LA YOGA

AYURVEDIC
RECIPES
FOR SPRING
RENEWAL 5
STEPS
BEST OF TO HAPPY
EXPO WEST FEET
EDITORS
CHOICE EARTH
2018 DAY
MALIBU
YOGA STRAW
BLOCKS INITIATIVE
PROP UP
YOUR SHAKTI
PRACTICE FEST
JOSHUA
TREE
FINE
TUNING
HANDS ON
ASSISTS
SPRING SPA AND

FASHION
WELLNESS
TOTAL
FOOT

TRENDS HEALTH

APRIL 2018 LAYOGA.COM

 28
LA YOGA AY U R V E D A A N D H E A L T H

APRIL 2018

f e at u r e s

28 28
S pr i ng Fas h ion

WEBSITE EXCLUSIVES Wellness Official Founder Millana Snow shares

6 More on LAYoga.com outdoor looks that will inspire you to take your
practice to the streets.
COMMUNITY
8 Behind the Scenes
12 #MarchAgainstStraws
14 Calendar of Events
16 Retreats & Festivals
36
Adj u st i ng Han d s - On Adj u st m e n ts
20 Expo West
As yoga teachers continue to refine the art
W E L L N E SS / AYURVEDA of assisting, it’s time to fine-tune hands-on
18 Ayurvedic Food For Spring adjustments.
24 5 Practices to Support

18 Healthy Feet
26 Spa Treatments
For Happy Feet on the cover
Millana Snow, Founder of LA YOGA
40 H OT L I ST
40 Prop Up Your Practice
Wellness Official
Wellnessofficial.co
@millanasnow
AYURVEDIC
RECIPES
FOR SPRING
RENEWAL
STEPS
5
7 Reasons to Use Yoga Blocks @wellnessofficial BEST OF
EXPO WEST
TO HAPPY
FEET
EDITORS
CHOICE EARTH
Millana is wearing 2018
YOGA
DAY
MALIBU
STRAW
I N E V E RY I SS U E clothing by 2XU BLOCKS
PROP UP
YOUR
INITIATIVE
SHAKTI
2xu.com
44 Media Reviews PRACTICE FEST
JOSHUA
TREE

46 Where to Go Shoes by Skechers FINE

TUNING
skechers.com HANDS ON
ASSISTS
48 Astrology SPRING SPA AND

FASHION
WELLNESS
Photo by TOTAL
FOOT
David Young-Wolff
Davidyoung-wolff.com
TRENDS HEALTH

APRIL 2018 LAYOGA.COM

Read LAYOGA.com for exclusive content

EDITOR’S NOTE

Front Row L-R: Karen Henry and Jane Kok. Back Row L-R: Nancie Rooney, Felicia Tomasko,
Millana Snow, Venius Adams, David Young-Wolff. Photo by David Young-Wolff

L
ife is full of moments that are characterized by subtle synchronicity as well as
opportunities for us to recognize the impacts of patterns and when needed, change
them. Celebrating Earth Day offers us the opportunity to examine these patterns
and make shifts to support sustainability. We can think about sustainability in
terms of our relationship with the larger ecosystem in which we live as well as the
micro-ecosystems of our health and our own energy.
While working on this month’s fashion feature story, Wellness Official founder, Reiki healer, and
synchronicity lover Millana Snow and I spoke about the importance of integrating energy work during
meditation as well as for self-care throughout the day. Millana said, “Energy work is a major part of ‘the
work’ and doing the work is a daily practice. Our chakras and our aura can be easily affected by our
daily life. So it is important for us to spend time daily to intentionally clear and reorganize our energy.”
This practice of being intentionally clear, of reorganizing our energy is something that we can apply
to our practice, as both a student and a teacher. Yoga Teacher Sarah Ezrin offers her perspective on
the discussion of yoga teachers and hands-on adjustments and assists. This is a relevant conversation
in the context of injuries, in the context of how far we push ourselves and each other in practice, and
how we cultivate what sustainability really means every time we step onto the mat. Every practice and
every adjustment can be an opportunity to practice ease and only go as far as necessary for self-care.
How we literally support ourselves with a prop like a yoga block can be what helps us find our inner
sweet spot in our quest for self-care. As yoga practice continues to spread throughout our modern
culture, people are continuing to create innovations in design and materials.
Material also matters in everyday objects like a straw. As we celebrate Earth Day, we can question
our need for using a disposable straw. This year, Malibu joins the rank of municipalities who are dis-
rupting our trash-intensive lifestyle of convenience by banning single-use plastic straws. Compostable
and recyclable straws such as bamboo or paper are becoming more common as well as options such as
reusable stainless steel. Take the pledge in your own life and #RefusetheStraw.
In every area of our lives, searching for the more sustainable option can help us to build our resilience,
develop greater strength, and be powerful caretakers of our internal and external ecosystems.
This spring, may we uplift ourselves, each other, and the energy we share on Earth.

Felicia Tomasko

4 L AYOG A .CO M
WEBSITE EXCLUSIVES

more on layoga.com
Instagram Takeover
with Jamie Mok
@the_yogini_rd
Join us on the @layogamagazine
IG April 14-15 for a takeover by
Jamie Mok @the_yogini_rd.
Jamie Mok, MS, RD, RYT is a
Los Angeles-based dietitian/nutritionist,
and yoga teacher. She completed her
200 hour yoga teacher training at Purple
Yoga in Long Beach, where she teaches
weekly classes. In addition, Jamie is a
full-time clinical dietitian at Long Beach The Healing Power
Memorial Medical Center where she of Sound
practices nutrition therapy with patients The third UCLA Conference on Integrative
dealing with a wide range of conditions Medicine in April, 2018 will focus on the
including cancer, gastrointestinal diseas- Healing Power of Sound. We spoke with
es, and traumatic injuries complicated conference organizer Dr Helen Lavretsky
by surgeries and chronic illnesses. She’s about her personal experience with Kundalini
also a nutrition coach for the mobile app Rise, supporting clients meeting their personal health goals. Yoga, her love of the gong, and her experience
When not counseling clients, Jamie is on her yoga mat developing her personal practice, in with sound healing. Read more at: layoga.com.
the kitchen whipping up something fresh, or exploring the LA restaurant and food scene. Jamie Register for the conference at: https://www.
advocates for an integrative approach to health and wellness though the practice of mindfulness, semel.ucla.edu/integrativementalhealth
meditation and intuitive eating. She believes that when we are well, we are more likely to fulfill
responsibilities, achieve goals and live our best life.
Look for her tips, recipes, and behind-the-scenes hacks for a healthy life on the @layogamagazine Stop Time
IG April 14-15. in Nature
Nature is our guiding
light when it comes to
Get a Good Night’s Sleep: cycles and rhythms.
10 Ayurvedic Sleep Rituals Step outside and
To ensure that spend some quiet time
your beauty in nature. Even if a
sleep game is on public park or a back
lock, Ayurveda lawn of an office park
has some healthy is all you can access.
nighttime rituals Read on www.layoga.com more of
to help your Dr. Pedram Shojai’s instructions for how
body and mind spending a few minutes in nature can help you
unwind, relax, relax and even be the person you want to be.
and let-go before drifting off into dreamland. layoga.com/practice/meditation/nature-is-
Try these 10 Ayurvedic Sleep Rituals. the-ultimate-teacher/
la.events.yoga/magazine/top-10-ayurvedic-
Lives Well Lived Opens in sleep-rituals.html
LA on April 20
In this heartwarming and inspiring feature-
length documentary, filmmaker Sky Bergman Go Within to Live a Joyful Life
relates stories from 40 people aged 75 to 100 Are you stressed out? If you’re like most people, the answer is “yes.”
years old. Their varied voices share secrets While the vast majority of us seek solace in activities that distract us
for living a meaningful life. One of the people from anxiety, the world’s oldest wisdom traditions tell us that the
Sky interviewed is beloved yoga teacher only way out is in. This is how we find our path to a joyful life.
Emmy Cleaves. Read our review online at In other words, the key to optimal well-being may be to sit with
layoga.com. anxious sensations and actually feel them. From there, the question
On April 20, Lives Well Lived opens in then becomes: Why am I stressed out in the first place? According
Santa Monica, Encino, Pasadena, Laguna to Sadhguru, founder of the Isha Foundation and one of the world’s
Nigel, and Palm Desert as well as other cities leading authorities on yoga and meditation, it isn’t life’s situations
nationwide. Learn more about showtimes at: that cause our stress; it’s our inability to cope with them.
lives-well-lived.com layoga.com/practice/meditation/finding-path-joyful-life/

6 L AYOG A .CO M
CHANGE
YOUR LIFE
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mind and enter the domain of the soul, the place
of the gods? To embark on a healing journey in
which the mystery teachings of the Medicine
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Make a difference in your world, call today and

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thefourwinds.com
CONTRIBUTORS
We asked a selection of this month’s contributors the following question:
What is your plan for outdoor fitness this spring?
Karen Henry
Production Assistant
Although assisting during a photo
shoot is quite a workout, I’m plan-
ning to take advantage of Mam-
moth's late season precipitation to
go snowboarding!
Behind the Scenes food courtesy of:
Hippeas Organic Chickpea Puffs
hippeas.com
Sea Snax Seaweed Snacks
seasnax.com
Eternal Naturally Alkaline Spring Water
eternalwater.com
8 L AYOG A .CO M
David Young-Wolff Jane Kok
Photographer Photographer’s Assistant
Davidyoung-wolff.com @unagijane
@davidyoungwolff
I plan on riding my bike and This spring I really want to start
hiking in Southern California and rock climbing outdoors. I love
Oregon with my wife Pam and my indoor climbing, but I am looking
dog Coby. forward to being out in nature as
much as possible.
Nancie Rooney
Makeup Artist
nancierooneymakeup.com
@nancierooneymakeup
My favorite outdoor activity in the
spring is hiking. Living in Los Angeles,
I have many beautiful hiking options
and the added benefit of sitting in
Millana Snow
Millanasnow.com
@millanasnow
@wellnessofficial
Surfing! I started surfing two sum-
mers ago and am looking for an
instructor to help me work on my
skills so I can hit the bigger waves.
silence or meditation. With recent
rain, the views on the hiking trails are
spectacular.
Venius Adams
Stylist
Venius.net
@turbansbyvenius
I would like to resume my morning
walks by the Ocean. For 20 years, I
would run five miles per day and I miss
that exhilaration. I would also like to
ride a bike more especially through
the Marina, Venice, and even Santa
Monica. Oh, and there’s also yoga on
the Santa Monica Pier and outdoor
yoga at Treasure Island Park in front of
the Montage in Laguna Beach.
 with Sadhguru

Long Beach Convention Center

April 21-22, 2018

Establish clarity, health & joy in your life.

