you show up and do your best. I do believe it becomes an internalized Yoga Olympics where the only prize is the Self.

Trusted Guru Wanted-Apply Within

2009-04-07T21:09:00.001-07:00

Does anybody have a guru they can recommend?
Almost seasonally I am confronted with the guru/student conundrum. As some of you might have guessed, I am not terrifically fond of authority. The word "guru" can be translated from Sanskrit as the weighty one. The one who dispells darkness. The one, according to Hindu tradition, without whom you're fucked.
Many many years ago, long before I even practiced yoga, my best friend dragged me to see her guru at an ashram in an undisclosed area in North America. I went. I tried to have an open mind. I really did. But I was bummed there was no smoking at the ashram and that the food was bland and that we had to get up really, really early and meditate, which appeared to me to be a bunch of people desperately trying to stay awake. Since I was not at all interested in meditating on the guru (perhaps I would have been more enticed by meditating on a cup of coffee) I amused myself by watching hundreds of heads bobbing up and down fighting sleep with every fiber of their being. When it came time for darshan, the bestowing of grace from the guru, I was the only one, out of hundreds, who stubbornly did not go and receive the blessing.
Now why did such a brat as I pursue a tradition that ultimately asks that you submit to a Master? Because! Yoga gives us the light to shine on our inner architecture. We become as the Buddha said, lamps unto ourselves.
Now I am not adverse to admiring and even loving wisdom masters. Those guys who's pictures are on the wall at Loka are a testament to my admiration. But would I drink their foot water? Probably not. Who's feet would I touch? Well, my children's feet and your feet. I would touch your feet. I think and hope that I would touch everyone's feet equally, which leads me to the further conclusion that the guru is everywhere, ever present and available for darshan at the grocery store, in traffic, during asana practice, and even during a pedicure.
Two great books on the subject from diametrically opposed points of view are:
"My Guru and His Disciple" by Christopher Isherwood
And "My Father's Guru-A Journey Through Spirituality and Disillusionment" by Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson.

Become a Licensed Joyologist

2009-03-31T06:57:00.001-07:00

When I first started practicing yoga it was NO laughing matter. We were all VERY serious. While we practiced in silence there was an almost Spartan discipline in the room. Of course this was over a hundred years ago, so things have changed a little since then. I would occasionally glance around me and see people looking like Navy Seals in training. Their muscles bulged and eyes popped as they tried to 'accomplish' ever increasingly difficult poses. The conversation following practice was also very serious: even talk regarding the movement of the bowels required the solemn attention one usually reserves for church. This joyless quality of practice did not deter me as I marched through my duties as a yogini with a rictus grin.

And then without effort it was changed.
I was teaching a class and as usual barking orders in monosyllables at my cowering students. The room was filled with nothing but the sound of grunts and occasional stifled screams of pain as they huffed and puffed through their required asana. I saw a woman struggling with the challenging "utthita hasta padangusthasana" and I went to adjust her and as I ratched her into the "correct" position...I farted. It was not a big fart. It was really quite small. Petite. Almost cute. The woman I was adjusting did the right thing. She ignored it. But I just couldn't. I started cracking up. Uncontrollable, unavoidable all consuming laughter. It was as if the room just fell apart and I felt liberated. Once the train left the station, I couldn't stop laughing. I eventually had to excuse myself and my students continued their forced march toward nirvana.
I had the unexpected joy of what is beautifully described in verse 71 of the wonderful Kashmir Shaivism text the Vijnana Bhairava.

"On the occasion of a great delight being obtained, or on the occasion of delight arising from seeing a relative after a long time, one should meditate on the delight itself and become absorbed in it, then his mind will become identified with it." Jaideva Singh's commentary reads:

"One the occasion of such great delight or intensive experience, one should lay hold of the source of such experience, viz, the spanda or the pure spiritual throb and meditate on it till his mind is deeply steeped in it. He will then become identified with the Spiritual Principle. Such an experience vanishes quickly, therefore, one should seize it mentally as soon as the experience occurs. The dharana is Saktopaya!"

Now I'm not saying that my point of concentration remained a fart (but why not?). What did happen in that moment was a fundamental paradigm shift. It occurred to me, WHY NOT LAUGH!

Let the joy in! It became immediately and totally clear to me that the yogic path was not a dour march toward the Light, but a wonderful dance that included some awkward moves that were acceptable. So as you practice, embrace the humor, the warts, the farts, and the grace. Yoga asks us to embrace it all as the myriad features of the One.

Book Learnin'

2009-03-24T09:18:00.001-07:00

One must travel cautiously in the field of yoga books. It can be a mine field for body and soul. For example, when I began practicing yoga, one of my first teachers pressed a book into my hands with a blank blue cloth cover. He said it had all I needed in it. The first chapter insisted that I do this!
"Do I have to?" I asked, a single tear dropping from my eye.
"Follow the instructions. You will find God."
"Really? By swallowing a string and pooping it out?"
"Yes! You do!" He commanded.
Being eager to please I agreed and never ever went back to that teacher. I couldn't do dhauti even if it did "get rid of 18 kinds of leprosy."

Next I found the slightly less, but still more intimidating "The Light on Yoga" by BKS Iynegar. Some people call it "the yoga bible." Eager, not to wear a loin cloth and swallow a string, I turned to the "bible." On the third page Iyengar writes about the teacher and student relationship (TAKE NOTE PEOPLE)

"The feeble seekers are those that lack enthusiasm, criticise their teachers, are rapacious, inclined to bad action, eat much, are in the power of women, unstable, cowardly, ill, dependent, speak harshly, have weak characters, and lack virility."

Good god! Pooping a string started looking easy.

