There was an incredible Anusara event that concluded this weekend in Los Angeles. Our very own Dave Kennedy was on hand and kind enough to give an update and drop off some images…

Here is a insightful and personal look at the events from Laura Blakeman aka Shakti Sunfire …

I’m at my Aunt and Uncle’s in Los Angeles, two days have passed since the Anusara weekend workshop that capped John’s Advanced Intensive in Hollywood. I’m enjoying what seems to be my first opportunity for R&R in weeks – perhaps months.

Which is all well and good, don’t get me wrong. The frenzy of my lifestyle, the admittedly reckless pursuit of my dreams and my art is a conscious choice I’ve agreed to and the rewards (and difficulties) for such behavior abound. John Friend said ‘every time you explore your art you get a revelation – a window into your true nature, your talent. To make art all we’re really trying to do is align with Nature, then the magic happens.‘

These last few weeks between Anusara events have been particularly difficult for me. Overwhelmed by my sudden and complete dedication to learn from John, compounded by firehoop orders, summer booking negotiations, hoop workshop plans, choreography opportunities, training schedules, Tantra studies, social events and performances, I was beginning to think I bit off more than I could chew. In retrospect is wasn’t my full and fast-paced schedule that had me in tears more than once, but my fumbling along in a body/mind that had been rewired in the week prior.

‘The more you love the more you’re going to cry,’ he said.

Well, that’s true. The opening and unfolding of my heart at this moment is active – and palpable. Layer by layer peeling back to reveal a greater source of light and with it a raw vulnerability that leaves me breathless. Simultaneously weakened in its magnitude and full of robust, unwavering joy. To be able to *feel life* so profoundly is a gift that’s called ‘meaningfulness.’

That’s it really. I have people in my life that I love with such force it could only be called ferocity, opportunities that resonate and reflect my inner being, chosen responsibilities that make my heart beat faster in recognition that the edge is just one step to either side. I’m scared, I’m thrilled, I’m excited, I’m alive.

And of course, I’m human just like everyone else and in creeps doubts and darkness, challenging my chosen course, poking at my vulnerabilities. It’s taken everything I’ve had to not succumb to what overwhelms me, and yet, at times that’s exactly what I’ve needed to do. John said; ‘you have to always be student to the Grand Artist, don’t think that you’re in control.’ Trust.

Friday night the Mystic Mirrors and members of the Anusara community gathered at an art space in LA this side of hip. In between aerial performance sets, John’s poetry, Tiffany, Will and Justin’s dance, hoop sets with Anah Hoopalicious, Nayeli and Erin, fire spinning, light shows and schmoozing yogi-like, I took inventory of this new territory in reverence for its next-level undercurrent. As we pass from one threshold to another – one diksha to another, it’s easy to get overwhelmed and confused…lost in the mire that is the mud to your lotus flower. The key John taught, is to trust in the Absolute and to pray. Not for challenges to be removed but to cultivate the strength to pass to the next level effectively, safely and skillfully. To grow and move on, is the best way we can say thanks – to honor the past and ride the Tiger into innovation, onto the next level of our Life’s Art.

Ask for Grace, and dance.

* All photography taken by Mario Covic

Chris trying a new project on Oliana in Catalunya. We can also see him chilling at his home with Daila Ojeda, Skateboarding and playing various instruments. Watch video

A WORKLESSCLIMBMORE production

The Flexitarian Cookbook is a compilation of flexible recipes for vegetarians and carnivores.

100% of proceeds benefit Yoga Bear and Slow Food USA!

Cross Posted from Yogaslackers

It took 500 chocolate bars, 25 supermarket cart-fulls of food, and an organizational staff of 64 people to manage and run the 2010 Wenger Patagonian Expedition Race. More fun facts and numbers below from this year’s event.

Total course distance: 554 km (344 miles)

Checkpoints: 18

Trekking distance: 220 km (137 miles)

Biking distance: 288 km (179 miles)

Kayaking distance: 46 km (29 miles)

Ziplines over river: 1

Team Gear Junkie crests a mountain pass on day five

Competitors: 56

Teams: 14

Teams that finished: 7

Time to complete course (winners): 5 days 6 hrs 8 mins

Time to complete course (Team Gear Junkie; 4th place): 6 days 3 hrs 31 mins

Race-ending injuries: 1

Average weight loss per competitor: 5 kg (11 pounds)

Weight loss by Stephen Regenold (Gear Junkie): About 7 pounds

Team Helly Hansen in transition area tent, day five of race

Lowest temperature recorded: -2 degrees C

Strongest winds recorded on course: +120km

Number of mountain passes: 4

Oldest racer: Age 56 (Robert Finlay, Team Eddie Bauer)

Youngest racer: Age 22 (Daniel Staudigel, Team GearJunkie.com)

Organizational staff: 64

Amount of support food: 25 supermarket cart-fulls

Amount of support chocolate: 500 bars

Cameras lost/broken in wilderness: 5

Hours to return to civilization at end of race: 32

Tears: A few

Racers and gear in hull of Chilean Navy vessel, the transport back to the start line from end of race

Yogaslackers – Slacklining for a better world

This was on a ridge top on day 2 of the Patagonia expedition race. It had blown like this for 36 hours straight, and continued for the next 12. Minutes after this video, we were on an even more exposed ridge with even stronger gusts, and Daniel and I had to physically hold on to her to keep her from blowing off the ridge.

