I stumbled upon YogiChocolate because who wouldn't be tempted by the words yoga and chocolate? I also thought it was an ingenious idea and a great resource. Basically, the Santa Monica based company offers a slew of mp3 audio-classes for download on a donation basis, which means you pay what you want.

The selection of teachers is international (Russia and Asia are in the house as are folks from all of the country like Gary Halperin, Desiree Bartlett, Gurutej, Aras Baskauskas and Bryan Kest). The type of practice available is varied (Power, Jivamukti, Kripalu to name a few), and there are even audio files with mediation and kirtan.

For me, YogiChocolate is a great way to augment my home practice and to make any vacation a retreat. Beach yoga, anyone?

As yogis who have ties both to the Buddhist community and to humanitarian causes in general, many of us have been asking the question: What can we do to help? I spoke to my friend Gregg Butensky, who is a long-time activist for the Burmese cause, a board member of the Burmese American Democratic Alliance, and a foster dad to a young woman whom he helped relocate to Thailand. He told me of the formation of a new coalition of local Burmese organizations (that includes member organizations as varied as the International Burmese Monks Organization and the Myanmar Taxi Driver Association) to assist those in need. While the coalition does not have a website yet, Gregg and some others did put up an emergency website this past week to help point people to places where they can offer donations.

Gregg says three of the best places to give to are right here in the Bay Area: Burmese American Democratic Alliance (BADA), Burmese American Women's Alliance (BAWA), and the Foundation for the People of Burma (FPB). You can also contribute to Avaaz (check out the YouTube video there).

There are also three local events happening this weekend that are focused on bringing awareness to the crisis. The biggest one is a Global Day of Action For Burma rally at the UN Plaza (Market Street between 7th & 8th Streets) in San Francisco on Saturday from 3-6pm, to urge the UN to protect the cyclone victims. Also, there is an American Jewish World Service event on Saturday evening in SF called Celebrating Voices for Change in Burma and a BADA fund-raiser this Sunday in Fremont.

I hope you will join me in sending blessings and much-needed funds to our brothers and sisters in Burma. Please let us know if you have found other ways to help.

Top 5 Quick Ways to Stay Balanced in NYC
1) Grab Nature When You Can: When walking, route yourself through parks, down the leafiest streets, near the biggest trees. And take in the smells, sights and sounds of plants and critters and the soft respite they offer.

2) Go for Softness: Someone once told me each city's energy is affected by the type of stone beneath it. NYC's granite is some hard-ass rock energy. Too much can rattle our nerves and ability to feel compassion. I do things like: take a restorative yoga class, duck into a Tui Na massage, get a facial, carry bottles of lavender and rescue remedy in my bag.

3) Eat Well: It's not hard to find delicious food here. But I usually feel better when it's of the non-pizza variety (though sometimes a drippy slice is just thing). When you feel off, go for the plants: stop into Bonobo's, Souen, City Bakery (past those cookies to the local veggies), Angelica's, Liquiteria (the green pressed juice is mana), Blossom. And Organique on 23rd is a great lunch spot for organic meats and veggies, when animal protein is what you need.

4) Take in Beauty: Depending on your perspective, NYC can look like Law & Order or Woody Allen's Manhattan. To make sure you catch the latter, get yourself to the water (it's easy to forget we're surrounded), preferably at sunset. Notice gargoyles. Go to Top of the Rock. Walk by Barney's windows. Stop by Alice in Wonderland. Have tea at the Morgan Library.

5) Get Out: You don't have to have a manse in the Hamptons to escape. Every sane NY-er knows she needs to leave at least once a month. Grab a train to Cold Spring and hike, take a ferry ride, day trip to Fire Island, walk on the Long Beach boardwalk, even spend a local, peaceful day at the New York Botanical Garden.

What's on your list? How do you stay sane and happy here?

I love the Ditty Bops. I love their vaudeville-meets-theater theatrics, their country-western twang thang, their soothing harmonies, their story telling skills and their lyrical fun. I also love that these Los Angeles gals -- Abby DeWald and Amanda Barrett -- have figured out a way to meld their activism into their creative expression.

