Funny Video !!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LnVXld9ZaE0

Just do yoga ! : )

Movie : Sita Sings the Blues
This is a really cool indi film done by Nina Paley, an American cartoon animator. That's some of her artwork in the picture with this post.

Essentially, here's the gist: An American artist/cartoon animator is married and living in the US. Her husband gets transferred to India for work. She eventually joins him in India but is surprised to find out he now wants a divorce. Now she is heartbroken -- and far from home. The result of this pain, is that she interweaves the story of her own heartbreak with the story of the Hindu Goddess Sita, (who also had a rocky love life) and being a cartoon artist, she journals the whole thing into an animated film. Her choice of using American Blues for the soundtrack is brilliant.

The beauty of this film is not just the fine artwork, but the cleverness of how the artist intertwined the same story in two cultures, not just visually and emotionally, but also aurally -- ancient and modern, Hindu and Western -- she shows how the fraility of the heart is the same for all -- even if you are a beautiful Goddess.

Find out more about the artist Nina Paley at http://www.ninapaley.com/

I highly recommend seeing this film -- I hear you can view online !

Delicious kale recipe !!
I had this the other day at Whole Foods -- it was so crazily delicious that I googled the recipe and was surprised and delighted to find this. Try it -- it is sooo scrumptious and good for you too ! Kale is one of those nutritious superfoods we should all try to incorporate into our diet. The Braggs Liquid Aminos is easily found at Whole Foods or any health food store (and it's delicious too ! you can use it in any savory dish).

Kale with Seaweed, Sesame and Ginger

1/2 cup dried arame sea vegetables (food-grade seaweed)
Dark sesame oil, about 2 Tbsp
1 Tbsp peeled and minced ginger
1 bunch kale
1 Tbsp minced garlic
2 Tbsp Bragg Liquid Aminos
1 Tbsp Toasted sesame seeds

1 -Rinse the seaweed in water and let soak, covered in water for 5-7 minutes. Drain seaweed and place in a large bowl. Add 1 teaspoon of dark sesame oil and the minced ginger.
2 -Wash kale by soaking in water, rinsing thoroughly. Chop cross-wise into 1-inch by 2-inch pieces.
3 -In a large covered skillet, uncover and heat 2 teaspoons of dark sesame oil on medium heat. Add garlic and gently sauté for one minute, until fragrant. Add the seaweed and ginger, gently cook for 1 minute. Remove seaweed/ginger/garlic from pan back to the bowl and set aside.
4 -Heat 1 Tbsp sesame oil in the skillet. Add the chopped kale. Add 3 Tbsp of Braggs. Gently mix in the pan to coat the kale with the oil and Bragg. Cover; lower heat to low; let cook for 5-10 minutes or until kale is wilted - soft enough to eat easily, but not so soft as to be mushy. Remove cover and let cook a minute more to evaporate any excess moisture. Remove from heat. Mix in the kale with the seaweed ginger mixture. Add more sesame oil and Braggs to taste. Garnish with toasted sesame seeds.
Serves 4. - Simply Recipes http://simplyrecipes.com

Yogavani Mission - Nada yoga/yogic chant

This is lead by a very special yoga teacher and one time swami at IYI. Diksha leads nada yoga (yoga of sound) sessions every week on W. 44th St and it is well worth going. Her Meditation Den is tiny and warm and absolutely charming. I hope you will try to make it. I think the donation is $15.

Just so you know, nada yoga is the yoga of sound. It is a whole specialty of it's own. Sound is vibration and vibration is very powerful (that's why monks chant). The nada yoga chants are not as melodic as what you may be used to -- sometimes, it is pretty funny sounding, but know that the sounds are powerful and that the power of that sound is becoming part of you.

For those of you interested in advancing in your yoga practice, this is a good way to enhance, deepen and, most importantly, expand the experience of your practice.

The Meditation Den 415 W 44th Street NYC Tel 212 581-5200

Being on time for yoga class ...!!!

OK, I have to rant. I notice more and more that people are coming late to yoga class.

Coming late to class is distracting to the other yoga students in the class and honestly, it's very annoying for the teacher. The teacher is working hard to set a healing vibration early in the class and students who come in late, snaping out their mats, walking around, etc ... have just undone all the teacher's best efforts. They also just destroyed the other 15 students effort to center themselves.

There is a yogic law of Asteya. It means non- stealing or do not take what does not belong to you. A cow's life does not belong to you, so you have no right to kill it for it's meat. And there is the concept of stealing TIME -- if you come late to appointments, you are demonstrating that other people's time is not important.... you feel entitled to steal their time. If you come late to yoga class, you are stealing the other students' peace, you are stealing away the very benefits for which they came to yoga class. They paid for this yoga class and so indirectly, you are stealing their money too.

If you come late to yoga class, you are distracting the teacher. You are redirecting the attention of the teacher to YOU -- so you are monopolizing and stealing the attention that the teacher should have been focusing on the other 10-20 students. So consider the concept of not taking what does not belong to you.

There are basic etiquette rules when you come to a yoga class:

-Come to class 15 minutes early. It allows you to roll out your mat, get yourself organized and have a few minutes of quiet time for yourself before the class starts. If the class starts at 6PM, do try to be there by 5.45PM. If you come early, I think you'll find you'll get more out of your class.

-Be Considerate and respectful of your fellow yogis : If you are new to yoga, look around the class. BE AWARE of what the other students are doing. You are NOT in this class by yourself and part of yoga is to be aware of yourself in space and in relation to others. Observe how the other students are not talking to each other, they are not reorganizing their shopping bags, they are not causing distraction. Do observe how the other students enter the room silently, are quiet, tranquil and not moving around much . Also, observe yourself -- are YOU are the last student coming into class... rushing in, stomping around, throwing your mat out, making the other students move their mats to accommodate you , rearranging your clothes, fidgeting with your hair ... ?

-Please turn off your cell phones. I am so serious about this. If I had my own studio, and someone's cell phone went off during class, I would ask them to leave my class --- FOREVER.

-Please do not wear jewelry to class. All those pretty bracelets, beads and bangles make a lot of jangling noise which is annoying to the other students and the teacher. Yoga is about finding the silence -- your bracelets are not helping us -- and yes, we can all hear you jangling!! Also, yoga is about energy flow. Jewelry holds energy. Please avoid wearing a lot of rings because you will find during asanas where your weight is on your hands (as in down dog) the rings will cause you discomfort. If you are concentrating on your rings, you cant be concentrating on perfecting your yoga.

-Please wear appropriate clothing for yoga. I am not saying you have to wear expensive yoga gear (I get mine on sale at Old Navy) -- you can come in your pyjamas as long as you can be comfortable. But I cant tell you how often students come to class wearing sweaters and sweats. Yoga makes you move, your body temperature is going to go up. Part of yoga is to sweat because it is a cleansing. If you wear sweaters etc. to yoga, you are going to be miserable.

