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In early January, the inhabitants of Los Angeles showed up for each other in a way that didn't surprise Angelenos, but did seem to shake up the preconceived notions many held about our beloved city. A place where the creative outcasts from a variety of backgrounds come to find inspiration, like-minded collaboration, and innovative creation, LA gets a bad wrap for crushing dreams when they don't come true. Underneath the extremes of the "starving artist" mythos and the glamour of dreams fulfilled is a hard-working community that will do anything for their neighbors, even in times of collective crisis. From organizing in the streets for human rights to organizing GoFundMes, collecting necessities, and sharing resources for those impacted by the wildfires, Los Angeles stands a reminder of what makes us yogis and what makes us human – unbreakable kindness, compassion, and connection. The relief effort was rooted in human connection, showing that we're much more than the Hollywood sign – we're lots of little communities that create one big force of nature – a mere 56 years after the song was released, maybe this is the moment an "Age of Aquarius" dawns in our backyard and beyond.
One little part of the whole, ODD reinforces these shared human and Aquarian qualities; we received your countless messages of support for the teachers, staff, and students impacted by the wildfires, as well as your messages of support for the resources we shared to aid in recovery. We remain here for you, mindfully and intentionally, prioritizing love, patience, and dedication to uplift our fellow humans. As Patanjali suggests in Yoga Sutra 1.33, we must meet suffering with compassion, and in Yoga Sutra 2.16, we must avoid destructive responses to suffering, like blame and guilt. With that simple guidance, we rebuild our community one day, one compassionate step, and one down dog at a time.
In January, we hosted daily donation-based classes to raise funds for the ODD community members directly affected by the wildfires, and you showed up on your mats with purpose to raise a total of $5000+ in one week. You also supported the cause by dropping canned goods and non-perishables at our studios to be donated to the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank. If you'd still like to contribute and have the ability to do so, we're collecting donations via GoFundMe through the end of the month. Beyond financial support, you can continue to show up to class, share, listen, and strengthen the bonds of community. The stronger our bond, the better able we are to face challenges that come our way as we rebuild an even better community and city.
Born on January 26, 2013, One Down Dog is a creative, innovative, and progressive Aquarius. Whether or not you're into astrology, interpreting these qualities can provide helpful context for how we connect with each other. We all possess amazing human qualities to varying degrees, so, while we're quite similar, we can acknowledge that we all bring unique gifts that fit together like a puzzle of personality and collective consciousness.
Click to listen to our Aquarius Themed Playlist
Malasana, or Garland Pose, reinforces our connection to each other, promotes self acceptance, and releases emotional blockages by stimulating the root chakra – the seat of family, community, and security. It's physical benefits are:
Here's a Quick Guide to Getting into Malasana:
Pro tip: You can sit on a block or two to support your spine or place the heels on a blanket to keep you from putting too much pressure forward, rather than downward.
One of the simplest breath techniques with practical applications beyond yoga, 4-7-8 is often taught to help breathe through stressful situations and anxiety. Here's how:
Here in LA, we watched humans show up in beautiful ways to support neighboring humans in a dark time. It's not the first time our city of angels has been challenged, and it certainly won't be the last. Rather than give in to the suffering, we banded together to move through the pain with grace, understanding, and support for one another. We lived the sutras, and it paid off!