Inner Engineering imparts practical wisdom and powerful yogic practices
to manage your body, mind, emotions and the fundamental energy within.
You learn a powerful 21 minute practice called Shambhavi Mahamudra Kriya,
a purifying energy technique using the breath.
For ages 14 and above, no physical agility
These programs are CME & CE accredited
or prior knowledge of yoga is required.

“As there is a technology to create external wellbeing, there is a whole

dimension of science and technology to create inner wellbeing.”

Participants Say ↓ 90% Anxiety

Inner Engineering
↓ 95% Depression
“…is an enlightening experience…”
↓ 84% Insomnia
“…gave me the wisdom
to live happily…” ↓ 90% Headaches / Migraines
“…helped me align with ↓ 73% Digestive Disorders
the true purpose of life…”
Percentage of participants reporting
benefits with regular practice

InnerEngineering.com
This is an advanced level program - The prerequisite is completion of
Inner Engineering Online, which can be done in the convenience of your home.
 LA YOGA AY U R V E D A A N D H E A L T H

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF PUBLISHER
Felicia M. Tomasko, RN Douglas R. Corbett

CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Bree M. Montanarello

ASSOCIATE EDITORS NATIONAL ACCOUNTS MANAGERS

Susan Currie Assia Alimbekova
Julie Devi Hale assia@blissnetwork.com
Karen Henry (310) 435-6490
Mickey Hightower
Jane S. Abram
COPY EDITOR jane@blissnetwork.com
Cheyanne Sweet (323) 684-8632
ASSISTANT EDITORS Kim Becker
Tiffany Caronia kim@blissnetwork.com
Joy Tomasko (310) 486-7693
SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER Gloria Biscardi
Shayne Ebrahimi gloria@blissnetwork.com
310-702-8127
NEWSLETTERS
& E-COMMERCE Abigail McPherson
Nancy C. Xu abigail@blissnetwork.com
Mickey Hightower (323) 403-8982

STAFF WRITERS
Serena Deeb Kelly Dunn Natalie Macam Laurie Searle
Amy V. Dewhurst Marja Lankinen Dale Nieli

CONTRIBUTORS
Venius Adams Suzanne Gilberg-Lenz Siva Mohan Jeff Skeirik
Francesca Aster Madi Giordano Jamie Mok Dianne Slick
Oliver Barth Tracy Griffiths Aria Morgan Sam Slovick
Shiva Baum Zoe Helene Julie Morris Dean Sluyter
Gauri Brienda-Ramnath Kate Hinkens Kristin Olson Rebecca Smith
Julie Carmen Hoffman Susan Hornik Tiffany Palazzini Millana Snow
Ellette Craddock Jeannie Jeffries Jeff Perlman Dawn Sorenson
Hannah Currie Elise Joan Julie Pilat Robert Sturman
Kimberly D’Alelio De Jur Jones Jasmine Rasuch Sachin Sudra
Ben Decker Joe Kara Lori Rischer Daisy Swan
Cheryl Depp Marina Kay Lorin Roche Jenn Tarrant
Mark Devenpeck Tai Kerbs Sarit Rogers Jennifer Taylor
Sarah Ezrin Kiara Kinghorn Nancie Rooney Sarah Tomlinson
Brett Fleisher Jane Kok Sahara Rose Alisha Shakti Vasquez
Grace Flowers Zoe Kors Kathleen Ross-Allee Leanne Wood
Carrie Gabriel Mara Saranpreet Luthane McKenna Rowe Bekah Wright
Guy Gabriel Andrea Marcum Joy Santos Dagmarette Yen
Tricia Gahagan Abigail McPherson Jennifer Schultz David Young-Wolff
Sam Geppi Shana Meyerson Nikki Sharp Pam Young-Wolff
Scott Mitchell Monica Simone

LA YOGA Magazine is published by Bliss Network LLC

LA Yoga® and Find Bliss® are Registered Trademarks of Bliss Network, LLC™
1234 26th Street, Santa Monica, CA 90404
Ph: 310-828-8218 Fax: 888-235-3077
layoga.com / layoga-digital.com
PRIN T ED IN LOS A N GELES

10 L AYOG A .CO M
COMMUNITY // EARTH DAY
Just Say No To Plastic Straws
Why #MarchAgainstStraws
by Madi Giordano
I
n the US alone, 500 million plastic
straws are used every day. That repre-
sents enough straws to wrap around
the Earth 2.5 times. These straws take more
than 200 years to decompose and are rarely
recyclable. They have become an epidemic
littering oceans, streets, forests, and other
natural lands. Our excessive use of straws
causes the death of over one million seabirds
and 100,000 marine animals annually. (This
research was compiled by the campaign #one-
lessstraw created by the nonprofit One More
Generation.)
Many communities and organizations have
begun initiatives to address this problem. This
includes coordinating beach cleanups. In addi-
tion, entire cities (including Malibu, San Luis
Obispo, David, Seattle, and Fort Myers) are
enacting laws against restaurants distributing
plastic straws unless requested. These initiatives
have a worldwide impact.
Through Green Foresters, I decided to
motivate people to join the movement with
#MarchAgainstStraws. This campaign chal-
lenged people to go without using a plastic
12 L AYOG A .CO M
straw throughout the month of March. People
from all over the world participated. This push
helped people implement refusing straws into
their lifestyle. My hope is to encourage people
to make refusing plastic straws a habit for life.
I urge you to implement this practice too!
It is so simple. When going to a bar, restau-
rant, smoothie shop, or anywhere you would
be issued a straw, simply ask, “Can I have a
______ please, with no straw?” You will find
people are usually receptive and love to ask
about the movement. If you enjoy drinking
out of a straw, choose a reusable option and
carry it with you. Reusable straws made from
a variety of materials are available including
stainless steel, bamboo, glass, and silicone.
My personal favorite is stainless steel--it
makes everything a little more refreshing.
Refusing straws is a simple action with a
huge impact.
Madi Giordano is the Founder of Green Foresters:
https://greenforesters.com
(Source of facts: https://get-green-now.com/environ-
mental-impact-plastic-straws/)
Malibu Bans Plastic Straws
During the February 26 meeting, the Malibu
City Council voted to prohibit the sale, distri-
bution, and use of single-use plastic straws and
cutlery within the City of Malibu.
“Malibu is a leader in environmental
protections, and we’ve made great progress in
addressing plastic pollution, including bans on
plastic bags, plastic sandbags, and polystyrene
foam,” Mayor Rick Mullen said. “We are now
adding plastic straws, stirrers and cutlery to
the list of plastic pollution that we will stop
at the source so it doesn’t reach our beaches
and the open ocean. The ocean, beaches, and
natural surroundings are a central part of life
in Malibu, and we are absolutely committed to
keeping them clean for ourselves, our children,
and their children in the future.”
This legislation goes into effect on June 1,
2018. Learn more at: malibucity.org
Sustainable Straw Giveaways
Stop by Malibu City Hall during office hours
to pick up #KeepitCleanMalibu branded reus-
able steel straws. Post on social media using
the hashtags #MalibuForAStrawlessOcean and
#KeepitCleanMalibu.
Malibu will also provide a box of envi-
ronmentally safe #KeepitCleanMalibu paper
straws to area restaurants.
Visit Pepperdine University’s Healthy Planet,
Healthy You Sustainability and Wellness Fair
on Tuesday, April 10 from 11am-2pm at the
campus Mullin Town Square. Celebrate an
early Earth Day and receive reusable steel
smoothie straws with brush cleaners from
Malibu’s Environmental Sustainability Team.
Learn more at: pepperdine.edu/Climate-Calling
Straw Reduction Initiative Worldwide
A number of organizations, businesses, and
individuals are taking on the challenge to find
alternatives to single-use plastic straws. You
can take the #SurfriderPledge or commit to
using less plastic at: onelessstraw.org. Other
trending hashtags include #refusethestraw and
campaigns from the organization @5gyres
and the initiative from @oceanfriendlyres-
taurants are gaining traction. It’s even gone
mainstream. Bacardi, the world’s largest
spirit company, has implemented an in-house
program removing plastic straws and stirrers
at company events.
YogiRu collaborates with independent
artists to create bold & bright legging designs.

