MOUNT MADONNA CENTER

MOUNT MADONNA CENTER

MOUNT MADONNA CENTER

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We are a learning community inspired by the example of our teacher, Baba Hari Dass. Located on 380 acres of redwoods and grasslands in the Santa Cruz mountains overlooking the Monterey Bay, our retreat center offers a peaceful haven where you can step back, slow down, and reconnect to your self, to nature, and to a more authentic flow of life.

We offer a beautiful venue, centrally located in California near Silicon Valley and the San Francisco Bay area, for yoga retreats, meditation retreats, corporate offsite events, personal practice, spiritual and personal development programs, and other types of seminars and workshops. Our modern meeting spaces evoke a rustic and tranquil atmosphere and provide a variety of settings to gather and practice.

CONTACT US:

reception@mountmadonna.org

Yoga Plus magazine Teacher bio photo - Shari Vilchez-Blatt
Yoga Plus magazine Teacher bio photo - Shari Vilchez-Blatt
Yoga Plus magazine Teacher bio photo - Shari Vilchez-Blatt
INTEGRAL YOGA INSTITUTE

INTEGRAL YOGA INSTITUTE

INTEGRAL YOGA INSTITUTE

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The word “Yoga” means union or yoke in the ancient Sanskrit language. It is a perfect description of the science and philosophy of Integral Yoga. Integral Yoga® synthesizes the various branches of Yoga into a comprehensive lifestyle system. The purpose is to support the harmonious development of every aspect of the individual. The six branches of Integral Yoga® are each powerful tools to gain self-mastery. When combined to affect the whole being the results are at once subtle, profound and measurable.

Integral Yoga Institute was founded in New York City  by Sri Swami Satchidananda, a spiritual teacher from India, who came to America at the invitation of the artist Peter Max. On October 15, 1970, a beautiful brownstone building on West 13th Street in historic Greenwich Village was dedicated as the New York IYI. Both an ashram and a teaching center, it became a beacon for spiritual seekers from all over New York City and is the place where thousands of people experienced Yoga for the first time.

Over the years, the New York IYI has grown to become one of the most respected and beloved Yoga centers in the city, an oasis for busy New Yorkers and out-of-town visitors. Four Yoga rooms, each painted a different color and each displaying a symbol honoring all faiths to reflect Swami Satchidananda’s credo that “Truth is One, Paths are Many,” together constitute an environment of peace and serenity. Traditionally, more than 6,000 students each month attend 125 weekly Hatha Yoga classes at all levels, including Prenatal, Postnatal, Flow, Restorative, and Gentle. IYI pioneered Yoga for those with H.I.V. and AIDS. Nearly 200 active teachers teach as Karma Yoga—that is, as an unpaid offering.

Courses and workshops in meditation and breathing practices, health and nutrition, and other, related teachings create a unique and rewarding atmosphere for learning and sharing. Students gather both online and in-person for Scripture Study to read and discuss such fundamental works as the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali and the Bhagavad Gita. Kirtans (devotional chanting) and Satsangs (spiritual discussions) draw people from all over the country. Over the years, IYI’s renowned Teacher Training program has certified hundreds of teachers in Beginning, Intermediate, and Advanced Hatha Yoga, Prenatal and Postnatal Yoga, Meditation, and Gentle and Chair Yoga.

IYI offers many classes and workshops on using Yoga to deal with a wide variety of life-threatening and chronic physical  and mental health conditions, including Yoga Therapy, Cardiac Yoga and more.  It has introduced programs called Yoga At Work® and Yoga At School™ to promote its message that Yoga is for everyone in every setting.

The New York IYI is a living embodiment of Sri Swami Satchidananda’s teachings, a community where the goal for all people is to have an easeful body, a peaceful mind, and a useful life.

