MahaMondo

Lust for Lulu : New York Magazine

New York Magazine has an interesting feature on  Lululemon in this week's issue . The tag line is : " How yoga brand Lululemon turned fitness into a spectator sport. " Which pretty much reads like a Zen koan , but there is more light shone on the subject.

I had posted  from Vancouver ( birthplace of Lulu ) last Dec., that founder Chip Wilson had sold 40 % of the company to Nike for $ 108 MM.

Excerpt from the NY Mag article reads ' " According to Luluheads, tight yoga pants are a nice way of letting people know that you are spiritual & healthy , can pay $ 20- for a yoga class & are very flexible."

The object of lust for many a yogini wannabe is the belief that Lulu's pants  will make your rear end look "LIFTED " , this without having to visit Dr. Pitanguy in Brazil for his famous " Bunda Tuck" .

 Perhaps, but as can be evidenced by the many "D List cougars" at a certain donation based yoga studio in Santa Monica that tend to sport them , the excess fat / flesh that is not lifted has a nasty saddlebag " side effect ". Yup , just playing the role of the yogic witness here.

"Chip Wilson used to hire yogis as brand ambassadors, but he found they were not "UP" enough.You really need the personality of a Type A runner to move $ 98- workout pants. "

"The Lululemon Success Chakra : First piece of advice - Determine your aptitudes & turn them into money ." There is also an expose' as to fabric / fiber content ( no seaweed ) & countries of manufacture    ( China, Taiwan , etc. ) .

The blog Fired for Now sums up all the FAKERY prevalent in this Kali Yuga with , " Lululemon is pop culture's answer to wearable spirituality. You don't have to be spiritual. You don't even have to do yoga . Pull on a $ 200-+ Lululemon yoga outfit and voila - you are surrounded by an aura of FAUX ENLIGHTENMMENT ."

" In GENUINE yoga culture, it doesn't matter what you wear. All you need are 2 bare feet ..." Hari OM Tat Sat.

Maha Sadhana : Pedro de Melo Franco

Via OmDocumentario is this clip showing Pedro's Maha Sadhana incorporating Nauli KRIYA.

Pedro de Melo Franco : Bhakti Rising @ Exhale Venice

I will be joining Brazilian Yogi & Film Maker, Pedro de Melo Franco , for his 2 day workshop @ Exhale Venice . You can view excerpts from his film , " OM - A Libertacao pelo Yoga " on YouTube .

The 2 Master Classes will be held on Sat. & Sun., Aug. 1st & 2nd from 2-4 PM. Day 1 will focus on Arm Balance Flow , while Day 2 hi-lights Inversions. Arm balances and inversions develop strength , flexibility  and creativity while increasing the circulation of PRANA ( creative energy ) throughout your whole body, especially the heart center, ANAHATA CHAKRA. You will experience a full spectrum practice that will ignite your arm balances and inversions with BHAKTI ... the healing energy of the heart.

Pedro de Melo Franco first came into contact with yoga in 1992 when he deeply immersed himself in both the philosophical and physical practices of the Krishnamacharya lineage as well as several Bhakti traditions including Sivananda & Satyananda.

Based in Sao Paulo, Brazil , Pedro leads Yoga Teacher Trainings, Workshops & Kirtans ( through his band Maha Bandha ) Worldwide and is the founder of film production company, Om Productions.

* Happy Birthday to Saul David Raye , July 28th !

Ziggy Marley : Redemption Song

" Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery .." So random to chance upon Ziggy Marley singing Redemption Song at noon today, 3rd St. Promenade , Santa Monica. This just after a liberating group practice : EKA PADA BAKASANA -

Russell Simmons : Yoga Practice

Via LIMEdotcom is this segment with Oz Garcia & Russell Simmons."How does a major entertainment mogul incorporate yoga into his busy life and achieve extraordinary benefits ?" I have always found Russell "FOR REALS" as a brilliant urban entrepreneur & music man; genuine in an industry rampant with Fakes & Wannabes. His MATURE & INTEGRATED yogic path can be credited to his practice @ Jivamukti in NYC.

Walking Meditation : SFO

I'm getting reflective as I post this prior to another trip to Montecito & Santa Barbara tomorrow morning. One of the joys of the week long stay in San Francisco was the 35 minute daily walk from the Union Square area hotel to our office in SOMA   ( South of Market ).

The weather on Tuesday was in the  low 70s, almost like fall in New York , perfect walking weather. It was a MAHA opportunity to clear the cobwebs of the previous day, take everything literally in stride, step by step, breath by breath , as random thoughts, images , sights & sounds would bubble up along the way. ( Yes, I left the IPod in the hotel room ) . It has always been said that back in the classical era, EVERYTHING was YOGIC, hence the YAMAS & NIYAMAS ; and I felt that on these walks.

So it was a little mind blowing as I turned the corner on Townsend past the Adobe Software HQ , and saw this vision of a larger than life Buddha . Random sights & manifestations indeed.

Turns out , this Bodhissatva is the guardian of the Holy Grill , the source for the incredible   " Yoga Burger " ( Black bean and brown rice veggie patty, mushrooms, caramelized onions, wheat bun ) & "Nirvana Garlic Fries" ( Freshly chopped garlic, olive oil & chives ) . And on the same block , Patisserie Philippe , whose chef / owner was originally from Lenotre in Paris , and has probably the best macarons in the US , on par to those at Laduree'. Needless to say, these became my "go-to" resources for lunch last week.

