3 fashiononline.anyflip.com/pguq/vvvx/vvvx.pdf · 2015. 1. 19. · 18 destination la 20 festival...

Fashion

FIND YOUR ULTIMATE Spring Cleanse!GLUTEN OR GLUTEN-FREE THAT IS THE QUESTION

Guru Jagat

KUNDALINI DRIVING

PLUS MEDITATION, ASTROLOGY, yogi FOOD AND MORE!

3WAYS TO CHANGE

YOUR MIND

IS IT TIME TO LET go?

for festival season

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f e at u r es

30Harness Energy Efficiently The teachings of Ayurveda and Yoga Therapy reveal how to live in harmony with daily cycles.

34SPRING CLEANSECurious about different cleanse options? Nikki Hardin offers a user-friendly guide from juicing to herbs.

38FESTIVAL FASHIONDance, play, and practice with a selection of looks for the summer festival season that take you from day to night.

463 WAYS TO CHANGE YOUR MINDChanging our perspective includes shifting the external environment, finding role models, and focusing on the big picture.

A P R I L 2 01 4

YOGI FOOD

48 Why Go Gluten-Free?

ROCKSTAR FITNESS52 Diane Warren

ON MY NIGHTSTAND54 Krishna Das

IN EVERY ISSUE

56 Meditation

58 Media Reviews

62 Astrology

64 Mudra

ON THE COVER:

Mara Saranpreet Luthane wears

Bra by lululemon. Lululemon.com

Top/Super T-shirt in coral by Trina Turk Recreation. Trinaturk.com

Shorts by Rebecca Michaels. Rebeccamichaels.com

Necklace by Made in Earth. Mieusa.com

Photographed by David Young-Wolff Davidyoung-wolff.com

MY Communit y

10 Events Calendar

12 Open Doors

16 News

18 Destination LA

20 Festival Round Up

TEacher profile

22 Guru Jagat

AYURVEDA

28 Let Go and Release

AY U R V E D A A N D H E A LT H

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22

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Ralphi wears: Black Belt Headband by Violet Love by Rebecca Michaels.

Jewelry by Love Pray Jewelry.

Organic Performance Briefs by Yogiiza.

Organic Men’s Yoga Pants in White by Yogiiza.

Yoga Mat made from Recycled Car Tires by Kharma Khare.


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PHOTO BY PAM YOUNG-WOLFFMITO AVILES, RAPHI KAMMER, JERICA LAMENS, DAVID YOUNG-WOLFF, MARA SARAPREET LUTHANE, FELICIA TOMASKO.

GIVE WELL

Felicia Tomasko

Everything we have to give arises from our practice.

I’m paraphrasing a bit from words that Guru Jagat, Kundalini Yoga teacher and founder of RA MA In-stitute spoke in a recent morning class at her studio. Featured in this month’s teacher profile, Guru Jagat was commenting on the gift and the power of prac-tice, reminding us why practice is so important in our daily lives.

This practice begins on the mat. The mat is a conduit for how the teachings permeate our lives. According to Ayurveda, life is a series of cycles: throughout the year, the day, and our lives. As we practice and live within these cycles, we both give to ourselves and take the time to give way, to cleanse, to purify, to balance.

Within these cycles, there are times to give and to give up, times to sort through the various aspects of our lives, re-evaluate, and let go of anything that no lon-ger serves us. Spring is a natural season when we en-gage in the releasing and replenishing. Dr Siva Mohan explores our cycles of shedding, offering questions we can ask to invite this cycle into our lives.

All the ways we give and let go are as close as our breath. Every inhalation is a chance to take in ener-gy that nourishes us; every exhalation is a chance to release. In this daily give and take, I’m reminded of words by Lorin Roche in this month’s discourse on the Radiance Sutras, “One principle to keep in mind is to balance purity and strength.”

Our strength comes in many forms. We can tap into our strength in how we express ourselves, even in how we dress ourselves. Our fashion is both statement and protection; practical adornment accessorized with a sense of fun. Here, we share a selection of clothing for the festival season, suitable for practice sessions, singing, dancing, and celebrating.

This month, we also celebrate Earth Day; Natalie Pace shares suggestions for how to live for a day without oil.

Explore what you can give and what you can give up with the attitude of connecting with a feeling of lov-ing compassion to the Earth. With each season and every cycle, may we benefit more from our practice and have more to give.

EDITOR'S NOTE


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LA YOGA Magazine is published by Bliss Network LLC LA Yoga® and Find Bliss® are Registered Trademarks of Bliss Network, LLC™

1234 26th Street, Santa Monica, CA 90404 Ph: 310-828-8218 Fax: 888-235-3077

layoga.com / layoga-digital.com

P R I N T E D I N L O S A N G E L E S

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Felicia M. Tomasko, RN

PUBLISHER Douglas R. Corbett

Creative Director Justine Power

Consulting Editor Marina Chetner

Associate Editors Jazmine Aluma

Kathleen Davis

Karen Henry

Assistant EditorsKiara Kinghorn

Olivia Kvitne

Editorial Assistants Rachael Cleghorn

Krishna Khalsa

Selah Michelle

Tiffany Tomaszewski

Staff WritersMelissa Chua

Cheryl Depp

Dale Nieli, MSW

Jessica Malloy

Beth Prandini

Nadine Truong

Managing Editor Zoë Kors

Senior Editor Joni Yung

Advertising ExecutivesWestside Regional Manager Assia Valova [email protected] (310) 435-6490

Eastside Regional Manager Emily Herakovich [email protected] (213) 482-0576

National Accounts Manager Jane Abram [email protected] (323) 684-8632

National Accounts Manager Avani Parmar [email protected] (310) 344-2107

AY U R V E D A A N D H E A LT H

Contributors

Mito AvilesLisa Burke

Dr. John CaseyKrishna Das Sam GeppiNikki Hardin Hemalayaa

Kaitlin HuweCarrie Janell

Joe KaraPatricia Marie Lopez

Fran LynessLeah Marsh

Natalie MacamClaudia Micco Dr. Siva Mohan

Daniel OverbergerNatalie Pace Joseph ParraLori Rischer

Dr. Lorin RocheNancie Rooney

McKenna Rowe

Laurie Searle/Lady YogaBeth Shaw

Jeff Skeirik/RawtographerRobert Sturman

Jeremiah SullivanKiyomi Takahashi

Rita TriegerAlisha Vasquez

David Young-WolffPam Young-Wolff


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MITO AVILESSTYLIST

Mito Aviles, a well-versed student of fashion, began studying fashion at a young age and has devoted his life to it ever since. Always ahead of the curve, fashinisto Mito lent his talents as Fashion Editor for ICON Mag-azine, style contributor for independent blogs, fashion stylist for multiple celebs and independent clients, and now fashion stylist and contributor at LA Yoga.

