Yoga Community Rallies to End National Health Care Crisis: YOGA MONTH 08

This was a press release that I received via email from my dear friend Hillary Rubin, who is participating in this event. Please take the time to read it. I believe this event is a great way to bring more attention to yoga as a healing modality…as a SERIOUS healing modality, not something only the young and limber do.

It wrecks me every time someone asks me about yoga and they say: ‘oh is that the hot yoga? I don’t want to do that’, or ‘I’m too old to do that stuff’, or ‘I’m not flexible enough’. These sort of comments are sort of like talking about coffee in this way: ‘oh is that the stuff you get at that Starbucks place?’, ‘I don’t like drinks that are slushy with whipped cream on top’, or ‘I’m too old to drink coffee.’ I know this comparison is way exaggerated, especially because the majority of people know what coffee really is, and no one would really say that…well, that’s how I feel about yoga when it’s dismissed as something totally foreign, and portrayed as something it’s NOT. (O.k. I’ll get off my pedestal now)

Yoga Community Rallies to End National Health Care Crisis

Los Angeles, June 18, 2008 – Leaders within the yoga community throw their support and knowledge of holistic health behind Yoga Month to end the national health care crisis. Toyota, Equinox Fitness, Luna, Health Magazine, and VibeHolistic have also enlisted in the Yoga Month health revolution.

For decades, the 18 million plus Americans practicing yoga have reaped the rewards of a healthy and vibrant life. Due to the health care epidemic engulfing the nation, the yoga community is aligning proven holistic techniques with traditional medical practices as it marches toward Yoga Month 09.2008, a national awareness campaign to inspire a healthy and informed lifestyle.

Spearheaded by the Yoga Health Foundation, a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit organization based in Los Angeles, Yoga Month 09.2008 will gather yoga industry and health care giants together to take their knowledge of holistic living and its health benefits to mainstream society. The Yoga Health Foundation stresses health prevention and holistic practices that complement conventional medicine. Yoga Month 09.2008 is the first initiative of its kind to mobilize the yoga and traditional medical communities to ban together to fight the health care crisis in this country.

During the month of September, yoga experts, homeopathic specialists, medical practitioners and green merchants will participate in Yoga Month’s 10 City Yoga Health Festival Tour. Hillary Rubin, one of Yoga Month’s featured instructors, was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis 12 years ago. Rubin believes she owes her drug and symptom-free existence to yoga and holistic living. She will highlight her natural regime during the tour. The festivals will benefit those interested in a lifestyle enhanced by various schools of yoga, informed eating habits, and natural medical remedies often found in household gardens.

These preventative and cost efficient alternatives provide a welcome counterpart to standard health care. The festival tour is scheduled for Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, Boston, San Francisco, Miami, Denver, San Diego, Austin, and Vancouver.

To fully realize the potential of Yoga Month 09.2008, the Yoga Health Foundation formed strategic alliances with corporate sponsors to assist in putting an end to the health care crisis. Toyota, Equinox Fitness, Luna, and Health Magazine are just a few of the many sponsors on board in support of Yoga Month.

In addition, the Yoga Health Foundation aligned with community outreach partner VibeHolistic to spread the message of Yoga Month in underserved communities. An empowerment company founded and managed by women, VibeHolistic’s purpose is to serve people of color by providing knowledge in the areas of yoga and holistic health. In preparation for Yoga Month, VibeHolistic will host a Spa Soiree on June 25^th at the Creative Chakra Spa in Marina Del Rey, CA. The event will bring together celebrated leaders within black and Hispanic communities to organize efforts for Yoga Month in September.

Johannes Fisslinger, founder of the Yoga Health Foundation, believes the answers to many of the illnesses that maim, weaken, and destroy are found in nature and within the body’s natural ability to heal itself. According to Johannes, “Nature has given us inexpensive, easy to find, and simple tools to assist conventional medicine in addressing our health needs. Yoga Month health festivals will offer holistic alternatives that work and do not cost a lot of money.”

Dr. Carrie Demers, an M.D. who specializes in internal medicine while practicing Ayurveda and homeopathy, agrees with Fisslinger. “Most diseases are preventable and curable with natural medicines and a healthy lifestyle. That is the simple truth. The general population needs access to this information and support for making changes in how to eat, exercise and manage stress.”

For more information on the Yoga Health Foundation and Yoga Month 09.2008, please visit www.yogamonth.org or contact Vera Alexander at 818-762-4767.

Check out their site see if some of this fun stuff is going on in your area!

Episode 64: From Pittsburgh! Expand and Contract, a Beginner 1 hr Yoga Class

The Jade Yoga Mat contest!!!! Fill out the survey and win a mat

Call me with some feedback or just to say hi 310 651 6238

About this yoga podcast episode:

This is a total beginner yoga class, a fantastic class to start with, plus it’s only an hour Let me know what you think!

I also suggest very strongly to put a blanket or a towel or something folded and supportive beneath your bum, especially if you have a tight lower back, hips and hamstrings. Do as I say, not what you see in the pics (took the pics at work and there are no blankets or towels there…just dirty carpet!)