Photography: Jordan Anast

Leggings: Highway to Love

Made in California

L AYOGA .COM 13
COMMUNITY // CALENDAR
APRIL EVENTS
> INNER ENGINEERING COMPLETION PROGRAM 4/21-4/22
CANNABLISS RETREATS
4/19-24
This legal cannabis vacation retreat
unites wellness, yoga, creativity,
relaxation, education, ceremonies,
energy medicine, introspection, and
420 celebrations. Guests will also
receive proprietary KANNA-KARE
certification with facts about
cannabinoid medicine.
Prices vary. Malibu Estate
cannablissretreats.com
MANTRA--SOUNDS INTO
SILENCE FILM
OPENS 4/6
Mantra is an award-winning docu-
mentary covering the worldwide
kirtan and chanting movements.
It profiles musical luminaries and
sound healing pioneers and experts.
Premieres in LA at the Laemmle
Santa Monica.
Mantramovie.com
KIDS YOGA DAY
4/6
* 3:30-4:30PM
Celebrate International Kids’ Yoga
Day with free yoga taught by The
ABCs of Yoga for Kids author
Teresa Power. Gift bags for first
50 kids.
Free. Palisades Park & Rec Center,
851 Alma Real Dr, Pacific Palisades
Kidsyogaday.com
14 L AYOG A .CO M
THE HEALING POWER
OF SOUND
4/7-4/8
* 9AM-5:30PM
Learn about the health effects of
sound and music therapy in these
interactive workshops and lectures
while practicing techniques utilized
in treatment and prevention of
mental and physical disorders.
$50/day discounts avail.
UCLA Semel Institute, C-Floor
Auditorium (C8-183) www.semel.
ucla.edu/integrativementalhealth
SAT NAM FEST JOSHUA TREE
4/11-4/15
Kundalini Yoga and Music combine
in this deep dive into spiritual and
meditative practice supported by
community. Explore 21 stages of
meditation with Krishna Kaur and
Nirvair Singh.
Joshua Tree Retreat Center
satnamfest.com/west
BENEVOLENCE PRESENTS
KYOSHI & DTO
4/13
* 8:30-11:30PM
J Brave hosts the album launch
party for DTO and Kiyoshi of
Buddha Music Group. Heather
Hoffman leads sound healing activa-
tion before a powerful sonic journey
through the 7 chakras.
$22/adv. Mandala,
719 Broadway, Santa Monica
Mandalacenter.us
List your own events and sign up for our events
newsletter at: la.events.yoga.
YOGA AND AYURVEDA
FOR ALLERGIES
4/14
* 2-4:30PM
Ayurvedic Practitioner, Chef, and
Yoga Therapist Jeff Perlman leads
a discussion and practices to ad-
dress seasonal and other allergies
through techniques including daily
routine, detoxification, herbs, yoga,
pranayama, and more.
$35. Live Yoga Wellness,
6700 W 83rd St, LA
Liveyogawellness.com
2-DAY IMMERSION
W/SRI SRI RAVI SHANKAR
4/14-4/15
* 10AM-4PM
Noted teacher and humanitarian
Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar will
offer “Unveiling Infinity,” a direct
experience with ancient text (Vigyan
Bhairav) with its secret techniques of
inner awakening and awareness.
$295-495. Art of Living Center, LA
ArtofLivingLA.org
LIFE OF YOGANANDA
BOOK LAUNCH
4/15
* 3-4:30PM
Join Life of Yogananda author Phil
Goldberg for this tribute to the life
and legacy of influential yogi Para-
mahansa Yogananda, who penned
the classic Autobiography of a Yogi.
Free w/pre-registration. Tantris Yoga,
9200 Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood
Tantris.com
IMAGINE FEST
4/21
* 11AM-7:30PM
Proceeds from this one-day
conscious festival support the
nonprofit Unlikely Heroes. Includes
yoga practice, live music, art, local
vendors, food trucks, farm-to-table
picnic lunch and youth program by
Peace Guardians.
Peter Strauss Ranch, Malibu
ImagineYogaMusic.com
INNER ENGINEERING
COMPLETION PROGRAM
4/21-4/22
This weekend is a unique opportu-
nity to learn the life-transforming
and joyful practice of Shambhavi
Mahamudra Kriya directly from
Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev in a sup-
portive community of meditators.
$500. Long Beach Convention and
Entertainment Center, Long Beach
innerengineering.com/SadhguruLive
REIKI LEVEL 1 ATTUNEMENT
4/21
* 11AM-6PM
Learn to channel universal energy
to heal yourself, others, and the
planet. Receive attunement and
Reiki 1 certification.
$200-225. Liberate Hollywood,
6365 Selma Ave, Hollywood
Turnyourshineon.com
Liberatehollywood.com
LOOKING FOR LIGHTNING
4/21
* 6:30PM
This one-man show written by Garth
McLean and directed by Kerrie Blais-
dell tells Garth’s courageous story
of being diagnosed with multiple
sclerosis and traveling India to study
with BKS Iyengar.
By donation. BKS Iyengar Yoga
Association of LA,
1835 South La Cienega Blvd, Ste. 240
IYILA.org
Lookingforlightning.com
AGAPE’S REVELATION 2018
4/27-4/29
The Agape Spiritual Center com-
munity led by Reverend Michael
Beckwith is joined by teachers
including Joe Dispenza, Lisa
Nicols, and more for meditation,
life visioning, health, wellness, arts,
and music.
Agape International Retreat Center
5700 Buckingham Parkway
Culver City, CA 90230
Agapelive.com
WANDERLUST 108
SANTA MONICA
4/28-4/29
* 7:30AM-3PM
This mindful triathalon includes a
5K run, yoga, and meditation in a
vibrant and active community with
bonus activities, snacks, and market-
place. Sign up for one or both days.
$20-150. Santa Monica Pier
wanderlust.com/108s
DANCE OF LIBERATION
5/1
* 8:15-9:45AM
On the Full Moon in Scorpio, rise
early for a practice of Kundalini
Yoga and Dance of Liberation with
Parashakti and Kjord Davis accom-
panied by a Cacao Ceremony spon-
sored by Siddha Flower Essences.
Wanderlust Hollywood,
1357 N Highland Ave, Hollywood
Wanderlusthollywood.com
Parashakti.org
COMMUNITY // RETREATS & FESTIVALS
get out and practice
By Natalie Macam
1. Indian Film Festival
of Los Angeles
April 11–15
indianfilmfestival.org
The 16th annual Indian Film
Festival of Los Angeles (IFFLA) is a
showcase of groundbreaking Indian
cinema.
This year’s festival features
four world premieres, three North
American premieres, two US
premieres, and 14 LA premieres.
The lineup represents an impressive
12 languages and a strong list of
first and second-time filmmakers,
including 11 female filmmakers.
IFFLA will also hold a memorial
tribute to the late, beloved
Bollywood actress Sridevi. IFFLA
will screen a 2K print of Sridevi’s
1989 hit Chandni, courtesy of Yash
Raj Films.
One highlight is the US premiere
of IFFLA alum Hansal Mehta’s
2017 Toronto Film Festival
selection Omerta with rising Indian
star Rajkummar Rao as notorious
real-life terrorist Ahmed Omar
Saeed Sheikh. Another is The
Ashram, directed by Ben Rekhi and
starring Sam Keeley, Melissa Leo,
and Kal Penn. Rekhi brings together
this star-studded cast for a story of
mystical intrigue in the Himalayas.
IFFLA offers Los Angeles a
unique opportunity to learn about
India’s multifaceted culture and
long history of filmmaking.
Written by Natalie Macam a Yoga Teacher who teaches locally at Malibu Beach Yoga: tigerwaveyoga.com
16 L AYOG A .CO M
2. Shakti Fest
Joshua Tree
May 11-13
shaktifest.bhaktifest.com
This annual celebration of the
Divine Feminine is a drug-and-
alcohol-free gathering at Joshua
Tree Retreat Center. The practices
include kirtan (call-and-response
chanting) and other sacred music,
yoga, workshops, meditation,
vegetarian food, and community.
Attendees can camp, glam-camp,
stay in cabins or dorms onsite at
the historic Joshua Tree Retreat
Center, or find local accommoda-
tions. This family-friendly festival
offers programming and opportu-
nities for kids. innovative canvases onsite.
Musicians at Shakti Fest include
Jai Uttal, Donna De Lory, Prajna
Vieira, Larisa Stow, Girish, Govind
Das & Radha, and Gina Sala.
World-class yoga teachers include
Shiva Rea, Mark Whitwell, MC
Yogi, Mas Vidal, Kia Miller, Jaya
Lakshmi and Ananda, Hemalayaa
Behl, Kristin Olson, and Brian
Campbell. Workshop leaders
include Dawn Cartwright, Jeffrey
Armstrong, Manoj Chalam, and
Sam Geppi. The Sound Dome
Presenters offer vocal meditations,
gong immersions, and sacred
soundscapes.
Shakti Fest is part of the
nonprofit Center for Spiritual
Studies, which supports charities
across the world.
3. Lightning in a Bottle, 4. Meditation Retreat,
Bradley
May 23-28
lightninginabottle.org
Lightning in a Bottle (LIB)
features opportunities to dance
all day into and throughout the
night at a variety of stages with
numerous noteworthy artists and
DJs in the dance and other music
scenes. But LIB is not just about
the dance. Educational sessions,
talks and discussions, workshops,
wellness and healing, environmen-
tal initiatives, guided meditations,
yoga and movement classes are all
on offer. Walk through art instal-
lations and watch painters create
Also available are cultural
offerings to connect with global
cultures and ancient practices,
as well as classes and workshops
in a variety of both ancient
and modern food preparation
traditions. There is something for
everyone at this gathering on a
beautiful lakeside venue nestled
in hills of Monterey County. All
ages are welcome with family
camping, Kidz Zone activities and
Teen Scene workshops with the
younger generation in mind. The
ethos of LIB is focused on sustain-
ability both in their relationship
with the land and in the teachings
offered at workshops.
Joshua Tree
June 14-17
effortlessglow.com
Learn traditional Vedic techniques
of meditation in the unique high
desert beauty of Joshua Tree.
Surround yourself with beautiful
scenery while being supported by
a lovely community of meditators
and experienced teachers.
Three teachers will lead the
retreat. Effortless Glow founder
and independent Vedic Meditation
teacher Vi Rucks, independent
Vedic Meditation teacher Christian
Bevacqua who works with
individuals to sustain balance and
achieve success in all areas of their
personal and professional lives, and
Peter Spoerri who trained in the
Himalayas in Northern India under
the guidance of Thom Knoles. 
Gentle yoga and pranayama
classes multiply the depth of your
practice.  New meditators will have
four personalized sessions to learn
how to meditate in an easy and
effortless way, and experienced
meditators will have personalize
instruction to adjust techniques.
The accommodations are a
sanctuary from the heart, mind,
and spirit with acres of land
to walk through meditation
labyrinths, cactus gardens, or
gaze at the stars. Here you will be
immersed in nature and nourish
your inner potential. 
L AYOGA .COM 17
FOOD // AYURVEDA

SPRING INTO
A SEASON
Springtime herbs, foods, and recipes to support
renewal and detoxification. by Loi s A . L eon hardi

In our fast-paced, 24/7 culture, it is easy to shield ourselves from the natural rhythms of the day, month,
or year. Everyday things like electricity, air conditioners, and even cars, keep us insulated from the external
environment and distance us from nature. But the wisdom tradition of Ayurveda has long understood
what modern science is now verifying. Our bodies flow in a circadian rhythm, influenced by the sun, moon
and seasons. When we live in sync with these rhythms, we can experience optimal health.

The Season of Renewal

In nature, spring is a time of renewal and growth. Flowers emerge from the
melting snow as the dormant, dark, winter weather is replaced by the cool,
damp days of spring. The days become longer and brighter. Snow melts
and streams swell with run-off. Our bodies assimilate this excess dampness
which can lead to increased congestion in the sinuses, lungs, and lymphatic
system. Spring colds, coughs, and allergies may leave us feeling sluggish and
foggy. Everyone experiences these seasonal influences to some degree, re-
gardless of their constitution or doshic balance or combination. Our bodies
are working to shake off the lethargy of winter and prepare for renewal. To
assist our bodies’ natural intelligence, we can transition to a diet that will
facilitate gentle cleansing and rejuvenation.

