#ODDlight Feature: Laura Jenkins
Name: LAURA JENKINS
Hometown: Poughkeepsie, NY | Philadelphia, PA
Favorite Place: the beach (any)
Favorite color: blue | green
What’s your sign? Gemini
Most embarrassing moment? I was about 11 years old, in dance class. We were all sitting after attendance listening to announcements, so super quiet. And I was playing around with holding a leg up in the air, and I farted. I was mortified but everyone pretended they didn’t hear it, but I know they did. Still makes me feel embarrassed talking about it!
Most empowering moment? Opening Massage Studio of Philadelphia (my own massage practice) in Philadelphia in 2012 and a second location in 2014.
Fun Fact most wouldn’t know about you? I was homeschooled 2nd-11th Grade
Fun Fact most wouldn’t know about you? I have 6 siblings
Fun Fact most wouldn’t know about you? I was an NFL Cheerleader for 4 years
Share a story or anecdote with us – something magical, changing, funny, or adventurous. Something that you love to tell.
When my boyfriend and I moved to Los Angeles, we drove across the country from Philadelphia. We drove my little 2001 VW Jetta; me, a 6’7″ tall boyfriend, and a Great Dane in the backseat. We stopped at the Grand Canyon for the expected sight seeing and it seriously felt like Mila (the dog) got more photos by strangers then the Grand Canyon. It was such a funny experience to see this massive, beautiful landmark and have people constantly asking us about the dog and taking photos. Definitely a highlight on our cross country journey.
When you aren’t at the studio where can you be found (favorite past time)?
Choreographing/dancing somewhere, anywhere.
How do you define yoga?
I consider yoga a way of life. There is more to it then just the asana part of it, and incorporating yoga and all the things (breath, meditation, etc) into your everyday makes it a lifestyle.
Why do you teach/massage?
I practice Massage Therapy because I like to make people feel better.
I am excited to begin teaching to help people familiarize themselves with their physical body and to help them feel better over all.
What brought you to become an instructor/massage therapist?
I’ve always been interested in Physical/Sports Therapy (the medical side of things), and after doing PT and other modalities for a dance injury I found Massage Therapy and it actually helped my issue. So I began looking into Massage Therapy as a career alongside of dance.
I decided to go for my Yoga Teacher Certification because I saw the therapeutic aspect of yoga and wanted to incorporate that knowledge in with my massage therapy practice and vice versa.
What is your favorite song to play in class/massage session?
Almost all my play lists have “Coffee” by Sylvan Esso on it — so for now that one!
What is your favorite pose or flow? Why?
Hands down, my favorite pose is Savasana. I like it because my body is fatigued at that point and I get to just lie there and chill out for at least 5 minutes and not do anything!
Memorable yoga moment?
Learning in Surya A that when you “hop forward” to flat back it’s on an INHALE — not an exhale. #gamechanger
How did you first hear about One Down Dog?
Ducky! My boyfriend knew Ducky before I did, and when I moved here to join him in LA he said, “…you gotta go to where Ducky teaches and take yoga.”
What is your favorite yogi prop or piece to wear or use?
Love my blocks.
What special causes or non-profits do you hold dear to your heart?
I am about to volunteer at Create Now (a non profit) so I’ll let you know if I love it,
Are there any links, @names, and #hashtags you would you like us to use in promoting you and your happenings?
CHECK HER OUT –
– Upcoming workshop for teachers –
Hands On Savasana – Yoga teacher and massage therapist Laura is going to give you some tips and tricks! June 25th!
– Don’t forget that ODD Unlimited Monthly Members get 10% off their massage sessions ($99!)
Impact Report – 2016 Donations
In 2016 your donations made a major impact in and outside your community. Here’s a report of how YOU have helped. Let this be your reminder to stay awake and involved. Look how much you’ve done!
“It’s not how much we give but how much love we put into giving.”
― Mother Theresa
Over 100 mats donated to various organizations – Eagle Rock Track and Field, Local libraries, The People Concern in DTLA…
LA LGBTQ Center – $2000 – From your donations at the desk we raised $500, ODD matched it $500 – we happened to donate during an existing match program so they met our 1K and doubled it!
