Kula Yoga Beginner Series

Entering into the world of yoga can be challenging - there's an endless variety of styles, teachers, studios, and philosophies - but Tribeca's vinyasa haven Kula Yoga gives you an easy in with next month's 4-week beginners series. Led by humble yoga star teacher Jillian, the course offers newcomers an introduction to the physical asanas and gives seasoned students a back-to-basics refresher. Don't get pretentious now - Kula's freestyle vinyasa vibe turns all their classes into wild yoga parties.

Details:
Kula Yoga Beginner Series
28 Warren St 4th fl.
(one street below Chambers, btw Broadway and Church)
Start Date: November 1st
$75

NewLife Expo

In case you missed the NewLife Expo in June, this weekend you can catch up on the latest health and wellness news from around the world. The 3-day extravaganza - only $30!! - includes hundreds of lectures, exhibits, and demos from a slew of superheroes such as raw food pioneer Victor Kulvinskas and 2012 prophet Sean David Morton. Don't worry about getting bored; topics range from vitamins and minerals to light body activation and tantric healing practices. You'll be inspired to stay bright and energized as the days grow colder and shorter. . .

Details:
Newlife Raw Food and Yoga Expo
When:
10/17 - 10/19
Where:
Hotel New Yorker
481 8th Avenue at 34th Street
New York, NY 10001
Tel:(516) 897-0900
Map
Get Tickets:
NewLifeExpoTickets

Hello Health

Hello Health is taking the old-fashioned approach to doctor's visits. The new Brooklyn-based healthcare provider offers a $35 monthly membership to anyone in the five boroughs, and charges no more than $200 for any appointment, test, or service. This includes home visits, over-the-phone prescriptions and even email and IM conversations with a practitioner when you can't make it in. In-house specialists like Jay Parkinson treat most common ailments including warts, fractures, and gynecology issues, and will refer you to someone great if they can't help you themselves. Best of all, Hello Health is not affiliated with any other hospital or insurance company, so you can schedule a same-day appointment without having to wade through a bureaucratic nightmare. Sign up now!

Details:
Hello Health
105 Berry St, Brooklyn, NY 11211
Map
9am-5pm Mon-Fri
House visits in Williamsburg only

Third Root Health Center

Flatbush isn't your typcial wellness destination, but with the addition of Third Root Health Center, the neighborhood has serious potential for those looking for holistic health practices. The center boasts the cheapest yoga class in miles - only 10 dollars - and classes like "Yoga en Espanol" are hospitable towards a wide range of students. In addition to yoga, Third Root has in-house naturopathic doctors, nutritional conslultants, and acupuncturists, making the center a one-stop-shop for anyone looking for a feel-better fix.

Details:
Third Root Health Center
380 Marlborough Road, Brooklyn, 11226
Map
718-940-9343

Subway: Q to Cortelyou Road

Jill Pettijohn's Nutritional Cleanse: 5 Day Journey

Since Chloe already gave you most of the finer details (below) of what you get in this beautifully fresh raw juice & soup cleanse, I will simply share my experience. First, let me just say, Jill's Cafe rocks! It's a gem with the most delicious meals, snacks & treats a girl can ask for. In fact I recently had them cater my birthday in August & everyone was blown away as they devoured healthy delights and decadent deserts...a highly recommended way to start off a new year while inspiring your guests with mouth watering health!

The 5 Day Cleanse:
I went for the five day nutritional cleanse. You get six a day (fresh juice, blended soups, & nut milk) which definitely leaves you satiated until it was time for the next. It was a great feeling to have this bounty of colorful bottles for the day & a relief not to think about what I had to drink next. I'm a big label reader so I appreciated having all the ingredients clearly written making the experience insightful. I was able to identify which beverages worked best for my body & which ones didn't agree. My favorites were the deliciously refreshing morning Green Juice & Lemonades. And the final nut milk was a treat - something to look forward to at the end of the day. There were a few soups however that either felt too complex or didn't have the most pleasing taste. I would have preferred an extra fresh juice & one less soup per day.