Follow Mito on Instagram: @mistertreat,

Facebook: mito aviles, Twitter: @meetwithanO.

Leah MarshStylist

When Leah is not operating her Pilates studio (pilatesx-longbeach.com) in Long Beach, she combines her love for health, fitness, and fashion in her Venice-based e-commerce website, Timber Ta Yoga. Leah curates a rebellious range of recommended fitness and fashion gear, yoga retreats, and wellness articles or blogs.

timber-ta-yoga.com

Natalie PaceWriter

Natalie Pace is the author of The ABCs of Money and Put Your Money Where Your Heart Is (aka You Vs. Wall Street). She is the founder and CEO of the Women’s Investment Network. Natalie regularly writes about the importance of financial literacy and leads investor education retreats. Philanthropy and a com-mitment to the environment are important parts of her overall philosophy.

nataliepace.com

Carrie Gabriel MS, RDWRITER

Carrie is a food savvy dietitian who has dedicated her life to helping guide others up the stairway to overall health and wellness. She received a Masters in Nutri-tional Science from CSULA. Currently, Carrie consults for Vision Fitness and Wellness, conducts nutrition seminars and counseling for CIGNA and HealthFit-ness, and works as a private practice dietitian.

steps2nutrition.com

CONTRIBUTORS

Where I Pick Up My LA Yoga

Krishna Khalsa picks up her copy of LA Yoga at Yoga West, where she leads sadhana early on Friday mornings. Yogawest.com.

WHERE DO YOU PICK UP YOUR LA YOGA?Would you like to be featured in a future issue? Please send us a high resolution photo (300 dpi) of yourself with the maga-zine at your favorite location in Southern California to see yourself in print.Email: [email protected].

Internship OpportunitiesLA Yoga and the Bliss Network currently have openings for interns to join our dynamic team. Are you interested in making a greater contribution to the yoga community in Southern California? Write to us for more information at: [email protected]

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Tell us what you think about what you read in LA Yoga. We love to hear from you. Email your letters and other corre-spondence to: [email protected]

SUBSCRIBE Sign up for our free weekly email newsletter and our digital edition at: layoga.com/subscribe


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MUSICAsif Ali Khan: Qawwali Music of PakistanA superstar in his native Pakistan, Asif Ali Khan remains faithful to the sublime tradi-tions of devotional Sufi music. Experience his pure, unbridled voice crying out above the call-and-response choruses, rhythmic hand claps, percussion, and harmonium of his accompanying musicians during this unique concert.

3 April, 8pm. $38 regular, $18 UCSB students.Campbell Hall,1 Mesa Rd, Isla Vista.artsandlectures.sa.ucsb.edu

Tina Malia in Concert with Hans Christian Tina Malia, singer, songwriter, multi-instru-mentalist and record producer, has dis-tinguished herself in styles ranging from dream pop to world devotional to elec-tronic. With Hans Christian, this concert promises a deep listening experience, filled with virtuosic playing, heartfelt sharing, and a revelation of spirit and creativity.

9 April, 7:30pm. $20.Urban Yoga,458 S Palm Canyon Dr, Palm Springs.urbanyoga.org

Karsh KaleVisionary composer and producer Karsh Kale will present Classical Science Fiction, a new groundbreaking work of classical In-dian fusion and electronica.

12 April, 8pm. $30-$40.The Luckman Fine Arts Complex,Cal State Los Angeles,5151 State University Dr, Los Angeles.luckmanarts.org

Luminous Movement with DJ DrezLu Fam Pro presents the Luminous Move-ment with special guests Kirtaniyas and DJ Drez! Enjoy live music, electronic DJs, vi-sual artists, and conscious community.

30 April, 9pm. $10. 21 and over.Zanzibar,1301 5th st, Santa Monica.lufampro.com

SPIRITUAL EVENTSVedanta Society’s 10th Anniversary Hanuman CelebrationNow in its 10th year, Vedanta Society will host the communal chanting of 108 Ha-numan Chalisa mantras starting at 4am. Enjoy fresh homemade chai along with healthy snacks and Hanuman’s birthday feast after the singing.

12 April, 4am-5pm. Vedanta Temple,1946 Vedanta Pl, Hollywood.vedanta.org

YOGA CLASSESFriday Night YogaThis music-fueled series gathers the LA yoga community on select Friday nights at

various studios. Each Friday Night event features a 75-minute yoga flow with your favorite DJ's or live musicians, inspiring yoga teachers, healthy eats, and well-ness vendors.

Ongoing dates, 7-9pm. Various locations.fridaynightyogaclub.com

Aquatic Yoga Pool at Shakti FestBased on the lineage of T. Krishnamacha-rya, this class is a rare opportunity to learn a therapeutic and effective approach to re-storative healing with natural mineral pools based upon the current Moon and Sun cycles, honoring the divine feminine.

16-18 May, All day. Free with festival admission.Joshua Tree Retreat Center59700 Twentynine Palms Hwy, Joshua Tree.bhaktifest.com

DANCEPaul Taylor Dance Company Still led by the inventive legendary chore-ographer Paul Taylor, this world-renowned modern dance company has performed in more than 540 cities in 64 countries over 60 years. Paul Taylor’s dynamic, thought-provoking work continues to push bound-aries and remains deeply communicative and wildly theatrical.

11-13 April, 7:30pm & 2pm. $34-$125. The Music Center,135 North Grand Ave, Los Angeles.musiccenter.org

APRIL EVENTS

> INDIAN FILM FESTIVAL, 8-13 APRIL. > EMPOWERING VEGAN WOMEN, 12 APRIL. > Gabrielle Bernstein: Miracles Now, 18-19 APRIL.


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FILMIndian Film Festival of Los AngelesThis six-day festival will bridge the gap between the two largest entertainment industries in the world – Hollywood and India. Thirty-five films will be showcased from or about India, starting with the highly anticipated opening gala premiere SOLD, executive produced by Emma Thompson.

8-13 April, 7pm. $25 film only.ArcLight Hollywood,6360 Sunset Blvd, Hollywood.indianfilmfestival.org

KIRTANKirtan and Sound Healing with Gabriel and the Warriors of LightExplore the expression of your higher-self throughout this evening of music and healing. Be immersed in the healing vi-brations of harmonium, guitar, mridanga, and violin, and conclude with a 30-minute savasana sound bath with didgeridoo, crystal bowls, world flutes, guitar, harmo-nium, and vocals.