Center Orlando – $250 – To the victims of the shooting in Orlando – June 12, 2016.
Planned Parenthood – $500 from our New Years class & monthly donations from ODD.
Make Overs That Matter – $365 and Mandee Miller has done several classes with them since!
Silverlake JCC – $200
ACLU – monthly donations
LAMP/The People Concern – $1200 from Thanksgiving Donation Class – $700 from YOU and $500 from ODD.
The White Helmets – $250
Dressember – $50
Off the Mat – $200 Donation Class with Katherine Bradshaw
SAMS – $250
Miry’s List – $1000 as well as lots of personal donations of items needed for family’s from our Christmas Day Donation Class
We continue to support these organizations with you and our community. A station for Bake America Great Again for Planned Parenthood, Teaching classes AT the ACLU, June will have more LGBTQ FUNdraiser opportunities at the Yoga Dance Party, Prison Yoga fundraiser classes (Fundraiser here) , and…
DONT MISS THE CHANCE TO GIVE DONATIONS TO MIRY’S LIST TODAY!
Through the end of May if you donate $10 or more to the jar’s at the front desk you’ll get 20% any clothing in our retail. Help us help Miry and end the month of May full of funds for a cause.
Keep your eyes out for ways to get involved at One Down Dog with regular donation opportunities and contact [email protected] if you know of any organizations we need to be involved with.
#ODDlight Feature: Adam Gericke
Name: Adam Joseph Gericke
Nick Name: Never really had one that stuck…
Hometown: Hebron, Indiana – there’s literally only 1 stoplight in the town.
Favorite Place: My house – I love being home in my own space with my small family
Favorite color: Blue everything
What’s your sign? Virgo
Most embarrassing moment?
Most empowering moment? Realizing that I am not my thoughts, but I am a witness to thinking. All of a sudden there is a choice in which thoughts to follow – I ask myself which will lead me ahead in a positive path? It’s a choice, and I now choose to feed the light instead of the dark.
Fun Fact most wouldn’t know about you? I grew up dancing, and that was my first career- a professional dancer. It was my ticket out of small town Indiana, and I never looked back. You can see me in the dance hit – STEP UP. And I’ve also been a working electronic music producer and if you look you can even find a few of my tracks for sale…- Dance music for life! utz utz utz utz
When you aren’t at the studio where can you be found (favorite past time)? If you don’t find me practicing yoga or teaching, I’m probably hiking somewhere, hanging with my dog Frances and husband Blake, or making music in Ableton Live.
How do you define yoga? Yoga to me has been about changing my relationship with my small self, my higher Self, and the entire outside world.
Why do you teach? In teaching yoga, I hope to help share the shift that I have experienced in my life with as many people as possible. Through yoga I have learned to treat myself with the same compassion and kindness I shared with other people.
What brought you to become an instructor? Same as previous answer….
What is your favorite song to play in class? That’s impossible to answer – it literally changes daily. You will always get a mix of current tunes and my kirtan jams! ( CHECK OUT HIS SOUNDCLOUD – DJ’ing MAY 19th at ODD – https://soundcloud.com/user-987305689 )
What is your favorite pose or flow? Why? My favorite yoga pose is my meditation seat. It’s what this practice is all about. As physical as the asana practice might show up on your mat, yoga is the stilling of the mind. And each of these physical postures strengthens or opens the body to sit for prolonged periods of meditation. If you haven’t found your meditation pose yet, meet me at 6:15 on Mondays in SL – let’s meditate together!
Memorable yoga moment? – This might sound cheesy, but a few months into practicing yoga I had a moment in savasana where I think I truly surrendered for the first time in my life. My physical body relaxed completey and in that surrender, the exact opposite of what I thought would happen, happened when I let go. I felt completely supported in that moment, and I still carry that inner support with me now.
