Iyengar - Astanga - Vinyasa - Donation Yoga Teachers - San Francisco Bay Area

Donation Yoga Classes - A San Francisco Community Service making Yoga affordable for every individual. Come to class regardless of your finances. Beginners are encouraged to attend. For more details, check out the following links.




Donation Yoga at Yoga Mob.

"Yoga Mob is a space. Yoga Mob is a community. Yoga Mob is a part of the growing movement towards donation based classes in the Bay Area.
Yoga Mob is located in a 4000 sq. ft. live/work warehouse at 3359 Cesar Chavez at Mission. This space is provided to qualified instructors at no charge. Due to the lack of overhead, donation based classes can be offered to the yoga community for as much or as little as one is moved to donate. For those of us who practice regularly but are on a limited budget, community spaces like these are an invaluable resource."




Donation Yoga with Jamie Lindsay.

"General Practice Notes:
Class are built around sequencing inspired by Kundalini Tantra practice, using the alignment principles of Iyengar, and the integration of breath and movement and internal energetics of Ashtanga Vinyasa. Recently, we've been working particularly with integral movement as waves undulating through the body, between core and periphery, between crown and root, between hand and heart, looking for a conscious clarity in articulating flows, feeling into the alignment, exploring the practice of asana and pranayama from an internal, experiential place. Though practice will be quite physically challenging, the focus will tend to be on the inner work of yoga. Please bring your sense of humor!

Donation-Based Vinyasa Yoga at Grace Cathedral:
This one-hour yoga class is suitable for all levels of student, but it is specifically geared towards those new to the practice. Though many postures are demanding, they are all appropriate for beginners, and we approach practice in a light and joyful fashion, with a sense of humor about the challenges of meditation in the body. Yoga is a powerful tool for relaxation and stress-reduction, quieting the mind, developing an increased sense of well-being, and improving strength, flexibility, health, and mental concentration. Please arrive at least ten minutes before class, and wear clothes you can move in comfortably. The Cathedral can be chilly, so sweat-clothes are ideal. Do avoid eating for a couple of hours before class. Grace Cathedral is located atop Nob Hill, at California and Taylor, and class is held on the indoor labyrinth. This class serves as a useful introduction to Vinyasa, as well, and is a good preparation for the more intense daily classes."


San Francisco Bay Area - Craigslist Ad.
0/0: 1/31-1/31: donation only kundalini yoga
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reply to: see below
Date: 2005-01-17, 10:24PM PST
"Yoga should be for anyone who wants it, not only those who can afford it. this is why i'm teaching a donation only kundalini yoga class.
This class will be for all levels. participants are encouraged to yoga at their own pace. This class will run for a month and if people are into it, it'll will be a regular monday night thing.

Where: "dance ground keriak" 1805 divisadero and bush
When: starting monday jan 31st at 8pm (so all of you hard working day time folks can make it).
Parking is free after 6pm.
So, come on down. this yoga class is for you. do some yoga, love and be loved.

If i left any info out, send me a msg and i'll answer any questions.
Email = loristein@hotmail.com





Donation Yoga with Charles S Jasper.

Charles S. Jasper, D.C., Ph.D. enjoys teaching people. He teaches yoga to groups and individuals, has treated people as a chiropractor in private practice over the last 20 years, and has worked with many diverse groups of people in hospitals and institutions. He is a licensed clinical psychologist. In addition, he has maintained an active Vipassana meditation practice since 1988. His approach draws upon the mindfulness tradition of Buddha, as well as personal training principles, to achieve creative flow in the practice of a yoga that is suited for the Western mind.

Questions? Please contact Charles either by phone at 415-552-6361or by email at cjasper@narrativeyoga.com




Donation Kundalini Yoga As Taught By Yogi Bahjan.

"Kundalini Yoga uses breath, posture, mantra, guided visualizations and lifestyle techniques to affect deep, yet gentle, changes in physiological and psychological patterns.

Ideal for beginners and people with physical limitations. If you are out of shape, weak, tire easily or are self-conscious about your body - come to class. We create a safe, welcoming atmosphere. Even if you just sit with us and breathe, you can benefit from the experience."




