Yoga Rocks the Park has you covered across the globe with plenty of late Summer early Fall experiences. Some are even FREE!  Here is a list of all-levels commUNITY live-music classes available (click on city name to register): 

CARLSBAD, CA - Sundays September 14 & 21st - Featuring: Audrey Sarquilla, 
Graham Hadidian, Andy Totman + Tamara Lafferty-Totman and Vinyasa Arts.


CLEVELAND, OH - Sunday September 21st - Featuring: Tammy Lyons and 
Yolanda Rosenthal - Greene & Gary Dacanay 

DENVER, CO - Sundays Setember 21st & 28th - Featuring: Patrick Harrington, 
Gina Caputo, Koffi Togo Company and DJ Drez.

DETROIT, MI - Sunday September 14th with Kelli Harrington & Nick Ayers.   

KANSAS CITY, MO - FREE DAY September 14 with Gina Caputo + DJ Janis!

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - Saturday September 13th & 20th - Featuring: Danielle Jokinen, Lakshmi, Tara Cindy Sherman and her Radiant Flow Drummers. 

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - Dates TBD Jan 2015 - plan you trip now and stay in the loop on Facebook. 

Hope to see YOU on the mat this fall in your city! YRP not in your city? Apply to bring YRP to your town here. Tickets and location/times at yogarocksthepark.com

Since its launch in 2009, Yoga Rocks the Park (YRP) has grown steadily from one small grassroots gathering with just 30 people in Denver, Colorado to one of the fastest growing, family-friendly, outdoor live music, yoga, and wellness celebrations in the United States with 25,000+ nationwide attendees. 

YRP has more than doubled its U.S. presence over the two years, with ongoing weekly events in 20 cities across the country, including San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Boulder, Denver, Chicago, Phoenix, Portland, Omaha, Boston and many others, with weekly gatherings of over 400 yogis and their families in select cities. Yoga Rocks the Park continues to embrace the grassroots heart of their events and each series throughout the U.S. is locally staffed, supported, produced and managed with the guidance of their parent company, Open Sky Event Marketing, on a mission to develop mindful leaders and create conscious community through world-class events. 

Yoga Rocks the Park launches it's expanded 2014 season with it's Phoenix series, locally presented by returning sponsor, Southwest Institute of Healing Arts (SWIHA), on February 23rd and runs through March 30th, 2014.  Each weekly event includes a 75-minute all-levels yoga class led by one of Phoenix’s top yoga teachers, including Max & Lisa Cohen, Alex Austin, Jenn Chiarelli, Mary Bruce, Will Glass, Anton Mackey, Desiree Lapre, Rebecca Lammersen and Tara Martell, accompanied by a soundtrack of live music from emerging and nationally recognized musicians such as DJ Drez, h3lla, Reynaldo Moreno and Erik Stanley. 

Each event also includes Camp Yoga Rocks the Park,  a kids’ yoga class to complement adult classes, designed for children aged 3-10. The camp begins a few minutes before the event and ends a few minutes after the adult class so parents can participate in the full practice.

Events will take place on Sunday afternoons during from February 23-March 30, 2014 from 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm (registration begins at 1:30 pm) at Indian School Park located at Central Avenue & Indian School Road. Tickets are $12 in advance or $15 at the park and can be purchased at www.yogarocksthepark.com. Children's tickets are $10 or $7 per child with families with multiple children. The March 9th event will be free for everyone thanks to a sponsorship by Spirit of Yoga, SWIHA's educational facility for its UNITY Yoga Teacher Training and public yoga studio offering daily classes and on-going workshops, events & continuing education classes. 

Events also include a vendor village, providing guests with unique experiences and access to innovations in wellness with YRP's national and local partners including Floating Lotus, Life Power, PIHMA (Phoenix Institute of Herbal Medicine & Acupuncture), Silver & Sage, The Shine Project, and Yoga Gangsters. 

Yoga Rocks the Park is proud to donate 10% of net profits from ticket sales to various local and national charities in each of the cities in which they operate. The Phoenix series will support The Shine Project, on a mission to improve the lives of at-risk teens through service, education, and family involvement.

For tickets, complete 2014 U.S. schedule, and partnership information, please visit www.yogarocksthepark.com or email twallace@openskyeventmarketing.com. 

About Yoga Rocks the Park 
Yoga Rocks the Park is on a mission to bring as many people to the park during the summer to celebrate community, to play, to bring light to the local causes, to meaningfully engage with local wellness companies, and to provide yogis with the opportunity to try new teachers/styles/flows, to a live soundtrack by local musicians. They are also are passionate about creating a space for their community to experience all of the benefits that come from the simple act of being outside and doing yoga in the presence of Mother Nature. 
The Yoga Rocks the Park series runs on select Saturdays & Sundays throughout the summer in America’s favorite parks, donating 10% of the net-profits to local nonprofit organizations. The weekly events feature an all-levels 75-minute yoga class and kids yoga program, Camp Yoga Rocks The Park, accompanied by live music with some of the top and emerging musicians in the country, while providing unique experiences with national and local conscious companies and unique access to innovators in wellness. www.yogarocksthepark.com

