September 2011 Archive

September 16th, 2011

Los Angeles Rocks! Operation Shanti

Manduka Ambassador and friend Garth Hewitt has made such amazing strides with his ongoing donation-based yoga classes and events to raise money for Operation Shanti.

Operation Shanti is a small organization that was started a few years ago by an Ashtanga yoga student from San Francisco named Tracy Kunichka. The organization strives to better the lives of exploited, at-risk, and destitute children through an orphanage that provides food, clothing and a home in Mysore, India. After Garth spent time helping and volunteering with Tracy, he learned first hand how the Operation Shanti orphanage was overflowing and in need of another orphanage to help support the growing number of children in need. Garth came home determined to raise money to support Operation Shanti's mission.

Garth's third event, Los Angeles Rocks! Operation Shanti will be held this Saturday, September 17th from 3-5 pm at the Boys & Girls Club of Venice. Students are encouraged to pre-register for this event by signing up at garthhewittyoga.com or www.facebook.com/LARocksOperationShanti. Enjoy this amazing 2 hour class with live music that will be team-taught by 10 teachers, 6 of which are Manduka's own Ambassadors: Ashley Albrand, Ally Hamilton, Angela Kukhahn, Jennifer Pastiloff, Ashley Turner, and of course Garth Hewitt! After the class there will be an auction and raffle with over 30 great prizes, as well as a catered party and a DJ spinning live.

We can't wait to see the community support that we know will be present at this event! Spend your Saturday doing something you will absolutely love - practicing yoga with friends and community members that are making a difference in our world. Help support the people of a country that gave us something that brings us all together - the practice of yoga.

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September 7th, 2011

Featured Retailer: Breathe

We opened Breathe in Pittsford, NY in 2002 when we put all of our favorite things under one roof: yoga, an organic juice bar, and a boutique.

Since then, Breathe has continued to evolve. With a major expansion at the original Pittsford, NY location completed in 2009, it now offers 6,000 sq. feet of all this, and more; including a teaching kitchen, holistic spa, acupuncture services, expanded yoga offerings and a variety of cooking and nutrition classes. In the fall of 2010, Breathe opened its second location in Webster, NY with the third location expected to open November 2011 in Rochester, NY.

Breathe is not just another yoga studio. Yoga icons Baron Baptiste and Seane Corn; environmentalist, activist and humanitarian, Julia Butterfly Hill; “Clean Food” cookbook author Terry Walters; musician Michael Franti and others have either taken classes at Breathe, have hosted workshops and classes here, or have been directly involved inspiring us to create a environment that is completely different from any other wellness-oriented venue or yoga studio.

Breathe started off as a hobby and has become more than we could have ever imagined. Not only do we love building relationships with our community but with each other as a family. We look at Breathe as an extension of our family and feel grateful to be able to work with each other on a daily basis. Here at Breathe, we love what we do—and it shows each and every day.