Donation Yoga with Iyengar Yoga teacher, tony eason

"Born in San Francisco, Iyengar Yoga Teacher, Tony Eason has been a student of Yoga for eleven years. As an AIDS/LifeCycle cyclist, Tony came to yoga for the benefits of stretching.

For five years he studied under Iyengar Yoga Teacher Mary Friedland. Tony continued to develop his personal practice and teaching skills with the guidance of Certified Iyengar Yoga Teachers: Kathy Alef, Ben Thomas, Tommijean Thomas PhD, Jaki Nett, and Nora Burnett. He apprenticed under Certified Iyengar Yoga Teacher Janet MacLeod. He is a graduate of the Two-year Advanced Teacher Training Program of the Iyengar Yoga Institute of San Francisco. His yoga classes are based on the traditions of B.K.S. Iyengar. His teachings includes the use of yoga props to encourage the ultimate benefit from each posture. Through Iyengar yoga classes, he teaches students to pay attention to the alignment of their bodies, to become aware of the breath, and to control the mind.

Presently, Tony teaches Iyengar yoga classes and seminars at James Howell Studio, Satori Yoga Studio, Goat Hall, Club One, and the San Francisco Tennis Club. Cyclist, beginners, and everyone else, are encouraged to attend his yoga classes."




Donation Yoga with Kristie

"My classes are mindful and challenging. they offer opportunities to strengthen and comfort the body, sharpen the mind, and open the heart. to heal, to revel in ecstasy, to deepen your kinesthetic awareness. i hope to help you become more supple, powerful, and open. classes are taught spontaneously, drawing from my eclectic studies in a wide range of traditions. we generally practice to music. varying to suit those present in body, mind, and moment, our pace ranges from slow hatha to rigorous vinyasa. see my background for more information."

Donation Yoga at Ritual Yoga

"Ritual Yoga was founded with the dream of creating a unique yoga studio dedicated to the concept of students paying what they can afford. In opening San Francisco's first donation based studio, Steve intention is to create a beautiful and positive space where people can come together and share in the community of yoga."




San Francisco Donation Yoga - Tribe.net

"This Tribe is for people in the San Francisco Yoga Community who support the notion that yoga classes should be accessible to absolutely everyone regardless of financial resources. It's for sharing of information about classes currently available in San Francisco entirely on a donation basis, and for any sort of discussion, networking, community-building, or ride-sharing that may transpire. Instructors from anywhere in the Bay Area, please post your donation classes! Free events and benefits are, of course, welcome as well!"


Support the yoga teachers and yoga studios that support you and your community.
Wishing the best of all possible worlds,
Iyengar yoga teacher, tony eason

A Wishlist to Harpo Productions - Oprah Winfrey & The Oprah Winfrey Show

Fit Yoga Magazine & Iyengar Yoga teacher, tony eason

A few months ago, freelance writer Matthew Solan interviewed me concerning the benefits of a yoga sequence for cyclist.
And now, the interview is featured in the February 2006 Edition of Fit Yoga Magazine.




Fit Yoga Magazine – February 2006 - Centering the Cyclist by Matthew Solan

"When Tony Eason goes for a bike ride, he doesn’t pedal around the block a few times. Eason, an endurance cyclist, treks between 50 and 100 miles per week, mostly through the pretzel-like trails of Marin County, north of San Francisco. That distance grows when he gears up for a long benefit ride like the AIDS/LifeCycle, a 575 mile, seven-day sprint from the Bay Area down to Los Angeles.

Eason may not be the typical cyclist, but he has one tip that can benefit all riders: Do yoga! Eason has been practicing yoga for a decade, about as long as he’s been cycling. He trained at the Iyengar Yoga Institute of San Francisco and has been teaching for the last four years. “Yoga brings awareness to the individual muscles cyclist use,” he says. “Plus, yoga provides a way to remove incorrect body alignment. The right alignment will help you economize energy and allow you to ride longer and in more comfort.”

In this way, yoga and cycling go hand in hand. Proper alignment helps you go deeper into a pose and hold it for longer and with greater integrity. If your alignment is off just a little, it can create physical limitations or even muscle tension.

