These secrets of yoga are within the hearts of everyone. ~Yoga Rahasya III.29People's Yoga Every Thursday, 6:30 - 7:30p - All Welcome, Donation Based Location: Spirit of Hope Church 1519 Martin Luther King, Detroit 48208
Detroit Evolution Yoga returns thanks to Spirit of Hope Church and our dedicated students who have continued to support and encourage our efforts to share yoga in Detroit.
People's Yoga sessions are dedicated to the health, joy and liberation of all beings, with special emphasis and attention being placed on the importance of practicing in Detroit. Yoga can inspire and inform meaningful personal change and People's Yoga creates a safe, inclusive and non-judgmental space where all are welcome to explore empowerment through new modes of breathing, moving and simply being. Common ground in our diverse community is found through the breath and we practice from that foundation. Our session will benefit those new to yoga and seasoned veterans alike.
People's Yoga Suggestions:
Please stay hydrated, but refrain from food or drink two hours prior to our session.
Though yoga mats are available, we encourage you to bring your own if you have one.
Dress in layers & bring blankets for the pranayama (breath & meditation) that concludes our session.
Park on MLK and ring the front doorbell to enter. We practice in the 2nd floor gym. Give yourself extra time if you are new to this location. Call 313.316.1411 if you need assistance. Due to the nature of the space there is no entry after 6:30p.
It is hard to posit a Mysore even more inundated with westerners than the one I visited in 2006. Mysore offered revelations and awakenings that I am so very thankful for. Of course, I think these soulful motions happen any and everywhere, but I also know there's something in that Mysore dirt.
4.Mysore You’ve completed 200 hours of teacher training, mastered flying crow pose and even spent a week at yoga surf camp. What’s next? Yogis seeking transcontinental bliss head these days to Mysore, the City of Palaces, in southern India.
The yogi pilgrimage was sparked by Ashtanga yoga, a rigorous sweat-producing, breath-synchronized regimen of poses popularized by the beloved Krishna Pattabhi Jois, who died at 94 in 2009. Mr. Jois’s grandson is now director of the Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute (www.kpjayi.org). First month’s tuition is 27,530 rupees, or $600 at 46 rupees to the dollar. Classes generally require a one-month commitment.
Too much time or money? Mysore’s yoga boom now has shalas catering to every need. Off the mat, the yoga tribe hobnobs at Anu’s Bamboo Hut or the Regaalis Hotel pool, studies Sanskrit, gets an ayurveda treatment or tours the maharaja’s palace. — Mary Billard
“Economy is the basis of society. When the economy is stable, society develops. The ideal economy combines the spiritual and the material, and the best commodities to trade in are sincerity and love." ~Morihei Ueshiba
The most striking about modern industry is that it requires so much and accomplishes so little. Modern industry seems to be inefficient to a degree that surpasses one's ordinary powers of imagination. Its inefficiency therefore remains unnoticed. ~E. F. Schumacher
Greetings Detroit and all who grace us here! It has been far too long since we've sent out a proper Evolve Detroit. We are so thankful for everyone's support as we continue our personal transition and evolution. We're also thankful for the great many subscribers who have recently joined us here, welcome! The interest and attention paid to our work help to inspire us to keep moving forward. Our gratitude cannot be overstated.
A Little Update After being "displaced" without a proper home for the last six months we're pleased to be settling into an apartment in N. Corktown. Through this rather tumultuous period we've learned a great deal about ourselves and have been blessed by support and assistance from numerous amazing people. We're also blessed that our son, Aya Eden, has such a happy disposition. He loves our new space and is crawling, in record time, from one end of it to the other. As we create our first "real" home together we are pleased and honored to recreate Detroit Evolution and to rededicate ourselves to it's mission.
Though we haven't been publishing Evolve Detroit on a regular basis we've continued to present our monthly community movie series, Detroit Abides and have been working with our many partners in and around the city. The Great Lakes Bioneers Detroit Conference was a great success and extremely inspirational. Angela assisted in organizing and preparing healthy raw and vegan options for lunch at the conference and I was honored to share a presentation on the Transition Movement. We also returned to the place where we met, Irene's Myomassology Institute, for their annual Holistic Palooza and offered two standing room only kitchen classes and a presentation on Transition and green lifestyle changes. It was wonderful to meet many new people and reconnect with those we haven't seen in some time. Huge thanks to you all!
A New Look, New Features & New Classes! We're pleased to present this redesigned Evolve Detroit and encourage you to check out our two new features, Vegan and Raw Foods Recipes and Connect and Collaborate. The months of November and December and the rise of the holiday season inspire us to once again cry out "Local-lujah" and to share events, classes and information that will help us all to buy local and crafted gifts and to share healthy alternatives with our friends, family and community. We're excited to feature an hilarious and inspirational movie, What Would Jesus Buy?, this month at Detroit Abides. Angela will share two DIY Vegan Holiday Classes and we encourage everyone to join us for our Stop Shopping Live Raw Yoga Music Brunch on the Friday after Thanksgiving. Rather than partaking in the shopping frenzy, consider joining us for a breath centered yoga session with live music by Dixon's Violin that will be followed a healthy and tasty Raw Foods Brunch! Our last Yoga Music Brunch was a huge success and we are honored to offer another session.
