Tomorrow is a big day, and I'm not talking about Barrack Obama's inauguration! On Tuesday, January 20, 2009, the Goddess that IS Desiree Rumbaugh turns 50! One of the first yoga teachers to be certified in the Anusara Yoga method, Desirée is a gifted teacher. As John Friend said, she's in that class of people who only need a one name introduction: DEZ!
Desirée spent her birthday weekend here in San Francisco doing what she loves to do, teaching yoga and inspiring her students to realize the potential that lies within them. Whether that's the ability to touch their heads to their toes for the first time, heal their own injuries, or live a resilient and vibrant life -- she not only talks the talk -- she walks the walk.
All of this made her workshop—Late Bloomers: Over 50—all that more poignant! Those who were expecting to be led in a gentle flow were quickly engaged in strength-building asanas. Desirée explained that as we age we lose our flexibility more quickly than our strength. To reestablish our flexibility we MUST build and engage our strength. From push-ups to core work, she put us through our paces with the discipline of a drill sargent. She continued, "You do not have to give up any class of poses simply because you're aging. When you limit yourself, you limit your teaching." 
Later that evening, there was a small birthday celebration for Dez which included a Japanese Bath House adventure (another story . . . seriously) followed by some southern Indian food (as if I would know the difference between northern & southern Indian cuisine). Sitting across the table from this strong, spirited woman, it was hard to imagine she was about to turn 50! I'm not sure the AARP is ready for Desirée!
Especially when she was trying to lick that gelato off the end of her nose.
Jnani Chapman is affiliated with Commonweal, a nonprofit health and environmental research institute located in Bolinas, California which conducts programs that contribute to human & ecosystem health. Commonweal's Cancer Help Program offers a week-long residential support program for people with cancer.
The session opened with a reflection technique, The Witness Practice, recommended for beginning yoga work with cancer patients. It is "designed to focus attention on how the body is feeling, enabling us to attend to whatever is happening in that moment."
As a yoga teacher or yoga therapist, being able to love, forgive & accept your SELF may be the greatest teaching/example we can give our students.
"Fixing is the work of the ego. Serving is the work of the soul." ~ Rachel Naomi Remen
How to communicate with those we love who have cancer: Whenever we don't know what to say ... Say, "Honey, I love you SO much."
Question arose ~ Could exercise be "bad" for cancer patients? That is, make cancer spread faster? Answer: No blood flow helps general health. It is important to keep in mind that physical exertion is stress. The body needs recovery time. Exhaustion after exertion results in depletion.
Teach how to breathe with additional focus on extended exhalation. Poor exhalation fails to rid the body of gaseous waste.
Jnani shared a thought-provoking piece written by Rachel Naomi Remen on the difference between service & helping. "Helping is based on inequality ... helping incurs debt. Service is a relationship between equals ... When I help I have a feeling of satisfaction. When I serve I have the feeling of gratitude."
"Accept what is, and know that things change."
I am sitting in my last workshop of the San Francisco Yoga Journal Conference, a one day intensive on yoga and cancer. The session is being led by Jnani Chapman, a Registered Nurse and yoga practitioner for over 34 years. She has specialized in yoga as an integral practice for cancer treatment and care for the last 23 years.
Jnani has generously agreed to allow me to set up my computer in the corner of our room and blog "live" throughout the day. So for the next 8 hours or so, I hope to share several shorter posts (which are more likely to be typo-riddled, I'm afraid.) Hopefully, it will useful & interesting.
If you happen to actually be reading this sometime during the day of the workshop -- that is on Monday, January 19 -- and are particularly interested in this topic, your invited to concurrently follow my Twitter updates.
My deepest gratitude to Jnani and my fellow workshop participants for allowing me to share our experience.
Sianna Sherman is known for her lyrical weaving of storytelling as she shares the Universal Principles of Alignment that define Anusara Yoga. Sharing yogic stories & philosophies with a theatrical presence, a class with Sianna is like listening to a beautiful soliloquy. With an ambitious agenda to take her students into Hanumanasa, Sianna worked her magic first thing in the morning on Sunday. Say "Hello" to the hamstrings at 8 a.m.
 Hanuman, the great monkey deity, was renowned for his courage, power and faithful service. As Sianna took the class through an asana sequence that opened up the hips and hamstrings, she shared rich stories and how Hanuman made his great LEAP across the continent (hence the origins of the pose) to rescue Sita for Ram.
Sianna worked the class methodically through all of the 5 principles of alignment as she shared these stories. We used a partner exercise to help gain access to the power of the standing leg in standing splits for a different variation of the pose. As the class drew to a close, we all moved into Hanumanasa, our own heroic leap of faith in the yoga process, as WELL as our hamstrings.
I literally had no expectations of Matthew Sanford's class this afternoon; I knew nothing about him as a teacher and was simply told that "I had to go" from a friend of mine. If you don't already know, Matthew is an Iyengar teacher who is paralyzed from the chest down; his paralysis gives him great insight into yoga concepts, which only adds to his comprehensive teaching style. The class's focus: learning to go inward in each yoga pose so that total integrity is given to the spine, and breath is easy and free.
We began the class by doing certain simple adjustments. Having a partner push or pull or press in certain poses can reveal the potential of those poses. But, did you ever think that pulling the skin down from knee to ankle would make your chest lighter, and breathing easier? Of that focusing on the space formed between your legs and under your arms in Warrior II would give lightness to your spine?
Matthew brought several new perspectives to my yoga, and he made me laugh. The greatest idea that I took from this class: When you look inward in a pose, letting the focus move away from the muscles and into the knowledge of space and gravity, the pose becomes whole and your mind becomes clear. One of those simple, yet profound ideas that you find so often in yoga, and then forget when you leave the class. Yet, after feeling Trikanasana supported by this thought, I commit to carrying this one back to the mat.
 At lunchtime today, I attended the talk about spiritual activism with Seane Corn, Julia Butterfly Hill, and Katchie Ananda (moderated by YJ's Editor in Chief, Kaitlin Quistgaard). Wow, what an awesome and inspiring dialogue. To break it down, the three women on the panel are all activists in the yoga community. Julia is best known for sitting in a tree for two years to save it from being cut down (she also founded The Engage Network and What's Your Tree); Katchie is a San Francisco-based teacher who teaches yoga classes at San Quentin; and Seane Corn has done oodles of projects in places like India and Cambodia, teaching yoga to and raising money for communities in need.
Kaitlin led the panel in a lively discussion about how to get juiced about a cause and go out and make it your own. These ladies are really embodying the true meaning of yoga, which is service—to oneself and to one's community. Seane called herself a reluctant activist, saying that reason she came into activism wasn't initially to help people—it was because she had come into a place of financial abundance and wanted to spread the wealth around. Her point was that you don't need to be a selfless angel in order to go out there and make stuff happen; it doesn't matter why you come to activism, as long as you come to it.