Where did you first hear about One Down Dog? Where didn’t I hear about One Down Dog. I met Brianna, Ellina, and Bobbi all independently of each other. It was so sychronistic – One Down Dog is where I was meant to be! My husband works in television, and worked with Brianna’s husband – Brianna’s where the connection was first made. To make a long story short, I met Ellina and she asked me to DJ her store opening of Mairtri in Culver City. Bobbi was there helping with Ellinas party and we became friends. It was a natural progression that kept leading me back to ODD. It’s my LA yoga home and it’s where I was allowed to find my voice as a teacher. I have so much gratitude for Jess’ open arms.
What is your favorite yogi prop or piece to wear or use? (favorite mala etc) I always have my mala close – but you’ll only see me wear it, if I haven’t meditated yet that day. It’ll be my reminder, but I don’t like to wear it as fashion.
What special causes or non-profits do you hold dear to your heart? Anything to do with no-kill shelters….We used to support North Shore Animal League in NY, but haven’t sought out anything here in LA.
BABY FRAN!
Are there any links, @names, and #hashtags you would you like us to use in promoting you and your happenings? My website – adamgericke.com Insta – @wakeupmeditate
Kids Yoga – One Down Dog – Yoga for Your Little Ohm-ie
Starting an early yoga practice with your kid benefits them holistically and gives them the tools they need, within themselves, to thrive in a busy world. Grown-ups have all sorts of priorities and concerns on their plate, and kids do too! Kids live in a world where technology is at their fingertips, knowledge and information are accessible, and all sorts of messages are easily exposed to them. This overstimulation can be very distracting and can make it difficult for them to focus on a single task at hand, let alone all the things that are expected of them on the academic and social levels. With just a few moments of yoga and consistent practice, your little ones will develop healthy bodies, fuller breaths, brains geared up for learning, and the values that contribute to a happy life with their buddies!
Body
Kids yoga integrates their whole, entire body…from the crown of their head all the way down to their tippy toes!
- In asana, the physical practice of yoga, the use of simple yoga poses with kids helps with their balance, coordination, core strength, and flexibility.
- Kids develop better body awareness when they learn postures or play yoga games by identifying what body parts to stretch, bend, twist, lower, or lift.
- When practicing poses on both sides of their body, the right and the left side, yoga contributes to their overall motor development.
- By practicing how to sit and stand “tall” in yoga, kids can develop good posture.
- Yoga relaxes the body and prepares it for a good night’s sleep.
- In kids meditation, sitting in quiet for a few moments enables them to pay mindful attention to the workings of their other senses.
- When they feel good moving in their body, they can do more with their body! More sports, more dancing, more fun outdoor activities! A healthy body image and body appreciation can stem from a healthy yoga practice with your little one!
Breath
Practicing some breathwork or pranayama with your kids sets the tone for the class and helps them settle into the present, into the NOW.
- Depending on your kids’ moods, the right kind of breath will either calm and relax, or energize them!
- Simple breathing exercises prepare them for meditation.
- Taking a few moments to pay attention to their breath is a great way to stimulate their concentration, especially when they are doing challenging poses like balances or holding postures for a longer amount of time.
- A healthy breath means better circulation and more oxygen for the body!
Brain
Kids are constantly learning new things, and yoga helps with learning!
- Through mindful movements and focus, yoga can de-clutter your kids’ very busy brains, therefore increasing their attention span and improving comprehension.
- Yoga helps them retain information and improves their memory by learning postures through songs, yoga stories and yoga activities.
- By developing their motor skills on both sides of the body, yoga utilizes both sides of your kids’ brains as well!
- Kids yoga is all about using the imagination to create movement and shapes with the body. By practicing yoga, kids will widen the scope of their creativity and might even come up with creative ideas of their own!
Buddies
Yoga is also about relationships and how we connect with others. The values learned while practicing yoga teaches our little Ohm-ies beautiful things about themselves, other living beings, and how to live in this world together.
- Yoga games in class instill a sense of teamwork and camaraderie among your little one and his fellow students.