Seasonal Foods for Spring

Ayurveda believes that opposite qualities will bring balance, and like
qualities will create imbalance. Spring is similar to the energy of kapha
(cool, damp, slow and heavy). Eating foods that have the opposite quali-
ties (hot, dry, airy and light) will balance the seasonal influence. So during
cool, damp weather when you are feeling congested and sluggish, add
some foods to your diet with these qualities:

1. Pungent/spicy (garlic, green chilies, ginger, lemongrass, radish,

watercress, onion, wasabi).
2. Drying (millet, mushrooms, polenta, barley, white potatoes,
winter squash). Spring Ayurveda Red Lentil Lemongrass Soup
3. Light (sprouts, popcorn, beans, lentils). Makes 2 servings. Vegan, Gluten-free, Soy-free

FOOD
In general, you want to minimize foods that are cold, heavy and damp
(or that cause fluid retention) such as cheese, yogurt, milk, cream, sour
foods (lemons, vinegar), salt, Vegemite™, oily fried foods, wheat, refined
sugar, and red meat.
Understand that these lists are neither comprehensive nor rigid. Be cre-
ative, flexible and compassionate with your implementation of these guide-
lines. Ayurveda is about finding balance — if you are unhappy, that is not
balanced.
T
he recipe is great for spring. The combination of lemongrass and
pippali work together to support the body’s natural capacity to
cleanse and rejuvenate. Pippali (also known as Piper longum or
Indian long pepper) is a rejuvenating force that supports the respiratory
system while soothing the nervous system. It is especially balancing for
the energy of both kapha and vata. It is used in Ayurveda to support
immunity and fortify the lungs. Lemongrass promotes cleansing of the
lymphatic system and is soothing to the body and mind.

18 L AYOG A .CO M
2 tablespoons sunflower oil
4 tablespoons ginger
lemongrass paste
¼ teaspoon Himalayan salt
1 teaspoon organic pippali powder
2 plum tomatoes, peeled, chopped
2/3 cups organic red lentils or masoor dal
4 cups water
2 tablespoons lime juice (or to taste)
4 tablespoons cilantro (or to taste)
Julienned steamed Swiss chard or mustard leaves
(optional garnish)
• In a medium pan, warm the sunflower oil over medium-low heat.
• Add the lemongrass paste, salt, and pippali powder. Sauté until congestion, and move lymphatic stagnation.
fragrant (about 30 seconds). Stir in the tomato. Add the lentils and water. Add this paste to soups, vegetables, and coconut curries, or dilute with
• Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer, uncovered for 10 minutes
or until lentils are soft. The lentils will lose their shape and become
somewhat mushy.
• Add the lime juice and cilantro.
• For a creamy consistency, you can purée with an immersion blender.
• Adjust lime juice/cilantro to taste. Serve immediately.
Serving suggestions
To reduce excess kapha, garnish with julienned steamed mustard leaves
(which will add more kick to this dish). To balance pitta and vata constitu-
tions, garnish with steamed Swiss chard.
Tips
Purchase lemongrass stalks and lime leaves at your local Asian market,
then freeze extras in air-tight bags for later use. Pippali powder can be
purchased at Indian markets or online sites that sell Ayurvedic herbs. Pip-
pali can be used in place of crushed black pepper in most recipes or any
time you want to lend some support to the respiratory system.
AYURVEDA AND THE DOSHAS
Ayurveda is an ancient system of medicine from India. It is founded
on the principle that everyone has a unique energetic constitution
made up of a combination of the doshas. There are three main dosha
categories: vata, pitta and kapha. Elements are used as metaphors
to describe the qualities of the doshas. In general, vata is associated
with the element “air” which has the quality of dry, light, cold, and
mobile. Pitta is mostly associated with the element of fire which has
the qualities of hot, sharp, penetrating, and spreading. And kapha is
associated with the elements water and earth, which have the qualities
of being cool, damp, soft, slow, and heavy. Everyone is comprised of
all the elements and all the doshas, but typically one or two elements
and doshas will dominate.The metaphoric energy that is used to
describe our dosha can also be used to describe our environment, our
food and our emotions (for example, chilies, the season of summer,
and an angry boss are all related to the element of fire and pitta dosha).
Ayurveda teaches us to recognize these energies and their influences
on us so we can learn to make conscious choices to keep our bodies
healthy, our minds calm, and our hearts full of love.
Ginger Lemongrass Paste
Makes ¹/³ cup. Vegan, Gluten-free, Soy-free
T
his ginger lemongrass paste is ideal for balancing kapha during
the spring or any time the weather is cold and damp. The ginger,
chili, and lemongrass help to stoke the digestive fire, clear sinus
water to use as a sauce for fish, jackfruit, or tempeh.
1 tablespoon sunflower oil
¼ brown onion
1 lemongrass stalk, ends trimmed,
tough outer layers removed
½ inch ginger root, peeled
¼ inch turmeric root, peeled
(or ⅛ teaspoon turmeric powder)
½ Thai red chili, stem removed
1 small kaffir lime leaf, vein removed
(or 1 teaspoon lime zest and ½ teaspoon lemon zest)
1 clove garlic
• In a blender add the sunflower oil, onion, lemongrass, ginger,
turmeric, chili, lime leaves and garlic. Blend to a thick paste.
• (Alternatively, you can do this with a mortar and pestle if you have
the patience.)
• Transfer to an air tight glass container and store in the refrigerator for
up to two days.
Tips
Purchase lemongrass stalks and lime leaves at your local Asian market,
then freeze extras in air-tight bags for later use.
Make ahead
This lemongrass paste can be prepped up to two days in advance and
stored in the refrigerator in an air-tight container, which will make life a
little easier if you are rushing to get dinner on the table.
Lois Leonhardi is a certified Ayurveda wellness practitioner, educator and author of
“The Essential Ayurvedic Cookbook”. She trained under Dr. Lad at the Ayurvedic
Institute in New Mexico and in Pune, India. She has over 20 years of training in
holistic studies (Ayurveda, yoga and meditation). Lighthearted and compassionate,
she listens to your concerns and creates realistic personalized programs to help you
de-stress, detox and restore balance naturally. Sharing the wisdom of the mind-body
connection and how to use food as medicine, she reveals the secrets of how to slow
the aging process, increase energy and bolster immunity giving you the tools to heal
yourself, feel better and look great. www.yogawithlois.com
instagram.com/yogawithlois/ facebook.com/LoisALeonhardi
Read more recipes online at layoga.com
L AYOGA .COM 19
COMMUNITY // EXPO WEST

best of expo west

In March, 2018, the 38th Annual Natural Products Expo West A Cup of Tea
A good cup of tea is always trending and flavors
& Engredea Trade Show hosted more than 85,000 members that mix the medicinal and mouthwatering are
ones we savor. Stalwart brands like Numi, Yogi
of this burgeoning industry from around the world. Companies Tea, Pukka, Traditional Medicinals, Organic
launched new flavors, innovations, and products. Experts spoke India, and more continue to offer us blends of
organic herbs that inspire. We tried many cups
on the future of business. Food and health advocates shared of tea that gave us a zip in a sip.

intel. If you’ve ever wondered where the new products on grocery Chai Diaries • mychaidiaries.com
Chai Diaries’ SoCal-based Founder Ami
shelved are first introduced, this is the place. Bhansali draws on generations of
Our team scouted the show searching for trends. While the her tea heritage to create blends
including six different Ayurvedic
aisles were endless and we couldn’t catch everything, here are a flavors, Turmeric Chai,
Blood Orange, and more.
few of our finds. The Insta Chai Premixes
Masala, Cardamom, and
Sweets for the Sweet a commercial kitchen in Richmond and sell- Lemongrass) are also
Even our most disciplined health-food aficiona- ing in more than 250 locations and growing. flavors to be savored.
dos may succumb to a sweet tooth. The trick Look for them in SoCal Gelson’s soon.
is to find foods in this category that are deeply Sip Your Superfoods
nourishing. Some of our finds include the fol- Emmy’s Organics • emmysorganics.com Republic of Tea • republicoftea.com
lowing. You may have noticed these organic coconut The Apple Cider Vinegar Single Sips offer a
cookies at Starbucks. The tale behind their cre- portable option for tea lovers who want to
Muffin Revolution • muffinrevolution.com ation involves a love story (Ian meets Samantha) experience the benefits with vinegar combined
Marirose Piciucco and Christy Kovacs started that includes weekend date nights in a kitchen with powerful superherbs like cranberry and
baking in Berkeley kitchen and selling gluten- creating gluten-free treats. It was challenging to hibiscus. Then there are the Daily Green Single
free, paleo-friendly, date-sweetened muffins. choose our favorites from six satisfying flavors: Sips which have are full of moringa, matcha,
They launched the revolution in their local Chocolate Chip, Vanilla Bean, Dark Cacao, spirulina, chorella, lemon, mint, coconut, and
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2 0 L AYOG A .CO M
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Activated Charcoal
The healing benefits of activated charcoal have
led to this black powder (made from a variety
of plant-based materials including coconut
husk) being used in everything from beauty
products to food. Activated charcoal absorbs
and neutralizes heavy metals, gases, chemicals,
drugs, and more. It’s neutral yet earthy taste
makes it mixable in drinks like Vermont Vil-
lage’s Daily Detox.
Vermont Village • vermontvillage.com
The Daily Detox includes trending cleansing
ingredients apple cider vinegar and activated
charcoal. Take a shot by itself or mix with still
or sparkling water for tasty sipping. We’re not
the only ones impressed with it; Daily Detox
won a New Hope NEXTY Award for Best
New Beverage.
Crunch
Kettle Brand® Krinkle Cut™
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We love crunch so much it’s practically a taste.
So when we tried one of the new favors of
Kettle Brand® chips—the Wasabi Ranch, we
began the countdown to when they arrive in
stores. They’ll be on shelves just in time for
picnic season this summer.
Turmeric
There are many good reasons why turmeric
seems to be the herb of the hour. The golden
yellow root is beloved in Ayurveda and other
2 2 L AYOG A .CO M
Asian systems of medicine and healing in part Sometimes a cracker is the only thing that
because it has powerful anti-inflammatory and can satisfy. These gluten-free yet crunch-rich
anti-oxidant effects. Turmeric is a member cracker has a complex flavor palate with the
of the same plant family as ginger, and as a seeds, lentils, and of course our favorite spice-
culinary spice or as a tea it blends well with a turmeric. Delicious alone, these also make a
variety of other flavors. satisfying base for dips of all kinds.
Nature’s Path Organic Golden Savory Soups
Turmeric Cereal • naturespath.com Vegan Miso by Nona Lim • nonalim.com
Certified organic and gluten-free, the flakes in The flavors of Bay Area based Artisan noodle
the Nature’s Path Golden Turmeric Cereal are and broth crafters Nona Lim bring better-
made from a mix of corn, quinoa, and ama- than-homemade home to you. We loved
ranth. The spice mix of turmeric, cinnamon, the savory sake-based umami flavor of this
ginger, and black pepper provides a balanced versatile broth.
flavor palate suitable for snacking or a break-
fast meal anytime of the day. Oh, and did we
mention the coconut? If you choose to top the
cereal off with milk (even your favorite trend-
ing non-dairy flavor), you’re left with golden
milk when it comes time to drink the milk left
in the bowl. We can’t stop munching.
One Degree Organics Sprouted Grain
Turmeric Tortillas • onedegreeorganics.com
The heritage sprouted red fife wheat that cre-
ates the base of these versatile tortillas is rich
in flavor and fiber. And then there’s the tur-
meric. It provides more than simply color, as
the earthy flavor palate amps up the versatility
of this flatbread. We tried it to make jackfruit
wraps and the menu ideas just keep coming.
RW Garcia 3 Seed Lentil with Turmeric
Crackers • rwgarcia.com
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Brami Snacks • bramisnacks.com
Admit it, you’re looking for something munch-
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L AYOGA .COM 23
WELLNESS // AYURVEDA

