MahaMondo

Enlighten Up ! : Yoga Movie Trailer

A filmmaker is determined to prove that YOGA CAN TRANSFORM ANYONE. Her plan: select a subject, immerse him in yoga and follow him until he finds a practice that transforms him. Her subject: Nick Rosen a skeptical, 29 year-old journalist living in New York City. Before he can say OM, Nick finds himself twisted up like a pretzel surrounded by celebrity yogis, true believers, kooks and entrepreneurs. The more he investigates yoga the more contradictions he discovers, straying further from Kate's plan. They circle the globe talking to MYSTICS, GURUS,MADMEN & SAINTS searching for the true meaning of yoga, encountering things they never could have imagined. They don't find the answers to their questions, they find much more. www.enlightenupthefilm.com

Rang de Basanti : Ek Onkar (Slow Jungle Mix)

This is a clip from the Hindi film Rang de Basanti with a scene shot @ the Golden Temple in Amritsar. I like DJ Krazy's Jungle Mix of the mantra EK ONKAR -

Simplesmente Yoga : H3otv Brazil

This clip is from the DVD "Simplesmente Yoga" produced by Marco Schultz & H30tv Brazil. www.simplesmenteyoga.com.br

Aras Baskauskas : Yoga for Health & Wellness

Been about 3 years now since the Baskauskas brothers, Vytas & Aras , inherited the Saturday & Sunday noon classes @ SMPY from Marc Lewis & Matt Crowder.

Aras went on to win Survivor and to hosting the monthly Yoga Potluck event with Psalm Isadora. Vytas B.has tendered & soldiered on with the burgeoning Saturday & Sunday slots. So it was MAHA to see Aras @ Vytas B.'s class today ; with both brothers rocking  full on Grizzly Adams beards. They must be the only Santa Monica born & bred FRATERNAL yoga teacher act on record. I am blessed to have studied with both of them.

TRP Yoga has released Aras' DVD , "Yoga for Health & Wellness", for the benefit of folks who can't make it to his new classes @ Tru Yoga in Santa Monica on Tuesdays & Thursdays , 7:15 to 8:45 PM.

My OG teacher of all time , Marc Lewis, also has a DVD release with TRP. Aras is still the same gentle guy that I met several years back. It is encouraging to know that some things will remain consistent ; that I'll still be able to practice & learn with the Baskauskas bros in the years to come.

Check out the newly relaunched Yogamates site for a vid of Vytas & Aras B.demoing asana -

YYoga Movie / Now Available & MahaMondo Ts

" After 9-11, upset,not knowing what to do, I left my office in the middle of the day and wandered into a yoga class. This initiated a journey which has forever changed my life."

Film maker Arthur Klein's YYoga, an American Yogic Journey, pre-release LTD. Edition is now available. Please email : Arthur@yyogamovie.com for details.

Thanks for the screener copy Arthur, MAHA bumping into you before Bryan Kest's class last Sunday. Just like Arthur, 9-11 was the catalyst for my personal voyage with yoga. We also share the amazing Ashley Turner, as one of our OG teachers, from 6years back.

My teachers have been the key to maintaining focused & balanced on this path. There was a sense of fulfillment in being able to gift ASHLEY TURNER , VYTAS BASKAUSKAS & JEROME MERCIER with the 1st production runs of the MahaMondo T by I LOVE YOGA. Big ups pranam -

What would you do to show appreciation to your teachers?

Acro Yoga with I Love Yoga Part 2

Here is Tamara from ILY with a Crash Test Dummy @ their booth in Century City. The dynamics of Acro Yoga is akin to a relationship with a principal teacher. It involves TRUST & SURRENDER. ( And a good dose of HUMOR) With roots in Thai Yoga, Acrobatics & more, AY gives one the sensation of carving through air. Would you relinquish control in order to be weightless?

YYoga Movie Vinyasa Exclusive

Big thanks to Arthur K. for this exclusive , fresh new clip from the film. Dave Stringer & Shiva Rea are featured along with a track from Rara Avis. VINYASA when practiced fluidly & as my teacher describes it " like a surfer rides the wave " is a MAHA metaphor for living.

Arthur Klein : YYoga Movie Interview

Here's a short interview with film maker Arthur Klein as he was working on the rendering & final cut of his yogic SADHANA : YYOGA. You can obtain more details as to an upcoming release date via www.yyogamovie.com .

Cyndi Lee : Monthly Yoga DVD Shoot

Inspite of the chills ( an impending flu picked up from tramping around a damp Newport Coast Thurs. ) , I headed downtown this afternoon as promised to the good folks @ www.monthlyyogadavd.com. Cyndi Lee of OM Yoga NYC ( www.omyoga.com) was in town to shoot a series of vids. I was booked for the INTERMEDIATE Level classes. Cyndi's style is best described as "a juicy blend of flowing yoga asanas informed by precise attention to alignment & supported by the relaxed mindfulness of Buddhist mindfulness meditation." Which is an interesting take as majority of the more traditional studios evoke Hindu etymology. She also has a NY'ers "for reals" & humorous take on practice; it's an interactive experience. There were 2 shoots , the first an Open/ All Levels format and the second as an Advanced /Restorative. A couple of the other participants in the shoot were instructors, Daniel from Tru Yoga & Joseph from Equinox Sunset. So it was an opportunity for all to learn. I really liked her attention to adjustments & alignment including the backstories provided for them. At her studio, class attendance is limited in order to provide this attention. After the shoot, Adjustment & Alignment proficiency is another criteria I will look at when practicing in a teacher's class. Om Yoga in Union Square was voted " Best of NY 2007" by New York Magazine. Thanks & much love Cyndi-

Transform Yourself with Jivamukti Yoga :Trailer

Here's a trailer from Sharon Gannon & David Life's new DVD. For those who haven't made it to one of their classes in NYC, this will communicate the RASA of their vinyasa & lifestyle approach towards transformation.