Last spring, they started an environmental non-profit called You and I Save the World, which helped San Francisco ban the plastic bag. And the year before, they promoted their second album "Moon Over the Freeway" on bike, pedaling rom Los Angeles to New York, while performing concerts along the way.

While I certainly haven't planned a cross country bike trip to promote Samadhi and the City, I have taken the Ditty's lead and pedal around my neighborhood a lot more lately. Soaring gas prices, my cute cruiser and the nice weather have been great incentives to get me out of my car and into the bike lane.

Check out the Ditty Bops new record, "Summer Rains", which they say was inspired by their sustainable L.A. lifestyle (no cars, only bikes, vegetarian and their former driveway has been converted into an edible, organic garden). And if you'd like to see them live, they'll be at McCabes at the beginning of June.

So, when I heard about local writer and former Yoga Journal editor Anne Cushman's new book, Enlightenment For Idiots, I was excited to pick up a copy. The book, which she calls a cross between a spiritual journey and a dysfunctional romance, is about a San Franciscan writer and yogi who can't seem to practice in life what she practices on the mat. Her relationships are a mess, and she's financially broke and emotionally ungrounded. Finally, she gets an assignment to go to India and write a book called Enlightenment for Idiots, for which she must hit all the big and small ashrams throughout the country. Like the trip I took at 22, hers is a wild journey during which she tries to find deeper meaning while simultaneously dealing with a completely unenlightened romantic situation and uncertain future.

While there is satire in Anne's story, there is also insight—and a lot of research. She actually visited all of these places in 1998 when researching a prior nonfiction book on spiritual sites and centers in India, From Here To Nirvana, and used these experiences as the basis for her main character's travels.

Anne's main interest lies not in some arbitrary idea of enlightenment but rather in how modern day life (specifically romantic life) and yogic ideals intersect. Or how they don't. She says that many yogic practices were designed for Eastern celibate men—not single, Western women. She also says that our love lives are the most challenging places for us to act with mindfulness and employ yogic principles. As a Western yogini slowly navigating my way through a new relationship, I can relate!

Anne's book can be snagged on Amazon or on her website, www.enlightenmentforidiots.com , where you can also enter a contest for best yoga romance story.

Also, check out this video interview with Anne.

How does your relationship and yoga practice intersect?

Yes, it certainly feels like I'm loseth-ing the beautiful day in towne in my gray cube. Which means my mind starts to stray over to thoughts of how I can play. Herewith, some yogic summercamp options from the two local-ish yoga retreat biggies, Kripalu and Omega (I'll cover more spots soon). I've picked the ones that are nearly guaranteed to be great.

1) Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health
It's an abundance of Berkshire-based yoga riches at this retreat center.

- Shiva Rea and Andrew Harvey are teaching "On Fire: Heart Yoga" from May 23-26

- Restorative Yoga for Body & Mind with Sudha Carolyn Lundeen (a long-time Kripalu teacher), June 13-15

- Shakti Sadhana ("The Ultimate Women's Yoga Retreat") with Gurmukh and Shiva Rea, July 20-25

- NYC's own Elena Brower is teaching Yoga: The Art of Attention, August 8-10

2) Omega Institute
Total yummy grown-up summercamp vibe in the lush Hudson Valley. You can even camp if you want to.

- Kimberly Wilson's Hip, Tranquil Yoga Chick course, from June 1-6

- The Power of Practice with Beryl Bender Birch, June 20-27

- Seane Corn is teaching a vinyasa course, The Body & Beyond, July 11-13

Anything to add? What are your summer yoga plans?

This weekend, I plan to head out to the Norton Simon Museum in Pasadena to catch the Tales of the Blue Lord show before it closes on May 12th. This intimate exhibit, with paintings, sculpture and religious icons from as early as the 11th century, explores the life and legend of Krishna -- the lotus-eyed Hindu deity who is both mighty (demon slayer), playful (flute player), and always adventurous.

Then next week, I'm looking forward to the opening of The Vision and Art of Shinjo Ito in Westwood. The founder of the Shinnyo-en stream of Buddhism, was one of Japan's most versatile modern religious artists -- a calligrapher, photographer, and his greatest milestone, the Great Parinirvana Image: a 16-foot long statue of Buddha Shakyamuni about to enter nirvana.