It’s the same with cycling, When you’re on a bike, your posture and movements don’t change much. You sit in the same spot, your legs constantly move in the same motion, and your hands and arms are placed in a stable position. Yet, the smallest change in alignment – whether it’s improper foot placement, moving the knee laterally or medially, locking the elbows, or round the upper back – can cause muscle strain and make you work harder than necessary.

Yoga can train cyclist to maintain a healthy alignment. Here’s a look at how cyclist should be properly aligned and what postures can help you strike the right pose when you’re in the bike saddle.

Knees. Your knees move in a piston-like motion in order to power the legs and propel your bike. Yet if your alignment is off, your knees can move slightly inward or outward instead of straight up and down. This can strain the joint, damage the ligaments, and eventually cause irreparable damage. Practicing Virabhadrasana I or II (Warrior I or II) promotes the right cycling knee alignment. When in the pose, keep your knee directly above your ankle in a straight line. Move your knee inward or outward, and you can quickly feel a strain. Keep it in line, though, and you can hold the pose longer without discomfort.

Arms and Wrist. Eason says you should ride with slightly bent arms held at right angles to the body. “Cyclist often ‘lock’ their arms, either through fatigue or not being mindful, which shoots the pressure from the road into the writs, forearms, and shoulders,” he says. You can practice this bent-arm alignment in Bhujangasana (Cobra Pose) or in a modified Adho Mukha Svanasana (Downward-Facing Dog) with the forearms flat on the ground.

Lower Back. Cyclists often get in a bad habit of rounding the backs. Instead of bending forward from the hips, they bend from the upper back. This causes the thoracic spine to jut out and collapse the chest, which restricts the flow of oxygen. Practicing Urdhva Mukha Svanasan (Upward-Facing Dog) can help cyclist maintain a concave back that curves inward and an open chest to promote better breathing.

Spine. A strong, properly aligned spine position also helps create an open chest. This spinal alignment is crucial in many standing and seated forward bends. Here, a tall, neutral spin – not too forward or too back – keeps the chest from caving as you move into the pose. To get used to this sensation, move from Dandasana (Staff Pose) into Janu Sirsasana (Head-to Knee Forward Bend).

Go with the Flow.
No matter if you’re an endurance or recreational cyclist, your pedal strokes should always be steady and smooth throughout it’s 360-degree rotation. They should never move up and down in a herky-jerky fashion. A fluid movement provides less stress on your knees and creates more consistent power from the legs.

Proper flow is also at the heart of yoga. How often has your teacher instructed you to gradually move in and out of a pose without any abrupt movements? Flow helps maintain the poses quality and avoid sudden changes that could lead to strain or injury. Practicing Sun Salutations is an excellent way to learn the aspect of flow. Shifting from pose to pose at your own speed teaches how to move in a consistent, steady rhythm. This is the same type of continuous smooth action you want to adopt for your pedal stroke.

You’re in the Bike Zone.
A constant challenge for cyclist is to stay tuned to their bodies amid the many distractions that arise. Competitors may become anxious when someone passes them and/or from fear of losing. Recreational riders can get caught up in the scenery, weather, or their chattering minds.

In yoga, when your mind begins to drift, you focus on your breath and its rhythm to help you become mindful of how your body is moving and what you need to adjust.

The same philosophy works in cycling. If a fellow rider, sudden rain, or whizzing car distracts you, go instantly to your breath, eason advises. “It’s a great way to gather your concentration,” he says. “be mindful of taking full and steady breaths, and then you can re-focus on your alignment, and then your stroke.”


*Iyengar Yoga Teacher, Tony Eason
**Matthew Solan is a freelance writer based in St. Petersburg, FL.

FIT YOGA is the fastest growing yoga magazine on the newsstand today. Since its first issue was published in February 2004, it has captured the attention of yoga practitioners, yoga teachers and fitness instructors nationwide. With its fresh, airy design, striking covers and engaging editorial coverage, FIT YOGA has a broad appeal in the marketplace.
In just a few short months, FIT YOGA has established a newsstand distribution that includes major magazine outlets nationwide, predominantly supermarkets, pharmacies, department stores, chain bookstores and natural food stores.

BOOKSTORES
Barnes & Noble, B Dalton, Borders Bookstores, Walden Books, Hastings, and Chapters.