We've even included some incredible December events and are working on more that we'll share in our next post. Again, we are so thankful for your continued support. Please help us to grow by sharing this Evolve Detroit with others in your community! We hope to see you out and about in the coming weeks and, as always, we send our blessing to you and yours.
In Health, Joy and Liberation, Gregg for Angela, Aya Eden & Detroit Evolution
Evolve Detroit is published as needed by Detroit Evolution and is dedicated to Health, Joy & Liberation.
In This Issue: Greetings & Update Events & Classes NEW features! Vegan & Raw Recipes Connect & Collaborate
Our Community Is Growing! Subscribers this week: 1065
Please share Evolve Detroit and encourage your friends, family and community to subscribe.
evolvedetroit Appreciating this mode of being more than any I've worn. Some may think tailoring is needed, but even these rips & tears somehow seem right 10 hours agoreply
Please contact info@detroitevolution.com or call 313.316.1411 for a personalized quote or our hourly rates.
We actively pursue trade/bartering and will gladly offer a sliding scale for those in need.
Please help us Evolve! Now that we have settled into our new home in N. Corktown we are once again expanding our offerings and events. If you have found value in our work, whether through a tasty hand-crafted lunch, a meaningful yoga class, or one of our awareness raising movie nights, please consider helping us to offset the cost of our offerings. By doing so you'll assist us to lay the foundation for the next phase of our work.
Weekly Events:
Sundays: Evolutionary Yoga with Gregg Every Sunday, 2-3pm - $15 Walk-in NOTE: Your first week of classes at Practice Yoga are FREE! Location: Practice Yoga 20792 Mack Ave, Grosse Pointe Woods 48236 The Evolution continues with this weekly yoga offering. Gregg is honored to connect with the long time Detroit Evolution supporters at Practice Yoga to offer these Sunday classes. Sessions with Gregg place emphasis on the breath and the expansion of consciousness rather than the perfection of form. Come out and join us this and every Sunday!
November Events: Sewing Seeds Humane Education Workshop Saturday, November 7th 8:30am–5pm (with lunch break) $30 Location:The Detroit Zoological Society 8450 W. 10 Mile Road, Royal Oak, MI 48067 THERE IS STILL SPACE AVAILABLE! This Sowing Seeds Workshop is designed to train educators to effectively teach others to think critically and creatively about social justice, environmental ethics, and animal protection, and how to broaden your students' understanding of the ways in which their choices affect themselves, other people, other species, and the Earth. The registration fee for this workshop is $30. To register, contact: education@detroitzoo.org or 248.541.5717 Ext. 3800 (Registration includes a light breakfast and lunch (both vegan) and a copy of The Power and Promise of Humane Education by Zoe Weil.)
Detroit Abides! Community Movie Night in Eastern Market This Months Free Movie: What Would Jesus Buy? Wednesday, November 18th 7-9pm Location:Eastern Market's Heated Shed 5 Shed 5 is located at the corner of Russell and Alfred St. We are pleased to continue our monthly movie series with a very special screening of our friend Reverend Billy's inspirational documentary What Would Jesus Buy? Rev Billy will be celebrating his run for Mayor of NYC so he'll be unable to join us for this screening, but he'll be with us in spirit as we exorcize the demons of credit debt and big box shopping! We will also discuss the importance of supporting local business and growing resilient local economies in the city of Detroit. Please bring a friend, a chair and a blanket as we gather together to enjoy this hilarious and enlightening film. Please view the trailer.
Great Lakes Bioneers Detroit, Detroit Evolution, and Eastern Market Corporation come together on the third Wednesday of every month to present Detroit Abides, A Free Sustainability Gathering in Eastern Market's Shed 5. The event features a movie on a sustainable topic, explores the topic at the local level through discussion and support from regional groups and businesses, and creates a space to meet like-minded people from all walks of life & grow an active, healthy community.
November Vegan DIY Holiday Class Saturday, November 21th Noon-3pm $20 Location:The Detroit Flyhouse in Eastern Market In the FD Loft Building - 3434 Russell St. Loft #302
The Holiday season is a wonderful time to share healthy options with family, friends, coworkers and our community. Angela will share and prepare a special holiday menu including an appetizer, side, main dish, and dessert. Rather than purchase a processed tofu-turkey from Oregon, learn to make a moist and incredibly tasty one in your own kitchen! At the end of class we'll have a sampling of all the dishes and answer any questions you may have about making healthy versions of your family's traditional dishes.
November 21st is a huge day for Holiday DIY Crafting in Detroit as the Detroit Urban Craft Fair will be held at the Majestic Theater. Angela is pleased to offer this as an early class so we will all have plenty of time to attend the DUCF & get some holiday shopping done.