-Please do not eat for 2 hours before class. If you are starving before class, have something light such as a yoghurt, some fruit, a handful of nuts, a small bowl of cereal or soup.

-Please be considerate of your fellow student on the next mat and do not wear perfumes. Just because you love Jungle Gardenia does not mean the person next to you does.

-And finally, be respectful. Respect your fellow classmates and the teacher. Be respectful of the ancient practice and wisdom of yoga. If you cant do that, then maybe you'll be more comfortable in a different kind of exercise class for now. You'll be back when you're ready.

Namaste.

Acupuncture

I love acupuncture and I have gone to Melina many, many times for wonderful, healing treatments. If you have never tried acupuncture before, I urge you to try it as it is healing and leaves you feeling very relaxed. Acupuncture is very effective for many ailments and well recognized by Western medicine. They even have acupuncturists on staff in major hospitals now. Melina is great, sensitive, gentle and is a fully licensed acupuncturist. She only uses disposable needles (NY State law !). Her office is in Manhattan. Give her a call for more information.

Melina Bilic, M.S.,LMT.,LAc.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Healing Garden Acupuncture

Traditional Oriental Medicine

Lymphedema Management

347-448-1489

Yoga aiming for Olympic Competition?
There is an article today in the NYTimes about how the founders of Bikram Yoga are promoting international yoga competitions and their goal is to have yoga recognized as an Olympic sport. As you might guess, this is ruffling feathers in the yoga community. Yoga is reduced to the physical. Yoga is over commodified. It's all about money. It's all a competition.....
What do you think ? Read the article here : http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/19/fashion/19fitness.html?em

There is one comment by a NYT reader that I like (I paraphrase) : " my chi can kick your karma's butt !"

Leave your comment on my blog -- I would love to read your thoughts!

The FIRST animal shelter in Iran

The Middle East does not really have a concept of pets or of treating animals with respect and compassion.

Some Middle Eastern taxi and limo drivers here in NYC refuse to take passengers with dogs because it is "against their religion". ... apparently, the Koran says something like that anyone who shows kindness to a dog will not go to heaven or that God won't come to a home which shelters a dog. And it was a source of great amusement to the Middle East when there was a newspaper photo of President Clinton giving his Labrador a kiss....

Anyway,

Fatemeh Motamedi in Iran has figured out that God made dogs too and they deserve kindness, love and respect. She opened the FIRST animal shelter in Iran with her own money. She provides shelter, food and veterinary care. Most Iranians dont understand what she is doing -- who would care about a dog ? So she gets little support from her community. I think Fatemeh's place in heaven is guaranteed.

check out Fatemeh's blog -- http://vafaanimalshelter.blogspot.com/

send a donation if you can. Adopt a dog if you can (yeah, I know -- it's far away -- but read Max's story at the bottom of the blog) . These dogs have had a rough life with little compassion shown to them at all. And there is just one woman in Iran trying to help them. So help Fatemeh continue to run her shelter... in any way you can.

Yoga changes everything....

Many of my students come to me because after they have been practicing a while, they notice that their lives are changing... the familiar becomes unfamiliar...and not always in the most comfortable way.

They notice that they don't enjoy their old hang outs as much, drinking the weekend away is not that much fun, they are looking at their friends differently... so then they decide to change everything !!! No more going out to parties, no more friends who smoke or eat meat, no more this no more that... now the only thing is to hang out with other yogis, go to India, seek out yoga teachers and wise Gurus and do "spiritual" stuff. They become official "seekers".

So they think if they do all this practice, go to satsang, go to kirtan, buy an OM bracelet, they will become more spiritual, more enlightened. And this can go on for a few months or for years before they get sick of it.

Then what? Then the student has to find the courage to stop seeking. The student hopefully reaches the realization that everything is within themselves. That yoga is all about recognizing yourself -- it's not about a guru, a $95 yoga mat, a sacred mountain. There comes a time when you have to surrender to yoga and to yourself. Then the student sees that chasing the externals is useless...then the student is no longer on the spiritual path, the student finally becomes the path.

Just do yoga.

Asteya = Non stealing

One of the yoga laws is non-stealing.  It doesnt just mean dont steal somebody's wallet.  As in all things yoga, it has a much more subtle meaning:

Being a non- vegetarian is stealing. That fish or chicken or cow or mink had a life to which it was entitled to live without interference. If you kill the animal to eat it, you are stealing it's life. If you force a chicken to live in a factory cage so it can produce eggs for you, then you are stealing it's quality of life. If you use an animal for testing cosmetics, medicine  or laundry detergent, you are stealing it's life and inflicting great prolonged suffering. If you wear fur coats, you are literally stealing not just the skin off that mink's back and inflicting pain and misery, but stealing his right to having a life as well.  These animals are sentient beings and their lives are not yours to take and it is selfish arrogance to think otherwise.

It is said that a civilization can be judged by how they treat their animals. 

STRESS !!
Here is an interesting article from today's NYTimes on how the brain deals with stress --- giving you all the more reason to do yoga !!

I love the quote at the end by novelist Ellen Glasgow : “The only difference between a rut and a grave are the dimensions.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/18/science/18angier.html

The GoodGuide to find "green" products..
Ever wonder what is in your body lotion ? Or your dishwashing liquid ? Well , the folks at GoodGuide have analyzed all the chemicals in our everyday products and set forth a list of what's really good for you and what is not.

Did you know that some sunscreens can have chemicals in them that alter your hormonal system ? and then when you go swimming, it washes off and contaminates the waters, which then contaminates the fish ....
http://www.goodguide.com/

Santosha (Contentment)

Another of the Yogic Laws from the Sutras is Contentment or Santosha. Maybe this is an important idea now that we are in a time of economic downturn.

Contentment only comes with peace of mind, but our culture promotes discontent. Advertisers feed us with images of better cars, better phones, better whatever and without it, we are bound to be unhappy. We are pushed to consume as if there was no tomorrow, instant and superficial gratifications are supposed to fullfil us and bring us happiness. And we become attached to these ideas -- if I have a Lexus, I will be important. If I have a bigger house, I will be impressive. But clinging to these external things and images are no source of happiness.

Very often, students ask if you are content, do you become complacent? This is not true as contentment is taking active responsibility for your own self, a decision to know that you are responsible for your own happiness and peace. You decide to be at peace and to not be attached, not to grasp. But being at peace, does not mean you give up your ambitions... it's how you go about it that matters.

Contentment is knowing that real happiness is inside of us, and that external things bring only temporary happiness. And you have to work at remembering this everyday.

Do yoga at home with Rodney Yee 

Gaiam and Rodney Yee have joined together and they have this fabulous 12 week series of yoga classes online !  They charge you $65 and if you dont like it, they will refund you pro-rata ($20 min).  I think it's great.  NO more excuses.  You can do Yoga at home, on vacation.... anywhere !