Then I found the yoga book that changed my life. It was the first yoga book that didn't scare the bejesus out of me and in fact opened my heart to all that is truly wonderful about yoga. "Health Healing and Beyond" by TKV Desikachar is a biography of his father, the great teacher Tirumalai Krishnamacharya. When I read this book it was as if an ocean of understanding spread before me and had the added benefit of not mentioning loin cloths, swallowing anything (other than pride) The book urges the seeker to move from a place of total authenticity.

Through this book I discovered the teachings of TKV Desikachar and his book, "The Heart of Yoga" This my favorite yoga book of all time. It is reasonable, soulful and filled with practicality and spiritual wealth.

In searching for an anatomy book that didn't act as a powerful sedative, I finally found "Yoga Anatomy" by Leslie Kaminoff who is a student of Desikachar's and has put together a very informative and clear book that includes detailed pictures of the body in postures with anatomically correct guidelines. Oddly, though many of the skinless bodies appear to be wearing little yoga clothes which I found preposterous and fascinating all at once.
And finally, for those of you who want a totally comprehensive book about Yoga in all its forms and practices I suggest Georg Feurerstein's enormous " The Yoga Tradition." It may act as a soporific for some, but others will find this to be the book that takes them ever deeper into the well of yoga.

A good yoga library start

1. The Light on Yoga by BKS Iyengar—though there are harsh admonitions throughout, there are many pictures of Iyengar doing the postures with their Sanskrit names. It is comprehensive and a little scary. But good scary.
2. Health, Healing and Beyond by T.K.V. Desikachar—Wonderfully beautiful book about the Father of Modern Yoga, Krishnamachyra
3. The Heart of Yoga by T.K.V. Desikachar-My absolute favorite book on yoga. I have read my copy 8 times.
4. Yoga Anatomy by Leslie Kaminoff—Super clear and informative book of many of the postures we practice with diagrams and cute see-through yoga outfits.
5. The Yoga Tradition — Georg Feuerstein's mammoth encyclopedia of the history and practice of yoga. Not for the faint of heart, but a wise and wonderful book by a wise and wonderful teacher.

book tower by Tom Bendsten

You may note that I am not putting links to Amazon, but rather urging you to buy these books at independent bookstores like our very own mighty Laurel Bookstore. Luann Strauss is the owner and intrepid Loka Yoga student. She is happy to order books for you if she doesn't have them in stock. They give you a personal phone call when they come and she gives your dog a treat if you bring one and she is incredibly knowledgeable about the book world, bread world and world of cookies. Go in and meet your neighbor. Get on her mailing list.

Be local! Buy local!

Ahimsa Chicken

2009-03-17T08:24:00.000-07:00

The other day I was preparing some chicken for dinner. My daughter Misha (3.45 yrs.) was helping and asked me what the "pink stuff" in the bowl was.
"That's chicken," I said, fearful of where this was going.
"Is it meat?"
"Yes."
"Is it good for the earth?"
Ah...the difficulties begin. "If it's done in the right way, it's not so bad for the earth," I replied, knowing that this particular chicken was probably not done in exactly the right way.
She stared at the bowl of marinated chicken tenders for a long moment.
"Well, it's not good for the bird," she said wistfully.
Many of us have the luxury of being very mindful about our food. I think what is important is the attitude with which you eat and how much reverence you can place towards your food. Granted, a burrito does not invite the same kind of prayerful attitude that lovingly prepared CHICKEN TENDERS might (thank you Dear Chicken), but a burrito needs love too, because after all, if you bought that burrito at a burrito place, well then someone prepared it for you. Someone grew the beans, people harvested them. Another person was responsible for making the tortillas and another responsible for manning the giant machines that produce "cheese." You get what I mean. There can be a moment of attendance to the food we eat that exceeds guilt and invites compassionate, grateful awareness. The great TKV Desikachar says that we need not be a vegetarian to practice yoga, but perhaps the practice of yoga asks us to think more deeply about the food we eat.

Spring Forward

2009-03-07T23:28:00.000-08:00

Daylight Savings Starts Spring Forward!
See you in the morning!
(not too early, not too late)

Spring Immersion

2009-02-20T15:47:00.000-08:00

Immerse Yourself in Yoga
join
Alice Joanou
for a month long immersion into Yoga
4 weekends in March
Starting March 7th
Saturdays 1-5 PM
Sundays 2-5 PM
During this month-long workshop we will use 4 profound philosophical premises as our basis for inquiry into the nature of asana (postural) practice. We will focus on the practice of combining postures to make soulful sequences, meditate on the perennial ideas of Yoga, and learn basic variations and corrections of many poses. This workshop is open to all interested, and will help to prepare those who feel called, to teach Yoga.
Weekend One: Non-attachment
Weekend Two: The Eight Limbs of Yoga
Weekend Three: Nature and the Human Spirit
Weekend Four: Freedom in Discipline
Due to the nature of our current economy, I feel compelled to reduce the rate of this immersion.
Total cost for the month-long Immersion is
$500.00
Payable in installments
Please contact Alice if you are interested—
loka.oakland@gmail.com

Open to Celebrate Men of Peace

2009-01-18T20:58:00.000-08:00

"As I delved deeper into the philosophy of Gandhi, my skepticism concerning the power of love gradually diminished, and I came to see for the first time its potency in the area of social reform."

"The 'turn-the-other-cheek' philosophy and the 'love-your-enemies' philosophy," he went on, "were only valid when individuals were in conflict with other individuals; when racial groups and nations were in conflict, a more realistic approach seemed necessary. But after reading Gandhi, I saw how utterly mistaken I was."

King came to realize that Gandhi was the first person in history to re- invent the Christian ethic of love as a "a potent instrument for social and collective transformation." It was a short journey thereafter to unreserved acceptance of the Gandhian technique of nonviolence as the only viable means to overcome the problems faced by his people.

