But, alas, this is my last blog. The YJ staff will be picking up the slack. Thanks for reading and Happy New Year.
Namaste.
Jeanne
Enlightenment for Idiots, by long-time Yoga Journal contributor Anne Cushman, was recently part of a "Top 10 First Novels" list by Booklist: "Cushman's sensitive novel follows Amanda, a 29-year-old yoga teacher on a tumultuous journey to India." I'm currently reading this novel and thoroughly enjoying it. For more information visit www.enlightenmentforidiots.com
I was touched to discover that Karen Nourizadeh, who owns a yoga studio on Manhattan's upper east side, also teaches weekly yoga classes at a homeless shelter on E. 32nd St. "I want to do yoga for people who really need it," Nourizadeh told the New York Daily News. Do you have a similar story to tell? Please, write in!
With a big spike in the number of Americans heading to food banks, people who want to help are getting creative, reports the Christian Science Monitor. "Dozens of yoga centers like Riverdog in Old Saybrook, Conn., are holding 'Yoga for Food' events: bring a bag of groceries and get a free class."
To find a Yoga for Food event in your area, or to register your yoga studio, visit www.yogaforfood.org. Anyone already participating or doing other community service this month?
London's Fulham Yogashala yoga studio will host a Certified Power Yoga Teacher Training program beginning March 1, 2009. Renowned yoga instructor, Fred Busch, will lead the training. Busch has studied under Sri Dharma Mitra, Gary Kraftsow, Rod Stryker, and Aadil Palkivhala.
The course costs £2450 ($3643) and if you sign up before December 23 you'll receive a 10 percent discount. Visit www.fulhamyogashala.co.uk for more information.
About 2.8 million young people use alternative medicine, including herbal supplements, fish oil, acupuncture, homeopathy, chiropractic, traditional healing, yoga, Pilates, deep breathing, and massage, reports the AP. Given that children are generally pretty healthy, the finding that so many use alternative medicine is "pretty amazing," said one of the study's authors, Richard Nahin of the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. (The study did not consider vitamin and mineral supplements alternative medicine.)
Do your kids partake in alternative healing methods? If so, what and why?
In the December 7 issue of the New York Times Magazine, a yoga teacher writes to The Ethicist column about a colleague that is dating a student: "If the owner knew about this, my colleague would not get the promotion and might be fired. Should I tell?" The Ethicist replies: "While he may have a professional obligation to heed this foolish and overreaching rule, you have no obligation to be the yoga sex police.... there is no need for an inflexible policy banning teacher-student romance."
Do you think prohibiting yoga teachers from dating students is a "foolish and overreaching rule"?
or so says WCSH in Portland, Maine. "Consumers stressed to the limits over budget cuts, layoffs and disappearing retirement funds are flocking to yoga classes, searching for techniques to relieve stress."
Are your yoga classes more or less crowded this month?
When money is tight, you may want to give a gift that is meaningful, if you are giving gifts at all. Check out www.redefine-christmas.org. The website is "about changing the way we look at gift giving and receiving. It's taking money we usually spend on obligatory gifts with little meaning, and creating gifts of charity." The website will redirect you to justgive.org or changingthepresent.org to find a suitable charity. Would you consider giving a donation instead of a gift this holiday season?
Living Fit Today’s Yoga Day will return to Florida's West Palm Beach Meyer Amphitheatre on January 17. A variety of classes and workshops will be held throughout the day in this outdoor venue. There will also be a marketplace with a number of vendors. Best part: it's free! For more information, visit http://yogaday.livingfittoday.com.
A recent study found that the more happy people you know, the more likely you too will be happy, reports Reuters. Research results are available in the British Medical Journal. People with the most social connections, such as friends, spouses, neighbors, and relatives, were also the happiest, the data showed. "Each additional happy person makes you happier," said Nicholas Christakis, a professor of medical sociology at Harvard Medical School in Boston.
Do you find this to be true? Are even the happy people in your life being affected by hard economic times?
The New York Insight Meditation Center is holding its fourth annual Holiday Fair, Saturday, December 6, from 11 am - 5 pm. Admission is free. Attendees can enjoy a craft sale, free body work sessions, entertainment, and homemade refreshments. For more information, visit www.nyimc.org.
Where do you plan to buy gifts this holiday season? Are you planning on buying gifts at all?
Although Malaysia's National Fatwa Council recently ruled against Muslims practicing yoga, saying it could corrupt them, the prime minister said last week that Muslims could still take up yoga, but minus the chanting. The ban has drawn widespread protests amid concerns over growing Islamic fundamentalism in the multiracial nation, reports Reuters.
Yoga recently became an issue here because some religious leaders believe the practice could cause Muslims to deviate from Islam.
How is yoga compatible with your religious beliefs?
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Liability insurance and benefits to support teachers and studios.
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Prizes include a spa vacation in Vermont,
a stained-glass window depicting the seven energy centers of the body,
Yoga DVDs, a yoga vacation in San Francisco and more...
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