October, 2008 Newsletter

Update from Mark Lilly, Street Yoga Founder, President

Dear Ones,

It is with sincere and deep gratitude that i write this update today. Why? Simply because i can, because my body and mind work well enough to think and type, because i feel healthy, because i get to practice yoga and connect with amazing people. My blessings run deep, and the most wonderful discovery of the last few months has been the simple realization that the more i appreciate the bounty and beauty of my life, the more i find it to be so.

And inside the world of Street Yoga, i also have a huge amount to be grateful for. I did a training in Ontario, Canada last weekend, and remarked in a moment of excitement: "How wonderful that i get to do this!" I get to share yoga with young people who didn't even realize this amazing gift was just waiting for them to discover and weave into their lives. I get to share it with people who teach young people life skills, and now have new ways to foster independence and health and breath-awareness and true self-confidence. I am grateful for my place in Street Yoga, and i want to throw out a ton of gratitude to some of the people and companies and foundations that make Street Yoga able to work the magic we do!\

I also want to recognize the hard work of all the amazing volunteers, interns (hi Sarah) and our super hard-working Board of Directors and Executive Director, Adrienne Boxer. Thank you all!! 

Recognition

 For all the people who made the Fall into Gratitude September event such a splashing success, including:

• Core Power Yoga Southeast (Host and Sponsor), special thanks to Aimee and Emma Williams, Lisa Blood, Jonie Walker, Nattika and Jaime!
• The Flawless Foundation, event sponsorship
• Alysha Pecore (silk scarves and henna art) and Mindy Montague (Tarot reading)
• Individuals who donated time, effort and/or auction items (Maggie Strom, Lee Effman, Dina Lang, Hope Love, James August, Janine Francolini, Emily Andrysick, Kathleen Greer, Mara Harper, Catherine Fixe-Chapin, Martha Corona, TJ Wildenborg, Karen Thurman, Andy Matinog, Linda Andrews, Caroline Weiner, Marna Herrington, Mari Lee, Erin Gates, Matt Senebusch, Kate, Lizzy and Jefferey)
• DJ ATM (Richard) and DJ Omnipresent (Greg)
• Businesses who donated silent auction items (Guayaki, Bacca, Big Winds, Clyde Common, Diva Salon, Dzialo, Elizabeth Street, Exit Real World, Finn Clothing, Fluid Movement and Massage, Grand Central Bowling Alley, Lululemon, McGinn’s Russel Street Wine Merchants, Mona Vie, One Root, Rich Earth Organic Skin Care, See’s Candy, Sydney’s, Truleetwisted, Whole Foods, and the Yoga Shala)
• Restaurants and Businesses who donated and provided great food and party favors (Active Culture, Black Sheep Bakery, Green Dragon, Horse Brass Pub, Noble Rot, Screen Door, Uptown Billiards, and Zupan’s Market)
• Everybody who came to the event, did yoga, had a drink, participated in the silent auction, ate food with us, got a tarot reading or a henna drawing, danced a dance (we love you.)

Click here to see the Street Yoga video that sound issues prevented us from showing at the event.

Open House Party

We had a wonderful Street Yoga Open House on September 26 and 27.  Many people came by the office to see amazing art by Alysha Pecore and Fiona Solliday, get their feet soaked in aromatic baths, have a drink, eat homemade cookies, get their tarot cards read and receive henna body art.  We had quite a party.  Special thanks to Alysha Pecore, Fiona Solliday, Sarah Krajewski, Aimee Williams, Emma Williams and Andy Matinog.

Trainings

The Street Yoga Training in Ontario, Canada in September was incredible. It was difficult and uplifting and eye-opening. A group of diverse people came together and willingly worked very very hard, both on the yoga side, but even more on the introspection side, all b/c they want to serve others with yoga. The stories that come out, about healing and rejuvenation that has occurred are so inspiring; it's not only the young people and their families we get to serve, it's the amazing people who have been touched by yoga who gather for these trainings, rise to trust each other deeply, share, support, nourish, engage, learn so much about ourselves and each other...

I personally want to thank all the folks who made the Ontario training so totally awesome: 

• Wendy & Charlie Webster, the Yoga Room Studio, in Gananoque
• Gananoque Youth Services, which hosted our event.
• Lululemon, Kingston, ON which donated supplies
• All the people who came to the training, and the kids who came to the Spa Day the night before.

Upcoming Trainings

Street Yoga Teacher Training

• Huntington Beach, California, USA: November 7-9, 2008. There is still space and we would love to have you!
• Portland, OR: December 5-7, 2008. Sign up now.
• Philadelphia: February 6-8. Sign up now.