Loka Yoga will be open for classes on January 19th

Teachers at Loka

2008-12-31T17:15:00.001-08:00

Alice Joanou is the director and a teacher at Loka Yoga. She has been giving Yoga instruction for nearly 20 years. Alice was trained in traditional Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga by several wonderful teachers including Tim Miller, Johnny Smith, Nicky Doane and Eddie Modestini. At the request of her teachers, Alice went to Mysore, India where she studied with Pattabhi Jois completing both first and second series of his sequence. She opened her own studio in 1998 in San Francisco, called Ahimsa Yoga. During her first pregnancy she closed her studio and trained extensively with Ana Forrest in Los Angeles, and now cultivates a vinyasa krama practice that is based on the careful construction of pose and counter pose sequences. Yoga and family are her greatest passions and she is dedicated to building and warm and healing environment at Loka in order to share Yoga with anyone who wants to learn.

Amber Straus

Teaches at Loka:

Mondays— 4pm —5 pm —Yoga for Children with Special Needs

Tuesdays — 6 pm—7:20 pm Advancing Beginners

I love sharing movement, breath, and healing with my students. Yoga is a path to well-being. You do not need to wait until you are flexible, strong, healthy, or accomplished at meditation to begin yoga. Rather, yoga begins with you just as you are now and the practice of yoga can lead to healing, peace, and strength.In my Tuesday Level 6 pm class we move into asanas (yoga poses) to bring up heat and clear our minds before settling into deep relaxation. My Thursday night 7:30 pm Restorative class begins with deep relaxation and we move slowly through long, supported resting poses moving into deep, healing relaxation. I invite everyone to both classes; beginners and long-time yoga practitioners, all body types, sizes, and abilities always welcome.

Christie Makanna-Cohen
Teaches at Loka

Tuesday 9:30—11 AM-Vinyasa-All Levels

Thursday 9:30—11 AM

Post Natal Yoga with pre-crawling infants

Christie has practiced Yoga for 15 years originally studying in the Iyengar tradition. As her Yoga evolved she found her current teacher Alice Joanou, studying intensively in the Vinyasa Krama style in preparation to teach. The transition from student to teacher has empowered Christie. Fully committed, she guides her students toward finding joy and ease in life through Yoga. Whether we are living our complex daily lives or dealing with critical situations it is her belief that Yoga can heal, calm and strengthen, giving rise to our highest powers. Christie’s classes are for people of all levels of ability seeking a safe and kind but challenging class.

Tia Ukpe

Teaches at Loka

Monday 7:30-9pm—Levels 1-3

Saturday 9—10:30—Yoga for Nourishment—All Levels

Tia Ukpe has been a devoted student of yoga since 2001. She has found the yogic journey eye-opening and tries to instill the lessons she has learned on the mat as well as through encounters and challenges in her life. She continues to explore various ranges of yoga styles as well as different forms of movement to develop a clearer understanding of the workings of the body. Many of her classes explore using anatomy in action and allows for an experiential and kinesthetic awareness. Her love of the body also extends to what is put into the body. She has a strong attraction to cooking and nutrition and how they are both interrelated with how one treats their body as well as the world around them.

Dana Lawton Teaches at Loka
Monday 6PM -7:15—Allignment Through Asana—All Levels

Dana started yoga in 1991 to support her dance career. Little did she know that it would effect her life so deeply. Certified in Birkrim, she has also studied Ashtanga Yoga, Iynegar and various forms of Hatha Yoga over the past 19 years. Dana holds an MFA from Mills College in Choreography and Minored in Pedagogy of Movement, how people learn and assimilate movement in their own lives. In each class Dana brings her alignment principles of dance technique to the mat. Breath, flow from one asana to the next, and grace are the hallmarks of her classes.

Holiday Schedule/Happy Solstice

2008-12-14T14:10:00.001-08:00

Happy upcoming Solstice!
Loka holiday schedule is as follows:
I, Alice Joanou, will be teaching one class on Christmas Eve, Dec. 24th, at 9:00 AM. All levels welcome.
The studio will be closed December 25th in honor of Sri Sri Santa Clausananda.
The studio will be open all days in between Christmas and New Year's Eve (Dec. 31) with a morning class taught by me, Alice Joanou, at 9 AM with sweets and coffee following. Bring a sweet, sweetie or just your sweet self.
And above all, praise praise to the light in all of us.

2008-11-22T10:42:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving Morning Class
at Loka
9:00 - 10:30 AM
with
Alice Joanou

2008-11-13T12:21:00.000-08:00

Anatomy Workshop
at
Loka Yoga
Saturday, November 22, 2008
2-5 PM

Join Dana Lawton, experienced Yoga teacher and professor of dance at St. Mary's College, in exploring the fundamentals of anatomy and physiology as it relates to Yoga. The workshop will focus on commonly practiced postures during which the practitioner will deepen their understanding of optimal alignment.

ALL LEVELS WELCOMED AND ENCOURAGED
Pre-registration recommended
contact: Alice — loka.oakland@gmail.com

Workshop Fee: $45
Or purchase a 5 class card and pay $35 dollars for the workshop

2008-11-10T17:50:00.000-08:00

It feels good to be living here this week.

Home is where I want to be
Pick me up and turn me round
I feel numb - born with a weak heart
I guess I must be having fun
The less we say about it the better
Make it up as we go along
Feet on the ground
Head in the sky
It's ok I know nothing's wrong . . nothing

I got plenty of time
You got light in your eyes
And you're standing here beside me
I love the passing of time
Never for money
Always for love
Cover up and say goodnight . . . say goodnight

Home - is where I want to be
But I guess I'm already there
I come home - she lifted up her wings
Guess that this must be the place
I can't tell one from another
Did I find you, or you find me?
There was a time Before we were born
If someone asks, this is where I'll be . . . where I'll be

We drift in and out
Sing into my mouth
Out of all those kinds of people
You got a face with a view
I'm just an animal looking for a home
Share the same space for a minute or two
And you love me till my heart stops
Love me till I'm dead
Eyes that light up, eyes look through you
Cover up the blank spots
Hit me on the head

vacation reminder

2008-10-21T06:24:00.000-07:00

While I, Alice Joanou, am out of town, lounging on an enormous cobra on the Sea of Bliss, all Classes at Loka will continue with our wonderful teachers. Meditation class will be on hiatus until the first week of November. I shall return from my rejuvenation on October 27 to resume my passion for teaching Yoga.

