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JUNE 2011

VOLUME 10 / NO. 5

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIAS

FREE YOGA MAGAZINE

LAYOGAMAGAZINE.COM

edible fowersantioxidantbouquet

Lindsay Wagner:beyond bionic woman

Lisbeth Scott:giving voice toforgotten dreams

Clean your closetClear your head

La NutrienteEnerga de Shakt

date fudgehemp milksummer cherries

SUPERFOOD

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5/68JUNE 2011LAYOGA 3

JUNE 2011

FEATURES

26Taste the bounty o Springwith edible fowersWhat do dandelions, roses, lavender,

nasturtiums, mustard, and violets

have in common? Theyre beautiul,

edible, delicious, and ull o antioxidants

and other benefcial phytonutrients.

32Hemp in the kitchenDont succumb to believing the hemp

stereotype. These potent seedy

superoods are a welcome addition

to any kitchen providing high-proteineasy-to-make snacks and staples,

like date-hemp-cacao udge and vegan

hemp milk.

36Sitting down withLindsay WagnerHer entire life has focused on the

exploration of human potential

on screen, in a meditation practice,

and in group workshop settings.

54Spotlight on Lisbeth ScottThis talented singer and multifaceted

musician is using her voice to help

women reclaim their forgotten dreams

with a new foundation and grassroots

community empowerment effort.

Community10Get Up and Go

12Open Doors

14 Seen and Heard

16Seva in Action

Practice Pages20 Lighten Up to Achieve

Enlightenment

Teacher Profle24Ananda Giri

Yoga Therapy38Heart Health

Ayurveda40Oils: The Good,

The bad and The Ugly

Espaol42 La Nutriente Energa

de Shakti / The Nourishing

Energy of Shakti

Food & Home46 Clean Your Closet,

Clear Your Mind

48 Farmer's Corner,

Summer Cherries

In Every Issue44 Meditation

50 Media

52 What's on My Nightstand

62Astrology

64 Yantra

A Y U R V E D A A N D H E A L T H

ON THE COVER:

Photography by:

Carla Cummings

Photograph of:

Blythe Metz

Location:

Bay Cities Kitchensand Appliances(310) 358-8855

54

16 32

36 26

Don't Miss Lady Yoga'sAdventures on pg 56


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editor's note

May Our Practice Nourish Us

Photo of Felicia taken by: Tai Kerbs

Do your practice in a way that nourishes you, Stephanie Phelans

words echoed through Maha Yoga, by candlelight on a Friday night.Im paraphrasing, since her instruction came in a moment o paus-

ing in downward acing dog, or maybe it was pigeon, or she couldhave said this during our slide through the vinyasa o chaturanga thatsegued into our backbend. But the specic pose really didnt matter,nor were the exact conguration o her words important. What wasmeaningul was the suggestion that we allow the practice to nourishus, and that the way we choose to move, to breathe, or to adjust thespecics o our sequence, would help to acilitate this quality: The all-important eeling o allowing the practice to literally eed us.

According to the principles o Ayurveda and the philosophy oYoga, we eat ar more than ood; we are nourished by more thancalories, vitamins, and grams o protein. Everything that we take in

actually becomes us, and all o it has the potential to nourish all othe components o our body, mind, heart, and spirit. Everything cannourish us: What we read and watch, the music playing in the back-ground, the postures in our practice, and the ood on our plate. Thecurve o a fower petal may carry a poignant message or our medita-tion (as Jen Ford pointed out to me while we were in the process oworking on this months eature on edible fowers).

Our relationship with Shakti, the eminine aspect o spirit, u-els the very core o our being, as Sister Jayanti, who teaches at theVedanta Temple in Hollywood, eloquently states in Spanish (andEnglish) here. The creative spirit touches our hearts and nourishesour inspiration, which was made clear to me watching Maurice

Lords reaction to a preview o the Tim Burton exhibition at LAC-

MA, which will be on view in one o LAs cultural bastions throughOctober 31.

We are nourished through asana, through hemp udge (thanksBlythe Metz!), through the power o meditative practice (yes, Lo-rin Roche), a good laugh (which Vanda Mikoloski denitely deliv-ers), through a well-spiced Nepali bitter gourd (courtesy o ReenaGauchon rom Kathmandu Boutique), or in the process o think-ing beyond our own sel (o which were reminded in this issue bypeople including the City Yoga crew in Hollywood, Lisbeth ScottEllen Lavinthal, Beth Shaw, and numerous others who are tirelesslyintegrating action into the asana o everyday lie).

When we allow ourselves the time to pause, to take a deep breathand to taste the savory nectar that alights on our tongue every day, in

a myriad o ways and means and orms, we can remember and eelgratitude or everything with nourishes us. With gratitude, we canully digest that ood, in all its orms.

With thanks for all the abundance we share,

Felicia M. Tomasko, RN


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http://www.yogaworks.com/mailto:[email protected]://yogaworks.com/

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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Felicia M. Tomasko, RN

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Justine Power

Thank you to the entire Yoga community for

participating in and supporting this effort to educate,

inspire, and share wisdom.

Special Thanks Kasey Luber, Dr. Mark Singleton,Helen Tomasko, Laurie Searle/Lady Yoga

LA YOGA Magazine is being published by Chandra Publishing

1234 26th Street Santa Monica, CA 90404

(310) 828-8218

P R I N T E D I N L O S A N G E L E S

PUBLISHER

Douglas R. Corbett

Staff Writers

Michael Blahut

Melissa Chua

Tamiko Fischer

Vanessa Harris

Karen Henry

Beth Prandini

Joni Yung/the Accidental Yogist

Editorial Assistance

Selah Michelle

Tim Shulberg

Advertising Coordinator

Rachael Cleghorn

Newsletter Production

Joseph Parra

Spanish Editorial Assistance

Jaime Carlo-Casellas, PhD

Advertising Executives

Los Angeles Westside

Assia Valova

[email protected]

(310) 435-6490

Los Angeles Southside

Tara Hitzig

[email protected]

(310) 422-9399

Los Angeles Mid CityDonna Bulord

[email protected]

(310) 883-8444

Los Angeles - Eastside

Brianna Welke

[email protected]

(360) 303-8968

Contributors

E. Amato

Dylan Barmmer

Dr. John Casey

Carla Cummings

Georey Earendil,

Derek Feniger

Red Jen Ford

Leslie Hendry

Sister Jayanti

A Karno

Tai Kerbs

Ellen Lavinthal

Amir Magal

Blythe Metz

Vanda Mikoloski

Daniel Overberger

Dr. Lorin Roche

Robert Sturman

Robert Talbert

Sarah Tomlinson

Ashley Wynn

A YU R VE D A A N D H E A L T H

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Studio City, CA 91604

Bikramyoga

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31300 Via Colinas #101

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711 Foothill Blvd.

La Canada, CA 91011

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International Headquarters

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our contributors

CARLA CUMMINGS

Photographer

Carla Cummings has been documenting

and celebrating the human spirit since

receiving her rst camera as a child. A

multidisciplinary artist who was raised

in Los Angeles and Mexico City, She is a

certied Ayurvedic practitioner, Yoga and

meditation Teacher, and an advocate o

the healing properties o ood, nature anddevotion. Like her work at:

facebook.com/carlacummingsphotography

VANDA MIKOLOSKIWriter

Vanda Mikoloski does yoga and comedy

with a bunch o awesome people aroundLA. Catch the show she is producing with6 other comedian/yogis at Studio Surya

Yoga in Venice on June 4th at 8pm. Shetoured with the Dixie Chicks as their

power yoga teacher and has been seen

doing stand-up comedy at many o theYoga Journal conerences.

RED JEN FORD

Writer

Red Jen Ford manages the Westwood

Farmers Market where she strolls thestands weekly, complimenting the arm-

ers on their bounty. She uses all her

senses to apply her Yoga practice to eat-ing, connecting to the season and hersurroundings, shopping and preparingoods, then toasting riends, amily, andarmers with gratitude beore savoringevery bite:Redjenford.com

MELISSA CHUA

Writer

Melissa Chua is a journalism graduate

rom Caliornia State University, North-

ridge who has written LA Yoga's Open

Doors section or over three years. When

she's not exploring a new Yoga studio or

vegan restaurant, she enjoys practicing

her arm balances and inversions. Her a-

vorite pose is bakasana.

WHERE I PICK UPMY LAYOGA

YOUR LETTERS

Congratulations to Robin Sheldon or

winning a copy o the DVD Oh My God.She picks up her copy o LAYoga at

the oce o her Ayurvedic mentor Dr.

Parla Jayagopal.