To register for our November Vegan DIY Holiday Class please email Angela or call 313.316.1411
You can also register through Paypal (Please note the $2.50 fee per paypal transaction)
To register for our Live Raw Yoga Music Brunch please email Gregg or call 313.316.1411
You can also register through Paypal (Please note the $2.50 fee per paypal transaction)
Stop Shopping! Practice Yoga & Eat Raw Instead The Return of Live Raw Yoga Music Brunch Friday, November 27th 9:30am-Noon $35 Location:The Detroit Flyhouse in Eastern Market In the FD Loft Building - 3434 Russell St. Loft #302
Boycott Big Box shopping and all of it's ills, from selling products made with child labor to the active destruction of resilient local economies! Instead, come together and share a 75 minute Evolutionary Yoga session led by Gregg Newsom. This breath centered flowing practice will benefit those new to yoga and seasoned veterans.
Our session will feature Live Music from Dixon’s Violin. Described as cosmic gypsy, electronic romanticism and interstellar whalesong, Dixon’s mesmerizing electric violin will provide the perfect accompaniment to our focused breath and movement.
After our session we’ll enjoy a local and organic Raw Food Brunch prepared by Angela Newsom. Experience the benefits of Raw Foods and how they assist to balance the body and mind. Over Brunch we’ll share in a Satsang (open discussion) on the benefits of a healthy and humane diet to our practice on and off the mat.
Save the Date for these December Events:
Detroit Abides! Community Movie Night in Eastern Market This Months Free Movie: TBA Special Date! Wednesday, December 9th 7-9pm Location:Eastern Market's Heated Shed 5 Shed 5 is located at the corner of Russell and Alfred St.
December Vegan DIY Holiday Class Saturday, December 12th 1-3pm $20 Location:The Detroit Flyhouse in Eastern Market In the FD Loft Building - 3434 Russell St. Loft #302
The Holiday season is a wonderful time to share healthy options with family, friends, coworkers and our community. Angela will share and prepare a special holiday menu including an appetizer, side, main dish, and dessert. Menu T.B.A.
To register for our December Vegan DIY Holiday Class please email Angela or call 313.316.1411
You can also register through Paypal (Please note the $2.50 fee per paypal transaction)
MOCAD and the Model D Speaker Series present Green Initiatives Detroit! PRESENTATION and DISCUSSION Wednesday, December 16, 2009 at 6PM - FREE Location:MOCAD 4454 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI 48201 This evening, organized by MOCAD and Model D Media, will feature several innovative projects and organizations working in Detroit for a Greener today! Some of the individuals and organizations involved will be the Green Garage, Detroit Evolution and landscape architect Jeff Klein's Classic Landscaping company, among others.
FAMILY DAY: Paper Gardens and Raw Food?!? Sunday, December 20, 2009 from 12PM to 4PM - FREE Location:MOCAD 4454 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI 48201 A family day dedicated to creating a garden inside the brick walls of MOCAD. Children can use raw food, such as potatoes and mushrooms, to create prints. They can learn how to make mosaics using rice & beans. Knowledgeable volunteers will show how to make origami animals and flowers. There will also be live demonstrations by the good people at the Detroit Evolution Lab for kids and their parents on methods of preparation and the health benefits of raw foods.
Save the Date: January 2010!
New Years Day Detroit Evolution Celebration Featuring a festive and transformative Live Raw Yoga Music Brunch Friday, January 1st 9:30am-Noon $40 Location:The Detroit Flyhouse in Eastern Market In the FD Loft Building - 3434 Russell St. Loft #302, Detroit 48207
Angela is honored to share two of her favorite holiday recipes. We are going to include recipes in upcoming Evolve Detroit. We would appreciate your feedback and healthy success stories. For more information or to learn about our Healthy Holiday Catering please email angela@detroitevolution.com
Spinach and Artichoke Stuffed Mushrooms We’ve had many requests for this dish lately so we thought we’d repost it. It’s definitely a favorite amongst our family and friends, even those who are not health conscious.
Spinach and Artichoke Stuffed Mushrooms – makes 2 dozen This dish is a hit at any party … make sure to set a few aside for yourself because there won’t be any left! You can also use the filling for a tasty spinach and artichoke dip served with crusty bread or crackers.
1½ lbs. baby portabella mushrooms, stems pulled 1 tbs. olive oil 1 red pepper, finely diced for garnish
For the Filling: 6 c. baby spinach leaves, chopped 1 c. artichoke hearts, drained and chopped ½ red onion, small dice 2-3 tbs. olive oil Juice of one lemon 1 tbs. brown rice vinegar 2 tsp. oregano
1 c. water Juice of 1 lemon 4-5 garlic cloves, minced 2 tsp. sea salt 3 c. raw cashews or macadamia nuts
Preheat oven to 350˚. Set the mushrooms stem side up in a shallow baking dish that’s lightly coated with olive oil. Set aside.