The Sequence of Yoga Poses:

Seated Meditation Sequence

Seated Side Stretch and Looking Up

Easy Seated Twist

Wide Baddha Konasana

Seated Forward Bend Prep Vinyasa

Supta Tadasana with arms facing each other

Supta Padangustasana Prep or Full Supta Padangustasana

Knees to Chest

Easy Supine Twist

Hands and Knees

Cat/Cow Stretches

Balasana

Downward Facing Dog x

Lunge Preparation and Full Lunge (arms inside of front leg)

Uttanasana

tadasana

Arm Salutations

Standing Side Stretches

Tadasana on tippy toes

Half Sun Salutes x 3

Tree Pose

Dandasana

Agni Stambasana Prep

Supine Twist Variation

Savasana

Episode 63: The Spotlight is Always On, Level 1, 90 minute yoga class

Finally I posted a new episode!!

This is a nice hip opener class so get to it!

Episode 39: Spotlight Integrity

You will need a yoga block for this or yoga blocks (towards the last quarter of the class)

Wizzard.tv

Jade Yoga Mat contest! There’s a Jade Yoga mat just waiting for you! All you have to do is fill out the survey that you can access from my side bar or right below

For all of you that happened to have filled out the survey before I announced the contest, please email me at eyogaclass (at) gmail (dot) com and give it to me so I can add you to the list of hopeful winners

I will announce the email at the beginning of July

Of course I gave the wrong contact number *sigh* it’s 310 651 6238, call me!

In this yoga class podcast:

Hands and Knees

Down dog

high lunge right an left

plank

uttanasana

ardha uttanasana

tadasana

half sun salutes x 2

Surya Namaskar C x 2

lunge with back knee on the earth and arms up

arms interlaced behind the back with legs bent behind you and flat back (utkatasana legs)

straighten legs with arms behind x2

Deep lunge with knee on the floor and arms inside leg (Right side)

down dog

Deep lunge with knee on the floor (Left side)

down dog

Crescent Pose

plank/chattarunga/cobra

down dog

twisting downward facing dog

uttanasana/ardha uttanasana/tadasana

surya namaskar x 2

Parsvakonasana

Downdog

Vira 2

downdog

parsvotanasana

child’s pose

downdog

lunge twist (parvakonasana twisting)

runner’s lunge twist

downdog with open hip leg up

child’s pose

get a block or two!!!!

pavrita trikonasana

hanumanasana prep x 2 with a block

happy baby

chill on the back

on the belly, ardha bhekasana

dhanurasana x 3

easy supine twist

supta padangustasana twist (Supine hamstring strech with twist)

twist with legs crossed

knees to chest

savasana

Courage, Prayer and Action-An Elsie update

I have been pretty much MIA from my podcast. There has have been plenty of changes that have happened in my life. In this video I talk about what it really takes to step fully into your own life, mustering up all that you can to live a life of fullness. I share some pretty fantastic news about what’s up and coming. Thank you so very much for watching and I hope to hear from y’all!

I’ve created a Page to donate to help out Camilla Bergstrom

THIS is a special page made for Camilla

through the fantastic site Chip-In!!!

Please feel free to donate.

In support of a fellow Anusara Yoga Teacher and Friend: Camilla Bergstrom

I am in shock

I am speechless and my heart goes out to one of my friends from L.A.

Camilla Bergstrom was on of the reasons that I began my studies at City Yoga in 2000. I used to take her 12:30 Community T/Th class religiously. She was the first female yoga teacher that I tuned it to. In everyclass I found myself immersed in myself and yet deeply connected to the bigger picture. I had no idea this was happening of course

I remember thanking her once for giving me the opportunity to find my practice in the midst of a public class. Even though I was around a bunch of people I always felt that I was experiencing and enhancing my own personal practice. She has this incredible gift of allowing space, for all, to choose to step into themselves.

So I reach out to you now, all of you to support my teacher and friend, as she needs the help of the Kula. You are many, and even a little may help. This is an email I recieved yesterday. I’m sharing it with you. It speaks for itself:

To the City Yoga community;

We regret to inform you all that our dear friend and colleague Camilla Bergstrom was in an accident yesterday at the Sunset Horse Stables in Hollywood.

Camilla was in the process of buying a horse and was spending some time with it on Sunday when tragedy struck. The horse spooked and her hand got caught in the rope. She has lost parts of 3 fingers of her left hand. The nature of the accident was so severe it does not allow the reattachment of those fingers.
Sadly, they are gone.

She is “ok”, which is to say stable. She is in the hospital and will probably be home tomorrow. Thankfully, there were no other injuries, though she will be very sore from the trauma. She went into surgery late last night and is recovering today.

Rebecca is with her now and she has some of her Swedish friends corresponding with her family in Sweden. Unfortunately, her family is not able to come over to be with her.

