On March 19th, the first Los Angles Rocks! Operation Shanti Yoga Fundraising Event was held in Hermosa Beach. Garth Hewitt, Manduka Ambassador, started the campaign with the intention of organizing the Los Angeles Yoga Community around a common theme, giving back and making a different in the community that might be described as the birthplace of our modern yoga practice with the building of an orphanage in Mysore, India.

Raising over $8,000 for the campaign, the first event was a huge success and was well attended by the South Bay Yoga Community. The first 20 people to arrive received a Manduka eQua Hand Towel and were entered to win a Manduka gift set. Approximately 100 people participated in the yoga class, which had live music and which was followed by an auction, raffle and after-party with DJ Michael “Jammerz” Callon. Garth Hewitt taught a portion of the two hour yoga class with some of the South Bay’s most well known and beloved teachers included: Genevieve Fischer, Greville Henwood, Angela Kukhahn, Suzy Nece, Julie Rader, Jo Tastula and Marla Wedge.

To learn more about Operation Shanti, go to http://www.operation-shanti.org