Combine the spinach through oregano in a medium bowl, tossing well to combine. Set aside.
Mince the garlic in the bottom of the blender, add the remaining ingredients and blend until smooth. Add more water if necessary, but you want the mixture to be thick and creamy. This is your “cheese”. Add it to the spinach mixture and toss well.
Spoon a heaping serving into each mushroom, making a mound on top. Place mushrooms back into the dish.
Go Nutty Chocolate-Caramel Layer Bars I just attended a vegan/raw food potluck in celebration of a dear friend who was in town visiting from California. He is an amazing raw food chef and although he was the guest of honor, he threw down and made an incredible spread of raw treats. One of the desserts he made reminded me of this recipe I came up with a while back, inspired by the raw pecan pie from Café Gratitude’s book, I Am Grateful.
Go Nutty Chocolate-Caramel Layer Bars – makes one 8x8 square dish The name says it all! These bars are an excellent introduction to raw foods for those skeptics in your life … one bite and they’ll be sold!
For the nutty layer: 2 c. raw walnuts 1 c. raw hazelnuts ½ c. agave nectar or dates, pitted and chopped Dash of sea salt
For the caramel layer: 2 c. raw pecans ½ c. agave nectar ½ c. almond or hemp milk 1½ tsp. yacon syrup 1 tsp. vanilla extract ½ tsp. sea salt
For the chocolate layer: 1 c. raw cashews 1¼ c. almond or hemp milk ¼ -½ c. raw cacao powder (can also use carob or cocoa powder) ¼ c. agave nectar ½ tsp. vanilla Pinch of sea salt 1 tbs. lecithin powder (found at health food stores in supplement section) ½ c. coconut butter
To prepare the nutty layer: Grind the walnuts and hazelnuts in a food processor until finely ground. Add agave and sea salt and process until you have a smooth, sticky consistency - adding more agave nectar or dates to achieve this if necessary. Press mixture into an 8x8 square pan. Chill in the freezer or fridge while preparing the rest.
To prepare the caramel layer: Grind the pecans in a food processor until finely ground. Add the rest of the ingredients and blend until you reach a smooth consistency, adding more milk if necessary.
Spread the caramel sauce over the nut layer and chill again while preparing the chocolate layer.
To prepare the chocolate layer: Blend the cashews through sea salt in a blender until smooth. Add lecithin and coconut butter and blend again. Spread this mixture on top of the caramel layer. Refrigerate for an hour or so. Cut into squares and serve.
Please Support These Incredible & Important Events, Organizations and Businesses.
US Social Forum Detroit, June 22-26, 2010 The US Social Forum is a movement building process. It is not a conference but it is a space to come up with the peoples’ solutions to the economic and ecological crisis. The USSF is the next most important step in our struggle to build a powerful multi-racial, multi-sectoral, inter-generational, diverse, inclusive, internationalist movement that transforms this country, and changes history. We must declare what we want our world to look like and we must start planning the path to get there. The USSF provides spaces to learn from each other’s experiences and struggles, share our analysis of the problems our communities face, build relationships, and align with our international brothers and sisters to strategize how to reclaim our world.
The purpose of the USSF is to effectively and affirmatively articulate the values and strategies of a growing and vibrant movement for justice in the United States. Those who build towards and participate in the USSF are no longer interested in simply stating what social justice movements “stand-against,” rather we see ourselves as part of new movements that reach beyond national borders, that practice democracy at all levels, and understand that neo-liberalism abroad and here in the US is not the solution. The USSF provides a first major step towards such articulation of what we stand for. The 4th annual Detroit Urban Craft Fair When: Saturday, November 21, 2009, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Where: The Majestic Theatre, 4140 Woodward Ave, Detroit Admission: Free, all ages
The 4th annual Detroit Urban Craft Fair will take place from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 21, 2009 at the Majestic Theatre in Detroit. The fair, Michigan’s largest indie craft fair, is entering its fourth year with the same commitment to DIY community that made it a must-attend event the past 3 years. Over 50 Michigan and national DIY crafters have been selected to showcase their unique work in the market.
This event is receiving a great deal of attention and spaces are filling up quickly. Below, you'll find all the pertinent details including the Raw Foods Brunch menu! Please confirm your space with an email to gregg@detroitevolution.com and I'll send you a confirmation letter with payment details. Thanks! ~Gregg
LIVE RAW YOGA MUSIC BRUNCH Saturday, August 15th 10am-1pm at the Detroit Flyhouse, Loft 302 in the FD Lofts. http://www.detroitflyhouse.com/
We will share a 75 minute Evolutionary Yoga session led by Gregg Newsom. This breath centered flowing practice will benefit those new to yoga and seasoned veterans.