Bummer in the Indian Summer

2008-09-07T17:53:00.001-07:00

Ok, so you all may have noticed that I have issues with selling, I mean speling. Dammit. SPELLING. I make typos al the time and the lovely new schedule is NO EXCEPTION.

PLEASE MAKE A NOTE THAT:

There are indeed THURSDAY— 7:30 PM evening classes with me, Aicles JOannnou. (Alice Joanou.) And that the Saturday morning class with advancing beginners taught by
Scott Snow begins at 9:30 AM - 11.
STARTING SPETBMEMBER 13TH.

Saturday, September 13th

2008-08-25T17:09:00.001-07:00

Be the Change Day 2008
“You must be the change you want to see in the world.”

- Mahatma Gandhi
Join more than 1,000 other volunteers who are stepping forward on Saturday, September 13 to be the change. Choose from 22 exciting projects across the Bay Area. Renovate a public school, revitalize a local park, or lend a hand to low-income or homeless families.
Contact:bethechangeday.org

Dharma

2008-08-11T16:58:00.000-07:00

Dharma Mittra, Master teacher and practitioner of of the Asana has been teaching in San Francisco for the past few weeks. Allegra and I went to his final workshop this morning, a Shiva Namaskara sequence that was intense and made me feel each and every one of my vertebra as well as each and every one of my 42 years. It is always so fascinating to visit another of the many yoga worlds, to learn the manners and methods of another teacher and to walk (or limp in my case) away with fresh knowledge. It was wonderful to be in his gentle and amused presence. Pranams to Sri Dharma Mittra.

2008-07-21T20:58:00.001-07:00

An Introduction to the Spiritual Teachings of Yoga with Hareesh Wallis

Loka Yoga

Saturday, July 26

Module 1: 10-1 PM

Module 2: 2-5 PM

$65 for all day workshop

$40 for a single module

Bring a lunch and come immerse yourself in the sea of Yoga.

We will have a brief asana session between modules to restore feeling to legs and feet.

Hareesh Wallis is a Sanskrit scholar and Ph.d canditate at UC Berkeley in Religious Studies. He has the experience of a longtime Yoga practice as well as the erudition of a scholar, which combined make for a wonderful guide into the philosophical foundations of Yoga.

When you deepen your knowledge of Yoga, the Yoga expands before you in an endless sea.

Bhakti Yoga!

2008-07-14T08:26:00.000-07:00

KIRTAN AT LOKA
Join Sean Feit and friends for an evening of
Joyful Song and Live Music
July 25, 7 PM

kirtan is the bhakti (devotional) practice of singing praise
"good" singing voice not required
open heart required
Looking forward to filling the walls of Loka with the vibrational sounds of joy.

Bend Your Back

2008-07-11T14:37:00.001-07:00

A friendly reminder for the

Back Bending and Yoga Nidra Workshop tomorrow at Loka Yoga

9 AM—12 PM
$4o
Come explore the nature of the wondrous spine combined with deeper investigations into the nature of consciousness through a discussion and long guided meditation meant to encourage Yoga Nidra, or Yoga Sleep, a state that rests between total wakening and complete sleep. It is understood in this profoundly relaxed state the mind can absorb tremendous information and the psyche can integrate deeply.
See you there.

OPEN on the 4th

2008-06-30T10:04:00.001-07:00

Loka Yoga will be open on the 4th of July for class at 9:30 AM with Alice. Childcare available.

Fireworks provided through the power of prayer.

Summer Workshops

2008-06-17T14:04:00.000-07:00

Alice Joanou will be offering workshops at Loka Yoga on the two first Saturdays in July:

July 5: 9 am -12 pm
VAYU
Explore the winds of the body through pranayama, inversions and arm balances.

July 12: 9 am — 12 pm
HRIDAYA AND NIDRA
Discover the liberating joys of backbends and explore yoga "sleep" through an introduction to Yoga Nidra

$40 for each workshop
$70 for both workshops.
Pre-registration suggested.
Contact: loka.oakland@gmail.com

Prison Literature Project

2008-06-01T16:53:00.000-07:00

Lovely Indie, a regular at Loka Yoga is involved with the Prison Literature Project—a grassroots organization that gets books — good books — to incarcerated men and women. If you are interested in helping out you can contribute money for books and postage (average package costs $2 to send ), or you can donate your good used books. They can be dropped off at Moe's Books 2476 Telegraph Ave. in Berkeley (please mark PLP on the bag), or Bound Together Books 1369 Haight Street, in San Francisco. There are other ways to get involved so check out their website and clear out those shelves. Thanks Indie for the good work.

the upsetter

2008-05-17T22:09:00.000-07:00

Once Lee "Scratch" Perry was leaving a recording studio in London. He stopped at the reception desk and went to the woman sitting there. He took her face in his hands and said: "You are the ugliest person I have ever seen." Two days later he walked in the same studio, beheld the woman as if he had never seen her and embraced her saying: "You are the most beautiful person I have ever seen." That's how the workshop on the oral tradition of Tantra was from Christopher Wallis (Hareesh) at Yoga Mandala this weekend. Mind altering and heart opening. Looking forward to having him give a talk at Loka in July on fundamental principles of the yogic path. I will give exact dates soon. Plan on coming and having your world reshaped.

For Those of You About to Rock-I Salute You!

