Community as Teacher

I hope your month is off to a great start.  I just returned from 4 days in Joshua Tree where I was co-leading our 9th annual Chakra Retreat.  The long weekend was incredible in so many ways but the thing that has been resonating the most in my mind is the concept of ‘community as guru’ Guru itself is not a bad word.  Guru means teacher, one who brings light to the darkness, a spiritual guide or leader, a person who mentors or counsels.  All of these are good things.  Finding someone who can help guide us along our path Read the full article…

Autumn Equinox & Libra New Moon

Welcome to Autumn! As I write this, the earth is nearly aligned between light and dark, as she does twice a year. This is a time for reflection, gratitude and re-commitment to the goals we set in the spring, assuming those goals are still true for you. Tomorrow, we have a new moon in Libra, one of the signs ruled by the Goddess Venus and having the new lunar cycle begin so close to the new solar season is pretty potent. There is an amplified call to examine relationships, with self, other and nature, and to re-turn to a heart-centered, Read the full article…

To Happier & Healthier Relationships

Yoga Blend, Burbank, Christy Marsden

Hello and happy middle of the month. I hope you are enjoying the transition of the long days of summer towards the longer nights of fall. One of my teachers, TKV Desikachar, says “One of the best indicators that your yoga is working is that your relationships get better”.  As I look back on the past 2 decades of yoga practice and reflect on my relationships throughout the years, I can say without a doubt, according to Desikachar, that my yoga is working. We are in constant relationship, not only with ourselves (in body, breath, mind, etc), but also with Read the full article…

Celebrating Yoga

Yoga Blend, Burbank, Christy Marsden

Happy September! I hope you had a great Holiday weekend celebrating this beautifully mysterious and challenging life.  September is Yoga Month which is a great time to introduce those you love to the practice of yoga or to re-commit yourself to your own practice in our annual Yoga Month Challenge. Next year will mark 20 years since I started this incredible practice that literally changed the course of my life.  I can’t even imagine what life would be like today were it not for a friend who casually mentioned that yoga might help me with my low back pain.  And Read the full article…

September Featured Teacher: Laura Haug

At the core of the Yoga Blend experience are our dedicated, passionate teachers. This month, we feature LAURA HAUG! Hometown: Bonne Terre, Missouri.  What brought you to Los Angeles? I moved to LA in July 2006 to pursue working in the film industry. The majority of my time in LA has been spent working in Post Production. My favorite place in LA is… I love driving through the mountains and along the PCH to get to Zuma Beach. It’s my go-to place. So peaceful and relaxing for me. Most memorable thing I did in the last 12 months: I quit my Read the full article…

September Featured Teacher: Kim Neer

At the core of the Yoga Blend experience are our amazing teachers. This month, we feature KIM NEER! Hometown: I grew up in Bainbridge, Ohio, a small town just outside of Cleveland. What brought you to Los Angeles? I came to Los Angeles 3 years ago after spending a year exploring South America.  I had decided it was time to return to the US but I didn’t want to live in Ohio or Chicago where I had previously been living, so I chose Los Angeles because my best friend from childhood was living here and we had always hoped we’d get Read the full article…

Eco Tips: September

Since September is National Yoga Month, a celebration of the yogic lifestyle, these eco tips are geared towards creating a greener yoga practice! 1. Use a refillable water bottle at the studio, and whenever possible. 2. Explore buying a natural or hybrid yoga mat, available through most major yoga accessory brands. 3. Find a class you can walk, bike, bus or carpool to. 4. Dedicate your practice to peace and joy for all beings!

Life, Death, and the Present

I hope you are having a beautiful week and are feeling lots of love in your life.  I have been struggling for days with what to write. As some of you may know, and some of you may not,  Marriah who manages the administrative work at Yoga Blend, teaches belly dance, and happens to also be one of my dearest friends, lost her fiancé last week. What to say?  There are no words.  Only feelings.  And lots of them.  Life can be really sad and seem so unfair.  It is in times like these we tend to wake up more fully Read the full article…

New Teacher: Kim Neer

We are proud to welcome Kim Neer, one of Yoga Blend’s Teacher Training graduates, to our teaching team! From next week, Kim will teach “Baby & Me” on Wednesdays, 1:45pm to 2:45pm; and on Friday from 10am to 11am. Both classes are just $9. Kim is also an active substitute teacher. See her schedule at http://bit.ly/YBKimNeer About Kim Kim has been having an affair with yoga for over a decade, but deeply fell in love with the practice during a year traveling around South America.  Establishing a personal practice during this transient time kept her grounded and helped her find her Read the full article…