Tell us where you pick up LA Yogaand send us a photo or inclusion inan upcoming issue. write:[email protected]

Dear LA Yoga, I wasnt sure i there is a typo or i it was intentional but on page 38 o theMay 2011 issue o LA YOGA in the Q&A By Dr Parla Jayagopal there is a list o "What toavoid" and on the very bottom o the list was Meditation. Is this an ironic typo or what?Ink Ian

From the Editor: The act that Meditation ended up in the avoid list was aormatting error. Meditation is recommended, not only or Raynauds syndrome and

other circulatory imbalances, but in act, rom an Ayurvedic perspective, meditationis recommended (with proper instruction) in a variety o situations. We regret themistake and appreciate the careul readers! FMT

Dear LA Yoga, Regarding the May issue, on page 26: Riding a bike is smart; ridingwithout a helmet is not. What will protect Lauren's head i an opening car doorknocks her to the concrete? The picture does not send a sae message. Please thinkabout this; I would assume Lauren wears a seat belt when driving.Warren

From the Editor: Were happy to see Lauren riding a bike and we didnt ask i shewears a helmet when shes actually riding (as compared to posing or a photo). Weappreciate the reminders about saety. Here at LA YOGA HQ, were saety geekswhen it comes to riding around town with our helmets. FMT

http://facebook.com/carlacummingsphotographyhttp://redjenford.com/http://redjenford.com/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://redjenford.com/http://facebook.com/carlacummingsphotography

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12/6810 LAYOGAJUNE 2011

Seven ChakrasThursday, June 2

Artist Linda Saccoccio captures the abstractqualities o the chakras with gestural linesusing oil on canvas. These images portrayLinda's relationship with spontaneity, ree-dom, and Eastern spiritual traditions. Open-ing reception eatures live Indian music.

Reception: 5 P.M., Casa Magazine, 23 E.Canon Perdido, Santa Barbara, CA 93101

The show is up or viewing through July;Lindasaccoccio.com

Santa Monica Yoga Celebrates 10 Years!Saturday, June 4

Celebrate 10 active community-lled yearswith the ellow yogis and teachers o SantaMonica Yoga. Kyra Haglund oers an in-vigorating Yoga class ollowed by music byDJ Drez, ood, drink, and a rafe benet-ting Yoga Gives Back (prizes include a our-day pass to Wanderlust Festival).

6 P.M. Yoga; 8 P.M. Party,

Santa Monica Yoga, 1640 Ocean ParkBlvd, Santa Monica, CA; (310) 396-4040;Santamonicayoga.com

Global Green USA Millennium AwardsSaturday, June 4

Join Global Green USA in celebrating envi-ronmental leaders in this benet event.

Globalgreen.org/millennium

Amma Hugs LA

June 10-14Amma warmly embraces thousands opeople day ater day and embodies a lieinspired by love and service to humanity.Amma makes her annual visit to LA oer-ing solace to all.

Public Program: Fri. June 10, 11 A.M.Sat. June 11, 10 A.M. and 7 P.M.Retreat: June 12 - 14Devi Bhava: June 14, 7:00 P.M;LAX Hilton; 5711 West Century Blvd,LA, CA; (310) 410-6055; Amma.org

Samadhi and Eternal Joy with Ricky TranJune 10-12

Ricky Trans practice and teaching neverails to inspire. Friday evening is a ree talkwith Ricky sharing the path that took himrom a path o sel-destruction to one o selrealization.

Friday June 10, 6 P.M. - 9:30 P.M.Saturday June 11, 1 P.M. - 7:30 P.M.Sun. June 12, 9:30 A.M. - 12:30 P.M.

Yoga Collective, 1408 3rd St. Promenade,Santa Monica, CA; (310) 395-0600;Theyogacollective.com

One Earth Peace GatheringSunday, June 12

Everyone is invited to join hearts, embracelove, and bring blessings to the Earth to helpeach other navigate these times o power-ul change. Hosted by the Healing Gardenso Ayurveda and Emerging OM. Ayurvedicphysician and master herbalist, Dr. RamTamang explores the connection o mind,

body, and nature. Dr. Kathy Kangarlooleads a meditation in motion and renownedIndian vocalist, Dipali creates positive en-ergy elds though chanting.

Free Event. 2:00 4:00 P.M.; 625 FrenchSt., Santa Ana, CA 92701; (949) 515-4855;Thehealingardens.com

SB-ADaPT FestivalJune 12-25

A Dance and Physical Theater Festival,hosted by SonneBlauma Danscz Theatre,

will eature perormances, lectures, work-shops, and more by more than 40 dancecompanies rom ve countries.

For ull schedule and ticket inormation,visit: Sbadaptest.com

Krishna DasMonday, June 13

With one o the most recognizable voices insacred music, Krishna Das (KD) has adopt-ed kirtan to invite people on a pilgrimage

the inner core o their being. KDs acces-sible melodies and soulul voice can strikethe deepest cord in even the most causallistener, inspiring them to remember to turnwithin and nd their inner path.

$35 tickets available online or at the BodhiTree Bookstore in West Hollywood. 8 P.M.Wilshire Ebell Theatre, 4401 west 8th. St.,Los Angeles, CA 90005; Krishnadas.com

A Day o Green BeautyTuesday, June 14

This undraising event ocuses on natu-ral alternatives to the damaging chemicalsthat the average woman is exposed to romdaily beauty product use. Participatein makeovers that include skin care, haircare, exercise consultation, and diet. Twoeco-conscious salons simultaneously hostwith education, entertainment, and greenbeauty treatments. Proceeds benet GreenLiestyle TV's educational programming.

Range of treatment and donation options

available. 4:00 - 9:00 P.M., Shades,144 South Doheny Dr., Beverly Hills,CA 90211; Natural Mind Beauty andBeyond, 3607 W. Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles,Silver Lake, CA 90026; (310) 928-7689;Greenlifestyles.org

Dance Camera WestJune 16-19

This annual estival showcases presenta-tions on screen o the visual language odance rom creative usions o contem-porary, classic, and modern dance styles.

The lms shown stretches the imaginationand changes the way that people can thinkabout dance. Several dierent programsalongside the screenings span over 4 daysand 3 dierent locations.

Free to Public. Opening Thurs. June 16,8 P.M. - 10 P.M.; Getty Center; 1200 GettyCenter Drive; Sat. June 18, 2 P.M.-9 P.M.UCLA Fowler Museum, 308 Charles EYoung, and Sun. June 19 , 1 P.M.-5 P.M.;Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire Blvd;Dancecamerawest.org

get up and gocommunity

Amma Hugs LA Ricky Tran

The Power o Faith

with Alonso De RoseMount Baldy World Peace Pilgrimage

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Luminaries CD Release PartyWednesday, June 15

The conscious hip hop group the Luminar-ies will be playing every song rom theirhighly anticipated new album One at Zan-zibar. Osiris Ishpa Palo and DJ Jedi will alsobe oering up the beats along with digitalart, live painting, and raw oods by Arad-hana Silvermoon.

$10. 9:00 P.M. Zanzibar, 1301 5th Street,

Santa Monica, CA. Luminariesmusic.com

You are not Your BrainThursday, June 16

UCLA psychiatrists Jeery Schwarts andRebecca L. Gladding combine their cuttingedge scientic research and an adaptableprogram to help people understand, iden-tiy, and ree themselves. This workshop isbased on their new book, You Are Not yourBrain: The 4 Step Solution For ChangingBad Habits. They discuss how their mind-ulness-based method can positively impact

your brain and lie.$20 (students) -$30; 7:00 - 9:00 P.M.Neuroscience Research Building Audito-rium, UCLA, 635 Charles E. Young Dr.South, Los Angeles, CA; Marc.ucla.edu

Live Oak Music FestivalJune 17-19

Nestled under the oak trees o the SantaYnez Valley, Live Oak eatures music andactivities or the entire amily includingchildren's programs and activities, an artwalk, arts and crats booths and artisan

merchandise. The main stage line-up oersa range o musical genres. Proceeds benetKCBX Public Radio.

Live Oak Campgrounds outside of SantaBarbara, CA. Liveoakfest.org

Bhakti Bliss RetreatJune 17-19

Govinda and Radha oer a rejuvenatingthree day and two night retreat submergingin relaxing, resting, and upliting activities

such as hiking, swimming, vegan vegetarianmeals, Yoga, satsang/dharma talks, and up-liting kirtan.

$450. Udaya Retreat Sanctuary, MalibuCA. Bhaktiyogashala.com

BodhiFestSunday, June 19

This estive day o Yoga, dharma talks, lm,book signings, music, ood, and more ben-ets a media project about Buddhist move-ments in the US along with Emerge Global,an organization helping to empower SriLankan girls who have survived abuse.

For the full schedule and to register, visit:Bodhifest.org

The New World F.E.S.TJune 24-46

Kick o th e summer on the beach withthis eco-riendly three-day event. Programsinclude live music, innovative demonstra-

tions, lectures, panel discussions, naturalcooking workshops, product showcases,and amily entertainment. The F.E.S.T alsoeatures an eco-theater screening environ-mentally-ocused documentaries, sustain-able art exhibits, and a spiritual oasis withhealing techniques, Yoga, and therapeuticmassage.