Some of us have known Camilla for a long time and others have just come to know her but we all have come to love her tough Swedish shell which encases one of the most compassionate, beautiful souls. In talking with her in her moments of clarity she has spoken of gratitude. Gratitude for the smallest things. Camilla has gone through a lot and she is the first to say that she is grateful for every challenge because it has taught her about herself and made her stronger.

She will need all of our strength and support in the coming weeks and months and I know we will all be grateful to give all we can. At the moment, please just hold her in your hearts and send her love. We will be sending out more information. It will include more specific things we can do to help.

One of the first things she will need is money. Fortunately, she has insurance but as is the case with most Americans, it is only disaster insurance. That means high deductibles and items not covered, not to mention her inability to work for a while. We are planning a fundraiser for her with in the coming days but you may start by sending money instead of flowers to:

Camilla Bergstrom c/o
City Yoga
7904 Santa Monica Blvd
Suite 214
West Hollywood, CA 90046

ANY amount you can give will be extraordinary if we act as a community.
Please DO NOT call her cell phone. She will need time to get settled and in touch with her family since the time difference is so great and I’m sure she will be exhausted.

Thank you all in advance for your love and support of our dear friend.

In her service,
Rebecca and Anthony

Being Geeky on other Podcasts! Sorry I’ve been MIA :(

When am I going to stop writing: I’m so sorry, I’m still catching up to my HUGE life transition, not teaching publicly yet, blah, blah, blah! Honestly.

I am actively now seeking employment as a yoga teacher in Pittsburgh now. It’s been a long process to get here I tell you! Spring is definitely springin’ and my body and soul are ready to come out! So promise I’ll keep y’all updated! Plus…I have a retreat coming up in August! Elsie, yoga, retreat, July, fun

check out all the relevant retreat info HERE! I would love love love to have some of y’all show up!

Now, it’s not like I’ve just been sitting on my behind not doing anything. I’ve actually been working my booty off, just not in the yoga asana way

Here’s a podcast that I did with my friend Victor Cajiao this weekend. In this podcast episode we talk about all things podcasting, gear, how to get into it, new media, etc. At the end I speak a bit about how to keep the geeks healthy, which is something so very dear to my heart. You can also hear me and what I’ve been up to and of course how in the world I ended up in Pittsburgh! You can also hear the ‘other’ side of Elsie, the total geeky side

Enjoy and Listen!

The podcast is about an hour long, you are more than welcome to stream it straight from here:

Go to Victor’s site and listen from there (while checking out all the show notes! (which I recommend you do anyway)

Or you can always subscribe to Victor’s show, the Typical Mac User Podcast via iTunes HERE! So many options

Would love to hear from you if you happen to hear it! Lots of great info.

I promise I’ll be coming back……..*sigh*

Beginner Sun Salutation Instruction! Short and to the point :)

Yeay! Salute the Sun Easily!

Hmmmmm

Where has Elsie gone to you ask? Well, getting swallowed up by the Pittsburgh winter, if you must know

I have been unable to even have an opportunity to practice regularly let alone find somewhere to teach. It’s been a very challenging for me now that I have a full time 9-5 job. I now spend all of that time infront of a computer! And it’s been so cold and dreary that I have not wanted to step into anything other than my yummy home and sleep.

I have become a bear that happens to work on the internet for a living

I will be back, fully at some point. I just cannot, in all honesty and integrity tell you when this will happen, and when I do I guarantee that it will be a much different Elsie! That’s all I gotta say…

I created this video to a fellow internet buddy, Nick Schmidt. We met randomly through online community and he asked me to teach him a little bit of yoga, and I did…with this little video.

Simple, short and precise. A great way to get your yoga practice in even if you only have 5 minutes I usually add music and all that jazz, and I may in the future, but I just quickly edited this puppy and decided to publish. To get something out for y’all!!!

Would love to hear your feedback! I would love to hear from you guys all the way around. You guys have now become my only connection to the Kula. How very ironic that Elsie’s Yoga Kula is now fueled by you guys. I love it! This is what it’s all about!

Please leave me a review in iTunes! or tell a friend about this podcast

Playful Vinyasa Sequence Video

Happy Valentine’s Day!!!

I keep telling you guys this, but I’m still not teaching publicly, so I cannot post any new yoga classes for you guys But I do have one that I just found!!! I just have to take more pics for it, as there are some things that are new, and may be a bit confusing but fun, fun, fun!

I hope to get an actual class up next week! Yipee!!!

So, my way of kinda dealing with this issue is providing you all with some of my prior content on the feed so that those of you who are subscribed can get these videos delivered right to your computer!

I do hope that you enjoy these!

This specific sequence was born in class, as I was teaching, you can listen to it’s birth in Episode 33. Enjoy!

Handstand Splits at the Wall Demo

A short video demonstrating Handstand Splits at the wall. I originally made this video to supplement episode 33 of my yoga podcast

I will be publishing the second video for this class next week!

Hope you enjoy

Please leave me feedback at eyogaclass@gmail.com
or call me 310 651 6238 and leave me a message. I love that stuff

Of course reviews on iTunes are so greatly appreciated