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Happy holidays and welcome to the December edition of Conference Connection.
With the holidays right around the corner, we've dedicated this edition of Conference Connection to the spirit of giving. Read below for:
- How Santosha Leads to Karma Yoga by Diane Anderson, senior editor at Yoga Journal.
- Our holiday giving guide of socially conscious companies that give back to the community.
- Spotlight on our work exchange volunteer, Cynthia Muskin, who retired from a professional career as a social worker in 2005 and now teaches restorative yoga to seniors.
Namaste,
The Yoga Journal Conference Team
Elana Maggal, Conference Director
Renee LaRose, Conference Manager
Heidi Hill, Conference Sponsorship Associate
Alden Conant, Conference Coordinator
San Francisco, CA
January 18 - 21, 2007
This year's San Francisco Conference is filling up.
If you plan to attend but haven't yet registered, we encourage you to do so soon. Last year's conference sold out a few weeks before the event.
You don't have to be a conference attendee to stop by and shop! The Yoga Marketplace is FREE and open to the public!
And for the third year, we are pleased to present Shiva Rea's Yoga Trance Dance with DJ Dragonfly.
Kicking off the evening will be a Kirtan with Jai Uttal.
Also don't forget to pre-order your conference t-shirt,
designed this year by Yoga Tribe and Culture. It is 100% organic!
Purchase one online for $20, or at the conference, for $25!
Click here to register and for more information.
New York, NY
Continuing Ed. for Teachers
March 7 - 8, 2007
Registration is now open for a 2-day Continuing Education for Teachers Conference in conjuction with the ECA/NYC Fitness Convention and Tradeshow, the premier event in the fitness community.
- Learn effective elements for teaching yoga.
- Gain in-depth knowledge of how to adjust your students and safely teach inversions and backbends.
- Explore the fundamentals at the basis of every yoga class, and develop unique and insightful sequences.
- Deepen your yoga practice to infuse a new awareness, insight, and intelligence in your teachings.
Open to yoga teachers, yoga teachers-in-training, and group fitness instructors. This program is approved by Yoga Alliance for Continuing Education Credits.
Click here to register and for more information. Early bird discount ends January 5th.
Lake Geneva, WI
Grand Geneva Resort & Spa
May 4 - 7, 2007
Registration is now open for the Grand Geneva conference at the Grand Geneva Resort & Spa in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin! Come practice with the world's top teachers,
improve your golf game with yoga, or bring the whole family for family and kids yoga.
Click here to register and for more information.
If you're like us, you've searched numerous websites looking for the perfect gift,
but one that's both socially conscious and community friendly. It can be so frustrating, right? That's why in this month's Conference Connection we wanted to highlight a few companies that will be exhibiting at the upcoming San Francisco Yoga Journal Conference, and are giving back the community in a big way this winter season.
Check out their websites for some feel good holiday gift ideas!
The Goodness Design Group
The Goodness Design Group is "changing the world one shirt at a time."
Part of their mission and promise to fight the good fight is to put "our money where our hearts are."
A portion of all profits from retail sales of Goodness Design Group products will be donated, on a yearly basis,
to various local charities and non-profits that they believe are "kicking butt" in the good fight.
Past recipients have included: Yoga on the Inside Foundation, The Greater Boston Food Bank, and City Year.
www.goodnessdesigngroup.com
Satya Jewelry
Satya Jewelry donates a percentage of all sales to children's programs both domestically and internationally through their non-profit, the Satya Foundation.
Committed to providing children with an experience of yoga and healthy living through need based scholarships throughout the world,
the Satya Foundation currently offers scholarships to the "Teen Yoga Camps" at Sivananda Yoga Ranch in Woodbourne, NY and the Omega Institute in Rhinebeck, NY.
The foundation accepts applications for new organizations and projects and reviews proposals bi-annually.
www.satyajewelry.com
SUCA by susan cappa
SUCA by susan cappa proudly presents the "Power of Ahimsa" Collection. Master yoga teachers Baron Baptiste, Seane Corn and Rodney Yee designed shirts to help raise awareness of the Sanskrit word "AHIMSA", or non-violence in thought, word or deed, and to support selected charities of their choice. Charities include: B.O.N.D, YouthAIDS, and Norbulingka Institute in India.
www.sucawear.com/
For a full listing of San Francisco exhibitors please visit
YJEvents.com.
by Diane Anderson
Yep, it all makes sense. There's a reason that Thanksgiving comes before all the sundry gift-giving holidays. In order to be generous to others, we must first realize the abundance that we ourselves enjoy in our own lives. Once we take stock of all our many blessings and recognize all the wonders that the
universe is unfolding for us, we are able to feel a sense of contentment. When we feel, right here and now, even amidst all of life's ups and downs, how blessed we truly are, we can't help but want to spread that feeling of well-being to others with warm acts of selfless giving.