Our session will feature Live Music from Dixon’s Violin. Described as cosmic gypsy, electronic romanticism and interstellar whalesong, Dixon’s mesmerizing electric violin will provide the perfect accompaniment to our focused breath and movement. http://www.myspace.com/dixonsviolin
After our session we’ll enjoy a local and organic Raw Food Brunch prepared by Angela Newsom. Experience the benefits of Raw Foods and how they assist to balance the body and mind. Over Brunch we’ll share in a Satsang (open discussion) on the benefits of a healthy and humane diet to our practice on and off the mat.
Brunch will include a delicious Spanish Breakfast Scramble made with Sunflower Seeds, Almonds, Macadamia nuts, Bell Peppers, Onions and Portabella Mushrooms topped with garden fresh Salsa. This tasty Scramble will be served with Zucchini Flax-Pumpkin Toast, a Marinated Kale Salad with Cucumber, Red Onion, Patty Pan Squash, Avocado, Sunflower Sprouts and Tahini-Dill Dressing, and a sweet Pineapple Waldorf Salad with Apple, Celery, Walnuts, and creamy Cashew Sauce. We'll also enjoy Stawberry-Banana Smoothies and Sesame Mylk.
PLEASE REGISTER TODAY! This is a Detroit Evolution Zero Waste event. Space is limited. Register by calling Detroit Evolution at 313.316.1411 or emailing gregg@detroitevolution.com
2-pm at Practice Yoga in Grosse Pte we'll journey together. I'm quite pleased with the flow and look forward to sharing this session with you! In Health, Joy & Liberation, ~Gregg
Russill Paul - Asato Ma (A Chant to Direct Your Energy) 23 Skidoo - G-2 Contemplation Fennesz - The Colour Of Three Amma - Jai Ganesha Jai Ekadanth Coil - Summer Substructures Russill Paul - Gayatri (Being Illuminated By Sacred Sounds) Crash Worship - Dance with the Birdwoman Dreamseed And River Freedom - Afternoon Dreaming Jonathan Goldman - Wings of the Heart, Heart
As you may or may not know we pay a great deal of attention to the Moon here at the Lab. I grabbed this from the Old Farmer's Almanac to share. We will have Yoga this Saturday but we will strive to be gentle in our practice. Note: Dec 27th is the New Moon and we will have one special 10 AM Pranayama Session rather than our regular asana classes at 10 and Noon. In Health, Joy and Liberation -Gregg
December 12 — The Full Cold Moon Sky watchers will be dazzled by an exceptionally high, bright, and large Moon. In fact, this Moon is 14% bigger and 30% brighter than other full Moons this year. Why? The Moon is both in its full phase and at a point in its orbit that is nearest Earth, called its perigee. When these events occur together, the Moon is closer to Earth than usual. The effect? The Full Cold Moon will appear especially large near the horizon as the Sun sets.
The Moon is also high at this time of year; when it's overhead (near midnight), it will light up the landscape. Take a magical stroll and see your world at night. You won't need a flashlight!
December 13 — St. Lucia’s Day St. Lucia was a fourth-century Italian martyr. Her name is derived from the Latin lux, meaning “light.” By Swedish tradition, the oldest daughter dons a crown of burning candles and wakes the family with coffee and St. Lucia buns.
December 14 — Halcyon Days begin The ancient Greeks and Romans believed halcyon days to occur around the winter solstice. This was supposedly a period of calm weather when the kingfisher (halcyon) could brood her eggs on a floating nest at sea.
The Fall edition of PLAY Magazine is online and we're blessed by the fact that it's thick with Detroit Evolution Laboratory information. I'm including my piece on Ahimsa here and encourage you to check out Angela's companion piece on Ahimsa in the Kitchen at PLAY. Please explore the many sections of PLAY, there is sure to be something that resonates with you. Shelley Smith, who teaches our Saturday 10 am yoga class, is the editor of PLAY and we encourage you to support this incredible online resource. Thanks, Gregg
Meditating On Ahimsa As Angela and I were preparing an Ahimsa focused workshop, I found myself meditating on an aspect of teaching that I once struggled with a great deal. In the West we tend to be fairly set in our ways when it comes to our eating habits. Many of us, often due to media created and manipulated concerns over body image, are also extremely sensitive about diet.
When contemplating Ahimsa or non-violence, we often have a tendency to focus on the lives of Gandhi and King and gloss over the immediate himsa, or violence, surrounding us. We are all connected to human and animal slavery and slaughter. We avoid this frank discussion because the information is so incredibly hard to look at. It can reach deep into core belief systems and many people, with good reason, rigorously defend their core.
I meditated seeking wisdom that would empower the self and shift those core beliefs that no longer work into more open, yet sincere, values. I sought a new path to activate Ahimsa in my students and myself. In this culture external and internal forces scrutinize us daily and the decision to gaze inward isn’t trite. It takes courage to look inside and great fortitude to internalize Ahimsa.
Reducing Ahimsa To Fit On Our Mat In the past, to be more socially acceptable, I glossed over the rough stuff with my friends, family, students and even myself. Being a fan of liberty and choice, I didn’t want to appear dogmatic in any way. When sharing the concept of Ahimsa with my students or translating it from yogic scripture, I focused upon the importance of non-violence towards the self in physical practice and left it at that.