19 April, 8:30pm. $20 donation.Bhakti Yoga Shala,207 Arizona Ave, Santa Monica.radawakening.com

LECTURESMandala Lecture For Buddhist meditators, mandalas are not just images to view, but also worlds

to enter. To work with a mandala, practi-tioners first re-create it in their mind’s eye, and then imaginatively enter its world. Dr. Durham explores the possibility of recre-ating this kind of experience without years of meditative discipline.

19 April, 4pm. Free with museum admission.Norton Simon Museum,411 West Colorado Blvd, Pasadena.nortonsimon.org

WORKSHOPSEmpowering Vegan WomenCelebrate the vegan goddess in you while empowering others to grow, heal, and re-joice in shared sisterhood. This workshop presents safe opportunities for self-ex-pression as well as valuable healing tools.

12 April, 10am-4pm. $30 includes lunch.Temescal Gateway Park,15601 W Sunset Blvd, Pacific Palisades.veganspirituality.com

Gabrielle Bernstein: Miracles Now Book Launch and WorkshopIn this two-day event, Gabrielle will lead an evening workshop in which she’ll share handpicked techniques from the book and guide you to combat your most common problems, from anxiety and addiction to burnout and resentment. She draws in-spiration from many of the world’s great-est spiritual teachings to offer spirit-based practices, meditations, and do-them-in-

the-moment tools to help you bust through blocks and live with more ease.

18-19 April, 7-9pm. $49-$99.Golden Bridge Yoga,1357 N Highland Ave, Los Angeles.gabbyb.tv

Yoga for Fibromyalgia and Chronic Pain This workshop is grounded in simple movements, breathing techniques, guid-ed visualization, and relaxation. Learn to reduce stress and to manage fibromyal-gia and chronic pain through sequences that address pain, fatigue, and sleep concerns. Learn from a mixture of theory, practice, and the latest scientific data of-fering hope for one of the most challeng-ing health conditions.

3 May, 2-3:30pm. $20.Yoga Everyone,28914 Roadside Dr. #204, Agoura Hills.yogaeveryone.com

Yoga for CancerThe workshop is anyone who has experi-enced cancer. Whether a recent diagno-sis or many years ago, all ages and levels of mobility are welcomed to attend. You will learn accessible tools and practices that you can incorporate into your life. Chairs will be provided for those not wish-ing to be on a mat.

3 May. 4-5:30pm. $20.Yoga Everyone,2814 Roadside Dr #204, Agoura Hills.yogaeveryone.com

> TINA MALIA, 9 APRIL. > SOUND HEALING , 19 APRIL. > PAUL TAYLOR DANCE COMPANY, 11-13 APRIL.

Compiled by KIARA KINGHORN


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AIReal Yoga StudioVENTURA

4476 Dupont Ct. Suite B, Ventura. 805-628-2777. Airealyoga.com

OUR COMMUNITY [ open doors]

Aerial yoga has become more mainstream and has grown in pop-ularity, and more studios are offering the practice. What sets AI-Real Yoga Studio in Ventura apart from the others is that it is the first and only aerial yoga school registered with Yoga Alliance.

“Aerial yoga is a form of yoga that uses a hammock as a tool,” says Carmen Curtis, aerial yoga founder and owner of AIReal Yoga Studio. It all began with the idea of using a hammock to help deepen the stretch, strengthen the core, and assist in safely inverting without compressing the spine. With a colorful background in the aerial world, from training as a gymnast to creating aerial performances for Cirque du Soleil’s “Le Reve”, Curtis shares her style with the Ventura community and be-yond. Through her teacher training program, other studios have adopted Curtis’ form of aerial yoga.

This practice stems from Hatha and vinyasa yoga and uses the hammock to align and assist. “For those new to yoga, they can use the hammock to help them, (while) for the most advanced yogis, we can deepen the stretch and take them to a new level,” Curtis says.

The cozy orange-walled studio is nestled within the Airealistic Circus and Flying school, also owned by Curtis. Although aerial yoga is the focus, a variety of other yoga and movement forms are also offered, including Vinyasa Yoga, barre fitness, dance, and Pilates. With an emphasis on community, the space show-cases local artists’ work displayed along the walls; locally-made crafts and natural and organic products are sold in the gift store.

Melissa Chua is journalism graduate from CSUN and Los Angeles-based writer. She is an avid crossfitter and loves playing with arm balancing poses and inversions.

BE THE CHANGE YOGAIRVINE

3943 Portola Parkway, Irvine. 714-417-9834. Bethechangeyoga.org

Be the Change Yoga has created a buzz throughout the Orange County yoga community since its opening in December of last year. It boasts the title of OC’s first donation-based yoga studio. Be the Change offers an eclectic collection of wellness services—from Kundalini and kids yoga to acupuncture and yoga therapy.

The emphasis is on “breath-centered asana with modifica-tions,” says Katie Sheldon Allen. She and co-owner Allison Martin Prince drew inspiration from Bhakti Yoga Shala and Santa Monica Power Yoga when they envisioned the impact they want their studio to make. “We want to be a hub of spiri-tual nightlife in OC, with kirtan, live music, speakers, and in-spirational films.” For yogis yearning for something beyond the physical practice, Be the Change provides an eye-opening array of opportunities to take yoga beyond the mat including spe-ciality classes, kirtan, art installations, a panel discussion about activism, and more.

As the name implies, the studio aims to make positive change throughout the community, in part by donating a portion of its profits to various nonprofits. In the short time that it has been open, Be the Change has partnered with area treatment centers and schools, introduced new practices to Orange County, and hosted events that encourage people to step outside their ev-eryday routines and connect authentically with one another. It continues to broaden the definition of yoga in Orange County.

By Alisha Vasquez, a yoga teacher, world traveler, bookworm, and handstand enthusiast: facebook.com/shantiomyoga


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One Down DogSILVERLAKE

4343 W. Sunset Blvd. #208, Los Angeles. 323-989-DOWN. Onedowndog.com

OUR COMMUNITY [ open doors]

One Down Dog’s new studio space in Silverlake is almost as beautiful as the story of how it came to be. After her rowdy teenage years, Jessica grew up and decided she wanted to be-come a therapist. During the stressful hours earning her masters degree, she discovered the healing power of yoga, and it became her dream to open a studio. Countless people told her there was no way she could do it so young or so soon. She proved every-one (including herself) wrong. She began in a shared space with another instructor (bringing her supplies and packing them up daily) and soon segued to her own grand opening of One Down Dog on January 26 with live music and lots of food.

Just walking into the open-format second-story space offers a sense of the culture. Studio mascot pup Patrick greets you at the door even before you are warmly welcomed by members of the team. Jessica wanted to create a place that was like a second home for people to escape to, a “community space.” Beauti-ful artwork by studio teacher Joerael Elliot adorns much of the studio, as does a piece by artist Pascal Guetta, creating a unique and fun energy.