The strongest gusts reported were actually approaching the speed of a human skydiver at terminal velocity!

The wind finally died after about the first 48 hours of the race, but picked back up again when a blizzard hit the Darwin mountains while we were crossing them…

serious crazy s%*&.

Jason

“Enthusiastic climber gets pro-climber-signature ink”.

Seeing is believing…

For the full article check out UrbanClimber

Cross Posted From Inhabitat

Like the 35mm camera, film slides have gone to the wayside in favor of digital images and PowerPoint. So what is one to do with that box of slides collecting dust up in the attic? Turn them into a curtain! In a beautiful and clever design, one gal has gathered up these vibrant treasures and turned them into a stunning, colorful window curtain full of memories. For this simple DIY project all you need is a small drill and a pile of aluminum chain-mail rings, and violà! Say goodbye to lackluster mini blinds!

Cross Posted from it’s all yoga, baby

This Sunday, March 7, yogis across Canada will be gathering to practice together with the 2010 Power of Movement yoga challenge, and all funds raised will go towards critical arthritis research. Now in its fourth year, previous Power of Movement events have raised nearly $400,000 benefiting the 4.5 million Canadians who live with arthritis and autoimmune conditions. This year, organizers hope to exceed above and beyond that amount.

It’s not too late to sign up for one of the “mega-sessions” happening across the country and start taking pledges from your friends and families. The Montreal mega-session will start at 11am at The Sacred Heart School (3635 Atwater Ave), and other events will be taking place in Vancouver, Nanaimo, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Toronto, Kingston, Ottawa and Halifax. If you don’t live in or near any of these place, there are smaller local events in select cities – or just simply make a donation to Power of Movement, in the name of yoga as service!

And what’s with the biker campaign? It’s just proof that “anyone can do yoga,” a fundamental belief at the core of Power of Movement. See the video below for proof…

Sounds like its time for another road trip. Be sure to stop in and say hi to the prAna crew and athletes including Chris Sharma!Red Rock Rendezvous is the country’s largest outdoor climbing festival, with clinics for ALL climbers, regardless of skill level. Beginning climbers can join the Friday UClimb event for personalized instruction in small, encouraging groups. There are also several clinics for beginning climbers throughout the weekend. Be sure to check out the gear package option – it’s a really affordable way to get into climbing! Intermediate & advanced climbers find plenty of challenging clinics, in topics ranging from big wall rigging systems to self rescue and much more. All climbers will enjoy the world-class instructor athletes, the Friday & Saturday night slideshows / movies, the Saturday night buffet party, and the Sunday morning pancake breakfast.

Here is the registration info. Want to see more images from 2009? Click here and here.

Women are the backbone of families and societies around the world. They perform 66% of all labor, produce 50% of the world’s food and bear 100% of children.

Cross Posted From Treehugger

There are multiple layers of beauty behind the organization Hands Up Not Handouts (HUNHO) whose mission is to help empower the world’s impoverished women. How you ask? By helping them hone in on their knack for handcrafting goods from native materials which in turn, generates income that they, their families and communities can sustain themselves off of. This micro-enterprise model isn’t by any means new, HUNHO is yet just another successful example that’s making a dent for the better. What won’t make a huge dent in your wallet are the oh-so-cool and hip handcrafted accessories being made from HUNHO’s Palestine and Rwanda-based women run cooperatives.

HUNHO is the brainchild of the American philanthropic Sager family who in 2000 set out to travel to the world’s developing countries. Wishing to help the people they met along the way, without just handing out money as charity–they believe this can create dependency with no lasting positive effect–they instead became venture capitalists of sorts. After investing in a project, they help implement it–mentoring the artisans along the way with product development, strategy, marketing and distribution. And the final product is nothing short of positive and gorgeous for women in Rwanda and Palestine who are working through HUNHO cooperatives.

Is it any surprise that fashion icons and rock stars like Kate Hudson, Gwen Stefani and Rihanna would adorn themselves in these urban-chic, circular earrings that come in electrifying colors like hot pink, apple red and lemonade yellow? Or that they’d embellish their wrists in candy-colored strappy cuffs and wraps like these simple yet statement making tie-bracelets? I for one, likely along with these three fashion divas, eagerly await the continued artisan made crafts that arise from future HUNHO partnerships. It’s a simple, affordable and one-of-a-kind-way to support girl power–not to mention sustainable developing communities as all of the proceeds trickle back to the ladies in charge.

::Hands Up Not Handouts