Hope in Haiti with Oprah

Being on Oprah’s Hope in Haiti show was a tremendous experience. I had a little impromptu dinner with some friends including Sean Penn, Paul Haggis, David Belle and Marni Lewis – a great group of people to watch the show with. You know, in truth, it’s a lot easier for me to watch another person than it is for me to watch myself; I really loved watching Sean Penn. I was particularly struck by the size of the room Sean sleeps in at his J/P HRO camp. His heart is as big as his bedroom is small; it’s extraordinary.

I loved the way that Oprah navigated her journey in Haiti – connecting with people and taking Haiti in through so many different lenses. She explored the devastation, the success, the growth, the rebuilding, the relationships. She really encapsulated the truth of Haiti, which is that there is so much positivity and so much to celebrate.

Of course, it felt a little odd to be watching myself; I am much more comfortable being with the artisans than in front of the camera. But, what I loved was really talking to Oprah. I feel so connected to her on so many levels – mind, body and spirit. She has always been an inspiration to me, she does everything with such heart and this is what I felt while I was talking to her. I wanted to share everything about Haiti with Oprah; I could’ve talked to her forever!

I always say that, “It’s not about the me, it’s about the we.” And this is, truly, why I am thrilled to have had this conversation with Oprah. Haiti is rebuilding and it takes a community. There is no person better than Oprah to take the story of Haiti and share it with the masses. I was honored to be a part of the experience and I look forward to seeing how this, too, becomes a part of Haiti’s journey toward a bright and beautiful future.

To view highlights from the show, click here.

Community Highlights: Tweeting About Yoga

After the success of our UZIT weekend with yogis Richard Freeman and Mary Taylor, our conversations this week naturally gravitated toward the meaning of #yoga and it’s importance to the individual. As we know, yoga is the Hindu theistic philosophy teaching the suppression of all activity of body, mind and will or a system of exercises for attaining bodily or mental control and wellbeing. For members of our community, yoga is so much more than achieving the correct breathing techniques or perfecting the art of downward dog.

Our followers shared that yoga is an agent of change, source of peace, method of exercise and way to meditate and reflect upon life. It’s a form of exercise that can be strenuous or relaxing, centering the individual and bringing individuals together. We invite you to join in this ongoing conversation — decide what yoga means to you to discover how it can continue to positively impact your life.

Follow us on Twitter to participate in on our conversations and next week join our Twitter Viewing Party in celebration of our founder’s appearance on Oprah Winfrey’s Next Chapter airing on Monday on OWN at 10pm EST.

Giving Love & Creating Hope at the Henri Christophe Community School in Haiti

On a recent trip to Haiti, Donna had the opportunity to visit the Henri Christophe Community School in Léogâne and the experience resonated with her in a very real way as this school embodies the holistic approach to education that Donna believes in.

Not only is the school piloting programs like the environmental educational program, they are also connecting and collaborating with wonderful people and organizations so that they can be a conduit for positive change and growth in Haiti. One such organization is Give Love, run by our friend Patricia Arquette. Haiti Partners connected with Patricia to install and pilot composting latrines at Henri Christophe. It was such an inspiring thing to see in action and we wanted to share more of the details with you here. We invite you to watch the video above to learn more about Give Love’s work at the Henri Christophe Community School.

UZIT Weekend: Yoga Philosophy with Richard Freeman & Mary Taylor

The tenth weekend of the Urban Zen Integrative Therapist program convened this weekend for yoga philosophy with Richard Freeman and Mary Taylor. Both longtime practitioners of the Ashtanga Yoga system taught by the late Pattabhi Jois, these teachers offered a wealth of knowledge and presence.

Each day began with a two-hour physical practice, a vigorous flow of yoga poses intended to yoke the mind to the breath, or even more essentially: to the present moment. Richard and Mary would alternate, seamlessly jumping in where the other left off, leading us through a well-rounded arc of asana.

Richard talked a lot this weekend about the importance of balancing the prana and apana patterns. Prana is the energy of the inhale, an uplifted, expansive energy; while apana is the energy of the exhale, a grounding, settling force. “The pose begins,” Richard said, “when the patterns of both prana and apana are awakened.” Once established in each posture, we were encouraged to trust the intelligence of the breath and watch our bodies–each inhale and exhale arriving, and informing, again and again.

Richard Freeman: Freedom on the Edge of Sensation

Nearly 75 yogis gathered at the Urban Zen Center last Thursday for class with longtime Ashtanga yoga teacher Richard Freeman. Freeman and his wife, Mary Taylor, return to Urban Zen this weekend to lead the yoga philosophy portion of the Urban Zen Integrative Therapist Program.

“Tonight we will explore the internal practice of Ashtanga yoga,” Richard began. “We will align inside, so that even when you are old, or even when you are on your death bed, you can do the pose. It may look like this…” (nothing happens, the room laughs) “…but you will be doing the pose, perfected, the ultimate experience of samadhi,” he says, skillfully raising an eyebrow, and only half kidding.

Though our asanas on Thursday were visible beyond the mind’s eye, Richard lived up to his promise and helped us refine each pose with precise anatomical cues and vivid imagery. We discovered that we had golden tails extending from coccyx to earth, kidney wings that spread across the back and beyond, buoyant hearts, and cobra hoodies (my favorite) fanning up and over our crown and palette. With an inhale, we swam our limbs through space; with an exhale, awareness traced the spine.