WEBSITE:

IYINY.ORG

CONTACT US:

info@iyiny.org

Yoga Plus magazine Teacher bio photo - Shari Vilchez-Blatt
Yoga Plus magazine Teacher bio photo - Shari Vilchez-Blatt

Food is Love – A look inside Integral Yoga’s Kitchen

By: Diana Dharani Diaz

FOOD

BIG BEAR YOGA FESTIVAL
Founded in a NYC brownstone by Swami Satchidananda in 1970, Integral Yoga Institute of New York is still open and thriving as a teaching center, and a place where thousands of people experience Yoga and community. Many New Yorkers also discovered the joys and benefits of a vegetarian diet when the Integral Yoga Natural Foods store first opened in the West 13th Street building in March 1972, and for many years it was one of the only places in the city where they could purchase exclusively vegetarian products. Today people can enjoy vegetarian meals lovingly created onsite in the community kitchen to share together. Learn more about love, food and community from the Integral Yoga kitchen manager, Tinuola Bello.

What does “Food is Love” mean to you?
When I first came to volunteer at Integral Yoga’s kitchen in 2002, my Tuesday shifts with Kitchen Mother Andalamma were wonderful. She reminded me of my own mother – small, dark brown, no nonsense. When she cooked, she made the food that she ate and fed her own children. It was an invitation into her home, her space, her life. Into who she is. And when you do that, you’re inviting others to do the same. It’s an expression of love. 

Share with us what you love about the kitchen.
The kitchen operates mainly through Karma Yoga, the practice of selfless service, or volunteering. That in itself is an act of love. During my 18 years in the kitchen, it became a meeting place for the cooks and Karma Yogis to develop ourselves through friendships and through the food we prepared. Our cooking and sharing meals is an invitation for people to find a spiritual home here. Andalamma really created a sanctuary. As kitchen manager, it’s been important for me to continue that. We recognize who people are, not just what service they bring, and we nurture them. Karma Yogis have gone on to serve in other ways throughout Integral Yoga. Many, myself included, have become teachers. 

We‘ve also nurtured board members, program directors, sound healers and many more! People have met and married through this kitchen. The patience in learning, understanding proportions, and combinations of ingredients are still a labor of love and a metaphor for life itself.

What part of your life or yourself did you bring to the kitchen?
I grew up in a diverse neighborhood, Jamaicans, Indians, Pakistani, Italian, Irish and Chinese. Mr. Frederico gave me bread and salami from his deli on my way home from school, I ate homemade samosas at the Singh’s house (also where I first saw Michael Jackson’s Thriller video!) and of course fish and chips. There was a lot of food in my ‘hood, and it always came with a lot of love! This is reflected in our Integral Yoga’s kitchen. Here, you can share your culture and it will be appreciated. From time to time, teachers or staff would offer to cook the food they grew up with, and we would learn a lot about one another.  

And everyone is welcome. My Jamaican mother and Nigerian father raised five children in the ‘70s and ‘80s, during the Thatcher years. As hard as they worked, they always welcomed people into our home. I remember people stopping by and my father encouraging them to stay for dinner, telling them that we had more than enough to share. From a very early age, I remember eating every kind of food. Hanging with my mother at my Jamaican godparent’s parties at 12 years old, it’s the food that I remember – the salt fish fritters, chicken and beef patties and syrup. It was good and plentiful. 

Tell us more about this recipe.
Last summer, I spent many late nights driving uptown. We would usually stop at a really good Dominican eatery just before making our way over the bridge into the Bronx. This, my late night snack, was never disappointing. And those nights hearing music and simultaneous conversations, seeing the parked cars and the lines in all the restaurants made me feel there’s no community without love and no community without the love of food.

There’s something very loving about finger food and eating with your hands. You’re sharing with others. It’s communal. It’s also reflective of an important time in my life, when I was in Mexico teaching a performance workshop for young people. A local family cooked for us as a way of making money and at the time, I was a pescatarian. In Mexico, that’s a little problematic as dairy and meat are in almost everything. I asked if I could have a tortilla with just beans and  rice. They said of course. When I went to pay, they refused my money, even after I insisted several times. I once again experienced food as an expression of love and inclusion. 


