|
|
Power to the Peaceful Yoga
When musician Michael Franti (Spearhead) first tried yoga, he was looking for a way to cope with the stresses of life on the road. What he found was something much larger and more meaningful—something that inspires and informs his music and guides his life every day. Join Michael and two of his favorite yoga teachers for a class set to Michael’s music that will help you find joy and peace. Extras includes music videos. Approx. 50 min. on 1 DVD.
An Acacia production. SAVE 10% when you order ANY 2 or more Acacia DVDs. Savings reflected at time of checkout.
|
Musician, filmmaker, and human rights worker Michael Franti is no stranger to conflict. In 2004, he decided to "walk his talk," by traveling to the war zones of Iraq, Israel, and Palestine and documenting what he saw. Out of this journey, Michael created a compelling documentary film titled I Know I'm Not Alone and a searing, reflective album of original songs titled Yell Fire!, recorded in Kingston, Jamaica, and his hometown of San Francisco, Calif.
In November 2006, Michael's directorial efforts for I Know I'm Not Alone won the Best International Documentary Award in the prestigious Harlem International Film Festival. He has traveled all over the world, sharing the film with others.
In addition to his groundbreaking recordings and globally acclaimed live concerts, Michael is a renowned speaker for social justice and human rights. He has lectured at many of this country's top universities, including Yale, Georgetown, and Stanford, and shared the stage with Muhammad Ali, Bill Clinton, Michael Moore, Ralph Nader, and Gloria Steinem. In 2005, Michael became the first recording artist since Johnny Cash to perform at the maximum-security, level-4 section of Folsom State Prison, and in spring 2007 he performed on the yard of San Quentin Prison.
In the past half decade, Michael began practicing yoga, which has profoundly influenced him both personally and professionally. This is especially evident in the practice of ahimsa (the avoidance of violence). Michael dedicates his yoga practice -and, in turn, himself- completely to peace and nonviolence. "Yoga supports me with the philosophy of compassion," he says. "I always had this, but yoga gives me a language to talk about it with other people. And anywhere I go, I can drop into a yoga class and find the perfect reminder I need." Professionally, yoga helps Michael to write songs that are closer to his core, to be clearer when he writes, and not to judge before they are done.
Listen to the new Michael Franti Song "Obama Song" for free Click Here
DISCOGRAPHY: Yell Fire! (2006) Live in Alaska (2005) Love Kamikaze (2005) Everyone Deserves Music (2003) Songs from the Front Porch (2003) Stay Human (2001) Live at the Baobab (2000) Chocolate Supa Highway (1997) Home (1994) | David Life was born in a small town in Michigan. He graduated from Michigan State University in 1972 with a BFA in art.
Jivamukti Yoga-Together with Sharon Gannon and through the blessings of his teachers, David created the Jivamukti Yoga method, which focuses on teaching and practicing yoga as a means to enlightenment. The Jivamukti Yoga method is taught worldwide in Jivamukti Yoga centers independently owned and directed by David and Sharon's students in Munich, London, Toronto, Detroit, and the West Village of New York City. Time magazine recognized the Jivamukti Yoga method as one of the nine methods of Hatha Yoga taught in the world today, and it is featured in the acclaimed video What Is Yoga?
Yoga Master-David is a certified Advanced Level II practitioner of the Ashtanga system of Shri K. Pattabhi Jois of Mysore, India. He has studied yoga around the world with many teachers, including his gurus Shri Brahmananda Saraswati, Shri Swami Nirmalananda, and Shri K. Pattabhi Jois. He spent several years as a sannyas (renunciate) of a lineage of yogic monks in India. He has received Kalachakra and Bodhisattva initiation from His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama.
His artistic, literary, and metaphysical studies support his interest in yoga. As a respected, popular, and in-demand teacher around the globe, David imbues his classes with metaphor, musicality, and spirituality, spiced with humor, vigor, and spontaneity. Considered a "teacher's teacher," he has taught for 20 years throughout the United States and as far afield as Canada, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, India, Singapore, the Philippines, Australia, Hong Kong, the Caribbean, and Israel.
Since 1993 he has presented annually at various national conferences hosted by the Omega Institute, Yoga Journal, Southwest Yoga, Arizona Yoga Conference, Midwest Yoga Conference, and others. Along with Sharon Gannon, he teaches a one-month intensive Jivamukti Yoga teacher training course offered at the Omega Institute. His high-profile students include Sting, Russell Simmons, Donna Karan, and Geshe Michael Roach.
He has written articles, and been featured in many articles, in Yoga Journal, and is pictured often in Yoga by Linda Sparrow (Yoga Journal Books).
Influential Artist & Founder of Life Café-David has lived in New York City since 1979. When he created Life Café in 1980, it was a coffeehouse with vegetarian chili and espresso made one cup at a time on an electric hotplate. Life Café featured jazz, art, and poetry. In the 1980s David became an influential performer, artist, and spokesperson for the lively arts community in New York City's Lower East Side. Life Café is featured in the Broadway musical Rent.
Author & Teacher-David has contributed to several publications, including Yoga Journal and Yoga International. Together with Sharon Gannon, he co-authored two books, Jivamukti Yoga: Practices for Liberating Body and Soul and The Art of Yoga.
