Yoga Journal - San Francisco Conference 2009

January 16, 2009

One Step Closer to Michael Franti

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!

Posted by Karen Macklin on January 16, 2009 10:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

January 12, 2009

Nicki Doane Classes

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.