About Open Sky Event Marketing 
Open Sky Event Marketing creates, produces and promotes world-class music-fueled, community-minded wellness events throughout the U.S. including Yoga Rocks the Park, Friday Night Yoga Club as well as a wide range of events via Open Sky Presents and Colorado Yoga Events. www.openskyeventmarketing.com 

About the Shine Project 
The Shine Project's purpose is to inspire you to live the highest quality of life obtainable, and to motivate you to join our efforts in making this world a better place. We have many events set up around the country, and would love for you to get involved! The Shine Scholarship Project is a non-profit that was created by TSP to put our beliefs in action. Its mission is to improve the lives of at-risk teens through service, education, and family involvement. We do service projects with inner city students every other week to teach them the leadership skills that are necessary for them to succeed. The money we raise goes to sending these leaders to college, so they can give back to society.You can read more about how to get involved HERE. www.theshineproject.storenvy.com/faq

About Southwest Institute of Healing Arts 
Southwest Institute of Healing Arts is a nationally accredited (ACCET) private college and community-healing center for Holistic Healthcare careers and continuing education. We are dedicated to providing professional, affordable education (on-campus and online) for those interested in entering the healing arts profession, for those interested in continuing their education, as well as to those seeking personal and spiritual growth. SWIHA is committed to providing on-going entrepreneurial support for holistic healthcare practitioners in private practice and to those establishing or growing a business. www.swiha.edu

About Spirit of Yoga 
Spirit of Yoga was built out of the award-winning private college, Southwest Institute of Healing Arts (SWIHA), which offered a Yoga Alliance approved Teacher Training program for the past twelve years. In May 2011, SWIHA opened the doors to a new, world-class educational facility and yoga studio just a few blocks away from its main campus in Tempe, Arizona. Although, our Yoga Studio facility, location, and name have changed, our mission remains the same…to offer Yoga Classes which are affordable, flexible, and transformational. For over a decade, Spirit of Yoga has changed the lives and elevated the practice of countless yoga practitioners, instructors, and devotees. www.myspiritofyoga.com

I know, although this is a simple concept, this is easier said than done… but it’s amazing what can happen when you actually do what you want minus the worry of how you will be perceived by others. 

Today, pay attention to how many times you stop yourself before doing something, just because of fear of judgment. 

Every time that happens, take a moment to trust yourself, breathe and keep moving forward. Then honestly ask yourself,”WHO cares what they think?" 

You'll soon realize you are the one in full control of that answer. 

Then, if it feels good, do the same thing tomorrow. 

By Erik Vienneau

Another school shooting in Colorado. It’s heartbreaking. Most of us ask the same questions. Why? Why would a kid shoot his fellow class mates? Why does he have that much hatred? Why didn’t someone catch it before it was too late? What can we do to prevent this in the future? We propose… better gun control. Of course. Better psychological care in our schools. Yes. Outlaw guns altogether? Something to consider.

But, having been through this a few times with the Columbine shootings, Sandy Hook, the Colorado theater shootings and now most recently at Arapahoe High School among many others, I’m tired of looking outside of myself for the answers. I’m tired of saying “something was just wrong with that kid,” or “someone needs to do something about this.”  

Is it possible that I’m responsible for these shootings? Is it possible that my lack of mindfulness and my self-centered life is part of the problem? Is it true that I’m so busy consuming and trying to take care of #1 and my family that I’m failing to show up for my community? Isn’t it true that I mostly think about myself? It’s true that I’m often so wrapped up in my work and “getting somewhere” that I barely even notice my own children?

How much time do I spend truly listening and caring for others? How often do I even notice fellow human beings in my day to day life? Why am I so damn busy and unable to slow down to truly care and be of assistance? Is it possible that we are taking the easy way out to only ask for our politicians to make another law or blaming the gun makers or even our schools? 

I take responsibility for co-creating a culture that creates kids who shoot each other. I am the problem. I'll take responsibility. We should all take responsibility. It is ‘we’ who create this shared culture. It’s not just the politicians, the gun makers and the NRA. There are no enemies outside of our own creation. 

Now, I’m directing this to the yoga/mindfulness community so you may think I’m “preaching to the choir.” Well maybe I am. But, it’s a BIG choir. 20 million Americans say they are Yogis according to latest Yoga in America Study. Another 20 million identify themselves as meditators according to a 2007 USA Today study. That’s 40 million Americans – more than 15% of us claiming to have an introspective yogic practice.

So sure, sign that petition to ban guns. Go to the rally to show your love for those affected by this latest tragedy. Shed tears. Write letters. Make meaningful heartfelt facebook posts to the parents of the children. But, it’s time to do more than those external signs of love and caring. It’s time to look within. It’s time to see that you are not broken. It’s time to see that you are whole so you can help others, especially our children see they are whole and good. It’s time to know deeply that there’s nothing worth missing out on your kid’s life for. You don’t need a bigger house or a nicer car or a higher status in your career. You need to slow down and show up and truly care for yourself so you can care for others. 

We have a foundation to make real change, and we’ve come a long way. It’s time to make great beings commonplace. It’s time for YOU to wake up and realize that YOU are a great being. It’s time to realize deeply that YOU are the change you are looking for outside yourself. 