Adults $12; children $8. 12 - 8 P.M.each day; Santa Monica Beach (parking lot2600), 2600 Barnard, Santa Monica, CA90405. Thenewworldest.com

The Power o FaithJune 24-26

Do you believe that you have access to thebountiul universal supply o love, health,and hope? FAITH is an inormative seminarwith Alonso De Rose teaching how to ap-ply the law o Faith in their lives.

Attendees must RSVP. Fri. June 24,7 P.M. - 10 P.M. Sat and Sun. June 25-2610 A.M. - 10 P.M. LAX Crowne PlazaHotel; 5985 West Century Blvd, LA, CA90045; (877) 271-7695; Alfonsoderose.com

Mount Baldy World Peace PilgrimageSaturday, June 25

The 3rd annual interaith collaborationrallies all or a world peace journey upona local sacred mountain. All ages and hik-ing abilities are called to participate andcome together to share interaith ceremo-nies upon the mountain to send out a waveo love and light to the world. All pathsand traditions come together or one pur-

pose to walk, sing, and pray together orunconditional love and peace to reside inour worlds.

Sat. June 25, 9 A.M.; Mount Baldy,San Gabriel Mountains;Worldpeacepilgrimage.com

Mindulness, Neuroscience,and CreativitySaturday, June 25

This interactive interdisciplinary explo-ration brings together minds rom variedbackgrounds including artists, musicians,

media makers, meditators, and neurosci-entists gathering to examine the eects omediation on creativity, art, and the brain.Scholarships and work- exchange opportu-nities available.

Tickets $25 (students) $45.10 A.M. -1 P.M. Neuroscience ResearchBuilding Auditorium, UCLA, 635 CharlesE. Young Dr. South, Los Angeles, CA;Marc.ucla.edu

Sri Karunamayis BlessingsJuly 7-10

All are invited to receive the blessingsand be within the presence o Amma SriKarunamayi with spiritual discourse, dar-shan, one-day silent mediation retreat,and a sacred re ceremony (homa). Thisprogram is a wonderul introduction toAmma, her divine presence, and prooundspiritual wisdom.

For schedule and locations in SouthernCaliornia, visit: Karunamayi.org

Live Oak Music Festival Krishna Das Seven Chakra Paintings by Linda Saccoccio

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open doorscommunity

Golden bridge has settled down into theirnew location on Highland and De Longprein Hollywood. Students can enjoy the sameclasses everyone already loves includingKundalini and meditation, as well as Hathaand Jivamukti Yoga. The schedule oersclasses in Spanish, or people in recovery,or those who are pregnant, or pregnantwomen, people in revoerygives you a bal-ance o a vigorous physical practice accom-panied with intellectual stimulation.

Golden Bridge is so much more than a

yoga centerit is a community, a village,

where you can develop a meaningul yogicpractice and a happier and a more healthylie, says Executive Director Marlene Pas-saro. There is a spiritual awakening that'shappening in the consciousness o the stu-dents. We are denitely ushering in the ageo Aquarius, Passaro says.

Similar to their old space, Golden Bridgesnew studio is a warehouse with bow trussceilings, exposed brick walls and multiplewindows. The three-story structure housesthree spacious studio rooms that can open

up into one large space or special events

and training. The new location also eaturesa retail store, oce space and ca with

an outdoor dining patio. With over 100classes oered weekly, you're bound to ndthe perect Yoga practice. And don't orgetto check out Nite Moon Ca at Golden

Bridge or some tasty and organic are.

GOLDEN BRIDGE, 1357 N. Highland Los Angeles,

CA 90028;La.goldenbridgeyoga.com

Melissa Chua, a Los Angeles-based writer who enjoys

inversions and playing around with arm balancing poses.

Find her at Rising Lotus Yoga:[email protected]

Tensegrity Center or Yoga Therapy creates

a link between physical therapy and Yoga.This new Santa Monica Yoga therapy cen-

ter hosts gentle Hatha sessions taught by

a Yoga therapist instructor and certied

Yoga therapist intern. The center uses stu-dio owner Sherry Brourmans system, In-

terbody Message System Yoga to assist in

balancing and nurturing the body to health.

The community heart that suraces

with every class somehow draws people

into themselves to a place where they seem

to know they are healing their body, as amouthpiece or healing a much deeper dis-

connect, says Brourman. In intimate class-

es o no more than seven, students move

through undamental Yoga postures, ana-

lyze postural diculties, and explore Yoga'scapacity or healing specic injuries accom-

panied with the power o physical therapy.

Classes are un and people change their

perceptions o their unique movement pat-ternsbecoming more o themselves, she

says. Our intention is to get injured yogis

back to their avorite class, and never-been

yogis to their rst class, Brourman adds.

TENSEGRITY CENTER

FOR YOGA THERAPY,

901 19th St. Santa Monica CA 90403;

Tensegrityyogatherapy.com

By Melissa Chua

GOLDEN BRIDGEMOVES TO HIGHLAND

YOGA AS THERAPY

http://la.goldenbridgeyoga.com/http://la.goldenbridgeyoga.com/http://la.goldenbridgeyoga.com/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://tensegrityyogatherapy.com/http://tensegrityyogatherapy.com/mailto:[email protected]://la.goldenbridgeyoga.com/

7/27/2019 LA Yoga 2011-06


http://www.lacma.org/http://www.lacma.org/http://www.lacma.org/http://www.lacma.org/http://www.lacma.org/http://www.lacma.org/http://www.lacma.org/http://www.lacma.org/http://www.lacma.org/

7/27/2019 LA Yoga 2011-06


seen and heardcommunity

In the mystical heart o Santa Monica is a

hidden sanctuary known as Kathmandu

Boutique, a place where you can linger

or an hour or get lost or a day browsing

through the many treasures. From summer

dresses and skirts to unky tribal pants, cot-

ton shirts, pants or men, kurtas (tunic) or

children, hand-crated deities, prayer malas,

singing bowls, one o a kind Tibetan/Ne-

pali jewelry, and intricately woven scarves,

Kathmandu oers something or everyone.

Starting rom humble roots, owner Re-

ena Gauchan began selling items rom her

homeland Nepal at local estivals, street

airs, and armers markets beore opening

her boutique in 2005. The shop is a sae

haven that refects the love and passion she

has or her native culture and traditions.

I value relationships between people and

wanted to create a place that was not only

or shopping, but a place to exchange ideas,

explore the things that bring us together,

promote healing, and celebrate the arts, Re-ena says. I wanted to create a place wherepeople o dierent traditions, ages, and so-cial backgrounds could relax, nd inspira-tion and meditate with books and music.

With this in mind Reena began hosting quar-terly events where she cooks Nepalese oodand oers special sales. Her extended amily

and riends share in the hosting duties whilemusicians play intimate and sacred live kir-tan, and henna artists and healing massagepractitioners oer their services.

Throughout the year, the community space

in back o the boutique eatures Yoga, God-

dess classes, spiritual teachings, kirtan,

healing sessions, and other events. The use

o this space is donation-based and 100%

o the proceeds benet the Sel-help Group

or Cerebral Palsy in Nepal co-ounded by

Reena in 1987. This nonprot nongovern-

mental organization supports both children

and adults with cerebral palsy and provides

emotional and practical support to their

parents.

Kathmandu Boutique has become the

place I have always dreamt o, says Reena,

a community gathering place or global

minded conscious people.

Every Wednesday, Reena serves traditional

Nepali chia tea.The next quarterly open house (with Re-

enas amous Nepali ood) will be held on

June 15.

For more inormation, visit KathmanduBoutique, 1844 Lincoln Boulevard(between the 10 Freeway and Pico).(310) 396-4036; Kathmanduboutique.com

Vanessa Harris is a requent visitor to Kathmandu

Boutique where she loves the chia tea and conversations

about all things Yoga. She hand-strings sacred mala

beads ound at: 108malabeads.com

KATHMANDUBOUTIQUEBY VANESSA HARRIS

http://kathmanduboutique.com/http://108malabeads.com/http://108malabeads.com/http://kathmanduboutique.com/

7/27/2019 LA Yoga 2011-06


Please submit poetry for consideration to:

[email protected].

WindhorseBY E AMATO

maybe our breath

is just the wind

personied scattered

kept and discarded

maybe the wind

is just our breath

blown and diused

rustling leaves or

rufing eathers

maybe there is no

dierence between

the wind and our breath

our soul and the universes

our ether and that intriguinginterace between black hole

and atmosphere

dark matter and universal constant

breath and wind

fying together

like that horse with wings

wind and breath

rising and alling in rhythm

breath and wind

wind and breath

start here to nd

that end to separateness

E. Amato is a writer, perormance poet, flmmaker

and promoter. She is the author o the collection

Swimming Through Amber. Eamato.com

poet's corner june giveaway

LAYOGAWEEKLY

Stay connected with the community.

