Let the energy flow....

Various goings-on

A few announcements about upcoming new/free/fun yoga classes that have graced my email box recently:

• Ted Roseen (see the previous entry about his photography) will begin teaching at Vitality in St. Paul tomorrow (Tuesday, 4/29) at 4:15pm. Ted's class is a mix of Iyengar biomechanics, Ashtanga sequencing, and the flow of Vinyasa. The class tomorrow is free, so be sure to check it out.
• TaraNa's famous yoga happy hour is this Friday. This month's theme is Gin-and-Tonicasana. Remember to arrive early!
• Amy Patee is leading a really interesting workshop at the Yoga Center this Saturday focused on harnessing your prana (lifeforce.) Amy will lead the class through meditation, breath work, visualization, and asana to "elicit your personal power and strength."
  
• My good friend Catherine Johnson Justice is starting a new Family Yoga Class at TaraNa on Saturday, May 10. More details will follow, but mark your kids' calendars now.
  
• The Dharma Mittra workshop at the Yoga Center of Minneapolis is fast approaching (May 31 - June 1). Everyone I know who has studied with him raves about the experience. Who wouldn't want to learn "the best and most effective methods of Yoga"?!
  
• Yoga Center of Minneapolis is having an open house at their St. Louis Park studio on May 2. There will be yoga mini-classes, free henna tattoos and tarot card readings, as well as consultations to help you or your friend find the right yoga class.
• The new Edina CorePower, complete with 6,200 sq feet of studio, spa, and retail space is scheduled to open on May 16.

Photos from India

Ted Roseen is a local yoga teacher and artist/photographer. But really he is special soul that has a lot to teach us all about the beauty of the human spirit and really following your bliss. This fall Ted traveled to India to continue his annual tradition of visiting the remote corners of the globe (Nicaragua, Guatemala, Mexico, Costa Rica, Spain, Laos, Peru) to capture in his viewfinder the beauty of people and the lives they lead. His trip to India was extra special in that he combined his photography pursuits with an intense two months practicing the Primary Series with the creators of modern Ashtanga yoga, the Jois family. (Apparently a lot of Advil was required to cope with the pain!)

Ted is displaying his India photos this weekend as a part of the St. Paul Art Crawl. I saw the photos last night and they are beautiful and moving. I strongly encourage you to check out Ted’s amazing work, buy one for your wall, and meet this extra-special yogi. Namaste.

Ted Roseen - One Among Many: Photos From India
300 Broadway Street #403, St. Paul
Friday: 6-10pm, Saturday: 2-10pm, Sunday: 12-5pm

And the winner is...

City Pages annual BEST OF issue came out yesterday, and the St. Paul Yoga Center was named "best yoga." It isn't technically in Minneapolis or 612, but I have to give props where props are due. I like that City Pages gave the studio kudos for being a welcoming environment for all types to genuinely deepen their yoga practice. The St. Paul Yoga Center offers a variety of class types (Iyengar, pre-natal, Vinyasa, yoga philosophy, pranayama, etc.) and hosts many interesting workshops. I encourage you to check it out... the first class is free.

Yoga happy hours

There is nothing like a great Friday afternoon yoga class to end the work week and ease into your weekend. Mark your calendars - here are a few options around town:

1st Friday of every month

• TaraNa: 6:00pm (but arrive by 5:30 to get a mat spot) - 90-minute Vinyasa class followed by socializing and libations. These classes are taught by Jessie and Jeffery, both great teachers and fun people.
  

2nd Friday of every month

• Yoga Studio of Plymouth: 5:30-7:30pm - each month is focused on a theme. May is about partner stretching and June has a chakra focus.
  

Every Friday

• Yoga Center of Minneapolis - downtown studio: 5:45-6:45pm- a fun Vinyasa class for all levels. "Celebration Yoga" features upbeat music and tasty treats and beverages after class.
• Yoga Center of Minneapolis - Saint Louis Park studio: 6:30-7:45pm- an all levels yoga class taught by one of my favorite teachers in town, Ryan Kelly. The class features soft lighting and music to slip you into a deep sense of peace and relaxation.
• Yoga House: 4:30-6:00pm- Sydney Holly (another fav teacher of mine) leads the class through a vigorous 90 minutes of Vinyasa practice. This class will make you sweat but you'll feel great by the end.
• One Yoga: 5:30-6:50pm - in this class you will stretch you spine and unwind your mind with friends, tunes, and flow. This Vinyasa class is deeply rooted in the traditions of Ashtanga Yoga.
• CorePower - 8:00-9:00pm - Uptown studio: move through a gentler, all levels Vinyasa flow class with great music and the glow of candlelight.

Remember to register: Amy Ippoliti (Anusara)

REMINDER: April 25-27- Begin with Intention Yoga / Clouds in Water Zen Center
Amy Ippoliti: is a certified Anusara Yoga teacher who has traveled extensively with Anusara founder, John Friend, apprenticing with him on his national tours. She has also studied closely with Tantric scholar, Dr. Douglas Brooks. She leads Anusara Yoga retreats, immersions, workshops, and teacher trainings internationally. According to the website, she is known for her radically affirming teaching style and dynamism, offering her life experience with the potent Universal Principles of Alignment, elegant tantric yoga philosophy, and therapeutics that embody Anusara Yoga.

Yoga playlists

Every month Yoga Journal asks a prominent yoga teacher to share their favorite music for practicing yoga and publishes it in the back of the magazine. I just discovered that these playlists are also posted on the web, making it oh so easy to link right into ITunes or OMstream to purchase the recommended tunes. Here are a few playlists that looked really good:

• Shiva Rea (Yoga Trance Dance)
  
• David Life (Jivamukti Yoga)
• Gurmukh Kaur Khalsa (some serious Kundalini action)