Oyster Mushroom and Batata
(Purple-skinned Sweet Potato) Tacos

I am reminded of the combination of simplicity and creativity of meals that sit between a snack and ‘dinner.’ In these tacos, it was always about the batata for me – perfectly baked and naturally caramelized due to its own sugar. I love this purple sweet potato, and I remember the first few times I cooked them in the kitchen and how much they were enjoyed. The oyster mushrooms are delicious and versatile and remind me of a dear friend with whom I’m always sharing food. 

 Ingredients: (Makes 10 tacos)

  • 2 medium batata (or any sweet potato)
  • A large handful of oyster mushrooms  
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 2 tbsp sunflower or vegetable oil
  • Salt and ground white pepper to taste
  • 10 soft corn or flour tortillas

 

For the garnish:

  • Finely grated red cabbage
  • Finely chopped cucumber
  • Lime zest
  • Sliced red onion
  • Fresh cilantro

 

Wash and dry the potatoes. Make a small incision across the top and allow them to completely dry before wrapping in foil and placing in the oven at 350°F.

Separate, lightly rinse, completely dry the mushrooms and continue to wipe clean if necessary. Season with garlic powder, smoked paprika, and a little white pepper. Mix well and place aside for at least an hour. Add oil, then place in the oven.

Check the potatoes periodically, between 45 minutes to an hour (depending on the size). Remove them from the oven once they are soft all the way through. 

Set them aside for 30 minutes to cool, then refrigerate for an hour. Carefully peel the potatoes and cut into bite-size cubes. Optional: Sauté the cooked, diced batata over medium heat, until golden.

Warm tortillas in skillet or frying pan on low heat. Once cooked, check the mushrooms for seasoning. Place mushrooms on the tortilla and top with cubed batata.

To garnish, add red cabbage and cucumber, a pinch of lime or lime zest if desired. Add a slice of onion and sprig of cilantro to the taco.

BIG BEAR YOGA FESTIVAL

SUI YOGA

SUI YOGA

SUI YOGA

SUI Yoga studio
Celebrating Uniqueness, Together
Nestled in the heart of New York City’s vibrant SoHo, Sui Yoga is more than a hot yoga studio—it’s a space for conscious connection. Our name comes from the Latin sui generis, meaning unique, of its own kind. Sui in Japanese refers to the water element. In each of our offerings, we are committed to nurturing the unique potential of the individual while simultaneously fostering the expansion and joy that community brings.

Flooded with natural light and teeming with plants, our 6,000 square foot, bi-level space is a serene oasis. Our two spacious studios feature healing, restorative Himalayan salt walls and artfully-curated lighting systems. Our state-of-the-art locker rooms are outfitted with 12 showers, stocked with clean, all-natural bath products. Our café offers healthy bites and beverage options to help nourish and fuel you throughout your day.

Our interiors are curated with the utmost care and attention to detail, adhering to the principles of biophilic design—a concept that celebrates the symbiotic relationship between humanity and the natural world, encouraging a deeper connection with nature that strengthens our intuition, restores our natural rhythms, and promotes tranquility.

We invite you to slow down, nourish your soul, and activate your higher consciousness. Come visit us today.

WEBSITE:

SUIYOGA.COM

CONTACT US:

hello@suiyoga.com

Yoga Plus magazine Teacher bio photo - Shari Vilchez-Blatt
SUI Yoga studio
KARMA KIDS YOGA

KARMA KIDS YOGA

KARMA KIDS YOGA

KAMRA KIDS LOGO - SOCIAL
The Karma Kids Yoga philosophy of teaching yoga to children provides kids with a variety of yoga tools that they can take away from yoga class and use throughout their lives. Animals, nature and other objects come alive in our classes; as we move, we learn to stretch our bodies in new creative ways. Through basic and challenging yoga poses, partner poses, group poses, yoga games, mindfulness activities, music and stories, we promote strength, flexibility, coordination, and body awareness. Breathing and visualization techniques teach focus, relaxation and self-control. The Karma Kids Yoga program also promotes inner-strength, confidence and self-esteem; a feeling of well-being and respect for others; and, love for one’s self, inside and out.