2008-05-01T18:06:00.001-07:00

For those of you curious about the immersion but aren't sure what it is, here is an outline of how we will spend our time during the weekends

Friday, July 18— 7-10 PM
What does Yoga mean to You?

Saturday, July 19—11:00AM-5 PM
Muladhara Chakra-The Roots of Yoga
History 101, Feet, Ankles, Legs and Hip Joints

Sunday, July 20-11:00AM-5 PM
Svadhisthana Chakra-Regeneration and Creativity
Internal Work, Kriya, Twists and Backbend Variations

Saturday, July 26--11:00AM-5 PM
Manipura Chakra—The Will in the World
Strength building and Variations

Sunday July 27--11AM-5 PM
Anahata Chakra-Love and Compassionate Practice
Backbends, Back Health, Restoratives, Healing through the Heart

Sunday August 2-11:00AM-5 PM
Vishuddha Chakra—Voice
Mantra and chanting, The Spine -Head to Hip, Nadis, Mudras

August 3-11:00AM-5 PM
Ajna Chakra—The Roads to Insight
Philosophy 101, Breathing, Meditation, Chanting

Friday, August 8 -6 PM-10 PM
Sahaswara Chakra—Freedom in Union
Developing a Personal Practice, Determining Beliefs
Integration and Closing Practice 108 Sun Salutations with Live Kirtan

The cost of the immersion is 1000.00 US dollars which includes a 20 class card. On Sundays it is requested that you attend the morning class and then we will begin the immersion directly following the asana session. This immersion goes towards a 200 hour certification process for those of you interested in becoming teachers—one of the greatest professions on Earth
(in my humble opinion).
Registration is open now. 250$ deposit required to reserve spot.
Space is limited.

unwind with kariatsu

2008-04-13T20:23:00.001-07:00

A reminder that the lovely Kari Martin is doing shiatsu based massage on Fridays following the morning class. Visit her website www.kariatsu.com for prices and contacts for booking. You'll want to frolic just like the lady in the picture only you'll look even prettier.

I fought the law

2008-04-07T18:21:00.000-07:00

I had a little brush with a Peace Officer last week that ended up being a lesson in Yoga. Through a series of clerical errors I got caught in a surreal bureaucratic web that reached down into my soul and dredged up the 17 year old Alice. The one who had little patience, forbearing, or sense of humor. The Alice that smoked and drank and smoked some more. I found myself at one point swearing a profanity into a Peace Officer's face after several frustrating days of useless visits to one particular governmental agency. Anyway...I was recounting my spiritual slip-up to a group of students and Marceano, a wonderful guy and true Yogi said in his sweet way, "Well there's always tomorrow to try again."
Through a comedic twist that could only be divinely orchestrated I had a chance to revisit that same Peace Officer several days later. At first my inner punk balked, but I remembered Marceano's words and instead said I was sorry for swearing at him.
"People must yell at you all the time," I said. "I'm sorry. I was frustrated."
His entire demeanor changed. His body language shifted perceptibly and he said: "Yes. Yes they do!"
There was a little moment of redemption right there at 850 Bryant and as silly as this may sound, I felt changed. For the better.
Thanks Marceano.

Aleph

2008-03-30T15:51:00.000-07:00

Recently we have been using more "mudra' or hand gestures as part of the practice. In particular we have ended many classes with the "seal of heaven and earth"—the left hand touching the earth and the other raised to the heavens—our body between the two is acknowledged as a vehicle for the divine spark. A beloved student pointed out to me our body position correspond to the Hebrew letter the "aleph." In the mystical, mysterious Jewish text the "Sefir Yetzirah" The letter Aleph is King over Breath, Formed Air in the universe, Temperate in the Year, and the Chest in the soul. Aleph is also the first letter of the Hebrew word emet, which means truth. In "Jewish mythology" it was the letter aleph that was carved into the head of the "golem" which ultimately gave it life. It are these unique moments in the life of a teacher, that it is made clear that I am in reality the student being blessed by the lessons you all grace me with. Reading about the aleph and Jewish mysticism was so exciting and expansive and illuminating. Thank you Jennie.

Into the Heart of Yoga

2008-03-15T19:58:00.000-07:00

Into the Heart of Yoga—A Summer Immersion
Dates:
July 11th 7—10 PM
July 12-13th 9 AM—5PM
July 19—20th 9AM—5PM
July 26—27th 9AM—5PM
August 1st 7—10PM

This course is an intensive look into the essence of Yoga in its many forms. This is a great course for those who wish to deepen their knowledge and commitment to the practice. It is also the first module of Loka Yoga's 200 hour certification process. The course will focus on fundamental principles of hatha yoga, yoga philosophy, chakra and nadis, asana sequencing, alignment and basic anatomy. This is a required course for those who wish to carry on with the certification process.

Cost: $1000.00 which includes a twenty class card.

For more information or to register (space is limited) email Alice at loka.oakland@gmail.com.

Schedule Change—Again

2008-03-03T17:27:00.000-08:00

The people have spoken.
Well TWO people have spoken.
And they say that 7:30 PM is a GREAT time for a yoga class on Tuesdays AND Thursdays. SO, I have listened and agree.
Starting TOMORROW MARCH 4TH class will begin at 7:30 PM. And THURSDAY NIGHTS FROM NOW ON WILL BE AN ASANA CLASS (CLASS WITH POSES). Starting this month the YOGA SUTRAS CLASS will be held the last Friday of each month starting this month. Any questions? Email me via the blog or loka.oakland@gmail.com. Thanks for your patience during this on-going project moving toward perfection.

All Ears

2008-02-27T14:01:00.000-08:00

This is my ONLINE SUGGESTION box. Please post a message on the blog if you have thoughts about the way Loka could improve regarding classes, scheduling ect. Speak up! Let your voice be HEARD. Keep it constructive people. Sending out the eternal sound AUM.

