Part of the Bright Minds; Big Hearts Series

Lift Off! With Ashley Turner
Saturday, July 9th, 2011; 12pm – 2pm
Cost: $45.00
Click here to sign-up!

Level: For students who have been practicing for at least 1 year.

Join Mala Yoga in welcoming back the fabulous Ashley Turner. Let her teachings turn your practice upside down and inside out!

Learn to fly in your practice and your life. Plunge your roots deep into the solid ground of strength, steadiness and clarity to lift off!

A short dharma talk on fortifying your power center, creating levity from the inside out and knowing what you stand for precedes an exhilarating set of sun salutes and inventive standing sequences to prepare for inversions. Hot air rises. With a strong foundation and galvanized core, become light and free. We will focus on the 3rd Chakra, Manipura to lighten our load by firing up. An all-levels exploration of arm balances and inversions. For the beginner to advanced practitioner.

About Ashley
Ashley Turner, M.A, MFTI (#62103), is an acclaimed yoga/meditation teacher and mind-body psychotherapist in private practice in Los Angeles, specializing in Yoga Psychology – an innovative synthesis of psychology, spirituality, yoga and modern science.

A frequent contributor to top tier media publications including Self, Women’s Health, Yoga Journal, Natural Health, Fitness, among many others, Ashley’s core intention is to help people live with more fearlessness and freedom — resulting in confidence, efficacy and empowerment.

Ashley is the creator of Element Beginner Yoga DVD’s “Yoga for Weightloss” and the forthcoming “Yoga for Stress + Flexibility” and “Power Yoga”. Named by Yoga Journal as “Who’s Who in Power Yoga,” she focuses on a dynamic vinyasa style, challenging students from the inside out. She serves as ambassador and spokesperson for Zobha apparel, Manduka yoga products and has custom designed a line of eco-yoga mats for Yogamatic.

With a Master’s in Psychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute, Ashley sits on the faculty at Kripalu and Loyola Marymount University’s Yoga Philosophy Program . After completing a 13-month Priestess Training, she became an Ordained Priestess and passionately infuses Tantra, Shamanism, Insight Meditation and Feminine Spirituality into her work. She began her formal training in classical Ashtanga Yoga with Baba Hari Das (Mt. Madonna) and went on to complete advanced vinyasa trainings with Shiva Rea. She has studied extensively with Sharon Gannon and David Life of Jivamukti Yoga, Mark Whitwell, Seane Corn and Krishna Das.

Part of the Bright Minds; Big Hearts Series

Essential Oils and First Aid with Amy Galper
Saturday, June 11th, 2011; 4pm- 6pm
Cost: $40 total ($30 for wksp + $10 for supplies to be paid to Amy directly)
Click here to sign-up!

This workshop is for everyone!

Learn the basics of essential oils, what they are and how best to use them to care for your family. In this fun and and hands on workshop, Amy will focus on 6-8 essential oils that soothe and heal minor scrapes and bruising, headaches, upset tummies, rashes, bug bites and anything else. Come with questions and leave with a home-made remedy to keep yourself and those you love well healed.

About Amy
Amy Galper was a New York City based shiatsu practitioner who founded Buddha Nose, Ltd. in the spring of 2004 to encourage her mostly female clientele to “be still and breathe.” Recognizing the connection between the energetic dynamics of shiatsu, a Japanese form of bodywork based in Traditional Chinese Medicine, and with the essential oils of aromatic plants Amy created handmade beauty products in her kitchen to inspire the mind body beauty connection.

Amy graduated from The Ohashi Institute and completed the Institute’s instructor training program and studied aromatic plant medicine at The Ojai School of Massage. She maintained a private practice in New York City for 5 years and is a member of the American Organization of Bodywork Therapies of Asia, (AOBTA), and OASIS, (Organic and Sustainable Industry Standards) a pioneering organization whose purpose is to support organic and sustainable Health and Beauty consumer goods by establishing workable industry standards for organic and sustainable manufacturing.

Prior to launching her wellness business, Amy was an actress in New York with credits that included commercials, classical stage and film as well as experimental performance. She attended the Juilliard School, received her BA from Smith College, and received her MA from New York University.

Several years ago, Amy experienced a “healing crisis” and was compelled to consider her illness as an opportunity to shift her perspective and make changes in her life. Now she focuses on the business of Buddha Nose in New York City, and spends time with her husband building their eco-conscious and self-sustaining “off-the-grid” home on their 30 acres in the Catskills.

In February 2011 Amy was a winner in the British Airways Face of Opportunity contest; her award flew her to London and Israel to develop strategic partnerships. Buddha Nose was awarded a Beauty with a Conscience Award from natural Solutions magazine in 2009.

What’s your yoga story? How did you find Mala?

Coming from a dance background, which translated into I-know-how-to-stretch-so-I-don’t-need-yoga-itis, as well as being rather type A and preferring the adrenaline rush of running or lifting weights, I was a reluctant yogi.  Except when I was pregnant.  Yoga helped me immensely in my first pregnancy, so when I was in the family way with my second son, I turned to the yoga studio around the corner, and hence discovered Mala.  However I found something much more than just squats and kegels – I discovered an amazing community where yoga was not boring, was not preachy, and was not too chant-y.  I found precise anatomical instruction, an outlet for stress and strain, and a new appreciation for my body (and of course, a killer workout).  Fast forward 3 years – including one newborn, 2 yoga retreats in Costa Rica, and a move to Park Slope – and my practice is still going strong.