Overall the cleanse was a great experience. I felt nourished, lighter (mentally & physically), & re-inspired to make more of my own live food & juices. Most importantly my energy levels were good, allowing me to keep up with my busy teaching schedule. I did have some food cravings (this went through waves), so walking into the cafe to pick up my juices while salivating over the array of dishes behind the glass was a challenge! At any rate it's always a good thing to simplify our habits around consumption. Jill's Cleanse gave me more space to do, feel, & think about other things while being highly nourished.

Tip: Get a colonic at the beginning and end of a cleanse. It's essential to reap the full benefits & you really feel the difference!

Details
Jill Pettijohn's Nutritional Cleanse
Sign up online for a 3 day or a 5 day cleanse anytime!
Jill is also available for personal consultations.

Jill Pettijohn's Nutritional Cleanse: 3 Day Journey

After frequenting Jill's Cafe in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn, I decided to try out Jill's three day nutritional cleanse. Cafe owner and cleanse creator Jill Pettijohn guided me - and it was a great experience! Read below for the full rundown, and stay tuned for Aarona's 5-day review as well.

Menu 3/5

Juice! You get six (that's a lot, trust me) unique juices to drink throughout the day, from a delicious green juice in the morning to a squash soup-juice for lunch, to a bedtime nut milk. Each bottle's label lists a concocton of veggies, fruit, and special herbs. The soup-juices are no joke, though - if you're new to juicing you may find the new tastes and textures hard to swallow!

Energy 5/5

I had a boost of energy while on the cleanse! I ride my bike every day, work, go to the gym, and practice yoga (when i have time!), and I felt great while juicing. This cleanse seems to support a city girl like myself, which is hard to find in a most fasts/cleanses. At no point did I feel weak - every time i got hungry, i knew it was time for the next juice (Jill advises to drink one every two hours), and the days just flew by! But don't forget to drink plenty of water inbetween juices - it's easy to get dehydrated and not receive the full cleanse benefits.

Arrangements 5/5

Jill's does deliver for a cost, but you can also pick up your juices each morning or the night before each day. I rode my bike to pick up the juices each morning, and as they were securely packaged in an adorable little case, I had no trouble transporting them!

Coming off the cleanse 5/5

After the third day, I followed Jill's guidelines to come of off the juice fast. Her comprehensive menu of simple, plant-based meals made it easy to integrate solid foods back into my diet. In the past, this has been the hardest part of the cleanse for me, so it was a relief not to experience the severity of returning to a normal food plan.

Overall Rating: 9/10

Details
Jill Pettijohn's Nutritional Cleanse
Sign up online for a 3 day or a 5 day cleanse anytime!
Jill is also available for personal consultations.

David Avocado Wolfe

Hot on the heels of Burning Man and just in time for Raw Spirit Fest (in Arizona!), raw food scientist and pioneer David "Avocado" Wolfe swings through Cosm tonight for a rare New York visit, armed with hours of mind-altering information. The globe-trotting nutrition expert dogs on the American food industry and shows how "wild" food can cure even the gravest of ailments, sharing his knowledge with an enthusiasm that could only come from consuming raw, unadultered nutrients all day long. His self-designed hemp suit aside, the glowing author of The Sunfood Diet Success System inspires health in even the most pallid city-dweller. Wolfe will take you through his list of superfoods and superherbs(cacao, goji, etc), as well as awesome daily practices and life-changing recipes. Don't miss it!
Details:
David Avocado Wolfe
Thursday, September 4
7-10pm
Cosm Gallery
542 west 27th st
(btw 10th/11th aves)
Investment:
$40

Film: Enlighten Up

Yoga's pretty hot right now, but not everyone has jumped on the downward dog wagon. In recent documentary Enlighten Up, New York yoga-skeptic and journalist Nick Rosen proves to be one of these aforementioned dissenters. While filmmaker Kate Churchill makes it her mission to convert Rosen to an om-loving yogi through a guided tour of the world's leading teachers, disciplines, and environments, her subject continues to declare himself "not a spiritual guy". Rosen is pretty annoying, but the movie shines through with beautiful cinematography and inspiring interviews - fierce guru BKS Iyengar and NYC teacher Dharma Mitra, to name a few. Equally edutaining for the new and seasoned yogis, Enlighten Up brings a refreshing perspective - it focuses less on the western-obsessed physical asana practice, and more on using yoga to become a better person. CW can get down with that, any day.