CONTACT US:

CLICK HERE

ABOUT: Shari Vilchez Blatt

Founder & Creator of Karma Kids Yoga

Shari was a VP, Advertising Director before completely changing her path to combine two things that are close to her heart – yoga and children. She created Karma Kids Yoga in 2002, encouraging playful and imaginative movement through yoga as the core philosophy. Kids really respond to Shari, as she communicates with them in a fun and trusting way that will comfort even the most shy child. She knows how to connect and talk to kids on their level, allowing them to sense her friendliness and understanding. Shari can turn any task into something fun and is simply an enthusiastic child in an adult body.

Yoga Plus magazine Teacher bio photo - Shari Vilchez-Blatt

LOVE PROFILE: Shari Vilchez-Blatt

Founder Karma Kids Yoga

PROFILES

LOVE PROFILE- Shari Vilchez-Blatt - Preschool Group Tree

As we prepare for our June 2023 release of our print issue themed LOVE, we reached out to our amazing community to share with us a few thoughts on love. Our first feature celebrates Shari who was a VP, Advertising Director before completely changing her path to combine two things that are close to her heart – yoga and children. She created Karma Kids Yoga in 2002, encouraging playful and imaginative movement through yoga as the core philosophy. Shari has trained over three thousand people around the world to teach yoga to children through the renowned Karma Kids Yoga Teacher Training Program and her latest endeavor is her Girl Empowerment Series. Shari is currently working on projects with Sesame Workshop…stay tuned.

Share with us what you love about what you do:
I’m a children’s yoga teacher. I love what I do. It’s playful, unpredictable, humorous and always an adventure. I love when children surprise themselves with their own abilities. I love observing them use the yoga and mindfulness tools that I share and feel the benefits. But what I love most is when a child is about to give up and I can encourage them to believe in themselves, remind them that they were made to do hard things, they tap into their courage and strength and nail the pose! Their expressions and excitement beam with pride. This makes my heart explode every time.

Share with us what you have learned about LOVE:
Love is easy to spread around! I’ve learned that the more I spread it within the community, the more it flourishes and grows. When spreading love, I feel love back. When spreading love with children and teens, they’re more likely to open up, trust, share, connect and hopefully continue to spread love. Love feels so much better in the body and mind than any other emotion I can think of.

What inspired you to support Yoga Love Magazine?
This magazine is unlike any other yoga enthused publication I have ever seen. I love that real teachers, not yoga celebrities, are featured.I love that it feels approachable and connective versus like a fashion magazine. It feels like a community that you’re welcome to join versus “look at us.” I love the tireless spirit of a female Latina leader and all female staff that makes this magazine happen and I feel big love when I support this.

YOGA MOXI

YOGA MOXI

YOGA MOXI

Yoga Purse

An App for Yoga Teachers

Yoga Moxi is a yoga app designed (mostly) for newer yoga teachers who have recently completed their first Teacher Training and are ready to teach.

After a teacher completes their first 200 hours of training, (RYT 200 = Registered Yoga Teacher 200 hours), they may be nervous, or not have total confidence in how to apply their newly acquired knowledge and skills. Yoga Moxi provides tips, reminders, guidance, and instruction to help build confidence as they start their teaching journey.

The app contains content ranging from “Themes for Class” to advice (as consideration) on “Yoga Business”. All categories of content are arranged in a similar order to how a class may be “crafted” from start to finish. Within each category will be short snippets of reminders, or tips yoga teachers can refer to quickly – all at their finger-tips.y, inspiring, and safe space for all cancer survivors to thrive and connect.

Meet Michele, founder of a new FREE app now available!