Classes are offered in two adjoining rooms: a larger space is used for the loud and upbeat yoga dance classes, and a smaller one, for calmer sessions. One Down Dog also offers one-to-one classes, massage packages, and private studio rentals for mindfulness-related events.

By Tiffany Tomaszewski, a writer living, loving, and searching for life in the greater Los Angeles area.

YOGAMAZéLOS ANGELES

169 N. La Brea Ave., Los Angeles. Yogamaze.net

To say that the new YOGAMAZÉ studio is your typical yoga studio is tantamount to saying that its owner, Noah Mazé, is your typical yoga teacher. Highly-regarded in the yoga commu-nity, Noah is known as the teacher’s teacher; instead of merely leading the class through a series of poses, he weaves in medita-tion, pranayama, yoga philosophy, and asana alignment cues so that every student emerges with an enriched yoga practice. Ev-ery encounter with Noah, as he puts it, “is a journey of under-standing and a deep inquiry of the structures and the principles behind the practice.”

Opened in August 2013 as the new home for Noah Maze’s teacher training program, the light-filled studio near the corner of La Brea and Beverly is conducive to expanding one’s physical practice as well as going within to find one’s spiritual self. The second floor space features hardwood floors and wall-to-wall windows, a lounge to chat with fellow students, a kitchen to stash your lunch, and a shower to freshen up after class.

YOGAMAZÉ invites experienced yogis to come for upcom-ing philosophy and asana intensives. World-renowned scholar Douglas Brooks will be collaborating with Noah Maze for seminars on the Mahabharata in April and the Bhagavadgita in October. Lecture, storytelling, and dialogue will be interspersed with asana practice for the ultimate mind-body experience.

A regular class schedule open to the public is currently in the works; stay tuned.

by Joni Yung, Senior Editor at LA Yoga Magazine and Host of Yoga Chat with the Accidental Yogist on killradio.org


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A Day Without Oil The Ultimate Earth Day Celebration. BY Natalie Pace.

Ironically, it was on Earth Day, 2010, when the Deepwater Hori-zon exploded in the Gulf of Mexico, killing 11 men and spewing at least 4.9 million barrels of oil into the Gulf. This was a wake-up call for the Bike Power Community, which has been celebrat-ing Earth Day as a Day Without Oil ever since.

There are no rules. The Bike Power organizers encourage every-one to garage the car and power their lives by bike for a day. There is so much to learn from and be inspired by taking a day off from oil. The day moves slower. Ideas spark. Meaningful and lasting change takes root.

28 Suggestions for Earth Day, Tuesday, April 22, 2014

1. Gift a bike to your local Goodwill or children's advocacy group so that those most in need can pedal their way to health and greater fiscal health, too.

2. Ride a bike to work and to do your errands. Plan now to make this happen all day (or all weekend) long.

3. If you can't ride a bike or walk, choose mass transit or car- pool, instead of driving, or telecommute to work.

4. Videoconference instead of flying to a meeting.

5. Use reusable bags instead of plastic.

6. Eat local, organic and low on the food chain. (This means no chocolate or coffee for Americans and Canadians. Acck! Drink local beer, wine and spirits.)

7. Plant a tree.

8. Pay bills online.

9. Reduce, reuse and recycle.

10. Compost.

11. Replace your light bulbs and CFLs with LED lighting.

12. Test drive an electric car.

13. Send this article to your local newspaper and ask them to publicize Bike Power Weekend.

14. Send this article to 10 friends and ask them to send this article to 10 friends.

15. Join the Facebook community page at: facebook.com/Bik PowerWeekend

16. Have fun.

17. Organize an Earth Day event at a local school; help parents pedal their kids to school.

18. Stop investing in oil in your 401K, IRA, annuity and pension plans. Join NataliePace.com and read You Vs. Wall Street to learn how now.

19. Use wind, solar and geothermal energy to power your home, office and electric car.

20. If you must drive, gas up on Monday and don't refuel until after Wednesday.

21. Get creative about avoiding gasoline and petroleum products for an entire week!

22. Wear cotton instead of polyester.

23. Organize a bike ride in your town or city.

24. Unplug your cell phone chargers immediately after your phone is charged. (Leaving it plugged in is like leaving the lights on all the time -- a big energy drain.)

25. Tour the first platinum LEED-rated home in the U.S. online at LivingHomes.net.

26. Get more green tips at Energysavers.gov/tips.

27. Learn more about energy efficiency retrofits and Passive House building at PassiveHouse.US.

28. Buy and use less of everything!

Natalie Wynne Pace is the author of The ABCs of Money and Put Your Money Where Your Heart Is. Learn more at NataliePace.com.

OUR COMMUNITY [news]


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OUR COMMUNITY [news]

DESTINATION LAMindful Awareness at Hammer MuseumBY FELICIA TOMASKO

Every Thursday at 12:30 in the afternoon, the Hammer Museum’s Billy Wilder Theater offers a guided experience of Mindful Awareness to anyone willing to sit a spell.

The weekly class is led by UCLA’s Mindful Awareness Research Center (MARC) Director Diana Winston, Associate Director Marvin Belzer, PhD, and other instruc-tors from MARC. Some sessions are in complete silence after the initial instruction in the technique, while others feature Michael Perricone (pictured, on stage at the Billy Wilder Theater) playing Tibetan bowls to accompany the practice.

Sitting in a state of mindful awareness helps us to build focus and concentration, improve attention, reduce stress, strengthen the immune system, smooth out the ups and downs of emotional reactivity, and promote overall health and well-being.

The guided instruction -- offered for free to all museum visitors -- focuses on de-veloping the ability to simply sit and actively observe the physical, mental, and emotional experience of the moment, allowing things to be as they are.

Meditation in a group supports the individual practice. The positive peer pressure makes it less likely that you will reach for Facebook half-way through the medita-tion session. And the deep states of calm and quiet facilitated by Winston and the other instructors offer a truly rejuvenating lunchtime break amidst the hustle and bustle of Westwood.

Bring your friends and take the time to sit. Tour the museum before or after, or just pay attention.