Throughout the month of May, there's also a slew of interesting events to accompany the Ito exhibit -- guided meditations, musical performances and on Sunday May 11th, a yoga class set to classical music.

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Now some YogaWorks news. The South Bay location has finally opened. And don't forget to take advantage of a mother's day promotion -- a free class for mom at any studio. Download the free class card from the homepage.

Mark Lilly, a Portland writer and software engineer, started to feel this way when he started practicing yoga in 2001, and shortly afterward began volunteer-teaching yoga to homeless youth. He liked it so much that he founded Street Yoga, a program dedicated to bringing yoga classes to kids who live on the streets, in shelters, and in foster care.

The Portland-based nonprofit program has a mostly volunteer staff that goes around to places like homeless youth resource centers, drug treatment programs, runaway centers, and juvenile detention halls and teaches yoga to help kids keep warm, take care of their bodies, deal with the stress of being homeless, and feel a sense of community.

The program has been so successful, that the organization now does Street Yoga teacher trainings around the country. There is one happening in San Francisco next weekend, from May 9-11, at It's Yoga Kids Studio on Ruger Street. At the training you'll learn how to teach yoga to homeless youth. The program includes regular teacher training as well as role-playing, interpersonal exercises, talks about service, and training around boundaries. You don't need to be a yoga teacher to do this program—anyone can do it. At the moment, there are only a few slots left, so if you are interested in doing it, sign up right away.
And check out this awesome video Street Yoga has on You Tube!

It's taught by Jacquie Noelle Greaux, a woman who wrote a book of the same name. All levels of yogis are welcome, and the class is 9:00am to 10:30 for all you earlier risers and/or Upper East Siders. You can RSVP in the store, by email (lincoln-square-community@lululemon.com), or just bring your sexy self to class.

Also, Satya Jewelry's sample sale begins today! It's from 10am to 6pm today, Saturday, and Sunday @ the Christopher Street store. Go and revel in spiritual ironies as you fight for your majorly discounted Buddhas and oms! (But seriously, really good stuff at fantastic prices.)

Know about anything yogic going on? Let us know.

It was in the DansKinetics time slot, but this wasn't my momma's yoga-twirling. I usually just go for the live drums and groove in a corner. But the drums started thumping in the cavernous main hall, and the teacher had us roll around on the floor. And I was like, "Well, I can warm up with the class." And then she had us start moving like water, and I thought, "Ok, I'll be water for just a sec, then I'll go to the corner."

But man, if this sistah of a teacher, Toni Bergins, didn't have me up and moving with her--and about 50 other people--the whole time. Usually I'm kind of cheezed out by new-agey, "love yourself" classes. But this woman was my age-ish and sounded like a happy, spiritual Ani DiFranco (with a dash of Michael Franti). She moved like a hip-hop yogini with enormous energy, totally comfortable in her own skin. The girl channeled some seriously inspiring shakti. And her self-love message? So not cheezy.

Soon I was bouncing up and down, yelling to random partners as instructed: "You are so creative!" and "Well thank you very much!" "You are so wiiild," "You are so sensuous!" "Well thank you very much!" We whooped and built imaginary shamanic fires, burned excess psychic gunk, and danced around them, all to the drums, which were beating in my cells. Then she chilled us all the way back down to the earth.

Whew. Amazing. I caught her again last weekend when she taught at Atmananda (nee Centerpoint) in NYC. Totally different vibe at night, with a much smaller crowd, and no drums, just some funky non-live music. But equally deep and cleansing and fun. She's on tour and will be coming back to NYC for another event on June 7th. (It isn't listed on the site yet, so just drop her an email). You must go. Really.

It's not cheap (like $50 for two hours). But if you think of it like therapy, which it is, but more fun and better exercise, then it's a freaking bargain. Go, dance. Feel alive. She's also giving teacher training in her method at Kripalu in June, in case you get converted and want to spread the high-vibing, heartful, booty-thumping word.

Recently, I was taken to dinner at Akasha by TransFair USA, the folks who give imported products like coffee, sugar and flowers the Fair Trade Certified™ label. This ensures consumers that farmers and workers are paid a fair, above-market price for their goods, while using sustainable practices.