5 Practices
to Support Healthy Feet
by Je nn Tarrant
Photo graph by Davi d Yo ung- wolff

Bringing some attention and intention to

our daily practices can help us have a better
relationship with our feet. After all, for many
of us, they are our point of contact with
the earth. These are some of the practices I
share with my students. They can strengthen
our ability to maintain balance in our feet—
and in all areas of our lives.
1. Daily Foot Massage
For the massage, Ayurveda recommends
sesame oil combined with your essential oil of
choice. You can also choose a nurturing herb-
infused option such as Bhajan Body and Face
Oil from Yogi Bath and Beauty.
Wiggle each toe. Massage with oil across
the ball of the foot. Then massage down the
arch of your foot from the ball of big toe
to the heel. Next massage down the arch of
the foot from the ball of the pinky toe to the
heel. Then, mas-sage the heel itself. After this
sequence, interlace your fingers with your
toes and wiggle the toes back and forth a few
times. With the fingers still interlaced be-tween
the toes, rotate the ankle about 10 times in
each direction. Switch feet and repeat.
Note: Use just enough oil to nourish the
skin and make it easy to give yourself a mas-
sage. You can put socks on after the massage
or do this in bed before you go to sleep. Be
careful of slipping and sliding if you walk
around after the mas-sage. You can also
towel off your feet with a warm damp
towel (think at-home spa treatment).

2 4 L AYOG A .CO M
 Attention on our feet
helps us develop
better balance.

2. Increase Awareness of Your Feet

Stand in mountain pose with your eyes closed
and observe where the effort of your feet is felt.
Shift all the effort into the balls of the feet, then
back into the heels, then over to the left side
Take GREAT
care of your hair,
of your feet, and over to the right side of your
feet. Shift from the inside edges of your feet to

naturally!
the outside edges of the feet and back again.
Then, bring your awareness and effort so that
it evenly distributed from front to back and
side to side of each foot and both feet.

3. Build Ankle Strength

While you are sitting in staff pose (dandasana)
or even in a chair, dorsiflex the feet by pulling
your toes toward your knees. Then plantarflex
the feet by pointing your toes away from the
body. Invert the feet by drawing the soles of
the feet to-ward each other. Then evert the feet available on yogibathandbeauty.com
by pressing the soles of feet away from each
other. Do three to five rounds of this practice.

4. Boost Your Balance

Any standing balance will do here, but I prefer
to stick with a simple tree pose. Shift the effort
of the body onto one foot, and create a kick-
stand with the opposite foot. (Like a tree pose
with the toes on the ground). Create a strong
foundation by distributing the effort evenly from
front to back and side to side in the standing
foot. And then begin to lift the opposite foot to
a comfortable place on the stand-ing leg (above
or below the knee). During this pose, embrace
the wobble and the movement from side to
side in the ankle! This movement in the joint is
actually strengthening the muscles and creating
a supple responsiveness. Switch sides.

5. Increase Your Dexterity

While In mountain pose, establish a strong
foundation in your feet. Press your toes
strongly into the floor. Then lift all the toes
away from the floor, creating a strong arch in
the feet. Relax the toes. Press the big toe and
pinky toe into the floor simultaneously while
lifting the middle three toes. Switch feet.
These practices serve us well in our daily
activities and strengthen our ability to maintain
balance in our feet—and in all areas of our lives.

Jenn Tarrant is a Yoga Therapist and Yoga Teacher,

Ayurvedic lifestyle coach, and YogaFit Senior Master
Trainer: jenntarrant.com

L AYOGA .COM 25
WELLNESS // SPA
Happy Feet
When it comes to caring for our feet, we could set up an appointment or simply indulge in some self-
care at home. From socks to spa treatments, we offer some suggestions for springtime foot care.
Massage Tool: Yoga Tune Up Balls
The weight, grip, and density of Yoga Tune
Up balls make them useful as massage tools.
Our feet benefit from regular massage.
To use the balls as massage tools, stand
on a sticky mat near a wall for support. You
can work with one foot at a time or challenge
your balance and massage both of your feet
simultaneously.
Place the ball under the front of your foot’s
arch. Drop your weight into the ball. Roll to
the back of the arch. Allow your body weight
to sink into the ball. Roll the ball all the way
around the sole of your foot.
Learn more and orders balls at:
tuneupfitness.com
2 6 L AYOG A .CO M
Reflexology at Exhale
Kerry Lorimer is a Reflexology Therapist at
Exhale Spa. She says this about the practice,
“Generally speaking, reflexology can offer a
bodywide effect by stimulating the reflex points
in the feet (and hands). This can be a huge ben-
efit for someone who just taxed their muscles
by running a marathon, training, or hiking.”
In Reflexology, the practitioner uses a specific
set of techniques to apply pressure to reflex
points that correspond to the body as a whole.
Kerry also points out, “Like other bodywork
modalities, it is important for the massage thera-
pist to check for signs of injury, blisters, and
swelling before treatment.” For more informa-
tion, visit: exhalespa.com/spa/massages
Earth Therapeutics Aloe Socks
Sometimes what you need the most - either
at the end of the day or during the day - is a
warm blanket for your feet. One that stays on
no matter what activities you are doing. Earth
Therapeutics Aloe Socks are infused with aloe
vera and Vitamin E. They’re even designed to
be worn after applying your favorite moistur-
izing lotion. In Ayurveda, massaging your feet
at night before bed with nourishing oils or
soothing butters is both calming and restor-
ative. Covering your feet with the Aloe Socks
magnifies the effect. Whether you are a runner
or someone who is on their feet all day, these
aloe-infused socks offer any-time-of-day relief.
With different colors and patterns available, you
can even match to your favorite PJs or robe.
earththerapeutics.com
Glen Ivy’s Very Berry Pedicure
You can visit Glen Ivy Hot Springs to soak in
the vast array of pools, cover yourself in mud,
or dose up on Vitamin D with friends. Or you Cool mesh
can indulge at the on-site spa. When it comes uppers
to caring for your feet, Glen Ivy features treat-
ments that rotate with the seasons.
From April through June, one of the sea-
sonal foot-nurturing options is the Very Berry Full coverage
Pedicure. This experience includes a soothing sole grips
soak, a rejuvenating exfoliation, and moistur-
izing body milk (as well as a full pedicure).
Products used such as the Fresh Melon Body
Milk, Green Tea & Marigold Mineral Bath Stylish studio
Soak, and Rasmopolitan Body Scrub with Or- to street
ganic Vodka are made by FarmHouse Fresh. designs
For more information, visit: glenivy.com
FarmHouse Fresh is based on a Texas
ranch. The company began their line with
foot care: scrubs made with sea salt and rice
bran oil to address cracked heels. They’ve
Discover how SHASHI can improve the look and feel of
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We’ve been hearing about the positive benefits
of coconut oil for just about everything -
including the skin. According to Sahara Rose,
author of Idiot’s Guide to Ayurveda, “Coconut
oil is both cooling and hydrating, balancing out
our hot and dry California climate.”
Hawaii-based Ola Tropical Apothecary cre-
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 When it comes to integrating
fitness activities outdoors,
I hike at least once a week,
but I also run to the beach
(and jump in when it is warm)
two to three times a week!

Spring
Fashion Photo g r aphy by Davi d Yo ung- wol f f

Millana Snow is a woman on the move who is an entrepreneur and healer with vision
and a commitment to community. In the fashion world, Millana was the winning model
in the 2010 Season 8 of Project Runway. It was an accolade that led to her putting her
creativity into practice in publishing, fashion, and art direction.
In addition walking the runway, Millana’s life path has focused on health, wellness,
spirituality, and consciousness. Part of what helps her maintain her focus is meditation.
“Meditation is huge for me! I can’t imagine my life and work without a daily practice.
The same goes with a consistent check-in with my spirit and source. I tap into bigger
ideas, more kindness and clarity when I’m tapped in.”
Millana is also a Reiki Healer and meditation teacher who works with individuals as
well as large groups. Bringing people and together is part of her mission. Millana says,
“Community has always been a saving grace for me, I always felt different and wanted
to do more than ‘just get by’ and my community is my rock.” Her work in the business
and wellness worlds have inspired her to create Wellness Official. Stay tuned for the
official launch later this year of an interactive online marketplace that features best-of
curated practitioners and brands from the global wellness community. (Learn more and
keep up-to-date at: wellnessofficial.co)
While showcasing some trending pieces to bring us into living life outdoors in SoCal
and beyond, Millana shares some of her tips for integrating health into everyday life.