Aquarius Full Moon: One Mind

Fixed energy has one job and that is to sustain. The fixed signs, Taurus, Scorpio, Leo and Aquarius, are what hold the world together. They are the four sides to the square of stability in our lives. This is not an easy task with mutable energy swirling around and Cardinal energy starting things up. I think this trio is best described using Hindu mythology where there are three Gods, Brahma, the creator (cardinal) Vishnu, the preserver (fixed) and Shiva, the destroyer (mutable.) We are reminded that all three are part of the divine plan and in order for life to Read the full article…

August Featured Teacher: Courtney Sauls

Hometown: Houston, Texas. What brought you to Los Angeles? I moved to Los Angeles from New York to pursue acting 8 years ago this month! My favorite thing about LA is… This little place called Yoga Blend. Ever heard of it? It has the best people and I always leave feeling wonderful. It literally changed my life. Most memorable thing I did in the last 12 months: I went to the Sundance Film Festival this year to support a film I was in! It was the first time I’ve ever seen myself on the big screen! It was AWESOME! Favorite food: Read the full article…

August Featured Teacher: Susan Quon

What brought you to Los Angeles? I’m a native daughter of Los Angeles. My grandfather came to California in the 1890’s to work on the railroads in Northern California, Sacramento or the “2nd City” as it was known to the Chinese contract laborers. San Francisco was the “1st City.” Dad came to Los Angeles with his cousins to work as cooks at the resorts of Lake Arrowhead, Big Bear, Hemet, and the San Jacinto Valley. Mom shortly followed. My favorite thing about LA is… the Hollywood Bowl. Music, stars overhead, picnics with good friends and family. A great evening out. Favorite Read the full article…

Create Your Happiness

Yoga Blend, Burbank, Christy Marsden

Happy August! I hope you are enjoying your summer and that it is filled with lots of love, laughter, celebration and excellent food. We are just past the midway point between Summer and Fall known in earth based traditions as Lammas.  It is the time of reaping the first harvest which is an excellent time to check in, reflect upon and receive the benefits of the intentions, projects and seeds you have planted this year. Life is up to us to create.  Beyond our basic survival needs, circumstances have very little to do with how happy we are.  Instead, our Read the full article…

New Teacher: Laura Haug

Laura underwent 200- and 300-hour Teacher Training here at Yoga Blend. Beyond that, she has long been a member of our community, practicing here for the last 7 years, and continues to be a valued member of our front desk staff. From this week, Laura will teach $5 Flow on Thursdays, 6:30am to 7:30am. She is also an active substitute teacher: see http://bit.ly/YBLaura for her weekly schedule. About Laura Laura started along her yoga path in 2008 when she took her first class at Yoga Blend. She found that yoga was the one place where she allowed herself to just be. No comparisons, Read the full article…

Eco Tips: August

As we move into the last month of summer, it’s important to take time to appreciate nature. With the heat and busy schedules, it is easy to hang out indoors and in the AC, but as yogis, being on the earth in a conscious way is healing, both for us and the planet. Here are some eco-yogi tips for enjoying the outdoors: *Get to the beach: Bring an extra trash bag. Enjoy the sand, surf and take a long walk, picking up some trash as you go, to leave the beach better than when you found it. *Get under the Read the full article…

Live, Love, Let Go

Yoga Blend, Burbank, Christy Marsden

I hope you are enjoying your summer so far! The following quote is hanging in my bathroom and I see it at least 2 times a day if not more: In the end what matters most is How well did you live? How well did you love? How well did you learn to let go? It has become a mantra for me, causing me to take pause and reflect on a daily basis. Am I living well? Yes, I truly feel that I am. Check. Am I loving well? Definitely. I do my best to show love to all parts Read the full article…

Eco Tips: July

Summer is here and in full swing! As yogis, we want to find balance in every season on every level. Here are some ways to stay healthy, aware and happy in the long days and hot nights: 1. Drink lots of filtered water, as well as herbal iced tea or coconut water, rather than sugary or alcoholic beverages. This will keep you hydrated and clear headed! Check this site for ideas: www.care2.com. 2. The sun is hottest between 10am and 2pm. Be mindful to wear long sleeves, hats or use sun block, as well as keep kids and pets shaded Read the full article…