Animal Advocacy-Together with Sharon Gannon and Janet Rienstra, David established the Animal Mukti Free Spay and Neuter Clinic at the Humane Society of New York City in 1999. He is a longtime vanguard member of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), working with the organization on various projects and campaigns to help make this world a kinder place. Along with Sharon, he established a 76-acre wildlife forest sanctuary in upstate New York.
See more of David Life's videos:
| Yogini Sharon Gannon's quest for independence began with her birth on July 4 in Washington, D.C. Her Catholic upbringing nourished her interest in mysticism. She holds a BA in dance and has studied ballet, modern, classical, and various forms of Indian dance, as well as music and Eastern philosophy.
JIVAMUKTI YOGA—Together with David Life and through the blessings of her teachers, Sharon has created the Jivamukti Yoga method, which focuses on teaching and practicing yoga as a means to enlightenment. The Jivamukti Yoga method is taught worldwide in Jivamukti Yoga centers independently owned and directed by Sharon and David's students in Munich, London, Toronto, Detroit, and the West Village of New York City. Sharon co-directs the Jivamukti Yoga Center in New York City. Time magazine recognized the Jivamukti Yoga method as one of the nine methods of Hatha Yoga taught in the world today, and it is featured in the acclaimed video What Is Yoga?
YOGA MASTER—Sharon has studied yoga since 1976 with many teachers around the globe, most notably her gurus Shri Brahmananda Saraswati, Swami Nirmalanada, and Shri K. Pattabhi Jois, as well as Swami Shankarananda and Shyam Das.
Sharon brings a rare blend of scholarly study, artistic pursuit, and highly disciplined asana and meditation practice to her offerings as a teacher. A teacher renowned around the globe, she has taught yoga students throughout the United States and as far afield as Canada, the Caribbean, China, France, Germany, India, Israel, Italy, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Singapore, Thailand, and the Philippines.
Since 1993 she has presented annually at various national conferences hosted by the Omega Institute, Yoga Journal, Southwest Yoga, Arizona Yoga Conference, and others. Along with David Life, she teaches a one-month intensive Jivamukti Yoga teacher training course offered at the Omega Institute. Her high-profile students include Sting, Russell Simmons, and Geshe Michael Roach.
She is a featured yogini in various books: Yoga by Linda Sparrowe, American Yoga by Carrie Schneider, and Women to Women by Christina Lessa.
ARTIST—as a musician, dancer, and producer, Sharon views art as a means of uplifting the soul, and her artistic pursuits seek to enrich the community by being both inspirational and educational. During the 1970s and 1980s, first in Seattle and then in New York City, she was the vocalist and violinist for the jazz/rock band Audio Letter, and she directed and choreographed for the dance company Moon-Food. The video: Asana: Sacred Dance of the Yogi features her choreography.
In 2003 she produced the album Neti-Neti, a remix of the 1987 Audio Letter album of the same name, receiving critical acclaim from Billboard, Rolling Stone, Rockrgrl, Yoga Journal, and others. In 2004 she co-produced with White Swan Music the CD Jai MA, A Collection of Divine Women Singers. Sharon often performs as a guest vocalist, appearing on albums with innovative world beat musicians including Bill Laswell, Mike D. Sean Dinsmore, David Newman, Shyam Das, and DJ Cheb i Sabbah.
ANIMAL ADVOCATE—An animal rights activist and outspoken advocate of ethical veganism, Sharon was nominated for the "Gutsiest Woman of the Year 1999" by Jane magazine. She wrote Cats and Dogs Are People Too!, an investigation of the insensitive, corporate-profit-driven attitudes that result in commercial "pet food" and the health risks to companion animals who eat it.
Together with David Life and Janet Rienstra, she established the Animal Mukti Free Spay and Neuter Clinic at the Humane Society of New York City in 1999. In 2004, the Humane Society of New York and Neighborhood Cats recognized Sharon as "Friend of Ferals." She is a longtime vanguard member of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), working together on various projects and campaigns to help make this world a kinder place.
In 2003 she appeared on a billboard in Times Square behind the New Year's ball, advocating yoga and vegetarianism as a step toward world peace. Along with David, she has established a 76-acre wildlife forest sanctuary in upstate New York.
AUTHOR—Sharon co-authored two books on yoga with David Life, Jivamukti Yoga: Practices for Liberating Body and Soul (2002, Ballantine) and The Art of Yoga (2002, Stewart, Tabori & Chang). She wrote Cats and Dogs Are People Too! (1999, Jivamukti Press). She writes a monthly essay on yogic topics called "Focus of the Month," for jivamuktiyoga.com. She compiled and translated the Jivamukti Chant Book (2003, Jivamukti Press) and is a former editor of Patio Table Magazine (1981, Patio Table Press). Her poems, stories, and essays have appeared in Semiotexte, Sci Fi, and Semiotexte USA (1986, Autonomedia Press) and in the book Freedom Is a Pycho-Kinetic Skill (1979, Patio Table Press).
See more of Sharon Gannon's videos:
|
|
