Shakin'

I recently watched a Ken Burns documentary on The Shakers, a 200+ year old Christian sect that is known for their exquisite (but unadorned) craftsmanship, humble devotion, and their "wild" dancing (which gave them their commonly-used name over the actual "United Society of Believers in Christ's Second Appearing"). The Shaker religion was founded by a woman and worship a God that was equal parts male and female. Men and women play an equal role in the church and in society. The Shakers were celibate, acquiring members through conversion or adoption (though adoption of orphans by religious groups was banned in the 1960s and this practice ended). At their height, there were over 6,000 members in the US and now there are only 3. "The Last Shakers" live in Maine. People drawn to this way of life were truly devotional. Their hard work was for God and others. Bhakti and Karma.

Portland VegFest 2011

This past weekend I found myself back in Portland for this year's VegFest. For two days a wonderful group of vegans, vegetarians, and our friends took over a section of the Portland Convention Center and the city's many veg-friendly establishments. In the past four months, I have been fortunate to have made four trips (yes, one a month) to Portland and have fallen in love with the city and it's ultra-friendly inhabitants. With no more trips planned there this year, I will definitely be missing it! However, this last trip for VegFest really packed in so many reasons why I love the city. I saw so many people who were strangers four months ago, but who I now enthusiastically call friends, I visited some of my favorite businesses, and I even had the opportunity to spend time with some of the real veg pioneers who have been making vegetarian food business a reality for over three decades!

So, it was total icing on the cake that I had been invited to speak about The Yoga of Veganism at this year's VegFest. It was a thoughtful, inspiring, and dedicated group who attended the Saturday 11am talk. I was so touched to run into the talk's attendees throughout the weekend to hear how the teachings of yoga have impacted their lives. I hope that everyone I met will continue to keep in touch in some way and that I will see you all again!

Below, you can find an edited video with some parts of the talk given at VegFest. This talk included so much that is so close to my heart. Please enjoy!

2011 Chicago Walk for Farm Animals

Yesterday I had the great fortune to participate in the 2011 Chicago Walk for Farm Animals. These nationwide walks benefit Farm Sanctuary organization, who advocates for the treatment of our forgotten brothers and sisters living lives of confinement away from our eyes. I was unable to stay for the entire event, as I had to teach the regular Saturday morning class in Oak Park, but I was able to show up early and lead a short yoga session at the beginning of the day's events. It was a ton of fun with a really enthusiastic group of participants. It's not everyone who will go out on a Saturday morning and do yoga (some for the first time ever) on a patch of wet grass in Lincoln Park!

When I arrived at the usual Saturday morning class, I had to mentally change gears. I almost couldn't figure out how to teach this group of students sitting patiently in a studio... no one was even dressed as a pig! Over the course of the short previous yoga session, that had come to look quite normal. Funny how the mind works.

This event also marked the debut of my newly-purchased Flip camera which I intend to use often now that I have it! There are so many things that I want to make videos of. The above is my first attempt at video editing. Many thanks to my friend, Mark, took much of the yoga class video. I think I learned a lot making this and have ideas about what to do differently next time.

Thank you all for coming out and participating and, most of all, for acting as voices for the voiceless! And thank you to the organizers who invited me and to the many friends who recommended me for the duty!