July Featured Teacher: Sommer Thome

Yoga Blend, Burbank

Hometown: Vancouver in beautiful British Columbia, Canada. What brought you to Los Angeles? My husband was splitting his time between Vancouver and Los Angeles and we finally decided that it make the most sense for us to make the big move to L.A. I remember as I was packing up boxes and going through stuff that I came across a journal from when I was about 16 years old.  Leafing through the pages I came across multiple entries about how much I wanted to move to California.  So, even though it may have been Rich’s career that brought us here, Read the full article…

Mindfulness in the Present

Yoga Blend, Burbank, Christy Marsden

Happy July!  Can you believe we are already halfway through the year? My mom always told me that time moves faster as you get older and I totally agree.  A day goes by and I often think, did I miss anything today? It is so easy to get caught up in all there is to do and the roles we play in life that we can miss the moment that is before us. I will often do something and then realize as I am doing it, that I am thinking of something else.  This is the opposite of mindfulness. Mindfulness Read the full article…

July Featured Teacher: Darby Orr

Yoga Blend, Burbank

Hometown: Dallas, Texas. What brought you to Los Angeles? I came to Los Angeles as a staff Songwriter/Producer for Sony Music. Geez, back in 1993, I think. My favorite thing about LA is… that for such a large city, there’s a healthy dose of nature to be found nearby. The Beach, mountains and desert are quick and easy destinations. My least favorite thing about LA… would be the lack of rain and big thunderstorms. Perpetual summer does get monotonous. I like dynamic weather. I’m really looking forward to… a quiet year ahead to concentrate on writing new music. And yes, it Read the full article…

Energetic Anatomy: The Chakras

Yoga Blend, Burbank

Have you heard of the chakras, and are curious about what they are, what they do, and how they might affect our minds & bodies? Join Christy Marsden for 2-day workshop that explores these energetic centers! Sat, July 19th: 1pm to 6pm Sun, July 29th: 12pm to 8pm $185 for both days if you sign up by July 16th ($200 after) The word Chakra means ‘wheel’ in Sanskrit. Energetically speaking, there are hundreds of these spinning wheels of light in our body. Our focus for this weekend will be the 7 main Chakras corresponding to our glandular system that are Read the full article…

Cancer New Moon: Loving Unconditionally

I want to start out by expressing my amazement that this new moon marks six years since I started writing these letters, since our New Moon Women’s Gathering was first created. It is humbling and inspiring to think about how my life has changed these last six years, so much so because I started following and sharing the lunar and seasonal cycles. When this all started, I did not intentionally choose the Cancer new moon. It was the next one after I decided to try this out but even then, newbie as I was to this work, it seemed synchronistic Read the full article…

The Motherpeace Tarot

Yoga Blend, Burbank

Renowned feminist scholar, author, and healer Vicki Noble will be at Yoga Blend next month to introduce and explore the Motherpeace Tarot cards. Bekah Turner, General Manager & Teacher at Yoga Blend, who has studied with Vicki Noble, and shares her personal experience about the Motherpeace Tarot: I grew up with the Motherpeace tarot cards. My mother had them and for birthdays, broken hearts, bad days or just giggly nights, she would pull them out and give us a reading. As an adult, I have seen many other tarot decks, and they all have their merit, but for me, the Motherpeace Read the full article…

Union in Diversity

Yoga Blend, Burbank, Christy Marsden

I hope you are having a wonderful month!  We just returned from Bonnarroo which is a 4 day music festival on a farm in Manchester, TN.  This is our 3rd year going and one of the many things I love about it is the coming together of over 80,000 people from all over the world to listen to and celebrate great music of all genres from country, to rap, to electronic, to hip-hop, to folk, to rock, to bluegrass and everything in between. We are all so very different.  Not only on the outside, where we are indeed vastly different, Read the full article…

Summer Time…

… and the living is easy… or so I hope. We are still in the glow of Sagittarius full moon as the sun is waxing towards summer solstice (June 21st). The Cancer new moon, which to me, marks the cycle of jumping fish and high cotton, begins on June 27th, with the Capricorn full moon following on July 12th. This season is one of celebration, abundance, beauty, family and community. It is important to fill ourselves up with these things and all that you love and that nourish you. Solstice signals the longest day of the year in our hemisphere Read the full article…