Julia, whom I'd only seen before in pictures during her tree-sit (she's quite beautiful in person), spoke eloquently about the yogic aspects of service, and how to integrate the two together. She gave two pieces of great advice for those who are first dabbling with the idea of making a difference out in their communities, but don't know where to begin. She said:
1 - Don't let what you don't know stop you
2 - Put one foot in front of the other
I was so inspired by the talk that when I later bumped into an old friend who mentioned a volunteer yoga teaching gig that she might need help with, I jumped at the opportunity. Serendipity at it's finest!
 When I signed up for Gurmukh Kaur Khalsa's class on past lives, I thought we'd be spending most of the two hours in meditation, envisioning who and what we were in a previous lifetime. But the Kundalini guru had a different plan in store for us. She told us right off than anyone we had imagined (or had been told) we were in a past life was likely true because each of us has had 8.4 million past lives. If we thought we were a sage from India, we likely were; but we'd also been murderers, business people, animals, you name it.
So, instead of trying to figure out who we were, she led us through a practice to rid ourselves of any negative energy attached to a past life.
I thought this class would be mellow, but these seemingly simple exercises we did with our arms and legs were so intense that I still feel sore! Dressed in a beautiful white flowy sari, Gurmukh is soft-spoken and lovely—but she teaches a surprisingly tough class. The funniest part was that, after she wore us out silly with squats and arm raises, she coached us though a free-style dance jam; so, I was in two dance parties before lunchtime: Duncan's and Gurmukh's. Different as the classes were, I marveled in the shared yogic impulse to dance one's bliss.
We slipped into a deep sivasana at the end of the class. I didn't learn anything about my past life, but I did get a few hits of insight about my present one. And I am sure I will sleep well tonight.
 I had no idea what to expect in Duncan Wong's class this morning at 8am. The lithe, tattooed Duncan showed up at class not just ready to teach, but ready to party. He led us through a nearly 2-hour sequence of his own breed of asana that incorporates various versions of warrior, martial arts, and dance club booty-shaking. (One of the main roles of his assistant was to DJ the class from the set he had put on his iPod, which included Jay-Z, Japanese anime tunes, and some Deva Premal thrown in for good measure).
The class was about strengthening the core and learning to float in and out of jumps. Duncan gave a pretty spectacular performance of his practice. The top photo there, though blurry, shows him in action.
It was a good workout and entertaining, for sure, if not a little hard (for me) to keep up with. I especially loved it when Duncan, in the midst of demonstrating a really complicated sequence of twisting and kicking and squatting, would stop in his tracks, put his hand to his ear, and delight in the music booming from the sound system.
 Judith Lasater always starts her classes on time. I learned this at the first workshop I took from her, a restorative training session in Dallas a year ago. I will never forget her words, "We start class on time to honor the practice. We end class on time to honor our students." And she always does.
So today as we gathered in the Grand Ballroom and rolled out our mats for her 2 hour workshop on Yoga to Save Your Knees, I turned to the woman next to me and casually remarked, "She always starts on time." At exactly 12:30, a bell chimed, and Judith called us together.
In addition to being the queen of restorative yoga, Judith Lasater received her education in physical therapy. An Iyengar-trained yogi, she has taught for over 30 years, and authored a number of books. You might say, this girl knows what she's talking about.
She opened the class with a simple statement, "Pain is not good." Over the next 2 hours, Judith led participants in experiential exercises punctuated by group gatherings to closely observe alignment details and adjustments. From the orientation of the patella to the arc of the Achilles tendon, Judith urged us to be aware, pay attention, and make the subtle adjustments that can mean the difference between pain and ease.
 As she explained the anatomy of the knee in clear and concise language, she shared this key insight: "The knee joint is the "prisoner" of the hip and the ankle." Understanding anatomy is key to our practice, and to that end, Judith Lasater has written a new book for yoga teachers to facilitate that understanding. Yoga Body: Anatomy, Kinesiology and Asana will be released in May 2009 and is available now for pre-order.
The workshop flew by as participants engaged in the exercises, asked questions, and diligently took notes. The class ended much too soon, but EXACTLY on time. As I watched the line form to ask this yoga master more questions, I realized I probably wasn't the only one about to pre-order her new book.
 Seane Corn has good hair. As someone whose lived a lifetime with mousy brown baby fine hair, I can attest that it's truly something of trademark proportions. Seriously, it's that good ... which reminds me of a funny story.
I first saw Seane at the Estes Park Yoga Journal Conference last September. The event was held at the beautiful YMCA of the Rockies venue, and while most of the people were there for the conference, there were some "non-yogi" types on the grounds.
One afternoon, a gentleman was walking near the main pavilion when he collapsed to the ground, most likely as a result from the effects of altitude. Seane, who happened to be nearby, quickly went to his aid and knelt down beside him.
As the man came to, he opened his eyes to this angelic vision with long, curly, golden hair and sparkling blue eyes. Taking one look at her, he stammered out his first words of consciousness ... "Wow, you have pretty hair." And though HE probably thought he was seeing an angel, everyone else knew he was gonna be just fine.
On Thursday, I attended an intensive on Spiritual Activism which was led by Seane Corn, Suzanne Sterling and Hala Khouri. These three women are partners in the initiative Off the Mat, Into the World described as "a program that aims to inspire and guide you to find and define your purpose and become active in your local or global community in an effective, sustainable and joyful way."
There is much to share about what these women are doing, and I encourage you to check out their site for more information. Suffice it to say, there's definitely a lot more to Seane Corn than good hair. Perhaps that man at Estes Park really DID see an angel after all.
I took a class today for which continuing education credits were offered towards my Yoga Alliance certification (Cyndi Lee's class), but I wasn't sure how to get the credits (if she had to sign something, or what I needed to fill out etc.) Then, I saw the lovely ladies of Yoga Alliance at a table on the ground floor, kitty corner with the Luna Bar peeps. Turns out the process is really simple. The YA women gave me a form to fill out and said to just send it in with my badge or my receipt from the conference. Go see them if you have any questions--they were super helpful!
 Did anyone notice that the Hyatt Regency is now using biodegradable, compostable cups? We can thank a recent San Francisco law that prohibits the former use of plastic cups in hotels and elsewhere. This is really cool, but unfortunately I still saw a lot of people throwing the cups out in the regular trash bins, or recycle bins. I even missed the green bins on day one. And I talked to one guy who wasn't sure what compostable meant, and thought the cup would still biodegrade in the trash. (Not true--things take VERY long to biodegrade when in airtight conditions, like inside garbage bags.)
If you drink out of those cups, remember to throw them into the green bin. And maybe next year, there can be better signage with just those instructions. How exciting that this is happening!