For more information, visit: hammer.ucla.edu Hammer Museum , 10899 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90024. 310-443-7000


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OUR COMMUNITY [ festival round-up]

4

1. WOMEN'S YOGA AND HIKING RE:TREAT 2. LIGHTnig IN A BOTTLE 3. SHAKTI FEST4. Krishna Kaur AT SATNAM FEST.

SPRING FLING!April-July 2014.BY Kiara Kinghorn

Sat Nam FestJoshua Tree, California, April 17-20. Satnamfest.comSat Nam Fest is a four-day immersion into Kundalini Yoga: morning sadhana, kriyas, deep meditations, and ecstatic chanting. Experi-enced teachers and musicians including Snatam Kaur, Mirabai Cei-ba, Guru Singh, and Simrit Kaur will lead transformational classes and concerts suitable for experienced Kundalini yogis and beginners alike. Sat Nam Fest West is located in Joshua Tree, only two hours from Los Angeles on the sacred land of Joshua Tree Retreat Center, where Yogananda has walked.

Shakti Fest: A Celebration of the Divine FeminineJoshua Tree, California, May 16-18. Bhaktifest.comShakti Fest is a heart-opening experience with world-renowned kirtan artists from a variety of traditions including Jai Uttal, Dave Stringer, Donna de Lory, and Wah! The long weekend also includes 36 innovative workshops, and 50 devotional and body-centered yoga classes led by star teachers like Shiva Rea, Sara Ivanhoe, Mark Whitwell, Tim Miller, Saul David Raye, and more, both indoors and and outdoors amongst breathtaking desert views. Shop at the eco-marketplace and dine on vegetarian cuisine on the sacred land of Joshua Tree Retreat Center.

Lightning in a BottleBradley, California, May 22-26. Lightninginabottle.orgFor the past nine years, The Do LaB has been producing innovative and inspiring events. Their signature weekend, Lightning in a Bottle, is a fusion of electronic music with installation art, live performance, spiritual workshops, and an overarching embodiment of cultural and environmental consciousness. Much of Lightning in a Bottle’s intimate singularity is expressed through The Lucent Temple of Consciousness, a sanctuary built out of recycled and found objects, which includes over 300 experiences in yoga, workshops, speakers and exotic world music.

Women’s Yoga & Hiking RE:treat Telluride, Colorado, July 13-19. Elevatedretreat.com This week-long retreat focuses on the principles of Forrest Yoga with local practitioner Naani Sheva who will combine the healing, restor-ative qualities of Forrest Yoga with hiking in the breathtaking San Juan mountains. Enjoy meals prepared using locally-sourced, or-ganic produce. This retreat includes accommodations for six nights, meals, daily yoga, daily guided hiking, and a massage. Guests have the option of adding more experiences.

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TEACHER PROFILE

GURU JAGATby FELICIA TOMASKO PHOTOS by JEFF SKEIRIK /RAW TOGRAPHER

Kundalini Driving.


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One of the most notable features of the RA MA Institute for Applied Yogic Science and Technology in Venice is the gong. It’s the only 60-inch gong in Los Angeles and the stories around it are the stuff of myth—mixed in with some truth. It takes months to make a gong this size; it was shaped by special order for Van Halen, but the band later changed their mind. Until Guru Jagat found it lingering on Sunset Blvd—“sad in Hollywood,”—as she puts it, the instru-ment was waiting for the community that would collect and share space with its magnificent sound.

We could all say that the instrument of our own practice is waiting for just the right time to blossom. The time seems to be now for RA MA Institute founder Guru Jagat, who has taken up the challenge of sharing the sometimes esoteric-feeling practice of Kundalini Yoga (as taught by Yogi Bhajan) in a way that is relevant for the urban dwellers of LA. It’s no accident. Guru Jagat believes, “These technologies were developed for these times.”

There’s certainly a nod to the times, as the studio even includes ice cream cleanses (featuring raw coconut cream from the nearby Kippy’s), along with daily 4:00 am sadhana, a Kundalini practice staple. Guru Jagat teaches classes every day and is joined by a variety of other instructors who fill the all-day class schedule, including two of her teachers, Tej and Harijiwan. She offers special classes during the New and Full Moons, presides over a Sunday night prac-tice and dinner club, and has hosted all-night practice and gong bath sessions (complete with slumber party). She is even partnering with Julian Schwartz on a burgeoning record label (RA MA Records). Guru Jagat wants the music to de-liver the teachings to people who may never enter a yoga studio. Her plans are vast and include everything from fashion and jewelry collaborations to lecture series and online offerings, leading to the development of a full-service institute beyond a yoga studio.

Curious About Kundalini Yoga?Here’s Guru Jagat’s advice for novices.

- Observe how you feel before you go into class.

- Observe how you feel after class.

- Whatever happened in between, don’t worry about it and don’t think too much about it.

- If you feel better or have more energy, something happened.

- Come again and see how it goes.

- Wear comfortable clothes— anything that you can move in. White is said to expand the aura, but you can even wear jeans to class, if you like.

- The turban or head covering hits reflex points in the skull and helps contain the energy. It’s optional, but try it out and see how you feel.

TEACHER PROFILE [guru jagat]



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The woman with a bold presence professes to love everything about the 80's wears Clippers T-shirts, embraces the Kundalini Yoga ethos of wearing white (to expand her aura), and has a col-lection of big sunglasses. As she says, “Since I was small, the idea of understanding reality, as well as devotion and spiritual practice, were just a part of my life.” She was born with the help of mid-wives in a community in Colorado before growing up in West-ern Maryland where she and her family were the only Jews for miles around. Her brother joined the Hare Krishna community at the age of 13. Then, while she was living in NYC with an active ashtanga practice, Guru Jagat was introduced to Kundalini Yoga. Her next stop was the ashram in Espanola, New Mexico, where Yogi Bhajan was still holding court. Subscribing to Yogi Bhajan’s philosophy of making teachers and not students, she traveled fur-ther west to enroll in teacher training in LA with Gurmukh, Hari-jiwan, and Tej at Golden Bridge. She subsequently taught for 10 years at Yoga West. At this point in time, she professes to have more than 10,000 hours of study and training under her head wrap. “It’s intensive in this lineage -- it’s not just about the creden-tial or the certification; it’s about the transmission.”

Guru Jagat’s formal western education began in the CUNY sys-tem in New York (leading to her aforementioned intro to yoga) before she graduated from Antioch University. Her “good liberal arts education” of Humanities, English, and Poetry is revealed in

the way she riffs off literature and pop culture references when she speaks to the room at the beginning of class.

Before a sense of mission and calling inspired her to open the doors of the studio near Lincoln and Rose, Guru Jagat taught around town for an impressive roster of private clients. Like many peo-ple who make the leap, she found that opening RA MA Institute was “a monumental transformation for me.” As she puts it, “My whole consciousness, my whole nervous system reorganized.” It was a quantum leap, one she feels the community has supported. Coming together in community to practice Kundalini Yoga was always Yogi Bhajan’s intention, and that the teachings would be shared within families to accelerate the clearing of karma. RA MA Institute is that family.