I have done a teacher's workshop with Rodney Yee and he is a great teacher.   I hope you try it out. 

http://www.gaiamyogaclub.com/

Check this out !!    
http://catworkout.com/

: ) 

Satsang at home...

Gaia now has the Gaia Illumination University online. For $4 a week, you can participate with 15 week courses on spirituality from the comfort of your home (or anywhere). They have many well known guest speakers. I believe there is a free trial too so you can try it out before spending any money. Here is the web site :
http://www.gaiailluminationuniversity.com/q109

"Wherever the mind wanders, restless and diffuse in its search for satisfaction without, lead it within; train it to rest in the Self."
Source: The Bhagavad-Gita: 6:26

Vegetarian cooking ...
I just found this website ! Mollie Katzen wrote the famous and best selling Enchanted Broccoli Forest cookbook a looong time ago and I just found her website and it has tons of free veggie recipes ! Take a look for yourself and try the Vegetable of the Month special recipes with Asparagus. Ahimsa. OM

http://www.molliekatzen.com/index.php

Vegetarian Food in the Village 

I just started eating at this tiny veggie salad bar place by NYU - and it is fabulous !! It is suitable for veggies, vegans, raw foodies... and I swear that every bite I take there makes me feel better.  I dont know if it's imbued with incredible vibes or if it's just that delicious.  I think the people who own it are Korean so there are lots of yummy Korean dishes.  You can get fresh juices there too if you ask the cashier.  

Try it out --it's a tiny salad bar type place and super casual.   I think they have 3 tables.

Temple in the Village  74 West 3rd Street NYC 

Pets die at the groomers...
Warning to pet owners : This apparently is becoming a problem -- pet groomers are enclosing animals in "drying machines" and leaving them unattended. Unfortuneately, I keep hearing about pets that die in these machines from extreme heat. This is completely uneccessary and insanely cruel. If you take your dog to be groomed, voice your concern loudly about this to the groomer -- and tell your friends. This should never be allowed to happen EVER .
Check out this NBC TV link : http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25966380/

Cell phone numbers have gone public and Telemarketers can now call you on your cell phone unless you have registered your number with the National DO NOT CALL Registry.
Call 888-382-1222 from your cell phone to block your number for five years. You must call from the cell phone number you want blocked. You cannot call from a different phone. Effective 1 month from when you call.

New Teaching Time In March
Seems that Integral Yoga is switching class schedules around and in March, my class will be on Fridays at 6.15pm up in the newly redecorated room on the 6th Floor (Heaven).

There is a possibility that my class will also be listed officially as a 2 hour class !! Keep your fingers crossed.

Oriental Medicine
Interested in acupunture, massage or using Chinese herbs ? I found out that the Pacific College for Oriental Medicine offers all these services (and more) at reduced rates if you are willing to consult with their interns ($42 for acupunture, $53 for massage...).
They have an herbal pharmacy too.
915 Broadway NYC - 3rd Floor. Call 212 982 4600 for more info.

PS: Animals can benefit from acupuncture too. In this photo, a dog is getting treated for arthritis.

Yoga for depression
Certain yoga poses can help diffuse anxiety and depression and it gives you an alternative to the pharmaceutical cure. And for those of you with spine problems, yoga can help you with that too.

Yoga Union Center for Backcare & Scoliosis, 32 W 28th St - 4th Floor NYC
(Broadway /Sixth Ave) 212-532-1512. 9am–noon, $50. Registration required.

"Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world that they’ve been given than to explore the power they have to change it. Impossible is not a fact. It is an opinion. Impossible is temporary.

Impossible is nothing."

-- Adidas Advertisement

Happy New Year to you all.

New Year's Day at Dharma Yoga 

It is the New Year's Day tradition at Dharma Mittra Yoga to chant the Hanuman Chalisa from 8AM - 7PM.  Generally, it is led by Krishna Das and other kirtan leaders.  You can come and go as you prefer, stay for 15 minutes, stay all day if you like.  It's a great way to start the New Year. 

Free to all. Donations welcome. 

Dharma Mittra Yoga - 297 Second Ave (upstairs) NYC    2nd Ave/23rd St.

212 889-8160

Plastic Surgery /Breast Augmentation problems ...
Yeah, I know, this is an odd posting but I found this article in the NYTimes and I thought it was informative about a lot of the problems that come with this very common surgery. I find a lot of people are having cosmetic surgeries without thinking about what happens in 5 years. This article explains some of the potential problems, the alarming frequency of repeat surgeries and the financial burden (because insurance does not cover you if something goes wrong later). Doctors seem to not be stressing (or patients don't hear the warning) the fact that the implants inevitably deteriorate with time, and unless replaced every 5+ or so years, will lead to leaking and a host of other potentially serious systemic health problems.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/17/fashion/17SKIN.html?fta=y
If you are a man and you're reading this, it still applies to you because you have a Mom, a wife, a sister , a girlfriend...

Asteya = Non Stealing
Asteya is one of the yogic "laws" of behaviour. It means non-stealing and trying to live your life with an awareness of not taking what is not yours to take. It is more subtle than just the notion of stealing someone else's property -- it encompasses the psychological source of that desire to steal -- in essence, a feeling of entitlement and selfishness -- and invites you to be aware of this within your self as you go through your day.

At the most base level, stealing someone's wallet, means you feel more self -entitled to that wallet than the owner and so you are willing to take it for yourself . The secondary effect of stealing the wallet is the inconvenience and worry that you cause the person who lost the wallet -- introducing the notion of selfish disregard for the harm you caused by the act of stealing.

Non-stealing does not apply to just material things. If you keep people waiting, you are stealing their time -- demonstrating your devaluation of other people's time. If you date someone for a long time that you are not that interested in, if you lead a person on, if you stay in the relationship because it is convenient to you, you are stealing and wasting months or years of the other persons life and are inconsiderate of the pain you will cause them.

There are smaller and more subtle ways to think about non-stealing -- in yoga class, a student who is not prepared and who is ego driven, may think they are better at yoga than they really are and they try to "steal" a pose. How can you steal a pose? You steal a pose if you have not done the work to own that pose. Again, the source of this is the sense of entitlement -- that the pose should be easy without having put in the effort. (Sadly, this can result in real injury).

Some students want more attention from both the teacher and the other students -- they disrupt the class, they come in late, they act out to attract attention -- stealing away peace of mind and concentration from the other students -- in effect, stealing the class away from others.

Everywhere, there are students who think they know more than their teachers. A teacher has a PhD and has been immersed in a field for 20 years and a student thinks the knowledge is all his... "stealing" a sense of importance versus the deep knowledge and experience of a university teacher.

Being a non- vegetarian is stealing. That fish or chicken or cow had a life to which it was entitled to live without interference. If you kill the animal to eat it, you are stealing it's life. If you force a chicken to live in a factory cage so it can produce eggs for you, then you are stealing it's quality of life. If you use an animal for testing cosmetics or laundry detergent, you are stealing it's life. These animals are sentient beings and their lives are not yours to take and it is selfish arrogance to think otherwise.