Anusara is my yoga of choice and has been ever since I stepped into the Shri Yoga studio in New York City over two years ago. It is a beautiful yoga studio with amazing teachers and Desiree happens to give workshops there. I was never able to take one, which is why I was so excited to take her class this morning. Desirée is knowledgeable and dynamic, and I am pretty sure, based on this class, she can adjust any yoga posture to give injuries the room to heal, and asanas the room to grow.
Desirée's early-morning class was great for teachers. She walked us through alignment in several postures using Anusara's rather challenging basics: shins hugging, thighs inner-spiraling, sit bones separating, tailbone tucking. We then worked with partners to make proper adjustments. Desirée focused on those in the class with injuries to show teachers how to safely adjust their students. There were a lot of "wows;" some felt truly aligned in certain poses for the first time.
Desirée emphasized that when we focus on finding our own natural alignment, our emotional behavior and overall mood will react positively. This particular class was great because I, as a non-teacher, got to see this message spread to yoga teachers from all over, some of which may one day be mine or yours.
There was a point during the class where everyone in the room had arms spread wide from hearts, and heads to the sky, a group beaming from the strength of alignment. When we are aligned with our true nature, then we are free to be blissful.
In a world that frequently challenges us to PUSH our limits, Jason Crandell offered a different perspective in this morning's asana workshop. As we began the practice, Crandell asked us to consider that "Integrity and stability are more important than range."
Throughout the energizing sequence, he focused on the idea that your edge is that balance between effort and relaxation. Crandell made his way around the room, instructing and guiding the practice, while offering up sage insights that were worth stopping and making a note of (and I did more than a few times in the two hour class).
We want to learn to work with conscious effort and not hurl ourselves in (and out) of poses. How many of us can relate to that style of "practice"?? We muscle (and force) our way into some pose exerting maximum effort and then come out of it with equal abandon. Slow down, Crandell advises, and see that the balance of effort and relaxation is more important than achieving any particular form.
The pose is not the goal. (Say "what?!) Instead we use poses to FREE the body. The work of the pose is there to unveil who we really are. In basic poses, we want to learn how to work; in the more challenging ones, we want to learn how to relax. As Crandell reminded us, "Anything that is difficult for you will work better when you relax." This is true in life as well as our asana practice.
Funny, that's how most things are.
When I signed up for Cyndi Lee's session on Cultivating Lovingkindness, I figured that I was in for a nice little inspirational pep talk on being more loving and kind, and perhaps some tips on dealing with those people who get on my nerves which ~ let's face it, I certainly could use. If all went well, maybe she'd throw in a good Dalai Lama quote for some blog material.
We started off with asana practice, a nice sequence to wind down after a full week. Then, she sprung it on us. We were gonna meditate.
Now, I have a confession to make; I am a closet non-meditater. I consider myself a serious yoga student and I've gone through a 200-hour Teacher Training program, so I KNOW it's something I'm suppose to do. But I don't, and this is somewhat of a shameful secret of mine. Trust me, it's not from lack of supplies, that's for sure. I've bought several books on "How to Start Meditating." I have a cushion. I certainly have plenty of candles if I need a flame to stare at, and I even have a meditation shawl for those, oh, so chilly mornings in Austin, Texas.
Still, it's not something I do. I'm not good at sitting still ... ask my hairdresser. If I'm not ancy, I'm falling asleep. Prior meditation attempts have resulted in some pretty good head-nodding whiplash, not to mention that one embarrassing public snoring incident. So when she said we were going to meditate, let's just say, I was not feeling the "loving-kindness." But I was willing to give it go.
Cyndi offered up two meditation techniques. The first one was Mindfulness Meditation which she called Shamata Meditation. We focused on the breath, and she encouraged us to keep our eyes open in soft focus. (This is supposed to make it harder to sleep, I'm guessing.) Cyndi called this particular technique the "Tadasana of Meditation." We practiced it for a short period, and I found it hard.
Then she introduced the group to Metta Meditation. In this practice, you begin by calling to mind someone you love unconditionally. With that person as your focal point, you recite these four lines (silently or aloud):
~ May you be safe.
~ May you be healthy.
~ May you be happy.
~ May you live with ease.
You repeat the process with yourself as the focal point, then someone who irritates you as the focal point, next someone who is simply a neutral person in your life, and lastly for all beings. As we moved through this practice, I found myself more sharply focused, more able to stay in the game. Now THIS is something I can do. Interestingly, as I googled "metta meditation," I came across this reference: "METTA is the word in the Pali Language that means Loving-Kindness" (Is that a collective "duh" that I hear?!)
One final point: Cyndi emphasized that to cultivate loving-kindness we must first start with ourselves. We limit our capacity to love others when we do not love ourselves fully. Perhaps it's time for me to go of my meditation shame and cultivate some real lovingkindness.
May you ALL live with ease!
 The main conference opened today with throngs of yogis filling the Hyatt Regency. Even with the numbers, the registration and check-in moved quickly as folks received their badges and goodie bags filled with all sorts of healthy treats and samples from conference sponsors (not to mention the recent issue of Yoga Journal. There were plenty of staff and volunteers on hand to help participants find their way to the many workshop locations stretched across several floors and ballrooms at the Hyatt.
When I first came across someone carrying a clipboard with a large "ASK ME" sign, I thought to myself, "Ask me WHAT?" (My cynical mind had thought it was some kind of sales approach ~ you know, like "Ask me about my yoga mat," or "Ask me about my car insurance." But NO, it was yet another way of providing assistance to the many participants, staff floaters moving about the crowd.
I've asked folks about how they chose their classes, and I've been met with all sorts of answers. For some, it was a very detailed, almost scientific process. Others had a more random approach. I have to admit that I DID get a bit of a laugh when my sweet roommate ~ Hi Loretta! ~ said she was headed to "Core Mudras & Essential Tricks" and then asked, "What's a mudra anyway?" There are those who looked forward to experiencing new teachers and different methods while others returned to more familiar teachings. Whatever the method, with so many great teachers and workshop topics, I've heard more than a few mention the difficulty they had in making their schedule selections.
Once folks checked in, many purchased the commemorative conference t-shirts, signed up for massages, or made their way into the busy Market Place before heading to classes. On the escalator to my second workshop, someone remarked to me about the large numbers in attendance, saying she was impressed with the turn-out and somewhat surprised given these difficult economic times.
Maybe it's a sign of just what's needed.
Cyndi Lee started her class today by asking: If words are like asanas, and sentences are sequences, what are letters? Her answer was: the actions. In her class today called Teaching Any Pose To Any Body, she explained how to break down an asana as complicated a Badha Parvritta Arda Chandrasana (bound, rotated, half moon pose) into small steps like lunges, twists, and hand and finger exercises. 