To support herself as well as the collective RA MA family of prac-titioners, Guru Jagat rises between 3:45 and 4:30am to begin her own practice. “When I was an Ashtangi, I got up at 6:00am six days a week and thought I was hardcore. Little did I know what my next step would be.” The woman who says she’s never forgot-ten her first Kundalini Yoga class states that the experience was like stepping into an energy field beyond time and space. The ef-fects have certainly lingered.

Guru Jagat founded the RA MA Institute for Applied Yogic Science and Technology. Ramayogainstitute.com

“My whole consciousness, my whole nervous system reorganized.”


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Mat Bags and Slings Making Yoga-on-the-Go a Breeze. by Krishna Khalsa

PHOTO by DAVID YOUNG-WOLFF

CARRY YOUR KARMA

APRIL PICKS

Purple Mat by Lululemon: $58-68. LULULEMON.com

Manduka Yoga Mat Sling: $12. MANDUKA.com

HotDog Yoga Gear Rollpack: $74.95-$89.95. hotdogyoga.com

YogaRat orange Yoga mat towel: $29.99. yogarat.com

Yoga Reincarnated MAT by Kharma Kare:

$68-$145. KharmaKhare.com

Yoga Sak: $49.95. yogasak.com

Skull Mat: $29.95. go2yas.com

Yoga Rat MatPack Backpack: $49.99. yogarat.com

Mala Yoga Duffle: $108.00. thisisrosemary.com

Zebra Yoga Floor MatTowel: $69. zebrayogafloor.com


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AYURVEDA

The meaning of the Super Moon we experienced at the launch of 2014, I am told, was all about killing off or releasing relationships that needed to go. I consciously released some; in other relation-ships, I buried the aspects of the relationship that involved the rep-etition of unhealthy patterns. (This is always a work in progress.)

At a certain point in our lives, those of us on a conscious path realize that escaping things or running away from them doesn’t really work; it doesn’t truly free us from the negative experience or feelings that situation engendered. We will find ourselves in similar situations. yet with different variables, thinking, “How did I end up here again?”

Simply ending the relationship, leaving the job, or moving aren’t necessarily real solutions.

The real solution is to change ourselves. This begins with becom-ing more aware of how we act day-to-day and then evaluating our choices: how we respond to situations, how we choose to view them and talk about them, where we choose to focus attention, what situations we allow ourselves to be in, and what we choose to embody and therefore attract.

Any cycle of change creates the need to examine even our thoughts surrounding change. The following attitude can leave us stuck in unhealthy situations:“Shouldn't I be able to be happy no matter what?”

Ideally, yes, we can build our own strength and resiliency to be happy in any situation. Cultivating this may take some time. We are human, and by nature, we are easily triggered by emotions. (One of my mentors once told me that the purpose of 90% of hu-man behavior is to avoid certain feeling states.) So making choices that support a healthy external environment while we shift our internal environment is paramount to support change. Examples would be making sure to not stock the cabinet with cookies when you are trying to cut back on sweets, or not following your ex on Instagram when you are trying to get over him or her.

It is always necessary, and a practice that requires a great deal of attention, to find the balance between running away and stay-ing in an imbalanced energetic environment expecting yourself to magically not be imbalanced. Finding this edge and balance for you is what I call a cycle of shedding.

We can tap into the natural cycles and rhythms of the universe to fortify both the shedding process and our own connection to nature. Every month, the waning moon (from the Full Moon to

CYCLES OF SHEDDINGCultivating the Energy of Spring Cleaning Allows Us to Let Go and Release.By Dr. Siva Mohan


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the Dark/New Moon) is a time to release emo-tional baggage along with anything that is no longer serving you.

Every Spring, when we are supported by na-ture’s abundance and the predominance of the kapha dosha, is the most balancing time for us to shed anything. Personally, I prepare for this for months, first evoking the sensitivity of the fall vata season to learn what I want to release. Then I align myself with that choice in the beginning of the New Year, and allow the shedding to take place in the early Spring.

How do you shed something? There are as many methods as there are energetic releases. You just have to have a ritual that symbolizes the transition for you. That could be a fire ceremony, a cleanse, sweat lodge, or simply journaling.

With every death, there is a birth. As I kill off the depleting relationship (I’m really killing off the pattern in myself that chooses to be de-pleted in relationships), I birth the me that fol-lows through on choosing nurturing relation-ships. As something is shed, something new is inevitably picked up. I shed that old pattern of choosing depletion and birth the pattern of choosing nurturance. Birth and death always happen simultaneously.

How are you going to symbolize that energetic shift in practice—what's your ritual?

To me, a ritual is the comprised set of tools that support you to release/birth. What will support you in making this turn of the cycle? For example, if you want to exercise more (or shed inactivity), perhaps part of your ritual is to make a mix of inspiring music to get you up and at it in the morning. This ritual does not have to be esoteric. Allow the ritual to be about knowing yourself and your blocks, and attending to them. Only you can know how to best support yourself through any shedding process. As transition, letting go, and death are all vata energetics (the dosha of air, space, movement, creativity, and change), this sup-port is key to not let these processes imbalance you and to pay close attention to nurturing yourself throughout the process.

What did you notice over the last few months as no longer serving your greater good? What will you birth in its place? Now is the right time of year to do it.

Dr. Siva Mohan integrates Ayurveda with modern medicine in her Ayurvedic wellness practice and educational programs to define and achieve whole-being wellness. Dr. Mohan specializes in addressing the psychospiritual basis of healing. Doctormohan.com.


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Each dosha cycles through the day twice in a rhythmic pattern:

The pitta dosha predominates from 10am–2pm and 10pm–2am.

The vata dosha predominates from 2pm–6pm and 2am–6am.

The kapha dosha predominates from 6pm–10pm and 6am–10am.

According to Ayurveda, the energetic qualities of the doshas (vata, pitta, and kapha) rotate throughout the hours so that different influences predominate in different portions of the day. These shifting energies can affect our practices of asana, pranayama, and meditation, as well as our strength, mood, state of mind, and more. The inherent qualities of the doshas have a strong influence on whatever is happening within those hours. We can fight it, or choose to flow with it and utilize practice to help find balance amidst the ever-fluctuating energetic ripples of the day.