Non- stealing is like non-action. It does not mean not stealing. It means being aware of not taking what is not yours to take and choosing not to do it. It means being awake to self-importance, selfishness, and the sense of entitlement that manifests as stealing behavior.

Free Yoga DVD
Hurry and get a free 20 minute morning practice DVD from Yoga Journal (+$3 shipping) ! www.yogajournal.com/dvdsampler
Yoga Journal also has a free weekly yoga class on podcast
you can check it out here : http://www.yogajournal.com/podcast/
If you look around, you'll see they also have Yoga Journal TV.

I know a lot of people think yoga is too expensive (I paid $9 for a yoga magazine today -- ridiculous !!!) -- but there are ways to cut costs and I have written about it in past posts... Rodney Yee's classes (I looove Rodney) on podcast for a monthly subscription, Yoga For The People.... etc etc... so scroll around my past postings.

It looks like the next wave will be yoga television programs . I know Rodney Yee has a TV show in the works and it seems Yoga Journal is starting something with their Yoga Journal TV.

Hmmm... I always wanted my own studio.. maybe I should forget about that and go straight to TV !!

Money and Finances ....
not my favorite subject by a long shot, but there are some ways on the internet that make learning about it more fun.... this Investopedia website not only has tutorials, financial news and more, it also gives you access to simulated financial "games" -- where you can invest pretend money and see in real time if you picked the right stocks. Try it out... you might be the next Wall Street Wizard -- hopefully, a yogic one.

http://www.investopedia.com/

Perfect Action -Bidding for Good
You can go online to buy your Holiday gifts and benefit many various charities at the same time ! Click on the link below and scroll around ... you can buy everything from tickets to a Broadway show to a Calvin Klein cashmere coat to a luxury trip to Jamaica or Hawaii.... and the money you bid goes to help others. All merchandise/travel is donated by companies for on-line auction and you can take advantage of it and do good at the same time, which makes it a perfect action (very yogic) .
http://www.cmarket.com/auction/BiddingForGood.action

Kirtan with Kamaniya and Tommy Be

Chanting from the Heart and Soul
Friday, Nov. 21 • 8.00 p.m. at Integral Yoga in Greenwich Village $15 (children under 12 are admitted free)
.... the chanting Goddess is back at IYI !!

Thanksgiving for animals too
Try having a vegan or vegetarian Thanksgiving celebration meal. There are lots of vegan recipes on the web. Just click on the link below for a whole festive meal plan with delicious recipes.

Millions of turkeys are slaughtered for Thanksgiving Day. Why continue this sad tradition ? Make your gathering a happier way of celebrating and eating this year -- make the vegetarian meal your new annual tradition.

http://www.mercyforanimals.org/thanksgiving_recipes.asp

World Society for the Protection of Animals
There is unspeakable cruelty towards animals in this world and this is an international society that works to prevent cruelty, create new animal protection laws and educate people. Animals are tortured to the death for human entertainment : bear baiting, bull fights, pit bull fights...
You can become a member of the Animal Rescue Team for a contribution of just $14/month. You can help.

https://www.worldsocietyprotectionofanimals.org/bear/?e27=1007&e28=4042&e29=105000012

May all sentient beings be free of suffering
May all sentient beings know and experience
what is good and beautiful in Life.

Teaching Schedule
Looks like I am teaching a Hatha II/III at Integral Yoga
on this Wednesday (tomorrow) Nov 5th at 6.15PM.
If you want to work on your headstand, this is the class !!

Quinoa
Vegetarians are so clever at finding ways to add protein to their meals. Quinoa is a grain from South America that is packed with much more protein than other grains -- and I can vouch that it is light and delicious ! It's easily available at supermarkets or your health food store. Use quinoa instead of rice. The New York Times gives a recipe on cooking quinoa. Just click on the link.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/03/health/nutrition/03recipehealth.html?em

Halloween...

Please remember to keep your pets safe and inside the house during Halloween.  Be aware that Halloween can be a scary and dangerous time for your pet. 

Chapel of Sacred Mirrors

Artist Alex Grey has painted extraordinarily detailed pictures of humans at their most divine - he shows not only anatomical detail but also the flow of energy through the body. These paintings are fantastic and mystical and a mirror of yourself. After hours, the gallery hosts chanting, drumming circles, full moon gatherings, yoga and lots more ! They are located at:

542 W 27th Street Tel: 212 564-4253 http://www.cosm.org/

I hear they are closing soon -- (so call before you go) do try and visit the gallery before it's gone. Just $5.00 donation. I think you will find it well worth the trip.

Sharon Salzberg Meditation Class at Tibet House

Sharon Salzberg is a bhuddist nun and master meditation teacher. She makes meditation techniques easy and accessible. I have gone to her classes year after year and she always teaches me so much more.... $10 suggested donation.

Nov 18, 25 and Dec 2, 9, and 16 meditation starts at 6pm, instruction starts at 7pm.

Tibet House 22 West 15th Street, NYC. www.tibethouse.org

(cats meditate, to0)

Tibetan Healing Chod at Tibet House

This is a special 3 part Tibetan healing starting Nov 10. You need to attend all 3 sessions - probably about 90 mins each.

The ritual is that all participants lie on the floor and a group of Tibetan monks and a holy Lama chant a healing ceremony with the intention of healing your karma. This chod ritual has existed for thousands of years. This is a very popular ceremony so book in advance and arrive early to get your space on the floor. Bring your own cushion or blanket. By the way, the chant is not melodic -- so dont expect something like kirtan.

www.tibethouse.org

Tibet House 22 West 15th Street, NYC

Kirtan with Jai Uttal 

Jai Uttal will be chanting at Integral Yoga Oct 24 and Oct 25 at 7.30PM.

Tickets are $25 in advance, $30 at the door.

Jai is a Grammy nominated artist and he comes to IYI just once a year.  This is your opportunity to join in and chant with a master !!!  

You can check out his website :  www.jaiuttal.com 

"If you judge someone, you have no time to love them"  - Mother Theresa

Judith Lasater sent this quote to me in an email.  

The simple truth of it is striking. 

Alchemy in Movement 

There is a place on 17th/3rd Ave called Sal Anthony's Movement Salon and they give pilates, yoga, gyrotonics and Alchemy in Movement (AIM)  classes.   I went there yesterday and it's pretty amazing!  The teaching staff are serious, well trained and very attentive.  They have lots of introduction packages to get you started and they even give you 30 minutes for free so that you can gain a level of comfort on the machines before you start.  The prices are reasonable and for a lot of their group classes, they limit class size to just 4 people (you need to book in advance). 

