ken atchity door to door: 2015

The Farce is with us … [via David Angsten]

Via Leslie Neilan Great shots of Melanie!

Written and directed by ensemble member Bruce Norris and featuring ensemble member Tom Irwin. For tix and info: https://www.steppenwolf.org/Plays-Eve...

A single photograph can sometimes evoke a storm of feelings.

On other occasions, it gives a fascinating glimpse of someone or something’s life story.

A whole number of things can have this effect. It might be that the photographer took the photo at exactly the right moment, or from exactly the right angle. It might be that the landscape or phenomenon in view is simply breathtaking in itself, no matter how you capture it. More often than not, though, a photograph takes on an astounding quality just by reminding us of all the wonderful and incredible things which are occurring every second around our world.

Some things are better done together

Sunset

@Bertoni Siswanto

Friendship

@iD’s

Sky window

@Merlin Ulrich

A baby kangaroo

cuteanimals.me

Mount Assiniboine, Canada

@Daniel Kordan

The crystal clear shores of Papua province, Indonesia

lareserva.com

The striking colours of a forest in autumn

@Evgeni Dinev

A little fluffy ball of happiness

What Gorillas Can Teach Us About Being Human [via Nina Reznick]

Saturated Fats Have No Link to Heart Disease [via Nina Reznick]

In a surprise twist, the DGAC not only suggested eliminating warnings about dietary cholesterol, it also reversed nearly four decades of nutrition policy by concluding that dietary fats have no impact on cardiovascular disease risk.

Unfortunately, the DGAC didn’t set the record straight with regards to saturated fats, as it makes no firm distinction between healthy saturated fats and decidedly unhealthy trans fats.

For decades, healthy fat and cholesterol have been wrongfully blamed for causing heart disease, but over 70 published studies overwhelmingly dispute this.4

Trans Fat, Not Saturated Fat, Raises Your Heart Disease Risk

Now we can add yet another large study to this ever-growing list. The meta-analysis5,6,7,8 published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ), found no association between high levels of saturated fat in the diet and heart disease.

Nor could they find an association between saturated fat consumption and other life-threatening diseases like stroke or type 2 diabetes.

However, the study DID find a disease link to trans fat consumption. As reported by Newsweek:9“[C]onsumption of trans unsaturated fats found in everyday supermarket goods such as margarine, processed cakes, and microwave popcorn can increase the risk of death from coronary heart disease (CHD) by 28 percent.”

Trans fats also increased all-cause mortality by 34 percent. This is important because many “experts” frequently confuse trans fat with saturated fat intake.

Moreover, a pooled analysis of 11 studies10,11 showed that replacing saturated fat (found in foods like meat, egg yolks, dairy products, salmon, nuts, avocados, coconut oil, and olive oil) with monounsaturated fat (vegetable cooking oils12), or carbohydrates (sugars and grains) raised the risk of non-fatal heart attacks.

This prompted the authors to comment that dietary guidelines for saturated fats and trans fats “must carefully consider the effect of replacement nutrients.” This too is in line with previous findings.

Read more

A Couple of These I Just Can't Do Anymore! [via Alex Cord]

Popsicle Furniture [via Nina Reznick]

Extra Credit: Learning from the Popsicle Stick Master

David Hrobowski seated in a chair he made from popsicle sticks (Steven Tassopoulos)

I tried to recreate the lamp that I remembered when I was nine but another lamp came out of me, one that was more ambitious.
— David Hrobowski

David Hrobowski is a master crafter. His medium of choice? The humble popsicle stick. David has pushed the limits of this craft store staple, using it to build tables, sculptural chairs, and even an elaborate Christmas tree. Take David’s lead and craft your own entry for Nick Offerman’s Ultimate Popsicle Stick Throwdown. A few prompts for inspiration: bratwurst, puzzles, masonry, fishing, Wilco, the Hoover Dam, and America. Go forth and glue!