We went through a practice together and then she divvied us up into groups in which we had to come up with a sequence of our own that would be the building steps of the asana. We chose headstand, and looked at how things as small as touching one's head to the ground, and gently opening one's shoulders, can be the first step towards headstand (and even the only steps toward headstand if someone is simply not physically able to do the complete pose).
The general jist of the class was that small actions and movements are just as important as large ones. I teach private sessions, often to students who have less experience with yoga, and I found Cyndi's thoughts really helpful in seeing what's at the core of a pose. At the end of the class, we got to show our sequence and I was selected to go on stage and show it to the class. Yikes! Nah, it was fun. I don't have a photo of that, but here's one of another student doing her demo. She looks like a pro!
 I love AcroYoga. Today was my second time doing it formally, in a class setting, and my first time practicing with AcroYoga gurus Jenny Sauer-Klein and Jason Nemer. If you've never done AcroYoga, you might think it's all about contortion and Cirque du Soleil-esque feats of gravity defiance. While there is an undeniable element of acrobatics involved (thus the name), AcroYoga is, at its heart, about trust and letting go.
We started in groups of two doing small exercises of leaning on each other in shapes of back and forward bends, eventually moving into groups of three, in which we "flew" each other in the air. (Jenny and Jason above, and Jason and SF AcroYoga teacher Jeremy Simon below.) See the pix here.) Allowing someone you don't know at all to support all of your weight is a huge practice in trust, but when you can let go, it's really liberating.
We ended in configurations of 12, with four people being bases (they were called the Rams), four other people "flying" in extended back bends (the Sitas), and four other people spotting the fliers (the Hanumans). The configuration was beautiful, if not just for the shapes we made together, but for the communal effort involved in making the yoga pyramids work. If you're interested in checking it out, there are free lunchtime sessions with the AcroYogis both today and tomorrow.
 Michael Franti was not initially on the bill at the YJ Conference, but I'm glad that was changed about two weeks ago when his friends, yoga power couple Nicki Doane and Eddie Modestini, proposed that the three of them helm a class together on opening night. Even with only two weeks notice, the line for the event tonight was out the door and around the ground floor of the building.
Nicki and Eddie taught while Michael played his unique blend of happy yoga soul music. The ballroom was filled to capacity, and Nicki and Eddie walked the classroom moving us through an alignment-based flow class, while Michael and his awesome sidekick, guitarist Jay Bowen, played background tunes on stage.
I would say the room was about 80 percent women (not sure if that's the general makeup of the conference, or if it had more to do with dreamy Mr. Franti being the main act ...). At the end of the practice Michael and Jay gave a short show, jamming out crowd favorites like "I Love You" and "One Step Closer". Oh, and I almost forgot, MC Yogi made a surprise appearance. (Ganesh is fresh, yo!)
Best part (apart from Jay's insane guitar solo, wow) was this: The girl practicing next to me bought the ticket for the event because her regular Friday night class had been canceled. She didn't know who Michael Franti was. Boy, was she in for a treat!
 I spent a day with Wes Nisker once, up at Spirit Rock, where he is a Buddhist meditation teacher. It was a great experience, but nothing like his opening remarks tonight at the YJ Conference, in which he did a veritable stand-up routine (with a mindfulness bent, of course). Wes' teachings tonight focused on our evolution on the planet; he took us on a journey from the big bang to now, when we are living at a moment of great fortune, but are still unhappy. "In the beginning, there was nothing," he says. "And it was good."
Wes' general message was that we need a sort of devolution; we need to actually work less, make less stuff, consume less, and, as a nation, step down from our former title as world superpower. Here was the big surprise for me: Wes performed (yes, performed!) two song-and-dance numbers. The first was called the "Subatomic Shuffle," (the "ultimate be-bop, to be or not-to-be-bop"), and the second was called "Get off the Wheel" (which was about how we try to be everything, from a golfer to a rolfer, and kind of miss the point).
There were a lot of great lines in his talk, but one of my favorites was when he talked about the creator of humanity as "the artist formerly known as God." Hilarious.
Did anyone else catch the opening remarks?
The blue pearl is what we are all looking for: at this conference, in our yoga studios, on this planet. We are all diving for that blissful connection with the universe and the unconditional love for ourselves. Gurmukh's all-day intensive focuses on this concept and she teaches it with an illuminated presence and a sense of humor.
The class consists of yoga, meditation, chanting, singing, and dancing. It is my first experience with Kundalini, and I am sore from the two yoga sessions and completely touched by the meditations. Gurmukh reminds to push ourselves past our mental and physical barriers while attempting the challenging yoga exercises, and reminds to have faith in the chants that we repeat. She is nurturing and inspiring and I would highly recommend studying with her, whether it is at a Yoga Journal Conference, or at her Golden Bridge centers in both Los Angeles and New York City.
One meditation is simply moving your hand from heart, to eyes, to head to stomach, repeating "I love you." It is so rare that we say those words to ourselves. At first, the chants were quiet, but as we continued the meditation, the voices in the room heightened, and we were all in a highly loving and positive environment. It was a powerful experience, yet comfortable and light. To love yourself, allows you to love others truly, and brings you closer to the blue pearl.
Strenuous, yet energizing repetitive yoga movements, dancing freely like we are in a Mumbai nightclub, meditating to forgive those we need to forgive and to love ourselves, me and the other thirty or so students follow Gurmukh into not only understanding something that is bigger than all of us, but reaching to live in it and help others to do the same.
I grant myself permission to buy new magazines whenever I go vacation. This is a little indulgence that I enjoy, whether it's a road trip down to the beach or a non-stop flight to destinations far & near. And so as I prepared for my flight to San Francisco yesterday, I decadently perused the newsstand at the airport with reckless abandon.
After browsing the latest issue of People, (okay, that might be just a little too indulgent) my eye caught the cover of a Yoga Journal that I had not yet seen. I've been a subscriber for a few years, but this was one of the "special editions" that are periodically issued separate from the regular subscription: "Yoga at Home: Everything You Need to Practice on Your Own."
Touted as the "2009 Complete Guide" from the editors of Yoga Journal, this magazine sports a price of $8.99, which definitely puts it into the "decadent" category as far as impulse magazine buying goes. As I picked it up, the gate attendant announced my flight. I quickly pulled out a $10 bill, purchased the magazine and hurried onto the plane.