I recommend trying this place out -- I did the AIM (kind of a hybrid of yoga and pilates) and the pilates machines yesterday and I am soooo sore today !!! my abs hurt me every time I move !   It's a good thing.  : )   Here's the web info:   www.movementsalon.com  or  call 212 420-7242

Raw Food Restaurant

Interested in trying a raw food meal ? Pure Food and Wine is an excellent and elegant raw food restaurant on Irving Place/17th St -- perfect place for a date ! 

If you want something more casual, Pure Food has a take out shop around the corner called One Lucky Duck.  They have raw chocolate truffles, raw cookies as well as meals and snacks. 

Vegan Makeup

Urban Decay cosmetics is kind to animals !  Not only do they not test their makeup/cosmetics on animals, they have lots of items that are actually vegan -- cosmetics made with no animal derived products (like lanolin) or cruel animal testing.  So now you can practice Ahimsa (non -violence, do no harm) and still look smoking hot ! 

Personally, I love their super sparkly vegan eyeliners   : ) 

check out Urban Decay at Sephora  or their website : www. urbandecay.com/vegan.cfm 

Make up brushes - Cruelty Free

Most make up brushes are made from  animal fur.  The Body Shop carries a lovely line of cosmetic brushes which are 100% synthetic and they are soft and wonderful and they work. They are easy to wash too.  

It's an easy way to be mindful, to do no harm.

KIRTAN

Deva Premal and WAH! are in NYC this month !

Scroll down to get the info from 

my previous posting

Be there or be square. 

Yoga Retreat 

I know I told you Rikard and I are planning a yoga weekend retreat -- but we are having a bit of a problem finding an Autumn location -- close to NYC, not too expensive etc, etc.... 

Ananda Ashram is offering us Jan/Feb dates (See?  we really do have to plan far in advance !) so unless we can find somewhere soon, that might be the plan.   But we are still working on finding somewhere sooner than that. 

By the way, Rikard is teaching at IYI now.  Ask for his schedule at the front desk.    

Best Friends Animal Sanctuary and Chase Bank

If you sign up for a Visa card through the Best Friends website by Dec 31, 2008, Chase Bank will donate $100,000 to this animal charity.  And every time you make a purchase with your card, Chase will donate money to Best Friends. 

go to : www.bestfriends.org

Best Friends took it upon themselves to  rescue 4,000 abandoned dogs in New Orleans after Katrina and continues to do lots of good work as a sanctuary for homeless, abandoned and abused animals of all kinds. 

Help Best Friends continue to help other helpless animals.  

You are going to use a Visa card anyway... use one that helps others !! 

You can help ...
This is like a Doctors without Borders type of organization, but they specialize in surgically fixing cleft palates for free in 3rd world countries. It is a simple, routine surgery and it changes someone's whole life. If you donate, you can help these doctors continue their good work.

http://www.smiletrain.org/site/PageServer

Movies with a spiritual and compassionate leaning ...
The Spiritual Cinema Circle (owned by Gaiam) is a subscription service that sends you monthly DVDs of indi movies that you might never see elsewhere and that are thought provoking, inspirational and spiritual. Movies like "What the Bleep" usually dont make it to the local movie theatre, but film makers keep producing them and you can watch them via this service. Subscription to The Spiritual Cinema Circle costs about $25/month and they send you 4 movies on DVD to keep. You can cancel at any time.

Part of your subscription fee is donated to help indi film makers (such a brilliant idea) --so you get to support the artists too. If you go to their website, you can get a free trial subscription and see if you like their movies. http://www.spiritualcinemacircle.com/

Yoga deals ...
Sonic Yoga 754 Ninth Ave / 51st St
Sign up with a monthly membership by Aug 31 and get 3 months of yoga at 50% off. If you dont like it , you can cancel. http://www.sonicyoga.com/

Bikram Yoga NYC - many locations
Intro special $23 gets you one week of unlimited yoga. Warning: Bikram yoga is practiced in rooms that are heated to over 100 degrees. NOT for people with high blood pressure problems. They charge $5.00 for mat rental. $1.00 for a towel. http://www.bikramyoganyc.com/

Integral Yoga Institute- 227 W 13th St
They are having a $99 special for a month's worth of yoga !! and mats are free ! Best deal by far. 212 929-0586

WAH ! kirtan in NYC     October 18, 2008   8.00PM

OM Yoga Center  826 Bway / 12th St  NYC    212 254-9642  www.omyoga.com

Deva Premal Kirtan in NYC   October 11, 2008

The Path of Yoga Conference at the Sheraton NY Hotel- 811 Seventh Ave /53rd St

Organizer : Omega Institute Tel : 877 944 2002 for reservations. $25.00

Krishna Das Kirtan in NYC    September 21, 2008 at 6.00PM

Church of St. Paul and St. Andrew 86th St and West End Ave $15.00

buy tickets online at : www.iyiny.org/workshops_events/Kirtan_with_krishna_das

Free Yoga Passbook
Go to this website and get at passbook to many yoga and pilates studios all over NYC. You pay a flat fee of $75 and you get 600 free passes ! It's a good deal and you get to try out lots of different schools.
http://www.health-fitness.org/ny.html

Vegan shoes and accessories
In keeping with AHIMSA (do no harm) and vegetarianism, you might consider using less leather and wool in your life -- there are lots of good, comfortable synthetic alternatives now.

Designer Stella McCartney produces cruelty free vegan shoes and so do many other companies. Last winter I was admiring vegan snow boots at the new Whole Foods downtown on the Bowery.

Here is a link to MooShoes... this is a shop on the Lower East Side that sells only cruelty free shoes, clothes and accessories. One can order online, as well.
http://www.mooshoes.com/about.html

Lessons in Buddhism and Meditation

A Chinese Buddhist temple in Chinatown has an American monk in residence who gives talks on Buddhism and meditation. Fee is by donation.

Saturdays at 4pm

Grace Gratitute Buddhist Temple, 48 East Broadway NYC (chinatown)

212 925-1335

Laws of yoga
In yoga, we have our own version of the 10 commandments. Generally referred to as yama and niyama. These are laws that you are supposed to take with you out into your daily life -- a yogic attitude to living.

There are many branches to yoga: Yama (suggestions for social behaviour), Niyama (suggestions for personal disciplines), Asana (physical postures), Pranayama (breathing exercises) Pratyahara (sense withdrawal) Dharana(concentration) Dhyana (meditation) and Samadhi (Super consciousness).

I have written about Ahimsa (non-harming) many times on this blog. But I thought I would list the Yamas and Niyamas for you as food for thought and you help you in your practice :

Niyamas:
*Saucha - Cleanliness. Not only a means of keeping our bodies clean and healthy, but a practice of keeping a clear mind.
*Samtosha - Happiness and modesty. To be happy with what you have, instead of being unhappy over what you dont have.
*Tapah - Keeping the body fit and healthy through healthful eating, exercise (asana) and kriyas. *Svadhyaya - Meditation and self awareness. This can be done through the repetition (japa) of mantra or the reading of the scriptures.
*Isvarapranidhana - Surrender. knowing that you have done your best and that you offer your actions to the Universe.

