365 Yogini

Thursday
I arrived at JFK airport at 4pm and stopped in Brooklyn briefly for a fresh juice with a friend before heading to the SoHo Yogaworks for the 7:30pm level 2/3 Vinyasa class taught by Aarona Pichinson who was subbing for Sadie Nardini. After class I was lucky to receive a Thai Yoga massage. Good start to the trip.

Friday
I was planning on going to a yoga class at Jivamukti but overslept. Ended up visiting the studio anyway to meet up with my friend and felt a little disappointed by the bad attitude at the front desk. I had to laugh when I saw the poster sized photo of the featured teacher of the month in her booty shorts and stripper heels.

Saturday
I went to Connecticut to celebrate my friend Corti Cooper's Birthday and took her Bikram Inspired Hot Yoga class at Yoga Synergy in Fairfield. It was fun. I haven't done a class like that in a while and it felt very detoxifying. Plus Corti is an incredible teacher.

Sunday
Although it was Valentines day and there were numerous couple's classes and workshops available, I ended up going to a level 2 Vinyasa class taught by Laurel Beversdorf at the SoHo Yogaworks by myself. My honey had gone to an earlier class while my friends and I were chowing down at the all you could eat buffet at Ulysses. The class was difficult on a full tummy and I wasn't enjoying all the twists. But we did a lot of new and interesting things, so I'm glad I went. After class I met up with my Valentine for hot cocoa and jazz.

Monday
I enjoyed a 2pm power flow class at Laughing Lotus taught by Joy. This studio had a ton of Shakti energy (Shakti is the concept, or personification, of divine feminine creative power)and was very arts and crafty. It was small and cozy. It felt very homey. Plus Joy's class was only an hour so she packed in A LOT of poses and philosophy in a short amount of time. My friend, Ashley, mentioned it felt like we did 50 poses in under an hour. Perhaps even more. Afterward we had coffee with Joy and a bunch of girl friends. Let the Shakti flow.

Tuesday
The day of my departure I went to a Women's Class at Yogasana studio in Park Slope in Brooklyn. I could have used a heat generating flow but it was much more of a restorative class, which ended up being nice considering it was snowing outside. Unfortunately, it was a strange studio with floating walls and doors where a cold draft would rush in and torture me. I fantasized about my sun filled Santa Monica studios and was excited to return home.

Saturday
YogaWorks Montana - Sonya
Fun flow. Lots of old men. She likes to sing her instructions.

YogaWorks Westwood - Thomas
Super cool guy. Interesting beginners class. Lots of strange balancing.

Sunday
YogaWorks Montana - Heather
Best YW class I've ever taken in L.A. Loved her energy and her sequence.

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Saturday
7:30 am Montana - Sonya
5:30 pm Westwood - Thomas

Sunday
4 pm Montana - Heather
5:30 pm Montana - Kia

Monday
7am Main - Malachi
2:30 or 7:30 pm Montana - John
5:30 pm - Chris

Tuesday
9am Montana - Annie
1pm (or Thurs) Montana - Jasmine

I had been considering doing a 300 hour teacher training that starts in January but I didn't learn until last night that in order to pick my mentor, I should take classes with each of these teachers before Thursday, December 4th.

Considering the Thanksgiving holiday and my schedule, this isn't going to be easy, but I'm going to do my best!
Wish me luck...
(*) = Taken
Annie Carpenter *
Carmen Fitzgibbon
Kia MIller *
Heather Seinger *
Jasmine Lieb
Sonya Cottle *
Chris Stein *
John Gaydos *
Malachi Melville *
Thomas Taubman *

When I saw Andres at the front of the studio at the beginning of Travis' class, my jaw dropped. I meant no offense, but I was really excited for Travis' class and was surprised to see a sub. But I had taken Andres' class before, so I wasn't worried. I knew it would be good.

I few things that struck me:

-The extended Kirtan chanting at the beginning of class. Delicious.

-Chanting OM with different movements including the transition from Utthita Hastasana to Uttasana.

-Lastly, something he said along these lines:

"We are clearing the dust from the mirrors of our hearts to reflect as much light as possible."

In the end, I didn't love the sequence but I loved the spirit behind it.

I woke up at 5am and the sun was starting to rise thanks to daylight savings. I went back to sleep until 6 and yet somehow I still arrived to Jerome's 7am class 5 minutes late. I took a spot towards the front of the class and as soon as we started moving, WOOSH, I was overwhelmed with a terrible smell of B.O.

It didn't smell like me, but I checked my armpits anyway. It wasn't me.

As we continued to move, the smell got worse. I tried to ignore it but I started to feel a little sick to my stomach. Don't people smell their own body odor? I debated moving my mat or even leaving class early. I decided that with all the work I had to do today, I'd just leave the class at 8am to escape this person's stench.