Find out where to go each week.

Enter to win ree prizes.

Weekly inspiration in your inbox.

layogamagazine.com/newsletter

EMAIL NEWSLETTER>>

ENTER TO WIN DJ DREZ JAHTA BEATS CD!

When DJ Drez accompanies a Yoga class, it's not to be missed. Drez knows how

to produce a musical alchemy, a divine synergy with the ow o asana and breath

or a transcendent experience. In his three Jahta Beat releases, DJ Drez oers his

signature style combining world music beats and the attitude o Hip Hop along

with master collaborators including musician Domonic Dean Breaux and vocalistsMarti Nikko and Shelia Govindarajan. Enter to win one o fve copies o DJ Drez' Jahta Beat Three: A

Path to Light and turn your home practice into an event.

Email: [email protected] beore June 20 subject line: Jahta Beat.

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7/27/2019 LA Yoga 2011-06


seva in actioncommunity

On June 18th, City Yoga will be hosting itsourth Yogathon at its studio in West Hol-lywood. Led by studio owners Rebecca andAnthony Benenati and their excellent sta oinstructors, all participants will spend twelvehours immersed in Yoga asana and medita-tion, ending with a late-night kirtan withDaniel Stewart. The collective goal is to raiseunds or St. Jude Children's Research Hos-pital to urther the treatment and preventiono childhood cancers. Incentive prizes, goodiebags, and ood have been generously donatedby a number o local businesses, with a Mexi-can resort getaway awarded to the highestundraiser.

Four reasons why I'm participating:

1.We'll be raising unds or St. Jude Children's

Research Hospital, whose mission it is to ndways to cure and prevent pediatric cancers.

2. I already survived Yogathons #2 and #3,so the obsessive-compulsiveness in me insiststhat I do #4 (and that same inner voice keepsberating me or missing out on yogathon #1)

3. While the previous yogathons all lasted 24hours, this year's event is only 12 hours. Pieceo cake... and I don't even have to try to pre-tend to be awake at three in the morning.

4. I'm looking orward to having a un time

with great yoga sessions with Anthony and

Rebecca Benenati, Heather Foster, Maud

Nadler, Tom Jermain, Linda Eier, Sharon

Skok, and Emily Burton, along with rockingkirtan by Daniel Stewart and riends, and o

course, tantalizing lunch treats rom Tender

Greens. It will be epic!

Joni Yung aka the Accidental Yogist, is a blogger and

now a radio talk show host.Blog.accidentalyogsit.com

City Yoga Hosts their 4th

YOGATHONBY JONI YUNG

Help make this year's Yogathon one

to remember; please visit my

undraising page and give generouslyso I can raise as much as I can or

this worthy cause. Thanks!Firstgiving.com/fundraiser/joni-yung

cityyogasyogathon2011

City Yoga, 1067 N Fairax AveWest Hollywood, CA 90046

(323) 654-212;Cityyoga.com

With the help o all our donations, theyare able to treat all children who comethrough their doors, regardless o race,religion, or nancial background.

Rebecca and Anthony of City YogaPhoto of Joni Yung by Brendon Chiang

http://blog.accidentalyogsit.com/http://blog.accidentalyogsit.com/http://firstgiving.com/fundraiser/joni-yungcityyogasyogathon2011http://firstgiving.com/fundraiser/joni-yungcityyogasyogathon2011http://cityyoga.com/http://cityyoga.com/http://firstgiving.com/fundraiser/joni-yungcityyogasyogathon2011http://cityyoga.com/http://firstgiving.com/fundraiser/joni-yungcityyogasyogathon2011http://blog.accidentalyogsit.com/

7/27/2019 LA Yoga 2011-06


The educational organizationYogaFit, the worlds largesttraining school or Yoga instruc-tors and a national leader in

Mind Body Fitness education,is giting one million dollarsworth o Yoga training to non-proft organizations.

In 2011, the company is plan-ning to donate 2,500 gitcertifcates or their Level Onetraining held at YogaFits MindBody Fitness Conerences($399 value).

It is expected that most o theorganizations that receive these

certifcates will be able to usethem to raise money in silentauctions. Interested nonproftgroups should submit a certif-cate request:[email protected].

YogaFit was ounded by Beth Shaw asa means to bring Yoga to the ftnessindustry; their mission is to bring healingyoga to the masses. The companyhas also made a commitment to com-munity service, supporting animals andhumanitarian causes. We are pleasedthat YogaFit is able to assist charities inraising unds to continue their essentialeorts. The world and the people in itbeneft rom more people practicing Yogamore requently, expressed Shaw. Formore inormation, visit: www.yogaft.com.

YOGA

BY RACHAEL CLEGHORN

GIVE THE GIFT OF

YogaFit is gitingone million dollarsworth o Yogatraining to nonprot

organizations!

mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.yogafit.com/http://www.yogafit.com/http://www.yogafit.com/http://www.yogananda-srf.org/http://yogananda-srf.org/http://www.yogafit.com/mailto:[email protected]

7/27/2019 LA Yoga 2011-06


seva in actioncommunity

Gladiators ghting to the death in arenas likethe vast Roman Coliseum with animals oth-erwise imprisoned within bars is the shame-ul history behind the legacy o modern-dayzoos and circuses. When we consider ani-mals like the majestic elephant, who roamhundreds o miles in their natural habitat,live or decades in complex social systems,and walk with their eet on sot, giving earthrather than hard, unorgiving concrete, theircaptivity seems barbaric indeed.

We take or granted the presence o ele-phants in zoos and circuses, and in act, botho these institutions have become incorpo-rated into our human cultures worldwide.In the eature lm Water or Elephants, theaddition o an elephant to the circus menag-erie raises the status o the traveling band oentertainers.

Yet examples like the ongoing controversyover the elephant enclosures at the Los An-geles Zoo, among other zoos worldwide,demonstrate our collective questioning othe need to display these animals in arti-cial environments purely or our enjoyment.The conundrum is this: How do we, as ani-mals with a conscience, change our society's

perception related to this abusive, cruel and

ancient behavior? Our practices o keepingthese animals in captivity, where they expe-rience suering, is something that violatesthe yogic practice o ahmisa, dened as non-violence and compassion.

I have been privileged to witness these re-gal mammals in their natural habitat wherethey roam vast distances in large amilialgroups. In sad comparison, when held in thecramped spaces o zoos and circuses, theylinger in small numbers or in solitude. Whenwe buy our ticket, we see animals who arebroken, both physically and emotionally.Furthermore, in captivity, these amazingcreatures are orced to live on hard suraceswhich promote painul oot disorders, oneo the leading reasons or the euthanasia oelephants in captivity.

Public opinion is shiting. Seventeen zoosworldwide have closed their elephant ex-hibits in recent years and Bolivia recentlybanned elephants in their circuses. In thesummer o 2010, 300 demonstrators con-vened or the largest circus protest ever heldin ront o the Los Angeles Staples Centerduring the opening night o Ringling BrosBarnum and Bailey Circus. I was encour-aged by the amily o our whom, upon

hearing the protesters messages, let the lineand threw their tickets away agreeing withthe demonstrators that they did not want toshow their children sad and abused animals;that was not the point o entertainment.

Yet we oten justiy elephants captivity inzoos and circuses as the only way our chil-dren can experience and appreciate theselarge mammals. As elephant expert Cath-erine Doyle expressed, "Our children donot have to see dinosaurs to appreciate andadore them, so why do they need to see ele-phants? On the Discovery Channel, they canobserve elephants in their natural surround-ings as the proud creatures they really are."

Children are more perceptive than we may

realize. For Christmas last year my nine-yearold daughter wrote to Santa asking or rollerskates, a pair o skinny jeans, and to pleaseree Billy, the elephant currently in the LAZoo. I children have become aware thatkeeping elephants in captivity is a problemthat violates the ethical more o ahimsa,nonviolence and compassion, then it is timeor adults to continue their advocacy eorts.

Ellen Lavinthal is an animal activist who is the

ounder o Animal Alliance:Animalalliance.net

Picketing the circus,protesting the zoosElephants kept in captivity violate yogic values!BY ELLEN LAVINTHAL

http://animalalliance.net/http://animalalliance.net/http://lcanimal.org/http://lcanimal.org/http://animalalliance.net/

7/27/2019 LA Yoga 2011-06


The relationship between people,entertainers, and elephants is acomplicated one. In the eature-

length documentary, One LuckyElephant, directed by Lisa Leeman

and flmed over a ten year periodo time, ollows circus producer

David Balding and the orphanedArican elephant Flora, the ormerstar o his circus. Flora has

become tired o perorming. Yetwe have collectively made ew

adequate provisions or the retire-ment o majestic beings like Flora,

so Balding spends nine yearssearching or a suitable home or

the elephant, who as an orphanturned circus perormer, is caught

between the worlds o animalsand humans.