I rationalized the purchase as being "work-related research." Yeah, that's the ticket. And who among us hasn't struggled with establishing a home practice? I found with my purchase that age-old question, "What should I do?" was answered in sequences, photos and languaging that's easy to follow and understand. Several of the sequences are outlined by teachers who are presenting here at the San Francisco conference, and include:
~ Forward bending practice with Yin Yoga's Sarah Powers
~ Restorative practice with Judith Hanson Lasater
~ Standing poses with Anusara Yoga's Desiree Rumbaugh
~ Backbends with Rodney Yee
~ Down Dog in De "Tail" (get it, dog-tail) with Jason Crandell
~ Beginner's Guide to Inversions with Aadil Palkhivala
Additionally, there are practice sequences from other great teachers for inversions, twists, abdominals, block work for strength, and even a beginner's primer "Meditation for Everybody" by Frank Jude Boccio. As I thumbed through the pages, I was inspired and pleased. Inspired to see so many great do-able sequences, and pleased that my indulgence yielded a worthwhile investment.
Do yourself a favor ... go indulge!
 Okay, so first let me say I LIKE the local Sports Discount/Retail offerings that are mine in Austin, Texas. A lot of my time and money certainly bear that out. (Or is it "bare" ~ I never know ~ which reminds me of an old joke among writers: Definition of a Synonym &mdash word you use when you're not sure of the correct usage (or spelling) of the word you REALLY wanted to write.) Suffice it to say, I have spent my fair share on the yoga clothing "lines" (all puns intended) of Nike and Reebok and Danskin.
But with all due respect, there is nothing like the thrill of walking into a Yoga Journal conference Market Place, and especially so here in California. You are suddenly exposed to unique and creative fashions &mdash many made with organic or recycled materials &mdash that hold the promise of saving our planet while STILL making you look hot! I mean, as a yogini, does it GET any better than that?! (Worth Noting: Who can forget that I found sexy Crocs at the Yoga Journal Market Place in Colorado?!)
With a jammed-packed schedule of fabulous workshops with internationally-known presenters, it's difficult to pull yourself away and head to the Market Place. But DO make the time. It takes consciousness to a whole new level. Go with me here a minute ... The Yoga Journal Conference Market Place: Opening Your Eyes (and pocketbooks) to the World of FASHION Consciousness. C'mon people, does it get any better than that?!
Note: Pamela wrote this post while lounging in her new organic cotton wrap with original silk screen design by Ava. She is currently considering returning for that cute little teal number later this weekend.
Because I'm an extremely blessed individual, I've had the opportunity to attend approximately 10 Yoga Journal now—and this makes my fourth in San Francisco. As a veteran yoga conference-goer, I feel it is my duty—and my privilege—to share the tricks and tips of conference going so that even if this is your first conference, you might take in all there is to offer here at the 2009 San Francisco Conference.
- Before your first class, it's a good idea to get to the Hyatt Regency early, walk through the hallways, and locate your class. The only thing more embarrassing than unkempt feet is arriving at your classes 15 minutes late because you were lost. There will still be a place for you if you're late, but it will probably be up front right beside your teacher so everyone in the room will stare at you as you awkwardly unroll your mat and try to find a place for your things.
- Don't be shy! One of the best parts about the conference is connecting with people in this vast, and friendly, yoga community. Don't miss out on it because you were too afraid to introduce yourself to your classmates. Make an effort to at least introduce yourself to the person on your left and right in every session. You'll be glad you did.
- Get a pedicure for goodness sake! You'll be spending a lot of time in your bare feet.
- Keep track of where you put your shoes at all times! I'm speaking from experience when I tell you that not being able to locate your shoes after class is a real post-Savasana buzz kill.
- Conference presenters aren't the only teachers here. Draw inspiration from the experience, other attendees, and your own practice, too.
- Get ready to see some amazing poses! The first yoga conference I attended, I was astounded (and a little discouraged) by all of the people who could easily touch their heads to the feet and stand on their hands in the middle of the room. It's OK to look and admire other people's beautiful poses. But you'll get a lot more from the practice if you're focused on your own practice.
- It's cold in the Hyatt. You'll want to bring a wrap and some socks for Savasana.
- Schedule time to shop! (If you need an excuse to buy new yoga clothes, you can always "forget" something warm . . . Today, I forgot comfy sweat pants to pull on over my yoga pants. Darn! I guess I'll have to buy some!)
- Ask questions, but don't kill the discussion by bringing up too many of your own personal issues that don't apply to anyone else. Seriously, I hate that!
- Take advantage of free events during your down-time—they're amazing. But don't do so much that you forget to actually eat and drink while you're here. You need your energy to get through all that asana!
- Don't try to remember everything you hear. There will be SO much information thrown at you in such a short time it can seem daunting You want to immerse yourself in the practice, not become overwhelmed by it. Take in what you can, and trust that you'll remember the parts that are most relevant to you and your practice in the moment.
Erica Rodefer is Associate Online Editor for YogaJournal.com. When she's not writing and blogging for YJ, she loves knitting, sewing, hiking, and, of course, practicing and teaching yoga. Since she was first introduced to yoga in a college course, she's been motivated to spread the joy—especially to stressed-out teenagers. (Check out Erica's blog about her adventures in teaching, Teacher Tells All.) She lives in Oakland, California with her husband and a little white kitty that rarely lets her sleep past 6 a.m.
I'm sharing a room this weekend with a woman who responded to my post on the YJ conference site last month. Loretta (from Louisiana) first contacted me through the message board, then called, and we hit it off immediately. Like old high school friends who had just reconnected in time for the big reunion, we've exchanged several excited emails and phone calls in preparation for the conference. San Francisco will be her first Yoga Journal gathering, so I wasn't surprised when she called to ask me what to bring.
Packing for your first conference can be a bit stressful. It's a new environment. You don't want to be unprepared, but you also don't want to over pack either. This makes for a challenging dilemma. First, there's all those gear decisions: Should I bring my own props? Can I take pictures during the classes? What stuff should I take to the sessions? And how will I carry it all around?
Then you move into your closet and the stress really begins to mount: How many yoga outfits do I REALLY need? Will I change between sessions or hang out all day in the same giddy-up? And what do people wear for the "off-the-mat" functions?
So with one whole Yoga Journal conference under my belt (or should that be "under my yoga strap"), I'll offer some of my experienced sage yogic advice.
The Gear &mdash Less is More
Props: Bring what you absolutely must have. With these kinds of numbers, nothing is supplied, of course. If you don't REALLY need it, don't bring it. Caveat: Check the program for any class requests. (Eg. in the notes for Judith Lasater's Practicing Yoga to Save Your Knees, participants are asked to bring a strap and a tennis ball.) Besides the marketplace has all sorts of goodies for sale if you're really in a pinch.
Cameras &mdash Most presenters seem comfortable with folks taking photographs. If you're unsure, ask. There's nothing like a photographic record.
What to Take to Class &mdash Always good to have a notebook and pen, maybe a water bottle; Space considerations may come into play so just use common sense about how much stuff you have around your mat;
How will I Carry It Around: Good to have some sort of mat bag or sling with something for your room key, phone or camera, and of course, credit card for shopping after class. There are all sorts of bags with in a range of prices. Stay tuned for my great economical mat bag idea in an upcoming post.