The Original, Attractive & Reusable ChicoBag!

I have to truly say, this is my favorite reusable bag I've come across yet! Not only does it squish up into a little pouch so that it easily fits in your purse, it can actually act as a shoulder bag too & comes in attractive colors. I carry the ChicoBag with me everywhere & get compliments on it whenever I pull it out at the store. It's ultra-compact, super durable, eco-friendly, & you can even customize the logo. Buy extras & hand them out to friends! Read these wrenching facts for inspiration & a no excuse attitude when it comes to plastic bags: "Each year, an estimated 500 billion to 1 trillion single-use plastic bags are consumed worldwide. In the U.S. alone, the average citizen uses between 300 and 700 plastic bags per year. Currently, 97% of these bags end up in either a landfill or littering our planet's fragile eco-systems."

Details:
ChicoBag for reusable bags, fundraising options and eco-friendly products
Take the Plastic Bag Self-Test
Check out their BLOG!

Raise Your Voice (and your Concsiousness!)

Join Beth Miller of Park Slope Yoga Center/Devi for an early evening of healing sounds and sacred songs. Her voice is sweetly magic and her sensitivity as both yoga and mantra teacher will open up the gateway for anyone who wants to explore sound. As a group you will find freedom in your voices through toning, mantra, melody, and rhythm. These ancient vocal arts bring peace and power to body and mind.

Details:
Raise Your Voice, Raise Your Consciousness
When: Saturday, July 26, 5:15-6:45
Cost: $25
Where: Devi (across the street from Park Slope Yoga Center)
837 Union St, 2nd FL.
Register: 917.753.2242
raiseyourvoice7.26@gmail.com

Do U Yoga?

Grab your sunscreen & your yoga mat! If your looking for an easy to get to, affordable, & uniquely adventurous yoga retreat experience this summer (& beyond), Kelly Dwyer's 'Do U Yoga' offers one-day excursions & multi-day retreats to lovers of yoga & outdoor sports. She's genius at creating trips right outside of the city, often times even coordinating a van to schlep city folk out of town! Her retreats include swimming in waterfalls, hiking, wine tasting, surfing, apple picking, (to name just a few), all combined with the healing & strengthening effects of yoga specifically designed to compliment the themed retreat. 'Do U Yoga' excursions are open to all levels, beginners are definitely welcomed. Check out her website for updates & details...here's just a few highlights to excite your senses!

Upcoming Day Trips:
Hudson Views Yoga Hike
Sunday, July 13th, 2008
Enjoy gorgeous views of the Hudson River & surrounding valleys with hiking & yoga.
Beach Yoga & Surfing or Beach Yoga & Sun Lover
Sunday, July 20th, 2008
Salute to the sun & sky with a delightful morning yoga session on the sand followed by a 2-hour surfing lesson or a relaxed day on the beach.
For more info & online signup:
kelly@douyoga.com
www.douyoga.com

Jill's Cafe

Nestled in the heart of downtown Brooklyn, Jill's Cafe on Gold Street offers an alternative to fast food and bus fumes. Inside the peaceful, dimly-lit joint, clean wooden tables sport eco-friendly table settings, and helpful deli-counter employees guide you through a menu of mostly living food (that's raw vegan fare if you didn't know) and a few cooked veg. items. Try a zucchini pesto "pasta", a dehydrated falafel plate, or a a delicious coconut-based smoothie. And don't forget to leave room for dessert - it took me about an hour to decide between the caramel-pecan "blondie" and the nectarine crumble with almond cream. I chose the nectarine, but it's almost impossible to make a bad order here. In addition to being a much-needed health-spot in Brooklyn, owner Jill Pettijohn offers a three or five day juice-based cleanse, which can be delivered to your doorstep - a great way to transition into summer!
Details:
Jill's Cafe
Vegan Organic/Wild Crafted Cafe
A fusion of raw and kindly cooked food
231 Court Street (at Baltic)
7187970330
Prices:
Apps: $5-9
Deli: $7-9
Entrees: $12-15
Desserts: $4-8