Kurt Andersen: So what’s the first thing you ever made out of popsicle sticks?

David Hrobowski: Well actually the thing that led to all of this was that I made a lamp and shade when I was nine. I was home in bed with the flu or chicken pox or something and my neighbor brought over some popsicle sticks and glue to occupy my time. Fast forward to 2006. I bought some popsicle sticks and tried to recreate the lamp that I remembered when I was nine but another lamp came out of me, one that was more ambitious.

I understand that your dream, your goal, is to now literally replace all the furniture in your house with popsicle stick furniture?
Yeah, I think that would be rather novel.

Popsicle stick side table, mirror and lamps

(David Hrobowski)

Popsicle stick wall lamp

(David Hrobowski)

David Hrobowski: popsicle stick master

(David Hrobowski)

Yoga Gives Back December Newsletter

For the cost of one yoga class, you can change a life.

Happy Holidays!!

Your Donation's Impact: Success Stories of Mothers and Daughters, West Bengal

YGB receives bi annual reports from its partners in India. Here is a great update from NISHTHA, West Bengal where YGB's "Sister Aid" program is funding nearly 300 mothers with micro loans and their 300 daughters with education funds. NISHTHA reports that 91.18% of the micro loans are repaid now, and there is 90% increase of these women's monthly income on average in the last four years, shown in the graph below (in Rupees). Full Report can be read here.

The heartbreaking but inspiring story of Reboti Pal:

Reboti's husband died when she was only 19 and her daughter Debika was 6 months old, and had a physical disability. "Any young widow is hugely discriminated and socially excluded. Society blames her for her husband's death. Reboti had to face harsh behavior from in-laws' and their neighbors. She was thrown out of her in-laws house and started living in the outer periphery of her parents' poor home. She started working as labor for a pottery maker but the wages were small, not enough for two meals for herself and daughter. But they survived for nine years like this." When the group was formed for micro loan under YGB's Sister Aid program, Reboti was invited to join the group to improve her living standard. She was shy and had no self-confidence. The group leader and other members helped her use the loan to purchase special mud to make pots and fuel to burn the raw clay pots. Today, she owns a profitable business. Reboti makes enough money for food, education and clothing. She plans to live in a better house which, she plans to construct in a few years.

Become YGB Member?

Imagine-with just $15 a month, you can support an impoverished mother like Reboti build a sustainable livelihood and transform her life. Take part in our campaign by becoming a YGB member, with easy monthly membership: We will send you an original membership certificate.

If you shop Amazon, shop at Amazon Smile and choose Yoga Gives Back, which will donate 0.5 % of eligible sales.

Exciting News:

Join our global campaign before January 31, 2016!

banner

Host just one event or become a sponsor before January 31, 2016 to support more mothers and children in India. Yoga communities in fifteen countries take part every year to generate most of YGB's funding in India! Register your event here today, which will be promoted globally by YGB's social media!! Check out many global events happening already here; Australia, Canada, China, India, Israel, Japan, the Netherlands, Singapore, UK, and USA.

Welcome New Ambassadors, Team Members and Partners!

Ambassadors Alessandra Pecorella,
London, UK

Aditya Yoga School

David Milliotis,
California,

Ashtanga Yoga Orange County

Steph Charlwood,
Guernsey, Channel Islands, UK,

My Kind of Yoga™ Guernsey

Team Member

Phelicia Goh,
Singapore

Partners

Holiday Gift Pick by Yoga Journal!!!

Picked as Yoga Gifts Under $75, get this super popular YGB Namaste Tank from Jala Clothing who donates 100% of proceeds from its sales! Get yours here.

YGB Partners collaborate for YGB!!! BeadRelief is donating 25% form it's special collection Stack Bracelets sold on Jala Clothing.

Ohmme

Men should practice yoga. Founded in London, Ohmme wants to encourage men to practice yoga through the medium of stylish clothing. Ohmme is now also in France, Denmark and Turkey. Ohmme donates £1 per purchase to Yoga Gives Back. Thank YOU!!!