Yamas:
*Ahimsa - Non violence. Do not kill. Do not harm anyone by action, word or thought. Do not show cruelty to any sentient being. Treat every life with respect and compassion. Do not cause injury by your spoken word -- do not gossip, do not lie, do not insult. Do not use other people or animals.
*Satya - Truthfulness/honesty. Do not mislead people through lying or half truths. Do not mislead by omission.
*Asteya - Non stealing. It's not referrring to stealing just material things. It means do not steal somebody's time (dont be late, dont stay in a relationship with people in whom you are not sincerely interested), do not steal somebody's trust, do not steal somebody's love.
*Brahmacharya - Sense control/ restraint. Most typically, this refers to sexual abstinence. However, it means do not lose your path -- act responsibly towards moving towards your Truth. Do not allow sensual attractions (e.g. over-indulging in eating, smoking, drinking, shopping) to distract you.
*Aparigraha - Do not hoard. Clear out your closets. Do not take or use more than is necessary (dont buy something just because it's on sale, dont overload your plate at a buffet, dont drive a gas hog). Do not exploit others for your gain. Do not grasp onto money -- grasping blocks the natural flow of energy. Give away what you dont need or use.

Volunteer to Help Homeless New Yorkers
The Coalition For The Homeless (www.coalitionforthehomeless.org) is the oldest non-profit advocate of the homeless and low-income populations in the city. Among its various activities is its 'Grand Central Food Program,' which delivers meals throughout the city every night.

The Coalition is looking for immediate volunteer help on Sunday evenings, specifically for drivers with clean records and the ability to handle a van. Three vans go out seven nights a week, one each to the Bronx, Uptown Manhattan/Harlem and Downtown Manhattan. Approximately 750 to 1,000 individuals and families are served each day through this program. New volunteer drivers will be given printed route directions and will also be accompanied by at least one other volunteer that is familiar with the route.

If you are interested in volunteering , please contact Derron Lee at derron.lee@gmail.co

Weekend yoga retreat
Rikard and I are talking about doing another weekend yoga retreat in the Fall (maybe October --seems a long way off, but we need to plan) --so if you think you'll be interested in coming with us, or if you missed the last one, please send me an email so we can get an idea of how many rooms we will be needing from the ashram. Thanks !

email: quietyoga@msn.com

Summer Vacation with your pet
I almost always take my cats with me when I travel (they love it ) and I find hotels where we are all welcome. There is a free publication around town called City Tails (www.CityTails.org) and they have a great article on hip hotels for you and your pet - from high luxury to budget hotels. Another link is www.tailsinc.com

And do I have to remind you of this ?
NEVER leave your pet in a car during the summer. The inside of the car (even with the windows open) can reach unbearably high heat in just seconds and kill or severely brain damage your animal. The windows intensify the heat and turn your car into an instant oven. Just dont take the risk -- protect your pets and never leave them alone.

Pet Pedicures

A lot of people have problems clipping their pets nails -- and it can be very painful and dangerous for your pet. here is a new gadget that files down (not cut) the nail and is painless for your pet. It's $30. Check out the web : http://www.peticure.com/

I have no problems clipping my cats nails -- but now that I know that the just the pressure from the clippers can hurt them, I'll be buying this nail filer for them.

Nada Yoga is the Yoga of Sound Vibration 

I love Diksha's Nada Yoga meditation.  She leads this meditation every Wednesday evening.  I try to go as often as I can and I LOVE her meditation den !  It is so small and sweet and at the same time sooooo exotic and spritual.  Wear comfortable, loose clothes since you will be sitting for the whole meditation (no asana ).  

As a Fulbright scholar, Diksha spent several years in India studying Eastern Music.  She is a professional musician by day, and an IYI yoga and meditation teacher the rest of the time.   

JAI Diksha !!   She has a CD too to guide  you through a chakra sound meditation and it's one of my favorites.  Well worth buying. 

The Meditation Den  -- 415 W 44th Street, NYC  (buzzer #8)  $15 donation       

Wednesdays 7pm      www.yogavanimission.org

A REAL Unicorn !!!
Check this out !! She is beautiful and she's real and living in Italy !!!

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/science/article4116471.ece

Yoga with Rodney Yee at home
Another way to practice yoga at home via the internet. Now yoga master Rodney Yee has an online yoga class and you can join for $5 a week. Check it out... no more excuses to avoid doing yoga ! www.gaiamyogaclub.com

Moving with Sound into Bliss Hatha and Kirtan

This is a yoga class led by Swami Ramananda (President of IYI) while Anjula chants devotional mantra.
I highly recommend this class. Ramananda is an amazing teacher and doesnt give this class often so please take advantage of it. You will leave the class in a haze of peace.

Saturday, July 19 • 11 a.m.-1 p.m. $24
Integral Yoga Institute W. 13th Street between 7-8th Ave /Greenwich Village

New Teaching Schedule

IYI has changed my teaching schedule.
Effective Fri June 6, my intermediate hatha class at IYI will start at 6.00PM

Cats do yoga too !!

On Line Yoga $16 per month
I keep trying to find ways to make yoga affordable for everyone.
Try WWW.Monthlyyogadvd.com -- Another affordable way to bring yoga directly into your home and into your life ! You get to choose different teachers and different styles of yoga. You can even get your yoga class on your cell phone when you're on a business trip !

When you subscribe to MonthlyYogaDVD.com's video classes you can log on and watch the classes right on the website . Or you can download a podcast to your desktop and watch it when you’re ready. It’s simple: $16 a month or $160 a year.

Just do yoga !!!

Body Rolling
Rikard and I both love this. You roll on balls and it realigns your whole body, creating space in your joints and massaging your muscles and fascia.

They also have amaaaziiing yoga mats !!! super dense and comfortable. $110 (!) -- I may have to buy one because they are that good.

Yamuna Body Rolling 132 Perry St.New York, NY 10014
http://www.yamunabodyrolling.com/

Chant with Deva Premal in NYC
Date: Oct 11 2008 730PM $25
Location : Sheraton New York Hotel 811 Seventh Ave/ 53rd St
Register by phone : 877 944- 2002

And for my yogi friends in London .... July 12 7PM at Kensington Great Hall !

Chanting with Krisna Das
Date : Sat June 21 6.30PM $30
Location : Church of St. Paul & St. Andrew / West End Avenue @ 86th St
Ticket info via website : www. krishnadas.com

Two Weeks of Unlimited Yoga for $30

Check out YogaWorks -- for $30 you get 2 weeks of unlimited yoga and you get a year's subscription to Yoga Journal too ! Offer expires on 6/30/08.

"You are tangled up in others and have forgotten what your heart once knew."

