http://jewishwisdomandwellness.org/about/

During the JYN sponsored panel for the Kalman Institute’s Week of Jewish Wisdom and Healing, four yoga teachers demonstrate their practice.  Ida Unger of Kosher Yoga shows the Lamed, chair pose as does Rabbi Winocur Erlick  in a chair version. Michelle Azar does the Astanga 2 series while Zack Lodmer of Om Shalom Yoga shows one legged dog pose.  Each told their story of how they found yoga and how yoga connects to their Jewish soul.  The panel was titled “Why these Jews Stand on their Heads. Is yoga kosher?”  The answer was a resounding yes. Photo by Joanne Tolkoff

The Yoga, Creation and Shabbat class, taught by Ida Unger, gathers after a session at Yoga Daya, on Venice and Robertson, showing how the yogis and how the Jews honor the Divine Creation.  Both systems advocate deep rest.  Shabbat Shalom – Rest with Peace, a whole rest, rest.  You deserve it.

“The majority of my clientele are Jewish religious women who don’t feel so comfortable going to a regular yoga studio, where it’s a mixed class or a religious element like an idol or chanting.”

While Switzer is not into trends like Torah Yoga and Kabbalah Yoga, she does believe in bringing this wonderful form of physical and mental exercise into religious, Jewish communities and making it more accessible to them. For example, Switzer won’t use the term “sun salutations” for the common yoga flow series but will utilize the movements and make it more Jewish-friendly. As the demand for yoga grew in the Jewish community, Switzer moved away from teaching in private homes and opened her studio. The studio has even branched out to include a popular “Jewmba” class and a highly anticipated all mens Yoga class.

The interest in Kosher Yoga has grown so much that Sarede and Kinneret Feuer have successfully been running a Yoga Teacher Training course in Toronto, New York, and Israel, suitable for Jewish women of all backgrounds. The next New York training begins August 4th and the next Israel training begins July 7th.

For more information about Crown Heights Fitness, check out: http://www.crownheightsfitness.com

For more information on Sarede and Kinneret’s Yoga Teacher Training, check out: http://www.kinneretyogatraining.com/

Keep up the great work, ladies!

Jenna Rose Alpern is a newlywed, yoga teacher, brownie enthusiast who loves chai tea lattes, the smell of old books and fresh rain. For more of Jenna’s writings and yoga classes in Jerusalem, check out her website here: http://www.rootingtorise.wordpress.com

As seen on www.guardian.co.uk and http://photoblog.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/04/05/17622234-namaste-ultra-orthodox-jews-practice-yoga-in-israel?lite“.

Shelley and Swadesh will teach Hatha, Vinyasa flow yoga. During the workshop, they plan to focus on dynamic and rehabilitative asanas (poses), pranayama (breathing exercises), kriyas (detoxification techniques), teach spiritual songs and facilitate discussions about life lessons from yoga sources.

The desert is one of the best places to facilitate quieting down, focusing inward, and healing. In hebrew, the word for ‘desert’ – Midbar (מדבר) – comes from the same root as the word ‘to speak’ – L’daber (לדבר). If you’ve spent any time in the desert, you know that this is because when we leave civilization and retreat to the stillness of the desert, it speaks to us and we are able to listen in a whole new way. Don’t miss this great opportunity to connect to one of Israel’s most beautiful places while deepening your yoga practice.

The retreat will take place April 11th, 12th, and 13th at Ashram BaMidbar. For more information, check out their website: http://www.desertashram.co.il/workshops/yoga-retreat and facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/317583351690784/

Jenna Rose Alpern is a newlywed, yoga teacher, brownie enthusiast who loves chai tea lattes, the smell of old books and fresh rain. For more of Jenna’s writings and yoga classes in Jerusalem, check out her website here: http://www.rootingtorise.wordpress.com

Is Yoga Kosher? Why These Jews Stand on Their Heads
Hosted by Jewish Yoga Network
Place: Temple Emanuel of Beverly Hills, 8844 Burton Way, Beverly Hills, CA, 90211
Date: Monday, April 22, 2013
Time: Dinner 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm Program 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm

DESCRIPTION
Come hear several stories of how Jews found yoga and found a path connecting this ancient physical practice to their Jewish soul, identity, and practice. Q & A and yoga demo to follow. Moderated by Rabbi Anne Brener with participation of Rabbi Avivah Erlick, Michelle Azar, Zac Lodmer and Ida Unger.

Yoga for Jews: Is it kosher? Is it holy? Is it confusing?

What are some of the thoughts and challenges with adopting yoga as part of a Jewish spiritual path? Do we chant in Hindu? Use the Sankrit language? Practice with idols in the room? Let’s make some peace with the ways these ancient paths enhance and deepen each other, while keeping it kosher.

