Auction Prep...

Getting my artwork ready for the Art of Yoga Auction on December 10th at Alluem Yoga!!

"Find delight in the little things" & "Fill your life with love." 2011 - mixed media

Artwork by: Karen Gilmour

Calling All Artists!!!

I'm proud to announce two great events coming up at Alluem Yoga in support of Off the Mat Into the World! Every year Off the Mat holds what is called a Global Seva Challenge to support a country in need. The focus for 2011 is Haiti. Gina, my dear friend and owner of Alluem Yoga, is participating in the Seva Challenge to raise $20,000 through collaborating with the local community. Upon reaching the fund raising goal, she will embark on the Bare Witness Tour, a journey to Haiti where she will spend two weeks working directly with the organizations the funds support. We are currently at $16,000 and have until December to raise the rest! We have hopes that the upcoming art events will bring us to our goal!
The first is The Art of Yoga with Gina and Nadine LaFond:
Let art and yoga collide!!! Join us at Alluem Yoga for an afternoon of art and yoga. Begin moving and stretching on your mat through gentle yoga poses with Gina to release, relax and open up your creative channels. Relax the mind and body so you can easily tap into your artistic self, free from judgement, accepting all that is. Be inspired by Nadine, the talented Haitian American visual artist, and allow her to guide you through the process of telling your own visual story. Bring a picture of an object, person or place that holds strong meaning to you. Transfer that image through your own expression onto canvas. (Bring your favorite medium, or borrow ours. We’ll provide the canvas.) No yoga experience needed. No art experience needed. All are welcome. $15 (register online!)

Create your art with us on December 3rd at 3pm - then let your work of art go (you will not keep your art) and join us on December 10th at 7pm for an Art Auction Gala Celebration of YOU alongside other accomplished artists at Alluem Yoga! Invite your friends and family to view your work and take part in this silent auction to help raise funds for OTM’s Global Seva Challenge. Enjoy each other’s company on Dec. 10th - selection of brews, fruit of the vine and hor’ dourves will be served for donation. Nadine will be performing LIVE in our studio!!! Learn more about Nadine's music: Click Here.

If you are interested in donating a piece of art to this event, please request a donor form. Email: alluemyoga@verizon.net You will be recognized at our event in our catalog with your name, bio, and website...and we'll love you forever!!!

Prayer: A Moving Art

There is a new class at Alluem Yoga and tonight was the big debut: Body Prayer.
The description: Let yoga be more than a physical practice. Explore the effects of yoga on the mental, emotional and spiritual well-being. Our bodies speak volumes. Flow with grace and strength as you offer up your intentions and vibrations into the universe. Prayer is the act of communicating with something bigger than ourselves. What ever that something is for you, connect through movement and prayer. Pray for peace. Pray for happiness. Pray for serenity. Pray for your loved ones and those in need. Come with an open mind and an open heart.


This class with Gina was amazing. When you add intention with the physical art of movement you find yoga to be, you open in a way that you may not have on a normal basis. Your mind and your heart connect. Your thoughts have meaning. Your body moves with integrity. Everything seems to align. Being on your mat makes you feel complete.
I thought my night was complete when I bowed my head to my heart after the final Om. I could sleep soundly after that moving mediation for sure! Then I came home and found a post from my brother...you have to watch the video below. My jaw dropped...

David Garibaldi: Jesus Painting from Thriving Churches on Vimeo.

This is David Garibaldi. (http://garibaldiarts.com/) I like to think his "performance" type painting style is much like a moving meditation - a moving prayer - a lot like yoga. I know for myself, when I'm creating a piece of art or deeply involved with a sketch with pencil moving quickly across the page like it has a mind of it's own, I get lost in the art...just like I do when I'm on my mat practicing. It's the best feeling. To watch someone else get immersed in that same feeling almost feels wrong! Like you're stealing a personal moment! Ha! Then again, David is a "performance" artist - and his hope is to inspire the audience to use their passion to benefit and inspire others. After all, we are here for one another...we inspire one another.

Whether you're stepping on to your mat or in front of an empty canvas...it's all about quieting down and looking inside - for your inspiration, for your voice, for your passion...it's about finding that stillness inside and then exploding out with thoughts, prayers, and intentions of love, peace, serenity, hope, and inspiration. That is what David Garibaldi calls "Living with passion and purpose." I can't wait for next week's Body Prayer to practice with that same passion and purpose. (Mondays 7:30-8:45pm)

Off the Mat Tank Top

Off the Mat Into the World tank tops are in at Alluem Yoga! Designed by *me*!