If you’d just slow down and look within you’d see that you are Mother Teresa. You are Martin Luther King. You are Nelson Mandela. You are The Dalia Lama. You are whole, perfect, peaceful and full of pure potential. YOU are the one to go into our schools and sit with our children. You are the one to make the change. You are the one to love yourself so much that it pours out into our collective culture.

We are the hope, change and enlightened culture we’ve been looking for outside ourselves. So hit that mat. Sit on that cushion. Look within for the answers to why and how. If you do this you’ll be pleased with what you find and you will see an end of this violence in our lifetime. Our 15% will grow to 30%. We’ll hit the tipping point where the whole culture becomes enlightened, free of suffering and sorrow. It’s up to you. One at a time. We can do this. We are doing this. Let’s do this! 

Erik Vienneau is the Founder and President of Open Sky Event Marketing. OSE is dedicated to meeting people where they are along the path of wellness and offer them opportunities to advance to a more peaceful and health filled life. Erik’s passion for Buddhist Studies, meditation, yoga and a healthy lifestyle helped him to discover his own peaceful nature. The driving force behind Erik’s life is to show others they are pure potential and not the self-limited thoughts that our minds often generate. Connect @ info@openskyeventmarketing.com

Check out the latest Origin. Magazine featuring some of our favorite yogis & friends from Denver, Colorado, the birthplace of Yoga Rocks the Park including Patrick Harrington, Tina Porter, Dakina Ma Jaeger, Chanda Hinton Leichtle, Christen Bakken and Lisa Richards... with cameos from Erik Vienneau and Jennifer Lux of the Yoga Rocks the Park Crew! 

Get your online copy now at www.originmagazine.com/online-issues. 

How to Enter
We want to see and read about your ultimate moment of bliss! Between Thursday, August 15th and Sunday, October 27th, submit your photo HERE and tell us a little about your perfect moment of bliss through a healthy, active lifestyle.

Our esteemed panel of judges will select 8 finalists between Monday, October 28th and Sunday, November 3rd. These 8 finalists will then move into our round of public voting, also hosted on our Rivé Facebook Page between Monday, November 4th and Thursday, November 14th. That means you, your family, friends, and peers all have the chance to choose our grand prize winner. The photo with the most votes will win! We will announce our winners on Friday, November 15th.


Win Blissful Prizes 
The "My Moment of Bliss" contest grand prize winner will receive a "Revive by Rivé" Yoga Prize Pack that includes:

• 3 Rivé bottles of your choice (Savoy, Lynx, or Elan)
• A month's supply of delicious Luna Bars
• An eco-smart yoga mat from Natural Fitness
• 1 year subscription to online yoga, pilate, and wellness classes from My Yoga Online
• A top and bottoms outfit that fits your lifestyle from be present
• A pair of sandals and socks from Toe Sox

 
The entry that receive the second highest amount of votes will receive our Runner-Up Prize Pack consisting of:

• A Rivé bottle of your choice (Savoy, Lynx, or Elan)
• A $25 gift certifciate to Yogi Tunes
• A pair of sandals and socks from Toe Sox

The Yoga Rocks the Park San Diego Community is a proud supporter of the Sean O'Shea Foundation and is excited to introduce the 2013 Sean O’Shea Foundation Fundraising Campaign.

Imagine...  

• Hard-core gang members representing four violent gangs all practicing yoga and lying in savasana together… peacefully.  
  
• A probation officer witnessing students on his caseload improve their grades with skills taught in the Sean O'Shea Foundation Yoga and nutrition program. 
• School psychologists requesting the Sean O'Shea Foundation program to help their at-risk youth develop greater focus and confidence.  
• Thousands of students learning to cope with their daily challenges and stressful life situations through yoga and meditation. 
• Young cancer patients learning to decrease their pain and anxiety through breath and meditation as they battle their life threatening disease. 
• Local homeless teens having a welcoming place to go to for a hot meal.  

All of this has come true since 2008 for nearly 9,000 children, thanks to supporters of the Sean O'Shea Foundation. 

The Sean O’Shea Foundation’s 2013 fundraising campaign is focused on Empowering Youth in our communities.  We primarily focus on youth who live in economically disadvantaged areas, who often lack basic health care, have limited exposure to the benefits of nutrition, and are normally unfamiliar with the practice of yoga. Remarkably, during the past four years we have ensured that all of our students have been able to participate in our programs free of charge.

The foundation is named in honor of  Sean O’Shea, a much loved yoga teacher and studio owner (Four Seasons Yoga in La Jolla) who lost his life in a fatal freeway accident in December of 2006. In his memory, his family and friends established the Sean O’Shea Foundation, which empowers youth through yoga, nutrition education, and optimistic teachings. Our mission is to help youth, ages 8-18, develop life skills that can enable them to take responsibility for their lives, develop respect for themselves and others, and have confidence in their own potential.

With the collaboration of health professionals, school psychologists, yoga instructors, and school teachers, we have developed these successful programs:

The Yoga Rocks the Park San Diego Community is a proud supporter of the Sean O'Shea Foundation.