Moving on to the important stuff &mdash The Clothes
Not sure how San Francisco will compare to Estes Park, but there I was struck by the immense range of yoga "looks" &mdash from the earthy crunchy granola au natural organic cotton to the LA glitz and glitter with a little bit of everything in between. Bottom line: Wear what you like to wear for your yoga practice. (By the way, did I mention there's a MARKET PLACE just in case you need to pick a little top or two?)
Finally, unless you tend to sweat profusely (and I'm not naming any names from back home), most folks don't change outfits during the day. One a day should be plenty (with an extra shirt thrown in just in case you spill some Chai tea on yourself. Remember: Less is more, less is more. Unless there's chai!
The off-the-mat "looks" range as greatly as those on the mat &mdash from leggings and sweaters to jeans and t-shirts. Again, wear what you're comfortable in, just add lipstick (or whatever). San Francisco is sporting some great weather right now, but I'm told it can get chilly down on the wharf in the evening. A jacket or light coat may be in order. Whatever you do, don't forget the jewelry, and if you do, there's always the MARKET place!
All in all, don't pack too much, keep it simple and have I mentioned? Less is more. After hauling my big old suitcase across the San Francisco airport, onto the BART, and up to the 10th floor of the Hyatt, I feel especially qualified to make that last suggestion.
Up Next &mdash Pammy's Mat Bag Idea: Saving Money in these Tough Economic Times and still look stylish at the Studio!
Pamela comes to the San Francisco conference from Texas and the yogic world of Anusara Land. A young yogi in a middle-aged body, she "found" yoga just a little over two years ago. Shortly thereafter, she down-dogged her way into Christina Sell's class, heard her laughter and her teachings, and she's never been the same sense. Besides THAT one moment, this self-proclaimed "YogiTechChick" credits four life-changing yogic experiences:
— The afternoon she opened Light on Yoga and found that her college party trick was actually a yoga pose;
—The first time she "caught air" in bakasana;
—The day it dawned on her that savasana actually happened in EVERY class! (Well, except Christina's, but that's another post); and
— The precise moment she discovered that &mdash despite looking deceptively similar &mdash a big scoop of wasabi tastes nothing like guacamole. (Okay, so that wasn't "yogic," but it was life changing.)
Pamela honed her sharp journalistic skills during a 10-year stint writing a weekly newsletter for her local elementary school — Go, Kiker Comets! — where she reported on such challenging issues as overdue library books and contentious PTA meetings, not to mention the great cupcake controversy of 1999 for which she was nominated for a Pulitzer prize.
She lives in Austin with her husband, a dog, three sons, and two Mac computers. When not blogging for Yoga Journal (which, okay, is most of the time) she posts on her OWN site, PotentialWithin, about yoga, road trips with her parents, and anything else that amuses her.
Like to Twitter? You can also follow her conference tweets between her YJ posts.
Side Note: Pamela was first discovered blogging in the lobby at 2 a.m. during the Yoga Journal Conference at Estes Park last Fall. She has since been issued a key to her own room.
I cannot think of a better way to spend this unseasonably sunny San Francisco weekend than inside a hotel. Of course, this hotel's walls will be vibrating with the chants of some of the world's most prominent yogic figures and the responses of their humble students. This is my first Yoga Journal Conference, my first time studying with any of the teachers whose classes I will be attending. Thus, this aspiring yogini is filled with excitement.
My Yoga Journal journey begins on Friday with Gurmukh Kaur Khalsa and her all-day intensive, Diving for the Blue Pearl: Experience Transformation. Always completely intrigued by Kundalini yoga, I look forward to having my first thorough Kundalini experience with such an admired figure. I will actually return to her class Exploring Past Lives later in the conference.javascript:editPlacements()
Choosing which classes to take is quite challenging. Yet, since I can only be in one place at a time, I developed a strategy based on recommendations, and my current yogic interests. This past year, I began working with an energy healer, meditating, and continuing to work on my yoga technique. Therefore, I will work on alignment with Desirée Rumbaugh, find the divine vibration within with Shiva Rea, rid myself of mental agitation with Gary Kraftsow, balance my chakras with Sherri Baptiste, and discover the influence of gravity on my yoga with Matthew Sanford.
I look forward to sore muscles, to a clear mind, to a calm body, and to the inspiration that comes with the presence of such inspiring figures. Furthermore, I look forward to writing all about it, to you. . .
 If you've ever seen Michael Franti perform, you know that the event at the YJ conference on Friday night is going to be great. Franti will be giving musical accompaniment to a class led by Nikki Doane and Eddie Modestini. Last year, at the YJ Conference, was the first time I saw him perform live and I loved it: soulful and get-up-and-dance all at once. I'm curious to see what it will be like doing yoga to his tunes. If you are interested in going, check out this link. I'll be writing about the event, too, on Friday night. Hope to see you there!
 Karen Macklin is a San Francisco-based writer, editor, teacher, and yogini from New York. She is the former Samadhi & the City columnist, and has written for more than a dozen publications nationally, including the New York Times, San Francisco Weekly,, Tricycle, Alternative Medicine, and Yoga Journal on arts, culture, travel, health, and Eastern spirituality. Her creative works, which include plays and poetry, have been produced and published in the United States and Italy. She is the editorial director for Zest Books, and her first book, Indie Girl, came out in Spring 2008. Visit her website at www.kmacklin.com.
 Practicing yoga for four years, Missy hopes to bring a fresh perspective to readers from the San Francisco 2009 Conference. Missy spent two decades studying ballet and very easily transitioned into a steady yoga practice. In yoga, she finds that the ever growing physical and spiritual challenges inspire her to continuously deepen her practice through a variety of teachers and, more recently, through meditation. Missy has a journalism degree from New York University; she currently resides in San Francisco.
Rodney Yee, who has been practicing yoga for 27 years and teaching for 23, got his foundation from Iyengar Yoga. He continues his studies together with his wife, Colleen Saidman. Thirty DVDs and two books later, he has turned his yoga passion toward health care by cochairing the Urban Zen Health and Wellness Foundation, founded by Donna Karan.
View Rodney's Classes
http://www.yjevents.com/yjevents/sf09/teacher_yee.php
Duncan Wong, designer of the pioneering Yogic Arts synthesis system, is a passionate master who has 30 years of powerful transformational movement and teaching experience. He offers an insightful perspective of relating advanced techniques in basic ways.
View Duncan's Classes
http://www.yjevents.com/yjevents/sf09/teacher_wong.php
Jai Uttal is a sacredmusic composer, recording artist, and ecstatic vocalist. He combines influences from India and America, creating a multicultural fusion that is truly World Spirit music. Jai has been leading kirtans around the world for more than 30 years. His seventh CD release, Mondo Rama, was nominated for a Grammy Award.