$28 per tank - click here to order online

100% of the proceeds go to the Global Seva Challenge

This year's Global Seva Challenge is for Haiti. Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. As of September 2010, there are over 1 million refugees still living in tents without access to water, food and health care. Working with select aid organizations that have been engaged in Haiti for many years, OTM will respond to both critical needs and also work to create and implement long term solutions. In addition, OTM offers trainings that empower local individuals and communities to become sustainably self sufficient. Upon reaching the fundraising goal of $20,000, our owner and founder of Alluem Yoga, Gina, will embark on the Bare Witness Tour, a journey to Haiti where she will spend two weeks working directly with the organizations your funds support. The tank top proudly displays the Haitian national slogan "Unity Makes Strength". This slogan holds true not only for the people of Haiti, but also for the people of the Alluem community. Our community of yogis who have come together over the 9 months, have already raised $14,000 for Haiti! We are blessed to be so supported by such amazing people. The tank top also displays "Love" in every language, which is all we have felt from this community and is what we will bring to the people of Haiti. Thank you for your endless support! Stop by the studio for your tank or order one today (add $5 for shipping)!

I'm back.

I'm feeling it...the creative bug. It's back and I'm loving it. Maybe it's because I've been tripping over some amazing artists (who I will be blogging about soon)...maybe it because I see more art happening in my near future.

You may know that last year I left my corporate position in NYC (and stepped down into a part time position in NJ) to follow my heart as a children's yoga instructor at Alluem Yoga in Cranford, NJ. As I've watched the Alluem Kids program bloom into something amazing, I've seen a change in myself as well. I've grown closer to this practice and have found an amazing peace in my heart. I see the best come out in me every time I step on my mat to share the practice with children who are eager to learn, eager to grow, eager to relax and find peace. I am lucky. I am honored. I am grateful.

This past week I took another step...I gave my 2 weeks notice at my part time job to step into the roll of a full-time yogi at Alluem. This was my goal, this was my dream...this I did not expect to happen within 8 months of leaving the city. Honestly, I think I was at first in shock. I let go, I trusted and it happened. I am in a place where I can be myself, be at peace, be inspired, and hopefully making a difference in the lives of others along the way.

I. am. so. lucky.

I am an artist at the core. The best thing for an artist is to be an environment that inspires you to create. For me to have the luxury of being in a historical mill that houses a yoga studio and is bordered by a river is unbelievable. And to be surrounded by students and teachers who are positive, uplifting, and non-judgmental is just an added bonus! The more time I spend there, the more I want to create, share and give back through my practice and my art. It's all connected.

I came across a quote the other day - "Don't wait until you know who you are to make things happen." So true. When you let go of the what ifs, the I'm not sures and the who am I questions, you discover a layer of yourself you never knew existed. Embrace it. Share it. Make things happen.

Yoga Series 2

The second in the Yoga Series is done! The perimeter reads "Om Gum Ganapatayei Namo Namaha" which is the mantra for new beginnings. This one is display in Alluem Yoga.

Yoga Series

I believe I've mentioned before that I teach children's yoga on the weekends at Alluem Yoga...you can check out my kid's blog at www.alluemkids.blogspot.com. Yoga is a huge part of my life. It was introduced to me during one of the hardest points of my life in my early adulthood and I've stayed with the practice ever since. It's taught me to breathe, to let go, to listen to my body, and to live in the moment. I recommend to everyone to give it a try at least once!

So, some of my art has incorporated the yogic feel...most recently, I did a piece I call "Lokah Samasta Sukhino Bhavantu" (which is painted around the perimeter of the painting). This quote is a common closing mantra that translates to, "May all beings everywhere be filled with peace, joy, love, and light." The painting was used for the "Grab Bag" at the Holiday Party for the yoga studio. One of my fellow teachers "won" it and I hear it's already up and hanging in her home! It was a popular gift and I've been working on more paintings to go with that series. I'm almost done with the second, but here is the first one...

Alluem Yoga

I'm back from my 3 week hiatus...things have been crazy to say the least, but that's not why I'm writing!
You may or may not know that I've been training to become a Children's Yoga Teacher. I studied with Little Flower Yoga in NYC under the direction of Jennifer Cohen. Jennifer and the other teachers at Little Flower are a constant light and inspiration to me, as well as the kids they teach day in and day out. While time and scheduling does allow me to teach along side them in the city as much as I would love to, I have connected with another amazing life force.

Gina Pachkowski, who got her training at the same school I practice, The Yoga and Healing Center in Scotch Plains, NJ, has been working diligently to open a studio of her own. Well, this weekend her dream is coming true!! Alluem Yoga will soon become the sanctuary to many in Cranford, NJ!

Located at 347 Lincoln Avenue East, otherwise known as The Historic Droescher's Mill on the Rahway River, is one of the most beautiful historical buildings I have ever stepped foot in. It's naturalistic feel emits peace and serenity unlike any other stand alone yoga studio I've seen. And not to be partial since I'm one of them, but the teachers who will be instructing at this studio are all simply amazing human beings. Gina has truly pulled together a great group to help create a supportive and nurturing environment for all of the future students!
The Open House begins tonight from 5-8pm with a Free Chair Yoga class from 6-7pm with Eileen Michie. Tomorrow the building will be open to view from 10am-2pm with a free Vinyasa Flow style class from 10-11am with Gina. Sunday will be open the same hours with a free Kid's Yoga class from 10-10:45am with me. So stop by whenever you can this weekend to tour the studio, meet the teachers, and to take a free class!