Bhakti Chai's "Gita Giving" grants $5000 to YGB!!

Did you know @BhaktiChai does so much more than brew a delicious, spicy tea? They are also funding amazing projects around the world for via new #GITAGiving platform! We are thrilled to be included. Currently, they are promoting FB contest for Yoga Gives Back till December 9th with amazing prizes, check out here.

Great debut at Om Yoga Show in London!!

Om Yoga Show

Thanks for the most successful debut in London and we will return in 2016! Check out the E Blast here.

Upcoming "Thank You Mother India" Events

December

Om Yoga Show

3 - 9th: YGB Singapore TYMI "7 Day Challenge" Instagram with many local sponsors

13th 11am-2pm: Ashtanga Led Class and More @ Yogaplace Maastricht, The Netherlands

13th 2-4:00pm: Special Fundraiser Class @ Vida Yoga, New York. Zander Gladish and Will Schneider will teach a fun class!!

15th 5pm-9pm: Special Fundraiser Evening @ Kaia Yoga Old Greenwich, CT. YGB Ambassador Stan Woodman hosts an amazing evening with Beryl Bender Birch, Tricia Stevens and Gina Noram with wonderful sponsors!

18th 2pm: A Special Class @ Ashtanga Yoga Tel Avi. YGB Ambassador Maya Gross will host an event with Ashtanga Master Class and Tibetan Bowls Meditation

18th 5:30-6:30pm: Annual Special Fundraiser Class @ Central Coast School of Yoga, Terrigal, Australia. Peter Mulholland hosts annual yoga on the beach fundriaiser!

January

12th: Special Fundraiser Class @ Golden Bridge, Santa Monica, CA. Gurumukh Khalsa will teach a special 2 hour Kundanlini class

16th: Fundraiser Yoga Class @ Pranava Yoga, Strathmore, Canada.
Owner Becky Stone will host its first YGB event

Many more exciting events around the world will be added soon!!

Thank you for all the past and future events,
which make a real difference one class at a time!!

Amazing Photos [via David Adashek]

Autumn camouflage

Balloons in Cappadocia.

The border between Belgium and the Netherlands in a cafe

Yoga Gives Back

Written by Kayoko Mitsumatsu

From Posture To Power: Microcredit Changes Lives On Both Sides of the Ocean

We can talk about making change. But affecting real change in the world comes from impacting the lives of individuals. It comes from empowering people to be independent and able to make a living on their own while at the same time being fully integrated in our interdependent global community. Sometimes it takes something that seems to be radical to make this change, but these shifts can be deceptively small. They can be even as small (or as large) as the cost of a Los Angeles Yoga class.

How could this be? In the practice of microcredit, lending seemingly small amounts of money to small-scale entrepreneurs allows them to succeed and change their circumstances. This is the fundamental basis of microcredit’s transformative power; it’s a revolutionary concept in finance. This practice shifts the emphasis from financial transactions being focused only about large loans and large scale businesses, which are out of reach of many one-person operations, institutions and organizations – to lending practices that actually make a positive difference in a person’s life. Microcredit practices based on social justice and empowerment operate through a combination of small-scale loans based on trust and community support, with structured repayment plans and programs that encourage savings. In these situations, people actually have the opportunity to solidify long-term change in their lives.

Dr. Muhammad Yunus and the Yoga Gives Back Team: Joel Bender, Leslie Hendry, Dr. Muhammad Yunus and Kayoko Mitsumatsu (left-right)

In 2006, economist Dr. Muhammad Yunus and the institution he founded, the Grameen Bank, were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. This award was in recognition of their revolutionary efforts to create this micro-credit model, support sustainable economic practices, and provide an alternative to what were exploitive norms. When a person is caught in a cycle of poverty, they may become trapped in the system, particularly since large banking institutions have historically ignored people without assets or credit histories, who are just starting out and who may not have already proven themselves. Most banks prefer to lend large sums of money that represent a greater profit margin and are set up only for large loans in order to make a profit themselves. And even making it more challenging, people at the bottom of the economic scale worldwide have had to rely on moneylenders charging usurious terms and interest rates to obtain funds to plant the next crop, buy inventory of new equipment, or upgrade a business in any way. Institutions such as the Grameen Bank and their affiliates are offering another approach. It’s one that has significantly impacted millions of people.