I also glossed over the importance of Ahimsa to my health. For over 20 years, with a few lapses, I was a poorly nourished vegetarian. I looked at food as a very mundane aside to a focused spiritual path. I was eating processed, microwaved and even fast food meals and, by doing so, I declared war on my body. By reducing Ahimsa so it would nicely fit on my mat, I turned my eyes away from the fact that, no matter the discipline, at its root yoga requests a humane and healthy diet.
Growing Ahimsa Through Diet Meeting Angela changed all of this immediately. Food became the center of our life together and this brought a balance unknown before. It reconnected me to the root meaning of Ahimsa and a direct intimate knowledge of the violence our actions can inflict upon our bodies and, in turn, the world around us.
With Angela’s guidance, I began to change my diet. Letting go of processed foods and switching to 100% organic and/or local produce created an instant shift in my awareness and perception. It added depth to my physical practice as well. I continued to practice Ahimsa on my mat and strived to be firm yet supple in body and mind. But it became clear that a side effect of the shift in my diet was the opening to an essential understanding of non-violence.
Change Your Food, Change Your Mind Our food intake influences not only our mood but also our perception. As we begin to lessen our intake of chemicals and increase our intake of nutrients, things come into focus and we see the world a bit more clearly. A clean diet cleans up our lenses and lightens our load to the point that we can process Ahimsa as it applies to the self in subtle but life changing ways.
To parse a biological metaphor, at every orifice, where the external meets the internal there is a protective layer of mucous membrane. This mucous is a blessing for it collects toxins and protects us from harm. But, the more out of balance our health, the thicker our mucous becomes. On the physical plane, practicing Ahimsa in our diet reduces the barriers between the external and the internal. We become slightly more sensitive to toxins, but more importantly we become hyper-aware of awe and joy.
Self-Love Begets… This increase in sensitivity blows opens the doors of Ahimsa. Now looking inside finds a heartfelt awe for the processes of life and possibly that divine spark the ancients wrote of. The internalized path of Ahimsa has the potential to lead from non-violence on the mat and in our diet to a deep self-love. Self-love begets physical, mental and spiritual healing that tends to turn the gaze outward.
As we become the needle that threads itself, by pulling Ahimsa through our core and then outward, we become not only awe-filled by our internal systems and divine light, but by the systems and brilliant light around us. When we give ourselves to awe, we become filled with reverence for all life. If we are able to even slightly conceive of the miracles going on inside of us, how can we not be nearly dumbstruck with awe about the miracles going on outside? As we deepen our self-love we can deepen our appreciation for the processes that facilitate our existence. Our love transcends the self and Ahimsa begins to radiate through us into our world.
Ahimsa Finds A Way Though I glossed over Ahimsa in my attempts to be non-confrontational and non-dogmatic, it found a way to permeate my life nonetheless. By not forcefully removing the blinders that have been set up to protect us from direct knowledge of the violence around us, we actually find a peaceful path to an Ahimsa that first fortifies the self. Though this world is thick with violence, a perspective fueled by self-love offsets its immensity and begins to whittle away at its foundation. Activating Ahimsa through any means is vital in this day and age and it is my intention with this musing to assist it in finding a way to activate for and through you. My Blessings to you and yours..
I actually finished my article for the upcoming fall issue of PLAY Magazine. Angela and I wrote companion pieces on Ahimsa. I feel like I could expand on it quite a bit and maybe I will later. Here's a little paragraph. I elected to throw the slavery and slaughter in at the last moment. I think it hits right.
When contemplating Ahimsa or non-violence, we often have a tendency to focus on the lives of Gandhi and King and gloss over the immediate himsa, or violence, surrounding us. We are all connected to human and animal slavery and slaughter. We avoid this frank discussion because the information is so incredibly hard to look at. It can reach deep into core belief systems and many people, with good reason, rigorously defend their core.
What a beautiful morning! I've propped myself up here in the Lab kitchen so that I can have the full view of the Detroit skyline as the sun rises. One of my favorite things in the world is to sit here on a crisp morning with a cup of hot coffee & hemp milk and write. In fact, I'm behind on a deadline for an article on Ahimsa for PLAY Magazine, but I simply need some "me" writing time before I get to it.
Of course, "me" writing time these days typically means writing about Angela and Aya. I'm loosing track of weeks because they are going so quickly. I want to say we're now at week 25? I do know that I'm obsessed. I feel like I should just issue forth a notice of apology for my fixation on Aya and his/her development and influence upon my world. If you thought I was obsessive about yoga, music, India, spirituality, art, 2012, or whatever the flavor of the month was, you haven't seen anything yet.
I've spent the majority of my life around childless couples and single guys. My path took me far from the graduate from high school, go to college, get married and have kids genre of being. I'm about to turn 39 and I'm so blessed to have taken the path less traveled as I feel totally set up to experience this transition in a way I never would have in my 20's. I'm also blessed to be in a position where I can take the time to get up at 3 and 7 am every morning and meditate and work with Aya while s/he goes through what appears to be an in utero yoga sequence.
