Websites:Sangha Yoga Studio
Downtown Kalamazoo's center for yoga and meditation-
where Kristin teaches and studies locally.
Awake and Aware Living Yoga Studio
Parkview Hills area sanctuary for everyday yoga and bodywork- where Kristin teaches and studies locally.
7 Centers Yoga Arts
Kristin's home away from home and an amazing yoga experience-
where she trained and studied Yoga, Ayurveda, and Vedic Astrology in Sedona, AZ.
Chicago School of Thai Massage
Where Kristin is studying thai massage (in their Ann Arbor program) under Paul Fowler and Michelle Tupko. This teaching and practice is grounded in the breath, supported by loving-kindness, connected to the flow of energy, and all around great bodywork.
Gazelle Sports
Where Kristin trained for her marathon and is now teaching a weekly yoga class- come join the fun and check out this local store and educational facility!
The Ayurvedic Institute
Check out the online resource page for information on Ayurveda and the products page for oils, herbs, books, etc.
Light on Ayurveda
More on Ayurveda - extensive articles and information.
Vipassana Meditation
This ancient meditation technique was taught in India more than 2500 years ago as a universal remedy for suffering, a way to see things as they really are. 10 day courses are available worldwide- Kristin has taken a course at this Illinois Center.
www.pakasa.dhamma.org
Savvy Vegetarian
Vegetarian and vegan organic recipes, articles and more.
Holistic Healing News
Check out the extensive articles on nutrition, green living, and health & wellness.
Bihar Yoga
The ancient yogic lineage of Swami Satyananda Saraswati which aims to harmonize all levels of human life and experience through practical means.
Nuestros Pequenos HermanosNPH International has been caring for orphaned and abandoned children in Latin America and the Caribbean since 1954. Kristin has visited the home in Mexico where her family sponsors 2 children and she encourages you to check out this program and lend your support in any way possible. She holds this non-profit organization and the children they serve close to her heart.
Books:
Easy to read and understand - helpful in preparation for yogic philosophy.
Gets you thinking about your food source and responsibilities.
Nice link between East and West spirituality and philosophy.
Great introduction into mantras, their power, and how to use them.
An extensive compilation of asanas (yoga poses), from easy to extremely difficult, as well as a guide to pranayama and a helpful index.
by Swami Satyananda Saraswati
Excellent translation of the yoga sutras - Kristin uses this copy and recommends all of the Bihar School of Yoga texts (available at Amazon.com).
Another good translation of the sutras - Kristin uses this copy as well.
Ancient scripture from the East written/translated in clear and beautiful prose, making its truths understandable and helping us fill our lives with serenity and love.
Very thought provoking and inspiring, question and answer style book.
Movies:
The following movies are all available to rent on Netflix
Food, Inc. (2008) PG
Filmmaker Robert Kenner lifts the veil on our nation's food industry, exposing the highly mechanized underbelly that is hidden from the American consumer with the consent of our government's regulatory agencies. Our food supply is now controlled by a handful of corporations that often put profit ahead of consumer health, the livelihood of American farmers, the safety of workers and our environment. This film reveals surprising, often shocking, truths about what we eat, how it's produced, who we have become as a nation and where we are going from here.
The Beautiful Truth (2008) NR
This documentary follows the journey off Garrett Kroschel, an animal-loving teenager raised in Alaska. After reading a book by Dr. Max Gerson, Garrett is inspired to investigate its premise that diet can cure cancer and other diseases. Garrett travels across the country, visiting with physicians, scientists and cancer survivors to discuss the Gerson Therapy. Also takes a look into food additives and other contemporary health hazards.
What the Bleep Do We Know!? (2004) NR
Thrust from her mundane life into an unfamiliar world, Amanda (Marlee Matlin) must develop an all-new perception of her surroundings and the people she interacts with in this quirky film that explores neurological processes and quantum uncertainty. Interviews with various experts are interspersed with the story combining narrative, documentary, and animation.
An Inconvenient Truth (2006) PG
Director-producer Davis Guggenheim (HBO's "Deadwood") captures former Vice President Al Gore in the midst of waging a passionate campaign - not for the White House, but for the environment - in this Oscar-winning documentary. Laying out the facts of global warming without getting political, Gore makes a sobering impression on audiences who hear his message, urging them to act boldly, quickly and wisely before it's too late.
Kundun (1997) PG-13
Martin Scorsese directs this biopic about the life of the Dalai Lama, detailing his escape during the Chinese invasion, meetings with Chairman Mao and eventual exile in India, vividly depicted with Oscar-nominated cinematography by Roger Deakins. Starring Tenzin Thuthob Tsarong, a grandnephew of the Dalai Lama, the movie was shot with a cast of unknowns in Morocco when film crews were forbidden to enter Tibet.
Life of Buddha (2003) NR
The birth and life of one of religion's most important icons, the Buddha, is chronicled in this incisive documentary. Director Martin Meissonnier charts the transformation of Prince Siddhartha into the Buddha, a man who transformed the world with his powerful teachings. This historical documentary serves as an inspirational tale for all races and religions.
Ayurveda: The Art Of Being (2002) NR
Embark on a documentary journey through the history of this holistic form of health care and natural well-being. Partially based in methods of healing that identify incongruence in the body's energy, Ayurveda has roots in India, Egypt, Greece, Rome, Tibet, China, Russia and Japan. One of the central figures in the film is Brahamand Swamigal, an Indian practitioner of Ayurveda who explains its basic principles. - English Subtitles
The Dhamma Brothers (2008) NR
This compelling documentary follows a group of prisoners at a maximum-security Alabama prison as the embark on a transformative vipassana course, a 10 day meditation retreat rooted in Buddhist teachings. During the intense process of self-examination, the inmates confront their past, get in touch with the present, and begin a path of deep-seated healing.
PLEASE NOTE:
The above websites, books, and movies do not necessarily reflect Kristin's beliefs but have been interesting and useful to her along the way. Enjoy!