Sounding Out the World

2008-02-22T16:03:00.000-08:00

On Thursday Nights prior to the the Yoga Sutras Class, Loka Yoga will be open at 6 PM for open practice. Come and do your own thing before settling into our ongoing discussion and chanting of the mysteries and practical applications of these sacred enduring words. All are welcome to join us for this ongoing sangha that is fun, challenging and ultimately transformative.

Recently it was time to celebrate Saraswati's birth. She is the goddess of learning and music, books, language poetry. Given all the incredible, possibly miraculous amounts of learning and beautiful sound coming from Loka, I felt it appropriate to honor her here. This image is particularly perfect as She is pictured with a gramaphone, presumably a machine signaling the divine sound. Or it's just a record player. Thanks to all for the amazing first four months of the friendliest yoga studio in all the land. Love goes out to all. Except to Joann...

Will Work for Yoga

2008-02-11T18:13:00.001-08:00

Loka Yoga is looking for people who would like to trade some desk and light cleaning time for yoga classes. If you're interested, and you pass the rigorous NAVY SEAL-like training, prove you can speak Sanskrit without an accent, and can levitate upon command we'll have a deal.

If this sounds good contact Alice at loka.oakland@gmail.com

Sun Days!

2008-01-27T18:57:00.001-08:00

New Classes at LOKA!

Sunday afternoon with Suzanne Dunning—4:30 to 6:00 PM Starting February 10th. Start your week off right with a deep flow vinyasa practice with Suzanne, a lovely teacher, a student of medical anthropology and a dedicated practitioner. Throw your tofurkey in the oven, come practice and be home in time for dinner.
Also:
I (Alice Joanou) will be teaching the Tuesday evening class—a level 1-3 class resembling Sunday mornings. Time is 7 PM starting this Tuesday Jan 29th. Looking forward to seeing you there.
And remember as Sun Ra says:

SPACE IS THE PLACE

Sacred and Profane

2008-01-23T12:50:00.001-08:00

The Yoga Sutras study class is going wonderfully well. We are working with several sutras each Thursday night and singing them as we go along. It has been an incredible way to bring mindfulness to the practice and each time I read the Sutras I gain new insights that result in those epiphaniacle moments of understanding. This week we studied Sutras 1.12-1.14. These sutras examine the ideas behind an enduring practice. It is stated that with a happy heart, uninterrupted practice, and dedication one will find the way towards the Self. The words of consideration for the week are these qualities: Devotion, Consistancy and Love based on the sutra: 1:14 It is only when correct practice is followed for a long time, without interruptions, and with the quality of positive attitude and eagerness, that it can succeed.
(Note in image the guy in the background wearing the DKNY shirt as he admires Lord HanuMAN. The world is loaded with these sacred and profane pleasures!)

Yoga Sutra Study Thursdays at 7PM

2008-01-08T10:44:00.000-08:00

"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated." - Mahatma Gandhi Many times I have been asked whether one needs to be a vegetarian to be seriously committed to Yoga. I don't think so. There are many convincing arguments regarding vegetarianism and as many regarding omnivorism. I will keep my opinions to myself but perhaps we all can agree that sustainably farmed resources are the only way one can eat anything with a contented heart. It's a tall order to live sustainably, and I have decided to take the route that I suggest to students when embarking on a sadhana, or spiritual discipline. Start small. Start with something you know you can accomplish and allow that to become a habit of being. Who knows what will happen next?
I am inspired to write this post as Ruth and Diane of Paws and Claws fame told me about a very interesting workshop:

Homeopathy for Animal Emergencies

Saturday January 19th, 2008 4—5:15 PM at Paws and Claws:

Learn homeopathic remedies you can use at home or while you transport your pet to veterinary care. Beth Murray, CCH, will cover common and emergency situations, such as puncture wounds, ingesting toxins, excessive bleeding, muscle strain, bites and stings, foxtails, fear of loud noises.

Homeopathy is a form of natural medicine that uses minute amounts of plant, animal and mineral substances to guide the body and spirit toward health.
Beth Murray, CCH, RSHom (NA) consults for animals at Creature Comfort Holistic Veterinary Clinic. Beth also has a human homeopathy practice and consults for animals at the Oakland Zoo!

Yoga Sutras

2008-01-04T03:41:00.000-08:00

The word sutra in Sanskrit translates as "thread." When used in relationship to the sacred texts it is meant to imply the unity of thought that sews the ideas, sounds, prayers, mantras and people together. Last night we had our first class exploring Pantanjali's Yoga Sutras and it was, in my mind, a beautiful example of sangha, or the coming together of like-minded people for thoughtful exploration of matters of the mind, reality, spirit and practice. We had the unexpected joy of welcoming Lila, my thirteen year old neighbor to our group. Her presence was so wonderful I had to pop up out of bed at 3 AM to share what she had to say. As we were discussing the importance of living in the present, she said: "It's kind of like when you are waiting for a 3 o'clock appointment that you think is going to change your life forever...but what about 2:30?"
The Yoga Sutras class is held on Thursday nights at 7 PM-8:30 PM and is open to all. The course is on-going and you can pop in anytime and gather little pearls like those Lila offered. For me. last night was a dream come true—finding myself sitting together with friends. chanting the ancient sutras and discussing the nature of Yoga exploring how this powerful practice can penetrate every aspect of our lives. Thank you all for coming to the studio, bringing your presence, stitching together the fabric of a beautiful community.