One Lucky Elephant investigates

our complicated relationships withanimals, and questions the act

that we take or granted the ideathat animals will happily perormin the circus. The flm addresses

a number o provocative andimportant questions connected to

how we relate to animals.

One Lucky Elephant will beshowing in Los Angeles,June 24-30 at the LaemmleMusic Hall, 9036 Wilshire Blvd,Beverly Hills. For urtherinormation, visit:Oneluckyelephant.com

ELEPHANTONE LUCKY

BY FELICIA M. TOMASKO RN

http://oneluckyelephant.com/http://www.amma.org/lahttp://www.samata.com/http://amma.org/lahttp://www.samata.com/http://oneluckyelephant.com/

7/27/2019 LA Yoga 2011-06


m telling my best riend, Kristina, a jokeas we walk through an upscale super-

market in Phoenix, Arizona.

A man meets the Buddha. He asks him, Doyou drink?

The Buddha says, "No. Drinking is a dis-traction rom the eight-old path."

The man asks, "Do you smoke?"

The Buddha says, "No. Smoking is also adistraction rom the eight-old path."

The man asks, "Do you make love?"

The Buddha says, "No. Making love is an-other distraction rom the eight-old path."

Incredulous, the man says, "What? Youdon't drink? You don't smoke? You don'tmake love? What do you do or un?"

The Buddha, laughing, says, "I tell lies."

Kristina snorts audibly through her nose.Ha! I love how it's inconsequential i heslying or not. Its about interering with the

mans personal signicance enough or himto have an A-Ha moment.

Kristina is a brilliant cowgirl o a womanwith a heart the size o a zau cushion. Wewere stand-up comedians during the com-edy boom o the 1980s. We always madeeach other laugh. Both o us came to Yogain our late 30s, me more than her. I got cleanand sober and then I became certied toteach Yoga in 1996. And then I got cleanand sober again and developed what I calledSpiritual comedy: a usion o night-clubcomedy and spiritual distinctions. We both

took a lot o personal development coursesand read books to ree us rom our humandilemma. Kristina raised her son, Esa, andbecame one o the most in-demand businessand lie coaches in the country.

We stand mesmerized in ront o a hot tub-sized gourmet cheese section. Each neat,plastic-wrapped wedge o gooey triplecream brie with trufes, orange aged ched-dar and blue-veined stinky Roqueort com-petes to be more interesting and deliciousthan its neighbor.

Kristina leans in toward me. I dare you toask really loud so people around can hearWhere are the individually wrapped pro-cessed American cheese ood slices?

Oh My God, no! I laugh. I actually

couldnt do that! I guess right there you putyour nger on an identity issue. I want peo-ple to think I am an enlightened eater.

Uh hunh Kristina says knowingly witha mock-condescending enlightened grin.Looks like somebody is seeking valida-tion rom without.

You see, sweetheart, she continues withthe mock condescension, You cant be reeuntil you know youre trapped.

Then, with an absolutely straight ace,

Kristina looks at the cheese guy, purses herlips and asks, Do you guys carry organicVelveeta?

Do you know why youre a cheese snob oreven why you do Yoga? Kristina asks me.

Uh oh. I eel something hard to hear is

about to be heard.

Sometimes it takes another person to shine afashlight on some o the less savory aspectso my humanity. In the produce section,Kristina helps me realize something thats

hard to admit: part o why Im a cheese snoband yes, even why I practice Yoga, is to di-erentiate mysel rom the great unwashedmasses. Yuck. I said it.

See, what comedy and enlightenment havein common is the undamental realizationthat we are all the same. Kristina says aswe check out my ew raw ood items. Thenshe adds, "They should have one or twocrappy ood aisles in here like the main-stream supermarkets have one little healthood section."

Ater shopping, we arrive at The Armadillo,

a bar/restaurant near her house, or The Dil-

lo as she calls it. The waitress comes over

to the dark corner arthest rom the bar and

takes our order. Kristina asks or a Bualo

chicken burger with calamari on the side. I

request a Caesar salad.

You know why Yoga will never trulybecome widespread in a real mainstream

way? Kristina asks ater savoring a biggulp o a very brown beer.

No, why? I take the bait.

Because they dont really want it to beeasy or people to grasp.

They? Whos they? Wait, I know a lot opeople who really care about demystiyingYoga, I counter.

Yeah, but see? Thats the conceit. Its notmystied in the rst place. Its bending. Abunch o brown guys made it up. Its made-up bending.

Oh my, I say. So, i I came to you, a Yogaperson to a hot shot business coach, wantingto brand this thing we do that happens tohave its roots in India and is considered bysome to be a sacred path to enlightenment,Youd say, Come bend? This is bending?

Heres what people dont get, Kristina

continues. They think anything having todo with enlightenment has to be heavy andsacrosanct and reverent. What i it doesnt?

See, why do people really come to see youdo you comedy? Kristina takes a big biteout o her burger. "To lighten up! It's notany more signicant than that. When you dothat bit you do... you know, Im not veryspiritual; or example, I dont have any oodallergies people laugh because they recog-nize an inauthenticity, a preciousness that allo us have.

Yeah, even those people who do have ood

BY VANDA MIKOLOSKI

lighten up to achieveenlightenmentMy dinner with Kristina

I

Thats the value o humor. Whateveryou cant laugh at owns you

practice pages


7/27/2019 LA Yoga 2011-06


allergies and have to bring their Tupperwarewith them everywhere they go, even thosepeople laugh at that joke. Being somewhatvigilant about what one eats is equated witha spiritual identity, and everyone knows it,or they wouldnt laugh.

Exactly. Thats the value o humor. What-

ever you cant laugh at owns you.Dammit, Im still seeking validation romthe cheese guy, I admit.

Well, stop it.

Wait. I cant just stop it. Dont I have toprocess it rst?

Yes, you do. I have a process or you. Itsmy highly eective doggie-talk process.Kristina begins to talk to me like she talksto her dog: Yes, Vanda is a good girl, yesshe is. Shes an enlightened eater and sheshealthy and mature and she looks great or50. Good girl, Vanda!

We laugh.Kristina continues, One spiritual disciplineI do is I to notice whenever I am trying tomanage someones impression o me, when-ever I have an agenda, a tendency to exag-gerate ... to orce an outcome.

Like what? I ask.

In trac the other day, a guy got mad andyelled at me. I reacted and noticed that Iwanted him to think I was being compe-tent and kind. Well, sometimes I am com-petent and kind, and sometimes Im not. Inoticed I was attached to deending mysel

as a competent and kind, read: enlightenedperson.

But... Well, thats just human, I say.

Yeah, it is, but the only one who wants tobroadcast that they are kind are the unkind.Its also useul to notice that you never reactwhen someone calls you ... an armadillo.THATS just patently absurd.

Yeah, I get it. The Buddha never had todeend himsel. I dont think he drove onthe 405 during rush hour either, though.I respond.

We pay our bill and walk out o the dark

Dillo into a gorgeous desert sunset.That Buddha joke wasnt that unny, youknow. Kristina says.

I know.

Vanda Mikoloski does Yoga and comedy with a

bunch of awesome people around LA. Catch the

show she is producing with six other comedian/yogis

at Studio Surya Yoga in Venice on June 4 at 8:00

P.M. She toured with the Dixie Chicks as their

power Yoga teacher and has been seen doing stand-

up comedy at Yoga Journal conferences.

LAYOGA

http://www.skirball.org/http://www.skirball.org/

7/27/2019 LA Yoga 2011-06


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Ananda Giri

teacher profle

Ananda Giris calming yet simultaneously

joyul presence is an embodied reminder o

the importance o practicing meditation.

When asked about how he gives instruction

to people beginning a meditation practice,

he states with conviction that the journey

o transormation begins with awareness

and sel-acceptance, not an obsession about

how things should be.

As a teacher, Ananda Giri has a commitment

to teaching even in dicult circumstanc-

es. With a group o colleagues, he traveled

throughout the Gul Coast o the US, post-oil

spill, to oer the suggestion that happiness is

not dependent on circumstance. He has tak-

en this same message to orphans in Jamacia,

as well as the ar-fung corners o the world

where people suer rom a dearth o hope.

Felicia Marie Tomasko: How do you sug-

gest that people deal with the great confict-

ing emotions, anxiety, worry, and despair?

Ananda Giri: At the One World Academy

we believe that there are three realizations

that are crucial to transormation:

All lie is interconnected.

Know that we are dependent, in our lives,

on so many other people.