- The process of learning and practicing a yoga pose helps kids become more compassionate and helpful towards other kids who are also trying their best. There is never any competition in yoga…just a safe space where kids can practice, do their best, laugh it off, and try again!
- Being in a room with other kids of all sorts of personalities can improve their social and communication skills.
- Kids are allowed to feel what they feel, and mindful practice helps them acknowledge their emotions and puts them in a healthy place to deal with certain things in their own peaceful way.
- Yoga helps kids to embrace their uniqueness and unique skills, therefore instilling a sense of respect in our kids; respect for themselves, respect for other people, and respect for their surroundings.
Yoga fills you up with life, light, peace, and joy…and all of that spreads quickly as you share your yoga gifts with your little ones! Kids yoga benefits the grown-ups, too! Take some moments to simply have fun, be silly, color outside of the lines, play make-believe, be spontaneous, and let your inner kid shine! Wouldn’t the world be an even more beautiful place if we all learned how to play nice? 🙂
#ODDlight Feature: Sofie Cohen
Name: SOFIE (IM GONNA DO THIS WHOLE THING IN CAPS #SORRYNOTSORRY)
Nick Name: SOF, SOF-MAGOF, SOFIECOH, SOCO, FIFI, GLITTER PRINCESS, VERY COOL RETAIL MANAGER AT ODD, TO NAME A FEW…
Hometown: LAAAAA
Favorite Place: OH BOY! I HAVE SO MANY FAVORITE PLACES! (Ok I won’t do this WHOLE THING in caps [but mostly I will]) I love everywhere all the time. I love LA, I love Griffith Park. I love any city near water! The Northwest! PARIS IS ALSO A SERIOUSLY WONDERFUL PLACE. One Down Dog is this cool place I go and everyone there is really cool so that is also one of my fave places. OMG HOW COULD I FORGET DISNEYLAND. WOW. Guys, I really love Disneyland.
Favorite color: I actually don’t think I can answer this question. Color is so important to me. PALE PEACHY PINKS, PURPELY GREYS, MINTY GREENS, NAVY, GOLD??? HONESTLY HOW DO YOU EVEN CHOOSE?
What’s your sign? ARIES! My bday happened!
Most embarrassing moment? Oh man. IT STILL HAUNTS ME. I had the biggest crush on this boy named Michael when I was in 2nd grade. He was in 3rd grade and he was THE BEST ARTIST IN THE WHOLE CLASS. So, being the big flirt that I am, I asked him to draw something for me in my notebook. I handed him the notebook, but before he started to draw – he looked down at the page, got this strange look on his face, and handed me back the notebook. I looked down and I had accidentally given him a page that I had written “I <3 MICHAEL” ALL OVER. I never talked to him EVER AGAIN, and spent the rest of my elementary school days avoiding him.
Most empowering moment? My early twenties have been full of empowering moments for me – but a year and a half ago (I can’t believe it was this long ago now) I was feeling really fed up with LA, and wanted a change. My boyfriend had just finished up his grad program, so we decided to move to our friends family farm before he got a big boy job. I got a lot of mixed reactions from people about it, left ODD, turned down some other really cool job offers, and moved to Southern Oregon to live in the middle of nowhere on 40 acres of land. I was there for 6 months. I made art, tried and learned so many new things, took care of animals, got dirty, drove a tractor, planted food, chopped firewood, built fires to keep warm, and honestly, I kind of found myself. It was just what I needed. I try really hard to bring some of the practices I learned there to my “new” life here – and now I’m in love with this city (and kind of myself???) more than ever.
Fun Fact most wouldn’t know about you? Well, I just spoiled one of them – I lived on a farm in Southern Oregon for a lil bit.
Fun Fact most wouldn’t know about you? Sometimes if I talk about horses for too long, I’ll start to tear up. I LOVE HORSES. I used to ride, but haven’t in ages. I just love em’.
