In memoriam: Thom Birch 1954 - 2006

I was extremely saddened last night to hear of the passing of Thom Birch, pioneering athlete and Yoga teacher. According to this obit from his alma mater, The University of Houston, he died on Thursday, November 9th after suffering a heart attack. Thom and his wife Beryl were the first to introduce the practice of Astanga yoga to thousands of people, through their programs "The Hard and the Soft" and "Power Yoga."
Please feel free to use the comments feature of this blog to post any remembrances of Thom you'd like to share, and I'll be sure to pass them along to Beryl.

Special David Hykes Programs at The Breathing Project!

As any regular readers of e-Sutra know, I have been a huge fan of David Hykes for a long time. He has literally changed the way I listen to the world, and to my own voice. In the past few years, it has been my great privilege to become friends with him, and he's been a tremendous supporter of our work here at The Breathing Project. He even performed an amazing concert at our grand opening party in March, 2003.

Next week, David will be joining us again for two very special programs. First, as the culmination of our open house weekend, on Sunday, November 19th, from 5:30-7:30pm, David will lead a Harmonic Presence Evening, which will include deep and hearty group immersion in Harmonic Chant, compassion-based guided meditation, healing, visualization, and gentle breath and bodywork. The following Monday, November 20th from 4-8pm, David will teach a Harmonic Presence Workshop, which will provide a deeper and more intensive connection to his work, and to the harmonic universe we all inhabit.

I can't recommend highly enough these events. If you are anywhere within the NYC area, I urge you to experience David's work. I guarantee a transformational experience.
click here for more info, and to register

Free Classes at Breathing Project Open House Nov. 17-19

As part of The Breathing Project’s First Annual “Keeping The Space” Benefit, we are opening our studio from Friday to Sunday, November 17-19, 2006.
45-minute classes and workshops will be offered in Yoga for you and your family, arts & crafts for kids, Meditation and Tai Chi, as well as 20-minute private sessions in Gyrotonics (Sat) and Pilates (Sun). No reservations are necessary and mats are provided. Classes are free, but donations in any amount are gratefully accepted. Click here for more info.

1938 Video of Sri T. Krishnamacharya Practicing Asana and Bandhas

I have previously seen this footage in the context of a French documentary "100 Years of Beatitude," which was made on the occasion of Krishnamacharya's centennial celebrations in 1988. While watching this, keep in mind that in 1938 he is 50 years old - exactly only halfway through his remarkable teaching career. On June 21st of that year, my teacher, T.K.V. Desikachar was born.

Kaminoff Makes Case Against Insurance, Formal Regulation, Dictated Standards

This interview with me was just posted on John Weeks' Integrator blog. It's part of a series sponsored by IAYT on the future of Yoga Therapy and its role in interdisciplinary healthcare. Regular readers of e-Sutra will know that I have some strong feelings on this topic, and the current interview puts many of these across quite well. Money quote:
"Yoga is about connection - that between the student and teacher. Any third party that inserts itself into that relationship will destroy it. It doesn't matter if that is an insurer, a government agency or a band of well-intentioned Yoga teachers."
I encourage your comments and feedback - all of which will be noted with interest by IAYT, as we prepare for the January SYTAR event, where I will co-moderate a panel on these issues that will include John Weeks.