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