But as I got more into my practice, I noticed the terrible smell less and less. As it got closer to 8am we were finishing a looooong series on the right side and I didn't feel like leaving until both my sides were balanced. So I ended up staying and somehow managed to (somewhat) ignore the stink.

At the end of class, Jerome mentioned the documentary film that I had suggested to him called Surfwise. He had conveyed that the moral of the family's story was that "too much of a good thing can be a bad thing." Although I see where Jerome was coming from with respect to the film, I also feel that the Paskowitz Family's story is so powerful because even though the children didn't get standard education, they still became powerful contributing members of society because of to Doc's belief in the 5 Pillars of health which are diet, exercise, rest, recreation, and positive attitudes of mind.

I started the day with a hike and ended it with some soul expression! My friends and I decided to go to Travis' 6pm class at SMPY West where he led us through a wonderful practice. At one point we did a set of three salutations, the first dedicated to our favorite Halloween Candy (Travis' was Almond Joy/Reese's Pieces. Mine was Abba Zabba), the second dedicated to our favorite Halloween Costume (His was Nacho Libre, mine was Pippi Longstockings), and the third was dedicated to our favorite Halloween Movie (His was Ghost Busters and I couldn't think of one).

Following the class we got dressed in traditional Indian garb and went to the Bhakti Yoga Shala for some AMAZING Kirtan Chanting. The vibe in the studio was incredible with twinkling lights floating around the room and everyone dressed in Indian costumes. Plus, of course, the music was incredible. When Travis, Sara, and Dahveed got up to do their session, as soon as I heard what chant we were singing, I couldn't keep myself from crying. My heart unlocked and so many great memories from our Harvest Retreat a week ago came flooding back in. Afterwards, my friends and I were completely blissed out.

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Today, three of my friends and I enjoyed Travis Eliot's 10:45am class at Santa Monica Power Yoga West. It was a dynamic flow focusing on Trust, Grace, Abundance and Love. Each of us had a very unique and private experience, yet somehow we all emerged more bonded, willing and open to connect.

Sometimes I'm overwhelmed with how grateful I am to have such wonderful and beautiful friends.

The dynamic in the room was powerful too. After chanting "Shanti" together three times, the final OM gave me chills.

Aftwerwards, the four of us went to lunch at Real Food Daily and indulged in delicious food and delightful conversation for almost two hours. When I eventually started my work day at 4pm, I felt incredibly empowered, focused and full of life.

Last weekend I delighted in 4 days of stress free yoga bliss with Sara Ivanhoe and Travis Eliot. I enjoyed life with no car, no computer, no phone, no make-up, no jewelry, no meat, and nowhere to be other than exactly where I was.



Located on 54 acres within the beautiful Ojai Valley, the Ojai Eco–Sanctuary, listed on the national register of historic places, is furnished with antiques, has spectacular views of the mountains, and features a professional kitchen with an amazing chef named Caspar serving delicious, organic vegetarian food. Eco-Sanctuary offers yoga, hiking, a swimming pool and jacuzzi, and an organic winery.



Autumn is the traditional season of the harvest, time to reap the benefits of the work we have done this year. The Autumn Harvest retreat included six asana classes as well as guided meditations and instruction on the practice of Bhakti yoga. Sara Ivanhoe was joined by acclaimed musicians, Travis Eliot and Dahveed Haribol Das, who provided live music and chanting for the weekend. This retreat offered a chance to let the abundance flow and have some fun!

I had some of the most moving experiences including a long solo hike, spontaneous dance parties, long meals, and outdoor sunset yoga. It was perfect. Absolutely perfect.

A new friend wanted to do yoga together. I agreed but the only free time we had in common was 8:30pm on a Thursday night. So we agreed on Vytas at Santa Monica Power Yoga West. My friend hadn't experienced Vytas yet, so I warned him that the class was going to be an ass kicker; but he had no idea what he was in for.

Right off the bat the room sounded surprised by the 108 bicycle sit-ups. I, on the other hand, knew what to expect and kept a steady breath and pace. The forearm plank was also difficult and I was surprised when Vytas kept revisiting it, increasing the duration from one minute to two minutes, then three. Torture! My friend looked like he was struggling, heck, I was too. I'm glad I wasn't the only one. Luckily, I've learned how to stay calm through the discomfort.

I enjoyed the freestyle vinyasa portion but found myself a little disoriented. I think I might have forgotten a side on my final cycle. Oh well.

After class my friend said that he thinks it was the hardest Power Yoga teacher he'd ever experienced. Personally, I've had harder classes but I admitted that it was definitely a ridiculously intense class, proven by the fact that my legs were sweating.