-Kabir

Guru Chitrabhanu in NYC

Chitrabhanu comes to NYC from India every spring and gives satsang. He is charming, intelligent and full of light. He was a Jain monk for about 20 years and is now married with children. He was a collegue of Ghandi. I go to listen to him and I find him very genuine. If you are interested in satsang, you should give him a try. they only ask for a $5 donation to cover costs.

Wed May 14, 21, 28 at 7.00 PM

Location : Institute of Indian Culture 305 Seventh Ave /27th St 17th Floor
Information : Jain Meditation International Center : 212 362-6483 or www.jainmeditation.org
Donation : $5.00

New teaching schedule ...

Effective Friday June 6, my Hatha II (intermediate level) class at Integral will be changed to 6.00PM

Just FYI

Adopt an animal in need of a home.

My friend Kamaniya is a big supporter of animal protection education as am I, but I find Kamaniya always reminds me to say something about it.

This blog is inspired by the articles on Kamaniya's blog (see blog from last week) about the nightmare of puppy mills and the heartless, cruel treatment these "purebred" animals receive before being put on sale at your local pet store for hundreds of dollars in profit. It is much better to go to a shelter and adopt an animal that has been abandoned and desperately needs a safe home. The idea is to put the puppy mills out of business.

If having your heart set on a certain breed animal is what keeps you from taking a shelter animal, then please consider adopting from breed specific rescue groups. They have them for every breed cat, dog and horses. If you want a siamese cat, just google "siamese rescue" and you will find many organizations that have siamese cats waiting for your love and care. Some of these rescue organizations are in all different parts of the country.... but call them anyway because they may know of a cat closer to you.

Here are a few links just to give you an idea of what is out there.... if you want poodle or a german shepard, there are rescue organizations out there waiting for your call.

http://www.lab-rescue.org/ http://www.nycsiamese.org/
http://www.pugrescue.com/

Another way to adopt a dog is to call the guide dog organizations... there are always a few dogs who "fail" the guide dog training and who are then considered "useless" -- my friend Mike adopted a labrador who "failed" because she was too friendly and wouldnt stop wagging her tail. These dogs are smart, come pretrained, so they are perfect additions to your family. Any adoption fee goes to help support the guide dog organization. Also, guide dogs are generally retired after 8 years -- the blind person trades the dog in for a younger dog -- so there are also older dogs who have put in years of service who are in need of homes where they can live out their last years and be spoiled by a loving family.

Always be responsible about adopting an animal. make sure you will be able to make room in your life for this animal, have the time to spend with the animal and the money to pay for food and veterinary bills. Dont get an animal and then leave it tied up in the yard because you dont like dog hair on the furniture . Dont get a cat and then abandon it because it shredded your couch. dont get an animal and expect to leave the animal alone every weekend because you have to go to your weekend beach house. Dont get rid of the cat because your current boyfriend is allergic to the cat... get rid of the boyfriend or tell him to find a way to deal with it. I had an allergist once who told me to get rid of my 2 cats --- I got a new allergist and I am fine (so are the cats).

A sentient being is something to be loved and respected.

10,000 Girls

KAOLACK, Senegal (CNN) -- After the sudden death of her 26-year-old daughter left five grandchildren in her care, Viola Vaughn searched for peace.
Though she was a native of Detroit, Michigan, Vaughn had worked in Africa for most of her life and considered it home. So she and her husband returned there to raise their new brood and "watch the coconut trees grow."But the universe had other things in mind for me," says Vaughn.

She couldn't have imagined those plans would include both further tragedy and the motivation to provide educational opportunities to hundreds of failing schoolchildren.
Soon after their move to rural Kaolack, Senegal, in 2000, Vaughn's husband -- jazz musician Sam Sanders -- died of black lung. Amid her grief, she found comfort in her grandchildren, ages 4 to 12, and filled her days home-schooling them. Her success soon garnered attention from the locals.

"There was a little girl that my granddaughter played with. This little girl kept coming around and wanting to be taught with my grandchildren," recalls Vaughn.
"I went to see this child's mother, and her mother said she had already failed school once, that she couldn't pass because she wasn't smart enough. Well she was smart enough to come find me. And I said, 'OK, I'll help you.' "

Within two weeks, Vaughn had 20 girls in her house who were failing school and asking her to teach them. Vaughn learned that the regional pass rate for girls was low because it was rooted in the economic need of young girls to work at home. They begin missing classes, then failing exams, often ultimately failing or dropping out of school. So in 2001, Vaughn turned her grandchildren's bedrooms into classrooms and began supplementing girls' education.
Get Involved: 10,000 Girls

"I found every one a girl younger than she and said, 'You're responsible to make sure she learns.' I taught them how to teach each other." It worked. In two years, the group of girls had grown to 80 -- and they were succeeding in school. With a grant, Vaughn was able to hire teachers, and the program continued to expand despite her attempt to set a limit of 100 girls. "The girls wanted to take it to 10,000," says Vaughn.

To keep their "10,000 Girls" education program going, the girls asked Vaughn to teach them to bake. They began selling cookies and juice and were able to buy books and supplies.
Soon after, they got their older sisters, aunts and cousins -- who had already failed out of the school system -- involved in baking and selling goods. The entrepreneurial element of the program was born.

"They were supporting their cause," says Vaughn. "It was something remarkable."
Today, in addition to a pastry shop and catering business, "10,000 Girls" runs a sewing workshop and the girls export their handmade dolls and household linens overseas.
Half of the funds from these projects go back to the girls; the remainder supports the education program, no longer in Vaughn's house. More than 1,500 girls are involved in Vaughn's program in six locations; about 1,000 are waiting to join.

"We have girls who were told they'd never get through high school who are at university now," beams Vaughn. "We hope that if we get 10,000 girls out there, 1,000 girls will come back to Kaolack and work. It would revolutionize the whole region.
"Here I am, retired, and this is the best job I have ever had in my life."

My teaching schedule

My regular class at IYI is on Friday at 630pm - 8.15pm

I have called in a substitute teacher for a few classes at the end of this month because I am taking a Therapeutic Yoga teacher training and wont be available on Friday evenings. Just in case you dont know, yoga teachers are always taking more and more teacher trainings and courses (it costs a fortune). This will be the second teacher training for me in a month. There is so much to learn and there are so many fantastic teachers out there ...

Of course I want all of you to be my devoted students but it is good to mix it up with different teachers. I firmly believe you should expose yourself to different teachers and different yogas ... you will learn something different from each and every experience.

Just do yoga.

Kamaniya the Chanting Goddess....

I was at Ananda this weekend with my fabulous yogini friend Biljana and was lucky enough to catch a kirtan lead by the beautiful and talented Kamaniya. Her voice is so beautiful and strong and she lead the audience through 2 hours of uninterrupted blissful chanting ! JAI Kamaniya !

And of course, the evening would not have been complete without one of the ashram cats taking a casual stroll across the stage while the musicians played.

There has been a rumour that Kamaniya is working on her own CD... so look out for its release.