Spotlight: YOGA MOXI

By: iana velez
J Miles - Music Love Article

Did you know Yoga Love magazine is available for free at partner studios and festivals thanks to our amazing community and other small business owners like Michele Carrión Yopps founder of the Yoga Moxi app! We asked Michele to share more about starting a small business, her personal yoga/meditation practice and some thoughts on JOY.

What inspired you to start your own business?
The Yoga Moxi app was created based on how I felt when I was a newer yoga teacher ten years ago. There was so much information, knowledge and skills acquired, and an app that provided more of a “road map” on how to use and apply the information would have been immensely helpful.

What is the most popular feature on your app?
Currently, yoga teachers have provided the most feedback on the “Timers”. There are three different Timers that help keep a practice on track to not go over/under the specified class time. The Hatha Timer allows a yoga teacher to set up a class time, and also allows to set up smaller segments within a class. (i.e. Opening = 2 minutes, Centering = 5 minutes, Warm Up = 8 minutes, etc.) The Yin Timer is specific to a Yin Yoga class setup including class time, number of poses, and how much time to spend on each side. The Yoga Nidra Timer can be set up for any amount of time for your practice. The intention is to keep yoga teachers on time – with a Timer created for their specific needs.

What is the best advice someone gave you when you started your business?
The best advice came after the Yoga Moxi app was created…be sure to have solid legal agreements and get app insurance. Both are for more peace-of-mind, and to minimize potential financial loss.

What is the best advice you would give another person who wanted to start their own small business?
Be sure to have solid legal agreements and insurance (according to the designated business industry). Do not rely on generic anything from the internet. This applies to any business.

Do you have a personal yoga/meditation practice? How has it helped you?
For the past few years, I have focused on a morning meditation before starting the day. It allows me to connect with my breathing and focus on myself fully for a few minutes. My yoga practice has changed over the years, and currently I work on an at-home practice two times per week. (For about 20 minutes) The practice is more of a “freestyle” where I center prior to start, and allow the body to dictate how to move.

Share your favorite yoga/wellness social media/web accounts that inspire you?
The majority of accounts that provide inspiration involve positive “quotes” from famous and not-so-famous people. I also enjoy the Yoga Love Magazine account and all the reels regarding “Joy”. There are so many iterations, and the majority really do inspire joy and a smile. (Thank You!)

The theme of our current issue is JOY, how do you inspire joy in your life and those around you?
Hopefully I provide some joy to those around me by smiling when I greet them or interact with them. For my friends and family, the hope is to inspire joy by holding space when needed, and sharing something that makes them truly smile or laugh – like a good experience we shared.

Ashish Arora
Ashish Arora

MAGIC MIND

MAGIC MIND

MAGIC MIND

Yoga Purse

The world’s first mental performance shot.
Your secret to a sharper mind & calm energy.

discount code: YOGALOVE20
for 20% off

ABOUT:

After a trip to the E.R. a decade ago, I was diagnosed with a heart condition, and my doctor explained that the two major culprits were too much stress and too much caffeine (and that they were related).

I was running a company of about 50 employees, and he told me that I needed to limit my caffeine intake to half a cup of coffee per day. Then he suggested green tea, saying it has compounds that extend the absorption of caffeine and that “give you calmness while keeping you alert.”

It had never occurred to me that adding an ingredient (or a few) alongside caffeine would improve its effectiveness and decrease stress…It’s been a wild journey since, and a decade of research into the space of nootropics, adaptogens, and functional mushrooms (and over 100 iterations) later, I’m now sharing this magical little concoction with you.

Scientifically designed to enhance focus and thinking, supports mood and motivation, and create a calm, sustained energy to make every day the most dialed-in you’ve ever been – Magic Mind might just become the best part of your morning ritual.

– James Beshara
Creator & Bestselling Author on Nootropics
Venice Beach, CA

WEBSITE:

magicmind.com

CONTACT US:

CLICK HERE

Yoga Purse
Yoga Purse