Fun Fact most wouldn’t know about you? I went to Thomas Starr King Middle School which is just a stones throw away from our beloved ODD – so when you come to take class and see all the youth in their little white collared shirts and navy pants, I WAS ONE OF THOSE YOUTHS 🙂
Share a story or anecdote with us – something magical, changing, funny, or adventurous. Something that you love to tell. – First of all – I’ve never been all that interested in drinking, so turning 21 wasn’t all that exciting for me – BUT I turned 21 on Easter Sunday, which is hilarious enough as it is. On top of that, I went out to a gay club in Olympia, Washington (where I went to college) with the handful of my friends that were already 21, and it was literally just me, my friends and three other people at this place. The three other people were 1 guy and 2 girls, and they had brought a chair out onto the giant dance floor and the girls were taking turns giving this guy lap dances in the middle of this deserted bar while my friends and I danced around them acting like loons. They were completely unfazed by this – but I’ve never laughed so hard in my life. It definitely goes down as one of my favorite birthdays.
When you aren’t at the studio where can you be found (favorite past time)? I have a side job as a member of an art installation team for my beautiful friend who designs large scale, amorphous BALLOON sculptures that take over buildings and spaces. You should all check out her Instagram @geronimoballoons because it is great and she’s hilarious (also you may see some pics of me running around every once and awhile!). I’ve traveled a bunch with her (I was just in Vancouver for a day!) so if I’m missing from the desk, I’m usually working on an installation! It is so fun and brings all of my favorite things together – its creative, its physical, and so satisfying to help create something on such a large scale that brings so much wonder and joy to peoples day 🙂
How do you define yoga? ALL THE GOOD FEELS
Why do you work at O.D.D.? Where do I even start? I sent a Jess an email after I quit a job that was just NOT working for me. I was exhausted and feeling really uninspired, and I wanted a job that was fun and allowed me time to explore other creative endeavors. I had been practicing here for a long time before I got the job, so I already knew about the magic, but I just fell super in love with working here. We’ve got such a wonderful, supportive and inspiring team of people – and it’s kind of a lovely thing when you have to pull yourself away from your job because you just wanna stay and hang out with your coworkers and all the wonderful people who walk through the door to take class. I’m surrounded by friends all day everyday, and how awesome is that? But mostly I’m really just here for the free yoga.
What is your favorite song to hear in class? I mean, anything Beyonce always.
What is your favorite pose or flow? Why? I really like upward facing dog! I always linger there. It feels good on my back, I feel strong because I’m holding myself up, and its just such a nice energy booster for me!
Memorable yoga moment? I had always been really scared of inversions, I still am kinda, but not that long ago I was in one of Courtney’s classes and she had us go to the wall to work on headstands. In the past I’d usually skip it and do legs up the wall, but this one day I decided to try it – and to my surprise I did it! I felt so COOL and strong and it was awesome! It inspired me to try out other things in classes that I normally wouldn’t have tried and that’s really the stuff of life, ya know?
How did you first hear about One Down Dog? My parents used to work with Jessica’s husbands clothing line Cotton Citizen back in the day! I had just moved back to LA after graduating from college up in Washington, and my mom told me about it. I had very minimal yoga experience, and to be totally honest I still to this day don’t know what inspired me to try it out. That sounds bad – but seriously I was NOT a yoga person. Or at least, I didn’t think I was – but the SWEAT and SCULPT classes got me hooked and I’ve never looked back!
What special causes or non-profits do you hold dear to your heart? STAND WITH PP! They do so much amazing work, and they gave me an IUD for FREE which is amazing and I’m just so grateful for them.
Are there any links, @names, and #hashtags you would you like us to use in promoting you and your happenings? You can follow me on insta @sofiecoh if you wanna see watch me debate how many selfies is too many selfies/see pictures of my parent’s 90 pound Bernese Mountain Dog puppy, Fezzik. You should def be following @onedowndog if you’re not already DUH and I already said this but I’ll say it again, my balloon mama @geronimoballoons is fab.
Anything else? (feel free to add literally anything!) OH I DONT KNOW YOU’RE ALL GREAT AND I LOVE WORKING AT ODD AND GETTING TO MEET SO MANY COOL PEOPLE! Thanks for making all my dreams come true!!! KTHNXBYE.