Here is a link to Kamaniya's blog so you can catch up on her news and where she will be performing in the future: http://kamaniya.blogspot.com/

$25 loan can help start a business
By Jen Haley CNN
(CNN) -- Lovisa Asinde is a Ugandan widow who supports herself and her five children selling food. She started the small business eight years ago, and planned to open a larger restaurant in the center of her town.

Lovisa Asinde of Uganda was able to fund her restaurant business with the help of foreign investors.

But when one of her children fell ill she was unable to work, and she lacked the $500 needed to buy saucepans, plates and food staples.
So, strange as it may seem, Asinde went looking for international investors. She found several.
New Yorker Bill Gilroy invested $100 in her business along with eight other investors from as far away as the Netherlands.
Gilroy has never met Asinde. In fact, all he knows about her he found on Kiva.org -- a Web site that connects entrepreneurs in developing nations to investors in the United States and abroad.
This is microfinancing. It allows everyday people to invest as little as $25 to help people in developing countries climb out of poverty. The concept of microfinancing is nothing new. At its essence, it's making small loans to the working poor. The loans are used to establish or expand small businesses to help families earn more money.
The industry's assets total about $34 billion, according to Microfinance Information Exchange, and there are as many as 10,000 microfinancing institutions -- known as MFIs -- around the world, according to Microcredit Summit Campaign, a coalition of advocates, donor agencies and educational institutions. Some of the industry's contributors include Citigroup, Morgan Stanley, TIAA-CREF and J.P. Morgan.
Premal Shah founded Kiva three years ago. The Web site posts profiles of entrepreneurs from 80 countries looking to start a business. Visitors can click through the pictures and personal stories to choose the business they want to fund, whether it's a dairy farmer in Bolivia or a young woman in Peru who wants to open a grocery store.
Don't Miss
In Depth: Right On Your Money
The entrepreneur generally repays the loan within six months to a year, the company says. During repayment, investors can see individual progress reports as they are posted to the site.
The investor doesn't receive interest on the money, but Shah says Kiva lenders usually don't want to earn a rate of return.
With MicroPlace, on the other hand, people loan money to the working poor through the Internet and receive a small amount of interest.
Lenders for the eBay-owned MicroPlace purchase securities instead of funding individual cases. The money generated by these sales is invested in microfinance institutions around the world. These microfinance institutions, in turn, find the entrepreneurs, make loans and collect payments. Most loans are paid off, with interest, within one to four years, according to MicroPlace founder Tracey Turner.
Contrary to expectations, repayment rates for microfinancing are high: Kiva's repayment rate is about 97.2 percent, according to Shah, and Turner says the historic repayment rate on microfinance loans in general has averaged 97 percent.
That's because people respect their obligations, says Peter Hall, the director of the Microfinance Information Exchange.
"It's not a society where people are very mobile. It's very family-based, community based. People aren't flight risks. They are grounded in a certain time and place. They do everything they can to improve their place in society," he says.
That's not to say there aren't challenges to microfinancing.
"The reality is that 80 percent of poor don't have access to microfinance," says Shah. "It costs a lot of money to go out and serve the poor. Banks are risk-averse institutions," he says.
As a result, interest rates on microfinance loans can be anywhere from 18 to 60 percent.
Some people argue that poor borrowers are more conservative in their loans, avoiding risks such as investing in new technology or expanding the workforce. And it's exactly these risks that turn profits.
Microfinancing also presents cultural challenges.
For example, there is a great reluctance for Afghan women to pose in pictures, and in Iraq, photos are blurred for security reasons.
But some problems can lead to cultural lessons.
Shah relates the story of a Cambodian woman who wanted a loan so she could start a spinach farm. Once she got the money, she used it for her daughter's wedding. The loan officer noted this on the site. Of course, investors were enraged. But that was only until they were told that weddings are one of the most important events in that culture.
Neither Shah nor Turner view microfinancing as a cure-all for global poverty.
"It can only help the working poor who are self-employed, entrepreneurial and want to improve their lives. There are many people in the world who are poor but do not fit this definition," says Turner.
But in the meantime, sites like Kiva.org and MicroPlace.com are helping to connect people all over the world in a common goal.
"I'm always on the Internet," says Gilroy. "I have disposable cash and it's rewarding; to put 100 bucks out there with a commitment on the other end. It's not like you're throwing money over the wall. It comes back to you. There is a sense of every little bit you do, helps," he says.
And in fact, Gilroy got his money back from his loan, in full.
Asinde succeeded in her mission. She bought furniture, saucepans, plates and new ladles. The loan also afforded her chicken, fish and passion fruit, in addition to a kitchen renovation. According to a journal update, her children are attending school and the restaurant is becoming well-known in the community.
"For years I have been selling cooked food through thick and thin," Asinde writes on her Kiva profile. "I struggled to look after my family. I thank God for the loan money you gave me. The people are now served according to their preferences unlike before when I used to sell only posho and beans."
Microfinancing is on track to help 100 million people this year, according to the Microcredit Summit Campaign. But no matter how large the field becomes, Shah says there is one simple thing to keep in mind.
"It's people helping people," he says. "That's a powerful concept."

Kirtan with WAH!
WAH! will be leading Kirtan at Integral Yoga on Saturday evening March 29

For more info go to the website : www.iyiny.org

Bikram Yoga

There are a few Bikram studios around Manhattan ... these 2 are offering unlimited yoga for a week.

Warning: Bikram yoga is done in a very hot room (100 degrees?) and NOT recommended if you have high blood pressure or heart problems.

Bikram Yoga Union Square - One week unlimited yoga for $20 www.bikramyogaunionsquare.com.

Bikram Yoga 797 8th Ave (48th St) one week unlimited yoga for $23
www.bikramyoganyc.com

Satsang in the City with Joan Suval

Joan is back from California. Satsang is the first Wednesday of the month.
7-9pm by donation.

Location:
The ARCH Space
66 West 39th Street betw. 5th & 6th Ave. (closer to 6th Ave.), 3rd floor
phone 212.924.0718

Yoga weekend retreat March 21-23

Come welcome Spring with us up at Ananda Ashram !! Our weekend yoga retreat is just 2 weeks away ! If you are interested in joining us, please let me know ASAP !

you can email me for more information via this blog ... quietyoga@msn.com
Bring your friends ! Tell your friends !
Namaste

CityStretch - guide to NYC Yoga studios

This is a Zagat-like rating guide to yoga studios in NYC. It costs $15 but includes $450 in vouchers for free yoga classes around town.

Wish I had thought of this..... oh well.

http://www.citystretch.com/

Going to the Dogs ....
This has nothing to do with yoga (except the notion of being considerate of all sentient beings) but it is so inventive and crazy that I had to put it on my blog ... so for all you dog lovers out there.... hey, I'm sure your kids could use it too !! You can own one for $30 !

Click on the link : http://www.petpeek.info/index.htm

Leave a comment !!! : )