Optional Dinner at 6pm – Order your dinner in advance from Got Kosher and it will be waiting for you at Temple Emanuel. E-mail DeliaDuPlessis@sbcglobal.net for more information.

http://jewishwisdomandwellness.org/programs/iyengar-c/

Cultivating awareness and introspection is the foundation for any kind of personal growth work, especially yoga. This is a unique weekly opportunity to quite down and re-connect with yourself and with G-d. Class is facilitated by Rabbi Hillel Lester. Suggested donation of 20 shekels.
If you are not in Jerusalem and would like to join the class, Skyping in is always an option. Contact Rabbi Hillel Lester for more details here.

Learn more about Jewish Meditation at The Shalev Center here.

Jenna Rose Alpern is a newlywed, yoga teacher, brownie enthusiast who loves chai tea lattes, the smell of old books and fresh rain. For more of Jenna’s writings and yoga classes in Jerusalem, check out her website here: http://www.rootingtorise.wordpress.com

The great 19th-century hassidic Rebbe known as the Sfat Emet teaches that ‘the Torah is engraved in the body of a person, only it is hidden.’ Through the study of Torah texts and the practice of yoga postures, we will discover the Torah that is engraved in the body, mind, heart, and soul. No previous study or yoga practice is required—all are welcome! Click here for more details…

http://isabellafreedman.org/torahyoga

All-inclusive 5-night stay presented in partnership with the JCC in Manhattan
Experience the wonder of Torah study and the groundedness of yoga practice with Diane Bloomfield, whose teachings spring forth from her own deep learning in Jerusalem.

This 6-day course is part of an ongoing series of Torah Yoga retreats, each of which focuses on the teachings of a particular Torah master. The February retreat focuses on the Shabbat teachings of the Sfat Emet, a great 19th century Chassidic rebbe who taught: “I have a good gift in my hidden home and Shabbat is her name.” Through the study of the Sfat Emet’s teachings and the practice of select yoga postures, we will dive into the inner world of body, mind, heart, and soul to reveal the gift of Shabbat. (Although the course ends on Friday morning, Torah Yoga students are encouraged to remain at Isabella Freedman to celebrate the Shabbat starting that evening. Click here for more information about staying for Shabbat.)

Each morning, Diane will lead a full Iyengar yoga practice that is integrated with a teaching from the Sfat Emet. In each session, we will focus on a different family of thoughtfully sequenced yoga poses including standing poses, forward bends, baby back bends, and beginning inversions, so that throughout the week we will cover a wide and balanced range of poses. These yoga sessions are suitable for all levels of experience. Trained Torah Yoga assistants will be available to help individual students adapt the poses as needed.

Each afternoon, we will learn the Torah text from that morning’s practice through classical shiurim (teacher-led Torah), group discussions, and traditional Jewish chevruta (study with a partner). Knowledge of Hebrew is not necessary because we will examine original Hebrew texts together with their English translations. We will also use Diane’s English translations of previously untranslated Sfat Emet teachings. At the end of each day, the afternoon Torah study sessions will be integrated back into a series of restorative yoga postures and breath work.

One of the most precious practices in the Jewish tradition is called Torah LishmaÑthe study of Torah for its own sake, with no other goal in mind. A primary goal of this course is for students to taste the sweetness of Torah Lishma. Adding yoga to Jewish learning adds a new and unique experiential dimension to Torah Lishma.

Whether they come as teachers, healers, rabbis, cantors, artists, therapists, dancers, or curious learners, students often leave a Torah Yoga retreat with a deep desire to share Torah Yoga with others as. Those who are already teaching Torah Yoga will find renewed inspiration and sources from the texts and translations brought to this retreat…..Click here to read more – http://isabellafreedman.org/torahyoga

We are thrilled to receive our first web award! The folks at Snippetfact have given us an award for the information that is on Jewishyoganetwork.org – and the way that we strive to provide quality writing that will inform and enlighten readers.

Thank you for being part of our community, and please continue to contribute your articles and comments via the pages and editorial channels.

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Because SnippetFact.com is a project designed to improve the quality of online factual content, we want to promote and encourage this on other websites too! Jewishyoganetwork.org was awarded for one or more of the following reasons:
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Shalom, Blessings and Mazeltov!!

Marcus J Freed
Jewish Yoga Network

SnippetFact.com is a community built ‘facts only’ website, created to improve factual content on the web, and make a more trustworthy and fun resource to discover information, and improve intelligence.

‘Tis the season to get silent! There’s a Jewish meditation retreat in Israel run by the Shalev centre – a charming couple – with an opportunity for people to get still, centered and grounded. Forget your greasy doughnuts and latkes – this is going to be a healthy Chanukah in the hills of the Galilee. Click here for more info.