I'm so thankful that I took the time to develop my skills with energy and subtle forces as I'm now beginning to "feel" the internal activity that really isn't reaching the surface. We have a great deal of kicking and punching, but there are also shoulder rolls and the flutter of fingers and toes. Obviously, when Angela is awake, I've been working on voice recognition as well, talking to Aya and vibrating Om. Every morning as Angela and I pray and chant together, I've been focusing the energy and vibration towards the womb. I can sense Aya's receptivity to the energy and his/her energy shifts to take it in. I could go on and on.
I've been reading up on infant massage and what the first few weeks are going to be like. I know it's going to be a steady stream of development and I'm gathering the info I'll need to be active and at least one step ahead. I found this Tennessee Williams quote yesterday that speaks to that immediate yet flexible approach:
It is almost as if you were frantically constructing another world while the world that you live in dissolves beneath your feet, and that your survival depends on completing this construction at least one second before the old habitation collapses.
Of course, frantic survival depending on this motion gives it a little more weight than I'm going for, but you get the idea. I suppose this is just a stylized brazen approach to living in the moment, something we strive for here. But, I'm going to try to develop and maintain this mindset as I think it will assist me as I strive to sidestep expectation and cull the cultural drive to shape and influence this entity. I suspect that many developmental blocks stem from parents exerting their will upon the child. Much of this is unavoidable and during a culture war it eventually turns into a race to exert your influence upon the child before someone else does.
But with that said, I need to head into the Market and then put my official writing hat on.
We'll see how long this posting streak can run here. I'm intent upon writing every day and in order to keep up with all the writing opportunities I have in Detroit, I have to. Ill be sharing time between Detroit As A Portal and our baby blog, Aya Rising. Both have been quiet, but we're changing that.
This first new moon of August was incredibly settling for us. It was about as decadent as it gets for us these days. We decided not to attend the Chicago/Michigan Burning Man Decompression this weekend and took the weekend off from the Market due to my Mac crash, so we had time to sit together and reflect a bit on the past few months. Sometimes we're so in "it" that we loose grounding and the ability to see the big picture. This weekend allowed us to ground and boy did we need it!
This is one of those points that I've struggled with repeatedly on my path. It's also the reason why I always try to convey the importance of grounding in class. It is vital to take your awareness WAY out to your fingers and toes and that we really try to "be" in our entire bodies. While this is true, it is also true that being mindful is a process rather than a concrete state of mind. The ability to know the place, state and characteristics of ones awareness is the next level of being aware.
Recognition and knowledge of the fluctuations of ones awareness without judgement seems at this point to be the task at hand for many of us, Angela and I certainly included.
Drishti (the point of focus, where the eyes gaze) Meditations on Yoga from Gregg
Our practice at the Lab deepens daily and I strive to share my observations about our path throughout the week. What I am beginning to see is a narrative from class to class and I try to share my translation of that narrative here through Drishti.
This last week we found ourselves working with more in depth visualizations. Here at the Lab we begin and end our classes with meditation and during the opening mediations we set the standards of breath and focus for the session. We allow ourselves to settle into a vibrant breath that we can sustain through the practice. We then visualize ourselves engaging in this breath for the duration.
This visualization lays a strong foundation, not only for the breath but also for other beneficial aspects of our practice. It heightens our connections to our intention and to the people and causes we dedicate our practice to. This also assists us to keep a stable rate of oxygenation and temperature throughout. Though we experience variations of intensity in the physical body during our practice, sustaining the breath will sustain the overall intensity.
At the end of practice, as we enter savasana, our closing meditative asana or pose, we revisit our visualization. As we release our breath we walk our minds through our practice and visualize our breathing without judgment. We again experience our practice and increase our awareness by doing so. This practice also allows the body to more fully process all the information we have given it through the session. It also gives us an opportunity to engage in a full expression of gratitude to and for ourselves. By revisiting our practice we realize exactly how much we have benefited and how grateful we are for giving ourselves the gift of yoga.
We just finished up with our 9 am class here and wow! what a great one. I mean, they all are of course, but sometimes there is just an energetic and physical interaction that takes place in certain classes that lifts them to another realm. This happens, to some extent, in all our classes. I think it has to do with the certain group of students who have gathered here. We've been very blessed!
We are thinking about making some changes to the way that we do yoga here and possibly extending offers to other teachers to share their talents as well!
If you are interested in coming to yoga but our schedule doesn't fit with yours, please let us know what would and we'll take it into consideration as we expand.
