"the hardest part is getting your ass there." - david nichtern on meditation

i've always heard about the benefits of meditation and have even dabbled in the practice myself, but had no idea if i was 'doing it right.'  so when i came across a meditation training at om yoga in union square (nyc), i didn't hesistate.  led by david nichtern, a senior teacher in the shambala buddhist lineage of chogyam trungpa and sakyong mipham rinphoche - oh and the husband of om yoga's very own cyndi lee, not to mention an emmy award winner and grammy nominee!  besides all of that pizzazz he has going on, he's really grounded and relatable and breaks the art of meditating down into really basic steps.  with that said, david also agrees that although it may seem simple, meditating is hard work and even harder to teach someone else. 

so how does one become great at meditation?
lots of meditating, self-discovery and getting to know those ancient buddhist monks who have already figured it all out. 

check out david's articles on huffington post to help guide you through your own self-study.  or if you're in nyc, visit om yoga for their 30 minute ($5) meditation sessions on tuesday evenings. 

continuing on my yoga teaching journey, i just completed this great webinar with the renowned and awesome amy ippoliti.  amy has made her mark as a top anusara teacher, but in this webinar series she was super informative and personal, basically everything that makes her a great teacher also makes her a great teacher's teacher.  since the 'class' is web-based it was super convenient for me to keep up, even though i wasn't able to listen live, the recordings were very clear and the homework (yes, homework!) was actually stuff i've been meaning to do so this was a great way to get me going. 

the webinar, 90 minutes to change the world 101, helped inspire and motivate me to the next steps in my teaching evolution, so much so that it is feeling more like a revolution!  a

my has a great vibe and a lot of down-to-earth info to share. she also has a freebie on her website - 5 steps to living funk-free - something everyone could stand to use.  check her out.  you're welcome :)

YOGA CURES: Over 50 Simple Routines for Radiant Health

a shot from tara's yoga cures photoshoot with justin boruckithe book's theme is shaped around what tara does best and what youtubers everywhere know her for - creating simple sequences that help solve common issues like hangovers, pms, tension, wrinkles and 46 other ones... you'll just have to wait until next spring to see what else tara can cure with the yoga.  in the meantime, get on your mat and find out what you can do for yourself.  

bonus tidbit:  deepak chopra (tara's yoga student) wrote the foreward (fancy, i know).

congrats tara!

new teachers!

new schedule!

come pick one up on your next visit (or just check the website for up-to-the minute schedule changes).

hol·i·day·asa·na

the conscious effort of staying sane, healthy and green during the holiday season.

if you're in nyc, you have some moral support this season from fellow yogis.  embark on a month-long challenge to maintain your mental and physical health plus keep your lifestyle greener amidst the crowds of shoppers, fruit cake deliveries and excess packaging.  socialworkout.com is hosting holidayasana, in which it has partnered with 14 of nyc's top yoga studios (yes, strala included!) to present you with a holiday mission. 

should you choose to accept this challenge, starting december 1st (yes, you get a free pass for tofurkey day) the collective holidayasana mission is as follows:

• practice yoga 20 times
• eat 25 very healthy meals
• volunteer 60 minutes for someone in need
• avoid using ANY disposable plastic bags

in a nutshell, 'tis the season for living healthy and green, and giving a little back. you can track the group's progress online, bringing this bustling city some much needed positive energy.

join in the fun by visiting: www.socialworkout.com/holidayasana.

with the oncoming holidays, our days can often be filled with more stress than joy, so join tara in a live chat wednesday, 11.17, in her special 'wicked fresh! wednesday' session with tom's of maine.  tara will give you some pointers about how to breathe and be easy in your body, avoid over-indulging and how to truly enjoy your holidays.  also since it is a live chat session, tara will be taking your questions!  so be sure to tune in!

here are the deets:

on Wednesday, November 17, 2010 – 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. PST / 8:00 p.m.to 9:00 p.m. EST

go to Tom’s of Maine Facebook page - – via the Live Chat tab and join in the convo.

• saturday 11/6 - ayurvedic brunch and farmers market tour with nadya - because fall is the perfect time for a field trip and delicious food! (11am-2:00pm; $50 includes brunch)
• saturday and sunday (11/6 and 11/7) - childbirth education and pre-natal yoga weekend intensive - hang out and learn from lindsey bliss (a doula + mom of 4) and rebekah (bex) borucki (strala teacher + mom of 3 and one on the way + personal trainer) about the emotional and physical parts about being preggers. (1:00pm-5:00pm; $200 in advance)
• saturday 11/13 - fireman ed (an avid stralan) is leading his first bootcamp that is coupled with a juicy recover yoga session taught by tara after (12:30pm - 3:00pm; $35 in advance).
• saturday 11/20 - tao is back!  yes, the 90+ year old yogini is back and is hosting "vinyasa:  the dance of life" (1pm-4pm; $40 in advance).