2 8 L AYOG A .CO M
 XCTRL Ascend
Crop in Black
($69.95) by 2XU
XVENT Singlet
in Seafoam
($34.95) by 2XU
Bonded Mid-Rise
Compression
Tights ($109.95)
in Black/
Aruba Blue by 2XU
2xu.com
Skechers
Skechers GOrun
Forza 3 ($115)
skechers.com

L AYOGA .COM 29
When it comes to
getting started with
using energy-based
practices, I suggest
that people sit in
silence and practice
self-inquiry.
 Luxe Lite Wrap
in Lavender ($80)
Moisture-wicking
and easy draping
by TouJours
toujourssfa.com
Capri Cotton Tight
in White ($55)
High waisted
by TouJours
toujourssfa.com
Necklace by Gogh
Jewelry Design
goghjewelrydesign.com
pandora messenger Bag
($26) by Silly Yogi
sillyyogi.com
Shoes by Skechers
Skechers GO Trail 2 ($90)
skechers.com

(opposite)
Brigitte Cropped
Poncho in Aqua ($36)
Sun protective
fabric is UPF 30
sunbellaapparel.com
Andromeda Leggings
by Niyama Sports ($79)
us.niyama-sports.com
Skechers
Performance GOtrail 2
Burgandy ($100)
skechers.com

L AYOGA .COM 3 1
Elephant Print
Organic Cotton Bra
($21) by Silly Yogi
Elephant Party
Organic Yoga Leggings
($16.50) by Silly Yogi
sillyyogi.com

(OPPOSITE)
Turn Me Over Bra
in Reed ($53)
by Liquido Active
Bad Ass Yoga Shorts
in Reed ($48) by
Liquido Active
liquidoactive.com
Shoes Skechers
GOrun Forza 3 ($115)
skechers.com
 Because Aria
weighs 90 pounds
and loves to run,
she encourages
me to get out
every day.
 My backyard is
my favorite place
to meditate. I have
the most amazing
backyard at my
home in Venice.
 Alana
Bodysuit ($44)
by Fila
Lorna Jacket
($98) by Fila
fila.com
Skechers
Performance GOtrail 2
Burgandy ($90)
skechers.com

(OPPOSITE)
Meditation Wrap
by Venius
venius.net
Fitspo Leggings
in Viper Print ($35.20-88) by
Prism Sport
prismsport.com
Flex Bra in
Viper Print ($$22-55)
by Prism Sport
prismsport.com
Meditation Bench
($149) by Simply Sitting
simplysitting.com

Photography
David Young-Wolff
davidyoung-wolff.com
Styling
Venius Adams
venius.net
Makeup
Nancie Rooney
nancierooneymakeup.com
Production
Assistants
Jane Kok and
Karen Henry
L AYOGA .COM 3 5
TEACHERS IT’S TIME TO ADJUST OUR ADJUSTMENTS
A discussion around fine-tuning
hands-on adjustments
by Sarah E zri n / / Photo s by S c ot t Mi tch el l

I participated in injuring a student once. There was no pop. There was

no scream. In fact, in the moment, there was nothing that told me I had
done anything wrong, including the student. I remember her body mov-
ing easily as I brought her hands to grab her feet in bound padmasana
Photo by D or it T h ies

(lotus). I remember us smiling and talking through the entire adjustment.

Yet, something did not feel right for her afterwards and for that I take
responsibility. A student was hurt by my adjustment, but I still believe in
using hands-on adjustments.
I also have been injured in adjustments. Yes, plural. I did not speak
up when someone pushed my thighs down too hard in baddha konasana
(cobbler’s pose) or when I felt a pop in my spine during an assisted drop
back into urdhva dhanurasana (upward facing bow) or when someone
tried to spread my pelvis apart in trikonasana (triangle pose). In fact,
in some of those instances, the pain felt good. I thought it was required
to “go deeper,” to take my posture to “the next level.” I was hurt by an
adjustment, but I still believe in using hands-on adjustments.
There is a lot of discussion these days around yoga and injury. As more
and more people are practicing, reports of strains and pains thought to
be linked to yoga are also increasing. A 2016 study conducted by Yoga
Journal and Yoga Alliance reported that the number of people practicing
yoga in the US has increased by 50% just since 2012. According to this
study, 36 million people are now doing yoga. Those are a lot of moving
bodies, and as with any physical activity, a lot of opportunities for injury.
While it is strangely ironic to think that a practice meant to heal may
cause harm, injuries in yoga can occur in myriad ways. Some are due
to repetitive stress, meaning a pose (or series of poses) repeated over
and over puts strain on the joints or muscles. This is either because the
practitioner loses attention to alignment due to fatigue from repetition
(think vinyasa after vinyasa) or because the posture was misaligned in
the first place. Keep driving your car with crooked alignment and a tire
will eventually burst!
Some injuries are related to poor warm-up. This is a common cause
of injury among yoga teachers, who will often demonstrate an advanced
posture cold, only to hear the haunting sound of a pop. San Francisco-
based yoga teacher Laura Burkhart recently shared her experience on
YogaJournal.com. Demonstrating a complex pose led to a nearly two-
year hip injury that she is still recuperating from. Finally, there are a
great deal of injuries caused by forcing one’s body into a shape that is
inappropriate. These can be self-inflicted, like pushing too hard in a pose,
or sometimes this type of injury occurs through the teacher via a hands-
on adjustment.
“Hands-on adjustments” do not always involve hands. In fact, many
teachers adjust using their entire body. Some instructors will lie on top of

3 6 L AYOG A .CO M
S
a student in a forward fold or use their foot to ground a body part that
is lifting, for example stepping on a person’s back outer foot in virabha-
drasana 1 (warrior 1). Adjusting is a privilege. It involves coming into
someone’s personal space and manipulating their energy by way of the
body. It can be very intimate!
There is a common assist where the teacher will lower the student’s
front rib cage. This means touching someone’s stomach, an area that
some people do not even let their lovers touch. When we place our hands
on another being, we need to be fully present. We need to feel that per-
son’s breath as if it were our own. Helping someone find space and bring-
ing breath to their body is a gift. A good adjustment can literally feel like
you have brought someone to life.
With the onslaught of controversies coming to light these days around
physical touch, both in the yoga world and our greater culture, some
yoga teachers are learning to be trepidatious about putting their hands
on students. The #metoo movement has given forum for sexual assault
victims and yogis around the world to finally speak up about inappropri-
ate adjustments and encounters. Gone are the days when we treated our
teacher’s word (and adjustments) as authority. Instead, we are entering a
new phase. A phase where people are saying something when things do
not feel right. Where people are learning to say, “No, I do not want to
be touched today,” and more importantly, where the student is the one
who holds the power. It is an empowering thing to be able to say “No,”
whether you are the receiver or the giver of an adjustment.
But what of those teachers who still believe in adjustments as teaching
tools? How do we navigate these delicate waters of not knowing who to
adjust and who not to? How much pressure is too much, and how do we
know when and if we should take a student physically further? I believe
that some of the most informed and healing work I do as a teacher is
by placing my hands on another. For the kinesthetic learner, a physical
adjustment may be more easily understood than any verbal cue. It is
precisely because adjustments are such powerful teaching tools that they
should not be taken lightly. Instead of dismissing all adjustments as scary
or dangerous, let us instead adjust our adjustments.
L AYOGA .COM 3 7
Here are 5 ways to keep your students and your own body
safe when giving physical adjustments:
A little tap goes a long way: In the early part of my teaching, I as-
sisted in the Ashtanga room of a well-known Los Angeles studio. Strong
adjustments were expected and encouraged. Ashtangis are daily practitio-
ners and a strong adjustment is part of the culture. Yet, most students that
come to public classes are coming in before, after, or even during a long
day of work or taking care of their family. They practice one to four times
a week, if they are lucky. This means tighter bodies and corresponding
energy. A strong adjustment may not be appropriate for someone who
you see once a month or a couple of times a week. Instead, using a light
tap to alert a part of the body that needs to wake up or lengthen can not
only have a greater effect than yanking them into position, it educates
the students how to engage, empowering them in their practice. Less is
often more.
Just because the body is ready, does not mean the mind is:
I had a private client who was quite able-bodied. She was a novice to
yoga when we met and progressed very rapidly in our sessions. Eager to
learn more, she would bring me pictures of poses she hoped to work on.
While she was quite flexible in her upper spine and shoulders, she would
hold her breath and sweat profusely in deep backbends. She desperately
wanted to do urdhva dhanurasana (upward facing bow). One day after
much preparation, she asked that I lift her into it. We had been leading
up to it for months, so it was worth an attempt, although I would let her
be in total control. I had her grab my ankles and braced my hands under
her shoulders. She lifted her hips and then began pushing into my ankles.
3 8 L AYOG A .CO M
Before I even had a moment to cue the next action, her breath shut off
and her body went stiff like rigor mortis. I had her come down right
away since I could see that her body was more than capable of doing the
posture, but emotionally and energetically, she was not. I would not have
served her by yanking her into the shape too soon. Instead, I let her rest
and we decided to keep working on the preparatory poses, so she could
find her breath before revisiting the advanced shape.
Like sex, good communication is everything: “Is this OK?” can
be a game-changing question when it comes to hands-on assists. I train
teachers around the world and there is always one person in the trainings
who is so eager to adjust that they jump right in and crank away before
really looking and sensing the body before them. We must slow our en-
trance down as we enter the student’s energy field. This will give us a read.
I am often asked, “How do you know if someone does not want to be
adjusted?” The answer is, “We ask.” Before you place your hands on the
person, you ask, “Is this OK?” Once you have your hands on them, ask
again, “Is this OK?” As you start to move them, ask again, “Is this OK?”
And even upon exiting it is okay to ask, “Was that OK?” Communicat-
ing with your students is a great way to learn more about them and their
needs, but it also teaches them to speak up and take control.
Just say no: “No Touch” chips and placards are becoming more com-
monplace at studios. This is a private way for students to “voice” their
request without having to literally say the words. Some teachers announce
that they will be adjusting during class and in a posture where people’s
eyes are closed or heads are down like balasana (child’s pose), they do a
 Remember that every time we hands-on-assist
it is an honor to place our hands on another human being.
blind vote and ask students to raise their hand if they do not want to be
touched. Just as the student can request not to be adjusted, we teachers
can also say no to giving one. Back to the Ashtanga room: there would
be large men begging for me to push on them harder. Even using all my
body weight and leveraging, I was not strong enough to give certain ad-
justments and the more I exerted, the more I put my own body at risk.
The number one rule of adjustments is to protect your own body first!
A sensation junky may ask for more and it is tempting to want to give
in (many of us teach for a living because we are people-pleasers), but as
yoga teachers our body and our health are priority. Never risk your body
to adjust another!
Continue to evolve: The physical practice of yoga is constantly trans-
forming. Different schools have different beliefs and ways of doing things.
Teachers shift how they teach with age. Continue to study anatomy and
injury management, as it changes with time and science. We are nowhere
near finished with learning after a 200-hour training. It is just the beginning.
Take trainings and workshops with teachers that you respect and look up
to, but more importantly who continue to learn themselves. Read books.
One of my favorites is the Anatomy Coloring Book. I have learned so much
about the body by taking the time to color in muscles and bones. Many
local colleges offer introductory Anatomy courses. Above all, never stop
practicing. The most important adjustments are the ones we give ourselves
when we take the time to find space for breath through alignment.
It is not our job to fix anyone. I know, I know. We’re teachers. We’re
there to teach people. And sometimes a pose looks so messy that we are
moderately convinced a student may kill themselves; but even as teachers
we are not there to “fix” anyone. We are guides. We are there to awaken
a student’s innate knowledge. To help people realize that they don’t need
fixing, because their innermost nature is perfect. We are there to remind stu-
dents that the poses are merely tools to steady the mind. Of course, we need
to protect our student’s bodies and re-align them if something is wildly un-
safe, but if we go into the class with the idea that we’re there to fix people,
that energy will be conveyed in our adjustments. Instead, let your intention
be to guide your students toward space and breath. Remember that every
time we hands-on-assist it is an honor to place our hands on another human
being. An adjustment can bring a student to life. Let our intention be to help
a yogi find freedom. After all, is that not yoga?
Sarah Ezrin is a San Francisco based yoga teacher and teacher trainer, who is trying
to change the world teaching self-love, one person at a time: sarahezrinyoga.com
For full references, read this story online
L AYOGA .COM 3 9
 Madison McDonough is wearing EOS sports bra and leggings in mauve by Iron Lily ironlily.life
Bracelet by Love Pray Jewelry loveprayjewelry.com
printed block by Yoga Hustle Yogahustle.com
Photo by David Young-Wolff Davidyoung-wolff.com

HOT
LIST
Prop Up Your Practice
7 Reasons to Use
Yoga Blocks
by T if fany Caronia
Photo graph by Davi d Yo ung- wolff

Accessibility
Yoga blocks serve to ‘lift the floor’ to the
student; poses assisted with this prop are more
accessible for everyone from beginner to expe-
rienced yogis.