SUPERMARKETS
Kroger's, Safeway, Albertsons, Winn Dixie, Shop & Stop, Ralph's, H.E. Butt, Nash Finch, Meijers, Vons, Dominick's

PHARMACIES
C.V.S., Walgreens, Eckerds, Longs, Shopper's Drug Mart, Rite Aid, Osco, Sav On

DEPARTMENT STORES
WalMart, Target, K Mart

HEALTH FOOD STORES
Wild Oats, Whole Foods, GNC

Check it out! Wishing the best of all possible worlds,
Iyengar Yoga teacher, tony eason

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. - Karma Yoga

Karma Yoga consists of selfless service, in which the ego is given up to the desire to serve God in everthing, be it man, animal or plant.

Karma Yoga is also the path of doing the right thing, of following one's personal Dharma and accepting destiny as it comes. If the Karma Yogi is a householder, he will accept that role as much as he would accept the role of a servant to any in need, without seeking any remuneration in the shape of wealth, satisfaction,name or fame."

Throughout his years of public service, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. encouraged everyone to participate in community service.




"If you want to be important, wonderful.
If you want to be recongnized, wonderful.
If you want to be great, wonderful.
But recognize that, he who is greatest among you shall be a servant.
That's the new definition of greatness.
And this morning, the thing that I like about it.
By giving that definition of greatness,it means that everbody can be great.
Because everybody can serve.
You don't have to have a college degree to serve.
You don't have to have to make your subject and your verb agree to serve.
You don't have to know about Plato and Aristotle to serve.
You don't have to know Einstein's "Theory of Relativity" to serve.
You don't have to know the Second Theory of Thermal Dynamics in Physics to serve. You only need a heart full of grace,
A soul generated by love,
And you can be that servant."
Audio Version - Martin Luther King Jr.

A Shout out to Oprah Winfrey & Harpo Productions

Afro American - Black Yoga Teachers

The San Francisco AIDS Foundation - AIDS/LifeCycle - Oprah Winfrey - Harpo Productions & YOU

Tony's California AIDS Ride - AIDS/LifeCycle Story:

Sometimes we want to help others, but we are so overwhelmed by all that needs to be done in this world that we don't know where to start. We hope that tomorrow or next week, when everything calms down, we will be able to become the actively compassionate human beings we know we can be. We put off goodness like we put off going on a diet.

On 01 January 1994, I realized that there was more to life than: guzzling an expensive bottle of Robert Mondavi Chardonnay, being the belle of the ball, speaking of what others need to work on, and/or sitting daily in the same pose. So, I bought a 10 year old, El Dorado Bianchi Road Bike. And, I began a 6-month intense cycling training for a cycling event called the California AIDS Ride #2.

In May of 1994 (on Mother's Day), I left San Francisco with $3.00 in my pocket, no idea of how I was going to return, a questionable bike, the fear of failure, and began to cycle (along with 1500 other cyclist) toward West Hollywood, CA.

Seven days, 575 miles later, I arrived in West Hollywood. At which point, I realized it is possible to step outside of your normal routine. I realized it is possible to empower yourself while assisting others. I realized that I wasn't alone in my ideas of creating a better world. And, I realized that miracles can occur (after all, I made it back home with $3.00 in my pocket) .

Each year, I cycle 575 miles (from San Francisco to Los Angeles). Each year, I raise a minimum of $2500.00 to participate. And each year, I complete the ride knowing I did the right thing.

In June 2006, for my 9th Year, I will participate in an event to benefit the San Francisco AIDS Foundation called AIDS LifeCycle #5. Over the years, I have personally raised over $35,000.00 to assist in research, and AIDS services for individuals in need.

Why do I continue to participate:
1. Supportting the San Francisco AIDS Foundation (and it's beneficiaries) is a great cause.

Established in 1982, the San Francisco AIDS Foundation is one of the oldest and largest community-based AIDS service organizations in the United States. The mission of the agency is to end the pandemic and the human suffering caused by HIV. To that end, they provide a comprehensive array of services -- including financial benefits counseling, client advocacy, housing assistance, HIV prevention efforts, needle exchange, and the California AIDS Hotline (800-367-AIDS) -- that directly serve over 100,000 individuals affected by HIV/AIDS. They reach over 1.5 million others through community outreach, public policy efforts, prevention campaigns, and the internet.