YOGA THERAPY

HARNESS ENERGY EFFICIENTLYCycling Through the Day for Mindful Practice. BY FELICIA TOMASKO PHOTO BY ROBERT STURMAN



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The three doshas are groupings of the five elements: space/ether, air, fire, water, and earth. The vata dosha is composed of space and air; pitta of fire and a bit of water; kapha of water and earth. The elements and their associated qualities give us a clue as to the types of physiological process and states of mind governed by that dosha. Vata, being air and space, is naturally dry, expansive, and mobile; therefore, the vata dosha governs all space and movement in the body, including the movement of impulses through the ner-vous system, the grace and coordination of the body, the spaces inside the joints, and our creative capacity. The pitta dosha, being fire (and a splash of water) is hot, intense, trans-formational, passionate, penetrating. It gov-erns all of the processes of digestion in the body, including the digestion that takes place in the mind: the ability to process our experi-ences and to learn and practice discernment. The pitta dosha also governs our metabolism, radiance of our skin, and our desire and mo-tivation. Kapha, being water and earth, is both grounding (and if we’re not careful, a bit muddy and murky) and stabilizing. Ka-pha governs all structure, stability, strength, memory, and our ability to feel and express unconditional love.

Calm Pitta during the Midday and Midnight Hours

Let’s think about the implications of these cycles and how we can plan our day and our practices to support us, starting with the pitta dosha. We know that the sun is highest in the sky and the most intense in the middle of the day. These midday hours are often a time of high energy and perhaps greater clarity. Be-cause the pitta dosha is related to the fire ele-ment, the digestive fire is strongest at this time, which is why Ayurveda stresses getting in the routine of eating the largest meal during these midday hours. Feeling low in energy in the afternoon or feeling burned-out at work, the lack of midday fuel, when the fiery dosha of pitta needs it most, may be the culprit.

The middle of the day can be a good time to schedule a practice session, as these hours come with a surge of energy. Waiting until af-ter an asana, pranayama, and/or meditation practice to enjoy lunch can help with diges-tion; including twists in the asana practice can stimulate the digestive fire. Beware, though, of the danger of becoming overheated >>


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between 10 am and 2 pm. To reduce pitta, try evoking the sen-sation of the body as water moving through water, using cool-ing breaths as needed (such as shitali), incorporating meditation practices that evoke gratitude, love, and compassion (to mitigate fiery energy), and making sure to dress in clothing that breathes well.After practice, coconut water, water infused with mint or a little aloe vera juice can all dispel extra heat.

The day’s second pitta surge begins around 10 pm, leading to a late-night second wind. For this reason, Ayurveda suggests going to sleep before 10 pm. Falling asleep (or at least moving in that direction) before the fire rises also directs the energy of digestion toward deeper healing in the body. The hours of deep sleep that occur during this cycle of the day are vital for the metabolic pro-cesses that support rebuilding. If you are trying to rebuild in any way, utilize this energy appropriately for repair.

To combat the effect of runaway fire that shows up as irritability or difficulty falling asleep, try adding cooling practices to an evening routine, such as walking or bathing beneath the moonlight, drink-ing water left out to absorb the rays of the moon, meditating and envisioning the light of the moon, practicing a late-night restor-ative, or engaging in a few rounds of alternate nostril breathing.

Ground Airy Vata in the Afternoon and Early Morning

Understanding that the mid-afternoon is the vata time of the day reveals something about why we may experience be a mid-after-noon crash, particularly if we have ignored the instruction to eat a hearty lunch. Since vata is emptiness, when emptiness takes hold in the world around us, our energy sinks.

Try practices to get moving and get in touch with the breath. Take extra care to stay grounded rather than succumb to the im-pulse to simply fling the body through space. Throughout prac-tice sessions, maintain awareness and connection with the actual feeling of the feet on the earth, the strength in the body, and the flow of prana, or life-force, through the nadis (energy channels). Warming breaths (as long as they are not overdone) can stoke the internal fire during the naturally cold early morning. A long savasana (resting pose) after fully embracing movement can help soothe the nervous system, which can be prone to irritation dur-ing the vata time of day. Stay hydrated to cultivate balance.

The early morning vata time, the predawn hours, are valued by many traditions for their powerful effect on connecting with spir-itual potential, intuition, and the great expanse that exists both beyond and within the body. Interestingly, this is the time of day when a person’s sleep cycles allow for the most space within the land of dreams—the intuitive movement within the psyche.

For difficulty sleeping during this time of day or feelings of anxi-ety, try pre-bedtime practices to calm vata, including massaging the feet while in bed, alternate nostril breathing, a few min-utes of legs-up-the-wall before bed, or drinking a cup of warm almond milk alone or with with a soothing herb such as ash-wagandha. These can help calm to a cool breeze the hurricane winds that can blow when vata is out of balance. However, if you wake up during this time of day restless or ready to engage in practice, try indulging in a long meditation, a series of sun salutations, or pranayama practices that enhance mental clarity and connection.

Stimulate Kapha, Enjoy Strength

The kapha times of day are times of strength, particularly in the morning, which for many are one of the most productive times of the day (particularly if a person arises and gets ready before sunrise, or before this time of day begins).

If you’re sleeping late and having trouble breaking the pattern because it feels as though you’re waking up and having to fight through a heavy, wet blanket (the energy of the kapha dosha), the remedy is to shift the waking cycle to getting up before or around sunrise and engaging in a few sun salutations, standing poses, or other warming practices (including the breath) to break up the stagnation.

The evening kapha time is one of the peak times in most yoga studios, where classes are full of people needing to shake off and counteract what may have been a sedentary day. When we use this kapha strength to move through stagnation, to uplift our-selves, to connect to the truth within the heart, then it cultivates the deep and sustaining strength of the earth element. Standing tall, balancing poses, sequences that include warrior poses or that evoke the warmth of the sun, sessions that incorporate gentle warming pranayama practices—all of these can create balance within this time of the day.

Every time of the day has its potentials and its pitfalls. When we observe the cycles for what they are, rather than becoming frustrated, we can experience clarity and harmony every hour of the day.

This article originally appeared in Yoga Therapy Today, published by the International Association of Yoga Therapists: iayt.org. The upcoming Conference Symposium on Yoga Therapy and Research will be held in Austin, Texas, June 5 - 8: sytar.org

Felicia Tomasko is the Editor of LA Yoga Magazine.

YOGA THERAPY

A long savasana after fully embracing movement can help soothe the nervous system,


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by Nykki Hardin

Spring is a time of birth and blossoming. It is also a time of transition and of letting go to create space for new beginnings. Understanding the energy of the season helps us to better integrate the tradition of spring cleaning our homes and spring cleansing our bodies.

A cleanse is a ritual intended to purify the system of anything that is causing harm or hindering development. When we embark on a cleanse, we are sending out a message of self-care and committing to letting go of habits, behaviors, and attachments that are not serving us. Clean out your body and get your food story straight, and the other pieces of your life will fall into place.