As Dr. Yunus described in an exclusive interview with Yoga Gives Back in May, 2009, “We started in 1976, and today within Grameen Bank in Bangladesh, eight million people borrow micro loans, ninety-seven percent of them women.” This represents an enormous potential for change and empowerment that just did not exist on a large scale in this form prior to 1976.

There is a social cycle in economics, and Dr. Yunus explained this: “Poverty is not inside the person. Poverty is forced from outside. Poor people are as capable [a] human being as anybody else. They have the same power and energy, same potential. But they are denied such facilities. They cannot express themselves. Money is one of the most important items missing in their lives. You need a dollar to catch a dollar. You cannot catch a dollar with an empty hand. So, that first dollar, nobody has given to her. So she remains dependent on someone else. She has to be hired, to slave; she has to work to make food available on the table. What we have done, we have put that first dollar into her hands as a banking proposition. Conventional banks never come to the poor people. They go to rich people to make more money. The person who does not have a dollar – she cannot get it. So we did it. We did it in a way that is affordable to her. Because we do not insist on collateral. There is no collateral.”

While that may seem like a radical concept, the Grameen Bank has proven that their success is much more than ideological. Dr Yunus cited statistics for us, “The repayment rate is almost 100%, without collateral or anything. This is the strength of microcredit which is now spread all over the world. There are by now at least 150 million borrowers in the world today. Bu it is still very small comparing to the need. We need more microcredit organizations in the world so that more people can be reached.”

Yoga Gives Back is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization begun in LA, with the goal to provide a way for Western Yoga practitioners to give back to India, the birthplace of Yoga, which has given us so much. We’re heeding Dr. Yunus’ call to reach more people through expanded opportunities for and awareness of microcredit and have targeted India and Indian families, women, and would-be entrepreneurs, who would be otherwise stuck in the cycle of poverty that Dr. Yunus described. Yoga Gives Back supports microfinancing operations in India, through the Grameen Foundation, headquartered in Washington, DC. Donations go directly to Grameen Koota, Bangalore, South India and our YGB awareness campaign focuses on the real stories of how poor women are changing their lives with small loans from Grameen Koota.

Ms. Vinatha M Reddy

Grameen Koota was started by visionary teacher and philanthropist, Ms. Vinatha M Reddy (pictured, above) in 1999, who learned about Nobel Peace Recipient Dr Muhammad Yunus’ microfinancing and immediately began exploring ways of replicating his work in her hometown. In 2000, she started providing small microcredit loans, averaging $25.00 a month, to fifty local women. Today, Grameen Koota’s work is reaching out to over 280,000 women in Bangalore, Mysore and many areas of Karnataka state, in South India, making real impact on these women’s lives as well as on the local economy.

Yoga Gives Back

The Los Angeles-based Yoga Gives Back has a worldwide reach and began out of the inspiration and dedication of my Yoga mentor Joel Bender and me. Our group has suddenly started growing almost daily and our mission is shared by a quickly expanding and loving Yoga community.

When I was growing up in Japan, which is a very middle-class society, I had never experienced or seen any real poverty, especially growing up in Tokyo in 1960s and 1970s, when Japan's post-war economic miracle was taking place. Then, I had a chance to live in Brazil in the late 1970s for two years, where as a teenager, I saw the divide between poverty and wealth, the reality of the real slums, kids on the streets begging every time you stopped the car at the traffic light, all very much like India. Social injustice hit me hard.