OK, time to light the fires for our 11 am class! ~G
We are delighted to announce a special Workshop this Friday night at House Of Yoga~ YOGA & AYURVEDA WORKSHOP with Dr. Dugliss Friday, January 19, 2007 7 – 8:30 PM at House Of Yoga $15 walk-in
If you are planning to attend please let us know via email us or the studio phone. 248.556.0992 Also – please bring with you a blanket or block (or both if you prefer) so you have a comfortable seat for the discussion. (We have a limited number of props available at the studio) --------------------------------------------------------------------- What is AYURVEDA
Ayurveda is an ancient medical system that provides primary medical care to more than 800 million people in India and Southeast Asia . Literally translated, Ayurveda means “knowledge of longevity” or “the truth of life.” It recognizes that physical well-being is connected to the biological cycles of nature, to the deeper laws of nature, and to the universe itself.
Ayurveda is the premier holistic medicine, incorporating detailed knowledge of the interactions between consciousness, mind and body. Its knowledge was almost wiped out by British rule, which left less than 10 Ayurvedic Medical Colleges standing, in spite of there having been over 100 when they took over India. In 1985 Maharishi Mahesh Yogi undertook to revive this knowledge in its purity and sent experts to the United States to train physicians and health-care providers. The result has been a revival of health knowledge that has a rich herbal tradition and a precise knowledge of the medicinal properties of food. Ayurveda in its pure form is the origin of all natural medicines and is a complete medicine for mind, body and spirit.
When God created the universe, He endowed it with order, with the laws to govern creation. Dharma is God's divine law prevailing on every level of existence, from the sustaining cosmic order to religious and moral laws which bind us in harmony with that order. Related to the soul, dharma is the mode of conduct most conducive to spiritual advancement, the right and righteous path. It is piety and ethical practice duty and obligation. When we follow dharma, we are in conformity with the Truth that inheres and instructs the universe, and we naturally abide in closeness to God. Adharma is opposition to divine law. Dharma is to the individual what its normal development is to a seed - the orderly fulfillment of an inherent nature and destiny. ~from the latest issue of Hinduism Today
Dharma yeilds Heaven's honor and Earth's wealth. What is there then that is more fruitful for a man? There is nothing more rewarding that dharma, nor anything more ruinous than its neglect. ~Tirukural 31-32
As of today, I am switching out my Monday yoga class for the same time slot on Friday. My first Friday class will be this Friday, January 12th. The wonderful Raluka will be teaching the Monday 5:20 class from here on out.
Due to the holidays, I've a break from my Friday evening class at Irene's so I'll be heading over to House of Yoga for Satsang with Abby and Dave. It's a rare occurrence that I get to one of these so I am very excited and encourage everyone to come along for the ride. Satsang begins at 7:30 and is free. If you haven't had a chance to check out House of Yoga yet this is a great time to do so.
In other yoga news, I'm now teaching at House of Yoga Tuesdays at 5:15 and Wednesdays at 7:35. I'm also teaching at Irene's on Mondays at 5:20.
I hope to see you all soon and wish you a blessed new year!
Woke early to get in my first morning yoga practice in about six weeks. I've been practicing in the evenings and really cutting it back due to some back problems. Yesterday, I found out that it is a congenital spine deformity and something that I can work through without surgery or anything like that. Yes, I know, you've thought it for a long time, but now it is proven true, I am deformed! Regardless, I got the green light, in fact "doctor's orders", to turn my practice back up to 11 ASAP. It was great to be on the mat this morning without fear of doing further damage!
This mornings juice: Celery, Carrots, Spinach, Cucumber, Beets, Kale, Beet Greens, Garlic, Tomato, Black Pepper, White Pepper and Cayenne. Amazing! I know, I know, Garlic for an Ashtangi? But hey, that's what happens when your a renegade! :)
The pulp from this juice will be mixed with the pulp from the recently made (and figgin incredible!) sesame and almond milk and put in the dehydrator to make raw burgers!
Gregg Newsom is a Yoga Teacher, Bodyworker, and Reiki Master who escaped Corporate America in 2006 to share his talents with others, raise awareness and take action on the issues of Food Security, Health, and Social and Environmental Justice. Informed & inspired by Permaculture, the Transition Movement & Eastern, Western, & Indigenous explorations of Consciousness, Gregg is in active pursuit of resilient and relocalized neighborhoods where diverse, sustainable and soulful communities will thrive.
In 2007, Gregg and his wife Angela co-created Detroit Evolution and are pleased to offer community-based yoga classes, bodywork, vegan and raw food preparation classes, catering, and community building events in and around Detroit.
“Maybe that’s the ultimate take-away from Detroit Evolution: seeing food not as a commodity but as a relationship with the earth, as an individual and a community, one not to be approached without a conscience.” ~Michael Jackman, Metrotimes
People's Yoga
People's Yoga
“Economy is the basis of society. When the economy is stable, society develops. The ideal economy combines the spiritual and the material, and the best commodities to trade in are sincerity and love." ~
Angela is honored to share two of her favorite holiday recipes. We are going to include recipes in upcoming Evolve Detroit. We would appreciate your feedback and healthy success stories. For more information or to learn about our Healthy Holiday Catering please email 
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