2. "African Americans account for more than one-third of the cases reported since the beginning of the epidemic and half of all diagnoses in 2003... . ..

African American women between the ages of 25 and 44 are 13 times more likely to die of the disease than their counterparts. According to CDC data reported through December of 2001, African Americans were the largest group of young people affected by HIV, and accounted for 56 percent of all HIV infections ever reported among those aged 13-24."

3. Participating in the California AIDS Ride & AIDS/LifeCycle changed my life... .. .

In the beginning, I participated in the ride because I needed "something to tell the grandchildren." I wanted to beable to say, I did something good with my life. I wanted to beable to say "Yes, I rode my bike from San Francisco to Los Angeles. And as part of my training, I found the need to learn proper stretching techniques. So, I attended Mary Friedland's Yoga classes at 24 Hour Fitness. Since then, I've went from a bottle of Robert Mondavi Chardonnay (a day) to teaching Iyengar Yoga classes,

4. It gives me the opportunity to empower others (by my example)..



Over the past 11 years, personal friends, family, corporate sponsors, and strangers have joined me in my determination to be part of the solution. Many of my friends have put down "the juice," and become philantropists and atheletes.

It's the medics, the sponsors (who I've nickled and dimed), the family, Jane Elizabeth Evenson Photography, Mike's Bikes - Sausalito, the cheerleaders, the bike techs, DJ "Fresh Freddy," the gear teams, the yoga teachers, the bike security, the motorcycle crew, "Tiger Honey Pot" - the band, the caterer, the logistics team, the safety team, The San Francisco AIDS Foundation, the DFL Cycling Team, Spill Kincaid - The Goat in the Tower, Brooke Thorton - Manicaretti - Italian Food Importer,The Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Center, Jamie Mastin & Tad Natwick - Fat Tire Beer, Soulcraft Bikes, Adrea Stern - Satori Yoga Studio, Tyson - American Cyclery, Kyle, Jens, Norwegian Cruisliner - Tom, Woody, Tyson, Jim, Drew, Jason C., Jane, Helen, Housemate Rabiah, Shanghi Thunder, Sonya, Iyengar Yoga Teacher - Mary Friedland, Mr. Rio, Shiv, Woody, Cannondale, Powerhouse - San Francisco, Mrs. Eason - my mother, your mother, Ginger, "The Angels," Lisa Hines - Bella Cucina Catering, Julie Ashby, Leslie Abraham - Clif Bar, Ciara, Mary Hogan, Black Rock - Ireland, In & Out Burger - Ventura, Donald, Carl's Jr. - Paso Robles, 'The Unoffical Pitstop'- Lompoc to Oprah Winfrey The Farm Bakery & Cafe - Los Aptos, Boudin Catering - San Francisco, Uncle Michael, and then some .....that made this whole thing happen.

5. At the age of 42, I stare out the window and smile.

"But whether I'm the rose
Of sheer perfection,
Or freckle on the nose
Of life's complexion,
The cinder or the shiny apple of its eye.

I gotta fly once,
I gotta try once,
Only can die once, right, sir?
Ooh, love is juicy,
Juicy, and you see
I gotta have my bite, sir!

Get ready for me, love,
'Cause I'm a "comer,"
I simply gotta march,
My heart's a drummer.
Don't bring around a cloud
To rain on my parade!"

Don't put off goodness like we put off a diet.
1. Sponsor Tony Eason in AIDS/LifeCycle #6
2. Participate as a volunteer or cyclist in AIDS/LifeCycle #5

3. Send my Wishlist to Oprah Winfrey & Harpo Productions

We all need something to tell the grandchildren.
Wishing the best of all possible worlds,
tony

American Cyclery - San Francisco - AIDS LifeCycle Sponsor

"Cycling in San Francisco for over 11 years, I have had many a people ask me:

"Where should I go to get my bike fixed?
And, who should I talk to about bikes (when I get there)?"

Well the answer is:
American Cyclery

I've bought both a Salsa Road Bike & a Custon Soulcraft Road Bike
both from American Cyclery. And on both occassions, I've dealt with "Tyson".




