THE GIFTS and CHALLENGES of EMPATHY
|  | | For a paper version of this article, pick up your free copy of LA Yoga Magazine at yoga studios, cafes, and health food shops all over Los Angeles.
| | JOIN OUR LIST |  | | |  | Dear Yogis and Friends,
I hope this finds you happy, healthy and well.
This month, I find myself looking forward to our upcoming birth. As a student of the human body and its capabilities, I am floored by this amazing process of pregnancy. Many of you haven't seen me in over a month. Let me tell ya, I feel like I have a watermelon attached to my belly. It's been an amazing experience seeing how the human form can shift to accommodate another life.
In writing news:
If you haven't had a chance to check out my article on Empathy in this month's LA Yoga Magazine, please click on the photo and link directly to your left.
Teacher Recommendations:
Many of you have asked me about teacher recommendations during my maternity leave. I've been a student of yoga for over ten years and am happy to help you find a teacher you love, but before I can do so, you must be able to tell me what aspects of a class are important to you:
Is a classically structured class something that you crave? Or, do you prefer a teacher who combines styles into a non-traditional class? Are you motivated by sequencing? Music? Philosophy? is getting a good workout more important than alignment instruction? Would you prefer a teacher who does a lot of hands-on adjustments, or do you hate to be adjusted? Email me with what you love and what you must have, and I'll be happy to recommend some fabulous teachers for you.
Until we meet again, I wish you all a lovely, happy summer.
Blessings,
Aria
| | The Summer Solstice
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Sol + stice comes from the Latin words meaning "sun" and "to stand still."
The month of June gifts us the longest day in the Northern Hemisphere, the Summer Solstice. This year's Solstice occurs on June 20th - 21st and follows a full moon on the 18th and the planet Mercury going direct on the 19th. What an beautiful opportunity to celebrate life - three days in a row of powerful cosmic energy.
Civilizations all over the world have honored the Solstice in different ways. Druids celebrated this day as "The Light of the Shore." The three days around the Solstice were known as the "Wedding of Heaven and Earth," or Alban Heruin. Christians converted Alban Heruin into St. John's Day, often portraying St. John the Baptist in rustic attire, sometimes with horns and cloven feet, like the Greek Demi God, Pan. The Celts and Slavs used to celebrate this day with dancing and bonfires to help increase the sun's energy. The Chinese celebrated this day as the day of Li, the Chinese Goddess of Light. Years later, Shakespeare drew on some of these ancient traditions in his masterpiece, A Midsummer's Night Dream.
How can we celebrate the full moon and the Solstice?
Do something you've always wanted to do. Check out that salsa or tango class at your local community center. Take a Budokon class at Equinox or Golden Bridge. Go camping up in Big Bear or hiking in Malibu. Pack a picnic and head up to El Matador State Beach. Host a fabulous dinner party for friends that you just never have the time to see anymore. Book a massage at your local spa. Take your pooch for a mellow hike at Malibu's Winding Way Trail.
Do something that ignites your inner spirit and enjoy the burst of creative energy that will inevitably follow. In our busy lives these days, we often forget about the magic of this beautiful world that we inhabit. I encourage you all to enjoy the outdoor and celebrate your life as an expression of the infinite energy all around us.
| | June Breath Exercise |  Forget everything you've been told about breathing...
...and allow me to share a fun story a teacher of mine often brings up when students ask him, "How should I breathe in this pose?"
He answers:
"When a lion is pouncing through the forest, on the hunt for prey, do you think he's thinking about how he's breathing? Inhale on this step, exhale as I jump. Draw my belly in as I run, pump my belly out as I leap? No. He's just following what is absolutely natural to him, at that moment. He's not counting or holding his breath. He is just breathing and moving, as it comes to him, naturally."
Part of yoga is balance, and within balance, we must sometimes forget about what we've been told and just do as we feel in the moment, without attachment to dogma.
In the spirit of the Summer Solstice, I encourage you to relax and have fun this month. Don't worry about your breath, or what kind of meditation you need to be practicing. See if you can just let your mind go and allow your breath to emerge as naturally as possible. If you encounter moments of uncertainty, check in with yourself and notice if you're holding your breath. If you are, don't treat it as a big deal. Just relax your belly muscles and take a BEAUTIFUL, long inhale.
Create spontaneity this month by following your gut and your intuition. If you really feel like you need a breath exercise, go to my website and check out my previous newsletters. They're chalk-full of breath exercises.
Then, forget about what you just read and just breathe.
| Cool Happenings Around Town
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Summertime is a Season for the Outdoors...
June 24th begins KCRW'S WORLD MUSIC FESTIVAL at the BOWL.
KCRW showcases the best talent from all over the world, and brings it to our doorstep. Bonus points - we get to watch it at the fabulous Hollywood Bowl. This festival is not to be missed. Get your tickets before they sell out.
CINEMOCA: Six Saturdays of Art and Cinema. June 7 - July 12.
7pm - 11pm. Cinemoca is an after-hours summer celebration of outdoor avant garde film screenings, music, and gallery tours. Events held at The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA. 152 N. Central Ave. Downtown, L.A.
CINESPIA. Classic Films at the Hollywood Forever Cemetary.
As bizarre as it may sound to watch movies at a cemetary, I highly recommend the Cinespia experience. You will see families, hipsters, cinephiles, and everyone in between. Bring a picnic basket and a blanket, and enjoy a movie with the original stars of Hollywood. Saturdays and Sundays throughout the summertime. Gates open at 7:30pm. $10 donation at the gate.
TWILIGHT DANCE SERIES at the SANTA MONICA PIER
Every Thursday evening, enjoy free outdoor music at the Santa Monica Pier. You can't beat free, good music right next to the Ocean! Presented by Amoeba Music. Festivities begin June 26th.
| | | Thanks for supporting Yoga with Aria! Blessings, Aria Mayland
Yoga with Aria | | |
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