MahaMondo

108 Surya Namaskars :Leah Kim HK

Via Leah Kim @ Pure Yoga Hong Kong :

Hi there, brothers and sisters!

I will be participating in Hong Kong's first Yoga Aid Challenge on July15th , where I will complete 108 Sun Salutations in order to raise money for children in India. One of my main teachers from Santa Monica (and many of yours as well!) - Bryan Kest - will be one of the teachers leading us. I am so excited to practice with him here in Hong Kong, especially for such a noble cause that allows me to give back to yoga's roots.

I would be so grateful for your support, be it in the form of a donation, a prayer, a note, or just a little extra love through the ether. If you are able to make a donation, you can easily do so through PayPal. Any amount is greatly appreciated, and 100% of your donation will go to the charity.

Big thanks and big love,
Leah ( www.everydayhero.com.au/Leah-Kim )

La Lulu : Acroyoga en Tayrona

Another riff on the theme of South American travel is this MAHA Acro Yoga vid of " La Lulu" & Agustin Aguerreberry shot in Parque Tayrona, Colombia. Lulu had sent an invite to a retreat she was conducting last year there. Now that I have a visual of the beaches , a visit with Lulu in Tayrona is def on the radar -

Simplesmente Yoga : H3otv Brazil

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

Nirvana Gavea : Muito Maneiro

Muito maneiro : Very cool in Carioca ( Rio ) Portugese. I hung out last weekend with a friend who has lived in Rio, Niteroi ,to be specific. His expertise in Carioca speak & its most up to date slang , the aforementioned MANEIRO vs.the old school LEGAL , is invaluable prep for my upcoming visit to Ipanema in December.

It was then very maneiro to be able to decipher the website of Nirvana Gavea Wellness Center. The Center houses several yoga & Pilates studios ,an organic cafe ' + retail in the confines of the Jockey Club. Classes in Mysore Ashtanga , Vinyasa, Iyengar & Meditation with various instructors are all listed online. The studios look amazing, with their  outdoor gardens & views of Corcovado. Apparently , the classes are taught in Portugese , perhaps the asanas are called in Sanskrit just like they do in Spain ? I'm looking forward to practicing there.

Some of the other places I am planning to hang out in are Posto 9 ( on the beach right in front of the hotel ,hah) , Foresta de Tijuca & 00 /ZeroZero , for the best Brazilian DJs .And celebrating Reveillon / Festa de Iemanja (NewYear's Eve) -

I Love Yoga :Yoga Bus

Got this update from Mosi of I Love Yoga Miami as I was settling into the hotel in Houston Wednesday PM :

"Hey the I Love Yoga bus is on the road with the Yoga Health Festival wrapped up. It's rocking Brother MAHA. Yayhhh! "

And via "Live to Love, Love to Live " , is a cool update to accompany the ILY image re the Yoga Bus in Tel Aviv :

"I read a story about a new attempt in Isreal to keep frenzied and stress commuters calm. Now, when you get on some buses in Tel Aviv, you’ll be greeted by a yoga instructor with a microphone. And, while riding on the bus, you’ll be instructed on how to properly breathe and stretch in ways that will relieve stress!

You of course are not required to participate, but the bus has been running for 3 weeks now and most of the passengers choose to do the exercises. Many say they are much more relaxed and ready for their jobs now, when arriving at work. Others say than can rest easier at night.

As I considered this story, it seemed a little silly. But more and more it made great sense. Take a minute to go out in this world and just watch people running around. It is a rat race! We are literally running everywhere we go. There is no leisure time, no relaxation. I think if we were forced to take a few minutes each day and slow it all down, things WOULD be better." OM SHANTI -

Miami Life Center : Kino MacGregor

I am really feeling the energy of Miami's Yoga Scene. Here is a vid from Kino MacGregor of Miami Life Center talking about the practice of yoga as an OPENING towards a better life -

International Yoga Festival:Pondicherry

Via YogaYatra is this GROOVY clip promoting the recently concluded festival in MOTHER INDIA. Entitled "How to Stretch Life to Its Limits", the vid shows the confluence between the traditional & modern , East meets West. I have been enjoying the vibe of the gent reading the "Indian Express" while effortlessly ensconced in DWI PADA SIRSASANA; all the while rocking it to a drum & bass track-

Darlene d'Arezzo : Prana Tokyo & Joshua Tree

It was good to finally catch-up (and, exchange gifts and eat, eat, eat! *** I can still remember the look on the face of  the bartender as she saw us inhale all the veggie food @ Buddha's Belly. And my look when I saw the coconut tapioca pudding had evaporated into thin air, heh heh : MM )!

I had just gotten in from hosting my annual (and, sold out, btw) family yoga/rock climbing/camping retreat, Yoga Rocks!, when you called.  This year, we had an Easter egg hunt in the rocks and through the campsite .

The I Love Yoga /MahaMondo tee fits perfectly -- it's a snug, comfy fit -- obviously designed for a woman's body.  It's also so soft.  I love it -- maha thanks again!

I know you asked for a tee from my travels to Prana Power Yoga Studio.  But, they did not have any men's shirts in stock.  Naomi (PPYS's owner) thought you might like the eco-bag instead. 
As for my time there, it was AMAZING and I'm loking forward to returning.  Naomi was so gracious and generous.  I fell in love with all my students, big and small. 

Maha blessings,
Darlene

Darlene D'Arezzo
Founder and Director
Santa Monica, CA 90404
www.kidsyogacircle.com

Top of the World : Ananda

This is what materializes when there is a convergence of top flight architects , designers , contractors & most importantly , investors.  The "dream team" comes up with an amazing sanctuary/ Mediterranean custom retreat on 5  hilltop acres in Montecito. What  a sight for sore eyes after being subjected to many an overpriced & cheesed out "McMansion Royale" in Orange County & Dallas the past couple of months. My personal taste is contemporary , but this place is timeless.

I was thinking about the disconnect between the OC & Santa Barbara as I drove up  via the 101 to the site in the rain this morning. SB, & Montecito most especially has SOUL & RASA. The OC reeks of new drywall, botox & "BUMMERS" aka HUMMERS.

The image above via RE Luxury Retreats is of the Western facing elevation , by the open  loggia; perfect for sunset URDHVA HASTASANA or meditating when the cloud cover rolls in. As with most estates in Montecito, this one is tagged "Top of the World"  en Espanol. In my book, it should be called  'ANANDA".

Ananda @ $ 25MM !

Teresa Herrera : Sacred Water Retreat

"T" sent this flyer in via email a couple of weeks back . She is conducting a Yoga / Dive retreat  off  the Palawan Reefs in the Philippines this May.

It was around this time last year that she had mentioned this as one of her plans for 2008 ; and it has come to fruition.

Growing up in the Philippines, my best  memories have been of weekend & holiday trips to the beaches. The most amazing ones though involved stays on islands owned by friends ,  memorably one flying by private jet into FUGA ISLAND , on the more northern & remote reaches of the archipelago . Giant manta rays casting shadows over you in the water , and coconut crabs shoved into the bedding as a practical joke. What a trip that was -

The  beaches of the outer islands of the Philippines make Bali & Hawaii look second rate. Tubbataha , where Teresa is hosting her retreat, is one of the last southern frontiers.

*** And here's a TO THE POINT explanation as to why newbies should lose the WATER BOTTLE during class:

"Yoga is about building PRANA, the energy of fire and vitality," says Kripalu's Jeff Migdow. "If you stop to drink water during yoga, you dampen prana," he explains.