What pose do you want to do all day? What pose could you never do again?

Revolved extended side angle is one of my current favorites.  Forearm dog (and forearm stand) I could do without.

What are your biggest yoga obstacles and how do you overcome them?

Expectations!   When I first started practicing, I was still thinking about how to “succeed” at yoga.  If an optional instruction was offered, I went for it.  After some humbling inversions, as well as a SI joint injury, I’ve learned to respect my body’s limits.  A key element of my current practice is an appreciation for my own boundaries and knowing when “going for it” in a pose makes sense or is just silly.

What was the last Dharma talk that resonated with you?

A couple of months ago, Angela talked a lot about how “retreats” are better labeled as “advances.”  That really spoke to me – I find that my practice grows remarkably when I am able to really dedicate time and space to it – whether on an “advance” or via an intermittent home practice.

Where is your favorite place to get coffee, or a drink, post-yoga?

Coffee – One Girl Cookies
Drink – Sample

If you could practice yoga anywhere in the world, where would it be?

For me, the location is less important than my ability to immerse myself in the practice.  One of the best aspects of both retreats in Costa Rica for me was the ability to dedicate my time to my practice and have nothing else get in the way.  Honestly, we could have been practicing in Alaska and it would have been amazing.   Although the infinity pool definitely didn’t hurt.

How has practicing shifted other aspects of your life?

My yoga practice has had many positive externalities: emotionally, physically, and socially.  I have become much more attuned to my own thoughts and feelings in a very constructive manner.  I am increasingly able to deal with stress usefully – acknowledging the source of stress but not letting it consume me.  I also find that mindfulness applies not only to yogis but to kids – in a yogic language slip, I’ve told my 4 year old that he needs to be mindful of how his actions impact his little brother (and I like to think the lesson resonated).  From a physical perspective, I have a much greater understanding of my body and am the official anatomy geek amongst my family and friends.  Finally, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the amazing friends I’ve made through the studio, who I have no doubt will be friends, confidantes, and fellow practitioners for the long haul.

Click here to read more about where she practiced and what she thought!

I had never heard Andrew Harvey speak before but let me tell you, passion, passion, passion is what he’s got. And it’s a little addicting. I was so touched and moved by his statement that Rumi is “telling us, asking us to be so daring as to let our hearts break, for when they break, they will break open the gates and in will pour love and compassion.” Maybe not his exact words, but we were definitely asked to let our hearts break. It’s so true though, isn’t it? When your heart is breaking, when you feel the weight of the world on your shoulders, you’re open and vulnerable, and although true: scary.  We become more sympathetic, caring and compassionate for those around us going through their hardships and hearts breaking.

The evening was filled with beautiful poetry, songs and dancing, and the message was very clear; One Love, that is the answer. I believe it was Deepak Chopra who said, “our desires, our yearning, that is the path.”  The goal is the path, the path is the goal… What an amazing moment and I give many bows to Patty Gift, who made this experience possible for me.

With love & gratitude,
Angela

Once upon a time, the corporation I worked for offered a lunchtime yoga class.  That was at least a decade ago, and that class launched a practice that lingered, then fell away.

I used to live around the corner from the studio, and for at least a year, I would walk by daily and say to myself: Maybe tomorrow I’ll go to yoga!  When tomorrow finally came, I dropped in for a class.  And then another.  And then I bought a class card.  And a stack of American Apparel leggings.

Now, two years later, my home is a mile away from the studio, but I keep coming back. So my yoga story begins with capitalism and ends with Svanasana.  At Mala. Happily ever after.

What pose do you want to do all day?  What pose could you never do again?

Pigeon is awesome. Forearm dog is awkward.

What are your biggest yoga obstacles and how do you overcome them?

My biggest obstacles used to be in my head or in my calendar: “I can’t go to yoga:  I’m not in the mood.  I have too much to do, I have a lunch date.”  Then I experienced the wonders of injury and really learned the meaning of “can’t.”  Now that I’m feeling better, I’m so grateful that my obstacles aren’t in my body that my head just kind of stays out of the way.  Most mornings.  Sometimes, I really just have too much to do…

What was the last Dharma talk that resonated with you?

Stephanie and the towels!  I love the pink towels, which are only alarming if you know that you’re supposed to be mad at Elmo.

Where is your favorite place to get coffee, or a drink, post-yoga?

Coffee:  Pedlar.  Drink:  The Jakewalk.

If you could practice yoga anywhere in the world, where would it be?

Brooklyn?  Also:  anywhere outside, within walking distance to a beach.

How has practicing shifted other aspects of your life?

Experientially: When I practice, I am constantly gauging how my body feels and what it needs.  From choosing the right props for the moment to stretching in a different direction than the group when I need to, the practice has taught me to support and listen to myself in the world at large as much as I do in class.

Mentally:  Practicing yoga gives me space to consider the way I storyboard in my head, which helps me decode the stories I tell myself when I’m not in downward dog.

Physically: Focusing on alignment on the mat has had a real influence on the way I sit and stand when I’m off the mat. And it helps me keep my balance without holding on when I ride the subway.  Urban surfing!  It’s a fun side effect.