View Jai's Classes
http://www.yjevents.com/yjevents/sf09/teacher_uttal.php
David Swenson made his first trip to Mysore in 1977, learning the full Ashtanga system as originally taught by Sri K. Pattabhi Jois. He is recognized today as one of the world's foremost practitioners and instructors of Ashtanga Yoga and has produced numerous videos and DVDs, and the book Ashtanga Yoga: The Practice Manual.
View David's Classes
http://www.yjevents.com/yjevents/sf09/teacher_swenson.php
Rod Stryker, founder of ParaYoga, is widely considered one of the West's leading yoga and meditation teachers. He has taught for almost 30 years, leading retreats, workshops, and trainings worldwide. Rod is one of only a few American teachers today transmitting an ancient tradition, one that has been handed from teacher to student for thousands of years.
View Rod's Classes
http://www.yjevents.com/yjevents/sf09/teacher_stryker.php
Sianna Sherman is a certified Anusara Yoga teacher who met her mentor, John Friend, in 1995. Recently named by Yoga Journal as one of 21 talented young teachers shaping the future of yoga, Sianna weaves alignment, therapeutics, and creative sequencing with stories, poetry, and Tantric philosophy.
View Sianna's Classes
http://www.yjevents.com/yjevents/sf09/teacher_sherman.php
Beth Shaw is the founder and creator of YogaFit Training Systems Inc. which has trained more than 100,000 fitness instructors on six continents. Beth is a frequent contributor to fitness magazines and an animal-rights advocate. She is on the National Council for the Humane Society and is the chairperson of Karma Rescue's advisory board.or-Life Award in 2008.
View Beth's Classes
http://www.yjevents.com/yjevents/sf09/teacher_shaw.php
Jenny Sauer-Klein, cofounder of AcroYoga, leads workshops and teacher trainings worldwide. Certified in Contact Yoga by its originator, Nateshvar Ken Scott, she has studied theater, dance, yoga, Thai massage, and acrobatics and has taught yoga and circus arts to adults and children for more than seven years.
View Jenny's Classes
http://www.yjevents.com/yjevents/sf09/teacher_sauer.php
Matthew Sanford is an Iyengar-style yoga teacher who is paralyzed from the chest down. He is the author of Waking: A Memoir of Trauma and Transcendence and founder of the nonprofit Mind Body Solutions. A leading voice in the integrative health movement, Matthew received a Karma Yoga Award from Yoga Journal in 2003 and the national Volvo-for-Life Award in 2008.
View Matthew's Classes
http://www.yjevents.com/yjevents/sf09/teacher_sanford.php
Colleen Saidman has been teaching yoga for 12 years. She co-owns and codirects Yoga Shanti in Sag Harbor, NY and continues her studies with her husband, Rodney Yee. Her passion for working in health care started in junior high at a geriatric center and continues today as a cochair of the Urban Zen Health and Wellness Foundation.
View Colleen's Classes
http://www.yjevents.com/yjevents/sf09/teacher_saidman.php
Desiree Rumbaugh teaches from the experiences of more than two decades of practice and five decades of life. She was one of the first students to study with John Friend and become certified in his Anusara method of yoga. Desiree travels the world offering workshops that are innovative, transformative, challenging, and compassionate.
View Desirée's Classes
http://www.yjevents.com/yjevents/sf09/teacher_rumbaugh.php
Shiva Rea teaches vinyasa flow worldwide and has led more than 60 retreats throughout Asia, Africa, and the Caribbean. Her studies in the Krishnamacharya lineage, Tantra, Ayurveda, and art infuse her approach to living yoga. She is a regular contributor to Yoga Journal and lives with her family in Los Angeles.
View Shiva's Classes
http://www.yjevents.com/yjevents/sf09/teacher_rea.php
Sarah Powers began teaching in 1987. She interweaves yoga and Buddhism into an integral practice to enliven the body, heart, and mind. Her style blends a Yin sequence of long-held poses to enhance the meridian and organ systems with a flow, or Yang, practice influenced by Viniyoga, Ashtanga, and Iyengar. Sarah leads retreats with her husband. They live in Marin, CA.
View Sarah's Classes
http://www.yjevents.com/yjevents/sf09/teacher_powers.php
Aadil Palkhivala began studying with B.K.S. Iyengar at age 7 and received an advanced teacher's certificate at 22. Devoted to Aurobindo's yoga, he is founder of Purna Yoga and founder-director of Yoga Centers in Bellevue, WA. He's also a naturopath and Ayurvedic practitioner, and holds degrees in law, physics, and mathematics.
View Aadil's Classes
http://www.yjevents.com/yjevents/sf09/teacher_palkhivala.php
Jason Nemer, a longtime acrobat, discovered yoga as a university student and never looked back. Cofounder of AcroYoga, he leads workshops and teacher trainings all over the world. Studies with Dharma Mittra have helped him see that one's true teacher is "sitting on the right side of your heart" as the eternal witness.
View Jason's Classes
http://www.yjevents.com/yjevents/sf09/teacher_nemer.php
Eddie Modestini has been teaching yoga since 1983. He is certified in Iyengar Yoga, and has received Pattabhi Jois' blessing to teach Ashtanga Yoga. He is well versed in both systems, with an eye for detail and a profound ability in reading students' bodies. Eddie lives in Sebastopol, CA with his wife and teaching partner, Nicki Doane. They codirect Maya Yoga Studios in both CA and Maui, HI.
View Eddie's Classes
http://www.yjevents.com/yjevents/sf09/teacher_modestini.php
Tias Little has been a student of Iyengar Yoga since 1985. He has studied Ashtanga vinyasa yoga in Mysore and is a student of Vajrayana Buddhism. He is trained in massage and cranial-sacral therapy, and has studied extensively with Tom Myers in Anatomy Trains. Tias has been studying trauma and recovery through Somatic Experiencing since 2006.
View Tias's Classes
http://www.yjevents.com/yjevents/sf09/teacher_little.php
David Life imbues his classes with metaphor, musicality, spirituality, and humor. With Sharon Gannon, David has created the Jivamukti Yoga method, which emphasizes vinyasa, scriptural study, music, chanting, meditation, and animal rights, veganism, environmentalism, and political activism.
View David's Classes
http://www.yjevents.com/yjevents/sf09/teacher_life.php
Cyndi Lee, director of OM Yoga Center, practices hatha yoga and Tibetan Buddhism. A yoga teacher for more than 20 years, she wrote and illustrated the best-selling OM Yoga in a Box series and the books OM Yoga: A Guide to Daily Practice and Yoga Body, Buddha Mind.