It's true that life's setbacks sometimes send us into tailspins of negative thinking. We feel sorry for ourselves and covet others' circumstances. But later on, we often realize that seemingly disappointing events were blessings in disguise at the time—imagine that!—or experiences that
helped us to develop important aspects of ourselves. During a time of year in which we are taking stock of our lives, it's important to retain such a perspective.
If you are counting the things for which you are grateful, don't forget the little things. It's easy to feel grateful for big, flashy things—the new car, the new job, new hair, the groovy outfit, the bling, or whatever. But it's even more important to really appreciate all the seemingly small
things—clean drinking water, a friend's smile, a warm meal, a cozy bed—and know that such simple pleasures should be readily available to
everyone. If we all came to this realization and worked to make everyone else's lives a little nicer, maybe, just maybe, the world would be a better place.
Which bring us back to giving. Giving gives back to you, it's true, but don't let that end result be your motivation. Remember that volunteering your
time, giving your money, sharing your creativity and compassion are all ways in which you can feel connected to those you love-as well as to those you hardly know. The "I" gives way to "oneness." Which is what this yoga stuff is all about.
Diane Anderson is a senior editor at Yoga Journal.
Editor's Note: if you're interested in being a work exchange volunteer, contact Horizon Conferences via email at yoga@horizonconferences.com.
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Cynthia Muskin has been practicing yoga since 1992 when she made her first of many trips to Thailand to
study traditional Thai massage. Born and raised in
the midwest, she now makes her home in Chico, CA. She currently makes her living giving massages and
teaching yoga. Her current passion is making yoga
accessible for people of all ages and abilities.
In 2003 with a friend's encouragement, Cynthia applied to Yoga Journal to become a Work Exchange Volunteer at the 2004 San Francisco Conference. She had previous experience working in a volunteer capacity at several music festivals and liked both bartering her talents and being a part of the behind the scenes action.
After one conference Cynthia was hooked.
Cynthia came back to San Francisco as a Work Exchange Volunteer in 2005.
Once she learned B.K.S. Iyengar was to be at the 2005 Estes Park Conference she expressed an interest in applying for a Work Exchange position there.
She has attended every conference since then, having worked her way up to a Conference Staff Assistant position. Working the conferences has allowed her to attend and study with the country's leading teachers. It has also provided her with a new found "family" of other Work Exchangers who have
created friendships beyond the bounds of the conferences. This is especially true at the Estes Park Conference where Work Exchangers have a tradition of rooming and eating together.
Cynthia retired from a professional career as a social worker in 2005.
Her retirement gift to herself was to become a Certified Relax and Renew Trainer. She began teaching restorative yoga classes in September 2005, then added a chair yoga class for seniors. Cynthia enjoys traveling to Southeast Asia annually.
She also loves flat water kayaking, cross country skiing and cooking.
Please say "hi" if you see her behind the scenes working at a YJ conference.
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Acacia - SAVE 50%
Acacia is a proud sponsor of the Yoga Journal conference in San Francisco and is pleased to have the opportunity to promote the best in healthy joyful living media at such a prestigious event.
Buy any Acacia DVD at the show and receive 50% off the show price on a second DVD!
Visit acacialifestyle.com for more information about Acacia talent and programs.
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lululemon athletica
Do you live in the Bay Area?
Visit our store at 1981 Union Street, San Francisco, CA.
Do you live on the peninsula?
Visit our store at 1111 Burlingame Ave., Burlingame, CA
Plus, more stores coming to the San Francisco community this spring.
Check out www.lululemon.com/stores to find out opening details.
See you at our booth at the 2007 Yoga Journal San Francisco Conference.
Providing components for people to live a longer, healthier, more fun life!
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Marika- Save 25%
'Tis the season to be shopping!!
Save 25% on Shiva Shakti and Balance Yoga Collections when you shop online at www.marika.com.
Stock up on holiday gifts, or treat yourself to new practice wear for the Yoga Journal Conference in San Francisco.
Use promotional code: YOGASF at checkout to automatically receive a 25% discount off all full priced merchandise. Offer expires 2/28/07.
Shop today! www.marika.com
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Save the Dates
San Francisco 2007
Hyatt Regency
January 18 - 21, 2007
Registration Now Open
New York 2007
Marriott Marquis
March 7 - 8, 2007
Registration Now Open
Grand Geneva 2007
Grand Geneva Resort & Spa
May 4 - 7, 2007
Registration Now Open
Estes Park 2007
YMCA of the Rockies
September 23 - 30, 2007
Registration opens April '07
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