Maintaining Integrity
Often, when we are intent on touching the
floor in poses like pyramid, we end up sacrific-
ing safety and alignment to get there, which
means we lose the integrity of the posture. 1
Placing a block to lift the floor changes this
dynamic so we can maintain our internal and
external focus.

Creating Space
Using a block reduces unhealthy compression
and helps us generate the space we need to
move in a pose such as twisted triangle. Using
more than one block can also reduce the col-
lapse in poses like seated forward folds.
Traction
In a pose such as supported bridge with a block,
the prop provides gentle traction for areas of the
body that can feel collapsed or congested. Ex-
ploring placement of the block or blocks allows
us the freedom to find the sweet spot.
Providing Support
Restorative or restorative-inspired practices
give us opportunity to use props to literally
support the body, so we feel nurtured by the
pose as we surrender into the release.
Sensory Feedback
Since a block can be used at different heights,
it allows us to receive sensory feedback. This
is especially important when we work with
different versions of a pose, as we progress or
deepen into a pose, or when we practice with a
changing or healing body. The sensory message
helps us to connect to our body in the moment,
and even helps us learn to make appropriate
adjustments.
In Conclusion:
Blocks are for Everyone
No matter what our range of motion, flex-
ibilities, or challenges, a block can make a pose
more accessible, powerful and enjoyable, as
well as provide opportunities to cultivate joint
stabilization and muscle memory.
Tiffany Caronia is a yoga teacher: tiffanycaronia.com
A
Yoga Blocks Round-Up
s a utilitarian prop, the ubiq-
uitous yoga block has taken on
a variety of new forms over the
past few decades. It is useful
for practices that range from
active to restorative. Companies have produced
options in a number of shapes and sizes made
from a wide range of materials. These include
wood, cork, and foam. They are thin or thick,
with different widths, hollow or solid, and are
increasingly made from recycled materials.
Here is a selection of innovative and modern
yoga blocks.
1. Yoga Hustle • Yogahustle.com
Printed Foam Yoga Blocks
The special feature of these high density
blocks is their playful prints and patterns.
$24

40 L AYOG A .CO M
 Tue. May 8, at 7:30pm
Wilshire-Ebell Theatre, 4401 W. 8th St., Los Angeles

Wed. May 9, at 7:30pm

California Center for the Arts, 340 N. Escondido Blvd., Escondido

M o re U S a n d C a n a d a To u r i n f o & ti c ke t s :
w w w. D ev a P re m a l M i t e n . c o m

L AYOGA .COM 4 1

2
2. Jade Yoga • Jadeyoga.com
Jade Cork Blocks
The material for Jade Cork Yoga Blocks is
made from sustainably harvested cork from
Portugal. $14.95
3.Half Moon • shophalfmoon.com
Chip Foam Yoga Block
The dense foam blocks are fabricated from
offcuts and chips. Their ability to stack and
arrange in different configurations makes them
versatile. $16
Chip Foam Block Cover
Choose a cover specifically made to fit and
extend the life of the foam block. $22
Foam and Block Together $34
Foam Yoga Blocks 3” and 4” thicknesses
available in a variety of colors. $10.50-18
4.BlocSoc • Blocsoc.com
Keep Your Block Clean! BlocSoc offers a fully-
washable, portable yoga block cover. $20
5.OPTP • Optp.com
Performance Block
The dip in the center design of this foam brick
offers multiple options for use in functional
fitness, yoga, Pilates, and more. $35.95
42 L AYOG A .CO M
11
Posture Brick
Three sizes of a foam brick have a slight con-
tour around the edges for grip. $14.65-26.20
Performance Wedges
An ergonomic shape allows for use in a variety
of poses. $32.95
6. Hugger Mugger Yoga Products
Huggermugger.com
The variety of weights and materials meets the
needs of different practices.
Eco Wood Block
The 3.5” thickness is made of Baltic Birch with
a hollow core. $34.95
Eco Bamboo Block
Fast-growing bamboo provides the outer core
for this hollow 4” block. $24.95
Cork Yoga Block $19.95
Recycled Foam Yoga Block $16.95
Foam Yoga Block in Sizes from 3-5” $11.95-
21.95
7. Yoga Outlet • Yogaoutlet.com
Everyday Yoga (by Spiral Edge) 3” and 4”
thick Foam Yoga Blocks in many colors.
$11-12
5
10
8. Yoga Rat • Yogarat.com
Foam Yoga Blocks
These lightweight props are priced in 2-block
sets for easy shopping. $25
9. Manduka • manduka.com
Cork Yoga Block $20
Recycled Foam Yoga Block in 5 different
solid and three-color blends $16-18
Unblock Recycled Foam Yoga Block
The rounded curve of one of the edges offers a
surface area with an alternative grip. $24
10. Infinity Strap BRIX • Infinitystrap.com
Cork BRIX
The multiple surfaces and edges of this
uniquely shaped block offer many height and
grip options. $29
11. Three Minute Egg • Threeminuteegg.com
Three Minute Egg
Designed to conform to the shape of the body,
the Three Minute Egg is not a block. Available
in a range of colors, sizes, and foam densities
for every body. Range of prices.
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AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A YOGI
Paramahansa Yogananda’s
soul-stirring journey
of love and enlightenment

PA P E R B A C K
608 pages $8.50

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F O U N D E D 1 9 2 0 B Y PA R A M A H A N S A YO G A N A N D A

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L AYOGA .COM 4 3
MEDIA REVIEWS // BOOKS
Bliss More
by Light Watkins
Ball an t in e Bo oks
In Bliss More, meditation teacher Light
Watkins makes an excellent case for medita-
tion as an antidote to stress and the churning
mind. He approaches meditation as something
to enjoy, a practice to look forward to rather
than an item to cross off the to-do list.
Watkins states that the book was written
with beginners in mind, although seasoned
meditators can glean insights and make refine-
ments to their regular practice.
Watkins explains that it was after a couple
of years trying to find his best personal medita-
tion style that he (now 20 years practicing)
happened to meet MV, a “master meditation
guru,” whose “glow and presence suggested he
knew things.” Such was the power of this con-
nection that the experience changed Watkins’
course. It helped shape the notion that bliss is
not what you find while meditating, but rather
“what you experience and exude outside of
meditation, in your life.”
Part One of Bliss More is How to Enjoy
Meditation: The Technique. Part Two is
Why We Meditate: The Benefits. The book
is packed with DIY meditation tools and
techniques. These include Watkins’ EASY ap-
proach: Embrace (allow the mind to wander),
Acceptance (accept whatever is happening,
positive or negative), Surrender (don’t fight
your thoughts), and Yield (don’t control any-
thing). It explains how to sit, different thought
types, and what to do when faced with a
meditation plateau.
Watkins recommends meditating twice a
day over 90 days to cultivate a regular prac-
tice. If that’s what needs to be done to grow
into a more gracious, happy, and calm person
in this chaotic world, I’m all in.
Reviewed by Marina Kay who writes for various
magazines and newspapers including DaySpa,
Open Skies, and The Sunday Telegraph.
44 L AYOG A .CO M
Fear Less
by Dean Sluy ter
Tarche r P e r ig e e
In Fear Less: Living Beyond Fear, Anxiety,
Anger, and Addiction, Sluyter quotes the
twentieth-century Indian sage Sri Nisargadatta
Maharaj, “Learn to look without imagination,
to listen without distortion: that is all. You
will experience peace and freedom from fear.”
We are looking for solutions since we are
facing fear from watching the news or living
with the demons of our own addictions. In
Fear Less, Dean says that accessing this place
of freedom is easier than people think. The ar-
ray of practices and ideas Dean shares offers a
practical methodology to make this happen.
“The best strategy is to make meditation
part of your daily routine, just like brushing
your teeth.” He suggests that in addition to the
routine daily dose, we take the time in quiet
moments to drop in to the space of just being
and always ok-ness.
I was struck by one of Dean’s insights. “The
sweet territory of silence is what we less poeti-
cally call meditation, but singing, dancing, and
storytelling belong right alongside it. They’re
all ways of living boldly, of dancing through
life like nobody’s watching.” Ultimately, this
is what it is all about. Living boldly. Daring
to be silly. Discovering, as Dean says, that
everything is a door to liberation.
The 39 chapters are mini-essays that explore
topics including: Resting Bliss Face, Relax at
the Moment of Contact, Meditating with the
iPhone 0, You Should Be Dancing, The Buddy
System, and more. Fear Less is an excellent
road map for a successful meditation practice.
It is also a great advice book for living with
ease in daily life.
Reviewed by Felicia Tomasko, Editor in Chief
of LA YOGA Magazine, Editorial Director of events.
yoga, President of Bliss Network, and a dedicated
meditator for more than 30 years.
THE LIFE OF YOGANANDA
BY PHILIP GOLDBERG
HAY HO U S E
Hang around any ashram or yoga studio for
10 minutes and you’ll meet someone whose
quest was sparked by Autobiography of a Yogi,
the stranger-than-fiction account of how the In-
dian lad Mukunda became Paramahansa Yoga-
nanda — meeting possibly immortal Himalayan
adepts, witnessing feats of superconsciousness,
and attaining the light of Self-realization.
What’s to be gained from a second telling of
a story that has already transformed so many
lives? Plenty, as it turns out. Yogananda’s ver-
sion mostly omits his career as the first global
guru, with all the grunt work of expounding
spirituality in a world where bills must be paid,
misunderstandings addressed, and prejudices
confronted — especially if you’re a brown man
with throngs of adoring white female disciples.
Because that messy world is our world, this
new version is, in some ways, actually more
instructive than the first. After Yogananda’s
years of awakening came decades of schlepping:
homesickness, exhausting lecture tours, fraught
organizational politics. Luckily, Philip Goldberg
is a lively storyteller, and, as he showed in his
indispensable American Veda: How Indian
Spirituality Changed the West, he knows this
territory like few others.
A tireless researcher, Goldberg has unearthed
biographical nuggets that will surprise even the
most devoted Yogananda disciple. And, cru-
cially, he himself is a respectful, clear-eyed non-
disciple who understands that even enlightened
people are people. In sorting out the scandals
and lawsuits, he draws careful lines between
what’s known and what’s unknown, and lets
the reader decide how much any of it matters.
Goldberg is a grown-up writer presenting a
grown-up Yogananda for grown-up seekers.
Dean Sluyter (DeanWords.com) teaches meditation
in Santa Monica and leads workshops throughout the
United States and beyond. His latest book is Fear Less:
Living Beyond Fear, Anxiety, Anger, and Addiction.
 All Bound Up? Palm Springs
Come Unwind...