While it may be true that we do not all havethe same opportunities, all o us share the

ability to be happy and at peace. That does-

not depend on our external circumstances.

I we experience discomort, suering, or-

pain, our immediate reaction is to blame the

circumstances or our discomort.

We must ask: Is the disturbance caused by the

situation outside the discomort and pain or

is the rest o the meaning I give to those lie

circumstances? As long as you believe that the

situation is responsible or your discomort,

then all your eort will be in trying to change

the situation and ocus outward instead o

inward.

FMT:Thats easy to say; how do you actu-

ally put this into practice?

AG: Last year, we took a 10-day road trip

beginning in New Orleans traveling through

Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, and Florida.

The Gul oil spill happened beore these peo-

ple were able to ully recover rom Hurricane

Katrina. The main industries there are shing

and tourism; both were negatively aected.

There is so much desperation. So we thought

we could do something to help. Even though

many organizations are trying to help, condi-

tions were improving or only some people.

People were waiting or their conditions to

change so that they can be happy again.

But i we do not know how long it will take

or the conditions to changedoes that mean

we will be unhappy orever?

We wanted to challenge this perception: Is it

necessary or your conditions to change so

you can be happy? Many live in that hope.

But i they can learn to be happy in this crisis,

then they can be happy in any crisis.

People advised us to not go when so manypeople are in pain. How are people going to

respond when we tell them that they can be

happy no matter what?

We met people in their homes and listened to

their stories. We told people we are here to

teach you how to be happy. At rst they were

cynical, or they thought we were kidding, but

eventually they opened up and they experi-

enced a beautiul shit.

In Baton Rouge, Louisiana, a blind man

named Joseph answered the door. He had

lost his sight serving in the U.S. military. We

are here to teach you how to be happy, wesaid. He laughed in disbelie. Okay, come

on in since you traveled so ar.

He spoke or two hours about how it is

impossible or him to be happy because he

cannot see and we cant understand since we

can see.

I asked, What is the dierence between a

person who is happy and one who is happy?

Ater a ew moments o refection, he an-

swered, The dierence between the blind

person who is happy and a blind person who

is unhappy is a thought.

We think that external substances bring us

peace, joy, pain, or sadness, but Joseph with

upturned this with great common sense and

some sel-refection.

He thought about it again, I have experi-

enced many moments o happiness. Whenhis home was destroyed during Hurricane

Katrina, strangers came rom nowhere to

help him rebuild Each time I remember the

kindness and generosity o generosity o those

who rebuilt my home, I eel happy, he said.

Any time I had the thought in my head,

Why did I have to go to the military and

lose my eyesight and why is God angry with

me? when I have those thoughts I eel sad

and miserable."

I now realize that it is the thoughts that I

have that make me joyul or sad, it is not the

situation itsel.

Joseph announced that he wanted to teach

others that they dont have to wait or their

outer circumstances to change.

Spiritual growth plays a big role to how we

respond to lie's challenges. For this growth

these three realizations are very important:

to realize the interconnectedness o all lie,to know that you are not a separate indi-

vidual, and to realize that happiness is not

a result o your external circumstances but

rom the meanings that you attribute to

your lie situations.

Beyond these, the most important realiza-

tion o all is to recognize that there is a great

strength within us, connected to the divine

presence at the core o our being.

Ananda Giri will be teaching in

Los Angeles and Orange County at the

end o June. For more inormation

please visit: Owanorthamerica.com


LAYOGA

http://owanorthamerica.com/http://owanorthamerica.com/

7/27/2019 LA Yoga 2011-06


TEACHER PROFILE

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Flowers?

edibleTaste the bounty o spring showers!

BY RED JEN FORD

PHOTO LOCATION: 123 FARM, SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA'S

LARGEST ORGANIC LAVENDER FARM.


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he scent o lavender blossoms maytransport us back to our grandmoth-

ers living room; the sweet scent o night-blooming jasmine may carry our thoughtsback to the sidewalk where we grew up;the romantic hint o a rose petal may evokeprom night, a wedding day, or a Valentines

bouquet.Beyond the undeniable power o smell andits neurological connection with emotionand memory, fowers themselves can stimu-late the recollection o memories. Powerulor their emotional symbolism, fowers arealso edible. From the beautiul to the medic-inal, fowers nourish us in a myriad o ways.

I recently drove to Steve McQueens or-

mer ranch in Santa Paula. The thrillingspring sights along the road lled my mindwith a whirl o memories. Wild mustard and

black-eyed Susans lined the highways, andthe hills were verdant with patches o color-ul wildfowers. Seeing hot yellow mustardfowers always reminds me o spring, whenI used to escape my engineering program atthe Berkeley campus to the wine countryregions o the North. When the vineyards

o Napa and Sonoma were lit in sunshineyellow, it reassured me that spring was hereand the reedom o summer was near. Theblack-eyed Susans took me urther back tomy childhood when my mom always point-ed them out to me. As a Maryland native,she still elt nostalgia or the state fower oher home region.

Along with specic memories, fowersevoke an emotional response: red roses con-vey love or romance, white buds suggest in-nocence and purity, lilies honor memories o

those who have passed, daisies inspire thequestioning ritual someone loves me, orloves me not? one petal at a time.

Science has begun to document the emo-tional eect o fowers. One study demon-strated that fowers have an immediate im-pact on happiness and long-term positive

eects on mood. Another study proved thateven though the morning blahs do exist,when people were presented with a smallbouquet o fowers at some point in theirmorning routine, they perked up. Seeingfowers early in the morning helped peopleeel less anxious, more compassionate, andmore energized throughout the day.

While we may see fowers as a source oaesthetic beauty, a memory trigger, or evenan emotional energy boost, botanists and bi-ologists see them as the plants sex organs. >>

T


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Clockwise From Above:

Salad decorated with pansies;wild roses; blue pansies; driedmarygold petals; salad garnishedwith edible owers; mustardowers; crystalised violets andlavendar


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Squash blossoms are probably themost versatile edible fower


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34/68

Hemp in

the KitchenBeyond stereotypes, hemp is anutritious superood.BY BLYTHE METZ PHOTOS BYCARLA CUMMINGS


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eorge Washington said it best, Oh,

the mighty hemp seed; sow it every-

where. Our oreathers reaped the nan-

cial and industrial harvest o this versatile

crop used or uel, ood, clothing, building

materials, skin care products, biodegrad-

able plastics, paper, and more.

It wasnt until 1937 when the petroleumand lumber lobbying powers prevailed,

and hemp was deemed illegal to grow in

the USA.

Decades later, people are seeing a variety

o economic and environmental solutions

in the humble hemp plant.

We can ask: Why on Earth would our

culture be using a non-renewable resource

like petroleum or single use purposes like

bottled ice tea? We buy items packaged

in non-biodegradable petroleum-based

plastic, to consume in a moment and then

throw away. (Its important or us to re-member that there really is no such place

as away.)

This is cause or me to pause and think.

For more than eighty years, weve pos-

sessed the technology to transorm in-

dustrial hemp (a plant ar dierent rom

THC-rich marijuana) into a biodegrad-

able plastic that is much less toxic than

petroleum-based plastic in all parts o its

liespan, rom processing to manuacturing

and including its aterlie.

Consider the hemp plant: it grows to ull-

size in merely ourteen weeks; it deliversoxygen to the atmosphere; it is naturally

pest-resistant and can be grown without

pesticides (making it a ar superior choice

or textiles than cotton, the cultivation o

which dumps over 300 million gallons o

pesticides into the soil annually); it can

be used to make paper; and it provides a

source or uel that is based on current sun-

light. It takes millions o years or petro-

leum to be ormed; it lives deep within the

earth, needing enormous amounts o eort

and strie to extract. Not to mention pe-

troleum is horribly messy, and creates pol-

lution at every level o production. I cant

help but wonder i all that oil deep within

the Earth is meant to stay there.

In addition to its other uses, hemp is a

wonderul superood, and its even gained

a bit o mainstream notoriety with a re-

cent appearance on television in Dr. Ozs

superood smoothies. Hemp seeds are rich

in protein and in the essential atty acids

known as the Omega 3, 6, and 9. Our bod-

ies require ample quantities and ratios o

these oils or optimum regeneration, skin

and cell membrane integrity, hormone and

neurotransmitter production, and immunesystem unction.

Here are some quick and delicious reci-pes to help you incorporate hemp seeds intoyour every day diet.

HEMP SEED CRUSTED RAW

CHILI FUDGE

Making living udge is a great pleasure. Its

quick, easy, super delicious, and incredibly

good or you! These superood ingredients

have high levels o vitamins, minerals, ami-

no acids, and enzymes.

