Ten Laws with East Forest

Layering traditional kirtan with instantly accessible melodies and modern instrumentation, Krishna Das has been called yoga’s “rock star.” With a remarkably soulful voice that touches the deepest chord in even the most casual listener, Krishna Das ” known to friends, family, and fans as simply KD ” has taken the call-and-response chanting out of yoga centers and into concert halls, becoming a worldwide icon and the best-selling western chant artist of all time. His album ‘Live Ananda’ (released January 2012) was nominated for a Grammy in the Best New Age album category. KD spent the late ’60’s traveling across the country as a student of Ram Dass, and in August 1970, he finally made the journey to India, which led him to Ram Dass’ own beloved guru, Neem Karoli Baba, known to most as Maharaj-ji. Given the name Krishna Das, KD began to chant as part of following the path of Bhakti yoga, the yoga of devotion. After two and a half years with Maharaj-ji, returned to USA – alas, six months after his return, word came that Maharaj-ji had died. He took solace in music, finding peace and strength in both his Bhakti yoga practice as well as in such heroes as Ray Charles, Van Morrison, Steely Dan, and Bruce Springsteen (whom he laughingly calls “the Bodhisattva of New Jersey”). KD also co-founded Triloka Records, a California-based label specializing in world music, releasing such artists as Jai Uttal, sarod virtuoso Ali Akbar Khan, and legendary jazz musician/composer Jackie McLean. In 1994, KD started leading chant at Jivamukti Yoga Center, NYC, with an ever-growing audience of yoga students that has led him to chant with people all around the world. In February 2013, Krishna Das performed at the Grammy awards in Los Angeles, CA streamed online to millions of viewers. The award-winning film ‘One Track Heart: The Story of Krishna Das’ has been in over 100 US cities, over 10 countries worldwide and is available on DVD everywhere. With the release of his 16th album Peace Of My Heart , October 2018 – KD on behalf of the Kirtan Wallah Foundation offers nearly two hours of deeply moving, meditative and artfully restrained new recordings born out of a request from a yoga teacher who works with children on the Autism Spectrum. Forgoing the ecstatic tempo changes so common to temple-style kirtan, these 5 new tracks move slowly and deliberately. The song to song steadiness is both striking and soothing, and as emotionally impactful as ever. “The chanting just hits you and you want to be a part of it,” KD promises. “That’s the point of this whole thing. That’s what cuts through all the ‘stuff’. You get lit up. You don’t have to know what it means.” krishnadas.com eastforest.org

The Bee Queen has been dancing - fully covered and immersed with over 10k honey bees - since 2001. She says, "I think of bee dance as a duet among many. The 12,000 plus bees push with their powerful wings from each side of my body, I resist and then I let go and flow and move with them. In a deep meditation and I experience the hive mind surrounding me, holding me. I become aware of the connection and the understanding of my body on a cellular level. I am a healer, dancer, artist, builder of structures and a bee keeper. As bee keepers, my partner, Theodore and I hope to help the bees of the northwest by encouraging them to swarm and become hardy in this ever changing environment." saramapellibeequeen.com eastforest.org/podcast Video - https://youtu.be/uSZFLPBYZ9M Sara's Mexico House for Rent - goldenbeemx.com

Indian American musician Sheela Bringi has been exploring the connections between her ancestral and actual homelands her entire life. The singer and instrumentalist plays the harp, harmonium and bansuri (Indian classical bamboo flute). As a young woman Bringi was influenced by M.I.A. and Dead Can Dance, studied with Cecil Taylor and Meredith Monk, while at the same time deepened her studies with Indian classical masters like Pandit G.S. Sachdev and Ustaad Aashish Khan. This unique background has resulted in her debut album, Incantations (Black Swan Sounds), rooted in India’s classical music tradition and the beauty of its mantras, as well as a groundbreaking exploration of American jazz and blues. The album was released in 2014 and garnered praise from National Public Radio, the Guardian, Public Radio International and more, and debuted at #9 on the iTunes World Music chart. She has performed in a wide range of venues, including concert halls and universities presenting traditional material, yoga studios leading kirtans and in dance clubs overtop throbbing, bass-heavy beats (she’s toured with Karsh Kale, DJ Drez, and many others). In 2016 she was an instrumental soloist on Madi Das’ GRAMMY-nominated album, Bhakti Without Borders. shebrings.com eastforest.org

Raised on an island in South Carolina, singer/songwriter Trevor Hall realized at a young age that music was more than just a passion - it was, rather, his life’s art. At sixteen, he recorded his first album, soon after which he left South Carolina for Idyllwild Arts Academy in California where he studied classical guitar and was introduced to the practices of yoga and meditation, which would greatly influence his life and his music. Hall’s music, a blend of roots and folk music, is imbued with a deep love of Eastern Mysticism. This powerful symbiosis fostered a deep connectivity with his growing fan base and Trevor quickly matured into a leader of the burgeoning conscious musical community. Along with numerous pilgrimages to India, he has also completed a series of sold-out tours and collaborations with artists such as Steel Pulse, Ziggy Marley, Jimmy Cliff, Matisyahu, Michael Franti, Xavier Rudd and Nahko & Medicine for the People. His full-length album releases, The Fruitful Darkness (2018), Chapter of the Forest (2014) and KALA (2015), debuted at #3 and #2 on the iTunes singer/songwriter chart respectively and were supported by extensive tours around the US and Australia. Beyond his intention to spread love and healing through music, Hall also collects donations to support children’s education in India and has continuously donated to charities and relief funds. The Fruitful Darkness is Trevor’s first independent release — supported by his fans known as THE VILLAGERS — has become the #1 Music campaign of its kind in 2017 — after a decade plus recording for established labels such as Geffen and Vanguard. “There have been many hurdles and triumphs along the way” Hall reflects. “This album conveys the deep vulnerability of journeying through the unknown, as opposed to playing it safe.” Besides the change in infrastructure, the album itself explores completely new sonic terrain and is being released unconventionally, in 3-5 song installments on specific lunar dates. The full length album premiered at #4 on the Alt Charts, the most successful of Hall's career yet. trevorhallmusic.com eastforest.org