Kirtan
Gentle
Vinyasa
Workshops
Drop-ins Welcome
Open 7 days

Yoga
Kristin Olson’s Urban Yoga Center
458 S Palm Canyon Drive Kristin Olson’s
Palm Springs CA
760-320-7702 Urban
UrbanYoga.org Center
L AYOGA .COM 4 5
WHERE TO GO // YOGA, AYURVEDA & WELLNESS CENTERS

SANTA MONICA YOGA SANTA MONICA

Santa Monica Yoga has a welcoming atmosphere and a huge selection of classes. Our offerings
include hatha, flow, Iyengar, Ashtanga, Pilates mat, GYROKINESIS®, Slow Deep Stretch, yin, restorative,
workshops and teacher trainings. We invite you to stop by and re-connect with your body and breath.
1640 Ocean Park Blvd, Santa Monica. 310-396-4040. Santamonicayoga.com

VEDIC HEALING INSTITUTE - SANSKRIT MANTRA CLASSES & PSYCHIC PALMISTRY WEST L.A.
Etched in your palms are clues to your character, goals and destiny. Once you understand these messages,
you can fulfill your potential for a richer and fuller life. Professor Sasi Velupillai, Director of the Institute, is a
7th-generation Psychic Palmist from India who helps people manifest their highest potential through palm-
istry consultations; Sanskrit mantra chanting classes with vedic initiation; meditation gatherings; puja prayer
ceremonies; and Spiritual Pilgrimages to India.
310-397-2405 professorsasi.com vedichealinginstitute.com indiainnersearch.com
VEDIC HEALING INSTITUTE

Nine Treasures Yoga Hollywood

Nine Treasures Yoga was founded by Tej Kaur Khalsa, longtime Kundalini Yoga teacher and student of Yogi
Bhajan, Master of Kundalini Yoga. We welcome people of all levels, ages and backgrounds. Empowering
people to have happy relationships, healthy families, and prosperous lives aligned with their own destiny, is
our goal. Join us for a joyful experience of deep inner exploration and evolutionary growth, in the company
of like-minded individuals. Classes are held M-F: 9-10:30am. Monday Meditation: 11am-12:30pm. Tuesday-
Relaxation Yoga: 6:30-8:00pm
Nine Treasures Yoga, 8182 Sunset Blvd, Suite 201, Los Angeles, CA 90046
323-934-9140 www.ninetreasuresyoga.com info@ninetreasuresyoga.com

AMERICAN REIKI ACADEMY - Enhance your yoga practice through Reiki WEST L.A.
Learn to heal with your hands through Reiki, an ancient hands-on healing modality that uses “universal life-
force energy” to create greater wellbeing and harmony. The American Reiki Academy holds weekly classes
in which anyone can learn to practice Reiki for self healing and healing others. Reiki Master Alexandra Juliani,
M.A., Director, has over 27 years experience, having trained thousands of people worldwide to become ac-
complished Reiki practitioners and Reiki Masters.
310-397-2405 reikiacademy.org vedichealinginstitute.com indiainnersearch.com

Hot Yoga Agoura

Hot Yoga Agoura is dedicated to helping you take control of your life both physically and mentally by
obtaining optimum fitness, stress management, and healing old injuries. Our studio offers the original
hatha yoga sequence known as Bikram, Advanced class as well as Sumits hot Vinyasa, a flow that will
build strength, confidence, tone muscles and increase flexibility. All levels are welcome – as every class is
suitable for beginning to advanced students.
5027 Kanan Road, Agoura Hills. 818-706-9642. hotyogaagoura.com

Studio Guide
Listings
BURBANK FORWARD FOLD NORTH HOLLYWOOD WESTCHESTER/
YOGA BLEND 17071 Ventura Blvd., #104 YOGA NOHO CENTER EL SEGUNDO
1921 West Magnolia Blvd. 818-817-7750 5257 Vineland Avenue AERIAL PHYSIQUE
818-954-YOGA (9642) forwardfold.com 818-761-1705 8717 Aviation Blvd.
yogablend.com yoganoho.com 323-540-1580
LA QUINTA aerialphysique.com
CULVER CITY YOGA CENTRAL PALM DESERT
VEDA YOGA 78370 Highway 111, Ste 185, COACHELLA VALLEY WESTCHESTER/LAX
9349 Venice Blvd. yogacentrallaquinta.com BIKRAM YOGA PLUS LIVEYOGA WELLNESS
310-621-2063 36869 Cook Street, Ste. 101 6700 W. 83rd St.
vedayoga.com LONG BEACH 760-346-2988 310-835-6700
OLIVE YOGA coachellayoga.com liveyogawellness.com
ENCINO 244 Pine St,
ASHTANGA YOGA 562-533-0324 PALM SPRINGS WOODLAND HILLS
SHERMAN OAKS oliveyoga.me URBAN YOGA CENTER A RADIANT LIFE
17071 Ventura Blvd., #200 LOS FELIZ 458 South Palm Canyon Dr YOGA & REIKI
310-867-0894 YOGA VIBE 760-320-7702 23240 Mariano St.
ashtangayogashermanoaks.com 1717 Hillhurst Ave. Urbanyoga.org 818-253-1581
323-953-8449 aradiantlife.org
yogavibela.com

46 L AYOG A .CO M
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L AYOGA .COM 4 7
VEDIC ASTROLOGY

astrology april
BY SAM GEPPI

April begins with some intense aspects that can amplify explosive feelings. Channel this energy to
walk the talk with a higher purpose. On the New Moon, we begin a 30-day cycle that awakens prana
(life force). Since Mercury turns direct on April 15, take time to process what no longer works so
you can move forward with clarity. When the Sun and Moon are exalted on April 18 and 19 use this
powerful energy to launch new projects and invest in your spiritual awareness. The month culminates
with a Full Moon that supports service, practice, and learning to cultivate harmony.

April 1-2 April 15

The Moon and retrograde Jupiter will be in
Libra today. So you may experience some
big emotions and feelings, especially in your
relationships. Try not to exaggerate the
feeling of being disrespected. It’s entirely
possible that you could blow that out of
proportion and get all principled. Instead,
this time supports reflecting on your teach-
ings and your higher life lessons, especially
as they relate to the adult interactions in
your life. How well are you able to compro-
mise with others?
April 1-5
Mars and Saturn are closely joined in Sagit-
tarius. This can be dangerous and explosive.
On the global scale, we could see military
action. On a personal level, a similar energy
is prevalent. Be careful about blowing things
up in your life, based on idealism and your
fanatical beliefs. This aspect offers a great
opportunity for spiritual growth and putting
your teachings into practice. Mars brings
discipline while Saturn brings focus and
commitment. Together, these two qualities
can move you forward quickly. In the energy
of Sagittarius, you can align with higher
purpose and meaning. It’s good to walk the
talk now.
April 6-7
The Moon joins Mars and Saturn in Sagit-
tarius, which brings all of that aforemen-
tioned explosiveness/discipline into the
mind and heart. On a personal level, you
may feel irritated and fired up about things
that are just not right. This is a good time
to make positive change. Work hard for the
things you are ready to stand up for or stand
against. But you have to be careful about
being impetuous and destroying structures
too quickly.
There will be a New Moon in Aries today,
which begins a 30-day cycle of courage,
exploration and personal dynamism. These
30 days support your ability to live without
bounds.You are ready to make a difference
in the way that only you can. However, you
want to be careful not to be too pushy or ag-
gressive. Patience is key, as you learn to share
your power and enthusiasm with others.
This New Moon happens in Ashwini
Nakshatra, which has to do with the twin
horses. These twin deities awaken energy
and enthusiasm. They are related to the life
force (prana) that moves through our mind
and body.
April 15
Mercury turns direct in Pisces today, after
being retrograde since March 22. The last
several weeks have supported more reflection
and introspection. When Mercury was in ret-
rograde, if you took the time to slow down,
contemplate your words, and become more
organized, now will be a good time to move
forward again with confidence and improve
situations that were not working.
April 18-19
Both the Sun and Moon are exalted now.
Each year, these two powerful days are
supreme for manifesting and beginning new
projects. Now is an auspicious time to make
important purchases, or perhaps invest in
new equipment or businesses. But in general,
these are also excellent days for growth and
Sam Geppi (Sadasiva) is the author of Yoga and Vedic Astrology and The Ascen-
dant—108 Planets of Vedic Astrology. He is the founder of the American Academy
of Vedic Art and Science, which offers three levels of certification programs in Vedic
Astrology. Currently the Academy has more than 120 students enrolled. Visit Sam’s
website at: vedicartandscience.com
developing the only true wealth there is: spir-
itual awareness. The courage of the exalted
Sun in connection of the exalted Moon also
work together to align both the masculine
and feminine.
April 20-21
The Moon is in Gemini, aspected by Saturn
and Mars in Sagittarius. This supports a rest-
less mind with a lot of curiosity. At the same
time, the aspects from Saturn and Mars may
bring some agitation. This extra stimulation
and stress could also lead to miscommunica-
tion and arguments. Yet this restless curiosity
could also help reveal the source of your
inspiration. This is especially good for teach-
ers, researchers, and other seekers.
April 29
There is a Full Moon in Libra. This Full
Moon is opposite the Sun in Aries. We’ve
been in this Aries cycle for a couple weeks
now. And this Full Moon harmonizes the in-
dividuality of Aries with the cooperation and
consensus-building of Libra. In order to fully
realize your potential as an individual, you
must learn to harmonize with others and get
along with them. Now is an excellent time to
learn that lesson.
This Full Moon happens in Swati Nakshatra,
which is related to service. The deity of this
Nakshatra is Lord Hanuman, a powerful
devotee of Lord Rama. He is also symbolic
of the power of the breath and prana. Today
is a good day for yoga and spiritual practices.

48 L AYOG A .CO M
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