View Cyndi's Classes
http://www.yjevents.com/yjevents/sf09/teacher_lee.php
Judith Hanson Lasater is president of the California Yoga Teachers Association and cofounder of Yoga Journal. A yoga teacher since 1971 and a practicing physical therapist, she holds a PhD in East- West psychology and is the author of Living Your Yoga: Finding the Spiritual in Everyday Life.
View Judith's Classes
http://www.yjevents.com/yjevents/sf09/teacher_lasater.php
Gary Kraftsow began his study of yoga with T.K.V. Desikachar in 1974. As founder/director of the American Viniyoga Institute, he teaches classes, leads workshops, and trains teachers in the Viniyoga approach to yoga and yoga therapy. He is the author of Yoga for Wellness and Yoga for Transformation, and he designed the protocol for the National Institutes of Health study on low-back pain.
View Gary's Classes
http://www.yjevents.com/yjevents/sf09/teacher_kraftsow.php
Gurmukh Kaur Khalsa is the cofounder and director of the Golden Bridge spiritual villages in Los Angeles and New York. A yoga instructor for more than 30 years, she teaches Kundalini Yoga and meditation as taught to her by Yogi Bhajan. Gurmukh is the author of The Eight Human Talents and Bountiful, Beautiful, Blissful, and of three DVDs.
View Gurmukh's Classes
http://www.yjevents.com/yjevents/sf09/teacher_khalsa.php
Brent Kessel is cofounder of Abacus Portfolios, a portfolio management company offering socially responsible investing and holistic financial advice. Brent earned his economics degree from UCLA and studies meditation and Ashtanga Yoga. He is Yoga Journal's money columnist and author of It's Not About the Money.
View Brent's Classes
http://www.yjevents.com/yjevents/sf09/teacher_kessel.php
Kate Holcombe is founder and codirector of Healing Yoga Foundation, a San Francisco nonprofit dedicated to adapting the tools of yoga to the needs of the individual. Kate is a longtime student of T.K.V. Desikachar and works with individuals and small groups, conducts teacher trainings, and teaches yoga's philosophical texts.
View Kate's Classes
http://www.yjevents.com/yjevents/sf09/teacher_holcombe.php
Julia Butterfly Hill is an activist and artist, and the best-selling author of The Legacy of Luna. Julia is known for her successful tree-sitting protest in Northern California. She has spoken on the topic of spiritual activation in thousands of venues all over the world.
View Julia's Classes
http://www.yjevents.com/yjevents/sf09/teacher_hill.php
Julie Gudmestad, a certified Iyengar Yoga teacher and a licensed physical therapist, integrates the healing powers of yoga with Western medical knowledge. She is director of the Gudmestad Yoga Studio in Portland, OR, and wrote Yoga Journal's Anatomy column for seven years.
View Julie's Classes
http://www.yjevents.com/yjevents/sf09/teacher_gudmestad.php
Sharon Gannon teaches yoga as a path to enlightenment through compassion for all beings. She is a pioneer in teaching yoga as spiritual activism and has been practicing yoga and meditation for more than 35 years. She is a cofounder, with David Life, of the Jivamukti Yoga method, which is taught worldwide. Sharon is also the author of many books, CDs, and DVDs.
View Sharon's Classes
http://www.yjevents.com/yjevents/sf09/teacher_gannon.php
Richard Freeman has practiced yoga and meditation since 1968 and has extensively studied the Ashtanga vinyasa yoga of Sri K. Pattabhi Jois. He is founding director of the Yoga Workshop in Boulder, CO.
View Richard's Classes
http://www.yjevents.com/yjevents/sf09/teacher_freeman.php
Michael Franti is the creator and driving force behind Michael Franti & Spearhead, a band that blends hip hop with a variety of other styles including funk, reggae, jazz, folk, and rock. He is also an outspoken supporter for a wide spectrum of peace and social justice issues.
View Michael's Classes
http://www.yjevents.com/yjevents/sf09/teacher_franti.php
Ana Forrest is recognized worldwide as a pioneer in yoga and emotional healing. Her focus in Forrest Yoga is to guide the student in the sacred exploration of truth, healing, and The Great Mystery. Ana's philosophy and approach are unique and powerful, drawing on her vast life experiences and more than 30 years of teaching yoga.
View Ana's Classes
http://www.yjevents.com/yjevents/sf09/teacher_forrest.php
Nicki Doane had a wanderlust that led her to India in 1991 to study yoga; in Mysore she met her teacher, Sri K. Pattabhi Jois. Although rooted in Ashtanga, Nicki's classes combine asana, pranayama, philosophy, and poetry. Nicki lives in Sebastopol, CA with her husband, Eddie Modestini. Together, they co-direct Maya Yoga Studios in both California and Maui, HI.
View Nicki's Classes
http://www.yjevents.com/yjevents/sf09/teacher_doane.php
Jason Crandell is featured in Yoga Journal's most recent DVDs Yoga for Well-Being and Your Complete Home Practice Companion-Morning, Noon, and Night. He's a contributing editor for Yoga Journal and a teacher on YJ's monthly Podcast. His vinyasa classes combine fluid movement, subtle detail, and inner exploration.
View Jason's Classes
http://www.yjevents.com/yjevents/sf09/teacher_crandell.php
 Seane Corn teaches classes that are an eclectic fusion of various healing and spiritual modalities. She is the National Yoga Ambassador for YouthAIDS and trains leaders of activism through Off the Mat Into the World, an organization she cofounded. She received the 2005 Conscious Humanitarian Award for her outreach efforts and is featured in several DVDs.
View Seane's Classes
http://www.yjevents.com/yjevents/sf09/teacher_corn.php
 Jnani Chapman, a clinical specialist at UCSF's Osher Center for Integrative Medicine, trains instructors to adapt yoga for students with chronic illness, cancer, and heart disease. She is a senior staff member at Commonweal and former executive director of the International Association of Yoga Therapists.
View Jnani's classes
http://www.yjevents.com/yjevents/sf09/teacher_chapman.php
 Sherri Baptiste is the daughter of two of America's yoga/health/ fitness pioneers-Magana and Walt Baptiste. Author of Yoga with Weights for Dummies, she is an inspirational teacher at the forefront of yoga training in America. Founder of the Baptiste Power of Yoga method, she leads teacher-training programs recognized by Yoga Alliance.
View Sherri's classes
http://www.yjevents.com/yjevents/sf09/teacher_baptiste.php
 Katchie Ananda is the cofounder of Yoga Sangha, a studio renowned for its ability to blend yoga and social change. Certified in Anusara, Jivamukti, Ashtanga, and Integral Yoga, she has more than 20 years of experience as a fulltime yoga teacher, trainer, and workshop/program developer.
View Katchie's classes
http://www.yjevents.com/yjevents/sf09/teacher_ananda.php
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