Ted Klein is an old friend and old soul. He's irreverent and full of laughs. I've known him for a long time and learned just as much. Director, composer, artist, MC, teacher, investor, writer, actor, father, golfer, game inventor and founder of Martial Art Bob Fu, Ted was born in Montana, grew up in California, was educated in New York York and now lives in Quebec. He has worked more than 50 jobs, owned more than 50 companies and made more than 100 mistakes. That's enough! http://www.tedklein.com http://www.eastforest.org/podcast

In 2014 Cody watched as his father and close friend were swept over a 100 ft cliff by an avalanche - his own life still in balance on the precipice of that cliff. While they all survived, the impact of the event left a wound on Cody's psyche that the tools of traditional psychotherapy he had been trained in were inadequate to heal. Determined to find a way back to himself, he set out on a journey. From ancient ceremonies in the jungles of Peru, rites of passage in the remote islands of British Columbia, indigenous healing rituals here in Colorado to immersions in yogic and meditative lineages and a re-education in graduate level courses; Cody faced his own darkness head on and explored every healing modality he could find. Now he is walking those lessons back into the world - for the good of all. Cody is also the author of a K-8 Mindfulness-Based Social & Emotional Learning Curriculum, Empowering Minds, and the Executive Director of the non-profit, Empowering Education. He frequently presents on the topics of mindfulness, social & emotional learning, and trauma and coaches educators, parents, and children in mindfulness. He continues to engage life full force as an avid mountain biker, rock climber, backcountry skier, yogi, fly fisher, and amateur poet. Cody's deep purpose is creating a more compassionate world by helping other's to heal the cores wounds of their heart and connect with their own purpose. https://www.codywiggs.com/ http://eastforest.org

A guided meditation with East Forest music - designed to sing one another awake and engender a felt experience of our full beingness. http://eastforest.org

It's time for an end of the year "Ask Me Anything" episode. You guys posted your questions on social media I've done my best to answer them. We get into a diverse range of subjects so listen in to hear the other half of our conversation together. You spoke - I'm speakin'. The episode ends with a full rendition of "Live in Amsterdam". http://eastforest.org

Tony’s devotion to the path of yoga fills his classes with both knowledge and intensity, while his big heart lends sweetness and compassion. His classes are infused with biomechanics, philosophy, breath work and a healthy dose of humor. Tony views teaching as a live collaboration and he loves to encourage students to experience and explore the movement arts. He pulls inspiration from his diverse artistic background and this, in turn, creates the vision and voice for his teachings. Tony’s greatest joy is in helping to awaken new students’ passion for yoga and to see new and seasoned practitioners find deep freedom and self-expression in the context of a safe and loving environment. In 2011 Tony was offered an amazing opportunity to become a co-owner of Yoga at the Raven, a beautiful sanctuary located in Silver Lake. The Raven is Tony’s platform to create, share and expand his hearts’ vision and to inspire others to do the same. Prior to that, Tony taught public classes at several studios in Los Angeles, including Exhale and Yoga Collective in Venice Beach, Mission Street Yoga in Pasadena and Still Yoga in Silver Lake. Tony is the creator of Yoga Elementals™ and founder of Meditate Study Practice (MSP)™ - a program designed to be accessible to students and teachers of all levels and life paths. Tony leads monthly workshops and 200 and 300-hour teacher trainings, in Los Angeles and abroad. http://www.tonygyoga.com http://eastforest.org

CAMILLE MAURINE is the author of the groundbreaking book, Meditation Secrets for Women: Discovering Your Passion, Pleasure, and Inner Peace, as well as Meditation 24/7: Practices to Enlighten Every Moment of the Day, both written with her husband, Dr. Lorin Roche. She gives global teleseminars and teacher trainings, with a specialty in women's spiritual empowerment and embodiment, and travels worldwide to give performances, workshops, and retreats. Camille Maurine is on the faculty of Esalen Institute, 1440 Multiversity, Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health, and SAND Science and Nonduality. She gives online courses on meditation and intimacy such as "Love Wisdom Power" and “Living in Love’s Body.” Camille is also the creator of Moving Theater of the Soul, a transformational creative process. Camille is an intrepid traveler on the path of embodiment, venturing high and low into the world of energy and love. Her work is an intimate fusion of meditation, movement, and expression, with a keen passion for women's spiritual empowerment. Renowned for her scintillating embodiments of feminine energy, Camille often performs excerpts from The Radiance Sutras: The Yoga of Wonder and Delight, Lorin Roche’s translation of the Vijnana Bhairava Tantra, an ancient meditation text. Camille Maurine is the President of Syzygy Creations, Inc. Camille and Lorin lead a dynamic meditation teacher training and travel widely to give presentations, workshops, and retreats. Sharing her journey of over four decades of teaching and thirty-five years of intimate relationship, Camille invites us into the mystery of being alive. camillemaurine.com