Bike Tech. Tyson will:
a.) not rip you off.
b.) fix what needs to be replace.
c.) sell you the bike that suits your needs.
d.) give you his personal & professional opinion
e.) stand behind his work

American Cyclery has a variety of Specialty road bikes (Colnago, Soulcraft, Waterford, Cinneli, etc) and sweet gear. Also, they carry a variety of Mountain, Touring, and Cruising Bikes.

And to top it off ...American Cycery offers promos and discounts to participants of various charity fundraising biking events (ex: AIDS LifeCycle).

So whether you need:
a.) a second opinion on your bike
b.) a proper bike fitting
c.) some sweet new gear
d.) a custom bike built
e.) or a bike for the kid

Visit American Cyclery and tell Tyson: "Tony sent you."


Wishing the best of all possible worlds,
AIDS/LifeCycle Cyclist
Donation Yoga Teachers
tony eason
A Shout out to Oprah Winfrey & Harpo Productions

AIDS LifeCycle Cyclist - "Spider" assaulted in the San Francisco Mission District

Violent Vehicular Assault in the Mission District
by Seth Holmes Friday, Dec. 30, 2005 at 4:45 PM
smholm@berkeley.edu

OVER TWO WEEKS HAVE PASSED AND STILL NO LEADS IN THE VIOLENT VEHICULAR ASSAULT IN THE MISSION THAT LEFT A LOCAL MAN SERIOUSLY INJURED–$10,000 PRIVATE REWARD OFFERED

Contact: helpspider@marciag.com or http://www.cyclecide.com





December 30, 2005

WHAT: At 12:33 a.m. on December 17, 2005, a motorist believed to be driving a black SUV (possibly a black Cadillac Escalade, Chevy Tahoe, Yukon, or the like) deliberately struck a local resident, Spider Davila (not in a vehicle), leaving him seriously injured.

WHERE: The corner of Florida St. and 20th St. in the Mission in San Francisco.

WHO: Assailants: The driver and passenger(s) are believed to be either white or Hispanic, and have yet to be identified. Police, family and friends are looking for any witnesses to this violent and horrific attack. If someone saw a dark SUV driving in the neighborhood around this time (the vehicle is reported to have been driving aggressively and unsafely), if they have any information about the suspect(s), or if there was a passenger in the vehicle, we are asking them to please come forward.

Injured: Mr. Davila, 34, volunteers frequently for numerous city organizations, fundraisers and events: the YMCA, working with kids at the Crucible; riding in the The AIDS/LifeCycle; The Bike Kitchen; and Cyclecide; and volunteering for the Gate/Perimeter crew at Burning Man

POLICE: The police, friends and family are seeking any information that will lead to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible for this assault. There is a $10,000 private reward for information that leads directly to the arrest and conviction of the driver responsible for Spider’s injuries. Information can remain confidential. Call Inspector Krimsky at the Hit and Run Detail at 415-553-9179. The Case # is 051413864.

BACKSTORY: Mr. Davila was standing near the street corner, straddling his bike and making a cell phone call. The motorist was seen driving aggressively and recklessly in the neighborhood. Mr. Davila called out, “Nice way to drive your SUV!” as the motorist sped past. The motorist then stopped the vehicle, and is believed to have then put his SUV into reverse and then purposefully drove forcefully into Mr. Davila, and fled the scene. There was also reportedly a passenger in the vehicle.

Mr. Davila was picked up by ambulance and brought to SF General. He was in the ICU for over a week, left with numerous serious injuries: a shattered jaw, a broken arm, a laceration to his face, and a sprained wrist. He was placed on a ventilator due to swelling in his airway, and later in the week underwent a seven-hour intensive surgery to correct his facial injuries; he now has five plates in his face and his jaw wired shut for the next 4-6 weeks. It is hoped that his tracheotomy will be removed the week of 1/3/06 and will be discharged to convalesce in the care of his friends.

For those who want to make a donation to cover the mounting dental bills and medical costs, they can do so on http://www.cyclecide.com. Any checks can be written to J. Comford and mailed to:

Help Spider Fund
P.O. Box 740A 14th St., Slot #425
San Francisco, CA 94114