New Year—New Blood

2007-12-21T19:29:00.000-08:00

JANUARY SCHEDULE
starting January 1st

Monday 9:30-11AM Alice Joanou Level 1-2* with childcare
7pm-8:30 Scott Snow Therapuetic Yoga

Tuesday 9:30-11AM Dari Sylvia Level 1-3
6pm-7:30 Suzanne Dunning Level 1-2

Wed. 9:30-11AM Alice Joanou Level 1-3
7pm-8:30 Alice Joanou Intro to Yoga

Thursday 9:30-11AM Caitlin Smith Level 1-2
7pm-8:30 Alice Joanou Yoga Sutras Study

Friday 9:30-11AM Alice Joanou Level 1-2* with childcare

Saturday 10-11:30 AM Alice Joanou Advanced (level 2-3)

4-5:00 PM Caitlin Smith Family Yoga

Sunday 9-10:30 AM Alice Joanou Intro to Yoga
11AM -12:30 Alice Joanou Level 1-3

Holiday Schedule

2007-12-19T17:18:00.000-08:00

Happy Solstice!

Loka Yoga will be in a state of hibernation from December 24th through December 28th. David and the girls have received strict instructions not to wake me except to announce a visit from Santa and for a cookie now and then. Otherwise, I shall be asleep until 10 AM Saturday, December 29th.

There will be class on New Year's Eve morning at 9:30AM only and also a special morning class on New Year's Day at 5 AM--only kidding. I'll be open for class at 10 AM. Come and bring a snack and we'll celebrate the New Year together.

Monique King Williams will be giving FREE MASSAGES at Loka Yoga starting the morning of December 31st through January 17th in the mornings following class. She is studying massage at NIH and is doing her "externship" with Loka. She is developing her own practice of shiatsu. I'll have a sign up sheet at the desk for those interested in a 30-45 minutes session with Monique.
And above all Love and Light to all in this Season.

The world exists to set you free.

Simplify-Sanctify

2007-12-08T08:02:00.000-08:00

Happy Holiday Season!

In honor of the "voluntary simplicity" movement I am including a few links for gift ideas and books that may relieve that sense of anxiety and over-consumption that overwhelm us during this season. This year David and I are giving Kiva gift certificates to our family members. Kiva is a micro-economics organization. Check it out. A wonderful way to remember our shared humanity.
http://www.Kiva.org.

http://www.girlswritenow.org an organization encouraging voice and literacy

http://www.roomtoread.org an organization promoting universal literacy

http://www.mercycorps.org/mercykits kits for sustainable living from beekeeping to school supplies the world round

http://www.pen.org supporting writers endangered for their words

http://www.heifer.org/ adopting an animal to gift to a family to encourage sustainability

http://www.carbonfund.org calculate your carbon footprint and donate the money to a green organization

Buy Locally!

Check out the beautiful ceramic works of yoga student and artist Whitney Smith

Make a gift of food bought with goods from Farmer Joes

Yoga student, mom and artist Terry makes adorable clippies and bedding at GiddyGiddy

For your best animal friends go to the fantastic organic Paws and Claws Pet Store and Bathhouse run by the dynamic duo Diane and Ruth in the Dimond District.

One of the best bookshops in town: Laurel Books at 4100 MacArthur Blvd.

Go have a chat with Joe or Noella, owners of Issues, the new and best magazine store around. They also have gifts, books and music. And they're really nice too.

Or how about a gift certificate for Yoga?? from our friends at Loka Yoga.

READ: "The Good Life" a lovely and profound exploration of simplicity from Helen and Scott Nearing

"The Hundred Dollar Holiday" by Bill McKibben-discover the disturbing origins of "Christmas."

"Hands across the World" encourages multicultural awareness with super cool projects for children.

"The Gift of Nothing" by Patrick McDonnell. The title speaks for itself. I am reading it over and over to the girls hoping they get the idea that nothing is sometimes everything.

And finally. The simple gift of TIME is the truly the most lovely. Time is not Money. Spend time with your family, with your friends with your animals. For truly it is the most precious commodity there is, despite what Master Card would have you believe.

David Bowie and I are One

2007-11-28T15:10:00.000-08:00

Shiva Vishnu Brahma

CH CH CH CHANGES:
Loka Yoga will be adding a new Intro to Yoga class on Saturday mornings begining in January as well as a Family Yoga with Caitlin Smith on Sundays and a Therapeutic Yoga with Scott Snow on Monday nights. Also coming on board are Dari Flood on Tuesday mornings and Suzanne Dunning on Tuesday Evenings. Keep checking the blog for updates.
Also...
(The ch ch changes explain the Thin White Duke video introduced by Bing Crosby (?). As I went through many images of St. Bowie I started to have cosmic connection freak out. Was each song addressing a specific idea of Yoga? Changes— "Turn and Face the Strange" (Self-explanatory). Space Oddity—"Ground control to Major Tom?" Is Ground Control us and Major Tom--G-d? Heroes—"We could be heroes. Just for one day." We access heroic inner strength to persevere when we take the Warrior's Pose? Under Pressure? Hunky Dorey! And the various faces of his psyche began to appear as different faces on the deities. I'm not sure what his mime movements mean. Mudras? Sacred dances to the Divine?
It just goes to show you when you look through the lens of Vedanta, All is One. I'm a Hero and so are You.

Autumnal Reverie

2007-11-17T20:25:00.001-08:00

Loka Yoga will be open this Thursday morning for a class that focuses on abundance and sustainability.
THANKSGIVING

9:30 - 11 AM

Come enjoy a little practice before spending time with family and friends. It might be nice to have a moment or two before being thrust together with a bunch of people for a holiday that focuses on feasting until you feel barfy, avoiding political or highly fraught emotional subjects and horror of horrors...football!
There will also be class on

FRIDAY MORNING at 9:30 AM

for those who need to come and recover. Or rejoice. Or rehydrate.