Disrupting our nutritional habits creates a heightened sense of awareness in all areas of our lives. It is nearly impossible to undergo a cleanse and not notice the health of our thoughts, emotions, and relationships as well as the choices we have made and continue to make. It is a process of decoding the system and provides a clear understanding of true nurturance. As a result, we become aligned with our heart’s deepest desires and willingly let go of anything that is standing in the way. Herein lies our true opportunity for growth and expansion, as we are now pure vessels engaging in conscious creation and living with purpose. >>

SPRING CLEANSE

DEMYSTIFYING YOUR


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juice cleanse

Offered by multiple companies and juice bars, it can also be prepared at home with a juicer and a list of recipes. Duration varies, usually lasting three, five, or seven days.

Benefits:

- Delivers a large amount of nutrients and live enzymes to the body.

- Gives the body a rest from digestion (especially the digestion of processed foods, alcohol, fast food, fried food, chemicals, additives, preservatives, and other substances).

- Interrupts a cycle or pattern of destructive food choices or binging on substances, including alcohol.

Considerations:

- The fresher the better. Enzymes and nutrients are time sensitive and decrease the longer the juice sits.

- Choose unpasteurized. The heating from pasteurization reduces the amount of vital enzymes, denaturing the benefits of the juice.

- If possible, go cold. Cold-pressing juices reduces oxidation and many sources suggest that they tend to be more nutrient dense.

- Read labels to ensure all ingredients are organic, nothing is from concentrate, and there are no added sugars.

- Choose or make juices with a wide variety of vegetables. Mini- mize fruits and high-starch vegetables (carrot and beetroot) to reduce sugar.

Juicing is a method of dramatically increasing live enzymes and nutrients while simultaneously giving the body a break from digesting processed foods, alcohol, sugar, meat, and harmful chemicals. This is a great tool for resetting our relationship with food, and can facilitate longer- term dietary changes as food becomes reintegrated with conscious intention.

specific food cleanse

Often a raw, vegan, gluten-free, mono-diet (Ayurvedic kich-ari), or whole foods nutrition regimen. Length of time varies, but usually 14-30 days.

Benefits:

- Kickstarts a health regimen and create new eating habits.

- Eliminates toxic and inflammatory foods.

- Overcomes cravings and disrupts destructive cycles of poor nutritional choices.

- Encourages a new cooking repertoire and reshapes the palate.

Considerations:

- Beware of marketing and buzzwords when grocery shopping or eating out. Labels like vegan, raw, all-natural, and gluten- free do not necessarily mean healthy. These foods can contain processed or GMO ingredients, chemicals, and preservatives.

- Read labels, focusing on ingredients as opposed to nutritional value. A good strategy: If you can’t pronounce it or don’t know what it is, then it’s probably not good for you.

- Ask questions about food preparation when eating out. Many dishes are prepared with unhealthy oils and loaded with fat and sugar.

- Nuts, seeds, and coconut oil are healthy if eaten in moderation.

- Ideally, this type of cleanse emphasizes clean eating. Depend- ing on the program, it may or may not be “healthy,” low-fat, or low-calorie. Education and awareness around ingredients is important, whether you are eating at home or out.

- Long-term, many of these diets are best served by taking food and superfood-based supplements to ensure proper nutrition.



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Spring cleaning our external environ-ment and internal landscape also clears space for new growth and expansion.

Here are two additional rituals to consider this Spring:

30 day digital detox- Set aside one day per week cto be ompletely free of all technology. Unplug from your phone. Avoid the inter- net, email, texts, and social media.

- Try turning your phone off for one hour per day.

- Limit your social media time to a specific one-hour block twice daily.

purge the clutter & chaos- Remove anything you have not worn from your closet and drawers within the past year. Donate!

- Rise 20 minutes earlier every day to practice a sitting meditation.

- Take inventory of the top 5 - 10 people you spend the most time with in your life. Notice which relationships are positive and fulfilling. Spend more time nurturing relationships with those who nurture you back.

30 day clean eating cleanse

This is a balanced and sustainable way to eliminate toxins and identify allergens.

EAT ONLY THESE (Everything organic)

- Fruit and vegetables

- Herbs

- Beans

- Whole grains (brown rice, quinoa, millet)

- Fresh-Pressed organic oils (olive, coconut, hemp) and/or ghee (clarified butter)

- Nuts and seeds

- Herbal teas, coconut water and fresh juice

SKIP THESE COMPLETELY

- Meat and dairy

- Sugar

- Salt

- Caffeine

- Bread and pasta

- Wheat, corn, and soy

- Fried, packaged, and canned food

- Alcohol

- Anything containing an ingredient you cannot pronounce

cleansing with herbs

Usually marketed as a full-body cleanse, liver cleanse, colon cleanse, or parasite cleanse. Average duration is anywhere from 5-30 days.

Benefits:

- Aids in the detoxification process by enhancing the body’s natural ability to repair damage.

- Addresses multiple body imbalances simultaneously.

- Can eliminate harmful bacteria and other organisms.

- Kickstarts a health regimen by resetting and restoring the system.

- Eliminates cravings and breaks one out of destructive eating cycles and alcohol binging.

Considerations:

- Use a high-quality product that contains only organic, herbal ingredients free of additives, binders, fillers, or other unneces- sary and sometimes toxic material.

- Most herbal cleanses also allow complementary whole foods, but proper nutrition is critical to receive the greatest benefit from a detox. Make sure you are educated in terms of wise food choices and the timing of meals with herbs.

- Many herbal laxatives are packaged as cleansing aids, but can cause more harm than good. An increased number of trips to the bathroom does not indicate a more successful detox.

If a good herbal formula is used and a proper nutritional pro-gram followed, an herbal cleanse can serve as a powerful method for healing, eliminating stress and toxicity in the body, and re-storing balance. The corresponding nutritional program should increase alkalinity, decrease inflammation, break destructive eat-ing habits, eliminate cravings, and support implementation of a healthy lifestyle. An herbal cleanse can also identify the existence of deeper imbalances that need to be addressed.

IMPORTANT NOTE: It is best to work with someone who is skilled in the science of cleans-ing to ensure you are conducting any program safely and effectively. It is also important to consult your doctor or healthcare provider before starting any regimen. Safe and proper cleansing takes time, attention, and dedication.

Nykki Hardin is a Natural Health and Lifestyle Educator and founder of Reset Self Cleanse. She combines her knowledge and expertise in nutrition, herbs, and the mind, body, spirit connection with her experience working at cleansing and fasting resorts, in a metabolic testing lab, and in health education. She believes in the body’s inherent intelligence and ability to heal, and is dedicated to sharing and teaching the tools and information nec-essary to thrive in today’s busy, overactive world. Resetself.com, [email protected]


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