Ingredients1 cup raw organic cacao powder

1 cup + 1 tbsp raw coconut oil

cup raw honey or maple syrup

raw organic hemp seeds

8 dates or 1 cups raisins

1 or 2 chili peppers (For dierent favors,

substitute the chili with 1-inch resh ginger

root, or 4 drops lavender 100% essential

oil, or orange zest, or any spice you like.)

Supplies

8x8 inch glass dish, Food processor

Instructions

Soak dates or 20 minutes (i youre using

raisins there is no need to soak.

Liquey coconut oil by placing the glass jar

in hot water (the oil liquees in minutes).

In a ood processor, using the chop tool,

puree the dates or raisins.

Remove the chop blade and stir in hemp

seeds with wooden spoon, leaving about

one tablespoon o hemp seeds to sprinkle

on top o udge.

Scoop the entire mixture into 8x8 glass

dish and spread evenly on the bottom othe dish. Place this in the rerigerator as

you make the udge.

To make the fudge:

Pour the liqueed coconut oil and chili pep-per into the ood processor or blender andmix thoroughly.

(Remember that instead o chili, or a di-erent favor, you can use 1-inch resh gingerroot, or 4 drops lavender 100% essential oil,or orange zest, or any spice you like.)

Add the raw honey or maple syrup and

blend or mix.Slowly add the cacao powder and mix untilthoroughly blended.

Pour the udge mixture into glass dish ontop o the dates and hemp.

Sprinkle with the hemp seeds that youve setaside and chill or at least 30 minutes beoreserving.

Remove the udge rom the ridge and let itsit out and come to room temperature or 10minutes beore cutting and serving.

Hemp seeds are rich

in protein and in the

essential fatty acids.

Our bodies require

ample quantities and

ratios o these oils or

optimum regeneration.

G


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LIVING HEMP AND CILANTRO

SALAD DRESSING

Ingredients

cup raw hemp seeds

4 sprigs o cilantro

1 cups cold pressed sesame oil

1 tsp sea salt

Dash o black pepper

Instructions for Dressing

Soak the hemp seeds overnight so they

germinate; this activates the seed, making

it a living seed instead o a dormant seed.

Strain and rinse. (I like to pour the soak-

ing and rising water onto a plant or in the

garden.)

Place the rinsed hemp seeds in a blender.

Add the remaining ingredients and blend

until smooth.

Toss on any salad greens to make an in-stant abulous salad. Pour the remaining

hemp dressing into a covered glass jar and

keep it in the rerigerator.

KALE SALAD WITH DRESSING

For a delicious kale salad, take bunch o

organic kale (kale is one o the dirty dozen

o crops that are best to buy organic).

Tear the kale into pieces and de-stem.

Pour cup dressing (recipe above) on one

bunch o kale and massage into the greensor about one minute; this action is similar

to kneading bread. The kneading action

breaks down the kale (or any other brous

green such as collards), giving them the

texture o lightly steamed greens, making

dark leay greens more enjoyable to eat.

Why Make Your Own Dressing?

Bottled store bought dressings contain

cooked oils and pasteurized ingredients.

Oils that have been heated change, mo-

lecularly speaking, causing them to read in

your system more like a plastic that cant

be digested and assimilated, rather than

a healthy cold pressed oil, which digests

and assimilates with ease. Cooked oils

are injurious to our liver or this reason.

They are a toxin that is hard to process

and release, so cooked oils remain in the

system becoming rancid, causing an acidic

environment within. Making your own

salad dressings with cold pressed raw oils

is simple and provides resh living options

to enjoy over greens.

HEMP MILK IS EASY

Ingredients

1 cup raw hemp seeds

1 quart water

2 dates or 1 tbsp maple syrup

(optional sweetener)

Supplies

Nutmilk bag, Glass pitcher

Directions

Soak the seeds overnight to germinate.

Drain and rinse seeds and combine them inthe blender with resh water. Add dates or

maple syrup i you want a sweeter hemp

milk.

Blend at least a minute.

Pour the mixture rom the blender througha nutmilk bag into a glass pitcher. (The nut-milk bag strains out the seed shells, leaving

you with a beautiul hemp milk in your glasspitcher.)

What to do with the leftover hemp shells?

You can spread those hemp seed shells onyour dehydrator tray (i you have one).Sprinkle them with sea salt, and dehydrateor a crumbly hemp topping or salads.

I you have at least a cup o shells, you canmix them with one cup o dates or raisins inthe ood processor, then press into pie dishand rerigerate. Fill with my avorite pie ll-ing: blended coconut meat (rom 4 7 coco-nuts plus 1/4 cup coconut water) and 1 Tbspvanilla powder or extract. Usually it takesthe meat o 4-7 coconuts and about cupcoconut water to make the pie lling.

Or compost the shells in your yard!

CLOTHING

Rawganiques fne hemp linens

The Hempest 100% hemp dress and

vintage pant

Crocs Santa Cruz hemp shoe

Think Substance, Hemp Can Save The

Planet T-shirt

BODY CARE

The Merry Hempsters

organic lip balm

FOOD

Nutiva hemp oil

French Meadows hemp seed bread

Living Harvest Tempt Ice cream (coco-

nut lime is my avorite)

BLYTHES FAVORITEHEMP PRODUCTS:

For weekly live ood recipes, naturalbeauty treatments and the bestin eco ashion, watch Blythe RAW,Fridays at noon onBlytheRAW.com.To purchase a nutmilk bag, visit thestore at:BlytheRAW.com/store

Blythe Metz is an actress, writer, producer and a clean

ood and environmental advocate. She holds a Masters

Degree in Metaphysical Sciences and is currently earning

her PH.D in the same feld. Visit:Blythemetz.com

Carla Cummings is a certifed Ayurvedic practitioner,

Yoga and meditation Teacher, and an advocate o thehealing properties o ood, nature and devotion.

Special Thanks to Bay Cities Kitchens and Appliances,

8826 Burton Way, Beverly Hills or the use o their space.

(310) 358-8855LAYOGA

http://blytheraw.com/http://blytheraw.com/http://blytheraw.com/http://blytheraw.com/storehttp://blytheraw.com/storehttp://blythemetz.com/http://blythemetz.com/http://blythemetz.com/http://blytheraw.com/storehttp://blytheraw.com/

7/27/2019 LA Yoga 2011-06


indsay Wagner rose to prominence in

the hearts and attention o televisionaudiences in her Emmy Award-winning

portrayal o Jaime Sommers in The Bionic

Woman. She went on to make more than 40

TV movies, ve mini-series, and 12 eaturelms, and she continues to appear in cam-

eos. Along with her onscreen appearances,

she has a vivid interest in the advancement

o human potential and has always usedher voice to champion transormation and

holistic healing o mind, body, and soul. Inaddition to coauthoring a vegetarian cook-

book and other liestyle titles, she is a lie-long advocate or helping people heal rom

domestic violence and child abuse and she

has a passion or environmental protection.

For the past six years, she has been teachingworkshops designed to help people see how

to overcome their personal challenges.

Felicia Marie Tomasko: Your commitmentto growth has been a lielong area o study.

How did that begin?

Lindsay Wagner: By the time I was 19, Ihad a severe case o ulcers and gallbladder

problems and the doctors at UCLA were

suggesting surgery. My boyriends mother

was the personal secretary o Dr. Horna-day who was the co-ounder o the Church

o Religious Science with the late Ernest

Holmes (now called Centers or Spiri-tual Living). Dr. Hornaday helped me go

through a healing process that allowed me

to avoid the surgery. I was blown away by

the discovery that there was a lot we werenot learning in the mainstream. I was driven

by how I elt ater learning meditation, visu-

alization, sel-investigation, and combiningthis with prayer. I was learning to connectmuch more deeply and consciously on a

spiritual level. I was observing my mind and

saw how my thinking processes and the fow

o the lie orce coming through me, resultedin physical, mental, and emotional health or

ill health depending on my perspective. In

1969, I became an avid student o the inte-

gration o body, mind, and spirit or healthand healing; it was my passion. Sometimes

people in the entertainment industry would

say, Yeah, she just works here. Then

there was the rest o growing up, starting

relationships and my career. All o a sudden

I was a global icon and that had its chal-

lenges. There was no lack o stimulation or

growth.

In my lie, Ive been blessed with amazing

teachers. Any time I would ask the divine

to send me someone or something, a book,

person, or workshop would come. I even

nearly quit acting or a while to become a

lindsay wagnersitting down with

From the Bionic Woman tothe Quiet-Minded and Openhearted

L

In my lie, Ive been blessedwith amazing teachers Anytime I would ask the divineto send me someone orsomething,a book, person,

or workshop would come



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holistic practitioner; I studied homeopathyand helped promote the American Holis-tic Medical Association, who got in touchwith me because o the lm, The Incredible

Journey o Doctor Meg Laurel, my rsttelevision movie ater The Bionic Woman.I had worked with the writers on expand-ing an eight-page treatment into a dramatic

metaphor about what was happening inour culture between naturopaths and al-lopaths on opposite ends o the spectrum.There was a eeling as though never thetwain shall meet. This was heartbreakingto me because there are wonderul things

on both ends and we need them all.