Once I started Yoga practice and feeling my life being so enriched by it , I felt a need to use my resources to help others. I was producing a documentary on Social Entrepreneurship and learned about microfinancing. I shared this information with Joel [featured in the teacher profile in this month’s issue of LA YOGA] who had been looking for the way he could give back to India since his first visit there – so we teamed up.

When I think about the growth of Yoga Gives Back thus far, I give a lot of credit to the entrepreneurship and volunteer spirit of Americans, willing to embrace and support a new grass roots campaign like ours.

Kayoko Mitsumatsu, co-founder of Yoga Gives Back, is a documentary filmmaker whose films deal with social justice issues, including First They Killed My Father a memoir of a Cambodia’s Killing Fields’ survivor.

A Life Changing Story of Microcredit: Jayashree

Jayashree

Jayashree lives in the suburbs of Bangalore and is married and the mother of two children. We visited her at her humble dirt floor one room home for the first time in 2007. We were touched by her warm smile and most generous hospitality, serving us hot tea and cookies.

Jayashree was born into a very poor family in Bangalore. When she was a child, her family’s financial situation became so severe that she had to drop out of school and work at a garment factory. She toiled throughout her childhood and after she got married at fifteen, her meager earnings had to support her ailing in-laws. She had two children. Her husband’s rickshaw business was not enough to pay her sons’ education or secure food for the family.

In 2007, Jayashree learned from her neighbors about Grameen Koota’s microcredit program and applied for her first loan. She was granted a first loan of 7,000 rupees ($175), and immediately bought her husband’s auto rickshaw. Owning their own rickshaw business increased their income significantly.

Jayashree was able to pay back her entire loan in one year and became eligible for her second loan in 2008. Having proven her diligence, her second loan amount doubled to 15,000 rupees ($375). This time, she bought a sewing machine and started stitching bags. The family’s earnings have now tripled and she is earning 150 rupees ($3.75) a day. In addition, she opened a small shop next to her house to sell her products which is earning her an additional 100 rupees ($2.50) a day.

She is sending her elder son to a medical school. Her son dreams of becoming a doctor and thanks his mother’s business for providing his education, their own home and daily food.

To participate in a Yoga practice where the proceeds support Yoga Gives Back and directly impact the transformation of not only your own life, but that of someone in India, start your Thanksgiving week at Yogaglo, Sunday, November 22, 10:00 A.M. - 12 noon. Some of the teachers include John Sahakian, Felicia Tomasko, Alexandra Aiken and Ally Hamilton; more to be announced. Yogaglo.com; yogagivesback.com.

For more information on Yoga Gives Back or to host a Yoga Gives Back class at your own studio or location, visit: yogagivesback.org or contact yogagivesback@earthlink.net.

Happy New Year!!

The Farce is with us … [via David Angsten]

Merry Christmas

Via Leslie Neilan Great shots of Melanie!

Outstanding Photographs

A riverside church shrouded in morning mist

A rabbit sleeping

Zakynthos Island, Greece

An elderly lady observes the arrival of Johnny Depp at a film premier

Well-disciplined seagulls form ranks at the start of the day...

An arctic fox

Three degrees of curiosity

No need for a DNA test

Heavenly mountains

In this special case, you can wash black and white together

Early riser

Some things are better done together

Sunset

Friendship

Sky window

A baby kangaroo

Mount Assiniboine, Canada

The crystal clear shores of Papua province, Indonesia

The striking colours of a forest in autumn

A little fluffy ball of happiness

What Gorillas Can Teach Us About Being Human [via Nina Reznick]

Saturated Fats Have No Link to Heart Disease [via Nina Reznick]

A Couple of These I Just Can't Do Anymore! [via Alex Cord]

Popsicle Furniture [via Nina Reznick]

Extra Credit: Learning from the Popsicle Stick Master

Yoga Gives Back December Newsletter

Amazing Photos [via David Adashek]

The border between Belgium and the Netherlands in a cafe

Welcome to my blog!