Yoga and Art Collide!

THIS was a great day. Thank you, Nadine.

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!!!

Somaly Mam

My latest work came to me the minute I finished The Road of Lost Innocence (The True Story of a Cambodian Heroine) by Somaly Mam. The book was intense and I often had to take breaks to stomach it all...but I've never read a book that fast in my life. Somaly Mam's life story is one of horror, pain and torture, but it is also a story of hope, determination and love. Somaly is a global hero changing the lives of women and children all over the world. I encourage you to read her book, visit her website (www.somaly.org), and help however you can through Projects Future Global (www.projectsfuture.somaly.org).

This is my dedication to her...thank you for the work you do, Somaly.

I was originally introduced to the Somaly Mam Foundation by Heather Snyder and Amber Tawn of Off the Mat NYC. I attended a beautiful yoga class and kirtan at Dharma West dedicated to Somaly. We prayed for the millions of women and children who suffer from human trafficking, celebrated the ones that have escaped, and remembered the ones who have not survived. This is truly a global crisis. It opened up my eyes. Heather has written an amazing article on Yoga Modern that I encourage you to read and comment on: http://yogamodern.com/categories/featured/what-we-dont-see-a-closer-look-at-sex-trafficking/

There are great events and fundraising opportunities in our near future through the Yoga Freedom Project that you'll want to get involved in!!! However you can...please help.

Welcome Madison!

Latest crate for Baby Madison!

The Real You

Laugh this hard. Live this hard.

We should all laugh this hard every day!

Live like a 3 year old.

Spend a day with a 3 year old. Spend an afternoon with a 3 year old. Spend an hour with a 3 year old.

Learn how to live.

Laugh in the sunlight. Run through the grass. Explore new things. Say no when you mean no and yes when you mean yes. Speak the truth. Try new foods. Jump high. Scream loud. Use your imagination. Go as fast as you can. Go as far as you can. Test your limits. Take naps. Share. Give big hugs. Get your feet dirty.

Sunlight

“May your joys be as bright as the morning, and your sorrows merely be shadows that fade in the sunlight of love." - Irish Blessing

I love today.

It's a good day. Dad is in remission.