These teacher trainings will offer hands-on practice in how to teach yoga and mindfulness practice to homeless youth, and youth at-risk of homelessness. Learn about the causes of youth homelessness, appropriate asanas and sequences, and effective communication techniques specific to this population. Space is limited-make your reservation today at www.streetyoga.org. 

Other workshops

Moving Through Trauma with Hala Khouri and Mark Lilly, November 6, Santa Monica, CA.

This workshop will blend mindfulness and yoga with a deep appreciation for the path of healing we all hold within us. Hala Khouri is amazing and has done wonderful work around trauma and yoga.

To Register: email hala@halakhouri.com or 310/663-4644 or click here to register online.

Click to read about Hala and an amazing organization she leads, Off the Mat and Into The World.

Upcoming Events

Bhakti Bhangra

Time to break out your bindis and bring your shimmying-shining-self down to the Bhakstishop for the mother of all bhangra dance parties!

• what: bhangra dance party with DJ anjali
• where: the bhaktishop, 2500 SE 26th (that's 26th and division)
• when: october 4th, 7-10 PM
• why: the shop's anniversary and the spirit of fun
• how much: $8 (kids are welcome and free!)

This is not a street yoga event, but we will definitely be there!! 

Being Yoga Conference, New York City-October 10^th-12^th

Mark Lilly and Katie Arrants will be offering two workshops on yoga and service. The event is being sponsored by the Omega Institute; conference details and registration information is now available online. 

Street Yoga Volunteer Meeting at SMYRC

(Open to current and future (interested) SY volunteers)

• When: October 14 from 7-9 pm. 
• Where: SMYRC (sexual minority youth resource center) is located at 2100 SE Belmont, PDX;
• check out their website at www.smyrc.org. 
• Why: Mehera Scheu will give a presentation on issues relating to sexual minorities. 

Following, we will have time to connect as a group and share stories and ideas.  RSVP to intern@streetyoga.org 

Notes from Our Teachers

Note from Andy Matinog, our teacher in the Residential Alcohol and Drug Program at the Juvenile Detention Center.

The month of September was a good month for teaching at RAD. There have been several new kids who are now in the RAD program. The close, tight-knit group I had for most of the summer helped me to keep the new kids in line. When the new kids exclaimed that what I was asking them to do was impossible, the veteran kids hushed them respectfully and kept them on task without being attached to whether or not they would be able to perfectly execute the position and movement I was asking for.

Over time, the kids at RAD have really taken to the Yoga. It took about a month for them to trust and work with me. That first month there was always someone with a busted knuckle or toe they received from punching or kicking the walls in frustration. I remember that first month I gave them a talk about how they didn't have to always do what their minds felt like they needed to do; that what arose in their heads was something they could choose to act/believe in and that they didn't always have to react so quickly. There's always space to relax and allow the situation to unfold properly without force. I think that first month I requested them to be much softer with their bodies - that kind of language didn't work but when I brought up real stories from my life about watching friends succumb to addiction and crimes because they felt there was no way else to go I had their attention. I've told them that if someone like me can do yoga and not get stuck in troubles with the law, anyone can.

My classes center on getting them warmed up and doing a good session of sun salutations. From there I work arm and leg balances - crow/crane pose, tree pose, garudasana - and squatting. We do a bit of martial arts type work in wide legged horse stances to help them keep their minds focused and used to being uncomfortable without reacting to that feeling. And then we end with sitting. They've taken to the sitting and I feel now that it the sitting meditation can go a long way for them.

T-Shirts for Sale

We still have several T-shirts for sale. You can check them out online (and even buy them there) at www.streetyoga.org. Stay tuned for the next batch, available in warm, autumn tones. 

Donating to Street Yoga

As always, if you are so moved, we welcome donations so that we can continue offering the amazing gift of yoga with those in need. Click here to be quickly directed to our online donation page. Thank you. 

Namaste

One of the challenges we offer the youth is to take the bounty of yoga out of our time together each week and bring it deeply into the rest of our lives. Often we are rewarded by a young person coming back to class and practically jumping with excitement: "You gotta see this; i've been practicing all week!!" and then they'll spring into crow pose or a one-arm side plank pose. They are beaming. They have nailed something totally from the inside, and you can just feel the magic.

A good reminder for all of us to keep our yoga practice, all our spiritual practices, with us every breath of the day.

Blessings,

the folks at Street Yoga.