The new Culver City restaurant was the perfect choice because Chef Akasha Richmond sources organic produce locally, purchases from sustainable fisheries and farms, and uses only Fair Trade organic coffees, teas and sugars.

The menu is an amalgam of Indian spices and techniques (from her days at the seminal Los Angeles vegetarian hotspot the Golden Temple) fused with California comfort food. There's the turmeric seared pear salad, cannellini bean hummus, Punjabi mung beans and rice, local greens with shaved fennel and sheep cheese as well as organic mac and cheese and crispy home-made onion rings.

But since I have a sweet tooth, the adjacent bakery is the real treat. Vegan choices like Meyer lemon scones (of course, when Meyer lemons are in season) or salty chocolate pecan tarts are tempting. As are the old-fashioned chocolate peanut butter cupcakes with thick ribbons of frosting (ganache anyone?). And since the pastries change all the time (as does the menu) you'll just have to keep coming back for more.

In San Francisco, lots of yoga teachers are using the Internet not only to advertise, but to further develop community or sangha. For instance, Jamie Lindsay has a regular blog in which he details the sequences that he taught in class that week and shares other local yoga info; Deborah Burkman sends out weekly emails that discuss what anatomical or yogic principle she intends to focus in her Hatha class that coming week; and Bill McCully often sends inquisitive emails out to his students to gather their impressions of a previous class.

And local websites are also getting hip to yoga. On both Yelp and Citysearch, you can find a plethora of San Francisco and Bay Area yoga studio listings, complete with ratings and reader reviews. If you are looking to connect with other local yogis, Tribe.net has several great yoga groups you can join including SFYoga. And then, of course, there is Yoga Journal's website, which, by the way, was just nominated for a Webby! (You can vote for us here!)

Do you know of any other San Francisco online communities or listings you'd like to share? If so, please post a comment below and let us know about them!

Well, you can celebrate with a little bit of internal spring cleaning. The folks at Yoga People's Brooklyn Heights studio told me about a two-day workshop (or one if you prefer) they're having this weekend that sounds really lovely: "Root to Rise: The Power Of Organic Energy."

It'll be taught by Anusara-ginis Tara Glazier and Jorja Rivero. On Saturday, they'll be covering backbends, standing poses, and inversions, with an eye to waking up your prana (life force) from its winter slumber and getting those juicing flowing.

Sunday is about grounding all of that expansion by opening your hips, doing some twists, forward bends, and restorative poses. The aim is clarity, strength and oomph.

It costs $100 for both days, $50 for one day, and $55 if you schedule within 24 hours of the workshops. For more info: yoga-people.com or register at 718-522-9642.

How does your yoga practice change each spring?

With that plug out of the way, I thought this would also be a good opportunity to link to my yogi comrades blogging in L.A. Here's my short list so if I've missed anyone, please let me know, pronto.

The Kareem Abdul-Jabbar blog at the Los Angeles Times is authored by the legendary hoops star, who also happens to be a long-time yogi. And believe me, he knows a lot more than just basketball evidenced by his learned musings about politics, African-American history and fitness.

For the girl about town, yoga socialite POV, visit Joni at Accidental Yogist. She seems to be everywhere at once and is happy to share details about her personal life as well as her yogic discoveries. The blog is also a great resource for calendar listings.

Namasteph is Stephanie and this yoga teacher in training posts about everything from Yoga Journal cover models to Christian Yoga. She's someone with strong opinions and as far as I'm concerned, that's a good thing.

Eugene's Digital Asana Project on his Om Shanti blog are sights to behold. Basically the guy is an outstanding acrobatic yogi. Check out the mind-blowing clips as he performs yogic feats like Urdhva Padma Mayurasana.

Last, but not least, Mahamondo has a real knack for discovering original and entertaining music and asana clips. LIke these street yogis:

I am one of those students who takes my yoga very seriously (and I think that's important in terms of dedication and proper practice), but to feel this kind of playful freedom with asana was exciting and empowering. The teacher, Jeremy Simon, gave great instruction and kept things specific, safe, and also really fun. I only got to fly once, and I am definitely going back for more.
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Photos by Pao Chiu