Calm, Cool, Collected

2007-11-12T21:34:00.000-08:00

The other day I think I scared a potential student away because I chased him half way down the street after he paused briefly at the window and peeked inside the yoga studio. I ran outside and practically tackled him, pressed a schedule into his hands and almost hugged him, but used restraint in the end.
Starting a new endeavor such as Loka Yoga illicits such a wide range of emotions that I often feel that in one day I have manifested each of the faces pictured to the right. The image illustrates a scene from the Bhagavad Gita, one of the most beautiful and confounding texts ever written. I won't ruin the plot but one of the main lessons of the text is that one must not attach to the outcome of an action, but place the heart and mind fully toward your dharma, offering your work up to God (Goddesses, Mother Nature—whatever you call IT) and walk away from the hope of any certain outcome. I guess it's probably not a popular way to conduct business in a captialist society. Oh well.
Looking forward to seeing you soon. I'll be the one at the door trying to look nonchalant.
“A gift is pure when it is given from the heart to the right person at the right time and at the right place, and when we expect nothing in return”--Bhagavad Gita

Childcare Available November 4th

2007-11-01T22:09:00.000-07:00

Childcare at Loka Yoga every Monday and Friday mornings at 9:30 begining NOVEMBER 4TH. A wonderful woman named Allegra will be caregiving and playing in separate room designed specifically for children 0-3 years old. Bring the babies and bless the space with their presence. Bring yourself and have some well-deserved alone-time on the mat. If you need to nurse or go to your child they are right there for some of that MOTHER or FATHER LOVE. Looking forward to building a family community together.

Toasting the Dead

2007-10-27T20:06:00.000-07:00

Last Christmas I told Lucy we were going to toast Tony, (David's recently passed dad) on The Day of the Dead. Lucy looked at me mortified: "We're going to EAT him?" she gasped. "Toast him and EAT him?" her shock already moving into stunned acceptance. I quickly explained that we were not going to eat him but honor his memory. And to honor the memory of those recently passed I will be closing the studio on our traditional All Soul's Day, Wednesday, October 31st.
It is said in some cultures that this special day is a liminal time— a brief period where the passage between this world and others is more loosely woven. I intend on throwing the doors open, lighting the candles on the offrenda and welcoming all the beloved dead into my home and heart. Classes will resume the normal schedule the following day.

In My End is My Beginning

2007-10-22T17:22:00.000-07:00

Thank you all who came and blessed the shala (Sanskrit for yoga school) with your presence on Saturday and Sunday. Having people in the studio breathing and moving at LOKA ignited the pulse of the place and I am very grateful.

It is with a heavy heart that I will not be teaching on WEDNESDAY MORNING, OCTOBER 24TH due to a death of someone very dear to me. I will be attending services in LA but will be back for class on WEDNESDAY EVENING. Until then...

"Time and the bell have buried the day,
The black cloud carries the sun away.
Will the sunflower turn to us, will the clematis
Stray down, bend to us; tendril and spray
Clutch and cling?
Chill
Fingers of yew be curled
Down on us? After the kingfisher's wing
Has answered light to light, and is silent, the light is still
At the still point of the turning world."
From T.S. Elliot's Four Quartets

Open House Saturday, October 20th

2007-10-17T20:58:00.000-07:00

3 more days until Loka Yoga opens! Just a few little details on my throne of gold that will dominate the space. There will be some room left for a few mats, so come on in and check it out.
Remember you're all invited:

108 Sun Salutations—4:30 pm
followed by
Tea and Cookie Open House
6:30 pm
2701 MacArthur Blvd. Oakland. 94602

I wanted to share the outfit I am planning on wearing opening night. It's just my usual yoga wear. Of course it is, on occasion, impractical and sometimes the armbands cut off my circulation but it makes me feel pretty and sometimes that matters.

Multitasking Mama

2007-10-11T13:17:00.000-07:00

Recently I said to my daughter Lucy, "You'll have to wait. I only have two hands." (Cliches happen when you're a parent before you know what you're saying.)
"Why," she said.
"Why wait?"
"No, why only two hands?"

Only 10 more days until Loka Yoga opens the doors and there's still a few more hems to sew, a few more spots to paint, a few more grueling sequences to devise. Hopefully by October 21 I'll be as chipper as the goddess Kali and equally as excited to be alive.
The following are the class fees for Loka Yoga. In the near future I will be setting up direct payment options but for the present it will be the old fashioned cash or check. For those of you who don't remember what that is or are too young to remember: Cash is green and slightly soiled. Checks are rectangular and you actually have to write on them. Pens will be provided.
Can't wait to see you all.

LOKA YOGA FEES

Single class: 15.oo
Five class card: 70.00
Ten Class card: 120.00
Twenty Class card: 220.oo
Student rate with valid I.D: 13.00

Loka Yoga Opens the Doors

2007-10-09T13:14:00.001-07:00

GREETINGS!

Welcome to the online community of Loka Yoga. The actual PLACE is located at 2701 MacArthur Blvd. in East Oakland right between the Dimond District and the Laurel District. The doors formally open to Loka on Sunday, October 21st for an 11 AM class.

Come Saturday Evening for 108 Sun Salutations!
I know...108 Sun Salutations sound ridiculous, possibly even sadistic. And WHY 108?
108 is a sacred number in the Hindu cosmology. Each diety has 108 different names. There are 108 beads on a prayer necklace, or mala. On very special occasions 108 Suyra Namaskaras (Sun Salutations) are performed to honor the solar power as well as the bond we share as humans. We will do a simple variation of the sequence and you hardly have to count at all.
Don't let being bad at math stop you from coming:
Loka Yoga Saturday evening at 4:30 Pm. All are welcome for tea and cookies following the ceremony at 6:30

A bit about me:
I am Alice Joanou. My primary interests are family, yoga and beverages with caffeine. I have been teaching yoga for 18 years and was formally trained in Mysore,India. I have studied under several teachers and over the years have developed my own style of teaching. I follow the tradition of Vinyasa Krama which literally means "intelligently placed" and refers to the flowing style of postures linked by breath and logical, artful sequencing I love teaching and feel each time that it is a privilege to be among others sharing in the powerful healing practice of Yoga.