The September Yoga Issue
This is the third consecutive year we’ve commemorated National Yoga Month. And the third time we’ve been lucky enough to have superstar photographer Jasper Johal lend one of his gorgeous images to the cover. Many thanks, Jasper.
This year we identified another talented photographer, Tom Rosenthal, whose Ashtanga yoga practice led him on trips to Mysore, India, to study with the legendary Sri Krishna Pathabhi Jois. These trips inculcated a special wisdom in Tom. We hope you enjoy our compilation of his photos.
We’ve assembled a cross section of stories about the Bay Area yoga scene. These include Raja Yoga, hiking and yoga, recovery from addiction and yoga, music for yoga, as well as Bollywood-style yoga. We’ve a story on the science of karma and another about the good karma that local yogis have generated through their good deeds, helping build an orphanage in Haiti.
We’ve a restaurant review about Ubuntu in Napa, the only vegetarian restaurant to have received a coveted Michelin star—quite a unique honor in the established world of haute cuisine. Leave it to the Bay Area to produce such a high caliber restaurant and also operate a kickass yoga studio upstairs!
On the subject of health, Jeffery Smith gives a solemn reminder about genetically engineered food in his piece, “Yogis Don’t Eat GMOs.” Spread the word. He’s hosting some events locally; you might want to educate yourselves on this important topic.
Speaking of events, there are plenty of great yoga events coming up: Bhaktifest in Joshua Tree—we never miss that pilgrimage. At Earthdance in Vallejo, a giant 1,000-person “Yoga for Peace” class is being assembled by Yoga Tree SF and YogiTunes. Next month Jenny and Jason will host their AcroYoga Festival at the Craneway Pavilion in Richmond. And the Lulu Bandha gals from Ojai host their popular Yoga Crib gathering there. And since we clearly can’t wait for the Yoga Journal Conference in SF in January, consider registering for the YJ conference in Estes Park, Colorado.
In another stroke of luck, we caught up with none other than Kaitlin Quistgaard, editor-in-chief of Yoga Journal. She has a privileged vantage point from which to comment on the yoga scene, both locally and globally. She reminds us how lucky we are to live by the bay—the yoga mecca of the Western world.
Enjoy the issue and its terrific sponsors, whom we thank eternally. Let them know you care too by patronizing them; it’s the best way to show your support for your favorite free community publication.
In October, we bring our Women’s issue. In November, we celebrate 37 years with a “Healthy, Wealthy, and Wise” themed edition. Visit us online at CommonGroundMag.com, let us know your thoughts at [email protected], and “Like” us on Facebook!
Namaste,
ROB SIDON, PUBLISHER/EDITOR