Other  walking discoveries along the way for dinner were Bang San Thai Halal on Jones St., which I tried as the legendary Ananda Fuara vegetarian resto was too packed. Bang San has a vegan menu and ensures that since it is Halal, they will not try to sneak fish sauce into your food.

For a chill & low key night out , there was Bossa Nova SOMA , with its also incredible coconut rice & beet salad.The warm Carioca vibe got me thinking about another trip back to Ipa this Oct.

Cab drivers have also been another source of wisdom on these trips. It was at once heartening & inspiring to listen to the stories of a couple of them, professionals undergoing tough times ,who are taking on cab driving as a 2nd or even 3rd means to stay afloat. So admirable that they are not draining our tax dollars / benefits system & making every effort in order to move forward. Taking it one day at a time. Jai MA !

Yoga Gives Back : Yogaglo

In between the Bastille Day party @ Hotel Triton SF on Tuesday & a dinner with my rels @ Bossa Nova SOMA on Thursday, I had intended to practice at a group class. David Lurey was not in  town , so there was something called "Rocket Yoga" in a SOMA studio , which upon further research was conducted in a heated & carpeted room . Not for me.

It was with much relief that I got to practice at 2 classes in Santa Monica today and receive blessings from the teachers. The first instance was at Dice Iida Klein 's 10 AM class where he broke down the transition from TITIBHASANA to BHUJAPIDASANA. I had been struggling with this sequence on my own. The key turned out to be in the positioning of the hands behind the feet, instead of beside the feet as I had been doing.

And thank you Dice for asking the class if we wanted to open a window during Adho Mukha Vrksasana & Pincha Mayurasana. Yes, breathe !

The major blessing was @ Yoga Gives Back's 4:30 fundraiser organized by Joel Bender & Kayoko Mitsumatsu from Liberation Yoga on La Brea ( Yes, Kayoko. I will endeavor to attend Joel's Ashtanga class ) " Ancient Indians devised yoga , then shared it with the world. But while the rest of us reap the benefits of this wisdom, millions of modern day Indians struggle to survive . "

I went to honor & practice with 2 of my teachers, Ashley Turner & John Sahakian . They have consistently illuminated & inspired ; so amazing. And just like that 1st class I took with Ashley over 7 years ago, the event was a magic carpet ride of asana, pranayam, meditation & classic spirituality. It was such a gift to hear John breathe behind me during the opening sequence of the class. I don't think I will ever duplicate the ANANDA of being led & adjusted by 6 teachers , including Isabelle du Soleil  ( Thanks for the tip on the Flip Cam ) , Tara Judelle, Jo Tastula & Kishan Shah ; all to the soundtrack of DJ Drez & co-horts.

Props to Joel Bender for rocking the Sanskrit opening invocation & to Derik & Ryan Mills of Yogaglo for capturing John's MahaMondo T on Hi-Def for posterity. Hari OM.

Please visit Exhale Venice online for Ashley & John's class schedules.

 

Fitness Magazine : Complete Yoga Guide

The good folks @ Fitness Magazine sent an email in on Friday saying they think this blog is great ( MAHA ) . Thanks so much !

The magazine is currently featuring a complete guide to yoga , including videos, photos of many yoga asanas , answers to many yoga questions and more.

A couple of the videos that I am going to check out are :

Cyndi Lee / OM Yoga NYC's " Complete Yoga" Video

The Yoga for Better Sleep Poses : an 8 minute sequence of asanas that can be done in bed.

I know what it is like to be traveling or in a part of the world without access to teachers or studios. This should help others in the same predicament to get started on the path to practice.

Ordinary People : Happy Bday MK !

To my co-Cancerian , MK , who gave me the gift of wanderlust & travel. No better education and continued inspiration. Thanks so much for the call from you & GK in SF yesterday. Here are 2 of your favorites, John Legend & Stevie Wonder singing about the life " LESS ORDINARY " . As Lola used to sign off, Besos y Abrazos -

Twitter Worthless : SFO

 

I am in San Francisco this week hanging out at our SOMA office. The company's client base here is now made up of Tech industry honchos with properties in Atherton & beyond ; a marked contrast from our old guard "Energy" clients in TX & the newly wealthy Entertainment sector in LA.

So the buzz here this week was about Rupert Murdoch's confirmation in Sun Valley, ID  that he had no intention whatsoever of buying TWITTER ; basically validating what  everyone in the industry here says , and what I have always felt all along , as the Telegraph UK phrased so well . "Twitter is for Twits with Nothing Better to Do ."

There is a valid communication application for Twitter, but based on what I have seen , it is predominantly a constant barrage of "too much information" from a trivial and ego-driven perspective. Case in point being , do we really want to know you just took a nap ?

Mr. Murdoch is not interested in Facebook either. So the interest & heat here in SF is shifting towards "Invitation Only" networking sites like  ASMALLWORLD. A potential member needs 5 invitations from current members in order to join ASW. I can vouch for the effectiveness of ASW when I used it to connect & meet-up with other members in Ipanema during my last trip. 

At the end of the day, my personal agenda for networking would be communication & inspiration , hence this blog .

* To Jaimal Yogis : Stoked your book was reviewed in the London Times . Thanks for the email from Sacramento -