FMT: It sounds like this project was morethan just a lm or you, that it was a way odelivering a specic message and a meansby which you could unite your acting workwith your interests in holistic health.

LW:What always interested me about lmand television is the ability to tell a story

that would not only entertain but possiblyhelp someone. For me the passion is com-munication. I am grateul or the good or-tune to have the power to choose my proj-

ects and work with the scripts to enhancethe potency o the issues being explored inthe lm. I was involved in so many true sto-ries because I love it when people transcendtheir circumstances and are growing rather

than just surviving.

FMT: Even the role or which you became

known (The Bionic Woman) was about aperson who transcended her circumstances.

LW: In that situation, I was challenging thewriters and producers to go deeper with thestories beyond the typical black and white,

good and bad cop in a skirt. I was happybecause everyone loved the challenges otrying to make complex stories work with-in the ormula o the series, even when wewere under the gun because we were the

cutting edge technology at the time, witha lot o stunts and usually only one cam-era. Our workdays were sometimes 16 or18 hours.

FMT: Seeing strong women on televisionshowed human potential and how we nd

our inner strength. It seems as though youwere able to nd a way to bring your dier-ent interests together.

LW: It was karmic. In television, they letme try things; they saw that the public likedthem, so we had the opportunity to make

movies on all sorts o topics which, up untilthen, were too controversial or TV. Itwas an interesting time in history.

FMT: That time o history has infuencedmany people today.

LW: It was a cultural revolution; it wasthe time o the women's movement butit wasn't just about women, it was about

bringing up more eminine consciousnessin our culture, seeing lie situations rom a

dierent perspective, looking at other wayso problem solving beyond just winning. Iwas glad I had the opportunity to be part o

that. It was an interesting time.

FMT: What has inspired you to step intothis role o teaching workshops?

LW: It eels like a natural transition. Ivealways been communicating my ideas

through story and now I'm just doing itmore overtly, and that was a big challenge

or me at rst. At one point, I took sometime o, gave mysel time to go more deep-ly into my spiritual studies and traveled

with my kids. Two years later, a riend whowas running a program in the LA County

Jail called Bridges to Recovery (or do-mestic violence oenders) invited me to seewhat she and her team had developed since

she knew I had been involved in public edu-cation related to domestic violence and had

done the movie Shattered Dreams about awoman who transcended her circumstancesrather than continuing to seeing hersel as

just a victim. My amily had struggled withdomestic violence and getting over the e-

ects o that was part o my own healingjourney. I thought I would visit or 20 min-

utes, but stayed all day and cried my eyesout, seeing 60 men having the passion andcourage to look at themselves, learn, and

grow in this amazing program.

It was compassionate and nonjudgmental,designed to empower people to take ull re-

sponsibility or their actions, explore theirconditioning, attitudes, and habits andlearn true orgiveness or sel and others.

They emphasized the act that we have theability to grow out o patterns that don't

serve our lie, regardless o what they are orwhat weve done in the past.

I became deeply involved with the pro-gram or six years and coounded a sup-

port group with one o the teachers or thealumni o BTR. Our goal was to give them

and their amilies a sae place to continueto grow individually and together. Oneo the techniques we used was Emotional

Freedom Technique (EFT), extremely help-ul in releasing emotional charge that wont

let you move orward. I also shared theOneness Blessing (Deeksha), a fow o en-

ergy that balances the energy o the body

and has the capacity to quiet the mind and

open the heart.

We all ght about the same things; its

just that some people don't have a saety

switch. We unravel what is blocking thesaety switch. We all have sel-esteem is-

sues, so much o the same pain and anger.

People who would come to observe the sup-

port group would say, Oh, I need to takethat program, and would ask me when we

would do one or the public, so I started do-

ing small programs in my house that grew

by word o mouth. Then someone invitedme to do a workshop in another state and it

just became viral. In the past ve years Ive

been to at least six other countries. Lately

though, Ive ound mysel becoming genu-inely interested in going back to the lm

industry. I have some stories Ive been car-

rying around or a ew years now that Id

like to get made.

Ive done a ew guest appearances on thesci- show Warehouse 13 recently where I

play the warehouse doctor and am actuallydoing some o the EFT tapping as treatment

or the characters pain. Anybody who

knows EFT would have giggled i they hadseen the show. There I am planting seeds.

FMT: What is it that you hope to communi-

cate with your work in all arenas?

LW: That we are all more amazing than we

know.

My prayer is that in one orm or another

something sparks that awakening in peoplealong with the awareness that we are all

connected at a very proound level. When

we see and experience ourselves as so sepa-rate rom everything, we limit our ability to

bring through the lie orce or to draw in

what we need or our happiness. Once wehave a sense that we are a unique expres-

sion o the whole then there is an experien-

tial knowing that the power that is driving

it all is accessible to us. That power impliesjoy and peace and creativity.

Lindsay has released her rst

meditation CD, Open to Oneness,which incorporates the OnenessBlessing. She teaches Quiet theMind & Open the Heart workshopsaround the world, including anupcoming workshop August 12-14in Palm Springs, CA. For moreinormation, visit:Lindsaywagnerinternational.comorWorkshops@lindsaywagnerinternational.com

Felicia M. Tomasko is the Editor-in-Chie o LA Yoga.

http://lindsaywagnerinternational.com/http://international.com/http://international.com/http://lindsaywagnerinternational.com/

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40/68

HEART HEALTHYoga benets people with abnormalheart rhythms

yoga therapy

The practice o yoga is known to improve many risk actors or heartdisease including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, hardening o thearteries, and stress and infammation in the body,

BY MICHAEL BLAHUT PHOTO BY HECTOR TORRES

new study presented by the American College o Cardiology

ound Yoga to be an eective therapy in the treatment o

atrial brillation. Atrial brillation is an abnormal heart rhythm

during which people experience irregular requent heart beats as a

result o the quivering, or brillation, o the atria, the upper cham-

bers o the heart. It is the most common abnormal heart rhythm,

and although it is not necessarily symptomatic, but it may result inincreased risk o stroke, chest pain, palpitations, ainting, anxiety,

and even congestive heart ailure. Pharmaceutical medications or

electrical cardioversion are current treatments. Yoga may be an-

other method o addressing the irregular heartbeat in atrial brilla-

tion. The practice o Yoga is known to improve many risk actors

or heart disease including high blood pressure, high cholesterol,

hardening o the arteries, and stress and infammation in the body,

said Dhanunjaya Lakkireddy, M.D., associate proessor o medi-

cine and director o the Center or Excellence in Atrial Fibrillation,

Cardiovascular Research Institute, Kansas City. Previous research

has showed Yoga to have many positive impacts on overall heart

health, yet this is this study is the rst to examine yoga specically

on patients with atrial brillation.

According to the research presented at the American College o

Cardiologys 60th Annual Scientic Session in April, 2011, Yoga

was ound to cut peoples episodes o atrial brillation in hal and

signicantly improve their quality o lie. The study concluded that

a consistent Yoga practice helps reduce the symptoms o irregular

heartbeat as well as decrease levels o anxiety and depression in

people who were diagnosed with atrial brillation. ACC.11 is the

premier cardiovascular medical meeting, bringing together cardi-

ologists and cardiovascular specialists to urther advances in car-

diovascular medicine.

These ndings are important because many o the current con-

ventional treatment strategies or atrial brillation include invasive

procedures or medications with undesirable side eects. Success

with these therapies varies widely, and they are oten only modestly

eective in controlling heart rhythm, Lakkireddy said. It appears

Yoga has a signicant impact on helping to regulate patients heart

beat and improves their overall quality o lie. Any intervention

that helps in reducing or controlling the arrhythmia burden in atri-

al brillation can have a huge impact on public health.

Given the low cost, saety and eectiveness o Yoga, the authors

o the study recommend that it be considered in the overall treat-

ment strategy or atrial brillation and other complex heart rhythm

disorders. For yogis and yoginis, this research is another welcomed

addition to the growing number o studies supporting the benetso their practice.

Study: Impact of Yoga on Arrhythmia Burden and Quality of Lifein Patients with Symptomatic Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation: The YogaMy Heart Study presented by Dhanunjaya Lakkireddy, M.D.

Michael Blahut is a student at the Shiatsu Massage School of California, a Smart Flow

trainee, and a friendly face behind the desk at Exhale Center for Sacred Movement.

A

LAYOGA

Photo of Dice Iida-Klein

38 LAYOGAJUNE 2011W o r l d M a g s W o r l d M a g s

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41/68JUNE 2011LAYOGA

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